You For Xmas

There was a boy who met a girl named Skyler, who was a poor servant in his royal family. Her family was struggling to pay for her father's medical bills, as he was very ill. They had taken a loan, but the king stated that someone had to work every day without missing a single day to pay it off, or they would face punishment. Her mother swore to uphold this, but Skyler volunteered to take on the job the king had assigned to her family. Skyler bowed and said, "My king, what can I do for you? I can cook, clean, or do anything you ask of me." The king responded, "Look after my son and help him find a wife before his 20th birthday." Skyler searched the entire castle for the king's son, but he was nowhere to be found. Just then, she overheard two voices—one a whisper and the other a gentle voice—coming from downstairs, where the king kept the treasure, a place no one was allowed to enter. Curiosity got the better of her, and she stepped closer to listen. She heard a voice inform the prince that he must marry someone; otherwise, everyone in the castle and the surrounding lands who was 30 years old and up would be frozen for a year. Initially, the king met a beautiful woman named Marhia, but she always had a best friend named Ka'miyah, who was teased by everyone for being unattractive. The other girls would bully her and push her around, and no prince ever showed interest in marrying Princess Ka'miyah. One day, the king helped Ka'miyah when she fell, and he said it was a pleasure to meet her. This made Princess Marhia very upset, as she liked the prince but had never spoken up to express her feelings. Over the years, Princess Marhia grew increasingly angry, especially as the king continued to give Princess Ka'miyah beautiful gifts, including the most exquisite flowers in the world that no one had ever seen. To the king, Princess Ka'miyah was an exceptionally attractive woman. She had long, beautiful black hair and dark skin, along with a smile that could light up the world and make anyone smile in return. The king never understood why she continued to smile, even when others wronged her. She held her head high and kept moving forward, never looking back or down. Princess Ka'miyah possessed a beautiful heart—kind, loving, and always eager to help others. Furthermore, her voice was enchanting; it could bring entire villages together. With just a song, she could calm a fight if she chose to do so. People would gather from all around the villages to hear her sing. She would parade through the streets, playing music, dancing, cooking, and sharing beautiful gifts. All the younger princesses looked up to Ka'miyah. However, her friend Marhia, who was often absent when Princess Ka'miyah looked for her, felt jealous of her friend's popularity. This hurt Ka'miyah, as she could never understand why Marhia was distant, which made her very sad. Little did Princess Ka'miyah know that Marhia was plotting to take away her happiness. From the very first day she met the king—the love of her life—Marhia had been jealous of Ka'miyah. But why didn’t she openly express her jealousy? Ka'miyah was unaware of the troubles ahead. Marhia would often sneak away to see a powerful witch to get readings about who was the fairest in all the land, who would become the richest, and whom the king would choose as his wife. Whenever Marhia went missing while Ka'miyah was searching for her, she visited the most renowned witch in the region. This witch had been banished from the villages of Elisa, finding refuge deep in the woods, far beyond where the wildlife roamed. The area was foggy, dark, and eerily quiet. The witch was ostracized because people feared her abilities, although she had never harmed anyone. Many believed it was wicked to cast spells. So, Marhia would sneak off and navigate through the woods, often crying as she passed the wildlife. She was mesmerized by the beautiful glowing lights—pink, purple, lime green—all illuminating her path. Yet, the further she ventured, the more she felt eyes watching her from the shadows of the bushes. This journey was no ordinary walk; it could take nearly an entire day to reach the witch's lair deep within the enchanted woods. By the time it was getting very dark, so dark that only the fog could be seen, the little lights continued to shine brightly. Marhia felt a twinge of fear as she noticed a sign that read, "Do not enter. If you do, you will regret it. Beware: some giants and goblins will eat you." She kept walking, giggling a little to herself. "There’s no such thing as giants