Star's POV:
It was raining with a bit of thundering in the distance. Just as I was about to walk past an alleyway, I saw a bruised-up 7-year-old girl in casual clothing with sky blue hair in an alleyway. She looked as to be unconscious. 'Who did this to her?' I thought as I approached her to get a better look. Then suddenly, the earth started to rumble and cracked beneath my feet.
I woke up with a start as all of Astral world shook and rumbled. 'Just what is happening?' I thought as I tried to make my way out of bed when the force of that shake threw me down to the floor. All around the room, vases were cracking, mirrors were breaking and shards flew to the floor, everything shook as I tried to stand. Finally, after what seemed like 10 minutes of the world-shaking, it stopped.
I sat on the floor for a minute thinking about the event that just happened. What was that? Was it an earthquake? It was probably just an earthquake. I got up from the floor as someone was knocking on the door.
"Come in," I said as I walked towards the door.
"Good morning Star," the queen said as she floated in.
"Good morning to you to your highness"
"No need to be so formal all the time. Just call me by my name," she said with a smile "After all, you're the Barian princess."
I floated to the sofa and sat down as she sat next to me "I was a Barian princess," I said looking down "But that all changed when Don Thousand killed my parents and enslaved the people of my world."
"You are wrong." the queen said as I looked up at her in confusion "You are the Barian princess. Whether he took over or not, you are still the princess of the Barian World."
The queen puts her hand on my shoulder and smiles "You should be proud of yourself for escaping his control."
"Yes, but I can't help but wonder would my parents be disappointed that I couldn't do anything to help my citizens? Would they blame me for escaping? For not fighting to gain control?" I said in a sad tone of voice as I looked out the window.
"Star, look at me," the queen said in a gentle tone of voice while I turned to look at her "Your parents would be very proud of what you did. You are a lot stronger than you think you are and I can prove it."
"You defied his orders and jumped off a cliff to take control of your life. If that's not determination then I don't know what is."
"Still, I can't help but think that my parents will be disappointed in me that I left."
"I know for a fact that your parents are proud of you. Every parent wants the best for their child and wants them to be happy. You were miserable in that palace. You were living in fear of him." The queen said with a smile "Your parents wouldn't blame you for escaping that place. They wanted you to be happy. They want you to take control of your own life and find your own happiness, where ever it may be."
"Yes but-"
"No buts. Your parents are proud of you." She said in a serious voice while looking at me straight in the eye.
"Thank you, Enna!" I said while hugging her
"No problem Star." She said while smiling
I broke the embrace "Oh, I have a question."
"What is it?"
"What happened this morning?"
"We all suspect that it was an earthquake but the level of severity was unlike any earthquake that we have experienced before on this world."
"Yes, I figured that as well."
"Which was why I went to check up on you to see if you are okay or not."
The king and queen are very kind. I can see where Astral gets his kindness from. I widen my eyes at the sudden realization!
"Did you check on Astral and Maria?" I said in a worried tone. How can I forget about him? Dread filled within me. What if he gets injured from this morning's event? What if he never wakes up again?
Enna seemed to sense my worry "Don't worry so much. My husband checked on him and Maria this morning when that happened."
Whew, that puts my mind at ease. The only question now is that is he awake? I was about to ask that question when the doors flew open and in came the king, Lily, and Crystal.
"Good morning everyone!" I said as I waved to those who just came in. I floated over to Crystal and Lilly.
"This morning's event was a shocker wasn't it Star?" Lily ask me
"Yes, the room shook so bad that I couldn't even stand," I replied
"I almost gotten injured by broken glass but luckily I moved out of the way." Crystal said
"Oh, by the way, how's Astral and Maria? Did they get injured?" I said in a worried voice
The people in the room all had smiles on their faces. I don't get what's so funny.
"What?" I ask perplexed
"Did you not tell her yet?" Eliphas said looking at Enna
"Nope, not yet." She stated
"Tell me what?"
I heard the doors opening so I turned around to see Astral walking toward me with a slight smile on his face.
