(Disclaimer: The Twelve Kingdom Characters belong solely to Fuyumi Ono, but Mariette and the other unknown characters I am writing about belong to me. If this disclaimer is wrong, then please do not sue me.)

Angel: Idiot writer wake up.

KChanDreams: Hello this is the library...

Angel: Wake up! You have to do an update in this story right now.

KChanDreams: (awake) That's right. I haven't updated for a while now ever since my computer was invaded by a virus.

Angel: That virus was completely your fault.

KChanDreams: No it wasn't and I was able to save my files in the mean time.

Angel: Your poor flash drive.

KChanDreams: (clears throat) Well anyway, here's the update and two more shall appear and I shall speak again in the last update for the day.

Angel: You're just going to ask for reviews.

KChanDreams: I am, but I will also reveal a small surprise, so stay tune.

Chapter 20: Mariette's Choice

Mariette sat at the side of a dirtied pond within her palace and stared at her murky reflection. Mariette looked at her robes and back at her reflection. Mariette gave out a sigh.

"This really doesn't feel like me," said Mariette with a sigh.

"But you do look beautiful."

Mariette gasped in surprise causing her cat features to pop out. Mariette covered her ears and looked behind her. Behind her stood Shouryou in his royal robes smiling down at her.

"Your majesty," said Mariette in surprise. Shouryou chuckled and said, "Please call me Shouryou. We are on equal grounds now." Mariette shook her head and hugged her legs.

"I'm not at your level yet, your majesty. I haven't done anything for the kingdom yet," said Mariette. Shouryou chuckled and sat next to her.

"You sounded very mature in that remark," said Shouryou. Mariette giggled. She looked around Shouryou and asked, "Where's En-Chan?"

"Somewhere in the palace looking for me," said Shouryou cheerfully. Mariette giggled and said, "Wuya, Yuki, Usagi, Kishi, and Keiki might be doing the same thing. I did run off after the meeting."

"Why?" asked Shouryou curiously. Mariette smiled and said, "I needed to think to myself."

"About what?"

Mariette gave out a sigh and said, "How I am going to accomplish my goals and whether I am doing this for myself or for Wuya and Toshi." Shouryou looked at Mariette curiously.

"Didn't you try to become the queen for yourself?" asked Shouryou. Mariette shook her head.

"Wuya was the one who wanted to become queen. I just snuck into the mountain to see her and ended up becoming queen," said Mariette. Shouryou chuckled and said, "So you became queen by chance?" Mariette nodded.

Shouryou remembered Wuya's angered expression and said, "Your friend doesn't seem fit to be queen, so why did she even try?" Mariette looked down sadly.

"Because she wanted to make Toshi's dreams come true through her."

"Toshi? Isn't that your other friend? Where is he anyway?" asked Shouryou. Mariette felt a tear escape from her eye making Shouryou concerned.

"Toshi died a few days ago from a disease," said Mariette sadly. Shouryou was shocked by this. Shouryou looked at her sadly and said, "I'm sorry for your lost."

Mariette wiped her tear away and said, "It's OK. Toshi will be watching Wuya and I from the heavens." Shouryou nodded and asked, "So what was Toshi's dreams?"

Mariette smiled warmly and said, "His dream was to become the new king of Kei, marry me, and live to be a hundred." Shouryou chuckled and said, "Those are great goals."

Mariette nodded in agreement and said, "They were, but none of them came true." Mariette showed the necklace with the silver ring on the end to Shouryou.

"Toshi gave this to me before he died saying that he would marry me. He can't marry me now, but Wuya and I will stick together along with this ring to make up for that," said Mariette happily.

Shouryou clenched his hand and said, "So you really loved him." Mariette blinked in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Shouryou looked at Mariette in surprise and asked, "Didn't you love him?" Mariette blinked in confusion.

"I was just going to marry Toshi because he asked. Was I supposed to love him?" asked Mariette confusingly. Shouryou stifled his laugh making Mariette confused.

"What?"

"You really are dense," said Shouryou between laughs. Mariette blushed in embarrassment. Shouryou then looked up at her and said, "But that is what I like about you." Shouryou smiled at Mariette warmly. Mariette stared at Shouryou confusingly.

Shouryou stood up and looked down at Mariette.

"You're wondering if you can accomplish your goals, but I believe you can find a way. As for your second concern, whether you are doing it for yourself or for your friend and her dead brother it is for you to decide. You'll find the answers."

Mariette stared at Shouryou and then smiled brightly.

"Thank you."

Shouryou's heart skipped a beat as he looked down at Mariette's charming smile. He chuckled with a light blush against his cheek and said, "You really have changed, my little kitten." With that said, Shouryou ran off.

Mariette looked back at the murky pond. Mariette placed her hand in the pond and pushed aside the dirt creating a clear image of herself. Mariette smiled and said, "I will accomplish my goals and I will do it for the people of Kei and myself."

Mariette heard Wuya calling out to her. Mariette ran toward her voice with her tail swinging about, leaving one clear spot in the pond.

Yoko watched Mariette run pass her and smiled.

"Good luck."