Chapter 2: Smeets
An Irken smeet was leaning against the cold walls of her home, gazing up at an electronic picture frame above her. Contained within the picture frame were several soundless video clips of a familiar orange-eyed Irken.
"Lily." The smeet turned her head towards the sound of her name. She met the blue eyes of another female smeet. "Mother wants to speak to us."
The first smeet carefully stood up from where she was leaning against the wall. She was about level in height with the other smeet, purple eyes meeting blue.
"Alright." Her hand was taken by the blue-eyed smeet, who lead her to a room in their home where an Irken woman was reclining in a lovely gown.
"Lily, Zoe. How did you girls do at the academy today?"
The Irken girls came closer to Ranmao, who payed attention to Lily especially.
"Lily," She said delicately, sitting up and taking the smeet's hands in her own. "Did anyone make fun of you today?"
"No, Aunt Ranmao." Lily answered, squeezing her relative's hands.
Ranmao made a small sound of relief and approval. Before she had the chance to speak, her niece took the opportunity.
"No one really bothers me anymore. Not ever since Prince Roz noticed and begun to spend time with me."
"That's wonderful, darling!" Ranmao put her arms around her niece. "Oh, your father would be so proud of you, dear." She gushed, and cupped Lily's face in her hands. "I mean it."
Lily smiled fondly at the thought of the orange-eyed Irken as Ranmao began to run her six fingers through Lily's lavender, quite unusual for an Irken, tresses.
"What did you want to speak to us about, Mother?" Zoe spoke up, almost impatiently.
"Ah, yes." Thank you for reminding me, my little smeet." Ranmao picked up her daughter, holding her close. "There's something very special that will be happening for female smeets. Something that hasn't occurred in ten thousand years."
"What's that, Mother?" Zoe asked, her blue eyes wide in wonder.
Ranmao smiled and set her daughter on her lap, cupping the smeet's face in her hands. "The Crown of Akegore, my dear. It's being taken out of storage."
"What is The Crown of Akegore, Aunt Ranmao?" Lily asked, wiggling her antennas.
Ranmao brought the other smeet up onto her lap, resulting in one child sitting on each thigh.
"When I was a little girl, my mother told me stories about ancient Irken women that had mystic powers. I thought that they were just stories, but as it turns out, they were true. Some of these women were born with gemstones embedded in their foreheads that gave them their powers, while others relied on magical items. One such item was The Crown of Akegore. For generations, The Crown had been passed onto Irken women to guard it and for the sake of cultural preservation. But a long time ago, they put The Crown away into storage after the death of its last handler."
"And you said they're bringing it out of storage, Auntie?" Lily gazed up at Ranmao.
"That's right, girls. And you smeets are going to get to participate in the competition that determines The Crown's new handler."
"So I might get to have The Crown to wear?!" Zoe cried out in excitement, standing up on her mother's lap. The blue-eyed Irken promptly lost her balance and fell into her cousin, sending them both to the floor.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself, my little smeet." Ranmao leaned down to pick up her daughter and niece. "They won't give The Crown to just anyone."
"I know that!" Zoe insisted, crossing her arms and pouting a bit. "But Mother, I really want it!"
Ranmao chuckled, turning to her daughter and explaining to her that one doesn't always get what they want while Lily hopped down and headed back out to the room with the electronic picture frame.
Lily sat cross-legged beneath the picture frame, gazing up at it as it displayed a clip of her father, happy and laughing.
"Would you be proud of me if I won The Crown, Father?" She asked hopefully of the man in the frame. "I'm going to try my very best."
This chapter is short just like the last one, but they should be longer from here on out! I would also like to say that the concept of Irken women having gems embedded in their foreheads belongs to my friend and fellow author, Irken Princess Kay. Please check out her story, "Invader Zim Saga", which takes place after this story timeline wise.
