Morning Glory – Jewel Riders Two Ch. 6
Summary: Gwenevere’s daughter Allura must lead a new generation of Jewel Riders.
Archival Note from The Jewel Riders Archive: This story is presented as it was originally published on Stormy’s “Avalon” fan site in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It is presented for archival purposes and for the enjoyment of the Jewel Riders fandom. If you are the author of this story and wish to have it removed from the Jewel Riders Archive (or wish to share more!) please email us at archivist@jewelridersarchive.com. Happy Reading!
Jewel Riders II
Chapter 6: An Evening to Remember
Princess,
Please meet me at the fountain in the garden tonight.
Allura was surprised and she dropped the letter. At first she thought
that someone was out to get her, but then she realized that it might be someone
who needed to tell her something very important.
The Princess grabbed a sun dress from her closet and she quickly changed
into it.
***
A man�s hand brushed away some white hair from his shoulder. His bright
blue eyes sparkled as he looked to the timepiece which calculated what time it
was by the sun and moon light.
�Perhaps she didn�t wake up?� the young man thought.
He shook his head.
***
A delicate tanned hand grasped onto a pillar holding up the doorway toward
the royal garden as a curious Princess peeked around.
Allura�s eyes searched for someone, and all she could see was a shadow
lurking around the water fountain.
�That must be the messenger.� she thought as she hid back behind her
pillar.
***
The young man heard a noise and he jumped, and when he realized that no
one was there (or so he thought), he blushed, for he realized that he was
actually nervous.
�Maybe I should just give up, she thinks she left me far away in the wild
magic somewhere.� he thought.
***
Allura saw the shadow pacing about the water fountain.
She took a deep breath and flew out from her hiding place. She calmly
walked over to the fountain behind who she could tell was a young man.
�Okay I�m here… what is it you need me for?�
The young man spun around, for he was too busy looking at the ground to
notice the Princess strolling up.
�P…Princess!� he almost fell over.
Allura gazed into his eyes and remembered that she had seen them before.
Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped open.
�Apollo?!�
�Y..yeah!.�
�I didn�t think I would see you again! How did you get here?�
The Prince was hesitant to tell.
Allura sat down on the marble bench which went all the way around the
fountain pool.
�What�s wrong?� she asked.
Apollo turned back to her.
�It�s nothing… it was just hard getting back here.�
�Oh I see.� Allura replied and smiled as the Prince sat beside her.
Together, the couple sat and looked at the stars, twinkling high above
them.
The Princess turned to the young man.
�Have you ever made a wish on a star, Apollo?�
The Prince looked into the Princess� eyes.
�I have… I guess.�
�What did you wish for?�
�Well… just little things.� he said as he looked up at a star that
reminded him of the one on Allura�s forehead.
�Oh that�s nice…� she began to trail off.
Apollo noticed this and saw her begin to drop her head.
� I wanted to tell you that Sunday night there will be a dance…� Allura
said aloud, but her speech slowed and the Prince could tell that the young
Princess was growing tired.
�Perhaps I will meet you there.� he answered as he caught the Princess
from falling over.
***
Sunlight reflected off of a familiar sun shaped enchanted jewel as the
Princess opened her eyes.
�Apollo?� she asked quietly, and when she was awake enough to be aware of
her surroundings, she found that she was back in her room, covered warmly in her
blankets.
She blinked and stepped out of her bed, pushing the covers from her.
***
Helios approached Sunstar who was grazing in the special field set off for
the Jewel Riders� unicorns.
�Mother, I have to go out to town for a while.�
Sunstar held her head up and gave her son a puzzled look.
�What do you mean?�
�I have to go to town… to pick up something…�
Sunstar raised an eyebrow.
�To pick up something for the…princess.� he replied.
The female winged unicorn rolled her eyes jokingly and then smiled.
�Fine go ahead, but do you have any gold?�
�Um…. no.�
His mother shook her head and laughed.
�Well I have some extra gold that I have kept for a while… I can go and
get it for you.�
Sunstar trotted over to the garden where there was a gazebo covered in
morning glories all blooming bright.
She reached her head behind a patch of the flower vines and pulled out a
money pouch.
Helios followed her over and she tossed the pouch to him for him to catch
it in his mouth.
�Now just spend it wisely is all I ask.� Sunstar replied as Helios wore as
big of a smile as a unicorn could.
***
Apollo walked through the town to do his best to find a tailor.
The young Prince wore only a pair of silk-like pants and boots… and many
of the young maidens turned their heads to see such a handsome young man.
The coin pouch hung from his neck on a piece of leather that he had strung
through on of the knots.
As he passed the town water well, he saw a cute little young maiden who
he guessed to be about the age of 10, so he leaned down and smiled.
�Excuse me, do you know where the Tailor shop is?�
The young girl smiled and pointed to a road leading to a very nice looking
shop.
