act 1
ext. a high school
Children scatter around the sides of a high school yard, either conversing or hurrying to their next class. A mysterious, womanly voice breaks through the calm and quiet scene—which looks like it should be bustling with teen voices.
queen Lillian (V.O)
… If you could transverse a world entirely dedicated to orchestrating the emotional needs of someone you loved, would you choose…
int. the high school classroom
The scene descends on a window, piercing through as though a phantom exploring the world. Perspective turns upon Luie, as though viewing as all-seeing eyes, honing sharply in on the boy tapping his pencil on his desk, looking bored but strangely... contemplative. We have been the eyes of this mysterious ghost as it watches him in a hovering trace. He has his hand smooshed up against his cheek. His hair is naturally curled upward, a bronze brown, with eyes as green as ever trees.
queen Lillian (V.o)
To save it?
professor Eisen
Sanders? (Grabbing attention)
Luie looks up with synced motion, mimicking the attentive flick of his pencil's skyward beat. He pauses from his thinker's expression as though brought back to reality. He realizes he's being called on, and getting up from his slouch at his own time and leisure, he clicks down the pencil.
The womanly voice continues as Luie seems to answer his professor almost muted, as though all sound goes reverent at her tender but authoritative and wise presence.
queen Lillian (V.O)
The most obvious answer is- "Yes, a thousand times." (sweetly)
professor Eisen
Thank you.
Luie relaxes back to a slouch and leans his back against the chair, relieved. He looks to the window, as though a feeling of anticipation for something to occur...
queen Lillian (V.o)
But not all heroes begin with such clear, noble distinctions of wonder, love, enchantment,... and understanding. (Melancholy)
The phantom —acting as our first-person view —backs up, about to abandon the young hero in a sorrowful retreat. Still watching Luie, it begins its slow flight towards the window...
The school bell rings, sucking the attention back just before the presence exits. Luie turns to the door, the perspective is no longer associated with the phantom camera. His hasty movements to get out of the classroom aren't from the excitement of the bell, but simply to move with the intensity of the crowd that his peers present.
professor Eisen
Luie—Ehem, (mistake) Sanders. (clearer)
Professor Eisen rests one hand on his desk, using his other to gesture an impatient 'come here' as he has for the last several weeks of literature. He usually tries to use last names, but he's gotten to know Luie pretty well due to this routine.
Due to this repetition, Luie stops near the door, leaning his head back as though hoping the professor had given up. Was this the anticipating 'change' he had earlier hoped for? An escape from the pestering encouragements..? Guess not.
Students brush past him, and Luie has to actively fight to pull away from the safety of following the crowd and choose the opposite course back to his professor's desk.
To block the other students from seeing who was fighting against the current, he flips his hoodie up, also trying to convey how he didn't want to speak to the Professor about this... again.
He tucks his hands in his grey and white jacket's pockets, a sweater that was only worn simply to avoid eye contact with Professor Eisen on these particular Mondays when the Professor feels the need to speak up.
Professor Eisen clears his throat, he wants a little more respect than a covered face.
Luie just tilts his head back, his hoodie now revealing somewhat of his obedient but drooped eyes.
professor Eisen
... Luie. (Kindly entreating)
Professor Eisen faces him with half his body turned, standing upright in his brown, fuzzy and retro-looking striped jacket. He's mostly bald with his hair thinning on the sides.
He seems nervous to mention this topic again...
professor Eisen
Have you... umm... (Changing tactics) You nailed it again on your poetry assignment. (Encouraging praise)
Seeing no clear response from Luie, he fidgets and blows out a long-winded exhale. He is trying to find the right words that could steer this young man towards a positive career.
professor Eisen
It was fantastic...
He's still unsure if his words are reaching Luie at all. Trying to look under his hoodie by leaning down to look up into it, Luie gives him nothing but a slight smile.
He quits trying to see his face and just continues.
professor Eisen
Have you looked over those writing competitions I sent everyone over email?
luie
Everyday. (Nonchalantly)
professor Eisen
...Luie, (Trying to be convincing) you have a gift.
Luie rocks on his heels, his head still back and eyes still looking up inside the roof of his hoodie to avoid his professor's gentle pressuring.
professor eisen
It's clear you recognize your own passion for it... I haven't seen a student with this much talent be so complacent about it.
luie
I'm sure you have, Professor Eisen. (Dismissive)
professor Eisen
I don't want to give up on you.
He tries to be stern but loving, struggling to keep Luie motivated.
Luie returns his eye line to Professor Eisen's, that was good news! He gives a half-baked smile with equally half-given energy to Professor Eisen. Maybe he'll stop pestering him about it now.
luie
So there is a way out of this. (Jokingly excited)
professor eisen
Luie... You know! (idea!) Poetry can be cool these days. No, I'm serious! Slam poetry is taking off! It's like.. podcasts! But with real edge. you'll love it!
As Professor Eisen goes to his cabinets, he pulls out a flyer for a slam poetry competition.
This may be his last chance to convince him... all he has left to give.
professor eisen
Even if contests aren't your style or... thing, you can at least participate by just being there!
Luie's face begins to change to a quiet longing as he stares at such a scary proposition...
Against the norm...
No one is in the room... it's just him and the kind professor, who is trying to hand him a supportive opportunity.
He pulls out one of his hands slowly, cautiously, as though the paper could snap at his fingers and hurt him at any time. He finally pinches his fingers at the corner of the paper, gently, but with enough pressure that it can't escape his grasp now.
It's in his hands... it's in his hands... It could be seen.
He jolts out of his fascination and back to being alert.
He subtly tries to look to the door, but his hoodie is now blocking his view from checking his surroundings. So, his once defense was now acting as blinders... focusing him back to the colorful flyer with a powerful image of people at a mic, looking enwrapped in emotional statements.
After a minute of reading the flyer's direct call to action, he slowly pulls the other hand out to take off the hoodie's top, allowing his eyes to fully see the advertisement. He flicks his eyes wearily to the door, though...
No one... just students passing nonchalantly with their heads down towards their phones.
Finally, Professor Eisen sees a breakthrough!
professor eisen
I know you'll love it, just sit there and bask in the snaps. (goofily but reassuring)
He snaps his fingers in a goofy show of excitement, hoping for a light laugh as Luie can't help but give him a more genuine smile at his silly way of trying to get him interested.
Well... maybe today would be different.
luie
...I'll think about it.
Tucking the paper into his hoodie's front pocket, he suddenly feels the need to not disappoint the professor after all that work he put into trying to help him.
luie
Thanks... Professor Eisen.
Professor Eisen gives him a happy smile back, it's more than his job, it's his life's dream. Overjoyed after Luie heads out, he turns with energy still buzzing around his body at having helped.
queen Lillian (V.O)
Not all Heroes are called to such a whimsical fate... and even fewer are chosen... It's what we make of it that brings us our true happiness and joy. We are all called by fate's hands being laid upon our heads... but we are not chosen until we have demonstrated our merit and commitment to such idealistic feelings.
Professor Eisen bounces out the door with student paperwork in one arm as the womanly voice once again commands the focus and drives the scene onward.
int. THE HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY OUTSIDE CLASSROOM
The camera is once again swept up into following the phantom's viewpoint from the front of Professor Eisen exiting into the hallway, accomplished in his proud stride at assisting Luie's clear yearning.
queen Lillian (V.O)
Many have dreams. Fantasies that help them keep on living. To never give them up is their courage and strength. Yet... some heroes do not come to such brave answers... but elude them.
ext. Path home
Luie is walking home, no more ghost viewpoints. The flyer rolled tightly up and flattened like a ruler sticking out of his hoodie's front pocket.
He has large headphones on his ears, bouncing to the beat as he casually entertains himself.
queen Lillian (V.O)
The course of one's own fate may lead them to compassion upon others, a sense of selflessness, and even the makebelieve of simply wishing to sustain an everlasting affinity with nothing more than their own strength and moxie. Unnerved... by being unloved...
Luie, in his distracted state, suddenly breaks back to reality when his eyes rest on a familiar figure, his sister. She adorns a bright fairy backpack, walking on the adjacent sidewalk ahead of him, across the street.
