Hihi and SUPRISE! I am in fact much alive...sort of. These last few weeks have been such a rollercoaster - my hand hurts less but now I have a cold fufu. So my days are spent loafing and feeling feverish sighhh.

BUT NOT TO WORRY! I felt like writing a chapter! My apologies it's been a bit longer of a break than I thought and will be for another week or two sadly before I get back into consistent updates again.

In the meantime thank you everyone for your continued support it makes me so happy scrolling thru the comment section between spurs of fever-induced naps and for those of you who are listening to my song recs while reading I will give you an extra kiss on the forehead :*

I wrote this chappie over a couple of days so I can't remember if there was an exact song, BUT my favourite chapter of this story (Chapter 1) was written to Kingdom Dance - from Tangled and idk every time I listen to that story that's what I imagine the Solarian castle and town to feel like hehe.

Stella peeled her eyes open, staring dully at the same gold-lined roof pattern as she had for the 2 weeks now. She didn't realise how painfully traditional the guest bedrooms of the palace were, she never really felt the need to visit this side of the castle to spruce them up when she lived here.

Turning over under her sheets, she stared at the sunlight gleaming through her sheer white curtains, casting a bright light on the rug by the sealed balcony door.

It had been two days since her incident with Brandon's bullet wound and she hadn't seen him since.

Digit visited her that afternoon with tea then later in the night for dinner after she had yet again bathed herself to scratch her skin at the feeling itching at the back of her mind. The pixie had kept her company as she sat on the window bay and stared into the palace grounds longingly for the rest of the day.

Brandon didn't come into her room that afternoon, or the following morning. It had been 2 days since he had barged into her room and forced her to get bloodied in the rink and for the better. He was probably recovering after that injury, after all, he didn't have the privilege of the sun sceptre to heal his wounds. Stella didn't dare step outside in those 2 days either, afraid she might run into him and be forced to relive those vulnerable moments she had shoved deep in her mind.

This man was the enemy, saving his life was only to repay her debt. The next time she gets a chance, she was going to slice his throat.

Stella sat up, stretching her arms over her head before slumping down. Her vision adjusted to the rest of the brightly lit bedroom before they narrowed onto a sight she hadn't seen before.

A dressmaker mannequin.

Similar to the one she had in her room, brand new and standing untouched by the dresser next to the door. Without hesitating, Stella quickly pulled her covers off and approached the unfamiliar item in her prison of a bedroom.

Her heart beat loudly in her chest as her gaze fell on the dresser where a new sketchbook and pencils with a little bow stuck on top sat. There was a small card written in impeccable cursive that read 'Happy birthday,'

Her 20th birthday.

There was no name on the card, just neat handwriting and for a moment she wondered if high commander Brandon had gotten it for her. No, the man wouldn't spare a single thought for her wellbeing let alone remember her birthday and actually get her something.

But what if-

"Happy birthday your Highness!" A chipper voice burst through the closed door and Stella dropped the card in surprise. Digit grinned at the confused princess, a megawatt smile on his smile face as his eyes darted between Stella and the gift, "Do you like it?"

Stella let out a breath she didn't know she held, "You did this?"

Digit kicked his little feet in bursting excitement, "Yes! Well, Tecna and Master Timmy did but I suggested the idea! I remember you wanted your sketchbook and mannequin from your room but we couldn't get that one exactly - but anyways do you like it?!"

She couldn't help the small laugh escape her lips at the pixie's rambling, "I love it Digit, thank you,"

Digit dug his foot abashedly into the air as he floated, a small blush tinting his cheeks, "Your welcome, your highness," He murmured shyly before erupting into yet another grin, "Would you like to have your breakfast in the dining hall today?"

Stella stared at her hands for a moment in thought. She had been avoiding stepping out for the last 2 days to not bump into him and be forced into training but today was her birthday, surely, he'd let her have the day to herself to walk in the garden again.

She hadn't been outside in days.

"Where is the high commander?" She asked cautiously. Digit's face contorted into a face of thought before he shook his head.

"The High Commander left this morning on some work with Master Timmy and Riven," Digit replied cluelessly, and Stella sighed in relief. He was gone. Even if he did come back and force her to train later, at least she didn't have to see his face so bright and early and ruin her 20th birthday.

"Okay, I'll have breakfast in the hall," She grinned much to Digit's enthusiasm, "Give me a moment to freshen up,"

Digit eagerly nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind him as Stella walked into the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water pattered gently on her hair as she leaned with both hands against the shower wall, watching the water gush below her feet into the drain.

