In a slightly barren field, a group of young Noursaian males rigidly stood in a single file line.
An older woman with long raven hair and green eyes repeatedly pace in front of them.
"In order to become a strong knight, you'll have to train not only your body but your mind as well." She sternly voices after she comes to a halt.
Her eyes frequently scan the faces of the entire line with a placid expression on her face.
"This will be an extremely intensive year for each one of you."
"You'll go from spineless worms to upstanding knights. Do you understand?" The raven haired woman inquisitively poses.
The solider innately senses a bit of trepidation from the young men in front of her.
"Yes ma'am!" Their voices echo in unison while their eyes remain hone in on the wooden building in front of them.
A devious smirk stretches across the the captain's face before she orders them, "Now..."
"Run 100 laps, pushups, crunches, squats, side lungs, burpees, and mountain climbers."
"Aw man," They were loudly grumbling about their intense yet grueling training menu that was chosen for today.
Their conversation only earned a thought from a nearby viewer, 'Harsh as always.'
"Oh and one more thing…make sure you stretch before and after."
"Your muscles will surely thank you for it." The female instructor dutifully advises with her back towards the group.
"Natalie," The viewer's masculine voice chimes in while the young men start to stretch their limbs.
"You've been summoned to the castle for Coronation."
"Oh my god! I totally forgot!" She shockingly exclaims once she finally realizes that the Royal Coronation is today.
"Could you tell them it will take a minute, Master Canaan?" The raven haired woman requests while she peers over to her students, who start to follow their training menu for the day.
This time it was his turn to smirk at the young woman when he informs her, "You don't have to worry. They provided an escort."
He steps off to the side to reveal a teenage girl, who then receives a cheerful greeting from the solider, "Hey there… Princess Kiera,"
"I see it's true. You really do have this glow about you." The teenager gushes at the sight of her godmother before her very own eyes.
The two exchange a brief yet loving embrace when the captain humbly downplays the young woman's comment, "Oh no that's just the sun, besides your presence is a big surprise."
"Almost four years..." The younger one out of the two dazzlingly utters.
"Are you excited about the coronation?" Natalie probes but senses that the princess demeanor immediately dampens at the mention of coronation.
"About as excited as a five year old in a candy store," Kiera desperately attempts to feign excitement for today's big event.
"Your tone doesn't match up with your statement." She instantly points out with a raise eyebrow.
The princess merely diverts her sights to the ground while she honestly admits, "I just want to get it over with. It's a pretty big ordeal but it's really a hassle."
The raven haired woman merely laughs at the child in front of her before she sincerely discloses, "I see you have your mother's stubbornness."
"One of my more redeeming qualities if I must say so myself," The younger female proudly boasts with a smile present on her face prior to their departure to the castle.
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"Sorry to call you in on such a busy day." Rick promptly apologizes to the blonde man as he guides him inside of his study.
Minato simply nods his head "no" before he merely downplays, "It's fine. I just finished up with the security detail for the coronation later on today."
"Good."
"I thought I should forewarn you that Namikaze and the Avatar may probably be present for the ceremony. But I know for sure that Namikaze will be here." The raven haired male explains as he settles in behind his desk.
"Thanks for the heads up." The young man thanks his superior with a slight bow before he overhears, "That was only one of two things that I need to discuss with you about."
"Apologies," The younger knight swiftly offered up an apology, which was cordially interrupted with, "It's okay."
"I should've made myself a bit clear in your summons."
"You're the joint that hinges my knights and the potential future knights that are to come."
"It's now time for you to lead them." His master's friend solemnly affirms while he removes his dark glasses from in front of his face.
"Wait…what?!" Minato nervously stuttered.
His mind did not process that his superior officer declared him the next Head of the Knights of the Round.
"I have chosen you to become my successor." The raven haired male finally proclaims.
He was cut off by the shock young man, "…but I need a unanimous vote for the nomination to assume that position."
"Who said you didn't receive the unanimous vote?" The bespectacled man enquiringly pops the question with a slight tilt of his head.
