Clockie and Mirror Princess

Chapter 2 Clockie and his party followed closely behind Mirror Princess. Wherever the mirror shone, the dreadful mist would dissipate. As they advanced, Clockie spoke with Mirror Princess about their shared past, of how they got to know each other during a journey. "Tick-tock, do you remember your Mirror Kingdom, princess? It's so fun there! Everyone is a mirror!" "Yeah, mirrors of all shapes — round, square, star-shaped, and others. And I happen to be the most esteemed kind, the round-shaped mirror. That's why when you arrived there, I mistook you for the 'Mirror Prince'!" Amidst laughter, Clockie thought back to the beauty of the Mirror Kingdom, and the days he spent traveling alongside Mirror Princess and Captain Revolver. They had explored countless enchanting places, but none could compare to Dreamville as it is now. Clockie believed that with the aid of his friends, together they could turn Dreamville into the best place in the world. ...Suddenly, sinister laughter pierced through the silence of the desert. "Hahaha! This isn't Dreamville, but the Nightmare Desert! And I'm the king of all nightmares!" Clockie was certain that he had never heard a voice so malevolent before. Even a notorious arch-villain like Boss Stone paled in comparison to such vileness. The voice seemed to be both distant and near, but whenever Mirror Princess's radiance illuminated their surroundings, the voice would shriek and retreat in haste. They continued moving forward, their steps echoing endlessly, until it seemed as if the desert-enveloping mists had dissipated. A whole new world was revealed to them. However, Clockie soon realized that the vast expanse of the desert managed to deceive his senses. It was not until dusk that they finally arrived at a place engulfed by dense fog. "This must be that monster's lair." Mirror Princess stepped forward bravely, and with each stride, the mist receded in reluctance. But then a sudden alarm echoed in Clockie's mind. "Tick-tock! Stop there, Mirror Princess! It's a trap!" Too late! His warning was in vain. Beneath the mist, the Unknown laid a long rope on the ground concealed by the mist and tripped Mirror Princess's foot. With a resounding crash, she tumbled to the ground, shattering into countless shards. At that moment, the mist resurged, and the malevolent and satisfied laughter from the Unknown once again swallowed the entire desert. "Ka-ching! What should we do, Clockie? Mirror Princess has been shattered!" "Tweet, what should we do, Clockie? The monster will devour us all!" "Fear not, my friends. It's not the time to cry. Please gather my shattered pieces." The desert resonated with a gentle, familiar voice. As everyone collected the scattered shards of the princess, they cascaded vibrant auroras amidst the golden sands. The shattered mirror pieces were everywhere, and each reflected the visage of the monster — a short, clownish, and craven ghost. The "Unknown" was deprived of its power and vanished forever, its final curtain accompanied by a wail of anguish. However, having fulfilled her purpose, Mirror Princess could not even utter her final words. The Origami Birds discarded all their stones and Captain Revolver spat out all his bullets. Together with Clockie, they meticulously gathered the shards of the princess — the sole remaining treasure she left behind. Despite her shattered form, Mirror Princess continued to guard Dreamville with her radiant glow. Whenever the mist returned bringing new monsters with it, the mirror would show their forms, continuing on to this day. ... With the arrival of a new day, Clockie swung open the door to his house, revealing the mirror they had meticulously reconstructed, peacefully resting in the garden of Dreamville. "Tick-tock. Good morning, Mirror Princess. Today's another beautiful day."