"Meet me after school near the shack," Zelly's best friend Olivia told her.

"When we save enough, I was thinking we can buy that building across the block from the church so we can get more customers."

Zelly and Olivia always went fishing afterschool at an abandoned shack that had a fishing dock at the lake. They discovered it a year ago when strolling in the woods, trying to find herbs for one of their classmate's sick mother.

Ever since then, they set up a market stall and sold fish in the middle of the city. Zelly enjoyed this because she could get away from her abusive father and make a living for herself and her brother while having fun. Olivia liked it because she was able to hang out with Zelly. Olivia was an orphan, and wasn't liked by many students because they saw her as poor, and couldn't gain anything from her. When she heard that Zelly didn't have that much of a father, she sprang at the chance to find a friend.

"Yep." replied Zelly, cracking her knuckles. “I wonder what that sorry excuse of a father would say when I earn more than he does before I'm even an adult. All he knows how to do is spend his money on drinks. I'll show him when you and I live in a nice house in a nice city with my brother and your sister. We'll show him that life isn't what he thinks it is." and so they started their morning at school.

"How have you been lately?" asked The Teacher at the end of school

"Good." Zelly said and ran off at the second bell.

'Horrible' she thought.

Zelly got on her old bike and pedalled to the shack with both her backpack and anticipation weighing her down. She could just see the shocked face of her dad when she moved out of the house and into another building, taking her brother and leaving him lonely for the deeds he has done. The price for the scars that he left her would cost his loneliness. He would feel as lonely as she did when she really needed him. Maybe then, He would start acting differently. Maybe then he would see that what he has now is worth more than his whiskey and beer bottles combined. Zelly pondered these thoughts for a while, and stopped at a familiar tree to set her bike to the side.

When she got to the shack, the two did their usual. they walked across the dock, and they baited the lines that they had tied to the sticks with worms and waited. They would usually study for tests or read new books during this period of time.

They were always at the top of the class, and not a soul new why. People walked up and asked for their secrets, yet never got an answer.

After another successful catch, they knew that when they sold their goods tomorrow, they would have enough to meet their goals. Olivia went home while Zelly packed up their things in the shack and put her backpack on.

Just when she was about to hop on her bike and ride home, she saw a faint shadow across the lake. she shrugged it off, but then she saw it move, and decided to get a bit closer.

When she decided she was close enough, she put down the brake and started to tiptoe to the figure. She found a man at a statue, praying. 'Odd,' she thought. she never saw that man, nor the statue before, though she knew the woods like the back of her hand. She decided to ask the man if he needed directions, as he wore thin robes and looked dirty, like he needed a place to stay.

"Excuse me." she said, politely. The man was startled and pulled out a necklace, holding it out to me as If it were a weapon. "Shmebulock." he Shouted. 'Was he speaking a different language?' Zelly wondered, intrigued by his presence. To Zelly's surprise, she looked around to find the air glowing, as if fireflies had gathered around this area. Zelly's sight was fading, for she was blinded by the brightness. It was as if she was in a white room. When she regained sight, she found herself in a small room in a bed. A woman looked at her with joy and surprise. "Zelda!" she shouted. "You're finally awake!"

Zelly, (or should I say Zelda) felt tears run down her cheeks. She didn’t know why, nor how, since she hasn’t been able to cry since she was 12, since the tragedy happened, but that wasn’t what she was concerned about. There was a woman standing above her, she too was crying, holding Zelly’s hand like she would never let go. 

Suddenly, a flood of images came to Zelly’s mind. Images may not be the correct word. Perhaps memories. It was like she was a completely different person. She recalled a little 4 year old girl, sitting in front of a giant dining table piled with delicacies, each golden plate worth more than she has earned in her lifetime. She drooled at the thought. She saw a man sitting next to her. The man looked wise just by the look. His eyebrows creased and his short beard reminded her of someone. ‘FATHER!’ She thought. She saw that the creases on his jaw were gone. This is what he looked like before he got drunk everyday and punched her in the stomach every week. She felt sorrow for a moment. And then hate. But not hate for what he has done to her, but another reason. Seated next to him was The Woman that was currently standing in front of her. ‘Mother? Is that you? Why are you here and not at home?’ she then noticed the crown on her father’s head. He was a king? Nonsense, is this what the kids in her class called cosplaying? But what about the other people sitting around the table? None of this makes sense. She didn’t know any of them, except for the little girl at the other side of the table. She looked like a younger version of Olivia, but happier than Zelly has ever seen. Zelly wished that she could have seen her like this.

