Flame Prince Fanfic Competition

"Come with me." The girl spoke so calmly. She wore a long pale yellow dress with floated out like an old dusty ghost. Her skin was so frail and pale and she was so slender and delicate. Her long brunette hair was left just brushed. It was as if a flame had been blown out. Her eyes were kind even closed and her red lips were pulled into a smile. Cheekbones threatened to cut through the skin."Go where?" I heard my voice and saw my own hand reach towards her.
"Come with me." She repeated, this time with her hand outstretched. I took a step towards her and her face turned. Her mouth screeched and turned into a gaping black hole. Her eyes cold and dark. Fine clipped nails became claws. She raced towards me and swiped.

BRING BRING….. BRING BRING…..

I was glad the noise woke me. I sat up bolt-right panting.
"Another bad one?"
"Huh?" I looked up and saw my maid opening the curtains. She was only my age yet condemned to be a servant. "Yes, the same one."
"How very odd." I watched her walk over to the tray which held my breakfast.
"Would you like to tell me about it? When I tell people my bad dreams it always helps." I got out of my bed and saw her blush as she saw me shirtless and only in boxers. What do you expect a nearly 18 year old boy to wear to bed?
"No thank you. It's just something I need to figure out." I walked to the grand wardrobe which was far too fancy for my liking. I pulled on my shirt.
"I keep thinking that it's trying to tell me something." Something strange. She came around the corner and helped button up my shirt. She smoothed out the creases across the chest. She only just reached my chin which I have to admit was pretty cute. I mean I would say I was average height….ish.
"Well you have a big day today. Best be ready." She smiled at me as she bent her head a little. I guess she was just trying to be cute. She walked back over to the table.
"Best eat it quick before it gets cold." I walked over to her and stood so we were pretty darn close. I cupped her cheek with my hand a little flirtatiously.
"I suppose but I'm not hungry at the moment. Though it seems you never eat much." She looked up at me then with twinkling eyes that glistened at the thought of having a decent meal. Her cheeks had fallen a light shade of pink.
"What ever to you mean Sir?" I bent down and whispered in her ear:
"I mean you should eat it for me." She stepped back from me then but our faces where still close.
"Oh no! Your father would have me beheaded." I looked around the room and lifted a shoulder.
"I don't see my father in here, and besides when was the last time you had a decent meal?" She looked down again.
"Not for a long time." She whispered.
"Then it's settled." Truthfully I felt a little mean leading her on but what else am I meant to do for fun? It was flattering to know she liked me. I pulled out a chair a little, took both her hands (causing her cheeks to turn pinker) and helped me down – seeing as she was refusing. I walked slowly to the other side of the table and sat down.
"You really shouldn't be doing this." She was still looking at me so I put my hands together and rested my elbows on the table (how rude) and lay my head against them. I left my index fingers to stand over my mouth.
"I know I shouldn't."
"But what if we get caught?" I chuckled at her concern. She held her hands in her lap still.
"We won't."
"But_"
"Am I going to have to come over and feed you myself?"
"No." She said bluntly. She finally lifted her hands and cut off a slice of…….
"There we go." She ate slowly but I watched her all the same.

"Why are you doing this?" she dropped her knife and fork in the middle of eating. It was like I was enforcing more punishment on her.
"Beca_"
"Tell me honestly." She had shocked me. I sat still for a moment before lowering my arms to the table. I sighed as I thought about an answer and shifted in my chair.
"Because," I repeated, "We are friends and I don't think enough credit or payment is given to you for what you do." Was that reasonable enough?
"Oh, I see." Was she expecting more?
"I must go now. I have work elsewhere." She stood up quickly and walked to the door. Though I stood up just as quickly.
"Wait." with my words she brought her hands to her chest. I walked over to her.
"Just don't overdo yourself." She kept her head down.
"I won't Sir. Thank you Sir." I took her shoulders and buried her in my chest. I wrapped my arms around her body as she did to me.
"I know you'll be a great King one day."

The rest of the day flowed as normal. I had my royal court duties to attend to and then I had the afternoon to do as I pleased. I went round to the gardens and saw a frail figure sitting on the marble bench by the roses.
"I wasn't expecting to see you hear." She turned around, startled at my sudden appearance. She stood up and curtseyed for me.
"You know you don't need to do that right? We're friends – I don't want to view you as just my servant." Her eyes lit up at my words. I sat down on the bench.
"So what are you doing here?" I looked up to her as I spoke and she sat down next to me and I wrapped my arm around her.
"I just like to spend time here. It helps me think." She rested her head on my shoulder.
"About what?" she raised her head a little to get a better view of me.
"About my family and how much I have dishonoured them."
"You really think you have dishonoured them?" She only nodded as a reply so a squeezed her a little tighter for a second.
"Trust me….."
"You really think so?"
"I know so." The next few minutes past in silence as we were both just enjoying the peace of it all. It has to be said – I really did like Flora but I knew my father would not approve of this.

