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Memoirs of an Interplanetary Queen Part 1 Tomorrow is my eighteenth birthday and I've been waiting for this day for many years. You see, I've had a crush on a girl since the tenth grade. She's like the feeling of standing in a warm summer's rain; like the first day in spring when you realize you don't need to wear a coat; like the fresh smell of the air after a lightning storm; and like the first taste of bubblegum before it become all bland and tasteless. Tomorrow, on my birthday, she promised me that we'd have a date. I can imagine it now. I'm standing on a couple or three large telephone books so I can look her straight in the eyes. I'm on the short side and I need a little vertical encouragement... Anyways, I'm looking in her blue eyes, her long brunette hair is lightly blowing in the warm summer, fresh-cut grass smelling breeze, and her full red lips are moist and slightly parted, ready for my kiss. A strand of my long blonde hair drifts in front of my eyes... No! Wait! This is my fantasy! My dream of what will happen tomorrow. What's with the long blonde hair? I sigh and try to start over but it's no use. Talyn, that's her name. She's always been there for me, stood by my side, defended me, but never really shown any inkling that she was remotely interested in me romantically. I'm also sure whatever we do on our date, I'll not find a couple of telephone books ready for me to kiss her spontaneously. I can imagine it now. The moment is right, Talyn is ready for my kiss, and I have to run and find three telephone books. Who am I kidding? If I'd been born as a puppy, I would've been the runt of the runts of twenty litters of puppies. I was five foot three and had disgusting dog-poop colored hair with more cow licks than spiders have legs. My eyes were the color of leftover bananas that had been exposed to the air too long. I was uncoordinated, ungainly, uncultured, unimpressive, and overall, uninteresting. Whereas, Talyn... Wow, she was like the first taste of a chocolate cake, or as fresh as water from melted un-yellowed snow. Why she even likes me I'm sure I'll never know. I'd scale the tallest tree that was covered in poison ivy totally naked to prove my love to her. If a runaway moose was after her, I'd be willing to lay my life down to protect her. Only she and I know how embarrassingly often she protected me in the last years of high school. I've always been the brunt of jokes, teasing, and bullying at school. I was called gay, fag, girlie-girl, wimp, mouse, and pee-on. I was underdeveloped everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Once the guys in gym class threw me naked into the girl's change room because they said I was a girl and shouldn't be with the men. Always, Talyn was there. She fought for me, even against guys twice her size. Amazingly, she won everytime. She'd give me first aid after I'd been in a one-sided fight, which was quite frequent. She'd walk me home from the bus. She'd lift my spirits when I was feeling down. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't a pushover. Well, I was easily pushed over, but I did stand up for what was right. No matter how many times I got the cr-p beat out of me for sticking my slightly crooked nose where it didn't belong, I always fought for the little guy. If someone was being bullied, I'd be the first to try to stop that. If the kid that was bigger than me got pushed by a bigger kid, then I'd squeeze in between the two to try and stop the fight. Not sure how I got wired to be a superhero when I was stuck in Minnie Mouse's body. And yes, it wasn't a Freudian slip, I did say Minnie Mouse because she's smaller than Mickey. But Talyn... I worship her. She's like that new car smell. I'll never understand why she stands by me day after day. Maybe I'm more like a sister to her? I realized long ago my life would've been better if I'd been born a girl. Maybe she saw me more like a little sister. I looked at the clock and was surprised I'd daydreamed the evening away. I said goodnight to my adoptive parents who, I believe, took me in more for government tax write-off than to be parents. They barely knew who I was and altogether forgot it was my birthday tomorrow. It bothered me but I wasn't surprised as they'd missed my last five birthdays. I went to my room and looked around. On my walls were posters of space and Star Wars. My favorite was a poster of Rey. She was everything I dreamed of being one day. Okay, I'll admit that's a little strange, but it was true. I despised who I was and she was the exact opposite. Confident yet compassionate. Beautiful and courageous. Who wouldn't want to be her? I try not to be so down on myself. Sure, my analogies suck, but I'm smart. I got straight 'A's in all my subjects in school. I didn't even have to study. I never hit my head on things and it doesn't cost a lot to feed me. My parents, even though they mostly ignore me, took me in and clothed me and always gave me a place where I felt secure. It took a while to get to sleep. After all, if you're about to have a date with a girl whose looks would make an angel appear as ugly, sleeping is usually the last thing on your mind. Part 2 When I woke, I jumped out of bed as I realized it was nearly eight in the morning. Talyn said she'd pick me up at nine. Today was going to be an awesome day! I was eighteen and out of high school, it was summer, and I've got a date with Talyn. I looked at myself in the mirror and cringed. Nothing I could improve there without reincarnation. I ran downstairs to find a note on the kitchen table. 'Gone out for a few days. Try to get a job. You're out of high school now and you should be out of the house altogether or paying rent.' Really? I opened the fridge to find next to nothing except a few beer and some moldy leftover pizza. I'd try not to let it get to me, but I admit it did hurt. The doorbell rang as I was eating a handful of dry cold cereal for breakfast. I ran to the door. "Hey Tiger! Happy birthday!" Talyn leaned in and gave me a hug. It was so nice since I was on the step above her it made us a little closer in height. I always thought her nickname for me was cute. I prefered Tiger to George any day. She said she called me that because I had the heart of a tiger. "Talyn, I've been looking forward to this day for so long. I can't tell you how much it means to me you'd take the time to be with me. Did you want to come in for a second? I just need to wash up and I'll be right back." "Sure thing, Tiger. Don't take too long though, we've got a tight schedule today." I ran upstairs, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and ran back downstairs faster than an Olympic swimmer completed a lap in a pool. Talyn was in the kitchen. She'd just read my parent's note and had a disgusted frown on her face. