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The Legend of Vista

A story about the magic of long hair, in a setting long, long ago.

The Spell of the Witch

     A long, long time ago, in the kingdom known as Silincia, lived a childless couple named Solo and Miranda Barque. They worked together in their shop making the wardrobes of the royalty and the wealthy from all around. Now in their late 40's, this couple had given up hope of ever having a child. Other than this, the Barque's lived a life of upper class, since their apparel shop did very well. It was a status symbol to own anything made by the Barque Shop. Age was beginning to take it's toll on Miranda Barque. Her once shinny, coal black, knee length hair had lost it's color and started to turn gray. Solo had once commented on the texture of his wife's hair, "Yes, if we ever run out of thread, my Miranda's hair is strong enough to be used as thread!". Her once creamy white flawless skin turned into a wavy sea or wrinkles,  showing the signs of age and hard work. When they married, Miranda was the most beautiful maiden in Silincia. Solo didn't escape either, his once muscular body all settled around his mid section. His eyes were strained to the point where he could hardly see anything. Still, they kept at their craft, all day, and most of the evening, six days a week..

     The kingdom of Silincia was going through good times. The rains were good, and crops flourished. They were at peace with all the kingdoms around them. The pheasants had enough to eat and all had decent shelter. Everyone loved their king, King Brigio. When he rode his horse among the people, all the young maidens would gather around him, their long hair hanging free past their waists, hoping he would touch their hair, for if he did, she would marry the man of her dreams. Such is what happened to Miranda some 30 years earlier. Unlike the kingdoms around them, the young maiden pheasants did not have to sell their long hair to put food on the table. Therefore, the maidens of Silincia were by far the most beautiful in the world. King Brigio also defeated the evil witches and wizards of the kingdom by shearing their hair by the sword in the tower by the river, then banning them to the forest on the other side of the river. Their hair was the source of their evil magic and defenseless without it. It had been many years since a witch tried anything in Silincia.

     At the end of a hard week, one in which many gowns had to be made for the King's Ball, Miranda and Solo rode home in their carriage hoping for a nice evening's rest. As they got home, Miranda went inside and Solo put the carriage and the horse in the stable. When Miranda lit the lamp on the kitchen table, a figure appeared on the other side. Miranda gasped and backed up to the wall. "Don't be scared, my dear, I come to help.", said the figure. "Who are you, and what do you want with us?", asked Miranda. "I know the secret of your heart. You want a child. You have the favor of all the kings and queens around, you live a fine life, but something's missing. You want a child. I am here to grant you this wish.", said the figure. Just then, Solo entered the room and noticed the figure on the other end of the table. He lit another lamp to see better. The figure was an older woman, very ragged, with short scruffy hair. "Who are you? What do you come for?", asked Solo. "This woman says we can have a baby!", said Miranda. "How are you to grant this? Are you a witch?", asked Solo. "Yes, I am", said the old woman. "If you are a witch, how can you cast a spell when your hair is short? I must tell the king a witch is back in the kingdom at once!", said Solo. "Wait, you fool! Your king banned me long ago. I do not wish to meet him again. I have found a secret to practice again, only with someone else's long hair in my possession. I will move on, once this deed is done.", said the witch, now making some progress toward her goal. "How can we trust you?", said Solo. "Think with your heart, not your mind. Do you, or do you not want a child?", asked the old woman. "What would we have to do?", asked Miranda. "Wait, my dear! You are falling under her seduction!", said Solo. "My powers can come back only if I have in my possession the hair of someone from the upper class in Silincia. What I am asking is return for lifting this curse of childlessness, is that you braid your long locks, cut the braid and give it to me. Then I will leave and you will be young and fertile for four hours.", said the old woman. "What will you do after this?", asked Solo. "I will move on from here, because if your King and his army find out I am here, they will burn me at the stake! I do not get full power with her hair, so if,  for some reason, they can get the braid away from me, I will again be powerless to stop them.", said the old woman.

     Miranda left the room and went upstairs. Solo continued to question the witch without noticing she had left. Later, Miranda appeared again in the kitchen with her severed braid. "Here, this is what you want, now grant me my wish.", said Miranda. Solo looked in horror at his shorn wife. Her once long, graying hair was short and crudely cut. The witch took the braid and put it in her pouch. After saying some odd words, she thanked them and left for the door. "Wait, we don't know your name!", said Miranda. "My name is Vistiva", said the woman, leaving. "Vistiva... I know that name, but can't place it.", said Solo. About an hour went by and nothing seemed different. "Solo, an hour has past, we are still not young. We only have three hours left.", said Miranda. "I think you were fooled into giving away your hair. That was probably a messenger for a wigmaker from another kingdom, not some witch. Now she has four feet of hair to sell when she gets back home. Let's go upstairs to bed.", said Solo. Miranda entered the bedroom first, while Solo secured the doors. As Miranda got undressed, she looked into her bedroom mirror. First, things got blurry and she felt dizzy. As she regained her composure, she saw she was young again. Her hair was long and black as coal just like when she was a beautiful maiden. When Solo got upstairs to the bedroom, he was taken back with the sight he saw before him. There was Miranda, looking better than she ever had. She looked about 18 years old, and was kneeling on the bed. She was more beautiful than the day he married her some 30 years ago. Her hair was once again long, and the only thing hiding her naked body. "Come on Solo, we have three hours.", said Miranda.

