~Chapter 5: The Celebration~

The palace ballroom was filled with the people of Heart and the guests of the other four kingdoms, who were Asian adults, chatting with each other and actually getting along for once. The people of Heart were dressed in every shade of blue and green, the people of Tail wore yellow, the people of Talon wore purple-pink, the people of Spine wore navy and gray, and the people of Fang wore white.

Ezra came into view at the top of the first flight of stairs, made his way down them, and stopped at the top of another flight of stairs, wearing his white preist uniform, white calf-length boots with the toes curled back, and his black priest hat. "Attention, guests and people of Heart! Attention!"

Everyone stopped talking and turned to face Ezra.

"In the joyful spirit of this celebration, i present to you Chief Benja of Heart!" Ezra said before stepping aside.

The guests and people of Hearts all applauded and cheered for Benja as he came down the first flight of stairs and stopped at the top of the second one.

"And now may i present...her royal highness...Princess Raya of Heart!" Ezra said.

Raya, with Sayaka behind her, came out into view at the top of the first flight of stairs and they both began descending them, holding their dresses up past their ankles with both hands as the guests and people of Heart applauded.

"Oh, yeah. I'm great. I can do this." Raya said nervously while walking down the stairs with Sayaka. When they made it to the bottom of the stairs, they walked over to Benja, standing by his side at the top of the other flight of stairs, letting go of their dresses and allowing them to drop to the floor.

The Asian leader of Fang, Chieftess Virana, and her 11-year old Asian daughter, Princess Namaari, made their way toward Benja, Sayaka and Raya and stopped at the stairs.

Virana had black shoulder-length hair, brown eyes, she wore pink lipstick, white long sharp finger-nails, a white long wide sleeve dress that went down to the floor, with a big collar, sharp-pointy shoulders, a long white cape that went down to the floor, white stockings and white high heel shoes, and she held a gold staff with a pale blue crystal orb on top of it.

Namaari was a mirror image of her mother. She had black shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. She wore a white long wide sleeve dress that went down to the floor, white stockings and white high heel shoes.

"Greetings, Chief Benja and Princess Raya. I am Chieftess Virana, leader of Fang. And this is my daughter, Namaari. Say hi, Namaari."

"Hi." Namaari greeted.

"It is an honor to meet you." Benja said, with a warm smile on his face.

Raya couldn't help but feel stunned. Was her father smiling? Wow. When was the last time he actually smiled? He hadn't done that since her mother was killed in that boat collision last year. To be honest, she thought he had forgotten how. Apparently not.

"This is my daughter, Raya. The Princess of Heart." Benja said.

"Hey." Raya greeted.

"And this is Sayaka, our maid." Benja said.

"Hi, how's it goin'?" Sayaka said.

"Nice to meet you all." Virana said. "I heard about your wife's tragic passing. I'm sorry. Really."

"I appreciate that. Thanks a lot." Benja said. "Anyway, i don't wanna think about that or anything else right now other than the celebration." He said before giggling. "Happy years for the people of Fang."

"Thank you so much." Virana said. "Come along, Namaari." She said before she turned around and walked off, with Namaari following her from behind.

Raya stared up at her father, completely awestruck. Did he really just say that? Did those words really come out of his mouth? Did he really just say he didn't want to think about the loss of his wife, her mother? That was all he had ever done since last year when she was taken away from him and her. He had done nothing but think about that. In fact, it had been his constant thoughts. She knew this because he always looked sad like she did every time she saw him. Well...not now. Now he was smiling, giggling, speaking to people and wishing them well. Raya hadn't seen this side of her father in over a year and she never thought she'd see it again. But she was glad he was getting back to his normal, happy, cheerful self. She wondered if this side of her father was back for good or just for this event and would disappear when it was over, being once again replaced by the broken, depressed man he'd been since the loss of her mother. She hoped with all her heart that it was the first thing and not the second one.

Ezra walked over to Benja, followed by Benja, Raya and Sayaka turning to face him.

"Well, i have to say, you've handled yourself very well since the celebration began and have been very cheery and supportive of the event. You're all dressed up...you're smiling...you're giggling...and your happy persona is terrific." Ezra said.

