Thanks to Alarda!

Narrator: Above the Misty River arches a clear blue spring sky. A strong wind blows from the south, it is a wonderful day to travel. Just now a raft has pulled off the shore of the Magical Forrest. Lady LovelyLocks and her dog Prince are on their way into the country of Light. There the little Lady is supposed to take over her inheritance: she shall rule over this country in the future. Matti, the trollboy has jumped onto the raft in the last minute. He wants to cross the dangerous Misty River for once too, at least to the destination of his beloved's Lady's journey. Knabberjahn, the beaver, pushes the raft calmly through the water. Then suddenly he grows uneasy.

Knabberjahn: Look, there, in front of us, Prince. What is this vapour over the water?

Prince: Oh! Oh my! That's mist rising from the water!

Lady LovelyLocks: How quickly it comes nearer. One can hardly see five meters ahead.

Knabberjahn: All we can do is hurry up. We've just past the middle of the river. There's no point in turning back now.

Prince: It is a true wall of mist. It would catch up with us.

Knabberjahn: The wind has died down. I didn't notice it.

Prince: I'll help you. I' m coming! ( he barks and jumps into the water, to help Knabberjahn)

Matti: I can hardly see the hand before my eyes!

Lady LovelyLocks: Now I know why everybody is afraid of the Misty River.

Matti: That's the doing of the Nebelmoog, too. Does he come now?!

Lady LovelyLocks: Don't be afraid, little troll. He won't harm us.

(But then they hear the soft tinkling of bells and the cute little voices of the Pixitails.)

Pixitails Hello there! Hello! Hello! Don't be afraid, it's us, the Pixitails! Yes, the Pixitails!We have come to help you, so that you won't get lost in the mist! Yes, we want to help you!

Lady LovelyLocks: Hello! If you mean us, we are here!

Pixitails Oh, that mist is so bad today! That was just a joke, we'd found you anyway! We have been waiting for you, Lady LovelyLocks. Yes, very much!And as the mist came up, we have flown towards you, so you wouldn't start being afraid. Welcome! Welcome, Lady LovelyLocks and Prince! Wo are you?

Matti: I am Matti, I am a troll.

Pixitails A troll... Then you come from the Magical Forrest! And you, too! And you, too!

Knabberjahn: Yes, me too. You are very foolish, are you? Where should I come from? Did you think, I'm the Nebelmoog?

Pixitails No, no. The Nebelmoog looks entirely different. Exactly. Entirely different!

Matti: You should rather be quiet! One doesn't know if he isn't somewhere near, with all that mist.

Nebelmoog: (laughs)

Matti: Did you hear that? What was that!

Nebelmoog: (laughs)

Pixitails That was the Nebelmoog! He's in a good mood today. Then he does nothing! No, then he does nothing! Nothing.

Lady LovelyLocks: And on what depends that?

Pixitails Oh, we don't know that exactly.! But he never did anything to us. But we cas only fly to the middle of the river. And there he lives. Yes, there where it's the deepest. Mhh. Who says that? He lifes in the mist! All of you are crazy, he lives in the water! - And from there he makes the mist! Yes!

Knabberjahn: Listen, kids. Did you notice that we've changed our direction?

Pixitails Oh my, oh my! That'd true! That's the doing of the Nebelmoog! He's leading us astray! Oh, leads us astray.

Knabberjahn: And what do we do know?

Prince: We'll swoop down on the shore somewhere. Let's see. (barks)

(They can hear the sound of a flute from somewhere.)

Lady LovelyLocks: The flute grows louder. We're approaching the shore.

Matti: Who's playing the flute?

Pixitails A shepherd boy,. A shepherd boy. But then we must have been carried very much off course. Only in front of the Blue Mountains are pastures. Yes, there are pastures.

The raft meets the shore.

Knaberjahn: So, we're here.

Prince: What you don't say!

Lady LovelyLocks: Well then. Look, the mist is clearing!

Knabberjahn: Yes. Also above the river.

Prince: The sun breaks trough. We are actually in the country of Light!

Matti: How quickly the mist is fading. I can see something of the shore at the Magical Forrest already.

Knabberjahn: Matti and me have to go back very quickly now.

Lady LovelyLocks: Oh.

Knabberjahn: Who knows how long it's going to be so clear?

Lady LovelyLocks: Yes. Goodbye. I don't know what we would have done without you, Knaberjahn - and without you, Matti! Have a good journey and visit us soon!

