Assemblance

Margaret

I did not expect to wake up at 6:00 in the morning and see a horse through my window.
But that's what happened.
I do not own a horse, nor does anyone in my family. So naturally, the sight of a jet black stallion in my backyard was strange.
Even stranger was the fact that a knight - a real, actual knight, with shining silver armor and everything - sat on the horse. A ruby red plume stuck out of his helmet.
I backed away from the window and pulled open my closet door; I couldn't go out to confront a knight while I was wearing nothing but an undershirt. After dressing myself in brown knee-length leggings, a baggy white t-shirt, and a thick black belt, I marched outside and stood in front of the knight.
"Excuse me, sire, but I must say, I was quite baffled when I awoke to the sight of a gallant warrior astride a colt." I told the knight. My interest in medieval culture meant that I knew how to talk to people from the age of knights and castles.
The knight looked pleased. "I very much appreciate that you called me a 'gallant warrior,' but sadly, that is not the case." He sounded very young, like he was about 12 or so. "I'm just training to be a knight. Truthfully, I am a squire. This armor was a gift from Bea, the ruler of Creativia. But that term is not familiar to you yet, is it?" The knight didn't wait for an answer. "Anyway, that was before Bea disappeared. No one's seen her for years. We hope that once the remaining three rulers get together, they'll be able to join forces and find Bea. So you're coming with me. It'll all be explained when we get there."
I blinked. Bea? Creativia? Who was this guy, and where was he trying to take me? I cleared my throat. "Um, where exactly are we going?"
"I can't tell you much right now, because it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for me to start explaining all about Archania. But you'll understand when we get there," the knight said. "I guess you could say that we're going to a place - well, actually, it's four places - that is basically ruled by children. Not young children - kids around the age of 11, 12, 13. And one of the rulers disappeared. Bea, from Creativia - that's one of the places, but let's not get too specific now, shall we? Anyway, you are one of the remaining three rulers, and I was sent to get you."
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. "So I am the long-lost queen of a fantasy world that's governed by kids?" I asked.
The knight nodded and put his hands under my arms.
"What are you doing?!?" I shouted.
"Lifting you up!" said the knight as he placed me on the back of his horse. "Grab on to me and hold tight!"
I barely had time to get hold of his armor as the horse suddenly accelerated at light speed. A sonic boom erupted when we broke the sound barrier. I squeezed his armor as hard as I could as the horse launched itself into the air. It ascended incredibly fast, so fast that within milliseconds I couldn't even see the ground anymore. Up ahead, a blue circle appeared. The knight yelled "Yah!" as he kicked the side of the horse, who sped forward - running in the air? - into the shimmering surface of the shape...