Back when I was a young girl, I struggled a lot more than your average girl. You see… I wanted to be a warrior, not just another typical princess who marries into yet another family of a prince charming. Don't get me wrong, I loved boys, but I just wanted more for my life than to just marry into an unknown family just so I could be a queen. I wanted to be a girl who could slay fucking dragons for the people I loved and the kingdom and its people.
"Celest! You will not be a knight in the royal regiment… it is impossible for a woman to be strong like a man. Women aren't meant to do that; they are meant to cook, clean, produce sons and daughters, and take care of and raise them. " Father said, completely pissing me off with each word.
"Father, I know I can do this! You must trust me! I was meant for more than that life! All that I ask is that you believe in me, please, Father?!" I begged him on my knees.
"Well, I am sorry, my sweet, Celest, but I don't, and I won't! I can't stand the thought of losing you. I am saying no to protect you. " He told me, as I began to feel cold, with tears beginning to fall from my eyes.
I walked away feeling defeated, but this was far from over. A few days later, I decided to take it upon myself to make a change and take the first steps on the path I wanted. I reminded myself that I am the one who decides my own destiny. So, I picked up a blade and started swinging against a blade dummy. It was heavy, but I let no such factors stop me. It felt so natural and right in my hands. I did this every day for years, until I perfected it.
One day, I did the usual routine, and I swung my blade so ferociously with a fire burning in my heart that all of the royal regiment gathered around me, probably feeling like a bunch of pussies, because a girl was swinging a heavy piece of steel around better than a large percentage of the men in here.
For a moment of pure clarity, proving to myself that I can do it. The captain named Ames came out and yelled, "HEY! You, girl. You think you are fucking tough? You think you can beat me?!" he yelled aggressively, standing tall over me with his brute figure and attitude.
I tried to keep my composure and stood my ground. I wasn't about to let my fear get the best of me. "Ye… Yeah, I bet I could! " I told him, gulping fearful air.
He pulled his sword from its sheath, as did I. We circled each other with a death stare and our blades held upright. The tension was so thick you could cut it in half with a knife. "No girl will beat me! Do you understand me? You might as well put that sword down and put back on a dress, because there is no place for you in a man's world! " he yelled, as I swung my sword at him with all my might, forcing him to take a step back. He was prepared for it, though. We clanked swords hard. He then pushed me face-first into the mud, as I bashed my face bloody into the cobblestone. It started pouring rain immediately after. My nose was dripping blood as the rain washed it down my face. I was soaked, and my nose was broken.
I got back up, as the soldiers laughed at me… "You are a tough little bitch, aren't you? "
I yelled out to him, "Fights not over! " still standing. I swung again, but this time even harder… repeating. Clunking and clanking, until… I put the blade to his throat, "Yield! "
That didn't last long. He knocked my sword out of my hands, as he grabbed me by my throat and said, "You got balls… for a girl. " Very viciously, gritting his teeth, as he threw me on my ass.
I got back up and yelled, "Fights not over!" as they started walking away.
"You just can't get enough, can you?!" he yelled, aggressively, looking like he was about to pounce on me, laughing at my persistence.
Once more we clanked our blades, and he came at me with everything he had. We crossed them pushing on each other from both sides. I made a quick move on him, and head butted his skull, knocking him straight onto his ass. "YIELD! " He looked at me with a bloody gash under his eye.
Then… he started laughing. "I'll be damned, you are one bad ass little cunt. " He told me, as he looked surprised and got up. I reached out my hand and helped him.
"All of you! Take notes from this girl! You hear me?!" he yelled to his troops. They all looked shocked as they returned to their quarters.
"Well… Well… Well! " the king, my father, spoke. "I guess you took it upon yourself to disobey me, hmm? Although I am quite surprised as well as glad that you did… we need more people like you in the Royal Regiment. Now, I am prepared to let you do this on one condition…"
"Yes, father… what is it? "
"You fight like this every time you fight… and stay safe, yes? " he hoped, as he kissed me on the forehead. "I am proud of you, my sweet, Celest. " That is just how it goes in life sometimes. You must fight for the thing you want to do most in life. The people you love most won't always agree with what you want, but you have to do something about it and take it upon yourself to take the first steps. "I am the ruler of my own destiny. "