Matti: Goodbye!

Knabberjahn: Bye!

Matti: See you!

Knabberjahn: See you soon!

Prince: Bye! Bye! Do well!

Lady LovelyLocks: Goodbye!

(Knabberjahn and Matti are out on the river again now.)

Lady LovelyLocks: Look, Prince, how beautiful it is here. The broad river, that cuts trough the country and the Blue Mountains! How blue they are!And the air! (breathes in deeply) Mhh! It is so fresh and clear and clean!Oh! How big the trees are, there in the wood!

Prince: We are at our destination! We are really in the country of Light! As the mist came, I thought for one moment that we wouldn't make it.

Lady LovelyLocks:Yes, I was afraid of that, too. But as the Pixitails came and I hears the tinkling of the bells, I knew that had to mean something good. Thank you very much for your help.

Pixitails Yes, yes, yes! You're welcome. Yes, very welcome. You would have made it without our help, too! But we didn't like to wait for you any longer, Lady LovelyLocks! No, Lady LovelyLocks! Do you see the towers behind the wood? Do you see them? That's your castle! Through the wood we'll accompany you still. It's where we life! There we life, yes.

A carriage approaches them)

Lady Lockenlicht: Oh! A carriage! Oh, it is like a fairy tale. It is entirely made out of glas! And the two white horses, how beautiful they are.

Prince: But I don't see the driver.

Pixitails (laugh) We don't need that! The horses know the way! Get on!

.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.

(In the glas carriage the group continues on their way to the castle.)

Lady LovelyLocks. Oh. How peaceful it it here. Look, the many dears over there.

Prince: They aren't shy.

Pixitails No, no. No one does them harm. Only the Duchess. She scares them sometimes. By perpose! Yes, with purpose. When she races through here on her stallion Titan. She glad when everyone is afraid of her.
Sometimes Hairball comes, too! Yes, Hairball! And her servant. And the boss of the Combgnomes. Yes, the boss of the Combgnomes. Yes and if he's angry, he storms around here! Yes, awfully storms around here! Then the Duchess has shouted at him before! Then he kicks the poor trees! (laugh) He does this always! He thinks nobody can hear him, but we do! We laugh ourselves curly! Yes, curly!

Lady LovelyLocks: You seem to have much fun all the time.

Pixitails Yes, that's right.

Lady LovelyLocks: Over there the wood ends. I can see the sun through the trees.

Prince: (barks)

Lady LovelyLocks: What is it?

Prince: A wheel must have broken.

Pixitails Strange. Strange. There are deep holes in the path. They haven't been there yesterday! No, not been there yesterday.

(The Lady and Prince climb out to have a look.)

Lady LovelyLocks: There lays the wheel. It's just come off, it isn't broken.

Prince: But... we can't repair it ourselves.

Pixitails Oh, thats no problam! We go fetch some man in the quarry. It isn't far. They dig there for gems every day. For gems! (fly off laughing)

Prince: They are funny, the Pixitails!

Lady LovelyLocks: Yes!

Prince: they look like flying squirrels.

Lady LovelyLocks: But their faces are much nicer. And what beautiful colors they've got! (sighs) How beautiful it is here. Surely I'll come here often. You too, Prince?

Prince. Yes, surely.

The beat of horse hoofs on the ground is nearing

Prince: Hear that? A horse. Or... what sort of beating is that?

Lady LovelyLocks: There! A rider! He horse is as black as her hair.

(The rider stops her horse beside the Lady.)

Duchess RavenWaves: I take it you're Lady LovelyLocks. Then the mist didn't stob you from your sencles intend?! But instead of pulling up in front of your castle with your glas carriage, you sit here, on the wayside in the dirt! One must almost pity you, but you mustn't count on me for that!

Lady LovelyLocks: I wish you would be ore civil! That would surely make dealings easier!

Duchess RavenWaves: Och! By the way, it would be be good if you remember what I'll tell you: this country belongs to me! Me alone! And I won't let anyone take it away from me! (She turnes her horse around and galops off again)

Prince: (barks)Is it possible? The Duchess RavenWaves! Everything I've heard abut her is true then: she's evil!

Lady LovelyLocks: But Prince! Maybe she is really in the believe that this country is her 's. Maybe...

Prince: Don't be so good hearted! She's your enemy! You've got to remember that for all time! You mustn't forget it! Promise me!

