By Your Side

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Mystic Woods

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"JEON JUNGKOOK!"

Ananya yelled, as

her worst fear comes true.

A trap vine had completely wrapped itself around a struggling body and was pulling it away, towards the darker side of the forest.

She broke into a run and conjured a sword from thin air.

The vines had covered his mouth and were almost choking him to death.

She didn't have much

time in her hands.

Ananya teleported herself a few feet away from Jungkook, right by the vine.

S

he immediately cut it off and rushed up to Jungkook. She carefully sliced the vine covering his face and found him unconscious.

"Jk?" Ananya called out,

clapping his face.

"JK are you alright?"

She was getting no response.

"Exorpus!"

Ananya cast a Curing Mist

to wake him up.

Gasping loudly, JK woke up.

Ananya instantly cleared the mist and asked,

"You okay?"

"Y-yeah!" Saying so, he pulled himself up and looked right into her eyes.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet."

She said and pulled him up on his feet.

"This is the Dark Forest."

"So we should find a way out?"

Jungkook asked looking around the pitch dark forest.

"Yeah, if we can."

Ananya replied.

"What do you mean?"

JK questioned.

"I can teleport myself in, but getting out of this forest is nearly impossible."

She explained and got herself into a steady stance with her sword.

"Only a Goblin or a Gremlin can get us out of here."

"Why is that so?"

Jungkook asked confused.

"This forest changes itself every five minutes, " Ananya replied,

"Getting out is impossible without a Gremlin eating the hell out of us!"

"I can turn into a Dragon- wait!

Why can't I transform?"

Jungkook asked, as he could feel his Dragon Heart scales burn for the suppressing energy of the forest.

"You can't use magic here either."

Ananya said.

"Then the sword?"

"I conjured it outside."

"So what now?"

"Can you spitfire?"

"No."

J

ungkook shrugged.

"We are so dead." Ananya sighed,

"Can you walk in the dark?"

Jungkook nodded.

There was hardly enough light to see his outline. The forest truly lives up to its name.

She grabbed Jungkook''s hand and started treading on the path, carefully.

The forest was filled with traps made by the Gremlins and Goblins.

Ananya read in the books about these traps. Each trap is either lethal, poisonous or cursed.

Jungkook, on the other hand, was feeling a loss. He couldn't show Ananya his vulnerability on losing his transformation ability. His entire body was on fire but he decided to quietly follow her.

All of a sudden, her hair lit up a light purple hue.

It was midnight.

"That's impressive."

Jungkook said, admiring my glowing hair. Ananya turned around to face him when he realised that her eyes were glowing as well. It didn't have just two hues anymore. It had just a bright light purple hue, radiating energy.

"Well, now we will be attracting those monsters right at us!"

Ananya sighed.

Sure enough, there were many rustling noises coming from all directions.

"Need a sword?"

Ananya asked Jungkook,

as she scanned the vicinity.

"H-huh?"

Jungkook shook himself and said.

"A sword?"

She asked again, presenting her sword.

"Oh! Thank you."

He bowed and took the sword.

"WATCH OUT!"

A Gremlin was about to reach for Jungkook's neck as soon as Ananya handed him the sword.

She quickly pulled out her Sword and sliced the Gremlin into two.

"Where did that sword come from?"

Jungkook asked, getting himself into a steady stance.

He had lost his sixth sense and had no idea of something being so close to killing him. He was shocked over the fact that a noblewoman could oppress a resentful suppressing energy and conjure another sword, at a point where he was barely able to stand.

"It's midnight," Ananya replied,

"Acharya's spells are lifted from me."

"Spells?"

"I will tell you about it later."

She said and got into a combat stance.

Soon they were surrounded by Gremlins.All their hungry eyes were at the two Royals. Half of the gremlins were cannibals, while the other half was here for the goods they carried.

"Show us the way out and we won't harm you!" Ananya said out loud.

In reply, all she heard was nasty snickering. They started advancing on them and had their hungry mouths open wide.

"There are just too many of them!" Jungkook said flustered.

"DUCK!"

Ananya exclaimed and gave a powerful swing of her sword. Jungkook ducked in time and felt a strong energy wave push him further down on his knees.

A Purple Ray of light radiated from her sword, killing all the Gremlins in the vicinity.

"Wow!"

Jungkook exclaimed, amazed by her weapon

"What's her name?"

"Pegasus."

Ananya replied, showing off her beautiful sword.

Ananya's spirit weapon was always suppressed by Acharya's spells.

This was one of the very few times she used her sword.

While they admired the sword, another rustle came from behind.

Immediately they got back into a combat stance.

This time, it was a

Goblin.

A giant green bodied creature that could disguise itself as a human.

