A Future Chosen
A year had passed since 7 - now 8 year old Marcy Wu had been transported into the strange land of Amphibia, and had been generously taken in by King Andrias, and things had been......somewhat better than they had been before.
Since attending the Newtopian Public School had been a complete disaster, she’d been getting home schooled by Lady Olivia, who was a very stern and often very critical teacher, but Marcy proved to be a good student, paying utmost attention to Lady Olivia’s teachings and doing all the work she’d been assigned.
Marcy excelled in academics, proving herself to be especially gifted in math , science and history. She actually loved history and science -- she found both topics fascinating, and was always asking Lady Olivia if they could go to the outskirts of Newtopia or the aquarium so that she could actually see some wildlife and plants that were native to Amphibia and learn more about them.Andrias was impressed that a girl as young as her had such an advanced level of learning, and was pleased that she’d taken an interest in Amphibian history and the biology of the land.
However, education seemed to be the only thing Marcy was good at.
When it came to interacting with the Newtopians, she failed pretty miserably. She had a hard time looking them in the eye and didn’t know how to start or keep a conversation-unless it was about the chapters of Amphibian history she was particularly interested in or if it was about Newtopian wildlife --plus her clumsy and oblivious nature constantly put her at risk of creating an unwanted scene or messing something up.....like the time she’d leaned on a farmer’s stand only to have it all collapse, causing her to fall on and crush all the fruits and vegetables that had been kept underneath the stand.
As a result, Marcy was almost afraid to leave the castle-staying in her room or in the castle library-- where her lessons were usually held-reading every book she could get her tiny human hands on. She also played games on her DS or wandered around outside, trying to see if she could discover any new plants, animals or fungi.The only friends she seemed to have were a few plants Andrias had gifted her so that she wouldn’t be too lonely in the castle...but apart from the plants, Marcy had no friends.
She was virtually all alone.
She was currently in the library, reading an enormous book that was about some old Newtopian Queen, when Lady Olivia barged in.
”The King requests your presence.Now.” The aqua newt said.
Marcy sighed,closing the book with a loud “thud!” and putting it back on the shelf she’s gotten it from before walking out and up towards King Andrias’s throne room, tripping on the carpets that lined the halls a few times, almost breaking a few vases and knocking a painting down in an attempt to catch herself.
The old newt smiled as she walked in,clearing his throat.
”Marcy.”
“King Andrias.” She gave a small bow.
”You know you don’t need to bow before me.” He said with a small chuckle.Marcy nodded,straightening up,arms behind her back.
There was silence for a few moments,then Andrias spoke.
”Marcy, do you know what a successor is?”
Marcy looked up,nodding.
”Someone who takes over your occupation after you die or give it up.”
“Very good! And do you know who can be someone’s successor?”
“Their kids or someone they choose.” Marcy raised an eyebrow.”Why are you asking me this?”
Andrias sighed,looking away.
”Marcy.....As much as I hate to admit it.....I am a very old newt, and even us newts cannot live forever. As much as I’d like to rule over my people for eternity, I know that I cannot....” he said, sighing.
”So, Now that I’m getting on a bit age wise.....it’s time that I began thinking about choosing my next successor......I’m afraid I’ve never had much of an interest in finding a Queen or having children,I never had the time.....so I need to choose someone who I know will be capable of ruling all of Newtopia after me.....someone who knows all of Newtopian and Amphibian history, Someone well versed in our culture and ways,Someone smart , who can figure things out easily and prevent trouble from occurring......”
Marcy nodded,still not getting why he had called her up.
Andrias then turned to her,smiling.
”Marcy.......I want for you to succeed me as ruler of Amphibia.”
Marcy’s eyes widened and her mouth hung open as she whipped her head up to look at him.
Wait.....what? Was he serious? Was she daydreaming or something?!?
”H-huh?”
“You’re well immersed in our history,culture,ways of life and legal system.......you are highly intelligent.....you are naturally a very peaceful,amiable person.......as long as we can advance your education, make sure you learn more about royal duties and protocol and make sure you are educated in diplomacy and how to behave when conducting agreements and alliances.......you should make a very fine ruler indeed! Why, I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the throne! And you’d be the very first human ruler! Now,I’m afraid you won’t get the title of “princess”, I’m afraid that title is reserved only for blood relatives and blood children of the king, and since you are not my blood child.....you will have to settle with the title of “Lady”.But don’t worry-as soon as you take the throne, they’ll all know you as Queen Marcy- the title will belong to you and you alone and no one can disputes your title.”
