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Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.  

She desired to be queen.

Queen of the world.

She was wicked.

A dress of pure soot and weaved through with needles of snakeskin.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

She had thick black makeup decorating her narrow eyes.

Her ears boasted gorgeous gold earrings.

Her dress blood-red.

She had a best friend—a talking Scarlet Macaw.

She had named him Hito.

It meant person in Japanese.

He was beautiful—red, green and blue.

The red was for royalty—the crown under which Scarlet would rule.

Green was for life—such a beautiful world she’d create.

Blue was for the lack of sadness, misery and despondency she’d provide.

Such days were going to be worth the heartache of owning such a vast number of people.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

She watched her mother decorate herself from crown to heel in her jewels.

Once she was queen, she wouldn’t have to wear all those disgusting items.

She’d have her own rules.

The only time the world would be blue (after the death of her parents) would be when there are no more rules by which to go.

Rules—the old ones—were out. Out with the old, in with the new.

Her parents’ wishes for her to follow in their footsteps were not going to come true.

Some wishes don’t coincide with real life.

According to Scarlet.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

She never let anyone know how things happened. Or how things came to be.

She wasn’t a goddess? Was she?

No one quite knew.

Or cared.

She wasn’t a goddess.

She was just a normal woman.

A normal person who didn’t want to deal with her parents’ rules, her grandparents’ strict commands and sometimes even Hito’s reminders. All these things were just gnats in the eyes of Scarlet.

If only she could fly away like Hito.

Fly somewhere so she could be free.

Take Hito with her.

They’d love each other.

Hito would become a man, a king, in another palace.

Ruled by her—Scarlet—the high queen.

She’d be the respected, loved, honored queen who would take charge because she had her own morals about her without the so-called guidance from her ancestors.

Ever since they desired her to be queen of the palace,

She had every right to neglect their overprotective ways.

Overprotection wouldn’t make her a queen—it’d make her a robot.

A sheltered queen. A queen without smarts, as she would just be reciting the scrolls from her parents’ and grandparents’ reigns.

Hito was smart.

He was intelligent.

He wowed the crowds.

He blessed the peoples.

They all returned his generosity with obedience—willing obedience—and taking full responsibility for their actions.

They tended to his animals, produced crops and many, many other daily tasks without complaint.

Scarlet loved him.

She loved their people.

She loved their obedience.

But no one obeyed out of strict habit.

No one grew up having to obey.

Her people were not her people.

His scrolls were of his own nature. He knew what to speak. He was intelligent.

She wanted his writing to be on her scrolls.

He said there was no antidote where she could be intelligent like him. She’d be like a Scarlet Macaw.

Could she shapeshift?

No, he said. She’d have to be born that way.

Well, he took an antidote for becoming a human.

Could that thing be reversed?

No, it’s inherited. Intelligence is just—

Natural, like being born into a family who doesn’t love you!

She hounded him, annoying him until he finally told her he’d fly away forever if she persisted.

Easily annoyed and irritated by her words, he sometimes wouldn’t even look at her.

She didn’t want those things to happen. She was known as being someone who didn’t listen. She didn’t want to listen. She wanted her own way when things started relating to love and relationships.

Why’d she marry him?

She said it was for love.

She loved him.

She loved his charming ways, of respecting her and respecting his people and honoring his marriage.

She honored the marriage.

She honored him.

When she felt like it.

He didn’t say much—only regressed to entertaining clown whenever she didn’t listen.

She then would beg him to the point where he’d give in.

She was a spoiled brat of a queen.

She would be spoon-fed things she couldn’t know. No one would know, she was told. She respected her husband even more. Whenever the palace heard of news, her husband would tell her secrets he promised he’d keep away from the palace for other palace’s safety.

She loved him whenever he did this.

She’d obey instantly, and she did.

For years, she obeyed.

She obeyed.

And her husband believed her.

He understood her.

When she finally told him she wasn’t like her people, he asked whether they were their people.

She lied to him, and he smiled.

Good, he insisted. Because they listen to me. If only you would.

She did.

He never figured out the lie.

She lied to him forever, he starting to tear away the seams until the whole dress fell apart.

The dress stitched in lies.

She didn’t care whether she disrespected him. She had a way of manipulating him so she would get her way.

She knew how to make it so he would never know.

And he didn’t.

With all the wisdom in the world, he wouldn’t understand.

He started threatening his guards.

He started wars.

He started going against the people.

They started going against him.

He didn’t know why.

They blamed it all on her, he said.

No, he claimed. It was them.

She was safe.

He would never know.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Hito was never her parents or grandparents.

And he never would be.

She’d rule by her own hand—because she was queen of such a palace. A kingdom. A monarchy.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Her grandparents—the parents she adored—wanted her to follow in her footsteps.

