Glimpses Into Another Time: Many Partings
AndrewJTalon
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Glimpses Into Another Time: Many Partings
- - -
Maharaja Palace, Kingdom of Pandu, Southern Mistral, Animus: One Month after the Defeat of Salem
- - -
Crown Princess Maia Sarkara, also known as May Zedong, stared at the beautiful woman in the mirror before her. She was dressed in a pure white sari, inlaid with gold and Ice Dust, and necklaces that dripped with pearls and gems. A simple headscarf went over her dark red hair, white silk with embroidered sapphires. Her makeup was flawless, red lipstick, blush, and a single red dot in the center of her forehead.
The sheer amount of wealth on her was staggering to the girl who thought she was the orphaned child of two nobodies in Vacuo. The fine quarters she sat in were done in marble and seawood, and opened out onto a balcony that gave her a beautiful view of Pandu City itself. The spiraling, almost organic architecture done mostly in tans with pointed-dumpling like rooftops, cut by dozens of canals with bridges and tropical trees lining the thoroughfares and roads.
She sat as the maids did their finishing touches on her, adjusting her clothing ties or adding more mascara. They both wore red and blue saris, and as soon as they were done they stepped back expectantly. May stood up, giving herself a once over in the mirror again.
"Are you pleased, Your Highness?" The maids asked together. May nodded stiffly.
"Yes. Thank you," she said with a small nod. She didn't want to ruin any of their work. "Um, can you... I need to be alone, please?"
The maids smiled and bowed.
"Of course, Your Majesty," they spoke in unison, before they turned and walked out the door. They slid it shut behind them. May waited a moment or two, before she slid back down on the circular couch she'd been sitting patiently on all this time. She sighed, and resisted the urge to grab at her hair and groan.
"Hey May."
May jumped. She looked at the balcony, where a familiar blond was sitting on the railing. He smiled warmly at her, despite the scars on his face and chin.
"Jaune!" She cried in joy and alarm. She rushed over to him, only just remembering to lift up her skirts, and then hugged him tightly. She pulled back with a scowl.
"You should still be in bed," she admonished him, "You almost died to that assassin-"
"I know," Jaune sighed, "My mom and Ruby are gonna give me hell. But..." He took her hands in his, "I had to see you before... Y-You know... The coronation, and all."
May sighed and nodded slowly.
"Y-Yeah," she managed. Jaune looked at her in concern.
"You okay?"
An exasperated look was his first response.
"You almost died and you're asking if I'm okay?"
Jaune shrugged.
"Yeah."
May worried her lower lip. She'd have to fix her lipstick.
"I just... Um... Well..."
She sighed deeply.
"I'm terrified," she admitted.
"Why?" Jaune asked with a smile, "Uncle Arjun and Aunt Saia wouldn't hand you the throne if they didn't think you could do it! Hell, if not for you, we wouldn't have gotten all the Kingdoms to unite against Salem and-"
"I know! I know..." Maya shut her eyes, "I just... I did what I could as Crown Princess. Now? Now I'm... I'm gonna be Queen. I'm going to have to lead my country, and-and this alliance and..."
She shook her head. She pressed her face lightly against his chest.
"I'm scared I'll screw everything up," she mumbled, "I didn't even know I was a princess until a few years ago... We won the war but the nobility is already skeptical of me, despite everything... I... What if I ruin everything we did?"
Jaune hugged her back tightly, and made soothing circles on her back.
"Anyone in your position is afraid of ruining everything. You'd have to be crazy to not be scared," Jaune said soothingly, "But I know you can do it, May. Besides... You've always been so scared, but you still did what was needed. That's real courage... Being scared and still doing what needs to be done."
May blushed, and smiled warmly up at him.
"I... Thank you, Jaune," she murmured.
Jaune nodded slowly. May held onto him. The silence stretched on. Jaune coughed.
"Uh... I um... I had better get to the main courtyard," he managed.
"R-Right," May said with a faint nod.
He slowly, reluctantly, pulled away. He hesitated a moment, before he turned and jumped off the balcony. May watched him go with a small, longing sigh.
