Hi everyone!

So this is quite the adventure, I'm excited for what it will entail.

As you can see, this is just another Selection SYOC with a twist!

Everyone (unless you're very unlucky) has a magical power of some sort.

The form is going to be on my profile, and I'll accept 35 girls. You can submit up to 4 girls.

So this is an experiment and I'd appreciate feedback, positive or negative. Updates will come at least once a week. Without further ado, chapter one!

Prince William paced back and forth in the courtyard, feeling very unsettled. The wind mirrored his emotions, stirring around him and whipping his hair into tangles.

But he didn't feel like controlling the wind at the moment. He felt like curling up in bed and never coming out of his room again.

Why had he made this decision? What had possessed him to accept the offer of having a Selection?

The Selection had been canceled the past years, once people started realizing they had unnatural abilities.

But Will had never even met a woman besides his own sisters and mother. He had always been treated like a precious jewel, sheltered in a sparkling cage until it was time to show him off to the public.

And now, the time had came. He was paving the way for a new world with this Selection. But he didn't want to pave the way. Because the time would come when he would mess up. And it would probably be in front of everyone.

Not only would they be thirty-five girls in the palace, all vying for his attention- there would be thirty-five powerful girls, all with different magic.

What a mess this would be! There were Telepaths and Empaths and Shape-shifters out there. He would never be able to hide a secret, much less fall in love with one of them, or hold a conversation.

The wind grew stronger, nearly knocking Will off his feet. This was not a time to be upset. He was the prince. He could do this.

"It's a blustery day, huh?" called a melodious voice behind him, straining to be heard over the incessant wind.

It was Leina, his younger sister. Her long black hair had broke free from its tight bun and was flying out behind her like a proud banner.

Serene, Leina's twin, was standing beside her, looking concerned.

"Sorry," said Will. "Guess I'm just nervous."

"Will? Nervous? Ha!" cried Leina, slapping her knee like it was the best joke she'd ever heard. "His High-and-Mightiness could never be nervous!"

"I know," Will said miserably. "I need to calm down."

"Yeah you do. The wind's going crazy," said Leina, fanning it away like that would make a difference.

"Let's get you inside before you start a tornado," said Serene quietly, laying a hand on his shoulder.

If there was anyone who could make Will feel better, it was the twins. Even at fourteen, they were wise and bubbly and graceful, the perfect princesses.

Will let Serene guide him inside, and they began making their way through the corridors. They took so many twists and turns, Will lost his sense of direction.

"Where are we going?" he asked. "Are we even in Illéa anymore?"

"No, actually. We're on Mars," said Leina dryly. "And here we are!"

She threw open a door, revealing a cozy parlor.

Tables were set up with various card games and treats, and Will could see dozens of couches begging to be used.

"Wow," he breathed. "Where did you find this place?"

"We made it!" said Leina proudly. "It used to be a meeting room, but we already have seventeen, so we figured no one needed this one. And we figured you'd need it once you knew you were having a Selec..."

She trailed off, her cheeks flaming. Literally. Orange sparks danced across her cheeks as they grew hot. But Will barely took it in. He only cared about what she was implying.

Serene shot her sister an icy glare before turning on Will.

"Will, we can -xplain-"

"You knew?" he burst out, and the ceiling vent above him let out an especially powerful burst.

But his anger died away, revealing tired sadness.

"You knew," he whispered.

"We're so sorry," said Serene. "It was going to be a surprise for you, because we thought you were would be excited about a Selection. But the way you reacted when Father hinted at it... we knew we could never turn this into a party. So we turned this parlor into a safe haven, a sort of sanctuary away from all the craziness. But we did wrong, right Leina?"

"Right!" piped Leina, a little too quickly as she nodded fervently. "Really. We care about you, Will. We love you."

Will was touched by Leina's words. She was never serious, always finding the perfect joke to lighten the situation. And now here she was, stone-faced, without a single spark of amusement in her eyes.

"I love you too, Lei," he murmured. "So much. And I can forgive you. Because I know you guys would never hurt me on purpose."

The girls nodded. Then Will saw a twinkle in Leina's eyes.

"Unless we play element tag," she sang.

"No, Lei," said Serene. "That's seriously dangerous, especially with you around."

"I mean, not really! Will has his wind, and you have your water, for can just blow out my flames if they get to close! It's totally unfair."

Will smiled.

"I think that could be fun. I need to loosen up."