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have read that." "No worries. Such is life when you're me." "They don't know what they have in you." "A tax-break? Someone to mow the lawn?" "No! They really don't know what and who you are. If they did, I'm sure they'd treat you different. Come on, let's go!" I followed after her, excited to see what would lie in store for me today. I locked the door behind me and saw a gorgeous shiny blue Yamaha FJR motorcycle. "Is that yours?" "Uhm... A friend is letting me borrow it. Here, put on the helmet." "I didn't know you could ride a motorcycle." "There are a few things you don't know about me." Talyn was saying some strange things lately. I wasn't sure what to make of it. When she straddled the bike and indicated to me to get on behind her, my musings vanished. "Hang on to me!" I laid my head against her back and wrapped my arms around her waist. I was in heaven. "Here we go!" The motorcycle leapt forward. I've never gone from zero to sixty so fast in my life before. I imagined myself in a hovercar in Star Wars. It was exhilarating. We travelled for over an hour and wound up at a cabin next to a lake. It was pretty isolated even though it wasn't far off the main road. Talyn had me get off the motorcycle and she walked me to the door of the cabin. We put the helmets inside and she quickly found a blanket and a picnic basket. She led me back outside to a spot next to the lake and spread out the blanket. I ignored the chirping of the birds, the occasional fish leaping from the water, and the fresh smell of the pine forest. My entire world right now was right before me. We sat down and she fished into the basket and pulled out a pair of wine glasses and a little bottle. "Wine?" She smiled. I was always dazzled by her smile. It was like a row of clouds in a sky of red. Terrible analogy. Her smile was like pearls set amongst rubies. Her smile was amazing. "We need to toast, Tiger." "What do we toast to?" "To the end of your old life and the start of your new life." "That sounds like I'm dying. But sure... I can see it in a way. I'm eighteen now. My parents want to kick me out of the house. I'll have to get a job. The old is gone and the new is yet to come." "You're not eighteen yet." "Sure I am. This is my birthday." "You turn eighteen when you match the same time eighteen years after your birth. That's not for another forty-three minutes." "You know the exact time I was born." "I know more about you than you might think." Here was another example of general strangeness coming from Talyn. I decided to change the topic. "Talyn, why do you like me? I mean, look at me. You could be with any guy in the world. You're gorgeous, talented, kick-ass, and smart." "It's complicated." She looked over the lake and paused thoughtfully. "You don't want to say because you'll offend me. You pity me? Is that why?" "Oh for heaven's sake, Tiger. I don't pity you. You have something inside you that few people in this world have. You've got spunk. You're a fighter. You're incredibly smart. You're compassionate and care about people. For all of these things and more, this is why I like you." "Would you be romantically interested in me if I was better looking?" I wasn't sure where these words were coming from. Someone hiding in the forest must be remotely controlling my mouth. She stared at me with her big confused eyes. I stymied her. She didn't know what to say. "I'm attracted to you." That was all I needed to hear. We were sitting close to one another so my height didn't make much difference. I had the wine fuelling me. I leaned close and kissed her. She now had a look of complete befuddlement and bafflement. She stood quickly and gracefully, like a gazelle near a crocodile, and took a few paces away from me. "I'm sorry, Talyn. Forget that ever happened." I pleaded with her. She was the only friend I had in the world. She turned and looked at me, then at her watch. "I'm flattered, Tiger. Really I am. But you believe you know me when you really don't." "I don't understand." "I need you to come to the bedroom with me." "Uhm... Sure!" "I'm not asking you to sleep with me, Tiger." "Oh. You know I'll follow you anywhere. Lead the way." I followed Talyn into the bedroom. "I need you to sit on the bed and take this pill." I looked at her outstretched hand with a little blue pill in her palm. "Uhm... Talyn? I might not be exceptionally endowed, but I don't think I need a Viagra." Talyn sighed but remained calm. "It's not Viagra. It's to put you to sleep." "Is this when you tell me the world around me is a virtual image projected into my mind and I'm really a human battery powering robots that have secretly taken over the world? Why would you want me to fall asleep?" "If you take the pill, I'll sit with you and explain a few things." My imagination started running wild. Talyn was an axe murderer but couldn't kill me if I was awake. Hmmm. No biggy. I'd be honored to be chopped up by Talyn. Maybe she wanted to make me a cake while I slept. No matter what I imagined, nothing was too bad, so I reached for the pill and swallowed it. "Okay, Tiger. I'm going to turn around. Take off your clothes and slip under the sheets. Tell me when you're ready." "This is getting more than a little strange." She turned and I stripped, embarrassed by my scrawny body. I slid under the covers and rolled on my side so I could see her. "I'm ready." Talyn came over and sat on the bed next to me. I started getting sleepy right away. She pulled the sheet up and around my neck in a loving manner. "I'm going to tell you a story. You're not who you think you are and I'm not who you think I am. You weren't born here. You're from another planet. A planet of magic and wonder." I was very sleepy and groggy and having a hard time concentrating. "You were born to Christophos and Annabella Amiday, King and Queen of the planet and empire Nealander. Your name is Serenity Lorelei Joelle Amiday, Princess of Nealander." I was listening, but things weren't registering. Did Talyn just say I was a princess? I shrugged and drifted off to sleep. Part 3 When I woke I could feel the warmth of the cabin and could smell the distinct odor of burning wood. I opened my eyes to see a cozy fire burning in the fireplace. There were several lights on in the cabin but it was still dimly lit. Darkness had fallen outside. I looked over and could see Talyn stirring next to me. She was sitting in a chair and must have drifted off to sleep. I lay there unmoving, content to merely watch her. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked at me. "Oh my God! I'm sorry I fell asleep. Don't speak or move yet. Let me get a better look at you." She took a lamp from the nightstand and moved it closer to my face. Talyn drew in a deep breath and looked stunned. I knew I wasn't the best looking kid around, but she looked like she was about to faint. I must be quite a sight. Was there drool falling from my lips? "Do you remember anything from the story I began telling you last night? Just nod yes or no." It was my breath. She didn't want me to talk and breathe out early evening morning breath. I shook my head no, embarrassed. "I'll start the story again, but you need to promise me something. Don't freak out. You're not the same person that fell asleep a short time ago." "Why are you acting so..." I stopped mid-sentence. My voice was all wrong. It sounded sweet and melodic, feminine. I shook my head to clear away the remaining grogginess. A few stray blonde hairs fell in front of my eyes. Talyn reached over and pulled the hair from my widening eyes. "You need to take this slow. I can't imagine what a shock this will be for you. You're a young woman now. Well, that's not completely accurate. You were always female, but you'd been transformed for your own safety. Once you turned eighteen, the age of maturity, your transformation ended. That was a few hours ago." "Wait, what..." I stopped my feminine voice again. I pulled my hand to my face. It was definitely feminine, or more feminine than it had been. Talyn reached over and placed her hand on my cheek. "Look at me." I was starting to hyperventilate. I looked her in the eyes, my analogies forgotten for the moment. "Breathe. Slowly. One deep breath, now another. When you're ready, I want you to sit up." I breathed slowly and closed my eyes. I felt Talyn's hand on my cheek. It felt so soft and warm. A girl. I was a girl? I opened my eyes and looked at Talyn again. I pushed myself into a sitting position and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. I immediately felt the weight shift on my chest, my hair cascaded over my shoulder. I started to gasp again as I looked down. "Look at me, Tiger. I know how much of a shock this is, but give it a little time. This is who you really are. You'll adjust faster than you think. Obviously, you're naked. We'll get you dressed soon enough but I thought you'd want to see yourself first. There's a mirror over here." I kept my focus on Talyn's eyes. I had so many questions but her eyes gave me comfort. I stood and