The Participants

  I run away from the academy to the comfort of my friends in the Magical Forest.

  "Are you alright Princess?" I heard the melodic voice of Serpentina, I can feel her near beside me, I am sitting in the gazebo, in the forest, I am crying over my frustrations with myself and Flynn. My head is on my knees. I didn't answer the white snake's question, but I can't control my sniffing. She doesn't leave me, until I raised my head and I find her looking at me tenderly. I am astonished to find her in her giant form.

  "Hey Serpentina! I am sorry, I am crying again." I said, trying to wipe the tears away on my cheeks. "Why do you look like that?" I was not able to contain my confusions.

     "I thought, you were in danger. I can't let anything happen to you Princess, especially now, that there are reports, that dark men are roaming around the six Kingdoms." She said seriously.

     "Just cry Malia, I will just be here if you want to talk about it." She is coiling her body now, and she is watching me.

"I have done a terrible thing Serpentina, Prince Gregory kissed me in front of the whole crowd at the academy ground during the ending of the Offering Ceremony, and I kissed him back. I don't know what happened, when I opened my eyes, Prince Flynn and Prince Gregory were fighting with each other. I just ran off, I can't face them both, how could Flynn hit Prince Gregory, he has no right to intervene with my special moments with Prince Gregory." I said.

     "Well, I am just a snake Princess, but I have seen a lot of Princes lost their bearings, because of the matters of the heart. In my own opinion, Prince Flynn wasn't able to control all his emotions, since he doesn't want you to be with Prince Gregory, it was known all over Erthesia Land, they were born to be each other's opponent, I guess you already know how competitive they are with each other." She said, Serpentina is looking at my whole face.

  "I just don't get it, I am not a tournament that they need to compete, why they considered me as one of their games." I can't conceal my irritation.

     "I think this time, it is more than a competition, Malia, the Crown Prince of Erthesia is in love with you."

     "No way! It is not like that Serpentina." I am shocked, I can't accept the fact that Prince Flynn is really in love with me, I don't want to wish anymore, I lost all my hopes for him.

  "Well, it is just my point of view Malia, but one day, you will know that I am correct with this theory. I can't force you to believe in me, now go to your aunt's cottage, she has been waiting for you. It is getting late Malia." Serpentina said, then she smiled at me, and left at my side at once.

  I slowly walk to my aunt's house, I can feel the heaviness of my heart. I don't know what to think anymore. Aunt Thalia just opened the door of her house and nodded at me. After I changed my gown to ordinary dress, we eat our dinner silently. I guessed she didn't want to invade my privacy, but I want to know what happened after I left.

"Aunt Thalia, I am sorry I ruined the Ceremony." I said, looking at her ruefully.

"Malia, you have done nothing, in fact, this is the first time I really had fun. I am so amused to look at them, so smitten by my niece. The two well known playboys and heartbreakers of Erthesia finally fell in love, unfortunately with the same girl." I don't understand what my aunt is saying.

"Don't be so naive Malia, they are both in love with you, I can see it in their eyes." She said.

"Actually, Prince Flynn and Prince Gregory are not really heartbreakers, there are just a lot of girls who like them, then these fairies get hurt, because these two never dated any girl for real. They always go out just for formality purposes, but they both never get serious, I have heard it before Flynn is against his betrothal with Avery." My aunt explained.

"Yes! Aunt Thalia, but right now, he is in love with her, believe me, I heard it from his conversations with Avery loud and clear, he only dated me for revenge, nothing more, Nick heard it too." I said, I couldn't believe my aunt has the same opinion with Serpentina.

"Well, I guess you are right, only the love cord knows." She stands up and I helped her put away the dishes.

"He's just wants to ravage my sweet moments with Prince Gregory." I said, I am so angry with Flynn, how could Prince Flynn meddled with my affair.

"Do you think you can love Prince Gregory Malia?" My aunt asked me seriously. I am caught off guard by my aunt's question, and was not able to answer her.