Marcy didn’t believe it.She couldn’t believe it.
”S-Sir......uh......uh...”
King Andrias raised an eyebrow.”What is it?”
“King Andrias you can’t be serious! Everyone here hates me! What makes you think they’d ever want me as a ruler?!?” She yelled, shocked and distressed.
Andrias chuckled.”Oh please,they just need time! Give them enough time to get to know you, to see how much you’ll grow and learn, and before you know it they’ll be throwing me off the throne early just so you can take them over!” He chuckled.
”Now,I’ll arrange for Lady Olivia to get more books on royal protocols and start teaching you diplomatic skills......we have plenty of time....”
”But.....what if I don’t wanna be their ruler?”
“Oh Marcy,Marcy Marcy Marcy......I know, being ruler of Newtopia seems like a very hard,stressful job........but really it’s very rewarding.......plus,you’re basically the richest person in Newtopia!!” He motioned around the room, all of the lavish and ornate objects and items made from gold.Marcy didn’t want any of them.
She didn’t want to be ruler, and she was sure the newts didn’t want her to be their ruler either.
But Andrias didn’t seem to be taking no for an answer.
”King An-“
“Now then, I really must get back to my work, why don’t you go tend to your plants or something?”
Marcy sighed shakily,slowly walking out without a word.
King Andrias called Lady Olivia in afterwards, the door closing behind her.After a few minutes,Marcy heard Lady Olivia scream “YOU WHAT!!?” And heard what sounded like arguing and pleading from behind the door.
She started speed walking to her room, the sound of arguing bringing back memories she’d tried so hard to forget. She got into her room, sitting on the bed, her head in her hands.
Why was this happening?
Why had her future suddenly been chosen for her without any consent on her behalf?
How had her future been torn from her and replaced with a future that someone else wanted for her?
She knew King Andrias cared for her and probably thought he was making a good decision, doing something that was best for the kingdom, but it wasn’t what was best for her!!! It wasn’t what she wanted at all!
She didn’t want to be ruler.......
She couldn’t be ruler........She....
She just wanted to be her.
She wanted to go to school, play video games on her DS, to run around the castle and play outside and explore the world.
She wanted to not have to worry about ruling an entire country and keeping everyone safe.
She just wanted to be herself.
She wanted to be a kid.
She wanted to go home.
___________________________________________________________________________
The next morning,every noble, aristocrat, diplomat, and member of the Newtopian royal court was assembled in the throne room, King Andrias smiling wide as the newts and few salamanders before him assembled and looked up at him. Lady Olivia stood by him, and Marcy stood by Olivia, arms behind her back, feeling unbelievably nervous.
”Nobles of Newtopia! Thank you for making my acquaintance today! Now, let’s get down to business......the reason why I have called you all here is because, as you all know, I have been trying to find a suitable candidate for my successor.....and now, at long last, I have finally found one!”
Collective exclamations and whispers all spread throughout the crowd, Marcy feeling all the more jittery.
”My dear friends,It is with great honor and pride, that I present to you my chosen successor, my charge,Lady Marcy Wu.”
He motioned to Marcy, who was breathing heavily, shaking as everyone in the room turned and stared at her.She looked down, breathing heavily.
The room was dead silent-then one newt spoke up.
”Your majesty... forgive me for saying so.....but this is... ABSOLUTELY ABSURD!!” The newt yelled,clearly outraged.
``THE CHILD IS NOT A BLOOD RELATIVE! WHO KNOWS WHERE SHE CAME FROM OR HER PARENTAGE!! A-AND NEWTS HAVE BEEN THE ONLY ONES TO RULE AMPHIBIA AND NEWTS ARE THE ONLY SPECIES CAPABLE OF RULING!!YOU CAN’T JUST SLAP ANOTHER SPECIES ON THE THRONE AND EXPECT THE KINGDOM TO SURVIVE!!HOW DO WE KNOW SHES EVEN INTELLIGENT ENOUGH?!?”
The other newts began to voice their opinions as well -- harsh, angry,shocked,outraged and critical opinions regarding why The “Wise and great” King Andrias had just chosen a random creature to take on the role of being ruler of all of Amphibia.