or goblins, right? I hear wild stories, but I’ve never seen one," she said aloud. As she stepped closer to the witch's house, she saw the tops of the trees move, and then she heard the loudest voice she had ever encountered. "Who dares enter the Villages of Calodey?" boomed the giant, the guard of the witch’s land. Goblins appeared behind her, saying, "Yeah, who told you about this place? No one knows of it." Marhia was shaking and scared; she was too frightened to speak. Her legs trembled as if it were winter, even though it wasn’t cold at all—she was simply terrified by what the sign proclaimed. She began to question if this walk was worth the risk of being eaten. However, this was her first-ever adventure, discovering something so marvelous: giants and goblins. She realized, "They aren’t just tales; they’re real." The giant repeated his question and scooped her up into the palm of his hand. "How did you find out about these villages?" he asked. With his big, stinky breath, she exclaimed, "I never knew of this village until now!" While everyone in the village of Elisa was having the most enjoyable day, she was out in the woods, crying because of jealousy. She approached the guard and said, "I want to plot revenge on Princess Ka'miyah, who is loved by almost everyone." The other princes couldn't even make eye contact with her. Marhia, the giant, and the goblins laughed loudly as their laughter echoed ominously. Suddenly, the door creaked open slowly, and a sinister laugh emerged from behind it: "Hehehe." The giants and goblins stood strong, not moving an inch, their heads held high. The witch opened the door and said, "How about you come in and tell me more over tea? Perhaps we could become the best of friends." "Revenge, sweet revenge," the witch repeated. "I couldn't help but overhear your story, so please, continue." Marhia resumed, "By the way, no prince wanted me until the most royal king came along, the one I had my eyes set on since we were kids. But she took him from me! It's so unfair! She’s ugly! How come he wants a girl like that who can’t even stand up for herself? She just lets everyone walk all over her and then gets back up as if nothing ever happened, still smiling. How pathetic!" "The fairest of them all," the witch said. "A heart that's so pure and clear that not one soul could harm her. This is great!" Then the witch asked Marhia if she had any kind of powers. Marhia looked at the witch strangely and replied, "No, she don't have powers. If she did, she would have used them by now." The witch responded, "You underestimate your enemy. How can you win a battle if you don't truly know her?" Marhia replied, "I've known her my whole life, since we were babies. I would know if she had any powers. But now that you mention it, her parents are overprotective of her. They teach her to be loving and tell her not to lose control. But that can't be it; that's normal, right?" The witch thought to herself, "Hmm, I need to figure out what they are hiding. Then come back." Marhia interrupted, "No, I want a potion or something to make the king love only me. Not that other girl he's supposed to want." The witch said, "Okay, I'll give you one. Just bring me a tear from Princess Ka'miyah." Marhia responded, "That's all?" The witch replied, laughing strangely, "Yes, just one drop of her tear." "Okay," Marhia said. But just a tear? Are you sure? Marhia asked the witch, and the witch replied, "Yes, for the payment of your portion, a broken heart tear is all I need." Little did Marhia know that the tear of the princess is more powerful than that portion, and you should only give him 3 drops in the morning for 3 days only. "Do not use the whole bottle," the witch said. And Marhia replied, "Okay, thanks. You have 1 week to bringback what I asked of you. Don't forget 3 drops for 3 mornings." So she got up to leave and said, "Thanks for the talk over tea," smiling, said Marhia. The witch told her, "Follow the glowing compass home; it will lead you, and no one will harm you in these woods ever." Then the witch waved Marhia off and went back inside her small cabinet. On Marhia's journey back, she noticed something strange: it was still morning in their part of town when she returned. Just then, Princess Ka'miyah approached her and said, "Where did you go? I've been looking for you; I couldn’t find you. I missed you. Don’t ever scare me like that again." As she hugged Marhia with loving arms, Marhia pretended to return the hug, but her eyes were filled with hatred—an expression Princess Ka'miyah couldn’t