Chapter 25 - Truth in Love


They rode into Celestria together. Astonishingly, they had not encountered any hindrances whatsoever in their travels. Returning home was overall a far better experience than Mimi could have ever anticipated. Each night she could lie down with Matt - her fiancé - and feel completely safe. She'd rest her head on his chest and listen to the steady beating of his heart. He'd lightly run his fingers up and down her arm and across her stomach, leaving a fiery trail in their wake. She'd cuddle into the contours of his body and know that this was what she should be doing every night for the rest of her life. She felt so easy, so free, as if nothing could ever touch her.

But now she was back in Celestria, and old anxieties were taking hold again. She couldn't see a guard anywhere, and that just didn't feel right. Usually at this time of the early evening guards were swarming around like bees, moving to their night duties. Their absence was unnerving, and Mimi voiced her concerns as Matt helped her dismount their horse.

"Matt… I cannot see any guards. That is most unusual. I think something huge must be happening."

Matt gazed around. He looked perplexed for a moment, and then sudden comprehension dawned across his features. Smiling, he turned to a still-worried Mimi.

"It's the fifteenth!" he exclaimed. "Tonight's opening night for Midnight Dreamers. All the guards will have been hired as extra security. That's why we didn't have any difficulty coming through the gates. They're expecting people from all over the continent to show up for this production. When it comes to timing, you've got things down to a fine art."

Mimi chewed on her bottom lip as she considered this information. "The king and queen always attend the opening night performance, then the dinner party afterwards. They should be sitting in their royal booth. It would be the perfect place for all of us to sit down and talk. However, I have no idea as to how we are going to get there without being seen."

Matt's smile broadened into a confident grin. "Mi, please. I spent weeks organising this play. I know every backstage hall and chamber. I had maps upon maps to study so that I could be backstage manager and run errands for Baku and Barrett without disturbing the actors or the audience. I know just where the royal booth is. And more importantly, I know just how to get us there."

Spirits buoyed by his self-assurance, and generally intoxicated by the gleam in his eyes, Mimi took Matt's proffered hand and ran stealthily after him. They moved through alleys, parks and ever-darkening streets. Matt seemed to know where he was going, and Mimi was happy to follow. Finally they arrived in the middle of a square. The ground was paved with large sandstone blocks, and the area was surrounded on all sides by theatre supplies companies.

"Matt… where are we?" Mimi couldn't help but ask. She had never seen this place before in her life, and she didn't see how they were going to get into the theatre from here.

Matt, however, was on his hands and knees on the ground, pulling at some of the paving stones. Blowing some of his hair out of his eyes, he turned to address Mimi.

"Dramatis Courtyard. One of these sandstone pavers is false. It hides a trapdoor of sorts. If only I could find…" he broke off suddenly, smirking as he pulled up one of the stones.

Mimi swiftly moved over and gazed down at the gap he'd made in the street. There was a metal door hidden underneath the street. Matt quickly darted his hand down and released the catch. As the coppery flap swung away, a decent sized chute appeared. Ladder rungs led down into the darkness. Matt gestured for Mimi to descend. Mimi moved forward with great trepidation. She'd lowered herself in, and Matt was about to enter after her when Mimi's voice stopped him.

"Matt… how do you know that this will take us where we need to go?"

Sitting on the edge of the manhole, Matt took Mimi's face in his hands. "Trust me." He whispered. "Under the streets of the entertainment quarter is a catacomb of tunnels leading from one theatre to another and then out to all of their suppliers. It was built so that props and sets could be moved from the manufacturer to the stage without passing through the streets. The wing that we are about to enter has been all but forgotten. They made it too small for most of the large scale productions. I only found it through an accidental wrong turn. But it will take us directly to the company, and from there I'm sure I can get us to your parents without being found by the guards."

Mimi nodded mutely, and then began climbing down the ladder. Matt followed, closing the trap door above them. As soon as he did so, candles lining the passageway flickered alight. They gave off an eerie glow, illuminating the dull brickwork. Mimi wandered along, keeping close to Matt. Even though he obviously thought it safe, there was something disconcerting about the whole scene. Puddles appeared out of nowhere and it wasn't long before Mimi's feet were soaking wet. Adjoining tunnels led off in all directions, and Mimi hoped that Matt knew were he was going. It would be so easy to get lost; to walk around in circles forever.

Luckily, they finally reached another copper door. Matt unlatched it and pulled. It swung open easily, and Mimi saw what was obviously a backstage room of a dramatic production. Costumes were strewn across every surface, blueprints and maps were unfurled on the floor and discarded props were everywhere. And there were two people standing in a corner. Two people who looked very familiar.

Tai and Sora looked quite busy to Mimi, and she was rather embarrassed to be watching. Tai had Sora pinned against the far wall, and was kissing her with great intensity. His lips fell messily across her face, and the exposed skin of her shoulders. Sora, lost in the throes of passion, seemed unable to control her hands. They were everywhere, her slim fingers playing across his skin as if she were some kind of piano virtuoso.

Mimi, not quite sure of the best course of action, felt something touch her arm. She turned to see Matt nodding towards the nearest exit. They both tiptoed out of the room, and Mimi waited until she thought that they were out of earshot to speak.

