Summary: Sometimes Leanna wonders if anyone will ever get to know her as herself and not just the daughter of Queen Stella, even her mom wants her to 'follow in her footsteps' and go to Alfea. Will the new darkness coming find her and why does the darkness want her over anyone else more powerful? The only thing Leanna now has is hope that she can overcome this evil. Her hope is her guide that will lead her to a hopefully brighter future. Finally, Leanna is ready to discover the truth about the secrets of her very existence, after so many years of secrets can she accept the entire truth.
I don't own Winx Club.
The people of Solaria are anxious, I can almost feel their anxiety flowing through my own whirlwind of emotions, they are wary and some are even angry, there are whispers that flood the royal court, and dark stares. I am glad to have Brandon by my side or I would break down completely, it seems they are testing me but my question is simply why. Why test me? I know some of the things I have done are selfish and cruel and spoiled, but it seems that they don't want me wearing the crown. Also there is something wrong with the planet itself, a darkness that is rising up, I can feel it as if we are old acquaintances, and people are dying. Innocent bloodshed, whatever is happening is making a dark shadow fall on Solaria.
Leanna bit her lip as she twisted her ring around her finger, she eyed the designs in the wooden table instead of looking up to meet the headmistresses deep and dark blue eyes, so to speak it was becoming even more difficult to talk to the teachers, or her mother for that matter, she was always so quiet or making up these random excuses. Leanna especially hated the fact that the teacher was idly stirring her spoon in her fresh and steaming mug of coffee, the silence had been lasting for several long and awkward minutes and Leanna mentally regretted coming to the office on her own.
It was obvious that the teachers had dubbed her the carbon copy of her mom, especially with the weary glances she continuously was on the receiving end of. At the same time though, the girls had been extremely tired, especially with the speed at which the lessons at Alfea were being taught at. With that and the fact that everyone was exhausted from the lessons had left the dorm oddly quiet, no sounds of laughter or even talking could escape anyone's lips before they all felt like dropping to their beds.
Roxy clasped her hands together and rubbed her lips together, "Leanna, I understand that you believe darkness, excuse me, evil magic is coming but could it just be a stretch of your imagination." She said, Leanna opened her mouth to reply but instead found herself gapping like a fish, she clenched her hand into a fist and looked back down at the table, smothering out her anger.
Leanna looked up and almost recoiled at the look on Roxy's face, a poker face was staring back at her but in her eyes, she saw a flicker of something. Deciding it nothing she shook her head, "That's not why I am here." She said in a small voice, her voice sounded coughed like she had come down with a cold as she swallowed to try and slow down her next words and think them over. "The Eclipse festival is a huge event on my planet, Solaria, and as the crown princess of Solaria I must attend. I have come to ask for permission to go back to my realm, to go back home." Leanna explained, looking up again as she stared at the headmistress.
Roxy stood up and looked towards the window, her expression the same as it was before, she watched as some students started to train their fairy forms and more, "Do you remember when you went to Pyros?" She asked as Leanna felt confusion flicker across her face before she nodded, "During that trip an ancient artifact was stolen, it was protected by a few heroes at Red Fountain and them along with several people from Magix and several tourists were seriously injured. The Magix Council has decided that until further notice, no one should leave the schools until the artifact is retrieved."
Leanna gasped before understanding flickered in her, she tightened her fist, "I understand that, but my people need me there. My mother, she's making a very important announcement, and I have to be there." She said standing up and pushing the chair back, it screeched in protest but she didn't care, she softened slightly but didn't back down as she waited with baited breath of what Roxy would say to that.
It was extremely disrespectful to stand up to an older person like that, extremely, it could get her expelled, but that didn't matter, not really. If her people need her to be there than her education be damned. Leanna thought as she fought to keep her backbone, it was rare moments like this that she was confident and it made her like her mother in several aspects. Roxy sighed but continued to stare out of the window, "Alright, I give you permission to go." She said turning around, she smiled, trying to seem happy but the slump in her shoulders didn't fade, "In fact why don't you and your friends go, but on one condition, you have to learn some things while you're there so you don't fall behind."
