Cellmates

The prison in question could barely have been called a prison. More like a damp, dark cave. Yuck.

“Real sorry about this, Princess, we just have to be sure.” The guard repeated that same line again.

I sighed.

It's so dark inside this prison cell, I thought...

Well, it was, until a small light flickered in the corner of the cell.

“Ah!! A fire!” I cried out.

“No, shush! He’s just doing that same thing again.” A man’s voice responded.

“W... What? Is there someone else in here?” I cautiously said.

A bright flame illuminated the corner of the room. It was dazzling, and hot. I covered my eyes.

“It’s just that stupid bird doing the same thing again, don't worry,” Another voice responded, the voice of a young girl.

I rubbed my eyes, the blinding light had simmered down, and it was now gathered in one spot. I walked closer to have a look.

As I neared, I saw two other figures sitting near the fire. A man, in armour, and a small girl wearing rags. I also realised that it was no ordinary fire at all... It was a bird! On fire!

“Ah! A phoenix...” I murmured. I suppose anything could happen in this world. Things weren’t surprising me as much here anymore.

“Yep,” The bird said, in a goofy sounding voice.

“WHA-,” A TALKING BIRD?! Okay, well that surprised me.

“Never seen a phoenix before, Princess? Well, I never,” The bird responded, and started grooming its’ fiery feathers. Its voice sounded like some kind of comedy actor, all high-pitch and squeaky.

“No, I just, I didn’t expect you to sound so.... so... Silly!” I said and then realised that I was being rude to the bird. It couldn’t help it if it was a talking bird with a silly sounding voice.

“Well. I never,” The daft sounding bird repeated that same phrase.

I neared the three figures, and realised that the bird was in fact... A rooster?!

“Oh, you’re... You’re an interesting phoenix,” I tried.

“He’s a rooster.” The little girl responded, rolling her eyes.

“Oh, I see,” I said, and scratched my head. That’s when I realised, there was something on top of my head.

“Ah, what’s this?” I said as I took the object off my head. It was a golden crown, how did I not notice it was there?! “Oh my!” I exclaimed.

“Worst Princess imitator yet – She doesn’t even know what a crown is,” The girl says, and huffs.

“Wha- uh, no, I swear I’m not trying to imitate anyone. I think there’s been a big misunderstanding,” I say, and sit down next to my three cellmates.

“Waddaya mean?” The girl says. She’s picking her nose, yuck.

“As in, I arrived here, and everyone seems to think I’m some sort of Princess!” I explain, throwing my hands up in frustration. I was still holding the crown, and it goes flying. Oops.

“Ah, it is as the legend foretold, Your Highness,” The man in armour finally speaks. But what on earth is he on about?

“Hey, shiny head, we don’t know if she’s really the Princess or just another imposter. Don’t go ‘Your Highness-ing' her until we know for sure,” The girl in rags snaps back.

“Oh, you’re right. I am sorry Your Highness,” The armour-clad man bows, his armour squeaking slightly as he does so.

“Oh, for King’s sake,” The girl smacks her hand on her head, “Anyway, whilst you’re here, we should chat. Not often we get new cellmates!”

“Oh! Sure, well,” Unsure of where to start, my eyes dart between the armoured man, the rag-wearing girl and the flaming... Rooster?

“How did you end up in here...?” I start. Maybe a bad question to ask a bunch of prisoners.

“Not what’s our names? Jeez. Just straight into it,” The ragged girl snaps back, but she continues, “Well the names Aki, you know, like Autumn? Yeah, my mother called me that because of my red hair.”

It is true, she does have striking red hair. And her eyes are tinged with red flecks, too. The rags she has on are a deep red as well, I wonder if that's her favourite colour?

She continues, “Well, stuff all that anyway. ‘Cause she abandoned me when I was 5. Been on the streets ever since. I’m 11, by the way.”

I gasp; she seems somehow simultaneously older and younger than 11. From her appearance alone she looks like a kid, but the way she speaks seems a tad too mature for her age.

“I got caught stealing bread, again, but what am I supposed to do!” Aki throws her hands up in the air and huffs.

“Ah, oh, I’m sorry-” I say. What else do you say in this situation?!

“Nah, don’t be sorry. It’s the 7th time now. Just, if you are the real Princess, take me to the castle, please? Give me a better life...” Aki says, and sighs. I can’t tell if she’s kidding or not.

“Ah, let me introduce myself!” The armour-wearing fellow stands up, his armour creaking once more.

“I am Sir Shina-ki-gawa! Or... Shi... For short,” He says, extremely loudly. No volume control on this one, it seems.

“Yeah, Shi as in death,” Aki snorts.

“SILENCE!” Shi bellows, and Aki really does be quiet. He has quite the presence.

Shi continues with his tale, “I was imprisoned here due to unforeseen circumstances in battle! A minor slip-up is all it was; however, the repercussions were indeed dire.”

Huh? Did this guy kill somebody by accident or something?

Aki translates; “He tripped over in battle training and hit the commanders' foot with his sword, chopping the guy’s big toe clean off,” She rolls her eyes, “He’s a dunce, Princess.”

I gasp, and Shi reacts, “Fear not, Princess, for I am merely a clumsy fellow and not a blood thirsty monster.”

I laugh nervously. This guy is nuts.

I turn to the rooster. It speaks again, in that ridiculous high-pitch voice; “Man, I don’t know what I did to end up here, one minute I’m pecking away in the fields, you know how it goes, next, I’m a fiery bird and I can talk! Freaked the farmer out, that’s for sure.” Little bits of flame sparkle around his beak when he talks.

“A witch probably cast a spell on him to try and create a phoenix,” Aki explains further, “And now every few days he turns to a pile of dust, like a phoenix would, and he bursts into flame again, like what happened when you first got here.”

I think back to that spark of flame. So, it was the rooster phoenix being re-born again. Ah. This world makes no sense.

“I see,” I say politely, “What is your name?” I ask the rooster.

“My name? Ah, I have no clue. I’m just a rooster, you know.”

“Oh, that seems sad, wouldn’t you like a name?” I ask, genuinely.

“Ehh... Rooster’s fine. Don’t worry about it,” Rooster responds, and flicks some fiery feathers in my direction to dismiss my worries.

“More importantly, what is your name?” Rooster ventures.

“Ah, it’s Miyu. Miyu Akahime.” I say, and bow, “A pleasure to meet you all.”

“Well of course it’s Miyu Akahime, duh, everyone knows the Princess’ name.” Aki says, and lightly smacks Rooster on the head, “Ouch!” Aki recoils from touching Rooster's fire.

“You know, they’re going to test you to see if you are the real Princess,” Aki explains.

“Test me?! How?” I say with worry, but before Aki can explain, a guard shows up to the prison cell.

“PRINCESS? We are ready to put you to the test!” He calls out.

Uh oh... What is going to happen to me?!