The Amulet, the Princess, and the New World
Alexander walked slowly into his home in the city after returning from school. Heading for his bedroom to do his homework, he wonder if exciting something would happen soon. Going back to school had been a bit fun at first, but now it was becoming rather boring. "Perhaps," he thought, "I can go on another adventure with Thaddeus again sometime soon."
Thaddeus was a scientist. Alexander had met him one day when he accidentally traveled to back to Thaddeus' time with a compass he had discovered. Alexander learned later that Thaddeus had invented the compass, which could let a person travel to different times and other worlds. Alexander had been on many adventures with Thaddeus since and was now his apprentice.
It had now been a few weeks since Alexander had last seen Thaddeus and Alexander was beginning to wonder if, since Thaddeus hadn't come by or asked Alexander to come by, he should go visit Thaddeus. "Well for now," he thought, "I better just work on my homework." Settling down in a chair in front of a table in his bedroom, he pulled out from his backpack one of his schoolbooks, a notebook, a pencil, and an eraser. He laid these out on the table and had just placed his pencil to his paper when he was startled by a small noise. "Alexander, Alexander, are you there, Alexander?" whispered the voice. Alexander glanced around to see if anyone was around, and then slid out of his chair and over to his bed. He took from out under the bed a small box and, opening it, took out the compass given to him by Thaddeus. The noise repeated itself, "Alexander, Alexander, are you there, Alexander?" Sure enough the noise he had heard came from Thaddeus, who was speaking to him through the compass.
"Yes, Thaddeus," Alexander answered. "I am here. What is it?"
"Oh, good," Thaddeus replied. "Listen, I was wondering if you could come by to my place. I want to show you something I have discovered." Alexander grinned from ear to ear- perhaps an adventure awaited him after all.
"Alright, I'll come," Alexander responded. "Should I bring anything?"
"No, I do not expect you to be gone very long," Thaddeus told him.
"Is that it?" asked Alexander.
"Yes, goodbye," said Thaddeus.
Alexander smiled to himself. He set the AH button (this stood for Alexander's home; in case of danger all he had to do was press this button and he would return to his home) on his compass to his time- October 19, 2007, at 3:42 p.m. Now all he needed to do if he was in trouble was press that button and he could come back to his own time. Then he pressed the button that would take him to Thaddeus. Again Alexander felt the thrill of magically flying through the air to different times and places, a thrill he was sure he would never grow tired of.
Alexander now stood in front of Thaddeus.
"Hello, Thaddeus," said Alexander.
"Hello, Alexander," replied Thaddeus. Alexander could see that Thaddeus had an excited look about him. Alexander felt sure that he must have made a big discover which probably meant a big adventure.
"Listen," said Thaddeus in an excited tone, "I believe I have discovered another world. Not any of the ones I showed you before but a different one. I do not know exactly how I came upon it but I found it. I have traveled to this world a few times and I thought that since it did not look too dangerous I would bring you along. That is, if you want to come?"
"Yes, of course," replied Alexander.
"Good," said Thaddeus. "Give me your compass so I can set world eight on it."
"There you go," said Thaddeus after a few minutes of working on Alexander's compass. "Now you have a world eight on your compass. So set the compass for world eight and let's go."
Alexander again felt the sensation of traveling through time. He closed his eyes and enjoyed this. Feeling ground underneath his feet, he opened his eyes and looked around. He was in a pine wood forest. Beside him a brook flowed silently through the woods. A gray sky hung overhead.
"It looks as though it might rain so we may have to leave soon," said Thaddeus.
"Well then," Alexander replied. "We better hurry and look around."
"Yes," said Thaddeus, "If we flow this brook downstream we soon find our selves in a meadow."
Alexander walked along the brook taking in the scenery. There was a squirrel. It looked in their direction and then scampered away. And over there was a cardinal. It must be a female since only its head was red. And over there was a blue jay… Except for these and a few other birds Alexander saw no other animals.
"Every time I visit this place there seems to be a little less life in it," said Thaddeus softly.