"You know, you should have kissed him."
"Eep!" May jumped. She turned back. Her father, Arjun Sarkara, smirked a bit. Despite having only one leg and one arm left from the final battle, the older man had still snuck into the bedroom on a walking stick without detection.
She pouted at her father.
"He... I mean..." She sighed. "I'm going to be the Queen, Father. I... I don't know if I can or should..."
Arjun laughed. He limped over to his daughter, and patted her on the shoulder.
"Sweetie," he said gently, "Your mother was my maid."
"You were the King! You could do anything!" May insisted. "I... I have to think about the future!"
Arjun sighed and shook his head. He squeezed her shoulder.
"Honestly May... It's a brand new world. Free of the menace of Salem. Yes, you have responsibilities. Very big ones... But they won't be worth anything if you aren't happy."
May bowed her head again. Arjun smiled softly, and tilted her chin up.
"And all any father wants for their daughter is that they be happy," he said softly. He shrugged. "Besides... He's one of the heroes who helped saved the world. What fool would oppose you marrying him?"
"... Me, I guess," May sighed. She then smiled at her father, and then hugged him.
"Thank you, Father..."
"No, thank you," Arjun chuckled, hugging her tightly, "Now I'll get to hang out with Nick all I like in my retirement."
"Father!"
- - -
The Maharaja Palace's main courtyard was on the second level of the palace. A beautiful rooftop garden, filled with trees and crisscrossed with marble tiled paths. In the center was a great fountain, where a statue of Shiva, the first King of Pandu, stood solemnly.
Hundreds of people were gathered in the great courtyard, all around the statue. In front of it stood Oscar Pine, the new host of the wizard Ozma. Before him knelt May, and in his hands was an ornate crown and headdress. It radiated outward, like a crown of golden stars, as he lowered it onto May's head. Satisfied with its placement, May looked up to the wizard with a nervous smile. He smiled back, then looked out at the large crowd of dignitaries, warriors, and normal citizens from across Remnant. His eyes lingered on Dr. Weena Nebogipfel, who gave him a warm smile back. He cleared his throat.
"Now come the days of the Queen of Pandu!" He boomed, his voice carrying out across the courtyard. He turned his warm smile back onto May.
"May they be blessed."
May stood up slowly. She took a deep breath, nodded, and then turned to face the crowd. Oscar moved off to the side, giving her the full spotlight of attention.
"This day does not belong to any one person," she spoke, "Man or Faunus, we have all stood on the brink of destruction, united... And we have triumphed. Let us all stay united and work together to rebuild this world... So that all may share in the days of peace."
Applause followed. From General Ironwood's polite but genuine applause, to Chieftainess Kali's tearfilled smile. May walked through the crowds, smiling, waving, shaking hands and accepting gracious bows...
Until she came across her dearest friends in the whole world. Jaune, Nora, Ren, Ruby, Yang, Blake, Weiss, Nolan, Roy, and Brawnz. They were a riot of emotions, from Roy and Nolan's manly sobbing, to Yang's happy grin, to Ruby's tearfilled beam and Jaune's gentle smile.
They all made to bow... But May laughed and shook her head.
"My friends... You bow to no one."
She dropped down and bowed her head to them. She sensed every other person in the courtyard do the same. Ruby tittered nervously. Nora waved. Ren remained stoic as ever, holding Nora's hand. Yang and Blake looked a bit embarrassed. Roy and Brawnz tried to look macho, while Nolan tried to look cool. Weiss bore it with a stoic expression.
Jaune... Knelt before her. She stood up, and shook her head.
"Jaune... I said you bow to no one."
Jaune laughed nervously, and held up a small velvet box. Her eyes widened.
"I-I know... I'm not bowing. I'm... I'm asking..." He looked up into her eyes, determined.
"I'm asking the woman I love to marry me... So um... Will you?"
May yanked him up and kissed him, absolutely ruining her lipstick. But as she heard cheers and whoops... She found her usual nervousness gone.
In its place was nothing but joy... And hope for the future.
- - -
Obviously a reference to "Return of the King" but hey, I was in an LOTR kind of mood.