instantly realized I was taller. I faced Talyn and I was only a few inches shorter than her now. She was five foot ten, I was likely five eight. I watched Talyn's eyes flicker across my body. She let out an involuntary gasp. "That bad huh? I look like leftover roadkill after a Hillbilly dinner?" "You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen." I turned towards the mirror, feeling my hair and body shift unnaturally. "Is that really me?" "Yes, my Lady." I was confused by Talyn's response but I couldn't tear myself away from the image before me. Beautiful. Ethereal. Angelic. Everything I wasn't before I now was. I was beyond exquisite, beyond beautiful. I had long blonde hair, all the way down to my slender waist. My large eyes were the brightest blue I'd ever seen. I stepped closer to the mirror, my hand moving to my face. I traced my fingertips across my full lips and high cheekbones. My skin and lips were so sensitive. I stepped back and looked down. I'd seen pictures of naked women before but never first hand. I'd heard about breast sizes. I'd guess mine to be between a C and a D cup size. I had such a trim waist and nice hips. I gasped at my new womanhood. I couldn't say I was disappointed in the least. I didn't miss the old me. I turned back to Talyn who stood nearby, her head bowed. I suddenly felt exposed and grabbed the sheet from the bed to wrap it around me. "Tell me again how this happened." "Yes, my Lady." "What's with the 'my Lady' stuff? I'm still me." She carefully glanced up to meet my eyes. "No, my Lady. You're not. You're the Queen of Nealander and I am just a humble protector. I'll repeat what I started to tell you while you were falling asleep. You're not who you think you are and I'm not who you think I am. You weren't born here. You were born to Christophos and Annabella Amiday, King and Queen of the planet and empire Nealander. Your name was Serenity Lorelei Joelle Amiday, Princess of Nealander. Now that you've reached the age of maturity, your name is now Serenity Lorelei Joelle Amiday, Queen of Nealander." She put emphasis on the word 'queen'. I sat down on the bed, trying to focus on the story Talyn was telling me and not how my new body felt. "It was prophesied that a King with powerful magic in the discipline of fire, and a Queen of powerful magic in the discipline of telekinesis would give birth to a daughter with strength in both disciplines and that daughter would bring peace to the empire. Your parents, understanding the perilous times they lived in, wanted to give you the best chance of life they could. We live in dangerous times. When you were born, they called me, their most trusted protector, and another woman skilled in the art of transformation. You were transformed to a baby boy to protect you from certain death at the hands of the second most powerful clan in the empire, the Cumberlings. The entire empire knew that your father and mother matched the prophecy. There was a battle and your father and mother were killed, the Cumberlings took control of the empire. During the battle I was sent to Earth with you to guard over you and protect you until you came of age." "And I thought I had a powerful imagination. Although, I can't dismiss the fact that I'm no longer a male. How could you have brought me here when you're my age?" "I'm one hundred and thirty seven years old. Young by our standards. You probably don't remember, but I was your baby sitter for years until you began going to school. Then in high school I attended as I look now, my Lady." I looked over at Talyn who seemed to be trying hard to keep her eyes downcast. "Why do you do that? You're keeping your eyes down." "Because you're my queen, my Lady." "Hogwash." "My Lady?" "I'm still me. At least I feel like me inside here. You protected me all these years. No one deserves to bow their head to me, least of all you. I love you, Talyn." She looked shocked at my confession. I looked down at myself and fingered my long blonde hair. "Oh... I see. You're not interested in women. The only reason I'd ever want to be the way I was before would be to be with you. I've lost my chance haven't I?" "My Lady, I'm nobody, and in a way, I've lied to you all these years about who I was. I'm just a simple fighter. You need to understand I was doing my job to protect you. Something changed a few years ago in me. I started seeing you in a different perspective. I admit, you weren't much to look at but it was your character that attracted me to you. You would fight even though you knew you'd lose. You'd stick up for people because it was the right thing. I've never met such an honorable person as you. You'll make an excellent queen. And, for the record, I didn't say I wasn't attracted to women. It's just that it's forbidden." "What's forbidden and who forbids it?" "I'm from a lower caste. The ruling caste would never allow such a thing, my Lady." "You say I'm a queen?" "Yes, my Lady." "And what authority does a queen have?" "Ultimate authority, my Lady." "Then if I choose you, who'd ever speak against it? Caste systems are ridiculous and should be abolished. People should be able to choose who they love and not have any barriers to expressing that love as long as both are of age and consenting. Do you have any feelings for me at all?" "I do, my Lady." "Then you have my heart. All you have to do is take it. I'd never force myself upon you. I..." Talyn all but tackled me back onto the bed. She placed both hands on my cheeks, stared into my eyes, and kissed me. This wasn't a regular kiss. It wasn't a kiss between sisters. This was a kiss that ignited my very soul. Like when a sword is being forged and is placed into water to cool. That's not quite right. "Talyn that was ama..." She kissed me again, this time with more passion. My breathing quickened, my heart fluttered. I was putty in her hands. When she pulled away we were both flushed and I felt the coolness of the air between us. I wanted her back next to me. "May I call you by your first name, my Lady?" I was still gasping. "You can call me anything you like." "Serenity, I'm a bit old fashioned and if it's alright with you I want to take things slow between us. I fell in love with your quirky personality and your generous character a long time ago. When I first saw your new face I was instantly attracted to you physically. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. It will be hard for me to keep my hands off of you." "Talyn, I'm more than happy to go slow. It'll take a while for me to figure out this new body. Of course, it's not very fair that you've already seen me naked and I haven't seen you like that." She blushed. "If I got naked now, there'd be no stopping me from joining you in that bed. Besides, we've got lots to do." "Hmmm. I like the sound of that. You're like biting into a ripe peach." She gave me a quizzical look. "Like biting into a ripe peach. Sweet and juicy." She smiled. "Oh. Now I get it. Thank you. I need to get you dressed. Here, put this on." "A tiara?" "Not quite a tiara. It's a bracelet that goes around your bicep. The symbol indicates your position and authority, but it also has a nice feature that you can change your clothing with it. You won't get your tiara until you retake your throne." I slipped it on my arm as I continued to talk and ask questions. "You mean I actually have to wear a tiara?" As soon as the circlet was on my arm, it flashed and I felt clothing appear on my body. I pulled the sheet away and stood. "Wow. You look stunning. Very regal." I looked at myself in the mirror. All my important stuff was covered and in between thin silvery fabric connected the rest. It looked like a mini skirt except it had a longer back that went almost to the floor. Gloves were on my hands and arms and my hair was modified to be half up and half down. Even my feet had shoes on them. "I look like I'm ready for a night of salsa dancing in Rio." "Women here would die for a little magical