Here's the next chapter guys! Sorry, it took longer to come out! And remember SYOC is OFFICIALLY closing on 7/12/19, so if you want to submit a character do it soon!
Ebony was created by Fanficmonster123. Rebecca and Raleigh were created by Cookiedoodles168.
ALSO, to Astra (Guest)- I understand that you said you want to join. But on what I'm not clear. If you would like to make a fanfiction account than it should be fairly easy, just click the sign-up and create your account. If you're trying to submit a character for this story, and you can't PM me, just leave it in the reviews sections and I'll see it. You can find the SYOC sheet on chapter 6, but please keep in mind that the SYOC closes on 7/12/19. Thank you and I'm glad you like this story.
Here are the Provinces and the Contestants from each Province.
(F)- female, (M)-male
If there are blanks than please feel free to submit a character for that Province:
Allens- (M) Everett James Hanson
Angeles- (M) Benjamin Taylor
Atlin- (F) Everly Rose Randolph, (M) Brody Silver
Baffin- (M) Theodore Evans
Bankston- (M) Michael Daniel Baine, (F) Dyllan Annelise Taylor
Belcourt- (M) Greyson Marus Goldberg
Bonita- (F) Selene Darion
Calgary- (F) Alyssa Geller, (M) Theoden "Theo" Tobias Kingsmith
Carolina- (F) Eirelyn Maxine Leger
Clermont- (F) Asteria Isabelle Newsome, (M) Hayes Huntley
Columbia- (M) Conner Brian Morse
Dakota- (M) Jonathon Bradley
Denbeigh- (F) Raleigh Elizabeth Carlin
Dominica- (M) Paul Ramirez
Fennley- (F) Alexandra Madison Redmond
Hansport- (F) Isadora Maria Spitz
Honduragua- (M) Hugo Rodriguez
Hudson -(M) Samuel "Sam" Rowan Whitfield
Kent- (F), Vera Lila Martinez, (M) Victor Leo Martinez
Labrador- (F) Adelaide Evangeline Huntingdon-Rhodes
Lakedon- (M) Adam Miller
Likely- (F) Celia Elaine "Laine" Knowles
Midston- (M) Mattew Wing
Ottaro- (F) Alina Grace Montgomery
Paloma- (M) Anthony Alvarez
Panama- (F) Angel Magdalena
Sonage- (F) Julianne Reynolds
Sota- (M) Nathaniel Schwartz, (F) Risa Yuki
St. George- (F) Rebecca Katherine Bennett, (M) Zaire Emem
Sumner- (M) Oliver Silas Carmichael, (F) Ebony Hart
Tammins- (F) Elodie Jane Campbell, (M) Edward Collins
Waverly- (M) Charles Brown, (F) Catherine Isla Zusslefort
Whites- (F) Reese Notes
Yukon- (M) Trent Stevens
Zuni- (M) Travis Cooper
Chapter 14- Ebony, Rebecca, and Raleigh
Ebony POV
"Here," A girl with copper brown hair, dark brown eyes and wonderful golden tan skin said, putting down a dish of steaming pasta. The pasta itself was an angel hair pasta covered in a rich creamy colored sauce and had lobster, shrimp, and crab in it, along with bright green peas and orange carrots.
"This looks great Ebony." Her Sister, Sage said, her dark brown eyes widening as she caught a whiff of the food. "What's the occasion?"
"Nothing." Ebony shrugged her shoulders, looking calm, "I just thought I'd cook a few things to try. Mom and Dad said that I could add some items to the restaurant menu for the hotel and this is the first thing you're trying."
It was exciting really, maybe even more exciting than having been chosen for Prince Payton's Selection. Her family was fours but her parents owned a line of luxury hotels all over Sumner so her family was very well off. The fact that they were finally allowing her to add her own touches to the food was also nice. It had been her dream to contribute and she wanted to be a chef and own her own restaurant when she was older.
"So this is what you decided to make?" Her other Sister, Auburn asked, twirling her fork into the pasta and trying it out. She swallowed the pasta but seemed distracted, "Shouldn't you be doing other things? It's good."
Ebony smiled at her Sister, "Good. I also have some apple pie in the oven, I'm trying to add a hint of lavender to it. I hope it tastes good."
Sage smiled, and Ebony blinked, sometimes it seemed that she was looking at a mirror when she looked at Sage, who looked exactly like her. "I'm sure it will. But you're getting off-topic, shouldn't you be gathering some items to bring with you to the palace?"