�What might your name be little one?�
The little girl turned around, and then turned back.
�Lacey… what�s yours?�
The Prince paused for a moment before he replied.
�My name is Apollo. Thank you, Lacey.� he said and kissed the young
girl�s hand.
As he walked away the little maiden blushed and ran after the young man.
***
Apollo soon entered the Tailor shop and went to the counter.
�Um… excuse me, can you please make me a suit for Sunday night�s dance?�
The tailor looked up from reading a book of measurements and designs.
�Of course…� said the skinny man looking through his small wire rim
glasses and chewing on a pen.
The tailor walked out from behind his counter and drug a long tape measure
behind him.
He spun quickly around Apollo and paused to write down numerous
measurements.
The Prince watched him spin and he worked so fast that his eyes began to
spin.
�All done with the measurements.� the tailor replied, �I should have the
suit done by Sunday morning… please pay then.
Apollo smiled dizzily and walked out of the shop, right past the little
girl who had given him the directions.
The little girl�s eyebrows lowered and she quietly chased after him.
***
The Prince arrived at the Crystal Palace.
He snuck back to the garden and pulled a pendant with the combined Sun
Stone and the Phoenix Ruby attached from out of his pocket.
Holding the pendant up with his right hand, he quickly slipped the pendant
around his neck and his body began to reform back into the winged unicorn.
When his transformation was complete, he looked around to assure that no
one had come to see him… and no one had… until he double checked to the left
where the topiary was sculpted.
His eyes widened as he saw Lacey, the little girl from which he had got
directions crouched down peeking at him from behind the shrub shaped as a
unicorn.
�You…� the unicorn gawked.
His Sun Stone sparkled and he transformed back into Apollo.
�Why did you follow me here?� he calmly asked the little girl.
�I… I wanted to be friends…� Lacey talked so softly she almost
whispered.
�I�ll be your friend… but now you know my secret.� he said, �Will you
promise me you won�t tell ANYONE?�
Lacey began to nod, but then she stopped.
�I will only if you take me to the dance on Sunday.�
Apollo fell backwards and then jumped back up again.
�Take you to the dance??!!�
The little girl nodded.
�But I… I already have a date!�
She shook her head.
The prince sighed.
�Tell you what… how about I take both of you to the dance, I�m sure the
girl I�m taking won�t mind if I have one dance with you… is that fair enough?�
The little girl lowered her head.
Apollo kneeled down and tipped up her chin.
�Please?� he said with a gorgeous smile.
This time Lacey couldn�t say no… so she smiled and nodded.
�That�s a good little maiden… now, hurry back to your house, and I will
meet you at the Crystal Palace gates fifteen minutes before 9:00.�
The little girl�s face lit up and she ran out, and Apollo followed her to
the gates to make sure she wouldn�t stay which he transformed again.
***
A tired Helios stumbled into the Palace, where his apples and grain were
waiting for him in the main dining room, where the other unicorns and people
were eating.
Along the long table, his eyes strayed over to the Princess who was
smiling and talking to one of Lord Simon�s cute sons.
The unicorn�s heart sank… Allura looked so happy talking to the young
man. He suddenly felt a little sick and decided to leave the dining hall
quietly, to go up to his stall next to Allura�s room.
***
Later on in the evening, after the dining and socializing was over, the
Princess came upstairs to her room, where she found the winged unicorn asleep.
She smiled and quietly and walked into her closet/dressing room, coming
out a few minutes later in a pink nightgown.
She fell back on her bed and sighed, thinking about the dance and if
Apollo was going to show up.
The unicorn heard and perked up his ears.
�Good evening…� he said quietly as he began to stand up and shake
himself off.
�Oh Helios!� Allura said…
The unicorn boy�s ears perked up.
�Can I tell you a secret? I think I can trust you…�
The boy raised and eyebrow and then nodded, signaling for the Princess to
go on.
�Anyway… I think my friend Lord Christopher likes me! He was trying to
flirt with me all night at the dinner table, and I�m sure he is going to try to
ask me to dance at the dance.�
�Well, do you like him?� Helios asked, as his heart and voice quivered.
The Princess stopped and sat up and looked toward the unicorn.
�Well…�
The pauses in between Allura�s words were almost like knives stabbing at
Helios� heart… he bit his bottom lip.
�No I don�t really like him, because we have known each other too long….
besides… there might be someone else…�
The unicorn blinked and noticed how hard he was biting his lip… he
quickly flinched and removed his teeth.
�Someone else?�
�You weren�t there were you! Yesterday I met this boy in the labyrinth…
he was so sweet… and…�
�And…??� Helios thought to himself waiting for the Princess to finish.
�Oh nothing!� she giggled.
�So you like him??�
�Well…�
The pause struck Helios again.