     Solo felt a new surge of energy and made love to Miranda several times over. They made love to the point of exhaustion, Solo wrapping himself in her hair, finally collapsing in each others arms. It wasn't until late the next morning that they awoke, still in each other's arms. Everything was back to normal. Miranda was confused, as she remembered that she cut her braid and gave it to the witch, but her hair was long again, just as if she never cut it. When she looked into the mirror, she was once again in middle age. Was it a dream? Solo stood behind Miranda and said, "I don't know how this happened, but we got to be young one more time. Oh how I miss those days when we were young and all we had was each other. Maybe it's time to take some time off from the shop. We need more nights like last night!", said Solo. "I don't feel good.", said Miranda as she went downstairs. After some weeks, they knew why. Miranda was pregnant.

The Birth of Vista

     The town was in awe of how Miranda became pregnant at her age. Everyone was so glad the Barque's will finally have a family and an heir to the clothing shop. Miranda kept the witch a secret from the town, for she knew there would be suspicion. The time had past for the child to be born. Miranda stopped working at the shop about a month before, as she was preparing for the new arrival. While Solo was at work, the witch, Vistiva, returned to her. "Why have you returned?", asked Miranda. "There are some things you need to know, my dear. Today, your child will be born. It will be a girl. In order for the child to live, you must name her Vista. If you do not obey, she will be stillborn.", said Vistiva. I will return again when she reaches the age of 13. "But why Vista?", asked Miranda. Just as fast as she appeared, she left. Miranda started with labor just as Solo returned home. Solo took the carriage into town where he fetched the town doctor. When they got back, Miranda was in hard labor. "Go get a bowl of cool water!", said the doctor. When the baby was due, a look came across the doctor's face. "What's wrong?!", said Solo. "The baby is strangled with the cord. I don't think it can breathe!", exclaimed the doctor. Miranda grabbed at her hair in pain for the final moments of her labor. As the baby was born, the doctor said, "It's a girl"! He cut the cord and unwound it from the baby girl's neck, to try to breathe life into her. "We will call her Murianna, after the queen.", said Solo. "No, her name will be Vista.", said Miranda. "No, my dear. Vista was the name of an evil witch that was burned by King Brigio 30 years ago. Let's name her after the queen.", said Solo. The doctor was still trying to breath life into the little girl. "No!! You don't understand. Her name must be Vista, if she is to live!", cried Miranda. Seeing the conviction on Miranda's face, he gave in. "OK, her name will be Vista.", said Solo. We'll call her Vista Murianna". Just as he said that, Vista started crying. "Here is your new little girl, Miranda. Congratulations, both of you.", said the doctor.

The Witch Returns

     Everyone in town wished the Barque's well with their new baby. As she grew, they sent her to be educated among the royalty and the wealthy. When she was away from schooling, she learned her parents trade down at the shop. Miranda kept the witch's appearance a secret from Solo and Vista. Only she knew of the eventual return Vistiva. As Vista's 13th birthday approached, it was obvious that she would be the most beautiful maiden in Silincia. Many of the young men from the kingdom began to notice her, including Prince Murcus, the youngest son of King Brigio. The Barque's were at home for Vista's 13th birthday. When Miranda went outside to the well to fetch some water, there was the witch, just as promised. This time the witch was much younger, and her hair was a deep brown and long again. "Good day, Miranda.", said Vistiva. "My handiwork is so beautiful, isn't she. She even has the eye of the youngest Prince.", she continued. "You look younger.", said  Miranda. "Yes, it is the power of your braid. You are proud and your mind is pure, these attributes are part of this braid, just as they are you.", she said, pulling out Miranda's old graying braid out of her pouch. "I was afraid Vista would be beautiful, so there are some more things I must warn you about. First, no man may ever touch her lips, or stroke her beautiful hair. If he does, he will be struck down immediately. If the Prince ever kisses her, the kingdom will be ravaged by bandits and famine will cover the land. Second, her hair must continue to grow until it reaches her feet. Remember, if Vista remains pure, so will the kingdom.", said the witch. "I will return when Vista reaches the age of 18.", she said, and disappeared.

     After this, Miranda insisted that Vista attend Upper School in an all girl convent reserved for the very wealthy upon her graduation from Lower School. "We must do this, even if it takes everything we have. Vista must get the best education possible, without the bother of suitors knocking at the door.", she insisted. Solo agreed to this and they sent her to Lomba, up in the mountains. Vista remained pure during this time, just as the witch demanded. The kingdom continued to flourish. Vista graduated from the Upper School as the most intelligent and the most beautiful maiden ever to addend there.

