Chapter 19

-EDITED-

When Ember woke, it was from her maid standing at the end of her bed with a very tired expression on her face, "Finally you're awake." The maid huffed. "Here," the maid tossed her the clothing she would be wearing, "Wear this, we take off for the parade in two hours. Be ready. In an hour there will be a person coming in to do your hair and makeup. Don't be late." She glared at her with those last three words. Ember swallowed as the maid walked out and shut the door behind her. Ember huffed and sat up. Pushing her tangled brown hair out of her face as she walked into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the full-body mirror and sighed softly to herself. Even with these baggy clothing she still saw her figure and she hated it.

Ember shut the bathroom door and undressed. She tied the corset around her body and tightened it with a slight struggle. She looked at the dress and slipped in on. It was a dark green, a little bit darker than the dress she had torn to shreds that were still on the floor that Ember hadn't been bothered to move to a corner. Ember zipped up the dress and brushed out her hair and looked at herself in the mirror. She hoped they had something to hide the stupid bags under her eyes.

Ember sat down on the edge of the bathtub and looked at the shoes that had been also thrown at her. She sometimes wondered how she didn't get hurt from these things. But that was when she remembered her little curse. Or rather gift depending on the situation really. Such as for the last two days, she's been able to get away with a lot she probably wouldn't have been able to if it was any different.

Ember slipped on the shoes and immediately took them right off. They were so small, even for her small feet, and they were as small as toddlers' feet. Ember glared at the torture tools that they claimed she needed to wear. To that, she said, screw you. Her dress was long enough to not have to wear shoes. Ember closed her eyes and just let herself relax. She thought back to her house, the house she had loved for years. the place where she had so many memories tied to. Ember reopened her eyes only when she had heard knocking on her bathroom door.

"Come on in," Ember said and in stepped another maid, but she looked more alive.

"I'm here to do your hair and make-up." The woman chirped, "So, go ahead and stand I'll do the hair thing and makeup." She grinned.

Ember did as she was told, not putting up a fight because this would probably be the most enjoyable thing that happens to her today. She often didn't think anything happy would happen to her, so this was a change in attitude.

After standing there for a good 20 minutes as the maid did her hair, Ember watched her short hair have little jewels be put in it with a small half-up, half-down hairdo. "Alright, now just close your eyes and I'll be fixing those eyes and match your eye shadow to your dress." She grinned.

Ember felt power be put onto her eyelids with barely any pressure to the point where unless she was looking for the light pressure, she wouldn't have felt anything. When she was told to open her eyes, she saw herself in a completely different light.

She looked really good without the bags under her eyes. She had to give herself credit for working the eye shadow too. "You look so good. I bet everyone is gonna love you." The maid grinned and walked out, leaving Ember to admire herself in the mirror, something she didn't do often.

Ember often hated the way she was looked and how her body was built but this gave her some confidence of herself. She didn't look so dead inside with the bags covered up. Even if it was mildly uncomfortable for this new product being on her face in general. Ember didn't really care at this moment though. For all she cared, she looked really good, her hair sparkled when the light hit it and her eyes sparkled with help from the glittery eye shadow that was currently covering her eyelids. She heard another knock on her door and she opened it up and found a guard standing there.

"Come on, we need to get you to your berion before the Queen does." The guard said and grabbed her arm and dragged her there. Not hard enough to leave any marks but enough to bring mild discomfort but she was always uncomfortable around these kinds of people. The kind of people who could snap her in half without even a second thought. It brought things to the reality that she wasn't going to escape with brute force as she had years ago. She wouldn't be able to outrun these people, despite them having full metal on their body, she would be the same speed of them. But they were also professionally trained. Ember looked up to the male who was dragging her like a rag doll across the palace.

he had strands of blonde hair peeking out of his helmet and his eyes were barely noticeable, but they were dark green mixed in with a caramel color around the edges. She was sure their different colors in there but the shadow that cast over his eyes were deceiving her eyes, even with her night-vision.

Ember kept silent as they continued to walk or rather be dragged in Ember's unfortunate situation. As they finally came to the entrance that Ember had remembered. It was still as grand and overly beautiful like she had remembered and he pushed past the doors. In front of her were two berions that were completely open. Both decorated but the one she assumed was the Queens had more jewels while Ember's, on the other hand, had a mixture of flowers all of it. She looked at the morning glory's with a grim expression. Even the person who decorated her berion knew her death was soon to come.

Rhododendrons, Calla Lily's, Amaryllis's, Bay's, Dill's, and lastly, Edelweisses. Their symbolism's rang in her head as her mother had taught all the plants meanings. These flowers were wishes of good luck and traits needed to win battles. But they were also filled with sadness and told her the danger was about to face. She put a fake smile on her face as she stepped onto the carriage, careful to hide her uncovered feet.

She felt like she was about to be sick. This was the thing that tore her away from her family and now she was meant to celebrate in one. She wondered if anyone else would know the meanings of the flowers or if they admire the beauty in them. She didn't want anyone else knowing her fate. Especially her father if he showed in the crowd, she didn't want him seeing the fate laid out for her. He was a fragile man, he barely made it through her mother's death. She didn't want him breaking because of her death. She didn't want anyone to break from her death, although she highly doubted the likely hood of anyone but her close friends she had made mourning her death.

