A/n- Halos everyone...another SLC fanfic! Kinda of the story before my "Prisnor of War", though I think that this will be the piece where
Andi-chan actually gets captured...this is mostly dealing with Casita, since I need to use her more, and I might just turn it into a
romance, haven't decided yet.
Title- Destruction, War and Sakura Petals.
Rating- PG-13 for now, some gore and slash theming.
Pairings (if any): Andia/Kuyo, Lena/Andia, Casita/???
Disclaimer- I do not own the characters of the Starlight Chronciles. Andia, Casita, Lena, Lord Manseti, ect...are all property of Star
Publishers, and the respectable author of the series.
Other notes- Please review! I know, I know everyone asks this, but a few seconds of your time, whether it be nice or a flame, means a
whole lot to me, more than I can say. So review! Oh, and enjoy.
* * * * * * *
Chapter One- Death by Cheery Blossoms
Silently they fell, wave after wave of sakura petals embracing the ground like fresh snow. Drowning those who stayed too long,
slicing the skin of wanders as the flower petals whirled in their own little dance. And perched upon the tallest tree, protected
from the deadly petals and watching yet another body fall, sat a single girl.
Her eyes were a deep emotionless black, her hair streaming out in golden curls behind her along with the thick white robes she
wore. Then her eyes turned to the skies, watching the lights of the Velian palace twinkle against the light of the stars. The
moons were full tonight, beautifully round and with a hint of silver and gold along their edges. Below, the harsh lights of the
city flickered in bright neon colors, skippers screeching down the roads, only a few bits of plant life lifting their branches and
leaves to the heavens. Crying out for salvation
from the pollution, from those raping poor Vela.
This girl looked back, watching her last victim fall as she let the last petal join its brothers and sisters among the bloody ground.
It was a little girl who was the last, her sky blue dress torn and stained crimson, her raven curls spread out and her green eyes
gazed over with death.
The blonde looked upon the blood mangled body, studying it as though it had come back to life, before she leapt from her tree to
the ground, sandaled feet landing beside the prone body. She bent down, her delicate fingers brushing across the lace of the dress
as she traced a small necklace around the girl's neck. A small heart pendant, gold with a matching chain.
It only took one small jerk to tear the pendant from the body. Onyx eyes studied it intently, as though she could find the secrets
of life buried within the simple designs. She flipped it open, met with a picture of the two parents of this girl- the first a tall
human gentleman, and the second a red haired, green-eyed Velian woman. That explained the girl's dark looks with her dazzling green
eyes.
She took one last look at the little girl's lifeless body, laid out against the pale pink of the sakura petals, before leaping away
into the night with a shimmer of gold in her hand.
* * * * * * *
"People being killed by cheery blossoms? Creepy!" Casita squealed, a shiver running down her back that nearly caused her books to
topple from her hands as she walked down the halls towards her locker with her dearest friends Kari and Sammy fallowing close behind.
"But those aren't even native to this area, are they?"
"Well, everyone wanted to make this area as much like Earth as it could when Vela took over the Zetain Empire. Sakura trees were
a good way to do that. And after Zeta reclaimed its empire some three hundred years ago, no one bothered to remove those trees."
Kari's voice explained simply, her very melodious considering Kari was Arianu. She stood on a six legged body of an insect with a
golden-green shell, her almost human torso and face made of the same plating. Most of it was hidden by a dark brown tunic though,
so it wasn't to bad looking at Kari. She had three human eyes, deep and gorgeous brown, while two little antennae sprouted from her
bald head.
Sammy decided it was his turn to pop in, the reddish haired human taking up an expression of deep thought and seriousness that didn't
quite fit his goofy freckled face and boyish personality. "My question is how do you control those petals in the first place? I mean,
they're flower petals after all! How can you make them kill people?"
"Magic!" Kari shouted, and the three gave a small little session of laughs. For years the years they had been friends, the three had
always been joking around about little nothings, reading up on various religions and mythologies of the universe and testing to see if
they could raise the goddesses or gods from their sleeping places. It was a fun little fantasy world for them.
But it was strongly hated by Casita's two eldest sisters.
