Very slowly and very carefully, you reach into the box and close your fingers around the knife handle. The gold chills your fingers. You lift it out, keeping the blade at a considerable distance. Perfect Princess shuts the box.\n\nThe knife is polished so the silver blade gleams in the sunshine, making it difficult to look at. You doubt it would be easy to look at under any circumstances, however. Your hand is shaking, and the harder you try to grip the handle, the more it feels like it will slip right out of your sweaty palm.\n\n"I-I...me?" Your words are nearly drowned in another wave of chirping cicadas. "I...I thought..." The Other Princesses start whispering again. "You thought what?" Perfect Princess asks. "I thought...an adult did it." Giggling from the crowd. Perfect Princess tilts her chin again. "You thought an adult would be willing to do something like this? Everyone does it for themselves. I did it for myself."\n\nShe pulls down the wide neckline of her dress to reveal an X-shaped scar over her heart.\n\n[[Get on with it|get on with it]].\n[[Refuse|refuse]].

You decide that gold will best match your gown. Gingerly, you lift the glittering tiara out of the drawer and place it on your head. Making sure that not a hair is out of place, you smile at your reflection. You look like a real Princess, and soon, you will be one! Unfortunately, you still have some time left before the ceremony, so you decide to sit on the Royal Sofa to watch some Royal Cartoons.\n\nAfter a few episodes of Powerpuff Girls, the Queen summons you to the Royal Living room and helps you into the Royal Carriage. Your heart thumps with excitement, but you stay composed as a true Princess should. Soon, you will arrive at [[Perfect Princess's castle|arrival]].

Your name is Princess Adelina.\n\nYou have just awoken in your Royal Bedchamber on Saturday morning. The sun shines through the pink lacy curtains that float over your window. You sit up, stretch, and let out a remarkable yawn for a girl your age. Today is a very special day for you and your kingdom, and you know that as a Princess, it is imperative that you are responsible and hasty to get on with the day's duties.\n\nYou slide out of bed, planting your feet firmly on the carpet, then [[rush out the door and downstairs|kitchen]].

As soon as you turn another corner into the backyard, you see all the Other Princesses in their gowns and crowns milling about and having fun. They're talking, enjoying refreshments, and even dancing a bit on the grass. There's Pretty Princess and Proud Princess and Popular Princess. They're all so elegant and lovely, and they must make such interesting conversation, you think.\n\n"There's Mario Kart and My Little Pony in the living room, if you want. We have cookies and cake and pink lemonade and my mom said we could drink Coke," Perfect Princess says, her back still turned to you as she dodges the crowd. "Do whatever you want. We'll let you known when it's time to begin the real ceremony."\n\n"Er," you begin awkwardly, not as eloquent as a princess should be. "What will you be doing...?" Perfect Princess suddenly stops and turns to you, her grown swirling over the ground. Her porcelain face is void of any malignity, but you still find it difficult to look her in the eye. "I will be staying outside," she says, tilting her chin just slightly as she does so. "You may join me if you wish."\n\nYou quickly nod, excuse yourself, and grab two sugar cookies and a Sprite from the snack table. You can't help but feel the Other Princess' eyes on you, and though the conversation in the crowd does not dwindle, you swear you can hear whispering. You keep your composure, however, and [[make your way back|ceremony start]] to where Perfect Princess is waiting for you.

You stare at the knife, petrified. Even the cicadas are silent now, only a gentle breeze whispering through the oaks. The knife gleams at you, its blade reflecting the blue sky and sweet puffy clouds above.\n\n"You know what to do, correct?" Perfect Princess's voice snaps you out of your trance. You swallow, but the lump in your throat won't go down. You can only nod. Yes, you know what to do. But do you understand it...?\n\nVery slowly and very carefully, you reach into the box and close your fingers around the knife handle. The gold chills your fingers. You lift it out, keeping the blade at a considerable distance. Perfect Princess shuts the box.\n\nThe knife is polished so the silver blade gleams in the sunshine, making it difficult to look at. You doubt it would be easy to look at under any circumstances, however. Your hand is shaking, and the harder you try to grip the handle, the more it feels like it will slip right out of your sweaty palm.\n\n"I-I...me?" Your words are nearly drowned in another wave of chirping cicadas. "I...I thought..." The Other Princesses start whispering again. "You thought what?" Perfect Princess asks. "I thought...an adult did it." Giggling from the crowd. Perfect Princess tilts her chin again. "You think an adult would be willing to do something like this? Everyone does it for themselves. I did it for myself."\n\nShe pulls down the wide neckline of her dress to reveal an X-shaped scar over her heart.\n\n[[Get on with it|get on with it]].\n[[Refuse|refuse]].

