Shapeshifters and princesses

Silent shock enveloped the table

"That's impossible, the royal family is– they're all perfectly fine and have been for years! You really think we're gonna believe that a couple of escaped convicts are the royal family when we can see the entire family every day? " Luca said incredulously

It was Xynnia and Kanna's turn to be confused, they looked at each other. Xynnia's brow furrowed, "What are you talking about, the royal family no longer exists, our parents were killed and we were imprisoned. My father was killed and we don't know what happened to our mother." 

Aureila spoke up this time, "I don't know what's going on, heck i'm more confused now than i've ever been but the royal family is still very much intact. Nothing about them has changed after the attack, well all except the king and queen."

"What do you mean?" Kanna asked.

Aureila responded to her, "The king has become much more like a dictator these day, he's a lot more menacing and controlling then he was before. Like a lot worse."

"And the queen?" Kanna closed her eyes, breathing deeply.

"She just isn't like she used to be either, I don't know how to really explain it but it's like everytime we see her she seems weaker, or tired. After the attack the Royal family remained behind the gates of their castle, only to be seen from tele spheres."

Kanna remained silent, confusion evident on her face. Biting the tip of her thumb she looked over to her sister who was reflecting the exact expression she was. 

"This is so weird" Xynnia exhaled, " I can't recall much from the day of the attack or anything prior but I know for a fact that my father was killed."

Xynnia shook her head, "There's no way that's him. I mean if they could fake us for so long, who's to say someone isn't impersonating him."

Felie hesitated, " i-I dont think thats the case, He's more or less the same except for how strict he's become. Which is understandable after what happened. He actually has appeared in person, and it's him."

Kanna slightly shook her head, "My father wouldn't–, my father would never discard us like trash and nor would he imprison us."

It was so incredulous she almost laughed. "The king was a kind and gentle person, even if he has changed what would be the point of replacing us. Why would he throw us in prison?" 

Kanna felt frustration boiling over herself, she looked towards Xynnia who hadn't said a word yet.

Luca looked at them with pity, his stance on the Royal family hadn't changed but maybe lessened a bit. Leaning his head onto his hand, Luca said "Maybe you should go ask him."

This pulled Xynnia out of her stupor, "What?"

Luca repeated himself without stalling, "Go ask him why."

"Easier said than done mjinga," Xynnia rolled her eyes, "Or do you not remember how we got here."

Xynnia turned to Kanna, "Its best if we put some distance between us and here, we'll figure out everything else later."

Luca scoffed, "Typical."

"Excuse me" Xynnia eyes bored into luca's.

"I said typical, instead of wanting to help your own country, you're running. For a minute I thought you guys were different but you're not. You're gonna run with your tails between your legs and leave your people to a tyrant."

"And what about you huh? What's stopped you from starting a revolution, or something? What held you back from helping people? In case you forgot the same people you're asking me to fight for didn't even know that i've been at labor camp for years! So excuse me of I don't want to return there" Kanna shouted.

Luca bit his lip, "I've done my fair share, but I've never had the power, You guys do. You were able to get out of the castle's prison, you survived their labor camps. You were just told that your father imprisoned you and you're still strong."

"Thats a bogus reason" Xynnia whispered, "Strength isn't enough. We don't have an army, heck we don't know what's going on and in case you forgot people don't even know us nor that the other "princesses" are fake." 

"And you don't know us nearly enough to assume how strong we are," Kanna said.

Luca stayed silent. This time it was Aurelia who spoke up, "You're right, we shouldn't assume how strong you are. But you are also lying to yourself if you think you're weak. Even we can see there's something different about you two, it's just not complete."

Kanna looked at her icily, " I could say the same for you, shapeshifter"

The room tensed and silence rang heavy through the room. 

Xynnia blinked at her sister in shock before turning towards the family at the table.

Kanna slightly smirked as she saw their eyes widen at her statement. "I couldn't sense it before because I was exhausted and sensing shapeshifters is hard enough. But you have the power don't you, this is your home and you haven't fought for it."

Xynnia's brows scrunched as she remembered a fact that she had learned, "Aren't you guys in forbidden territory, why are you outside of your family's territorial lines."

Maria folded her arms over the table, "Years ago before the attack , the Taa family was seized by the duke himself. Noone knew of this, not even the king himself. We were hunted down, captured, tortured, and wiped out. When the king got word he granted us silent asylum. We could live here as long as we kept a low profile. At that point the king and the elders were already against one another, debating whether to take his brother's title. 

Felie continued after her, "Since the duke destroyed our home the elders also agreed with continuing to wipe out the rest of us, and everyone knows that clanmen without their home could not and should not exist." Felie licked his lips, " and after the attack on the castle, the king changed his mind. Thinking that he was forsaken by the elders for allowing others into his home, he began to recapture us and well, you know the rest. I'm sure you met many of our family where you were."

Kanna and Xynnia remained silent, they offered up no other information and neither did the family of four. 

Marie nodded slightly, I guess we all have secrets we need to keep hidden right?" She smiled slightly before grabbing the bowls off the table and walking towards the kitchen. "It's late enough already, so it's bedtime for everyone, now, before we have guards knocking on our door because of curfew"

Felipe got up from the table next stretching is old limbs, " We have extra blankets and pillows, you two can sleep down here."

Xynnia and kanna nodded a thank you. 

Kanna frowned slightly before stopping Felipe, "we'll leave by morning, we don't want to put you guys at risk of being found out and who knows what'll happen if they found out you guys helped us." 

Felie just gave her a simple smile before shaking his head, "no you guys can stay, you've been through enough already. Let this be the first reunitement of the princesses and their people"

Kanna's eyebrows rose in shock and her lip wobbled slightly. Felie had followed Marie to the kitchen but Kanna didn't move. Still staring at the back of the old man who welcomed them even though it put them at risk. Kanna whispered her thanks, grateful for people like Felie.

Luca and Aurelia both silently left the table, although Luca threw a small smirk towards then before heading up the steps.