Leanna smiled brightly, almost beaming, "Thank you so much, I promise that we will, oh I can't wait." She said as she rushed out of the room. Roxy watched her leave, the smile falling off her face as she sank into her chair, the door closed behind Leanna but Roxy felt no need to lock it. She ran her fingers through her hair, knowing that the Magix Council would not be pleased, arranging for a student to leave without permission was dancing on dangerous territory.
She grabbed her phone off her desk and scrolled through her contacts, pulling up a number and allowing her phone to ring for several minutes before a hologram of the headmaster of Red Fountain appeared in her office, he smiled at her, his eyes creasing as she made an effort to smile back, "Headmaster Helia, I was wondering if you could do me a favor of sorts. A few of my students are going to Solaria for a special festival and I would like for four of your students to join them." She said as she clasped her hands together.
Helia nodded as his expression became solemn, "You've been in contact with Stella." He stated and she nodded, her rubbed his temple, "I want to tell the gang but at the same time it almost feels wrong since they are living their lives and telling Brandon about this would be plain difficult. He loved her once upon a time." He said as his shoulder's slumped, "I haven't said a word to Flora, though but she is becoming suspicious."
Roxy nodded, "I hate to lie to them, but we need to make sure that this is a dangerous enough threat. Beside they need to live in their bliss, they have done so much for the Magic Dimension." She said, mentally adding 'While they can live in bliss.' She smiled though as Helia nodded, he bid his farewell and left her in the silence of her own office.
Leanna opened the dorm room door of Athena's and Aurora's dorm room, the girls were sprawled around the room, and the room was a mess, at least on Aurora's side. She shut the door behind her and plopped down on a bean bag, bringing her knees to her chest. Aurora was on her bed, her face buried in a pillow as she tried to get a little sleep, Athena typing away at her laptop but even her movement were slow, and Lyrica was strumming a guitar and humming slightly, her headphones around her neck.
Lyrica glanced up and smiled slightly before she sat her guitar down, and closed her eyes, yawning, "So where have you been?" She asked as she started to search through her phone, she bit her lip slightly before tossing the phone on her own bean bag, "I thought you came back with us after school, so where did you disappear to?" She asked.
Aurora lifted up her head, combing her hair with her fingers, "Yeah, did you perhaps go to see Ryan. I saw him on campus earlier." Aurora said wiggling her eyebrows and making a kissy face, "You two are too cute." She continued on as she laid back down on her stomach and looked at the girls, hugging her pillow.
Leanna fought back the urge to roll her eyes, "I didn't go to see Ryan, and I didn't know he was on campus, it's not like we talk every night." She said softly but slightly shyly, "Anyways." Leanna cleared her throat making a gesture to Athena, Aurora rolled her eyes, and walked to the bed, taking the lap top from Athena, making her glare at her before she looked at Leanna, "Tomorrow is the start of the weeklong Eclipse Festival, and well I got out of school for it and the Headmistress said you guys could come to."
Aurora cheered, sharing a high-five with Athena, "Finally, what could be better than spending a week in Solaria, and at a festival. But what is the eclipse festival?" Aurora asked as she stopped her happy-dance and looked at Leanna with curiosity in her eyes.
Athena took her chance, and grabbed her lap top back, looking through it, "It's when the second and brightest moon of Solaria causes and eclipse with the second sun of Solaria, and that night there is a lunar eclipse as well. It sorts of looks like this." She said pulling up an image of the sky with a few stars in sight but the light of the second sun of Solaria, the other two suns are darkened slightly and give off a golden and silver sheen.
"That's really pretty." Aurora said looking at the picture, "How often does it happen?" She asked, averting her eyes from the picture to look at Leanna.
Leanna smiled at her memories of the Eclipse festival, "It only happens once a year, and this year is extremely special since my mom is announcing who becomes the heir to the throne." Leanna said, "She didn't need to have that done for her since she was an only child and the only heir but I have a brother and she announces it on Autumn Equinox, which oddly enough falls during the festival." She went into further explanation.
Athena quirked an eyebrow, "Wouldn't they usually do the announcing of the rule on the Summer Solstice?" She asked curiously as she shut her lap top and put it on her dresser. Aurora sat down on the bed and they both shared a glance, "I mean I would assume that since Summer is the hottest season of the year and Solaria is known for its suns which causes the seasons due to tilts in the planets."
