... I just... so don't know what to say.
This art, i had the idea in mind for... oh dear, more than half a year i think ? It's something that was very important to me, something that i really wanted to bring to life. But i was... kinda scared to do so ?
It is highly detailed, highly important in my world, and very important for my character... well, for Talia here, who get... her first biiiig art of her own, story, background and all together.

And gosh OH GOSH did the artist made the HECK of all arts. I'm just... stunned, and each time i put my eyes on it. So, i wanted to give it justice, i knew what story i wanted to do for it even before asking about it. But with such an art, i tried my best to make something good and special for it... and hopefully, you'll enjoy it, if you decide to read it of course.

So... yeah, it's introducing a core thing of my world, because i'm a hopeless furry trying to improvise myself a story maker haha. Won't "spoil" too much though, just... "Primordial Realms", these are places of intense magic concentration, and they... have their own rules, sort of.
It's also an introduction into Talia's life, that is settled... before all her other arts.

Art by Joannazelle ( https://www.deviantart.com/joannazelle ), i just couldn't think of anyone else for this art... Go see her amazing page and arts !!

And here goes the story, after the line...
If you want, here's a music that i think is... quite thematic for it : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOIMAC1Ulww
And, hope you enjoy if you read it ! And if you do, let me know what you think !
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*... Pant... Pant... Pant...*

Aahh... ahh... my head's spinning... I feel like I've been... ah... running and flying for hours...
... Maybe it's all right now, maybe I've finally gone far enough ? Away from the castle...

I look around me... I've just landed in the thorn forest. Ever since we were children, we've been taught never to head towards this place... dangerous, isolated, full of violent creatures and woods that obscure the environment and make people who venture there lose their bearings...

A few cuts and scratches on the way in, for an almost first experience of flying alone... Hehe! If they knew, they'd get their paws dirty, the little princess is unstoppable~

“Heh. Hehehe...
It's true, it's true. I lost them. I really did.”

I cower instinctively as I hear the echo of my own words between the crystalline branches. It's already evening and I can't see much. But strangely enough, the branches reflect the light of the moon and stars perfectly, giving them a kind of hypnotic... and threatening look. Highlighting their sharp, spear-like spikes and thorns.
I move forward slowly, cautiously, scared... But with the adrenaline of my escape driving me on and ignoring the little voice in my head telling me to turn back...

*Prss-*

“HUH ?!”

… It’s nothing. Just a rustle. Even creatures avoid this place, except for the smallest and fastest ones... That's all, just a bit of wind or a hare that lost its way. Keep up the good work Talia ! And on the other side of the forest you'll be... free...

Shivers run down my spine at the thought. Excitement but also... fear. Fear of what might happen to me next. And the fear of never seeing my sister again, without even saying goodbye.
It's so dark. I can't figure out where I'm going... but I've got to go, because I'm not a ‘little princess’ and I didn't do all this for nothing !

As I follow my path through the thorny branches, doing my best not to hurt myself, I notice a change... the light reflecting off the branches seems to... bounce. It's as if part of this forest hides a gigantic mirror, reflecting only the starlight and the reflection of the branches, stretching to infinity. I move slowly from right to left and approach this strange... wall. Like an almost perfectly invisible mirror.

I put my paw close to it... and it seems to be... "sucked in". Disappearing through it for a moment, before immediately withdrawing it, out of instinct !
My heart is beating a hundred miles an hour. I've no idea what's here, or what's going to happen to me...
Where am I ?!

"Is anyone there ?! Anyone at all !... "

… Only echoes... I'm still alone. Just as I wanted... and the guards aren't about to catch up with me... not here.

*Clac !*
I slap my cheeks.

Wake up a bit ! This is a unique chance... I'm going to write my own story ! That's how I'll be known, Talia the adventurer ! Heh... hehe...
I didn't come all this way for nothing... I'll be fine. I'll be fine !!

I take one last look around me, before standing up on my 4 legs. And finally take a step forward... closing my eyes instinctively. Remembering the events that had brought me to this point...

---

.
..
...

"Princess Talia... stand up straighter. Head high, back straight. Follow your sister’s example !"

Ah, yes... my sister. The high successor to the throne of Yskallia... I've always admired her. It's as if she's capable of everything.
Battle, history, economics, governance... We have so little time to really share together. It was explained to me that she was full of responsibilities, and that I myself had a part to play in the royalty but... yet... I could do almost nothing of what my sister did.

"Come on, speak up ! AR-TI-CU-LATE... Here we go again. What will your parents think if you keep neglecting yourself like this..."

I wanted to help her, to compete with her. To train with her in combat, to talk to her and help her with her future big decisions.
But instead, all I had was etiquette lessons. Talking. Good manners. How to smile, how to respond and how to behave in all circumstances.
And every time I saw Piper leaving the castle, every time I had to stand by my parents at a royal audience, at a social event, and just... shut up, and smile. I could feel a part of me dying.

"Pay attention ! Listen to me when I speak to you. And smile. There you go, very good ! What a wonderful lady you are, Princess Talia !"