Her head is down, but she has blood on her pink shirt's shoulder and a bandage on her cheek.
The sight shocks Luie, who immediately rushes through the street without any prior thought.
luie
H-hey! Hey! (growing hysteria)
queen lillian (V.O)
But love,... is a two-way street. (Warning)
He wildly waves his hand around to try and get her to stop, shaken from the obvious blood marks on her shirt's shoulder-length sleeve as she turns around, her eyes bloodshot from tears.
Susan Sanders glances beyond Luie, then looks to be shrieking, but the music in his ears plays over it.
His rushing halts only when his natural reflexes sink in, and he jumps back at a breaking car, bumping into sight as it jabs his leg quite hard, making him flop against the hood just a little bit. The momentum of the car wasn't anything too serious, as Luie pushes off of it and hops back while jumping on his good leg. He stares a moment at the car before hurrying to grab his now aching leg.
A man leans his head out the window, shouting mutely, but Luie only hears static... then his music in his headphones again. He looks over to his sister, her face looking as though perfectly still in fear at what she had almost witnessed. His mind processes the music of his headphones again, realizing that's why he can't hear as he aggressively rips them off, adrenaline kicking him into a fueled state.
Joe
-If I wasn't watching! You could have been killed jaywalking! Hey! ... You alright? (Concerned shouting)
Luie takes second glances at the man, before hobbling over to his sister.
He grips both sides of her arms with his own hands, keeping her there, but mostly to support his own wobbling self.
luie
Are you okay..? (Still in shock)
Susan is too shaken up to vocally respond now.
luie
What happened? (trying to speak) Why... (Panting) are you bleeding? (Trying to catch breath) Why... are you outside of school?
The man in the car, Joe, moves his arm fully out of the car to grip the bottom of its door. He squints his eyes to try and see what's going on. He finally notices the girl's shirt and his eyes widen in alarm.
Joe
Hey, what's going on? Does she need help?
Luie barely turns his head back to the man, breathing for a second as it finally dawns on him that he's been hit by a car, somewhat.
And then...
The awful epiphany of what could have happened...
He looks up back at his sister, losing his strength, as she is also shaken... and finding it hard to breathe.
queen Lillian (V.O)
The hero we're searching for... the one who will willingly save this world... must be struck by such a fate.
int. Man's car
queen Lillian (V.O)
I'll ask once more, for good measure.
Luie and Susan are in the man's car, driving them home. He looks back at his sister, who hasn't spoken a word to either of them. He takes his attention off of her to roll up his pant leg, looking down at his leg, turning it carefully to one side and the other. it hurts, but nothing else seems to be there other than a bad bruise. No broken bones.
Joe
...You seriously okay?
luie sanders
I'm... I'm fine.
Joe doesn't look convinced from the car mirror.
Joe
Is she fine?
Luie again turns to Susan, but she just rocks with the bumps of the car, head completely down. Not wanting to deal with two situations right now, Luie just answers for her.
luie
She'll be fine.
Luie wanted only one problem at a time. This was not the day he had been anticipating... but his senses were never wrong.
Joe
Sweetie, you okay?
He looked more fervently into the mirror towards Susan, not buying Luie's crap. When she didn't say anything other than a sniffled sob, he nodded.
He looked back to Luie, serious and still upset.
Joe
She's not fine.
He clicks on the blinker, turning a corner, and parking the car on the side.
Joe
I'm speaking to your mother. Is she home?
ext. home
Luie gets out of the car, limping to the other side to open the door for his sister. When she doesn't get out, he grips the door and moves more in, staring at her as though indirectly telling her to.
She finally unbuckles and gets out while Joe waits on the two before approaching the door.
queen Lillian (V.O)
Would you choose to save a world of someone else's creation... simply because reality failed enough to provide one that cared?
The man knocks with some power to the door, turning to pull up his pants and look with an exhale of worry and stress at the two kids.
Luie looks up at him, then flips on his hoodie, mimicking his avoidance of Professor Eisen.
queen Lillian (V.O)
Or... will you be the reason it does?
The man gruffs at Luie's attitude, rubbing his hand to his mouth as he looks back to the door, then to Susan, concerned.
int. Sander home
Mom is washing dishes, having already prepared the meal on the table for Luie, expecting him around this time before the door is harshly knocked on again. She jolts, whipping the towel she was using to dry her hands down by the sink, alarmed and upset, thinking it was her son.
mom
Oh-! Gosh dang it, Lu! (Angrily)
She visibly crunches up her fingers into a fist by her ears before storming towards the door.
mom
I told you! I put your key in your backpack's back pocket!
She stomps towards the door, still wringing her hands that were somewhat still wet from the soggy towel and opens the door, gasping at the sight.
mom
Susan!
She is taken aback and rushes to lower herself to move her hair out of her face and see more clearly her bandage on her cheek and bloody shirt's shoulder sleeve. Luie tries to side-step at an angle around his mother but she grabs his arm, seeing him favoring one leg.
mom
What happened!? Are you hurt, too?
Joe
Ma'am, I'm Joe Jetson. I would like to speak to you about that very thing.
Mom lets go of Luie only after he jerks his arm away.
luie
She won't talk. (harshly)
Luie started for the steps, still limping a bit, but finding a rthymn nonetheless.
mom
Lu, don't you dare leave this- Sir, I need you to wait a moment-
joe
Understandable.
Compliant on her terms, Joe steps back and puts his hands in his pockets as he looks at her consoling the little girl in a bit of a frantic soothing.
mom
Su, come on baby, look at mommy. What happened to you? Lu! Get down here this instant! Lu!
Joe looks up to see Luie already taking careful and painful steps up the stairs, a hand on the railing to support each paced retreat. Luie no longer wished to associate with the world around him, his mind starting to rehearse the fearful 'almost' from what occurred to injure his right leg, and his frustrations at his sister's silence even towards their mother.
susan
He... almost got hit by a car.
mom
A car! (incredulous)
joe
Well, he did get hit, but not much was done. Still a hit, Ma'am. I'm worried about your kids.
mom
Were you hit, too!? (Speaking to Susan)
joe
No, ma'am, but if you can believe it, I found her like this. Your son was running across the street at the speed of rockets flarin' when I barely hit the breaks. I think he's got a real hurt leg but he's faking it alright. Your daughter really concerns me, she hasn't said nothin' till now.
Mom
Lu! (Shouting)
Luie finally stops just before reaching the top of the stairs.
susan
...They were... trying to take it away...
mom
What away, dear? (Tenderly)
Susan carefully takes her backpack off, Lu now looking over his shoulder, as she pulls out her handmade book of drawings strung together by a crudely crafted, makeshift string-binding of her fantasy world.
mom
Oh... your drawings?
susan
My world.
Mom and Joe look at each other before Mom rushes her in.
mom
Luie! Get your sister cleaned up and changed.
luie
Why me!?
mom
I'm sorry, sir. Your name was?
joe
Joe Jetson.
Mom
I'm sorry for the inconvenience, thank you for taking them home.
joe
Ma'am, please don't apologize. I'm glad they're... well, they're not okay, and that concerns me. Do you need anything? I would feel awful better if you let me compensate somehow for the bad leg.
mom
If we have any complications, I'll give you a call.
joe
Let me give you my number.
mom
That will be fine. LU!
luie
I'm getting her!
Luie waits with an arm out to take her arm when she got up the stairs, moving her to her bedroom's door.
int. susan's room
luie
You can change your clothes without me, but Mom's gonna want to look at that bandage. Why would you get hurt over a stupid journal?
susan
It's not stupid..! It's everything to me!
luie
More than your life?
Susan
They can't kill me...
Luie moves into the bathroom.
int. susan's room's bathroom
Luie gets the first aid out and closes the door so she can change.
luie
Why risk it for something you could just make again?
Susan responds through calling from beyond the closed door.
susan (V.O)
You wouldn't understand...
luie
You're right, I don't.
He closes the cabinet once he got the supplies opened and laid them out on the bathroom's counter near the sink when Susan comes in with her pajamas on.
luie
What's that journal, anyway?
susan
Stardelleia.
