The Darkest Shadow

by Janya budaraju

  I remember. Curses always have countercharms, things that can reverse them. The most common one is the one used mostly by queens to find a worthy husband- true love’s kiss. Of course, it is also the easiest one to do, making it very popular. Others include being poked with the horn of a goat and drinking water sweetened with cinnamon and caramel.

  I draw this conclusion at the same time as one of the ministers. For the next few hours, everybody rushes around, gathering the ingredients for the next possible cure. The crowd tries every cure we can think of and more, but to no avail. Finally, just as I knew would happen, the minister turns to me. He explains the concept of True Love’s Kiss to me and tells me to try it almost apologetically, as if saying sorry for condemning me to a horrible fate.

  I laugh nervously. “Well, I have a cold, and I don’t want to give it to the prince. So… I can’t.”

  The minister stares at me incredulously. “Girl, the prince is lying on the floor in a coma, and you’re worried about a COLD? What is WRONG with you?!” Okay, gotta agree with that. I look wildly around for any other willing princesses, but even the previously jealous ones back away at a glance at his plaque-filled, candy-coated mouth. I am about to give in, with no other choice.

  And then the idea hits me.

  I sprint out the hall, much to the confusion of the ministers and queen, and dash from room to room. Finally, in a corner of the castle, I find who I’m looking for: Clara and her dogs. I drag her out of the door while the dogs run next to me. At first she resists, thinking that she’s being kidnapped, until I explain to her while we run down the hall. She winces at the thought of the dogs eating something so unhealthy, but agrees because the prince’s life is at stake here.

  We burst into the great hall together, Allie and Gator yapping behind us. As princesses shriek and dodge the flying masses of fur, the ministers lunge at the dogs, trying to catch them. It is complete pandemonium. Queen Marisel looks shocked at the lack of discipline. Clara’s face is totally mortified. I wince, thinking that this may not have been such a good idea.

  Now Allie and Gator have made their way through the crowd, both simultaneously catch sight of the prince. The prince and his chocolatey mouth. For dogs that rarely get treats like this, they are delighted. And both of them, no matter what attitude, make a quick beeline for the prince. Their tongues clean up the food around his mouth. The queen looks disgusted and horrified, the ministers matching her expression. Queen Marisel stands up, about to call for security.

  Then the prince sits up, looking dazed. All eyes and mouths in the room are totally round, and then there is a collective sigh of relief.

  Then the questions start to fly. How did the dogs get here? Why did the prince wake up?

  So I start answering. “The minister explained what True Love’s Kiss is about. The GIVER of it must love the recipient. And honestly? I don’t love the prince.” The prince looks terribly offended. A few princesses nod in agreement. “So since I knew it wouldn’t work, I remembered that when I first came to the palace, I met Clara with Allie and Gator, the dogs you just saw. And I also know that chocolate and candy are any dog’s dream come true. No offense, but the prince doesn’t do the best job cleaning it up.” Now the prince looks truly angry, and the princesses ALL nod. “So my brain connected the dots. So I got Clara and the dogs to come, and you guys so the rest.”

  I take a deep breath. “And I know how the prince fainted.” I catch sight of many expressions: delighted, surprised, skeptical. I peel off the temporary tattoo and take out my contacts. “I’m not Ellowyn Aspen. I am Rose-Red Shadow.” I catch the hatred in Snow-White’s stare. “I infiltrated the castle under a false name and faked my way in. I did this because I am Snow-White’s stepsister and Irene’s stepdaughter.” I explain my treatment for the last fifteen years of my life. “I overheard them talking about marrying the prince and then killing him so Snow-White could take the throne, and Irene would rule her. So I had to stop them, so it just went from there to here.”

  Meanwhile Irene starts to try to sneak towards the door, but angry princesses dive at her, pinning them down. Irene sputters that she is innocent, she didn’t do anything, she was framed.

  The queen takes absolutely no notice of this, looking scandalized. “Clara, my own sister! Owning dogs without my permission? I have told you to get those mangy mutts OUT of my palace?” Clara looks down, ashamed. Queen’s SISTER?! Wow. Not bad. That would explain her slightly regal attitude.

  Then the queen starts in on me. “And Ellowyn? Or should I say Rose-Red? You faked your identity as a princess! And you tricked me into believing that you belonged here! How dare you? Guards, take both of them out immediately!” Well, considering I just saved her kingdom she could sound a LITTLE more grateful, but I force myself to blush, trying to buy some more time to convince her.

  Then Sidelle, looking exasperated, speaks up. “Not to sound rude, Queen Marisel, but EXCUSE me?” The queen looks like she think Sidelle sounds very rude. “Rose-Red here just saved your entire kingdom from a reign of terror! Okay, sure, she infiltrated the castle, but seriously? She did it to SAVE you! And while she was here, she excelled in her classes, made the best dress of our class, and meanwhile won the prince’s heart!

  “And Clara? Her “mutts” saved your son from pulling a Sleeping Beauty here! So to put it shortly? Arrest Snow-White and Irene, not these heroines, lady.” Sidelle backs down, with cheers from the audience. It’s the queen’s turn to look ashamed.

  “You’re right, Sidelle. But the thing is, there isn’t enough evidence to confront them. The poison apple could be explained away as a bad apple, and we only really have you as a witness to their bad deeds.”

  I think for a moment, and then I remember. “WAIT! Irene has been stealing thigs from the castle! While I was snooping in her room”- I wince over here but keep going- “I found cabinets full of golden goblets and candlesticks and expensive whatnot from the castle!”

  Queen Marisel tells guards to go up and check this, and sure enough, they come down with bags and bags full of stolen possesions.

  Queen Marisel announces, “Guards, throw Irene and Snow-White in jail.”

  I rise onto the arms of the throngs of people and body-surf my way to the other side, deafened by applause. For the first time I’m being appreciated as myself.

  And I love every moment of it.

  Epilogue

  Things have settled down a bit. Obviously Snow and Irene are going to rot in jail for a little while- or should I say, a long while. The prince is no longer going to marry me after my little speech about his hygiene, and instead chose, for some reason, Pippa. The queen has deemed them not fit to rule, after Pippa’s dramatic exits from fashion competitions and the prince’s attitude. So after a long consideration, she chose me to rule solitarily after her, with no prince at all. Pippa was obviously quite angry, but she’ll get over it. Maybe. Actually, probably not, now that I think about it. Eh, whatever.

  Until my turn to rule, I shall continue to live in the palace and take lessons from the instructors. I’m doing pretty well, especially in drama. All we have to do to impress Miss Jazz is flail around our limbs and say tragic things, such as “Alas! My true love has died! Oh, woe, what shall I do?” or nonsense like that, I’m doing pretty well in fashion, too, but Pippa keeps giving me death glares. She’s super jealous that I get to rule, but sucks for her.

  After the news came out that I’m future queen, all the princesses suck up to me. But I know who my real friends are here. I can tell by the ones that don’t try to subtly hint towards the throne and marrying ministers and things like that. Sidelle- or Sid, as her new nickname is- is one of those people. So is Gwyneth Vivienne- oh, sorry, V.

  I can also tell the less snobby ones by their nicknames. For example, Emalia has so many great nicknames- Malia, Em, Emali, Mali, Lia- but if the princess INSISTS on being called Emalia, she’s probably very girly. Not always, but most of the time.

  I don’t go by Shadow anymore. I am
now Red. I think that my life’s done creeping up on me now.

  Or at least I hope so.