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Once upon a time, in a land not far from here, lived two young girls who were about to meet for the first time, neither of them knowing the battles they would face together.
Chapter One
Eileen was a young and beautiful girl of Spanish descent, with emerald eyes, legs that extended her in a way that would make future suitors tremble with diffidence and hair as mighty as Rapunzel. She came to this land to make a home for herself after escaping the forces that captured her and took her to a dungeon, cold and dark. This dungeon was full of young children, like herself, who were searching with great belabor for answers. They would diligently ask questions with every passing hour, confusion and fear plastered on each little face. “Why have they taken us to this strange land?” “Who are these creatures passing with each puff of wind? Smiling, asking questions, leaving…smiling, asking questions, leaving.”
She was one of the lucky ones, Eileen. With each passing day, she would look out of the crack where sunbeams ached to get through, waiting. Waiting for that moment when that old, Mustang, barely able to run, would come for her. Broken down, yet magical, because on top of it, her mom would be sat.
She got her happily ever after. Well…sort of. When her knight and shining armor had arrived, they rode off into the sunset, with promises that everything would be magical from this moment forward. No more henchmen to come and take her away, no evil warlocks or bad potions, just them.
They arrived in a town that was rundown from stories unknown. As they rode through on the Mustang that was wheezing and neighing wearily with every step, they saw things that made Eileen submerge into her moms arms, just waiting to arrive at a place she would soon call home. Out the window, between the trees and abandoned cottages passing them at a blistering pace, she saw dragons, sitting in groups, glancing at them with disregard, only focusing on the smoke they each took turns breathing into the already gloomy air. Beggars pulling their saddle, holding out their grime-covered hands, wishing for something that neither of them had.
Finally, they arrived at their small cottage where she would spend the next couple decades.
Eileen takes in the new place she will call home, with rotation that makes everything pass by her in a blur, she’s scared of what the future holds. She comes to a dizzying stop, barely making out her moms face. When the sense of vertigo comes to a halt, she’s able to see clearly. Her mom stands there, hope in her smile, yet pain in her eyes that Eileen wishes she couldn’t make out. She gives the town one last glance, looks back to her mom, smiles, and realizes that this is HOME.
Chapter Two
Tiana was a young girl with caramel skin, spiraling hair - that she detested but others adored -, a stature that placed her amongst the munchkins and a carriage of her own. People often referred to her as a Princess due to her name and need to be catered to, which she took offense to. Needing to be cared for wasn’t a choice, you see.
When Tianas mother, Roni had conceived, an evil witch had cast a spell on her. The day she was born, the midwife placed her in her mothers’ arms with a look of sorrow. “What? What is it?” her mother cries. The midwife turns away, lost for words. “Tell me!” She shouts. “Well, it’s the child. It seems as though something has gone terribly wrong.” “Wrong? What do you mean wrong?” says the mother, eyes turning red as the dragons in town. “Well, it seems that your child is a bit smaller than most. We’re afraid she might be a Munchkin.” Roni looks from the women in front of her to the newborn, cooing silently in her arms. Unable to control the cascade of water streaming down from her cheeks and onto the child staring up at her, her big eyes already had fire burning within them. “That’s not all.” Says the midwife, sadness in her tone. They look at one another for a moment, Roni’s heart beating silently with every second that passes. “We’re afraid that wasn’t the only spell cast upon her. It appears that her legs are not strong enough…she won’t be able to walk with the rest of the children.” Roni sat there for minutes that went on like hours, hearing the chatter in the halls by the townspeople who were in great jubilee over their new, healthy, children that have just entered the world. She vaguely hears the chime of the clock, impatiently reminding her that she needs to say something. Anything. She sits for a moment longer, ignoring the Nurses, Midwifes and Doctors, all waiting to witness what the future holds for little Tiana. She finally looks up from the broken child, streams of water now being replaced by the same fire in the eyes that she holds gently in her arms. She stares at everyone with what they could neither make out as fury or disbelief. Finally, she mutters words that would change her life forever, “She is my child. It does not matter if she cannot run with the other children or if she needs to sit with the goblins for the remainder of her days. She is my child…nothing changes that.”
The new mother lays there, looking at her baby girl with a loving heart. However, fear was creeping its way in with every beat. You see, the King hadn’t known that Tiana was an anomaly yet. This normally wouldn’t be a problem towards the King, as he was a good man, but it is what lies beneath that brings fear to her heart. Understand that Roni and King Timothy were still children themselves – just a mere twenty-three and twenty-four years of age - already caring for two young children, one of them who, like Tiana, was broken.
Fear crept over the King from the moment the words left Ronis tear-stained lips. He didn’t know what to do. He was nothing but a pedagogue who simply stayed in a room within the castle. He never owned it. Roni was a stay at home mother tending to the children while he struggled to make ends meet. They can barely care for the daughter that needed much of their help as is, then they had a little boy who, granted, was healthy and strong, but still took up much of their time. “Another sickly child?”, the King exclaims. “We can’t. We simply cannot. It will be much too difficult. We must take her away.” “Take her away?” Roni is taken aback by even the thought of this idea.
