Fate Be Changed
Chapter 1: Prologue
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Author’s note: Just to let you all know, the story takes place in the early 2000s. This first chapter starts in the '80s. So it’s different from now (2024).
Notice/warnings: CAPs, crying, screaming/yelling, food/eating, teen pregnancy mentioned
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1983, April 17
The night sky was clear, fireflies flew in the air, cricket's sharp in the forest, the stars were a line and beautiful like sparkling skies, but behind the forest was a city, called Los Angeles.
It was bustling with skyscrapers and buildings, some run down apartments, streets being built, cars passing by and some cars honking.
There it was a wealthy neighborhood.
One of the buildings was some sort of penthouse that almost looked like a farm.
Inside was a little girl's room on the top floor, with a small toy farm with little toy farm animals, plushies of princesses, and action figures.
Diane sat with Emily Lou, Pam, and Ruby on the floor, listening to a bedtime story being told by Diane’s mother, Margaret Foxington, while fixing something on a dress.
Her mother was reading the tales of The Frog Prince to them.
Diane was playing with the skirt of her dress, waiting for the end of the story while Emily Lou, Pam, and Ruby were more into the story.
“Just at that moment, the ugly little frog looked up with his sad round eyes and pleaded; "Oh, please, dear princess! Only a kiss from you can break this terrible spell that was inflicted on me by a wicked witch.”” Margaret read from the story.
"Oh, no, not-" Diane said, shaking her head. Then she was cut off by Emily Lou covering her mouth with her hand.
“Please continue, Ms. Foxington.” Emily Lou said, looking at Margaret.
"Please quiet down." Pam whispered to them before looking back at Margaret.
Margaret chuckled softly at the kids before continuing reading, “So, The Princess picked up the Frog…leaned forward, raised him to her lips…AND kissed that little frog.”
The girl's nodded in different ways before Diane groaned and shook uncomfortably while Emily Lou and Pam awed as Ruby giggled.
"...Then the frog was transformed into a handsome prince. They were married and lived happily ever after." Margaret said, cutting the last of the string. "The end."
“Yay!” Emily Lou exclaimed, leaning back too far before falling over and giggling. “Read it again! Read it again!”
"Or another story!" Pam said, excited as she got up, jumping up and down.
“Please!” Ruby exclaimed like a plea.
Margaret chuckled softly, looking at a nearby clock. “Sorry girls. It’s almost time for your parents to come over and for Diane and I to go home.” Margaret said, closing the book and putting the sewing stuff away. “Say good night, Diane.”
Diane threw a bit of a tantrum and a huff. Even though she is six, she is a bit mature for her age, specifically once in story books.
"There is no way, in this whole wide world... I would ever, ever, ever I mean never kiss a frog or prince. Yuck!" Diane pouted, her arms crossed, with her tongue sticking out "There's no girl power! The princess wouldn't be a knight like the prince."
“Well the story is still great.” Ruby said, looking at Diane.
“Kissing a frog or any animal is gross!” Diane said with sass, crossing her arms across her chest. “Besides, magic isn't real! It's just a story teaching morals anyways.”
Diane had an unusual mind compared to her friends and she was able to see the story. But it was also her background. While she was wearing a handmade blue dress made from her mother. Her friends, Ruby wore a hand-me-down dress while Emily Lou and Pam wore fancy dresses.
But Diane managed to keep her cool by taking a deep breath.
Ruby pouted at that when Diane said ‘magic isn’t real’ and she started to cry.
Pam started to hug and comfort her as Diane felt bad.
“Oh, sorry about that, I didn't mean to say that.” Diane said, walking over the Ruby.
Ruby looks at Diane as she clings onto Pam.
Diane knew she didn't mean to do it in front of her.
Diane offered a hand to her.
Ruby looks at her hand for a moment before nodding. “Apology accepted.” she said, taking her hand and shaking it.
The two girls giggled as they finished shaking hands.
