“There was a girl,” the flower spirit began.

“Wait, wait, wait,” the forest guardian interrupted. “Where’s that boy from before? The one with the horns?”

He pointed at the empty log where the boy had been sitting just last week. The priestess followed his gaze before turning back with a huff.

“He moved on,” she stated plainly.

“Moved on? But we’re spirits, not ghosts…” the nymph said in bewilderment.

“The boy proved worthy of a second chance,” the priestess told them.

The spirits began to mutter amongst themselves in amazement.

“That’s really possible?”

“Wow, how lucky.”

“I want a second chance, too!”

“Yeah, what about us? Don’t we deserve a second chance?”

The priestess’s eyes glinted dangerously, sweeping her icy gaze over the group. A strong breeze swept through the towering trees around them, rattling the leaves high above. It was enough to silence the chattering spirits, spooking them back into submission. The priestess reverted back to her usual passive demeanor, and she gestured to the flower spirit. “Please continue.”

“There was a girl,” the flower spirit repeated. “She wasn’t especially beautiful, or talented, or even outgoing or personable.”

“What a downer,” the nymph mumbled. However, she immediately shut up once the priestess sent a glare her way.

“She lived in a remote village,” the flower spirit continued. “There were few others who lived there, and hardly any that were her age. Still, her parents desperately wanted her to marry.”

The flower spirit went on to describe the ordeal. As it turned out, there was only one boy of marrying age in the village, but there were two girls. The ‘plain girl’, as the flower spirit called her, would have to compete in order to win the boy’s heart. But the girl she was competing against was of extraordinary beauty, so she was certain that she would lose.

The girls began by showcasing their skills in sewing, but the plain girl was not gifted in this. Her stitches were sloppy and her embroidery was lackluster. On the other hand, the beautiful girl excelled in both, easily impressing the boy.

That night, the plain girl returned home, secretly happy. She didn’t love the boy. Even though he was of marrying age, he was still several years older than her, and she didn’t care for his looks nor his personality. If she married, she wanted it to be with a true heart. Still, she felt guilt toward her parents for not fulfilling their wish.

“How sweet,” the fairy commented. “That’s how it should be. But the poor girl, her parents seemed really insistent.”

The priestess just sighed at the interruption, giving up on scolding for the time being. It was always inevitable anyway.

The story continued, the girl’s parents becoming predictably angry with her for her lack of desirable traits.

“No one will ever want to marry you at this rate!” they said. “Not even a beast.”

The girl felt hurt by their words, and apologized. But secretly, deep down, she was satisfied. So what if even a beast can’t love me?, she thought. As long as I love myself and am happy.

The next day, the girl received a surprise visit. It was none other than the beautiful girl she was competing against. She offered to teach the plain girl sewing, and the plain girl accepted. Her parents were pleased.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“But why help me? Don’t you want to win the boy’s heart?” the plain girl asked as the two practiced stitches.

“No,” the beautiful girl answered. “Don’t you?”

“No,” the plain girl said honestly. “You are much better than he is.”

She had spoken the words without realizing, but the beautiful girl seemed happy with the compliment. “I prefer your company as well.”

The days continued on like that for some time. They would compete for the boy’s affection, and the beautiful girl would often come over to teach the plain girl various skills like cooking, cleaning, musical instruments, and reading and writing. But the plain girl’s favorite thing to do was gardening.

The two girls had started a small garden on a tiny patch of dry land behind the plain girl’s house. Though it wasn’t the most ideal for farming, by the early summer they had managed to grow a pretty patch of wildflowers. Of course, mother nature did most of the work, but the girls still had fun tending to the tiny garden.

However, the plain girl’s parents remained unsatisfied. Despite the fact that she had managed to improve her skills, she was still far behind the beautiful girl in terms of winning the boy’s heart. Her parents grew desperate, insisting that she must be the one to marry the boy. She would apologize over and over, promising to do better, but in her heart she was not bothered.

Until one day, the boy announced that he would make a decision by the end of summer, and the girl grew nervous. She was not nervous about the decision, but about her relationship with the beautiful girl. Would she still visit even though she would no longer have a reason? She decided to ask her.

