Have you ever heard the idiom, "Don't judge a book by its cover"?

Well, this tale is about the idiom. But dramatically. It's about two princesses, they're twins, but one of them is an outcast.

Let me tell you the tale of Daisy and Thorns.

When the twins were born, The Queen was shaken, especially when she found out about the first twin. She was left with so many questions, but, she kept it to herself and decided to try and act like the first twin looked just as fine as any babies.

The second twin is named Daisy, while the first twin is named Dahlia.

Daisy grew up into an elegant, beautiful, generous, young woman. She has the brightest smile that could light up the whole Kingdom when it's dark, she has long, luxurious hair. And did I mention that she's also smart?

Dahlia grew up into the most generous person you'll ever meet. She is humble and multi-talented. She can dance, she can sing, she can paint, she can even sculpt! But... frankly, her strange appearance gave off all of her talents and beautiful heart.

When people hear the name Daisy, they think of her blonde hair, her elegance, her admirable kindness, and her mesmerizing ocean eyes.

But when they hear the name Dahlia, they think of black, ugly, ravens. They think about her weird, crooked nose. They think about her ugly black spots. They think about her hairy features. They think about her strangely sharp chin. They think about her messy, prickly hair.

And even worse, they began to address the twins as Daisy and Thorns. As they grew up, people slowly forgot Dahlia's name and think that Thorn is her actual name.

Dahlia is treated differently by everyone in the kingdom.

Including The Queen, their mother.

Whenever Daisy walks by, people greet her with absolute joy! They compliment how beautiful she looks, and invite her to many parties!

But when Dahlia walks by, people whisper.

People avoid her eye contact.

People avoid even the slightest of her touch.

Sometimes, people call her mean names.

"Oh my God, guys, The Bigfoot has appeared!"

"She looks like that evil witch in my textbook!"

Dahlia has always tried to endure the pain they pricked into her heart.

Until one day, The Queen decides to exile her from the kingdom because "She can't be the face of the kingdom."

Dahlia is devastated. She can no longer endure the pain she has held for years. The pain of mistreatment. The pain of neglect. The pain of being unpleasant to look at.

So, she ran out without looking at her path.

And ran.

And ran.

And ran.

Until she stopped and noticed a small hut. She is likely in the center of the woods where the folks rarely visit.

Long story short, Dahlia met a witch. The witch instantly smirked when she saw Dahlia.

"You're not lacking anything, my sweetpea. But they do. They lack respect for you. Aren't you a princess? Shouldn't they bow to you?" The Witch asked, trying to provoke Dahlia.

"I don't know, I...." Dahlia is still pretty shaken, hence, she can not give the Witch a proper response.

The Witch chuckles. "Would you like power? With power, they'd respect you."

"Wh-what? That doesn't sound---"

"Oh, come on!" The Witch nagged, "they never did right by you. Why would you let them be? After everything they've done? After all the names they called you? After the years of abandonment, your mother gave you? After the ignorance your sister gave you?"

The Witch's questions boil something in Dahlia. With something new that burns with passion, Dahlia took the Witch's hand.

Years passed, and for years, the kingdom had never seen Dahlia ever since she was declared exiled.

Today is the coronation of Daisy as she is now 22 years old. She will be taking the throne, ruling The Kingdom with her diligent and wise soul.

Or so they thought.

They heard a huge explosion before the doors to the coronation room. The folks panicked, and so did Daisy and The soon-to-be former Queen.

In between the explosion, Daisy thought she heard something.

Someone.

From the smoke of the broken doors, Dahlia emerged. She has not changed. Her appearance is the same.

"It's... It's Thorns!" One of the folk screamed.

"Ah, yes," Dahlia chuckles. She aimed her left hand to the man and casted a spell, "Thorns. A nickname the folks gave me years ago."

Flames was summoned, they came out of Dahlia's left hand, reaching the man. But before he can react any more, he is burnt to a crisp.

Her appearance is the same.

But her heart is different.

"Dahlia!" exclaimed Daisy. "Do you realize what you've just done? You've killed that man!"

"Oh!" Dahlia chuckles, "It's been years since we met, sister. Why don't you give me a proper greeting?"

"What's gotten into you, sister?" Daisy asked. "You become---"

"Evil?" Dahlia snapped her fingers. Flame came through her hands. "I guess I'm the Evil Princess now, even though you're the one who's stealing my throne."

"Sister, please. Don't you see how strange this situation is? You're laughing like you're some kind of an evil witch from the textbooks we had when we were teenagers. And for what motive are you acting like this? Please, Dahlia."

"Oh, sister," The Evil Princess spoke, "Picture us as... flowers in the garden. You are a daisy. Mother is the gardener, and I am a spring bulb crown.

"Oh, the daisy blooms just as beautiful as ever. Its petals are as pretty as diamonds and it smells good too. But when the spring bulb crown blooms, it shows its... unusual petals and spreads the smelliest odor in the air. Mother decided to take care of the daisy and to... forget, about the spring bulb crown.

"While you continue to bloom, I wither and decay. Just because I don't look NEAR to beauty, Mother neglects me and people whisper when I pass by. YOU would NEVER understand what I feel."

Daisy couldn't give her a response. She was shaken by how mad Dahlia looked, but she snapped out of it in a second. "Dahlia, listen."

"I'm DONE listening. I've been LISTENING my whole life. I've been listening to the names the folks gave me, I've been listening to the guards and maids talking down to me, I've been listening to how our mother loves you more.

"Daisy, you know what I've been through. You watched. You watched me suffer and you did nothing. You claimed that you love me no matter what but you did nothing. You're going to steal my throne even though you know I'm still out there!

"I'm the eldest! That throne is supposed to be mine. These folks should've been bowing to me, respecting me. The kingdom should've been mine. Me!

"But you take everything away from me JUST because you're pretty."

Daisy's startled. She could feel her tears prick her eyes. But she couldn't response.

"Your beauty is your power, hence they respect you more, love you more. But now, my power is dark magic. Let's see which one's more powerful."

Dahlia summoned flames as hot as lava. The folks attempted to run away, but the flames were quicker than their feet.

Dahlia's flames ate everything surrounding her. Including her sister, her mother, and herself.

Just because she is unpleasant to look at, people constantly bully her. Her mother neglected her. It must've been exhausting for Dahlia to live such a life.

So, please, treat people with kindness. Because even the slightest word could stab deep into the heart.

***

1.275 words.