Sift Green
- - -
Maharaja Palace, Kingdom of Pandu, Southern Mistral, Animus: One Month after the Defeat of Salem
- - -
Crown Princess Maia Sarkara, also known as May Zedong, stared at the beautiful woman in the mirror before her. She was dressed in a pure white sari, inlaid with gold and Ice Dust, and necklaces that dripped with pearls and gems. A simple headscarf went over her dark red hair, white silk with embroidered sapphires. Her makeup was flawless, red lipstick, blush, and a single red dot in the center of her forehead.
The sheer amount of wealth on her was staggering to the girl who thought she was the orphaned child of two nobodies in Vacuo. The fine quarters she sat in were done in marble and seawood, and opened out onto a balcony that gave her a beautiful view of Pandu City itself. The spiraling, almost organic architecture done mostly in tans with pointed-dumpling like rooftops, cut by dozens of canals with bridges and tropical trees lining the thoroughfares and roads.
She sat as the maids did their finishing touches on her, adjusting her clothing ties or adding more mascara. They both wore red and blue saris, and as soon as they were done they stepped back expectantly. May stood up, giving herself a once over in the mirror again.
"Are you pleased, Your Highness?" The maids asked together. May nodded stiffly.
"Yes. Thank you," she said with a small nod. She didn't want to ruin any of their work. "Um, can you... I need to be alone, please?"
The maids smiled and bowed.
"Of course, Your Majesty," they spoke in unison, before they turned and walked out the door. They slid it shut behind them. May waited a moment or two, before she slid back down on the circular couch she'd been sitting patiently on all this time. She sighed, and resisted the urge to grab at her hair and groan.
"Hey May."
May jumped. She looked at the balcony, where a familiar blond was sitting on the railing. He smiled warmly at her, despite the scars on his face and chin.
"Jaune!" She cried in joy and alarm. She rushed over to him, only just remembering to lift up her skirts, and then hugged him tightly. She pulled back with a scowl.
"You should still be in bed," she admonished him, "You almost died to that assassin-"
"I know," Jaune sighed, "My mom and Ruby are gonna give me hell. But..." He took her hands in his, "I had to see you before... Y-You know... The coronation, and all."
May sighed and nodded slowly.
"Y-Yeah," she managed. Jaune looked at her in concern.
"You okay?"
An exasperated look was his first response.
"You almost died and you're asking if I'm okay?"
Jaune shrugged.
"Yeah."
May worried her lower lip. She'd have to fix her lipstick.
"I just... Um... Well..."
She sighed deeply.
"I'm terrified," she admitted.
"Why?" Jaune asked with a smile, "Uncle Arjun and Aunt Saia wouldn't hand you the throne if they didn't think you could do it! Hell, if not for you, we wouldn't have gotten all the Kingdoms to unite against Salem and-"
"I know! I know..." Maya shut her eyes, "I just... I did what I could as Crown Princess. Now? Now I'm... I'm gonna be Queen. I'm going to have to lead my country, and-and this alliance and..."
She shook her head. She pressed her face lightly against his chest.
"I'm scared I'll screw everything up," she mumbled, "I didn't even know I was a princess until a few years ago... We won the war but the nobility is already skeptical of me, despite everything... I... What if I ruin everything we did?"
Jaune hugged her back tightly, and made soothing circles on her back.
"Anyone in your position is afraid of ruining everything. You'd have to be crazy to not be scared," Jaune said soothingly, "But I know you can do it, May. Besides... You've always been so scared, but you still did what was needed. That's real courage... Being scared and still doing what needs to be done."
May blushed, and smiled warmly up at him.
"I... Thank you, Jaune," she murmured.
Jaune nodded slowly. May held onto him. The silence stretched on. Jaune coughed.
"Uh... I um... I had better get to the main courtyard," he managed.
"R-Right," May said with a faint nod.
He slowly, reluctantly, pulled away. He hesitated a moment, before he turned and jumped off the balcony. May watched him go with a small, longing sigh.
"You know, you should have kissed him."
