The little blonde princess, stirred within the cold, grey confines of Diamondhelm, a formidable stronghold situated upon a mountain of gemstones, its foundations rooted deep within the Western Hemisphere of Osiris.
The warmth of dawn's golden specter, streaming through the narrow windows, gently caressed her face, rousing her from slumber.
"Rise and shine, Princess," a husky voice, like the rumble of thunder, echoed through the stone walls, shattering the stillness of the morning.
Polaris' gaze, fuzzy from the remnants of sleep, gradually focused upon the labyrinthine halls, her eyes widening as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Where am I?" she pondered aloud, her voice tinged with a hint of trepidation.
A figure, clad in dark attire, emerged from the shadows, his features obscured by a mask.
"Diamondhelm, Princess.
You're safe here," he reassured her, his voice low and soothing, as he sharpened the spikes of his gruesome mace with deliberate slowness.
Polaris' curiosity got the better of her, she ambled towards the window, her gaze drawn to the breathtaking vista unfolding before her.
The crystalline rock formations, seated majestically upon the ocean, glimmered like a thousand diamonds in the dawning sunrise.
A mesmerizing rainbow, its colors vibrant and alive, stretched across the pointy roofed towers, casting a spell of wonder upon the young princess.
"It's... ethereal," she breathed, her face aglow with fascination.
The masked man's gaze lingered upon her, his heart warming with compassion.
"Indeed, Your Highness," he replied, a hint of a smile playing upon his lips.
He approached her, a flowing white dress, reminiscent of freshly fallen snow, was tossed in her direction.
Polaris caught it with alacrity, her fingers spreading the fragrant fabric apart with eyes of scrutiny.
"Hmm," she murmured, her expression a mask of discernment. "This sorta makes me look fat, don't you think?"
The masked man's patience was tested, his response tinged with a hint of exasperation.
"Don't push your luck, kid."
Polaris' gaze narrowed, her voice taking on a petulant tone. "Well... Turn around!"
The masked man's reluctance was palpable, but he eventually acquiesced, turning his back upon her with a grunt.
Polaris swiftly donned the dress, her fingers moving with a speed and dexterity that belied her tender years.
"How do I look?" she inquired, gathering the flowing hem in her hand, her other hand resting upon her waist.
The masked man's response was laced with sarcasm.
"How'd I know when you insisted I turn around?"
Polaris' voice rose in a squeal of indignation.
"Turn back around and tell me!"
The masked man's sigh was audible, his movements reluctant as he turned to face her.
"Like a princess," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
Polaris' gaze narrowed, her expression a picture of discontent.
"Negative. I really do look fat, don't I?" Her words hung in the air, a challenge to the masked man's patience.
His response was a masterpiece of understatement.
"It's going to be a long, long day."
Polaris' declaration, "I'm hungry!" rang out, a clarion call, shattering the morning calm.
The masked man's glare was an attestation to his growing frustration.
"We've been traveling all night.
I'm exhausted and hungry.
I'd have roast turkey with apple cinnamon and honey sprinkled all over," she parroted, her tone dripping with choosiness.
"There are no turkeys in Diamondhelm."
Polaris' pickiness was a force to be reckoned with.
"No turkeys? How?"
The masked man's response was blunt, his sarcasm evident.
"The Queen banned them. She's got phobia for their ugly faces, so the chickens say."
The silence that followed was oppressive, punctuated only by the distant hooting of a bird.
Polaris' gaze lingered upon the masked man, her facial expression, a mask of expectation.
"Fine, roast... whatever that was. Prepare a dish of salads to neutralize the taste, oh... and a glass of lemonade to wash it down," she instructed, her tone imperious.
The masked man approached her, his movements deliberate, his eyes blazing with a fierce amber light.
As he unmasked, Polaris' gaze widened in shock, her eyes locked upon the frightful countenance of Taurus, the Sky Saunterer.
"Really? You couldn't decipher my identity by the.. soaring boots of Mercury?" Taurus taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Yet the citizens of Lunarfrost praise your so-called braininess."
Polaris' gaze lingered upon Taurus' fiery amber eyes, her heart pounding in her chest.
For a moment, she forgot to breathe, her fear and surprise momentarily paralyzed her.
Then, as the reality of her situation sank in, she let out a squeal of terror, her voice echoing off the cold stone walls.
Taurus' laughter was like thunder, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"I'm hungry!" Polaris exclaimed, her voice rising to a fevered pitch.
Taurus' expression transformed, his face a picture of exasperation.
"Sheesh, okay, okay, just stop squealing," he muttered, throwing up his hands in defeat.
With a fluid motion, he dived out the window, disappearing into the depths below.
Polaris' gaze followed him, her eyes wide with wonder.
She was alone, trapped in a strange castle with a masked man who seemed to be her captor.
Her heart racing with fear, she wondered what lay ahead, and whether she would ever escape the clutches of her enigmatic jailer, Taurus.