     Vista came back home to Silincia to continue with her life and help in the shop. Miranda and Solo were now well into their 60's and ready to give the family business to Vista. Solo was in very poor heath and was unable to work, so Miranda and Vista continued to run the shop. Prince Murcus would make regular visits just to gaze at the beauty of Vista. Now about 18 years old, Vista was definitely the most beautiful maiden in Silincia. Her black hair was down to her ankles, her skin was like a calm, placid lake, and her eyes seemed to have a deeper blue than the sea. Many other young men would ride to the shop, only to be driven away by Miranda.

The Witch comes for Vista

     When Vista turned 18, the witch appeared again to Miranda. This time, Vista was with her at the shop. "Good day, Miranda. This is the day I've been waiting for. It's been 48 years in coming.", said the witch, Vistiva. "You only look about Vista's age!", exclaimed Miranda. "You have done well, Miranda, now you are no longer needed. Since you did everything I asked with Vista, without hesitation, I will let you live.", said Vistiva. Vista was looking around the curtain, curious as to what was happening. "I don't understand!", cried Miranda. "You fool! You don't even remember. Your husband, the respected Solo, turned me into the king to have my hair shorn at the tower then driven out of the kingdom into the forest. That was 48 years ago, my foolish woman. You were about to marry him, so pretty, your hair so long and black, everything to look forward to. The last curse I did before the king slashed my hair was to put a curse on you and Solo, putting you into a life of childlessness. That way, I could have some leverage for when I would return. I found my power restored by possessing your braid. Your braid gave me back my youth, and my own hair has grown back to give me back my power. The Kingdom of Silincia will be MINE, MINE, MINE!!!", exclaimed the witch. "Solo, the traitor is gone! You, my beautiful Vista are coming with me. As long as you are my captive, I will be immortal! For in your long black hair lies the secret of immortality! Come, we have no time to lose!", screamed the witch with an evil laugh. Vistiva grabbed Vista by the hair and forced her out to her carriage. Watching this from the doorway was both of King Brigio's sons, Nijoe and Murcus, who came to visit the shop for a glance at the beautiful Vista. The witch pushed them out of the door and out into the street, both of them falling on their backs. "Out of the way, you worthless slime, Down with King Brigio!", said Vistiva as she took Vista and rode off. The princes got back on their feet and went back inside the shop. Miranda left by a side door, so they went back to warn King Brigio about Vistiva, Vista, and Miranda.

     When Miranda arrived home, her worst fears were realized. Solo lie lifeless on the floor, a victim of a stopped heart. She ran upstairs to the bedroom to look in the mirror. As she undid her braid, large clumps of her hair fell to the floor. Her silver hair looked just as it did when she crudely cut her braid for the witch 18 years ago. The evil witch's reflection appeared in the mirror and began to talk to Miranda. "Ha,Ha,Ha! No one was on to me. By letting you have your long hair back right away, you could go on as nothing happened. Now, you are an old woman with scruffy short hair, just as I was when I appeared to you so long ago. Just then, the image vanished. Miranda buried Solo in the family plot, digging the grave herself. She stayed in the house, knowing she disgraced the kingdom, and she never went back to the shop.

Silincia is Overthrown

     The kings army was no match for Vistiva's bandits that rode into town. They looted all the mansions, burned many of the buildings, and took many of the beautiful pheasant maidens away to be their wives. They left the town desolate. Famine took control of the land. King Brigio and his closest knights fled to the forest to escape Vistiva and her evil bandits. Vistiva used her powers to cause the rains to stop and the crops to die. Word also spread that it was Miranda Barque who sold her braid to the witch in return for ending her childless years. An angry mob assembled in town just before dawn  to burn down the Barque mansion with Miranda inside, before she could wake up. "She is as evil as the witch, Vistiva!", they chanted. Miranda heard this chanting from a distance, so she was able to sneak out of the house and rode her horse into the forest. They threw torches in the house and burned it to the ground, believing they killed Miranda. King Brigio, his two sons, and what was left of his knights huddled in exile, out in a cave, trying to decide how they could retake the kingdom. Meanwhile, Vistiva took over the palace and proclaimed herself Queen of Silincia and promised use her powers to rebuild it. Vista, the beautiful maiden, was kept in the tower where the witches were once shorn. When Vistiva needed a dose of immortality, she would send her knights  to the tower and they would bring Vista to the Queen's bedroom. While there, Vistiva would demand Vista braid her floor length hair, then say a spell, running her braided hair across Vistiva's face, as she lie on her back across her bed. Vista did this because Vistiva promised a cruel death to exiled King Brigio if she did not do as asked. Vistiva finally used her powers to end the famine, and encouraged the pheasants to go on with their lives. The kingdom was kept in line by the evil powers of Queen Vistiva, for if anyone dared to rise up against her, she would strike them down. The pheasants longed for the days when King Brigio ruled the land, but were powerless against the evil queen. The tower where Vista was held captive was  made  to be on an island, by cutting a trench around it, allowing the river's water to fill it. Queen Vistiva finished the horrid act by releasing piranhas to make sure Vista could not escape. The door was locked from the outside, and there was only one window, high up on top of the tower.

