The One after my Heart

Kyra was woken up from her short nap when she felt her body rocking back and forth. She opened her eyes and found herself lying down in what looked like a small enclosed wooden compartment with two long seats facing each other. The windows on either side were draped with embroidered curtains.

The seat she was curled up on seemed to be covered in a soft blue satin velvet material. She saw the curtains were embroidered with a flag that had the letter D sewed with the design of creepers twisting and turning around it.

Kyra found Nisa curled up sleeping on the seat opposite hers, covered with her red jacket draped on body like a blanket. The blonde-haired teenager was mumbling and snoring as she tossed and turned, seeking a comfortable position in her sleep.

'But where's Maya!?' thought Kyra, being taken aback by the absence of the younger sibling.

Kyra forced herself to sit up quickly and found Maya wasn't anywhere to be in sight. As she warily opened the curtains on her side, and she could see the trees thinning out as they kept passing them by swiftly. They were probably getting out of the forest, perhaps she wondered.

'Are we in a carriage right now?', she wondered to herself. 'But where's Maya!?'

She couldn't help but turn around as she heard the sound of hooves galloping behind her as the carriage moved swiftly. As she turned around, she noticed a small latch window behind her on the wooden walls of the compartment.

Kyra cautiously opened the small rectangular wooden window open. Through the rectangular small window Kyra saw the familiar figure of the middle-aged moustached man's sitting with his back towards her. Beside him sat little Maya, who giggled and squealed in excitement as she sat next to him as the former chuckled.

From time to time, Maya pointed at the animals in front of her and then around, speaking out nonsensical, incoherent words, much to the middle-age nobleman's amusement. Maya's blonde hair, like her sister, whipped in the wind wildly as an excited look spread on her face. She seemed to hold the reigns along with the now amiable looking man as they steered and directed the beasts in front of them.

Kyra's eyes widened as she saw what was driving them forwards. These weren't your usual horses!

In fact, what was pulling this luxuriously decorated carriage were two extremely huge dark-grey beasts that resembled very much like stags. But they were much bigger than the ordinary stag Kyra had seen in pictures. The ones in front of her had sizes that were twice bigger than that of an adult horse. They galloped in full speed with vigour, trouncing everything in their path forwards.

Kyra took in a deep gasp as she saw a flash of spark on their antlers. What was that! Sparks spread across their antlers dispersing into the air as they ran in full speed, pulling the carriage forward.

For a while, Kyra stared at these enormous grey stags whose antlers sparked from time to time, with what looked like electricity. She gazed at these beasts in wonder as her lips parted in surprise.

And then, upon hearing the little one's laughter and non-stop chattering, Kyra let out a relaxed sigh as she saw the young one having her fun. Kyra noticed a wooden creeper had fastened itself around Maya's waist and the man together like a safety harness that kept the little child from falling off accidentally. Kyra guessed it must've been the man's doing and approved his actions.

She knew the middle-aged man meant no harm to them since she'd personally heard the conversation between Nihaiya and this man, who was called Fredrick Dartwood. They were finally in safe hands, and from the words of the children's mother, this man was capable enough to safely escort them back home.

As she recalled Nihaiya's figure, her words resounded in Kyra's head.

Kyra couldn't understand how this woman knew she was related to Lianna Walker. Did she know her mother personally? How was her mother in a fantastical world like this that had people with powers, huge beautiful gorgeous stags whose antlers sparked with electricity like the ones in front of her. Was this a dream or reality? Just what lion-speaking world broom closet did she enter!?

She needed answers immediately to all these questions but knew she couldn't be impatient. More importantly, she had to figure out where the hell she was and how she got here in the first place. At least for now, it looked like the children's mother had the answers for her. Kyra had to meet this queen-like powerful woman as soon as possible. And what was that warning before she left about not revealing her identity to others? What was going on?