She raises her cheek for him to apply a new bandage too.
luie
Oh, your little novel world.
susan
It's fairies! (Sharply)
luie
Whatever.
He talks as he peels back her bandage, she winces but he sees the marks.
luie
Geezes, Suz! What, you fight off a cat or something?
susan
... she's got like... praying mantis scythes for nails...
luie
So it's a girl?
susan
They're all like insects...
luie
Multiple girls. (Concluding)
He was disgusted by that, getting the first aid and starting on it again.
luie
Little girls shouldn't fight... Dadgum, girl, your nurse made a mess of this!
susan
They shouldn't fight... but fairies do. (Cheering up) fairies fight beetles, pixies, and sprites! Beetles only fight to be better beetles... Pixies fight to be better tricksters and dumb Sprites don't know anything about being nice.
luie
What, like the bug? And fighting a soda can? Some world peril you got there. Isn't a pixie the same as a fairy?
susan
No, they're all stinkbugs. (giggles) Pixies love mean tricks and sprites join in on the mischief. They're all really bad...
luie
Someone with scratch marks that deep shouldn't be giggling about nothing.
Luie's concern reflects the severity of the injury, the gashes looking as though someone truly dug into skin... no wonder she was bleeding so much.
susan
And Princess Amilia is the strongest fairy... she has the raindescent wings.
luie
The what?
Luie is clearly distracted by his discovery of the 'fight' as Susan notices, moving away as Luie stops treating her a moment.
luie
Hey! Mom's gonna think I didn't-!
Susan comes back with her book, opening it up on the counter and moving the medical supplies away, showing a clear lack of acknowledging her condition.
susan
Princess Amilia's talents are wide-ranging, so she gets to have special powers.
Luie sees that the picture has a fairy with multiple colored wings.
luie
Oh, it's iridescent. Rainbowic. (Correcting her from before)
susan
No, it's magic!
luie
Okay. (sighs)
He threw with the nonsense for one day, and gets back to work on tidying up her cheek. He turns her cheek to tilt up to him again as she continues without missing a beat.
susan
She had the greatest fairy rite out of all the fairies... and she's in charge of destroying the stinkbugs and protecting Stardelleia.
luie
Who?
susan
It's the fairy world.
luie
Right. How about you tell them fairies to protect you and keep you away from mean girls?
Susan
Beetles, sprites, and pixies.
luie
Oh my! (sarcastic Wizard of Oz impression)
Susan
They really are!
Luie
Shush. (Growing annoyed)
He finishes and rubs her head, attempting to move out of the bathroom before wincing in pain, holding himself up by the counter and grabbing his leg.
This stops Susan a moment, looking at him and pausing in wanting to help, her hands outstretched to him.
She looks up but he's had enough of this, limping to the door.
luie
Word to the wise... might want to keep your little dream world to yourself. You won't make friends still being into fairies at your age.
susan
I never asked you for your opinion! (Offended)
luie
Mom's coming. (Dismissive)
Susan gasps and looks in the mirror at the new large bandaid and then the cotton one she had.
susan
It's not bleeding anymore.
luie
What? Like you wanted it to?
He almost heads out when she grabs the back of his hoodie.
susan
Wait!
She scrambles to get her paper and art supplies.
susan
Just a second!
Luie leans his head back, blowing out some air before looking around her room from the bathroom's door, and hopping out.
int. susan's room
It's littered with paper and drawings... all scattered over the walls and floors... there isn't a single thing in her room that isn't about her fairy world...
He looks down, saddened.
queen Lillian (V.O)
Sometimes... Heroes need a princess's motivation... Though that may seem counterintuitive, many have learned that it's better to have someone inspire action... than to have no one there at all.
Luie looks back to see Susan hand him a drawing, which he takes and looks at. It's the Princess Amilia, her interesting wings, and some fairies around her. Although not the most talented artist, she captures mostly the essence of what she wishes to convey.
There are many other fairies around her, but each has a similar color.
queen Lillian (V.O)
For princesses... cast fate.
luie
... Do the colors mean anything? (Impulsive question)
Susan smiles, seeing he noticed.
Susan
Yeah! They're the magic assigned to their Dream Sign!
luie
Uh-huh...
He pulls out the flyer, putting the drawing with it.
luie
Stop getting in trouble.
susan
Hang it up in your room! She'll protect your dreams.
luie
Oh? She will? (flirtatiously) Oh-ho-ho, well... does she have a boyfriend?
susan
No. (excitedly) But she can't marry you.
luie
What? Not tall, dark, and-...
He looks back at the drawing.
luie
Sparkly enough for her?
susan
You don't have a Dream Sign anymore.
Luie pauses, almost as though strangely offended by that comment. He turns from the door, no longer interested in leaving.
luie
Excuse me?
susan
I gave you one, remember? You threw it away.
He stares at her, not sure what she means before Mom enters quickly.
mom
Thank you, Luie, I'll take it from here. Go put your stuff down and take care of your leg. I'll go and check on you in just a second.
He feels like he's being pushed out of the room, but doesn't fight it. Luie just rubs his leg, looking back at Susan... he sees Mom close the door and feels as though that's life.
Always shut out from the most interesting things to him.
He walks down the hall to his room.
int. Luie's room
Luie stumbled onto his bed... laying belly first, pulling out the drawing and whimsically flying it around a second as though looking for a place to hang it up.
luie
Dreams... pfft. (lazily)
He finally pinned the picture up next to his bed, his room was covered with band posters and musicians, along with books and other photos of family and friends. Mingled in the mix are letters of farewells by his friends. One reads: "Miss you, dude!", "Moving sucks, but-!", "Don't forget to text me!" layered over one another.
Though the picture of Princess Amilia had moderate detail, it was mostly subpar due to his sister's age and talents, but he stared at it anyway... looking over its details with a level of admiration for his sister's creativity and respect that she gave it to him.
luie
(Thinking in his head) How does she have such courage..? To fight for what makes her happy... even when it leads to her getting hurt.
He unrolled the crinkled flyer for the slam poetry competition, then looked at Princess Amilia's face on the drawing. The wings were crudely drawn in different colors, but all were surrounding one of many different colors: blue, green, yellow, red, and pink.
Luie felt his head drop and his eyes close...
luie
Dear princess of dreams...
He rolled over onto his back, his arm over his eyes.
luie
You failed today, to me and my mom's great dismay.
A small wind begins to blow around like a circle in the room, but faint... only the posters, letters, and Princess Amilia's drawing move along with a lampshade and the blinders on the windows.
luie
From rainbow, iridescent wings you arose... to a vast fairy kingdom were you enthroned...
More magic begins as sparkling, gold and sanded dust gets lightly sprayed under his door, getting pushed into the room by the circling light wind.
luie
Oh, great guardian fantasy. Why give my sister illusions of safety?
The dust spirals a little, as though dancing to his words, and as his eyes are covered by his arm, he doesn't notice it begin to drift into the air above his bed... slowly circling like a glittering galaxy of light.
luie
The little girl's world you claim to carry, was once again parried by the evils of tiny, boasting beetles,
The dust forms the image of Beatrice's Beetle persona, laughing her cruel way.
luie
the might of spritely sprites,
Bright's Sprite persona whimsically smirks as the dust forms her face and flies it in an arch before it dissipates back into the circling dust, snickering.
luie
And the gutsy teasing of perilous pixies.
Trixie's Pixie persona grins with a sharp and twisted giggle as her image forms and fades in a similar circling motion over his bed.
luie
Have they turned you over? You're nothing more than a hopeless daydream.
The picture of Amilia begins to glow and flap more rapidly in the wind now. It's as though the princess herself is offended...
luie
And my sister, the doomed lover of such makebelieve... she suffers from such insectual power... Of which, you cannot save. If you really could, then...
The wind picks up as he turns to the side, still eyes closed, arm now outstretched off the side of the bed. Purple, almost the shape of wings, begins to form like rising light from a sunset from his back... not fully formed, as the dust of magic gets stronger by such a shape being formed.
luie
Then why not spare my leg?