Lady LovelyLocks: I wouldn't see it this black. But al right Prince: I promise.

(In this moment the Pixitails return with two man from the quarry.)

Pixitails There we are! There we are, and we've got help with us! That was fast, wasn't it?Wasn't that the Duches RavenWaves? What did she want? Yes, what did she want?

1st Man: What will this one want again!

2nd Man: Either take something that doesn't belong to her, or sowing discord!

1st Man: Every time she showed up, there has been a lot argument later!

2nd Man: Mh hm, and a lot trouble! She doesn't have a heart!

1st Man: Or she wouldn't take every stone we find away from us!

2nd Man: Since she's taken over, we don't have anything!

1st Man: We can't even pay the marchants!

2nd Man: If Hairball wouldn't fell pity sometimes, it would look really bad.

1st Man: But that doesn't occur very often. He! But he doesn't have an easy life, either!

2nd Man: Oh! What do we talk! The Pixitales brought us here, to repair the carriage.

1st Man: Yes, and because of all that grumbling, we haven't even greeted the Lady!
Good day, Lady LovelyLocks. We are very glad that you're here finally.

2nd Man: Welcome. We've waited for you the entire winter!

1st Man: Ever since your grandfather died. He did promise us, that you would come then!

2nd Man: He was a good king!

1st Man: We were very sad about his death.

(The two men begin the work on the wheel and get it back on in no time.)

2nd Man: So, the wheel's back on tight.

Lady LovelyLocks: Thank you for helping me. And I'm glad to be here, too. I will take care of your worrys, don't be afraid anymore! Goodbye!

Both man: Goodbye, Lady LovelyLocks!

(The Lady and Prince climb into the carriage again)

Lady LovelyLocks: We want to drive on.

Prince: (bellt) Perhaps you've heard enough now. Me... you didn't believe.

Lady LovelyLocks: Of course I believe you. We will change the situation quickly. And I'm not afraid of the Duchess!

(after a while they reach the end of the wood.)

Pixitails Here we take our leave. Goodbye! Over there is your castle. And don't forget: shake your hair if you need us. We are with you are quick as a thought. And we like to come! And we like to come! Goodbye! Goodbye!

Lady LovelyLocks: How comfortable the village looks over there! We'll soon make a visit there. But from the roofs thatched with straw many are patched. The people there really doesn't seem to be rich.

Prince: Now we get onto the drawbridge.

Lady LovelyLocks: Oh, the moat is wide... and the castle... so huge!

Prince: There! Over there. Do you see the old man with the long, white hair?

Lady LovelyLocks: Yes. It seems he has waited for us.

The carriage stops and Lady Lovely Locks and Prince climb out and walk over to the old man.

ShiningGlory: Welcome to the castle of your fathers, Lady LovelyLocks. I'm called ShiningGlory.

Lady LovelyLocks: Oh. Good day, ShiningGlory.

ShiningGlory: The stars reported to me about your arrival.

Lady LovelyLocks: The stars?

ShiningGlory: Yes. Everything is written on the sky. (coughs) If one can read it.

Lady LovelyLocks: Oh! You must tell me more about that! That seems to be very interesting.

ShiningGlory: Do you see the the cupola up there?

Lady LovelyLocks: Yes?

ShiningGlory: There stands my telescope. The stars know the truth and the future.

Lady LovelyLocks: Then you are a astrologer.

ShiningGlory: Oh, a astrologer! I'm a Wise Man.

Lady LovelyLocks: Oh.

ShiningGlory: My telescope and may magical cristal globe help me, to always increase my wisdom.

Lady LovelyLocks: Wonderful. I want to increase my wisdom. Too. I want to know everything about my country for example. I want to know who are our enemy's and where our friends are. For my country shall be happy.

ShiningGlory: (laughs) I will help you with that. Soon the night will fall. Visit me in my tower. In the darkness we can understand the language of the stars more easily.

(There is the sound of a bell nearby)

Lady LovelyLocks: Who may this be?

Prince: I'll go have a look! (runs of barking)

ShiningGlory: By which magic is the dog surrounded?

Lady LovelyLocks: From which magic? You mean he is cursed?

ShiningGlory: You don't know it then? All right, I'll find it out. I will retire now. I#m easily exhausted. I... need rest.

(ShiningGlory retires as two girls come to Lady LovelyLocks.)

Maiden FairHair: We greet you, Lady LovelyLocks. We bring bread and wine for the welcome.

