The Dancer Prince
Chapter 1
Written by Ambassador Yrishna Wolf
A single flag amongst seven, the flag was one of the closest to the middle. In the artificial wind created for the flags, the flag swept triumphantly, swaying from side to side. Surrounding the flagpoles of all the flags was the emblem of the Intergalactic Alliance of Powers. The emblem was embroaded in golden latinum, surrounded by stones brought specifically for the tasks from Japan. It had taken the strength of the Federation to make sure it was stones from Japan that were placed around the emblem, and this had symbolic strength. The Federation was one of the charter members of the Intergalactic Alliance of Powers, it also was one of the tying bonds. For a long while, the other was also one which was represented by the flag that swayed from side to side. Yellows and blues seem to dance between one another, and the colors were perhaps only slight representatives of the Segan Monarchy. The blue stood for the royal family, and the yellow stood for the people. The Segan Monarchy was in trouble, but had one looked at the flag, one could'nt know. The flag swayed so well, and seemed so at home on the flagpoles of the members of the Intergalactic Alliance of Powers, it couldn't be known that flag seemed almost destined to burn in a massive hellish fire.
The cape of one lone observer followed the movement of the flag, as it was easily carried by the small wind funnels created by the station's air conditioning. The black velvet cape couldn't be calmed as it followed the flag's movement almost like an unseen shadow. The lone observer watched the flag silently, meditating upon the flag and centering all the focus it had on the flag. The observer was no stranger to the flag, and indeed the station. As people past the observer some gave it a quick glance and moved on, others bowed to it, and yet others didn't even notice. There was little middle ground in the reactions of the people to the observer, the observer wasn't as controversial as some of its counterparts, but it had done its job over the year, and it doubted it would be called to do the job again. It had seen its counterpart get voted out of office, it knew it was soon its time. As it glanced past the flag for a moment, it noticed its assistant coming towards it at a quickened pace. The news keeps getting worse and worse, it sighed, dropping its meditation upon the flag as it stared at the incoming assistant.
"Someone told me I would find you here, " Ambassador Andreus, the attache to the provincial government announced, "The government's just announced the military withdrawal from the Salavrus sector, some 20,000 marines were evacuated by 2 battleships, they say."
"The Salavrus sector? That's getting to be pretty deep into Provincial government owned space," The observer glanced over, "There is more for you to be disturbing me from my meditation?"
"Yes Ambassador," The Ambassador pulled out a padd from his tight uniform, staring at that file, "There is a priority message for you from Maitre Wolf, he says that's he's arrived at the Palace and thanks us for a job well done."
"That's good," The Ambassador replied idly, she had little interest in the news, "It's a wonder how we got him past customs without a problem here, Starbase Tranquility's security has been very tight since the beginning."
"Agreed Ambassador," Andreus placed the padd back into his uniform's pocket, looking at the Ambassador, "Do you think the Monarchy will be able to fight back the Segan Popular Union?"
"The question is as good as any, Ambassador Andreus," The Ambassador stared back at the flag, observing its movement, which was everlasting, "Only time can answer that question for you."
"And the Prince?" Andreus was young, and perhaps almost too pure for his own good. He worked in politics, foreign policy to be exact where lying and deceit was a daily part of his game, but he could lie none, and yet, he had risen to fill one of the most prestigious positions in the provincial government, even if it was crumbling.
"He dances," She knew she wasn't joking about it either, the young,former darling of SPNN was known for his dancing abilities, and for his abilities to charm a crowd. She knew his being thrust into the role as the Dauphin crown prince wasn't good, it was an opening for ambitious people to take ambitious steps against the Crown. Loosing 15,000 ships didn't help any, and the Prince was no doubt unprepared for the position. She also knew, he didn't want it, "Maitre Wolf will assist him, now that he is there."
"Aye," Ambassador Andreus now stared at the flag as well, there they stood together Ambassador Yrishna Wolf and Ambassador Andreus Pormalov, both wondering the future of their nation.
