Marina Castillo, Crown of the Phoenix

Crown of the Phoenix
Written by
Marina Castillo

EXT. THE GREAT CITY OF AURO - NIGHT

The capital city of Auro is under siege.

AUREN SOLDIERS in silver armor caked with mud battle the BLACK GUARD, invading forces whose armor holds its shine and strength against every sword swing and arrow. The masks of their black helmets shield their faces, and strain and fatigue are the only features notable on any Auren fighter.

Where one Auren soldier finally advances with a spear in the enemy’s throat, ten others are pelted in their backs with arrows until limp bodies plummet over the battlements to the town below.

TOWNSPEOPLE flee the city in terror, dodging bodies falling from above. BASTIAN (6) cowers behind barrels on the side of a house. He watches the scene and a body smacking the earth in front of him sends the boy sprinting through the chaos.

Six SHADOW WYVERNS, dragon-like creatures, flap through the air calling claps of thunder with their sprawling wings.   Their impenetrable scales reflect the flames of the burning city.

Three wyverns circle the city perimeter, taking out legions with sharp talons and teeth while the others aim for the towers and architecture of the city. Each takes a turn clawing and pushing at the stone until structures tumble.

As townspeople dodge falling debris, a massive pile of stone lands near Bastian, forcing him to switch directions, stopping at the sight of TWO BODIES lying over each other.

He throws himself over his dead parents. A wyvern lands in front of him and ROARS. Bastian screams back in tears. 

INT. CASTLE BED CHAMBER - NIGHT

QUEEN LEANNA (late 20s) hunches over her bed frame, holding her swollen belly, and screams. Her hair hangs loose into her face as she claws at the skirt of her white nightgown. Corrine (late 20s), dressed in battle armor, kneels to ease the baby out.

CORRINE

She’s almost here! Once more! Push!

Leanna’s screams reverberate through the walls of the castle.

INT. CASTLE THRONE ROOM - NIGHT

The pristine throne room is empty save for a great stone chair with molded glass fanning out on either side, like feathered wings. The glass glitters with the reflecting light from the chandelier above as if on fire. And two men fight for their right to sit on it.

KING ERIS (early 30s) lacks the armor necessary for a fight to the death, but despite his leather vest, cotton sleeves, and warn boots, he does not hesitate to clash swords with his brother, LORD SAERUS (late 20s), in onyx armor lined with blue.

ERIS

Saerus, your ambition blinds you! I beg you - see reason.

SAERUS

My visions are clear. I only see your refusal to embrace change, a new order. That is what this realm needs. That is what you have failed to give our people.

Leanna screams again.

SAERUS (CONT’D)

You’ll have an heir soon, brother. Shame that the baby can’t be a part of her uncle’s glorious new world.

The two brothers fight with strength and skill developed over years of training on and off the battlefield.

INT. CASTLE HALLS - NIGHT

Two BLACK GUARDSMEN stalk through the halls to Leanna’s bedchamber, swords in hand.

INT. CASTLE BED CHAMBER - NIGHT

Leanna lets out one last shriek. Corrine guides the baby and wraps her in a blanket to clean her off. Leanna drags herself to the bed and falls onto the mattress, exhausted.

Corrine hands the baby to Leanna.

LEANNA

She’s beautiful.

Corrine is on guard and uneasy as Leanna admires the child with tears in her eyes.

CORRINE

My queen, they’re coming.

Leanna kisses the child on her forehead and quickly wipes away her tears.

LEANNA

Take her.

Leanna hands the baby over, but Corrine hesitates.

CORRINE

I’m sorry, Leanna.

LEANNA

We all have a role to play.

Before Corrine leaves with the child, Leanna gives the baby one last kiss.

LEANNA (CONT’D)

Be brave, my girl. And when the time comes... rise.

Corrine embraces her friend goodbye, allowing only one sob to escape her chest before she and the baby leave through a hidden passageway behind a wall.

Once the wall has closed, Leanna reaches for the small vial on the bedside table.

INT. CASTLE THRONE ROOM - NIGHT

Eris takes an enormous hit from the hilt of Saerus’s sword, sending him stumbling backward. He does not give up.

Saerus strikes again, gaining leverage.

ERIS

You will always be a pawn, brother.

Saerus smirks.

SAERUS

Look around you!

EXT. THE GREAT CITY OF AURO - NIGHT

The city burns as Eris’s soldiers surrender.

