I walk down the pathway to the giant crystal doors leading into the palace. Standing right inside the palace doors is my oldest friend Malcolm. He smiles at me, his blonde hair long and wavy. I smile at him and he bows low saying, "Princess, I'm glad you have returned."
I smile and say, "It is nice to be back, Malcolm. How is your father?"
"He is good Princess, he is still saddened that you will not bring him along to watch over you," Malcolm says as he stands up.
"He is the captain of my guard and as such should stay here with my mother. On Earth, they would not like such things," I explain walking down the large hallway with Malcolm only a half-step behind me. We reach another large pair of crystal doors, but upon these are filigree designs in gold and silver. Guards open the doors and in front of me is the throne room. Two large, ornate thrones of alabaster, ebony, crystal, and silver and gold sit in front of a large stained glass window. The glass shines colors onto the white floor creating a mirror pattern of the window.
"Princess!" People shout and bow low. My mother rises from one of the thrones and crosses the gap to me. She embraces me tightly and says, "It is good to see you home Cordelia."
"It is good to be home mother," I say smiling.
"Are you all right?" She asks looking into my face. I look at her; remove my mask, and say, "I think my Ascension is starting."
"I should have known. Come we will get you to the healers. It isn't bad yet, but it will be in a while. Come my dear, we have much to catch up on," She says, wrapping her arm around me. Her white gown lightly tinted with royal blue, since blue is color of the royal family's women, flows around her like water. Her sheer scarf attached to her back and wrists rests like a cape behind us.
"Mother, I have been so happy on Earth," I say smiling.
"I thought you would be. How are your friends?" She asks me, the clicking of our high heels resounding through the large, open hallway.
"They are wonderful. Raven and I have become so close. Beast Boy is still funny and Cyborg is teaching me how to fix technical things. Starfire is still Tamaranean and Robin is my best friend. He and I are, dating as they would call it on Earth. I have also gotten a boyfriend by the name of Dick Grayson, but he is Cordelia Abernathy's boyfriend where Robin is Enchantress'. Neither of them knows about the other and the other side of me. I feel bad lying to them, but I think it's the best way to proceed. Do you not think so Mother?"
"My dear, I think if your heart tells you that is the best way to proceed then do what you will. I cannot and will not stop you," She replies smiling.
"I am glad you think so mother," I reply and grasp my head, visions splitting through my head. I double over and my mother quickly teleports us to the healers. They lay me down on the bed chanting, "Orus verci mesur forniu corplerisen mentagalsin."
"Mordin will she be all right?" I hear my mother ask worried.
"Majesty, she'll be fine. You remember your Ascension do you not?" Mordin asks her his tone peaceful and calming.
"I do and nothing like this ever happened," She replies stiffly, worry coursing through her. "She is my only child and I do not want to see her suffer. She has already suffered enough through her life, she does not need any more trauma."
"Majesty, if I may," another healer says, interrupting her conversation with the head healer. "She is half human, thus making her the only Halfling ever to go through an Ascension. Her experiences will be much different than yours or any other who goes through this. And her children will have it much different from her, if their father is human or even if their father is Zornathian. Either way, she will have to go through things no one else has ever gone through. Majesty, I am sorry to put this on you.
"Masrin," Mordin says chidingly. "Do not upset our Queen in such ways. See to it that Princess Cordelia is comfortable and record her visions. We need to see if they are the same as last year."
"Yes Mordin," Masrin says walking back to me. My mother comes and holds my hand which sends me into a full picture. I see a disturbing sight, a black wall serving as a dome and Starfire in Robin's arms. I look around to see Raven levitating in the Jump City library's giant hand sculpture. Nothing could be done to stop it now.
I scream as the visions give me the emotions of everything in them. Suddenly they vanish and I look around the room from the rose marble table they had laid me on. "Mother," I gasp.
"Yes Cordelia, I am here," she says comforting me.
"Mother it was terrible. I only used to get pictures of what would happen. Now I get their feelings as well, and events leading up to the end. I do not think I can bear this Mother," I say allowing tears to escape from my eyes.
"My dear daughter, this is only the beginning. I hate to see you go through this again and again but you must. This isn't something I can stop. But I wish I could," she says hugging me tightly. I wrap my arms around her and close my eyes trying to compose myself. "My dear, we have prepared a welcome celebration for you if you feel well enough to attend," she says slightly releasing me.
"I would love to Mother," I say sweetly. She dries my eyes and helps me from the marble slab. She walks with me to my room where she has everything set up and waiting for us to get ready together like we used to for these functions.