Elena stares long and hard at the tombstones with so much sadness in her eyes. She feels nothing but grief and regret for thinking that her parents actually abandoned her, all this while they sacrificed themselves for her.
She has had a lot of thoughts about her parents and has actually thought about what they looked like, all negative thoughts. She's thought about them being drug dealers, or gangsters, or borderline criminals. That would explain why they abandoned her.
Not once did royalty come to mind. But here they are buried under the ground. Their large tombstones stand tall, a tombstone suitable for a king and queen.
"Hi guys, it's your daughter. Elena. I'm here like you wanted, I'm grown now!" She chuckles. That's her, always trying to use humour to mask her true feelings. But this grief is too much to bear.
"I'm sorry, I thought you guys were evil. My bad, I just wish it didn't come to this. You're sending me to another planet to protect me. Uh…" she wipes the tears off her eyes. "All my life, I felt so alone, but now I don't have to feel alone anymore. I'm with my family now," she smiles at her uncle, and her uncle smiles back.
"But here's the thing, I can make you two a promise. I'm going to make you two proud. I'm going to be the best version of myself I'll ever be. I'll do it for myself, and I'll do it for you two. No witch or any other jerk will cause havoc here again. You both have my word," she sniffs, drawing back the snot that threatens to come out of her nose.
"I love you guys, and I'm extremely grateful for what you've done." She says, and then she plants a kiss on her fingertips and puts those fingers on their tombs. She gets up and hugs her uncle.
"They're already proud of you."
Elena sure hopes so.
The two leave the royal cemetery and are back in the garden. They stay silent until her uncle breaks the silence.
"Would it be a bad time to tell you there's gonna be a ball tonight?"
Elena faces him.
"A ball?"
"Yeah, a welcome back ball for you. I invited a lot of important people to welcome you home. I can call it off if you feel overwhelmed."
"Are you kidding? I never feel overwhelmed when it comes to partying hellooo."
"Wow, are you sure you're not my daughter?" the two laugh.
"So you're a party boy," she says.
"I've always loved parties. Your dad was always into books and studies, while your Aunt and I were the troublemakers of the castle, doing one drastic thing or the other. Your dad used to be fun, though, until our father got sick and he got the realization that if he died, he would be next in line to control a whole kingdom."
Elena can't imagine it. She's good at party planning, but having the responsibility of a whole ass country, now that's crazy. If she were the one who was the Queen, would she do a good job? She's glad she doesn't have to find out.
She hopes.
"So what you're saying is you're okay with a ball."
"Just give me a fancy dress, and we're good." Elena winks. Her uncle nods his head.
"Okay, then let's get this party started.
"Yes!" Elena clasps her hands and then rubs them like a housefly. This is what she loves the most.
After Devarux shows her the important parts of the castle. She melts when she sees the unicorns in the stable.
"Holy cow, they're beautiful."
They're pretty creatures with rainbow manes and a gold horn. Their blood is also golden, and it's illegal to kill a unicorn. If you do that, you'll be sentenced to the dungeons for five years.
Good, Elena thinks.
She also set her eyes on the ponies and the Pegasus.
It feels like a dream being in this world. It's like she's dreaming, but she's not; this is her new life. Living in a magical world filled with magical creatures.
Now, when she's done sightseeing, she moves into her room. And as soon as she steps inside, her jaw drops in awe.
"No fucking way!" She doesn't even care if she just cussed. This room is way bigger than the room she's always slept in at foster homes and the room she had with the Smiths.
So big.
There's a large king-sized bed, a large full-length mirror, a large balcony, and several pretty fairy lights that glow different colours.
She looks at Devarux.
"This is all for me, right? I'm not sharing this room?"
"Oh, of course it is, why would you share this room. It's all for you, princess."
She looks back at the room, then she squeals excitedly and heads over to the bathroom. All her life, she's also shared a bathroom; now she gets her own bathroom. Large, with a large bathtub in the middle, a shower place at the side and several mirrors everywhere.
"Gnarly," she says. Then she walks out of the bathroom, and she opens the walk-in closet. As soon as she steps inside, she feels like she's about to drop.
This looks less like a closet and more like a shopping mall.
"What the he-" she doesn't know where to look first. The jewellery, the shoes, the clothes. She thought the clothes would be more… princessy. But the clothes here look more like hers.
"Wait a second…" She walks out of the closet. "How does this closet have the things I like?" she asks with a raised brow.
"The closet is enchanted. This was always meant to be your room. Your blood is on the closet door, so it creates clothes and accessories that fit your personality. It's exclusive to royals only." she says that last part in a whisper.
Elena looks back at the closet, and a wide smile appears on her face. "This is so gnarly. I love this world so much," she says excitedly. "So what dress am I wearing?" she asks Devarux.
"Oh, honey, you're not going to get your dress from here, you my dear…" she links her arms with Elena's. "You're going to have loads of options.
"Oooh, can't wait." they move forward.
They leave the room with the maids following them to another room. A room with three mannequins wearing pretty dresses.
"Take your pick," Devarux says, and Elena, whose eyes haven't left the dresses, walks ahead.
"Wow," she mutters, walking around the dresses, admiring such beauty. "These dresses are pretty," and they're very her. "Who are the designers?"
"Ah, only one designer." Devarux raises a finger tip. "Airington Breezes. He's one of the best designers, and he designs clothes for your family. He's been doing this for years."
"He's very talented," Elena says, and Devarux agrees.
Now she doesn't know which to pick because they're all so good.
"Oh, you get to pick two, in case the other dress gets stained."
"Really!?" This makes it easier for her.
"Okay, then I pick these two."
She says, putting her arms around the mannequins like they're her friends.
Devarux smirks and nods her head.
"Good choice," she snaps her fingers, and the maids bring the clothes down to get them ready for her.
"I'm so sorry," Elena whispers to the dress that wasn't chosen. "You're still pretty," she says, kisses the dress and walks away.