see. This time, the embrace felt different to Princess Ka'miyah, so she let go of Marhia. She asked, "Are you sure you're okay, Marhia?" Marhia replied, "Yes," forcing a smile. "I'm fine. I'm very happy," she added, though in her mind, she was thinking about how truly happy she would be once she used the potion on the king. "So, would you like to talk?" asked Princess Ka'miyah. "I’ve been worried about you lately. You don’t seem to be around when I’m looking for you; it’s like you’re not here sometimes." Marhia laughed loudly and responded, "You're silly; I’m always here." "But where?" Princess Ka'miyah asked. "In my room," Marhia thought. However, that wasn’t true. Princess Ka'miyah had checked everywhere for Marhia, even in her own room. Not wanting to press the matter, she simply said, "Oh, okay," and smiled it off. But in her mind, she wondered why Marhia would lie to her when they had always shared everything since they were little girls. Marhia told Princess Ka'miyah, "I'll just catch up with you later or tomorrow." Princess Ka'miyah responded with a strange look on her face; she wanted to ask Marhia about the rush. However, noticing the expression on Ka'miyah's face, Marhia added, "I need my beauty rest," pretended to giggle, and walked away. As Princess Ka'miyah walked off, she felt a sense of thoughtfulness. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was something different about Marhia lately, something that felt off, and she suspected that Marhia wasn't being entirely truthful. Princess Ka'miyah stormed into the house, crying and yelling as she threw things around. Her parents quickly came down the stairs to see what all the chaos was about. They reminded her, "Take deep breaths, count to ten, and close your eyes, sweetheart. Calm down." Following their advice, Princess Ka'miyah took a moment to breathe and then told her mom and dad that Marhia had lied to her that day. She tells her mom and dad that she thinks Marhia no longer wants to be her friend. Her parents calm her down, explaining that things aren't always as we think; maybe Marhia just needs some time. They suggest she give her a little space and see if she comes around. Her dad wipes her tears away and says, "You're too beautiful to waste your tears on a misunderstanding, my little princess." Then they all come in for a big hug. As time passed, Princess Ka'miyah kept her distance from Marhia to see if she would come to her senses, but that never happened. Marhia was too occupied with secretly adding drops to the king's food and drink. Each morning, she gave the prince three drops, just as the witch had instructed her. With each passing day, he complimented her, telling her how beautiful she looked. You might wonder how the king remained unaware of this. Marhia was very meticulous in executing her plans; she had numerous connections inside the palace and promised the servants that if they assisted her, she would give them raises substantial enough to care for their families. Some servants declined her offer and chose to remain loyal to the king, never revealing the scheme that Marhia had concocted to win his love. On the third day, Marhia grew increasingly frustrated because she doubted the effectiveness of the drops. Meanwhile, in the village, Skyler sang a beautiful song that resonated like an angel's voice, attracting crowds from all the nearby villages once again. Marhia decided to sneak off again, unaware that Princess Ka'miyah was watching her every move. Yet, this did not stop the princess from singing. She saw Marhia dashing into the woods, glancing around as if hoping no one would notice her. The look on Marhia's face revealed the anger and disappointment she felt, as if the potion had not fulfilled her wishes. Marhia ran through the woods, moving so fast that she felt a surge of boldness. This time, she wasn’t afraid. She followed the glowing compass, passing by colorful, glowing butterflies and ignoring the creepy eyes lurking in the bushes. Nothing could deter her; she was determined and unafraid. As the darkness deepened, the fog thickened around Marhia. She couldn’t see the witch's cabinet, but the compass radiated a steady glow. Despite the obscured visibility, she could make out the tops of the trees and heard the Giants and Gobblings closing in around her. They were already aware it was Marhia. They stood their ground, forming an unyielding line. The witch stood on the porch, waiting for her arrival. “I knew you’d come back,” she declared, her laughter echoing ominously. “Such a foolish girl,” she