"Aria!" at the sound of her name, the young Queen spun around in time to see a girl of her age bouncing up the steps. The girl smiled at her and Aria returned it, when she came close enough. Aria gave a happy nod and addressed the newcomer; "Carla, you arrived early,"
"Who is there? Make yourself known!" boomed a loud voice from Aria's side, Carla skidded to a stop. The guards draw their weapon and pointed them towards the new girl; all were weary of this person who dared to hold a weapon right in front of their Queen. Aria hurried forward and jumped in front of Carla, "Wait, you got it all wrong; she is a friend of mine." The head of security that was the source of the loud voice soften, "My Queen, she cannot enter the gates with weapons." He gestured towards the weapon, which was a rather large bow and golden tipped arrows. Aria peered at Carla and back at Sevenhearts, "Oh, can you make an exception this time?" She asked when she did. Sevenhearts sighed deeply, "As, you wish my Queen."
The guards lowered their weapons and stood straight once again, Aria breathed a sigh of relief and turned to her friend who seemed to be unfazed by the security. "Empress Aria, shall you head in?" she asked in strange politeness, Aria stared but when she caught her friend's signal; Aria played along "Oh yes, we shall." She said with a voice rather fitting for a Queen; with that the two ladies walked into the court yard. It was when they turned a corner that they feel safe to drop the charade.
"Carla, I thought I told you not to bring weapons when you visit me at the palace." Aria started harshly, and she was in the right position too as well, security was so tight these days that this meeting with her friends took weeks to process through the council. And she did remind the young bow master not to bring in her weapons with her. But again, she did not listen.
The girl pouted her lips but gave a huge grin a second later, "Empress, you know very well that I don't go anywhere without my bow and arrow" She said and patted Aria shoulders, "Thanks for making the exception anyway."
The Queen sighed, that girl will never listen to me, just like she was when we were in school together. Aria threw Carla a glare before softening it, it was true that a bow master would never leave their weapons alone but can't she listen to her for once? Aria shook her head and sighed again, "But still, Carla, you know the situation we have here, we cannot take any chances. Can you at least keep these away from sight?" Aria pleaded hoping that her friend goes with it.
Carla looked a little displeased, ever since the dark magician multiple attacks on the maple world, security has doubled and tripled even on erev which was her home. Weapons bearers were considered suspicious even though they were normal adventurers, and Aria who had ascended the throne and became the queen had to be burdened by her responsibilities. At that thought, Carla softened; they had it harsh these few years, she shouldn't make her friend's life harder than it is.
"Alright, alright. I keep them away from everyone's sight." Carla finally muttered the frown on Aria's face turned into a big relieved grin. "Thank you, Carla." The girl pulled off a small grin "As you wish Empress Aria" she finished with a satisfied look on her face. Aria stared with slight realization what her friend was doing and pouted "Don't call me that."
Carla giggled, "Why not, you are the Queen of Erev after all." She gave a sneaky sideway look and pranced around the Young Queen who looked a little displeased. "No, I do not want my friends to use that term with me." Aria said with that look on her face, the two entered another small yard of the castle ground and as the scene open up in front of them, Carla poked the Queen from her sides making Aria exclaim in shock from the ticklish feel. "Carla stop! Don't do that.." Aria pushed the latter's fingers away but Carla refused to give in, "Carlaaa, No more already!" Carla was about to do one of her attacks when she accidentally steps on Aria's helm, and she landed on the ground with a loud thud. Carla had several thoughts that ran through her mind at that moment, and one of them was remembering a certain memory from a long time ago which involved them doing the exact same thing when they were younger. She almost laughed at the Queen's defeat only to realize what she had done, almost immediately she kneeled; "Empress Aria, are you hurt? I apologize for my impudence!" Carla could not look at Aria's eyes for several seconds, she made the queen fall to the ground, which was enough to carry a death sentence. She waited for her words; which never came instead it was a hand extended for her.
"Don't be silly, we did this too when we were younger. Why apologize for the laughter we shared?" Carla peered upwards, Aria was already on her feet and she was smiling in her direction. Her straight beautiful blonde hair swayed with the gentle wind, and those truthful eyes that Aria had. The same pose from the past; almost exactly the same except Aria was crying then which made Carla guilty about her actions, in the end it was still Aria who extended her hand for her.
Carla took her hand, and she was pulled up by aria to her feet. "You won't punish me?" she asked curiously.
Aria blinked and grinned, "Hmm, what should I punish you with then?" the color from carla's face drained away quickly. The Queen looked ahead and put her hands together when she had decided "Well, I want you to treat me the way you have always been doing." Carla stares unbelievably, "You call that punishment?" Aria turned around and looked at her dear friend, "I won't call that a punishment, just a request."
Carla tilts her head to one side, "Since it is just a request, how about I push you to the ground again just like before and still get to call you; Empress?"
Aria seemed taken aback by her words "That is not what I mean! Just don't call me with that term!"
"No, I still wanna call you Queen Aria or Empress Aria, or the high and mighty Ariaaaa" Carla teased with a sing song voice, her hands out all ready to tickle the dear girl.
Aria took a step back with a frightened expression on her face. "Don't tickle meeee!" the last of her words became fits of happy laughter, and Carla lunched herself at Aria who started to run in fear.
It was almost the same as before, Aria and her destiny as Erev's ruler. And her friends whom she adored and protected, this was a story of her companions before the attack on Erev. And her fateful decisions that led to the maple world we know as of today.
It is just an experimental story about Erev Island last Queen, Empress Aria. So, if you guys liked it; feel free to drop me a review? I will try to keep writing, Cheers