He leaned down and gripped it, wincing as he let himself fall again to laying on his back.
luie
Oh, why do little girls fight and tarry in lands where there are such things as protecting fairies? Where everyone is saved, especially by magic chanting. Enchanted worlds only cease the fears of the unknowns, when everything is their own designs... Then what reason do they have for meaning when they can replace it with a rhyme? Do they need a car to jam them awake? I say not, though wish the lot, to grow up someday.
His mind suddenly raced to the car coming at him... but instead of himself, it was Susan... and his mouth winced at the thought and he turned on his bed.
luie
To carry such dreams... winds you up dead!
He threw the flyer in his hands on the ground but it flapped up into the wind instead. Now his eyes opened to see the mess of the rushing wind, it now being so fierce it was creating a racket the second his eyes opened.
The flyer unfolded in the wind and flew in it's dusty cosmos.
Instead of fear, Luie leaned up on his bed, and continued his poetry angrily into the sandy vortex.
luie
Peers sneer, and demons abide, to all those who have such ambitions to hide! I scorn your fake worlds of peace, there is no rest, if you're all that's in their heads. Your colorful world doesn't tempt me one bit! I was a kid once... I'm glad my leg got hit!
He's slammed down by the wind as it moves through his hair and pushes him down. His eyes are now in fear and confusion.
He's jolted by the drawing up by his bed as it violently thrashes in the wind before being ripped off the wall from wince it was pinned.
He turned his attention to his window in disbelief at it being shut... the purple wings that were forming faded like light and were gone. He turns back to his door to see the sands flooding in as he moves off the bed but favors his leg. He hadn't felt nor noticed anything else but the sands and winds.
He hobbles and hops a little to the door.
luie
Mom..?! Su?!
He opens the door to the small, narrow hallway... and then... a bright light.
Luie holds his hands up to block its shining radiance before it dies down. He tried to see through fine gold flakes of sand being blown at him, getting caught on him and making him shimmer somewhat around his face, clothes, and hair.
He thought himself dreaming and gripped his leg again as though to pinch themselves awake, but winced at the pain and knew it wasn't a dream. He rose a hand to his face as he tried to move through the whirling winds and lighted doorway into Susan's room.
As he was in front of Susan's door now, the wind picked up, his hoodie blown off his head as his headphones shook a little around his neck where he had last placed them.
He was thrown onto the ground and tried to struggle as the wind now reversed itself in its circular fashion to pull him into the door instead of pushing outwardly.
He gripped a hand tightly to the doorframe, pushing forward with it to lean his head out and squint his eyes to see what was causing such a strange occurrence, jamming one foot to the doorframe before the other, which caused him a lot of pain.
luie
Grr...AAHHH!
He tried to grit against the pain to keep himself from being pushed into the room, as the door was torn from it's hinges and spiraled into what looked like a hurricane of sparkling gold sand that twinkled in a whirlwind of papers...
int. susan's room
The tornado of swirling drawings had taken over the entirety of space within his sister's room, along with the grainy sands, glistening in golden shine. He couldn't see Susan or Mom.
The sands were then struck with lightning from within the vortexing light, zapping them into sharp, spiky crystals. The sands then collided in the vast, spiraling wind storm with the paper drawings that were pulled from their walls and the floor, melting into their shape upon contact to create a mirror-glass panel. The wind was wild, but the paper and crystals flew as though gracefully, magically soft and beautiful... morphing into each other to take the form of rowed panels that connected to make a doorway... a single, tall and long passage of entry like a reflective window.
Luie felt the wind turn and about-face by curving its forward blow to now circle back and push him towards the clear surface with even greater force now, as though no wind was blowing from the room anymore, as the swirling stopped and became one big suction.
His leg was killing him, slipping and bending his knee as he couldn't fight the pressure. The sands picked up along his back as though he was in an Arabian desert, being forced into the square glass.
He actively fought the reverse wind before the sands gave one final push back, rotating him off the door frame and into the room, having him knocked him up as the drawing of Princess Amilia flew straight under his feet.
He watched it pass before the wind slammed him down again and the sand spun him around and around on his back like a turtle stuck upside on his shell, kicking and fighting, but coughing up sand as he went.
The panels, linking up in their rows and columns that flashed the portal entryway, bursting into a light that revealed a world within, as though stating it was ready now. The tall-standing mirror swallowed him through as he was led by the sand and the wind... allowing a brief drop that was barely three steps on a stairway.
Luie was freaking out, now practically drowning in a usually large mound of sand as he fell onto it to cushion some of the fall. He let loose a muffled scream at the short descent down.
ext. Stardelleia marketplace
He spits and, while laying on his back, tries to dust off sand before jolting up and looking around...
He jumps on all fours as though another reflex, but grips his bad leg from the movement. Then... the amazement sets in.
A... expansive world... Like a fairy barbie movie.
Frosted buildings, bedazzled gems along the pathways and roads,... beauty salons, colorfully decorated people in ridiculously exaggerated, doll-like clothing.
He rubs the sand out of his eyes,... takes another look... then slowly tries to put his headphones back on to hear the music was still playing in them...
Dumfounded.
Someone from behind him calls out before he can fully rest on his knees and take in what was happening.
General
Hey, you!
His entire body shakes as he has a mini-fit in place, having a comical spaz on the ground before flopping and kicking over to see who surprised him. The gruff voice just 'hmph's to the side as though not impressed.
Luie's completely silent and still, looking at a ridiculously long and exaggerated white, sparkling beard and mustache with sprinkles of different colors carefully hidden within it... Like a cupcake. The man was a bit plump, but broad and certainly a match in combat. Large with bright gold armor, and plenty of men with matching armor behind him, but in silver. They weren't nearly as decorated and intricate as his medals and wrapped toga around his neck that also flowed to his waist, a scarlet crimson that trailed just above his ankles in the back... was it an adorning cape that wrapped around him?
This... was nothing like what his sister could draw.
This... was like what she wished she could draw, or animate, or... whatever.
luie
...Where am I? (struck, out of his element, as though he's fighting speechlessness.)
General
Hmph, soft-spoken my gum-bears! You're in Stardelleia now, boy! Hmm... doesn't have much for appearances, does he?
The general leaned over towards him before using his sword's case to poke Luie's stomach and lean up one of his arms, examining him.
general
Emhmm, emhmm. Leeeean. (spoken side-of-mouth.)
He nods to a man behind him, who nods seriously at his judgment in visual agreement and equal criticism.
general
To think,... this is most unimpressive... but a rare magic color emitted from ya... so... I guess I'll trust the magic. Heave-ho, Knight Guard!
Knight guards
HO!
luie
NOO!
Luie was lifted up, paraded almost as he struggled but gripped his bad leg.
luie
Stop-AH! oww.. Please!
general
Hahah! Look at that, lads! At least he's got manners! That should come in handy!
The Knight Guards mockingly laugh the tease at him as he continues to try and struggle... then gasps when they reveal wings and fly up into the air.
Knight Guards
(Singing vehemently) We are the Knight guard.
Day or night.
We are the Knight Guard!
And we'll put up a decently fair fight!
We are united, through our flight!
We spread our wings, for our Queen, and we shall~ not turn back~ in fright!
They fly up with him on their shoulders, as he looks over the vast world in wonder and fear... truly, a little girl's paradise.
luie
Why am I here..? What's going on..? (quietly)
No one answers him and he settles back to let the 'winds of chance' carry him wherever that may be, resting a second as he grips his head, dumbfounded.
They fly off into the distance...
ext. Castlegrounds
After a while of flying... they head to what appears to be a castle in the distance.
The Knight Guards look tired, Luie has stopped struggling but sits with a pout and arms folded, realizing they were bent on carrying him towards the castle whether he liked it or not...
Their singing continued...
knight Guards
(Wearily singing) We... are the Knight guard.
Is it close?
We are the Knight Guard...
And this song is annoying us the most!
We may be tired, we'll land soon!
We can't complain, nothing to gain, and we all~ have to use~ the bathroom!~
Luie looks over at a high-noted operatic Knight who lands in tears after he finishes the song and falls to his knees.
