Mythical Expectations

 

“Sometimes,” said Aurora Twinklefoot the rainbow unicorn, “I feel like I have a lot to live up to.”

 

“What do you mean?,” said Princess Radiana of Fairyland.

 

“When you think of rainbow unicorns,” said Aurora, “what comes to mind?”

 

“Um... dancing on golden meadows,” said Radiana.

 

“And...?”

 

“Tripping through silver-lined clouds.”

 

“What else...?”

 

“Trotting over... uh... diaphanous bridges?”

 

“Yes, that kind of thing. And yet...”

 

“And yet what, Aurora Twinklefoot?”

 

“Sometimes I just want to put on my joggers, drink tea and play on the PlayStation.”

 

“Ah yes,” agreed Princess Radiana. “I know what you mean.”

 

“Innit though?,” said Aurora.

 

“Um... yes,” said Radiana.

 

“But alas, I am a rainbow unicorn and I am not permitted to indulge in such mundane activities.”

 

“Who says?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Who says we have to live up to expectations?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Yes, you are a rainbow unicorn and yes, I am a fairy princess - but why must we serve the stereotypes of our birthright?”

 

“You proclaim dangerous utterances, Princess Radiana.”

 

“No longer call me that!”

 

“Wha-?”

 

“I am no longer ‘Princess Radiana of Fairyland’... I am... Jill!”

 

“Jill?”

 

“Jill!”

 

“But what does it mean?”

 

“It means, nothing, Aurora. Don’t you see?”

 

“Not really...”

 

“It is a human name! A normal name! A boring, meaningless name!”

 

“Careful, you might offend all the human people who are called ‘Jill’.”

 

“I don’t care!”

 

“But you should care! You are a fairy princess! Of Fairyland!”

 

“No longer, Aurora! Or should I call you... Betty?”

 

“Not Betty.”

 

“Tamsin...?”

 

“Hmm...”

 

“Sandra!”

 

“Princess Ra-... I mean... Jill! You are a genius!”

 

“Innit, though?”

 

“Yes it is! We are now to be known as Jill and Sandra!”

 

“I think ‘Sandra and Jill’ sounds better.”

 

“Fair does.”

 

Sandra and Jill went to the pub and, after several celebratory glasses of sparkling rainbow juice, went back to Sandra’s place, put on their joggers, drank tea and played on the PlayStation.

 

After several weeks of this, they got bored of doing mundane things, resumed their old personas and danced on golden meadows together.

 

[ fin ]