She was sure that the Queen would just talk about her life and say she did it for her country and her people when Ember never wished for this. She knew that her father would know that the only people she stood next to were the ones discriminated against by the humans. She would never wish or want to represent the humans, not even in her darkest desires did she wish to even be associated with them.

Ember watched as the Queen left the palace, a big smile plastered onto her face but Ember knew that she didn't enjoy the idea of being out for all of the peasants and unworthy to see her. Even though she was never above any of them. Ember was the only reason she was doing this. to parade around the new toy she gets to play with and destroy. To watch suffer and life falls apart at the very seams.

Maybe it was a pessimistic outlook on this whole situation, but this was a very pessimistic situation. Never in her worse nightmares did she ever think she would be a pawn for the Queen to use and throw away without any idea. Ember looked at the marsh in the distance and the idea of chains being snapped onto wrists as families are separated and blood flowing in the water from those too unhealthy or old to be used.

Ember felt tears welling up in her eyes as she attempted to push the idea of it out of her head. The species would survive, thanks to Astarte and the resistance, they would continue on. Ember looked to the distance as she spotted a small group of Nefulion's stood on the edge of the mountain, looking down at Ember. She could feel their glare and judgment from down here. She looked at them, wishing that they would understand that she didn't want this. That she hated this place as much as they did. They looked away and began walking away. A small one stood there for a little while longer and waved at her before running to catch up to their family.

Ember swallowed as she suddenly felt her berion begin to move. Ember felt her heart jump into her throat as a wave of anxiety washed through her body. As they began on their way to Magdion, she knew her father would be there. It was also one of the most popular cities. Ember could only imagine the people flooding the streets. People from far away or neighbors she had used to see every day standing on the sidewalks or looking out from their house windows.

As they approached the city and they crossed the bridge, Ember noticed a distinct lack of Fusguiuons from the crowd. She felt a deep sadness fill her heart as humans cheered for the Queen but everyone else lightly clapped as they met the eyes of Ember. Little children cheered for both but the adults, some with tears on their eyes as they watched her ride by.

Ember mouthed a sorry. Silently begging for her their forgiveness as she felt like the biggest traitor. She had never felt so dirty while clean. She never felt the need to scrub herself raw so much in such little time before.

Ember looked to the rooftops and one stood Astarte, her hood up but her face showing as she waved to Ember and ran away as to not be seen for long. Ember laughed softly to herself as she couldn't believe that Astarte had stayed just to wave at her from on top of a roof.

As they made their way to the stadium where people sat in the seats and where she knew that the Queen's message would be spread out to the people who weren't able to get seats. Ember swallowed. This is what she feared. Speaking to these people that she felt like she was betraying with every part of her soul, despite her best efforts to fight against the tyranny that was controlling her.

But she reminded herself silently not to act out. To just to pretend to be fine with this, no matter how much this destroyed her soul slowly. As Ember and the Queen left their berions, they had guards surround them to protect them from the people who wanted to touch the Queen. The crazy ones or extremists, they were also trying to grab onto Ember's tail as she kept in down as well as her ears.

As they walked into the stadium, she saw the 100s of thousands of people sitting, cheering for the Queen and once and while for Ember. Ember kept her head down in pure shame.

"Quiet my faithful subjects." The queen called and everyone quieted down, "As you all know, that recently we had a prophecy come into our hands, telling of a Neko who would bring greatness to this country." She grinned, "A child of fire and luck. Well, as you must have guessed, this child is this young Neko here."

People cheered as the Queen motioned towards Ember who struggled to keep her head up. Ember felt her cheeks heat up from the attention she was getting but kept silent.

"She shall be the one that we celebrate, who we thank for bringing us greatness and taking down our greatest threat to our safety, the country of Suglion." She yelled, "She will fight alongside our soldiers and risk her very life to take them down. We thank all of you for showing such support for this brave young Neko. She is not only bringing honor to us, but to all Nekos everywhere. Proving that maybe they aren't all useless." the Queen laughed.

Ember growled at the quick stab at her people. The people cheered louder as the Queen continued.

"But enough from me. Here is the woman herself." She said and as she passed the megaphone she whispered into Ember's ear, "Mess this up, and I will kill you and bring Pele back to fight in your place." She hissed. Ember swallowed and looked at the crowd of people who were now silent.

"I am so grateful to be fighting for you all. To finally take down the people that threaten the people I love. The people who have gifted me such a chance to be here today and bring honor and glory to this country." Ember said and people began cheering. Ember knew the way to get them on her side, say demeaning things about herself and praise this country. It was a simple formula.

The day continued on with celebrates for the Queen and herself. Which each celebration, Ember felt a little bit more of herself die. As they finally went back to the palace, Ember wished to just sleep for a century. Ember made her way back to her room and found Atherton waiting for her.

"Hey, I see you survived." He laughed.

"Barely, but yeah." Ember weakly said.

"Come on, go to sleep, you tired baby." Atherton teased as Ember walked into the bathroom to change. When Ember walked out with a long yawn coming from her mouth and tripped over something but was caught by Atherton.

"Hey now, I said sleep, not to hurt yourself." He muttered as he lifted her up. Ember mumbled lightly which sounded like an attempt of a retort but she was too tired really talk back. Atherton lightly laid on her down on her bed and tucked her in. Ember was immediately out and Atherton smiled softly down her sleeping figure. He leaned over and kissed her forehead and ruffled her hair slightly. A small smile came onto her sleeping face as Atherton changed into his puppy form and curled up in his personal corner of the room.