"Hey Alice, thanks for saving me. I'm really grateful. I won't forget it—I truly appreciate it."
"Do you always talk this much, Zach?"
"No, I'm just thanking you. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome, Zach. Now shut up and enter the portal," Alice said.
"Where is it going to take me?"
"Where do you want it to take you?"
"Home, of course," Zach replied.
"Is this your hope?" Alice asked.
"Yeah…"
Suddenly, a voice thundered from a dark cloud above them.
"I am Granerde, wielder of nature and dark power. I suppose you're the fairy princess, and you—" he pointed at Zach, "—are the proof. And also the fool who just dug his own grave."
"You're the fool for entering our land without respect," Alice snapped. "You should have come humbly if you didn't want to die here."
"I didn't come for pleasantries," Granerde replied. "All I want is the Chant Forest."
As he spoke, a surge of power burst from his hands, distorting the portal and turning its path toward the Chant Forest. Alice tried to stop him, but he gripped her throat with dark magic. Zach quickly aimed his gun and fired, but Granerde overpowered them, hurling both into the portal before entering himself and sealing it shut.
Inside the forest, Granerde raised Zach with his magic.
"Give me one reason not to kill you right now. I only need the princess to lead me to the Mother Tree. I need something—something only the dark tribe can wield—but it's far more important than both your lives."
"So, you want the diamond my father always spoke about," Alice said. "I can't let you destroy this forest."
With that, wings sprouted from her back. Green light radiated around her as she tried to summon the forest's power, but the trees wouldn't respond.
"Hahaha!" Granerde laughed. "You don't understand. This forest is different. Your magic doesn't work here. These trees are like humans—they choose who to respond to."
He smirked and added, "So, you have two options: help me willingly or watch your new friend die. Then I'll force you to find the diamond anyway. As you can see, my powers work just fine here."
Realizing she had little choice, Alice's wings folded and she landed beside Zach. He looked at her with concern as Granerde released him.
"I admire your kindness," Granerde said. "You'd risk everything for someone you met just hours ago. That's rare. So, now that we're all friends, which way do we go?"
"Start by leaving your creepy dark cloud and walking with us," Alice said firmly.
Granerde chuckled and floated down. "Don't do anything stupid, or your pretty boy here will suffer."
"No need for threats. I will not kill you here . Just consider this your lucky place," she said.
"No hard feelings, Princess. I'm just the messenger. Nothing personal."
"Do you even know what keeps the creatures in this forest alive?" Alice asked coldly.
"Enough, Princess! Get to work. Where is the damn diamond?"
"My father said the Mother Tree is at the center of the forest," Alice replied. "It has blue leaves that can kill you if they touch you first."
With a wave, Granerde enveloped them in dark clouds. In seconds, they appeared before the towering Mother Tree.
"Hello, hello, hello, Miss Mother Tree," Granerde mocked. "I just need your little diamond."
He turned to Alice. "How do I get it? Where is it?"
"I don't know," she said truthfully.
Granerde sneered, dark energy building in his palms.
"Alice," Zach said, "Don't you think he'll kill us both, then destroy this forest—and maybe your kingdom—if he gets what he wants?"
"Yes," she said, her voice tense. "That's why I need to get you out of here."
"No," Zach said. "That's why we need to work together to stop him. What do you say, my princess?"
Alice smiled. "Let's do this."
Power surged through her as her wings grew. Zach touched one of the glowing feathers.
"Fascinating?" she asked with a smirk before flying toward Granerde.
"Yep," Zach replied, reloading his gun and firing.
Granerde turned.
"no is not you I want fire—I was trying to scare the tree," he said as he stepped back. But before Granerde could react, Alice blasted him with her magic, sending him crashing to the ground.
She fired again, but he blocked it with his dark power. Zach shot once more, giving Alice the opening she needed to hit him hard enough to break the ground beneath him.
Alice rushed forward and began slashing at him with her wings. She believed she had won, but Granerde gathered his remaining power and threw her violently into the Mother Tree.
Then he launched a dark blast toward Alice—but Zach dove in front of her and took the hit. The dark magic pierced through his back. Blood poured from his wound.
Alice caught him as he fell. "Zach! Zach!! Zach!!!" she cried, shaking him.
Zach coughed, blood on his lips. Alice turned to Granerde, her face twisted with rage. "What have you done, you dark bastard?!"
She tried to attack, but Zach held her wrist.
"Hey... my princess," he whispered. "It's been my pleasure... knowing you."
"Please stay with me. Your mom still needs you," she said, .
"Don't worry. Just... crush this bastard for me. Knowing you is an honor. If you're fighting for the forest… don't you think the Mother Tree can lend you a hand? You're the winner, my princess. But before you go…"
He smiled faintly through the pain. "Tell me you app
reciated my gratitude."
Alice held his face gently. "I really appreciate it," she said, voice shaking.