There really was nothing Calista enjoyed about being apart of the royal family. For one thing, she had to look nice all the time. Calista wasn't lazy or sloppy or anything, she just hated dressing up. Occasionally she'd wear a skirt or dress, but only if it were required. Oh, and if she approved of it. That was another thing about the royal family. She and her brother Orist constantly had to wear clothes selected by their Uncle Garrik and Aunt Taenya; the clothes were the definition of hideous. Not only was her wardrobe controlled, but she was assigned a specific meal plan so she stayed 'fit like a princess', was given a curfew, and usually had a watch system on her. Her only escape was the outdoors. And her room.

Zeidan Lovelace was one of Calista's best friends. He was a year older than Calista and more than half a foot taller as well, with a tan complexion and ice blue eyes that sparkled even in the darkest hours. Zeidan considered work pointless, and took to living life to the fullest each and everyday. He was like a second brother to Calista and always managed to help her sneak out and break the royal rules without being caught.

After showering and dressing in a black skirt, maroon top and her favorite black leather jacket and boots, Calista bounded down the palace steps, yet again breaking the 'be graceful' rule. Upon getting to the bottom, she made her way through the hallways, heading for the Air Room. The Air Room was where the royal family made all of their service announcements. Today would be the day that the rest of Eflaicury found out about the Earthen scientists and ambassadors that were currently on their way to Eflaicury. About time, Calista thought. They'd been withholding this information for half a moon cycle.

No matter. At least the Earthens wouldn't be sprung upon their planet. Calista reached the hallway of the Air Room, wondering just what her uncle would say to her. And then she saw Valindra. Eyes widening, and silently cursing herself, she ducked into another hall that branched off. She stood a few seconds, a breath of relief leaving her. "CALISTA!" The girl in mention let out a groan. Knowing she had to embrace her cousin, she stepped out, wary. Princess Valindra Elpetor was currently bouncing over to her cousin. She gathered Calista in her arms, squeezing so hard that Calista couldn't catch a breath.

"Valindra," Calista exhaled. "Hi." The girls broke away, Calista subtly gasping for breath.

"How are you? I feel like I haven't seen you in so long, but it's only been, like, four weeks. That's only one moon cycle. It felt like FOREVER. Where have you been?" Valindra's green eyes were bugging out of her skull, her blonde hair getting stuck in her bright pink lipstick. She looked a mess, Calista said to herself. Not like anyone would ever tell Valindra that. She was considered "tasteful" all around the planet. A role model to little girls. Sure.

Calista, not meaning to offend her at all, let out a small chuckle. "You look a little...shaken up there..." she brushed the hair off her cousin's lips. She covered up her insult, not wanting to get into an argument by continuing, "Of course, If I'm not mistaken, dear cousin, you were away training to be the next Queen." Valindra beamed at that, and Calista cursed herself once more. No doubt she would hear all about the future Queen's trip.

"So, first they-" The door to the Air Room opened. Queen Taenya stepped out.

"Girls. Hurry and come inside," she said, a slight scowl transforming her lips. "King Garrik wants to air the message soon." Thanking the current Queen in her head, Calista started forward after Valindra. "Darling," Taenya smiled at her daughter, "you look wonderful." Calista held back the urge to scoff. When the Queen's eyes rested on her niece, she barely concealed her look of disgust. "Calista! What on Eflaicury, are you wearing? You must take off that jacket and those boots at once! Thank the moon that I thought to bring a pair of white flats." She shook her head. "I swear, you're setting a bad example!" The Queen went back into the Air Room.

"Yeah," Calista muttered to herself. "I'm the bad example."

•••••

Her hand was wrapped around his arm, holding on to him for stability. She still felt strange from the feeling Eflaicury had given her. He didn't mind, though. He rather liked that she needed him. "EXCUSE ME, IF YOU COULD ALL TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE NEAREST AIRING DEVICE, THE ROYAL FAMILY HAS A MESSAGE," came a voice from the speaker towers stationed all around the Sectors. She didn't really notice it, though. But she did notice when Crux came to a stop. "Fay," he said, tapping her arm lightly. "Look up." She turned her head slightly, craning her neck to see the screen just as the royal family popped up. All of them looked pristine - as always. Not a single hair out of place. Faryian looked around the Square, noticing how a lot of young girls squealed at the sight of the princesses. She sighed, annoyed that everyone had an obsession with the elite. King Garrik sat in the middle of the screen, Queen Taenya to his right. The three of their children - Valindra, Shironny, and Dealareè - all in chairs next to their mother. The royal consorts, Wirenth and Edea Pierrev, sat on the other side of the King, and behind them were their two children, Orist and Calista. None of them were smiling.

"People of Eflaicury," the King started. "We have an important message for all of you. I would expect each and every one of you to listen. Half a moon cycle ago, we received a message from Earth's government." He let that settle in. Faryian cast her eyes down from the screen. Crux's jaw was tense, and he was bracing himself for the worst. A few older men and women looked nervous, their eyes shifty. All of the kids younger than her bubbled with excitement. "They've found us. Apparently, one of their scientists looked in the right place. They want to send a few ambassadors to our planet. And I've brought their request to the Board. We've decided to grant their request. We have two and a half moon cycles to prepare for their arrival. And another group will be coming in three moon cycles." His features grew dark. "I just want you all to remember one thing. If you find that your counter has stepped foot onto Eflaicury, you must come immediately to Uryi Square. You will find help and reassurance." The young girls across the way from them were jumping. An elderly man had collapsed. Crux's eyes were wide, jaw on the ground. "I would suggest you all head to your homes.