Leanna nodded, biting her lip as she tried to figure out how to explain it, without explaining who her brother was. She would face that problem when it came time to, she shared a glance with Lyrica who nodded at her, briefly. "Usually it does but things have been looking extremely rough on Solaria due to some people thinking I would be unfit to rule and the issues with my brother." Leanna explained.
Aurora looked confused but also interested as she leaned forward to lay down on her stomach, she placed her chin on the palms of her hands and kicked her feet back and forth. Athena slid forward to sit on the edge of her bed and also looked confused but her face was not as emotional as Aurora's, "What issues happened with your brother?" She asked
Leanna mentally flinched as an unsure expression bloomed onto her face, "Nothing." She said in a clipped tone, suggesting that the conversation was over, "It's not important, but we do have to leave in three hours." She pointed out, changing the subject from her brother to the time they were leaving.
Aurora almost fell off the bed, "We still have to pack and I am exhausted." She groaned letting her face fall into her hands. "I have to go through all of the clothes so I have options for when we go and I should pack my favorite perfume and that plum lipstick I bought last week." She mused as she tapped her chin with her fingernail.
Leanna sighed, "You know, we do have magic, and plus just pack the clothes that pop out to you, you're bound to buy something when we get to Solaria." She pointed out as she stood up, "And I don't have to pack, I live on Solaria, so most of my clothes are already there." Leanna said as she ducked her head to avoid the pillow that Aurora threw at her.
"Then you will be my helper." Aurora said with a sugary and innocent smile as she hopped off the bed and walked to her overflowing closet and opened it, "Let's get moving, Athena, don't even try to get out of this." She said waving a warning finger at Athena who froze at the door and turned with a sheepish smile on her face, rubbing her neck slightly as she blushed.
Lyrica smirked, getting up and gathering her things which included her guitar and phone, "Well I am getting out of this, bye girls, have fun helping Aurora pack." She said walking to the door and winking at Athena and Leanna.
Athena gave Lyrica a death glare and shook her fist at her but a pile of clothes landed in her arms and she turned to look at Aurora with a quirk in her eyebrow and a 'Is she serious?' expression on her face, Aurora caught her look and shrugged before going back into her mountain of clothes, "Alright girls, let's get started." Aurora said grabbing the last of her clothes and throwing them into Leanna's arms, Leanna almost tipped backwards as she steadied the sudden weight on her arms.
Both girls sat the clothes down and sat down on the bean bags, "How many clothes do you have?" Athena asked as she gave Aurora a death glare, which was ignored since Aurora began to go off into her own world, shifting through her piles of clothes. Athena leaned forward to whisper in Leanna's ear, "Let's go, now while she is distracted." She whispered and Leanna glanced back at Aurora and the piles before she nodded.
Leanna followed after Athena and slipped out, wincing as the door closed while creaking slightly along the way, she breathed a sigh of relief, "Thanks, now let's go see what Lyrica's doing." She said as they both walked into Lyrica and Leanna's shared dorm room. Lyrica glanced up at them but continued to listen to her music, sliding the headphones back over her ears.
Athena rolled her eyes and tugged them off, "Come on L, we're bored and we just got out of helping Rorie pack." She said dragging Lyrica off the bed, Lyrica glared at her, scowling as she brushed herself off, she shifted her headphones around her neck before she sat down on her bed.
Lyrica crossed her arms, "Well that's not my problem." She said with a huff, "Well we could always play truth or dare." She suggested with a smirk, wiggling her eyebrows as Athena shook her head furiously and Leanna quirked an eyebrow in question as she felt a puzzled expression take over her face, she averted her gaze to Athena.
Athena narrowed her eyes at Lyrica, "You had to bring that up." She muttered under her breath with sarcasm dripping from her voice, "Well last time we all played, that girl" She jabbed her finger at Lyrica, "dared me to sneak into my parent's room and steal a very inappropriate thing. Point is my dad caught me and the looks he gave me for the next month will haunt me forever." Athena explained as she crossed her arms.
"Alright, alright, I won't do anything like that, but come on, it's the only thing we can do." Lyrica said as she waved her hands around in surrender, Athena sighed and nodded as Lyrica smirked, "Alright, well, let's get started." She said rubbing her hands together with an evil smirk on her face.