Nisa's eyelashes fluttered slowly next to her with her eyebrows crinkled, and she soon opened her eyes and saw Kyra sitting in front of her. With a yawn, she pulled on Kyra's arm as she asked," Sister Kyra, where are we? Where's my sister?"

'"Nisa!! You're awake! How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?" Kyra immediately turned to look at the young teenager and hugged her.

"I feel fine. I actually feel great!". She looked down and felt for the wound, but apart from a hole on her dress where her stomach was, she found nothing. Not even a scar remained.

Kyra gave out a sigh as she relaxed. That miraculous fruit actually worked. It's a pity it was so valuable and rare, or she'd want to taste and sample a taste out of the so-called spirit fruit as well.

Nisa gave a grin as she proudly boasted," Of course this princess is fine! Who dares harm me? Hahahaha"

Kyra couldn't help but be amused at the blonde teenage girl's antics.

"But where's Maya?" asked Nisa with a worried expression as she looked around with a puzzled expression on her face. And upon Kyra's pointing backwards, she stepped forward and peeped out the window.

"Maya! What are you doing?!" she exclaimed as she looked at her sister, holding onto the reins and enjoying herself.

"Riding", came the curt reply as the little girl turned her head sideways and smiled back cheerily.

Upon noticing the two females awake, Fredrick, with a loud bellow, slowed down the pace of the stags by pulling onto their reins.

Soon he brought the beasts and the carriage to a stop and got down with Maya in his arms.

Nisa and Kyra saw the door to the carriage open and saw Fredrick Dartwood standing outside with Maya in his arms. He gently let Maya get down on the ground.

"Sister Kyra! Nisa!" said the little girl joyfully as she hugged the two women who got out.

Nisa hugged her sister and immediately started pulling on the little one's cheeks in anger as she chastised her for sitting outside dangerously on the speeding coachman's seat.

"It's alright, these stags are bred in our family and aren't wild as compared to their counterparts. Nothing to worry about, since I made sure she was safe", reassured the moustached man with a smile.

Nisa gave an angry glare at the person who'd stabbed her to death.

"Ahem-I see you've both had a good sleep. I'm Fredrick Dartwood. I apologise for my earlier behaviour. It was all a serious misunderstanding. I regret attacking and not listening to you.", he said with his ears red in embarrassment as he gave them a slight bow.

And then he continued in a friendlier tone,"I've been tasked by the highness to escort you girls back home. She's very worried right now."

"Hmmph! As long as you know what this princess is capable of!" said Nisa with a glare. But upon hearing about her mother, she refrained from rebuking the nobleman in front of her further and embarrassing him further.

"Yes, yes just as the little madam says so.", replied Fredrick as his moustache on his lips quivered. He gave an odd expression as he noticed the similarity in tone and the way the alliance head and her daughter spoke. Sure enough, they were pretty similar even in personality. He couldn't help but give a glance at the little one who clutched her sister's arm and wondered if she would turn out similarly as well in future.

Nisa's mood seemed to have improved as she heard him address as 'little madam'. Hmm, this title, she liked!

Kyra nodded, saying it was alright since she'd gotten the gist of what actually went on already. It wasn't his fault, though she found it odd to converse with a man who had, in fact, just tried to kill her and the girls just a while ago.

"I'm glad you're alright and glad to see you calmed down now.", spoke Fredrick as he looked at Kyra with an intense gaze, still checking for any bipolar switch in behaviour. You never knew when they flipped out after all. He made a mental note of keeping an eye on this one.

Kyra nodded silently as she raised her eyes to look around to see where they had stopped.

As she looked down further, Kyra saw a vast city ahead in the distance that seemed to stretch for miles and miles beyond. Nisa and Maya looked on curiously as well since it was their first time looking at something different from the capital where they stayed.

The sun was just beginning to set behind them. As he noticed the girls staring curiously at the vast city ahead, Fredrick's voice proudly came from the side, "Welcome to Dartwood city!"