"You knew this celebration would lift my spirits, didn't you?" Benja asked. "You know what, you suggested that a celebration would cheer me up time and time again, but i just-"

"You didn't wanna have one, i understand, that was your choice, so-"

"Anyway, that's all in the past, so it doesn't matter." Sayaka said, cutting Ezra off. "We're having a celebration now, you're happy again, and you're gonna stay happy...right?" She said to Benja.

"Right." Benja said.

"Hahahahaha!" Sayaka and Raya laughed.

"Very nice. Congratulations to you, chief." Ezra said to Benja.

"Yeah, well...thanks for suggesting it." Benja said.

"Greetings, Chief Benja and Princess Raya of Heart." Came a female voice from behind.

Benja, Raya and Sayaka all turned to see the Asian chieftess of Tail, Chu-Hua, standing at the bottom of the stairs. She had black curly hair that went past her shoulders and stopped at her upper-back, and her eyes were brown. She wore a long yellow sleeveless-shoulderless dress that went down to the floor, and she wore yellow stockings and yellow high heel shoes.

"I am Chu-Hua, the chieftess of Tail. I must say, you and your people have done such an amazing job putting this whole celebration together for all of us."

"Thanks. But i can't take all the credit. It was Ezra's idea." Benja said.

"At least no one can accuse this family of being boring." Raya said.

"Yeah, this celebration was definitely a surprise." Sayaka said.

"Well, i think that's what makes it so beautiful. I mean, my father didn't even tell me about it until today. I guess he wanted to surprise me. Well...it worked." Raya said.

"And what's most important is that the drama is finally over." Ezra said, walking over to Raya's side.

"What drama?" Chu-Hua asked.

Ezra instantly regretted what he had just said, as he didn't mean to make Runa's death sound like a mere event of drama that Benja needed to get over. Had he struck a nerve in the chief of Heart by saying that?

"That's right." Benja said, agreeing with Ezra.

"Say what?" Ezra asked, stunned.

"I said "That's right"." Benja repeated. "We shouldn't worry about sad things during such a perfect event. Because we're all here together now. All five kingdoms of the world. I know that's what Runa would've wanted."

Sayaka smiled warmly. "You're absolutely right. The chieftess would've loved this." She said, referring to Runa. Under normal conditions, she would've addressed Runa by her name, as that was what Runa told her to keep calling her by even after she married Benja. After all, they were best friends. But this was a special event, they had guests, and she didn't want to come off as being disrespectful. Also, Runa had instructed her to address her as chieftess only around their people and during special events they'd had over the years, such as this celebration.

"Alright , uh, sorry, everybody, for the long wait. Please begin the celebration." Benja said.

The whole room of people, minus Benja, Raya, Ezra and Sayaka, cheered and applauded after hearing that, as they were finally glad the celebration was officially starting.

Chu-Hua then turned and walked off to rejoin her people.

The Asian chief of Talon, Dang-Hai, walked toward Benja, Raya and Sayaka. He had black hair in a bun, brown eyes, and his clothes and shoes were purple.

"Somebody else is coming our way." Said Benja, noticing Dang-Hai coming towards them.

"Hey." Sayaka greeted.

"Greetings, Benja and Princess Raya." Dang-Hai said. "Thank you for inviting me and my people to this celebration. I really appreciate it."

"Thank you, Dang-Hai. Thank you so much for coming to the party. I'm so glad you and the people of Talon came, it means a lot to me. And i'm happy i decided to have this celebration. It turned out perfect." Benja said.

"Well, i'm glad you decided to have this celebration too. It's been a while since all five nations have come together for something." Dang-Hai said.

"500 Years." Sayaka said.

"It's been that long?" Dang-Hai asked.

"It's been that long." Sayaka said.

"Boy, time flies, i tell ya." Dang-Hai said.

"Don't i know it. It seems like only yesterday Raya was a baby. Now she's 10 years old." Benja said.

"10 Years old. Wow. My daughter just turned 11 last week. Yet it feels like it was only yesterday when she was just a new-born. Where do the years go?" Dang-Hai said.

"I know, right? They grow up so fast." Benja said.

"That they do. That they do." Dang-Hai said.

