Garbage Day

"SEASIL!"

Pushing through the crowd, the young manakete broke the perimiter of guards and sprinted towards Seasil.  The Zodian guards, used to the onyx princess's behavior, did not move to stop her, but a number of the ceremonial warriors of Fangrong lowered their spears and went for blades as she ran forth.  With a quiet chuckle and a raised hand, Hei ordered them to stand down.  The young girl collided into Seasil's side, wrapping her arms around the older girl.

"Do you really have to leave already?  You just got here, and it has been so very long.  Can't I come with you?"

Bracing herself upon hearing her name, the Dragoness buckled her knees and took the full impact of the dense little princess. Manaketes were stronger than they looked.

Instinctively, Seasil's wing came to rest over Nihli's shoulders. Her gaze was elsewhere. Once more looking upon the towering gate, she sighed.

"I am n-not sure what the Emperors are s-summoning me for, Nihli. Truthfully. If you do come with me, y-you will have to be brave." Seasil took a shakey breath, more for herself than anything, her eyes flickered back to Orion and then Nihli.

"C-can you do that? Once you learn what they have to teach, or say, you cannot forget it."

Nihli backed away from Seasil and looked up with her with determination in her dark eyes.  A serious look on her face, she nodded, her ears wiggling slightly from the force at which she nodded with.

"I can.  I promise.  I... I want to help you, Seasil. You have done nothing but help me so much, and I want to be there to support you."

She smiled and took Seasil's hands in her own.  "Can I really go with you?  I promise I will be good.  I will be on my very best behavior and use all of the things you and Big Brother taught me!"

Seasil smiled, soft, worried, and even more worried. Still, she found herself nodding to Nihli's request. She already took comfort in the fact that the little Dragonette would be alongside her. Familiarity would pay off.

Squeezing the hand of the Onyx Pirncess, the queen took a breath. "V-very well, Nihli. I will hold you to your promise, yes? I hope you have your things, as... I believe it is... t-time to depart."

With a shift in her focus, Seasil found Orion's gaze. His eyes were brilliantly warm in the sun, perfect pools of amethyst. Her brow knit together, as it so often did, with concern and reluctance. "I- I- suppose this is f-farewell, for now?"

Nihli hopped so high that she almost took flight.  "I-I am!" she said, turning towards Lilyana and Rosalyn.  She grabbed the bag, which she had definitely not prepared in case Seasil had said yes, and threw her arms around the two women.  "We'll be back soon, okay?"

Orion murmured under his breath, brushing a hand across Seasil's brow and moving a stray bang from her face.  "For now, yes.  But not for long.  Come back soon, my love."

With that, he kissed her one last time before she would depart for places unknown.  It was a short kiss, but gentle and full of love and worry all the same.

With one final look, Hei signaled to Seasil that it was time to go.  The massive, forbidding gates slowly began to rise, one after the other.  From beyond the gates, Seasil could see the rolling hills of the Valley.

It was time to leave.

For the umpteenth time, Seasil contemplated not going at all. Those looming gates could remain shut. It would be so easy to stay by Orion's side. She knew she was beating the dead horse, as the humans said, but- but! Seasil leaned into Orion's hand and managed to sneak a kiss into the center of his palm before he offered a proper kiss.

She could have melted, were it not for his preceding words. Instead, she drew in a short breath through her nose and rolled back onto her heels. "I- I will. I d-don't want to waste a single day apart from you."

Despite herself, and some incredibly glassy eyes, Seasil heeded the call. Gathering Nihli, bidding farewell to Rosalyn, Lilyana, and Orion (one more kiss) the two Manaketes departed for lands rarely seen.

She did fail, at least a little, as Queen Seasilia did not cry while waving goodbye to her king. She just momentarily wept once the gate shut and he was far out of sight. Those tears served as another reminder that her ephemeral love was beautiful, fleeting, and oh-so painful.

---

Still, soon, tears dried, and focus was drawn elsewhere. Staying busy was key. Seasil would have been the first to admit, the Valley was truly a sight to behold.

Orion's heart sank as the great gate closed behind Nihli and Seasil.  They were well-guarded - Hei and a score of guards accompanied her.  She would be fine.  She would be.