Casita's two sisters Andia and Casimalia, who were as different as day and night, had always been very edgy when it came to prophecies
and legends, especially of their own Velian ones. Andia had practically raised Casita since the blond was five until they returned home
three years ago, and not once before had she expressed any dislike for Casita's interest in fairytales and mythology. The raven haired
elder girl actually knew quite a few good bedtime stories, some of those memories of the girl reading to Casita before bedtime having
engraved themselves into Casita's heart. Those had been hard times, their life in space, but she would give anything to have it all
back.
Casimalia on the other hand, she never really knew what the girl was like before she and Andia had returned home. As soon as those
two met, they automatically learned to keep their space from each other, and ever since Andia had become quieter and quieter. Now,
at any mention of mythology or fairytales, Andia would give a small little flinch while Casimalia would tell her to get such nonsense
out of her head. To tell her the truth, she had no idea what was going on in their heads.
"…those gazielles have a very complex religion for human-born." Casita's head snapped back to Sammy and Kari, not even noticing she
had already reached her locker, and was piling her books and datapad into her bag while her thoughts were wandering. Heaving the heavy
strap onto her shoulder, the cloth pressing painfully against her silk tunic, she began down the hall with her two friends, trying to
keep up with their conversation until she noticed a large amount of the student body was clearing a path by bowing down or kneeling to
a figure that stood by the main entrance.
"Andia!" Casita cried, dropping her bag onto the floor and running forward to wrap her arms around her elder sister, nuzzling the
silky raven hair that hid her sister's pale neck. Andia was smiling, though it looked somewhat forced, as she wrapped her arms around
Casita's waist to keep her up, considering Andia was about three inches taller than her younger sister. "Oh, I missed you, I missed
you, I missed you…"
"I missed you as well…" Andia's gentle voice, which had departed Casita's life three weeks ago when the dark haired girl had traveled
off world, was a sweet reminder of the caring in Andia's true character. The person in question often was silently and out of place,
her true emotions hid behind an icy mask. It was a trait Casita was proud to say she had not inherited, since it seemed Casimalia
had it as well. "How have you been little one?"
The nickname, one Andia had called Casita even though she was no longer so little that Andia could carry her in her arms like a babe.
Another thing that made life to wondrous. So sweet. So perfect. "The same as usual, though I missed you." Andia gave a small
chuckle, her golden eyes meeting her younger sister's sky blue as she responded. "You have established that much already."
Casita grinned; happy she had made her elder smile. There were very few who could do that, too few, and she was quite pleased to say
that she was one of those few. She loved the way those golden surfaces lit up with some unknown and almost foreign glee, the way
delicate lips formed themselves into a small, unfamiliar smile. If only there was one man, one man in the whole galaxy that could
make Andia smile like that constantly…Well, there was one, Prince Kuyo of Zeta. But due to the wars between Vela and Zeta, Andia and
Kuyo could never be as one in happiness.
"Come little one, we need to get home." Andia's voice stirred her from her thoughts as Casita let go of her sister and was settled
gently onto the ground. The young blonde rushed to pick up her bag, saying goodbye to Sammy and Kari while noticing they were the
only ones of the student body standing, though their heads were bowed in respect to Andia. The whole hall seemed all too quiet, though
they were afraid while Andia was here. Like something was not right.
And it came to Casita finally that something was indeed wrong. Andia had just returned from Zeta, trying to patch up things with the
empire there before war broke out. But she must had returned just half an hour ago, so why rush straight here to pick up Casita when
Andia would see her just an hour later? Surely Andia had to be exhausted from the flight, and from the parade of politics the raven
haired girl admitted on more than one occasion that she disliked. So why had she come?
All these questions played in her mind as she fallowed Andia out to the skipper waiting for them, barely hearing her sister thank the
driver for waiting for them as he held the door open. She stepped inside, sliding onto one of the plush cushioned seats next to Andia,
and turned to her sister for answers.
"Why bother to pick up dear sister? I mean, I am glad to see you and all, but why the trouble…has something happened?"
Andia gave a tiny sigh, impressed with her younger sister's quick mind though she did not want to give Casita the news herself. She
had hoped mother would have done the honors, or the child would at least find out by herself, but fate never seemed to like Andia very
much, and was quite a sadist when it came to playing with her. But she would tell Casita, because after all their years together,
Andia would never dare to lie to her.
"We are going to war with planet Zeta."