She had lost count of the days that she didn't even realise today was her birthday. As the only princess of the Solarian Royal Family, Princess Stella of Solaria had all her birthdays celebrated with extravagance. Every year her mother and father would take the day off from royal duties to surprise her with whatever her heart desired, followed by a day of activities and a ball held in her honour.

She truly was spoilt.

The only birthday she ever remembered feeling an overwhelming amount of sadness was her 13th birthday, her first birthday without the warmth of her mother. But King Radius did everything in his power to make her day the best of days despite the absence of her beloved mother.

After the Drakari took over every birthday seemed to be filled with sorrow and longing. Stella had given up on celebrating after her coronation, so when her 17th birthday came around during the rebellion she treated it like any other day.

She felt there was nothing to celebrate anymore.

But Noah made sure always to bring her cupcake with a single lit candle as he sat on the edge of her bed at the base camp, singing the same crappy tune off-key and too high for his deep voice to hit.

She would always playfully tell him to go away or cover her face with her pillow but he would always take her hand and pull her up to finish his stupid birthday song and make her blow out the candle.

He'd tell her to make a wish and she would always counter with the fact that it would never come true. In turn, he would suck his teeth disapprovingly and tell her to always have faith.

Have faith that it will all work out.

Noah always made sure to celebrate her birthday, give her the day off and let her rest despite her protests.

Oh, how she missed him.

Shutting off the water Stella stepped out, refusing to let herself cry as she stared at herself in the foggy mirror. She will end this once and for all. She was not going to let Andreas take the power of the suns and reign any longer.

She will kill the high lord and the high commander.

Digit guided her downstairs keenly as he flew in front of her with an excited grin as if ready to explode. The moment he got to the dining room, he quickly jetted to the table and spread his hands over the assortment of freshly baked goods sitting on the table.

"The kitchen prepared it for your birthday!" the pixie beamed as Stella's eyes swept over the plethora of different dishes lining the teal dining table.

She hadn't seen the dining table so full since her last sweet 16 birthday when her father decided to hire a team of chefs to cook everything and anything to taste.

"You don't have to do all this Digit," Stella sighed but sent a grateful expression to the pixie anyway.

"It's your birthday, your highness, of course I do!" he replied giddily. Stella smiled, taking a seat at the table.

"Why don't you join me Digit?" she asked, referring to a smaller empty plate beside her. Digit's eyes widened as he floated closer to her.

"I couldn't possibly!"

"I insist, please, there's no one else to share this with," She responded insistently, and it didn't take more than once to get Digit to drop down onto the table eagerly and join the former princess in her lonesome birthday breakfast.

She had grown quite fond of Tecna's bonded pixie. Digit was the only company she had here and he was quite good at making it feel as though she was not a prisoner shackled to a place that used to mean so much to her.

The two were about halfway into their breakfast when Digit's eyes flickered up at the entrance to the dining room. Before the pixie could even announce the arrival of the person, Stella could feel the gravitas in the room start to get heavier as footsteps echoed from the hall.

Digit quickly swallowed the piece of waffle he was enjoying and floated up, lowering his head in respect, "Welcome back, High commander," Judging by the almost shaky tone the pixie had taken in stark comparison to his usual chipper voice, Stella could feel the shift in power imbalance.

She didn't dare look back as she continued to face her plate. She didn't need to acknowledge him, she wasn't going to spare him so much as a glance after the callous attitude he gave her after she saved his life.

"Let's go princess," Brandon commanded darkly from across the room. Stella clenched her teeth at his tone. Cold and demanding. But she wasn't having it today – not on her birthday. But she wasn't going to tell him that.

"No. I want to finish breakfast," She shot back with equal bluntness as she picked up her utensils and stabbed the knife right into the waffle. Digit jumped despite flying beside her, his rounded eyes flickering to the former princess with shock at her blatant disrespect.

She could feel the air get thicker, no doubt reflecting the irritation she was becoming to the high commander.

"I won't repeat myself, princess," His tone was low and cold. He didn't need to raise his voice to make the hairs on the back of her neck stand.

There was no question how this man became High Commander, just his presence was overwhelming. But challenging authority has always been the former princess's hidden talent.

"Then don't, high commander, I'll come to the lab after I finish breakfast," She replied simply continuing to hack at her poor waffle to deliver the point.

She could hear him sigh in annoyance but before he could speak, more footsteps followed as Stella heard someone walk into the dining room and towards the table, but judging by the lighter steps, she knew it wasn't Brandon.

