The Wrong Guy AKA Shuriki's Revenge
Naomi Turner saw that her best friend and the crown princess of Avalor was feeling a little down and out. Naomi decided to see exactly what made Elena feel so sad. She got Mateo deAlma, the royal wizard, and Lieutenant Gabriel Núñez to come with her to see what was wrong with Elena Castillo Flores.
Naomi: What's the matter with you, Elena?
Mateo: Yeah, you're usually in such a good mood, right, Gabe? Gabe?
Gabe was just staring at Elena. Mateo had to snap his fingers to get Gabe out of his trance-like state.
Gabe: Uh, what? Oh, oh yeah! So happy! What's wrong, now, Princess?
So, Elena told her friends what she was feeling so sad about. It was something that King Hector's daughter had told her on a recent trip to his royal retreat.
Elena: Oh, it's nothing, guys. I'm just upset about something that annoyingly bossy King Hector's daughter, Princess Veronica, said to me about love.
They all remembered that little vacation where the King Hector's retreat was set up to include the entire family. Since the four of them were very close friends, Elena took all of them on the trip to Hector's retreat, as well.
flashback
Elena and her family were in the middle of their royal retreat with old royal friends; King Joaquin of Cariza, King Lars of Maarswick, and King Raja of Napurna. King Hector did host the retreat, again. Worse than that times infinity was that he had not learned his lesson from the last time Elena encountered all of them. This time, however, all the kings had their queens and heirs at their sides, with Elena as the only single ruler at the retreat. King Hector had Queen Erica along with their teen daughter, Princess Veronica; King Joaquin, of course, had Queen Teressa and their daughter, Princess Caterina (who had already proven to have a lot in common with Elena's sister, Princess Isabel); King Lars had Queen Galina along with their teen daughter, Svetlana, and their young son, Lev (who was about Isa and Caterina's age); and King Raja had Queen Kania along with their teen daughter, Bindi, and young twins, a girl named Sari and a boy named Ravi. Meanwhile, Elena just had her family, her best friend, her royal wizard, and her royal guard. She also had her jaquins. But, none of them had expected the other rulers to bring their entire families.
King Hector: I see you're the only single ruler at this retreat. You are aware that this is also a royal couples retreat. It is also a retreat for royal families, but there are no commoners allowed at this retreat. I regret to say that I'm gonna have to ask your non-royal friends to leave, at once. Well, I don't regret it that much.
King Hector guffawed in a completely unkind way. Princess Veronica laughed at Elena with her father. Clearly, Princess Veronica was her father's daughter with her attitude. Queen Erica felt the need to make them apologize, but she stopped in her vocal tracks when her husband glared at her to do the same. She laughed rather uncomfortably.
King Hector: Or perhaps I'll let your commoner friends stay, considering I'm feeling nice this year. You may have thwarted my attempt to catch those marposas, but you did inspire me to get my little girl some learning in her brain with the mention of building a school. So, I guess I should thank you for that much.
Princess Veronica: Daddy, you mean this was the mean, nasty princess who stopped you from capturing those two marposas? She's even uglier than you said she was; and that dress doesn't look impressive, either. Such a hideous shade of red.
It was clear that Princess Veronica was trying put Elena down with such talk. Princess Veronica was like a mean girl among princesses; and she was quickly proven as a spoiled brat, too. That was when the other rulers' children tried to stand up for Elena. Princess Cat knew the Avaloran royal family the best from the time of the Olaball game during their Peace Festival. So, she led the way in standing up against this not-very-classy princess.
Princess Caterina: You may be a princess, but you sure don't have the class of a royal heir. It doesn't matter who you are. You can never talk like, least of all to a fellow princess.
Princess Svetlana: Exactly! Are such comments really appropriate or even acceptable for princesses to say?
But, Princess Veronica out spoke Princesses Cat and Svetlana by bossing them around the same way her father did to their fathers.
Princess Veronica: I don't know. Is it really princess-like behavior for all you to contradict me when my father owns the resort at which you're all staying for this retreat?
With that, Princess Svetlana faltered back and lowered her head to Veronica in defeat. She could see the shame towards her in King Lars and Queen Galina's eyes. Princess Svetlana held out her hand towards Princess Elena.
Princess Svetlana: I'm sorry I didn't try harder to defend you. Please, forgive me.
Princess Veronica got on Princess Svetlana's case about her attempt to apologize to Princess Elena.
Princess Veronica: Hey, Svetlana! You better not be trying to apologize to that unsightly Elena or else you and Prince Lev are gonna pay.
Prince Lev: But, you're the one who's being a mean girl. So, if anyone should adjust their attitude, it's you.
Princess Veronica: Enough, you little insect! This is the way we do things around here; you either do what my daddy says, or you'll be asked to leave.
Princess Svetlana: Pardon YOU, Veronica! Nobody gets to call my brother an insect except for me, and I don't even do it, myself! You're being a mean girl, Veronica. You can't force us to do what you always want us to do. Crown Princess Elena was right when she stopped your father from capturing those two marposas_ especially since he was only doing it for the benefit of having another sea creature just to show off in his aquarium.