"Well… those two certainly seem to have worked through their issues, do you not think?"

Matt laughed outright, running two fingers down her spine and resting his hand in the small of her back as he guided her from hall to hall. "You might say that."

Mimi sighed pensively. "Do you think that perhaps one day they will marry? I suppose it does not really matter, so long as they are happy. I do hope they are happy. TK and Kari too. Everybody deserves to have somebody to love."

Matt, smiling at her romanticism, suddenly stopped short. When Mimi turned to face him, a dark, unreadable look had settled in his eyes. His stance was stiff, a frown forming in his features. Mimi, worried, took his hand in hers and squeezed.

"What troubles you?" she asked.

His tone was gruff and he wouldn't look directly at her when he answered. "I haven't told TK that he's Crown Prince of Altair yet. Or that our parents are… gone. I don't know how he'll take it. What if he doesn't understand? Or worse, if he won't accept it?"

Mimi wrapped her arms around him, feeling the uncertainty vibrating through his frame. She murmured consolingly into his chest. "It is a lot to understand, I must admit. Especially given the circumstances. But TK is most intelligent. More importantly, he is very insightful. He will accept it. Give him time to absorb all you tell him, and eventually he will realise the truth."

Matt was silent a few moments more, before visibly shaking off his worries. His face unclouded, and he smiled.

"You're right. And besides, there will be time for that later," he said, nodding as if to affirm his own statement. "For now, we must find your parents. We have things to discuss."

He led the way along many different halls, each full of actors practicing their lines and blocking at the last minute, or fixing their costumes between their scenes. Mimi was sure there must be a faster way, but she supposed it was safer to take the long route. Finally they reached a spiralling staircase that Mimi recognised. At the top of the steps was an enclosed booth, isolated from all others, that was the 'best seat in the house'. This was where royalty sat, and where her mother and father would be.

Taking a steadying breath, she began ascending the stairs. Though terrified, she knew Matt was by her side, and this simple fact gave her so much strength. Finally reaching the carved wooden doors, she summoned all her courage and pushed through them. Matt remained outside, intuitively realising that it would be better for Mimi to introduce him after some explanation of events.

Her parents both stood, shocked at the sudden entrance. Seeing it was Mimi, the king relaxed, a smile spreading from his lips to his eyes. Liliana, on the other hand, remained in a frenzy.

"Mimi! You have returned! How did you get here? We have had people looking for you around the clock, without any success whatsoever! Even this booth is meant to be guarded, lest you come back. How did you manage to elude them?"

Mimi, in direct contrast to the queen's hysterics, remained quite calm, and her tone was firm when she spoke. "I have returned because there are certain things that we need to discuss. I am engaged, and I will marry. You can give your blessings, or you can refuse, but I have made my choice."

The queen looked as if she had a few words to say to this, but Mimi's father cut in first. "Now, Mimi, you cannot preposition us like that without providing more information. Who is this gentleman?"

"Some peasant man? A ratty, hopeless piece of street filth that promises you the world now, but will never really provide? Some man who says he loves you, but will desert you and leave you with nothing ten years on? I will not stand for it. That is not the future of my daughter!"

Mimi was surprised by her mother's outburst. It wasn't unusual for Liliana to be overly dramatic, but Mimi had never realised that the queen could care so deeply and protest so vehemently. Especially not when the issue concerned her daughter. Mimi had to quash her shock to keep her voice level and the calm advantage on her side.

"Not quite, mother. His name is Matt. He is prince, and future king, of Altair."

Those last few words hit her parents hard. Possibly even harder than Mimi had expected. Her ever-controlled father, Pierre, went white as a ghost. Her mother, in stark contrast, flushed a deep shade of red.

"Liar!" Liliana snapped, her voice cracking like a whip. "That line is broken. The royal family of Altair was destroyed… massacred over ten years ago. What you suggest… it is not feasible."

Mimi stood her ground in the face of her mother's onslaught. She could not have expected any less. "That is what you think." She walked to the door. "Matt? I would like you to please meet the King and Queen of Celestria."

Matt entered and bowed. As he raised his gaze, Pierre gasped and muttered something under his breath that could have been either a prayer or a curse. Liliana, stubborn and cool as her daughter, showed no such weakness.

"You are Matt, then? Claimed ruler of Altair? Who are you to make such allegations?"

Matt inclined his head. "Yes, Your Majesty. I am Matt. My full name is Yamato, and my parents ruled Altair before the uprising. They were… they were killed in that revolution, but my younger brother and I escaped. Through sheer dumb luck, we continued to elude the radicals who continued searching for us, and we were assumed dead." He paused for a moment, and then added, "I may not be sure of many things, but I do know who I am."

The queen narrowed her eyes and glared at him. "I do not believe you. What evidence have you provided?"

The king placed a steadying hand on his wife's arm. "He does look remarkably like Jackson, dearest. And he has Jacqueline's eyes. "

Liliana turned her dangerous stare to him as she shook off his touch. "A doppelganger then. A smart one who has read the history books and knew to target Mimi. You remember that revolution, Pierre. I know you do. It is simply impossible that anybody, let alone a defenceless child, could have survived the sacking of the castle."