“Still, kissing a frog is gross! And I will never do it!” Diane exclaimed in disgust. “Bleh!”
"Is that so?" Emily Lou asked, a smirk on her face. Then she grabbed one of her dolls in a frog costume and started to chase Diane. "Here comes your prince charming, Dia! Come on, kiss the frog prince!"
Diane ran, playfully screaming and laughing as Emily Lou chased after her with the doll, since she just loved to tease her.
That made Ruby laugh at them as she stopped crying.
Pam rolled her eyes, letting go of Ruby and went to stop this. "Hey! Cut it out, Em!" Pam said, standing in front of Diane and taking the doll away from Emily Lou.
Emily Lou pouted sadly, wanting the doll back, which made Pam sighed. "She said she WON'T." Pam said, handing the doll back.
"I would do it." Emily Lou said, holding the doll close. "I would kiss a frog or any animal. I would kiss a hundred of them, if I could marry a prince or someone who would take me to my happily ever after."
"In your DREAMS." Diane scoffed, her arms crossed.
"Is that a challenge I hear?" Emily Lou asked with a smile.
“FIGHT!!!” Ruby shouted, pumping both fists in the air.
"You girls, cut it out!" Margaret said, walking over to them with her hands on her hips.
All four girls look at Margaret, calming down.
“Sorry, Ms. Foxington…” Ruby, Pam, and Emily Lou said together while Diane said, “Sorry mom….”
The bedroom door opened and in came Emily Lou’s father, who just came back from work from his late shift. “Hello, everyone.” he said, with a bright smile as he walked in.
"Good evening, Mr. Hogwild." Margaret said, nodding to him.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Emily Lou exclaimed as she rushed to her dad before pointing at the dress that Margaret fixed. “Look at the dress! Isn't it pretty?”
It was a repair of a tutu that Margaret was working on.
Mr. Hogwild chuckled softly as he picked up his daughter. “It is, Sugar.” he said, hugging her.
Margaret chuckled softly before she went to get both her and Diane’s coats.
“Now, Pam and Ruby,” Mr. Hogwild said, looking at the two other girls, who were looking at him. “Both of your parents called me and told me that you two can stay over tonight.”
It was probably because Pam's parents were working late and Ruby's mother was helping her grandmother move into a new home near La Puente.
"Lucky." Diane mumbled under her breath, looking at her friends.
Margaret was talking to Mr. Hogwild as Diane waited.
"And just to let you know, sir, noticing I already cooked up a lot of leftovers and sewed up the other clothes that you requested, including your daughter’s clothes." Margaret said to Mr. Hogwild, showing her hard work on some of the mannequins of Emily’s outfits, many dresses were princess-like dresses and mostly in all different shades of pink.
“Thank you, Margaret.” Mr. Hogwild said, nodding to her and looking at dresses.
Emmylou cheered as she looked at the new dresses
Margaret nodded back with a smile and then looked at her daughter. "Come along, Diane." she said to her daughter. "Your Dad should be home from work now."
“Okay, mommy.” Diane said, holding her mom’s hand as they went out.
◇
The Foxingtons got into their family 1976 Ford Thunderbird Model gray and Margaret started the car.
Diane watched through the window, looking at the different homes from the rich, poor, and middle class.
Then came the city lights then finally they made it back to their street, Burbank Boulevard.
They arrived home and saw Owen, Daine’s father and Margaret's husband, waiting for them on the porch.
Her parents were young when they had Diane at 18 years old. But they were from different races. Her mother being white and parents of German descent and her father black. Of course after getting pregnant by accident, they decided to keep her though they live in the middle class system. They did matter to get through and their lives were great, not minding that they’re in the middle class.
“Dad!” Daine said, running to him after getting out of the car. "Hey my little foxy cakes!" Owen said, hugging his precious daughter.
Diane giggled and nuzzled Owen as he picked her up. Margaret chuckled softly and went to them, hugging them before they went inside.
