Prequel 2 - Destiny, not Desire
-----------------------------------------------------------------


	She stood quietly by the window as she often did
of late, sighing long and deep as she thought over her schedule.
Anyone else would consider it to be busy and possibly even 
exciting, but, compared to the life she once knew, it was all 
boring drudgery.
	In the immaculately clean glass she could see the 
reflection of her Tiara, symbol of the Royal Family for the past 
600 years.  It seemed to weigh a ton of late, despite being 
crafted from the lightest precious metals known to their 
metalwrights.
	Below her in the courtyard, she could see her escort 
being prepared, which would see her to her seat at the Royal 
Council Chamber.  There, she would preside over the affairs of 
state and planet, just as she had done every day for the past 
decade.
	Over the past few months, however, she'd found herself
thinking more often about the past, and how she still missed her 
old life, and the friends she'd had to leave behind.
	Especially one in particular.  
	Even though she had said so more than once, she never
*really* told her that she was in love with her, and had been since
she was old enough to understand what her heart was telling her.
	Sighing again, only this time more sadly, she reached for
the small locket hanging at the top of her cleavage.  Opening it,
she smiled lovingly at the picture of a certain red-haired girl, 
dressed in sailor fuku.  Her fingers gently stroked the image, as
if trying to feel the softness of the redhead's skin.
	As she thought of her unrequited love, she could feel a
single hot tear wend its way from the corner of her eye and down
her rosy cheek, to finally slip behind her ornate choker.  She
reached up to wipe it away, and slowly closed the locket.  Pressing
the small golden case to her bosom, she wished with all her heart 
that she could just see her again...  Even once more.
	From behind her, she heard the huge door to her private
chambers open, bringing her back to her current reality.  Her valet
stepped forward with all due protocol, and presented her with her
cape and Scepter, more symbols of her status and power.
	Graciously, she accepted them, and stepped through the
large passage into the outer chamber, there to greet the household
staff.
	Smiling, she acknowledged each and every one of her
servants and helpers, asking about their children or making other
small talk.  The staff, meantime, felt honored to be recognized
by a member of the Royal Family, as they could see in her large 
green eyes that she was genuine, which not all of her family had
been.
	For her part, she enjoyed and looked forward to the brief 
daily interlude in her otherwise solitary existence, and was sure that
it was one of the things that kept her sane.  She had begun the 
ritual shortly after taking office, since she felt that everyone, no 
matter their station, deserved to be treated as a person -- even 
though that didn't seem to apply to her.
	Of late, she felt more like a prisoner than a Monarch, not
allowed to leave her posh and immense estate over fears for her
safety.  As the last of her line, she was to be protected at all costs, 
even if those costs included her personal freedom.
	Finally, upon bidding her staff a cheerful good-bye, she 
was ushered to her waiting air-coach.  On settling in, she ran over
what awaited her after the short flight to Chambers.  Her first duty
would be to open the day's session -- a largely symbolic process, 
but necessary by ritual.  She would have no actual input until much
later in the day, when she would be called upon to either decree 
or deny edicts from the floor.  It meant most of her business day 
would be spent overseeing due process, which bored her to tears.
	As she settled into her seat in the Coach, she caught her
reflection in tinted glass of the window.  The woman who looked 
back at her was pretty, but somehow looked old beyond her years. 
Her sad eyes bore a distinct tiredness, despite their ever-present 
sparkle.
	She sighed aloud at the image, feeling sorry for the 
woman it portrayed.  The fact that it was her own reflection only 
increased her longing for her old life, spent so far away from the 
regimented, decorum-dictated one she now led.
	Returning to the place of her birth had meant a rapid
maturation, since she had to assume the duties of her station 
immediately upon arrival.  She had handled it magnificently, moving
with an easy grace into the role she now filled, despite her past
persona.
	No one, not even her, had been aware of the fact that her
old personality was a mental disguise, put in place when she was
spirited off the planet as a toddler.  It was all designed to save
her from the ravages of the war that had engulfed her home planet.
	Regrettably, her sisters had not been so lucky, having been
found and executed before they could be moved.  Her mother had 
