Descendants – The Lost Princess

A Life Fit for a Royal

9 years later, Lizzy is now 10 and living 'happily'. She had beautiful, long brown hair, her eyes were a chocolatey brown, and her skin was tan. Lizzy really was the most beautiful. However, the Queen of Hearts wanted people to believe that Lizzy was her evil daughter, so she forced Lizzy to wear a black wig with red streaks and contacts that made her eyes look blood red. Every day, Lizzy was forced to wear a puffy red dress with black and yellow stripes. Her mother would give her lessons on how to be a true evil princess and everything else that she needed to know.

"Why can't I go out and play with the other children, mother?" Lizzy would ask the Queen of Hearts every afternoon when the kids were released from school and out having fun.

"The answer is quite simple Lizzy. A true princess must not engage in such senseless activities like those. Now repeat after me. A proper princess must not go out and engage in stupid activities, she must remain inside and learn," The Queen of Hearts instructed as she went to make tea.

"A proper princess must not go out and engage in stupid activities, she must remain inside and learn. Was that good mother?" Lizzy repeated while she watched her mother make the tea.

"It's acceptable, Lizzy," The Queen of Hearts answered, disappointed. "You think that because you have to repeat it every day you would have mastered it by now," She muttered under her breath. She handed Lizzy a cup and they spent the next hour or so learning how everything about tea. From pouring it to drinking it. The Q.O.H. (Queen of Hearts) got so annoyed at one point during the lesson she threw her tea cup across the room. Then, she got upset that a tea cup was broken and she started screaming at Lizzy. Lizzy was terrified when her mother got like this. She was trembling in her seat. However, she knew better than to run away. She learned that the hard way a few years ago.

Flashback:

"Mommy, what are we doing outside?" Lizzy asked her mother as she sat down on an old and tattered blanket.

"Lizzy, it's quite simple really. We are out here because we are gathering stones to sharpen our axes," Q.O.H. said as if it was quite obvious.

"Axes? But you said princesses don't handle weapons," Lizzy questioned her mother while she watched all of the other kids playing in the field before her. I wish I could go play with them. But mother would never allow me to.

"Lizzy, why are you so simple minded? When you are a queen you will understand. Sometimes people don't listen to your orders and you must teach them a lesson. That is the only time you are allowed to use a weapon" Q.O.H. replied. "Lizzy, I am going inside to find a bucket. Stay here!" Lizzy didn't even here her mother. She was staring longingly towards the group of kids. One of the kids saw her staring and motioned her to come over and play with them. Lizzy smiled and quickly ran over. She happily played with the group until her mother returned.

"ELIZABETH! GET BACK OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!" Her mother yelled at her. The other kids, knowing the reputation of the Queen of Hearts, started to run in the other direction. Lizzy wanted so badly to be able to run away with them, but she knew she couldn't. She slowly walked towards her furious mother, her head down. The Q.O.H. met her half way and basically dragged her back to the house.

"I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO STAY PUT, ELIZABETH!" Her mother yelled furiously. Lizzy was very scared. She had never seen her mother so angry. She got so angry that she started kicking things and throwing stuff. A cup almost hit Lizzy in the head and she ran to her room. What Lizzy didn't realize is that this action would only make her mother angrier. Her mother stormed to Lizzy's room and threw open the door. Lizzy cowered in the corner. Q.O.H. stormed over to where she was and grabbed her arm. Lizzy screamed in surprise as her mother dragged her into an empty room with one hand and held a belt like object in the other. Q.O.H. threw her across the room. Lizzy was crying uncontrollably and her so called mother didn't care. Q.O.H. brandished her belt like object. The mysterious object turned out to be a whip. Lizzy's eyes grew twice in size. She backed into the corner and shut her eyes tightly. She heard a crack and a scream. Then, she felt a searing pain on her lower leg. She realized the scream was her own and when she looked down she saw a long gash on her thigh. The tears started to flow faster while blood poured out of the wound like a crimson river.

"W-why are you d-doing this, m-mother?" Lizzy stammered as she tried to push herself farther into the corner.

"I TOLD YOU, ELIZABETH. PEOPLE WHO DON'T LISTEN MUST BE PUNISHED. YOU HAVEN'T LISTENED TO ME!" Q.O.H. yelled while she raised her whip again. After a good half an hour of yelling and punishment, Q.O.H. left Lizzy cowering in the corner. By now, she had 5 gashes on her legs and she was sitting in a small pool of her own blood. She cried herself to sleep that night.

Present:

Recalling that memory made Lizzy shudder while she watched her mother have a fit. Now, she acquired a few more scars and bruises. Her newest one was on left arm, just under her birthmark. He hadn't quite healed yet. She carefully touched it. When she did, she winced. She looked out to the other kids once again. All she wanted to do was go out and have fun. She turned her attention back to her mother just in time to see a tea cup whizzing towards her face. She quickly ducked her head and wondered: Do other kids have to deal with this?

Meanwhile:

"Come on, Ben! We're going to be late to meet your father." Belle called out to her 9 year old son as she packed a few things in a bag.

"Coming mother!" Ben responded. He quickly grabbed his royal blue jacket and a bag and ran to his mother at the front of their castle. They were about to meet his father, King Adam, before heading off to their annual picnic in the royal gardens. "I can't wait for our picnic this year, mom!" Ben exclaimed, but his mother didn't look as happy. "What's wrong mom?" Ben asked his mother as they entered the royal limo.

"It's nothing that you need to worry about sweetie," Belle replied softly while she stared out the window. It was nothing for him to worry about. But Belle couldn't not think about it. 9 years ago, her daughter was taken from her. She had convinced Adam to have the annual picnic so they could remember their lost daughter. Belle fought back her tears. She and Adam had agreed that they weren't going to tell Ben about his sister. They sent out search parties as often as they could, but they would always end up empty handed. Where are you Bethany? I miss you so much.

At the picnic site Belle watched Adam and Ben play together, but she wasn't in the mood. She was never in the mood on this day. All she wanted was her daughter back. Was that too much to ask for?