"Well, just hope for the best okay, everything is possible, I am glad that you had fun Malia, I know you enjoyed the Offering Ceremony too, before the show of your two Prince Charming." Aunt Thalia said, we are now on the veranda, drinking green tea, watching the calm lake, it was peaceful and statue still.

  "Yeah, I did, my dad came, and we talk briefly, I wanted him to stay, but he couldn't." I said missing my parents.

   "Of course, I know your father, and the tale of his everlasting love." She spoke in graceful manner, how I wish I can talk and move like my aunt, she seems so perfect in everything she does.

  "Thanks for interrupting my awkward moment with Prince Gregory."

     "No need to thank me Malia, it is not yet the right time to expose yourself, unless your personal safety or another fairy's life is threatened, but I guess my interruption is pointless, the moment Prince Gregory kissed you, no matter how you try to get away from it, you will still be the talked of the whole Fairy Land, my dear."  The deity said, looking at me with serenity on her face, a long moment of silence followed, then we call it a night, we said goodnight to each other, and we walked to our separate room, I was not able to sleep right away.

  I was reflecting with sadness about the kissed I shared with Prince Gregory, then my mind, let me think of Flynn, it seems natural for me to think about him before I go to sleep, and every time I wake up, I hate myself why did I choose to fall in love in fairyland, I should have felt this way, when I was in human world so that I can compare him with someone else, or at least I have a better idea how to stop my stupid heart from loving him.

  I don't want to attend the third day of the Festival, yet I don't want to miss it either. I know that all the guests now returned to their separate Kingdoms, but I don't know how to face my fellow students, who witnessed my stupidity.

When I arrived at the academy, Freda immediately cornered me.

"Hey! How did you sleep last night Malia?" She said, looking at me with concern in her face.

"How did you know? That I didn't sleep well last night? Can you read my mind now Freda?" I asked her sarcastically.

"I am sorry Freda, I was such an idiot." I said, I immediately realized my best friend has nothing to do with it, it was all my fault.

"It is okay Malia, even if I were in your shoes, I will not sleep purposely, for I will be thinking how happy I am to be fought over by the two hottest fairies in Erthesia Land." She said, Freda smiled at me from ear to ear.

"Wow! At least my best friend was entertained, by my foolishness."

"You are not a fool Malia, it is not your fault, if they are head over heels in love with you." She said, looking at me somberly.

"Freda, please stop it, I don't have a good night's sleep, because of that incident, and now you remind me about it early in the morning. Honestly Freda I am so confused about Flynn's behavior, and I hate him so much, and I know he is making a show just to get back with Prince Gregory. His competitive nature gets in his way, I wonder how Avery reacted, about that fight." I said, a little worried about my girl nemesis.

"Well, I think you better watch out, when the two princes realized you left without saying anything, they both stopped fighting with each other, then they both flew away calling your name. I haven't seen Avery so angry before." Freda said.

"I think it was the best show ever, Nick and Hale even made a bet of One Thousand Chrimata."

"What? Really? Are they crazy?" I asked her successively.

"No! They are not crazy, they are just having fun. I guessed all the members of the Royal Family had fun, except for Princess Avery and Princess Suzanne, both of them, always wanted to be the center of attention, but you stole the limelight yesterday my dear." I can see the amusement in Freda's eyes.

Don't mind them Malia, let them die with envy." She said, then she linked her arm with mine. We go to the auditorium with smiles on our faces. Freda somehow managed to lighten my mood, and she makes me feel more alive.

We cross paths with Prince Hale and Nick on our way to the auditorium, they both smiled at us, I am glad that they didn't bring up yesterday's episode. I guess I hurt them both, that is why they don't want to talk about it, especially Hale. We haven't talked lately, unlike Nick, he is always open about how he feels about me, and he even asked me to give his elder brother a chance.

The moment we arrived at the auditorium, the place is almost full, thanks to Declan, he reserved us seats. Then he specifically requested me to sit beside him. We are still waiting for the faculty member and Headmaster Amos to arrive. I am not sure what is the event for the day.

