Nikko

"Father!" "Yes, honey?" "Golden still won't fight hard with me."

I was complaining to my father, Simon Blackquill, while he was practicing his sword fighting. I was going with one of the military men, Golden, that still thinks I am a child and will not fight at 100% with me, which made me upset. I would rather be defeated than have a fake win. I didn't care if he was 25 and I was 16. I didn't care if he was 160 pounds and I was 96. I especially didn't care that he was 6'2 and I was 4'9.

"Tell him to go hard, then." "I tried, but he just smiles and pretends that he is going hard. I don't want to be rude and ask every time, though." Father thrust at the man in armor. "Do you want me to say something?" "If you don't mind." Father nodded and continued the match, pausing at a would be death bowed to his opponent and the officer, who I recognized as Gabriel, bowed back and removed the armor, moving out of Father's private study.

"You know, Miles would go 100% with me." I looked away from father's desk, looking at the 7 year old painting of all the leaders children. Rusuke and I were in the front, Akito and Miles in the middle, and finally, Franziska and Jack in the back. "I know he would too, sweetheart."

I clenched my fists. "That damn von Karma..." Father looked up from his notes. "When I fight him I'll stab his heart out, if he has one." Father smiled at the comment. "Your mother wouldn't appreciate you saying something like that." "But she's not in here." Simon shook his head, still smiling, and continued to write with his quill.

"Father?" "Yes?" I could tell father was writing something important, (or his poetry, either or) but I had to ask him this question that appeared in my head. "Don't you think it's strange that they couldn't find Miles's body and less than a week later, von Karma announced a male heir to the throne?"

Father continued to write. "What are you suggesting?" I shook my head, rethinking. "It's far fetched and a useless idea." "You can tell me later, okay?" "Yes."

I exited Father's office after watching him struggle with his poetry for 5 minutes. Going down the busy hallway, passing officers and soldiers, always felt strange to me. It was always a bow and 'good morning, Lady Nikko,' or something along those lines. I obviously greeted them back, but the 'Lady' part made me stiffen. I don't like attention unless it's very important medically.

I decided to go to the public training area, hoping one of the officers besides Golden would be there. He was actually sparring with Matt, which made me more comfortable. Matt always went hard with me before, so why not now?

They both turned their heads when they heard the huge doors close. Golden was the first to greet me. "Good afternoon, Lady Nikko!" "Um, hello Officer Golden. Hello to you too, Officer Matt." "It's nice to see you in the training room, Lady Nikko. Would you like to spar after I defeat Officer Golden?" Golden stared him down. "I think you mean after I beat YOU, Officer Matt."

I smiled at the grown men acting like children. "Is a sword fight okay?" "Of course," they said in unison. I nodded, grabbing my suit of armor and sword.

I watched the two go back and forth between defense and offence. In the end though, Golden found an opening and got Matt in a choke hold. "Tap, you idiot!" "It doesn't *cough* hurt..." Matt did tap and Golden helped him up. "I guess the victor gets to fight the beautiful Lady," Golden said, making me blush from embarrassment.

I tied my brown hair back into a quick, sloppy, ponytail and got ready. "Golden, don't hold back." "Of course, my Lady," he said, smiling. I could tell he wouldn't, but Matt said start before I could say anything.

As always, I pretend to thrust to the left, then quickly switched to the right, my dominate side. He pretended to fall for it, as always and he fell back, but sprung back up. I continued to slash and thrust, but all he did was dodge, not fight back. I finally got him cornered, sword to heart after about 2 minutes.

"Golden, I told you to go hard." "I did, my Lady." "You defended the whole time." "You said to go hard. You didn't specify in what." I had to laugh, even though he 'smart aleced' me.

"Do you want to fight, Officer Matt?" "Of course, my Lady." Being the same body size, Golden gave Matt his armor. "Matt, please go 100% with me in offence and defense." Golden let a laugh escape his lips. "Yes, Lady Nikko."