The young Velian child blinked once, then twice to make sure that this all was not a dream, before tapping her ear with a whispered
"Can you repeat that please?" Andia's golden eyes turned, surfaces dazzled with flames meeting a pair of icy blue ones with the
same dancing fire hidden deep within. Her expression was emotionless, but Casita had learned to read it after time. Sorrow and
regret were within those golden eyes, confirming that she had not heard wrong.
But Andia repeated herself anyway. "We are going to war with the Zetain Empire. The announcement will be made within the next
half an hour, and troops shall launch their first attack on Angelsgate within the hour."
Casita swallowed, turning her eyes and suddenly finding great interest in the floor beneath her feet. Beginning to memorize the
pattern of dark spaces and blood red designs. The red of a human soldier's spilled blood. She swallowed back the bile rising in
her throat as images of war and bloodshed hit her conscious mind in violent waves, washing over her and drowning her in sorrow.
They were going to war.
The rest of the trip continued in silence as the two sisters sat there, each trapped and tortured restlessly by their own thoughts
as the skipper came to a halt. They exited and walked up the steps to their home in a daze.
The Princesses of Vela had returned home to declare War.
* * * * * * *
Casita sat upon her mother's lap watching the announcement of war be made by Vela's present Lord, Lord Manseti of Orlando, curling
as close to Queen Kashia as she could without cutting off her mother's air supply. Casimalia sat next to them on the white plush couch,
while Andia leaned against a wall somewhere behind them, the two rivals' eyes trained on the display screen like warriors watching a
battle briefing. The only similarity they seemed to share.
The people of Vela seemed to have expected this, but that did not wipe the looks of despair off their faces as each able body, male or
female, was ordered to defend the empire at all costs. But, as Lord Manseti raised a speech about supporting the pride of their planet
and culture, the people tossed aside their despair to the false ideals of honor and cheered. Lady Manseti, a tall blond woman whom
Casita thought looked like a cow that could stand, waved down to the people, while her beautiful daughter Lena looked down at her kind
with pity burning in her eyes.
Casita turned her head, looking back as Andia's golden eyes focused on Lena. Those eyes suddenly loosened, revealing a pained soul
beneath them as her sister gazed envious at Lena…it was definitely not the position of Princess she wanted, but the girl who held it.
Same-sex relationships were no big deal in the galaxy, not like they use to be anyway. But for two people like Lena and Andia,
expected to care on their blood lines and bare children, they were forbidden. Fate indeed played a hard game for the raven haired
youth, for all those she ever loved were off limits dramatically or for the smallest of reasons.
Casita turned her eyes back to the screen, watching the Manseti family depart before the display screen went dark. There would be
meetings tonight, some that would last until morning. It was very unlikely that she was going to see any of her family today,
especially Andia and her elder brother Ouy Rien whom specialized in military matters. Plus, she would be confined to the palace for
safety reasons.
She slid from her mother's grip, watching as Andia and Casimalia led themselves out in silence- which was better than the two
arguing- to make it to the meetings. Kashia smiled with her younger daughter, a small knowing smile that was as valuable as
Andia's rare grins, patting her youngest daughter's head as though Casita was four and not fourteen. But then she two departed,
her role as Vela's true Queen never finished.
Leaving Casita alone.
The youngest Velian princess left herself through one of the side rooms, avoiding the guards to make sure she didn't get stuck
with a body guard. She made it to the room she and Andia split, taking a seat on her canopied bed and scooting over to the set of
windows on the other side. She threw them open, white curtains attacking her with the force of the wind but she batted them from
her face to look out at the gardens below.
Roses and Lilies grew in ever possible corner, the two flowers of the Velian Goddesses of Destruction and Creation. Trees called
Dogwoods, once native to earth, spread their leaves and branches to the sky, the wind stealing away their bright pink flower petals
with a gentle hiss. Casita reached out her hand, grabbing wildly until she captured three petals from an unseen tree, and opened
her hand, expecting to see the bright pink of the Dogwoods.
Instead she was confronted with an image of the palest of pinks, nearly white, and petals far too small to be those of the Dogwoods.
She looked closer, inspecting the petals as though they were some rare animal, until at last she recognized them.
Sakura petals. Cheery Blossom petals. Those that did not grow well in Vela's soil. She looked up once more, only in time to watch
a dark figure leap away.