A look of great sadness passed across her face, but she gathered herself together quickly, and it was replaced with the furious look of righteous indignation. Matt, finding it hard not to feel most inferior, reached into the neck of his shirt and pulled out his pendant. Dangling on its string, it glinted as it caught the light from one of the stage spots.

"That," Mimi clarified smugly, "Is a royal birth certificate. As you should know, he could not have one unless he truly is who he claims to be."

Studying the coin intently, Liliana was still suspicious. "He could easily have stolen it. The current residents of Altair certainly seem to come exclusively from the ranks of petty criminals."

Mimi fumed, and was looking very much like she had some angry words on her mind, but fortunately Matt spoke first.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty, that you cannot believe that I am who I say. But if my pendant doesn't convince you, perhaps this will… I hope this will, because I genuinely am in love with your daughter."

He dug his hand into his pocket, and produced a small wrought silver box. Opening it, everyone in the room looked in. Nestled amongst folds of rich purple velvet were two matching rings. One was a male ring; a plain silver band engraved with an ornate Celtic design, and inset with one tiny diamond. The other was female, a slimmer band set with three large diamonds; the middle one of which was stained pink. Closer inspection showed that on the inside of the female one, the word "Altair" was engraved. On the male, there was "Celestria".

Liliana's hand flew to her throat. "How did you get those?" she demanded.

Flipping the box lid shut again, Matt replied, "The Guardians gave them to me, after I went to see them to find out my heritage."

Finally the truth seemed to sink in. The queen's knees gave way, and Pierre had to catch her before she hit the ground. Setting her down on the thick carpeted step, he sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her frail shoulders. Her head resting in her hands, the queen addressed Matt tiredly, as if the very words pained her.

"Many years ago, our good friends and fellow rulers, Jackson and Jacqueline, gave birth to their first son and heir. That was you, and they loved you more than anything. The king and queen of Altair had been our friends and unofficial allies for a very long time, and now that there was a little prince on the scene, we began talking of formalising that alliance. Our light, hopeful banter intensified when Celestria had Mimi. Pierre and I… we used to visit with your parents… they were such wonderful people…"

Her voice broke, and two tears tricked down her face. Mimi had never seen this side of Liliana before. She had always been so strong. Mimi had never stopped to think that maybe her mother was human, and thus fallible. Pierre reached over to wipe the tears away, and then continued his wife's story.

"Liliana and I… we were very close to Jackson and Jacqueline. We wanted you and Mimi to be also. While we visited with your parents, you two would play. I remember our Mimi would run after you, through the dirt and mud in her silk dresses, wishing she could do all that you could…" Pierre grew misty eyed at the memory, but quickly shook it off. "We hoped friendship would blossom, and hopefully one day, something more. You see, you were betrothed. You were to be the future of Celestria and Altair, flourishing in allied unison. But then there was the horrific revolution. The bodies of you and your brother were never found, but as much as we did not want to think that you had passed on, there seemed no other explanation. We mourned you, deciding that as testament to your memory, we would not affiance Mimi to any other prince."

Both Mimi and Matt were in shock. All this time, they had been intended. It seemed impossible. Of all the things Matt had thought he would be discussing with Mimi's parents, this had not even crossed his mind. He'd always felt safe with Mimi, as if they were meant to be together. As if there was a connection between them that ran deeper than the obvious. How could he have known exactly how right he was?

But something still didn't quite make sense. "What's the story behind the rings, then?"

Pierre smiled as he answered. "In our blind optimism, the four of us went to see the Guardians. We asked them to look into your futures, and if there was happy marriage there, to craft two wedding rings for you. It is not something that they do frequently, but there was, and still is, a widely held belief that any item made by their hands will bring the bearer good fortune. However, we made this request just before the Blind Hand's fateful mutiny. Believing you to be dead, we never sent a messenger to retrieve the rings we ordered. So much history is buried with the Guardians…"

Here the queen, pale faced but strong willed, interrupted her husband's thoughtful speech. "This is not about history. This is about the present, and the future. It is as if Yamato here is back from the dead. As is, I assume, your brother Takeru. And now it is your wish to marry our Mimi. There is so very much to organise… and more to explain. If it is your plan to restore Altair to its former glory, you will need much reinforcement. Running a town, especially one that has fallen into disrepair, is no simple task. And naturally you will have to be educated on regal customs and manners…"

As Liliana muttered to herself, Pierre clapped his hand against Matt's shoulder in a jovial, accepting sort of way. Turning to Mimi, he spoke. "What your mother is trying to say, Mimi, is that you have our blessing. He was good enough for you ten years ago, and provided he truly loves you, he is good enough for you now. It may be hard… but I think the two of you are prepared for the challenge."

Matt kissed Mimi softly on the cheek and whispered, "I truly do…"


Just one more chapter. Then I'm done. Just keep breathing.

Emma's useless facts about nothing in particular

In 1982, a high school student from Los Angeles, California unscrambled the Rubik's Cube in 22.95 seconds.