Lady LovelyLocks: Your welcome for me yourself.

Maiden FairHair: We have been chosen in the village to serve you.

Lady LovelyLocks: I'm very glad for that, come in.

.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.

Narrator: Inside the rather gloomy walls of Duchess RavenWaves’ castle, it doesn't go about that friendly.

Duchess RavenWaves: Hairball! We are you, you slowcoach! I've got to talk to you!

Hairball: Yes, yes. I'm already coming.

Duches RavenWaves: Why are you hier in the castle and not with the man in the quarry?!

Hairball: Because it is night soon, Duchess. Deep, dark night.

Duchess RavenWaves: So, deep, dark night! And? What does that mean? That you are hanging around lazily and those stupid men put the gems into their own pockets?

Hairball: But I've finished everything like you wanted me to. (laughs mean) That fast, the lady won't be here!

Duchess RavenWaves: So, che won't be?! But she is already here!

Hairball: Oh! How awful!

.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.

Narrator: In Lady LovelyLocks' castle the girls from the village have retreated into the kitchen after a good long round through all the rooms, to prepare supper. In every hearth flicks already a bright fire and it has become comfortable in a short time, in the splendid rooms of the castle. The Lady is on her way to visit ShiningGlory in his lonely tower.

(Lady LovelyLocks knocks on the door .)

ShiningGlory: Yes? Who is it?

Lady LovelyLocks: Me. Lady LovelyLocks.

ShiningGlory: (opens the creaking door) Come in.

Lady LovelyLocks: Have you been able to recover a little from your exhaustion, yet?

ShiningGlory: Well, a little. Look there. The bright star up there.

Lady LovelyLocks: Yes?

ShiningGlory: I've seen him for the first time today. I have yet to come behind his meaning!

Lady LovelyLocks: Yes. That is very interesting. Really!

ShiningGlory: But that knowledge I can only gain through my cristal globe. But if I'm as exhausted as today, I can't bring it to glow! Look. A weak flicker it is at best. I can't make out it's pictures like that.

Lady LovelyLocks: Mh. That's a pity.

ShiningGlory: Well... perhaps you can come back again tomorrow, when I direct the rays of the sun on it.

Lady LovelyLocks: I'd like to do that. But now get some rest.

ShiningGlory: Get some rest!? What are you thinking of! Tonight is the fourth full moon since the winter solstice. Tonight is the meeting of the witches on the Blue Mountain, the highest of the Blue Mountains.

Lady LovelyLocks: And you want to go there?

ShiningGlory: Lady LovelyLocks! O you think I'm in lege with the devil ?!

Lady LovelyLocks. No, of course not. Forgive me.

ShiningGlory: It's al right. You must forbearance with me, because today I'm ver...

Lady LovelyLocks: ... exhausted.

.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.

Narrator: In the meantime, Hairball is on his way to collect the last stones in the village.

Hairball: Is that supposed to be all of them? Bring that other sack over here, right now!

Boy: This one? But it's full of potato's.

Hairball: So, that will be beautiful potato's then, glittering once, won't it?

Boy: Here.

Hairball: (opens the sack) But... But this one's full of potato's! What shall I do with potato's!

(everyone laughs, except Hairball)

Hairball: What are you laughing about so foolishly! Here's nothing to laugh about! Bring you gems to me now.

Mann: Um, may I ask you something, Hairball? Magician of Duchess RavenWaves?

Hairball: Are you mocking me?

Mann: No, of course not! I was just .. wandering, why, if you can really work magic, you don't use that to make gems. Then you could spear yourself the long way into the village.

Hairball: Yes? You think so? Mh... You put your sack here!

2nd Mann: (sighs) That's everything I've dug out. Since the last time, you took my stones away from me.

Hairball: Everything? What, everything?! If one would fill in your laziness, there would be 100 full sacks around here, instead of a half and a quater! Shall I get my Combgnomes first, to urge you on!?

(again everybody except him laughs)

Boy: I find him too nice when he's furious, our Hairbally.

Hairball: If this few things are everything, I'm going now. But,woe betide you if you have hid something! Than the devil will come and get you - or my Combgnomes!

.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.

Narrator: In her castle the Duchess RavenWaves has got a magical mirror. It it her greatest treasure, because it does not only show her the thing she wants to know, but also the things that go through her mind unnoticed as thoughts. Also he is always speaking the truth - what no one else dares, for fear of the Duchess' rage.
After a sleepless night, the Duchess has risen very early and seated herself in front of her mirror, to let herself be rid of her boredom by him.

