Prologue: The Empress'/ Emperor's spot was now open. The greatest leaders of Zhong gathered in the massive courtroom. Generals, countesses and counts, and ambassadors surrounded the great table. Quill pens in hand, as parchments flapped in the breeze along with a banner of Zhong's great symbol overhead.
Finally, the one that stood at the head of the table, Ambassador Yang, spoke, "So, we reach the end of this, and have we all agreed who will be the next ruler of Zhong?" All heads nodded in response and then the great people, stood up to shower the hall with applause.
"Yes, yes," continued Ambassador Yang, with his crane by his side, "Only one stands out who is young enough and brave enough to do so. Send out the messenger brothers, Li and Chan! The next ruler of Zhong shall rise!"
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" The shriek pierced the silence of Greenhaven hall.
"If you want to become an opera singer, at least tell me in my room and not practice it here," complained Rollan, shaking bits of raisins and oatmeal off his hands, due to his shattered glass bowl of porridge. Conor grabbed some towels and attempted to clean off Rollan's clothes as Rollan himself made the mess even worse. Abeke tried to calm Uraza, who pattered around on the ground unnervingly after Essix fell from the sky and toppled onto her.
Jhi stared at Meilin with her big, silver eyes. Even a hug couldn't fix this. Meilin gasped again and again as Rollan stared at her worriedly. She held up the scroll and faced it towards the rest of her friends, and turned it away from the other shocked Greencloaks. She finally found her right voice and said, "I'm the next empress!" Her face was covered with anxiety that was too difficult to cover. She could give the position to Kana, but considering that Kana was a traitor, and all else like everyone else, too old. Their leadership wouldn't last long. What could she do?
Rollan and Meilin's eyes met after wandering off from the official seal of Zhong on the parchment. At last Meilin opened her mouth and whispered, eye's brimming with tears, "But… I don't want to leave you guys."
Conor and Abeke looked at each other before Conor replied, "You know, I don't like this either, but it is for your home."
"And you'll still always be a Greencloak through and through," replied Abeke, "No matter where you are, you're always welcome here, Meilin,"
Rollan managed to crack a small, sad grin. Then he whispered into her ear merrily after brushing her hair gently aside, "And hey, if you become empress, then at least I can become emperor."
Meilin managed a small smile and turned bright red as they had a play fight like a couple of kittens. She was going to become the empress of Zhong, and it had to before Zhong's best.
"Well, I'll go and get Li and Chan," said Abeke, "Can't keep warriors and a pack of wolves waiting you know."
"Ya," agreed Conor while nuzzling Briggan, "I'm coming with you." Set sail for Zhong!" called Abeke to Li and Chan, who bowed in return, "We're coming!"
Authors Note: So, what did you think about that? I think Ambassador Yang, himself, does have a chance in becoming the emperor, but he is pretty old to be honest. Let me know what you think down in the comments' section! For more Reilin, go to my profile, and find my continued story, Opposites Attract, where 'what if Rollan gets kidnapped instead of Abeke?'