"The dark is coming." The screen went black. The last words of the King stayed in Faryian's head for a long time. The dark is coming. The dark is coming.

The dark... or the Earthens?

•••••

Once she had finally escaped the scolding of her aunt, Calista snatched her boots and jacket from the back room and darted out the door. She reached the bridge and hurled the preppy white flats into the murky water below. She arrived at number 415; the number being the only thing differing the blah metal house from the rest of them. Her best friend Lynessa Riese's house. Lynessa appeared at the already open door before Calista had even reached the top step. Her blonde hair cascaded down her bare shoulders like long waterfalls.

"Hey Calista," she smiled, teal eyes sparkling, "How've you been?"

Calista let out a long sigh. "It's been a loooong day." Upon entering, her friend Ornthalas nodded, his dark brown curls as messy as ever. Zeidan emerged from the kitchen carrying a bucket of chicken. "Cali! Long time no see! You're just in time for the movie!"

"Greeaaat," she replied. Zeidan's brows furrowed. "What's wrong?"

"You'll see," was the answer.

•••••

It had been playing over and over again, for hours and hours. Ecaeris had never felt so annoyed at someone's voice as she was in that moment, listening to King Garrik. Again. "Ugh!" she growled. "Make it stop!" Her brother laughed, taking joy in her pain.

"You know, I've never seen you this aggravated."

"Yeah," she shot back, "because I've never been this aggravated." She hit him over the back of the head. "I don't like you sometimes." Then his eyes lit up.

"No. You love me." And then Kerym was shooting down their hallway to his room. His sister watched in slight confusion, which multiplied when he came back with pieces of pillowcase.

"Mom will kill you if she found out you destroyed another case," she warned, but the boy just waved her away. There were two strips in his hand, and he took one, tying it tightly around Ecaeris's ears. She couldn't hear anything anymore. "Kerym, you're a complete and utter genius." He gave a bow, causing them both to giggle. He then tied on his own fabric, blocking out the King's voice. If only they could just turn the screen off, but if there was a royal message, they played continuously for hours. "You know," she practically yelled, getting up and sliding around the floor in her socks, "we should keep these for all the Royal messages." Her brother nodded, joining her on the floor. They joked around, laughing the whole time, when Kerym slid over to the window. He looked back, brow furrowed, and motioned for her to take the fabric from her ears.

"What's up?" she asked, flinching at her own voice. It had been so soundless with the pillow cases.

He pointed to something outside, and Ecaeris moved over to him, following his finger. Standing near a metallic tree was a strangely familiar girl with mahogany hair. She felt as if she had seen this girl somewhere before. Did they attend school together? "Is that the princess?" Once he said that, she knew where she had seen her: on television for the past couple hours.

"Yeah," she replied. "It is." Ecaeris felt anger bubbling up inside her. "And you know what, Kerym? I have a few words for her." She grabbed the handle on her door, wrenching it open, her brother right behind her.

"Ecaeris, stop! What are you doing?"

But she didn't listen to him. She only walked forward, ready to release her pent up frustration on this particular girl. "Hey! Princess!" The girl turned, hazel eyes widening. "Who do you think you are?" she spat. "You and your messed-up family always making the decisions for Eflaicury. Allowing Earthens to come here? What the hell! That's been going against your people have been saying for years. Come on. Share some light on the situation, would you?" Ecaeris took a breath, the anger flowing out of her. The princess just looked at her, bewildered. Oh my moon. Oh my moon! What did I just do? She walked away, aware that Kerym was still talking to the girl and her friends. Apologizing for her, she guessed. She would, had she not been mortified.

She didn't expect anything else to happen after. She would just go back home, get yelled at by Kerym, and then make him swear not to tell their parents. But the girl called out to her. "You! Come back here!"

Startled, Ecaeris followed the girl's direction, moving to stand beside her brother. Her cheeks soon filled with color. She didn't usually do this. She never talked out about the government to other people. "Look, I'm really sorry." She shook her head, hoping the princess wouldn't report her or her family. "I've never really done that before. I think it might've been the constant replaying of your message. I didn't mean to flip out on you. You don't singlehandedly make all the decisions. I hope you'll look past this. I mean, I'm not like that normally. I want you to know that. I always keep my opinions to myself. Please forgive me."

Ecaeris shrunk back, ready to be thrown into prison for insulting royalty. But the girl didn't call out for her guards. She laughed. She laughed. "Forgive you? I wish I could say that to my uncle!" Princess Calista bent over, holding her stomach, still laughing. Her friends were chuckling a bit. Even Kerym joined in.

"Uh," Ecaeris uttered, confused. "Thanks?"

"No problem," the girl waved her off, wiping away stray tears that had come from laughing so hard. "Honestly, I think we'll be pretty good friends. I practically do what you just do all the time." She stuck out a hand. "Calista."

Ecaeris slipped her hand into the princess's grip, shaking it firmly. "Ecaeris."

"So that's settled," Calista said. "Anyone up for throwing eggs at the palace?" Again, everyone burst into laughter, Ecaeris as well this time.

The thought of Earthens was gone. In its place was something much simpler. And simple was exactly what they all wanted in that moment.