Andi-chan actually gets captured...this is mostly dealing with Casita, since I need to use her more, and I might just turn it into a
romance, haven't decided yet.
Title- Destruction, War and Sakura Petals.
Rating- PG-13 for now, some gore and slash theming.
Pairings (if any): Andia/Kuyo, Lena/Andia, Casita/???
Disclaimer- I do not own the characters of the Starlight Chronciles. Andia, Casita, Lena, Lord Manseti, ect...are all property of Star
Publishers, and the respectable author of the series.
Other notes- Please review! I know, I know everyone asks this, but a few seconds of your time, whether it be nice or a flame, means a
whole lot to me, more than I can say. So review! Oh, and enjoy.
* * * * * * *
Chapter One- Death by Cheery Blossoms
Silently they fell, wave after wave of sakura petals embracing the ground like fresh snow. Drowning those who stayed too long,
slicing the skin of wanders as the flower petals whirled in their own little dance. And perched upon the tallest tree, protected
from the deadly petals and watching yet another body fall, sat a single girl.
Her eyes were a deep emotionless black, her hair streaming out in golden curls behind her along with the thick white robes she
wore. Then her eyes turned to the skies, watching the lights of the Velian palace twinkle against the light of the stars. The
moons were full tonight, beautifully round and with a hint of silver and gold along their edges. Below, the harsh lights of the
city flickered in bright neon colors, skippers screeching down the roads, only a few bits of plant life lifting their branches and
leaves to the heavens. Crying out for salvation
from the pollution, from those raping poor Vela.
This girl looked back, watching her last victim fall as she let the last petal join its brothers and sisters among the bloody ground.
It was a little girl who was the last, her sky blue dress torn and stained crimson, her raven curls spread out and her green eyes
gazed over with death.
The blonde looked upon the blood mangled body, studying it as though it had come back to life, before she leapt from her tree to
the ground, sandaled feet landing beside the prone body. She bent down, her delicate fingers brushing across the lace of the dress
as she traced a small necklace around the girl's neck. A small heart pendant, gold with a matching chain.
It only took one small jerk to tear the pendant from the body. Onyx eyes studied it intently, as though she could find the secrets
of life buried within the simple designs. She flipped it open, met with a picture of the two parents of this girl- the first a tall
human gentleman, and the second a red haired, green-eyed Velian woman. That explained the girl's dark looks with her dazzling green
eyes.
She took one last look at the little girl's lifeless body, laid out against the pale pink of the sakura petals, before leaping away
into the night with a shimmer of gold in her hand.
* * * * * * *
"People being killed by cheery blossoms? Creepy!" Casita squealed, a shiver running down her back that nearly caused her books to
topple from her hands as she walked down the halls towards her locker with her dearest friends Kari and Sammy fallowing close behind.
"But those aren't even native to this area, are they?"
"Well, everyone wanted to make this area as much like Earth as it could when Vela took over the Zetain Empire. Sakura trees were
a good way to do that. And after Zeta reclaimed its empire some three hundred years ago, no one bothered to remove those trees."
Kari's voice explained simply, her very melodious considering Kari was Arianu. She stood on a six legged body of an insect with a
golden-green shell, her almost human torso and face made of the same plating. Most of it was hidden by a dark brown tunic though,
so it wasn't to bad looking at Kari. She had three human eyes, deep and gorgeous brown, while two little antennae sprouted from her
bald head.
Sammy decided it was his turn to pop in, the reddish haired human taking up an expression of deep thought and seriousness that didn't
quite fit his goofy freckled face and boyish personality. "My question is how do you control those petals in the first place? I mean,
they're flower petals after all! How can you make them kill people?"
"Magic!" Kari shouted, and the three gave a small little session of laughs. For years the years they had been friends, the three had
always been joking around about little nothings, reading up on various religions and mythologies of the universe and testing to see if
they could raise the goddesses or gods from their sleeping places. It was a fun little fantasy world for them.
But it was strongly hated by Casita's two eldest sisters.