“Will you still come find me after summer’s end?”

To her surprise and great worry, the beautiful girl looked sad. “I’m afraid I won’t be able.”

“What do you mean?” the plain girl asked, brimming with concern.

“Come to the garden with me,” the beautiful girl responded, taking her hand.

They sat among the wildflowers and watched the sunset. Their hands never left each other’s even as the sun sank below the horizon and the world faded to black. Eventually, the beautiful girl leaned in close and whispered into the plain girl’s ear. “One of us will not make it.”

“What?” The plain girl was confused. She grew increasingly afraid as the beautiful girl’s grip tightened on her hand.

“I saw it,” the beautiful girl whispered. “He’s not a boy, but a monster. A few nights ago, he shed his skin and I saw his true self.”

(“A shapeshifter?” the fox spirit guessed.

“Or maybe some kind of werewolf,” the forest guardian commented.

“Oh, oh, or what if it’s some kind of mind control, and she only thinks he’s a monster?” the nymph chimed in.

“Quiet,” the priestess warned, and the group of gathered spirits once again fell silent. The nymph pouted, but said nothing else.)

“Have you told anyone?” the plain girl asked.

“Everyone already knows, but they don’t talk about it,” the beautiful girl told her somberly. “They’ve known the whole time.”

The plain girl was stunned. How could that be? “Then why do they want us to marry him?”

“He demands it. One bride, and one sacrifice.”

A chill swept through the air at that moment, and the plain girl shivered, huddling closer. “Then you will be the bride, and I…”

“No, you can’t die, and I won’t marry a monster. We will find a way,” the beautiful girl said, sitting up straight. “Maybe we can run away together or… or… something, I don’t know.”

“Run away?”

“Yes, maybe then we could be together because I… I love you,” the beautiful girl confessed.

Her cheeks were tinged red with embarrassment, but she wasn’t backing down. She met the other’s gaze with passion, and held both of the plain girl’s hands tightly as she spoke, bringing them close to her chest.

“You love me?” the plain girl said, eyes sparkling with wonder and tears.

“Yes, I-”

“Then please, forgive me.”

The beautiful girl flinched as she felt a sharp pain in her temple, like the prick of a needle.

“I’ve enchanted it, I’m sorry,” the plain girl told her as she cupped her cheek. “I don’t want to die either, but there’s no escape. Like you said, everyone already knows.”

Though the beautiful girl felt her consciousness fading, she still held on to every word. She tried to reach out a hand towards her love’s face, but her arm fell limp at her side.

“Just sleep now, and have a sweet dream. I will join you soon,” the plain girl whispered, and then all faded to black. But in the end, the beautiful girl had a peaceful smile on her face.

“WHAT THE HELL!?” the nymph screeched. “WHAT HAPPENED!? DID SHE JUST FUCKING DIE!?”

“Yes,” the flower spirit confirmed. “The plain girl buried her body under the bed of wildflowers, which blossomed into a large field.”

“What is with all these depressing-ass stories?” the nymph whined.

“Did you forget where we are?” a mushroom spirit snorted at her.

“Of course not, but still,” she huffed.

The guardian spirit looked contemplative, while the fox spirit was eager for more details. “What about the boy? Was he really a monster?”

“He was. The next day, after he learned what happened, he transformed into a great beast and destroyed the entire village, killing everyone,” the flower spirit explained.

“SO EVERYONE DIED!?” the nymph cried. “THIS STORY SERIOUSLY SUCKS!”

“Yours wasn’t any better,” the fairy shot back.

“Oh, shut it pixie dust.”

“What did you call me!?”

“Enough,” the booming voice of the priestess interrupted. Everyone fell silent once more. “We are done for today. Come back next week if you wish to argue more.”

“Fine,” the nymph relented grumpily.

The spirits stood up, one by one. All except the flower spirit, who remained rooted to the spot, staring at the ground with a faraway gaze. The priestess turned to her and addressed her quietly.

“Do you wish to see her?” she asked.

“I- … Yes, I do,” the flower spirit admitted, looking up to meet her eyes.

“Even though she killed you?”

“... Yes.”

“Have you remembered who you are?”

The flower spirit nodded.

“Then come with me.”