Oh, whatever, thought Zelda. What is my current situation? She then looked up at the woman. This was the woman sitting next to her father in the image. “Mother!” she shouted. I have missed you!”

“Missed me?” The woman cried, “I’m the one that missed you! You have been unconscious for two months! It was Zelan, that brat! He suggested a duel, knowing that you are not fit for one yet. He wanted to kill you. ‘Who’s Zelan?’ she then looked at her memories and found a bunch of videos of Zelan kicking her, telling her that she is good for nothing, spilling tea on her. “He is the prince of Jorvan in case you have forgotten. He has taken it too far. At the beginning, he was fine, but now that your father has died, he thinks he can do whatever he wants with you. You’re still the princess of Kamingris. He would’ve been sent to jail if it weren't for the dragons. Unfortunately, we are losing the war at the moment." 

“DRAGONS?” shouted Zelly

“Now, now, Zelda. No need to get upset. We always knew that they were headed here. We need to station the men better, and send them better supplies. The thing is, your father has died. I can only rule for so long before Zelen and his father try tearing us down again. I have an idea. Why don’t you go to a small town in Kamingris and settle down? Just see how life works there for a while, and come back to us with your ideas. I’ll send three guards, a carriage, and a horseman along with 900,000 pieces of gold. Spend it wisely. In the meantime I’ll keep the order here in Kamingris and hope that the dragons don’t make it worse than it is. We’ve already started a war with Jorvan. How much worse can it get?” She stared at the wall. It was a big palace, and it was still filled with the plates, but the joy was gone. The walls looked grey, and the people blue. They didn’t have much hope without their king, but they were willing to take risks in placing their hopes on Zelda. The future Queen of Kamingris.

“Fine,” said Zelly. “We shall see how they look when we have risen again. I am willing to become queen after you, mother. Take care of the people, greet Olivia when you see her. “Olivia? Who’s that? Oh, you mean that girl around your age that you always hang out with? Sure, we’ll tell her what’s happened. She’ll be awaiting your arrival.”

“Thanks.” said Zelly with a grin. ‘Those people don’t know what they're in for.’

‘I have no Idea what’s going on,’ Thought Zelly. She stopped to think for a moment. ‘They were talking about dragons, a war, a plan, and I’m a princess? Apparently I’m their future Queen, but why exactly is this? Where am I? Am I in a different time, or a different universe altogether? Is this another one of those long dreams? But I can see everything so clearly, the window, walls, grass. Maybe this is a test, and I have to complete a quest before I get out of here, like those games?’ her head was tilted in question, but bewildered as she was, she didn’t hate the awkward situation.

‘DO NOT WORRY’ Zelly heard a new voice in her head. The voice sounded like her own except it was boosted with confidence. She said it clearly, as if she was the general of an army. ‘YOUR BODY IN YOUR SO-CALLED WORLD WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THAT. I SUMMONED YOU IN MY PLACE TO SAVE MY COUNTRY. I HAVE TRIED AND FAILED. I AM DEAD, BUT YOU, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE NOT. IT WOULD MEAN A LOT TO ME IF YOU COULD HELP ME OUT AND KILL THAT UNWORTHY KING OF JORVAN AND HIS NO-GOOD SON. I PROMISE THAT YOU WILL GET A REWARD AT THE END.’

“Wait, wait, wait. Who are you? Do you know why I’m here right now?”

 ‘OF COURSE I DO, SILLY. I AM THE QUEEN OF KAMINGRIS, THE OWNER OF THE BODY YOU ARE USING RIGHT NOW, BUT I AM DEAD. I MAY NO LONGER PROVE AS USEFUL TO MY PEOPLE, BUT YOU CAN. THE WIZARD WHO BROUGHT YOU HERE GAVE ME THE CHANCE OF TURNING BACK TIME AND SAVING MY PEOPLE, BUT IT COST MY LIFE.’