"Perhaps it is almost winter here," Alexander answered.
They walked in silence until they reached the meadow.
"It is beautiful," Alexander gasped.
Indeed it was. Tall grasses carpeted the meadow. The brook they had been following now emptied left into a small lake. To their right some small rolling hills began a half-mile away. Beyond the meadow a valley sat between some mountains that rose majestically to the sky.
Lightning zigzagged across the sky causing both Alexander and Thaddeus to jump and Thaddeus to drop his compass.
"Oh dear," said Thaddeus. "I hope I did not break it. Alexander, it's going to rain so let's leave. We will go to my place first and then you can go to your home. Let me test my compass to make sure I did not break it." Thaddeus pressed a button; nothing happened. "Oh no, Alexander," said Thaddeus, "I am quite afraid that I have indeed broken my compass. You will have to take me back to my own time. Once back I'll look at the damage done and repair it."
Thaddeus held on to Alexander's arm and Alexander pressed the button that would take them back to Thaddeus' time. Once they were back in Thaddeus' room, Thaddeus examine his broken compass.
"Well I do not think it is any permanent damage," said Thaddeus. "But I will have to work on it some for it to work again. Well, Alexander, you better head on home. We will visit that world another time after I have fixed my compass."
"Goodbye, Thaddeus," said Alexander. He hit the AH button and was standing back in his room where the clock read 3:42 p.m., the time he had left. "That sure was an interesting trip," said Alexander as he reached for the box in which he stored his compass. "I wonder when I will be able to go again," thought Alexander. "Perhaps I could go now…" Alexander looked at the compass in his hand and decided he would go, just for a little while. He set the dial for world eight, hit the button, and he was flying through the air again.
Landing on the ground again in world eight Alexander surveyed the land about him. He decided to follow the stream back to the meadow again. He walked along the stream again until a low growling sound startled him. Alexander whizzed around, jumping when he saw a large wolf. He was all the more startled when the wolf spoke.
"So, boy, whose side are you on," spoke the wolf.
"Wha-what do you mean?" asked Alexander.
"You know what I mean, don't act like a fool," growled the wolf.
"I'm not from around here."
"Stop it or I will stop it for you," said wolf baring his teeth.
Alexander didn't think twice- he pressed the invisibility button and stood as still as a statue. The wolf looked around. Sniffing the air the wolf took a step in Alexander's direction, then another, then another. Alexander broke into a run desperately trying to get away from the wolf. The wolf was running after him. The wolf was jumping and then it fell unconscious. Seeing a large rolling stone he assumed that someone must have thrown it- but whom? He looked around.
"Show yourself," came a voice from behind some bushes.
Alexander hesitated. This person had stopped the wolf from catching him. He turned the invisibility button off.
" Now you show yourself," said Alexander in a somewhat shaky voice afraid off what he might see.
Out from behind the bushes came a short stout man with a long beard.
"What and who are you? Are you a wizard?" demanded the short man, placing a hand near the ax that hung at his waist.
"I am a boy. My name is Alexander. I am no wizard," stuttered Alexander.
"Well then, how did you make yourself disappear?"
"This compass did it," said Alexander showing the man the compass.
The man snatched the compass from him and stared at it for a short time. "This looks like a piece of witchcraft. Do you work for the evil black lord?"
"No, no. You see I'm not from around here," protested Alexander.
"Oh, I see," said the man obviously not believing him. "I better take you to our ruler. Come along walk ahead of me and remember I have an ax."
Alexander walked in front of the funny looking man, wondering where he would take him. If only he was holding the compass instead of the man.
Not knowing what was in store for him he followed the man's short commands- "Turn right" or "Turn left" or "Keep moving forward." After a while Alexander and the short man came out of the forest and into a meadow. Beyond the meadow there was a few hills. On top of the middle and largest one laid a castle. Alexander gasped.
"Am I seeing things or is that a castle?" asked Alexander.
"Yes, of course it is a castle. Is it not beautiful?" said the man
"Yes, indeed it is a beautiful castle," replied Alexander. "Is that where we are heading to?"
