Howdy, all....

Remember back not so long ago to a little thing called "A Matter of
Inheritance"... This teaser follows it, and is leading to something bigger ^_^.


Please let me know what you think... this one is kinda crucial to the story
development.

Thanx!
Coutuva.
++++


Destiny, not Desire
----------------------------------------------------

	She stood quietly by the window as she often did these days, sighing
long and deep as she thought over her schedule for the day.  Anyone else
would consider it to be busy and possibly even exciting, but for her,
compared to the life she once knew, it was all boring drudgery.
	In the immaculately clean glass she could see the reflection of her
Tiara, symbol of the Royal Family for the past 600 years.  It seemed to weigh
a ton of late, despite being crafted intricately from the lightest precious
metals known to their craftspeople.
	Below her in the courtyard her escort was being prepared, which would
accompany her to her seat at the Royal Council Chamber.  There, she would
preside over the affairs of state and planet, just as she had done every day
for the past decade.
	Over the past few months, she had found herself thinking about the
past a lot... she still missed her old life and the friends she'd had to
leave behind.
	Even today, she missed one of them in particular, mainly because
even though she had said it more than once, she never *really* told her that
she was in love with her, and had been since she was old enough to understand
what her heart was telling her.
	Sighing again, only this time more sadly, she reached for the small
locket hanging at the top of her cleavage.  Opening it, she smiled lovingly
at the pictures within that depicted a certain red-haired girl, dressed in
a sailor fuku.  Her fingers gently stroked the images, as if trying to feel
the soft touch of the redhead's skin.
	As she thought of her unrequited love, she could feel a single hot
tear wend it's way from the corner of her eye and down her rosy cheek, to
finally slip behind her ornate choker.  She reached up absently to wipe it
away, and slowly closed the locket.  Pressing the small golden case to her
bosom, she wished silently that she could see her again... just once more...
	From behind her, she heard the huge door to her private chambers
open, bringing her suddenly back to her current reality.   Her valet stepped
forward with all due protocol to present her with her cape and Scepter, more
symbols of her status and power.  Graciously, she accepted them from her,
and stepped through the large passage into the outer chamber in order to
greet the household staff.
	Smiling warmly, she acknowledged each and every one of her servants
and helpers, asking about their children or making other such small talk.
The staff felt duly honored to be recognized by a member of the Royal Family
in such a cordial fashion, as they could see in her large green eyes that
she was genuine in her manner, which not all of her family had been.
	She enjoyed and happily looked forward to this brief daily interlude
in her otherwise solitary existence,  and at times she felt that it was one
of the things that kept her sane.  She had begun the ritual shortly after
taking office, since she felt that everyone, no matter their station,
deserved to be treated as a person... even though that didn't seem to apply
to her.
	Of late, she felt more like a prisoner than a Monarch, not allowed
to leave her posh and immense estate for fear of some harm coming to her.
As the last of her line, she was to be protected at all costs, even if those
costs included the freedom to live her life as she wished.
	Finally, upon bidding her staff a cheerful good-bye for the day, she
was ushered to her waiting air-coach for the short flight to Chambers, where
her first duty would be to open the day's session.  It was a largely symbolic
process, her actual input only being required much later in the day, as she
would be called upon to either decree or deny edicts from the floor.  Most of
her business day would be spent simply overseeing due process, which
absolutely bored her to tears.
	As she settled into her seat in the Coach, she caught her reflection
in the window, and studied it intently.  The woman who looked back at her was
pretty, but somehow looked old beyond her years, and her eyes bore a distinct
tiredness despite their ever-present sparkle.  The woman also looked deeply
sad, something in the back of her eyes revealing an emptiness inside her.
	She sighed aloud at the image, feeling sorry for the woman it
portrayed.  The fact that it was her own reflection only made her long even
more for her life of ten years earlier, spent so far away from the regimented,
decorum-dictated lifestyle she now led.
	Coming back to the place of her birth had meant a rapid maturation
for her, since she had to assume the duties of her station immediately upon
her arrival.  She had handled it magnificently, moving with an easy grace
into the role she now filled despite her past persona.
	No one, not even her, had been aware of the fact that her old
personality was a mental disguise, put in place when she was spirited off
the planet as a toddler.  It was all designed to save her from the ravages
of the war that had engulfed the planet at the time.
