Prompt: Write a short story about a man who discovers a magical portal
Response:

Suddenly, right in front of him, was a large, gaping hole in the ground. Stepping closer, he could see a faint light emanating from the opening. Curiosity getting the better of him, he crept through the portal.

After squeezing through the small opening, he found himself in a strange, dark room. Stepping forward, he could see a large doorway ahead. Passing through it, he found himself in a brightly lit room, with a large, empty throne at the far end.

As he drew closer, he saw that the throne was occupied by a young girl. She had long, blonde hair, and her eyes were a deep blue. She was quite beautiful, he thought, but there was an air of sadness about her.

Unknown to him, the young girl was the princess of a small kingdom. When her kingdom was attacked, she and her few loyal followers had had to fight bravely to protect it. But in the end, their kingdom was destroyed, and the princess was captured.

Now, every day she is forced to sit on the throne and watch as her people starve to death. She is resigned to her fate, but she still longs for the day when she can be free again.

As the man stood there, gazing at the princess, a sudden idea came to him. He could help her escape! He could take her through the portal and bring her to safety.

With a new for