     Vista was unhappy and lonely up in the tower. Her only friends were four creatures trapped on the tower island when it was created. They were a black stallion, a turtle, a rat, and a snake. She longed for the day when she could once again see her family, and possibly marry Murcus, the Prince of Silincia. But deep inside, she knew her days would be spent alone, up in the tower. Death could not even help, because since the Queen wanted immortality, Vista would live forever serving the Queen. She spent some of the time singing.When Queen Vistiva was among the town, she would open the shutters of the tower and sing to the wild animals at the edge of the forest across the river, and to her trapped ones on the island. They would stop and listen to her majestic voice. She promised the trapped creatures that they would eventually be freed, but a time may come when she would need their help. She would let her hair hang out from the window, cascading down the wall of the tower. During the evening hours, she would read books on spells she found in the walls of the tower. The Queen knew not of these books, so Vista kept them hidden, possibly for use at a later time. Her goal was to find a way to defeat the evil queen and restore Silincia to it's former glory. Her reading on spells involved the use of horses, turtles, rats, and snakes. Over the years, Vista became quite knowledgeable on different spells, and would secretly try them on the wicked Queen.

Vista and Miranda are reunited.

     Ten years passed since the overthrow of King Brigio. The evil Queen Vistiva proclaimed that all youth ages 13 through 17 work for her in her palace, or in her army. She abolished the Upper School and sent away the scholars. She didn't want any of the subjects to be educated, for fear one of them try to overthrow her. While the youth did their service to the Queen, they were educated in a way that made King Brigio a villain and Queen Vistiva the heroine. This way, Vistiva could rule without the memories of the times of the former king. Those that remembered the days of Silincia under King Brigio were becoming fewer in number and less vocal, for fear of the evil Queen's wrath. Meanwhile, Miranda wandered the forest, living on berries and spring water. She was growing weaker, now almost 75 years old. Her hair, now completely silver, was long again, and worn in a braid, hanging to her waist. One day, she heard the singing by the river, a place she dared not tread, for then she would be in view of the palace and the evil Queen and her army. She came to the edge of the forest and saw her daughter singing to the animals, while combing her long hair and hanging it outside the tower window. "I must overcome my fear and go to her!!", said Miranda. She ran out of the forest and up to the bank of the river. "Vista! Vista! My child, is that you?", screamed Miranda. "Mother! Come to me!", exclaimed Vista. "How can I cross the river? It is full of piranhas!", cried out Miranda. "Wait by the spruce tree over by the large white rock. I will return.", yelled Vista. Miranda saw the rock and ran to it. Vista returned to the window, this time her floor length hair braided. She held out her braid towards the tree and cast a spell on it. It fell down across the river, creating a bridge. "Come now, Mother! Come across the river!", cried Vista. Miranda carefully crossed the river to the base of the tower. "Come my long friend, I need you!", said Vista. Just then a large black snake came out from a nearby bush. Miranda stood back in fear. "Have no fear, Mother, the snake is here to help.", said Vista. She began to sing to the snake, tossing her long braid down the tower wall. As she sang to the snake, it crawled up the tower wall right to the end of her braided hair. It wrapped it's head in her hair, then became one with it and turned into a rope. "Climb, Mother! Climb quickly, this spell only lasts for a few moments!", exclaimed Vista. "I am an old woman! How can I climb this rope so high up?", said Miranda. "Take your hair and wrap it around the rope. In it, you will find the energy and faith you need to make it up. Quickly Mother! Time is short.", said Vista. Miranda did as she was told, and climbed the rope into the tower. Just as she got inside, the snake unwrapped itself from Vista's long hair and crawled back down the tower wall.

     "How did you learn these things?", asked Miranda. "The King must have taken these books from the evil witches he banned and put them in the walls of the tower. The evil queen knows not of these books ,or the powers I obtain from them. I hope to use these powers to overthrow this evil witch and restore the kingdom of King Brigio, before she erases the memories of Silincia in it's glory.", said Vista. "Vista, my dear, King Brigio perished in sorrow in the forest some years back. Only Murcus and a handful of knights remain unharmed by the bandits and furors of the forest. Your father passed on the day you were captured. Soon after I had to escape to the forest myself, to escape a fiery death.", said Miranda. Vista looked down in sorrow. "Those that I love were held hostage in my eyes by this evil Queen, so I would do as she demanded. Even after they were gone, she continued to use my love for them against me! She rules by fear, not by love as King Brigio did! I must see to it that Murcus gains the throne of Silincia. Help me, Mother, help me find something in all these writings that will help me overthrow the evil queen and break the spells she has over us and the kingdom. I have found some things, waiting for the right time to use them. One, if I only loosely braid my hair, the immortality spell doesn't last long. The queen thinks the spell is vanishing and is beginning to worry. The power only works if she is in possession of your braid, Mother.", said Vista. "It is I who should face this evil witch who calls herself queen. It is I who gave her the power by letting her have my long braid, so it will be I who must get it back, even if it costs me my life! Come on, my dear, lets go through these ancient writings and find some clues. Together, we can find the strength to do this!", said Miranda.