"Yes, it is," answered the man. "Well stop gazing and keeping moving forward. We do not have all day."
Alexander walked toward the castle. He thought it did not look like the castle of someone evil- it was too beautiful for that. But still he was kind of worried about what would happen.
They enter the castle and came to a large room with marble floors and high ceilings. The short man said something to a guard who then walked out of the room. The man returned to Alexander side.
Perhaps a king lives here he thought. He would be fat and jolly with a mustache. He would understand Alexander's story and tell him not to worry about a thing. Alexander would get his compass back and then the king would ask Alexander to stay for a time at the castle. Wait a second, what if the king was a queen. Well then she would look like his Aunt Matilda, very pretty, with strawberry blond hair. She would listen to his story and would be very nice to him as Aunt Matilda always was. Everything was going to be okay- he hoped.
"Right this way." The guard had returned and was now motioning them to follow him. Alexander went first after the guard and then the short man. The came to a hall and walked down to the tall doors at the end. Past the doors, Alexander supposed, was the throne room. The guard opened the doors and it was indeed the throne room. On the throne was not a fat, jolly man or a pretty queen but a girl about thirteen or fourteen years old. She had blond hair that reached her waist. She had blue eyes and a dress that matched them. There was a tiara on her head.
The short man advanced a few steps before bowing and saying, "Hail, Princess Sapphire."
"Welcome, Baroni" replied the princess, "I hear that you have an important issue to discuss with me. Does it have anything to do with this boy?"
"Indeed it does, your Highness," replied the man. The man recounted the story of how he had been in the woods, found Alexander, and then brought him here.
"How did you disappear," Princess Sapphire asked when the man finished his story. "Are you a wizard?"
"No," replied Alexander. Alexander then told the princess how he had gotten into their world, how the wolf found and chased him, how he had made himself, and how the short man had found and taken him to her.
"Let me see the compass," she said to the man. Once he had handed it to her she examined it. "How very strange this is. I have never seen anything like it. Well I believe your story though it is a hard one to believe. I will give you back your compass if you promise not to try to escape or become invisible." Alexander promised and she handed him his compass.
"Now it is my turn to ask questions," said Alexander. "Who is he," asked Alexander motioning to the short man, "and why was he out in the woods? How did the wolf speak?"
"Well," the princess began. "He" motioning to the short man, "is a dwarf. His name is Baroni. He works for me. I had spent him out into the woods to gather a weed, which helps to heal wounds. And most animals can speak. Did you not know that?"
"In the world that I come animals cannot speak," said Alexander.
"How very odd," laughed the princess. "Your world sounds very strange indeed."
"So," began Alexander, "why was it that the wolf asked whose side I was on?"
The princess face became very sad. "Because," she started, "he wanted to know if you were a subject of mine or of the evil black lord's. You see the evil black lord is trying take over this land. He is growing very strong and has captured many of my subjects. We were able to him from growing too strong until," she hesitated, "until we lost the amulet."
"The amulet?" asked Alexander.
"Yes, this is no ordinary amulet. My father wore it until his death and then I wore it. It is very powerful and gives life to this world. But the subjects of the evil black lord stole it. Some of my best knights and a magician pursued them. When they eventually caught up to them there was a bad fight between the evil lords knights and mine. Everyone was killed. My magician also received a mortal wound and seeing some of the evil black lord's subjects approaching used his last breath to utter a spell to hide the amulet in the mountains nearby. We must find the amulet for if there is no one to wield its power the life of this world will soon drain away. If the evil black lord should find it," she shuddered, "then we all be plunged into a deep misery under his rule until he decides to destroy this world as I am sure he would eventually do. Unfortunately I can not go to the mountains to search for the amulet since it is too dangerous, and I have few subjects left to do so since the black lord has captured so many of them."
"Oh," said Alexander.