The ship landed on the bright green grass of Alfea, Brandon turned off the engine and the bright green buttons slowly lost their light source and the overhead light flickered on, he turned in his chair, standing up from his seat and rolled his neck from side to side, this would be the first time he would be back on Solaria since he left more than two years ago and to say that he was nervous was a big understatement, he shifted his weight from foot to foot and put on his best poker face as he exited the ship with Ryan, Ethan, and Jason.
Silence fell over them, laying itself over them like a blanket, Brandon glanced around and noted that only a few girls were out of their rooms despite the bright and blazing hot suns and the random flurries of clouds that rolled on by. It was probably caused by the sudden chill in the air, it rustled their caps from their backs like lifting nothing and blew Brandon's hair across his forehead.
He crossed his arms, as he scanned the entrances to the school, the girls were probably late for whatever reason. He checked his watch and groaned out in annoyance the trickled along his blood as he rolled his eyes to the back of his head and rubbed his temple. Every agonizing second built a whole new set of anxiety in his stomach, if anything he had made a promise to himself that he wouldn't come back without his father and so far he was still at the same spot as he was two years ago.
"Jason!" He lifted his head and saw Aurora, followed by six floating suitcases, the magic around them was a deep and dark jade green color. The other girls trailed behind her, their luggage light in comparison to Aurora's. Athena had one suitcase and a bag while Lyrica carried with her a single suitcase. Jason hugged Aurora as they embraced like girlfriend and boyfriend, with the dramatic 'I miss you' and 'I miss you too.'
Athena rolled her cyan blue eyes, "Cut it out you two, you're going to make us all vomit and we aren't even on the ship yet." She said with a careless manner as she walked past them and up the ramp in to the ship. She poked her head out with an annoyed look on her face, "Are you guys coming yet, the sooner we get there, the sooner we don't have to listen to those two talk like a married couple."
Ethan chuckled, shrugging his shoulders as he walked to stand next to Lyrica, she ignored him and instead looked at everyone else with her signature smirk. "I can't believe you guys just have to put us through such torture." She remarked, ignoring the death glare that Aurora sent her, she quirked an eyebrow, "Can't we just separate them?" She asked crossing her arms.
"I hope, it was enough torture listening to him talk about Aurora all throughout the ride there. We did not need to know about those details Jason." Ethan said as he gagged but smirked at Jason, Jason glared at him and grabbed three suitcases from Aurora, smiling at her with a flirtatious wink.
Leanna, who had been silent the entire time, watching the exchange held her hands up to stop any upcoming fight, "Alright guys, calm down, let's get on the ship then you guys can continue this conversation." She suggested softly, everyone nodded and made their way into the ship where Athena was already seated, typing on her computer with a frustrated look on her face.
Brandon sat down in his seat and started up the ship, "Buckle up everybody, preparing for take-off." He said, buckling himself in, before he turned around, checking to see if everybody was ready and spun back around, pressing another button to get the ship flying, a mini holograph of the ship floated above him. "Alright, our estimate arrival will be in two hours, and thirty-five minutes." He said as the ship lurched across the sky.
Leanna stared outside of the window, she truly felt wary and exhausted from the entire day of nonstop lectures and silence hung in the air around the ship, everybody was too focused on their own things, the boys were flying the ship while Jason and Aurora, who were emitting the only sound were sitting together whispering and flirting, Athena was still on her computer but she wasn't typing anymore and instead playing a game with Lyrica beside her dozing off with her headphones over her ears.
She felt so bored as she watched the stars fly by, feeling her connection with them stir inside her stomach as she watched each star drift by, they were so far away and it made her wonder who was looking at them when she was. Leanna closed her eyes and leaned against the window, listening to the gentle and soothing hum of the ship. She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand.
Sleep felt so welcoming but the flashes of the mirror made her shoot up, she looked around and made sure no one was watching or paying her any mind. She stared up at the stars and bit her lip. Every night the nightmares would get worse and worse, she would wake-up early in the morning bathed in sweat and her sheets twisted around her. Or with Lyrica throwing water on her since, according to Lyrica, she was transforming in her sleep.
Leanna knew her friends were concerned and she was exhausted from the lack of sleep and the classes, a week on Solaria sounded like the perfect vacation to get her mind off of her problems, instead she had a whole new set of issues which was the problem with her mom announcing her as the heir to the throne. She had a whole speech to prepare by herself, she had thought that was better than having someone else do it for her.