They began making dinner while Diane and Owen were reenacting Athena and Odysseus. Margaret went to work on the car while the two cooked and did the retelling.
"I have returned with my arrows and bow." Diane said, acting as Athena, with a pot over her head like a helmet and pretending that the salt and pepper shakers are the arrows and bow.
“It’s great to see you again.” Owen said, acting as Odysseus, with a cooking apron as the uniform.
Of course they were halfway done with cooking the dinner as they reenacted.
"The geese are gone and illegal." Diane said as they got the mushrooms on the cutting board. “Respect the labor workers and mash the mushrooms!"
“It’s minced mushrooms.” Owen corrected with a chuckle, starting to mince.
Diane laughed as they did it together.
Then they put the minced mushrooms in the cooking pan with other cooking cut vegetables.
Owen was close to sneaking some cinnamon in the vegetables but failed when Diane swiped it away.
"Nice try, Dad!" Diane said, putting the cinnamon away or more of trying to.
It slipped out of her hands just in time for her mother, who just got inside from finishing with the car. Margaret caught the cinnamon and shook her head. "Sorry, sir you are going to food jail." she said with a chuckle, pointing to the table.
Owen pouted but shrugged. “Fine. But it needs a pinch.” he said to them, before he went to a seat at the table.
Diane sighs as Margaret adds a pinch of cinnamon after washing her hands. "Sometimes you have to break the rules." Margaret said, putting the cinnamon away.
They all began to laugh as they finished cooking.
Their home was always filled with laughter and joy. Though they tried to make ends meet. Even though they were able to live enough, comfortable enough home, they were happy as a family.
◇
When dinner was packed and ready to go, The Foxingtons went out to the potluck.
They had a great time at the potluck.
Everyone from the neighborhood was there.
Some kids playing around while some of the adults talking and even some servers serving food.
Diane's family sets their food on the table as Diane looks around at the other kids.
She didn't mind playing for a bit but then Diane noticed some homeless people being hungry and living in a station wagon that was near the potluck.
“Hey, Mom, Dad.” Diane started, getting her parents’ attention.
“Yes, sweetheart?” Owen asked.
“Since we normally have some of the food leftovers from the potluck…” Diane said “Maybe we can give some to those in need!"
The parents looked at each other and then nodded their heads.
“We can do that before we go home, ok?” Owen said.
Margaret nodded, seeing the homeless people that Diane was talking about.
“Ok…” Diane sighed, nodding in understanding.
When the potluck was over and as everyone left to go home, the Foxingtons went to the station wagon.
"Hey everyone!" Diane said, getting everyone’s attention as they got there. "Me and my family made vegan foie gras!"
Some homeless people started lining up getting their hands on a plate of the vegan foie gras.
Diane’s parents knew they taught their daughter well about putting others first before her own.
The Foxingtons will often give some of the leftover food from the potluck for the homeless because of their kindness and giving away any leftovers.
Hence why they were normally the only family left when the potluck was over.
◇Later that night◇
When the Foxingtions got home, they did their bath time routine and then Diane’s parents helped her get ready for bed. When they made it into her cute bedroom, which is unique for a six-year-old.
It was almost like a bit of a middle-schooler room but was cheerful like the child she is. There was a bookshelf with her books, but in separate corners, one for home and one from the library. She had some posters of her favorite cartoon characters but some historical figures, and inspirational posters. Almost like a teacher's room, but her bed, though big for her age, was perfect for her meaning she'll grow in it.
"You know the thing about being hard working and being selfless? It brings people together from all walks of life, regardless of who they are and where they come from. It warms them right up and it puts little smiles on their faces. And you have the spark of a strong independent woman, I tell you, people are gonna line up for miles around, just to get a look and see the future that you can do." Owen said, smiling softly at her as he held her.
"If we work hard…" Diane said, beginning to say the usual phase and smiling at her parents. "We… We can reach the moon!"