item like that. Not much magic works on Earth. Simple things like this work, just not major powers. I'll change as well." I watched her reach up and touch her necklace. She'd always worn it. Her outfit changed and was more revealing. A sword appeared on her hip. She was incredibly sexy. "This is my standard protector outfit. It's flexible and allows for a full range of motion." "How come I don't have a sword?" "You don't know how to use one and you won't need one." "Why not? I like the idea of being a pirate-wench queen." Talyn giggled. "When we get to Nealander you'll receive your full powers. If you truly are the prophesied one, you'll be a force to be reckoned with." "What's it going to be like? What about my parents? Not that they were the best of parents, but don't they deserve to know what happened to me? I'm scared." Talyn reached for me and pulled me into her arms. It was nice to be a little smaller than her as my head was able to nestle in to her shoulder and neck. She stroked my hair and kissed my head. "If all goes well, we can come back here in about a week. I left a note for your parents saying that I'd taken you job hunting and to not worry. Besides, we need to figure out exactly what to tell them. I plan on taking you to the summer palace. It's remote and likely not under scrutiny of the Cumberlings. It would give you time to acclimate to your powers, whatever they might be." I took the opportunity to kiss Talyn while I was there in her arms. "Why am I feeling so comfortable with this change? I should be freaking out about the fact I now have breasts and nothing between my legs." "I believe it's because this is who you always were. In a way, the transformation was more like a glamour. It didn't change who you were inside." "What if I'm a dud and have no powers?" "That doesn't negate the fact that you're the rightful queen. It would, however, make things more difficult to regain the throne." "Can I call you my girlfriend?" "No. That doesn't translate well in Nealander society. The correct term would be betrothed." "Betrothed? As in white gowns, flowers, rings, and wedding betrothed?" "There's only one kind of relationship on Nealander. We're designed for monogamous relationships. When we give our hearts willingly to each other, then it becomes a spiritually and physically permanent covenant. Thus, betrothal, or a relationship moving towards marriage is the only kind we have." "Wow, this has been some date! I get to marry the girl of my dreams. Uhm... Don't people expect the Queen to have children to pass along the kingdom to? If we're married, do you also become queen?" "Of course everyone will expect children. It's not as unheard of in Nealander for two women to conceive with a little magical help. I'm not of the bloodline so I'd be considered the First Lady." "We can conceive. Amazing. Why do men even exist there? Here, men are gross mutations lacking anything that resembles intelligence. How do we get to Nealander? Does the motorcycle turn into a spaceship? Do we call for an interplanetary taxi? Is the answer to everything forty-two?" "I should have expected you'd have so many questions. This place, this cabin, is a protected location on Earth. I've put the motorcycle away in a storage shed and we can use the teleportation device in the closet to go to Nealander. And, no, this is not the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." "The closet? Did you ever read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? What's with closets and magical gateways into another world? It's a bit clich?." "Are you ready, Tiger?" I smiled enjoying hearing Talyn call me Tiger again. "Yes, my Lady." "I know you're only joking, but once we get to Nealander you can't speak like that. You can call me Talyn, Protector, or Betrothed while we're in front of others. I recommend Talyn until you can set the Council straight about us." I nodded. "This has been the best birthday I've ever had. Thank you!" I hugged Talyn and kissed her. "I'm never going to get tired of kissing you. I hope you know what you got yourself into." "I'm a very physical woman that loves to touch and be touched. You might be the one that's surprised." With that she gently pushed me back against the wall and kissed me so passionately my legs started to buckle. "Wow... Can this closet teleport us to Vegas? I'm not sure I'm going to survive slow and steady for too long." She smiled. "Let's just say when it does happen, the build-up will be sufficient to sustain us an entire lifetime. Let's go." She moved us into the closet and closed the door behind us. Part 4 I was about to crack a joke about coming out of the closet when I felt myself hurdling through space at incredible speeds. George Lucas had it all wrong. Stars didn't stream like beams of light in hyperspace, they redshifted on the color spectrum and moved slowly. Moments later we went from the darkness of space to brilliant sunshine. I was suddenly very cold and I saw frost on my hands and arms. "That will go away quickly, my Lady. Stay here while I scout the place." I nodded, unable to speak as I looked out at the beauty before me. This world appeared very Earth-like. I was standing on a large stone balcony. A castle rose elegantly behind me and reminded me of the castle in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Blue and white ramparts stretched into the cloudless sky. Below me was a large lake. The entire area was so picturesque it could have been in a movie. The air smelled fresh and wonderful with the scent of forest. What I assumed were wild creatures wandered by the lakeside. They looked like horses with antlers. I turned at the sound of Talyn returning. "It looks safe. How are you feeling?" "This is the summer palace? What's the regular palace like?" "Far more beautiful, but not half as beautiful as you. You look ravishing here on the balcony. Like you belong here. Be calm and look at your right hand." I looked at my right hand which had flickering orange flames dancing along it. I waved my hand to try to put the flames out. "What the h...?" Talyn was there and put her hand on my shoulder. "It won't hurt you. It's your magic manifesting. You were cold after the teleport. Your body used what it had to warm you back up. In your mind, put the fire away." I stared at my hand and concentrated. The flames went away. "That's a nice party trick." "It's more than a party trick. I saw your father level a group of fighters once with fire. He was very powerful. He never used it to kill though. We'll work on training you over the next few days. I'm sure the palace is empty. Only the royal family can open many of the rooms here. Come, let me show you your new home." I reached over and grabbed Talyn's hand. She looked surprised but then smiled warmly. She led me into the palace. This was far from the dark, dingy castles of Europe. This was bright and airy. "This is the grand ballroom. Your parents would throw extravagant dances here and they invited all the people living in the area, regardless of caste. At the far end is where they were supposed to sit, but they preferred to walk about and mingle with the people. The people loved them. I can tell they'll love you even more." I ran my hands along the ornate furniture. "How do you know they'll love me?" "What's not to love? You're a woman that seeks justice. I've seen you put yourself in the middle of a bad situation to protect someone. You're absolutely stunning. If the prophecy is true, you'll unite the empire. That's not happened for tens of thousands of years. It takes both power and love to do that." "What do you think? Am I the one?" I suddenly felt a little like Neo in the movie The Matrix. They told him he was the one, but he wasn't so sure himself. "A prophet once told me that I'd fall in love with the one." "No way!" Talyn started laughing. "You're so sweet and innocent. No prophet ever spoke to me. Do I think you're the one? Yes. The timing seems correct." We