She grabbed her notebook and opened a spare page in her book, before closing it and shifting her weight to carry her notebook and reach forward to grab her pencil case, she grabbed her pencil out and zipped it closed. Leanna tapped her pencil against the paper as she bit her lip and peered out of the window before she exhaled.
People of Solaria, friends, and family. I am truly honored to be chosen as the next Queen of Solaria. Leanna read it over before crunching it into a paper ball and throwing it into the trash pin. This has been a momentous week and I understand that a few of you have reservations about me becoming the next Queen of Solaria. But I ask you this and only this. Look at my mother, she has ruled the Kingdom of Solaria and she is an amazing ruler, an amazing mother, and she has truly tried to meet your needs. She has done this, has she not? My mother is an amazing Queen, her past doesn't mark her but what she does today will mark he as the Queen that brought Solaria further. I wish I was like her, but I am not my mother. I know that with your support and with your belief in me I will become the Queen you deserve. You deserve someone who is more than willing to risk and sacrifice everything they care about for your sake. I will strive for that. Leanna sighed and crumbled the paper up, tossing it into the trashcan, she ran her hands through her hair and closed her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips.
"What's up with you?" Lyrica asked, as she slid into the seat beside Leanna, Leanna jumped slightly startled. Lyrica quirked an eyebrow at that, her headphones were on her neck and a faint sound of her favorite music was pouring through the headphones. Lyrica was wearing a simple black skull belly shirt, ripped dark blue jeans, and black army boots, her hair tossed up into a high-ponytail and she had on dreamcatcher with feathers dangling from the dreamcatcher earrings and necklace.
"I guess, I'm just nervous." Leanna said after a moment, she tilted her head to look out at the stars, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with her ring, she had on a simple white t-shirt with intricate designs on both the front and back in a simple light gray color, she had on her simple white feather earrings and her locket, she had on light blue jeans with white and light gray tennis shoes.
Lyrica nodded in understanding, "Don't worry, everything will turn out fine, the people of Solaria will just have to suck it up." She said before she averted her gaze back to the front, "Hey caption, how much time do we have left before we get there?" She yelled slightly as she stood up and crossed her arms.
Brandon clicked another button, before he turned around in his seat, his eyes narrowed, "56 minutes, why does it matter?" He asked, turning back around and clicking the same button, the annoyance in his voice was obvious to Leanna and she couldn't decipher whether he was annoyed at going home or the fact that they had to remain cordial in the same area.
Lyrica glared at him, "Listen Princey, I am a passenger on your ship, I have every freaking right to wonder when we are going to get to my best friend's planet, so don't get your tighty whiteys in a twist." She said and with a satisfied smirk she sat down. Everyone, other than Brandon and Leanna, burst out laughing, Leanna held a hand to her mouth and slightly giggled.
Athena smirked at the scowl embedded on Brandon's face, "Awe, the poor baby is upset because we found out his secret. That he wears tighty whiteys." She said as he words in her final sentence were delayed as she tried not to laugh, she clutched her sides.
Leanna rolled her eyes, and stared out at the vast space, stars lying galaxies away twinkled and glistened against the pitch black of space, "Leave him alone guys." She said softly, without looking at anyone as she watched the planets fly by, a few moons or one moon circling around the planets.
The spacecraft shuttered as it landed on the cobblestone of Solaria, the winds enforced by the landing causing the grass to fan out around the cobblestone, guards stood at the doors of the palace, their armor, which was made light with a slight cape and simple silver lined gold boots of a leathery material, they held spears across their chest and emotionless expressions on their faces. Leanna stood up, she walked off the ship, leaving everyone to gather their luggage before they followed after her.
The minute her feet touched the coolness of the cobblestone path a wide grin spread over her face, a guard, one of the higher guards by the symbol imbedded in the back of his cape and used as a pin to hold the cape together, walked up to them, "Welcome home Princess Leanna, and welcome to her friends." He said bowing slightly, he straightened up, "Your mother is waiting for you all in the gardens."
