Chapter One: Flaming Bird

Diary Entry:

I am Lady Phoenix, the Firebird's daughter. Today, I am leaving the castle to go to Ever After High, a school for the teenage sons and daughters of fairy-tales. Mother gave me this diary so that I can record my secrets and the longings of my heart. I turned fourteen yesterday. Mother and I live in Koschei's old castle. There is a beautiful poem about it. It goes;

And in my dreams I see myself on a wolf's back

Riding along a forest path

To do battle with a sorcerer-tsar

In that land where a princess sits under lock and key

Pining behind massive walls

There gardens surround a palace all of glass

There Firebirds sing by night

And Peck at golden fruit

I have a dangerous secret, though. If anyone finds out that my mom married Prince Ivan, we could be in big bad trouble. Luckily, I look just like my mom, with flaming hair and amber eyes. My magic touch is that I can breathe fire or incinerate things at will. Its wicked cool if you want to fry an egg super quick. Also, I can turn into a real Firebird at will. Got to go.

Lady.

"Lady, have you fnished packing?" Called Mother from downstairs.

"Yes, Mother, I have."

"Good, sweetie. The carriage is waiting." She hugged me, "Oh sweetie. I'm going to miss you so much."

"Me too. I love you Mother," I told her. She smoothed down my flaming hair.

"Make me proud."

"I promise I will."

The footman had already packed the carriage.

"Oh, goodbye Mother!"

I waved to her for as long as I could see. Then she disappeared from view as we rounded a corner. I was both excited and worried. I had never been beyond the walls of the palace. What would the other Ever After High students wear? I wore my flaming hair pinned up as usual, with a red plume and and a fire red, gold glittering tutu and matching pointe shoes. I hoped that I looked okay. I leaned out of the window.

"Don't!" Scolded the footman.

"Sorry." The country around the palace was full of murderers and thieves. I had to be careful. Still, I was curious.

Ever After High was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen. It was fairy-fabulous. It was on a hill overlooking the Enchanted Forest. I couldn't help but stare as the footmen took my luggage up to the dorms.

"Looking for something, Ms. Phoenix?"

I jumped, "Oh, Hello," I swept a curtsey, "Are you Headmaster Grimm? I was wondering where the dorms were."

"Yes." Headmaster Grimm was a proud-looking, stout, stern man, "Your dorm is in East Tower. It's the highest one."

"Thank you, sir!"

I raced off to find my dorm room. When I get going really fast, I leave behind a trail of flames. It turned out that the East Tower was at the top of a lot of stairs.

"235, 236." I was quickly running out of breath. There were 300 steps! I paused to catch my breath on the landing.

"Here we are. Room 26."

The door said in beautiful white letters, Duchess Swan and Lady Phoenix.

"Hello?" I knocked on the door. Duchess Swan opened the door. She had black, white and lavender striped hair and was wearing a purple plume. Her eyes were honey - brown. She, too, wore a tutu, but hers was lavender with a smattering of black stars. She wore black High heels. Duchess looked me up and down, not unkindly. Then she smiled,

"You must be Lady, my new roomie! We have almost exactly the same story. We're going to be best friends! Come here and look at the furniture I picked out for you!"

Duchess drew me into the room, shutting the door. There was an enormous four poster bed with red and gold hangings. A red and gold inlaid dressing table and floor-length mirror stood beside closet, too, was gold inlaid.

"I love it!" I screamed, "It's beautiful! We're going to have so much fun at Ever After High!"

Duchess smiled, "First let's go to the office and pick classes. Then we can meet up with some of the girls and grab some coffee and cupcakes."

"Wow, this is amazing! In my country, there's a lot of crime, so I've never been beyond the palace walls. I know my destiny's important, but I think that making my country safe for everyone would be a dream come true."

Duchess looked at me, "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Yes."

"I hate my destiny, even though I'm supposed to be a Royal." She put her head in her hands.

I thought about the story of Swan Lake.

"So you don't want to kill yourself over a prince who betrays you. What's wrong with that?"

Duchess sighed, "You will learn that here no one appreciates the difference between who you are and who you're supposed to be. Never mind. Let's go."

She grabbed my hand and together we descended the 300 steps.

Duchess made a face, "Ugh, I have Grimminastics right before Damsel-in-Distressing. What about you? You have to decide if you're a Royal or a Rebel."

I groaned, "It's difficult. If I'm not there, Koschei wins. All the same, I really want to help my people. I suppose I'll have to be a Royal. Royally Rebellious."

Headmaster Grimm pushed a schedule across the table.

"Thank you. Let's see. Beast Training and Care, Kindom Management, Grimminastics, Science and Sorcery, Crownculus, Geografairy, and ugh - Princessology? Honestly, I'm only the princess of the Fire Islands, not of the Jewel Kingdom!"

Duchess shrugged, "See what I mean? Let's go find Faybelle and Lizzie. Then we can go shopping in Bookend and catch up over some coffee."

In Bookend, we met Faybelle and Lizzie. Faybelle Thorn was the evil fairy form Sleeping Beauty's daughter, and a first year like me. Lizzie Hearts was a second year, the daughter of the Queen of Hearts. She and Faybelle were roommates.

"Off with your head!" Screamed Lizzie Hearts. Duchess nudged me.

"She means, pleased to meet you."

"Oh. Um, nice to meet you Lizzie. I'm Lady Phoenix."

"And I'm Faybelle. Your hair is wicked cool. Is it actually on fire?"

I smiled, "Yes, but it's magical fire so it warms but doesn't burn."

"Alright, enough talking and more shopping!"

After a royally tiring day at Bookend, Duchess and I returned home.

"Why 300 steps," I moaned.

"I think it's to spite us," She complained.

I was so tired that I laid down and went to sleep straight away.

Thanks for reading! I'm really stumped about a name for the Snow Queen's son. If you could leave ideas in the Reviews section, I would be so grateful. There will be prizes!

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