Grooming For Prince Charming

All my life, I had always been a fan of Disney princesses. I heard stories of them and I must confess, I love them all. I lived in Disney World as I daydreamed every day and saw myself as a Disney princess. I imagined myself being Cinderella, I imagined myself being Snow White, I imagined myself being Sleeping Beauty, I wanted a Prince Charming too. Oh! Words can't tell how often I wished I had long hair like Rapunzel or my favorite of all, Queen Elsa. I loved every part of her. Her bravery, her confidence, her beauty, most important of all, her powers. I loved the way she made everything and anything out of ice. I also wish I could summon the waters and ask them for answers since the water had memories like the snowman said. I wished I had a sister like Anna who could stand by me and promise to protect me even when she knows I am stronger than her. I wish there was an Ahtohollan to provide me answers to my questions as to why my mother despises me so much even when she tries to hide it. I could see the hatred. To let me see the reasons why mother chooses Sylvie over me. My name is Xyla and this is my story. I sighed as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I was just 18 years of age, I was supposed to be at defense school but all of a sudden, one day, I arrived home only to hear about the news of my marriage to a handsome prince. A handsome hot-headed prince. Mother claimed since I was going to be a princess, I did not need to learn defense anymore but focus on my marriage. I had a life there and I wanted it but my dream was dashed. “Zarouhi!” Mother gently called. I quickly wiped off my eyes not wanting her to see what she wanted; my pain, my fear, my sorrow. She called me Zaraouhi whenever she wanted to drop a bad, sad or heartbreaking news. Also when she is sad or tries to show fear and sympathy she calls me Zaraouhi. I did not realize when she entered my room even though the door to my room was closed. “I need to talk to you” She added and gently walked in confidently. “You look beautiful” She placed her arm on my shoulder. “Thank you” I quickly and stylishly took her hands off my shoulder. Unlike her, I did not hide my hate for her. It was glaring and crystal clear that I despised her. “I might not have made good decisions in the past but believe me Zaraouhi, this is the best decision a mother can make for her child” She sighed. “Best decision? Wow! How am I supposed to feel now? What feelings am I to allow to dominate my heart now? Should I be happy or sad? Is that supposed to make me feel better? You are selling me out to a stranger and you tell me it is the best decision? I guess you are just trying to ease your guilt” I scoffed and sat back. “I was a mother have nothing to offer you. Xyla, you are getting married to a prince, a very handsome prince. The heir to the throne, you are going to be a queen, don’t you see?” She turned my face to hers and looking into her eyes, I could see the love and compassion of a mother in her eyes but I didn’t want to believe her. She is quite manipulative. “Get away from me.” I aggressively pushed her hand away from my chin. “You are getting me married to a rich prince. An extremely rich prince but have you forgotten to include the adjectives ‘ruthless, merciless and aggressive'? How am I to deal with that? Why did you fix this alliance if you cared for me?” I questioned trying to control my temper, I didn’t want to cause any damage as it was my last day at the house. “I did not fix this alliance, Zaraouhi. The royal family sent an invite to seek for one of my daughter’s hands in marriage and…” “And you chose me? You could not choose Sylvie? She is my older sister, why couldn’t you pick her? Why would they choose this family? Are we the only females in existence? Why would you choose me?” I managed to hold back the tears. “You never cared about me. You always preferred Sylvie to me, you know I am better than her, I am more beautiful than she is” Mother sighed before she continued her statement” You can handle him Zaraouhi, I know you can. You have the powers Sylvie doesn’t. You have the vitality and courage Sylvie doesn’t have” “Stop lying!” I yelled and then everything in the room began to burn except me and my mother. “What? Are you going to burn us now?” Mom questioned, raising her brows and crossing her arms. She had probably gotten used to it. Immediately, I calmed down hence putting out the fire. Yes, I had a fire in me, more like the power of fire. It started when I was six years of age but I didn’t realize it until I was seven. That very day, Sylvie and I had gotten into an argument in the garden, when I yelled