High above the battlefield, where thick clouds still lingered like a veil over the world, something unusual drifted through the sky.
It was an airship, elegant yet whimsical, its balloon emblazoned with bold golden letters that read BIG NEWS. The vessel sailed silently, almost dreamlike, far removed from the chaos below. On its deck, two men stood watching the distant spectacle through a strange contraption that looked half telescope and half camera.
"Did you capture it?" one asked, voice buzzing with excitement.
The man holding the device grinned. "Every second of it. The giant sea beast, the red dragon, the man with the glowing trident... all of it."
The first man threw his head back and laughed loudly. "This news will make us richer than kings!"
Their laughter echoed across the deck as they celebrated their fortune.
Unnoticed by them, a single scruffy seagull had been circling the airship. Scuttle.
With a sudden flap of wings, the gull broke away from the ship and dove sharply downward, cutting through the clouds like an arrow.
He spiraled lower and lower until he landed with a soft hop on the jagged rim of the smoking volcano, the very edge overlooking the battlefield where the Red Death had fallen.
From this vantage point, Scuttle had a perfect view of the shore below.
Lucian stood tall beside the massive Red Bluster, Triton's trident still glowing in his hand. The victorious Vikings cheered. Dragons roared in triumph. The sea had finally grown calm.
Scuttle tilted his head, bright eyes fixed on the silver-haired young man.
Then the air around him shimmered.
Feathers melted away like mist. His small body stretched and grew, robes of deep blue and silver forming around him. A tall, pointed hat settled on his head, slightly crooked. In his hand appeared a gnarled wooden staff.
Then suddenly, a different bird appeared and landed on his shoulder, a rather disgruntled‑looking owl with sharp, intelligent eyes.
Archimedes ruffled his feathers and spoke in a dry, scholarly tone. "Looks like your new champion really is competent."
Merlin chuckled softly, stroking his long white beard with obvious satisfaction. "What can I say? I'm the one who picked him."
Archimedes gave a skeptical hoot. "At first I was skeptical of him. Especially when he didn't question how a mere seagull could talk so clearly or when you handed him that egg as a 'reward' from that snotty Viking brat."
Merlin smiled, eyes sparkling with mischief. "You talked even when you were in bird form, Archimedes. You don't have to convince me of anything."
The owl puffed up indignantly. "I'm special, okay? Much more than I can say for some people who turn into seagulls just to spy on their own plans."
Merlin laughed warmly, the sound ancient and fond. He gazed down at Lucian once more, watching as the young Tideborn stood victorious among dragons and Vikings alike.
"He will still grow," Merlin murmured. "That's for sure."
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In a hidden valley nestled deep within the forest near the kingdom of Corona, a tall tower stood isolated from the world.
Inside its highest room, Rapunzel sat by the large round window, her impossibly long golden hair glowing softly in the warm afternoon light. She gazed longingly at the forest beyond, her bright green eyes filled with quiet yearning.
"Mother," she asked softly, "can you tell me a story about the outside world today?"
Her mother, Mother Gothel, stood at the mirror, admiring her own youthful reflection.
The woman's large gray eyes flickered with thought as she turned toward her "daughter." With a warm smile, she moved to the bed and patted the spot beside her.
"Come sit here, Rapunzel."
Rapunzel hurried over happily and settled beside her. Gothel began gently brushing the girl's long golden hair, her voice low and captivating, almost like a spell.
"Once upon a time," Gothel began, "in a distant kingdom called the Southern Isles, there lived thirteen royal brothers. All of them hungered for the throne. They plotted, they schemed, and some even… made certain their rivals disappeared."
Rapunzel's eyes widened. "They killed each other?"
Gothel's brush moved steadily. "Not all of them openly but one night, the tenth prince, a boy named Lucian, was accused of murdering one of his brothers. Whether he did it or not… well, the court decided he was guilty. They stripped him of his title and exiled him."
Rapunzel leaned in closer, completely absorbed.
"They put him on a ship bound for a lonely prison island," Gothel continued, her voice dropping dramatically. "But the sea is a cruel mistress. A terrible dragon appeared from the depths, a monstrous beast with wings like storm clouds. It attacked the ship and… devoured the young prince whole. No one ever saw Prince Lucian again."
Rapunzel shivered, clutching her mother's arm. "That's so sad… and scary."
Gothel set the brush down and cupped Rapunzel's face gently, her expression soft but firm.
"And that is why, my flower, the outside world is so dangerous. Full of monsters, betrayal, and people who will judge you or take advantage of your kindness. That's why you must never leave this tower. Mother only wants to keep you safe."
Rapunzel nodded slowly, though a small spark of curiosity still lingered in her eyes.
Gothel kissed her forehead, then stood up with a satisfied smile. "I'll be back soon, darling. Don't go anywhere."
As soon as the door closed and Gothel's footsteps faded down the stairs, Rapunzel let out a quiet sigh. She reached under her pillow and pulled out something she had secretly kept, a slightly crumpled newspaper delivered by a curious bird earlier that day.
The headline from BIG NEWS was bold and eye-catching. Below it was a dramatic illustration: two colossal dragons locked in ferocious combat above the sea, while a silver-haired man stood atop one of them, holding a glowing trident like a hero from legend.
Rapunzel stared at the picture, her heart beating faster. She traced a finger over the image of the man riding the dragon.
"A prince?" she whispered to herself, eyes wide with wonder.
Outside the tower, the world felt a little bigger than it had yesterday.
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Volume 1 - End
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[A/N: The Big News is inspired by One Piece, but it originates from a completely different continent, one famous for building advanced machinery. As a little hint: The Princess and the Frog and Atlantis: The Lost Empire.]