Prince Cory Elcidelibro of the Kingdom of Sero clutched onto his book, wandering through the alleyways. The fences that outstretched into the sky felt thick, and it was as if the chill from the grass seeped into his galoshes. That flat, smokey-gray, cold grass.

The printed flowers that laid on top of the grass didn't seem to help. There were also wooden bushes scattered near the fences that seemed empty–minus some that were opened slightly, leaking faint dust and pungent aromas. The "liquid gold" light that once streamed inside the Castle of the Kingdom of Sero was now replaced with dim lights that sunk into the grass. Whatever idea Cory had regarding the Castle and the Kingdom's similarities was veritably eradicated now.

Cory opened the book and pulled out the letter, skimming through the contents of the envelope. He pulled out his monocle from his pocket, held it to his left eye, and shook his head as he slipped it back inside. I suppose the darkness could not be helped. Glasses are no substitute for light, he mused.

Cory continued to meander through the alleyways.

"My, has it always been this dark?" He blurted to himself. The only thing that cut through his voice were the cold steps of his galoshes. Trembling, his voice cracked and he couldn't help but whisper:

"My, has it always been this lonely?"

Cory clutched onto his book.

"My, has it always been this lonely?! My, has it always been this dark? Hahahahaha!"

Patta patta patta patta patta patta patta patta...

A chill rushed through his spine. His blood froze. And so did his feet.

He jerked his head.

"W-who are you?!" Cory raised his voice. "I order you–re...reveal yourself!"

Patta patta patta patta patta patta patta patta...

Patta patta patta patta patta patta patta patta...

Each footstep sent a ripple to Cory's legs. He breathed heavily. They ran around lightly. Where are they? The footsteps. It paralyzed his.

Patta patta patta patta patta patta patta patta...

Patta patta patta patta patta patta patta patta...

"Got 'cha."

A tug near Cory's ankle... He glanced down. Frantically, he looked up to open his book, and the pages flew as he skimmed.

Shut! And he stared back down at the creature.

Or creatures.

More now followed from behind.

And beside.

"Hahahaahahaah! Hahahaahah!" Their squat forms all curved with their nefarious smiles. Their pointy ears twitched at Cory's face, which was now scrunched up with terror.

Cory clenched his fists and the book.

Goblins.

They inched closer, as if they were crawling with their hind feet only. Pa. Ta. Pa. Ta. Each step slid closer. Cory gulped and bit his lip.

My brethren would be far more capable than I when it comes to handling these monsters. Or the CGR. But perhaps...

A chill went down his spine.

Patta patta...

Or was it up?

Cory's eyes trembled.

"Hahahaa. Got 'ya."

A cold hand laid on Cory's cape-covered shoulder.

"Get him!"

#

The goblins patta patta'd to him faster. They sprinted. They leaped. They pounced. Some pulled his arm. Others attempted to pull away his cape. They tugged at him from every corner. The fibers in Cory's cloth were stretching and thinning with the push and pull of the goblins.

Hsuht. Hsuht. Hsuht. Hsuht.

It was like paper.

More goblins leaped on him–their hoarse, squeaky laughs stuffed the air.

"Give me that!"

One of them swiped! the book from Cory's hands.

"Unhand the item!" He raised his voice again.

"Hahaahhha! Hahhhahah!" The goblins snickered as they tugged at him. "What will you do? What will you do?" One of them ran off with the book. Some others followed with their snickers.

However, the letter slipped from the pages. It seemed as if the letter slipped from Cory's mind too, because he had not noticed.

"Hahahahhahah! Hahhhahahah!"

"You are alone! You are alone!" Others began to dig inside his sleeves. They pinned him to the ground. Their dusty fingers infested his coat. "What will you do? What will you do? You are alone! Alone forever! Left behind forever! Left behind forever!"

Cory's eyes trembled as he glanced around. Oh Treit.

Did you really leave me behind forever?

Cory inhaled a breath. Hoo. Hoo. His hands sweated as he tried to breathe in. Out. It only felt steady for a second before he cried, "I–Prince Cory Elcidelibro of the Castle of the Kingdom of Sero– order you to release me!"