Knight Guard #1
Oh Goddess, oh Susan. I'm gonna kneel over and barf.
general
Get ahold of yourself, soldier.
knight guard #1
Lean? You called him-
He grabs the General and climbs up his armor to grip the neck's protruding armor gap under the General's chin, shaking him.
Knight Guard #1
LEANNN!? (disgruntled in a comical way)
general
Well, (huffs a bit) a buck fifty?
Guesting to Luie as though an approximate weight class.
The Knight Guards groan, as though believing Luie's MUCH fatter.
general
D'oh! (Frustrated by their complaints) It's not my fault you all skipped wing day!
Knight Guards
Awwh..! (emotionally wounded)
Knight Guard #2
(In distance) Why's he gotta bring that up all the time?
Luie shifts on top of the knights, getting fed up with their shenanigans but strangely feeding off their comical energy, as though he can't help himself. He's conditioned himself to follow the crowd, so his energy radiates that as well.
luie
Look, I don't think any guy has a beef with being carried like a sack of lumpy gelatin by a bunch of clanky armor-wearing loonies, but my one-star review is because no one has put me down, yet..? (Implying)
He waited a moment as the knights all looked at each other, then seemed to shrug and tighten their lips as they literally dropped him to the dirt and laughed as Luie yelped in mid-air.
general
There's a slight fairy fire in this boy's spirit... a bit old to not have wings... but eh.
Knight Guard #1
The Princess said he wasn't a fairy, though, right?
General
Hmph, we'll see about that.
The intense stare of judgment made Luie sit on the ground, yet again, wondering if that was a gay joke, but realizing it wasn't and got up to brush himself off.
At the first possible second he could try, walking through the archway of the fairytopia castle, he tried to make a break for it.
knight guard #2
Hey!
In a lame hobble attempt, he parkoured over a bush and gave an all-for-nothing, free-for-all mad-dash sprint through the gardens while enduring the pain from his bad leg.
Due to the Knight Guards' weariness, he was able to actually move pretty well, even with a hurt leg, to get away from them.
general
You flapping, daft daffodils! Buzz like the fiery dragonflies you are and get that runaway boy!
Passing the garden with statues of the royal family, taking notice of the three, a man and woman being old and what looks like the princess in the center with the other two looming over her, Luie quickly ducks down behind a barrel and hides as the fairy Knight Guards take to the sky in search of him.
When the coast is mostly clear, Luie carefully climbs up on the barrel, favoring his injured leg and pulling it up with a painful groan. He then tries to jump through the window of the kitchen, but stumbles when a shrieking fairy maid sees him and rolls on the ground.
int. castle
Luie only pauses to look at the fairy maid for a minute before she pushes out green magic from herself. The magic fogs him and he coughs through it, rubbing his eyes before looking to see he's floating slightly.
She grabs a broom and starts whacking him with it, which pushes him down to the ground but he floats back up to get whacked again down by her broom.
luie
Lady-AH!... Please-AH..! I'm trying to get out of here!
He fights to grab the broom, and by pulling it, he propels himself and the broom deeper into the castle through an open door.
luie
Woooahh..!
Fairy Maid
Help! Intruder! Another insect! Help, help! Knight Guard!
Luie flies further into the castle and realizes he can use the broom and his newfound 'floaty' ability to maneuver himself around... Like a flying broomstick.
luie
Wo-woah.. haha! Sweet! Left, right.. over... DOOWNN!
He is rushed by on-coming Knight Guards from down the large, oval hallway but spins himself downward like a freefall, but pulls the broom tip but which directs his body in a direction, allowing him to figure out that he must move his body in order to steer himself.
He laughs, ensuing highjinx as he rides it like a wizard, spinning and flying out of the reach of the Knight Guards while passing through places and rooms in the magical castle. He's almost enjoying himself as he's out-maneuvering the Knight Guards attempts at capturing him.
One shoots out a red magic that creates a circle of enclosing fire, but he dips out of it. Another shoots out blue magic, matching their wings, and lets out a song note that controls some tapestries to try and encircle him but he dives through quickly the gapped hole just before it closes, stopping the other Knight Guards from following after him.
luie
Yo,... magic! (Happily stunned)
While racing away, he comes up to a hallway full of framed, large family portraits. One catches his eye as it's the Princess with her unique wings, her grandmother and grandfather behind her as she sits in a chair.
He's instantly smitten, looking back at it, never having seen these drawings in such a high level of detail and beauty.
knight guard #2
Nice try, kid!
Luie looks forward only to see Knight Guard #2 right in front of him. He tries to dodge but the burly Knight scoops him up by his collar, off the broom that flies on and jams a poor butler fairy in the gut. The Knight laughs and sets him down.
Knight Guard #2
Figured a flightless guy like yourself wouldn't be much trouble... Thanks for the true wing-day, ya jerk...
Luie sees the green sparkles leave from off his clothes... realizing that the green magic was gone, he stops struggling and accepts his defeat.
luie
Awh... crap.
Knight Guard #2 holds Luie up to the mess he's made as he, once again, carries him back through to where they were supposed to go. In each room, Luie feels guilty at all the damage... but then...
Knight Guard #2
It's all a game to you... but we live here, kid. Look... You've only added to the war we've already been fighting.
He looks to see cracks in the ceiling, walls already ripped, color sucked out of beautiful, high-fantasy girl world aesthetics around him in sections of the rooms he had passed.
Even for a high-budget movie, it looks like something was missed in post-production...
luie
I didn't do that. (Confused)
Knight Guard #2
... You didn't have to.
luie
Why are all these spots so grey? Who was here before me? And why did that Kitchen maid call me a-
He looked up at The Knight Guard, but seeing the look of sorrow and grief on his face... not even looking at Luie, the two suddenly remained silent...
The weight of this topic was finally beginning to rest on Luie's face... and he respected the quiet stride of the soldier and didn't fuss in his arrest.
int. Throne Room
Pushing with one hand the large doors to the throne room, Luie was left in awe as Knight Guard #2 tucked him under his arm and walked inside. He set Luie down and knelt as other Knight Guards assembled to make sure Luie wouldn't cause any further damage again by running.
One by one, they line up around and behind him... he's not going anywhere this time...
knight guard #2
My Queen... Forgive us, we're not used to such visitors... we should have taken further precautions.
Luie glances up to look at a kind, older woman in extravagant, regal, and beautiful clothes that make her look twice her actual size. Dressed as though she was the actual crown, she looked sorrowfully at Luie, and immediately, his heart sank at her expression.
queen Lillian
What is it you have done, dear boy? Do you not yet know of which world you lollygag in? What senseless chaos you've sprung for your poor sister's health and well-being?
luie
Wait... you know who I am?
queen Lillian
I am disappointed in you... considering you were the start of this wonderful, imaginative world you find before you.
luie
Me?
Luie attempts to get up but Knight Guard #2 keeps a firm grip on his collar. However, Queen Lillian raises her hand and he hesitantly let's go.
Luie approaches her, seeing her standing in front of the throne, and doesn't dare walk up the ascending, widened, and curved steps towards her.
luie
How did I do this? This is Susan's world, not mine.
queen Lillian
You have forgotten so much... in such a short amount of time.
luie
... Wait... The way you speak... It's somehow familiar to me.
Queen Lillian smiles at this, glad he recognized her somewhat, and unknowingly he gives her a confused but happy smile back... she's relaxing to him, like something safe and trustworthy in a rather wacky world.
king
My love..!
Rushing into the room with servants trailing after him, a handsome but older man stumbles into the throne room, looking as though frantic somewhat. The King's features resemble more of a lover than an actual king.
king
My life, my laughter, my wonder, and my joy!
queen Lillian
So good of you to join us, my darling.
king
Ah! (found her) Lillian,... (fondness)
He ascends up the flat stairs without hesitation, not even taking note of Luie as he caresses her hand and feels a sense of relief at being by her side again, as well as seeing she is safe.
luie
Lillian..? (To himself) Grandma Lillian..? (taken aback)
king
It's horrible! Have you seen the castle? Those three hooligans must be at it again- oh! (Sees Luie at last)
queen Lillian
I'm afraid it wasn't a battle this time... Just some innocent, light humor... taken at the wrong time, deary.