Golden started the match and as promised, Matt went 100% making me sweat. I smiled, thankful for a challenge. I did beat him, but I think he went into the bad position on purpose.

"That's how you need to fight, Officer Golden." Golden smiled. "I'll try, my Lady." I took my armor off and closed the huge doors once again, making my way to Father's office to find him talking to his adviser, Fullbright.

"You know, Quill? I think Nikko might be an excellent military leader." "But she is a descendant. She can't be in the military if she is leader." "Why the hell are they concerned about that now? Father's not going to die anytime soon, hopefully." "Maybe you could...try for another descendant. Preferably a mal-"

Father slammed his hands on the desk, startling me. "Why preferably a boy?! I have told you before Fullbright-dono that I don't plan on having any more children with Athena-chan! And again, why a boy?!" Fullbright was silent.

"You know male leaders don't crack as easily." I heard Father's chair being pushed back. "You know as well as I do that Nikko would never crack, even if it means her life!" Fullbright came into my view through the barely opened door.

"What if it means other's lives?" I heard Father pull the chair back to him again. "In the end, I won't have any other children and Nikko will be leader. That's that."

Fullbright sighed. "You sho-" "Silence!"

Fullbright grabbed the door handle and looked back at Father. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

I went to the side when Fullbright opened the door. He bowed, but did not say anything. I entered and closed the door. Father had his head leaned against his palm, elbow on desk.

"Um, Father? Can I talk to you about earlier?" Father blinked his eyes and looked up at me. "Oh, of course. What WERE you suggesting earlier?"

"I mean, figure it out yourself. Miles is supposedly dead, but they don't find his body. A week later, von Karma has a male heir to the throne. What do you think?"

Father shook his head. "That is far fetched, but yet so obvious at the same time. Are you sure you're not just hoping it's true?"

Father did bring up a good point. I loved Miles like a brother. A brother I would die for. "You said it yourself, yet so obvious."

I looked up at the painting again. "But that birthmark..." Father nodded. "That's one of the only things that makes me disbelieve it." "What if von Karma made him grow his hair out to cover it? I mean, that simple ponytail could mean the answer to this."

Father twirled the quill in his hands. "But what about the tail? I know it has a gold outline, but how could it change to green so soon? It's not possible that fast." "True, but you have to remember that Augustine hasn't remembered anything before he was 9. What if something happened while he, IF he, was brainwashed? I heard von Karma has a spell book."

"And who did you here that from?" "Jack." Father laughed. "He isn't the most reliable source for information." "I know, but it's something. And have you seen that emerald necklace Franziska wears all the time? I saw the colors swirl and make images of people one time!"

Father shook his fiinger. "But where would he get this spell book?" "Um, uh..." Father looked back at the painting. "I wish he was alive too, and his father, but we can't jump to conclusions. This is just a theory...A very obvious theory that's missing one piece of the puzzle."

I went over to Father, looking at the painting by his side. "You have your Mother's eyes." "I know." "They make you beautiful, but they also scare the crap out of opponents." I had to laugh at Father's commentary. Even in the worst of times, he can bring a smile to your face.

Somebody knocked on the door. "Come in," Father shouted, letting his arm fall off my shoulder.

Mother came in, looking like her beautiful self. "Hello, Athena-chan." "Simon, I told you to stop adding chan." "Sorry..."

Mother turned towards me, smiling. "I heard you beat Golden and Matt again." "It wasn't a true match. Golden just defended the whole time and Matt opened a spot for me on purpose."

Father entered the conversation. "They probably don't want to hurt you because of their size." "Yes, honey. remember when Daniel accid-" "That was on accident and it had nothing to deal with his weight or height," I snapped back.

Mother jumped a little at my sudden switch of attitude. "But you still got hurt..." "I'm perfectly fine now, aren't I?" I looked into the giant mirror behind Father's desk and pulled back my bangs, revealing the ugliest scar I have seen. "Losing one eye never hurt anyone."