Leanna nodded her head, "Of course, let my mother know we are on our way, we must get to our rooms first." She cast a glance at the bags, the guard nodded, he bowed again, before he walked back to the doors. Leanna sighed, "Welcome to Solaria, let me take you to our rooms." She emphasized the me aiming a pointed look at the guards before she opened the doors, the floors were marble and someone can almost see their reflection if they stared long enough at the floors, table containing vases of many different colored flowers lined the walls, proud and tall windows stretched upwards, guards lining the hall every ten feet.
In the main room there was a large and grand staircase that divided into two, Leanna watched as everyone stared around them in a constant state of wonder, except her brother which she made a point to not look at, instead she guided them up the stairs to the right and up another set of stairs, in that hallway were many rooms for the use of guests, "Well there are three available rooms for you guys." She gestured to three of the rooms that were side-by-side.
Ryan raised an eyebrow, seemingly confused, "But there are seven of us." He said, "Three girls and four boys." He added as he crossed his arms and stared at the three doors, "Why can't we just go in another room?" He asked. Leanna crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him, any spark of attraction or the small crush she had on him was gone.
"Look, we have other guests, this is a big week for Solaria, nobles and such from other realms are coming to this event, to see the festival and to see who they will be working with in the future. Perhaps you can split up, the girls can go in one room, the boys in another, and the room in the middle can be transformed into a hangout or whatever you would like. Go ahead and start deciding who gets what." Leanna said as everyone shared a hesitant nod before starting to head into the rooms, "Brandon, you are more than welcome to stay in your old room." Leanna said lowly and quietly, her face became emotionless, and her eyes were cold and narrowed.
Brandon stiffened, he turned to her and took notice of the cold emotions radiating from her in waves, his attention darted towards the door before he closed his eyes rubbing his temples. Leanna resisted the urge to try and care about his actions, he was not her problem, he started this entire drama issue when he left and he knew damn well that things would not be the same when he got back, "Of course, can you take me there?" He asked with annoyance thick in his tone.
Leanna nodded and turned around, not even bothering to wait for him to get his things or catch up to her, he looked around, everything was as he remembered it, he froze at a portrait. His family portrait, a ten-year-old him and Leanna sitting on their thrones next to his mom. Leanna turned and rolled her eyes, "Don't think anything of it Brandon, we just don't have the space or time to waste on throwing them away." She said coldly as she turned and started to walk away, if Brandon had been paying attention he would have seen the tears that had built in her eyes.
Brandon glared at her back, before he clenched his fist and jaw, he tried to smother out the details in his face, "So does mom know I am coming." He asked. Leanna hated having to be alone with Brandon, a long time ago a time alone with her brother was paradise but not anymore, he was not her brother.
"Of course she does, she is the Queen of Solaria and this is her kingdom, heck she even organized this entire trip." Leanna said rolling her eyes, 'Did he honestly think that mom wouldn't know that he was coming.' She thought watching him out of the corner of her eye, he was look at the paintings on the wall but a smirk fell on his lips.
Leanna hated nothing more than the smugness of his smirk, she led him to his room door, and threw it open, he stepped in and put his bag on the bench near his door, "Everything as I remember it." He said looking around and sniffing the air of the room. Leanna looked around too, her eyes flashing with memories of the good times they had in here, pillow fights, movie nights, popcorn battles, and just lounging around talking for hours.
Leanna nodded her head, her cold gaze softening slightly around the edges, "Mom said that nobody could come in here until you returned, since she thought you would come back willingly." She laughed coldly and harshly, she shook her head at the idea of it, he came back because of orders, not the want to come back.
Brandon whirled on her, "Who said I didn't want to come back?" He asked with a glare, she gave him an obvious look and he deflated slightly, "Look I don't want to talk about it." He said with a low warning tone in his voice. Leanna nodded her head and turned around to stalk out of the room, she stopped for a minute.
"Good to know, because once this week is over, I hope that you never come back here." Leanna spat, before she slammed the door, she sighed with guilt flooding her veins but shook her head thinking better of it, she shouldn't be out her crying when Brandon was in there counting all of his pennies.
To say the week was difficult was an understatement, the paparazzi went nuts once they found out the Brandon was back on Solaria, also they made sure to add in more drama with the whole sibling ordeal, it was on almost every tabloid in Solaria. Leanna made sure she was never out at the same time as Brandon but with their friends loving to hang out with each other, the task was being proven futile.
