Probably don't need to say this at this point but...
Disclaimer: I don't own the nation of Nova Roma, Marvel or whoever owns Marvel does. At this point, I don't think I need to say anything about X-Men Evolution.
Part One
The princess of Nova Roma walked down one of the long hallways in the palace looking for something to do. None of the servants' kids would hang out with her, or at least not while their parents were around. They were fun to be with and helped her get an understanding of the people around her, but they always remembered that she was higher ranking than them. As a kid she could play with them but as she grew older it became less and less acceptable to be with them, particularly the boys. Amara had finished her homework that her private teachers had given her.
Deciding that she had nothing better to do, she headed downstairs where they had all of the swords and other weapons stored. Her combat teacher wouldn't mind giving her another session, unless he was busy with something. She could always do some archery; she didn't need a sparring partner in that. Or she could practice the movements with a sword, a real sword. Fighting was taught with heavy wooden swords but solo training was done with a real sword.
She walked down the long spiral staircase leading to the training area. She moved her long brunette hair into a bun so that it wouldn't get in the way while she trained. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and found that no one was down there. The princess's brown eyes looked between the long bow and the sword. She decided that she needed to practice her aim more so than close combat abilities. Her aim wasn't nearly as good as her mother, father, and several other people that she knew. The sword felt more natural to use than the bow. Skills with the old weapons were not for war, they were now mostly used for exercise and the occasional ceremony.
Amara found the practice field. She didn't notice a woman watching her as she aimed. When Amara was about to go retrieve the arrows she was stopped by her mother's voice, "Your aim has gotten much better."
Amara's brown skin became slightly tinted by a blush. She fingered the bow string, "I'm not so sure. I'm not nearly as good as you and dad."
Her mother let out a hearty laugh, "Your father and I have had many more years of practice."
Amara nodded still not too sure about that. She collected her arrows. Her mother stopped her from starting again, "It's nearly three."
Amara sighed and nodded, "Right. Um, Mom, I know it's for Nova Roma, but what if I don't like the guy?"
"If the two of you can't stand each other you don't have to worry. You are the heir to the kingdom, not the one that might marry you. Your father and I want you to be happy. This will only be an issue if you go through all the potential suitors. Trust me, that will take a while," the queen assured her daughter.
*****Line-Break*****
The first suitor was a disaster. It ended with the King wanting to throttle the potential fiancé. Luckily for the suitor, the King was more concerned with politics within and outside of the kingdom. He didn't wish for Nova Roma to be seen as a barbaric country where the king would sentence the death of a seventeen year old for making him angry. Nova Roma had been relatively unknown to the world until recently. The mountains surrounding the borders along with the jungle had made it hard to get to Nova Roma. They had no airports, and were trying to get their hands on the most nature-friendly technology that they could.
Amara wanted to laugh when the boy fled but maintained her composure. She headed back for her room. Once the door was closed, Amara burst out laughing. She landed on her bed, tears in her eyes.
She sat up when someone knocked at her door. She called out, "Who is it?"
She wiped the tears away and got her laughter under control as the king called in, "Your father."
"Come on in," Amara said.
Her father walked in. His black hair was combed down. He had the same dark skin tone as his daughter and wife. He still wore his formal attire from earlier. The monarchy here was the only one left in the world that was a true monarchy. Her father grabbed the chair nearby and sat in it, "I'm so sorry about what happened. If I had known . . ."
"It's ok, Father," Amara calmly said. "You didn't know. Besides, there is plenty of time and many more potential suitors."
Her father nodded, "I know that it is part of your duty as Princess but would you be fine if we held off on meeting any more of the suitors for a while?"
Amara nodded, "Of course, I'm fine with this!"
Her father chuckled, "Somehow I thought that might be your answer."
Amara shrugged. She grinned, "And you're not ready to let your daughter go yet."
"True, but that boy fell far from the tree. His parents are fine people."
*****Line-Break*****
Amara leaned back in her seat taking her eyes off of her study material. The joints in her wrists felt like they were on fire. She rubbed her wrists. When that didn't work immediately she headed towards bathroom. She turned on the cold water and placed her burning joints under the stream. She felt the burning feeling go away after a minute of keeping her hands in the cool flowing water.
Amara returned to her room to resume studying. She didn't want to get her parents worried over nothing.
Part Two
Amara felt the burning sensation spread throughout her body over a course of a few days. Cool water wasn't helping anymore. It started out just in her joints and slowly moved its way everywhere. She felt like her body was going to catch on fire. Amara made her way towards the medical wing of the castle. She stopped at the doorway into a brightly colored room with large windows.
A woman a little taller than her came over to Amara, "Is something ailing you, your highness?"
Amara nervously smiled at the healer, "Um, well, yes. You see, um, well, I just feel really hot. As if my body is going to burst into flames at any moment. It started as my joints aching and now . . ."
The woman put a hand to Amara's forehead, only to jump back with a yelp of pain. The part where the back of her hand had touched Amara was burnt. Amara stared and rushed to get to cold water running, "I'm so sorry, Vanora!"