They continue to tug and crawl upon Cory. They snickered, each one layering louder and louder.

"HAWRUUUUUUWAAAAAAAAAAAR!"

The goblins darted their heads. Cory glanced up.

"HAWRUUUUWAAAAAAAAAAR!"

SWOOP! A dragon swooped from overhead. It stomped as it landed. It growled and turned its large, scaly head, crowned with horns and rage. It rattled its massive wings, mad and pointed they were. It struck a horde of goblins nearby with one wing. SWING!

And shielded Cory with the other.

Then, it glared at the goblins, who were now trembling. Its eyes were devoid of any pupils or tangible colors, for it was hollow and white and seemingly glowing and piercing. Daring some of them were to face off and glare back.

Though it was more foolish than brave.

The dragon hollered. It glared again and roared.

"HAWRUUUUWAAAAAAAAAR!"

Blue flame spewed. Blue flame spreaded. The dragon struck its thin, paper-knot-braid like tail upwards as it lowered its body and roared again. Bright sparks flew with vibrant blue flames that poured like a blasting hose spout. The flames leaked everywhere.

And yet one of its obsidian-colored wings shielded Cory still–one of its hind legs even stood near where Cory was.

Goblins scrambled. Their nasal voices screeched as they scurried on all fours. They pushed away from nearby wooden bushes–afraid they would be caught ablaze as well. Patta patta patta patta patta patta patta patta patta patta! Patta patta patta patta patta patta patta patta patta patta!

The dragon watched with its hollow eyes as each one scurried into the darkness. Very quickly, they could no longer be seen. Even their patta patta's had faded with them.

Cory broke away and pushed the dragon's wings. He took a few steps back and trembled slightly. Glancing down, he shook his head.

The dragon tilted its head. Cory thought to himself, dragons are not inherently compassionate. But the dragon stared at Cory. It still did. An impasse, they were stuck in silence for only a short time before the dragon had seemingly swooped and flashed before his eyes. Cory squeezed his eyes. He blinked it open, and...the dragon...

It was now a fairy.

Her orange-faded hair (much like yellow-less candy corn) was a short cut around her hair, but twin tails (in loop shapes with a hole in the middle) followed behind her short stature. A side braid was behind her bangs, which were at a slight swoop. She wore a white crop top with a collar that folded like paper on one side. Mismatched, it seems. Her upper arms (and one of her ankles) shared the same black rectangular jewelry that Cory had along his crown, and a black, braid-like belt was placed underneath her top like a trim. She wore an origami dress, with light blues and lilac and gray folded triangles dispersing outwards.

Finally, her triangular, translucent wings–detached from her body–floated behind her like silvery framed glass, giving a sheen over her orange-faded twin tails. Rectangular, magic particles emitted from her, and they matched the colors of her dress.

And her eyes. Slightly scribbly–like his. With one rectangular pupil in one of her eyes, they examined Cory with great worry.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you like that." The fairy sputtered. Cory's eyes darted the room, snapped out of his astonishment. She fluttered closer to him–only by an inch or so. And quite gently, too. Cory cowered and lowered his body to sit.

"I have read on a previous occasion that fairies are deceptive creatures. They have ill intent."

While he talked, the fairy did watch him–with great intent. A flicker in his eyes, she glanced to the side and found a loose piece of paper on the ground. She flew over and picked it up, holding it out to him.

"This must be yours," she softly spoke. Her voice could easily be confused for a child–even her appearance. Cory's eyes darted again and quickly nodded before reaching his hand out for the letter.

It must have slipped from the book. It truly saddens me that the sapient tome is now gone.

Cory's eyes widened at a tossed thought.

Just like Treit.

Cory bit his lip and clenched his fist, gripping on the neatly-written letter. It hardly moved at all.

Oh, my brethren.

I, truly miss you.

What I would do. What would I do? In this dreary, terrifying world...

