Summary: Isolde remembers her life before becoming queen.
The Plaid Queen sighed. Once again, she was home alone. Her husband had taken their three sons out on a hunting trip, leaving the queen by herself in the palace.
She was seated in her bedroom, gazing up at the ceiling. What was a queen to do, stuck in her room, all alone…
She breathed out, eyeing the large, plaid cupboard to her side. The door was slightly ajar. She moved over to close it, when something caught her eye.
Isolde opened the door, reaching into the cupboard. There were old boxes and crates, covered with dust. She coughed, fanning her face. There were old portraits as well, surrounded by knick knacks and dust bunnies.
And that was when she saw it: her old bass guitar case. Its black leather was coated in a layer of white dust. She pulled the case out of the cupboard, opening it up. The old instrument was inside; it was second-hand, still retaining scratches on its surface, and chipped pegs. A bandage was wrapped around its neck.
Isolde brought the old instrument out, shaking out the dust and cobwebs. The cool, metal strings felt tight yet familiar beneath her fingers. How long had it been, since she'd last played the thing? Did she still remember how?
She grabbed the tuning peg, plucking the strings. The sound, the reverb… it was all coming back to her. She fiddled with the input, pulling off another dust bunny. And then… she began to play. She was old, she was rusty… but it was all still there. She began to play a familiar old tune. The nostalgia, the wonder, the excitement was all coming back. She tapped foot against the bed, closing her eyes.
Yes… she could remember it as if it were yesterday. The screeching singing, the drums pounding, the guitar roaring… the band had come home.
"ROCK THIS KINGDOM NOW! WE'RE GONNA TEAR IT DOWN!"
Izzy thrashed her long, wild hair, tearing at her bass, while the drummer hit the crash. The singer let out guttural screams, almost tearing down the walls of the garage. The guitarist roared, shredding on his guitar.
The song came to a crashing close, the singer jumping right off the stage. Izzy raised three fingers to the air, the drummer hitting the crash once more.
Although they were only inside a simple garage, for a second, Izzy could imagine it being a giant stage surrounded by a roaring crowd.
"That was FUCKING AWESOME!" the singer cheered.
"Tell me about it," the guitarist chuckled, while the drummer politely clapped.
"'Course it was," Izzy flipped her wild hair. "Ain't no one better than us in this dump."
"Damn straight, Izzy," the singer agreed, lightly punched her shoulder.
He had the same fair skin tone as her, as well as the same gray eyes. His spiky silver-blonde hair had blue highlights all the way through it, whereas she had long, wild, auburn hair. He wore a blue plaid vest, ripped at the sleeves, covering a black shirt and ripped jeans. She wore a red plaid shirt, as well as a black miniskirt and ripped tights. Heavy blue mascara surrounded his eyes, and he had a black lip piercing. She wore smoky mascara, as well as a red plaid bow around her hair. He was on the lankier side, standing a few inches taller than her.
"Jus' wait until they let us perform at the bar, Mike," Izzy put her arm around his shoulder.
"We're gettin' there," he replied. "A few more days, and we'll be takin' over the world!"
He wore a big, cheesy grin. The drummer Casey and the guitarist Bill walked over, sharing the same enthusiasm. The two were close friends of the siblings; they'd met them at their high school. They shared the same love of music as well as smoky mascara and goth plaid.
"Can't wait to sign autographs," Bill chuckled.
Casey nodded, clapping her sticks together.
"My Chemical Plaid," Mike raised his fists. "Let's do this shit!"
The members cheered, gathering in a group huddle.
"Here and forever!" Izzy shouted, fist-bumping her bandmates.
The street was almost desolate. The windows were boarded up, alcohol bottles littered the ground, cigarettes were carelessly tossed aside. Someone had passed out by the bar, a broken bottle in hand.
Izzy sighed, walking alongside her brother. The far south of the Plaid Kingdom had never looked so beautiful.
"We're so close, Izzy!" Mike clapped his hands together. "We're gonna become famous!" He grinned. "Fuck, I can basically taste it…!"
