Chapter 2: Mighty Alice

The sun burned brightly high in the sky. Over a long Beach of red sand. The oceans waves where a deep green. With waves turning a pinkish hue as it foamed onto the crimson sands, that spread out onto the horizon either way, miles upon miles of desolate red sanded isolation.

The trees further inland roughly twenty metres from where Jay layed. Bloody and beaten upon the shore.  Surf slowly washing up over his bear back. His body now covered in small cuts with large deep purple bruises. His skin cracked from sunburn and oozing a mixture of white puss and blood. His clothes hanging on by a few inches of thread. He had survived losing his raft, only to find himself unable to move now he had finally found land. 

Slowly coming to, the first thing to hit Jay was nausea, followed by dull throbbing pain in his joints, finally finished with him unable to see due to the bruising around his eyes. He would cry if he could but his body was so dehydrated. 

Jays limbs pressed weakly against the sand of the beach. Managing just barely he clawed his way away from the water and sharp black rocks. Finding his hands stumbling into large tree roots so broad that his hands couldn't get purchase on it surface. Until he passed out again with his arms trapped feebly beneath his own body. Falling into a sleepless dream. Beneath the shelter off a large golden crowned tree. 

  *  *  *  *

Alice fluttered through the branches and leaves carried by the rapid beating of her small wings, that grew out of her upper back. She shared many human features a pretty face framed by dark brown bangs that highlighted her two beautiful shimmering blue eyes. Her ears where a little elven and pointy, but petite enough not to be noticed as any different from anyone else. She had two arms and legs which looked normal enough. The differences where more pronounced in the fact she had a few more bee like qualities to her person. She had the stinger of a bee, long and sleek as if it was a cats tail on a human body. It's stripes a dark yellow mixed with wide black stripes to her person. She wore a black outfit with light armour covering parts of her body. The armour was plain and warped from fire and overuse, darkening the plates of mail a stained black. On her tanned leather belt hung two small bags either side and a sheathed short sword, in an ancient plain metal sheath. The ornate scabbard was decorated with small gems of the earth and had a binding of dried brown leaves. Her trousers where of a thick black hide of some sort laced with a dull yellow weave, showing its age and weathered use. 
Alice was on a personal mission. Every now and then when she had the time, she would go practice her martial art. She always liked training on the beach it was a place where a great battle many years ago took place. Well so goes the legend of how the sands gained there bloody colour. Though to Alice just being there made her feal as though she was honoring the deads memories. 

Being devoted to the cause of keeping your people's safe. Having sworn an oath to the Matriarch of Thorns to protect its people. Alice intended to be the strongest warrior in her kingdom. To ensure to herself and others she could protect them when the time came. 

It wasn't just the atmosphere of the beach that attracted her there. The sound, the smell of sea salt air and the way the suns heat would get to her, as if she had been fighting through fire. Each added another level to her training. It enlivened her, filling her with more cause and satisfaction. 
Racing to the plato where the forest tree line ended and opened up revealing a beach of red sand that glowed a luminescent pink. Slowing her flight Alice aimed a landing onto the soil of her kins land, wanting to walk a short distance and feel the soil change to sand through her boots. It had after all been a long personal journey from the forward camp she called home. 

Alice especially liked how it felt loose and soft. Though through training she knew it could bog you down if not fully aware of your footing. Hearing the sound of the sea approach, she pressed forward into a jog, before bursting into a full out run. Jumping out of the last bit of foliage she immediately took a defensive battle stance. Drawing her sword slowly, just so she could feel and hear the blade as it was released from its metal stock sheath. 

Starting off slowly, wanting to see just how long she could personally maintain her defensive stance while,  mock dodging a make belief foes in her head. Alice always tried to think of the unexpected or to go through moves and scenarios she was told about by others. She always found that maintaining her stance while in a relaxing environment was the hardest thing to do. It was so easy to lose focus and just lose herself to bathing in the suns rays, a guilty pleasure of hers. 

Having a clear plan in mind,  she was going to go through a play that she had seen not too long ago. One of the actors moves intrigued her. She knew it wasn't a real sword he carried but she couldn't help but want to try out the move she saw. A move that had slayed a dragon dead. Or that's what she had planned to do. Maintaining her defensive sword fighting stance she,  danced across the beach slaying fictional foes with gusto, while deftly dodging left and right from retaliation.  It wasn't until she had worked some distance down the beach. That she saw she was approaching something that looked like thick leather. Though it didn't smell of leather nor of anything else, she could recall. 