"Is your daughter here with you today?" Sayaka asked.

"Yes, she is, she's out in the crowd with her mother." Dang-Hai answered.

"Good, then Raya and her and the other three leaders' children can sit next to each other during dinner. That way she can make some new friends." Sayaka said.

"What makes you think the other two leaders' children are here?" Raya asked.

"Oh, come on, Raya. The leader of Fang brought her daughter, the chief of Talon brought his daughter, so chances are the other two leaders brought their children too." Sayaka said.

"Well, you'd be perfectly right. The other two leaders did bring their children with them." Dang-Hai said.

"Really?" Raya asked.

"Really. And i'm willing to bet they can't wait to meet you." Dang-Hai said.

"And don't forget about the Princess of Fang." Ezra reminded.

"Her too." Dang-Hai said.

"And don't forget about the Princesses of Tail and Spine." Ezra said.

"Them too." Dang-Hai said.

"Hahahahaha!" Benja, Raya, Sayaka and Ezra laughed.

"Anyway...i'm sorry for the loss of your wife, and i wish many years of unity to all five kingdoms of Kumandra from here on out. Haza." Dang-Hai said before he turned and left to rejoin his wife and daughter and his people.

"He is so nice." Sayaka said. "I mean, it is wonderful that all five kingdoms of the world have finally come together at last after 500 years. We should have events like this more often."

"No way, you want the husband of your best friend to become poor?" Benja joked as he, Raya, Sayaka and Ezra descended the stairs.

"Ahahaha!" Sayaka, Raya and Ezra laughed as they and Benja made it to the bottom of the stairs, and as they walked through the ballroom, they admired the view of the people of all five kingdoms chatting with each other and getting along for a change.

"Look at this." Benja said.

"Yeah. It looks perfect. Oh, my Heart." Sayaka said.

"Mother would've loved to see this." Raya said.

"Well, i'm sure she's just as happy to see it in Tian as she would be if she were still here with us." Sayaka said. Tian was one of the oldest Asian terms for Heaven.

The chief of Spine Eitaro Fuugo, walked up to Benja, Raya, Sayaka and Ezra from behind. He had long neck-length black hair, brown eyes, and he wore navy gray clothes. "Chief Benja?"

"Yeah?" Benja asked as he and the others turned to face Eitaro.

"My people and I wish to speak with you." Eitaro said.

"Only if Ezra and Sayaka can come with me?" Benja said.

"Of course." Eitaro said.

"Thank you." Benja said. "Think you'll be alright on your own 'til we get back?" He asked Raya.

"Sure." Raya answered.

"Okay. Be back soon." Benja said before he, Sayaka and Ezra followed after Eitaro.

Raya smiled warmly as she watched her father walk off with Sayaka and Ezra. The Princess of Heart was happy to see him back in good spirits. She had missed this side of her father and was glad to finally see it again after all this time. She had a feeling that...No. She knew that after today, this side of her father would still be around from here on out. Her father was back to his old happy self, he was here to stay, and he was not going anywhere.

"Excuse me." Came a female voice from behind.

"Huh?" Raya asked as she turned to see the Princess of Fang. "Oh. Hi."

"Hi." Namaari greeted. "Raya, right?"

"Right. And you're Namaari, the Princess of Fang." Raya said.

"That's me. Guilty as charged." Namaari said.

"So what's up?" Raya asked.

"Oh, nothing, really. I was just wondering...if maybe...maybe..." Namaari daid.

"Maybe?" Raya questioned.

"If maybe we could...hang out together? You know, get to know each other a little?" Namaari said.

"Oh. Well, since you asked...sure. Why not?" Raya said.

"Good!" Namaari said excitedly. "So does this mean we're friends?"

"Yes. Absolutely." Raya said. "Come on. Let's talk."

"Lead the way...Princess." Namaari said.

Raya walked off, with Namaari following. For her, this day had just been full of surprises. First she found out her father was having a celebration, inviting the other four king...then he's happy cheerful again...and now she had made a new friend. Today was, without a doubt, the best day of her life and she knew that everything had forever changed for her for the better. Little did she know what would happen next. Because after today, the whole world was going to be a whole lot different from then on.

A whole...lot...different.

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