"Think of all the money we'll have," Izzy drooled. "I could finally try one of those… crem broo-leys…" She gasped, hearts appearing in her eyes. "And the boys… there'll be so many boys… Alice's gonna be sooo jealous!"
"Who cares about desserts and boys?!" Mike waved it off. "Everyone's gonna know our name! We'll be, like, royalty or somethin'!" He crossed his arms. "We're no longer gonna be some kids from a dump in the Plaid Kingdom. We're gonna be the world-famous My Chemical Plaid, the ones who came from nothing and rose to the top! You, me, Bill & Casey!"
He puffed his chest out, wearing a proud smile.
"Ain't that right, Izzy?" he asked. He blinked. "Uh, Izzy?"
He furrowed his brow, noticing his sister who had stopped in front of a bakery. She was eyeing the expensive cakes inside, locked in golden cages. He rolled his eyes.
"Mikey, I gotta have one of those," she drooled. "Can you lend me some change?"
She blinked, tilting her head to the side.
"No way," Mikey waved her off. "You'll never pay it back."
"I will!" Izzy insisted. "Pleaseeee? Just a few bucks?"
"No," Mike snapped. "Can't ya ask Alice?"
"She spent all hers already," Izzy whined.
"Yous are hopeless," Mike rolled his eyes. "Speakin' of money, ain't cha' got work tomorrow?"
Izzy groaned. "Yeah… but 'tis not like I make enough for anythin'…"
"Well, jus' a few days from now," Mike grabbed her shoulders. "Everything's gonna change, Izzy!"
She gazed at the big, stupid grin on his face. She couldn't help but to smile herself. Despite how shitty the situation seemed to get, her little brother was always optimistic.
Everything is going to change…
Oh how right he was… but not in the way he anticipated.
"Mikey! Mikey!"
Mike looked up, noticing his sister running towards him. Her shift was done at last; usually, she was happy when her shift was over, but never this excited.
"What's up?" he asked.
"I got a boyfriend!" Izzy squealed.
"Another one?" Mike groaned. "Don't you get a new guy every other week?"
"No no, this one is different," Izzy waved her hands. "This time, he-"
"Yeah yeah, he's the one, it's true love, etc," Mike waved his hands. "I've heard it all before, but-"
"MIKEY, LISTEN!" Izzy shook her brother's shoulders. "He's the crown prince!"
Mike made a face. Then he burst into laughter.
"Good one, Izzy!" he chuckled.
"No, I'm being serious!" Izzy shook Mike's shoulders again. "He's Prince Leland, crown prince of the Plaid Kingdom!"
"As if the crown prince cares 'bout this side of town!" Mike waved a hand. "Get real! I'm sure he's a charmer, but he can't be-"
"So… is this Michael?"
Mike trailed off. Standing behind Izzy was a tall, tanned young man with spiky blonde hair. He had narrow red eyes, and wore a black plaid prince jacket.
"Holy shit…" Mike stepped back, gazing up at the prince. "You weren't kiddin'…"
"Yes!" Izzy clung onto the prince's arm. "Mikey, meet Prince Leland, my fiancée!"
"… hold on, did you just say fiancée?" Mike asked, staring at his sister.
"You didn't tell him?" Prince Leland gazed at Izzy.
"Oh, yeah," Izzy waved a hand. "When I said boyfriend, I actually meant fiancée. We're gettin' married in a few weeks!"
Mike just stood there in utter disbelief.
"Izzy," he smiled, "can I talk to you for a sec?"
The siblings stood there, face to face.
"You're getting MARRIED?!" Mike yelled.
Izzy nodded. "I mean, hey, he's a hunk and the crown prince! Why wouldn't I say no?"
"What about the band?!" Mike asked.
"Oh, I'm sure I can still do that," Izzy waved it off.
"Not if you're queen, Izzy," Mike glowered at her. "You'll have royal duties and shit! Speakin' of that, why's this guy wanna marry you so quickly, anyway?"
"True love, of course!" Izzy sighed, dreamily. "He said he loved me as soon as he first saw me!"
"That's the stupidest shit I've ever heard," Mike grumbled.
Izzy harrumphed. "Shut up, asshole! Ya don't understand true love!"