Duchess RavenWaves: Oh! There comes this fool Hairball at last!

Magical Mirror: Duchess, scene in which Hairball brings you gems, you have seen very often already. The mist did rise above the river. Maybe you want to see over into the Magical Forrest. Perhaps it is more interesting for you.

Duchess RavenWaves: Very well. What's going on there?!

(She sees Matti and Tatzel in her mirror, somewhere in the Magical Forrest)

Matti: You don't honestly think you can run faster than me?

Tatzel: Wanna bet?

Matti: Oh yes! I get a colored stone from you, if I win!

Tatzel: And what do I get?

Matti: What do you want then? Tatzel! Come here quickly! Here lays something!

Tatzel: (runs over to Matti) Well, what is it?

Matti: Magnifiant! That's Prince's chain! Surely! He lost it it the snow during winter!

Tatzel: Yes, yes, I know! You told me that a hundred times.

Matti: If that's realy gold?

Tatzel: Of course! He belongs to the fairy!

Matti: Ha! You with your fairy! She's just Lady LovelyLocks! There! There is another thing! A pendant. It's open.

Tatzel: Show me.

Matti: Here. But don't drop it!

Tatzel: Oh yes, I'll take care.

Matti: How beautifully blue it is! And the edge is jagged. Hm, as if someone's broken a bigger stone in two.

Tatzel: Mh hm. Um.... there is something scratched into it. That are letters!

Matti: Really? Magnificent!

Tatzel: Can you read?

Matti: No. Can you? But Urda, the old barnowl can do it! Come on Tatzelchen, we'll go look for her!

(The two of them start looking and calling for the old owl)

Matti: Urda!

Tatzel: Urda!! Ur-da!

Matti: Urda!

Owl Urda: Well, why are you shouting around here, you brats? Now it's sleeping time!

Matti: But only for you! Decent... um... other people sleep at night.

Owl Urda: You really are an impertinent little troll!

Matti: Urda, don't be angry! We need your advice. Because you are so smart!

Owl Urda: Mhm, am I?

Tatzel: Everyone in the Forrest knows that. They often tried to find a smarte one, but no one felt up to it.

Owl Urda: Alas, what do you want! There's no way to count on sleeping when you two are around!

Matti: You can read, can't you?

Owl Urda: Of course!

Matti: (sighs) We've got here something for you. Read it to us, please!

Owl Urda: Well, give it to me! (Matti hands her the pendant with the stone) Mmm... yes... well, that's not so easy, you know?
Hum... A prince comes from... from the Land of L... L... L... Li... Li... Li... Light, it says. And of ... stones, mmm... ju...just a moment, I almost got it...

Narrator: That's how far the Owl Urda has come. Duchess RavenWaves get's gradually nervous in front of her mirror, because the stuttering of Urda is to slow for her. But she listens closely, so that she won't miss a thing. But then all she hears is a loud bang. The door flys open and Hairball stands in front of her.

Duchess RavenWaves: What does that mean, you clumsy creature!Does one never have any peace from you! Vanish on the spot!

Hairball: But I wanted...

Duchess RavenWaves: Here is done what I want! And I want you tu turn around and leave the room again through this door!

Hairball: Yes, immediately, if you...

Duchess RavenWaves: Yes, immediately, out!

Narrator: Gloomy Hairball leaves. The Duchess turnes around again to face her mirror. It is dark.

Duchess RavenWaves: What does that mean?

Magical Mirror: The mist is back above the river. There is nothing more to see.

(The Duchess tears the door open and storms out.)

Duchess RavenWaves: Hairball! Come here at once!

Hairball: Yes?

Duchess RavenWaves: I've got an important assignment you!

Hairball: Yes?

Duchess RavenWaves: We are in the possession ouf all the gems, that have been found in this land since the last autumn?

Hairball: Yes. No! Um... if...

Duchess RavenWaves: Yes or no! At least you had the instructions to get me all the stones! Yes or no!

Hairball: Yes.

Duchess RavenWaves: How nice! Then in out treasury is a blue stone, on which something is written and on one side he is jagged!

Hairball: How...jagged?

Duchess RavenWaves: Jagged! You don't know how something looks when it's jagged?!

Hairball: Yes, of course, but...

Duchess RavenWaves: What are you waiting for?! If you've come up with how something looks when it's jagged, find that stone!