"The others and I have closely monitor your development and truly feel that you have yet to scratch the surface of your potential."
"We strongly feel that it will occur while you are in this position." He reveals with a smirk on his face.
"I mean, I don't know what to say?" The young knight startlingly utters since he was completely off guard.
The blonde briefly paused before he swiftly spieled, "I mean…look what I did eight years ago at the Dance of the Flowers!"
"I went on an irate rampage toward you and my teacher because of the decisions you were forced to make!"
"I don't think I'm even capable of being that truly selfless. Not to mention that other nonsensical stuff, I did over the years."
The older knight was simply coughing in order to stop the young man's expressing his doubts about becoming the Head of the Knights of Round.
His reaction was actually quite similar to his when the previous Head informed him of his successful nomination, even though he was a foreigner to their lands.
"Don't ever doubt your skills, Rick. You have proven your loyalty to this land through how you conduct yourself, regardless of when and where you are."
"Your levelheadness will be much needed especially if the Trogs ever plan to attack Noursaia."
"Honestly, there will be times where you will fall short in a decision. But it is about how you rebound that counts the most."
"You will learn all you need to know through those experiences. I know you will become a wonderful Head."
"So you really think I'm suitable?" Minato shakenly poses to him as he twiddles his thumbs in his lap.
The smirk stretches into a smile when he sincerely confesses, "If I didn't then I would have never selected and campaigned on your behalf."
'He really went through all that trouble for me.' He heavily weighs to himself.
The young knight ultimately concedes, "I'll accept the position as the new Head of the Knights."
"Oh and Rick…I know it's a bit late but there's something else that I need to ask you."
Meanwhile…
"Are all the decorations in the throne room?" Aikka posed to no one in particular while he repeatedly paced back and forth.
"Aikka, calm down!"
"You're going to etch a ditch in the ground with all this pacing." Eva was loudly shouting since she was growing weary of watching him walk back and forward.
"I just want to make sure everything's right! I mean this is Kieran's coronation after all." He explains why he was so anxious.
"Ah, I see." She says, which earns the response of, "See what?"
"You got that look on your face. What's on your mind?" The raven haired woman with crimson tips inquisitively pries.
It appeared as if he has a lot on his mind other than the coronation.
The Noursaian momentarily halts in the middle of his pacing, deeply sighs and expresses his frustration, "I was crowned Prince on my 18th birthday but I permitted him to postpone it for as long as they could allow me."
"I didn't want to defile tradition but Kieran was extremely stubborn about it."
"Then Kiera has come of age and suitors have actively and adamantly expressed their interest in her."
"Plus, the triplets are ten years old and the youngest is eight."
"I mean did we raise them to the best of our abilities?!"
"I was so selfish towards you when I told you how many kids I wanted to have and yet you obediently obliged."
"You even gave me more than I had prayed for too." Her husband conveys his fears, which only earns a chuckle from her.
"It's a little too late for doubting our parenting skills."
"Besides, your selfish desire has been my greatest gifts in this world." The woman honestly admits with a shake of her head and another chuckle from his reaction.
His facial expression eases from frustration to loving as he covers the distance that separates him from his wife.
The king gently wraps his arms around her, places a kiss on her forehead, which earns a retort, "Aw, your welcome Hun."
Later on…
The crowd eagerly filed inside of the throne room and beheld the meticulously decorated throne with ancient Noursaian artifacts and symbols.
Sheer shimmery white cloth loops and hangs from the columns in the room. Bouquets, blue and white flowers, in clear of mason jar variously dangle in different heights from the ceilings.
Also, there were potted plants against the surface of the columns. A white cloth had been rolled out toward the platform of the chairs on the throne.
They patiently wait until the sound of a trumpet announces the starts of the procession.
It starts with: Rick as Head of the Knight of the Rounds, Royal Guards and Nourasia military.
Next were King Lao and Queen Noi, princes and princesses, and King Aikka and Queen Eva.
Everyone in that group, except for Aikka and Eva, stands on their respectively sides.
