Introduction
It was Princess Gal's favorite time of year: Star Ceremony Day.
A festival dedicated to the night the northern lights opened up to the Star Nation by the power of the spirit crowns, allowing the spirits from that other world to visit their loved ones in the city of New Machoká.
But when dangerous sorcerers and criminals break out of the offshore prison, the ceremony is thrown into chaos and lives are lost.
Fighting to save her little sister, Gal is struck by a powerful sorcerer's attack.
Queen Morgan rushes to her daughters, but Gal doesn't make it.
Mourning her loss, Morgan's guard is down, allowing a dark entity to steal her spirit crown. The northern lights shut, returning all of the visiting spirits, and Gal, to the Star Nation.
Finding herself in a new world, Gal discovers that the other crown had come with her, and it's stuck on her head.
Meanwhile, the royal family must deal with the loss of Gal and the one way they had to see her again. Morgan vows to find the spirit crowns and get things back to the way they were. No matter what it takes.
Gal meets new friends in the Star Nation, and together they hope to restore the connection to the living world by using the power of an ancient stone found only in the Spirit Wastes. A perilous journey where the party risks their second deaths as they face hungry, savage dark spirits.
But what scares Gal more than anything else is the possibility of failing. Failing to restore the connection, disappointing the people of New Machoká, and that she might never see her family again.
Want to support Gal the Ghost Princess so this can be more than just a web series? (Animated one day? 😏)
Make one time donations here: Donate
Make monthly pledges as low as $1: Patreon
Listen to the audiobook of this story! Audiobook
Follow my socials for updates on new Gal chapters: Linktree
Read the glossary for lore, worldbuilding, and character profiles: Glossary
I hope you enjoy! I'd appreciate any feedback you can offer: Vol 1 discussion
This is going to be a free web series with an open writing process. Think of it like an early access indie game.
I'll be posting chapters every few weeks until I run out of content to post (I have about 20 chapters ready so far). My hope is to make this story free and accessible to build an audience to help support my future projects (I'm not doing everything for free!) Don't feel at all obligated to offer monetary support, just letting me know you read the story is more than enough for me.
Chapter One | The Spirit Crowns
(This is an early version of chapter one, a better revised version is coming soon!)
Princess Gal dashed out of her room beaming. Through the floral-scented royal halls she ran, toward the wide stairs leading down to the foyer.
“But, your majesty!” Luisa—one of the maids—cried from the princess’ room. “What about your hair?”
Gal turned around and jogged backwards. Her shoes tapped with excitement over the echoey floors.
“It's fine!” Gal said. A curly strand of dark blue hair fell over her eye, she tucked it behind her ear. “Get your pretty selves ready for the ceremony. I'll see you there!”
The maids shook their heads and smiled wryly as the princess turned and made for the stairs.
Down in the foyer, Queen Morgan and the steward Joshua rushed out the door together. The queen signed documents from a huge stack the steward carried.
“Hey, mama!” Princess Gal said. She sat over the railing of the stairs and slid down fast.
Without looking, the queen said, “Gal, where's all brothers and sisters? We're running late as it is.”
Gal grabbed the post at the bottom of the rail and used her momentum to shoot across the foyer towards the exit. She noticed a document had fallen to the ground behind the steward. She picked it up and shoved it into the stack the steward carried as she passed.
“They're probably worried about lookin’ all fancy-like, as usual.” Gal sprinted towards the many horse drawn carriages awaiting in the royal courtyard. “Come on, you two. I don't wanna miss the music!”
Little Princess January brushed past the legs of the queen and the steward, causing them to slip to the ground and drop the papers.
“Wait for me!” Princess January laughed and ran into her big sister's arms. Jan's hair was messy too.
Gal scooped her up and twirled her around in the air with the ongoing momentum she had from the stair slide.
“Ride with me, Jan,” Gal said. She placed her little sister on the ground and held her hand as they ran to the nearest carriage straight ahead.
Gal looked back at the queen and steward. They were shuffling through the scattered papers in the doorway, probably trying to find the ones that weren't already signed. Gal slowed to a halt and slacked her shoulders with a pout.
“Come on, Gal.” Princess January hopped like a frog. “I wanna see the feshtivitities.” She still didn't know how to say ‘festivities,’ among many other words.
Gal pulled Jan back toward the palace's front doors. “Mama needs our help, Jan.”
The sisters sat amongst the mess of papers and helped organize them.
Gal read some of them out of curiosity. “Approval for incarceration for a thief. Approval for incarceration for attempted murder.”
