The half moon hung in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the dense forest, bathing the world in an otherworldly light, neither full nor absent. The trees, tall and ancient, swayed softly in the night breeze as if whispering secrets to the stars. Somewhere in the distance, the faint sound of hooves echoed through the quiet night—urgent, deliberate, like a heartbeat racing toward its destiny.
Elric of the Eternal Kingdom galloped through the moonlit woods, his steed, a magnificent white stallion named Valor, charging forward with unmatched speed. Elric’s jaw was set in grim determination, his golden hair catching the wind like a banner of light. In his heart, there was no doubt: he was on a mission to rescue the one who had haunted his dreams for weeks—Elara.
Yeah, that’s right! Big, serious hero energy. This is gonna be GOOD.
He rode with the speed of the wind, knowing every moment mattered. The dark forces closing in on Elara were not to be underestimated—insert vague fantasy threat here, because we’ll figure that part out later, but trust me, it’s a BIG DEAL—and he had no time to lose. His armor gleamed under the moonlight, the weight of duty pressing against his chest, but his heart, oh his heart, was lighter than air, filled with thoughts of the woman who had stirred something deep inside him.
“Hold on, Elara,” he murmured under his breath, gripping the reins tighter. “I’m coming for you.”
OKAY, THIS IS IT, BREE. WE’RE IN ROMANCE FANTASY TERRITORY. NO FUNNY BUSINESS THIS TIME.
The sound of Valor’s hooves grew louder as he neared the village of Thistlebrook, where he knew Elara had last been seen. But something felt… off. There was a shift in the air, a tension that prickled the hairs on the back of his neck. And then, there—a figure just ahead, standing by the edge of the village pond, bathed in moonlight. It had to be her. Elara.
Elric pulled on the reins, bringing Valor to a halt, dismounting in one smooth, practiced motion. His heart pounded as he approached, his boots softly crunching against the gravel path. He could see her auburn hair glinting in the moonlight, her slender frame standing as still as a statue by the water’s edge. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, readying for the moment they would lock eyes, the moment they would—
Wait.
Something was wrong.
As he stepped closer, Elric froze. That was not Elara.
Oops, that wasn’t supposed to happen, but let’s roll with it!
"Who... are you?" he asked, his voice low, but unmistakably laced with confusion.
The woman turned, her dark eyes meeting his in the moonlight, a look of surprise crossing her face. “I—” she faltered. “I’m Selene.”
“Selene?” Elric repeated, his brow furrowing. “No, that’s not right. You’re supposed to be Elara.”
Selene blinked. “Elara? I’m not—” She stopped, realization dawning on her. “Oh… Is that why you’re here? For her?” Her tone was laced with something more than surprise—resentment.
Elric stared, thrown off balance by the bitterness in her voice. “Yes, I came for Elara. Where is she?”
Selene crossed her arms, her jaw tightening. “Of course. Everyone’s here for Elara. Perfect, precious Elara.” She turned away, muttering under her breath, “Why am I not surprised?”
Oooh, someone’s salty! But hey, Selene, don’t blame me! I never meant to split you two.
Elric hesitated. This was not how he had imagined things. “You’re not making sense. I’m here to help. Tell me where Elara is.”
Selene turned back to him, her eyes flashing. “And what if I don’t want to help you find her? What if I think you’re wasting your time chasing after someone who’s already got the spotlight?”
Elric’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t about the spotlight. This is about—”
“Saving the day?” Selene cut in, her tone mocking. “Being the gallant hero? Riding in on your noble steed to rescue the damsel in distress?” She stepped closer, her gaze hardening. “Here’s a little secret, Elric: not all of us need saving. And some of us are tired of being overlooked.”
YES. DRAMA. THIS IS THE GOOD STUFF.
Elric took a step back, confusion flickering across his face. “What are you talking about?”
But before Selene could answer, a rustling in the trees caught their attention. Both of them turned as a figure stepped out of the shadows—another woman, her auburn hair glowing under the moonlight.
Elara.
Elric’s breath caught. “Elara…”
But instead of running into his arms or even acknowledging him, Elara’s eyes went straight to Selene, narrowing with cold disdain.
“What are you doing here, Selene?” Elara’s voice was sharp, her eyes narrowing. “This is my story.”
Selene snorted. “Your story? Last I checked, we’re both in this mess together.”
Elara took a step forward, her posture rigid. “You were never meant to be here. You’re a footnote. You weren’t even supposed to exist!”
