Prompt: 

A handsome prince, tired of constant attention, sets out on a quest to find a double to replace him at all annoying social events.  

Entry:

On a time as old as history itself, the land was still divided into thousands of kingdoms thriving to grow bigger and stronger on a series of consecutive wars for power lead by the Great Kingdom of Kelin on the North and the Great Kingdom of Ertwin further east. Almost half of the land, separated by enormous walls belonged to this huge kingdoms as well as the power over all the others; as such, just like today, both the war and the peace were chosen by the rulers of this nations.

  Kelin on the far North was well known for its coldness, being submerged on snow a major part of the year their soldiers were feared for sustaining any adversity. On the other hand, Ertwin was as happy as a nation on peace for over 30 years could be at the time. Sir Luke, the King, had conquered it with his own hands which made him as feared as he was wise. Known by the people as a good listener, every Saturday he would open the doors to the throne room to listen to his people’s worries. Always accompanied by his only son; the heir, who on the other hand, was his complete opposite. With his blond hair and deep brown eyes every man or woman, younger or older would immediately stop to stare at his majestic beauty. However, the prince didn’t like those boring social events his father organized; always arrogantly complaining about how long and useless they were while running away, denying presents or even ignoring the people who he labeled as inferior.

- Sir, his majesty the king wants you to accompany him of his weekly audience with the people on the throne room.

- Yeah, yeah, I heard the first times. – he complained as kicking the door open the King invades, ordering three knights to take the prince to his Saturday obligations “Why would I care about those peasants?” – He shouted with a disgusted face as a bunch of arms restrained him from escaping again.

  Once again, on that afternoon, lots of people came from all over the land to see the King with the special hope of setting eyes on the prince as such, by the King’s order another room was open for the heir to meet his future kingdom.

  Not even 5 minutes had passed until the room was filled with all kinds of presents to his majesty the prince who refused every single one with a disgusted look on his face and prohibiting any type of contact with his skin.

  The line was moving slowly and the air was suffocating with the heat coming from outside. An old lady was next on the line, which was already so long the end was no longer visible, vanishing into the garden. Dressed as elegantly as she could, her body was very curved and specially tilted to the left supporting her weight on an old wooden walking stick.

- Good morning your majesty, I’m pleased to find yourself with good health.

- Yeah, Yeah, I’m fine. Next…

- Oh, I’m very sorry for bothering you but I brought you my dearest hamster. I took care of him his entire life. I guess you would feel lonely without someone to play so I want to offer it to you and I promise it will protect your majesty until the end of his time.

- Oh dear lord, it is the ugliest thing I have ever seen! Take it away from me. Get out of here! – He yelled as the hamster was taken outside in front of the teary eyes of the old lady.

- This is it for today; I will never do this again! I swear I would pay all money in the world just to have someone else for these things – He raged crashing the doors closed behind him.

  A few days had gone by and once again his majesty the King called for the prince to attend the weekly audience but the young man was done; packing his most important belongings he took a horse and left leaving his room no more than a note reporting a long trip,

- Sir, his majesty the prince is nowhere to be found.

  On that day, the audience proceeded as normal as just like that days, weeks, months and seasons went by without a single word from the prince who seemed to have vanished from the surface of the. His majesty the prince was on the most fantastic journey of his life in search for someone who resembled him well enough to fit the position of his double. Through mountains, astonishing flat lands, big forests and iced deserts he found himself on a strange place similar to a never ending beach filled with sand.

  With his bare eyes, he could see a city further ahead but 2 strange creatures sitted next to a silver disk building some strange triangular structure immediately caught his attention. At first none of it fitted the young prince as everybody there looked too old to substitute him but there was something unusual with those creatures.

- What are those things? All green with big black eyes and rough skin and what about that silver disk they are leaning on? God something so ugly might as well be not be from this planet.

- Hello gentleman, do you perhaps know of anyone whose beauty slightly resembles that of mine?

- Beauty we know?

- Hmm…, yes, are you perhaps aware of another beauty like mine on these lands?

- Not I know.

- Neither me now but a wait please moment – One of them says before searching the silver disk, returning with a strange object.

- Meh, what is this? – He prince replied on a bothered tone

- Transform if want, that use. But only last resort case.

   The prince left the strange creatures frustrated with his achievements; not getting what he wanted was definitely new for him. However, failing to find someone suitable to slightly match his beauty actually left him on a mixed feeling, divided between the uniqueness of this beauty and the failure he had never experienced. Returning to the palace appeared as the best option. Not finding someone who could sufficiently compare to his beauty and the tiredness of interacting with people far worse than those who used to visit the castle were slowly weakening his desire for a substitute. He made up his mind and decided to return home just in time for her majesty the Queen’s big birthday party.

   The days rushed since his arrival as the preparations for the big party were nearly complete. The plan for the people to enter through the gardens to meet the Queen and King together was perfect; although, for that, they would have to first pass by a smaller room were the prince, as punishment, would receive everybody.

- Sir, his majesty the King ordered that you take your position immediately and start welcoming the people inside.

- I don’t want to! – He shouted as a group of knights pushed him to his position

- Please the first person to receive him majesty the prince. – The knight said opening the door.

No! – He screamed as soon as he was dropped on his chair – Not her again! Please get me out!

- Not the ugly hamster lady!!!!

  The old woman respectfully enters the room with a deep bow taking something out of her bag.

- I understand your majesty didn’t like John the hamster so I out of admiration for your majesty, brought his twin James!!!

The prince jumped out of his chair shouting “WHYYYY!” while running around and kicking the closed doors. Scared, the old lady released the even uglier animal that began following the prince.

- That’s it! The sphere! – He said dropping it on the floor out of excitement.

 That was it! A flash of light swallowed the entire room as the ritual was complete; with the sphere, the prince and the hamster, the transformation was complete. The ugliest prince and the most beautiful hamster in history were born.

- I’m sorry your majesty, let me get another one of my sons – The old lady rushed

- There’s no need my dear; please let me have this poor animal.

The prince hamster couldn’t see with tears on his eyes as his beautiful self was now imprisoned on the new, ugly price’s hand for the rest of his days.