CHAPTER THREE

The night came. The celebration held for me gathered many people within the ballroom of Swan Castle. Many nobles and commoners came just to get the glimpse of me. The Regina's had given their all for this gathering. Every chandelier had been lit up to their fullest, a long bountiful buffet table was prepared by the castle's servants, guards were already in their respective posts ensuring the safety of the people. Swan Lake held the most beautiful night view as the moon glows in the sky from the balcony just beside the ballroom and yet here I am in my room. To be honest, I feel overwhelmed.

"May I come in?" I turned to Odette who was wearing the most gorgeous white feather-tailed dress which perfectly reflects her title as the Swan Princess when she suddenly came right out of nowhere in the door.

"Oh, Princess. Please, do come in."

"What are you still doing here, dear one? The highlight of the occasion will be held soon." She sat beside me on the bed as I thinking of the Twilight Orb. I had not felt anything with it for days. It had been within me all this time but nothing strange had happened. Unlike before it was outside of me, I kept feeling pain, an unexplainable pain. It felt like there was war happening within me, like two forces fighting. But now, nothing. I hope that is a good sign.

"Nothing. I just feel like I don't deserve all of these."

"Don't say that. Remember what we've been telling you. You are our prophecy. So everything we've been doing for you is our pleasure."

"How can you be so sure? I'm just a girl with no powers. Concealing the Twilight Orb is something, but it won't stop any wars or violence."

"We are sure. You came out of the Twilight Orb itself."

"That does not prove and mean anything, I just came out of it, period."

"The prophecy perfectly fits that it points to you, a girl who wears both colors of the dark and light will bring balance."

"And that is one more thing. What if I'm evil? What if I am not actually good?" My eyes began to water up. I can't help feeling useless of not knowing anything about myself. "I'm confused right now. I don't know who I am, what I am and why I am even here."

"Please," she held my hand, "Have faith in the prophecy and who you are. You are more than what you think you are, and more powerful than you think. You just don't know it yet."

I looked at my hand held by hers. For some reason, I found comfort in Odette's words. Have faith in who I am. And then suddenly, I felt so light. I regained my composure. "Okay, I'll try, but I can't promise you that I can fulfill the prophecy you keep talking about."

Odette fairly smiled to me. "That's fair enough for me. Now, let's show you to our guests. What's the point of a celebration if the celebrant is not present at the venue, right?"

I wiped my tears away and sniffed a little bit. "Okay then. Let's go."

Odette and I headed to the castle's ballroom, where the celebration is located. I was nervous, anxious, and feelings I can't explain if they were positive or negative. I was afraid that I would be known as someone as high as they expect to be their prophecy, and that their expectations would turn out wrong. All my frustrations were getting to me, especially when we were already about to walk down the staircase leading to the ballroom.

"Smile. Soon, we will present you to everyone."

"I'll try my best." I tried to put on my best smile. To be honest, staying happy and cheerful is not my thing. Unlike for Odette, it seemed all so easy for her. A few seconds later, I saw a man and a lady heading towards us, the man wearing high-quality and durable-during-battle suit with a blue hanging scarf on his right shoulder – not to mention he had this handsome face and very appealing aura – and the lady with cocktail dress hued with the bright shade of violet who owned the most gorgeous face. I think they're siblings.

"Good evening, your Highness." Gestured the man as he bowed and kissed the forehand of Princess Odette.

"Oh Lancelot, you don't have to call me that, Honey." Honey? Were my ears right? Did the Princess call this man Lancelot 'Honey'?

"You know I'd call you every honorific title, you're my Majesty."

"Stop that, you're embarrassing me." Odette giggled while blushing. The man smiling with his pearl-white teeth. Oh, I get it. The man was the love of her life, the man who gave her the sword.

"Hello, sister-in-law!" the Violet lady cheerfully waved at the Princess which in return did Odette waved back and smiled.

"Hello! I must say you look very gorgeous tonight, Guinevere."

"Well, we cannot joke around with genes, right? Brother?"

"Indeed, little sister."

And then all of a sudden. Their eyes turned to me. How strange, they stared at me for quite long, and it was visible in their eyes how they were amazed, how they were startled. Then, I felt Odette's hands on both of my shoulders. "Oh yes. This lady beside me, is Lunox. I think you can tell by now who she is."

"What a pleasure to meet the prophesied one." Then the man bowed with courtesy in front of me.

"You're prettier in person than I have visualized." Said the girl named Guinevere to me with a finger just below her chin. Then also, she bowed, "And yes, it's a pleasure to see your beauty in person."

I said, "Oh, please refrain from your bows or whatever you call them. I'm not surely the one yet, am I."

"No doubt, you are the prophesied one. It shows in your color." Lancelot politely said to me. On the other hand, Guinevere walked around me with her eyes checking the whole of me. Then she said, "You are the one, the living proof that the prophecy will be fulfilled."