The King inspects Luie's face a moment, before shaking his head.
king
I don't recognize the boy.
queen Lillian
That's alright, dear... I do.
He instantly trusts her as she places her other hand on top of the one holding her own, and he eagerly, tenderly kisses it as she smiles and melts into his affections.
king
I trust you, my love, but I was terribly worried about you! You mustn't worry me again. (charmingly sarcastic)
queen Lillian
Let storm and darkness attempt the inconceivable, I shall still be thy worry and delight. (in love)
king
Hmm~ (Swooning) Yes, b-bu-but-! (bumbling out of it) I so hate being a wart.
queen Lillian
(Gasp) Banish the thought, a cute wart!
king
Warts are never cute.
luie
"Come rain or come storm,"... Susan must be missing Grandma. (Pondering aloud to himself)
Princess Amilia
Grandmother?
Bursting through the door, without even looking at the Knight Guard or General, the young lady in the portraits and Susan's drawings, Princess Amilia, strides with battle armor adorned with fine jewels and detailed insignias for Stardellia. Lastly, a fine tiara on her head with large, metallic, and finely decorated wings to the sides and top half adorn her head.
Luie recognizes her at once, and is left a little dumbfounded at the level of detail once more... so used to crude drawings from his little sister, this looks so expertly refined by a true artisan... a 'girlie' professional.
Princess Amilia
(Stern) They've come upon us! We must make preparations for the war at once-
She cuts herself off when seeing Luie.
Princess Amilia
... I thought I said to throw him in prison. (Addressing General) With the other useless Magics.
She keeps a spiteful and detesting, fixed glare with the power to stab, jab, and slay Luie in place upon him.
However... seeing her in the flesh... Luie is once again mesmerized by the princess... but also now terrified of her.
She finally turns to look away but slowly, as though holding back. Even just the sight of him annoys and upsets her...
luie
Prison..? (more fear)
The Knights look at each other.
knight guard #3
Did you know we were supposed to do that?
Another Knight shakes his head while the General grumbles and huffs a bit, stumbling as he tries to re-establish himself in the Princess's eyes.
general
Well, ehem, bur-bur-burh (shaking head while lip trills) Now you see, Your highness- (cut off)
Suddenly, darkness sweeps the hall.
The Princess turns around and unfurls her marvelous, shining wings that were carefully hidden under a weighted, royal cloak. She draws her rapier and darts back, her multi-colored wings glisten and brighten the dark space, color returns only where her aura emits and reaches.
Luie ducks down as Queen Lillian guides her husband by pulling gently on his hand as he holds up her dress for her to walk down the steps comfortably
queen Lillian
They are here. (Alert)
When she's down the steps, she pulls Luie protectively to her side and behind her. The king helps tidy up her dress before looking back at the boy, tightening his lips as though showing his worry and uncertainty to him.
For some reason, Luie just lets her do this, still feeling that familiarity, trusting them for now. He shows this by looking to the King and nodding, staying behind the two as he steps back, a little frightened as he searches where the light touches for any sign of movement...
What were all these magical people so scared of?
princess amilia
To me, Knights!
Knight Guards
Ho!
They create a formation in front and around her, as high winds blast with the sounds of three giggling spirits...
Beatrice
(Evil Laugh) I felt a disturbing magic..! Who dares cause calamity outside my directive?
Flying into the room is a girl that looks as though she has been mutated with a sparkling beetle's wings, praying mantis arms for fingers, and yet... even in her strange whimsical, villainous features, there is still fashion, thin beauty, and elegance within it's strange and dark lavender design. Big, bulging bug eyes rest comfortably as hair accessories upon her head as though shaded, sun-goggles for biking. Although somewhat alien meets bugs, still the reminiscence of humanity.
bright
(Snorted laugh) I'll have a field day tearing this new creation apart! Wheee!
Bright spins backwards, hovering upside down as her design is a dark alluring, corrupted nature texture with hues of blue and skin that looks almost ethereally crystalized. She doesn't look fully human, but not fully alien either. It's like a crazy sorceress, with shredded and burned parts on her attire. A true sprite with jagged, spiky wings. She is a dark nature mix of elements and plant life, with a hint of feminine mischief.
trixie
I can't believe someone would try and upstage us... My mercy only goes so far...
Like window art, her wings were fuller and like glass, twinkling shadowy glares as though darkness was its shading light contrast. This one was the Pixie, a short dress with intricate swirls and designs down the leg's leggings, and with an air of true unearthly mischief in the form of fairytale attire. A dark fairy godmother appeal, worn and withered in time with dark deeds and black wishes.
Princess Amilia swipes in a show of expert swordsmanship the air a few times, showing no fear.
beatrice
(obnoxious laugh) What are you going to do, sweetheart? Give us a papercut?
Princess Amilia glares and brings the rapier up to her face, swiping it down hard to show she will fight.
The three look to each other and chuckle at her little stunt, but then look to Luie.
trixie
His power is unawakened yet... want to try and stir it..?
bright
Yeah, yeah, YEAH! (Escalates)
beatrice
No.
Holds out her hands to stop the two.
beatrice
We'll just be doing the usual today... terrify him into remaining like the rest of the runts... observers. Torment the weird out of the freaks.
bright
Whooo-hooo! (Dives)
princess Amilia
Charrgggee! (Battle cry)
The three villains show a truly unmatched battle, showing their strengths and ways of powerful destruction while Queen Lillian and the King use their magic—lighting up their wings as they do so—to protect Luie and the others.
The same colors from Susan's drawings manifeast to Luie as he watches. In flashes of clashing swords, they turn into paper drawings that the three girls slash through. The scene pauses in mid-fight to show the illustration before they are torn from the world... turning into the colored dust of their magic and wings...
Bright spins like a plane, shooting out balls of crystalized darkness that look like miniature lightning orbs that resemble plasma ball lights. Upon explosion, they eradicate color and grow cracks that chip along the ground, scaling upwards as the damage continues.
luie
The colorless parts...
He watches as color is inked out of the ground and scaling up the wall, climbing as though watercolor being sucked back into just black and white lines of unfinished details.
She spins happily by Luie and the royal couple, as Trixie preps her shards that spin like misshapenly cut ice swords around her.
trixie
You'll never be good enough... haha!
beatrice
Why can't you just be normal!
trixie
Grow up!
beatrice
You'll never make us your friends that way!
She releases the shards that are blocked by a few Knight Guards' shields, others stabbing into the ground with great force. Beatrice scatters darkness like a thick, heavy powder that entangles the Knights like a falling blanket they can't get out of, sinking them down to the ground in its weight.
The Knight Guards struggle before Trixie happily fires powerful and fast shards at them, as they become Susan's drawings with holes in them, showing the freeze-frame, 2D art of their horrified faces in her child's artstyle.
king
Ah! We're losing men!
queen Lillian
No, we're not.
She extends out her hand and the color of pink emerges from it. The particle dust of the drawings burn back like a slowly forming phoenix, resurrecting the fallen Knights before Queen Lillian stumbles a moment.
king
Lillian, love, you mustn't-!
resurrected Knight Guards
(bursting from drawing to animated life again) For Queen, homeland, and Susan!
bright
Why are you so upset? It's not even real!
Bright attacks again and like icy vines that move through the Knight Guards, turning them to torn paper and sandy, gold dust once more, the vine remains as the three bullies fly and land upon it. They comfortably almost look like they're posing in relaxing positions with slight allure.
Truly, they are in power here...
Bright
(Laughs) Wake up to reality already. How are you gonna tell the teacher? You don't have any proof it was us. It's not like your mom can help you when you cry here, either.
At the mention of his mother, Luie figured out what these words and 'powerful girls' were.
Luie, visibly shaken by their words, starts reliving a flashback.
int. high school
Two boys are kicking him on the ground while he looks up, his vision blurry.
bully #1
(Pushes him back down) Write a story about that, huh!
bully #2
Just stay down, pencil boy!
In the vision, Luie's hands come up, covered in pen's ink stains.
bully #1
Don't you ever get those gross hands near me again, lover boy!
bully #2
Yeah, go write about how sick you are!