"Morning commander," Timmy's enthusiastic voice called unaware of the tension in the room and Digit's fearful demeanour changed entirely as the pixie drooped onto the table beside the princess almost in relief.

"Master Timmy!" He cried almost thankfully as the second lieutenant approached the dining table.

"Good morning, Digit, Your Highness," He added reaching out to grab a waffle from the plate brimmed with a stack of them. His hazel eyes slowly turned to the former princess seated at the table, glaring at her plate before he grinned at her, "Happy birthday Your Highness,"

Stella stiffened, her eyes flickering up in haste to meet Timmy's carefree gaze, "Oh, thank you,"

His goofy grin widened in response, "Did you like your gift? Digit chose it but I had a hand in transporting it," He beamed proudly.

"Yes, I love it, thank you," She replied with a small smile, ignoring the glare from the high commander that was burning her back.

Tecna and Timmy had known her for 3 weeks, and yet these members of the Drakari had bought her a present and were treating her like a friend, "You didn't have to go to all that trouble though,"

"It's not as extravagant as what your presents usually are, I'm sure, but it's not every day the Solarian princess turns 20, am I right?" He jested, grabbing another waffle. Stella forced her lips into a smile as she stared at her plate again,

He meant no harm in his comment, she could tell by the illustrious and carefree grin he had on his face, but his words cut deeper than she would've liked.

She hadn't been called the Solarian princess in a long while, it almost felt foreign now that Solaria didn't exist anymore. Stella forced out a grin, masking the fact that Timmy's words reminded her of her old life, "Still, I'm grateful for it,"

"Don't mention it your highness. Well, I've got to head off. Gotta fix the ship's energy reactor," Timmy continued, mouth full of waffle as he grabbed yet another, "Digit, I need your help,"

The pixie nodded, giving the princess an unsure look. He could immediately sense the way her demeanour became off, less bold and daring and more quiet as if something had rained on her parade. She turned her head and smiled at him though, reassuring him that she was going to be fine on her own.

"Enjoy your birthday breakfast, Your Highness," Timmy gave her a quick smile before turning on his heel, a couple more waffles in hand as he walked towards his high commander standing stiffly by the dining room entrance.

"Commander Silver," Timmy acknowledged Brandon's icy glare with a playful nod of submission. Brandon didn't reply but judging by the darkened look in his eyes, he was incredibly annoyed this morning as it was without his prisoner's defiance.

Stella stared at her food, listening to Timmy's footsteps recede out into the hallway. She felt her appetite go along with him as she sat alone in the dining room, feeling her skin prickle with Brandon's ominous presence behind her.

She wasn't in the rebellion anymore, she was a prisoner here in her own palace by the man who killed her father. Her birthday meant nothing, she meant nothing – what was even the point of feeling special today when there was nothing special about her situation?

She stood up abruptly, the dining room chair scraping the floor at the intensity she pushed it back from. Holding her breath, she turned to face him after having not seen his face for the last couple of days.

Brandon's cold brown eyes met hers as he stood at the threshold of the dining room entrance. He was dressed in his uniform, black cape and sturdy armour just like the day she saved his life, except without the thick coating of blood.

He wasn't pale like the last time she saw him, his body was upright, standing tall as if he didn't have a bullet lodged in his side just days ago.

"Not finishing your birthday breakfast, princess?" He asked mockingly, and Stella glared at him, clenching and unclenching her fists to keep her composure.

She didn't speak to him and stalked forward towards the hall. She could feel his burning gaze concentrated on her face as she stormed past him. His body turned, following behind her in pursuit with heavy footsteps as she headed for the training arena in Tecna's lab.

Tecna wasn't in the lab this morning as the former princess walked in and Stella released the breath she didn't know she held. She wasn't in the mood to face anyone else today and be reminded it was her birthday, a day she looked forward to every year before the red coronation.

Brandon followed her into the room as the doors hissed shut behind him. She didn't address him as he walked towards the arena control panel and powered it on. The same fighting rink she had suffered for days on end materialised in the room and Stella could feel her heart hammer in her chest at the thought of being bloodied and bruised today.

But this was her life now. She was no longer a princess of Solaria but a lieutenant of The Rebellion being held prisoner and tortured. It was time to leave those childish notions of her past behind.

This was life and death now.

The High Commander watched curiously as Stella walked silently into the arena, nothing in hand as she pulled the rope apart and stepped in. He could feel the small scoff escape his lips at the bold front she was putting on, a feeble attempt to make the situation better for herself.