Hairball: But the sacks are piled to the ceiling in the treasury! How am I supposed to get a single stone?

Duchess RavenWaves: I don't care about it! If you want take you beloved Combgnomes for help! But get me that stone!

.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.

Narrator: Approximately to this time, the blue stone is found. But not in Duchess RavenWaves treasury and not by Hairball. Found it is somewhere else entirely.

(In the stable of a farm in the village a couple is occupied with making an hidingspot for some gems the man has smuggled home from the quarry . It's the same man who faced Hairball so boldly about conjuring up gems by magic.)

Mann: The hole's deep enough. Hand me sack.

Women: Oh, if Hairball just doesn't have any clue about this!

Mann: Oh, he won't notice! How? Just take care that the door doesn't open!

Women: Yes, yes! Here.

Mann: (tips the gems onto the flor) Take a broom and sweep them into the hoole without the sack!

Women: (does that) That's all of them.

Mann: (laughs) Wonderful! Our emergency supply, for the time in which we'll be allowed to have our own stones again!

Women: If only this goes well!

Mann: Oh, your too fearful! So, and now straw on it! (laughs) What do you think how the pics will like their clean stable?
So, a little more... ah! Finished!

Women: Oh! We forgot one stone. Look how blue it it. Curious stone. One side is full of cornes and edges. And there... there's written something: 'StrongHeart in misery.'

Mann:Oh, doesn't matter! Give it to me! We must hide this one pretty good! I won't reopen the hole for that single stone!

.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.

Narrator: In the highest tower of the castle, the Lady and ShiningGlory behold the pale pictures that the cristal globe is showing.

ShiningGlory: So. Yes. Yes, clearer I can't make the pictures even today.

Lady LovelyLocks: But that's already very beautiful what your cristal globe is showing. There! That must be the shore of the Misty River!

ShiningGlory: Um... we will push the globe into the light of the sun.

Lady LovelyLocks: Yes.

(The two of them push the cristal globe into the light of the morning sun)

Lady LovelyLocks: Yes, now everything's much clearer. Oh, great!

ShingGlory: Yes. Yes.

Lady LovelyLocks: But... didn't you rest enough, because you're still so weakened? I've slept wonderful in my big four-poster bed. This morning I've bathed and the girls combed out my hair. Wonderful, I feel like I#ve been reborn!

ShiningGlory: Yes, sleeping... I told you that I'd had to watch the witches last night!

Lady LovelyLocks: Oh, yes...

ShiningGlory: From that my magical powers have to recover first.

Lady LovelyLocks: And? Were you able to get to know something interesting?

ShiningGlory: Yes. In spite of my efforts, I wasn't able to see as far as the mountains peak. But in the half height I've eavesdropped on two sisters of the awful witch Lazulila.

Lady LovelyLocks: And?

ShiningGlory: I did hear the conversation, but I didn't understand it! I must think about it!

Lady LovelyLocks: Oh! Look! Here1 There's something coming out of the river! An animal!

ShiningGlory: Oh! The Snake Lee! Something maust have happend she doesn't come to the Land of Light without a reason!

Lady LovelyLocks: The Snake Lee? I've met here once in the Magical Forrest, as I was living with the trolls. She was nice enough - but very inquisitiv!

ShiningGlory: Nice?! For the sake of the knowing stars, she means disaster! Lady LovelyLocks, I must considerate, I need some peace now.

LadyLovelyLocks: Yes. Al right. I will come back later and bring a strenghtening tonic for you. I will have it made from fresh herbs. That will take some time.

ShiningGlory: Yes.

(She opens the door and leaves him alone again)

.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.

Narrator: Just know the Duchess has come for the third time to check if Hairball and the Combgnomes are hardworking to find the blue stone in the treasury. Now she is pacing up and down the long, blanc corridor in front of the treasury.

Duchess RavenWaves: How far are you, Hairball?

Hairball: Not much farther than a few minutes ago. We're still searching!

Duchess RavenWaves: Then hurry Youssefs!

(Suddenly Snake Lee shows up)

Snake Lee: Hello Duchess.

Duchess Ravenwaves: Snake Lee. What leads you here?

Snake Lee: A observation from which I think, that it will be interesting for you.

Duchess RavenWaves: So?! Tell me then. But be brief about it!

Snake Lee: I know your time is measured.

Duchess RavenWaves: Well!