I swear I just set this up for me. I had now been called to see my father and he was showing me a CCTV video of us on the bench!
"What is this….. discrimination to us? She is a servant girl?" He pointed to the paused video.
"She is not just a servant! She is a human being and her name is Flora." I put my hands on the armrests, ready to explode.
"Do you realise what you have done, this will not go unnoticed?" He took a few steps towards me.
"Look father, I couldn't give a damn about your fancy rules! I love her father!"
He just stared at me with shock before he turned around and slouched on the windowsill.
"You are forbidden to see her again. A new maid will me assigned." He spoke quietly and quickly.
"What! Father you ca_" My voice was loud.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" He shouted over me. "Now leave me. I don't want to see you anymore." I breathed in at his words. Was he disowning me? His own son? His only son? I stormed out the room and slammed the door behind me.

As my room came into view I stopped thinking about my next actions. I opened the door and strode though. I walked over to the table and turn it over. I heard a crack but didn't care.
"Flint?" She silently walked over to me and placed  her hands on my arms. "Is everything alright?" She whispered. I stared her in the eye.
"You have to go. Now." My hands were on her shoulders as I whispered back to her.
"Why?"
"There she is!" Two guards ran in and everything happened quickly. "Grab her!" They each had an arm around one of hers and she was being lifted away.
"Flora!" I tried reaching out for her but it was no use. With his spare arm, one of the guards pushed me and I landed on my bum. I got up and tried to run after then but the door was now locked. Instead all I could do was bang on it before sinking to the floor once again and cry. I knew what was happening. They were taking her to the dungeons and in the morning she would either be executed or exiled. Both in front of the public.

It was dark before the door was finally unlocked and I stood up to see who it was.
"Oh no need to that, I'm only here to give you lunch." An old woman stood with the same guards. Were they permanently outside my door? I recognised her, perhaps she was once my maid before. The door was closed as soon as she was an inch away from it. I sat back down on my seat by the window. She set the food down by me but I just ignored it.
"You know it's no use sulking." I looked up to her. She had her hands on her hips. Her voice was raspy and old. Old and wise. She sat down by my feet, which were up by my chest.
"Your father told me what had happened." Of course he had. I looked back outside the window.
"I noticed you didn't eat your lunch either Flint."
"I wasn't hungry." I answered quickly back. She sighed.
"This isn't healthy. Do you think she would have wanted you to starve yourself?" That comment hurt and for once I really did think about it. When I didn't answer she continued to try to make me eat something.
"This isn't like you Flint. Normally if something was stopping you, you would just barge through it."
"Yeah well before my problem wasn't two big strong guys." I stared at her eye to eye, emphasising any point that could possibly be made.
"There's always a way." With that she stood up, gently touched my shoulder and walked away. I listening to her shoes at they tapped against the tile flooring. She was right. I was acting like a little whiny brat. I was sulking when there could be something done.
"Do you think I could see her?" I was staring at the floor as I spoke but looked up to see a smiling uniformed maid looking at me.
"I'll tell ya what – we'll make a deal. If you eat your food, I'll arrange for you to meet her again." She said as she walked out the room.

As soon as I was certain she was gone, I grabbed my messenger bag and packed as much necessary things as possible. When I was going to meet her, we were going to run away. Together.


The stench of urine hit my nostrils long before I closed the door. I looked around and saw skeletons inside pointless cages. What had become of the once beautiful city? My hair and skin made it bright enough for me to look around and suddenly I was glad I was part of the fire nation. At least for a second.

I paced around and looked for Flora's familiar face but she was not here.
"Where is she?" I grabbed the nearest guard and held him against the wall.
"Your honour I do not understand." He held his hands up in surrender and swallowed hard.
"The maid! Where did they take her?" My hand formed a fist.
"She was not brought down here Sir. Rumour has it that she was taken straight to the dining hall to be beheaded. May I take you there?" Of course this would happen. Father knew I would go looking for her here so he dealt with her straight away.
"Sir?" I looked back up to the pleading guard.
"No thank you." I dropped him and ran to the exit. As I stepped out guards came round the corner but I managed to flip over them. I ran as fast as I could to the dining hall with tears in my eyes, threatening to overfill.

I burst through the double wooden doors and saw Flora with her head set up and ready to be chopped off. My father hadn't noticed me yet so he was still laughing. The thought that he would laugh as a poor innocent girl would be killed brought a sickening twist to my stomach.
"Father!" I yelled to him. He turned to me. "Stop this! Please."
"Ah Flint, so glad you could make it." His cold eyes bore into my chest. "Pity, she was a fine maid." He gestured over to Flora who had a rag over her head and was in chains. This made me choke.
"You don't have to do this. Just banish us both or kill me instead."
"Banishing my own son? Everyone would see me as a cold hearted King! Not to mention you are the next heir to the throne." He turned to the suited guards.
"Finish the job."
With everything fell silent to me. Silent and slow. The guard swung his axe and Flora's head began to bounce down the steps. Coincidentally it rolled to my feet and the rag fell off. Her eyes stared at me. That was enough for me.

When I looked up there was a ghostly figure standing before me. She was beautiful and so familiar. Even though her hair was now brown I knew she was Flora but the clothes and the atmosphere I had seen before. She was the girl from my dream. She just smiled at me and held out her hand towards me. I stood up slowly and tried to touch her but my hand blew her away. Anger boiled up in my blood.  I took my fathers prized gun from the wall and brought it to my temple.
"Flint no!" I pulled the trigger and I left my body lifeless.

Flora appeared in front of me again. I could see all the guards crowd around my body. Blood coated the tiles. I looked to Flora and held her in my arms and slowly we started to walk away. Into the light. We were finally together. Forever.