Despite the odds being disgustingly imbalanced, Brandon had the sensibility to allow the princess to choose her own non-powered weapon from Tecna's lab. A range of knives, daggers, swords and more lay for her to select but today she didn't even glance at it.

Stella just wanted this over and done with.

The same bloody song and dance, fight, rage, transform and pass out. Maybe this retched day will end faster that way.

"Don't feel like killing me today, princess?" He questioned walking onto the rink behind her as she stood in position on the other side. Stella simply met his gaze and narrowed her eyes in a scowl. "Alright, I'll make it easier for you then,"

Before she could question it, he pressed the middle of his uniform, the emerald gem sunk in and the plates of hardened armour around his body retracted back into it. Stella couldn't help but stare at the way his short-sleeved compression top revealed from underneath, giving her a clear view of the size of his arms and the contours of his body.

He dropped the gem onto the floor as it clattered behind the ropes and off the rink. He opened his arms mockingly, involuntarily flexing his muscles, "Go on, land a hit,"

Stella glared at his smirk, irritation boiling her blood at his mockery. It takes a normal man at least a week to even sit upright after having a bullet deep in their side, but here he was, cocky and valiant after almost dying.

She launched at him, determined to strike him in the only weak spot she knew he had. She waited for him to move, to dodge like he usually does at the speed of light but he didn't. Her eyes flickered up, staring at his blank brown eyes as they watched her fist aim straight for his injured side.

It landed.

Stella felt the hardened muscle of his body ram right into her fist, a small glimmer of hope flashing through her at the feeling of finally making contact.

His body curled back at the impact but it was not nearly enough to even move him a fraction backwards. Stella expected him to react, for his face to at least contort in a slight amount of pain from being hit in a healing wound but nothing. He didn't even flinch.

"Happy?" He asked cockily, his former blank eyes dancing with amusement.

"What?" Stella breathed in confusion, "How did you-"

"I told you – I'm not weak," He replied straightening up and stepping forward, pushing her body back away from being in contact with his. Once she was a reasonable distance enough, he grabbed the hem of his top and pulled it up, revealing his abdomen.

Stella's eyes widened at the perfectly unscathed skin that lay beneath it. There was nothing on his body, not even a scar to indicate a deep bullet wound previously resided there.

"You- you healed?" No that was not normal healing, how is that even possible?

"I did," He replied haughtily, "So don't hold back on your word, Princess," He straightened up, tilting his head side to side as if readying himself to engage in combat, "Kill me like you said you would,"

She gritted her teeth, pushing herself forward as she slammed her fist right into his forearm, a swift block on his end. "You're holding back," He said as she twisted her body to ram her elbow against his side but yet another block.

He grabbed her forearm, locking her body in front of his in a tight bound, "You're hesitating," He hissed lowly, his scowled face inches away from her. His breath brushed the shell of her ear as his hands held her skin.

The same way they gripped her waist when she sat on top of him that day she saved his life. God why was she thinking about that?! She was here to kill him.

"I'M NOT!" She snapped back, gritting her teeth to struggle against his death grip. She wanted to shove those memories into the back of her mind.

His pained breath mingled with hers as she stared into his soft brown eyes. No, that couldn't have been real, maybe she imagined it. There was not a chance High Commander Silver could ever be anything more than a cruel monster.

"You are, princess," She could see the annoyance in his icy brown eyes, a stark comparison to the man who lay dying, "Your mark isn't even glowing – you're fucking hesitating,"

Taking her foot, she kicked it back against his but he manoeuvred his body out of the way with ease, leaving a small opening for her to break free from. "I'm not fucking hesitating!" She barked back with as much intensity as she could muster up.

Brandon stood a few feet away from her, eyes almost glowing from the way the bright lights above reflected off his mahogany-coloured gaze, "Then transform," He shot back.

Stella gritted her jaw and snapped her gaze down to the black-inked curse mark on her arm. Over the last entire week, he had made her fight and her body would almost immediately force her into a transformation just out of pure spite to murder him, but right now despite every fibre of her being wanting to put him in his place, the sceptre wasn't responding.

The mark remained just as it was, black.

No why wasn't it responding?! Why didn't it respond to her emotions anymore?!

"Don't get distracted princess," His voice sounded from mere fractions in front of her, and before she even got a second to process, his fist had come flying at her, giving her barely a slither to dodge.

She moved but his movement was ridiculously fast and already connected to the side of her abdomen, missing her stomach but still sending the pain throbbing from her side.

