Warrior

Once upon a time in the Mystic Desert lived a Princess. In a tower that overlooked the yellow horizon, she watched the sun rise and set every day in the sand dunes. Her heart longed to stand in the middle of the desert, touch the sand, feel it under her feet, smell the air, and see the vast sky turn from blue to black. But alas, she couldn't. Imprisoned by Norms and Virtues, she dreamt of Home, in the desert and open sky, or somewhere far beyond it. The Wanderer never saw home. He had seen mountains, seas, forests and waterfalls. His horse was his home, as was the world. Alone and aimless, he had travelled half the world. Every night, a certain emptiness filled his heart. He couldn't tell why.

One star-studded night, on one of his many journeys, his horse grew tired in the sand dunes and looked around for water. The fort towers caught his eye.

"Anyone home?" He said, looking around the deserted ruins. Silence replied to him as he frowned. "Such a huge place and no soul?"

The Captive Princess frowned at the human voice. In the darkness and lights of the stars, all she could see was the white horse beaming like moonlight on the sand.

"Who is it?" She whispered into the darkness, scared of the human voice.

" I am a Desert Wanderer. My horse is tired. Can I get some water?" He had bowed. She struggled to see him in the darkness. He had looked up in vain to see a shadow in the tower.

She lowered a pale with a rope. The animal drank heartily, making her smile.

" Say, where are you from, Wanderer?" She urged lowering some fruits as well.

" I am from the world. The sky is my roof."

" How does it look?" She asked eagerly.

"What? The sky?" he frowned.

"No, your world." A strange feeling tangled her heart. 

" Beautiful." He smiled.

All through the night, the Wanderer talked of the nature he had witnessed in the world. The vastness and diversity of its wonders. The Princess, in turn, talked of her house. How she kept the hearth warm and cosy, how she cooked, knitted and decorated her home, how she daydreamed and wove stories in her head. How she made curtains out of torn dresses.

" How is your home?" The Captive Princess asked the Wanderer.

" Home?" He appeared surprised. Smiling faintly, he shook his head. "I am still looking for it." He sighed almost in a whisper.

"Me too." Her voice seemed distant, making him frown.

" You have..." He was confused.

" A place to stay. Yes," she smiled, " Not home"

" Why do you want a home?" She asked eagerly, "You have everything I ever wanted, freedom and the open skies."

He smiled. "I miss what you have. A warm and cosy place to return to every night when I'm weary. Someone to ask me how my day went, or if I had struggled." He made her frown as he sighed.

"I never knew it was important."

As dawn set in, and the rays of the sun fell on their faces, they had for the first time seen each other, and they both realised one had what the other craved most.

The Wanderer saw the light of the sun warming her cheeks. Her skin reflected the glow from the sun, while his was tanned from adventures.

" O Captive Princess, I should continue my journey now." He sighed. " But you offered me food, water and hope to continue." He smiled, " How should I thank you?"

" The walls of this tower suffocate me, Desert Wanderer! Take me away. Free me from this prison." She begged.

" Am sorry." The Wanderer fell back, surprising her. " I cannot do this."

" Why not?" She frowned. " I am willing to go with you." She pleaded. " All you need to do is break the shackles Norm and Virtues created, and we can escape into the Mystic desert. No one will find us."

He smiled faintly. " I am a wanderer, Princess. I am not strong enough to fight Norms and Virtues. I am not a Warrior to protect you." He stared back at her from his horse.

" Wait for a warrior, my lady, one who can fight for you." He looked up at her twinkling eyes.

" I will wait." She spoke softly, " For the Wanderer to turn into a Warrior."

" What if the wanderer never returns?" He asked.

" The warrior will", she answered.

" What if he is not brave enough?" He was unsure.

" If the warrior returns to fight against Norms and Virtues for me, he will be the bravest of all. For he will fight for something the worth of which only the bravest heart knows."

" What is that, Princess?"

" The home he craved will be waiting at this very window, with Love as the reward."

" Let the wanderer depart, Princess", he bowed, "so that the warrior can return!"

She took out the ribbon from her hair and threw it out of the window.  He caught it and tied it to his wrist. She watched him head towards where the sun shone brightest.

Days and months turned into years. The Captive Princess had stared at the horizon, first hopefully, then with regret and tears. She had gathered the pieces of her heart to believe she had believed in an impossible dream. The stranger was never to return. She wasn't what he sought. She had stopped singing with the birds. She had stopped knitting dreams.

Norm and Virtues were angry. There was no fun holding the Princess captive. If she stopped knitting dreams.

" What will we suppress if she stops knitting dreams?" Norm asked Virtues, alarmed. They both went to their teacher,  Society. " The only way to keep her dreaming is with a taste of hope." Society ordered.

Every day, Norm and Virtues tried to make the Princess speak aloud her thoughts in vain. They always loved to prove her wrong and crush her dreams. But with her this silent, what would they do now?

Finally, Society introduced them to a very cunning man called Rumour. Rumour had every trick in its bag to make and break dreams. Rumour had it that the Princess had befriended a Wanderer. What would Norm and Virtues do with this information? Society stepped in.