You decide on the pink gown. Neatly stashing away the other two in your closet, you change out of your pajamas and into the dress. After getting it on backwards or otherwise incorrect a couple times, you manage to fit it the right way and zip up the back. Lifting your skirts up properly as a princess does, you make your way to the full-length mirror on the other side of the room. Admiring your reflection, you adjust your brooch and give a couple twirls, marveling at the classic bell-shaped silhouette of the skirt. You look perfectly romantic in this gown.\n\nAfter you have brushed and braided your hair, all that's left is the final piece: your tiara. You open a tiny drawer on the side of your dresser to reveal a [[silver tiara|silver]] and [[gold tiara|gold]].

Oh, your heart could just about jump out of your chest right now! Finally, you've been invited to a Crowning Ceremony! This is certainly one of the most important days in your Royal Life.\n\nThis is the way it's always been and perhaps always will be. All little girls want to be Princesses, and eventually, all little girls go to a Crowning Ceremony, where they must meet the correct criteria if they are ever to be accepted by the Other Princesses.\n\nYou often see the Other Princesses prancing around the playground and down the street together in their pretty gowns, with gold and silver tiaras atop their flowing locks. Of course, you've never approached them before, knowing that most of them are older than you and have already attended a Crowning Ceremony. But after today, you'll be able to frolick with them among the daisies, braid each other's hair, and have Royal Slumber Parties! What a wonderful life that will be.\n\nBut all that will only take place if you complete your Crowning Ceremony correctly. And if you don't?\n\nYou're not sure if you want to think about that.\n\nPushing those thoughts out of your mind, you trot back up the Royal Drawbridge, invitation held to your chest and other mail in your left hand, and into your castle. After conversing shortly with your parents, they agree to drive you to the ceremony (but of course). Now, all that's left is to [[get ready for the party|get ready]]!

You decide on the yellow gown. Neatly stashing away the other two in your closet, you change out of your pajamas and into the dress. After getting it on backwards or otherwise incorrect a couple times, you manage to fit it the right way and lace up the back. Lifting your skirts up properly as a princess does, you make your way to the full-length mirror on the other side of the room. Admiring your reflection, you bow-tie a loose ribbon and give a couple twirls, marveling at the seemingly endless ruffles of the skirt. You look perfectly elegant in this gown.\n\nAfter you have brushed and braided your hair, all that's left is the final piece: your tiara. You open a tiny drawer on the side of your dresser to reveal a [[silver tiara|silver]] and [[gold tiara|gold]].

The sunshine nearly blinds you as you exit your grand castle, but you keep your wits about you and carefully walk down the Royal Drawbridge, past the Royal Carriage, which Daddy calls his "baby." You know that you're his one and only true baby, though. People can't have carriages for daughters.\n\nThe Royal Mailbox is only a little shorter than you, and painted green with white stripes. You carefully open it up and reach in to grab the mail. There are Royal Bills, Royal Advertisements, a Royal Letter from your Royal School (you'll be starting the 4th grade in September), and at long last... a [[Royal Invitation|invitation]]!