She stormed back over to the prince. Mike made eye contact; the prince's harsh, red eyes pierced his.
Mike clenched his fists, returning the glare.
"Listen," he said. "I don't care if you're the crown prince or whatever. You're plannin' something."
Leland's glare grew harsher. "What makes you say that, you punk?"
"Boys, please," Izzy stood between them. She clung onto Leland's arm once again. "We've got a date, don't we, your royal hotness?" She blushed. "Um! Your royal hunkiness! Your royal hineyness! Your-"
"Give me a break," Mike grumbled, storming off.
Izzy spun around. "Wait, Mikey!"
"Just let him go," Leland grabbed her shoulder. "He won't get it."
Izzy sighed. "I guess so…"
Mike was distant the next few days. Whenever Izzy would try to talk to him, he would leave the room. The only time he wouldn't leave was during band practice. Even then, he kept his distance, glowering at his sister.
"What's with you two?" Bill asked, storming over to Mike. "We're performing live tomorrow! Shouldn't y'all be excited?!"
"Yeah, I should be," Mike huffed, nose crinkled. "Why don't you tell everyone what's happenin', Izzy?"
Everyone turned to Izzy. She hugged her bass.
"… I'm gettin' married," she shrugged.
"WHAT?!" Bill and Casey exclaimed.
"And not just to any old rando," Mike added. "She's getting married to the fuckin' crown prince."
"No way!" Bill laughed. "That's bullshit!"
"I wish it was," Mike sighed.
"And we're very happy together!" Izzy spoke up. "You're all invited to the weddin'! It's gonna be the shit!"
"You know what's not the shit?" Mike grumbled. "You ruining this band!"
"Shut up, Mike!" Izzy huffed. "I'm not going anywhere."
"You can try, but I know that Leland guy won't let you," Mike spat.
"He hasn't done anythin' wrong!" Izzy screamed. "He's the hottest guy in this whole damn kingdom! You're just jealous of us!"
"You can't see how weird he is?!" Mike asked.
"Guys, guys, come on," Bill waved his hands. "We're supposed to be practicing!"
"… I just wanted to say congrats," Casey pouted.
"Fuck this," Mike took off, storming out of the garage.
"MIKEY!" Izzy hollered, racing after him.
Bill and Casey stared at each other.
"Wanna get a drink?" Bill offered.
"Seems we'll be here for a while," Casey sighed, tossing aside her drum sticks. "Sure."
Izzy chased after her younger brother, racing through the desolate streets. He glowered, keeping his arms crossed.
"Y'never acted like this with my other boyfriends!" Izzy cried out. "What's so different about Leland?!"
"He's not just any old guy," Mike spat. "I don't trust him."
"For fuck's sake, I don't need ya to protect me, Mikey!" Izzy increased her speed. "I know Leland's the prince, but he's the real deal!"
"Sure," Mike deadpanned. "Because they all wanted to get married right away!"
"I love him!" Izzy spat.
"Ya think ya do," Mike huffed.
Izzy grabbed his shoulder, making him stop.
"I DON'T GET IT!" she sobbed. "Don't you want me to be happy, Mikey?!"
"'Course I do!" Mike snapped back.
"Then why don't you approve of us getting together?!" Izzy screamed.
"Because…" Mike clenched his fists, "you don't really know him."
Izzy choked on her tears. She covered her face, turning and running away.
Izzy sobbed into her pillow, clenching her plaid bed sheets. She could hear her mother snoring in the living room, while her father was out, at the bar as usual. Her best friend Alice sat beside her, squeezing her shoulder.
"He doesn't get it!" Izzy sobbed.
"Oh, Izzy…" Alice sighed. "You really love this Leland guy, don't ya?"
"'Course I do!" Izzy screamed.
"Then your bro's just being overprotective," Alice replied. "If that prince is the right guy, then you should be with him no matter what!"
"My bro thinks I'm gonna quit the band because of 'queen duties' or whatever," Izzy grimaced.
"Can't he get someone to replace ya?" Alice asked.
"No!" Izzy snapped.