continued to walk through the grand hall. "What are the Cumberlings like?" "Do you remember Tad from high school?" "Kind of hard to forget someone that flunked a dozen grades and had more facial hair than a gorilla. Plus, he gave me a wedgie, dropped me upside down into a trash can, and stuffed me in a girl's locker once. Yeah, I remember him." "Imagine Tad, but much bigger and more evil." "Why do the bad guys always have to be big and mean? Wait... How do I know I'm a good guy?" "You'll see and you'll know." We finally reached the end of the grand hall. There were doors that led off to the left. "These doors lead to your parent's room. Try to open them." "There's no handle." I walked up and pushed to no avail. "Try telling the door to open with your mind." I shrugged and looked at the door and in my mind I said "open". The doors swung inward. "That's cool." "The doors recognize you as a member of the royal family." "I guess that mean's you didn't protect the wrong kid all these years." We walked into the large room. There was a bathing area, lovely furniture, and a very large bed. Beyond the bed was a large balcony that overlooked another portion of the lake. There were wonderful feminine touches everywhere. "No one's been in here for at least eighteen years." Above a large and ornate fireplace was a portrait of a handsome man and a beautiful woman. "Is that them? My mom and dad?" Talyn nodded solemnly. I reached up and touched the painting, gliding my fingers over the painted portion of my mother's foot. I felt wetness fall from my eyes. I turned into Talyn's arms and wept. "I never had a chance to know them. She was so beautiful and he was so handsome. What were they like?" Talyn led me to the bed and we sat down together on the edge. "Your father was a great man of courage and strength. Your mother was gracious and kind. Together they made the empire a special place. I see their character in you. You resemble your mother, but I must say you're far more beautiful." I looked back at my parents. "What happens now?" "We need to get you used to your powers, contact devoted members of the royal family, see what remains of the military, take back the throne, punish the Cumberlings, throw a massive party, and get married." "Do we have to do all those things before the last one?" "The queen can only get married in the Temple of Stars. The Temple of Stars is under control of the Cumberlings. The wedding can be announced at the party but then it takes sixty days for the preparations to be made." "Sixty days?" I looked over Talyn's lithe body. "I'm not sure I can wait sixty minutes." "A day on Nealander is roughly twenty-eight Earth hours. The day is divided into one hundred tarns. It is roughly tarn seventy-two right now. Each tarn is just under eighteen Earth minutes. A year on Nealander is three hundred and thirteen days, almost exactly the same hours as a year on Earth." "So it should be getting dark soon." "Yes, but Nealander has two moons that orbit the planet quite quickly. Most nights can be a little brighter than the Earth at night with clear skies and a full moon." "Will we sleep here?" "You'll sleep here. There is an attached room for Protectors." "You can sleep with me in this big bed." "If I got into bed with you, then I might not be able to control myself. It's best we sleep separate so we remain pure for our wedding night." "What if I get cold?" "Light a fire." "With what?" "Your magic, silly. When you're ready for bed, touch your bracelet and think of going to sleep. Consider the room over there a bathroom. You can have a bath. There are lotions and soaps, even towels. The queen is generally waited on by servants that will wash you. At least, for now, you'll have to do it yourself." "I only want one person to ever see me naked, and that's you." Talyn bit her lower lip. "I don't need servants to wash me." "People will want to serve you, some would say they need to serve you. I like that you only want me to see you. That's very special to me." "If I'm queen, then I'd think my job is to serve the people, not the other way around." "A great leader serves their people, and the people will love them for that. That love will manifest itself in loyal people who will want to serve you. This is something the Cumberlings don't understand. They demand to be served while taking everything for themselves. Goodnight, my Love" Talyn kissed me several times before walking to the attached room and closing the door behind her. Part 5 This would take some getting used to. I walked towards the balcony and told the doors to open with my mind. I stepped out as the sun was setting. One of the moons was rising off to my left as the sun set slightly to my right. The sky lit up like fire, the lake reflected the last moments of the sun. The air cooled quickly and a mist began to form over the lake. The mist rolled slowly towards the forest. I watched as one of the horse-like creatures came from the forest towards me. It was pure white and it seemed to look me in the eye. It dropped its head almost like it was bowing to me before it walked back into the forest. I shivered and walked back into my room and closed the doors behind me. I walked towards the bathroom and assessed the facilities. There was hot water already in the bath. I wondered if it always had water in it. I touched my bracelet and thought of a bath. My clothes vanished. A mirror stood in the corner and I looked at myself. I was breathtaking. I touched the water with my toe and the temperature felt perfect. I stepped into the bath and noticed how my new body floated differently. I closed my eyes and luxuriated in the water. I explored my body and was amazed to feel how sensitive it was. Every place I touched sent waves of warmth and pleasure through my body. I thought of Talyn and that warmth flared into a deep desire and passion. I could have and wanted to please myself to learn all that this body had to offer, but I wanted Talyn more. I wanted her to teach me about my body. I hesitantly and reluctantly slowed my exploring and looked around the bathroom. Several containers sat on a shelf nearby and I stubbornly refused to get out of the perfect temperature water. Didn't my mother have telekinetic abilities? Everything was thought-based. I imagined the container floating down to me and it did. I did the same with another three containers. I now knew I had two abilities. I was feeling pretty smug and I admit the power was going to my head. I imagined the things I could do to bullies, then I felt shameful. The words "with great power comes great responsibility" came to mind. Peter Parker's uncle was correct. This power needed to be used to help people, not harm them. I sighed and tested each of the containers. One container smelled heavenly and it lathered up nicely. I used it on me and my hair. When I was finally turning into a prune I thought of my abilities once again. I concentrated on raising myself from the water. There was no effort at all as I floated over the water. I knew I could fly at this point. I found a towel on a shelf and dried myself. My hair was still very wet so I wrapped the towel around it. I touched the bracelet and thought of bedtime. A thin sheer gown covered me. I looked in the mirror and saw how the nightgown clung to my curves and was very transparent. It felt so good against my skin. I walked towards the bed but my towel fell off my head. My hair was strangely dry and the towel vanished from the floor. I was in a brave new world. I shivered at the coolness of the room. I looked to the fireplace. Do I dare? There was firewood already stacked in there. I pointed my finger at the fireplace and imagined a fire there. I had to hand it to myself that I did start the wood on fire, but the subsequent fireball blew me back forty feet. While in the air something happened to me and I was surrounded by a sphere of shimmering light that seemed to absorb the impact when I collided with