For weeks on end they’d argue. Roni fighting with every breath that now lies in the lungs of this young child she would do anything to protect. Sadly, after months of fighting this monster who she thought held her heart, she looked down, once again, at the one who truly held it captive, knowing that she gave it everything within her.
She felt as though she failed this child, but what could she do? The King rules all.
One week later, they take the child to a dark and cold dungeon where children roam wild, all sharing one place that they call home. While King Timothy talks with the few adults that roam the place, Roni watches the children, they are happy but unknowingly lost. She doesn’t want this for her child, she won’t have it. One last time, she looks down at the child, FIRE. She storms out of the dungeon and into the midsummer sun, leaving the King behind.
As Tiana grew older, her family grew apart. Her mother ended up leaving the King and roaming from town to town, looking for a safe place to land. King Timothy ended up keeping the boy, Timothy II, while Roni found shelter for two souls that needed her as much as she needed them. As for Tiana, in her early years, life was pretty good. She was close with her siblings, had plenty of friends, and went to a great school. Still, something inside of her felt lost.
This, my friends, is where she met someone who would share this journey with her for many years to come.
Chapter 3
It was in first grade that Eileen and Tiana first met each other. Eileen was a new student in a town where she still felt out of place yet comfortable. Everybody loved her. It’s rare that someone in a town like this has someone so alluring and kind in their presence. She was shy and yet everybody wanted to know her.
Tiana had her own group of friends so, while she noticed Eileens elegance, she placed no interest upon her. It wasn’t until her friend Edmond, a young boy with a spritely personality, fancied her. He would do anything just to get one word with this girl who has stolen his heart. So, Tiana took him by his hand, drug him to her side, and says, “Hello, this is my friend, Edmond. He is very taken with you but is too much of a fool to utter a word as simple as hello.” They both playfully laugh at there soon to be, mutual friend, Edmonds cowardice, and never seem to stop talking from this point on.
The girls soon became completely entranced with one another. For the next five-years everything they did, they did it together. They would spend many nights at each other’s homes, spending mornings by each other’s side, believing that with two-people, the dragons wouldn’t touch them. They sat beside each other during class…recess…lunch…snack time…second recess…PE…and on the bus. When they weren’t by each other’s side, they would find other means of communication. They were the best of friends and they loved each other, truly.
Tiana and Eileen both lived life like a train. They would make stops at fathers that were there, yet somehow abandoned them, mothers who loved dearly but were too weak to fight their own monsters, siblings that never understood the sharp knifes within their eyes, children who never wanted to play, and the last stop, living life on a constant battle-ground. ALL ABOARD!
For a while, they lived life in reverse compared to kids they went to school with. Most children lived a life of enchantment during their youth, growing up to become reckless fools who wander about. The girls had wandered enough. Now, at an age where most in this town felt the need to do partake in activities their elders enjoyed, they wanted to run in the wild.
During school hours, there were dragons hiding in dark caves between the battle fields, transporting themselves to a different dimension with every puff of smoke. Centaurs were casting their mating calls, planting seeds behind stories they’d never bother to read. Then there were the snakes. They would silently sneak up behind the three blind mice and, SNAP! All the while, the girls were living their own adventures.
They would go around the land, collecting magic coins from people who would allow them to do things such as; walk their unicorns, chop down giant bean stocks, and flood their land so life can form. Later, they would use those coins and go to the local market and buy treats to enjoy while they watched their idols perform their favorite songs of the summer. On weekends, they would go out into the forest, collect the most beautiful flowers and leaves they can find, and pretend they were the most famous chefs in the world, like the ones they’ve watched on television so many nights before. They would stay up ‘till late hours of the night, laughing and being the strange beings they’ve never felt safe to become.
Together, they had it all. That is until Tiana’s mom comes in one night to break the news that would change her life forever.
She was going to a land far, far away.
Chapter 4
Roni came into the room one night to inform Tiana that they will be going to a far away land. A land that was pure magic. Magic unlike anything she’s ever seen before. She will be amongst the stars. When Tiana asked why they must leave the only home she knows, her mother replied, “Your sister, she wants to transform into somebody she’s not, so that way she too can become one with the stars.” Tiana was heartbroken but knew that there was nothing she could do. She, more than anyone, understood that her mother does what she thinks is best.
So, to this magical land she went.
For twelve years, she has lived in this land and slowly but surely, things between her and Eileen started to change. They went from seeing each other every day to once a week. Once a week slowly stretched into twice a month…eventually, less than that.
As they got older, it seems more and more spells got cast upon them, only now they didn’t have each other to help fight off evil dragons. No potions or magic spells to help them out. They were on their own. Neither of them had much power when it came to meeting others who could keep them warm either.
Sometimes in life, you realize that you’re strong when you have someone right beside you, but you never truly realize how strong you are until you have to face them on your own. This is a lesson the girls needed to learn.
They still hold on to each other, setting out time to be with one another. They catch up on the monsters and dragons they’ve tamed while away from each other. So, even though they may be apart, every time they’ve come back to each other, they know they’re home.
The End.