Chapter 30

A Chapter by Eidolon Michael

This is Part One of the four part Book 2 Finale! I can't really make a description without giving away spoilers so...

The end of March came quickly and April seemed to get passed by. Before Rene knew it, the middle of April had arrived. Rene was very nervous about the next day, April 24th.

Due to Queen Shayla's death, Rene's possible rise to the throne was moved forward to the end of May, instead of the end of June. Every queen-to-be had to give a speech at least one month before their succession to power.

Rene highly doubted her ability to be queen. She knew almost nothing of politics and even less about negotiations. She did not know how to command people or if she would be able to govern if a crisis struck. However, despite all of her worries, she would have to welcome the status of queen with open arms and a smile.

The moring of her speech, she lay in bed for about twenty minutes afterwards, staring at the ceiling, wondering if just laying there would put off her having to give the speech.

However, when the clock struck ten, she slowly got out of bed and began getting ready.

Down on the second floot, Amber and Ralph were making Rene a light breakfast of three eggs, two bagels, a glass of milk, four pieces of toast, and ten slices of bacon.

"Amber this really isn't light,"Ralph pointed out.

"She has to eat,"Amber insisted.

"I don't mind eating,"Rene said as she walked into the kitchen,"But, honestly, do I look like a giant pig that needs to eat myself into blimpicity?"

"Is blimpicity even a word?"Amber asked.

"It is because I said so,"Rene said."Well, do I?"

"Yes,"Ralph said with a playful grin and Rene punched him in the shoulder.

"Shut up!"Rene said, blushing furiously and walking into the living room.

"That really hurt,"Ralph muttered, rubbing what he thought for sure would be a large bruise.

"You're the one who said she looked like a pig,"Amber said."Quite a stupid thing to say, really."

"I was joking!"Ralph said.

"Well, aren't you so SMART for choosing to say something like that on one of the most important days of her life?"Amber said cooly.

"I guess not,"Ralph said.

"Correction,"Amber said,"You aren't. There's no guessing about it."

"You're so mean,"Ralph said, pretending to be hurt emotionally.

"Aw, poor you,"Amber said, placing Rene's plate of food on the table."Rene, food's ready!"

"I'm not hungry!"Rene called from the living room.

Amber marched into the living room and emerged back into the kitchen dragging Rene by the ear.

"Ow, ow, ow-"

"We did not just spend the last hour making you breakfast for you not to eat it,"Amber said and she set Rene in a seat and pointed at the food.

"Eat,"she ordered.

"But-"

"Eat,"Amber said evilly.

"But-"

"You know, Rene,"Amber said, even more evilly than before,"It could be TERRIBLE if the poor queen-to-be was viciously mauled by her best friend the morning of an importan speech, wouldn't eat?"

"Y-yes, yes it would,"Rene said, praying to herself that Amber wasn't about to transform into a giant cockroach and eat her.

"Well, then,"Amber said with a smile,"You can eat and avoid that disaster."

"But-"

"Do you want me to chop yours off?!"

"That would hurt! How would I sit?"

"You wouldn't..."

"But-"

"That's it! Ralph, bring me the butchering axe!"

"Ok, ok, I'll eat!"Rene said and Amber smiled at her and said, "Good girl".

Ralph sighed.

Today was going to be a long day.

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Michael sighed as he stared at his closet. What was he supposed to wear?

He wasn't personally invited to some kind of party after the speech, but he figured since it was a special day, he should at least dress nicely.

Two rooms down, Daniel's room was littered with clothes scattered everywhere.

"No,"he said as he threw a light blue t-shirt aside.

"No. No. Definitely not."

Daniel sighed.

"What if I just went naked?"

Right next to Daniel's room was Roran's room. He was sorting through his clothes calmly. Finally , after much frustration, he began throwing them everywhere.

"Here we go!"he said happily and began to put the clothes on.

"Roran, are you ready?"Michael called from outside.

"No,"Roran said, looking into the mirror on his dresser and trying to fix his hair.

"Roran, what's taking so long?"Michael demanded.

"He's exploring his body,"Daniel snickered, suddenly sounding like his old self.

"I am not,"Roran said, stepping out of his room and glaring at Daniel.

"That's what you say,"Daniel said with a grin.

"Don't make me kill you,"Roran warned.

"Guys, can we please leave now?"Michael asked.

"Sure,"the two others said simultaneously.

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Rene paced around the meeting chamber.

"Rene, relax,"Taira urged. She had arrived with them at the Sacred Palace, a palace where all princes and princesses, and queen and kings went to make speeches, debate about national affairs, and discuss war tactics.

"I can't!"Rene said wildly, flapping her hands as though she was trying to fly.

Ralph and Amber exchanged a glance that said "Here she goes" and laughed.

"What's so funny?"Rene demanded.

"You are,"Ralph said honestly and he walked up to Rene and put his hands on her shoulders.

"You'll do fine,"he said.

"What if they don't think I look good?"Rene asked quietly.

"You look fine,"Taira said, admiring Rene's dress, which was a long flowing one of bright gold. It was back-less and had long elbow length, fingerless gloves to match. She was wearing silver heels and small diamond earrings. She had actually left her hair down for the occasion, which showed just how long it was.

"if you're so worried, then here,"Amber said and she pulled out a bottle of nail polish and began painting Rene's fingernails.

"I feel like I'm clashing somehow though,"Rene said.

"Maybe it's the silver,"Taira suggetsted."Maybe bronze would have been better."

"But the silver matches her hair,"Ralph said.

"Guys, stop!"Rene pleaded.

"Ok, now try this,"Amber said and she pulled out lipstick from her purse.

"I don't think-"Rene began, but Amber closed her lips and put the lipstick on her. Everyone stared at her.

"What?"Rene demanded.

"Too red,"Taira said. Amber wiped off the lipstick and pulled out lip balm.

"This'll work,"Amber said and she put the lip balm on Rene.

"That's better,"Ralph said.

"Maybe some silver hair streaks,"Amber said to herself and she pulled out a can of instant hair-dye.

"Why do you carry a can of instant hair dye in your purse?"Ralph asked.

"I'm prepared for all occasions,"Amber said and she began spraying Rene's hair with silver on the tips.

"I didn't even know they had instant hair-dye,"Taira said quietly.

"Well, now you do,"Amber said, stepping back from Rene, a big smile on her face.

"She's pretty now,"Taira said.

"Are you saying I'm ugly any other time?"Rene asked, glaring at Taira.

"Yep,"Taira said.

"At least you're honest,"Rene sighed. She turned around to look at Ralph.

"How do I look?"

Ralph, who had been sitting in a chair behind Rene, had been watching Taira and Amber finish Rene's very temporary make-over. He was very suprised when she turned around. He had the strongest urge to hold her close to him, to be able to admire her beauty from up close, feel her lips against his, just because, at that moment, he wanted to, needed to have them.

"Ralph, I'm talking to you,"Rene said, tapping him on the forehead.

"You look fine,"Ralph said. Rene sighed.

"Your Majesty, we're ready,"an attendant said, looking in from the balcony Rene was to stand on during her speech.

"Ok, don't be nervous,"Amber said.

"Just be yourself, but remember, be a queen, not a friend,"Taira advised.

"That made no sense-"

"Make sure to smile-"

"And don't play with your hands-"

"And sound confident-"

"And don't look at the ground-"

"And wave. You need to seem approachable-"

"Guys!"Rene said nervously.