"Mama has been quiet lately," A sick Serenity commented as she ate her soup as she saw her father staring at his wife. "Is she okay?"
"She has been reflecting lately," Esteban turning for a momment to see his daughter. "After the incident with Ash, she can't stop thinking about your grandmother."
A few days had passed after Serinity's attempted kidnapping by Ash and Zopilote. Serenity had been improving but she still was forced to stay in bed and be watched by her parents. Her father was well-aware of her needs but her mother seemed quite off. Ever since their return, Shuriki hasn't been herself. She has become isolated because of some old past events that took her mother away from her.
Serenity's grandmother was not a subject to talk up with Shuriki. She would irk and change the subject disregarding the protests. It was clear that it was a subject Shuriki wanted to avoid the most, and her family respect that. Although, curiosity filled the mind of the young 16-year-old regarding who was her unspoken grandmother.
"If grandma comes back home, she would feel a lot better?" Serenity casually asked. Her mother's eyes lighten up for a momment. It seemed like she had some sort of hope before it vanishing as she shook her head to the idea.
"Elena already made her choice, Mija," Esteban said gently stroking his daughter's cheek. Serenity held a sneeze. "She made clear that your grandma had to pay for the consequences of her actions."
"How come she has to be locked while you get to be forgiven?" Serenity snapped. Esteban frowned in response. Shuriki turned towards them and gestured her daughter to stop. "Is it because Elena cares about her family through blood? Mama is n-"
"Serenity..." It wasn't Esteban who interrupted her but her mother. Father and daughter bit a gasp. She wasn't all caught up in her thoughts after all. "It's far more complicated than you think. Elena is not an easy person to persuade. It took her years and a little girl to be born to allow me to live and live with your papa. My mother didn't have the same luck but she accepted her fate regardless."
"But is not fair!" Serenity frowned before sneezing. Shuriki gently laid her and make sure her temperature wasn't affecting her. "Mama, you deserve to have grandma with us, with me."
"Elena had made her choice, Serenity..." She sighed. She did miss her mother but she had to force herself to bind with the decision made by the crown princess. "There is no change in that."
There is no change in that? We'll see about that, Serenity thought. Her mother kissed her forehead and make sure the room was at a perfect temperature so that the cold weather from outside could not bother Serenity. She took dinner, took a nice hot shower and changed into her nightgown.
Her parents will be getting asleep soon, and so her family will. Serenity glanced at the scepter of night under her bed and took a big breath. She'll get into trouble for releasing her grandmother and sneaking out of the palace to define her cousin's choice, but it would be worth meeting her grandmother at last.
Once her family was asleep, she called for Cruz since the other jaquins would immediately betray her and tell Elena about her plans. He took her, regardless of his doubts about Serenity's plan, to the old temple her grandmother, where she was incarcerated numerous times.
Serenity took a big breath as she aimed at the main door. Her illness made her more vulnerable to the scepter than before, so she had a limited amount of trials to free her grandmother. She concentrated at the entrance. It was time to hold her destructive spell.
"DEMOLISH" She cried concentrating in holding the power before all of her forces drained out. The spell was fading, there were cracks on the door. She had to make another attempt with the little force she had. "DEMOLISH-"
All went black all of a sudden. The scepter must have drained the majority of her energy. It would take Cruz a while to carry an unconscious princess back to the palace and lay her in bed without her parents or family noticing. She should've planned better her little plan. Now she had the evidence of her attempted crime.
"It seems like impulsiveness is a family thingy, Chatana..." An unfamiliar dried remarked. She didn't recognize the voice, so that meant her last demolish wasn't in vain after all. "This child is just like you."
"Hush, Pili, We don't even know if she is our Serenity." A female voice said. Serenity felt someone was gently lifting her. That must be her grandmother! Too bad that she was unconscious to finally meet her. "She must be really tired. We better get her back home before something happens to her."
But I am your granddaughter! Serenity mentally cried. I must wake up...
"Are yo-AGH" Serenity held tightly the winged woman after opening her arms. She didn't they were flying until now. The weasel scoffed at her reaction before getting a warning look from who it seemed to be her grandmother. "Are-Who are you?" She was strangely afraid to ask if she was her grandmother, maybe she was mistaken and made another mistake.
"Serenity..." She gasped once she turned to face her. Tears ran across Chatana's face before tightly embracing her. "Oh my lord. You are as beautiful as your mother. Look at you, now you're a grown lady."
"Are you...my grandmother?" Serenity asked trying to hold some threatening tears.
"Yes, I am." She said in a bittersweet tone once landing at Serenity's balcony. She refused to release her yet. "16 years since the last time I saw you. You weren't even born yet."
"The important part is that we finally get to meet!" Serenity beamed. "Oh just wait until mama sees you! She might be a little upset with me from-" Coughed. The cold weather was worsening her.
Chatana entered into the room and quickly laid Serenity back to bed. She closed the windows and sat next to her on her bed. Serenity laid her head against chest as her grandmother caressed her long raven hair before she sighed.
"Your mother doesn't know I'm here, and neither does Elena..." Chatana said in a surprisingly cold tone. "I wish I could see my little bird but if I stay here I might get her into trouble."
"We can convince Elena!" Serenity said embracing her grandmother. "I just met you and I want to know more about you and mama. A stupid word can't-"
"Your cousin's word is the word of the ruler of Avalor..." Both ladies gasped as she saw Serenity's parents and Princess Elena standing by the doorway. Esteban crossed his arms while Shuriki tried to avoid her mother's gaze. "Elena is the ruler of Avalor, she was clear about her choice."
"You defy my law to release this evil woman?" Elena crossed her arms as she reached for the scepter aiming it at Chatana. "We'll discuss this later. Now, let's get Chatana back to her-"
"It was my fault!" Shuriki exclaimed as she stood in between Elena and Chatana. "I was feeling awful about what happed and Serenity wanted to see me happy."
"Little bird, don't risk it. Serenity needs her mother. I'll take her place instead!" The winged sorceress said as she gently held Shurik's face.
"Prima..." Serenity sighed as she lowered Elena's scepter. "I know that Chatana caused a lot of trouble and threatened the kingdom. So my mother did but she nows lives forgiven as part of the family. I know that my mother destroyed your family in the past because of Tio Raul's mistakes, but you don't have to destroy another family because of Chatana's mistakes. Don't you always say familia comes first? As far as I understand, Abuela Chatana is also my familia."
Elena narrowed her eyes for a momment as she saw Chatana comforting Shuriki. She was willing to return to her prison to keep her granddaughter and daughter out of trouble, Elena thought. Maybe she could be reformed like Shuriki was reformed.
"Well, you are certainly right about the importance of familia..." Elena said in a softer tone. She glanced at Esteban's wife for a momment before turning to his mother-in-law. "I will allow a certain period of trial to see if Chatana proves to be worth to reform."
"So that means mama gets to stay?" Shuriki squealed in her excitement before returning to her usual formal self. Elena cracked a little smile. "I mean. So you're saying my mother has a chance to prove herself?"
"As long as she stays out of trouble." The trio of the raven-haired sorceress caught Elena and Esteban off-guard with a hug. Both chuckled in response.
Maybe this wasn't a bad choice after all.
Author's note:
Follow up to this fic. I might stay in a little hiatus as I'm focusing on school work. I'm glad I finally get this request done.
This was also requested by umi ryuzzaki, Serenity belongs to that user.
So sorry for taking so much time, I hope you like it.