Luie (Child)
It-... It wasn't a love letter to anyone! I was just writing something, it wasn't meant for you or for anyone!
Bully #2
What was it then!?
bully #1
He's lying.
Luie (CHild)
It... it was a poem!
bully #1
Sick liar!
Bully #2
Finish him and let's go!
The Flashback ends with the Bully #1's foot going into Luie's face and vision.
int. throne room
luie
ENOUGH!
Luie spreads out his hands, lashing out from his traumatic memory. He looks up at the three, anger in his eyes.
The icy vine that stabbed through the drawings of the Knight Guards, still arched in the air like a frozen lightning bolt, suddenly melts and the three fly back up in the air together, startled and looking somewhat alarmed.
luie
...The Beetle... the Sprite... the Pixie... I know who you three are now.
He steps out from the protection of the weakened Queen and the caretaking King down the middle, rounding her dress a bit to do so.
luie
So... you're the bullies who think they can sully and compromise my little sister's world?
He takes a breath, as though to relax as the purple wings begin to slowly form on his back again... he's spitting slam poetry, as though instinctively to cope with his emotions.
Luie
Don't spit in her face, and act like your actions are erased. It's a disgrace, you three have just made a mistake.
He walks forward as his back starts forming what looks like... a new color of wings...
The rest have been the same form but different colors... all but the Princess's, who looks in fear of being replaced by what is being created.
The Knight Guard lower themselves as though revering a new form of royalty emerging, as he continues to walk forward, speaking his words with vehement power.
luie
Just because older eyes, soldier spies, haven't seen what you've devised, behind closed sights, doesn't mean you get to get away with making my little sister cry!
Luie bursts out with a purple aura as his wings are almost fully manifesting, a mighty but beautiful design, like a stain-glass mural of shapes and slightly differing hues of purple colors, reflecting a light that stuns the General, turns Princess Amilia's face to the ground in envy and shame, and causes the three girls to shriek and cover their eyes as though vampires to such light.
general
What... magic is this..?
Knight Guard #1
That color... it's not... what?
Queen Lillian, although somewhat panting in the King's embrace, smiles as she sees Luie taking initiative.
queen Lillian
At last... the Hero may have come to us... but... we shall see. (uncertain)
luie
You're all just trauma balls of fury, hiding it inside from what may be residing in your home's living. Quit reflecting your own struggles, you huddle, hoping numbers equal more than humble, numbing, succumbing endings. I have news for you, big brother's here, and that's no mere fear.
He jumps into the air, but Queen Lillian gasps as his eyes turn a darker shade of purple, as well as his wings flicker from a purple, brilliant light... to a dark shadowy effect like black and grey smoke...
She searches his being, suddenly worried.
queen Lillian
Oh no... He's losing it... his Dream Sign... it's-
Queen Lillian grows weaker, falling more into the King's arms as he helps her down and holds her against his chest to keep her somewhat upright while she descends to sitting down.
King
My Queen!
Princess Amilia lifts up her head, looking immediately to her ailing Grandmother.
Princess Amilia
Gran!
Luie is so absorbed in himself, he doesn't notice anything going on behind him. He just charges up what looks like a shadowy smoke ball.
luie
A brother, defender, protector, but you probably don't know someone other than an offender..!
He threw the ball. Pixie fluttered her wings before getting smashed hard to the ground, sobbing a second like a little girl and wiping her face as her wings look cracked...
luie
Get going, don't prolong it, no slowing down, no proving now that you're stronger!
He summons out a sword from manifesting the now, much more prominent shadowy, black and grey smoke effect as the purple leaves and his eyes lose all color but the smoky darkness.
He dashes to chase the Sprite as the Beetle tries to flee, slashing her multiple times with each rhyme beat of his poem.
luie
I'm watching, but not listening anymore to this profusing pollution. My sister's my blood, you spill it, I drench the stench of your influence out with it!
queen Lillian
You must... stop him... he's... not himself.
king
Oh, Lilly pad...
He puts her hand up to his cheek... but then looks shaken as he turns to a cry of pain as Sprite spirals down like a crashing plane, her wings crack as well as a corrupted Dream Sign Luie flies around to cut off Beatrice as with one hand, he slams the large door shut that she was fleeing out of.
He smirks.
luie
This world may be pointless, but with my words a-glowing, I'm not allowing, anymore suffering from little girl's power-hungry squanderings!
He blows out a black fire from his mouth and his words look as though flaming from him with it, they burn her as Princess Amilia moves over to her Grandmother and Grandfather.
King
Go, before he becomes an insect to them.
She nods, and takes off to intercept the fight.
Luie slowly approaches Beatrice, who is still writhing from the shadowy burns of his words.
Luie
Patheic, you squrim like ants, and I'm supposed to be feel sorry? I'm not kidding, scram, or I'll show you who's hero I am..!
He holds up the sword, but just before he flies it down Princess Amilia's wings burst with light as she intercepts him and clashes with the sword.
The three insects look astonished before Princess Amilia feels she's even falling to his rage...
princess Amlia
Urk... ahh... Get out of here!
She calls out to the three who immediately scramble to pick up the other. They choppily fly out in a rush of pitiful fear.
beatrice
We won't forget this..! You big bully!
luie
Bully..?
Luie's eyes begin to turn normal as Princess Amilia feels strength once again, pushing back against the sword and now rising above his face, glaring into his wracked soul...
luie
I'm not a bully! They're hurting my sis-! (cut off)
princess Amilia
Does throwing down against three little girls make you feel that much like a hero, Brother Luie? Or does it just feel really good to be old enough to crush more dreams..? Like you did Susan's... when you declared to her that her Grandmother's stories—which you told to her—weren't real and never would be?
He feels himself slowly falling to the ground, realizing his poor judgment...
princess amilia
You... simply used their own power... to inflict a silly attempt at revenge... who's the real insect now..? You're just a bumbling bee, Luie... You can't save Susan by teaching her that you can only fight jerks with equal, cruel ridicule.
She slashes her sword with a sharp skid across his blade as he falls to the ground, hitting the floor so hard he knocks out, and the wings once again dim like a sunset effect...
She looms over him in the sky, looking with authority down at his unconscious self.
She turns to the Knight Guards.
Princess Amilia
I'm the commander of this army! Protector of Stardellia! I will keep Susan out of harm's way.
She glares back down to Luie.
Princess Amilia
I will be her hero... We don't need some uncaring brother trying to play pretend guardian here!
Queen Lillian looks sorrowfully at this.
queen Lillian
No... Amilia, don't... (Disheartened)
Princess Amilia brandishes the rapier.
princess Amilia
Throw this traitor into irons, behind closed bars, where he can't do any more destruction to Susan, or us!
Then... laughter from the opened, large doors...
Bright
You're taking this too seriously..!
Princess Amilia flies up, charging with ribbons of colorful light looking like a shooting star to the three smirking girls.
They were powering up this whole time, charging their own attack...
Princess Amilia narrows her eyes, calling out a battle cry.
Beatrice
You're nothing!
Trixie
Your drawings aren't even that good!
Sprite
We'd even be your friends if you just listened to us for a change!
Luie stirs on the ground... before turning to see Princess Amilia and her large, mutli-colored wings heading straight for their all-out attack...
luie
N-no, this isn't good.
He tries to turn himself, to crawl.
luie
They're just gonna keep belittling you till you're nothing...
princess amilia
I can do this... I can be there for Susan. (To herself)
Queen Lillian
No, my dear child... You are part of Susan. You can't fight this alone... You are what Susan longs to be and what she admires in you, Amilia dear... not what she is.
With each insulting and cruel statement, the three power up their large, ultimate attack. It doesn't look like normal magic, the aura is colorless...
Princess Amilia keeps charging toward its center, resisting fear...
princess Amilia
Susan and I are emotionally connected! We can fight through anything!
Princess Amilia holds up her rapier to push back against a beaming attack of sparkling-hued darkness, like a black galaxy with reflective crystal shards. the Knight Guard fly up to help strengthen her and push back against the galaxy beam, but the three girls step forward, gaining their confidence back, and move their attack to repel them back again... succeeding.
queen Lillian
You both need help... Let her Brother be there for her... for you. (weakly.)