... Astral?... Is he really awake? My breath hitched in my throat for a moment. I stood there frozen in place. Am I dreaming? Why...why is my heart beating so fast?
He walked up to me and slid his hand onto my cheek to brush off my tears. Tears? Why am I crying? Since when was I crying? His hand feels so warm and his eyes are so beautiful and captivating. What am I thinking?
"Hi Star." He said in such a gentle voice
I embraced him and closed my eyes. I'm so happy that he's alright! I'm so happy! He stroked my hair and although I couldn't see his face because he was hugging me, I could feel him smile.
I don't want this moment to end. He feels so warm. So...unlike the hugs that I had ever experienced before. It's similar to my parent's hugs yet oddly different.
Just like all things, it has to come to an end. He broke the embrace with a gentle smile on his face.
Enna's POV:
I smiled lovingly at my husband when I saw my son and Star hugging. I knew that Star likes Astral since the first time they met. I could see it in her eyes. I also know that my son likes her as well!
'Eliphas'
'Yes, my dear?'
'We will get them together.'
'Honey, I don't think we should meddle in our son's love life.'
'Why not?'
'These things are complicated. It's best if we don't interfere and let them do their own thing.'
'You got a point there but you will never know unless you try.'
I heard an internal sigh coming from my husband 'Did you forget what happened when my parents tried my meddle with our relationship?'
'Oh, yea. That didn't end well and we started arguing. I even started to suspect that you had another woman.'
'Yea- what? You suspected that I cheated on you?'
'haha, yup. That was a long time ago.'
A beat of silence passed through the mind link.
'Eliphas?'
'Enna, you know how much I love you right?'
'Of course, I do.'
'I wouldn't trade you for any other woman out there.'
'I know you wouldn't. It was just a passing thought that day when you acted all cold and distant toward me. Plus, it didn't help that you were spending all your time with Ashley.'
'I was nervous because I planned on proposing to you.'
'Yup, and I found that out later that day. That was the happiest day of my life besides having Astral and Crystal.'
'So, no meddling?'
'I agree. We should just let this play out on its own.'
'I knew you would see it my way, Enna.'
I smiled as I playfully rolled my eyes at him.
Crystal's POV:
My dad came to check on my brother this morning and found him awake:
Flashback to this morning:
I was in the room sleeping peacefully one moment and then the next, I find myself on the floor with broken shards of glass flying towards me! Luckily, I reacted quickly, or else I could have gotten injured.
"Wow, what an exciting way to wake up," I said sarcastically.
"What on earth is happening?" looking startled as the world shook to its wit's end. I suddenly had a realization! Is it an attack? Did the Barians forego the contract?
"What is happening." I heard a female voice say. I looked in that direction and saw Maria and Astral awake looking perplexed and confused at what was happening around them.
They really are awake! I ran up to them and hug them to the best of my ability since the world was still shaking.
"Astral! Maria!" I said in an excited tone of voice "You are both really alive!" I could not have been any happier that my brother and Maria woke up!
"Good to see you too dear sister!" He said while hugging me back with a smile gracing his face.
"You have no idea how much I missed you both," I exclaimed to both of them
"It will take more than an arrow to take me down, Crystal," Maria exclaimed proudly
"I'm just so glad that you two are alive and well," I said gratefully to them both
"Us too Crystal." My brother said with a slight smile.
Maria and I almost jumped out of our skins when the door suddenly flew opened and in came the prime minister, Gerard, and my father looking at us with surprise and concern.
"My baby girl!" Gerard exclaimed as he rushed in to hug Maria.
"Dad!" She exclaimed excitedly
"How are you? Are you hurt anywhere?" Her dad asked in a panic
"Relax dad, calm yourself. I'm all good." She said in reassurance
While Maria was talking to her father, my dad came up to Astral and put a hand on his shoulder "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" he asks with concern.
"I'm fine, father." He said with a smile "It's not a big deal."
"You always think that nothing is a big deal." My dad said with an exasperated sigh as he went in to embrace my brother.