Poking the large orange mass tentatively with her index finger, then placing her palm flat on this strange material. Having had never seen a leather like this before. It must have come from a monsters hide she had never seen or heard about before. The image of a strange grotesque, dragon like being crossed her mind. It's hide and wings where neon orange while it's gaping maw salivated blue ooz. Laughing at her own made up monster she took to the air. To get a broader picture. From above it looked like an odd banana shape all torn and ripped apart. Alice's eyesight  followed the shoreline seeing bits and pieces of this orange hide strewn all about. Most of it appeared caught in the surf,  like the ocean didn't want the land to have it now it had finally gotten there. 
Following the debris a few hundred metres above ground as she flew quickly along the crimson beach her eyes fell onto an odd shape, sheltered beneath a tree. It looked like one of the fairy kin but bigger and without wings. 

Alice delicately set herself down atop a thin branch,  careful not to put to much of her weight down at once for fear she could break it. Starring dumbfounded at the red'ish wingless fairy that was collapsed below of her. It looked like it was burnt. With several wounds covering it's body. 
Alice cautiously fluttered off her perch closer. Looking down she just realised she was still clutching her sword in her main hand. Pulling it closer in an odd position slowly circling the now giant wingless fairy. This thing was at least seven times bigger than her. She estimated she was as tall as this things head was high. The creature showed no signs of life. Reaching its head she tentatively poked at the things face with her sword. When it was clear it posed no threat she sheathed the sword. Finally kneeling down while crawling forward a bit more closer to poke it's red nose, when it let out a shallow sigh, that sounded like sand grating against a large dry rock. Alice leapt back automatically drawing her sword again, ready to swing at a moments notice. She lowered her guard as it was painfully obvious this creature couldn't pose a threat. It looked as though it was in pain and unable to move of its own will. A mix of emotions rose up in her along with the idea, what if this happened to me? Shaking those thoughts loose from her mind. Feeling it only right that she end this creatures suffering and pain. 

It felt like the right thing to do, she would expect the same for herself, if she ever was found in this sorry state. 

Moving into a position from a foot away, with a clear line if sight on its exposed throat, she brought her sword up to her face,  saying a silent pray to the holder of eternity for this creatures fair travel. Finally lifting the finely crafted sword above her head, allowing mana from the land to flow up through her feet into her hands. The blade glowed a dim red as it started to grow longer, wider and heavier. It's size kept growing and growing as Alice allowed the magic of the distant mountains to course through her. She kept this up until she felt the sword was more than big enough to relieve this creatures suffering. That's when a light blue roabed fairy shot from the woods, blocking her path. 

The fairy was shorter than her, but only slightly it held its hand out flat while holding a stern expression on its face, his rather handsome face. 
Alice smirked at the sudden appearance of the young prince of fairies. She scanned the princess attire. His wings beat to fast to see there thin butterfly qualities of gold on white. His hair was a long sleek silver matching his families heritage. Only thing to differentiate him from his father was his brown eyes. The Oberons family crest was proudly on show on his light blue robe. It was a hand clenched over a rare miniature flower. Legend of old says it imbues those who posses it with untold riches. Though it was an old legend. 

Not wanting to create an incident between nations, she released the mana in her sword firing the energy directly up away from both parties. It shot out in a long arc into the horizon where sea laid out waiting for it. It left a trail of plasma as it ferociously tore at the fabric of the air in its path. After the spectacle Alice sheathed her sword quickly as she felt the presence of the royal guard approaching there position. 

"So what brings the prince of all fairies out into the wilderness. Or would you prefer I call you Oberon the sixth?" Alice said putting on a brave act trying to hide her concern of the fairies that where now training there arrows onto her, from hiding in the branches of the woods. 

Oberon chuckled slightly while brushing his silver hair out if his face, "I'm actually the ninth in the current lineage of Kings. But you can call me what you wish. I only ask what you intended to do using our lands mana."
Alice looked past the prince to the pained creature. It annoyed her that she was being interrogated by this child, for a simple act of kindness. Finally she sighed turning to face the forest where she felt so much murderous intent focused on her. "Kindness... I was planning on ending that wingless fairies pain." She said gesturing towards the creature behind the prince. 

