A/N #1 - I picked a name for the young Marigold child/new queen that means 'beautiful golden child' in Latin (or so the internet says it means that). I'm unsure if the child had a name and if she did my apologies but in this fic she has a new name.
Ronin was searching in the forest on his hummingbird for the new queen after she had disappeared one afternoon. Down below, in the field of leaf pods, he found spotted her. As he descended from the air he could tell she had been crying. He noted to himself to have more guards there from now on since Grub spent more time training to be a Leafman and Mub spent most of his days trying to show off to MK on her monitors, much to Nod's annoyance.
"Are you okay, Your Highness? Are you hurt?" he asked concerned.
She nodded no. She looked at him with such sadness as he gently knelt beside her.
"I'm sorry I ran away. I'm sorry I frightened you." She apologized softly.
"As long as you are alright, that's all that matters." Ronin said. "May I ask what is troubling you, Your Highness."
Her face went from sadness to annoyance."It's Oribella, I've told many times to call me Oribella."
Ronin chuckled. Oribella was a lot like Tara in many ways.
Oribella continued. "I mean in meetings and in public I understand, but..." Oribella's voice drifted off.
"But what?"
"Right now I just really need a friend not a guard." She looked at the pods floating about, the sadness back in her eyes. "Do you think she's proud of me? Queen Tara, I mean."
Ah, the young queen was feeling unsure of herself. He comforted the girl. "I know she is. There was no mistake in you becoming queen. She would be as proud of you as I am."
Oribella smiled just a bit. " That's means a lot coming from you." She looked him in the eyes. " I just want to be like her. I don't want to fail her." Oribella's voice broke. " She was my hero."
Emotions welled up in him and tears fell down his cheeks. "She was mine too."
Oribella nodded, she understood what Queen Tara had meant to him. She hugged him tightly as they mourned her loss together.
A/N#2 - I'm pondering continuing this as more than a one-shot. Maybe following the new queen's reign and her friendships with the rest of the cast. I dunno. Will definitely not continue without a beta. As of this moment there is Epic beta readers and I know I desperately need one.