A blast from the past...Or rather an old flame of Fallon's (literally)

Natik was an important member of the court. In fact he was the only blood related uncle to Fallon Eagus, the prince of Demitytes. That poser Eraiek Tisorne liked to run around claiming he was an uncle to the Prince too, but Natik knew they was utter lies. There was a great controversy in the royal family that the Royal Queen Seiler Verna Bire was actually an illegitimate daughter to the House Bire. A child born out of wedlock, but quickly relocated to a distant aunt of the Verna Bire to grow up away from scandal, then later reintroduced as an heir from an obscure dead uncle when the memory of people had considerably weakened.

It was done through out the kingdom, when the powerful nobles didn't want to ruin the family name and dilute its wealth with an influx of illegitimate offsprings. However what made the Verna Bire situation unique was that the Queen Seiler managed to battle the Verna Bires antiquated beliefs and prejudice and be reinstated as the heir to the house.

She had been so spectacular, so talented that even the old crones that ran the Verna Bire House had realised how important it was the she be first Heir. Thus Eraiek Tisorne Verna Bire, the original heir to the Verna Bire house was shunted to the side for the child of a whore, a product of an ill-advised tumble in the haystack, and Seiler was thrust into the spotlight of wealth and fame.

Natik felt his lips curling. He never understood why Eraiek Tisorne had always acted like Seiler's loyal lapdog, when he had lost everything that was his birthright, because of that woman. An illegitimate hussy that had stolen his dynasty. It was because of her that Natik was so out of favour with the Prince now and Eraiek had become the King's right hand man. Ever since the Queen had died, Fallon had gravitated more and more towards the Eraiek and he had become an object of ridicule in the court.

However, now was his moment of truth.It was all going to change today. Today was the day a mighty alliance between Demitytes and Byserladia was forged thanks to his efforts. The royal collaboration and engagement between the Demitytan Royal family and the Byserladian Royal family through the marriage of Prince Fallon and Princess Sherinne. A strategic cooperative agreement that was guaranteed to bring both nations resources and technology for collaborative space exploration that was to be sealed today by the engagement of the royal couple.

His treaty ensured his continued popularity within the court as well as a guaranteed place in the merged court of both planets as the royal cooperation advisor. Yes, you could say this was a splendid day for Natik. He had just received word that the Byserladians were within transmitting distance by one of their moon outposts. The royal housekeeper had been ordered to ensure their rooms were in perfect conditions. The kitchens were roaring with the frenzy of a huge feast.And the courtroom was ready.

Natik leant back on his seat and sighed. Today marked monumental milestone in his career. The start of a fruitful and powerful reign in office, a game changer. He swirled his osque glass swirling letting the flavours of the Del-Arlgne wine settle before taking a sip. The finest of tastes indeed. Whatever maybe Fallon's faults, he had exquisite tastes. He hoped he liked that princess too.

That was the one thing that bugged Natik continuosly. Many courtiers that had travelled to Byserladia or communed with them had said particularly worrying comments about the Princess's deportment. However Natik soon convinced himself that she being the sole heir to a planet was only being suitably aristocratic and it was only the courtiers fault by expecting a princess to be subservient and defer to them.

He sipped more of the wine and tried to relax for a precious few minutes before he would have to join the welcoming party. However the ICP on his table chimed letting him know it was time. He gave a weary groan and held on to it and disappeared a whirl of flames.

Natik reappeared in the landing dock of the castle, where everyone was gathering to greet the aliens. He took a moment to gather his bearings before walking over to join them, pleased to note that the junior members and scribes were already hurriedly clearing out of his way. He went to stand next to the Nobles, Eraiek, Dalbus, Klousseau and Stofer.

"Where are they?" He asked. Lord Dalbus replied "Our closest moon, Temis's outpost just alerted me. They have crossed just the Ionosphere of Demitytes, and should be here in about 10 minutes."

"Where is his highness?" Natik asked with apprehension. "Fallon has decided against welcoming the Byserladians here. He said he would meet them in the feast." Eraiek suddenly spoke out. Natik swore that he could hear amusement in his voice and cursed him in his head. He bet Eraiek was just loving that things were not going according to plan.

Before he could reply to him however, there was quite a stir amongst the Courtiers and Natik turned around to notice a distant spaceship coming rapidly closer towards them. It was bulky and oddly-shaped. A mass of roaring power that had no restraint or finesse. Natik sniffed delicately at it. 'Of course, what class could you expect from brutes and barbarians from the Byserladian planet?' He made sure that the welcoming dancers were in place and then turned back to face the ship that was almost close to landing now. He plastered what he hoped was a welcoming smile on his face and stepped in front of the other courtiers.

The ship was beginning to hover just above the landing and the welcoming party rushed to organise itself in the last few precious minutes. The players began playing a greeting fanfare just as the ship settled down and powered off. The courtiers waited expectantly as the huge hatch lowered from a side, and steps began to descend from the opening. Steam and air rushed out from it. The space ship made strange whirring, beeping noise, before finally groaning into silence. Finally a silhouette of a slim woman emerged from the opening, flanked on both sides by bulky, monstrous men.

The woman descended the steps and stopped on the landing deck of castle with her bodyguards. The courtiers hurried to greet her, and Natik determined not to be left behind, clamoured in front of them.

He stepped forward, reaching the princess first, aware that the other nobles were leisurely strolling towards the Byserladians. "Really. It was obvious they were being so petty and only trying to jeopradise this arrangement only because it was his idea." Natik huffed with self importance and bent over low before the Princess. She was going to be the future Queen soon, and it was always good to be looked upon favourably by the Queen. He could hear Eraiek say something and laugh together with Klousseau. He gritted his teeth knowing they were talking about him. Well, a brat who built his reputation on the whim of his Sister's power as the Queen should not be judging him.

