All I ever wanted
Home sweet Home! I'm finally here! That was the longest hike ever. Brady thought as he entered the castle premises. He was shocked to find all the guards in the throne room following a strategic plan or something because it looked like a blueprint. So, he decided to go look for Harris.
On the hallway, he met up with Mikayla whose face instantly lit up upon seeing him. She ran to him and greeted him.
"Good morning Mr. Parker!"
"Hey! You ran from there to here just to greet me?"
"Yeah, why not? Hey, I have to go and tell everybody that you're back, okay? Everybody's been worried sick"
"Okay..."
Mikayla went sprinting for the stairs only to here a crash down the stairs. Brady got into action and ran to save his girl. At the end of the stairs he saw Lanny with a bruise on his leg. Oh, it's actually Lanny.
"Hey, need help buddy?" he extended his arm and Lanny hold on to him while tried to get up on his feet on his way to the couch.
"What happened?!" Mikayla screamed, terrified.
"It was Lanny, he fell down the stairs"
"Oooh..." she commented. "Muhamma, could you get the Shaman"
"Right away, Miss Makoola"
After taking care of Lanny, Brady and Mikayla went to the kitchen where everybody was at.
"Oh hey Mr. Parker!" Mason said.
"Oh, hello there too Mason" Boz and Boomer answered.
Silence fell.
"Ahw, come on! We're technically Parkers too!"
"Yeah..."
"Uhm, Harris... I need to show you something and you too 'cousins'..."
"What is it?" Boz asked
"It's a photo I took this morning..."
Brady showed them the picture of their Aunt Farah trying to put the trash in the dumpster.
"Why don't you guys, uhm, provide a garbage truck so that they could just toss it in you know, and it'll be like a one way transport, money saving actually. Instead of having 3 trucks travel a day carrying 17 dumpsters you'll have 2 trucks carrying garbage while it crushes garbage into bits on ride back to the dumpsite. You shouldn't let the elders carry heavy stuff. They get hurt easily now that they're"
"Oh, yeah" everybody gaped at him.
"Good idea, we'll do that first thing in the morning" Boz announced.
"Good job Brady! You're ready! You've learnt the basics now; all you need to do is make-"
"What!? Brady?" Mikayla yelled while everyone was silent.
"How come you guys aren't surprised... wait! You knew all about this?"
Mason was speechless. He knew this was coming.
"Look baby girl..."
"Don't Baby girl me!" she yelled and stopped by Brady.
"I thought you were different. I thought you've changed but I guess I'm wrong" she said, crying as she ran out of the castle.
Brady decided to stay, instead of going after her. Let her cool off Brady. He still has to tell them about Aunt Farah.
"Mason, will you please make sure she's alright?"
"Yes, my king" Mason obeyed knowing that it was his fault too.
After Mason went out, Harris apologized to Brady for spilling the beans.
"I'm really sorry Brady"
"It's okay Harris, she had to know... she will have known it anyway" he answered.
"Okay, guys... I found someone who can help us" Brady addressed his brothers.
"Help us with what?"
"With everyday problems"
"You mean like a councillor?" Boz asked.
"Exactly!"
"Who?"
"Did you see the old lady in the picture?"
"Yeah?"
"She's our Grand Aunt! Her name is Farah. She is grandpa James' sister"
"How do you know that she is really and truly royal?"
"Hmm, didn't think of that though, let's check the family line? I saw a book there when I was snooping around."
"Alright"
The brothers raced to the vault and found the said book. They quickly turned the book to its second to the last updated page. There they found a short story about the era of royals.
"On June 5th, Prince Edmund Parker and Queen Elizabeth Manoluna gave birth to their first child, Prince James Victor Parker. Prince Edmund was an American, he brought the name Parker into the blood line.
Two Years later on September 9th, the prince and queen gave birth to their second and last child, Princess Farah Celestine Parker. The queen died as she gave birth to Farah.
19 years later, Farah was affixed a marriage to whom she does not agree. She ran away. She never came back.
Months after Prince Edmund died, Queen Elizabeth died due to a stroke making Prince James the King of Kinkow.
A year after the Queen's death, King James married the elder's granddaughter, Katrina. Queen Katrina was a spirit warrior. She had taught her only child this talent and skill.
On August 7th, Prince Brian Trevor Parker was born. He was their only son.