gone into hiding, returning to her throne after her people's victory.  
	Her first act was the launching of an all-out effort to find her
remaining daughter, since the only people who knew her whereabouts
had died in the war.
	When the first searchers found her, she had resisted them,
her memory plant not allowing her to accept what they tried to tell
her.  Later, when her mother came personally to retrieve her, she
had almost gone...  But she changed her mind and demanded to be
returned.  Finally, when the last emissaries brought her the news
of her mother's death, she accepted her destiny.
	Coming home terminated the memory plant, and in short 
order she went from being the Fourth Princess of the Fifth Queen of 
the Lepton Kingdom of Alpha Cygni to her Coronation as the Sixth 
Queen.  That, however, did not block out the memories of her old 
life, and to this day they remained with her, cherished as reminders
of a happier time.
        The landing of the air-coach outside the Chambers brought
her out of her reverie, and she instantly put on her best smile.
It was time to assume her position at the head of the Chamber, and
begin another long, tedious day.
	Stepping from the coach and joining the honor guard, she
winced momentarily at the brightness of the sun.  She noted that it
heralded another gorgeous day, and instantly her mind flashed back
to the pool she swam in every summer.  Knowing it was time to 
assume her duties however, she pushed the thoughts aside with 
no small reluctance.  
	Forcing herself to concentrate on the list of issues being 
read off by her young and very new assistant, she was about to sigh 
aloud when she noticed something.  A frown grew on her face, at 
which she stopped in her tracks and turned to the girl.
	"Lissa, is there anything on today's agenda of great
urgency?" she asked, stunning the young woman.
        "Ma'am?" the girl stammered, apparently unsure of how to 
deal with the breach of process.
        "The Agenda, dear...  Is there anything on it that can't wait a
day?" she repeated, with a mischievous smile.
        "Why...  No, Ma'am," the flustered girl replied, flipping
through the pages.
        "Very good.  Come, Lissa.  There's a change of plan," she
decreed, resuming her progress into the Chambers.
	Arriving in the Grand Hall, she took her seat as per usual,
and as the rest of the court and politicians then sat back down,
she raised her Scepter for quiet.  A hush falling over the 
assemblage, she rose to her feet, catching her entire entourage
off-guard.  As they scrambled to rise, she smiled at her little
joke.
	Straightening herself, she took a deep breath and looked
out at the sea of stunned faces before her.  The mischievous 
smile returned.
	"Members of the Court, there will be no session today.
Business at hand will resume with tomorrow's session.  Enjoy the
day," she announced, and bowed to the room.
	After a moment of shocked silence, a single person's
applause rang out, followed quickly by another's.   Within
moments, the large room thundered with a standing ovation.  
Smiling, she bowed once more, thinking to herself that she wasn't
the only one who didn't want to waste such a beautiful summer's
day.
	Glancing back at her gape-mouthed assistant, she 
winked, then turned and stepped off the platform.
	Later, as she seated herself in her air-coach, her
assistant finally found her voice.
             "Ma'am?" she asked, bowing politely.
	"Yes, Lissa?"
	"Are you feeling well?  Should I arrange for a physician?"
she asked, worried.
        She couldn't help but laugh.  "No, dear...  I'm fine.  I
just couldn't bring myself to stay indoors on such a pretty day.  I
have much better things to do with it," she replied, smiling at the 
concerned young woman.
	"Are you sure, Ma'am?  What are you going to do?"
        "Actually, Lissa...  I'm going for a swim.  Care to join me?"
she asked, with a wistful smile.
        Her jaw dropped.  "Ma'am?  Really?" 
	"Yes.  If you promise one thing.  No discussion of business.
That's strictly off-limits in my pool," she admonished, wagging a
finger.
	"Yes, Ma'am!" the now-delighted young woman responded,
lighting up a bright smile.
	"Very Good, then.  Oh...  One other condition.  You must let
your hair down...  No formalities allowed, either," she added, 
gesturing at her own hair.  The excited young woman nodded her 
immediate agreement.
	As they flew back toward the Royal residence, the young
woman took her flame-red hair down out of its tight bun, then shook
and teased it to its normal fullness.
	Across from her, a silent, appreciative sigh escaped the
other occupant of the vehicle, accompanied by a small, wistful smile.
For her, the day suddenly became just that much better.


             
======================================================================
END - Destiny, not Desire             A Project: Ako FanFic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@gmail.com



 
06/14/97		1