Once upon a time, there lived a happy family in the Central Commonwealth within the realm of Ninjago. There was a father, a mother, and a lone daughter; the Borgs. They loved each other deeply and dearly, putting each other's needs before their own, and were envied by all who knew them.
As time passed, however, it became clear to everyone that their family was imperfect. The father, Cyrus, was an inventor who often worked late into the night by candlelight. The mother, Astrid, slowly became sickly and weak, confined to bed due to her weakness. Due to these circumstances, their daughter Pansy took it upon herself to run their household.
For several years, it seemed as if Astrid's sickness would come and go, leaving her slightly worse every time it faded. Eventually, however, it took her to death's door. It was at that time that she called Pansy to her side, that she might say her last goodbyes, even as Cyrus worked tirelessly to find a cure.
When Pansy at last came to her mother's bedside, Astrid took her hands. "My dearest daughter, my brightest star. You are but a pixel in the sky, but you shine with the light of faithfulness. Thank you for caring for me so well."
Pansy cried, wiping her tears away just as she shed them. "Mother, won't you recover? Father swears he's finally found a way."
"Not this time." Astrid struggled to sit up and pressed a kiss to Pansy's forehead. "My daughter, you must be good for your father. Be faithful, and the First Master will always take care of you. I will watch over you from the next life; you will never be alone."
Later that night, Astrid breathed her last. Pansy cried unceasingly for weeks. In her mother's memory, she decided she would no longer live by the name of Pansy; instead, she would be Pixal, shining faithfully despite all hardship.
After his wife's death, Cyrus lapsed into a deep despair. He would neither sleep nor eat as he should. More than once, Pixal had to beg him to care for himself. For months his sorrow was inexpressable. He prayed, he cried, and he lived on. Eventually, however, he began to be able to cope with their loss.
One day as Cyrus was wandering their town's market, he came across a beautiful woman and her two daughters, shopping for clothing. He introduced himself, and they began a friendship. Before much time had passed, they decided to court. The woman, Amaryllis, was a widow who sought financial stability, especially for her daughters Begonia and Columbine, while Cyrus desired companionship, that Pixal might have a mother again. It seemed like a perfect solution to all involved.
Eleven months after Astrid's death, Cyrus and Amaryllis were married. Their courtship had been beautiful, as was the ceremony, and not a single eye was dry as they spoke their vows. Pixal thought that she would have a beautiful relationship with every one of her new family members, and the future looked bright to all.
Unfortunately, when the anniversary of his first wife's death arrived, Cyrus lapsed once more into his sorrow. He delved into his work to cope, avoiding every obligation. Once again, he worked by candle light to finish his many inventions, in the hope that they could bring him out of his despair. He could not revive his wife, but if he could provide perfectly for his new family, perhaps he would feel saved.
When Amaryllis saw how Cyrus still cared about his first wife, however, she was filled with rage. Begonia and Columbine were likewise angered, as they had hoped their new father would spoil them with attention and gifts, but instead he holed himself up in his workroom. Pixal, for her part, simply went about her life as she had prior, for her new sisters never lifted a finger to help with the housework, as she always had to aid their hired help. Her relationship with her new sisters became strained. In thinking that she thought she was a more righteous girl than them, Begonia and Columbine began to torment her, giving her ever more work to do and telling the maids that it was Pixal's doing. As Pixal slowly took on more chores, Amaryllis began to join in.
As the years passed, life only devolved for the Borgs, even as Cyrus found success in his inventions. Under his unsuspecting eye, Pixal slowly became akin to a maid, while Amaryllis, Begonia, and Columbine began to treat themselves like queens. He took long business trips, often traveling to the farthest corners of their kingdom to sell his inventions. However, Pixal never wavered, committed to her promise to her mother. Faithful until the end, she held her head high, despite wearing rags smudged with cinders, determined to be the daughter her mother raised.
Here is the beginning of the next fairy tale story! I hope you all enjoy this one as much as (if not more than) Hair as Gold as Straw. If you haven't read that story, read it! It's on my profile. The other story currently being posted in this AU is Once Upon a Dream, which belongs to saracasticunicorn223.
Leave me a review if you'd like! I'd love to hear your thoughts.