He married Narissa, a local girl on Kinkow who originated from Illinois, USA. King James died due to a heart attack at the age of 62. And the death of Queen Katrina followed 6 months after officially making Brian King.
On October 11th, King Brian and Queen Narissa were expecting their new baby. It turned out they had three first borns. Nobody but the Queen, King and the doctor knows who was born first. The soon to be Kings were Prince Brady Damien Parker, Prince Boomer David Parker and Prince Boz Daniel Parker
After two years, the siblings were separated during the war. Prince Boz got lost at sea while Prince Boomer and Prince Brady were brought to Chicago for safety.
King Brian and Queen Narissa were the first two royals to be murdered."
"That was so long" Boomer complained.
"I know and interesting too" Boz said.
"So now that we have proof, we should bring her here. Let her stay here. Technically, it's still her home."
"Alright"
Before they got out of the doors, an angry and annoyed Mikayla burst in with Mason following her trying to talk to her.
"Mikayla" Brady called her.
"Just shut up Brady! I don't want to hear your voice anymore!" she stormed up to her room.
Whaa..
"Don't mind her Brady. Let her cool off...Let's just go get Aunt Farah" the boys exited the castle but were followed by Mason.
"My kings did you say Farah? Like Princess Farah Celestine? The lost Princess?"
"Yeap! Brady found her" Boz answered.
"Yes, the island will rejoice! We have found the lost princess. Did you know, her soul is connected to the island's economy? With her back to power we'll be so much more successful!" Mason cheered.
"Okay... we got to go get her... bye!" and that they ran off.
After a good 5 minute run, they boys made it to her house. They knocked and proceeded inside. There, Farah was knitting something.
"Aunt Farah!" the boys exclaimed with pure excitement.
Farah was startled by the sudden outburst.
"Brady, you brought your brothers here. What's the matter?"
"We want you to come and live in the castle with us"
"But, my things... we can't possibly carry these all the way there."
"We'll let the Royal Movers take care of this. We'll have you sewn a new royal gown" Boomer said.
"And we really need your help..." Brady said.
"Well, how can I help?"
"Help us bring the economy back up"
"I'd love to" she agreed immediately knowing that that was her duty, taking care of the island's economy.
When they got home with Aunt Farah, everybody except Mikayla was at the dining table. Everyone was pleased to see Princess Farah. So then, they proceeded to eat.
After eating, Brady decided to talk to Mikayla and bring her some food. But before he did so, he went up to his room and to one last picture of himself and his beard.
He went downstairs to go get the tray of food. As he entered the dining room, everyone gasped.
"Oh my God! Brady! Why?! Why did you shave it off" Boomer and Boz went ballistic on him.
"I figured I should stop hiding from my fears"
"So, you fear Mikayla?" Mason asked.
"A little, but I fear being rejected by her more. Since that's already happened that... looks like there is nothing left for me to fear"
"Aren't you scared of Mason?" Boz asked.
"No, not anymore. He can break me anytime. It doesn't really matter"
"Awh, come here you" Farah said and hugged him.
"Everything's gonna be okay Brady... Trust me"
"I hope so... Hey, uhm Harris can I borrow your studio back in Chicago?"
"Huh? What for?" he asked.
"I'm gonna showcase my gallery. I want the world to see who I am and what I do"
"Sure, you want me to come with you and give you some tips?"
"Yeah,"
"Alright then, when is it?"
"Next month"
"What?! That takes like 25 days of preparation"
"I know, that's why we're leaving at dawn then we'll get there at 8 in the morning."
"If you say so"
"But Brady... that means you're gonna have to leave again." Boz said with a sad face.
"I'll come back Boz, even better than before"
"And how long would that take my king?" Mason asked
"Probably 3 years"
"What?!" Everyone yelled
"What are you gonna do for three years Brady?" Harris asked.
"Yeah, what are you gonna do?" Farah asked.
"I'll find work in Hollywood"
"Brady, you don't have to"
"But I have to... this is the only way I can stop hurting Mikayla"
"By what? Leaving her?"
"Yes, so that she doesn't have to suffer seeing me again"
"The question is, are you gonna be happy there?" Boomer asked the most striking question.