Perfect Princess's castle is big and tall, made of alabaster brick with shady oak trees growing on either side. It really does look like a castle. You can't help but feel a bit uneasy as your carriage comes to a stop next to many other ones lined up on the street. Mommy helps you out of the carriage, says goodbye, and gives you a kiss on the forehead. Then, she's gone.\n\nYou stand on the sidewalk alone, the muffled chatter of the Other Princesses drifting to your ears from the backyard. Well, it's no use holding back. As stated before, a Princess must be responsible and hasty to get on with the day's duties.\n\nThe dewy grass tickles your socks as you slowly make your way across the lawn, trying your best not to get your gown wet. Luckily, as soon as you round the corner, Perfect Princess is already there to meet you.\n\nPerfect Princess is the leader of all the Other Princesses, and as her name denotes, she is most certainly perfect, perhaps the most perfect Princess in the world. You've only watched her from afar, but you know that she is beautiful, smart, and most importantly, knows how to rule, for she will be a Queen someday like all the Other Princesses. Today, she is wearing a lavender gown adorned with gems, her dark hair tied up in a shiny bun, the golden tiara on her head shinier still. \n\n"You are Adelina?" She does not curtsey and greet you like you think most Princesses should, nor does she apply your title, but of course you can make an exception. She's Perfect Princess, and she is of a much higher rank than you. You nod and curtsey, but all she does is scan you from tiara to toe. Without another word, she turns swiftly and lifts her skirts up, stepping gracefully into the backyard. You [[follow immediately|follow]].

You wipe your fingers on the handkerchief, painting the roses red. Perfect Princess wrinkles her nose when you offer it back to her, but carefully pinches a clean spot between two fingers and sets it on the table. She holds out the box to you again. The crystal heart glimmers.\n\nThe heart nearly slips out of your trembling fingers. As soon as you slide in into your wound, the river of blood stops flowing. You watch it disappear inside you, bone and muscle reforming and skin closing up, leaving only an X-shaped scar. You have finally attained the mark of a true Princess: a pure heart.\n\nThis is the way it's always been and perhaps always will be. All little girls want to be Princesses, but to become a True Princess, they must give up a part of themselves. They must discard their hearts if they are ever to be accepted by the Other Princesses.\n\nThe Other Princesses all clap and curtsey. Perfect Princess smiles at you. You're still crying.\n\nYour name is Princess Adelina, and from now on, that's who you'll always be.\n\nTHE END

"N...no!"\n\nYou spin and tear off running down the aisle, bounding for the street. But the Other Princesses are bigger and faster than you and they're already surrounding you on both sides, and one of them grabs hold of your skirt and gives a sharp tug. You taste dirt and when you roll over, you can barely see the sky for all the Princesses amassing around you, suffocating you. Their hands are full of fabric torn from your dress and bits of your hair, eyes flashing like lightning. Your scream reaches nobody.\n\nYou look to the right and watch your tiara snap under Plucky Princess's loafer.\n\nClear trails appear in the dirt that cakes your cheeks. The Other Princesses draw away, disgusted with you now that they've done their job.\n\n"Her mum will be here soon to pick her up." Perfect Princess gives you one last look before walking onto the patio and heading in through the sliding door. The Other Princesses break into casual chatter and crowd into the castle. They all start playing their iPods and watching My Little Pony again.\n\nThe sky is like a sheet of blue fondant dotted with white puffs of icing. The breeze tickles your legs and blows stray threads into the grass. Your fingers wrap around one half of your precious tiara. It broke so easily, as if it were made of plastic. You laugh between choked sobs.\n\nYour name used to be Princess Adelina, but from now on you're just Adelina.\n\nTHE END

Perfect Princess pulls her dress back up, then primly folds her hands over her waist. With your free hand, you reach over your shoulder and undo the back of your gown, just a bit. The fabric falls away from your chest. You bring the knife closer and closer towards yourself. You can see your own face reflected in it. You're crying.\n\n[[Keep going|cut it out]].\n[[Refuse|refuse]].

You nod without a second though.\n\nThe corners of Perfect Princess's mouth raise, but she isn't quite smiling. "Then let the Crowning Ceremony begin."\n\nPerfect Princess turns her back to you for a moment to pick up a small box, resting on the table behind her. She holds it out in front of you. It's made of smooth china, with little blue and pink flowers painted on it.\n\nPerfect Princess opens the box. Resting in the velvet interior is a knife.\n\n[[Take the knife|take knife]].\n[[Stare at knife|stare]].

Perfect Princess primly folds her hands over her waist. With your free hand, you reach over your shoulder and undo the back of your gown, just a bit. The fabric falls away from your chest. You bring the knife closer and closer towards yourself. You can see your own face reflected in it. You're crying.\n\n[[Keep going|cut it out]].\n[[Refuse|refuse]].