"I'll teach them to laugh at me..." He thought darkly, before turning his attention on the Princess. She was looking him up and down derisively, before proclaiming loudly in a rolling accent that was heavy on the R's, " I heard the Prince was related to one of the noble ministers. I do hope you are not him."

Natik flushed darkly, before managing to croak out, "Unfortunately, My Lady, I am Prince Fallon's Uncle."

He could hear more stifled laughter as the princess hmph-ed dissatisfiedly. Natik couldn't really concentrate on the Princess and the welcoming party after that, brooding in anger and embarassment, he trailed after them as they moved towards the feast hall. There was an entourage of maids following the Princess, along with male servants carrying baggage and personal artifacts. He was pretty sure the visit was for only 5 days, unless he had somehow missed a zero after it, or to that effect.

He could hear the Princess talking about how the hallway utterly ridiculous and vapid. "Just like your brain," He thought uncharacteristically but shook himself and rejoined the head of the group, eager to take charge of the function again. Upon entering the hall he anxiously scanned it for Prince Fallon, who was again missing. His nervousness was mounting as he was just considering that the headstrong boy might have decided to boycott the meeting altogether.

"Wherr is the Prince? I expected him to be greeting me at the docks, I'll have you know. This lack of hospitality and disrespect cannot be accepted by the Great Empire of Byserladia!" The princess whined.

Eraiek stepped forward, presumably, to give some explanations as to the Prince's absence. Natik meanwhile called over two scribes and hurriedly told them to have the staff search and notify the Prince of the arrival of the Byserladians.

However, the Great Doors that lead to the Feast Hall swung open with great force, and a lone, slim figure strolled into the feast hall casually. Prince Fallon was angry. The courtiers and the nobles could recognise it by the malicious intent floating in the air. A dark look passed over his face which he soon covered up with a cold, inexpressive face.

The uneasy Demitytans shied away from him slightly as if to avoid incurring his wrath. Natik felt dread well up as he strode towards the assembled Byserladians.

"My apologies, Princess, for not greeting you upon the time your feet touched my home soil. You have made me and my planet very blessed. I am Prince Fallon." Fallon said, dark smirk curving on his mouth.

"Oh no. No. no. no." Fallon's tone of voice filled Natik with dread. He looked at the Princess, and her two huge bodyguards. She tilted her head in arrogance, looking up and down at Fallon, and opened her mouth.

"Don't say anything. Don't speak. Please." He pleaded in his brain. He could see General Klousseau hesitantly step closer to the Princess, clearly aware of the hidden tension.

" I suppose, you are adequate. I will allow you in my royal presence and pardon your gross oversight of disrespecting me. Be thankful, I do not demand your head as compensation. Instead, I demand that three moons of Demitytes will have to be transferred into colonies Byserladia if this marriage has to happen." She said sharply and sniffed.

Fallon's smirk widened at that, and Natik felt nearly asphyxiated. "Oh dear. Ohhh dear, this was bad. This was very bad." Natik panicked.

"Have I told you Princess, that you are, very hot." Fallon drawled slowly.

The princess opened her mouth incredulously. "What?! How dare you? Such a lack of deportment and manner. This is unforgivable! " The princess's cheek were red, whether from anger or she was truly blushing no one knew.

"Yes. In fact, you are smoking, really." Fallon continued, as if uninterrupted. The princess cried out in frustration and disbelief, but suddenly paused. Because, at that moment there did seem to be smoke vapour rising off of her. She slowly looked down, warily. The first glimmer of uncertainty passed over her face, and she took a step back. One of the body guards stretched a hand out to hold her.

It happened as if in slow motion, as Natik watched on horrified. The faintest shadow of a flame appeared around the princess, merely making her skin look golden red, swirling hazily. The princess blinked slowly, not really aware at first. The suddenly, the flame flared out around the Princess in a brilliant white. A shrill scream echoed through the hall, barely human, harsh and terrifying. And in seconds, the flame was gone. The bodyguard's still stretching towards the Princess, finally grasped through thin air. He looked stunned and terrified. Only a pile of smouldering embers remained on the floor. All that was left of the Princess of Byserladia.

Fallon coldly glanced at the remaining Byserladians before swirling away and exiting the hall.

Natik held on to a nearby wall to support his shaky knees, and weakly called out for suitably royal container of some sorts to transport the Princess home. Oh Athena, he was going to hurl.

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Hellooo my babies. I'm be back. The monsters of schoolwork have released me. I am free. My deepest apologies for being absent for so long. I'm sure all of you understand the terrifying Kraken known as final exams. :( .

I hope to be back updating as normal, or even faster, since it is the holidays from now.

On that note, happy birthday to one of my devoted readers,  ! Hope you had an awesome day, I hope this update made you happy! Thank you for sticking to my story even with the horrible update schedules! 

Keep reading and do comment folks!

Tom: Okay I am now calling to order the first meeting of T.E.A.

Loki: What? Where is the Tea?

Tom: Oh dear. I meant our acronym. The Evil Association.

Loki: Oh. Do you have tea though?

Tom: Okay. We get it. You are British. Calm down.

Moriarty: I heard the word tea and evil.

Tom: Oh, would you like to join our evil, most malicious association for the betterment of the suffering villains in the—

Moriarty: What are the benefits? Do you offer rare or exotic types of tea in the association? Or are we paid with tea leaves?

Tom: NO! There is no relation between tea and T.E.A!

Moriarty: Oh. What a disappointment.

Tom: Ugh. You are all a disappointment to villain kind! All of you!!!!

Love

Ink on Parchment.

P.s I'm sorry if anyone is offended by my comment about tea and the British. It is only a joke in good humour.