They have a highly sensitive nose and a very good memory. They recognize people by the smell of their blood.

It stood a few feet away from the two and examined them carefully.

"Can you show us the way out?"

Ananya asked, sheathing her sword.

Jungkook was shocked. A Goblin is a deadly creature which could easily kill 20 armed men with out getting a scratch! Seeing a Goblin at this point was like seeing death!

The Goblin gave a respectful bow and asked them to follow.

"I thought Goblins were monsters."

Jungkook whispered as they followed the green giant. He was still surprised by the Goblin's kindness.

"When they swear to protect someone, they keep their word."

Ananya replied.

"A Goblins Word?"

Jungkook thought to himself, surprised.

"It's very hard to get a favour from a Goblin." Jungkook reasoned.

"How did you get it?"

"I have no clue."

Ananya lied.

All of a sudden, the Goblin halted in front of a dense bush and turned around. He gave them a bow, then pushed aside the bush,

to make way for them.

They bowed to the Goblin and thanked him for his kindness.

Soon they were out on the main street of Maya.

"That was a hell of a night!"

Jungkook exclaimed and let out a sigh of relief. He could feel his burning sensation subside and

was very relieved.

Ananya nodded.

The night was bizarre after all.

It was her first time using Pegasus to save a life, A Goblin helped them out and her hair glows in the dark!

Thankfully, Jungkook didn't recognise her. Only the citizens of Maya suspect that her magic is Purple.

As for the other kingdoms, they hardly know the colour of her eyes!

As the two walked down the empty street, Ananya spoke up,

"Why were you searching for the Princess?"

Jungkook sighed,

"Everyone is."

"Why?"

Ananya asked.

"The Kings and Queens of all the Kingdoms want their heir

to marry the Princess."

Jungkook explained,

"That's why we haven't much been exposed to any other

woman of our age."

Ananya looked at Jungkook surprised.

It was not just her,

but the entire Royal Blood

suffering from such restrictions.

"But why?"

Ananya asked, still not understanding the reason.

"The Prophecy actually has more to it."

Jungkook replied.

"Acharya had made separate prophecies for us.

We all have love trials."

"Love Trial?"

Ananya thought out loud.

She never knew the exact reason why her identity was kept a Secret.

All she knew was that people were trying to keep her away from any kind of men. Even when she was a Commoner, she did have some restrictions of talking to people of her own age. She never understood why.

Now it makes sense.

"I don't know much about it either."

Jungkook replied.

"But I will stop pursuit of the Princess."

Ananya looked at Jungkook, surprised.

"I have found someone already."

Jungkook said,

seeing Ananya's confused state.

"Who is it?"

Ananya blurt out.

Her heart ached as she waited for his next words.

"You."

Jungkook replied.

He smiled at her and looked right into her eyes. Ananya stood petrified at her spot. He confessed. Fireworks set off in heart immediately. This was a secret dream that came true today. She didn't know how to express herself at his confession.

"You don't have to answer me."

Jungkook said and gave her a warm smile.

Ananya released a breath of relief and returned him a smile. Jungkook felt his heart leap with joy on seeing her smile.

She accepted! He couldn't be happier!

As Ananya walked along with Jungkook down the empty roads of the city, he paused all of a sudden.

"I have to go."

He said, turning to her.

He was silently wishing she won't let him go.

"I know."

She nodded.

Ananya knew that the only option Jungkook had was to transform into a dragon to enter the castle. The Castle doors were long closed now. Ananya as well didn't have many options to get in.

"Where are you headed?"

Jungkook asked.

Ananya points at

Chelsea's room in the castle.

It's a known fact that The King had allowed only her family to live in the castle. After all,

she was Ananya's cousin.

"Need a ride?"

Jungkook asked as he transformed himself into a golden-red dragon.

"Sure."

Saying so, she climb up his ridged back and hold tight.

This was the first time anyone had climbed up on him. Jungkook was rejoicing from inside as accepting a ride in Nergia is good enough as accepting a marriage proposal.

Soon they were airborne.

This was Ananya's first time riding a Dragon. The cold air rushed on her face and made her fingers go numb.

The moonlight softly fell upon the Dragon scales and made them shine a bright colour.

The city looked like twinkling stars from up here. Everything looked beautiful as they cut through the clouds, looped around the castle and landed on the balcony of Chelsea's room.

Jungkook turned back to his normal self and asked,

"This it?"

Ananya nodded.

They stood there for a while, both speechlessly gazing at the other.

Jungkook broke the silence and asked,

"Uhm...See you around?"

She smiled and replied,

"Maybe."

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Author's note:

The next episode will be a fast forward to 1 year later.

It's going to be the Spirit Revelation Ceremony for the Princess where she is going to meet all the 7 princes.

Stay tuned!