Then she begins pretending to whoosh like a rocket ship going up into space. Diane had an active imagination like any other kid, even though sometimes she is a bit more grounded.
“That’s right.” Owen chuckled as he was about to get Diane into bed.
But then Diane saw something out her window, making her gasp excitedly. "Daddy, Mommy! look!" Diane said, getting out of bed and going to a window.
"Where are you going?" Owen asked, following where his daughter was going along with his wife.
Diane pointed out her window and all three saw beautiful shooting stars.
"I remember in one of my friends' fairy tale books it said if you make a wish on a shooting star it should come true!" Diane said in the most childhood-like wonder in her eyes.
"Or leave a coin to the well or break a wishbone." Margaret chuckled softly, rubbing her daughter’s back gently.
“Yeah!” Diane giggled, still looking at the starry sky.
Then the couple look at each other knowing what they have to do, to let their daughter be grounded while having high hopes.
"Diane, before you go to bed, your father and I want to give you something." Margaret said, leading their daughter to her bed.
“What is it?” Diane asked, getting on her bed as Owen went out of the room.
“A gift.” Margaret said, smiling softly.
Owen came back a few minutes later with two wrapped presents. The other on the left with her mother was green with black polka dots and a pretty pink bow and ribbon. The right wither father had a gray color with blue stripes and a red ribbon and bow
"We were going to save it until you're 10 but maybe you are ready to see the photos." Margaret said, sitting on the bed.
Diane looked at both of her parents before opening the gifts.
There are two portraits of two women from very different times.
The first one looks like a white woman wearing a male's uniform and male cut hair, giving a salute alongside the man and in front of an American flag. It looked like it was taken around World War 1.
The other photo was of a black woman wearing a soldier uniform of World War 2. She had chopped up curly hair, holding a gun part of the US.
"These were all your great grandparents' and grandma’s portraits." Margaret said, pointing at the photos.
Diane nodded and noticed there was something writing in both the pictures.
This is life and this is your chance to write your own story
“What does this mean?” Diane asked, pointing at the writing.
"Look, sometimes this world can be a pretty cruel place… They could be mean and not selfless… Of course, the third time even now was full of prejudice everywhere" Owen said, sighing sadly.
"But… as time changes and we keep moving forward to a better future but with a lot of hard work and a lot of progress you can make the world a better place and it's your job to write your history. You can write your own story." Margaret said, smiling softly as she held both her husband and daughter’s hands.
"And then… Yeah you can do anything you said you mind to. Just promise your family one thing? That you’ll never, ever lose sign of what is really important." Owen said, holding and rubbing Daine’s hand. “Okay?”
Diane nodded. “I promise.”
"See you in the morning, foxy cakes. Get some sleep." Margaret said, tucking Diane in bed.
Diane giggled as she laid down in her bed.
“Good night, foxy cakes.” Owen whispered as he kissed her forehead.
Diane closed her eyes as her parents left the room, turning off the lights. But when the door closed, Diane got up and got a book about strong female women along with the portraits of her grandmothers and looking at the shooting stars.
“Please. Please. Please.” the little girl whispered, wishing on the shooting stars.
When the shooting stars were gone, Diane started hearing the howls. She looked at her window and recognized a wolf nearby from the woods from her backyard.
Diane began to scream loudly, closing the window, and she hopped off the bed, slamming the door of her room and ran to her parents room.
She stayed with her parents for the night, which her parents didn’t mind.
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Twisted Tales: Fate Be Changed Review
What if the witch gave Merida a different spell?
Merida’s impulsive ways have always driven a wedge between Merida and her mother. The princess would prefer to ride Angus, shooting arrows into the horizon rather than focus on politics and embroidery. But when her mother tries to force Merida to pick a husband during the Highland Games, they get in their biggest fight ever and Merida ends up in the hut of a witch who offers Merida a spell that will make Queen Elinor change her mind.