continued, her voice dripping with disdain. “Did he give you a compliment?” Marhia shot back confidently, “How would I know? He says the same thing every time: ‘You are beautiful, Marhia.’” The witch let out a harsh laugh, and the Giants, Gobblings, bushes, and even the flowers erupted in laughter, filling the air with mockery. Finally, the witch silenced the crowd with a sharp command. “That’s a compliment, young girl,” she said. “The potion certainly works.” "Get back to that village and bring me the tear you owe me," the witch commanded, insisting on payment for the potion Marhia had demanded. "Don't even think about returning until you’ve secured a tear from Princess Ka'miyah." "Fine," Marhia shot back, her voice steady. "But don’t rush me, old lady. I’m not intimidated by you." The witch narrowed her eyes. "You should be. I’ve concocted a potion that can make someone love you. Just consider what I could do if I chose to punish you." "Whatever, you rusty old lady," Marhia retorted. "And where’s my tea, you old bat?" The goblins and giants laughed at Marhia’s boldness. The witch sneered, "You think that’s funny? I could have your heads on a platter!" "Now, you little twit, get out of here before I show you exactly what an old witch like me is capable of." With a swift motion, the witch mixed her potions and poofed Marhia outside. Marhia's boldness abruptly disappeared. The witch unleashed bats that pursued her relentlessly, and she sprinted away, her frantic movements drawing attention as the bats shadowed her every step. With determination, she ran at full speed. “HEHEHEHEHEHEHE,” the witch mocked, her laughter echoing. “Now, who's the old bat?” The entire village burst into laughter. With such speed, Marhia soon found herself back in her village, and only then did she notice the lights and the parade nearing its conclusion. When Marhia stepped out into the parade, she collided with the king, causing all the gifts he had brought for her to scatter on the ground. The king wore a magnificent, shiny necklace adorned with exquisite, one-of-a-kind Spatacus diamonds. The value of his gifts was staggering. Princess Ka'miyah's eyes widened with excitement; they sparkled as she confidently smiled and placed her hand across her chest. Determined to assist the king, she moved to help gather the fallen gifts, but he sharply told her, “Get your filthy hands off those gifts.” Ka'miyah met his glare with defiance, her eyes reflecting the pain he had caused her. The king's servants hurriedly collected the gifts. He turned to Princess Marhia and declared, “These are for you, my lady.” Although she smiled, her distraction revealed her underlying fear about the witch who demanded Princess Ka'miyah's tears. The king noticed her unease and asked, “Are you alright, Princess Marhia?” She answered with a firm smile, “Yes, I am.” He helped her up and commanded, “Let’s go; dinner is at my place.” Meanwhile, Princess Ka'miyah walked away, burdened by her heartache. In this moment of distress, she began to sing a song. However, it was not the right choice, given her turmoil. Her voice, filled with sorrow, lacked its usual angelic beauty and instead resonated with the depths of her pain. Princess Ka'miyah sang, "How could you claim to be my best friend when you only hurt me? I believed we were the closest friends in all the land. I kept your secrets, even when I discovered you lied to me for the first time. I never imagined you would betray me like that. You proved me wrong, and it was disappointing. You were supposed to be my best friend, yet you chose to lie. I saw the secrets you hid behind closed doors while everyone else remained oblivious. You thought I didn’t notice when others laughed at me, but I saw the smirk on your face. I expected loyalty and honesty from you, but instead, you deceived me. I witnessed you sneaking back from the woods we avoided, and it only confirmed my doubts. I truly thought you were my best friend in all the world, but you've shown me otherwise. What happened to the friend I once loved?" This only made matters worse as a vast, dark purple storm swept in. The flowers began to wither. Princess Ka'miyah took a seat by a magical, enchanted well where all wishes could come true, though she was unaware of its power. As she cried, her tears splashed into the water. With determination, she proclaimed, “Why does no one like me? I’m more than I thought.” She resolved, “I will pack my things and leave. I refuse to stay where I'm not appreciated. I’ll find a land of my own where everyone will love me.”