Her parents didn’t stand in the way. Their rules did.

The rules that told princesses they had to do as their elders said—or else.

Or else be cast out from the family.

Yes, there was a specific system, but this woman didn’t want to continue the generational cycle.

She wanted freedom—the freedom she’d give her children one day.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

She didn’t follow her parents’ rules—they are here for your good, they’d plead.

No, she’d argue. So she decided to take things into her own hands—she’d rule by her hand.

She’d make the decisions. She knew her parents meant well.

But she didn’t understand, as they said, the rules. The rules were there to guide her.

Not destroy her.

But she didn’t want to listen.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Her parents only loved her because she obeyed.

Rules could fly away, take flight. Grow wings, and lose their way.

Hito was a bird meant to fly away.

He was a bird on which sat goodness and love.

He knew where he sat.

On the shoulders of goodness.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Her parents would have nothing to do with it.

She may have obeyed—her grandparents’ eye on her ever since she was a child.

But she was overprotected, never allowed outside the palace gates.

But she’d throw away that overprotectiveness, convincing others she was the best monarch.

The monarchy belonging to her would inevitably rule over the one belonging to her parents.

The one belonging to her grandparents.

Ever since they’ve announced the birth of Raj and Rani’s daughter, Scarlet has predestined her own rule.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

She had the guidance, protection, mercy, love and forgiveness from her parents.

She had the adoration of her grandparents.

She had the right to rule. The throne, the palace and the crown.

She had her own zoo. Of people.

Peasants, knights and others would be rounded up into groups.

Not that they weren’t. But not that they were.

Each person would be watched carefully, ensuring others were doing their job.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Her parents told her she’d rule well.

Yes, Mother, was her response.

Yes, Father.

Yes, Grandfather.

Yes, Grandmother.

No, they said.

No, you mustn’t do that.

No, you mustn’t do this.

No, you mustn’t do any of these.

No, you mustn’t do any of those.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Her parents and grandparents always said the same thing. To cheer her up. To prepare her for the day in which they would stand proud, their daughter queen.

Things like “You have everything.”

“You’re blessed to be our daughter. You are a princess!”

“Isn’t royalty enough?”

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

She always obeyed.

She always was polite.

She always did what was asked of her—even down to the lowliest peasant.

She petted the smallest creatures.

But her Scarlet Macaw, Hito, saw through her little games.

He loved her, but he wanted her to be the queen she was always supposed to be.

She couldn’t, she said, because she was just a woman ruling. That’s what women do, right?

She fears she’ll have no power. If we rule together, she’ll lose what she has built up for herself. But if she rules with me…

Hito wanted her as his queen, but he also didn’t want to push her away—see her as the wasted queen.

He didn’t want to rule alone. What would the people think—a king without a queen? A weak man!

No, that could never happen.

So he never said anything. Let her get away with everything.

She got him when she was a little girl.

Growing up together, they played all day.

Her parents and grandparents made a show of it—watching their adored loved one play in the palace’s garden with her Scarlet Macaw.

But that’s not why her name is Scarlet.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Scarlet played with her Macaw.

Her Macaw could shape-shift into a person.

Hence his name was Hito.

They would play together in the fountains, splashing together.

He was very handsome.

As a young man, they wanted to get married, but he couldn’t break his bird nature.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Hito was a handsome man.

One day, Hito told Scarlet he’d marry her after taking an antidote that would make him a permanent human.

Scarlet didn’t know whether he should be a husband or just a pet.

He didn’t want to just be someone’s best friend.

She didn’t want him to.

Then she did, when she heard he’d rule with her.

She made her own plans to rule with her husband.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Hito was a great ruler.

He was a person, through and through, a strong, loyal, decisive husband.

She loved him.

He was always there for her.

When she got second thoughts of ruling beside another person, she told Hito to become her pet again.

No, he told her. I will not be your subject anymore! Stop controlling me. I can do what I need to.

Stop abusing me. Controlling isn’t good.

Stop copying your parents and grandparents.

It wasn’t real love. It was love based on performance.

Scarlet’s parents and grandparents adored what she did, not who she was.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Hito had been a beautifully respected king.

Better than her father.

Nicknamed ‘The Raj’.

She didn’t like that.

She saw his boasts as real.

He was proud—better than she?

She ended that.

But his subjects attacked her.

The ground became scarlet with her own blood.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

She had a Scarlet Macaw.

Now, she just has a Macaw.

Or at least had one.

Macaw lives.

Only he reigns.

She ruled.

She lied.

She died.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

They were told they could reign in peace and righteousness.

They were told they could reign like their parents.

Like their grandparents.

The kingdom’s subjects all lay in scarlet blood.

Every one dead.

But even the monarchy died.

Scarlet and Hito didn’t convert.