at her in anger, the grasses and plants caught fire. When it became too often to be a coincidence, I knew something was happening that I was oblivious of. I loved and daydream about being amid Disney princesses and also possessing magical powers but I did not believe magic exists. I made myself a specimen and experimented on myself to see if it was true I possessed magical powers. My conclusion was I truly had superpowers. It took me about three weeks to accept and agree to the fact of me having powers. Everyone feared me including my mother. I still don’t know how to summon it like other people with superpowers do. It only comes when I am angry or yells angrily and when it does, everything around me partakes in its gift and they begin to burn but the fire goes off when I am calm. “Of course, that’s why you want me gone at all cost. You fear I might burn you someday, isn't it?” I smiled bitterly. “Zaraouhi…” She was cut short by a knock on my door. It was Sylvie. I rolled my eyes on seeing her, she tried to smile at me but I looked away, her smile was the last thing I wanted to see at that moment. “They are here” She announced. My heart skipped a bit. I feared the prince whom I had not even met. “Good riddance to bad rubbish, right?” I stood up and then my eyes roamed and captured every detail about my room as if trying to lock it in as memories that could last a hundred years and then, I landed a gaze on her face. Her eyes were watery. Our house might be small and not enticing but I preferred it and found solace in it more than I can ever will, anywhere else. “Till we part to meet no more” I gave a smile, bitter smile before exiting. I could feel her want to hold me back, want to give me a final hug, want to plant a kiss on my forehead but I wanted her to feel the pain of being separated from someone you've been with for the major part of your life. Maybe she hadn’t given me the sufficient love I needed, I still loved her. I got into the lift without looking at her. I could hear her silent sobs as well as Sylvie's but I chose to ignore them. I was hurt, I was broken deep within but I wanted them to feel the same way I felt. The carriage began to move and then, we left. Before I knew it, we were far from my home. Tears welled up in my eyes and all I wanted to do was jump out of the carriage to return to my mother and step sister. I wished I could, I was in a difficult and helpless situation. “Where is the Prince?” I asked, I wanted to behold my doom. “He is at the Palace” One of the maidens answered. They had sent 6 maidens and 15 men to ensure I have a safe trip to my husband’s kingdom; Rashni Kingdom. I was so drained cause of my tears. The tension I felt weakened me down to my bones. I sighed and drifted off into sleep. It seemed like seconds but when I opened my eyes, we were already proceeding towards the gate of Rashni kingdom. I quickly got up and wiped my eyes, I didn’t want anything to go wrong. I wanted to be at my best for my husband, the Prince, probably that would buy me a good image in his sight. The Kingdom looked so beautiful, every part of it spoke of wealth and royalty. It was perfectly constructed and was so big. I stylishly searched around for my prince but all I saw were guards, no trace of him anywhere. I sighed. What kind of suspense was I getting? While still thinking, the carriage stopped. Still, I could not behold just a glimpse of him. He was supposed to be here to welcome me but he wasn’t there. I tried to stay strong and walked into the palace. This was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. I can’t believe this was my new home! I wasn’t sure if I still preferred ‘that' home to ‘this’ home. “Welcome” A woman, perfectly dressed, greeted. ‘She must be the Queen' My brain suggested. “Thank you, your Serene Highness” I bowed. She proceeded towards me and gave me a motherly hug, the same hug I wished mother could give me. “Take her to his room” She ordered the maids. By ‘his' room, I know she meant my husband’s room. For a reason I don’t know, I blushed and a smile curved on my face. On getting to the door, I placed a knocked on the door but there was no response. After 3 subsequent knocks, I opened the door. Oh no! Not a good way of introduction. My ‘husband' was violently making out to another woman with beads of sweat forming on his forehead. My legs were glued to the spot as I didn’t know what to do. He seemed too engrossed in what he was doing that he didn’t realize when I opened the door. When my brain jerked back to life and reminded me that it was a danger zone, I hurriedly tried to exit the room but it was too late, the prince had seen me. What am I to do now?