Meanwhile, almost 150,000 light years away, past the end of the Milky Way Galaxy, through several transwarp rifts, through wormholes, through nebulas, events were developing at a brisk pace. On a green and blue planet, of oceans and green pastures, named Chinon stood the seat of the Segan Government. With the Segan Monarchy's flag hoisted at the top of the Chinon palace, it was clear this planet was still under Segan Monarchy control. The question in many a people's mind was for how long, in one of the manicured gardens of the palace, stood a young boy resting. On his lap sat the crown of the Dauphin, a crown of silver and diamonds which reflected off the Chinon star. He sighed, as his hair seemed to flow from his head, only an effect of the wind which blew back. He was a happy child, turned unhappy by confrontation, which he knew not how to diffuse. It was easier just being the heir to the throne, but now he had to assert whatever power he had, or face becoming the shame of a dinasty. That dinasty was a powerful one which had lasted millenium, upon millenium. Why did it have to turn problematic on the eve of his "supposed ascendance to the throne." As he continued to ponder the questions, the sound a unicorn trotting towards the Dauphin could be heard on the white stone paths. The Dauphin looked up, seeing the cape that dangled around the man, he knew who it was instantly. The Dauphin stared back at the blades of grass that were swept back and forth by the wind. The unicorn pushed the Dauphin to the ground under a hail of laughter, Maitre Wolf smiled as he got off the unicorn.
"I am glad someone can find time for laughter," Maitre Wolf smiled, as he joined the Dauphin on the ground, "You seemed to be in pretty deep thought just a moment ago."
"Hmmhmm," The Dauphin glanced over, "I was, I was wondering about the future of the Monarchy. You know, I've never thought about its future, Grandpa and Dad were always around to take care of those things."
"I know," Maitre Wolf glanced, "But, you're here now. And you have all the inner-skills that your father, and your grandfather both had. You'll do fine, I'm certain of it."
"You think so?" He stared at the trees, and spied the Segan flag seemingly hugging the flagpole, "I'm not so sure."
"The Segan Monarchy as we know it as existed for 10 milliniums, "Maitre Wolf watched the Dauphin, "It wasn't all honky dorey the whole ten-thousand years, and you know that, your majesty."
"Only was the Depression of 2360..." Youri was kidding himself, but he wanted to hear some uplifting words out of the old general.
"I'm serious, your majesty," Maitre Wolf was serious, and would not budge a smile as he listed off the misfortunes of the Monarchy, "The assassination of your grandfather, the entire conquest of this universe weren't all good for the Monarchy. Not to mention that one time when the Carnians invaded us..."
"I... I understand," Youri stood up, grabbing his crown, "What's been going on?"
"Nothing so far, your majesty," Maitre Wolf, "The evacuation was succesful, with 200 casualties, however."
"That's 200 too many, Maitre, " Youri sighed, "Maitre, we've got to turn this war around... and I don't know how to do that with the number of ships we have and the crews we have. They're all fresh out of the damn academy."
"We'll figure out a way, "Maitre Wolf, "We've already got our allies searching for those ships... I'm certain they'll find them... We just have to hold it off long enough."
"I had a question, that was on my mind, Maitre," Youri glanced over to Wolf, "Ever since the bonding didn't work with my father... He seemed distant... was he really, with that human?"
"I think he was, "Maitre Wolf replied, "Whether he is now, isn't the question."
"Hmmm... And how come you are here? I know my father wouldn't have--
"He knew what was going to happen, I think, " Maitre Wolf interdicted, "That's all I know."
"Then, I wonder if he knows the future of our Monarchy."
"That, I think no one knows.... maybe you, for you are the Dauphin, the future of a Monarchy, the future of us."
"We better get going," The Dauphin smiled, "Grandma will kill me if I don't get something to eat."
"Right!" Maitre Wolf smiled, the Dauphin still danced, maybe there would be good out of this.