Orion turned back towards his own guards, and towards the Fangrong officials.  "Well," Orion began, "Let us get started, shall we?"

---



It was the better part of a week's travel through the very heart of the Valley of Prosperity, but the days seemed to blend together with the vibrant colors, sights, and sounds that the Valley had to offer.  



As a royal entourage, every village and villager they passed dropped everything they were doing to pay respects.  Children shouted in their native tongue, waving to the outsiders excitedly.  Though they stayed briefly in any place, Nihli found it hard to bid the young ones she befriended at each village.  The adults who watched noted the outsiders in their lands... And though none stated it, many fell to their knees as Seasil passed, genuflecting before her.  Whether it was a gesture of respect or recognition, she could not tell.  Neither Hei nor her escort confirmed her suspicions.



But every turn filled her senses with colors and scenes more beautiful than one could imagine.  And yet... even here, thousands of miles south of the seat of their former empire, Seasil could see the marks of her people.  The wondrous trees, the cavernous mountains, the silent brooks.  Though the people of Fangrong Gu had made it their own, the skeletons of her people - of the Emerald Emblem - were plain to see.  Just like in Ascension, in Hest, and across Zodia and Lagalla.



But in none of these places was it more evident than her final destination.

---



It appeared so suddenly, as they crested a small hill.  Seasil and Nihli stood, Hei not far from them, and surrounded by the ceremonial warriors of Fangrong.  Before the Zodian Queen stood a magnificent crescent in the waning sun.  To her left, a brilliant palace of gold and red, illuminated like a torch against the encroaching night, nestled upon a tall mount.  She could count hundreds of stairs leading to its peak, even from this distance, gates and walls protecting the myriad fortresses that seperated each tier of the palace itself.  To her right was another palace, nearly identical in every way to the first, as if a giant mirror stood between them.  Where the first palace was one of brilliance and strength, this one was one of night and wisdom - the stonework black, silver, and red.  In the rising moon, the buildings almost seemed to glimmer with an otherworldliness that set her heart to rest as much as the first had set it aflutter.  And, between the two magnificent palace-cities lay a city great in its own right, a wonderful twilight between the cities of the Dawn and Dusk.



Hei took a deep breath as he stared down at the magnificence below them.

A breathy "Wow," was all that Nihli could conjure.  Her hand gripped Seasil's tighter still.

"Qing Cheng," Hei said, gesturing at the grand palace of gold.  "The City of Light.  And Wuye Chengshi," he said, gesturing to its black twin across the valley, "the City of Midnight."  He smiled.  It was a smile that Seasil recognized - it was the same smile that Orion had on his face when they had returned to Ascension after the war.  The smile of homecoming.


"Our destination lies at the crux of both cities - Mù Guāng Zhī Chéng, the Court of Twilight.  It is where the Emperors meet on matters that affect the nation in its entirety - where they wished to speak with you.  Are you prepared, Your Majesty?  Miss Nihli?"

A deep sense of nostalgia soon filled Seasil as she looked out toward the rolling, familiar, scenery. While so much was new, the land itself was so very similar to how it had been over a millennia ago. To keep herself occupied, the new queen spent time pointing out every ruin she could remember to Nihli-- the Emerald homeland in decaying portraits.

Derelict aqueducts, ancient nesting caves, and waymarkers-- once pristine, almost blended with the background. It made Seasil ill at the thought of their decay, though she was able to recognize a glib feeling.

Truthfully, she felt the opposite. New life had sprung up among the towering structures. The lands had found better purpose in the hands of the humans.

As the wonders passed them by, day by day, Seasil, too, found herself conflicted at the actions of the inhabitants of the Valley. She was the Queen of Zodia now. Prostration was something that could not make her uncomfortable. Yet, the ambiguity of their genuflection made her wonder, stomach turning, if she was truly ready for a people that still loved her people.

----

Still, hand waiving her earlier hesitation, Seasil found herself exceptionally grateful for Nihli's presence at her side. By the Emblems, she needed some sense of familiarity-- lest she spend the whole trip there in some kind of anxiety-induced tears. (Even in concept, Seasil felt bad for Hei and the other guards due to her behavior).