Ebony smiled back, "I already did. You know, honestly, this feels surreal to me. Do you honestly think I can win the Selection?" She asked, excitement bubbling in her, she couldn't say that she wanted to be Queen of Illéa but her family and friends had urged her to submit a form, saying that they were all sure that she'd get chosen and had a good chance of winning.
Honestly, she was excited to meet the Prince, he seemed very nice and sweet. She just hoped that he appreciated someone who worked hard and wanted to spend time in the kitchens.
Both Sage and Auburn nodded enthusiastically, "Who wouldn't love you, Ebony? Besides, isn't the way to a man's heart his stomach? I doubt the Prince is an exception."
Ebony laughed at that, she had been asked out by many boys just because of her cooking. "Maybe. I just can't wait to meet him." Honestly, both her Sisters seemed even more eager than her and she couldn't blame them. They really did believe that she and the Prince would hit it off and she hoped that they were right.
Rebecca POV
"So tell me again," Maureen said sternly, her piercing gray eyes staring into a pair of light brown ones. "What are you going to do when you reach the palace?"
"Win over the Prince, marry him and then our family will be elevated from sixes to the rank of ones." A girl said smoothly, a confident fire burning in her light brown eyes as she gazed back at her Mom. "It shouldn't be too hard. I doubt the other girls can compare to me."
"That's right Rebecca. You will win the Prince's Selection and become Queen." Her Mom Maureen said sternly. "Let no one get in your way." Her eyes then swung over to Rebecca's Sister, Juliette, "It's a shame that you both aren't able to go. But, at least one of you got accepted."
Their Mom then stood up and walked away from them, leaving her daughters to their separate thoughts. Rebecca could barely contain her excitement. She was going to marry a Prince! There was no doubt in her mind that he would choose her. She was one of the prettiest girls in St. George after all. Her dream was coming true; she was finally climbing the caste and she would marry the Prince. She and her family would no longer be seen as reaching-sixes but ones.
It had always been her goal to marry nobility or a billionaire, and now that dream was there. And she had earned it too. Even though she and her family were technically sixes, her Mom and Dad were desperate to climb the caste system. They sent both her and Juliette to an expensive school and hired highly educated scholars for them even though they were sixes; both Juliette and she had gotten a higher and proper education.
Their Mother also separated them from children their age as well as the lower caste, seeing the lower caste, even their own as scum that Rebecca and Juliette shouldn't associate with. Their Mom even always pitted Juliette and Rebecca against each other, trying to turn Sisters against each other but it didn't work. Even though they had a rivalry, the two of them still cared deeply about each other. It was an incredibly isolating system that their Mother had put them through, but all of it was worth it. They had finally reached their goal.
"-are you listening to me?" Rebecca whipped her head up to see Juliette glaring at her. Her sister was her fraternal twin and while they looked a lot alike, there were some glaring differences. Juliette's hair was a shade or two lighter than Rebecca's and she also inherited their Mother's gray eyes. "Rebecca?" She asked again, annoyance dancing across her face.
"I'm listening." Rebecca said standing up as well, "You wanted to head to the market right?"
"Yes," Juliette said, nodding her head emphatically. Without a word, she led the way out and Rebecca followed. "So are you excited for the Selection?"
"Of course," Rebecca said, not letting any doubt into her voice. She knew the Selection was hers. "I'm ready to meet my husband."
Juliette bit her lips and Rebecca knew that she wasn't going to like what came out of her Sister's mouth. "But what if he doesn't pick you? He'll pick the one he loves right?"
"Are you saying he won't love me?" Rebecca asked, looking at her sister in shock, feeling a sense of betrayal. She was also doing this in part to take attention away from what Juliette was doing.
"I'm saying that there's a chance," Juliette confirmed, her gray eyes scanning the market. "I have confidence in you, Becca, I do, but don't underestimate these other girls." Her eyes finally stopped moving as they landed on a dark-haired young man with warm hazel eyes.
Rebecca followed her Sister's line of sight and saw Alexander Beaumont, the man that Juliette was in love with and miraculously, he loved her too. Their Mother would have been above the moon if she knew that a two loved her daughter who was a six. Unfortunately, Alexander's family was very old-school and didn't want him getting involved with an upstart six like her Sister.
If Rebecca won the Selection however or at least made it into the Elite, then Juliette should be free to marry whoever she chose. "You'll be with him soon enough," Rebecca said softly, watching as Alexander made eye contact with her Sister, a smile on his face as he winked discreetly before turning away. It was always like that, the two couldn't be caught giving each other adoring looks.
"I hope so," Juliette agreed sadly as she turned away as well. "I love him so much. I can't wait for you to raise our status, Becca."