The fairy's eyes softened and flew slowly beside him. She sat down and lifted her knees close to her chest. Even her rectangular particles had softened their glow. Despite Cory's caved appearance, the fairy landed her small hand on his back. Cory could feel a rush down his spine–as if his body still commanded him to run. He glanced back at the fairy, who–with her big eyes and scribbly lashes–spoke.

"I'm sorry, for whatever had happened. I may not know you all too well, but I'm sorry for whatever had happened then, and for what happened now.

"I know you're scared."

Cory fixated his glance on the little fairy. How cognizant must she be that she proclaims such a...a-an inference? Cory loosened his grip on the letter and sighed as he stared wistfully at it. He could picture the goblin's dirty fingers that could have easily crumpled it if it had fallen into their hands. Lost in the darkness forever, never emerging again with a lost letter meant to be sent by a lost brother. Swallowed by darkness and their cackles as they violated and scratched his body...

Cory's fingers trembled. She was right.

The fairy's eyebrows furrowed.

Cory hemmed. "Young maiden. I, well..."

She turned to him and clasped her bare knees together, her origami dress blanketing over it. She didn't really know what she was supposed to say next, and instead placed her hand gingerly on Cory's trembling one.

"I...I feel lonely. In this forlorn...b-bitter alleyway." Cory blurted again. Fairies are deceptive creatures. The more they know, the more they can eat. That was written inside his beloved guide. Still, he continued. "And I suppose...you are correct, miss. I..." He breathed in and out, though it did not cleanse his mind as he had hoped.

"Miss," He jumped to another topic. "May I ask for your name? I am Cory. A-and it is a pleasure to meet you." He stammered.

"Makii." She examined him again and her face crumpled into a frown. "You're trembling again." Cory tried to freeze his body, much to no avail. "I know it's cold here. We can leave now, that those goblins are gone."

Gone? Leave? Fairies are not the kind to let go of their prey. And Cory couldn't even move his feet–it was the only thing that was really frozen. "Not now." He muttered. He wiped his face slightly.

Makii rubbed his arm with her hand. It radiated a soothing warmth, as she coaxed him. "Hey, it's okay. We can leave a bit later then, if that's what makes you comfortable." Cory straightened his back and faced Makii. Still, his hand held her's–and the letter.

No fairy would think twice about who they attack. And Makii was no different...

But it was for a different reason. She studied his dark green eyes, mixed with dark grays and a slate color. And small tears.

She rubbed his arm again and glanced up.

"Would you like a hug?" She asked gently. Her voice–soothing yet bright–rang in his ears, and possibly his eyes too–because he could feel the tears bubbling in his eyes. He nodded.

And he nodded. He closed his eyes, half-expecting Makii to lunge onto him first as fairies had been described to launch onto their prey. But Makii simply smiled.

She was waiting for him to come first.

Cory slowly shuffled closer to her and opened his arms, wrapping itself on top of Makii's body. There was this radiance, this warmth. Again. Cory rubbed his hands on her shoulder, which then lifted as her arms wrapped around the suit-like coat. Even with the thick coat, he didn't feel as protected as he did in Makii's arms. There was this sense of protection, this warmth that flooded into Cory's body.

His breathing slowed. He could no longer feel his fingers tremble. A lovely blanket had just wrapped Cory around, with a sense of security that bloomed in his heart. Cory's small tears dried, as Makii's hand continued to rub his back. Hum, hum. It was gingerly, like origami paper. Like the dragon's fire, it gave off heat.

And yet...

Nothing like a fairy, that would hurt him. He squeezed her small body tighter in his arms. Actually, she reminded him of his brother, in a distant way.

It was almost like he still had the book with him. Or even better, a companion. She continued to rub his back and embrace him, with such an incandescent embrace. He was enveloped, in how warm and secure he felt. In a simple fairy hug. He squeezed her again.

(Well. This wasn't supposed to happen. Literally.)

In the silence, he heard a small giggle. It cut through the air like scissors.

"That tickles!" She softened her laugh as she smiled at Cory.

Cory breathed and recollected himself. "I do pray that you continue to venture alongside me, and aid me in delivering this letter on behalf of my brethren." He slipped the paper to her lap, and Makii smiled and nodded.