‘Well, that explains it, I guess. My mother used to read me a story kind of like this before she died. It was about a man who wanted to find his sister who he got separated from at birth to save his people from a monster, so a man walked up to him saying that he could reunite him with his sister in exchange for his right eye. The story was fascinating to me.’ Zelly felt herself relax when thinking about her mother and the stories she would tell. 

‘AH, YES. THE TALE OF THE DRAGON’S CHILDREN. ‘TWAS AN INTERESTING TALE. THE DRAGON’S SON WAS TRYING TO FIND HIS SISTER SO THEY COULD FIGHT TOGETHER AGAINST THE EVIL SPIRITS THAT WERE ATTACKING THEIR COUNTRY. MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT ONE. I WANT YOU TO TRY TO BE THE GIRL IN THAT STORY AND HELP MY PEOPLE OUT. I KNOW THAT IT WILL BE HARD, BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO BEAR WITH IT IN ORDER TO GO BACK HOME.’ 

Zelda contemplated the circumstances in her head for a moment. ‘I would like you to explain more on the way to Jorvan, but I kind of get it now. I will go along with your wishes for now, but I’m not completely sure whether I can accomplish them.’

‘IT IS ENOUGH FOR ME THAT YOU TRY. THOUGH SUCCESS IS NOT FULLY ASSURED IT IS POSSIBLE.’ Zelly could sense relief in the former Queen’s voice.

Zelly heard a knock at the door.

“Come in,” she shouted, remembering that she was inside “her”  room.

“Princess Zelda, we have prepared a carriage for you, The carriage will be ready to depart in the morning, so the Queen insists you get some sleep. Your friend will be helping your mother to pack some things into barrels for your trip. If you would like to bring anything specific, please don’t hesitate to inform someone.” The man bowed. The way the servant looked at Zelly made her feel uncomfortable. Had she done something wrong?

“Is there a problem?” Zelly questioned from her bed, tilting her head to look up at the servant.

The servant looked frightened almost at her words. “I beg your pardon?”

“I said, is there a problem? You look like you're scared of me. Did I do something to make you uncomfortable? If so, please tell me so I can fix it.”

The man looked like he was shocked. “There is no problem. I am just a servant anyway, so it shouldn’t matter.”

Zelly shook her head in protest and stood up. “I have a friend who is a poor orphan. Everyone scoffed at her because they didn’t see use in her. I found her to be the most reliable friend I have. I would like your opinion so that in the future I can rule better as a queen. I know that you are not telling the truth when you say there is no problem.”

The servant was stupefied for a few seconds, his eyebrows raised. “Well, I don’t know if you still remember it since it was a few months ago but one afternoon when I was selling fish at my market stall, you and your friend threw buckets of water on me saying that I was too dirty for this kingdom to handle and you could smell me from a league away. Since then, people stopped buying from me and I had to beg at the castle for a job, or I wouldn’t be able to put food in my children’s mouths.” Zelly smacked her head and thought ‘seriously Zelda?’

‘OH YAH, SORRY FOR BEING A ROYAL BRAT IN MY YOUTH.’ Zelly heard a familiar voice. ‘I WISH I COULD CHANGE MY BEHAVIOR. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LEAD MY PEOPLE TO MISTRUST MY LEADERSHIP AND THIS IS WHAT LEAD TO THE FALL OF MY KINGDOM.’

‘You could have given me a heads up that I would be dealing with your mistakes at least.’ She shook her head in disgust at her actions.

“I’m sorry for my behavior in the past. I hope to compensate you for your loss of a job. I invite you to come to Jorvan with me. I could use another hand, and you don’t have to worry about your family. I will take care of things.”

The man was once again stunned. His face was filled with joy at the reassurance that his family would be safe. He didn’t even think about the choice. “I would love to accompany you on your journey. I am grateful that you have made this choice.” His face was beaming with gratitude. He could finally tell his children that they would never have to worry about starving again.

“Now, I think we both need some time for rest.” Zelda sat back down in her bed and tucked herself in.

“Yes, princess Zelda, I will not disturb you.” The man bowed three times before blowing out the rushing out of the room and shutting the door.

Zelly blew out the candles on the nightstand and fell back onto her bed, thinking about how her day went. She drifted off into sleep before she knew it.