Once upon a time…

That’s usually how all love stories and fairy tales begin or with something equally as cheesy and ridiculous as that well worn phrase we all grew up hearing. The familiar tones of stories with beautiful endings for the perfect couples. The princess always finds her prince. The evil witch always burns. The kingdom lives and thrives under the rule of a happy young couple groomed to be the new king and queen and well, as the story goes, everyone lives happily ever after…

I’m as guilty as everyone when it comes to consuming book after book of these pale painted “romances” which lack substance and paint all girls as weaklings but, what if I told you that with a new age comes a  new story. A story called reality. In this story there is no damsel in distress. On the contrary, this girl was groomed to be her own  warrior. Her armor is not shining but dented, scuffed and worn from the battles she has faced head on. The wars she has worn and the milestones she has conquered have left her with scars she regards with pride. This is no weak princess.

She is a woman.

A woman who has a mind as sharp as the edge of her sword and strength that makes even the toughest ogres cower. She has tamed dragons that dared challenged her and turned them into her own personal pets. Subdued the arrogant kings who have tried to rule her with a single look. She has silenced the wicked with a warning and graced fools with little more than a glance. She knows her worth and holds her head high as she travels her route alone. Strong. Independent. She has never yearned to answer to another mortal to take her load nor sought out the comfort of their company.

Now, you’re probably under the impression  that she leads a boring, snooty and decidedly anti-social life but the truth is quiet the opposite. She loves people. All shapes and sizes and characters. She is not fussy nor judgmental and sacrifices herself to ensure the light behind their eyes never goes out. She was everyone’s favorite person. The most popular girl around. She has the uncanny ability to love all, wholeheartedly and loyally.

Her only flaw is her inability to love herself the way she loves others. Her mind has been poisoned to hate herself and she refuses to feel worthy of being loved. She felt plain, boring and undesired. She was nothing more than a girl who did not fit the box of her gender and embraced her rebel status but deep inside she mourned the loss of her chance at happiness.

Years passed and the girl would grow from a rebel to a rebel leader. She would cement her status by leading more than a few successful campaigns that stirred, sparked and eventually cause the eruption of chaos across more than one uncharted terrain. She would soon be a revered and respected opponent with many quietly calling her “The Rebel Queen”.

She ruled not through fear but simply because she was too respected not to be a ruler. Her people knew she could be trusted. They were well aware that she would sacrifice herself and her happiness to save them from any calamity. They knew they were safe and for all her  efforts they paid her back in kindness and loyalty. They protected her and watched over her.

They were the first to notice her slip. The people in her tiny village noticed first how she withdrew into herself and became quiet and frustrated. Silently they witnessed her pain build and her walls crash. Softly they whispered words that would soothe but only served to push her further towards the edge of a cliff only she could see. Her loneliness screamed out at them and her pain echoed in their anguished whispers as they begged everyone who would listen to help her.

For those who despised her, this was a time to celebrate. The Rebel Queens empire would soon fall and all her riches would fall into their hands. They laughed and mocked and shrugged her pain off as mental instability.  They ridiculed her and spread the filthiest of lies but little did they know that fate had a brand new twist in store…

Someone picked her up. Someone held her hand and whispered the right words to get the queen to stand up tall and embrace her mantel. One specific person with the right amount of love and respect was all it took to remind her that as long as she fought  and pushed she would make it to the end. It took the right person and fate decided to be kind and sent them to her. She did not need a savior, she needed a partner who could read her like an open book and edit the parts that were badly written.

Her enemies were green with envy. Her friends sparkled with delight. Her family watched in awe.

The Rebel Queen had found her partner in a rebellious superhero instead the expected norm of finding a king. While other princesses were dining and dancing, she was flying high above the clouds where no poison could reach her.

Whether or not they live happily ever after is yet to be seen for I do not fly yet and thus could not follow her to get the rest of the story….

What I did learn from The Rebel Queen was that it is up to the modern day girl to write her own story. Find co-authors not rulers. Find Love not lust. Don’t let a mold decide your life. Follow the examples of the love stories of strong women who were successful and found love in unusual and epic places.

Love, from what I’ve seen, is not for the faint of heart…

Rebellious by Nature,

Brokebella.