Uh oh. Things just got real. Look, girls, it’s not my fault! I was just doing a little light editing, okay? Didn’t think it would lead to...this. But hey, popcorn’s out and I’m here for it.
Selene’s face hardened, her hands balling into fists. “A footnote? That’s rich, coming from the girl whose only claim to fame is being the perfect princess. Maybe I’m the one who was meant to be the heroine all along.”
Elric looked between them, utterly bewildered. “Wait… what is going on here?”
Oh Elric, buddy, if only you knew. This is turning into some weird, unplanned multi-verse-level chaos. Totally unintentional. But am I stopping it? Nope. Not a chance.
Elara rolled her eyes. “This has nothing to do with you, Elric. It’s between me and her,” she snapped, gesturing toward Selene. “She’s the one who’s always trying to push me out. Ever since she showed up, nothing has been right.”
Selene scoffed, flipping her hair back. “Push you out? I didn’t do anything—you were the one who had your moment in the sun, prancing around like you own the story. Maybe it’s time for a change.”
Elara’s eyes flashed with anger. “I was here first! I know this world, these people, better than you ever will. You think you can just show up and take over?”
Selene stepped closer, her gaze challenging. “I don’t need to ‘take over.’ It’s happening whether you like it or not. This story is changing, and I’m not going to let you shove me into the background like some side character.”
“You were never meant to be in the spotlight, Selene,” Elara snapped back. “You were a glitch—a mistake.”
Oof, harsh. I mean, Elara’s got claws!
The air between them crackled with tension, the moonlight casting long, sharp shadows across the clearing. Elric stood frozen, his hand still on his sword, completely lost in the sudden war of words erupting in front of him. He had come to rescue one woman, and now there were two—both of them claiming to be the rightful heroine, and both of them clearly not willing to back down.
“I’m not a mistake,” Selene said through gritted teeth. “And I don’t need your permission to be here. I’m just as much a part of this story as you are.”
Elara’s eyes flashed dangerously. “This is my story, and I’m not sharing it with anyone. Least of all you.”
Elric finally spoke, his voice cutting through the heated exchange. “Enough!” Both women turned to him, their expressions equally fierce. “I don’t care who’s the ‘heroine.’ I just want to know what’s going on. Where is the real threat? Where is—”
Before he could finish, another figure emerged from the shadows, his presence sending a ripple of unease through the air. Cloaked in darkness, his eyes gleamed with cold intensity.
Alderon.
He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the three of them before settling on Elric. A slow, knowing smile crept across his face. “Ah, Elric. You’ve finally made it.”
Elric frowned. “Who are you?”
Alderon chuckled darkly. “I’m the part of you that you’ve kept hidden for too long. The part that’s tired of playing the hero.”
Selene’s lips curled into a smirk, sensing the shift in power. “Looks like you’re not so perfect either, Elric.”
Elric’s hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. “What are you talking about?”
But before Alderon could answer, Elara stepped between them, her voice trembling with urgency. “Elric, don’t listen to him. He’s trying to confuse you. He’s not real. He’s just a shadow.”
Alderon’s smile faded. “I’m more real than you think, princess.”
The air was thick with tension, the moon glowing brighter, as if watching, waiting for the moment everything would unravel.
Oh man. This was supposed to be a simple chapter. Just good old fantasy romance with a bit of tension. But instead? It’s a showdown between multiple versions of my characters, all because I got a little too revision-happy. This is getting messy, and I love it.
Elric looked from Selene to Elara, then to Alderon. His mind raced, the lines between reality and illusion blurring with every second. “Which one of you…” Elric’s voice faltered, unsure of how to even finish the question. “Which one of you is telling the truth?”
Selene stepped forward, her eyes locking with his. “I am.”
Elara, not to be outdone, stepped closer. “No, Elric. It’s me.”
Alderon crossed his arms, watching with amusement. “Decisions, decisions…”
The half moon above hung in the sky like a fractured mirror, casting uneven, eerie shadows across the clearing. The tangled web of fate tightened around them, incomplete and unresolved. Elric stood in the center, caught between two heroines, two versions of the truth, and the dark part of himself that had finally come to light.
And somewhere, just out of sight, the cloaked figure watched it all unfold, a silent puppet master pulling the strings.
Well, well, well. This wasn’t what I planned, but sometimes, you just have to let the story go off the rails. Let’s see where this goes, besties.
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