01 | coronation day

"THIS IS A BIG DAY FOR YOU ROYO, DON'T GO AND MESS IT UP."

CEYDEA PALACE, CENTIUM CITY, CERADICIA-

There was nothing quite like the hustle and bustle of the palace at dawn in Ceradicia.

There was always someone moving around, doing something to contribute to the soft clacking of shoes against the linoleum floors or the small creaks that the whole palace would give off if someone stepped onto a carpeted area. Hushed whispers were exchanged as people started to spread the secrets and gossip about the ruling family, or the latest updates on the Rebellion against the Empire.

The Ceradicia palace was located right in the heart of the capital city, the palace being built there centuries ago by the Ceydea family's ancestors. It was rumored to be built there because they were the heart of the planet, the first family to be rumored to be able to wield a mythical power that was heard about in only legends. But that's all that they were to the people of Ceradicia- rumors.

The bright sunlight always seemed to stream through the palace, bathing the place in a warm and steady glow. The tan linoleum of the walls and hallways seemed to reflect that as well, countless window openings leaving the palace open to the capital city. The glow always seemed to brighten up every corner of the place, and it always seemed to signify some sort of hope for the planet, even in times of deep darkness. 

Today was no different as Alora roamed the halls, her eyes maintaining contact with the hallway that was in front of her. People of the palace stopped and stared at her as she walked by in what was sure to be considered un-royal like attire, dressed in a loose fitting t-shirt and simple plain pants. A jacket had hastily been thrown over the outfit, the chill of Ceradicia in the mornings seeping through the cracks and open window ways of the palace.

She wasn't sure what she was doing out, exactly, especially given that her brother's "coronation" was tonight- if it could even be called that. Ceradicia was one of many planets that had been under the careful watch of the Empire, most of the autonomy of the planet being taken away by the Empire. Stormtroopers were around every corner of the common streets of Ceradicia, and there was always an Empire ambassador overstaying their welcome inside of the palace.

A "reassurance" of their alliance was what it had been considered.

That was, until Alora's parents had been assassinated.

It had been a diplomatic mission to Naboo, a place that was considered one of the most important places to the Empire. Her parents had been going there for some sort of conference (Alora didn't care in particular, politics bored her) and had been killed.

How? The young woman had no clue.

There was one thing that was obvious about the whole situation- the Empire had their dirty fingerprints plastered all over it. And while they had promised to "avenge" her parent's death with an investigation, the Ceydea family knew that an investigation was less than likely.

"Princess Alora." A voice called from behind her, Alora turning to see the Empire's ambassador walking at a quick pace to catch up to her. His name was Marek Geno. He was a slimy serpent of a man, a terrifying person towering over Alora ( who was about 5'2 in stature ). "What a pleasure to see you out and about in the palace today."

There was a feeling that made Alora want to throw up when she was around Marek. His demeanor made Alora trust him about as far as she could throw him- and the girl probably wouldn't be able to throw him more than a couple of inches. "Yes." She plastered a fake smile on her face, slowing down so that the ambassador would be able to catch up with her. "In fact, I was on my way to visit him right now. Give him a few well wishes before everything becomes a little too chaotic."

"Of course." The man beside her gave her a dry chuckle, his hands clasped firmly behind his back. He was donned in the normal outfit that the ambassador for the empire would be in, a grey uniform cleanly pressed and prestigious. "From what I've heard, today is going to be a very big day for your planet." He noted, his eyes turning to look down at Alora for confirmation.

"That assumption would be correct." Alora agreed with the man, nodding her head. She was trying to keep her answers as short and terse as she could. Alora wanted nothing to do with the man or the Empire, really. She wanted to go back to the times in which she remembered as a child, her family being happy and free to rule their planet as they wished. They weren't restricted to what the Empire commanded them to do, and to allow for these people to invade their planet. "Where are you headed today, Ambassador?" She questioned, trying to keep the formalities in order.

"Your sister, Princess Rienna, requested that I speak to her about matters pertaining to today's coronation ceremony." The ambassador plainly stated, not giving any more information to the youngest Ceydea. "I'm assuming it's going to be about the luncheon afterwards, as she is in charge of that." The man kept his strides in pace with Alora's, who had begun to pick up her pace a little in hopes of reaching her destination faster. "Pity that you weren't assigned anything to help your brother on his special day. I know your older brother Prince Roki had some responsibilities in this as well."