Princess Bindi: I agree! He didn't even need those marposas in his aquarium. Besides, a real aquarium is supposed to be a place of sanctuary for wayward sea life.
Princess Veronica: Do you two remember when I said you were gonna pay if you tried to make things comfortable here for ugly Elena, the two of you still have that hanging over your dumb brunette heads. So, I would watch your mouths, if I were you! And, now, Bindi, you just included yourself in those words.
That was when Princess Veronica proved to be a spoiled brat in front of all the other rulers and their families.
Crown Princess Elena: Let's just try to get along with each other. If not for life, then at least 'till the retreat ends.
Princess Elena wanted to mend things up with King Hector, even if he was very bossy. She thought the best way to do it was by bonding with his daughter, but that was going to be easier said than done because Princess Veronica was as inconsiderate as her father_ perhaps even more.
Princess Veronica: So, Princess Elena, did you know that there's a way for you to become queen even before you've come of age?
With this in mind, Princess Veronica suddenly had Elena's undivided attention.
Crown Princess Elena: What do you mean by that? I thought there was no other way to become queen than to wait to come of age.
Elena didn't suspect it, but this was not intelligence information. It was yet another way that Veronica was planning to single Elena out.
Princess Veronica: There is, actually. Only condition is you have to get hitched to a prince.
Elena didn't want to think this was true. She knew she'd have to marry someday (if she wanted to have a child or two who would act as her heir for when she was no longer in power), but she wanted it to be someone she could love.
Crown Princess Elena: I don't think I want to hear anymore. I'm just not ready to get married; and even if I was ready for such a commitment, I would wanna wed someone I could love.
Princess Veronica: Oh, are you too afraid of the commitment? Are you gonna try to cheat on your king consort just like the ugly girl you are? Even dating someone is more of a maturity thing for everyone.
Veronica then spun Elena around with the streamer paper she wrapped around her while Veronica was saying the things she said to Elena. The force of it caused Elena to spin around very fast. After that, she felt so dizzy in her head that she almost fell to the floor. Luckily, Lieutenant Gabriel Núñez was there to catch her in his arms. He held onto her until she had fully recovered from her dizziness. Only problem with the way Gabe held Elena in his arms was that he held her half bridal-style. The others all got excited by the sight_ all of them except Veronica, of course.
Princess Bindi: Crown Princess Elena, since when do you have such a handsome man to catch you whenever you fall?
Princess Svetlana: Da! I wish I could have a guard or any other kind of male servant with such youthful strength. I would be good to this boy, if I were you.
Gabe just blushed at all the admirations of Elena's relationship to him from Princesses Svetlana and Bindi. Elena was unaware of Gabe's blushing. In fact, she didn't even know he felt that way about her. In her eyes, the two of them were just friends with Naomi and Mateo; and that was how she wanted to keep it, especially since she unknowingly let Veronica's comments about marrying a prince get to her. But, she decided to keep that a secret from everyone else.
Crown Princess Elena: Don't get cute like that. Lieutenant Gabriel Núñez, my royal guard, and I are just friends. My other friends that I invited here are Mateo deAlma, the Avaloran royal wizard, and Naomi Turner from my grand council. All four of us are just friends, and that's the way it's gonna stay.
Princess Veronica: Exactly! Why would any princess wanna go out with her guard, when she could have a prince?
Crown Princess Elena: I never said I would choose to wed a prince over my royal guard. I just said he was just a friend.
Elena was so busy trying to tell Veronica that she wasn't ready to be married, she didn't even notice Gabe feeling put out by her comment about the two of them being just friends. Mateo and Naomi went to help him up. As soon as he had been helped by Mateo and Naomi, Gabe just folded his arms and leaned his back against the wall behind them. Elena and Veronica stepped out of the room to argue over the subject of love. The princes and the other princesses went after them to make sure nothing went too far.
Mateo deAlma: At least, she thinks of you as a friend, which means that she does know you exist.
Naomi Turner: Yeah! I mean, Elena might not like you the same way you like her, but you're just happy to have her in your life any way she can be a part of it, right?
Gabe was feeling too sad about Elena not noticing how he felt about her to even consider their words comforting. But, he started to perk up a little at his own monologue about standing up for Elena.
Gabriel Núñez: I don't know why you thought I would find that comforting, but it wasn't. Other than my family, Princess Elena is the person I love the most in the world. My life during Shuriki's reign as the tyrannical, evil queen of Avalor was a living hell. Elena's return to Avalor made everyone happy, and I wanted to do something to give back to her that would also impress her. Princess Veronica is the ugliest princess on this trip in my eyes, and I don't care that her father is the host of this retreat. She has no right to talk like that to or about Elena. When the princesses get back, I'm so gonna give Princess Veronica a piece of my mind about the way she's been treating my beloved Elena. I'm gonna stand up for the one I love even if she does think of me the same way she thinks of all our other friends.
Mateo deAlma: Listen to yourself, Gabe. You need to accept that Elena only sees you as a friend. I get it! Love can be hurtful at times, but you should be happy if she's happy.
Naomi Turner: You should listen to Mateo. You need to consider Elena's feelings. That's what love is all about, you know.