�Maybe a little…�
A smile crossed the unicorn�s lips and he laid back down.
�But I do wonder if he is going to show up at the dance Sunday…� Allura
trailed off and laid her head back down on her pillow.
Helios� eyes widened.
�I didn�t tell her I would be there for sure… and when I take that
little girl what will she think then!!� he thought and his heart raged wildly.
�I�m sure he will show up… It would be very impolite to… uh… �
�I never heard him say that he would be there…� Allura began to worry.
�I�m sure he knows about it if you brought it up. Don�t worry I am almost
positive he will show up…�
Helios caught himself, and Allura turned to him again.
�How are you so sure?� she asked.
�Because… because I know that if you mentioned a dance to any boy in the
kingdom, he would most likely show up to dance with you.� the unicorn tried to
make up a lame excuse.
The Princess, being kind of ditzy anyway, happily bought it without any
more questions.
A smile crossed her lips and she pulled the covers of her bed up.
�Thanks Helios, you are a great friend.� she said as she closed her eyes
and quietly nodded off.
�Good night Allura.� Helios said as he laid his head back down and closed
his eyes.
***
The next few days seemed to fly by for both Allura and Helios.
The Princess spent most of the time with Theia and Haliae, trying to set
them up with some cute lords who were sons of her mother�s friends.
Helios spent most of his time wondering how he would work in meeting the
Princess and getting rid of the little maiden who he seems to owe.
***
On Sunday morning, Allura rolled over and woke herself up to streams of
sunshine, and she looked into the unicorn�s stable and found that he was already
gone.
Judging by the position of the sun, she found that she had overslept BIG
TIME!
She jumped out of bed, tripping herself on the mass of covers wrapped
around her feet and when she picked herself up, she ran out of her room, still
dragging a sheet behind her.
***
Someone else was nervous about the big dance Sunday night also.
Helios circled in his stable wondering how he would explain the little
girl to the princess… and he was hoping that she wouldn�t be upset!
After he watched the Princess run in and out of the room grabbing
hairpins, and throwing the same ones back on her dresser with a vanity type
mirror.
He finally realized that he had better trek to the tailor�s shop to
retrieve his… or Apollo�s suit.
***
The handsome, muscular prince figure went once again to the town… and
this time he didn�t have to stop at the well where all the young maidens stopped
to draw water.
He went straight to the Tailor�s shop and went right in. The tailor
gladly handed him the suit, in exchange for ten of the fifteen gold pieces in
the prince�s leather bag.
Apollo happily nodded his head and placed the leather pouch back around
his neck and carried the suit out.
***
Later that evening, Allura sat in front of her mirror, patiently waiting
as Theia and Haliae curled and fixed her hair.
After many different hairdos… she finally liked the one where they
gathered her hair in a high pony tail and left two curled strands of hair on
each side.
She carefully put her golden sparkling earrings on and Haliae did the
honors of adjusting her necklace… and when they were done with the makeup,
Allura looked like the stunningly beautiful Princess of Avalon turning 18.
�That makeup really makes you look older!� Theia replied with a wink.
�You are going aren�t you??� Allura asked her friends.
�Of course!� Haliae answered. �So who is this hot guy that you were
meeting up with?�
Allura blushed.
�Um well… I don�t know if he�s really going to be there or not.�
Haliae and Theia�s chins almost hit the floor.
�Didn�t he say he would meet you there???� they both screamed in shock.
�Kind of…� the Princess replied.
�I�m sure he will be there Allura.� Haliae comforted as Allura looked
away.
�I hope so.� she replied as her eyes sparkled with tears she was holding
in.
***
The clock in the courtyard ticked and it reminded Apollo that he needed to
go and pick up his first �date� at the front of the Crystal Palace gates.
Sure enough, no sooner than he got there, Lacey walked quietly and
gracefully up, with a pink dress and her hair done in curls and bows.
Apollo leaned down and took her hand and gently kissed it (she was still a
lady and she was still his �date�). He then escorted the young girl to the
palace.
***
As beautiful music was played by a string orchestra, couples twirled
around each other and young lady�s frilly dresses spun around everywhere.
The young lady showed Apollo where she wanted to dance.
The Prince scanned the area for his other date, Princess Allura, and he
saw her entering through the royal hallway.
�I gotta get this one dance over with!� he thought to himself.
He joined hands with Lacey and they spun out onto the dance floor.
***
Meanwhile, Allura was looking for her date. She looked everywhere and
finally she found him in the middle of the dance floor, dancing with someone…
she could not see who he was dancing with because as soon as she spotted her
Prince, they twirled off again to the fast music.
�Theia, Haliae! I found him… but he�s dancing with someone!�
Theia and Haliae, both also decked out in fancy dresses with sparkling
jewelry and elegant hairdos both looked forward to see Apollo… and as he moved
out from behind another couple they saw that he was dancing with… a little
girl!