Aeolus and Aiden stood in between their grandfather and their father. On the other hand, Kiera, Irene, and Molly stood in the middle of their grandmother and their mother.
The High Priest and Priestesses were the next to enter in the room as one of the women carries the crown on a pillow in her hands.
Finally, Kieran arrives at the end of the twin columns when all eyes were on him. His face remains neutral yet unreadable.
Well at least to everyone except those that knew him well. This ceremony was something he rather skips.
He assumed the designated position in the middle of his parents before he gracefully rotates around in order to face the crowd.
"Greetings to the citizens, nobles, former King and Queen, priestesses, High Priest, and finally the King and Queen of Noursaia."
"My name is Kiera and I am the eldest daughter of King Aikka and Queen Eva and third in succesion to the Royal throne."
"It is my utmost pleasure and honor to stand before you all with greetings and providing a warm welcome for such a momentous occasion."
"We will start with announcements before the coronation." Kiera politely recited her rehearsed lines for the welcome.
"She's just as classy as her mother." One of the noblewoman's whispers to her closes friends, who responds, "I was just about to say the same thing."
'Ugh, I hate speaking in front of crowds!' She inwardly gripes along with an inner roll of her eyes.
This time Rick approaches the front of the throne room, executes a bow to the king, queen, prince, and then rotates to face the crowd.
"If it appeases the king and queen, I would like to motion for two announcements that concern promotions in the military."
"Motion approved." Aikka agrees to the idea of any military promotions.
"On behalf of the military, there are two promotions that need to be announced."
"The first is Natalie Andros who will immediately assume the position of Head Squire Instructor."
"Please approach me." He airs as he patiently waits for the woman to approach him.
"Do you accept the duties and responsibilities of the Head Squire Instructor?" The raven haired man cordially asks, which earns a, "I do",
"The final announcement is that within this given year I will relinquish my title as Head of the Knights to…"
"Minato. Please approach me." The Head Knight reveals his last message that earns some gasps in disbelief and or awe.
'What?! When did this happen?' The raven haired woman appallingly considers while she openly stares at the blonde that presently stands in front of her father.
"Do you accept the duties and responsibilities of the Head of the Knights?" Rick dutifully recites the question to pass on power.
"I do." He accepts the new title and powers that comes along with it.
The raven haired male faces the King and Queen once again, bows, and cordially asserts, "Thank you for the floor, your majesties."
"Now we will commence the coronation," Aikka verbalizes once the Head Knight resumes his previous position.
"Today is a momentous occasion indeed, Princess Kiera." He remarks after he flashes a smile at his daughter before he proceeds, "Today we will witness Kieran assume the position of crowned prince."
"We recognize you as the future King of Noursaia. Your responsibilities will include the oversight of thousands of citizens under you care."
"You must remain levelheaded at all time as lives now weigh heavily in your hands. Do not forget that each decision that you make can either negatively or positively affect the lives of others."
"Both, the king and queen have deemed you eligible for the succession of the throne." The king recites his lines while he draws the queen closer to him.
The High Priest stood next to the king and broadcasts, "It is my pleasure to reveal that the Gods have selected you also for this position. The crown please,"
"I hereby declare you as the crowned Prince of Noursaia, Prince Kieran." The respected figurehead divulges as he settles the crown on the young Noursaian's head.
"Now we will have a few words from the prince."
"First, I want to thank you for attending my coronation even though you all have pretty busy lives to maintain. I also want to thank my parents because if it wasn't for them I would not be here." Prince Kieran addressed the crowd that stood in front of him.
"Uhm, I honestly tried to avoid this coronation as much as I could even after I protested to not have it on my 18th birthday. So forgive me for breaking tradition,"
"I know it took a couple of months but it was much needed. I was able to figure out what kind of king I would become with the guidance of my father."
"Now, I proudly stand before you ready to accept this huge responsibility as the crowned Prince of Noursaia."
"Let the festivities begin," He proclaims the start of the festivities.
Kiera was quite aware of the ladies in waiting anxiousness to approach her brother in order to vie for his attention.
