Chapter One: Long Live the Queen?

New Metropolis, Legion HQ, 1600 hours

--

"Garth!!!! I missed you!!!" , squealed Ayla, now a medium sized red haired girl, running to her older looking twin, instead of a scrawny ten year old that was constantly unsure of everything. She had stayed long enough with her parents on Winath, who were overjoyed she came back after almost a decade and a half. Ever since the Legionnaires brought her back( thanks to Brainiac 5 and Shrinking Violet's idea), she had matured into a carefree young girl, even with her own powers.

"Oh hey! There she is!!!" Saturn Girl cried, while squeezing Lightning Lad's hand and running up to them ship that had just landed right in front of Legion Headquarters. Lightning Lad snapped out of his daydream and ran to Ayla hand in hand with Imra, excited at last to see his sister on Earth. Sure, he had visited her every year on Winath, but it was very different for her to be visiting him on Earth for the first time ever. Finally.

He spread out his arms as Ayla ran smack into him. She buried her face in his chest and smiled up into his face.

"Ayla!! I still can't believe you're here."

"Me too, Garth. It seems like it had taken forever before Mom and Dad let me come. And can this really be..?", she queried, while looking at Saturn Girl, who was holding Lightning Lad's hand.

"Yes, that's Imra. Saturn Girl.", he added.

"Is she your girlfriend? " Ayla casually asked. Saturn Girl's cheeks turned a pale pink and she twisted her long, golden locks in her hand to hide her embarrassment. Lightning Lad, on the other hand, simply turned around and stared at Ayla as if she had made him eat a dead rat.

"What? I was joking. " Ayla chuckled, while putting down her bags on the ground.

"Well, I guess you can put it that way if you like." Garth scowled, while trying hard not to blush.

"Mhmmm. I sure can." , she replied, giving Garth an all knowing look and a mischievous smile. Imra laughed.

"Well, lets not keep the Legion waiting, Garth. We have to go now."

"Oh, right. Sure. Come on now, Ayla."

The trio made their way to the doors of Legion HQ, where the rest of the Legion were waiting.

--

Inside the United States 2001 Tax Code

--

A lone figure dressed in red velvet and sporting a decidedly old fashioned hairstyle was sitting on a dusty throne, surrounded by millions and millions of letters. Letters as in "A,B,C.." not letters from admirers, suitors, or family. No, those days were long gone. Those days were years, centuries, and more than that.

The queen sighed and opened the Tax Code, the only thing inside the wretched book. She scowled in disgust as she opened it for the nth time, but she knew it was the only thing to pass the time. If only someone discovered her book, or oh, read it for her, then she would be free to unleash her wrath on those Knights' descendants, what were they called again? She only remembered the Dark Knight, and the tall fellow in a green armor and sword, but that was all. There were more. And her vile daughter!!! Snow White. She had done enough with that whip of hers. She hadn't wanted to see the truth, no! She hadn't. Her daughter, wretch that she was, had shown it to her. And now, she would die if she was read out of the book.

If only. She decided to think those thoughts away and she began reading Page 31.

"…amended returns may also be used to make a claim for credit or refund of individual income taxes if the taxpayer originally filed a …"