And of course. My parents.
I can't remember the last time we actually spent time with each other like a real family. They're too busy, I know, they're the rulers of the kingdom. And "the kingdom of ice needs leaders of steel" was what they kept telling me and my sister. But still... I sometimes wondered if they were happy like that. If they behaved towards the kingdom in the same way they behaved towards us.
The few times we talk to each other, it's to tell us how we should behave. How we should act. How... I should be. Because that's how things should be, and no other way.

"Don't forget the exercises for tonight, Princess Talia. Your father can't wait to hear you sing in the choir we've prepared. The 20th anniversary of his coronation is a date everyone will remember ! I'll be back to see you in half an hour. Practice while you can."

I bow, showing respect by only looking at the floor. “... Please excuse my behaviour. I assure you I do honour to my lineage, and bring pride to my father.”

After a satisfied smile and a nod from my teacher now passed, I found myself here, in my closed room. Alone with myself. Again. This room was... it was my home. The only place where I was at peace... but it was also… my prison.

I opened my only window, looking up at the twilight sky. The stars were just beginning to come out.
I try to look into the distance, and all I can see is... the horizon. Part of the city, but so much more. The tundra, the crystal lake... Then I look south-east... Without seeing anything, I remember what we were told about. The thorny woods. Its branches of ice and thorns are so dense that it's almost impossible to cross... For an adult.
This simple thought made me take several steps back from the edge of the window, breathing so heavily. This place… we were taught never to come anywhere near it, and how dangerous it is for anyone.

“Beware, beware the forest of thorns
Place where dark and death adorn
With giant and evil creatures around
Beware the bane of these magical grounds”

I spell these rhymes in my head instinctively, thinking back about it again and again… mustering some little courage as I thought back on my life.
I looked to the right, then to the left... but nothing. No sound. Everyone was busy with preparations. Then came a thought, a simple thought…
“... What if…”

... I stretched out my wings, and watched them for a moment. I move closer to the window. Closer and closer. Breathing harder and harder, and watching the moon appear slightly in the distance, for what seemed like an eternity.

Before nodding.
...
..
.

---

... First step, Talia. Courage, don't look...

......

I feel... a breeze. It's pleasant... as if it were... warm and cool at the same time.
The floor is smooth and soft. But solid and rigid...
Everything seems so calm... and... alive... rustling and breathing all around me...

Where is... It...

I feel myself freeze in place as I open my eyes.
Woah.
An unimaginable display of colour and magic comes to life all around me. Crazy, flowering vegetation all around me, from which flows electricity leading to dark, stormy marshlands.
Gigantic luminous spiral crystals from which I can feel the wind blowing like a storm, some droplets of water flying in suspension around them.
Volcanoes whose lava never stops flowing, yet covered in strange flowers... and whose lava flows all the way to a lake as blue as the sky. Small flying islands above it, just like in the stories of the wind dragons !
Little by little, I walked, stars in my eyes... gradually getting closer to the gigantic crystalline glacier that towers above the horizon.

*Tiing~*

Little sparks fly from the water bubbles I touch.

“Pfff… hehehe… Hehehehe !”

Is this the real world ?
I want to stay ! I want to see everything !
I'm free !

I spread my wings, the small ice shards on it sparkling like diamonds, and throw myself at the flowers, the roots, the crystals... touching everything... just to see what it feels like ! The sparkling crystals, little electric shocks running through me as I touch them... some of the plants were changing shape and colour, and the droplets of water were gathering around me and circling gently...
This must be paradise... I may have found the heart of the world! What was it I was taught again... a "magic heart". The... "primordial areas" ? Something like that...
I remember some of my lessons... places where some of the first magical creatures and dragons appeared ! And where all the elements exist together, too dangerous for anyone... Heh, not for me it seems !

This place... I feel... good, since I entered it. Soothed. My fears have all but vanished. Replaced by a fascination and a joy that I've never experienced so intensely...
But as I stopped and watched the glacier and the two orbs orbiting around it like moons, a question came over me almost completely...
What is down there ?

I take a step on the soft stone floor, in that direction. And strangely, when I put my paw on the ground this time... I feel a slight tremor... something... wrong ?
But I carry on. And took another step.
The ground cracks, and the sky takes on dark hues... each time more and more violent, to the point where I can't ignore it any more, and panic a little... But... I have to keep going...
I spread my wings and...

RRRrrrrrr...

*CRRRKK- !*

"AAAHH-!!"

In an instant... a huge creature slams me to the ground, its claws planted in my flesh...

“Ggghhh- AAaaaghh- N-NOO !”

I let out a low, icy breath, but the creature reacted by crushing... my paw... !!!

Aaaahh... Help... P-please...
E-everything's going dark... W-Why...
What have I done?...

"... M-Mum... D-Dad... Someone... help me..."

*CRRrkk...*

Aaahh… ahhh… what’s… got into me…

I can only think of the events of that day, over and over again... that brought me here... And a few tears start to fall.

Then, suddenly, I hear rumblings...

“... The princess... come... attack !... “

Dozens of soldiers, dragons, wolves, bears, foxes and other creatures in armor pound the ground with their footsteps. And as they approach, the creature flees... leaving me on the ground. Paralyzed, barely able to breathe or hear, and barely able to feel the blood dripping from my wounds, as all went to dark.

Aaaahh... I was... so... close...
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(If you want the "follow up" of this story... you can see it here :
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53865815/ )