     As they were studying, the evil Queen Vistiva came back to the palace, much earlier than expected. The queen was weary from her travels and needed a dose of immortality from Vista, so she immediately sent her knights to the tower. "Mother, hide in this compartment! The evil queen is coming for me! Quickly, hide these books!", cried Vista. Vistiva's knights entered the upper room to find Vista alone, sitting at her table. "Come, the Queen had a long journey and needs the dose of immortality from you.", said one knight. With her mother in the tower with her, Vista had a new source of strength. "What if I refuse? Can't she keep her youth with the braid stolen from my mother?", said Vista. The knight pulled a whip from his belt and cracked it just to the right of Vista, followed by her letting out a blood curdling scream. "What will the Queen say when she hears of your disobedience?", said the knight. "Oh, come on. What's the queen going to do? Banish me? It seems the past two years that the queen needs this spell more and more. Pretty soon, she will need me every day! Maybe it will stop working at all!", said Vista, walking right up to the knight and getting close to his face. Vista acted like she wanted to kiss him. The knight quickly moved back, for he knew that if any man touched her lips, or caressed her hair, he would surely be struck down. "So, shall the Queen ban me to the forest? Shall she send her immortality away to the bandits and wizards of the other kingdoms?", asked Vista. "When the Queen finds out about this uprising, she will have the head of your exiled king.", said the knight. It was obvious that the queen knew nothing about the death of King Brigio, so she played along. "I beg for forgiveness, revered knight. Please, spare Brigio!", she pleaded, falling face down on the floor. "I will stay quiet. Let it not happen again, or the Queen will hear of it.", said the knight. The knights took her away, returning her to the tower later in the evening.

Vista comes up with a plan

     After the knights left, Vista called to her mother. "Come out, Mother, it is safe", said Vista. "Until now, I did nothing to anger the evil queen for fear she would cast a spell on someone I loved. The things I fear would happen to them never did, but the ones I love are still gone.", said Vista, starting to cry. "I saw in a dream that the day we reunite, the redemption of Silincia was upon us. Now that you came to me, and I know how she deceived me, I have new reason to overthrow this evil witch and restore the throne to Murcus, the rightful ruler. I have been planning for years, waiting for this day. Mother, I have to ask something of you that will put you in grave danger and all those we love, including Murcus. I asked to see your braid tonight and found she keeps it in the third drawer in her closet. Tonight, I cast a secret spell on her that will make her sleep for three days. I told her knights that this time she must sleep longer, so we don't have to cast the spell of immortality so often. Now, here's where you fit in. I will go out to the forest and find Prince Murcus and his knights, while you pose as me. Do not show your face, but hide under the blankets and pretend you're ill when they bring my meals. Make any excuse you can, for if they find out, you will be executed with a slow torturous death.  The palace staff can not know I am gone. When I return, I will send a dove to warn you that I am near. When you see the dove, open the shutter and call for the snake, so we can climb into the tower.", said Vista.

    About midnight, under the spell of a full moon, Vista opened the shutters and called for the snake. "Come, Mother, hang your hair out the window so the snake can attach itself.", said Vista. Miranda did as she asked, closing her eyes as the snake drew near. She could feel the snake wrap itself in her braid. Vista then climbed down the rope created by Miranda's hair and the snake to the ground. The snake crawled back down the tower as Vista called for the Stallion. "Come, my fast friend! your time is now!", cried Vista as the black stallion appeared. "Come, my shielded one, you are needed now!", cried Vista, as the turtle appeared, changing into a shield. "Come, my loathsome friend!", said Vista. The rat appeared, stretched out it's tail, and became a sword. Vista climbed on the stallion's back and rode across the spruce tree across the river of piranhas and into the forest. "The day of hope for Silincia is now!", she cried.   Miranda watched her brave daughter ride off into the forest, her long black hair flowing in the wind. At this moment, she knew her daughter, the beautiful Vista, was the chosen one to restore Silincia.