"Yes Boom, knowing that I'll make progress. I think I'm gonna be happy"
"Well, if it makes you happy, then I'm happy. Just give me your phone number so we could like talk all night long"
"Sure"
"Now Brady, get these food up to Mikayla, she must be starved"
"Okay"
Brady grabbed the tray and went upstairs. When he got to her door she was sound asleep. He slowly made his way in and placed the tray on her nightstand slowly. He grabbed a pen and a calling card of his. He wrote: If you want to see me again, visit the place on the card on March 23rd at 5:00 in the afternoon. Sincerely yours, Brady.
After having written the note, he pulled out a picture from his wallet. It was a duplicate of the one he left her months ago. He tore it apart and left her his side of picture and at the back he wrote "Find me"
And with that stayed on the floor, admiring the girl just like what he did the past month. What Brady didn't know was that Harris was at the door taking pictures. Brady stood up and kissed her forehead inhaling the last of her scent. Harris nailed that moment. He caught about three frames by the second.
Brady started walking away from her bed, immediately making Harris run to Brady's room and return his camera.
Harris had returned the camera in its rightful place. But as soon as he heard footsteps he knew he was dead. So he decided acting...
"Brady? Brady, where are you?" he said loud enough for him to hear. Harris bent over as if looking for him underneath the bed.
"Hey!" Brady said.
"Oh there you are, are your bags packed already?"
"Some, I still have to finish packing"
"Okay, I'll go pack up my things" Harris said as he left.
AT DAWN
"Alright, that's all it my king"
"Thanks Mason"
"Bye bro!" Boomer and Boz gave their farewell.
"Bye guys, make sure to go there next month"
"We'll do" all three of them answered
AT THE BALLOON
"Brady"
"Yeah?" he answered looking at the swirl of an island.
"Why do you have to do this? You're hurting yourself and even others"
"Even if I stayed there, others will still get hurt. I don't want to hurt anybody" he sighed.
A MONTH LATER
The studio was filled with art enthusiasts, artists and photographers. All of Brady's works were on huge photo papers. Some were turned into a collage. There were colourful ones and noir looking ones.
Brady was nervous about this. All his confidence just went down the drain. And it was 5 minutes till show time.
"man, I can't do this Harris. What the heck was I thinking?"
"Just keep your cool Brady"
"I don't feel cool anymore, I feel like hell hot right now. I'm like a having fever"
"Don't do this Brady... If you want to make a job in Hollywood, you should survive this. It's ten times the pressure there"
"Uhm, my stomach feels funny"
"Go grab a cup of coffee; it'll calm your nerves"
"Okay"
Brady left Harris alone backstage. He was waiting for his queue. Meanwhile, Brady was met up by his brothers who were in suits and ties. Boz wore a Black Jacket with a white button up shirt underneath, a pair of black slacks and a royal blue and yellow striped tie while Boomer wore a Gray jacket with red shirt underneath, a pair of grey slacks with a solid black tie.
"Where are Mason, Lanny and Aunt Farah?"
"Uhm, they're here somewhere."
"Alright... I got to go guys" Brady said leaving.
"Hmm, funny he didn't ask where Mikayla was" Boomer said.
"I know, maybe he didn't expect her to come after what happened." Boz answered.
Brady immediately chugged on his coffee letting the heat find its way down to his stomach. After finishing his coffee, Harris got called up to introduce Brady.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the man behind these masterpieces. Mr. Brady Parker"
Brady was wearing his best. He wore a very dark blue jacket with a plaid shirt of blue, red and white underneath, a pair of stonewashed denim jeans and a pair of brown leather boots.
Everyone was clapping gently while his brothers we shouting and cheering. It really felt odd because once the brothers noticed everyone's look, their voices whimpered.
"Thank you for coming here today. The last three months had been an awesome adventure for me. I've learned so many from the legendary Harris Richards. But tonight's event isn't not about my gallery but my emotions and experiences. You see that picture at the right? That was a picture shot from a skyscraper. And the emotion there is Pride. I felt very proud of myself before to the point where I looked down at everyone I loved."
As Brady continued, he noticed a very familiar girl walk in. She was delightfully covered with a solid blue dress that ran up to her knees. Her feet were embraced by a pair of silver heels. Brady was caught up in the moment causing everyone to turn to the direction of his gaze.