"Me too," Rebecca said, she was doing it for herself as much as her Sister. She wanted that higher number and she wanted to be Queen and she'd laugh at all of the people who looked down at her when she was a six. In her mind, the crown and Prince were already hers.
Raleigh POV
"Ouch!" A girl with porcelain skin, crumbled to the floor as she tried to put more pressure on her foot. Her dark brown, almost black hair was a mess and her dark blue eyes looked almost dazed.
"Raleigh, please don't push yourself." Her Mom said in concern, "You're going to the palace in a few days and you don't want to hurt your leg even more."
"I know," Raleigh sighed, forcing herself to sit in a chair. "All I want to do is dance though. If the Selection gave a wish instead of a Prince, I'd be more excited. I've only wanted to dance and do ballet my entire life and now I can't." She had injured her leg pretty badly a few months ago. So bad that she could no longer do ballet and it killed her inside. All the practice and work that she had done over the years and it was gone in an instant. What had it all been for?
When she had first learned that she could no longer dance, she had been devasted. Had gone into a depression that she was sure that she would never come out of. Somehow she did though and it was because of Prince Payton's Selection. His Selection gave her hope and it also made her feel less useless because she hadn't been able to bring in any money for her family while she couldn't dance. But now, in the Selection, her family would be receiving money as long as she was in the competition.
It was a good thing since her family always seemed to be low on money, barely able to feed themselves at certain points and sometimes going without water or electricity because when it came down to it between food, water, and light, food always won out.
"Your leg will heal." Her Mom said, sounding so certain, "I know it will Raleigh, but you have to give it time."
"Even if it does, I won't be as good a dancer," Raleigh said immediately and hating the fact. It's what bugged her most. The fact that she may one day be able to dance without pain, but her injury would never fully heal, ruining her form and making her less of a ballet dancer.
Her Mom's brows raised, "Isn't it better to have some dance than none at all? I thought you wanted to get your life back together Raleigh. Complaining again about your foot won't help."
"There's also the money to factor in." Raleigh sighed, but it was true, the Selection was the only thing that gave her a sense of motivation. She was done moping around at home and sitting around, not making money.
"Love as well, Raleigh. The Prince may choose you." Her Mom said in earnest, trying to keep her daughter away from darker thoughts.
Raleigh shook her head, "I doubt the Prince will want someone who is partially handicap." This was true at least. She honestly didn't think the Prince would choose her. "I want to restart my life, but I'm not looking for love." Not when it's so easily taken away, her one career that she loved had been ballet after all and that was easily taken away. She didn't want to know how easy romantic love would be taken as well. She'd give the Prince a chance, but her guard would be up.
Ebony Hart Character Sheet:
Name: Ebony Hart
Age: 17
Caste: 4
Province: Sumner
Personality: Ebony is a strong-willed and hard-working girl. She has a group of friends who all get tutored together for lessons that she's known since she was 6 years old. She is smart and very friendly and loves animals. She is also an aspiring chef and hopes to make it onto one of Illea's cooking competitions or open her own restaurant.
Hobbies: Party planning, cooking, organizing, reading, writing, and track.
History: Ebony is the 2nd child out of 4 children in her family. Even though they are 4's, they are very well off and could buy their way up if they wanted too. Her parents own a brand of luxury hotels all over Sumner and her dad works as the executive chef and her mom works at the front desk and takes care of all the expenses. Ebony and her younger sisters Auburn and Sage help out around the hotel. Her older brother is engaged to a waitress at the hotel and her brother helps at the hotel too.
Job: She helps out around her family's hotel and in the kitchen.
Hair color: copper brown
Eye color: dark brown
Skin tone: golden tan
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 59 kg (130 lbs)
Ethnicity: 1/2 African American and 1/4 Italian and 1/4 Hispanic
Fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian.
Motivation: she entered the selection because all her friends and family thought she had a good chance and the price seemed very nice.
She likes to cook fancy Italian dishes, and comfort food as well.
She loves to plan parties for her friends and is often able to have that at her family's hotel.
Nicknames: Sweetie (by her mom and dad) and Chef Ebony (by her friends)
Rebecca Bennett Character Sheet:
Name: Rebecca Katherine Bennett
Caste: 6
Age: 18
Province: St. George
Personality: Rebecca Katherine Bennett is incredibly witty and clever. Despite not being the most beautiful girl in the town-that title would go to her fraternal twin, Juliette Bennett, she has just as many admirers due to her bright and outgoing nature. She is highly ambitious and was trained by her mother to marry up, and she genuinely desires to do so (she hopes to nab a member of a Royal family or a billionaire), and she's willing to do anything to get what she wants. But despite her competitive and slightly manipulative nature, she would do a lot for the people she loves, and she would give up something she values an immense amount for them (she's more gentle-hearted and capable of true kindness and selflessness than she seems). She is incredibly charming and charismatic and could read people like an open book while hiding her own emotions.
