Mary Sue Me RENAMED Teh!1Mary Sue

AN: Forget my extended hiatus. Forget frigin NaNo. Forget /exams/, dammit. Here's the next chapter.

The story of Aurorandromedalynikaristarstra (it's Star, already!) continues!!

Star walked briskly down the corridor, her many-layered silk skirt rustling as she moved, creating a perfect dimension of beauty. She looked at the surrounding walls as she walked, not really paying attention to where she was going. The next thing she knew, she was sprawling all over the floor, knocked down by a brown-haired man.

Nealan of Queenscove looked down at the girl he had crashed into, and gasped. It was the Shang Unicorn, someone he had sighed so heartily after. Way to meet a girl.

Star looked up, and met the most gorgeous pair of green eyes she had ever seen in her life. "I'm Aurorandromedalynikaristarstra, the Shang Unicorn," she extended a hand, slightly breathless and glad that her Yamani training hid her blush, "But please call me Star."

"Star," Neal breathed, "You're beautiful." He realized what he had said, blushed, and fell silent.

Star almost giggled. "Thank you," she told him.

"You're welcome," he replied awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. He'd never been so tongue-tied with a lady.

They stood awkwardly for a few seconds, before Star remembered where she had been heading, and started walking again. All the way to the King's office she mused about Nealan of Queenscove. He was so handsome.

Stop it, girl, she told herself, you're not here to fall in love. You're here to avenge your parents.

The idea tumbled out before she could stop it, and opened a gate to her emotions. Her parents. That was the real reason she had done all this, wasn't it? Became a Shang, a black robe in magic, learnt the Yamani arts, and come to Tortall. All this, to avenge her parents.

A single tear rolled out of the corner of her eye, glistering as it traveled down her cheek to end at the corner of her mouth. She wiped it away angrily, determined not to cry. Never to cry.

She reached the King's office. Their discussion was short, the King basically thanking her and telling her to see the palace as her home until she feel the need to go elsewhere. Star thanked him, and left.

She bumped into Alanna whilst walking back to her room. Taking a liking to the older woman already, they fell into step and started talking. Alanna realized how much Star was like herself. She was like a younger sister to her.

As Alanna reached her rooms, Star bid her goodbye and continued walking, glad that she had another person she could call a friend.

)O(

The next morning, Star was out in the practice yards, doing some patterns. She practiced all her Shang moves first, followed by drills with the sword, glaive and battle-axe. After that, she worked on her dagger skills.

Neal saw her as he walked out of his rooms. She was truly beautiful, her deep mesmerizing black hair whirling around her head as her weapon became a blur, yet somehow never getting in the way.

She finally finished her exercises, and went to sit down. Grabbing a towel to wipe her sweaty forehead, she realized that she had gotten an audience. Pages, squires and knights alike surrounded her, looking at her with some degree of awe for her skills, beauty, or both.

She sighed, even though she was used to admiration. It usually bored her. Today, however, she was looking for the admiration of one particular person. She scanned the crowd and was glad when she saw Neal among them, as awed by her as everyone else.

She knew she was falling in love. She couldn't help it, as much as she wanted to. She had to let her heart free.