"Malia, don't you believe in me now?" Declan said in a low voice.

"What do you mean Prince Declan?" I asked.

"About Prince Flynn Malia, he really lost it yesterday, when he saw you kissed back Prince Gregory, I know he is having a hard time now Malia." Prince Declan said, I can feel his concern about his cousin.

"No matter what you say Prince Declan, I won't believe you, I will never change my mind, I hate him for everything he had done to me, if he cares about how I feel, he could have asked a simple apology to me, but he never did. He keeps hurting me all over again, now he wants to meddle with my personal relationship with Prince Gregory. Just tell him to stay away from me, he is already engaged with Princess Avery, what is wrong with him." I told Prince Declan, everything that I feel towards his cousin.

"Malia, I know he has his reasons, I just can't tell you about it, I am asking you, don't give up on him, please." Declan said, he is begging me.

"I am tired, Prince Declan, I just cannot go on believing in him." I said, then I can see the disappointment in his face, then I am shocked to find Prince Flynn looking at me, on the other side of the auditorium. He has the same expressions with Prince Declan. I turned away quickly, I don't want to look at him any further, for I know my heart will be longing for him again.

Deep in my heart, I want to believe Prince Declan, but I am afraid to lose again. I don't want to suffer the same pain, at least if I don't hope and wish, I will not get hurt. Prince Declan keeps quiet, then the Professors arrived, together with the Headmaster, they all seated on the front of the stage, except for Professor Barbara who comes up to the stage.

Our activity for today, is Quiz Bowl for all subjects. Professor Barbara discussed the criteria.

"Good day students! The following are the guidelines of the Erthesia Academy Annual Quiz Bowl, it will be composed of three rounds: Easy, Average, and Difficult Rounds. And each round will have ten questions, Easy round questions are worth ten points, Average fifteen points, and for the Difficult round twenty points." Professor Barbara said over the microphone.

"Headmaster Amos, personally selected the students to participate in this year's Quiz Bowl, please come forward once your name is called. You must come up to the stage, or else you will receive demerit points equivalent to ten points from all your subjects for the upcoming examination." Professor Barbara continues talking, I don't know, I suddenly felt nervous.

"Prince Nicholas from Elpizo Kingdom, Princess Avery from Eirini Kingdom, Prince Hale from Aeras Kingdom, Princess Suzanne from Exousia Kingdom, Prince Declan from Katharos Kingdom, Prince Flynn from Erthesia Kingdom, and last but not the lease for the first time in Erthesia Academy's History, from the commoner, Ms. Malia Blaze." I am stunned, and I felt my whole body is on fire, how on earth I am going to do this. I don't have any idea, what this Quiz Bowl all about. The whole students clapped their hands, especially the common fairies, they are shouting my name.

I remain seated on my seat, until Prince Declan, pulled me to stand up. I can feel my hands and legs trembled with tension and anxiety, I don't want to come up to the stage, but I can see all my fellow students are looking in our direction.

"Malia, my dear, you can do it, believe in yourself, you are smart and powerful, you are destined to lead your people, therefore Quiz Bowl is just an easy task for you." I heard my aunt's voice in my head. I suddenly felt relaxed, I am so glad she is here, I look around, then I saw her levitated in the air at the back of the auditorium, she waved and smiled at me.

"Thank you so much Aunt Thalia, I almost forgot how to walk due to my edginess, without you, I couldn't come up here on stage." I replied to her, at least I can now walk properly and I have the confidence to face the whole audience. I am hoping that my aunt is right, I don't want to embarrass Headmaster Amos for choosing me as one of the contestants, I need to do my best, to show him that he is not mistaken for having me here at the academy.

"Good luck to all the participants, please proceed now to your designated armchair, I would like to call on Mr. Wilson to give the questions for the first round." Professor Barbara said, then she turned over the microphone to Professor Wilson. I am hoping that everything will be okay. I can see Freda waves at me, and giving me thumbs up, I smiled at here uncertainly.