Talyn's door. Talyn was at my side in a flash. I stood with her help. I was a little shaken up but otherwise fine. "What happened? Are you alright?" "I'm fine I think. I was cold so I thought I'd do as you suggested and light the fire. There was a big fireball that threw me backwards. Something else happened. Before I hit the door, a sphere of light went around me. It seemed to absorb the impact." Talyn looked me over carefully. "That would mean you have magical ability in shields but it would be extremely rare to create a shield big enough to surround you." "I also have telekinetic ability." I concentrated and lifted myself off the ground then back down. "I've never seen anyone with that ability move more than small objects. Can you lift us both?" I tried and found that we were both lifted from the ground. "Unbelievable. Think about making a shield of light in front of us." I did and a shield appeared that stretched from the floor to the tops of our heads and spanned across both our bodies. "There's no question, you're the one. I've never seen so much power displayed. Are you tired? Is it hard on you?" "I'm a little tired, but I feel like I've got much more to draw on." I finally realized Talyn was wearing a nightgown similar to mine and it was mostly transparent. "God, Talyn. You're so beautiful." She blushed and touched her necklace to change into something less revealing. Then I noticed her eyes were transfixed on my body. I touched the bracelet to change as well. "Thank you, Tiger. I'm not sure I could have restrained myself much longer. You have a fire going, you smell wonderful so you must have had a bath, and you're safe and sound. We should get some sleep." Her hand slipped behind my neck and pulled me into a kiss. My arms automatically wrapped around her waist and pulled her to me. One kiss led to another and another until finally Talyn pulled away. Her breasts were heaving in time with her breathing. "Goodnight, Tiger." "Goodnight, Talyn." I turned and set my clothing back to the nightgown and slipped into the large bed. The room had warmed up nicely, or maybe it was me that had warmed up. Either way, I was as toasty as a marshmallow between chocolate wedges. Part 6 I woke slowly the next morning. I opened my eyes to see Talyn laying on the bed next to me staring into my eyes. "You're so beautiful, Serenity. When I came out I saw you were still sleeping. You looked like an angel. I had to lay next to you." "I'm looking forward to waking up next to you for the rest of my life." I gave her a kiss. My first morning waking up as a woman was such an amazing feeling. "I had a hard time getting to sleep last night as I was worried this was all a big dream and I'd wake up back as my old self and in my old home. If anything, I feel even more comfortable with who I am now. What's on the schedule for the day?" "I sent messages to three magical discipline leaders that are still loyal to you and your family. I also sent a message to the old captains of the guard and militias. They were deposed when the Cumberlings took power. They'll all be here in an hour. We'll meet, discuss plans, and test your abilities and help you fine tune them with training. The Cumberlings don't know you exist yet. Let's hope we can keep it that way." "So you're saying we have an hour to kill?" I pulled back the bedding knowing I was still in my sheer nightgown. "Ohhh, Tiger!" Talyn tackled me and wrapped me in her arms. We were good and didn't do anything we weren't supposed to do, but it was very clear both Talyn and I didn't want to stop our kisses or embrace. After fifteen minutes of some very passionate kissing we both decided that we were close to reaching a point of no return and we should get up and find some food. I changed into the same outfit I wore the previous day. Talyn said it was regal looking. We walked out onto the balcony of the bedroom and looked over the scenery. Talyn seemed like she was homesick for this place and I could see why. "I came out here last night at sunset and saw a white horse-like creature. It came out of the forest and mist and looked at me. I swear it bowed then left. What are those creatures?" "They're called Antallas. They're magical creatures that roam the planet. I've only heard of white ones as part of ancient legend. The legend tells of how Nealander was under constant strife with all the people fighting. The forests, planet, and people were being ravaged by war. It was said that a white Antallas chose a man to lead the planet to peace. The man rode the white Antallas from people group to people group uniting the world. That man became the first King of Nealander. That would have been about ten thousand years ago. If what you saw was real, then perhaps it's a sign. Let's head to the main entrance. Our guests should be arriving soon." I took her hand in mine, but she let it go. "Until you're pronounced Queen and we make an announcement, we need appear as Queen and Protector. With our both being away for eighteen years, they'll expect some relationship between us and accept some lapses in protocol, but we must follow protocol as best we can. Of course, while we're here, in the privacy of your room, we can be free." I sighed. I felt like a log adrift in a river unable to control where it was going. "What should I expect from these people?" "When they recognize you for who you are, they'll immediately bow. Don't be alarmed or upset by that. They give you honor and respect. Allow them that. Be yourself." I nodded as we continued to walk through the grand hallway to the outer balcony. When we reached the balcony no one had arrived yet. I looked down into the forest and I was sure I saw a white Antallas in the trees. "How do I go down there?" "There is a stairway but it's a long ways around and our guests will be here soon." "I need to go down there. I'll be right back." I concentrated on lifting myself over the balcony railing and dropped down to the field below. I felt compelled to walk towards the forest. I looked back to see Talyn fretting up on the balcony. I took some tentative steps forward when the white Antallas stepped out and started moving towards me. I was amazed at how large it was and with the antlers it could be very dangerous. It was very imposing as it strode forward. I dropped to one knee, bowed my head, and extended my hand. This truly was a mythical and majestic creature. "Rise!" I heard the word in my mind. "You're the one of prophecy." I replied in my mind as the great beast placed its muzzle against my hand. "I am Serenity Lorelei Joelle Amiday. I'm told I'm the rightful queen of Nealander." "I'm Toor, King of the Antallas. You'll need our help to restore the balance in the world. The Antallas offer their service to you." "I'm honored by your offer. I hope I'm worthy of your trust. May I ask why you choose to help us?" "Many years ago, the King of the Antallas worked with the humans to restore balance to the world. A covenant was made between the King of men and the King of the Antallas to form an alliance should the world fall from balance again. This place has been spared the savagery and destruction happening throughout the rest of the world. By restoring you to power and eliminating the threat, balance will be restored. The Antallas are magical creatures and can enhance their rider's natural strength, endurance, abilities, and magic. I sense a great power to your magic, more than any other human. You carry all the magical disciplines within you." "How will I contact you?" "When you need me I'll be there." I looked into his eyes and bowed my head towards him. He in turn bowed his head towards me, turned, and left. I watched him go and wondered just what I'd got myself into. I turned to look back up at the balcony. Talyn and five other people were staring at me with expressions of awe. I floated myself back up to them. When my feet touched the stone of the balcony, all of them bowed deeply to me and softly spoke the