Vista Searches for the Prince

     Vista rode the stallion for two days and two nights in the forest looking for the Prince. On the journey, she had to defend herself against the evils of the forest. On one occasion, she found herself up against a grizzly bear. As the bear raised up it's front legs, the stallion threw Vista to the ground. As the bear used it's front feet to swipe at Vista, she used the sword to cut into the bear's flesh. The bear was getting mad, so it began charging at her. She would wait until the last moment, then jump aside, slashing the bear in the back with her sword. Finally, the bear trapped Vista against a tree, looking her straight in the eyes. All of a sudden, the bear  bowed to her. It got on all four legs and went back into the forest. Later, a bandit came across the trail. "Halt, beautiful woman. Why are you out here in the forest?", he said. "I'm trying to find the Prince of Silincia.", she said. "Well, I am your prince. Come with me.", he said. "Your kingdom is the forest. You are not the Prince of Silincia.", said Vista. "I'm your prince now. Come with me or you will never see this prince you look for. It's been many years since I gazed at such beauty. You are mine, now.", said the bandit. "I belong to no one.", she said as she drew her sword. "Really, now. You think you can out duel me?", he demanded. "What a shame to destroy such beauty!", he continued, getting off his horse, and drawing his weapon, an axe with a long handle. "Since you will not come with me peacefully, I will take your hair, tie you up with it and you will still be mine.", he exclaimed. "Think again, you slobbering waste. I belong to no one.", she said, swinging her sword and missing the bandit. "Oh, you scare me!", he said, charging the stallion. The stallion raised it's front legs, knocking the bandit down, but throwing Vista off. The two of them dueled for a while, until Vista lost her sword. The bandit continued to attack Vista with his axe, Vista defending herself with the shield. "Come! Help me, fast friend!", she yelled. The stallion came from behind the bandit and knocked him down with his front legs, causing him to drop the axe. Vista retrieved the axe and buried it in the bandit's back. As he lie dying, he looked up at Vista. "Who are you, that the animals come to your aid? How is it that you defend yourself so ....?", he said with his last breath. "I am Vista. I belong to no one but the kingdom of Silincia!", she yelled out. Then she took the bandit's horse, food and weapons and continued the search for her Prince.

     Since time was getting short, she started to call for him by name on the third day. "Prince Murcus! Come to me, Vista! Silincia needs you!", screamed Vista, calling him loudly. This got the attention of some more forest bandits. There were three of them and they saw the beautiful Vista riding alone. "Come, we must have her as our own, for no woman this beautiful will ever grace this forest again.", said one of them. They confronted her and told her to lie down her weapons and come with them. "Never since the glory days of Silincia have I gazed upon a woman with such beauty!", said another. Vista tried to fight back, but the bandits knocked the sword out of her hand. She stopped, got off her horse, and laid down her shield. Then she stood before them, hoping to use the last weapon she had. It was her curse, but it may be useful to her now. "I will let you do as you wish to me, one at a time.", she said. They drew straws, and the tallest one won, so he went first. They went into a nearby cave, where she stroked her long hair for him. He wasted no time and went to kiss her on the lips. Upon doing so, he gasped for air, and died of suffocation on the floor of the cave, a victim of Queen Vistiva's curse on Vista. She called for the next bandit after moving the first aside. This bandit chose to caress her long beautiful hair. "So you like my hair? Then shall I cut it and give it to you as a memento of our meeting? Here, stroke my hair with your fingers.", said Vista. "As he stroked her long black hair, he gasped for air and died the same death as the first. "Come, you are next, the last gets the best!", said Vista. As the third bandit came into the cave, she grabbed him by the shirt and held him with the first bandit's sword to his throat. "Tell me, you worthless forest bandit, where is the Prince hiding?", demanded Vista. "Two miles west of here, by the spring fed creek!, he said, stuttering and fearing for his life. Vista called for a snake, and a rattlesnake appeared. "Wrap around this fool and hold him there until I return. If I don't return in four hours, strangle him!" The snake did as Vista said, and she brought out the two dead bandits. "You better be right, or the same will become of you!", said Vista. Vista continued her search for the prince. She now had four horses and several weapons to aid later in the fight for Silincia.

Vista finds Murcus

     Vista called again for the prince by calling him by his name. As she found the beginning of the creek, she got off the stallion and looked around. It was getting dark, and she had only hours left to play out her plan. "Prince Murcus! I know you are here! I'm Vista Barque. Your kingdom needs you as it's leader.", cried out Vista. "Vista! Is that really you?!", a voice said, "Over here!", he said. Vista turned around and saw the prince, well worn, with a long beard. "Silincia is dead in my eyes. You must go, beautiful Vista to another kingdom. Silincia is a place where evil reigns.", said the Prince. "No, I come for you to save Silincia from the wicked Queen and her army.", said Vista. "Come, beautiful one, come have a drink, you must have rode far.", said the Prince. While in the cave, Vista cast a spell of courage over the prince. She shaved his beard helped him prepare for the journey back to the palace. She bathed him in the spring, and combed and trimmed his hair.  "If we overthrow the evil Queen, I want to marry you to make you Queen of Silincia!", said the prince. "Knights, you are witness to this. I will not go back on my word!", he said. "When we overthrow the evil Queen!", said Vista. The Prince went to touch her long hair. Vista stopped him. "I am cursed! you may not kiss my lips or caress my hair until the evil spell is lifted from me. This can not happen until we overthrow the wicked Queen!", she said. "Onward!, back to Silincia! Down with the terror and curses of the evil Queen Vistiva! I must be able to kiss the future queen of Silincia and stroke her beautiful hair!", cried the Prince. They stopped at the cave where the rattlesnake was wrapped around the bandit. Vista called for the snake to let him go. The snake did so, releasing the bandit. "Who are you, that the snakes of the forest do as you say?", asked the bandit. "I am Vista Barque of Silincia! We are to take back the kingdom of Silincia from the evil Queen Vistiva by this time tomorrow.", she said. "You have done well, my slithering friend. You will live a long life and not be killed for food by a bandit.", she said. The snake went away and Vista gave him back his horse and told the him to spread the word that Murcus will soon be king of Silincia. "Come, Prince Murcus, we have only hours left, and it is dark. Murcus disguised himself, using the other dead bandits clothes. They got on the remaining horses and  rode off to the tower.