This man made Alora want to tear her eyes out. The way that he'd find a way to silently jeer at her and stab a knife into an open wound with his words was an ability that she rarely found in another person. And when she did, she absolutely hated it. "Actually, Aroyo requested that I stay out of the coronation business himself. He knows that I've been rather busy doing other things to help him get ready to assume the throne, and he didn't want to burden me with more." Alora gritted through her teeth, a bite obvious in her tone as she talked.

The hallway turned into a fork of some sorts in the palace, one pathway to the left leading to the main area of the palace, away from the quiet seclusion of the back hallways of the palace where the chambers of the Ceydeas were located. The right led to the elder two of the Ceydea's chambers, both Rienna and Aroyo's chambers, which was unfortunate for Alora.

She had to put up with the intolerable company of Ambassador Geno for another few minutes.

Giving a small sigh, Alora remained silent as she continued to walk beside the ambassador. She really hoped that he wouldn't continue to talk. She found his incessant rambling to be rather annoying. After all, he was only supposed to be here as a diplomatic entity, not an advisor to the royal family- although it seemed like that was what he was becoming with every waking day.

"So you aren't the incompetent fool that some of the palace makes you out to be." The ambassador remarked, rather surprised at the prospect. Then again, the sneer plastered on his face suggested otherwise as Alora looked up at him. "Interesting that your brother trusts you so much and not your older sister."

The man was trying to get under her skin, and Alora could tell that now. He was trying to get more information about her family so that he could report it back to the Empire. Alora was sure of it. "Very." She kept her teeth gritted together as they continued to walk down the hallway.

Suddenly, the ambassador came to a stop, her sister's doorway right in front of him. There was a sort of dissatisfied look molded into his expression now, unhappy that he wasn't able to finish getting information out of the youngest of the Ceydeas. He expect her to be easy to manipulate, but it seemed as if it was quite the opposite. "It seems that this is where I bid you goodbye." He noted, knocking at the door of Rienna. It slid open for him immediately, and he stepped inside, giving one last withering look to the princess.

Making sure that he had left her behind entirely, Alora looked at the hallways around her before taking off. She ran down the hallways, desperate to escape the awful ambassadors and manipulation of the Empire that was slowly taking over her planet. Finding her brother's chambers, Alora waited no time at all to rap her signature knock on his door, it sliding open with ease.

Waiting for her was her brother's droid, a little companion that she liked to call R5, or as he was more commonly called- R5-15. The little Astromech droid beeped at her in greeting, indicating to her eldest brother that she was in the room. Aroyo turned around, a big smile on his face as he saw his youngest sister in the entrance way. "Lora!" He exclaimed, running over to wrap her in an embrace. "Gods, it feels like an eternity since I saw you last."

Holding on for the tight embrace for as long as she could, Alora pulled away after a minute, scanning her older brother. Aroyo was dressed in kingly attire, a white buttoned up top and a purple royal sash matched with royal blue bottoms, his outfit for the coronation. His hair was pulled back in a neat manner, almost waiting for the crown that was soon going to rest on top of his head. He seemed to be much taller in the outfit than he already was, the man standing at 6'1.

"I literally saw you yesterday, you dramatic nerfherder." Alora rolled her eyes at her brother, analyzing him in his suit one last time. "Although, I do have to admit, you do clean up nice. It's good to see you in something other than your leather jacket and cargo pants."

"It seems like you still haven't cleaned yourself up yet, so I wouldn't be talking." Aroyo joked lightly, pushing his youngest sister on the shoulder. "You look like how I'd normally dress, are you mocking me?" He fake gasped, placing a hand over his heart in fake shock. 

"Maybe." Alora laughed, tugging on the leather jacket she had stolen from Aroyo's closet with a snobbish look that he would normally give her. "I'd say that I give off proper Royo looks, don't I?" She teased, making another face that she had seen Aroyo do in the mirror.

"You know that you can't call me Royo anymore. I'm going to be the King of Ceradicia. I can't be bothered with foolish childhood nicknames." Aroyo seemed slightly offended by the fact that Alora would still call him by the nickname she originally called him when she was learning his name.

"Then you stop calling me by mine and we'll call it even." Alora huffed, slightly offended by the fact that he was getting upset about his nickname when she had continually asked him to stop calling her by the one that she was given. When she saw a look on Aroyo's face that indicated that giving up that nickname wasn't in the foreseeable future, she gave a small chuckle. "That's what I thought!" She smirked, giving a bright and hearty laugh.

