Taiana woke up to the sun shining on her face. She sat up and smiled. It had been a week since she and the other Neo Scouts had defeated Queen Beryl. The repairs on the planet were pretty much through and she was supposed to meet Sean today. Life was good.
She went downstairs expecting to be greeted with the children's hellos, but instead everyone, including Jessie, was quiet.
"What's going on?" Taiana asked Laura, who didn't look happy either.
"The Queen of Venus wants to see you," Laura informed.
"What?"
"Her Majesty's royal escort will be here at 9:00," Laura said, "You better go upstairs and get ready."
Taiana did as she was told. As she changed into her nicest dress and fixed her hair, a million questions were racing through her head. What did the Queen of Venus want? Was she angry with Taiana? Taiana dismissed the last question. Why would the Queen be mad at her? She had saved the planet. Taiana left her room and went downstairs, still pondering what the Queen could possibly want with her.
The Queen's escort arrived shortly before 9:00. They led Taiana to a huge white limo. Maybe this won't be so bad after all, she thought. She waved goodbye to the children and Laura as the limo sped away.
The ride to the Queen's Palace was a quiet one. After they had first left the orphanage, Taiana had asked the escorts if they knew why the Queen wanted to see her. They said they didn't know. No one said anything after that.
At the palace, Taiana was led into the main hall and then to an open door.
"Please wait here," one of the escorts told Taiana. The two escorts entered the open doorway and disappeared into the room. A few seconds later, she heard voices drifting out of the room and into the giant hallway. Taiana wanted to peak into the room to see what was going on, but didn't for fear someone would think she was eavesdropping. She continued to listen to the voices.
A few minutes later, the escorts came back. "The Queen wishes to see you now." Taiana followed the escorts into the throne room.
This throne room was nothing like the throne room of Queen Chrysoberyl. Her throne room had been dark and foreboding. This throne room was the exact opposite. Sunlight streamed in from an overhead skylight and the room was decorated in bright colors. Taiana turned her head from side to side as she walked forward, taking in the scene around her.
"Taiana." At the sound of her name, Taiana looked up at the Queen. At first she didn't recognize her, but as she stared, she realized who she was, even without her cloak.
"Y...your Majesty," Taiana started, then couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Before you say anything, I must tell you what I brought you here to tell you," Queen Marina said. She took a deep breath. "Taiana, I am your mother."
"What?" Taiana asked, shocked.
"I know you must have a million questions," Queen Marina said, "so just let me tell you the whole story. Fifteen years ago, just before you were born, the Negaverse threatened to attack the planet. I was in no condition to fight, so the Negaverse said they would make me a deal. If I gave them my first-born child, which was you, to raise as a member of the Negamoon family, they would leave Venus alone. I agreed, seeing no other option. You were born and the Negaverse came for you. The night before, I snuck out of the palace with you and took you to the orphanage. When the Negaverse came for you I told them you had died. They believed me and left. I wanted to get you back from the orphanage but I was afraid the Negaverse were find out you were alive and try to take you again. Your father and I decided to leave you at the orphanage until you were old enough to inherit the Transformation Pen. Then your little sister was born. The Negaverse came back, thinking she was my first-born, and I knew I had no choice but to give you the Pen. Judging by the outcome of the battle, I made the right choice."
Taiana was silent. She had a thousand things she wanted to say, but just couldn't think of the right words. The only thing she could say was "wow." This one word let her put her thoughts together and speak. "Does this mean I'm a Princess?"
"Yes," the Queen answered, "You are the Princess of Venus and will inherit the Kingdom someday." Taiana smiled.
"Your Majesty?" The Queen looked past Taiana to a servant standing in the doorway.
"Yes?"
"Princess Hana is awake," the servant informed.
"Good," Queen Marina said, "bring her here. I want her to meet her big sister."
"As you wish." The servant bowed, then left the throne room.
"Your father should be back by dinner," her mother told Taiana. "He went to oversee some repairs." Taiana nodded. "Would you like a tour of the palace?"
"Sure," Taiana answered. The Queen got up and walked over to Taiana.
"You have grown up so beautiful," she said. The servant entered, carrying a small child. She handed the baby to the Queen and left. "This is your sister," Queen Marina said. She handed Hana to Taiana. The baby began to coo and wrapped her small hands in Taiana's hair.
"She likes you," the Queen informed. Taiana smiled. "Come on, let's show you the palace." Queen Marina led Taiana around the whole palace, showing her every room. At dinner, she was introduced to her father, King Otosan. After dinner she was allowed to wander the palace grounds.