SAERUS (O.S)

Your armies have fallen. Your people have surrendered to ME.

Find GENERAL DARREN (early 30s) fighting through the onslaught, shouting orders to his soldiers to evacuate the city’s survivors. He sees young Bastian sitting between his parents, screaming into the beast’s face.

Darren watches with curiosity as the wyvern pauses his roar to Bastian’s shouts. The beast cocks its head to the side, considering the boy. Auren soldiers take the opportunity to launch arrows at the beast. Most splinter off the wyvern’s wings, but others hit their marks and get lodged under the scaled armor. The wyvern cries and shoots into the air, disappearing behind dark storm clouds.

Darren runs over, scoops the boy up in his arms, and puts him in a wagon heading out of the city. Darren mounts a horse and leads the caravan out.

SAERUS (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Those who choose to fight will be hunted and killed.

Townspeople and soldiers lie dead in the city streets. Buildings collapsed, absolute devastation.

INT. CASTLE THRONE ROOM - NIGHT

Eris pants with exhaustion but jeers. There’s sadness in his eyes.

ERIS

As always... you are misguided.

INT. CASTLE BED CHAMBER - NIGHT

The Black Guardsmen burst through the door and find Leanna’s body in the bed, her belly still swollen from childbirth. The vial she drank from is shattered on the floor; her eyes stare at nothing. Dead.

INT. CASTLE HIDDEN CORRIDOR - NIGHT

Corrine moves quickly through the corridor holding the sleeping baby in her arms.

ERIS (O.S.)

Rymira will rise again.

INT. CASTLE THRONE ROOM - NIGHT

ERIS

And when she does, you will burn.

Pure rage takes over, and Saerus knocks Eris to the ground for the last time. He raises his sword with two hands and swings down, severing Eris’s head from his body.

Saerus stands there panting from the fight and several injuries. He walks over to his brother’s head, takes the crown and settles it on his own, and makes his way to the throne.

Shadows from Saerus spread across the throne room casting it in a dull light. Black Guardsmen burst into the room, coming to a stop at the dais.

BLACK GUARD

My King.

They hesitate, unsure how to break the news to him. Saerus pulls down the banner of the Great Phoenix (Eris’s colors) and takes a seat on his throne.

SAERUS

Spit it out.

BLACK GAURD

The baby... she’s escaped.

Saurus’s anger flairs; his shadows reach out for the guards. Their screams are heard through the castle and beyond the city.

EXT. THE GREAT CITY OF AURO

Corrine and the baby flee on horseback through the city gates. Corrine takes one last look at her demolished home before flying into the cover of the forest.

BLACK.

EXT. GREAT PEAKS MOUNTAIN ROAD - MORNING - TWENTY YEARS LATER

An armed RIDER, gallops up the Mountain Road. He winds through the sharp turns designed to confuse those who don’t know what to look for. He slows his horse to a trot, stopping in front of a waterfall.

After checking if it’s clear, he mutters an OLD, FORGOTTEN LANGUAGE under his breath; the water parts, and the rider disappears behind the waterfall.

He reappears on a different road leading to the village of Luminia, magically hidden within the three Great Peaks.

EXT. LUMINIA VILLAGE GATE - DAY

The rider arrives at the city gates and hands a letter to a GUARD. The guard takes off down the road.

EXT. VILLAGE CENTER - MORNING

Luminia is surrounded by tall peaks and green hills, cutting it off from the outside realm. Its people live safely within the perimeter of sprawling hills and vast forests.

The guard walks through the hub, past VILLAGERS going about their morning routines, setting up their vendor stalls for a market, and fussing about the village when expecting company.

INT. COMMANDER CHAMBERS - MORNING

Corrine (older) works at her desk.

ATTENDANT

Here’s the new list of supplies, Commander.

Corrine takes the list and overlooks it. The room is full of ATTENDANTS, all working on their tasks. DOMINIKA (20), a novice Luminian Warrior, is one of them.

Two attendants come into the room with cases of wine bottles.

CORRINE

Make sure no one touches that wine until tonight.

The attendants nod. The guard enters.

GUARD

Excuse me, Commander. A letter has arrived for you.

Corrine reads it. The slight clenching of her jaw is the only tell that the letter’s content is upsetting.

CORRINE

Visitors. All of you, out. Tell the others to suit up and meet at the gate.
(to the guardsman)
Send a party past the parameter to fetch them.
Dominika. Find Asha. Bring her to me.