"Where's that pesky friend of yours, Mariam?" Aroyo sighed, realizing that he wouldn't win this battle of words against his sister. She was a little too smart for her age, and sometimes that was a blessing and a curse. "And your other friend as well?"

"Mariam's getting my outfit for the coronation ceremony. She's bringing it to your chambers. I figured that you wouldn't want to be alone right before your big day." She shrugged, trying to block out the part in which her older brother called Mirian pesky. "I know that Roki and Rienna aren't always the closest to you, and I figured you could probably use a shoulder to lean on." Alora nudged her brother lightly, seeing a small smile come from him.

"Thanks." Aroyo muttered, wrapping his arm around his sister in a soft side hug. "Honestly, I don't know how I'm going to do all of this with Mom and Dad gone. They barely taught me anything. We thought that we had time." He gave a concerned look out of the window in his chambers, staring out at the capital city below.  There were people already starting to gather in the streets to celebrate the coronation ceremony, lining up in front of the main balcony of the palace where it would be held.

Aroyo's chambers were at the back of the palace, but the view gave a good perspective on the entire capital city. It was surprisingly beautiful, the view of the sunset always impeccable form Aroyo's balcony. Alora could tell that her older brother was staring out of the balcony window, probably contemplating the life changing decision he was soon to go under.

There was a knock at the door, signifying that Mariam was at the entrance, and it broke the two siblings out of their trance. "Guess that's her." Alora muttered, walking to the door and typing in the keypad to let her in.

"You get ready in my bedroom. I'll stay out here in the foyer while we wait." Aroyo muttered, nodding a slight and polite nod to Mariam as she linked arms with Alora.

The two of them rushed  to the bedrooms to get Alora ready for the coronation ahead. There wasn't much of a time wait at all for Aroyo after he let his sister's handmaiden in, his younger sister stumbling out of his bedroom in a couple of minutes. Alora was dressed in a deep violet purple dress, a white sash hung over her left shoulder. It was a contrast to Aroyo's own outfit, the whites and purples distinguishing the royal family and the colors of their crest.

"Don't you clean up nice." Aroyo mocked back to his sister, earning an eye roll from his sister. "What? I'm just saying that. It's only a matter of time before I have to start guarding you from all of the suitors that are going to come flocking to the palace in search of your beauty." He teased, this time actually earning a punch from his younger sister in the arm. Rubbing the wound, he seemed sort of offended for a moment.

Before the two siblings could get into another bickering match, the doors to Aroyo's chambers slid open again, Roki and Rienna all suited up and dressed for the coronation. "You two done bickering already? We have a coronation to get to." Roki droned, bored of the situation already.  He was dressed in a deep purple shirt and a white sash, black pants accompanying his upper attire.

"We were getting to that, actually." Aroyo cleared his throat, holding his hand out to stop his sister from biting out another comment about their siblings. "We'll be just out. Give us one minute." He waved away his two younger siblings, Rienna rolling her eyes at him.

"Whatever." The eldest daughter sighed, adjusting her white sash from her black dress. Rienna had decided to go the bold route, evidently, using one of the accent colors of the Ceydea family crest to compliment her in her dress. "You two better be out there before the ambassador starts looking for you." She warned, tapping Riko on the shoulder. "Let's go, Riko."

The two turned away from the chamber's entrance, probably heading towards the balcony where the coronation ceremony would be held. When the two middle siblings were out of sight, Aroyo took in a deep breath, nerves evident in his shaky breath. "Well, Lora, I think it's time."

"You ready, Royo?" Alora asked him, holding out her hand for her older brother to take. She felt his hand firmly grasp hers, the man squeezing her hand tightly to get out more of his nerves. Alora looked up at her brother, seeing that his formal royal face was now plastered over any expression he might have. However, there  was some sort of reassurance in the last words he spoke-

"Let's go rock this coronation."

<~•~>

do I kind of hate this first chapter? maybe

do I care anymore?

not really. it's like 12:45 AM and I've been watching the clone wars for like two hours and I probably should go to sleep

anyways, I'm just setting up stuff for later in the story so there's not too much to say, you got to see some Ceydea family dynamics, and you'll see a bit more before the lovable Rebellion trio comes into the story

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!