The Rescue of Princess Lightfoot

[i]The Lost Desert has always held an interesting and rich culture. From the exotic dishes of Qasala, to the ancient stories of Sakhmet, the desert claimed it all. Sometimes these things become forgotten, lost to the everwinding spirals of time. More often than not, they are never heard of again. [/i]

"Please Queen Amira, tell us the story!" A young blue Wocky begged, wanting nothing more in the world than to hear an almost forgotten tale.

It was one of the many Sakhmet stories doomed to be lost.

The young queen started to regret her hasty decision she had made a week prior. Allowing the schoolchildren of Shenkuu to visit the royal palace may just have been a poor choice on her part. She assumed the group would ask a million questions on a variety of topics. Such as, how rich are you? Or, how hot does Sakhmet [i]really[/i] get? Maybe even a 'hey are you still mad at King Jazan for trying to marry you and causing mass destruction to your city?' However, the moment they arrived at the palace door, they continued to ask the same question. One the queen definitely did not expect.

[i]To be told the story of Princess Lightfoot from Sakhmet Tales.[/i]

The children had begun researching Sakhmet ancient history, and their instructor hoped touring the large city would benefit their young impressionable minds.

For Amira, it only gave her a migraine.

"You don't want me to tell that silly folklore," the queen chuckled at the child's enthusiasm as she walked with them down a long hallway. The marble walls held dozens of paintings of Amira's ancestors. From her late father King Coltzan III, all the way down to the founder of Sakhmet.

"But we do! Please?" The Wocky tugged at Amira's white silk pants, refusing to let the subject go. "Our teacher said it wasn't relevant to our history lesson, but we [i]really[/i] wanna hear it!" Amira knew he wouldn't drop the topic anytime soon.

The other children began to plead along with the Wocky. They talked over one another, asking the same question.

[i]"Can we please hear the story about the princess?"[/i]

Amira after some thought, eventually gave in to the children's pleas. "Okay, okay, but only this one little story, and that's it. Got it?" The group of children erupted into cheers of joy. She then led them to the throne room, and instructed for them to sit in front of the chair on the elegant ruby red rug.

They eagerly obeyed, waiting to be told the story they so longed to hear. The Aisha walked to where a small, but sturdy bookcase proudly stood. It held an assortment of books, such as [i]Guide to Altador[/i], [i]How to Rule with Grace[/i], and her favourite, [i]Embarrassing Facts About King Jazan[/i]. She pulled out a red book from the top shelf, and blew dust off the aging cover. [i]Sakhmet Tales[/i] was printed out across the top of the book in bold letters. A picture of a desert Kacheek adorned the front as well. The book became known as a popular anthology of Sakhmetian folklore. Over time however, it started to become forgotten as Neopians stopped reading the story. They felt like it was out of touch with modern day Sakhmet.

Amira took a seat in front of the eager children, opened the book, and began to tell the tale of a hero, a villain, and a princess in distress. ~~~ Long ago, the most nefarious Neopet in all of the Lost Desert, Baron Nehlaki, seized the local villages. No one dared to stop the large desert Krawk, as many before went missing on their quest of trying to defeat him. Stories of his terrors spread through the lands of Neopia like wildfire. Villagers quickly abandoned their homes, seeking refugee from the menacing Krawk. Baron conquered at least one-thirds of the Lost Desert's local villages and lands. Those unlucky enough to stay behind endured his tyranny. A few miles from the famous city of Sakhmet, stood the glorious land of Osiris. Much smaller than its neighboring cities, Osiris still managed to make its own special mark in Lost Desert's history. It obtained the reputation of creating the utmost beautiful tapestries and vases. Neopians from around the globe traveled to the land to purchase Osirisian goods.

In the city lived a beautiful, but stubborn Usul. Osirisians recognized her as Princess Sadzi, the royal with short black hair and piercing brown eyes. Rumor had it that she often turned down any suitor who asked for her hand. Baron himself grew infatuated with the princess, and like many others, he asked for her hand. As Sadzi did with those before Baron, she rejected him. Time and time again, he'd return to Osiris, demanding her to marry him. Each time he'd be harshly rejected and sent away by the palace guards. One day after another rude rejection, Baron took matters into his own hands. He kidnapped Princess Sadzi and swept her away in the dark of the night, forcing her to be his bride. That fateful night, Osiris had lost their dear princess. Their people cried out for help, not wanting to lose more of their citizens to the clutches of that ruthless Baron Nehlaki.

Baron planned on holding the princess captive long enough to force her to marry him. He carried her miles away from Osiris, to ancient ruins at the end of the Lost Desert. There the villain securely tied the princess's hands together and placed her inside a tall dark tower. Nearby, a swarm of hungry Scorchios circled in the night sky, making it utterly hopeless for any brave Neopian to dare enter the tower. In the distance, a sand storm rapidly cut its away across the desert plains, heading towards the hidden ruins.

In the tower, sitting on the cold stone floor with her back against the wall, Sadzi struggled as she attempted to free her hands out of the rope. She looked to the Krawk and angrily shouted at him. "Let me go you awful brute!"

Baron, who stood in front of the window, only became amused by the yelling. "Feisty huh? That's so adorable, little princess." He turned to her, leaned back and rested his elbows on the stone sill, waiting to see what else his lovely prisoner had to say.

"Oh yeah? You're gonna think that when I punch your ugly face in," said the princess as she continued to struggle with the rope.

Baron sighed at the Usul's pathetic threats. He straightened his posture and took a few steps towards her, his claws clicking on the stone. "You've refused my hand over..." the Krawk said as he circled the poor vulnerable princess. "...and over, so many times."

Sadzi kept quiet, partly as a protest against the whole 'kidnapping' situation, and partly because she didn't know how to respond. What was she supposed to say? [i]Oh I'm so sorry I rejected you, but you're just not my type? Good luck with the next princess?[/i]

He let out another sad sigh. "Frankly it's been an embarrassment to my poor.. poor image."

Sadzi snickered at her captor. "Everyone in the Lost Desert thinks you're awfully vile.You really don't have an image worth caring about." She expected this to anger Baron, but to her surprise it didn't bother him at all. He actually agreed with her.

"Exactly! And if I can't get the beautiful Princess Sadzi to marry me, then what does that say about me?"

"That you're ugly?" The princess snapped, wanting some sort of reaction from him.

Baron clenched his jaw, trying to hold back his temper. "No-"

"That you're egotistical and have the most horrid breath?"

"No!"

"That-" She began to insult him further, but was cut off.

"Silence!" Baron shouts with rage, but he takes a deep breath and relaxes. "Now my dear, I will come back for you tomorrow before the wedding, try not straining yourself [i]too[/i] much when you attempt to escape." The Krawk adds with a cocky smirk. In his eyes, he already had her heart. He won. Baron [i]always[/i] wins and nothing any Neopian or hero does could ever stop him. He turned away from Sadzi and headed to the door, ready to leave her alone til morning. His hand had only grasped the doorknob as the young royal spoke.

"Nothing will ever be enough for you, will it?" Sadzi said, in a dry tone.

The Krawk turned around, his hand still resting on the brass doorknob. He appeared taken back by the Usul's question. "I don't quite understand what you mean."

"You destroy our villages, you rid Neopia of its kindest and most noble heroes, and now you kidnap me and force me to marry you? What possibly else you could want, huh?"

She expected him to say wealth or power, as that's what most villains seek to gain from their misdeeds.

"I want to bring all of Neopia down on its knees." Baron maliciously smiled before shutting the door. "Goodnight my sweet princess."