As the music starts to play, it was as if they were in the midst of a stampede based on the way they took off toward him.
"May I have this dance?" He hears a familiar voice inquires after they gently tap him on his shoulders.
"Sure," Kieran agrees before he eventually comes face to face with none other than his twin sister in front of a crowd of women.
"What's her problem? They're freaking brother and sister!" One of the teens angrily grumbles at the sight in front of them.
"Does she want to be queen that bad?!" Another one gripped with her hands balled in a tight fist.
"Tough crowd, huh?" Kiera teasingly jokes as the siblings elegantly glide across the ballroom floor, much to the dismay of the ladies-in-waiting.
"I don't think there's an appropriate word to describe this fiasco." Her brother drearily grumbles with a small shake of his head.
"It's not that bad. You finally got to see your beloved Natalie again." She offered up words of encouragement, which was quickly met with "Ssh,"
"My lips are sealed." His sister coyly verbalizes with a wink of her right eye to seal the deal before she suddenly halts their dance.
"Now, how about you go find some suitors yourself?" The princess suggests before she bows away from her brother only to overhear, "Nope, I'll pass."
The ladies-in-waiting patiently bided their time until they noticed the princess had finally separated from her brother. It was their once in a lifetime opportunity to catch the eyes of the now crowned Prince of Noursaia
That was until a dominant feminine voice breaks through their conversation with, "Excuse me ladies, but I would like to have a dance with my son."
They rapidly face the voice only to come face to face with the woman that they currently idolize, "Omg, it's the queen!"
The prince only heaved a sigh as his mother graciously strode through the aisle that was formed by the girls and approached him.
"Always rescuing me, huh mom?" Kieran needles until he feels his cheek being pinch and her voice, "That's what a mother is for!"
"Plus, I saw the look in their eyes so I had to give you a breather."
"You're a better help than Kiera was," Her son honestly admits while he gently rubs his now slightly swollen cheek.
"Why she's your sister? I think she's doing fairly well helping you." His mother sternly defends his sister's lackadaisical actions to ward off the ever so persistent ladies-in-waiting.
He stealthily diverts his sights over to his sister, who presently was in the midst of battling off girls who were probing her for more information on her brother.
Her defiant reaction earned the comment of, "I guess you're right," from him.
"I know I'm right!"
"Now let's see if I can work my magic one more time." Eva adamantly asserts with her trademark smirk.
She purposely guides them over to a table where a woman sits off to herself when he listens as his mother kindly greet the woman, "Oh Natalie!"
Kieran inwardly tenses up the moment his mother greets her and says, "The crowned prince would like to dance with you."
"Give me a sec," She replies with a smile on her face before she was slow to stand to her feet.
"Take care of him for me," The queen remarks while she hands her son's off to the raven haired woman, who agrees, "As always your majesty."
"It's been a while hasn't it Prince Kieran." The woman cordially strikes up a conversation with the young man in front of her.
"Yeah, especially since you are used to that person's presence on a daily basis," He bitterly mentions about the woman's absence for majority of his life.
"Well majority of my training interfered with my position in the Royal Guard so I had to abdicate my post." The solider explains why she had to leave behind the family
"I see. You seem a bit happier now." The prince alleged based on how she carried herself now than how she was in the past.
A small smile was now tacked on her face from the young man's compliment, "That's because I'm the godmother of some pretty amazing children."
The song finally comes to an end as the other couples on the floor, politely separate from each other and move on to the next partner in the rotation.
"Like always, it has been a pleasure." Natalie tells him before she eventually makes her way back over to her seat.
"May I have this dance, crowned prince?" A feminine voice cordially inquiries after she taps him on the shoulder and waits for him to face her.
"Why not?" Kieran willingly concedes to the request as his eyes never left from the raven haired woman at the table.
On the other side of the ballroom,
"Look at him go mom," Kiera murmurs to her mother after she draws near her with a cup of juice in her hand.
"He really has matured in a fine young man." Eva happily asserts as she watches her son finally accept his role as crown Prince.