Miranda does her part

     Meanwhile Miranda was doing her part by fooling the palace staff into believing Vista was ill. However, a crack in the plan came on the third night. Vista did not cast a strong enough spell on Queen Vistiva, and she woke an hour early. The evil Queen called for her knights to bring Vista to her. The knights opened the lock on the door and called for her to come to the queen, now that she was awake. Miranda covered herself in terror. "I still feel ill. Can I come to her tomorrow?", asked Miranda. "No, she wants to see you NOW!", exclaimed the knight. "Can you wait outside while I prepare? I have nothing to hide myself.", said Miranda. They granted her wish and went outside the door. Miranda peeked from under the covers and saw them leave. She quickly got out of bed and found the strength to move a heavy chest in front of the door. Then she went to the shuttered window to open it. Just as she did, the dove landed on the window ledge. "My Vista has returned!", she cried. "Come my long friend", said Miranda, as the snake crawled up to meet Miranda's long braid. Vista held her hand up, everyone stopping at the base of the spruce tree.  Vista laid down her sword and shield by the stallion. The sword turned back to a rat and the shield into a turtle. "You have served me well. You are no longer prisoners on the tower island, but free to roam with your kind in the forest." She turned to the horses Murcus' knights rode and freed them as well, she said. Then Vista, Murcus and the two knights crossed the river on foot, carrying the weapons taken from the forest bandits. "Mother, I return with the rightful ruler of Silincia!", cried out Vista. The knights of Queen Vistiva were suspicious that something was wrong and tried to force open the door while the others were climbing in. "Vista, open this door, or the Queen will have the head of Brigio.", said one knight. Vista, Murcus, and his two knights just got inside when Queen  Vistiva's knights forced open the door. "Quick, we must warn the Queen!", said one of the evil knights. Just as he was to leave, Vista hurled a lamp at him, knocking him out. "Mother, release the snake, so I may free it from this horrible island!", said Vista. Miranda did so, then moved aside to let Vista have the window. "Quickly, my long friend, cross the spruce tree to the other side and live in the forest with your own kind. Your job is done and you may leave the tower island!", she said. Once the snake was across the river,  the tree over the river collapsed and sank. When she looked back into the room, Murcus and his knights had already defeated the other two of Queen Vistiva'a evil Knights. "Vista, the Queen is no longer asleep, but awake and is expecting you.", said Miranda. Murcus and his two knights disguised themselves as Vistiva's knights and went from the tower with Vista, using the rowboat of Queen Vistiva's slain Knights. Miranda covered her face to act as pheasant palace staff member. "Good bye, horrible island. Never shall anyone be trapped there again!", cried out Vista, as they crossed to the palace.

The Final Battle: Good vs. Evil

     On the way to see the queen, Vista gave a quick lesson as to how the knights acted when presenting her to the queen. There would be nothing more they could do for Vista after this. Once in the room, she would be on her own, and would have to confront the evil Queen awake, and give one more anti mortality spell. Miranda was stationed outside the bedroom window, pretending to clean it. This plan had no time to conceive, and would have to change by the moment. Miranda feared for her life, but had the courage to go through with it. The knights presented Vista to the queen and left to wait outside the door. "Vista, why do you not have your hair braided?", asked the Queen. "You called for me, sooner than I expected. It's hot, my queen, I still feel a little ill. I need to open a window.", said Vista. Vista opened a window, looking out and seeing Miranda. Miranda'a role was to sneak inside the window and get her braid from the drawer in the closet. Vista braided her floor length hair and came to  Queen Vistiva. Things went along the plan. Vista started the spell on the Queen while Miranda came in the window and to the closet. When she carefully opened the drawer, the braid was not there. Vista looked up and saw it on the table next to the bed, partially hanging out of the witch's pouch. Vista nodded to the table where the braid was. Miranda carefully moved towards it. Just as she got close, Queen Vistiva saw her and pushed Vista off the bed and grabbed for the braid. Miranda summoned all the strength she had and wrestled the braid from the evil Queen. She backed up toward the wall, holding her hair given up so long ago. "Old woman, give me back what is mine, or I will strike you down this very minute.", demanded the Queen. Miranda uncovered her face and said, "Evil witch, you struck me dead years ago when you took my daughter and ravaged the kingdom for your revenge.", cried Miranda. Queen Vistiva produced a knife and threw it at Miranda, hitting her in the heart. In a move of desperation, Miranda tossed her long lost braid of hair over to Vista, who caught it. "Come now, foolish one, you think you can defeat me?", asked the evil Queen to Vista. "Yes, tonight is the last night of the evil terror you have brought on Silincia. Murcus is here to assume the throne. Murcus and his two knights came into the room, only to be greeted by a wall of fire thrown out by Queen Vistiva. Driven back into the hall, they could no longer help Vista, they could only watch from the other side of the wall of fire.