King
My queen, stay with me!
Princess Amilia
(shouts) NO! I can do this, myself!
They're all pushed back, as the Knight Guards pull Princess Amilia back so she won't be turned into her paper drawing.
King
Amilia must not be torn asunder! Hero!
He turns to Luie.
king
For your Sister, Susan's sake... Protect the princess! Awaken your forgotten Dream Sign!
luie
Dream? Wait... this is all from my Grandmother's stories?
king
I know not what you're talent is, but you must seize upon it now!
He looks up to see that no more Knight Guards are present... they have all turned to sandy gold flakes...
The Queen, limp in his arms, is exhausted from bringing them all back from before...
He looks back to Luie... his last hope.
Luie, although feeling guilty for his first attempt, nods and slowly rises up.
luie
Dreams... my dream... the sign of my future...
He takes a deep breath.
luie
Grandma said Dreams are our starward signs... to a future we choose to dwell in... where our family's happiness truly lies...
He tries to stand but grips his hurt leg... he switches legs and hobbles up.
luie
Okay... Don't be a jerk this time... don't insult... inspire... umm... Pixie,... Ulysses,... they each had a flaw that crippled their stories.
Once the beam was gone, Trixie and the other girls were laughing before she heard him speak her name, then growled and angrily turned to him, wings batting in annoyance at the once-threatening man.
luie
Sprites got a bite, but not much might. Benefits from bullying misfits, but what did you get? A friend? A sin, or an end that lends to a sore heart and soaring dissension, detention, you both know nothing, but there's redemption.
Bright lifts her hands up and scrunches them into fists, also looking like she wants revenge.
Princess Amilia turns to Luie, then the three girls.
Princess Amilia
Wha... what? Just..! Stay down!
Luie
Is this how you keep your buddies so forthcoming? They race to their Beetle, that sniffle, acting like they're somebody's crinkled victim? Villains need minions, you need companions, but this isn't how you get'em.
His wings began to reform in their pure, purple light. Beatrice twitched an eye, grabbing the other two's shoulders and forcing them out in front of her.
beatrice
Don't let him scare us! He's nothing without his magic! ...Take it from him!
She lets the two girls go as they fly towards him, Sprite laughing wildly in her crazy girl fashion as Pixie snickered and the two spun around each other to take him on.
Luie
You all play like you're in the social know, but that's a hard no. I may not be a fairy, but quite contrary, my sister is family, and we were all born dreamers. Believers. I'm on the defensive, suspensive. Let's see what happens when we all get sensitive!
Luie steps forward, his wings reforming in a sparkling line, as though made of flexible diamond.
luie
You with your hair and nails all done, but nobody to say goodnight or well done.
beatrice
Ahh! Get him!
She stomps the ground.
luie
But why not grow wings, instead of words that sting, and strings of pearls like multiple disappointments. Surround yourself with light and maybe others will take your plight this time!
She looks confused, as Luie turns to Trixie.
luie
Pixie, miss me? I bet you haven't had a soul care about your own artistry. Anxiety. Must be a bummer to feel like you're hiding something. Want to be a stunner, but they shun ya, no one to call, not even mama. Trapped behind your own insecurities, just being mean, unable to find warmth, that'd be the key to bringing you back to that girl you used to be.
Trixie
Stooopp!
Also begins to fall in increments, as though not being able to fly at each beat of his words. She grips her head.
Princess Amilia looks on with amazement, but also jealousy, turning to Luie.
luie
(confident) Sprite, alright, all I see is low self-esteem, mimicking the actions of your pre-teens. What? Where's your personality? Aren't you tired of being a shadow to everything? If you learned to stand, you wouldn't fall. Without the aid of a true friend, you'll never feel tall. Bawl, but who's gonna come when the emotions get sprawled? Called a doll, cause you morph to whoever distorts your perception and makes their creation by just doing what you're told. Is that bold? Is that the mold for love, that by your own hands of fate, you wanted to have rolled? I'm here to say, it's not too late.
Bright
Owww..! Quit it!
Bright grips her arms and falls before her butt flops against the ground.
They are unable to fly against his words...
luie
Ha! This is easy! What's your story? Try and fit in by hiding your own glory? Which doesn't reward much, call it a hunch, but you've got nothing but brilliance in bunches!
bright
H-huh? What kinda insult was that?
beatrice
He's trying to poison us with a new power..! Still... he holds the potential of being just like us... (sneers with a smirk) it won't be long now... before you stink up the place! hahaha!
Luie starts feeling the weight of the wings manifesting, and although proud he took a different turn on his poetic stance, he bends his good knee, forcing his other leg to have to take weight which makes him crumble under it as he cries out in a breathy groan of pain.
luie
I don't need to know you to defeat you!
He falls to his knees as the wings flutter a moment before disappearing...
Seeing him weakened, the girls get up, smirking.
They still have plenty to kick back with... but Princess Amilia turns her sword to the girls... and behind her... the pink light of her Grandmother's Dream-Sign as paper images of the proud, mighty soldiers glitter from fairy dust and turn back into animated and living soldiers again.
The girls look around, then Beatrice to her wings, gritting her teeth as they have been injured...
princess Amilia
Flutter off,... pests!
Queen Lillian places a hand on Luie's shoulder, showing she is alright with a smile before looking up to see the three girls taking off.
queen Lillian
... You have seen the harm one's words could do to another's dream... but it seems... you truly don't know the power of your own magic... not quite yet.
luie
H-huh? But... I could have fully destroyed this version of them with my first attack... It's not like this is their real selves, anyway. Their just... little freakin' girls. Why is it so bad to stick up for one's self? Instead of making the... bully feel good?
king
The problem, dear boy, is not to be more powerful than those that oppress you... To make anyone an enemy is easy, but to uplift someone into an ally... That is true victory. To simply hurt in order to cover your own pains and insecurities is the true weakness of character that leads to a corrupted Dream-Sign... in other words-
queen Lillian
Your magic talent,... my dear boy.
luie
... Still, you all let them go. Why? We could have stopped them once and for all. I can't be corrupted after one fight. Against, again, little girls! I know you're trying to teach a profound, ethical lesson here... but not all conflicts end with such neat wrap-ups. There's no way I was gonna lose, whether I went with being the bully or not, we could have still beaten them here, today.
queen Lillian
Oh? Making ourselves the bully is the true cycle of perfecting an already corrupted world? Is that what I was doing? Simply teaching a lesson, was it? (Sarcastically turning to him) I was under the impression I was stopping another stinkbug from corrupting his wings.
luie
What?
But before more could be said, Luie was knocked out by the hilt of Princess Amilia's rapier.
queen Lillian
(Gasp) Amilia!
Princess Amilia
You heard the stinkbugs, he could become like them. And it doesn't sound like he's planning to mend his ways any time soon...
king
H-... He did change his tune, darling. Perhaps, with more time to develop his Dream-Sign and-
princess Amilia
Sorry, Grandpa. My order is final.
She picks up Luie under her arm, throwing him to the General.
The Knight Guards stare in amazement, she was able to throw him.
Knight Guard #1 mouths and whispers 'Leeeannn' to another, as though mocking the General's words once more, and also showing awe at Princess Amilia's strength.
princess Amilia
Throw him in the castle dungeons... with the useless creature as his playmate...
general
But, oh, I... Yes,... your majesty...
The General looks to the Queen and King, but Queen Lillian just dips her head down in apology, and he concedes. He flies off with the boy over his shoulder, trying to fly but having trouble with Luie's weight.
general
Oh my, he really isn't lean...
Knight Guard #1 shakes as though wanting to speak up, to prove his truth and emphasize what Princess Amilia accomplished in that power move, according to his eyes, but his fellow Knight Guards just pat his back and fly off after their General.
knight guard #1
See,... SEEEE? And Princess Amilia just CHUCKED him! CHUCKED HIM! I want to do wing day with HER!
Knight Guard #2
(In the distance, again) Why's everybody gotta bring that up all the time?
act 2
int. Castle Dungeons
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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