The young girl sips the juice with her eyes still on her brother when she firmly states, "Obviously, he still hates Morose's guts."
"It sounds more like you do. They actually look pretty nice together." Her mom honestly admits, which prompts her daughter to almost spew her drink on to the floor.
"Ah come on mom, don't jinx it! I so don't want her apart of this family." The princess adamantly protests once she catches her breath to speak.
"She might even become…la la la I don't want hear it!" She purposely suggested but was rudely cut off as the teen walks away from her mother with her ears plugged by her fingers.
'Looks like you need to mature a little bit too, Kiera.'
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"Hey mom," Kieran promptly appears in front of his mother with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Something wrong, dear?" She enquiringly poses as her maternal instinct signals to her that something was wrong with her child.
His sights nervously peer around the ballroom before his sights settle in on the woman in front of him.
"Could I petition for an audience with you?"
"If you want to talk don't have to be so formal about it." His mother informs him with her hand now on his shoulder.
"Can Natalie and Kieran join in as well?" The prince swiftly suggests two other people with the same placid expression on his face.
'Is that why he used petition?' The queen inwardly wondered based on the diction her son used toward her.
"It's your decision. I'll just follow your lead." The older woman eventually relented for the sole fact that he still has not told her what has him so bothered.
"Meet me in the usual spot in about…ten minutes." The young man reveals to his mother, who merely nods her head to show she understands.
"I wonder if there's something wrong?" She asks more to herself before she heads back to her husband's side.
Ten minutes later…
"Thank you for coming on short notice,"
"Uhm, something just popped up in my mind and I would like for your honest opinion." Kieran addresses the crowd of women, who he considers near and dear to his heart.
"Sheesh, what's got you acting like a piece of cardboard bro?" Kiera teasingly quips as she crosses her arms in front of her chest and shifts her weight to her left foot.
"It's kinda embarrassing to ask but…" He eventually speaks up but then he stops himself, which immediately catches his mother's attention.
"What is it?" Natalie curiously probes since it was rather unusual to see the prince so hesitant about whatever it is that ways on his mind.
Kieran instantly cuts his eyes away from the group of women and embarrassingly admits, "Could you tell me more about...girls?"
A brief tense silence unintentionally settles over the women before one of them astonishingly declares, "Wait…what?!"
"Since I'm crowned prince now, ladies in waiting are coming out of the blue so I just want to know more about girls?" He unexpectedly stutters with a dull blush across his tan skin.
"Oh wow!" Natalie comments with a small smile on her face when she overhears Kiera voices, "How can I put it simply for a boy?"
"You probably will never ever understand but that's why you got us." Eva surmises with a rather grave expression on her face.
"Oh…so this is where you all ran off too." A familiar masculine voice suddenly chimes in the middle of their conversation.
"Aikka," "Dad," Eva and Kiera respectively addresses the source of the voice.
Green eyes catch sight of a blonde and a raven haired males, "Minato and dad?"
"We got worried about you all when you all just up and disappeared like that." He then explained why the three men presently stood in front of the group.
A pair of crimson eyes merely narrow in on her husband when she alleges, "We were handling a delicate manner that requires a woman's touch."
"I bet it was about girls." Rick easily predicts.
It was simple because of two things: first there were three women and one man, and second whenever the prince had a problem with girls he would go to either one of the three women for advice.
'Sharp as ever, Rick/dad.' Eva and Natalie inwardly deems without so much as an outward movement to confirm his assumption to be scarily accurate.
"Rick is it alright if I go ahead and do what I asked you earlier?" Minato abruptly poses to the man off to his left.
"I think it's the perfect time." He confirms with a nod of his head as he watches the blonde slowly approaches his daughter.
The raven haired woman then faces him, notices the expression on his face, and questions, "Is there something wrong, Minato?"
He gently grabs one of her hands within his and says, "Natalie Andros…"
The young knight then squats down to one of his knees, digs inside of his tunic, produces a box, and proposes, "Would you do me the honor and become my wife?"
