One morning I was talking to Maggie about the menu for the rest of the week, when I heard someone say, “Queen, I must have an audience with you.”

It was Captain Elena striding quickly towards me.

“Yes, Captain, what is it?” I asked.

“I have found yer sister. She is living on a farm near Cordelle. Only her name is not Diamond, she goes by Gracie.” Captain Elena said. I felt my heart leap for joy! Then I asked,
“How did you find her?”

“I know people who know things. They lead me to Cordelle, I watched her on the farm, heard’em talkin’. Then I knew for sure it was her. Now, uh- about that reward…” Said Captain Elena.

“Oh, yes, of course.” I said and turned to Maggie.

“Maggie, please have the guards go down to the docks this morning with Captain Elena’s reward.” I said then I looked at Elena, “I most sincerely thank you for helping me. You have no inkling of how important this was to me.” I said. Then Captain Elena looked down at her feet and said,

“No, that’s wrong, Queen. I know what it’s like to get a sister back. Thank ye, I’ll take my leave now.”  She bowed and walked away. Just as she closed the door I called for the stable boys to get my carriage ready. I was going to meet my sister!

As we pulled to a stop I discovered that my sister lived just down the lane from Aunt Bea’s house. “What a small world it is!” I thought. I walked up to a girl who looked like my sister and said, “Hello! May I have a word with you, please?” I tried to seem natural. I didn’t want her to think I was crazy.

The girl gasped, “Your Highness! Of course you may! Uh- please forgive my appearance, I would never have expected you to come calling.” She seemed very pleased to see me, which made me feel more comfortable.

“Please, don’t bother about your appearance. I know how you have to be dressed when you live on a farm. I have to tell you something and it is going to come as quite a shock- Diamond.” I said with a pause. When I called her Diamond, she seemed as though she remembered it. Almost as if it was from a dream she’d forgotten.

“Your Highness, you must have me mistaken with somebody else. My name is Gracie.” She said.

“Yes, your name is Gracie now, but fifteen years ago, it was Diamond. It’s the name you were given when you were born.” I explained gently.

“How do you know this?” She asked me.

“Because you are my sister.” I said. She looked at me with surprise and confusion. “This is going to be difficult for you to hear, but it is the truth. About a month ago my parents died, as I am sure you know. They told me that I had a twin sister who was kidnapped when we were just three years old. They never told me about her because they did not want to lose another daughter. My parents said that her name was Diamond. They said ‘You were both our two little jewels’. Determined to find my sister, I went looking for a pirate captain. She helped me track you down and told me that your name is Gracie. And believe me, you look just like you do in our baby picture.” I explained. We stood in silence for a moment and then Gracie said,

“D-do you have the picture?”

“Yes, I do.” I called for the guards to bring my bag from the carriage.

“Here it is.” I said as I pulled the frame from my bag.

“Gracie, if you need some time to think about this for awhile I understand. I know it is a lot to take in. Whenever you are ready, the palace is open to you.” I said.

“Your Highness- Ruby, I believe you. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to discover that I am the queen’s sister! That I- am a princess!” Gracie said with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.

I went to her and gave her a big long hug. “Oh, Diamond! I love you!” I said and Diamond replied, “I love you, Ruby!”

“Come, we shall go to the palace and get you settled in your room.” I said, not realizing that she had a family she would be leaving.

“Ruby, I can’t leave. As I said, it is exciting to discover I’m a princess and that I have another sister, but, this is my home. I could never imagine leaving this life to become a princess. I need to stay here. This is where I belong. Milking cows, collecting eggs, riding horses, and mucking out stalls. I’m sorry, Ruby.” Diamond said with sigh.

“I understand, Diamond. This is where you’ve lived your whole life. With the parents who raised you and the brothers and sisters you’ve played with. I want you to know that you will always be welcome at the palace. And I will always love you.” I said with a smile. I gave her one last hug and took my leave.

All that night I could not sleep a wink. I paced across the floor thinking and thinking about what I needed to do. “I can’t be a great queen like my mother! Oh, what am I going to do?” I asked myself. Then it came to me. I needed to be with my sister!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another two weeks passed and it was once again Coronation Day! I had decided to give up the crown and hand it down to someone else. Someone who knew everything about being a queen and ruling a kingdom. And someone who had a good, kind heart and a wise, thoughtful mind. There was only one person I knew who was worthy of the task…

“Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen!” The crowd chanted.

Among the crowd were my Aunt Bea, my sister Diamond, and myself.

I couldn’t be more happy with my choice! I knew Maggie would make the perfect queen. And now that I was living with Aunt Bea, I could see Diamond any time. That made me sure, that I would be perfectly happy in my new life.

THE END

I want to say a HUGE thank you to the cast!! They were all amazing and many of whom have become stars!! Also thank you to my mom who helped me so much with this series! Love you! 🙂
~Jaclynn~