The Second Time Cupid Fell - C.A Cupid × Alistair Wonderland

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Everyone started to gather around the stage, where Grimm was standing in front of the podium.

He cleared his throat and gave a proud smile. "Greetings, ladies and gentlemen, my beloved students of Ever After High, and respected parents! Welcome-"

Cupid looked down as she tuned him out, lost in her train of thoughts.

She looked to her left, her father was a few steps away from her, chatting with Snow White.

They complimented each other, both quite pretentious. 

Cupid looked away, and a figure caught her eye. Alistair, he walked to Cupid, weaving his way through the crowd easily. He stopped in front of her, slightly breathless. "Hey," he said.

Cupid gave him a weak smile. "Hey Alistair."

He chuckled, putting a hand behind his neck. "I saw you standing here, and I decided to stop by. You okay?"

Cupid glanced at her father for a quick second, still deep in his conversation with the queen. She gave Alistair a reluctant nod and shrugged. "I'm fine, I guess so. Just a little tense for my upcoming speech," she admitted, clasping her hands together in front of her. Alistair nodded back, he turned to look at Grimm, still talking on the stage. "Well, you're up after his boring speech," he turned back to look at Cupid, "So, you'll be just fine."

She rolled her eyes, but failed to supress her smile.

"Thanks for the encouragement, idiot."

Alistair winked. "Anytime."

Headmaster Grimm stopped talking, his eyes weaved through the crowd and found Cupid. She froze. "Ms. C.A Cupid here," he gestured to Cupid with his hand, all eyes went to Cupid, "Was voted as the best student of Ever After High's year of study, so I'd say it would only be appropriate if she gave a piece of her mind on stage, wouldn't it?" he gave a light chuckle at the end.

At the mention of his daughter's name, Eros turned to look at Cupid, abandoning his conversation with Snow White.

Alistair gave her an encouraging smile. "Cupid, you've got this," he whispered. Cupid looked at him with unsure eyes, but nodded. She looked at her father, but quickly looked away. Cupid walked to the stage, eyes still on her. Grimm moved out of the way, and let her near the podium. She gave him a nod.

She was now right in front of the podium, her heart beating crazily. She gulped and let out a shaky breath, trying to contain herself. Cupid scanned the crowd, easily finding Eros, his gaze was already on her, challenging. But beside him, she saw Alistair, who gave her a thumbs up.

Cupid inhaled sharply.

"Good morning everyone, my fellow friends, and parents of Ever After," she let out a small cough. "My name is Chariclo Arganthone Cupid, and I am very honoured to be here today, voted as the best student by my friends whom I love," her voice was unsteady. She balled her hands into fists, exhaling. You've got this. She gave the crowd a smile. "I'm going to be honest, I didn't know what I was going to talk about when I was first given this opportunity. But, I looked within my own life, and my own experiences, and I decided that I would talk about this topic that is very close to me and I'm sure close to many of you as well."

Her father looked at her, his face stoic, but not unhappy.

"Destiny," she declared, "What's Ever After High without the mention of destinies? When I transferred from Monster High, and first got into Ever After High, I found myself surprised, by the talk of destinies that goes around every single day. Students left and right would constantly talk about their destinies, the path predestined for them, whether they love it, or whether they do not. You see, I found it really interesting, because this wasn't a thing at all, back in my old school," she looked down for a second, smiling at the thought of Monster High, and the memories she made back there.

"It's a great thing for some, to be able to follow the footsteps of their parents. Inheriting their glory, their power, their love, and many more. To some, following your destiny is a gift, an absolute privilege," she exhaled, pausing, "But to some, following your destiny can be a curse."

Cupid felt her heart booming in her ears, "Because for many students that I know, they have to live every day, dreading their destinies. Dreading for the day to come, where they step in their parents' places." She looked to her right, and saw Grimm, his face showing his distaste. But she continued.

"My heart breaks every time I hear my friends mention their unwanted destinies, where they have to spend their entire life locked up, banished, unwanted in society," she looked at Raven, "Where they have to sleep for a hundred years, losing all that they've ever known, their friends, their pets, all of their loved ones" she looked at Briar, who looked down at her feet, "Where they have to pretend and hide all that they are, acting as a damsel in distress, instead of the hero to their own stories, the hero that they've always wanted to be," she looked at Daring Charming, finding a determined sparkle in her eyes.

"So many people are privileged but they don't realize it, because some of you here has suffered and will suffer because of the destinies placed on your shoulders since birth," she proclaimed, "But a lot of you have been turning a blind eye to those who are struggling," Cupid's eyes softened. "And here's the thing, I'm not saying that my destiny is bad, because I've always felt privileged to be a Cupid. I know that I'm one of the very lucky ones, to be gifted this destiny where I get to spread love," she paused to look at Eros, his lips formed a small smile, all proud and smug.

"But, if I'm being honest, there are moments where I wished I could run."

All attention was trained on her, intrigued. Eros stiffened unnoticedly.

"There are moments, where I hate being a Cupid. Moments where I feel worthless, out of place, unwanted in this world. The weight that was lifted onto my shoulders felt too heavy a lot of times, because of the pressure that I've been experiencing," Cupid kept looking away from her father, not wanting to see his furious gaze as she scanned the crowd. She could deal with him after. "I don't want to spread love and help people out of greed, out of my own profit and selfish needs, not because it was expected and predestined for me either. I want to spread love, because I can make a change, because I truly, yearn to make this world a better place. But overtime, the pressure that was given onto me, told me that I did not need to follow my true heart, but simply follow the steps that were already paved for my feet."

Cupid swallowed her spit, shaking her head. "I find that truly disheartening."

"Is that what it means to be a Cupid? If it is, then I sure don't want to be a Cupid. But I know for myself, that to be a Cupid means so much more than that. My point is, parents and friends, let's stop this 'destiny culture', please. I know a lot of you may not agree with me on that one, but isn't freedom in how you want your future to be so beautiful? Your own future in your own hands, as it should be. Whether it is following in your parents' path or going down a path of your own, to have that choice, is freeing."

Cupid let out a laugh. "Love, is freeing."

"So, let's choose our own destinies, stop this destiny talk from limiting ourselves, and our full potential. Let's be whoever we want to be, let's be free, together." Most of the crowd cheered, but not all of them. "Again, I know a lot of you may not agree with me on this sensitive subject, and I totally understand that," she paused, "But my beloved father, Eros, or Amor Cupid, have always told me to follow my true heart," she finally let her eyes land on her father. He was standing so still in his position, she could practically feel the anger fuming out of him from far away.

Cupid gave him a smile.

"So this is me following my true heart," she said gently, "As he would want me to."

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okayy cringe monologue!

lets move on now, next chap!