Mami, why did you and papi name me Chloe?"
She looked at Mateo with a smile as they looked at their oldest daughter. Chloe was only 8, but she still had surpassed Esteban's maturity. She was outspoken, impulsive, clever, and righteous, as well as a bookworm. She also had a special gift with scepters and tamboritas, and a strong distaste for purple things and amulets. A perfect combination of her two parents. She had asked this question many times, as it was common knowledge that the heir to Avalor's throne did not like her name.
"Chloe Gwendolyn De Alva Castillo Flores. Your first name means blossoming sprout. Your middle name means fair. It is the perfect name for a future queen." Elena said, with a small smile and a glance at her husband.
"What about me?" asked Julian. He was the middle child, 6 years old. He had a smiling face, and was one of the most adorable children Elena and Mateo had ever seen. "Why am I Julian?"
"Julian Amor De Alva Castillo Flores. Your first name means youthful. Youth is the most precious time in a person's life. We wanted you to appreciate childhood. Your middle name means love. Love is the most precious thing in the world, and we wanted you to know it." Mateo said kindly and softly to his son.
"Me. Ava." the three year old girl spoke up from the corner, where she was playing with her teddy bear, Sir-Teds-a-Lot.
"Ava Zoe De Alva Castillo Flores," her parents said in unison. "Ava means bird. Birds are beautiful, majestic creatures, and we wanted you to remember grinned wistfully at Mber that," her father said. "Zoe means life, and life is an amazing thing," her mother added, gazing fondly into Mateo's eyes.
"Why is life so great?" Chloe wondered.
Mateo and Elena looked at each other, communicating with their eyes. Should we tell her about Shuriki? Elena's seemed to say. She's just a child. Mateo's seemed to warn. She has to know. It's important to know Avalor's history if she's going to be queen. Elena insisted. In eight years. Mateo's eyes shot back. Elena sighed. Whatever you want, mi amor.
"47 years ago, Avalor was invaded," Elena began, with an apologetic look at her husband. Mateo just smiled and shook his head. Once Elena's mind was set on something, she never gave in. "An evil, power-hungry sorceress named Shuriki came into Avalor. She wanted the throne. With one spell, Vadhissima, from her wand, my mami and papi were gone. The royal wizard Alecazar, your papi's grandfather, had a spell that could protect Aunt Isa, and your grandabuelos from her. But, the spell would take time to cast, so I decided to face Shuriki alone, and she tried to strike me down. But I had a magical amulet that could protect me from harm. It did-by sucking me inside. Alecazar figured it out, and set out on a quest to free me. In the end, the amulet found its way to Princess Sofia of Enchancia, and she and your papi freed me forty-one years later. The entire kingdom banded together to destroy Shuriki, and we were successful. It was our happily ever after." She grinned wistfully at Mateo, and he grinned happily back as they took each other's hands, leaned in, and gently pressed their lips together. It was our happily ever after. Truer words had never been spoken.