No beauty of such a palace breathed itself over it, protecting it.

But Scarlet and Hito lived.

Reigned.

Subjects after subjects were warred against, thousands dead.

Hito told her she didn’t have to lie.

Stop lying, he pleaded.

He didn’t want war.

He told her she could reign like her parents.

She was reigning like her parents, everyone loved her.

No, he said, everyone feared her.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

She told him her parents didn’t love her

But that’s why, he said, she ruled in fear.

We are on the brink of war!

Our subjects are on the brink of war with us two.

Don’t fight them!

Scarlet lied to everyone.

Everyone found out.

They attacked the monarchy, Hito trying to stop them.

But in their madness, they attacked both queen and king.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

No love was more scarlet than that of Scarlet’s for the throne.

Now, she lay before her throne, never getting up onto it.

Again.

Hito lay, dead.

The kingdom was burned.

The subjects removed themselves.

The priest told them to repent of the vengeance.

They didn’t.

Destruction came for them.

The priest only was saved.

God took him away.

The priest had pleaded.

Begged.

Prayed.

Fasted.

Nothing worked.

Scarlet didn’t get the love from her parents or grandparents who died without her knowledge.

Even if she had known—

Which would have been worse—

Scarlet wouldn’t be able to gain the love she needed.

Now, he’s with God, watching Scarlet and Hito rule.

But they want peace.

But don’t get it.

Hiro mentioned to Scarlet that she needed to love herself and forgive and rule in love and righteousness.

Hiro missed his days as a Scarlet Macaw—he’d play tricks on people, make them laugh, make them cry when he told sad stories, but tears of sadness would become tears of joy.

Hiro didn’t do any of his seemingly annoying, irritating acts. He wanted to go back to being a shapeshifter. He didn’t want to be Scarlet’s pet, either. Anymore.

He had a personality—witty, funny and adventurous. The village loved him.

They cheered for him, adoring him with glad hearts, roars of approval of rules and obedience to his loyalty to them.

Scarlet always watched his antics, out in the village. The children couldn’t not stay and watch, even as their parents pulled at them, yanking them away.

He promised they could stay, and they did—for hours. The impatient parents finally dragged their fighting children off, promising tomorrow.

And tomorrow came.

Scarlet never watched everything.

She never wanted to.

How am I queen as he is king with love?

Am I not good enough?

Do I not—

Not what?

My husband loves me.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Her eyes would become hard and her ears pricked as her husband told her of his love for her.

But the knife was always picked up, and Scarlet was always looking from it to her lover.

He may love her, but growing up, she only had him. A bird.

A bird didn’t love like people.

She became queen only because she had to.

No more games.

No more obedience.

At first, she tried.

Love could be gained, right?

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Hito was a handsome Scarlet Macaw.

Now they can both be clothed in scarlet.

As they go about desiring love.

For each other and, for Scarlet, her parents and grandparents.

She has her throne, her kingdom and her monarchy, her subjects.

Her subjects of husband, parents and grandparents.

Hito pleads with her to stop pleading with them for love.

She turns away, listening to him.

He loves her.

She loves him.

They live forever, eternally loving each other.

As she overrules her parents and grandparents.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Hito a beautifully handsome man.

Her parents and grandparents rule somewhere else.

Forever forgetting about their granddaughter.

And Scarlet having ears only for

Her subjects

And husband.

But mainly her husband.

Hito—

He’s ruling justly.

She realizes he’s not like her.

They fight forever.

There’s no love there.

She escapes, finding someone else.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Hito had been her husband.

After leaving him, she looks for another.

No one is there.

She returns, striving to tell him the truth.

He doesn’t believe her.

Liar! He roars, and throws her out.

Out of the palace.

It’s hell, she screams. She’ll never rule anywhere.

But here.

She doesn’t lie anymore.

Scarlet was a beautiful Asian Indian princess.

Until she became queen of her own demise.

The death of her ability to honor others truthfully.

But she’s made a decision.

But she’s sentenced to eternal threats against her life.

She’ll always escape—

By the skin of her teeth.

Her husband—

Why is he here?

He did no wrong.

Oh, wait, he went along with her plans.

So now, he—

He succumbs to her words.

He lies, too.

After all, who doesn’t want to control others to the point of utter terror?

He strips himself of his talent, his personality and drinks an antidote saying that it’d put him back as a shapeshifter.

He becomes the Bird Man.

A Scarlet Macaw-Man.

After all, he deserves it, right?

After all, it’s only for eternity.

Both of them know they’ll never be in paradise. Only hell.

They’re together—because, they’ve realized—they’ve never listened.

So, they succumbed, eternal rule. They didn’t want it.

But they held hands, forever dealing with the eternal consequences of their choices.

No more selfishness.

Forever is a long time.

So let’s rule it well.