As Vanora kept her hand under the water Amara felt the heat in her body rising. Amara felt light-headed for a little bit. Suddenly the heat and light-headedness dissipated. Then the healers and apprentices who were in the medical wing started to scream. Amara looked around confused until she saw herself in a mirror. She screamed. She appeared to be covered in fire. The flames seemed to flow about her being. Amara stared at her image in horror. And just as quickly as the fire had appeared it vanished, leaving her in a state of confusion and shock.
*****Line-Break*****
Amara's father paced back and forth while her mother held her tight. Nothing that they knew about within the world of science explained what had happened to their daughter. Several of the people that had seen what had happened thought that maybe some fire spirits had tried to contact the princess. The belief in spirits was as old as the kingdom.
Amara had yet to calm down from the experience. She wanted to curl up in a ball as tight as possible. She looked between her mother and father, worried. They had no clue as to what had happened. Their panic was making her panic even worse. Her father had asked one of his top advisors to try to find out anything that might help explain what had happened.
Until an answer was brought back they had no clue what they were dealing with. How they would deal with it would depend on whether this was something that science could explain or if it was the work of fire spirits, as the old folk lore said. Amara leaned deeper into her mother's hold, her eyes becoming heavy. Before she realized it, the world of dreams overtook the young princess.
*****Line-Break*****
Amara awoke to being gently shaken by her mother. Her brown eyes opened slowly, protesting that it was far too early and bright to be open. Her mother's voice was calm, "Amara, we're having guests come that say that they know what happened to you. Are you up to meeting them?"
Amara sat up eager about this news, "Of course. I was just sleeping. Where are they from? Nova Roma? Somewhere else?"
"The United States of America. They contacted us," her mother said.
Amara quickly changed into some new clothes and headed to the reception hall. She sat at the long table to the left of her father while her mother sat on his right. After a minute the guests were lead in by the guards. They were both tall, beautiful women. The one that was obviously older held a regal quality to her stance and stride. Her dark skin tone was much like that of the people of Nova Roma. Her eyes, though, were the color that many foreigners had, blue. Her white hair flowed behind her. The younger of the two also held an air of power but not at the same level as the older woman. She was easily a foreigner with her pale skin, red hair, and green eyes. But it didn't change the fact she was beautiful. Amara wondered if her own posture and beauty stood up to theirs. She forced that thought out of her head since at the moment that wasn't important.
They both bowed, slightly incorrectly, but they wouldn't hold it against them since few outsiders did it right on the first try. The red head blushed and corrected her bow suddenly. The older woman did the same as her younger counterpart without a blush. They rose and introduced themselves. The older one started, "Hello, your Majesties. I am Ororo Munroe."
The redhead then spoke, "I am Jean Gray, your Majesties."
Amara's father nodded. He directed his attention to Ororo as he asked, "You claim to know what happened to my daughter. Could you explain?"
Ororo nodded, "Of course, Your Highness. Your daughter is much like us. We have abilities that are unique to each of us. Due to genetic variations we have developed powers that most people can only dream of. For a lack of a better term, we are mutants."
"Mutants?" Amara asked.
Ororo nodded, "Yes, Your Highness. If you like, we could show you our own powers."
Amara looked to her father and saw him nod his approval. Jean went first, pointing her hand at the chair in front of her. The chair started to move back and forth until it levitated in the air for a little while before being placed back down. Ororo then made a light mist within the air that vanished quickly. Amara stared in awe wondering if she could ever have control over her powers like them. Ororo smiled, "I am a teacher at a school designed to teach young mutants how to control their powers. Jean is one of our older students. The school is called Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. If it wouldn't cause you any trouble, your Majesty, it might be in Amara's best interest to come the school. So that she can learn to control of her powers and understand them better."
Amara's father stared at Ororo for a bit before saying, "This is something that I can't just agree to without thinking about it. After all, Amara is our only heir."
Ororo nodded, "Take as long as you need to think about it, Your Highness. Here is some information about the school."
The visitors were led to the guest quarters for the time being.
*****Line-Break*****
Amara had already decided what she wanted to do hours ago but her father wasn't budging. They now sat in uncomfortable silence. Her mother broke the silence with the latest argument, "I think that this might be good for Amara. She'll need to learn control. And it will be a good chance for Amara to see the world outside of our country."
Amara nodded. Her father sighed. He wasn't ready to give in yet. Amara grinned, "Would it be better if no one knew that I was the Princess of Nova Roma? No one outside of Nova Roma even knows what I look like, so it wouldn't be that hard."
Her father sighed again, "I just want to know that you'll be safe. If you're in another country I won't know that."
Her mother grinned, "She doesn't have to leave right now. According to Ms. Munroe there is going to be a move in day for other students. We could bring Amara there then. Or have some of the guards go with us."
Her father finally gave in after two more hours of the debate.
Author's Note: Amara's powers awoke while Jean and Ororo were visiting Roberto in Brazil, which is how they got to Nova Roma so quickly after her powers developed encase anyone was wondering.
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