She reached over, grabbing her bass. She had gotten it second-hand from a garage sale, but man, it was one of her most prized possessions.
"We're gonna do this shit together," she gazed at Alice. "He'll get all the fame he wants, I'll have my man, but we'll still be together." She grinned. "That dumbass needs to stop worryin'... I ain't goin' anywhere!"
Alice breathed out. "If ya say so…"
She had no time. He left the wedding early.
"Michael?"
Michael Durand was dozing out, leaning against the walls of the Plaid Palace. Queen Isolde walked over to him, cradling her youngest son. The siblings looked so distant, standing next to each other; Isolde wore a long, white plaid dress, whereas her brother wore a simple blue plaid shirt and gray shorts.
"You never call me that," Michael uttered.
"How do you feel?" Isolde asked. "You're an uncle of three."
Michael gazed at the baby in his sister's arms, as well as the other two toddlers running around.
"Lance looks a lot like you," Isolde said, pointing to one of the toddlers.
"... your husband's not here, is he?" Michael asked.
"He's at a meeting," Isolde replied. "He'll be in there for a while."
Michael tch-ed, looking away. The baby in Isolde's arms cooed, gazing at him with large, green eyes.
"He does look like me," Michael mumbled, eyeing the toddlers. "And that other one looks like you."
"The boys would love having you around," Isolde said, offering her brother the baby.
Michael gently held the baby in his arms, who blinked up at him. Blonde hair poked out from his head.
"This one looks nothin' like us," he muttered. "Takes after his shithouse father."
"Michael, not in front of the boys!" Isolde hissed.
Michael sighed, gazing at his nephew once again.
"He sure is a cutie," he handed him back to Isolde. "Congrats, your royal highness. You're doin' so much for your kingdom."
"Michael…" Isolde frowned.
Michael turned away. "I'm sorry, Izzy. I can't do this."
He left the room, shoulders slumped.
"Michael, wait!" Isolde cried.
She handed her baby son to a maid, before taking after her brother.
"How about your own room?" she offered. "It'll be your own private space!"
"Think I'd rather live on the streets than share a home with your hubby," Michael snapped.
"Well, then you don't have to live in the castle!" Isolde called. "There's plenty of nice houses nearby!"
"Give me a break," Michael huffed.
"I'll lend you some money," Isolde continued, "then you can buy a house anywhere in the kingdom!"
"I don't want your fucking PITY money!" Michael roared.
Isolde stopped. Michael turned away, his eyes watering up.
"I'm sorry, Izzy," he sighed. "You got everything you could ever want. I'm happy for you, honestly."
"Mikey…" Isolde squeaked.
"You're right, I'm being an asshat," he admitted. "You're the queen. You've got kids. You've got your whole life sorted. And that's awesome, Izzy. You can have all the desserts you want! Good for you. You deserve to be happy."
"Don't do this," Isolde pleaded.
Michael walked towards the door. It was pouring outside, the path absolutely soaked.
"But I can't live like this," he uttered. "I can't rely on handouts, especially from my own sister."
"Don't," Isolde repeated.
Michael turned around, eyeing his sister.
"Best of luck to ya, your royal highness," he smiled, eyes watering. "Me… I got a band to form."
He walked out into the rain.
"MICHAEL!" Isolde shouted, reaching out.
She fell onto her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. She stood up again, only for a hand to land on her shoulder. Leland was behind her, brow furrowed.
"Don't bother," he said. "You heard what he said."
Isolde choked up. She wiped her eyes, the rain leaving her hair drenched. Her expression hardened.
"Of course," she sighed. "I understand."
Isolde sighed, flashing back to the present. She placed her bass back inside its case.
She gazed at an old portrait of herself and her brother. She thought about him for the first time in ages. Where was he now? If she recalled correctly, he had moved away to another kingdom years ago…
She wondered how he was doing. Was he happy? Did he miss her? She wanted to send a letter, but she knew he wouldn't respond. He never did.
None of her old friends did anymore.
The queen sighed, closing her eyes. She wondered why it had to be this way, why she couldn't make everyone happy.
In the end, it seemed not everyone wanted a fairytale ending.