Chapter 4

“I need to go.” Mariposa stands up, stretching the stiffness from her limbs, her calves streaked with grains of soil and grass imprints.

“Go where?” I ask, also stretching.

“Toilet.”

“Well, hurry up, then. You’re going to miss the story,” I call after her as she skips up to the house, braids trailing behind her like streamers.

“The story can’t go on without me,” Mariposa replies over her shoulder. “I’m the main character.”

Yes, you are, my sweet Mariposa. You’re my main character, my sole purpose for living. And without you, there is no story.

 

The annual Moon Dance festival was coming up, a symbolic event for the Farfalle Kingdom, celebrating the new moon and new beginnings. The whole valley was buzzing with preparation for the festival; dancers learning new steps, singers memorizing new songs, bakers busy kneading yards of dough to feed the whole kingdom, and decorations of colourful streamers and lights were hung from every house, tree and building.

Prince Papillion loved the annual Moon Dance; every year he would dance with a new girl, laugh a lot, drink too much and fill his belly with delicious foods. But this year was going to be different, the Prince thought. Because this year he was in love, and he wouldn’t just dance with any girl; he wanted to dance with Mariposa, the sweet stable girl who stole his heart.

At last, the night of the festival arrived, and the Prince stood alone by the staircase, watching others dance, drink and be merry. He decided he wouldn’t allow himself to enjoy the night unless Mariposa was here, so the Prince stormed out of the castle in search for his sweet stable girl.

Meanwhile, Mariposa was in the stables, clutching a broom in her hands and listening to the music of the Moon Dance with a yearning desire to be a part of it all, except Keith purposely left her in charge so he could go and celebrate.

Mariposa then thought of Prince Papillion, and she could picture him whisking another girl on the dance floor, laughing and forgetting all about Mariposa. How could she have ever thought a royal Prince would be interested in her? Just because of one night when she rode with him on Moonstone, but that was weeks ago, and he has not come back, so surely he has forgotten her.

Besides, the Silver Sorceress would turn her into a grub if she was ever caught with the prince again.

A bright gold beacon of light burst into the stable with a hiss, disturbing all the horses so that they whinnied as Mariposa crouched on the floor, protecting herself with her hands over her head. She heard a tinkling laugh and looked up into the light to see a silhouette of a gorgeous woman standing above her. A warm hand dragged her up and Mariposa discovered that the gorgeous woman was the Gold Sorceress!

Mariposa stared at the blissful beauty of the Sorceress’ glossy gold locks

that tumbled down her back and framed her porcelain features of petal pink

lips curved into a smile and sky blue eyes that melted Mariposa’s heart with

happiness.

“Hello, Mariposa,” the Gold Sorceress spoke with such motherly kindness it

almost brought a tear to Mariposa’s eyes.

“H-hello, Gold Sorceress. W-what brings you here?” Mariposa stammered.

“I came to help you prepare for the Moon Dance,” the Gold Sorceress replied.

It took a moment for the words to sink in for Mariposa. “But I can’t go. Keith left

me in charge of the stables.”

The Gold Sorceress shook her head. “Don’t worry. I will look after it for you.”

“But why?” Mariposa asked.

The Sorceress placed a hand on Mariposa’s shoulder and said, “Because the

Prince needs you.”

Mariposa’s heart skipped a beat. “He needs me?”

“You have been all he has thought about since that night he met you,” the Gold

Sorceress explained. “And he hasn’t been allowed out of the castle since that night to see you, so he is very sad.”

“How do you know this?” Mariposa asked, but then remembered who she was speaking to. “Sorry, of course you know.”

The Gold Sorceress smiled. “So, would you like me to help you?”

Mariposa nodded. “Yes, please...But what will you get in return?”

“The simple pleasure of seeing you and the Prince happy together,” the Gold Sorceress answered. “There is nothing I treasure more than others’ happiness.”

And with a wave of her hands, gold dust streamed from her fingertips and swirled around Mariposa, lifting her into the air and transformed her wretched brown work clothes into a satin gown of the rainbow, stitched with gold patterns that glittered in the beam of light.

The dirt and scum vanished from Mariposa’s face and revealed lovely rosy cheeks, large honey brown eyes and rosebud lips forming an ‘O’ of wonderstruck surprise. Her midnight black hair glistened with moonlight and had been woven with tiny white stars like a replica of the night sky.

Mariposa was stunning, and the Gold Sorceress marvelled at her work. “You clean up nice.”

Mariposa touched her hair, ran her hands over the smooth fabric of her dress and felt her face, which was clean and soft. “Wow,” she breathed. “How do I look?”