A gasp of excitement and awe emits from the bystanders, except for Rick, at the sight of the young man down on one knee.
Natalie rests her free hand on top of her rather large stomach and ultimately discloses, "We accept."
Congratulations were exchanged among the crowd toward the happy couple, when Eva's eyes catch sight of the expression on her son face.
'I at least thought that his childhood crush would've faded by now.' The queen inwardly considers once she senses the standoffish attitude that openly emits from her son.
Apparently, the woman sensed the same sensation.
Her green eyes slightly lingered on the young man that stood behind the crowd and had yet to congratulate them.
Once the crowd finally dissipates in order to return to the party at hand, the solider gently calls out, "Kieran,"
The young prince instantly casts his sights over to older woman, who pats an empty space on the concrete bench right next to her.
"Will you be alright?" Minato enquiringly picks his fiancée brain once she langiously eases down low enough to a have a seat on the bench.
A small smile stretches across her face while she occasionally rubs her stomach and quips, "Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm completely defenseless. Besides…"
Her green eyes then divert on to the young Nourasian off to her left and confidently remarks, "I have the future King of Nourasia to protect me if something happens."
The blonde easily reads between the lines before he bows toward Kieran and departs from the balcony.
The solider releases a deep sigh before she strikes up anothet conversation with her companion.
"So…how does it feel being Crowned Prince of Noursaia?"
The teenager physically shrugs his shoulders until he suddenly feels her gently tug on his cheek with her index finger and thumb as she irritably demands, "Use your words."
An "ouch" was emitting from the young man while gently rubbing his cheek with one of his hand all while gripping, "What was that for?!"
"And so the mute speaks, now tell me…what's wrong?" The older woman demands, which causes his eyes to divert from her face and on to the silver rails that guard them from a steep fall to their deaths.
"I like you Natalie." Kieran honestly confesses before he swiftly faces her to further admit, "I've always had a crush on you ever since I met you."
A brief silence settles between the two as the young man attempts to read the woman's facial expression only to hear her say, "I know."
"You what?!" He astonishingly posed since she seemed rather unfazed at his sudden confession that he has romantic feelings for her.
A small smile surfaces on her face again while she rubs her stomach and reveals, "It wasn't that hard actually."
"Minato and I used to joke about how you would marry me and Kiera would marry him."
"It still is a reality for me." The prince promptly speaks up as he inches closer to the woman with a hopeful glint in his eyes.
The pregnant woman then deeply sighs, briefly closes her eyes, and firmly asserts, "And that's exactly why we are having this conversation,"
"I do love you Kieran, but it's not in the manner of a romantic partner."
"If anything I thought I was more of the overbearing older sister with an annoying yet lovably little brother."
"That's what I feared." He gravely claims while "little brother" repeatedly cycles through his mind.
Her sights divert to the hallway then back on to Kieran before she softly whispers to him, "You know, Minato would totally kill me if I told you this but I feel like now is the right time to tell you."
"Tell me what?" The young man eagerly questions with the same hopeful twinkle in his eye.
This only earns an inward shake of her head that he still did not receive the message she tried to send him.
Natalie smiles at the young man again before she quietly reveals the big secret, "That we want both you and Kiera to be the godparent of our unborn child."
"Just like how Minato and you were to us?" Kieran inquires for clarification as he peers down at her round belly.
The older woman nods her head before she places an index finger over her lips and advises, "Yep, but don't tell your sister or Minato would have my head for not being able to hold water."
Her answer was in the form of a physically response, which she allows for him to slide before she poses, "Now shall we go back and enjoy the party?"
"Yeah,"
The night's festivities was filled with love, friendship, admiration and glee for not just the new Crowned Prince but the enjoyment of life.
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Author's Note:
This has been a pretty awesome experience to write about Eva in this capacity as a Queen and more shockingly a mother. I honestly think she would not believe that this was her future herself. I can finally add another fanfiction to the completed list and this one has always been pretty fairly to write. I want to thank each and every one of you that followed and reviewed and yes this is a wrap!
Thanks,
aisha12894