She was walking through a garden when she suddenly remembered Sean. She thought about asking if she could go talk to him, but she decided to wait until tomorrow. After awhile, she got tired and went up to her room. An hour later she fell asleep, thinking about all the people she wanted to tell about her amazing day.
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Taiana awakened the next morning to a knock at her bedroom door. She got up quickly and opened the door.
"Breakfast is almost ready," an old servant told her, "Your mother and father expect you at the table."
"Uh, okay," Taiana answered, not quite sure what to say. The servant left and Taiana got dressed quickly. She then hurried downstairs.
The King and Queen were already located at the table. Hana was sitting in a richly decorated high chair next to Queen Marina and King Otosan was sitting at the head of the table. There was an empty chair across from her mother and she sat in it.
"Good morning Taiana," Queen Marina said, "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Taiana answered. For the rest of the meal, Taiana's parents talked about royal business and Taiana kept silent. After the breakfast dishes were cleared away, Queen Marina turned to Taiana.
"Today, your father and I have a lot of business to take care of and there won't be much to do around here. You'd probably have more fun outside in the gardens."
The family left the table shortly after. Taiana took her mother's advice and went out to sit in the garden. After awhile she began to get bored. I never knew living in a palace could be so boring, she thought to herself. Taiana got up and paced through the garden. Once again she thought of Sean. He must think I'm such a jerk for not meeting him yesterday, she thought, I wish I could go see him, but I don't want to bother the Kind and Queen, they're too busy. Maybe I could just sneak out. Yeah! I'll sneak out the gate and be back before... Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice.
"Princess Taiana?" A servant was standing at the garden's gate, "The King and Queen would like to see you." The servant turned and left. Taiana followed quickly.
When they entered the palace, the servant stopped. "They are waiting for you in the parlor," he said and left. Taiana went to the parlor and pushed open the door slowly.
"Surprise!"
Taiana jumped and then smiled as she saw the balloons and streamers throughout the room. There was also a big sign that read "Welcome Home Taiana!" Her father and mother approached her.
"Welcome home darling," her mother said.
"This is why you sent me out to the garden?" she asked.
"Yes," her father nodded.
"We invited some of your friends," Queen Marina informed. She stepped aside to reveal all the children from the orphanage.
"The children from the orphanage!" Taiana exclaimed. Jessie ran to her and hugged the princess.
"Don't forget about us!" From the middle of the circle emerged Alayna, Blaize, Althena and Echo.
"What?" Taiana gasped, "I thought you went home."
"We did," Alayna answered, "but we wouldn't miss your welcome home party."
"Yeah," Echo agreed, "the Queen promised there would be ice cream!" Everyone laughed.
"This is so great," she said to her parents, "thank you."
"There should be one more guest arriving," her mother told her, looking a little confused. At the precise moment, a servant entered with someone following him. "Oh, there he is."
"Sean!" Taiana called and ran over to him. He gave her a hug. She turned back to her parents.
"How did you know Sean was my friend?"
"Sean is a friend of the family," Queen Marina.
"What do you mean?" Taiana questioned.
"My mother's a Sailor Scout," Sean informed.
"How can that be?"
"My mother is Sailor Pluto," Sean told her, "You see, if you live in the limbo of time, you never age. My mother wanted me to live a normal life, so she sent me to Venus because she knew the King and Queen very well. I didn't live with your parents, but they were always there incase I needed anything."
"Wow," Taiana commented, "this is awesome."
"Now that you know my life story," Sean laughed, "let's have some cake and ice cream."
"YES!" Echo squealed.
Everyone stayed for about three hours, then Laura told the orphans that it was time to go. They each gave Taiana a hug.
"Are we ever gonna see you again, Tai?" Jessie asked.
"Of course," she answered, "you can come and visit any time you want."
After the orphans left, Alayna, Blaize, Echo and Althena decided it was time for them to leave too.
"You guys have to promise to visit," Taiana told them.
"We will," Althena agreed.
"Of course we will," Echo piped up, "Venus has the best ice cream of all the planets!" Everyone groaned.
"You have to visit us too you know," Blaize said.
"I will," Taiana promised, "If you're ever in trouble, just call and I'll be there in no time."
"We may hold you to that if the Negaverse comes creeping around again," Alayna commented. The girls laughed.
"We better go before Echo sneaks our for some more ice cream," Blaize commented. Echo stuck her tongue out at her.
"Moon teleport!" Alayna called. She was surrounded in a pink light, then departed.
"Mercury Teleport!" Echo was engulfed in blue, then she vanished.
"Mars Teleport!" Blaize waved as the red glow surrounded her and took her back to Mars.
"Jupiter Teleport!" A green light swallowed Althena and she was gone. Taiana, Sean and her parents were left standing in the decorated room.
"Bye guys," she whispered.