Chapter II: The Trail and the Ceremony

LES: These first two chapters are probably the most boring chapters in this story cause I have to do all sorts of background junk. So just bear with me for now. Sorry about the long wait. I kind of slipped out of the writing mood for a while there. But I'm back. This was probably the hardest chapter I had to write cause I didn't like it at all. And because of this, I'm posting 2 chapters at the same time. Enjoy!!!


It had been almost a year since Father had informed me of who I really was. And, true to his word, he informed Torn the next day of his decision to be King and Torn gave Father a year to prepare. The past year had been spent making arrangements and stuff. The main populous of Haven City didn't know about the Royal comeback yet, only nobles and friends were allowed to know. Governess Ashelin was concerned about her position, after all she was the daughter of the late Baron Praxis, whom Father always harbored a hate for. But Father assured her that she would be one of his advisors.

"I haven't a clue how to run a City." Father told Ashelin that day she confronted him about her job. "I'm going to need all the help I can get."

I was busy with my 'Learning-How-To-Be-A-Princess' studies. There's more to being a Princess than wearing a tiara and gowns. Did you know there are exactly one thousand ways to complement a foreign ambassador without causing a war? I sure didn't!

Anyway, the preparations for our 'Official Coordination' were under way. And, as it turned out, Father had quite a talent for being King. In fact, they didn't want him to be a figurehead anymore, but to take an active role in the government. Haven City's government was about to become an 'Absolute Monarchy' and my Father would be the absolute monarch!


(A/N: 'Absolute Monarchy': When the government is solely controlled by a single person, usually a King, and they are in control of Economic, Social, and Government aspects of their Kingdom. Sorry about the History Lesson, on with the story!)


Father agreed. Becoming King seemed to make Father change for the better. I found out that my Father was an excellent ruler and a military genius!

Uncle Daxter was really happy. He was the King's best friend, which automatically made him a noble. Father also made Uncle Daxter his closest advisor. It turns out Uncle Daxter can give some pretty good advice when called for.

Father began clearing up the Palace 'mess' almost as soon as he agreed to become the absolute monarch. He started with the banishment of a large group of people. I remember their trail more than anything of that year.


(A/N: You'll find out why later in the story.)


Apparently, these people were still loyal to the old Baron, even though he was dead, and they didn't want Father on the Throne. One woman spoke for the entire group.

"You have no right to the Throne, you murdering FREAK!" The woman said. This statement surprised everyone. No one in his or her right mind would dare insult the 'soon-to-be' King. Besides, Father wasn't a freak, nor was he a murderer! "This City belongs to Praxis!"

"Praxis was no Mar." Father said. "I am, thus, I am the True Ruler." A little boy standing in the group caught my eye. He was so young… hardly older than I was.

"The only reason you have the Throne is because you murdered our beloved Baron!" the woman said.

"Beloved? Praxis wasn't 'beloved.' The Metal-Head Leader murdered Praxis. I am no murderer." The woman sniffed. "The Baron on the other hand, stood guilty of numerous War-Crimes that would make any decent person sick. The charges are not limited to the following: Murder, Fraud, lying to his subjects, fraternizing with the Metal-Head enemy, wrongful use of Eco, Conspiracy, and, the most sicking, Genetic Experimentation!"

"You are referring to the 'Dark Warrior Program', are you not?" The woman asked casually.

Father's face paled for the first time ever. "So what if I am? There is proof these 'experiments,' though most say torture, was preformed on numerous test subjects. There are several eyewitness accounts and documents. Most of those poor souls died of a horrible case of 'Eco Poisoning…"

"Except for one, I presume?" The woman said.

"Silence, prisoner, you are hereby banished to the Wasteland for life! Returning to Haven City will result in your death, do not attempt it!" Father almost walked out, but then he stopped and added the required line to any prisoner who was expected to die: "May the Precursors have mercy on you." Father turned and swept out of the courtroom, signaling the end of the trail.

The woman and her supporters were marched out of the room flanked by Guards. The small boy looked past the Guards straight at me. Time seemed to slow down as I looked into that doomed boy's eyes. Life banishment to the Wasteland was a death sentence; no one could survive long out there.