"Alexander," the princess continued, "I do not believe that your friend found the world when he did by accident. Nor do I believe that it was by chance that my dwarf subject found you. Alexander, my world is in greater need than ever and I believe that you were sent to this world in its darkest hour because you are our last hope, our only hope. Alexander, will you go and search for the amulet? You will try to find it and bring it to me? I know that it must seem there strange that I am asking this of you since we have only just met. I know there is much danger and risk in what I am asking you to do, but will you do it?"
Alexander was shocked by what she asked of him. Yes, he would like to help, but he might get killed. He looked into the princesses pleading eyes.
"I will do it," said Alexander.
"Thank you, Alexander," said the princess with a relieved look. "You should set off immediately. I will order one of my servants to gather some supplies for you. Baroni will go with you. Come now with me."
"What does the amulet look like?" asked Alexander as they walked out of the throne room.
"It is round and gold with a sapphire in the center," answered the princess.
They walked out of the palace and into a stable. The princess spoke briefly to a stable man and then returned to Alexander and Baroni.
"I believe," said Princess Sapphire, "that the best plan is that the two of you ride by horse till you are close to the mountains. Once there you will continue on foot."
"What about the horses?" asked Alexander.
"You need not worry about them," replied the princess. "They will be able to find their way back."
"Would either of you like swords," asked Princess Sapphire.
"No, thank you," said Alexander. "I don't know how to use one."
Baroni replied, "We dwarves much prefer axes."
The stable man returned with saddled two ponies. He gave the smaller of the two to Alexander.
"I do not know whether or not I can ride this pony," said Alexander.
"Do not worry;" said the princess, "just let the pony do the work."
Alexander mounted the pony with the stable man's help. Once on top the pony turned to look at him. "So what's your name," asked the pony.
Alexander was stunned. Then he remembered that animals here could talk. "Aaalexander," he replied still feeling stunned at having a conversation with an animal.
"Hello, Aaalexander," said the pony. "My name is Matthew."
A servant came up to Alexander and gave him a bag.
"The supplies my lady asked me to prepare for you," she explained. He thanked her and then she walked away.
"Good-bye, Alexander and Baroni," said Princess Sapphire, "may your mission be successful and may you return safely."
"Good-bye," Alexander called out waving and then almost falling off the pony.
Alexander's horse, Matthew, and Baroni's horse, Brian rode swiftly. Soon they were out of sight of the castle and in the woods. He enjoyed looking around at the scenery and was disappointed to see no animals except the ones he and Baroni were riding on, but of course they were hiding from the evil black lord. Alexander thought about what laid ahead. He was wondering why he had volunteered for the job and how long it would be till he was able to go home.
"So, Aaalexander," said Matthew, "tell me about yourself."
At first Alexander stuttered and talked hesitantly. He felt very strange talking to an animal. After a few minutes he started talking more naturally and told Matthew about his family, school, and city. Alexander told him about being at his Aunt Matilda's house. He told how he found the compass, Thaddeus, and then about finding Kevin. He talked about the experiments he and Thaddeus had done and the adventures they had been on. Alexander told Matthew about Thaddeus discovering their world, his first visit to it, and how he had decided to visit it the second time. He talked about his encounter with the wolf and how Baroni saved him. He recounted his and Baroni's travel to the palace. He finished when he told about the visit with Princess Sapphire. Matthew listened in silence besides making a comment here and there.
By the time Alexander had finished talking they were very close to the mountains.
"We better continue from here on foot," said Baroni.
They dismounted their horses and Alexander waved good-bye as Matthew galloped away. Alexander and Baroni began walking toward the mountains.
"Where exactly does the evil black lord live," asked Alexander in a worried tone.
"On the farthest mountain away from us," answered the dwarf. "His castle stands at the top."
They walked in silence toward the looming mountains. With every step he took Alexander grew more nervous. "It was very foolish of me to volunteer," thought Alexander. "Now I am going to let down the princess and perhaps even get myself killed. Well all I can do now is try. It least I have a dwarf with me, he probably knows these mountains well."
They were in among the mountains now. The air was cold and damp. Alexander felt bewildered looking at all the mountains and their enormous size.
