Empires SMP: Creation stories (Season 1)

Chapter 3: The Ocean Empire

My dear children and descendants,

By the time many of you read this, I will have long been passed. As I write this, it is the eve following my wedding. I know, this may startle some of you, but life can bring a ten-foot-tall Ocean Goddess and a four-foot-tall Mezalean together.

But, as my brother Jimmy would say; Race, gender, sexuality and height, they all don't matter.

It's love.

Now, I wish to tell you a tale that I hardly ever speak of.

The tale of the beginning of a queen.

My tale.

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Lizzie's POV

She opened her eyes blearily and gazed around. She rolled onto her belly and took in her surroundings; she was on red sands beach, in a mesa. As she looked around, she turned back forward and nearly tumbled backwards. A brown-haired boy with a green streak slicing through the middle of it was crouching be before her. She stifled a scream of panic.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down." He said, holding his hand out. "I won't hurt you."

Lizzie pulled her hand to her head self-consciously. "Who are you?" She asked softly.

"How do you not know who I am? I'm Joel, the crown prince of Mezalea." He said proudly.

Lizzie stood up shakily. "How long was I out?" She asked.

Joel shrugged. "Few days." He said. "You've been the talk of the Empire for the few days that you were."

Lizzie looked around. "What is Mezalea?" She asked slowly.

Joel seemed shocked. "What?" He demanded. "You don't know anything?"

Lizzie tensed. "Honestly, the nerve of you?" She spat furiously. "I have what's called amnesia, I think." She growled at him, crossing her arms.

Joel seemed a bit downcast. "Sorry." He murmured, facing away from her and fiddling with something. "I just.... I have no siblings, so teasing is pretty hard for me. I have two cousins, Luma and Celessi, who I tease sometimes, but they live in The Grimlands with my aunt and uncle."

Lizzie sighed. "It's okay. I'm Lizzie, by the way." She smiled at his back.

"Well then, Lizzie, in the name of Mezalea, I take you prisoner!" A loud voice interrupted. Both Lizzie and Joel jumped in fear as a tall, black-haired man with a scarred face appeared. He lunged forward and wrapped thick iron chains around her wrists. Lizzie shrieked.

"Stop!" Joel called in panic. "She's my friend."

The warrior looked at him. "Prince Joel, are you certain?" He scoffed.

"If my son says he's certain, than you best believe him." Said a regal voice. Everyone turned to see a tall, beautiful woman with a golden tiara inlaid with lapis and diamond, and with redstone and netherite swirls. She was stunning. "Let this poor girl go." She commanded.

Lizzie thanked her profusely. The queen waved her off. "Don't think much of it, dearie. I'm Queen Angel, Joel's mother." She turned to the warrior. "Now, General Myuko, you are dissmised back to your post at the Golden Gate." The warrior, Myuko, bowed his head and walked off, sulking. Queen Angel turned back to Lizzie. "Would you like to stay with us for a few days, until you're settled?"

Lizzie perked up. "Yes, please." She said, her stomach rumbling.

Joel held out his hand and bowed slightly. "Come with me." He said, whispering in her ear. "Mom, can I show her the Mezalean Mother-"

"Yes, Joel." She said. "I'll go find your father."

Joel pulled Lizzie through Mezalea. "Where are you going?" She asked, trying not to trip on the path. She had only just realized she was barefoot. She winced as a sharp stone dug into her foot, and she felt hot blood well up.

Joel looked back at her and Lizzie tried to keep her face from turning into a fireball as the villagers stared at her. "We're going to my favorite place ever in Mezalea." He declared.

Lizzie didn't say anything else as Joel dragged her through the empire. "Here we are!" Joel said excitedly, letting her hand go and motioning to a huge tree.

Lizzie's jaw dropped open. "Oh my goodness!" She cried. "It's beautiful!"

Joel smiled, sitting down. "Yeah, it is. It's called the Mezalean Mother Tree. We only have so many trees like this on the mesa."

Lizzie sat next to him, massaging her foot and examining the bleeding. "Ouch!" She yelped as her fingers grazed a bruise.

Joel looked down and examined her foot. "Drat, I didn't notice this before." He said. "Let's get you back."

Before Lizzie could protest, Joel swept her up in his arms and carried her down the streets. "What on earth are you doing?" Lizzie demanded, her face feeling like a furnace.

"Helping." Joel said determinedly.

As Joel 'escorted her to the castle, the passed a battle in the armory. The pair stopped to watch. Then on an impulse, Lizzie grabbed a trident and raced forward, shoving the guards away. "Saela!" She roared, her voice odd. "Come at me, coward!"

The witch turned and cackled. "Oh, Lizzie! It's you! Funny, I was just in the Cod Empire with your brother." She smiled evilly, her staff crackling with static. "Bring it, Ocean scum."

Lizzie flung her trident forwards, stabbing at the witch. Saela doged, leaping into the air and and landing on a chest. Lizzie raced after her as the witch fired bolts of lightning and knocked shelf after shelf of weaponry down. Lizzie threw her trident out and tried to hit Saela. Saela dodged and launched lightning at her. Lizzie redirected it back to her and Saela dropped down. "Well, that was simple." Lizzie hissed. She raised her staff and brought down a bolt of lightning. Saela let out a furious shriek as her body failed, spasming and her eyes closing in pain. As the witch slowly died, her voice rang out.

"You're an Oceanfolk. Go home."

Lizzie dropped back as the witch died, her mouth hanging ajar. "You!" She swiveled at the sound of a voice. "You, pink-haired girl!" Lizzie watched as a crowned man, presumably Joel's father, came up to her. "You must be Lizzie, the one my wife told me so much about. My name is Alex, and I am the king of Mezalea. We would be honoured to have you on our Royal Guard."

Lizzie paused. Should she? "Thank you for the kind offer, your majesty, but I must return to the Ocean Empire. I am it's queen, I've just learned. Though, I'll gladly teach here and there and I'll visit often." She smiled at Joel. "You have my word."

She departed for the empire on the water, dolphins guiding her through the misty depths of her new home. She surfaced and gazed around, climbing the steps of a huge palace. Once she reached the top, she saw the crown and the note attached to it. 'Queen Lizzie.' It read. Lizzie took the crown and smiled, feeling it.

She would protect her new home with her life.

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So, my dear little ones, you now know my story.

I started just like you. Confused, happy, and free. Then I learned of my brother, Jimmy.

Life gets better and better.

Now you all listen to stories I've told.

As I lie here, next to my new husband Joel, I hope life will be amazing like mine has been.

All my love,

Elizabeth 'Lizzie', Ocean Queen

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Hey everyone! 

Sorry this was updated late; I had a big math test on Friday and curling on Saturday. Have a good week, all!!!