     "You are nothing, Vista. You don't stand a chance against my power, even with your mother's braid.", screamed Queen Vistiva as she produced another knife and threw it at Vista. She ducked out of the way and ran to the open window. Where do you think you will go? My knights will have your life before you could ever escape the palace grounds. Vista started out the window. "You evil witch! You have deceived me for years and ruled this kingdom with fear! You know not of the power I possess, and I intend to use it only for the restoration of the proper King of Silincia! I know you will follow, I hold the secret to your immortality!", said Vista, as she undid the loose braid in her hair. Queen Vistiva looked at the mirror and noticed the aging process had begun. She had to get Miranda's braid back along with Vista's floor length hair to reverse it. With fire engulfing the queen's bedroom, she followed Vista out the window and into the courtyard. Murcus and his knights had to get around the fire another way, so they ran down the hall to get outside. "Braid of hair, be my defense!", said Vista to her mother's braid of hair. Miranda's braid turned into a sword. Queen Vistiva was taken back by the work of magic done by Vista. "How is it that you learn the ways of the witch, you foolish child?", said the evil Queen. "The books stored in the tower! You knew nothing of them, you are the foolish one. I've been playing with your mortality for many years, waiting for the right time!!", exclaimed Vista.  Queen Vistiva was angered by this trickery and told a snake to come out of the tree and smite Vista. The snake came down, looked at Vista, then crawled back into the tree. "Come back or be cursed, you evil serpent!", said Queen Vistiva. "I am a friend of the creatures of the land. You will have to destroy me yourself!", said Vista.  Drawn by the fire and all the noise, the palace staff gathered around. None dared enter this fight, for fear of their lives. Queen Vistiva produced a sword of her own out of a fallen tree branch. The two began to fight with their swords, attempting to take the other's long hair, the source of their power. The fight raged on, as the palace burned.

        They took swipes at each other, none successful. Queen Vistiva began to trap Vista against the fire. There was nowhere she could go, so she lunged at the Queen. Queen Vistiva caught Vista's arm and knocked the sword out of it. As the sword fell to the ground, it turned back to Miranda's braided hair. Vista was then thrown to the ground and the end of her long hair was grabbed by the queen. Queen Vistiva picked up Vista by the hair and took her sword to her floor length hair  at the neck. "Go ahead, evil witch! Cut off the lifeline to your youth! Look at you now, you are an old hag!!", said Vista in a defiant laugh. The Queen looked up just for a moment to find a reflection to see if it were true. This was just the moment Vista needed, because, as the Queen's mind was occupied by her aging, Vista grabbed the Queen's arm, bent down, and brought the Queen, still holding her hair, over her back and throwing her into the fire of the burning palace. Vista ran back and picked up her mother's braid and held it to the fire. "Burn, evil witch! Burn! Burn! Burn!", she cried. "Braid of hair, go back to my mother, so you are never used again for evil spells!", cried out Vista, then she threw her mother's braid into the fire. When the braid was burned, all the evil curses brought against Vista and the kingdom were lifted. When Vista looked back, everyone was bowing before her. "Hail , the new Queen of Silincia, the one who destroyed the evil ruler!", they said. With the spells of Queen Vistiva broken, Prince Murcus ran out to kiss Vista and run his fingers through her beautiful long black hair. "This is King Murcus, ruler of Silincia!", she cried. As the palace burned, Murcus and Vista commanded all to leave at once and go home and tell all the kingdom of the evil Queen's demise. "No longer does anyone have to hide their alliance to King Brigio or his heir, King Murcus!", they said.

     With the evil witch gone, Murcus took the throne of Silincia and restored it back to it's former splendor. King Murcus and Queen Vista married had four sons and one daughter, another who would grow up to be as beautiful as Vista. Although Vista had the secret spell for immortality in her long hair, she chose not to use it, instead, letting things take a natural course. On the front gate of the new palace, sculptures of those who helped restore the kingdom were placed as statues of a rat, a turtle, a stallion, a snake, a dove, and bust of Miranda, who gave her life for the kingdom. The two knights who helped were given high places in the kingdom. Generations came and went in the kingdom, but the story of Vista and her long hair remained forever. In that, Vista really did achieve immortal status.