Marcy shut her eyes and covered her ears.This was too much.It was all too much.The anger,the shouting, all directed at her.
She sat down on the ground, drawing her knees together chest and cupping her hands tightly over her ears in an attempt to drown out the noise.She rocked herself back and forth,humming somewhat loudly, trying to drown out the angry noises.
King Andrias was standing up, yelling over the crowd.
``EVERYONE SETTLE DOWN PLEASE!! Believe me, I know what I’m doing! The girl is getting a proper education, she’s on the path to learning everything she needs to learn to succeed me as sovereign! She may be a different species but that does not mean that she’ll be an inferior ruler! She is highly intelligent, highly empathetic-“
“SIR!”
Lady Olivia was holding Marcy by the shoulders, trying to soothe the girl, who was clearly in a state of distress.
Andrias’s eyes widened,panicking, worrying that something was seriously wrong with his young charge.He bent down, cupping his hands over Marcy, trying to protect her from the eyes and harsh voices of the crowd.
The poor thing was shaking so violently…and the crowd...they…
They just wouldn’t shut up!
”EVERYONE OUT! GET OUT!” He roared, the newts all falling dead silent and cowering at the colossal newt’s sudden outburst.
The room was suddenly silent, apart from Marcy’s humming and sobs of distress and Andrias’s heavy breathing.The giant newt slowly regained his composure, then cleared his throat.
``I......I am sorry.....Forgive me......I’m.....please,Lady Olivia, escort them outside,I’ll talk with them once I get Marcy here calmed down.....” He said,breathing heavily.
Lady Olivia stood back, eyes wide in fear.
”R-right away,your highness.....” she mumbled, turning to the other newts, all of whom were just as fearful as Olivia led them outside.
Andrias breathed in and out, calming himself down as he slowly opened his hands.
Marcy was curled up in on herself,hugging her knees to her chest as she sobbed raggedly.
He slowly began rubbing her back with the tip of his finger, being as gentle as possible.The girl shuddered,sobbing harder.
”Hey........Hey it’s ......it’s alright......ssssh.......” Andrias whispered, trying to calm her down and let her know that she was safe.
”......No one is going to hurt you,Marcy.....I swear.......they’re all gone, no one is going to hurt you, sweet girl....”
Marcy looked up, eyes overflowing with tears and full of fear and immeasurable melancholy.
”T-t-t-they.......d-don’t........They.....”
“Sssh......”
The newt slowly scooped her up into his cupped hands, holding her close to his chest, using his thumb to rub her back as she clung to his chest, grabbing onto his beard tightly.
”It’ll all be alright.......they were all just.......shocked, is all.......sssh.......dear child, just give them all time!” He reassured.
”How do you know???” Marcy sobbed.
”They will! Trust me.” He said, gently nuzzling the top of her head with the tip of his snout.
She sniffled and huffed, holding onto him.
”Just calm down,Marcy.....it’ll be alright! I’ll make sure that everything is alright!” He said, holding her as close as he could without accidentally crushing her.
”Now.......why don’t we get you to your room.....I understand that this has all upset you greatly, so you can rest for as long as you need.....”
He began carrying her back to her room, Marcy slowly calming down, her huffs and loud sobs quieting down.
Andrias soon got her into her room, kneeling down and gently setting Marcy down on her bed. She quickly dove under the covers, feeling the strong desire to cover herself with something warm and heavy.She grabbed her caterpillar plushie and hugged it close, lying down, wrapped in her bedsheets so that she looked like a little human burrito.
Andrias chuckled, gently rubbing the top of her head with his finger.
”It’s going to be okay......I swear.....I’ll talk to everyone, I’ll make them understand.Tomorrow we can begin schooling you on diplomacy and all the royal basics......but for now, you just rest.....”
He got up, making his way out of her room and closing the door behind him.
Marcy just lay there, hugging her caterpillar, feeling drained of all energy.
She hadn’t asked for any of this.
As far as she knew,she’d done nothing to deserve all this.
So why her?
Why did her parents have to get a divorce and then cease to love her?
Why did she have to get transported to a whole new world who’s inhabitants were incredibly hostile towards her?
Why did she have to have her future picked out for her, leaving her without any say in what she wanted.
Why her?
Why?