“Please don't read those anymore, Gal,” the queen said.
She felt insulted, like she was being treated like a kid. Even if she was twelve. Then again, she didn't care much about politics in the first place.
“Can't this stuff wait just one day?” Gal asked. She handed a document to the steward.
“Why, thank you, your majesty,” he said.
“Why don't the politicians deal with it?” Gal said. “Ain't that why we became a democracy in the first place?”
“We still have our responsibilities, sweetheart,” the queen said.
“But our responsibilities lie with the ceremony, and making everybody happy,” Gal said.
“And, many of these documents make people happy too.”
“They make the stuffy old senators happy,” Gal said. “I'm talking about the people, mama. The ones that really matter.”
“Those “stuffy old senators” are the people, dear. That's why it's called a democracy.”
“I know all that, mama, but—”
“Gal,” King Chahn said from the foyer. “Come here, I got something to show you.”
Princess Gal stood from the papers and went to her father. “What is it, daddy?”
The king used his eyes to direct Gal’s attention up to the glistening turquoise spirit crown upon his head. “Don't you think you're forgetting something?”
“Oh, I know daddy. My hair's a royal mess. But I—”
“No,” the king said, with a playful yet commanding tone. He removed the spirit crown from his head and lowered it to her face.
She gawked at the shiniest and biggest bright-green jewel in the center, which was shaped like a keylock. In its reflection she saw her own dumbfounded freckled face. The rest of the crown was made of small squares filling the space in between the thin rims.
“Oh yeah, I nearly forgot…” Gal gently grabbed the spirit crown and turned around, staring into it. “It's my turn this year.”
“That's right,” the king said. “Now go out there and make your country smile.”
A faint rumble of drums echoed in the distance. That familiar energetic sound of New Machoka’s city jazz was rousing to life. The gleeful spirit of the people in the beautiful brick city made Gal's heart dance.
She giggled. “I don't think they need my help with that.”
The golden skyscraper lights were overpowered by the sea of ethereal northern lights flowing in the night sky.
*
Gal and Jan peered out the windows of the carriage. Their chests vibrated to the sound of men and women blasting trumpets and beating drums.
The buildings towered over them with golden glowing windows. Tallest of all was the clock tower.
Gal had been inside the clock before. A lot of cogs and steam pipes made the thing turn, while orbs imbued with magic energy caused the bright golden glow seen from the outside.
Gal could never comprehend the technical stuff, not like some of her other siblings. She just knew things did things to make other things do things.
Its huge hour hand was inching closer and closer toward 8:00 pm, the hour when the northern lights would finally be ready to open up to the star nation.
The music was now so loud, Gal could hardly hear herself think. There were so many delicious smells wafting among the streets, she couldn't make any one of them out. Many meats were being roasted, bread was being baked and all kinds of fruity and sugary scents mingled in the air with such richness she could practically taste it all.
The jolly people in the streets erupted in cheers upon seeing the arrival of the royal carriages. The upper class city folk were dressed fancier than anything Gal, Jan, or the king ever wore.
She preferred the way the lower class dressed. Less ruffles, feathers, and wide dresses—more buttons, cute little bows, and slimmer clothes. Their simpler attire was easier to breathe and move around in. The blue dress she wore now she specifically had tailored by someone from the industrial slums. Those regal dresses her sisters wore would make playing sports impossible.
Finally, the city began to sing together to the tune of upbeat jazz instruments.
“Once again, we join together this glorious October night.
“To play these songs and eat these foods and gaze up at that beautiful light.
“‘cause we miss our loved ones who can't be here every single day.
“But for the next three weeks we'll indulge in sweets with the ghosts of yesterday.
“Thanks to the royal family, the ones who protect our spirit crowns.
“We look forward to this time of every year that turns our frowns right upside down.”
Princess Gal, spirit crown on her head with Princess January riding on her shoulders, hopped out of the carriage, ran down the streets and sang, “all year long, my heart just aches, for my dear-departed relatives. But when the skies light up and these pretty crowns meet I'll see every single one of them.”
The crowd lifted Gal and Jan over their heads. The princesses flowed across them like logs on a river.
“Thank you all for joining me in this moment of our lives,” Gal sang.
The crowd continued. “When we get to make merry with our long-lost husbands, brothers, sisters, and wives.”
Gal took the next line. “Though life is short, we can face our deaths knowing this night every year, we get to have some fun for the next three weeks with those we loved right here. Sing it with me, people!”
