A – Apple

This story, “Destiny,” was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were preselected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT). Each selected word is included in the section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. 

Destiny – Part 1 (apple)

Adriana was a quiet child while growing up in Glendan. She loved to read and could always be found with her head in a book about the past. She was days away from turning nineteen years old. In her culture, nineteen was the beginning of her adult life. Her birthday would be the day she had to choose her destiny. Her older siblings had passed through this phase. Her older sister chose to, and became, a scientist, an expert on plants and animals of distant worlds. Her older brother chose to become an environmental attorney, a law expert on endangered species of their planet, and a defender of their rights. 

Adriana had no interest in the destinies of her siblings. She had a higher goal. She was well-versed in the folklore and culture of her planet from all her readings. She knew that there had once been kings and queens who ruled. She believed that magic did exist. Adriana wanted to become a princess and, eventually, a ruler. The problem was that “princess” was not a choosable listed destiny. This was not a land of kings and queens anymore. There had not been kings or queens in a millennium.  It was a land governed by Elder Rules decided upon by committee and agreed upon by vote. 

In this culture, you cannot change your destiny once you choose it. Her parents did their best to dissuade Adriana from making that foolish choice. That choice, nor any like it, had ever been made; no one knew its consequences. 

But this did not deter Adriana. She was determined to become a princess. If not there, then elsewhere.

The day of her nineteenth birthday came. In this world, the choice of destiny is celebrated. Tables were set in her parent’s garden for the festivities beneath a grove of fruit trees. Many community members arrived just to hear Adriana’s claim of a destiny. Only her family knew what she might say. They hoped it would be different, but they also knew that Adriana was now a determined woman at nineteen and would not be deterred. 

She stood straight and strong as she got up to receive the scepter of destiny, an ancient relic of times past, handed to all 19-year-olds. 

Her mother recited the traditional words, “Adriana, you have now reached the end of your youth. You are about to embark on a wonderful journey, your life’s desire. Do you promise to undertake this journey with thought, courage, and perseverance?”

“I do,” she replied.

“Then, before your family, friends, community, and all those who have come here to witness your choice, choose what you want to and will become.”

As she looked out at the crowd of people, she said in a firm voice, “For my destiny, I wish to become a princess.”

There was silence in the audience at first rather than the usual cheering and applause. 

Then came the murmurs.

“What does she mean?”

“Is this a joke?”

“She must be insane.”

The cacophony became louder and angrier.

At that moment, an apple fell from the tree overhead and landed by her feet.

Adriana picked it up and looked at it. It was an ordinary apple, or so she thought. 

It’s not clear what happened next. The people saw the apple in her hand. They saw her take a bite out of it. There was a flash of light. And Adriana was gone. 

Her story has begun.

To be continued in B – Brightly