"Where are we suppose to look first," asked Alexander.
"Well," said the dwarf, "The magicians and knights were over there right before you enter into this mountain pass we are in. I would believe that the magician could not have magically conveyed the amulet to far. So, I believe the best place to start is on the closest mountain. We will start from the bottom and continue going up. There are many caves it could be hiding in."
Alexander and Baroni began to climb the mountain Baroni had suggested, making their way to a cave a little ways up. They examined the small cave but found nothing. They had continued climbing and were now resting on a small ledge. Since he was cold, Alexander had put on a gray tunic on that he had found in their bag of supplies. There was a little bush on the ledge and Alexander wondered how it could grow where there was mostly rock. Baroni had already begun to climb the mountain again, Alexander stayed where he was for a little while not eager to resume climbing. Baroni was now 15 feet above Alexander when they heard the sound of horses nearby.
"Alexander," cried Baroni in a hushed tone, "Hide behind the bush, under your tunic, and do not make a sound. These may be subjects of the evil black lord. If so I will lead them away from you."
Alexander did as he was told, frightened half to death. Was this dwarf he had known only a short time actually willing to sacrifice himself for him? The horses came fast around the bend. Their riders were indeed subjects of the evil black lord. Baroni began to climb as fast as he could away from Alexander. The riders immediately noticed Baroni.
"Halt, dwarf," called the riders.
"If you want me to halt, you are going to have to halt me yourself," answered Baroni.
The riders dismounted quickly and began to swiftly climb the mountains. Baroni was moving fast leading his pursuers away from Alexander. From under his tunic Alexander watched as Baroni was being chased.
"Oh no, he won't make it," thought Alexander. "Wait what is he doing now? He is going back down."
Baroni was descending the mountain fast. Those chasing him took a few seconds to understand what he was doing and then started going back down. Baroni was almost at the bottom. Now he was running to the horses. The black lord's subjects were quicker runners than him. Just as he was mounting a horse they caught him.
"Nice try," said one, "but you would have to do better than that to try to defeat us, subjects of the great black lord."
Alexander watch stunned as Baroni was being bound with rope and taken away. He was all alone now, in a strange world, in some strange mountains with enemies nearby. Alexander couldn't help himself- he began to cry. He felt awful. He wanted to get away from this awful place. But how could he? He had the compass didn't he? All he had to do was press one button and he would go home. No one would ever know. Except himself. How could he live with himself knowing that he had been a coward and had allowed a world to vanish out of existence? He had to do it. He had to be brave. He must find courage within himself.
A single ray of sunlight shone out of the gray sky that loomed above. Alexander looked at the place where the ray of light landed on the mountain and then closed his eyes. He opened them again instantly. There was a golden and blue glow about the place where the ray landed. He climbed the mountain keeping his eye on the place on the mountain. Alexander reached the place. He removed a rock from the its resting place and looked in a hole in the side of the mountain. He saw the amulet! He reached in and carefully took out the amulet. He wrapped it in his handkerchief and placed it in his pocket. He climbed back down to the ledge.
He had found the amulet! Now though he would have to get back to the palace without being caught. He did not have a companion or a horse so he would have to go alone. He descended the mountain quickly and cautious. Once at the bottom he placed two rocks in his bag. The weight might slow his progress but it would help him in case he had need of defense.
Alexander walked slowly and quietly out of the mountains. From there he ran as fast as he could to the hills near the mountains. Once he was in the hills he walked quickly keeping his ears alert. Then he entered the woods.
"Oh dear," moaned Alexander, "I won't know how to get back from here."
"You won't know how to get to where from here?" said a voice.
Alexander looked around startled. "Where are you?" he asked.
"Down here," said the voice again.
Alexander looked down and jumped up with a holler. "You're a talking squirrel!"
"So, you're a talking boy," answered the squirrel. "Well where was it that you are trying to get to."
"Well," Alexander began slowly, "I am trying to get to palace of Princess Sapphire."
"I can lead you there," offered the squirrel. "Come on follow me."