She stared in the mirror, a floor length gold mirror, she reached out to touch the surface watching as her sleeves moved and wrinkled under the single movement. The dress she was wearing was a ballgown made of heavenly white, gold, silver, and light blue designs swirled together on the bottom of her dress and at the top it was strapless and with a sweetheart neckline and the sleeves started with gold rings around the edge of her shoulders and white cloth flowed from it, shorter at the front with the back descending to the floor.
Her make-up was perfect and natural, gold-tan colored eyeshadow, black mascara, light pink blush, and pink lips to match, she had on her locket and loose diamond gold and silver earrings with her hair curled down her back and let loose and flowy, she had on strappy white heels. Leanna sighed and stood up, after hours of pampering and prepping this was the end result, the dress was beautiful, she had to admit and loose but she felt overdressed.
A maid, twenty at-least knocked on the door, poking her head in, she had loose blonde hair pulled into a bun and silver gray eyes with pale skin, she had on a simple uniform of a long dress of gold and silver color with a white apron, "Your mother is announcing you in ten minutes your highness." She said before she curtsied and left.
Leanna sighed, staring at her reflection again before she straightened herself, she walked out of the door and to the courtyard, the people were chatting and gossiping, meeting up with each other with laughter evident in their eyes, other kings and queens had taken the time to come, among a few she easily recognized the King and Queen of Lynphea, Melody, Oppositious, and the council of Magix, the rest were unrecognizable to her though, but one Queen looked strangely familiar with uncomfortable eyes behind a fake smile.
Leanna cast a glance towards her mother who was laughing and chatting with a pregnant Queen of Lynphea and the Queen of Oppositious, but her eyes were sad as they drew over to the unrecognizable Kings and Queens. She sighed making her way to her mother, "There you are Leanna, come we must make a very important announcement." Her mother smiled before they walked towards the stage set up in the center of the courtyard.
Leanna watched as everyone grew quiet, the photographers started to snap picture, the light almost appeared blinding but it didn't help the jumble of nerves that flew around in her stomach, her throat became hoarse and she gestured for a drink of water, lightly sipping it as he mother beamed over the people in the courtyard.
"Welcome to Solaria." Her mother said, her expression became slightly solemn, "I understand the planets constant debate over who will become the heir to the throne. I announce my daughter, Princess Leanna Rosetta Summers of Solaria, as they future Queen of Solaria." The courtyard flooded with silence as Leanna closed her eyes and wanted to curl up in a ball and disappear forever. "She had prepared a few words for you all."
Leanna took the mic with shaking hands and looked around the crowd, she found Lyrica who smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. She smiled, "On the way here, I worked up a thousand words I could say to you all today, a thousand ways I could say what I want to say but all just seemed too wrong or not correct enough to fit this. Many of you fear that I will become as selfish and vain as my mom was, but look at her now, she understands the true value of being a leader. Someone who will sacrifice anything for their kingdom. I may be young but I know that I can become the leader that you need, that you deserve, and the leader the planet needs to survive. I love my planet with all of my existence and I will give up anything for my planet." Leanna said, her voice becoming stronger and more passionate as she spoke, "I looked into something that has been hindering Solaria for some time, the orphans that had survived the war, the broken families, the people who lost everything they owned and had to resort to stealing to survive. My plan is simple, in every city there will be a place set up to provide them food, shelter, clothing, jobs, and money that will hopefully get them back on their feet."
Somebody raised their mic to the stage, a cameraman and a woman who appeared to be on the local news, "So you plan on helping all of those people, but how will you get the money to do so?" The woman quizzed as someone else shouted their agreement.
Leanna didn't let the negativity to the comment appear to make her hesitant but her brain felt weary as if the people would find a flaw in her plans and shun her like she was nothing to them for it, despite her efforts. "I will be hosting charity events, so people can willingly supply things they don't need like old clothes, games, and even to help participate in the construction of giving these people a second chance at living the lives they dreamed of. In hopes of that, and if that works out I intend to lower taxes since taxes go way too much to the budget of the royal family, I intend to give more to the charitable events and to the environment, along with other government issues or complications." She stated.