"Okay, enough of that you guys. Why don't you go and entertain the other guests? I shall present Lunox to the people soon." Odette cut in the middle of the siblings' checking-out of me.

"Oh yes, I left my dear Gusion somewhere near the balcony. I must go check upon him. I can't let that ambitious frog Lesley, score points with my boyfriend while I'm not around him. Even though we're friends, y'know. Well, see you later!" then Guinevere gracefully ran off. Quite a competitive one for a lady.

"Gusion Paxley? So she accepted the marriage offered to your family?" Odette asked Lancelot.

"Apparently destiny has a way of turning tables. Guinevere is supposed to marry the firstborn of Paxley. But she strongly refused to that, remember? But when she met Gusion and talked about common interests, well, just like us honey, with time by their side, they developed feelings for each other."

"Oh I understand now. Well, I guess you must be off then. Just check on me after the presentation of Lunox."

"Very well, dear. I shall see you later." Then Lancelot bowed to us, and went on his way to the crowd of guests. They must be the Baroque siblings, which of course, Odette had told to me earlier.

"I hope you weren't overwhelmed by them." I turned to Odette, who was at the moment, facing me with a bit of worry on her face.

"Hmm?"

"I know you feel depressed not remembering anything about yourself. But we thank you, for giving the prophecy a chance."

"It's fine. I found it quite entertaining. The both of them seemed cute together."

"I know right? Just your typical brother and sister combo." And then we both giggled. How funny it is to see ourselves find joy in such a shallow thing. I guess Odette and I are getting along together, which was with no doubt since we arrived here.

"Okay, the time has come. Follow me after a few minutes, then I shall present you to the people." And then Odette went through a door, I guess that room will lead to the upper box of the ballroom.

I felt a soothing sensation just after that. Looking at all the people in the place, with smile on each of their faces, celebrating my arrival and existence gave me comfort. Until I saw black figures just outside the balcony. I was horrified for it felt so evil and dark just by the sight of them. I blinked once and twice to make sure if what I saw was real. Gladly, the figures faded. Maybe I'm just seeing things. But then the feeling of something dark never left me. It made me anxious from that point, and made keep my eyes peeled for danger.

"Lunox, are you alright?"

"Oh, Belerick!" I snapped out of my thoughts when Belerick talked. "I did'nt see you there."

"You seemed lost deep in your thoughts. Is there something wrong?"

"It's nothing. But I think I saw dark figures outside just while ago. But then they faded."

"Dark figures you say? Goodness, I think I must alert the guards. We can never tell what's going to happen, especially that you're the focus of the night." Then Belerick headed off on his way to warn the guards. Oh, I hope what I saw were just a figment of my imagination. I hope they weren't real. I won't know what I'll do if the celebration would end up in a disaster.

"Kings, queens, members of the royal courts, elves, leonins, ladies and gentlemen, citizens of the Moniyan Empire, welcome to Swan Castle here in Swan Lake." All the people in the ballroom gave their attention to Odette, who was starting to make her speech, as they made prior listening to the Swan Princess. "First, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for attending this wonderful celebration. It is my pleasure to see you all here. The time to rejoice has come, for you see, we have found the fulfillment to our prophecy. Though at first, she did not want to do this for us, but now, a chance has been given to us. At last, the endless war between the light and the abyss will come to its final destination. I give you, the prophesied one, Lunox."

The sound of a round of applause filled every corner of the ballroom as the people clapped to their fullest. I, even though I wasn't confident enough to show myself, walked up to the upper box of the ballroom, as to be presented to the people. For the first time, I felt I had a purpose. I felt I was there for a reason. Though everything was still not clear, I knew for myself, that I'd want to be of great help to the people of the Moniyan Empire. As I was almost at the edge of the upper box, something happened.

The chandeliers and everything that gave light to the castle started to flicker on and off, a strange coldness filled the air which drew a rise of terror and fright to the people in the ballroom. The ground started to shake. Everyone was panicking, screaming about what was happening. No one anticipated this, and no one knew what it was.

Everything went dark. Then, I heard a terrifying evil laugh.

"Night has fallen, let the killing begin!"

"Burn them all!"

"All shall perish by my sword!"

Dark shadows started to destroy everything. Evil warriors hurt the innocent people. I've never seen such a horrible scene of violence. Then, someone grabbed my hand. "Lunox! Come we must take you to a safe place!" Odette pulled me and we ran as fast as we could. We ran as far as our feet could take us, but the riot caused by the dark shadows and the evil creatures kept us slow from running.

"Warriors of Light! Attack!"

Brave warriors from the Moniyan Empire dauntlessly faced the shadow creatures. It seemed impossible for them to win, especially when the creature with a tail and sharp claws started to slay each one of them one by one, he blinked from one place to another, leaving every warrior he came near harmed and injured.

Then, a huge man, no, a monster, a monster scorched with the heat of flames, appeared along our way. "Where do you think you're going with her, Odette?" And at that point, I felt so helpless.