Casita's two sisters Andia and Casimalia, who were as different as day and night, had always been very edgy when it came to prophecies
and legends, especially of their own Velian ones. Andia had practically raised Casita since the blond was five until they returned home
three years ago, and not once before had she expressed any dislike for Casita's interest in fairytales and mythology. The raven haired
elder girl actually knew quite a few good bedtime stories, some of those memories of the girl reading to Casita before bedtime having
engraved themselves into Casita's heart. Those had been hard times, their life in space, but she would give anything to have it all
back.
Casimalia on the other hand, she never really knew what the girl was like before she and Andia had returned home. As soon as those
two met, they automatically learned to keep their space from each other, and ever since Andia had become quieter and quieter. Now,
at any mention of mythology or fairytales, Andia would give a small little flinch while Casimalia would tell her to get such nonsense
out of her head. To tell her the truth, she had no idea what was going on in their heads.
"…those gazielles have a very complex religion for human-born." Casita's head snapped back to Sammy and Kari, not even noticing she
had already reached her locker, and was piling her books and datapad into her bag while her thoughts were wandering. Heaving the heavy
strap onto her shoulder, the cloth pressing painfully against her silk tunic, she began down the hall with her two friends, trying to
keep up with their conversation until she noticed a large amount of the student body was clearing a path by bowing down or kneeling to
a figure that stood by the main entrance.
"Andia!" Casita cried, dropping her bag onto the floor and running forward to wrap her arms around her elder sister, nuzzling the
silky raven hair that hid her sister's pale neck. Andia was smiling, though it looked somewhat forced, as she wrapped her arms around
Casita's waist to keep her up, considering Andia was about three inches taller than her younger sister. "Oh, I missed you, I missed
you, I missed you…"
"I missed you as well…" Andia's gentle voice, which had departed Casita's life three weeks ago when the dark haired girl had traveled
off world, was a sweet reminder of the caring in Andia's true character. The person in question often was silently and out of place,
her true emotions hid behind an icy mask. It was a trait Casita was proud to say she had not inherited, since it seemed Casimalia
had it as well. "How have you been little one?"
The nickname, one Andia had called Casita even though she was no longer so little that Andia could carry her in her arms like a babe.
Another thing that made life to wondrous. So sweet. So perfect. "The same as usual, though I missed you." Andia gave a small
chuckle, her golden eyes meeting her younger sister's sky blue as she responded. "You have established that much already."
Casita grinned; happy she had made her elder smile. There were very few who could do that, too few, and she was quite pleased to say
that she was one of those few. She loved the way those golden surfaces lit up with some unknown and almost foreign glee, the way
delicate lips formed themselves into a small, unfamiliar smile. If only there was one man, one man in the whole galaxy that could
make Andia smile like that constantly…Well, there was one, Prince Kuyo of Zeta. But due to the wars between Vela and Zeta, Andia and
Kuyo could never be as one in happiness.
"Come little one, we need to get home." Andia's voice stirred her from her thoughts as Casita let go of her sister and was settled
gently onto the ground. The young blonde rushed to pick up her bag, saying goodbye to Sammy and Kari while noticing they were the
only ones of the student body standing, though their heads were bowed in respect to Andia. The whole hall seemed all too quiet, though
they were afraid while Andia was here. Like something was not right.
And it came to Casita finally that something was indeed wrong. Andia had just returned from Zeta, trying to patch up things with the
empire there before war broke out. But she must had returned just half an hour ago, so why rush straight here to pick up Casita when
Andia would see her just an hour later? Surely Andia had to be exhausted from the flight, and from the parade of politics the raven
haired girl admitted on more than one occasion that she disliked. So why had she come?
All these questions played in her mind as she fallowed Andia out to the skipper waiting for them, barely hearing her sister thank the
driver for waiting for them as he held the door open. She stepped inside, sliding onto one of the plush cushioned seats next to Andia,
and turned to her sister for answers.
"Why bother to pick up dear sister? I mean, I am glad to see you and all, but why the trouble…has something happened?"
Andia gave a tiny sigh, impressed with her younger sister's quick mind though she did not want to give Casita the news herself. She
had hoped mother would have done the honors, or the child would at least find out by herself, but fate never seemed to like Andia very
much, and was quite a sadist when it came to playing with her. But she would tell Casita, because after all their years together,
Andia would never dare to lie to her.
"We are going to war with planet Zeta."