Hobbies: Piano, Violin, Dancing, Singing, Reading
History: Rebecca is one of two daughters of Maurice and Maureen Bennett. She grew up in a fierce rivalry with her sister and fraternal twin, Juliette, as their mother often pitted the two girls against one another. Their mother was incredibly ambitious and dreamt of marrying her daughters up the caste system. As such, both girls were forced to become the best and grew up incredibly lonely and isolated. Maureen made an active effort to keep the girls away from the lower castes and pushed them into "sophisticated" hobbies, and as such, both Rebecca and Juliette speak with "upper-caste" accents (higher range of vocabulary, more polished), and both attended one of the top schools in the city. The two girls, despite their fierce rivalry for their mother's favor, both cared deeply for one another and would always look out for their sister, as they shared a close bond due to their forced isolation from their "lower caste peers". Rebecca is currently a waitress at a high-class restaurant, while Juliette is a flight attendant. Both girls were entered into the selection under the orders of Maureen Bennett, as she boasts, "One of you girls will become Queen of Illéa and raise us all. I'm sure of it." However, both sisters know that Juliette is truly in love with a two named Alexander Beaumont (who loves her in return), however, he comes from an old and established political family that would never let an upstart six marry into the family, so Rebecca's goal is to either win the selection or at least make it to the elite so her sister could marry the love of her life (hey, despite their rivalry, they are sisters first, and Rebecca wants an even grander marriage than her sister to a billionaire or into a royal family, but she will ensure that her sister gets her man lol)
Job: Waitress
Hair Color: Chocolate Brown (Very long and curly)
Eye Color: Light Brown
Skin Color: Pale Ivory
Height: 5'6
Other Info:
Raleigh Carlin Character Sheet:
Name: Raleigh Elizabeth Carlin
Caste: 5
Age: 18
Province: Denbeigh
Personality: Mature and thoughtful, Raleigh Elizabeth Carlin never does anything half-heartedly. She always goes all out and puts in 100% in everything and anything. She is an incredibly hardworking perfectionist and someone who almost never complains about hard work and tiredness, only working harder in response. Thus, her devastation when she got her injury was due to the fact that she knew she could never truly become half as good as she used to be, and that she felt that over fifteen years of effort was practically wasted due to one accident. However, she is incredibly determined and level-headed and is very strong mentally and emotionally. She's willing to get up and start her life anew, and willing to move on from the past. She is incredibly gracious and polite towards others, and very humble about her own accomplishments and abilities. She could seem intimidating to some, but no one could ever doubt her work ethic and inner strength.
Hobbies: Ballet, Playing The Flute, Chess
History: Raleigh Emilia Carlin was born into a family of dancers, and she's the second eldest of five girls-all ballerinas. Raleigh absolutely loved to dance, and performing on stage and dancing seemed to drown all her worries from her day-to-day life, where she often was hungry, and they had to go without power. Raleigh still remembers having to brush her teeth and shower at the studio, as they couldn't pay their electricity and hydro bills on time on several occasions ("It was either the food or the electricity.") She would've happily danced her entire life, until a month ago, she injured her leg to the point where the doctor told her that she would never be able to dance half as well as she used to do, which completely devastated her. She had to quit her job as a ballerina, and sit at home and recover, which left her in an incredibly dark place (started falling into depression), which worried her family. She felt useless, as she felt like she had lost her purpose and could not help support the family. However, when she received her selection form, she decided it was time to move on-she wanted to get her life back together instead of moping on the couch and feeling sorry for herself, and being in the selection would provide money for her family, so she signed up and worked hard to put the broken pieces of herself back together.
Job: Ballerina
Hair Color: Dark Brown, Almost Black (Very long and naturally wavy)
Eye Color: Dark Blue
Skin Color: Porcelain
Height: 5'8
Motive: She entered the selection for the money (due to her injury, she can't perform and dance, and as such, her family has one less breadwinner), and she wanted to get her life back together instead of moping and being depressed about her injury and the fact that she could never become a professional ballerina ever again.
Other Info:
-She has freckles on her nose (but you have to be really close to see it)
-She loves to eat everything with the exception of zucchinis.
-I could see her slowly learning to dance again during the selection, and despite never being quite as good as she used to be, she still absolutely adores it.