�A LITTLE GIRL???!!!� they both screamed, shocked once again.
Allura�s first reaction was to look up. Her eyes widened as she saw they
dancing across the floor.
�He must go for REALLY young women…� Theia whispered to Haliae.
�But look how old he is… he looks about eighteen… there�s no way.�
Haliae replied back.
Theia shrugged her shoulders, she hardly believed it either.
Allura found a seat and as she sat she looked at the ground.
�How embarrassing…� she thought to herself. �When he tells me that he
might show up, he shows up with a little girl…�
She saw them flash by once again… and she noticed a wide smile on the
little girl�s face, but only a grim smile on Apollo�s.
�Well, if she was older they would make a cute couple.� she thought.
She got up and ran outside, to the courtyard.
***
The sting orchestra played the last line of the song and ended on a
melodic chord.
Apollo swung Lacey up onto his shoulder so he could keep track of her as
he went to take a seat.
He pulled two over and sat in on and sat the young maiden in the other.
�There�s something I need to tell you now…�
The little girl�s eyes sparkled.
�I really liked dancing with you and you are a great friend, but…�
�I know… you need to find your other date.�
The Prince nodded.
�Your secret is safe with me Apollo… I won�t tell anyone… and if you
don�t want, you don�t have to dance with me anymore…�
�No, it�s not that…�
Lacey smiled.
�I know, but we�re friends now so I should keep the secret without any
favors. I only wanted to dance with you because…�
�Because…�
�Just because!� she spun around with the childish reply.
�Well I�m glad you�re happy.�
The little girl nodded and gave Apollo a big hug.
�Maybe we�ll see each other again, Apollo.�
At first, the Prince was surprised, but then he gently returned the hug.
***
Theia and Haliae, who were keeping a close eye on the prince, saw this and
they began to suspect something.
***
The Prince gently took Lacey�s arms away.
�I�ll miss you!� said the young maiden and Apollo saw that she made it out
the door and back to the town.
As he turned around, a hand came flying out of nowhere and smacked his
face, HARD.
The prince�s eyes blinked and followed the hand back to the owner.
�How dare you go and do something like that!� Theia ranted as she drew her
hand back… it began to throb but she bit her lip.
�You are very inconsiderate of other�s feelings!� Haliae added… �You
should be ashamed of yourself, you just earned the worst position in the
kingdom.�
�You don�t understand!� Apollo said as he rubbed his cheek which began to
turn rosy red.
�What do you mean?� Haliae and Theia chorused.
�That little girl was the one who wanted to dance, not me. She found out
a secret of mine and the only way she would promise to keep it is if I let her
have one dance… PLEASE understand there is nothing between me and little
girls.�
The Tree Nymph and the Lady put two and two together and figured it out.
�So you were going to find the Princess though… weren�t you?� Theia
replied, just making sure.
�Of course.� Apollo smiled.
�She went outside to get some air I think… check for her in the
courtyard.� Haliae pointed him toward the door they saw Allura go through last.
�Thank you.� the prince replied as he made his way to the door.
***
Outside in the courtyard garden, the stars were shining bright and the
magical flowers which only bloomed by moonlight were starting to unfold.
Allura sat on one of the stone carved benches in between the flowerbeds,
staring at the ground.
She was not crying, but she was still a little upset about what she saw.
Was that what her prince was like?
�NO!� Allura said aloud and shook her head.
�Maybe it�s just his little sister or his mother�s friend�s child…
or…� she thought to herself and stopped just as she heard a familiar masculine
voice.
�Allura?�
The Princess looked up.
�Oh.� she said softly.
�Allura, I can explain about that.�
�Really.� she said as she turned away.
�Please understand this. That little girl means nothing more than a
friend to me… she gave me directions to the Tailor�s shop so that I could get
this suit. And she followed me and she found out a secret of mine that I had
been keeping for a long time.�
�A secret?� Allura said as she scooted over and let the prince sit down.
�The secret is not important.� he said as he started to blush. �What is
important is that I really care for you as a friend… and…�
�Do you really mean that…�
�Of course I do!�
Allura giggled.
�So, go on…�
�Well that was really all I was going to say… but I can think of
something else…�
�No that�s alright, I know what you mean.�
A smile crossed her lips and she wrapped her arms around Apollo.
�And you know I feel the same way.� she replied.
***
As the couple re-entered, and the melodic music played. They looked into
each other�s eyes and then the Prince took the Princess� hand and they walked
out to the dance floor.
The song was slow and the two moved very gracefully, and their moves were
synchronized, as if they had been planned for years.
Haliae and Theia saw them and they both looked at each other and smiled.
�How I envy her sometimes!� Haliae said quietly.
Theia giggled.
�He�s really hot!� she said.
�I know!� Haliae replied with a smile.