Everybody was stunned at how the girl dressed. She was just looking at the pictures on the wall until Brady stopped talking and everybody's eyes were on her. She gave a radiant smile to everyone and went over to where Boz, Boomer, Mason, Lanny and Farah were.
"Well that was embarrassing" Mikayla and Brady said at the same time, only Brady said it with the mic on.
Boomer and Boz shared an amused expression.
Brady continued until his short discussion was over. Harris got up on stage and started an auction on Brady's photos.
Mason bought 2 of the photos from the guard practice for a hundred bucks because nobody else wanted them. An art enthusiast bought the picture of the razor hawk for half a Million dollars. That photo had 17 different bidders, the bid just got higher and higher.
After the auction, Brady went up stage to present one more thing.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, you're probably wondering what I am doing here. Well, I will present my last and most treasured collection of all. This collection is called Love." Brady said as he smiled at Mikayla.
A huge rolling board was brought upstage and was covered by cloth.
"I present you, my collection of Love" Brady said as he pulled down the sheets.
Everyone gasped at how beautifully it was taken but most importantly who was in the picture.
They were pictures of him and Mikayla. There were zoomed pictures of her eyes and her lips. The first photo he took of her was there with a size o ft photo paper.
"Hey! I know that girl! She was the one who was wearing the blue dress" someone from the crowd yelled.
"Yeah, that's her" a girl pointed at Mikayla and within a blink of an eye, a group of press swarmed at her.
"Hi Miss... What is your name?" a man asked holding a video cam.
"Tell me, where you live?" another one asked.
"Everyone please settle down." Brady said but still no one listened.
Harris immediately called for security.
The guards escorted the press outside while everyone else took a closer look at his collection.
"Mr. Parker, how much for this collection?" a man asked.
"That's something money can't buy" he said into the mic.
"Well, what do you want for it?" he insisted.
"Nothing, even if you'd give me the world I still won't sell. This is priceless" Brady answered while looking at Mikayla who listened to every word he said.
"Ladies and Gentlemen that concludes the event tonight, thank you so much"
15 MINUTES LATER
"You did it you idiot!" Harris yelled.
"Yeah, I know... I can't believe it... I'm gonna be in the news paper tomorrow!"
"Hahaha, way to go kid! Way to go!" Harris said as he called Nikki.
Mason and the others dog piled on Brady congratulating him in his big success.
"Dude! You earned half a million dollars!" Boz said.
"I know! It feels so good. Now we can repay Aunt Nancy and Uncle Bill for their support"
"What are you gonna get them?" Boomer asked.
"I'm gonna build Aunt Nancy her own home and I'll buy Uncle Bill a Mercedes Benz"
"SHUT UP?! Seriously?" Boz exclaimed
"Uhuh"
"Whatever you say dude" Boomer said as he left for the bathroom with Boz following him.
Mason left too to get the balloon ready and Lanny and Farah were at the food stand enjoying the cup of tea and hot cocoa. It was only him now, because Mikayla was like 6 feet away from him and she was hidden under a shadow.
I should thank him for this. Mikayla confirmed to herself. As she started to walk toward him, a girl came and hugged him and he hugged too as he spun her round and around. When they let go, Mikayla saw that the girl was pregnant. And he even said to her...
"This wouldn't happen without you Nikki! Thank you so much"
"No problem Brady. I got your back, you got mine"
And then, something caught Brady's attention, it sounded like someone crying. He heard footsteps too and it was getting fainter and fainter. He turned to his left and saw Mikayla crying and running out.
He left Nikki and ran as fast as he could. Mikayla ran across the street without watching resulting into almost get run over by a car.
Brady's POV
"Mikayla!" he shouted. Mikayla seemed to stop at the corner and sat on a bench.
Brady raced to her. He wasn't watching the road either and that's when ran into a pole. He ran into the stop lights' pole. Well that hurt a lot.
He finally gained his balance again and walked toward her. He sat next to her, taking her right hand in his.
"Hey, what's wrong beautiful?" he asked in a smooth tone
"Shut up Brady..." she looked away.
Brady became intense "What are you so mad about?!"
"Why are you yelling at me?!"
"I asked you first!"
"I don't care! You're unbelievably just like shit!" she cried more
"What?! Where is this anger coming from Mikayla?! Huh! Where?!" he yelled as his gripped onto Mikayla's shoulder.