"Yay!" Leina squealed, dancing around and knocking a plate of cream puffs off the table.

Tiny flames danced around her skirts as she twirled, and Will couldn't help but grin.

These girls would definitely help him with the Selection. And maybe he could solve all the riddles that would most definitely surround these young women. So maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Of course it wouldn't.

As the group of royals walked, Leina was grinning ear to ear. Soon, Will reciprocated the grin, his white teeth clearly displayed.

"You too are ridiculous," said Serene, but she smirked nonetheless.

"Isn't smiling lovely?" sighed Leina. "It lights up the room."

"You're right," said Serene. "all the best people are the ones who know how to smile."

"And all the prettiest people," said Leina.

Will chuckled.

"i hope I have some girls who can smile in the Selection. It's one of the only things we can do in these times."

"Hey, no more of that," said Leina, slapping his arm playfully. "Let's play."

Queen Colette walked into the King's Receiving Room, feeling tense.

Her son was having a Selection. The country was in disarray. And the two monarch's relationship had been quite rocky of late.

"What is it?" Colette asked in her soft, resonating voice.

King Maverick got straight to the point, his hard eyes never meeting hers.

"As you know, this is not just for mere entertainment. We have a rebellion on our hands. The previous royalty has focused on stamping out the rebels. However, I think we should treat this differently. I propose we discover what they want."

"Are you joking?" she asked, voice barely able to function through the fog of disbelief in her heart. "Those fiends have killed countless royalty."

"Will you listen?" he asked, not even trying to hide his anger. "We're going to try and be a lot more fair. When they attack, we'll confront them. Ask them what they want."

"That's so stupid," said Colette, still trying to be calm. "What do you propose we do besides confront the most powerful rebellion in the world? They have Persuaders and Fire Elementalists and-"

"Listen!" shouted Maverick, and Colette shut her mouth, gazing at him expectantly. "First off, we are going to actually have a lottery this time. We won't pick the Selected, we'll just let lottery decide. We'll have at least one from each caste, even Eights."

"Alright," said Colette. "I do think our people deserve it."

"Precisely. I was also thinking that we let all thirty-five girls stay for at least a week. Let Will spend time with each, to be more fair."

"Alright..." said Colette. "If you want."

"Do you even care about this?" Maverick bellowed, slamming his hand against the desk. "Do you care what your people are enduring?"

"Do you? Or did you just miraculously start caring when you noticed an opportunity to stamp out the rebels? You have no compassion, you just want to be respected!"

"Don't tell me about compassion!" Maverick was practically screaming now, face contorting in rage. "You've never loved me!"

"We were betrothed," whispered Colette. "Betrothed. How could I love you?"

Maverick looked at her, his eyes betraying all the sadness inside him.

"Never? You never loved me?" he whispered, staring into her eyes.

"I never meant to hurt you," she said. "I was just a Two, a lucky girl who the prince thought was beautiful. I was rushed into it."

Maverick sagged against the table.

"Lette, it wasn't an ideal situation. And I know that. But do you think we could learn?"

"Learn what?" she breathed, looking at him with a thousand emotions behind her eyes.

"Learn to love each other. We can't get divorced. But Lette, I've always wanted to make you happy. I know you don't see it, because you're-" He trailed off, taking a breath. "Because I haven't been a good husband. But could we try again?"

She looked at him.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure!" he said, voice breaking. "I've always loved you."

She ⠇⠁⠥⠣ bitterly.

"Why? Because I was pretty? Another beautiful thing to look at in your palace of luxuries?"

"No!" he cried. "Because you were graceful and elegant and the perfect queen. And because you always said your feelings."

He laughed too, reminiscing on times that Colette could never look at with the same fondness as her husband.

"You were so brave. And I... I was the little prince that hid behind walls, that could never just stand up and tell you how I feel. Please, Lette! Let me try again."

"I don't have a real choice, do I?" asked Colette.

Maverick moved to speak, but before he could, Colette raised a calming hand.

"Yes."

"Yes?" he echoed.

She laughed at him.

"Yes!"

The two smiled at each other as the mending of old, deep wounds began.

So... I guess it wasn't my best work, but I think it'll get a lot better once the girls get in the picture. If I get girls soon enough, next chapter will be POVs from girls. I would love for you to review, if you have the time! Thank you so much, and just a reminder to please be detailed and send your girls by PM. Until next time!