Friends and Harmony

Chapter 14

The Cave and a Revelation

Finally, after hours of walking in the moonlight and through the Outcast Woods, the gang had arrived at a dark and large granite cave. The tan and brown speckled stone floor sparkled in the midnight moon.

"Is this it?" Felix asked.

"It has to be." Henry said. He then began to walk over towards the entrance when he felt something very strong yet soft block him from coming inside. He felt around the entryway with his hands, and it felt like there was something in front of him. Like an unseen magic bubble or an invisible force field. "Guys, there's something invisible in front of the entrance. I can't get through."

"How is that possible?" Tobias asked as he came beside him. He pressed his hand against the invisible bubble. But when he did, a bright green light shone around his palm and the barrier began getting visible and weak.

"Guys." Henry called to the others, getting an idea.

"Way ahead of you, partner." Ritchie said, knowing what Henry had in mind. One by one, each teen placed a hand on the now visible barrier. Orange, yellow, blue, and purple light began glowing around their hands. With all five on it, the barrier soon gave away.

"How did we break the barrier when Henry didn't, if we just touched it?" Violet asked.

"It must be because you guys have found the other Guardian Dragons." Henry theorized. "That way, only they can unlock the sixth Dragon's magic."

"Well, we came this far." Cosette said as she looked down the dark cave.

"No time to hold back now." Henry said. He reached into his satchel and pulled out a flashlight. He flicked it on and a beam of white light came shining through the cave like a beacon.

The gang traveled through the dark, though Violet was a little bit on edge and clutching onto Felix's arm for assurance.

"Oh, I hope we reach the end on this cave soon." She shuddered.

"Me, too." Felix said. "But, you mind loosening your grip a little, Vi? I think you almost cut off my circulation there."

"Oh, sorry." Violet apologized and loosened her tight grip on her friend's arm.

"Guys, we're here." Tobias said to them. The six teens then entered a huge cavern with a big hole in the center of the stone ground, as if it was some sort of den. But, there was nothing in it. "But, where's the sixth Dragon?"

"This, this doesn't make any sense." Henry said confused. He then slid down the hole, with everyone following his lead. Though, Violet almost lost her balance when she did.

"I thought a lady is supposed to have balance and poise." Cosette said when she saw her prim and proper friend almost trip over her own feet.

"Well, poise and grace come in all forms, darling." Violet said as she regained her composure.

"See anything, guys?" Tobias asked, searching the earth beneath him.

"Nothing." Felix said, scanning the convex walls of the crater up towards the open ceiling, where the moon illuminated the very center of the hole like a giant spotlight.

Violet saw Henry grabbing his dagger to scrape some dirt from the walls. She then remembered what she had discovered. "Guys, I remember!"

"Remember what?" Henry asked.

The fashionista looked over at her other friends, then back at him. "I feel we all should sit down for this."

"Why?" Ritchie asked as they all gathered around.

"That symbol on Henry's dagger is the royal crest." Violet revealed.

"WHAT?!" Everyone exclaimed.

"How is that possible?" Henry asked, immediately looking over at the small sharp dagger in his hand. How did he not notice that it was the royal crest engraved on it? He had lived in the castle for five years, and he had never once made the connection. And when he saw the pondering looks on everyone else's faces, he knew they were thinking.

"Henry? How long have you had that dagger?" Ritchie asked.

"Ever since I can remember." He answered as he sheathed it back in its place. "The caretaker at the orphanage told me I had it when she found me on the front steps. That and a blanket that had my name sewn on it."

"And when did she find you?" Felix questioned.

"The date?" Henry asked. "Well, yeah. She made it my birthday since she didn't know my real one. It's actually tomorrow."

The five friends looked at each other. Then, Cosette spoke up. "Henry, did you know what happened that day you presume is your birthday?"

"No." He answered.

"It's when the Lost Prince went missing, because of Alvin." She explained. "The king and queen believed he was lost, others thought he was dead."

"I'm thinking that maybe Their Majesties are right." Tobias said. "Maybe the prince didn't die that night. Maybe... he was found on the front steps of an orphanage."

"What?" Henry said in disbelief.

"Yes!" Violet exclaimed. "Now that I think about it, you do look a lot like the king and queen. And it has been 15 years since the prince disappeared. You could be him!"

"Me?! The prince?!" Henry shouted, standing straight up.

"That would explain everything." Cosette said.

"Besides, what other scenario can explain how you found with a dagger bearing the royal crest?" Ritchie asked.

"Hold everything, guys!" Henry shouted while jumping back to his feet. "I feel like I just got hit on the head with a ton of bricks! You're telling me that I'm the Lost Prince, and that the king and queen, my mentors, are my parents?!"

"That would pretty much sum it up." Felix said.

"And that would explain why Alvin was looking at you weird." Tobias added. His eyes then widened. "Uh-oh. That would mean that he's after you."

No sooner did the words leave his mouth, a dark shadow covered the moonlight coming from the ceiling, making it dim; the only light bright enough was from Henry's flashlight. The wisp of magic that had been following the gang since they entered the woods made itself known. It swirled around the edges of the den and it became bigger and bigger. Until it was about seven feet tall.

The dark blue wisp then came behind Henry and materialized into Alvin the Treacherous, who was laughing like crazy as he grabbed Henry by the throat, making him drop his flashlight.

"HENRY!" The other five shouted. They started towards him, but Alvin made them stop.

"If you young'ns value his life, I suggest you don't take another step." The gang paused in their steps, glaring at him.

Henry struggled vigorously in the tall man's arms. "Get your hands off me!" He shouted as he tried to pry his arms off him, though up to no avail because of his small and skinny frame.

"All in good time, my boy." Alvin said. "But first, how about we see your long-lost mummy and daddy? Oh, I bet it will a wonderful reunion. And, it will also be your last."

"Let him go, you son of a witch!" Cosette said, readying her bow.

"Now, that's not nice talk coming from a little lady." Alvin purred.

"Well, just because we are ladies doesn't mean that we can't say exactly what you are!" Violet retorted back, pointing her sewing scissors at him.

"So, let him go right now, you low-down varmint!" Ritchie said, his hand on his lasso.

"Or else, we'll give you a real fight." Tobias threatened, pointing his pistol at him. Felix had a rocket in his hand, ready to light it.

"Easy, kiddies." Alvin said. "I'm just here to take the Lost Prince to meet his parents."

With that, dark blue magic rapidly began circling around him and Henry, creating a small whirlwind. When the blue twister faded away, they were gone, leaving the other four trapped in the deep den hole.

Author's Note

A/N: And that definitely seems better than a few previous chapters. Let me know what you guys think. I'll see y'all in Chapter 15.

Got to fly! ;)