The Dragonette's curiosity, exuberance, and entire person made the trip more than tolerable. Between Nihli and Hei as her guide, the days crawled on and their destination drew ever closer.

---

Between all of it, of course, she missed Orion. Perhaps for the first, and only, time-- Seasil found herself jealous of Misty and Alstroe for their ability to "bond" with their loved ones.

----

Despite her usual anxiety-ridden inner monolouge, Seasil traveled well and without fuss in the outside world. She stomached genuflection, took in the marvels of the land, and displayed every kindness she could as a guest of this new country.

Standing at the threshold between the towers of Dawn and Dusk, she could not help but let her wings almost sag as she craned her neck up to observe the brilliant structures.

"H-Hei, they are beautiful." Her stammer was only half due to normal inflections. The rest, most of it actually, was simple awe. Her heart twisted at his own look of contented reverence, "Words c-cannot do this land justice."

Spending another beat taking in the breathtaking vista, Seasil nodded. "As l-long as Nihli is ready, I am prepared."

Despite her words, Seasil straightened the skirt of her travelling gown. While it was not as severe as what she'd grown accustomed to in the North, she'd seen to it that her attire for the extended trip reflected the best of Zodian fashion and her people's sense of dress. The lack of sleeves, lace, and open back had been a welcome change in the warm climates of the Valley.


(Lengthen skirt to Zodian-appropriate length, please)

Second, Seasil carefully raised a hand and adjusted a relatively simple, silver circlet upon her forehead. Upon refusing to travel with heirlooms, she'd seen to the creation of a circlet with Orion's eye color. He wore no scales, thus wearing the other colors of her husband would have to suffice. While her dress reflected the raven tones of his hair, the glittering piece upon her head bore the striking purple of King Orion's eyes and the glittering stars and blues of Zodia within the gemstone itself.

While she had neglected to wear the circlet during most of their travels, she'd had just enough time to freshen up before meeting with the Twin Emperors. 



Lastly, and perhaps the most self-consciously, Seasil straightened a pair of dainty, silver, ear cuffs. Against the torn and scarred skin of her ears, the completed the points that had long been missing. In matching colors to the circlet, they gave an elegant solution to an ugly, ugly, problem. She swallowed hard, they were certainly in place.



Wrapped in the very colors that made up Orion, Seasil's courage was flying high as it could in this situation. "Y-yes. Yes. As I said, we are ready."

Hei nodded.  "Then let us proceed."

Nihli clutched her hand tighter as the two manaketes and their entourage descended into the valley.  The air was still and serene.  It almost felt as if the sacred retreat was approaching them, not the other way around.

As the group approached, the setting sun painted a mural across the immaculate plaza that stood before them.  Figures in immaculate black silk robes lined the stairs as they approached - twelves gorgeous women of raven hair and alabaster skin, each attended by a man in similar, yet diminished robes three steps behind them.  "The Dusk Maidens," Hei whispered quietly to Seasil.  "Servants of the Dusk Emperor.  My counterparts."

A few paces from the stairs the two women in front bowed nearly in half, speaking words in unison.

"Huānyíng, róngxìng de bù lín gé,"

Once again, Hei translated. "'Welcome, honored bringer.  'Bringer' - it is a word synonymous with 'dragon' in our tongue."

As they ascended, every few steps, the next pair of Dusk Maidens would bow, repeating the same words.

"Huānyíng, róngxìng de bù lín gé."

"Huānyíng, róngxìng de bù lín gé."

"Huānyíng, róngxìng de bù lín gé."

"Huānyíng, róngxìng de bù lín gé."

At the stair's zenith, the final pair bowed.  And yet, Hei and Seasil could not help but freeze for a moment.


"Huānyíng, róngxìng de bù lín gé," they said in unison.  One of the women stepped forward and continued to speak.  A familiar face, albeit one they could never have been prepared to face once again.  "You have traveled far, Queen Seasilia Andromede of Zodia.  Allow us to welcome you to our home."

Liao Jing.  The real Liao Jing.  In that moment, it became obvious to the two of them how the imposter had impersonated her - they looked nearly identical.

"Fear not; I have grown accustomed to these looks.  I would extend my personal appreciation for ensuring such looks will continue no longer.  Please, Honored Bringers, come.  Their Lunar Emminence awaits just beyond the court, in the Grove of Twilight."

