Now this is where things get funky...

Chapter 18

Mornings were always Kalisandra's favourite part of the day. Early mornings in particular. She loved watching the sun rise and kiss the twin moons good morning. Things seemed simpiler when the world was still half asleep. Calm and peace surrounded her planet, somthing that never seemed to exist during full daylight.

Often Kalisandra awoke just before dawn, so that she could enjoy this blissful serenity. During this time she could think through her problems and mentally prepare herself for her day and her duties.

This morning was no exception.

Kalisandra could be found sitting her favourite part of her compartments; her balcony. She was sitting on a chaise lounge covered in deep, dark navy blue velvet. She sat there staring out over the rest of the still palace and over the sleepy capital city.

There was a slight breeze, and it still cool out, since the sun hadn't yet risen. Kalisandra pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, partially obscuring her face. Her dark eyes stared out without really focusing. They betrayed that her thoughts wer not pleasant ones.

'I don't want to live this life anymore. I'm just so tired of it,' she thought darkly. 'And there is no reason for me to feel this way. It is not as though I want for anything. But somehow, still, I feel empty. There must be something better for me out there.'

At that thought Kalisandra laughed slightely and shook her head.

"What am I saying? I'm a princess, there is nothing better than this. At least not rank wise," she said, voicing her thoughts aloud.

After that Kalisandra was silent, lost deep in thought. She was so far gone she didn't even hear her maid come in to help her get ready for the day.

"Princess?" said the maid, gently shaking Kalisandra.

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I must've dozed off," Kalisandra answered after being shaken from her reverie.

"You're brother wishes to speak with you. Do you need me to pick out something to wear?" the maid continued.

"Oh yes, that would be lovely, thank you," answered Kalisandra, who ordinarily cared little for fashion and the clothing she wore and was currently focusing on the fact that her brother wanted to speak with her.

Her maid helped her to dress in a simple, yet elegant light green dress. After she was presentable, Kalisandra made her way to the council room, where she could meet with her brother.

As Kalisandra walked through the halls of the palace, she remininced about the times she had visited her father in the council room. She had been so small then, and he had slightly frightened her, but nonetheless she loved him. Her father had been an strong warrior, dignified, and always planning the next move, but he would always make time for her. She was his only daughter and he had hoped to instill in her a sense of peace that had always illuded him, and Kalisandra believed that he had. When her father was with her, he was a different man, just as he was a different man when he was with her brother. When her father was with her brother, he was strong and demanding, sometimes even harsh, trying to teach his son how to be a great leader. Kalisandra had to think long and hard in order to come up with times when she had seen her father show gentleness towards her brother, and that had been when they were younger. Her father wanted to be proud of his children and, Kalisandra liked to think, he was.

Once Kalisandra arrived at the large, gleaming doors that designated the room, the guards stepped aside and she entered to find her brother busily examing papers on his desk. He didn't even notice her come in.

"Good morning, Khivar. You sent for me?" Kalisandra asked disturbing her brother's thoughts.

Khivar looked up from his papers and smiled at his sister. Kalisandra knew she and her brother were as different as night and day. Even their looks were different.

Khivar had sandy blonde hair and striking blue eyes; a stark contrast to Kalisandra's chocolate brown hair and eyes. Khivar was fiery and tempermental, every bit the warrior prince he was; Kalisandra was quiet and thoughtful, preferring to study and examine life's interworkings.

But no matter how different they were, Kalisandra still loved her brother. He was the only family she had left.

"Kali! I didn't hear you come in. Yes, I did send you for. I hope it wasn't too much trouble, since I know you still have work to do before your departure," Khivar said, coming over and hugging his sister, before gesturing for her to sit.

"I was told you wanted to speak with me, " she said sitting down.

"Yes, I do. Now, I want to discuss once again wthe point of this trip and make sure you know all the details," he said, sitting down and looking at her as he spoke.

"Of course I understand my purpose on Antar," she responded indignatly.

"I don't doubt that, but you know how important it is."

"Yes, I'm there to observe the Antarian court, find out their plans, and report back to you. We've been over this a thousand times."

"Kali, I was just checking! And don't forget you can still do your precious research there too. I know its important to you."

"Thank you, Khivar," Kali said, looking at her hands.

"Merciful Destroyer, Kali. You'd think that I was this tyrant the way you react to me sometimes. I'm not sending you to death. I'm not evil. I'm not our father," Khivar said after a moment of tense silence.

"Don't say that. Our father wasn't that bad. Sure he was hard on you, but he was doing what thought was best, and I know your not evil. You're just trying to live up to Father's standards," she said looking up.

"Does that make me pathetic? Trying to impress a dead man?" he asked, sadness in his normally hard or joy filled eyes.

"No, it makes you normal," she answered, getting up and coming around to the other side of the desk to hug her brother.

"Thank you, Kali, for being so understanding. What would I do without you?"

"Well, you'd never get any information on Antar and you'd probably have destroy Fiary long ago just to spite Father."