words, "My Queen." I had a sudden urge to run away at that moment. I'd never been the center of attention before with the exception of being the center of attention in a negative way. I was humbled to the point of tears. I bowed deeply to them which caused them to gasp. "I'm not deserving of your devotion, but I'll make it my life's ambition to serve the people of Nealander to the best of my ability and in any way I can." Talyn stepped forward. "My Lady. These people have all sworn fealty to you. May I introduce Nagora, Disciple of Shield Magic." An elegant older lady waved her hand and produced a Frisbee sized shield. Talyn turned to the next person. "This is Sebastian, Disciple of Fire Magic." The middle-aged man with a grey beard nodded his head towards me and hurled a small fireball into the air. "Next, is Bartel, Disciple of Telekinetic Magic." He held out his hand and spun a small disc in the air. "Rictalous is the former Captain of the Royal Guard." I could see this was a man of loyalty when I looked into his eyes. "And finally, Dartagnen, former Captain of the Militia." "It's my honor to meet you all. I must apologize for my lack of understanding of the customs of this world. While I'm from here, I've not lived here. My upbringing did little to prepare me for queenship." Rictalous stepped forward and knelt down and took my hand. "I speak on behalf of all those present. Perhaps it's best our Queen has been raised elsewhere to have a better perspective of what needs fixing. Sometimes it takes a fresh perspective to right the wrongs we've all done to ourselves. We arrived in time to see you with the white Antallas. This has only happened once before in the history of men. May I be so bold as to ask what transpired between you two?" "Of course. His name is Toor, King of the Antallas. He is honoring an age-old alliance between the Antallas and men. He believes my restoration as Queen and removing the threats to the kingdom will restore balance to the world. He's offering the help of the Antallas." "He speaks?" "He spoke into my mind and me to his. He also said I carry all the magical disciplines in me. I've witnessed three. How many are there?" Sebastian stepped forward. "You've witness three already? From yourself? I saw you levitate, which was very impressive, but it would be rare if one person displays rudimentary abilities in two disciplines. I don't mean to insult you, my Lady. This is merely an observation." Talyn came to my side. "I've already witnessed three myself and at strengths beyond anything I've ever heard existed." She turned to me. "There are seven disciplines. Fire, Telekinetic, Shields, Wind, Water, Healing, and Growth/Restoration, my Lady." "Where do we begin?" Dartagnen spoke again. "Strategically, it would be good to understand your abilities as those are crucial for our planning, my Lady. I suggest we test the three disciplines you have while we all watch. We can do limited training of the other disciplines without other discipline specialists to assist us." "Toor mentioned that the Cumberlings have devastated the world. Is it as he says?" "Yes, my Lady. People are enslaved to serve them. The land has been stripped. They're powerful magicians and no one can stand in their way." "I hope I can help you all. Let's start right away. The sooner we can help those people the better." Sebastian started backing away from us. I didn't pay much attention until I saw a fireball coming at me from my peripheral vision. I turned and put my hand up without thinking and a shield surrounded the remaining group. The fireball simply poofed against the shield and vanished. Nagora stood amazed. "I've never seen such a large shield before, my Lady. How did you do it?" "I didn't think at all. It just happened. Like last night when I almost exploded the fireplace. A shield wrapped around me." "Can you make a shield around us by concentrating?" "Yes." I surrounded everyone in the shield. "Now, grow the size of the shield, my Lady." I imagined the shield growing like a balloon. It grew and grew until half the palace was engulfed before the edges began fraying. "I guess that's the limit." "You're not tired, my Lady?" "No, should I be?" "She's a conduit. We've theorized it was possible. Our Queen draws upon the magic of the world rather than the magic within her." Bartel spoke next. "How much can you lift, my Lady? We saw you lift yourself which is more than I've ever seen anyone do before. Below, by the lake. There's a fallen tree. Can you lift it?" I looked at the fallen tree and concentrated. The tree came up from the edge of the lake with a sucking sound. I spun it around and put it back on the ground. Sebastian pulled a candle from a pouch. He placed the candle on the balcony rail. "Try to light the candle, my Lady." I brought up a shield around everyone first after my last fiasco with fire. It was a good thing as when I tried to light the candle, it exploded in a massive fireball that wrapped flames around us all. "I'm obviously lacking finesse." "Subtlety and finesse are the mark of a skilled magician, my Lady." "Do you have another candle?" Sebastian pulled a second candle from his pouch. I thought small and subtle this time. The candle sparked into flame without the huge explosion. "I've seen enough!" Dartagnen drew his sword and slashed viciously towards me. My shield went up around me instantly but Talyn had already dove in front of me to protect me. Dartagnen's sword cut cleanly into her side. I looked at Talyn then Dartagnen and screamed in anger. I didn't even think. Dartagnen was quickly backing away. I knelt down and cradled Talyn who wasn't looking good. Her breathing was strained and she was bleeding heavily. "Stop!" I yelled at Dartagnen. He was rooted in spot and couldn't move. I started crying as I looked at Talyn. I kissed her and placed my hand on her side and closed my eyes. "Heal!" Later the others would tell me a white light came from my hand and seeped into Talyn. It only took a few moments and Talyn's breathing was regular again and she was stirring. I held onto her. "I'm alright, my Lady." I looked down and saw her side was completely healed. I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her. "Enough of the 'my Lady' stuff. You're my betrothed. I don't care about special timing or due process." We got to our feet and I clung to Talyn. The others simply nodded their head in acceptance. I turned my eyes back toward Dartagnen. "How dare you hurt my Betrothed!" I was furious. "My sword was intended for you, not Talyn." "Why?" I built a shield around him and lifted him off the ground. I wasn't thinking. "You'll get nothing from me!" I started closing the sphere around him until it was squeezing him. "Tell me!" The fear and hatred in his eyes was intense. "I'm a Cumberling spy. My family is under their control. They'll kill them. I had no choice." My anger was ebbing, but I was still not in control. I felt a desire pulling at me to collapse the shield and obliterate him. I looked into Talyn's eyes and I started crying again at what I'd become. I dropped him to the ground, removed the shield, and flung his sword so hard it embedded into the stone wall of the palace. I walked up to him. He was shaking but I'd regained control of my anger. "If I promise to rescue your family, will you serve this group faithfully?" "I will." "No. That's not right." I shook my head. "I promise to try to save your family. You're free to do as you please." I turned and fell to my knees, tears falling from my eyes once again. Talyn wrapped me in her arms. "My Betrothed, why are you crying?" "I could have killed him. I wasn't in control of my anger. I'm a monster. This world doesn't need me. I'm a menace." Talyn looked up and drew her sword as Dartagnen walked closer to us. He knelt in front of me. "Forgive me, my Queen. You had every right to kill me as I'm not worthy to live. I beg your forgiveness and swear my fealty to you. You're indeed the Queen