“Once again, we join together this wonderful October night! Said for the next three weeks it's party and games with the ones who passed up into the light.”
The queen gracefully stepped out of the carriage and stared up at the massive Healing Wounds bronze monument. A statue depicting two men of different races---Was'i and Oya—shaking hands.
The queen sang in a low voice, bringing down the jovial energy. “Centuries ago, this country was filled with war. The Oya and the Was'i were destined to hate each other forevermore.”
Gal shook her head and sang vigorously. “But enough about that, we’re livin’ in better times. We get to stomp our feet and clap our hands ‘cause the party's just startin’ when we lose our lives.
“Oh, they're comin’, said they're comin’ soon alright!
“My grandfolks and cousins, and everyone who died.”
The queen approached the crowd, gently removed Gal from the top of them and placed her on the ground. She sang softly as she reached up for Jan. “That's because our ancestors sacrificed themselves to open up the star roads, so we can share in nights like these with spirits young and old.”
“That's right, mama, but no need to bring up the bad stuff!” Gal sang, and parkoured over tables and jumped on top of a canopy over a shop's door. Her mother called out for her to climb down. Gal's personal royal guards stood below with arms outstretched, expecting her to fall.
But Gal sang. “‘cause everything's fine, yeah it ain't so rough—all I've ever known is love and peace and splendor.
“And it's gonna stay that way forever, ‘cause we're all in this together, and nothing's gonna knock us down, no never…! And why is that y'all?”
The crowd answered with: “Once again, we join together this wonderful October night! And for the next three weeks it's party and games with the ones who passed up into the light.”
“That's what I'm talkin’ about!” Gal shouted.
“Said for the next three weeks it's party and games with our long-lost husbands, brothers, sisters, cousins, and wives!”
“And that's how we live our lives.” Gal finished the song.
She climbed down from the canopy as everyone cheered and clapped. The guards took her hands and helped her down.
“Alright everybody, it won't be long now till the connection opens!” Gal said. She looked once again at the clocktower, whose long hour hand was minutes away from 8:00 pm.
“Enjoy the festibities!” Princess January said. She took the hand of one of her own guards. “C'mon, Ms. Gudri!” She pulled the stern guard through the crowd.
Gal wanted to thank her mother for joining in the song—even if she was a bit of a buzzkill—at least she had tried for once to do something fun. But she was far, far ahead, speaking to one of the older princes and some bureaucrats.
“Something wrong, Gal?” King Chahn asked.
Gal realized she'd spaced out. “Huh? Oh, no, daddy.”
“Gally! Gally! Look what I got!” Princess January ran up, holding on a stick a candy apple that was bigger than her own head. Jan's curly hair was getting stuck in the caramel. Her guard Gudri stood expressionless close by, holding another apple.
“One for me…” Jan took the apple from Gudri. “And one for you,” she held the one with hair stuck in it up to Gal.
Gal took it and grinned awkwardly. “Gee, thanks, Jan…”
“I'll get one for you too, daddy!” Jan said.
“How very sweet of you, darlin’,” the king laughed.
Princess January ran off. Gal stared at the candy apple, but didn't bite into it.
The king placed a hand on her shoulder. “Is it about what your mama said?”
“Is what?” She looked up at her father's green eyes.
Now the king looked to be spaced out. He blinked fast, grounding himself. He patted Gal's cheek. “Nevermind. Just… enjoy the party, and focus on the ritual.”
“I will, daddy. Don't even worry about that!” Gal giggled.
“Hey, Gal!” One of her older brothers, Prince Euphemius, waved from the crowd. He was joined by Princesses Hallifield and Francisca. “They're playin’ jump rope over here!”
Gal handed the apple to one of her royal guards and ran off. “See ya around, daddy!” She waved without looking back.
Chapter Two | October Night
Chapter Three | Challenge
Chapter Four | The Star Ceremony
Chapter Five | A New Age
Coming soon! Chapter Six | The Journey Begins
Chapter Seven | The Great Spirit City
Chapter Eight | Aftermath
Chapter Nine | High Spirits
Chapter Ten | The Eternal Nightmare
Chapter Eleven | Those Brave Enough
Chapter Twelve | The Night Before
Chapter Thirteen | Arjay
Chapter Fourteen | Very Long Walk
Chapter Fifteen | Breakfast
Chapter Sixteen | Only Strings
Chapter Seventeen | Trial and Error
Chapter Eighteen | Split Paths
Chapter Nineteen | Much to Learn
Chapter Twenty | Night Without Dreams
Chapter Twenty One | This is Gonna Work