Each day, society gave the princess false hopes of the news of the wanderer's return. At first, she believed him, as he took care of her, fed her and gave her shelter. But each day she was disappointed. Finally, her patience broke. She wept and begged Society to let her go from her shackles. To convince Norm and Virtues to let her be free. Society gave her false sympathy. Norm and Virtues reminded her how cruel the world was and how foolish she had been to believe the Wanderer. She fell to pieces as Society, Rumour, Norms and Virtues shared a good victorious laugh!

The silent desert echoed with horse hooves. A gust of wind or perhaps an impending storm approaching? The white horse galloped. His mane blew in the wind. The Wanderer was back!

Adorning scars of bravery, he was now perhaps a Warrior. The dream had taught him his battle skills. The reward of his training was the sword of motivation Dream had gifted him. His wrist adorned the ribbon that once belonged to the one he decided to call Home. The fort was visible on the horizon. The tower and the window too. Yes, he was finally back, losing track of time and era, but he was back to claim his love. Her wanderer was now a Warrior. Could the princess recognise him?

"Look! A warrior!"

Reality alarmed Norm and Virtues.

"No warrior had set foot on this land till now. How dare he!" They roared. " We will crush him!"

" Looks like Dream made another one for us to defeat!" Reality smiled. "Yet again!"

Rumour turned pale at the sight. "It's... It's no random warrior...."

" What do you mean, Rumour ?"

" He is the wanderer who left the Princess... And he who... Returned a warrior... To..." Rumour fell down dead in fright.

"He who fights for love is the bravest warrior of all." They heard the princess laugh at the threshold.

Reality smiled. "It's not over yet. Capture her," he ordered. " Separate them"

The princess smiled back, " She who doesn't care for Norms and Virtues finds Love!" She smiled at Reality.

" I don't let love survive, dear." Reality roared. " Love dies in my hands time and again. Virtues, call upon Fate."

Norms were guarding the gates, alarmed when the warrior entered the ruins.  The bats flew away. The sun rose from the clouds. It would rain. Norms were taken aback by the skills of the warrior. He lay dead in the skilful sword called motivation. It was time Virtues fought him. Reality took the princess up and caged her in the highest part of the tower. " The longest battle awaits." Fate smiled. He went in search of Society.

The warrior made his way up to the roof of the tower through the spiral staircase.

" Call him. Call for help." Reality pointed a knife at the Princess.

She smiled. " Scared?"

"Nothing scares me!"

" Not even Dreams? Your old enemy?"

Virtues stopped the warrior in his tracks. " One step and you are dead"

" You are dead already, Virtues; you are powerless without Society. I will kill him and Reality soon!"

" I am killing you first." Swords clashed as Virtues tried to hold on in vain. " Love won't survive Society and Reality" Virtues called after him were wounded.

Society was in a dilemma. He had hoped for Reality and Fate. But wasn't it all putting his existence at stake? He decided to play his cards right. He was about to pick up his sword. Destiny stopped him.

"My husband, Fate is with those who survive with your existence. You repent your mistake. Let him handle the rest." Destiny, in her soothing way, reminded Society how once he was built with love!

The reality was about to put the knife in her chest when the Princess shouted, " Wanderer, is that you?"

" No, my love, it is your warrior, your knight!"

"Let me kill you first, then!" Reality smiled, pushing the princess away. Swords were out. His Motivation is gifted by Dream. Reality's sword of Words. They clashed as thunder roared. The princess stood in awe while Reality pushed the Warrior towards the edge. The princess gasped. Did she feel helpless? Fate had rushed up the stairs to witness the happenings. He couldn't let this happen. He threw his sword at the Princess. His Sword of confidence. She trembled to pick it up.

" Come on, princess. CHOOSE YOUR FATE! SAVE YOUR LOVE!"

Reality had tried to push the warrior off the roof. Reality was about to give him a final push.

" Stop," He heard Society shriek.

The Warrior saw a sword piece through Reality. His blood dripped from the blade. The Warrior was about to lose grip when the hands holding the sword held him tighter. He looked up. The Princess had put the sword of Confidence through Reality. She was, in fact, her own knight in shining armour. Society stood gasping as she pulled him up in an embrace.

"You saved me." The warrior smiled.

" I shielded you like you protect me," she smiled back as he kissed her forehead.

" They are equals." Fate smiled at Destiny.

" Times have changed." She smiled back. They stared at Society.

" Your turn now!" Destiny reminded, " Do the right thing.

The one for which you were made." Society looked at the couple and sat on his knees. He removed his crown of Power and laid it at the Warriors' feet. Love was the most powerful of all.

The Warrior put the crown of power on Dreams. And made him the king of Society.

"We don't need power anymore." He smiled at her. "We have found love in each other. Let Dream rule."

From that day onwards, Dream ruled over Society, and everyone lived in peace, love and humanity. The captive princess and the Desert wanderer were now the Warriors of Love. They lived happily until the story was over, and you and I returned to Reality, which is, by the way, still teamed with Norms and Virtues and ruled by Rumours.