	Regrettably, her sisters had not been so lucky, having been found and
executed before they could be moved.  Her mother had also gone into hiding,
returning to her throne immediately after her people's victory.  Her first
act was the launching of an all-out effort to find her remaining daughter,
since the only people who knew her whereabouts had died in the war.
	When the first searchers found her, she had resisted them, her
memory plant not allowing her to accept what they tried to tell her.  Later,
when her mother came personally to retrieve her, she had almost gone... but
she changed her mind and demanded to be returned.  Finally, when the last
emissaries brought her the news of her mother's death, she accepted her
destiny.
	Coming home terminated the memory plant, and in short order she went
from being the Fourth Princess of the Fifth Queen of the Lefton Kingdom of
Alpha Sygmi to her Coronation as the Sixth Queen.  That, however, did not
block out the memories of her old life, and to this day they remained with
her, cherished as reminders of a happier time.
        The landing of the air-Coach outside the Chambers brought her out of
her reverie, and she instantly put on her best smile.  It was time to assume
her position at the head of the Chamber, and begin another long, tedious day.
	Stepping from the coach and joining the honor guard assembled to
conduct her to her seat, she winced momentarily at the brightness of the sun.
It was going to be another gorgeous day, and instantly her mind flashed back
to the pool she used to swim in every summer.  Knowing it was time to assume
her duties however, she pushed such thoughts aside and concentrated on the
list of issues being read to her by her very new assistant.  As she listened,
she stopped short in her tracks and regarded the girl beside her
questioningly.
	"Lissa, is there anything on today's agenda of great urgency?"  she
asked of the stunned young woman.
	"Ma'am?"  the girl stammered, not sure how to deal with this breach
of process.
        "The Agenda, dear... is there anything on it that can't wait a day?"
she repeated, smiling mischievously.
        "Why... no, Ma'am."  the flustered girl replied, flipping through the
pages quickly.
	"Very good.  Come, Lissa.  There's a change of plan."  she stated
happily, resuming her progress into the Chambers.
	Arriving in the Grand Hall, she took her seat as per usual, and as
the rest of the court and politicians then sat back down, she raised her
Scepter for quiet.  As a hush fell over the assemblage, she rose to her feet,
catching her entire entourage off-guard.  As they scrambled to rise, she
smiled at her little joke.
	Straightening herself, she took a deep breath and looked out at the
sea of stunned faces before her.  Again, she smiled mischievously.
	"Members of the Court, there will be no session today.  Business at
hand will resume with tomorrow's session.  Enjoy the day."  she announced,
and bowed to the room.
	After a moment of shocked silence, a single person's applause rang
out, followed quickly by another's, and within moments the large room
thundered with a standing ovation.  Smiling, she bowed once more, thinking
to herself that she wasn't the only one who didn't want to waste such a
beautiful summer's day.  Glancing back at her gape-mouthed assistant,  she
winked happily then turned and stepped off the platform.
	Later, as she seated herself in her air-coach, her assistant finally
found her voice.
	"Ma'am?"  she asked, bowing politely.
	"Yes, Lissa?"
	"Are you feeling well?  Should I arrange for a physician?"  she
asked, worriedly.
	She couldn't help but laugh.  "No, dear... I'm fine.  I just couldn't
bring myself to stay indoors on such a pretty day.  I have much better things
to do with it."  she replied happily, smiling at the concerned young woman.
	"Are you sure, Ma'am?  What are you going to do?"
        "Actually, Lissa... I'm going for a swim.  Care to join me?"  she
replied with a thoughtful smile.
	"Ma'am?  Really?"  smiled the girl, stunned at the invitation.
	"Yes.  If you promise one thing.  No discussion of business.  That's
strictly off-limits in my pool."  she admonished, wagging a finger.
	"Yes, Ma'am!" the now-delighted young woman responded emphatically.
	"Very Good, then.  Oh... one other condition.  You must let your hair
down... no formalities allowed, either."  she added, smiling happily.  The
excited young woman nodded her agreement, then took the seat offered to her.
	As they flew back toward the Royal residence, the young woman
carefully took her flame-red hair down out of it's tight bun, then shook and
teased it out to it's normal fullness.
	Across from her, a silent, appreciative sigh escaped the other
occupant of the vehicle, accompanied by a wistful smile.  For her, the day
suddenly became just a little bit better.




==================================================
END - Destiny, not Desire - A FanFic by V. Coutu.


Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com

_____________________________________________________________
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http://home1.gte.net/teseract/archive/Vic/

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puts too much of a strain on the Artist's wrists."