"It's fortunate I stopped you then. Because murder is forbidden in our kingdom. It carries the pain of death." 

"Really?" Alice said venom in her throat, "This land you claim is within your borders of my monarchs territory. How do you plan in forcing the lay of your kingdom upon that of others, hmm?"  finishing with anger in her voice. 

Oberon signaled for his guardsman to come out of behind the tree's. They approached instantly surrounding his majesty while keeping there green piercing eyes focused on Alice.

There was five in total, all wearing delicate ornate blue robes of Oberons family lineage, over what Alice could only guess to be light plate armour. Each was bald with no distinguishing facial features only sharing the same grim expression. Each stood imposing shoulder to shoulder at least a few inches taller than Oberon, closer to her own hight.  Not a single one of them appeared to be carrying a weapon, which meant they where mages of some sort. Alice had never seen any members of the royal guards to the fairies before. All she knew was there reputation of incredible defensive magics along with nasty dark magics. The last thing she wanted was to find herself engaged in combat with no less than five experienced fighters and who knows what else hidden in the trees. It irked her to have so many hidden foes pointing there intent to harm her so readily from hiding. Though she couldn't get a read on the royal guard they where blank, completely emotionless. 

"Men please could you bring my physician here." He said it with authority, so much so they wouldn't question his order. 

Alice watched two of the five guards leave. Turning her back on the group she went to fly away. She didn't want to be party to any more diplomatic problems. 

"Please don't leave quite yet miss. I wish to introduce you to my father." Said Oberon in a petulant tone. 

Alice turned to see the guards come up to flank her. Letting out an audible sigh, she stood tall with her hand on her swords hilt, showing her strong will not wanting to look weak in front of these fairies. "I'm afraid young prince that I have other duties and I've lingered here long enough."
"No need to worry about your duties. I'll talk to my father and have you exempted from trifling matters." Remarked Oberons smirking. 
"I beg your pardon but I'm a warrior. No diplomat." Alice gripped at the hilt of her blade ready to draw it at a moments notice. While she cautiously backing away. 

The prince tired of flying on the spot dropped to the ground. "Really it's a simple request, it would go a long way in insuring the alliance between our nations. I mean I wouldn't want to have to tell the Monarch of the Thornhunters, that a discretion made by one of her own, has cost her the only neighbouring ally."

"What!?"

"Heh... it's up to you this alliance is not needed by my fair race." A dark smile now covered the princes formerly handsome face. 

Alice didn't like this one bit. It was just like all her worst nightmares had come together and morphed into something much worse. She had no idea what to do, could this alliance honestly be so easily waved off by a few words and her attendance. It made no sense whatsoever. Looking at the fairy in the eye failing to hide her contempt for him. It was then she knew without a doubt this creature would do it. The prince Oberon had no remorse or sympathy in his eyes, they where as cold as the frozen rain of the Northern shattered plains. "Fine, let's play your game." She relented turning her gaze away from his in anger, at being so powerless all of a sudden. 

"Good!" Beamed Oberon, just as he was about to turn to face the creature on the ground, his two royal guards burst out the tree line carrying a petite fairy girl with mousy features, large rimmed glasses that reflected so much sunlight that they completely hid her hazel eyes from view. Her hair was a complete mess, it looked like it was cut short but given all the bits of leaves and broken shattered twigs it was impossible to tell, what it normally looked like. She had a similar light blue uniform like the guards except it had a less ornate finishing to it. 

"Ah doctor I'll leave the healing to you. Guards keep watch. I am tired and wish to retire for the evening." With that Oberon lifted off the ground almost lazily disappearing behind the tree line heading off to his encampment. 

"Uhm... who am I healing?" Said the petite physician looking between her and then freezing on the spot when she saw the Thornhunter. 

Alice couldn't help but laugh to herself at the irony. Now she was the one who was being held captive against her will. She secretly wished she never went training to today. Looking back towards the party of fairies she saw a young girl standing there starring at her wide eyed. Alice glanced around her at the grim faced guards monitoring her. She sighed pointing her hand to behind the girls right shoulder. 

The girl shuddered at her sudden movement, following where her hand pointed to only to fall to her knees when she saw what was behind her. Clutching her bag desperately close to her chest, allowing a little whimper to escape her throat.