That’s how we know the story but Merida thinks she can shortcut it by taking the potion herself, figuring it will change her constraining position as princess.
Instead Merida ends up twenty years in the past and lost in the woods when she runs into a teenage version of Elinor who is running away from her own betrothed.
In a classic butterfly affect, Elinor encountering Merida in the woods means she never meets Fergus, nurses him to health and fall in love. Meaning Merida is potentially erasing herself from existence. Not to mention threaten the future kingdom of Dun Broch as its Fergus’ leadership that unites the disparate clans.
Rochon does a wonderful job with this Back to the Future/Highlands tale by sharing chapters between Merida and Elinor, Merida obviously getting the bulk of the character development and page time, but Elinor herself gets nice amount of insight and development into how she grew into the queen we see in the movie and softening thanks to the adventures she share with past Merida.
At first I was a bit worried that Rochon was going to reash Elinor as being just like Merida when she was younger, more interested in nature and exploring and running away because she doesn't want to get married. Fortunately, she doesn't as Rochon characterizes that Elinor was fine with her position but getting betrothed to an arrogant lunkhead she loathes is what she has a problem with. Especially as with the marriage, she won't have any say in running the kingdom, her husband makes all the commands even though he's the one marrying in.
Meeting Merida hampers that along with her rightfully pointing out that as a pampered princess she doesn't know how to hunt, skin hares or fish, make a fire, or anything. So she agrees to smuggle Merida into the castle in exchange for wilderness lessons,
It is the love for her kingdom and family that convinces her to delay her freedom flight more and more as she, Merida and Fergus realize there's a potential plot against the McCameron kingdom. During their investigation, she begins to envision how the kingdom could be run if she had the chance to rule (with Fergus by her side as she realizes how much his vision for Dun Broch aligns with hers). One where she could incorporate her love for the arts and literature with a more welcoming, nurturing side and ensuring every citizen has food to eat with other necessities.
As Elinor begins to see the potential good she could do if she stays, and how fufilling the responsibilities could be, Merida also begins to see how she too had been selfish and shortsighted. Her role as a diplomat mattered in uniting clans, ensuring prosperity and peace, and she should be paying attention to her princess lessons. Also in seeing how her grandparents' rule and their more stern, traditional ways, she also begins to appreciate how her mother's ways was more respectful and affectionate even at their worst arguements.
It is also incredibly heartwarming as Elinor's friendship with Merida and burgeoning relationship, Fergus makes her realize that part of her constraining duty as princess is that she has focused all her life on responsibility and how all her actions relate to being a princess. Fergus and Merida are the first person to see her as Elinor first rather than Princess Elinor.
Fergus has scant page-time compared to his future daughter and wife but its memorable to see the young, cocky warrior who gets under Elinor's skin and his utter loyalty to the kingdom despite being the McCameron's main rival clan. You can see shades of the boisterous family man he'd become along with the current stance of warrior trying to prove himself. And yes, the romance between Elinor and Fergus is sweet and sparkling.
Merida really grows from impulsive woman to one who thinks things through and begins to understand how other lives. Not just her mother, but appreciation for the work of scullary maids and srevants, the servant hierarchy, and the history of her land in seeing the thinly veiled resentment between clans during this warring era.
Rochon nicely balances the potential murder plot with new romance and time travel, giving full arcs to Elinor and Merida but there are few faults like how Merida is not only contending with the time travel spell but the fact that she's also turning into a bear because she ate the cake. I guess it gave Merida an additional thing to worry about but I feel if you took it out, it wouldn't have changed much besides Merida struggling to hide her suddenly hairy body and claws.
Also Rochon is a romance author which is why Fergus and Elinor's slap-slap-kiss-not-so-different romance works but I couldn't help but feel taken out of the story when Rochon has Merida think about the barely concealed tension simmering between them. It reminded too much of a contemporary romance more than something from Merida's thoughts.
Otherwise, it was a great novel with bits of Celtic lore, court intrigue and tartans.
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