You spend quite some time standing in Perfect Princess's shadow while she chats with the Other Princesses. At least, you think it's been quite some time. You're so nervous that every minute seems to fly by too quickly. You like The Other Princesses well enough. Some of them are playing hide-and-seek and others are listening to their iPods, sharing a pair of earbuds with their best friend. You only speak when someone asks you a question, or when you're positive you won't interrupt someone. Even then, behind the Other Princesses' smiles you always seem to detect a hint of disappointment.\n\nThen, it's time.\n\nThe dozen or so Princesses lounging in the castle all swarm outside, blending into the crowd. Then, they seperate into two halves, making a grassy aisle in the middle. You stand at one end and Perfect Princess stands at the other.\n\nThe only sound is the distant cry of cicadas, your footsteps silenced by the soft dirt. You keep your back straight and head held high like a good Princess should. You're starting to get a tummyache.\n\nFinally, you're face-to-face with Perfect Princess. It's still hard to look her in the eye, but you do it anyway. You must show that you're not afraid. It seems like an eternity goes by before she speaks.\n\n"Princess Adelina," she says, loud enough for everyone up and down the aisle to hear. "Do you wish to be crowned a True Princess?"\n\n[[Nod|nod]].\n[[Think about it|think]].

After politely declining your mother's offer to help, you dash up the stairs and into your Royal Bedchamber to get ready for the Crowning Ceremony. Even if a Princess has not yet been crowned, she is expected to look the part, all the better if she is able to get ready all by herself.\n\nYou throw open your Royal Wardrobe and push past the heaps of commoner's clothes hung up on the racks. Finally, you come to some of your most prized possesions: your dresses. You tenderly lift each one out of the wardrobe and lay them on your bed, smoothing the skirts out, then step back to admire them.\n\nThere is a [[pink gown|pink gown]] with a lovely full skirt and a heart-shaped brooch on the neckline, a [[blue gown|blue gown]] with long, flowing skirts embroided with pearls, and [[a yellow gown|yellow gown]] with a ruffled skirt and ribbons tied all around.

You decide that silver will best match your gown. Gingerly, you lift the glittering tiara out of the drawer and place it on your head. Making sure that not a hair is out of place, you smile at your reflection. You look like a real Princess, and soon, you will be one! Unfortunately, you still have some time left before the ceremony, so you decide to sit on the Royal Sofa to watch some Royal Cartoons.\n\nAfter a few episodes of Powerpuff Girls, the Queen summons you to the Royal Living room and helps you into the Royal Carriage. Your heart thumps with excitement, but you stay composed as a true Princess should. Soon, you will arrive at [[Perfect Princess's castle|arrival]].

body {font-family:"Georgia", Georgia, serif;}\n\nbody {color:pink;}

As soon as you push open the door, you are greeted by the scent of food and your family's voices drifing up from downstairs. You toddle down the Royal Staircase, nearly slipping on a couple steps, and immediately make your appearance in the Royal Kitchen.\n\nYou live with His and Her Royal Majesties the King and Queen, but you call them daddy and mommy. You also have a white dog named Coconut, but since he's so big and tall, you fancy him the Royal Steed. Your family greets you with warm smiles (Coconut with a happy bark) as you climb into your seat at the table. As you eat your breakfast of pancakes and milk quickly but politely, keeping ladylike etiquette in mind, you ask the King if you may walk across the Royal Drawbridge (commonly known as the driveway) after breakfast to get the mail. He looks at you over his newspaper and smiles in his sturdy, monarchial way, then nods.\n\nAs soon as the last bite of fluffy, syrupy goodness disappears down your throat, you thank your parents, hop off your chair, and race out of the Royal Kitchen, through the Royal Living Room, and [[out the Royal Door|mail]].

"I..." Your lip trembles, making it hard to speak. "I... I won't!" The knife lands softly on the grass, an inch away from your feet. Not even the cicadas make a sound.\n\nPerfect Princess looks at the knife, then back at you. She furrows her brow. The Other Princesses stare at you in shocked silence. "I won't," you repeat, a tiny sob on the last syllable erasing all firmness from your statement. The lump in your throat hurts now. It makes you whine and hiccup and shake until huge tears are rolling down your cheeks.\n\n"We're giving you one more chance," Perfect Princess says, pointing at the knife. "You want to become a True Princess, don't you?"\n\nThe knife gleams at your feet.\n\n[[Pick up the knife|pick knife up]].\n[[Run|run]].