"Neither of those are true. What good is a prince without a planet?"

"I'm sure we could find a use for you as a foot soldier."

"Oh, that is being cruel. That hurts, Kali, it really does."

"Stop it. You know I love you, your my big brother."

"I love you too, little sister," he said ruffling her hair.

"Hey! Watch the hair! It takes a while to get out all those tangles. Well, I should probably go finish my preperations. You will be at the launch, won't you?" Kali asked, looking at Khivar as she smoothed out her hair again.

"I'll try. I have a lot of work to do too."

"Please? It would mean a lot to me and I'm not going to see you for months."

"I'll try my best."

"Okay. I'll let you get away with that excuse this time, but next time, you owe me big," she said smiling.

"Alright. I promise. Bye Kali," Khivar said preparing to return to work.

"Bye Khivar," Kali said as she left the room.

Kali walked as fast as she could back to her compartments and when she arrived there she found a fleet of maids scurrying about, rushing to pack the rest of her belongings for her stay on Antar. Kali helped out, packing her more precious belongings herself, like the hologram of her family, smiling together at a small inimate celebration.

After the flurry of activity that lasted a couple of hours, everything was packed and the ship and she was ready to leave her home on Fiary for her stay on Antar. But now that the final moments of this portion of her life were upon her, she was suddenly filled with doubt.

'Do I really want to do this? What I am saying, research on Antar is an opportunity of a liftetime and the mission for Khivar is just a little favor. Am I ready to do this? I don't even really know this family I'm supposed to be staying with. What are they like? Have we met before. I think we might've. When I was small, at some sort of function at the palace on Antar. But is this really what I am supposed to do?' Kalisandra thought. She shook her head, shaking such negative thoughts from it and preparing for departure.

She waved farewell to the gathered citizens and bid goodbye to the staff and advisors there to see her off, disappointed that Khivar hadn't made it. Just as she was about board the ship, she heard the crowds get quieter and the trumpets sound, which meant only one thing. She turned around to see her brother there to say goodbye. She ran over to him.

"You almost missed me!" Kali said, hugging him, and then swatting him for his carelessness.

"I couldn't not say goodbye to my little sister. Bye, Kali, remember the mission, and enjoy yourself a little bit, you're far too uptight," Khivar said smiling.

"Alright, I'll try. I'll miss you Khivar. Good bye!" Kalisandra said hugging him one last time before finally boarding the ship.

And as the ramp closed up behind her, Kali knew that the world infront of her, Antar, and everyone and everything that came with it, was going to be very different from Fiary and the world she was leaving behind. But she was ready for her new beginning.

Okay...that was the first chapter of Part 2...hope you enjoyed it...if you have any questions...ask them in my review & I may or may not answer them...it depends on how cryptic I wanna be. Also, this is the longest chapter I've written so far! Go me! Sorry it took so long!

As always read & review...

Trude: turns red whoops...sorry about that...I was really being spacey & misread it...I'm sorry!! Austria's a beautiful country...I'm jealous that your from there...& oh yeah...Marcus Rogan...another very nice swimmer...the backstroke is a hard event...you can't see where your going! I'm really sorry about my mistake...so now I am going to beg for forgiveness...cause I feel really guilty...Also, sorry about the evil ending...I have a dark side...so that was it coming out...hope this one isn't as evil.

Kerith: Nope...you're a new reviewer...not that mind of course...maybe your right & maybe your wrong...keeping reading & find out...Thanks for reading...I totally agree with you on Michael Phelps...he's from Baltimore (hence the Baltimore Bullet nickname) ...which is cool...to tell the truth...I have a soft spot for swimming men...And thanks for the comment on AP Physics....yes that test was awful...cruel testing people...hope you did good on it too

neonarniagaurdian39: Thanks for the review & btw you have reviewed before...for chapter 3...I didn't know about the canon story topic of Alex having a sister Anna who died...interesting...Oh & I have heard Guster's Either Way...I like that one too...& maybe a U2 dedication is in the works...I do have their greatest hits CD lying around here somewhere...but anyways...keep reading & keep reviewing.

Biged: Thanks for the review & I'm glad to know you like it...It's very nice to recieve compliments...keep reading & welcome to the story.

Atwood: Not sure if your gonna read this or not, but I'm thanking you anyways...thanks for the review even though you're not really a Roswell fan...you didn't have to & I appreciate the action.

IrishKellyCanada: I figured it was something like your heritage that inspired it & I hope this update satisfies you, even if it was a long time in coming! Harassment is okay...it keeps me focused otherwise...oh look, butterflies...what was I saying?

Now that I have given proper recognition to my reviewers...all I can say is keep reading...& may the force be with you...till next time...I'm off to catch a kangaroo...which is gonna be hard, cause they live on another continent...oh well.

Gifted Empress

P.S. This chapter is brought to you with help from Taking Back Sunday...a good New York band...thanks to them. (I reccommend "Great Romances of the 20th Century).