"From the heart Brady! From my heart!" she yelled as she pushed him away trying to run away.
He immediately hugged her from behind before she could run, whispering "Please, Mikayla... tell me what's going on" And after, he started to cry. "This is too much of what I can take" he sobbed.
"I've had enough Brady! I can't take it anymore. You left me twice, and maybe, just maybe it's time for me leave you too"
"Mikayla don't do that! I'm sorry I left you months ago. I-I just... I wasn't able to stop myself from over reacting when I heard you and Candace talking. It hurt me like a dagger pushed into my chest and was twisted again and again. I thought that if I leave I could become someone better"
"Why didn't you talk to me first?"
"Because I was scared if it were true"
"Don't you see?! You're already a great person Brady and look what happens when I'm around you. Disasters happen. I think we shouldn't be together" she said as she squirmed in his embrace.
Brady fell silent. He just hugged her tight without saying anything even when her back was turned on him. He took a deep breath in and kissed her behind her ear. After laying his last kiss on her, he unhooked his arms from her and walked back to the studio but before he was gone forever, she had to tell him that she loves him.
She turned around and called out...
"Brady!" she sobbed
"Yeah?" he asked facing her with a tear stained face.
"I-I love you" she said and ran to him. He happily took her in his arms and embraced her.
"I love you too Mikayla" he replied while running his fingers down her back.
"Listen" she said. "I know I'm already too late for everything, but just hear me out. I never said those things, the ones you heard from the conversation; they're not true. I tried denying but she just won't let me talk so, I'm sorry"
"It's never too late Mikayla" he said still hugging her.
"and Brady, I want to congratulate you with your kid"
"Uh? Thanks?...Wait, who's kid?" he asked really confused which also confused Mikayla.
"Aren't you the father of the child that that girl w-was bearing, you know the girl at the studio"
"Oh you mean Nikki's child?"
"Don't you mean your child too?"
"What?! Me and Nikki? Hahahaha!" he laughed tears falling off his eyes
"Oh..." he said finally realizing why she was rough on him. "Ahahaha! Is Mikayla jealous?"
"What! No!"
"Just admit it..."
"Damn it Brady! I'm not!" she pushed him.
"No...Mikayla the child in Nikki's stomach"
"Ehem, Urethra"
"Okay...The child in Nikki's urethra is not mine"
"Then whose is it? It's Harris' nephew's child"
"Oh... but why did you spin her around and around after the event"
"Oh boy, you really are jealous, aren't you?"
"Shut up and answer me Brady."
"Alright, I said that because without her I couldn't have finished the gallery on time. She helped me trim the photos"
"Oh, okay..." now everything was very awkward.
It was silent for like half a minute and both of them were staring at the ground smiling until Brady took hold of her hands and looked her in the eyes.
"Mikayla, after all these rollercoaster rides... will you take a chance on me?" he said trying to be cheesy
"Just shut up and kiss me Brady" she said leaning into him as leaned down on her.
It was the chastest kiss they both have ever shared. Before she knew it, Brady took out his small digital camera from his pocket and snapped a photo of their first true kiss. Mikayla smiled against his lips as she slowly took the camera off his hand and turned it off without breaking the kiss
SEVEN YEARS AFTER
Just a few months ago, Brady, Boomer and Boz found two neighbouring islands of Kinkow. They've never seen it before. A legend says that once the lost has been found, Kinkow's Brother and Sister will return.
And now that they've found Princess Farah and King Boz, the islands of Sannita and Dakid which were submerged for over half a century had risen.
The kings chose an island of their own and rule as king. Boomer chose Dakid because it had a lot of beaches and Boz chose Sannita because it had a lot of banana trees and apes too. Brady was left with the responsibility of taking care of Kinkow.
Brady and Mikayla have moved into their new home with their little boy, Prince Trevor Damien. Trevor grew up together with his cousins Erika, Boomer and Rebecca's daughter... Joshua and Carter, Boz and Candace's sons...
"Couldn't life get any better than this?" Mikayla asked.
"Let's hope so... but what matters most is, this is All I ever wanted"
"Same here..." and with that King Brady and Queen Mikayla walked down the beach hand in hand.
THE END! :)
I'm glad it's done... Listen to All I ever wanted by Brian Melo... it pretty much suits the story
BYE
~KEEP CALM AND STAY LEGENDARY~