But I didn't have time to be worrying about trails and little boys that were probably already dead. The day I would become the crown Princess of Haven City was drawing nearer and nearer, and I was getting nervous. Even though I had just spent a year learning how to by Royal, I still didn't know if I could pull it off. What if I walked out in a big dress and a tiara and everyone laughed at me. Everyone seemed uptight as the day drew nearer and nearer. Father began to pace the Throne Room endlessly and everyone else was checking and double-checking that everything was all right for the day. I sincerely hoped that I didn't get sick…

The long dreaded morning I was awaked early by a servant who helped me dress in my special 'swearing-in' outfit that someone had chosen me to wear. It was white and made out of the finest cloth Haven Kingdom had to offer. Someone had found a Seal of Mar stashed away somewhere, which I wore around my neck.

When I was done, another servant came and said that they were waiting for me in the one of the many rooms of the Palace that I had not begun to name. But, I guess today it will be called the 'Waiting Room.' I made my way to the waiting room, escorted by Guards. I felt very self-conscious because of this.

I walked into the waiting room. Several people were already there, several advisors, including Uncle Daxter and Ashelin. Mother was there, looking very royal in a large white dress. Father was there; this was by far the most imposing that I had ever seen him look. He wore handcrafted armor, but also kingly clothes underneath. I believe it shows, not only Royal power, but military power as well. He was pacing again, and Uncle Daxter was trying to calm him down without success.

Finally Torn came in, he looked excited. It was ridiculous; he looked like a cartoon character in the mist of the gray-faced people of the room. "Your Majesties." Torn said, calling us by our new title. "We're ready for you."

Everyone got up and lined up in our prearranged order. First Father, then Mother, next me, then everyone else behind us. Father led the way, and I followed, butterflies were having a party in my stomach. We approached the huge double-doors; on the other side hundreds of nobles, family, friends, and a few lucky people were waiting to witness the re-birth of the reign of Mar's line.

I had a sudden urge to turn around and run away, but it was too late by now as the doors opened and we filed down the aisle. I was afraid that I would faint, thankfully I didn't. We got to the top of the Throne Room and got into our rehearsed positions.

The High Priest, an ancient man who looked like he could croak at any moment had been chosen to do the 'swearing in' of the new King. Normally, they would have just crowned the new King, but because of the sizable gap, they decided that it needed to be done.

I was glad that Father was the one in the spotlight, cause I knew I would get sick.

Father knelt before the High Priest and began to recite the rehearsed oaths. I wasn't paying any attention. The butterflies were going crazy. Oh Precursors, I hope I don't get sick in front of everyone. I thought silently.

Finally, after a full ten minutes of oaths, the High Priest declared himself satisfied. Mother and I took our places at Father's side.

A herald rang out to the hall, "May I present their Royal Highnesses, King Jak Mar, Queen Keira Mar, and the Crown Princess of Haven City, Princess Saphira Mar!"

Everyone cheered like they were at the Class One Racing Championships. I couldn't help but feel a little bit stupid, like I was put on display and everyone was pointing, saying, 'Look at the fake Princess!'

So ended my ceremony. I was now the Crown Princess of Haven City.


(Later that night)

I stood in the Throne Room, just looking around. Father and Mother stood by the window; he was looking down at the City.

"Today was quite a day, wasn't it?" Mother asked.

"You can say that again." Father said. "Talk about a change in lifestyles. I've lived though them all. Country bumpkin, pri… well… you know, homeless, rebel, noble, and now Royalty! I've gone from sleeping on a cot… if I was lucky, to sleeping on a bed that is so big you could get lost in it if you are not careful."

"What's the first thing you're going to do with your new power, Jak?" Mother asked.

Father looked down at the City streets; they were now facing the Port, fireworks exploded in the night sky in celebration of the new King. Father smiled slightly. "I'm going to get those stupid Propaganda Boards removed. It's been eight years, that shows you the mess things are. There are people who think the Baron is still alive for Precursor's sakes… or they believe that Praxis was the true ruler of this City."

"Like the people you banished awhile ago?" Mother asked quietly.

Father nodded, still watching the fireworks. There was a strange explosion, like someone shot a gun in the air. "I found some interesting documents yesterday." He said suddenly.

"What documents?" Mother asked.

"A bunch of documents concerning the 'Dark Warrior Program" Father said, both he and Mother got a strange look on their faces. "The whole reason he killed all those people and made… other people's life hell is that he wanted to protect the City. That shows rulers can do the wrong things for the right reasons. What he wanted was a warrior that was capable of fighting the Metal-Heads en-masse. Well, he got what he wanted, but it didn't turn out the way he expected. I swear, I will never do this, hurt people even for the right reasons. Tell Torn I also want all information concerning the 'Dark Warrior Program' including that Machine destroyed…"

LES: That's the end of the flash-back. Sort of, follow me into the future…