“See for yourself.” The Gold Sorceress produced a mirror out of thin air and Mariposa saw a beautiful girl wearing a layered gown poured with the colours of the rainbow, with stars in her hair and astonishment in her eyes.

“Is that…me?” Mariposa whispered. She reached forward to touch her reflection, and it rippled beneath her hand. The Gold Sorceress appeared behind her. “Go to the Moon Dance. Your prince is searching for you. And hurry. I sense something wicked coming.”

Mariposa obeyed and pinched her skirts up, leaving the barn and heading up the hill to the pounding of her heart and the beat of the festive melody.

The lights blurred past as Mariposa moved through the streets, dodging the dancers and fire breathers, her eyes set on the castle that loomed in the near distance.

During that time, Prince Papillion was also hurrying through the streets, scanning the crowds for his beloved, but he couldn’t find her anywhere, so he headed to the stables, hoping that she would be waiting there, sweeping the hay and perhaps even thinking of him.

But the stable was empty, except for a trail of gold dust on the floor. He heard a familiar neigh from his favourite horse calling him, so he approached Moonstone, stroking his nozzle and murmuring, “Do you know where my sweet stable girl is?”

Moonstone nudged his head toward the exit, neighing softly, his eyes wide, as if he saw something remarkable happen. The Prince knew this meant that Mariposa was somewhere out there in the endless night, so he patted Moonstone’s forehead in thanks and left hastily.

The Silver Sorceress suddenly swept in before the Prince in a gust of freezing air, a sly glint in her crystal eyes, wearing a tight silver dress that pinched her waist and scooped low on her décolletage. “Where do you think you’re going, handsome?” she crooned.

Prince Papillion side stepped her and attempted to keep running, but the Sorceress flung out an arm, stopping him abruptly in his tracks. “I’m in a great hurry,” the Prince puffed.

The Silver Sorceress smiled an icy smile. “I’m sure you still have a little time to chat with me,” she said, tracing a pale finger along his jawline. “Unless you wish for your true love to be turned into a grub for the rest of her miserable life.”

The Prince gulped, but bravely looked her in the eye as he said, “I’m not afraid of you.”

The Silver Sorceress seemed to find this amusing, and her laughter cut like icy daggers. “Oh, Prince Papillion, you do not have to be afraid of me.” She paused, circling around the Prince slowly. “But only if you do as I say. Otherwise, there will be dire consequences for you…and all of Farfalle Kingdom.”

“I thought you were supposed to protect us, not try to hurt us,” Prince Papillion frowned. “What sort of witch would that make you if you killed us all?”

“First of all, I’m not a witch, Papillion, I am a Sorceress, and a very magnificent one too,” the Silver Sorceress said. “Secondly, I wouldn’t kill you. I’ll just marry you, Prince Papillion, and become Queen of Farfalle. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Prince Papillion grimaced. “I will never marry you!”

The Silver Sorceress narrowed her eyes. “Is that so, Papillion? Well, how about we make a deal: marry me, save the kingdom and spare your filthy stable girl the fate of a grub. Or don’t marry me, kill everyone in Farfalle, and never see your beloved Mariposa again.”

“No deal.” The Prince crossed his arms stubbornly. “I’d rather be turned into a grub.”

The Silver Sorceress cocked an eyebrow, smirking. “Well, then, I will keep that in mind next time you try to touch Mariposa.” And then she dissolved into silver particles as the Prince ran through her, not letting anything else get in his way this time.

 

Mariposa made a dazzling entrance at the castle, captivating the dancers with her pure beauty that glowed like the moon. She skimmed the crowd for a familiar face, but could find none that resembled the handsome face of Prince Papillion. Mariposa could almost hear his voice saying her name like a dream, and spun around to find it was the Prince himself standing behind her, gazing speechlessly at her transformation.

“Mariposa, is that you?” Prince Papillion whispered, stepping forward into the ballroom light. “Is that really you, my love?”

Mariposa held his gaze confidently, her heart a trapped bird thrumming in her chest. “Yes, Prince Papillion, it is me. Mariposa.”

Prince Papillion weakened at the knees from hearing his name on her lips. “Mariposa, will you dance with me?”

Mariposa smiled a smile of hidden treasures, and accepted his hand into hers, and they descended the marble staircase to the prosperous Moon Dance, losing themselves in each other’s eyes and in the orchestra.

It wasn’t long before a cold wind gushed through the windows, shattering the glass, stealing the lights and killing the music. There were screams in the darkness and Mariposa held tight to Prince Papillion in all the chaos.