Gabriel Núñez: I'm planning to stand for her as her friend as well as a guy in love. I don't mind this Princess Veronica insulting our friendship, but no one, not even another princess, calls Elena ugly on my watch.
Mateo deAlma: So, Princess Veronica thinks that way of Elena. It's just her opinion.
Naomi Turner: Yeah, not everyone in our lives has to like us. Besides, it was King Hector who called Elena ugly first.
Gabriel Núñez: No, it's not just her opinion. Princess Veronica was doing it just to be mean. She was trying to put Elena down just to be mean.
The royal heirs and their siblings came back into the room, where Gabe did, indeed, give Princess Veronica a piece of his mind about the way she'd been treating Elena.
Gabriel Núñez: Princess Veronica, I'd like to have a word with you, right now!
Princess Veronica: Alright, Royal Guard boyfriend! Talk to me! Say whatever it is you wanna say!
Gabriel Núñez: You have got to stop talking trash about Princess Elena and calling her ugly! She's the farthest thing from it, which is more than I can say about you!
With those words fresh in the room, everyone gasped, especially Veronica. But, Hector and the other kings had stepped into the room in time to those words come from Gabe's mouth. King Hector and Princess Veronica were not going to Gabe's insult lying down. Even if he was just trying to stand up for his beloved, Gabe ruined Elena's chances of mending things with King Hector with that comment about his daughter.
King Hector: Why would you even try to defend Princess Elena? To win her love, I suppose! Please! Not only are you stuck in the friend zone with her, but your also just her guard.
Princess Veronica: Of course, and it's not like you're ever going to be her Prince Charming. That role should go to an actual prince, if she ever finds a prince with bad enough taste to like her! ha-ha!
King Hector then went to talk with Elena, or rather to taunt her. It was obvious that he was going to say something to her that would not be good to say or hear.
King Hector: I hope your dumb guard is happy, Elena, because his insult to my daughter just ruined the retreat for everyone here.
The other kings tried to reason with Hector about sending them all back to their kingdoms, but to no avail.
King Lars: I think you can make just one exception, can't you? I mean, the boy was simply trying to stand up for the ruler of his land.
King Raja: Besides, it is more Princess Veronica's fault that things went this way. Forgive me for saying this, but your daughter was being rather unkind to Princess Elena with everything she had said.
King Hector: You will all be sorry you said such things. One more word like that from any of you, and I shall relieve you all of the gifts I gave you from the past retreats.
Princess Veronica: You all better listen to my dad. He knows how to hand out retreat gifts and intimidate people into doing what he wants them to do.
They all agreed to do what King Hector and his daughter wanted to do this time around, even King Joaquin. All of them were going against their best judgements, but none of them wanted to risk upsetting King Hector again when he had given them a second chance.
Crown Princess Elena: It's OK, everyone. My group will leave, and we won't cause any of you any more trouble than my guard already to Princess Veronica. Come on, everyone. Let's go. It's time for us to leave, anyway.
King Joaquin: Crown Princess Elena, you and your friends and family don't necessarily have to leave the retreat, especially not this prematurely.
Queen Teresa: Yes, your majesty. Please stay, even if only for a little while longer.
Naomi Turner: Maybe we should stay a little bit longer, since King Joaquin and Queen Teresa are offering us to stay.
Crown Princess Elena: No, we should just go back to our own home kingdom of Avalor, so as not to make things worse than Gabe already has.
Mateo deAlma: Technically, Elena, it was more Princess Veronica's fault than it was Gabe's. She was the one who kept on insulting you all that time, after all. Gabe was just standing up for you.
King Lars: Your two other friends are correct, Crown Princess Elena. It was not your guardsman's fault that Princess Veronica repeatedly insulted you and treated you like you didn't belong.
King Raja: That is right, Crown Princess Elena. Yes, you could've stood up for yourself on your own. But, you should probably show some appreciation to your guard friend for at least trying to stand up for you.
Crown Princess Elena: That's not why I'm leaving the retreat this early. I'm leaving because since he gave a second chance to even me, I was hoping to make amends with King Hector by becoming friends with Princess Veronica. But, now the chance to mend things up with King Hector has been ruined, too.
After the royal Avaloran family and Elena's friends were on their way back to Avalor, Gabe decided to talk to Elena.
Gabriel Núñez: Elena, I know you're mad at me about your second chance at King Hector's royal retreat, but I don't know why you're taking the failed chance out on me. It was Princess Veronica who kept on giving you a difficult day out of nothing but spite.
Crown Princess Elena: I'm indeed mad at Princess Veronica for making my attempt to use my second chance to win King Hector's favor wisely. But, I'm mad at you for making it look like you and I were a couple to every other ruler at the retreat. Do you even know how embarrassed I was by that? And what about when I specifically said that you, Mateo, Naomi, and I are all just friends? Did you snuff out that insight? Or were you just ignorant of it?
Gabriel Núñez: Can't one of your closest friends at least dream of being with you? I mean, I can dream, can't I?
Crown Princess Elena: I need you to hear this; I only like you as a friend, just like with Mateo and Naomi.
end of flashback