The audience was silent for a moment before somebody cheered and more cheers sounded throughout the courtyard, Leanna breathed a sigh of relief and flashed a smile at Lyrica, but her eyes caught onto somebody standing in the distance, she looked harder at it but with a blink the person was gone, she plastered on a fake smile as the flashes of cameras almost blinded her. Leanna handed the microphone back to her mom, who gave her a proud smile, before she set the microphone aside.
Leanna leaned against a nearby table, the dress felt saggy against her skin and she wanted to desperately change out of the enormous dress, it was beautiful no doubt but it felt like she could feel every stich as if it was poking her every time she moved. Her mother was socializing with crowd but she remained far away from the royalty that Leanna didn't recognize, she almost wanted to walk up to them and ask why but they seemed too caught up in their own world, staring around the courtyard and sporting fake smiles.
It had been almost an hour since her announcement, and she had spent that time mingling among the nobles and chatting with people of other kingdoms, all in all she was exhausted from the talking and listening, it seemed like a rhythm to her. She sipped her cup of sparkling Solaria cider, she held the glass close to her. Her friends had been dancing around and partying but even they seemed tired in their big dresses. She spotted Aurora and Jason floating around the courtyard, smiling and dancing, laughing and talking. Of course, it had seemed, that her brother had disappeared after the announcement since she hadn't spotted him amongst the crowd.
As much as she hated confrontation, she really did wish that she could talk to him like she used to, hang out with him without the tension that usually hung around them both when they were even in the same area, she sighed and closed her eyes. "Hey darling." Her mother's voice caused her to open her eyes and she saw her mom in front of her, "You did so well Leanna, now why don't you go change, you must be dying to get out of that dress, the eclipse is about to start." Her mother said.
Leanna simply nodded, passing polite greetings to anyone who had stopped her on her path to the door, she glanced around for a minute, her eyes scanning the crowd, she sighed once again before she left, she allowed her thoughts to consume her as she walked, the only sound were her heels clicking against the marble floors. She wondered about her brother, where had he been after the announcement? But then her thoughts of the royals she hadn't recognized and a handful of other people, she had meant almost all of the royal faces in the Magic Dimension but when she looked at them her mind went blank.
She slipped into her room, slipping off the irritating corset and poufy dress and breathing in a sigh of relief, she stepped to her closet and slipped off the old undergarments and back into more modern underwear, she slipped on some soft cotton white capris that were cuffed a little above her ankles, her favorite boots that left a little skin showing between the end of her capris and her boots, she put on a tank top that had a gold up top and dark blue dotted with white at the bottom and the bottom of her shirt looked like a starry night with the moon and sun in the center of the belt, the above was golden colored with hints of pink, red, and orange.
She snapped her fingers as her hair curled and her face cleared of make-up, she slipped on her favorite locket, a golden locket with a sun and moon with intricate designs on it, the locket had been snapped close ever since she could remember, she slipped on a charm bracelet and grabbed her tan colored bag with her phone inside of it. Leanna glanced in the mirror and sighed, before she walked out of the room, she wondered where her friends were and why she couldn't see them in the crowd.
She walked outside into the courtyard and watched from the back of the crowd as her mom glowed a golden color before dark blue took over as the moon rose up from the sky. Leanna felt her hands glow slightly as the stars appeared in the sky and the colors of the other suns changed colors. The crowd looked up in silent amazement as the moon covered the center sun. Leanna watched as photographers snapped as many pictures as they could before the suns lowered to the ground and the moon was overcome by a lunar eclipse.
Leanna walked up to the center of the courtyard and glowed slightly before she opened her eyes and watched as the stars formed auras and shaped to form figures and dances, she lowered her hands slightly as the stars returned to their original form and the moon reappeared in the night sky.
Leanna sighed as she rested her elbows on her balcony, she looked up at the moon, the moon was surrounded with stars and constellations, she closed her eyes and slouched her posture a little, her mind was fogging with everything, the fact that the royals had looked on at her and her mother in disdain and disgust and the fact that she knew in her heart that some of the people on Solaria still thought she was this carbon copy of her mom.
Leanna had no idea how many times she would have to prove them wrong for them to believe that she was her own person, her values and morals were not her mother's. Her thoughts also wondered to the way her mother had been acting over the past week, while she did give them lessons and were helping them become stronger, there were more guards at the palace as if she was anticipating that something was going to happen.