One more chance...\n\nEven as you sob brokenly into your hands, even as you say you won't, you know you will. You kneel down, nearly collapsing, and pick up the knife. You stand up straight, like a True Princess does. [[Time to get it over with|get on with it 2]].

You decide on the blue gown. Neatly stashing away the other two in your closet, you change out of your pajamas and into the dress. After getting it on backwards or otherwise incorrect a couple times, you manage to fit it the right way and button up the back. Lifting your skirts up properly as a princess does, you make your way to the full-length mirror on the other side of the room. Admiring your reflection, you smooth out the pearls and give a couple twirls, marveling at the swishy flowing layers of the skirt. You look perfectly serene in this gown.\n\nAfter you have brushed and braided your hair, all that's left is the final piece: your tiara. You open a tiny drawer on the side of your dresser to reveal a [[silver tiara|silver]] and [[gold tiara|gold]].

You carefully open the pale pink envelope, sealed with a heart-shaped sticker, and pull out the folded card. It has delicate lace around the edges and gold embellishing, typed in flowing white script, except for your name, written in bubbly letters with a pink pen.\n\nDear Princess Adelina,\n\nYou are cordially invited to a Crowning Ceremony today (Saturday, August 4th) at 2:45 PM at Perfect Princess's castle! If we find you to be worthy, you can join our group and we'll let you play with us. Please [[let your parents know|parents]] and have them drop you off and pick you up at 4 to 5 PM.\n\nPerfect Princess's Castle\n1253 Warbler Way\nXXXX, XX XXXXX\n\nFrom,\n\nPerfect Princess and friends

It shouldn't be as easy as it is. Once you get over it and touch the tip to your chest, the skin parts and reveals shiny red muscle. You feel it push through your ribs as if they're made of butter. Blood drips all over your gown, and for a second you worry about ruining it more than the situation at hand. You drag the blade out with a squishy, wet noise.\n\nThe second cut is just as easy. Your chest heaves, but you keep your hand as steady as possible. The Other Princesses watch your progress admirably. Again, the blade goes in, sawing your ribs in half as you work to sever whatever it is that holds your heart up inside you. It doesn't matter if you misaim and poke a hole in it. Soon, you won't be needing it.\n\nYou feel the rapid pounding in your chest stop.\n\nPerfect Princess turns her back to you again, then presents another box. It resembles the previous one, except the flowers on this one are purple and yellow. She opens it to reveal a beautifully carved crystal heart, shining and twinkling in rainbow colors. Next to the heart is a deep indent in the velvet. Perfect Princess steps forward, allowing you easier access.\n\nYou stick your fingers into your chest. It's soft and wet and gives easily, kind of like putting your hand in a bowl of jelly. The entire upper half of your gown is now a muddy red. You close your fingers around your heart, its slimy surface remarkably still, and pull it out, leaving a gushing hole.\n\nYou drop your heart into the box with a wet plop. Pretty Princess offers you a [[handkerchief|heart replacement]] embroidered with roses.

You squeeze your lips into a tight line. Instantly, you know you've make a mistake. A whisper rushes through the crowd, making the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Like a doll, Perfect Princess remains placid, barely even blinking.\n\n"Must I repeat myself?" She draws out every vowel torturously. "No!" you cry out. The whisper dies down. "No..." you say again, much quieter this time. Perfect Princess waits. You swallow hard, now completely unable to meet her stare. "I mean...yes. Yes, I do." You nod feebly.\n\nThe corners of Perfect Princess's mouth raise, but she isn't quite smiling. "Then let the Crowning Ceremony begin."\n\nPerfect Princess turns her back to you for a moment to pick up a small box, resting on the table behind her. She holds it out in front of you. It's made of smooth china, with little blue and pink flowers painted on it.\n\nPerfect Princess opens the box. Resting in the velvet interior is a knife.\n\n[[Take knife|take knife]].\n[[Stare at knife|stare]].