Alexander had to run to keep up with the squirrel who had climbed up a tree and was now jumping from branch.
"Hurry up, slowpoke," the squirrel would cry out if Alexander got to far behind.
Alexander became tired quickly. After a while he asked the squirrel to stop. The squirrel looked at him like he could not understand why he was so tired, but then gave a shrill screech and jumped away quicker than ever.
"What a queer squirrel," thought Alexander. Then he heard a growl behind him. He turned around slowly. It was the same wolf he had encountered earlier. Alexander was frightened out of his wits. There it stood growling with bared teeth.
"So did you think the trick you played earlier on me was pretty funny?" asked the wolf with a vicious look in his eye.
Alexander did not say anything but slowly moved one hand to his bag.
"You know," said the wolf, "I ought to take you to the evil black lord immediately, but rather than having you suffer in his prisons maybe I should just make things easier for you."
The wolf jumped. Alexander brought out one of the rocks that he had placed in his bag and threw it at the wolf. The wolf fell to the ground unconscious.
"I sure am glad I had those rocks with me," thought Alexander with his heart pounding. "Now I need to find that squirrel or I am lost."
"Mr. Squirrel, Mr. Squirrel, where are you Mr. Squirrel?" called Alexander a few times.
"If you were looking for me," said the squirrel, "then I want you to know my name is Phillip. Come on let's go." And off he went.
Alexander started running after the squirrel again. He had wanted to get to the castle fast though he was not planning on this fast. Alexander ran until he felt as though his lungs would burst. He then asked Phillip to stop. They sat for a while and Alexander shared part of a loaf of bread that he found in his bag with the squirrel. Then they continued on their way, Phillip ahead as usual, telling Alexander to hurry up.
They took several more stops along the way. Alexander was beginning to wonder when they would reach the castle. The sky began to threaten to rain.
"How much farther?" asked Alexander.
"Not much," replied the squirrel.
After awhile Alexander noticed they were beginning to climb a hill like the one the dwarf and he had climbed. When they reached the top Alexander could see the castle.
"Race you," said the squirrel.
Alexander and Phillip raced across the meadow to the castle. Phillip was ahead at first but Alexander won in the end.
"I would have won," Phillip said as an excuse, "if there had been tree branches to jump on."
They went into the castle and Alexander told the guard that he had returned from a mission Princess Sapphire. The guard went to the throne room and returned soon saying Princess Sapphire had granted them admission. Alexander and Phillip went to the throne room.
"Welcome Alexander," said the princess. "Who is this that you brought with you?"
"His name is Phillip," replied Alexander.
"Welcome Phillip," said the princess. Then she turned back to Alexander, "How has your mission fared?"
He told her of his ride to the mountains, his and Baroni's search for the amulet, Baroni's capture, how the squirrel found him, how they had traveled together, and his encounter with the wolf. Last of all he told how he found the amulet. Then he pulled out the amulet from his pocket, unwrapped it, and gave it to the princess. Her face shone when she saw it.
"Alexander, I can never thank you enough for what you have done," she said. "You have shown bravery and courage in spite of danger." She drew a sword from a sheath. "Alexander, take a knee." Alexander knelt awkwardly. "Alexander, by the power invested in me, I dub thee a knight. Arise and strive be worthy of the honor placed upon thee."
"Thank you," was all Alexander could say.
"Alexander, you will always be welcome in my world," said Princess Sapphire.
The princess put on her amulet. Alexander noticed the sky becoming blue, the room seemed more colorful, and a smile radiated the princess's face.
"Good-bye, Princess Sapphire," said Alexander pulling out his compass.
"Good-bye, Alexander and thank you again," replied the princess.
Alexander pressed the AH button and found himself standing in his own room. A small voice came from the compass.
"Alexander, it's me again," said a voice undoubtedly Thaddeus'.
"Yes, what is it?" asked Alexander.
"I have fixed my compass. Do you want to go to world eight again or," Thaddeus added teasingly, "have you been on an adventure of your own?"
"Well…"