Dusk Maiden Liao gestured with a hand most graceful, her long and lustrous robe draping elegantly down her arm.  She and the dark-robed man behind her lead the way, slowly, ponderously.  She glided across the perfect stone.  As Seasil and the others followed, her eyes glanced down long enough to divine the images gently carved into the walkway - three beautiful dragons, long and elegant, entwined together in an eternal circle, with one of the beasts making up exactly a third of the circle.



And soon, the stone gave way to the most beautifully-kept grass Seasil had ever seen.  It was well-kept, but seemingly not touched by hands at the same time.  The grove held a number of small, tranquil trees, and Seasil's ears perked up at the sound of water.  Through the grove, she spied a fountain as if carved from immaculate stone of the likes Seasil had never seen.  The water was so clear it was nearly invisible.

There was a figure sitting gently on the edge of the fountain.  



A human female, beautiful and elegant.  Her limbs were as long and wispy as her silver-white hair.  Her robe was black, scintillating with the setting sun as it played with elements of peacock feathers and golden ribbons.  She held a single hand up into the air, where a single butterfly at, moving its wings back and forth.  The Dusk Emperor spoke quietly in the tongue of the valley to the butterfly, and perhaps it was her imagination, but to Seasil it almost seemed as if the butterfly was communicating back with its subtle wing movements.

Liao stopped several paces away from the fountain, Hei dropping to one knee as they stopped.  She spoke a few sentences in her native tongue, ending with what sounded like an introduction of their guests.

The Emperor of Dusk glanced over at the crowd for a moment, the wistful smile still on her face.  "Okay," she said in the common tongue.  "Thank you.  Leave us, if you will.  Shadowcast, your service has been noted by Their Radiance.  Please, rest.  We believe you have earned it."

Hei nods and stands, never once raising his head, as both he and the Dusk Maiden leave the grove.  Within a moment, only the Emperor of Dusk and the two young manaketes remained.

"Welcome," the Dusk Emperor said. 

She stood from the fountain and released the butterfly from her hand with a simple gesture upwards.  The butterfly flew a few feet into the air before there was a sudden flash of movement.  A gorgeous, white, unfamiliar bird completed its trajectory, landing on a nearby tree, tilting its long beak backwards as it finished its meal.  The two gossamer wings fluttered down to the ground at the Emperor's feet.  She watched them as they fell slowly, gently resting on the grass.  After they stopped moving, she looked back to the manaketes once more.  Her icy white eyes were bright, simultaneously inviting and off-putting all at once.

 "We have been waiting for you for a long time."

Clutching Nihli's hand tightly, the Manaketes were led through the immaculate procession. Still, she led her tiny counterpart with confidence and a proper posture.

Still, no matter how poised the little Dragoness seemed, it was easy to track her magenta gaze across the room. There was a striking amount of information to digest in such a beautiful castle-- almost the exact opposite of Polaris Keep with its stoic walls and rugged glory.

The murals were beautiful, the robes of even the lesser servants were stunning, even the too-long and elegant portraits of her kin were too breathtaking to comment upon the inappropriate proportions of. The Valley itself seemed to be an art form.

Seasil thanked the uncanny Liao, opting to remain in silent awe for the rest of their journey to see the Dusk Emperor.

---

Once more, her eyes followed all the motions of the Dusk Emperor. Surprisingly, perhaps due to staring General Kevlar in the face, she felt herself straighten.  The motions the Emperor made were unsettling, yes, but it was nothing that Seasil felt out of place handling.

As Hei and Liao faded away, seeming to melt naturally away within their leader's natural presence, a truly pleasurable smile played on Seasil's lips. Righting her wings to display them proudly, iridescent scales glittering in the sunlight-- her own personal addition to the garden, at least in her own mind, the Queen of Zodia offered a soothing look to Nihli before dropping her hand. She picked up the skirts of her dress and lowered herself in a polite curtsy, respectful and tempered, but not belittling to either country or individual.

"We have traveled far to meet with you, your Lunar Eminence. Your kingdom's bounties and kindness have known no bounds. We both wished to thank you for your hospitality thus far."