Dominika bows her head, following the rest of the attendants out.

EXT. ABOVE LUMINIA - MORNING

ASHA (19) climbs the side of the mountain. The slope is steep, but she’s enjoying the challenge.

ASHA
(calling downwards)

Kai, come on! We’re almost there.

KAI (20) is a little behind and panting.

KAI

I’m coming. 

Asha continues forward, stopping at a ledge overlooking the city below and the world beyond. With the early morning sun, the scene is beautiful.

KAI (CONT’D)

Asha, the Rites are tomorrow. We need to be conserving our-

A rock comes free from under Kai’s foot, sliding off the edge. He expertly regains his footing and catches the ledge with one hand. Asha helps him up.

ASHA
(giggling)

Are you okay?

KAI
(dusting himself off)

Great. Yeah, I’m glad my almost death amuses you.

He looks at the scenery and then at Asha. Asha’s eyes are closed, taking it all in. There’s admiration in his eyes and love.

KAI (CONT’D)

Well, at least the view is worth it.

ASHA

I told you.

DOMINIKA (O.S.)

ASHA!

Dominika calls Asha from a ledge further down, interrupting the moment for Kai.

DOMINIKA (CONT’D)

Your mother wants to see you!

Asha’s eyes stay closed, and she takes a deep breath of morning air.

ASHA

I’M BASKING!!

DOMINIKA

Stop acting like a princess! Let’s go! We have company!

Asha opens her eyes as she and Kai make the same realizations. Drums BOOM. The sound bounces off the stone walls. Visitors have arrived.

ASHA    KAI

The Rym.   The Rym.

They head down in excitement.

EXT. VILLAGE HUB - DAY

LUMINIAN WARRIORS, arranged in lines in front of the Commander’s chambers, are dressed in fighting leathers and standing at attention, faces of stone.

Two blades are crossed behind each of their backs as two more daggers sit strapped to each of their legs.

Commander Corrine stands at the center with Asha by her side, but she has no weapons, marking Asha as a novice. The other novices, including Dominika and Kai, stand in a group behind the other warriors.

THE RYM, rebel forces still fighting in the name of the dead King Eris, enters through the city gates.

General Darren (now older) leads their arrival. Bastian (grown as well) rides next to him.

Asha watches this intently as the party parades to a stop at the city’s center. Darren and Bastian dismount their horses and walk to where Corrine stands. The two men bow their heads and put one fist to their chest, a sign of respect for the commander of Luminia. 

Corrine leads them inside the chamber. The crowd slowly disperses, welcoming the rest of the party.

INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER - DAY

The group continues inside. Corrine takes her spot in front of her desk, pouring Darren a drink.

CORRINE

It’s been a long time since your last visit, Lord Darren.

DARREN

I’ll cut to the chase, then. We need your help, Commander.

CORRINE

I don’t know what more you want from me. We send supplies; we help in any way we can.

DARREN

We need soldiers, Corrine. You know that.

Asha sinks into a wall off to the side, listening keenly.

DARREN (CONT’D)

Our last raid failed. We lost almost all of the soldiers who went in and -

CORRINE

General, I’m very sorry but I can’t spare any of my warriors. I have my people to protect.

DARREN

Corrine, we lost Jasper.

Corrine considers. Asha’s eyes dart from her mother to the General, clearly missing something.

CORRINE

Then your fight is over.

Darren’s anger rises. Bastian fails at holding his tongue.

BASTIAN

But you need-

CORRINE

If the last living kin of Eris is dead, young Bastian, you have no chance, no leverage. I’m sorry, but I don’t NEED to do anything. You will not bring my people down with you.

BASTIAN

He is not dead. Saerus would never be stupid enough to kill him. The people still love Eris.

CORRINE
(smug to Bastian)

A rescue mission, then?

She looks away from him in a silent, defining dismissal.

CORRINE (CONT’D)

I wish you luck, General. And I will provide any SUPPLIES you need. That is all.

Darren has heard enough.

DARREN

Leanna would be heartbroken to hear this.

Corrine’s jaw clenches again. Asha is the only one to notice her mother’s tell.

CORRINE

You may stay for a few days to rest and regroup. After that, you can take any who volunteer for your cause.

Darren nods to the compromise.

CORRINE (CONT’D)

And General, do not call on the Luminian again.