"I'm just glad that your alright my son."
Just then, my mom came into the room and was shocked to find Astral and Maria awake. She rushed up to him and tackles him into an embrace "You're really awake!"
He smiles and said, "Yes, I'm awake mother." While patting her on the back to comfort her.
'Lulu! Guess what?'
'What is it, Crystal?'
'Astral and Maria are awake!'
A beat of silence came through the mind link
'Lilly?'
Not even a second after I said that, Lilly came rushing in and tackled Astral into a bear hug.
"Hi, Lilly."
"Don't you 'hi Lilly' me Astral. You made me worried sick about you!"
Before he could respond she quickly said "Don't you ever make me worry about you again deary" teasing him a bit to lighten up the mood.
"Ok, but no promises," He said with an amused smile
End of flashback
"So that's what happened Star," I said as I concluded the flashback. "Any questions?" I asked Star as we all sat around the table except for my parents because they had some work to do.
"No, that pretty much summed it up."
Astral's POV:
Go outside...
"Did any of you girls say something?" I asked wondering who said that
"Yea, I ask Star if-" Crystal started
"No, I mean after that."
They all looked at him "We didn't say anything else." Lilly said
Go outside quickly...
"I hear a voice telling me to go outside."
My sister looked at me with a funny expression, "Are you sure your ears don't have a problem because I don't hear a voice telling me to go outside."
"I'm positive that I heard someone said to go outside," I said with confidence
"I didn't hear anything," Maria said
Go outside before it's too late...
Too late? What does that voice mean?
"There it is again!" I said as I quickly stood up glancing around the room
Help...me... I hear a different voice say.
My eyes widened at that phrase, "Help me?" Star and I said simultaneously.
I looked at her in surprise, "You hear it too?"
She nods, "A girl's voice saying help me."
"I think we should go outside and help her," Star said floating towards the door "There is something about her voice that makes me want to help."
I nodded, "I agree." I don't know why but there is something about that voice that compels me to help.
"Are you girls in?" Star turned around to ask the rest.
They all looked at each other for a moment then said "Okay."
We all headed out of the palace in a hurry but were stopped by my parents.
"Where do you think all of you are going?" My father said blocking the way out.
"Father, we are going outside for a bit," I said quickly
So...cold...anyone...please...mother...father...
A pang of sadness hits me as I heard that girl's voice whimpers and calling out to her mother and father.
"In this rain?" my mother questioned "Plus, you got attacked the last time you went out remember?"
"Please, let us go outside. It's an emergency." Star said with a hint of sadness in her tone of voice. I'm pretty sure she heard that girl cried out to her mother and father.
"Care to explain what the emergency is by any chance?" My mother said gently
"A-" I started but then a dizzy wave took over and I clutched my head to prevent myself from collapsing. All of a sudden, images of a little girl with sky blue hair lying in an alleyway all beaten and bruised up, shown up in my head. She is unconscious and wearing casual clothes. She mutters something along the lines of 'mother and father'.
"Astral!"
"Star, what's wrong?"
What was that? Who is she?
"Astral, are you okay?" My mother asked in a concerned voice
"I'm fine, mother, I just saw something that's all," I said to reassure her
I looked at Star who was being supported by Lilly and my sister. Something tells me that she saw the same images that I saw. "Star, you saw it didn't you?"
She grimaced but nodded. This earned curious looks from my friends and parents.
"Saw what, Astral?" Maria asks
"Images of a little girl," I said quickly as I took Star's hand and flew out of the palace with my friends chasing after me.
I owe my parents an explanation when I get back but I have to save that little girl first.
"This way!" Star said as she flew past the marketplace and rounded the corner. That's peculiar, how does she know the way?
As we rounded the corner into an alley, we saw that little girl lying in the rain unconscious.
"Wake up," I said shaking her a bit but she didn't stir
"Can you hear me?" She said supporting the girl in her arms but its no use. I draped my jacket over the girl in her arms and flew back to the palace.