Her back slammed against the corner pole of the rink and the pain shot up her back making her cry out at the feeling. Brandon continued to stand where he delivered the blow, his cold eyes watched emotionlessly as she fell to her hands, coughing out of the pain that riddled her body.

She could see the splatters of blood between her hands as she heaved to catch her breath, but her mark was just as it was. Not even a glow.

No.

This was life and death, why wasn't it protecting her?! Why didn't she transform?! Brandon's heavy footsteps advanced closer to her, making the hairs on the back of her neck rise as his boots stood in her view.

He killed her father, he murdered countless people, he ruined her life – he is a monster. Yet the sceptre wasn't responding.

"Why aren't you transforming?" He gritted out the syllables as if losing his composure every second she continued to pant in front of him.

His entire fist didn't even land the blow but just from cutting across her side, she was dealt a great deal of damage. Stella shook her head trying to control her shaky vision from the pain pulsating through her body, "I don't- I don't know,"

He growled in irritation before crouching down to her level. In one harsh move, he grabbed her jaw and forced her head up to meet his gaze. She could see the muscle on his cheek twitch at the anger blazing through his eyes, "Are you trying to die, princess?"

Stella gritted her teeth despite the metallic taste of her own blood in her mouth, "Not..before I kill…you," She managed to wheeze out between clenched teeth.

"Then kill me," He taunted, leaning down to be a fraction away from her face, "Transform and kill me,"

She could feel her consciousness starting to slip as her eyes fluttered over her blurry vision. "I…can't," She breathed exhaustedly and her body swayed.

For a split second, his cold and furious eyes blanked, as if deceiving from a different emotion beneath it. The annoyance present on his face eased when he realised she truly was losing consciousness and the sceptre was not going to respond to her being injured.

His hand was still holding her jaw, his palm under her chin as his thumb rested on her cheek. She felt his thumb move, from gripping her skin to gently skimming across her bottom lip, wiping off the blood that had spilled over the side of her mouth.

"Don't-" Stella snapped feebly, trying to jerk her face away from his grip, "Don't touch me- I told you I'd kill you if you-" She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing and control the pain as her vision started to get spotty.

"You can't even stand, princess," He rolled his eyes at her words, "You're not going to heal like this,"

The sound of the arena doors pulling open sounded as Brandon's line of sight shifted over his shoulder. Stella could barely move her body much less register who had walked in before her body finally gave out.

He reached his arm towards her and grabbed her body to break her fall as he placed his hand under her knees in one fell swoop. "Shit!" He hissed at the irritable circumstances and effortlessly lifted her into his arms as he turned to face Tecna who had walked into the arena.

This was typical, the sceptre would exhaust her to the point of passing out and the high commander would take her back to her room, but today something was off. She didn't look good.

Tecna's emerald green gaze immediately narrowed on the blood streaks from her lip as she curled unconsciously in his grip, "Her Highness is bleeding," She pointed out, slightly stunned that the sceptre hadn't renewed her vitals completely.

When this usually happens, she looks extremely healthy, not a speck of blood on her, just exhausted and asleep.

"Yes, I can see that," High Commander Silver bit back sarcastically, "She's not transforming,"

"What?" This was news to the fairy of technology. Over the last week and a bit, they had conducted this test on the former princess, the sceptre always responded to her rage and transformed her body sometimes even seconds after getting in the ring, "How is that possible?"

Her hate for High Commander Silver was so strong it didn't take much to send her into a blinding rage.

"I don't know, but I have bigger problems," He closed his eyes, and let out an exasperated sigh, adjusting the princess's limp body in his grip so her head was propped against his chest to avoid more bleeding, "Get me a blood replenishing potion. Her natural magic should heal her, but it won't be as fast as the sceptres,"

The arena had powered down, reverting to the brightly lit white-tiled room it usually was. "I can monitor her vitals at the lab – maybe figure out why the sceptre isn't responsive?" Tecna offered as High Commander Silver walked into the lab but he didn't stop in it despite the fairy's offer.

"No, I can figure that out later – she can sleep it off for now," He grumbled rather displeased at the circumstances and Tecna watched curiously as he continued stalking towards the lab's exit.

Despite the clear cold annoyance in his voice – the same look wasn't in his gaze. "It is her fucking birthday after all," He sighed exasperatedly before leaving the room.

I am feral for any ounce of interaction between them HEH

A lot of people have asked for Brandon's POV, while I am only writing this story in 3rd person and most of it follows Stella, I may feature a sneak peek into 'A day in the life of High Commander Silver' HAHAHAH *wink*

Lots of love,

Star