This Enchanting New World

Chapter 5

A slew of dapper young men, in formal-looking waistcoats and breeches with golden pins and sashes in a princely blue, entered the palace in a graceful manner, holding an official-looking document with gold detail on the ends of the scroll. My eyes faded to simply mist, and I immediately sprang up in surprise, suddenly paying full attention. No one like THESE men were ever seen on the Isle. I started to blush red as dragonfire. But the nobles clearly weren't interested in making small talk, and briskly handed me the document in a businesslike manner. 

What is this?, I thought. I'm no princess, not in this sort of way! But my heart opened and fluttered.

"His royal majesty, King Ben of Auradon, and his counselors, Misses Mal, Evie, and Dizzy of the Isle, cordially invite you to attend the current academic year at Auradon Prep?," I gasped. I didn't even bother to read the rest- I was lost for words. I hugged the couriers in elation, running out the door faster than I've ever ran. This time, I didn't even care about crowds.

My jaw dropped when I came across a swanky, sparkling clean limousine decked out with luxurious glamour and all the fixings.

I was still crying- but not out of sadness anymore. Out of joy. When I saw Daughter Gothel in the vehicle, gazing out the window in a reverie of what she would see, I couldn't even breathe. Couldn't even speak. Couldn't even begin to comprehend any of this. 

I threw her into an embrace, both of our faces lighting up. This time, it was my turn to squeal, and Goth followed suit in utter thrill. 

"Clarissa...," Goth burst into a shining smile. "No. PRINCESS Clarissa."

"It's not just me. We're BOTH going to live our dreams, together. With Dizzy, too. That's the best part."

"But you're a fairytale princess," she exclaimed in amazement. "It's official."

"You're going to see the world."

"Oh, Clarissa...what would I ever do or be without you?," Goth put her arm around me.

The limo began to smoothly move. We started shrieking in shock.

This was it.

"We're- we're moving. Clarissa, we're MOVING!," Goth shrieked in bewilderment and excitement- she had spent her whole life in the same place, even though she had huge ambitions and the resources to make those plans a reality.

And now they were.

"I've never been in a vehicle this nice before. If this is any preview, there are butlers and servants in my future. The glittering spires of castles gleaming in the sun. Sparkling couture gowns, ornate masquerade gowns, and gorgeous royal ball gowns. Five-course meals brought on silver trays with silver spoons."

"I don't care about any of that stuff- well, the gowns would be AMAZING. But I'm just so happy to be seeing the world and getting out of double exile."

"Wasn't your mom a wealthy noblewoman once upon a time before being forgotten about and sent away to hide out in that valley?"

"Oh, yeah. Most people ignore that part of Gothel's story. That's why I want this so badly- I just CAN'T get that same fate. I won't let history repeat itself, again and again, immortally."

"Sounds like someone got affinities passed down from her mother," I teased.

"Hey, so did you! You want your throne, right? Just like Narissa. And you hate when someone else- like Mal or even Uma- tries to lead and be in charge. Instead, you want to be the one with the power."

I looked away for a minute. "My mom got rid of Giselle by sending her to a place with no happily ever afters. I suppose she also did the same to me."

"But you escaped."

I grinned widely, my dark, smoky eyes sparkling with rare light. "Yeah," I said, laughing in delight. "I did."

"Wouldn't you just love to come crawling back there and not be cast aside like some royal rubbish?!," Goth mimicked, doing a patronizing impression of my mother.

"Goth, you're a really good actress."

"Thanks, it runs in the family- well, my fake family."

"I think Queen Narissa finds me a threat to her life. That's why she's so intent on making sure that my own life is a living hell, and that I never get a chance to be or have or see anything more."

Goth laughed. "Some things never change," she said nonchalantly.

"How can you be so casual when something like THIS is happening to us?," I retorted.

Goth suddenly remembered where we were going, in an instant gluing her face to the sparkling clean window of the limo as we were showered in a starburst of gold light.

"It must be magic!," I cried in delight.

"It looks like the sun!," observed Goth.

"Goth...we're BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIER. We're LEAVING THE ISLAND!," I squealed in elation unlike anything I'd ever felt before.

We began clutching each other and jumping up and down in youthful energy and happiness.

"Hey!," snapped the limo driver. "Stay in your seats."

We blushed in embarrassment. 

The limo pulled over at a sprawling ivory castle decorated with alabaster, ornate statues of King Beast, perfectly trimmed hedges, and bright daisies and sunflowers. The sun was brilliant gold and the sky a cloudless, vibrant blue. It was better than either of us could've imagined! We went breathless, silently taking in the idyllic beauty.

"It's gorgeous! It's like a dream! It's beautiful!," Goth whispered to me, the opposite of her name.

"It's like a fairy tale," I replied.