The young Velian child blinked once, then twice to make sure that this all was not a dream, before tapping her ear with a whispered
"Can you repeat that please?" Andia's golden eyes turned, surfaces dazzled with flames meeting a pair of icy blue ones with the
same dancing fire hidden deep within. Her expression was emotionless, but Casita had learned to read it after time. Sorrow and
regret were within those golden eyes, confirming that she had not heard wrong.
But Andia repeated herself anyway. "We are going to war with the Zetain Empire. The announcement will be made within the next
half an hour, and troops shall launch their first attack on Angelsgate within the hour."
Casita swallowed, turning her eyes and suddenly finding great interest in the floor beneath her feet. Beginning to memorize the
pattern of dark spaces and blood red designs. The red of a human soldier's spilled blood. She swallowed back the bile rising in
her throat as images of war and bloodshed hit her conscious mind in violent waves, washing over her and drowning her in sorrow.
They were going to war.
The rest of the trip continued in silence as the two sisters sat there, each trapped and tortured restlessly by their own thoughts
as the skipper came to a halt. They exited and walked up the steps to their home in a daze.
The Princesses of Vela had returned home to declare War.
* * * * * * *
Casita sat upon her mother's lap watching the announcement of war be made by Vela's present Lord, Lord Manseti of Orlando, curling
as close to Queen Kashia as she could without cutting off her mother's air supply. Casimalia sat next to them on the white plush couch,
while Andia leaned against a wall somewhere behind them, the two rivals' eyes trained on the display screen like warriors watching a
battle briefing. The only similarity they seemed to share.
The people of Vela seemed to have expected this, but that did not wipe the looks of despair off their faces as each able body, male or
female, was ordered to defend the empire at all costs. But, as Lord Manseti raised a speech about supporting the pride of their planet
and culture, the people tossed aside their despair to the false ideals of honor and cheered. Lady Manseti, a tall blond woman whom
Casita thought looked like a cow that could stand, waved down to the people, while her beautiful daughter Lena looked down at her kind
with pity burning in her eyes.
Casita turned her head, looking back as Andia's golden eyes focused on Lena. Those eyes suddenly loosened, revealing a pained soul
beneath them as her sister gazed envious at Lena…it was definitely not the position of Princess she wanted, but the girl who held it.
Same-sex relationships were no big deal in the galaxy, not like they use to be anyway. But for two people like Lena and Andia,
expected to care on their blood lines and bare children, they were forbidden. Fate indeed played a hard game for the raven haired
youth, for all those she ever loved were off limits dramatically or for the smallest of reasons.
Casita turned her eyes back to the screen, watching the Manseti family depart before the display screen went dark. There would be
meetings tonight, some that would last until morning. It was very unlikely that she was going to see any of her family today,
especially Andia and her elder brother Ouy Rien whom specialized in military matters. Plus, she would be confined to the palace for
safety reasons.
She slid from her mother's grip, watching as Andia and Casimalia led themselves out in silence- which was better than the two
arguing- to make it to the meetings. Kashia smiled with her younger daughter, a small knowing smile that was as valuable as
Andia's rare grins, patting her youngest daughter's head as though Casita was four and not fourteen. But then she two departed,
her role as Vela's true Queen never finished.
Leaving Casita alone.
The youngest Velian princess left herself through one of the side rooms, avoiding the guards to make sure she didn't get stuck
with a body guard. She made it to the room she and Andia split, taking a seat on her canopied bed and scooting over to the set of
windows on the other side. She threw them open, white curtains attacking her with the force of the wind but she batted them from
her face to look out at the gardens below.
Roses and Lilies grew in ever possible corner, the two flowers of the Velian Goddesses of Destruction and Creation. Trees called
Dogwoods, once native to earth, spread their leaves and branches to the sky, the wind stealing away their bright pink flower petals
with a gentle hiss. Casita reached out her hand, grabbing wildly until she captured three petals from an unseen tree, and opened
her hand, expecting to see the bright pink of the Dogwoods.
Instead she was confronted with an image of the palest of pinks, nearly white, and petals far too small to be those of the Dogwoods.
She looked closer, inspecting the petals as though they were some rare animal, until at last she recognized them.
Sakura petals. Cheery Blossom petals. Those that did not grow well in Vela's soil. She looked up once more, only in time to watch
a dark figure leap away.