Snake Lee: I was laying on my favourite sun stone in the Magical Forrest. Not far from me, the Owl Urda sat on a brech and slept.

Duchess RavenWaves: And that is supposed to be interesting?!

Snake Lee: You'll see. I hear the trollboy Matti and his friend Tatzel come to the owl and bid her to decipher an inscription to them!

Duchess RavenWaves: And? Go on!

Snake Lee: I want to spar you the details. They had found a stone, into which there was screched something!

Duchess RavenWaves: Imaging, up to that I already no everything!

Snake Lee: What's written on the stone, too?

Duchess RavenWaves: Tell me!

Snake Lee: 'Find the second stone in the Land of light. It will be prince ...' - what comes next is missing- '...freedom.

Duchess RavenWaves: What Prince?!

Snake Lee: Because of that I'm here. You will only solve that riddle, if you find the second stone.

Duchess RavenWaves: Because of this news you could have saved yourself the way! All my servants are already searching it!!

.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.

Narrator: After the Snake Lee has departed huffy, the Duchess has seated herself angrily in front of her mirror.

Duchess RavenWaves: I'm surrounded from blockheads! Only you're equal to me!

Magical Mirror: Mhm... With flattery you'll gain nothing from me. Anyway, I'll show you something that will answer your questions.

(The Duchess sees a ball, long ago. Her youthful self is dancing with a young man)

Young Duchess RavenWaves: You're dancing wonderful, Prince Strongheart.

Prince Strongheart: I may return the compliment, Duchess.

Young Duchess RavenWaves: It's a pity you come to my fathers balls so rarely. I haven't seen you for a long time.

Prince StrongHeart: Can't you guess the reason?

Young Duchess RavenWaves: No! And I don't want to know it!

Prince Strongheart: I'm going to tell you, anyway!

Young Duchess RavenWaves: You've suddenly gor such a gold tone in your voice! We shall rather dance again and be joyful! Be nice again!

Prince StrongHeart: But Duchess, that's why I've come. Your father wants me to merry you. And because my family lost their fortune - and my father his honor - this may be a great honouring.

Young Duchess RavenWaves: Oh!

Prince Strongheart: But... this wish of your fathers, will - maybe as the only one - never be full filled. You are very beautiful, but you have a heart of stone! Farewell!

(the scene in her mirror ends with the Prince turning around on the spot and leaving her alone)

Narrator: Like daced the Duchess remains seated in front of her mirror, which is now entirely dark again.

Duchess RavenWaves: That's the secret then. The disappeared Prince StrongHeart. (laughs without joy) The proud one! He didn't give me his hand. I won't hand him mine! How many misfortune has happened since than, how many year of my life have I wasted to search him, to be revenged for this humiliation! I've reached the end of my search! But you won't escape my revenge, Prince StrongHeart! I will take care of it that you will never be freed from your curse! You shall never be able to leave your form as a dog!

(She stands up, goes trough a door and closes it behind her)

Duchess RavenWaves: I must have that chain and the stone in the Magical Forrest and the second blue stone that is here in the Land of Light! I must, for every price in this world! HAIRBALL!!

.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.~*~.

Narrator: Slowly it has become evening. With the streaming strengthening tonic in her hand, Lady LovelyLocks enters the tower of ShiningGLory. He doesn't hear her coming, that absorbed he is in the sight of the stars.

Lady LovelyLocks: I bring your strengthening tonic! It will do you good.

ShiningGlory: (starts) Good that you've come here, Lady! In a few minutes I would have come to you! I have thought about that conversation and the stars have told me the rest.

Lady LovelyLocks: Um... Told you the rest? From what? I mean... I don't know what you are talking about.

ShiningGlory: The witches talked about a dogs chain in the Magical Forrest! And of blue stones that are the only ones who have the power to break a curse.

Lady LovelyLocks: Yes! In the Magical Forrest, there Prince has lost his chain. In winter!

ShiningGlory: You see, that's it! The magic that surrounds your dog!I felt it immediately, as I saw you and Prince for the first time. You remember?

Lady LovelyLocks: Yes, very well!

ShiningGlory: The visit from the Snake Lee has something to do with it. And what she knows, she tells Duchess RavenWaves And she will harm you, where ever she sees an opportunity. Beware of her!

Lady LovelyLocks: Yes. Yes, that I will do. But what of Prince?

ShiningGlory: We will solve the riddle, you and I! Only than the luck will come into the Land of Light!

End of MC 2