"Eep!" May jumped. She turned back. Her father, Arjun Sarkara, smirked a bit. Despite having only one leg and one arm left from the final battle, the older man had still snuck into the bedroom on a walking stick without detection.
She pouted at her father.
"He... I mean..." She sighed. "I'm going to be the Queen, Father. I... I don't know if I can or should..."
Arjun laughed. He limped over to his daughter, and patted her on the shoulder.
"Sweetie," he said gently, "Your mother was my maid."
"You were the King! You could do anything!" May insisted. "I... I have to think about the future!"
Arjun sighed and shook his head. He squeezed her shoulder.
"Honestly May... It's a brand new world. Free of the menace of Salem. Yes, you have responsibilities. Very big ones... But they won't be worth anything if you aren't happy."
May bowed her head again. Arjun smiled softly, and tilted her chin up.
"And all any father wants for their daughter is that they be happy," he said softly. He shrugged. "Besides... He's one of the heroes who helped saved the world. What fool would oppose you marrying him?"
"... Me, I guess," May sighed. She then smiled at her father, and then hugged him.
"Thank you, Father..."
"No, thank you," Arjun chuckled, hugging her tightly, "Now I'll get to hang out with Nick all I like in my retirement."
"Father!"
- - -
The Maharaja Palace's main courtyard was on the second level of the palace. A beautiful rooftop garden, filled with trees and crisscrossed with marble tiled paths. In the center was a great fountain, where a statue of Shiva, the first King of Pandu, stood solemnly.
Hundreds of people were gathered in the great courtyard, all around the statue. In front of it stood Oscar Pine, the new host of the wizard Ozma. Before him knelt May, and in his hands was an ornate crown and headdress. It radiated outward, like a crown of golden stars, as he lowered it onto May's head. Satisfied with its placement, May looked up to the wizard with a nervous smile. He smiled back, then looked out at the large crowd of dignitaries, warriors, and normal citizens from across Remnant. His eyes lingered on Dr. Weena Nebogipfel, who gave him a warm smile back. He cleared his throat.
"Now come the days of the Queen of Pandu!" He boomed, his voice carrying out across the courtyard. He turned his warm smile back onto May.
"May they be blessed."
May stood up slowly. She took a deep breath, nodded, and then turned to face the crowd. Oscar moved off to the side, giving her the full spotlight of attention.
"This day does not belong to any one person," she spoke, "Man or Faunus, we have all stood on the brink of destruction, united... And we have triumphed. Let us all stay united and work together to rebuild this world... So that all may share in the days of peace."
Applause followed. From General Ironwood's polite but genuine applause, to Chieftainess Kali's tearfilled smile. May walked through the crowds, smiling, waving, shaking hands and accepting gracious bows...
Until she came across her dearest friends in the whole world. Jaune, Nora, Ren, Ruby, Yang, Blake, Weiss, Nolan, Roy, and Brawnz. They were a riot of emotions, from Roy and Nolan's manly sobbing, to Yang's happy grin, to Ruby's tearfilled beam and Jaune's gentle smile.
They all made to bow... But May laughed and shook her head.
"My friends... You bow to no one."
She dropped down and bowed her head to them. She sensed every other person in the courtyard do the same. Ruby tittered nervously. Nora waved. Ren remained stoic as ever, holding Nora's hand. Yang and Blake looked a bit embarrassed. Roy and Brawnz tried to look macho, while Nolan tried to look cool. Weiss bore it with a stoic expression.
Jaune... Knelt before her. She stood up, and shook her head.
"Jaune... I said you bow to no one."
Jaune laughed nervously, and held up a small velvet box. Her eyes widened.
"I-I know... I'm not bowing. I'm... I'm asking..." He looked up into her eyes, determined.
"I'm asking the woman I love to marry me... So um... Will you?"
May yanked him up and kissed him, absolutely ruining her lipstick. But as she heard cheers and whoops... She found her usual nervousness gone.
In its place was nothing but joy... And hope for the future.
- - -
Obviously a reference to "Return of the King" but hey, I was in an LOTR kind of mood.
Sift Green