we need." "No one deserves death. I've failed as a Queen because I let my anger control me." Talyn spoke for the group. "No, my Betrothed. You're the right person to lead us because you fought against your power and your anger. You have great wisdom and strength." I looked at Dartagnen. "You're free to go, why swear fealty to me? I'll not accept any who follow me out of fear." "You spared my life, but more than that, I believe you can restore Nealander." Talyn helped me to my feet. I looked at the sword in the wall and willed it to come to me. It flew to my hand. I handed it back to Dartagnen hilt first. "Where's your family and where do we go from here?" "They're held in the dungeons of the Grand Palace in the capital city of Hafflin." "We have dungeons?" Nagor spoke. "The dungeons had not been used for millennia. They're now filled to capacity as the Cumberlings use them as a deterrent to those unfaithful towards them. We've seen four disciplines so far leaving wind, water, and growth/restoration yet to be displayed or tested. We should try to test those first, then plan on how to get the throne back, my Lady." "I can't simply ride Toor into the Grand Palace?" "That's actually a good idea, my Lady. I think, however, we would all agree that it would put you at some risk. But if it worked, you'd unseat the Cumberlings from their main place of power. Then, they'd be forced to fall back into the countryside with their armies." "I'm not afraid for myself. My shields seem to form around me automatically. I'd be more afraid for anyone that was with me." Talyn touched her necklace and changed into what appeared to be full battle gear. "We all have protection. Not enough to stop a fireball or an arrow through the fittings, but enough to be of support. We've fought battles enough times to be able to handle ourselves. The Cumberlings are restricted to portions of the Grand Palace as only royal blood can open the King and Queen's residence and the storage vault." I was about to say something very unqueen-like as Talyn looked spectacular in her battle outfit. "How many people are stationed at the Grand Palace?" "Only about two hundred, my Lady." "Can we create a distraction to draw some out first?" "I've got an idea, my Lady." Rictalous shared his idea with the group. "My only concern is that you'd need to go into parts of the city that are less than savory, my Lady." I laughed which seemed to shock them a little. "I've been in a high school change room. There's nothing less savory than that. Besides, if that's where the people of the empire are living, then I shouldn't be afraid to go there." "What's a high school change room, my Lady?" Talyn started laughing. I turned back to them. "Water, wind, and growth/restoration. I guess I could simply try those here." I floated down to the lakeside and focused on the water. I thought of a path of ice across the lake and it formed before my eyes. I stepped out onto the ice and it held firm. I then walked back to the shore and told the ice to melt and form a wall of water in front of me. It was unbelievable. I wasn't sure how this would be useful against the Cumberlings, but I was happy I had a vivid imagination. I let the water go back to normal then I thought of a tornado-like windstorm. I watched as the wind began to spin over the lake and create a waterspout. It seemed all so easy. I walked over to the dead tree I'd lifted up before. I lifted it again and placed it upright on the ground. I held it there and placed my hand against the muddy trunk. I pictured the tree growing again. Before my eyes the roots grew into the ground and the branches reformed. Finally leaves sprung forth on the branches and flowers bloomed. I floated back to the balcony. "I guess those disciplines work as well." "And to see you do them so easily without training or guidance, my Lady. I'm very glad you're on our side." "I don't think I could ever be a tyrant, Sebastian. The power makes it tempting, but my heart would never allow it. I can't stand to see people hurting, even my enemies." "My Lady, we'd like to take our leave and travel back to Hafflin to prepare. If you and Talyn could meet us at the Tavern of the Moon tomorrow at tarn 30, we can continue planning from there." "Certainly." They all bowed and I assumed they headed to the closet to teleport back to the city. Talyn and I stood alone on the balcony once again. I took her in my arms and kissed her. "You're sure you're alright, my love?" "Never better, Tiger. With the exception of the last eighteen years, I've been around royalty all my life and I've never seen anyone so impressive as you." "Seeing magical power demonstrated I'm sure gives that impression." "The power was amazing, but that's not what I was meaning. How you handled Dartagnen. You took someone that attempted to kill you and you made a lifelong valuable ally. People are trained all their lives to lead people. You inherently know what the right thing to do is." "I've been abused much of my life. I guess that's a form of life training. I just remembered the time I was called 'girly-girl'. Wouldn't they laugh now if they saw me?" "People that are abused like you were rarely turn out to be good people. They're broken and damaged individuals that respond and make decisions out of pain. You took the abuse and channeled it into a deep desire to seek justice. That's admirable. And those guys that called you a 'girly-girl', were they ever right. You're gorgeous and you're all mine!" She wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her body against mine. Her hand dropped to my butt as she kissed me. A planter nearby burst into flames which seemingly coincided with the heat rising within me. Talyn pulled away and we both started laughing. I coaxed some water from the lake to put out the fire. "I'll need to learn to control that." "I think it's cute as long as you don't set our bed on fire." The planter burst into flames again as I thought about the two of us in bed together. I sighed and put it out again. Talyn took my hand and led me back into the palace. Part 7 The next day Talyn showed me the teleporter and explained how it was used. If needed, a map of teleporters could be displayed and filtered to geographic locations. We chose a garden that Talyn used to visit and was fairly close to the tavern. The next thing I knew we were standing in a gray and desolate space that appeared to have had fountains and trees. The odor of death and destruction filled the air. Stumps of trees stood everywhere. It was sad for me to see but one look at Talyn and I could tell she was devastated. Tears formed in her eyes. Talyn became angry. "This is the work of the Cumberlings!" She was ranting and crying. "Look at me." I placed my hands on her cheeks and forced her to look in my eyes. "Kiss me." "What?" "Close your eyes and kiss me." Talyn took a deep breath to settle herself, closed her eyes and kissed me. I closed my eyes as I held our kiss and I imagined the love and life that poured into me from her kiss. We let the kiss linger and then we opened our eyes. "Oh my God!" Talyn started crying again but this time it was not out of anger. The garden had been transformed as we kissed. Flowers bloomed everywhere. Fountains bubbled and sprayed with crystal clear water. Even the sky was noticeable clearer. "You did this?" "Not really. The passion and love from your kiss helped me see this place for what it could be." I reached over and picked a red flower that reminded me of a rose. I handed it to Talyn. "If you could do this from one kiss, I wonder what would happen if we made love? Thank you! You've shown me all is not lost. Come on Tiger. We've got a kingdom to take back." Ignoring all protocol she took my hand and led me from the garden. We walked through dirty and soot blackened streets. People appeared frightened and many looked to be rather unscrupulous types. At one point a little boy came towards us from a ramshackle home. "Who ar