The Golden Walker

Sister Issues

"It's beautiful from here," Kuttu smiled from her perch at the top of the hill. "That's a BIG palace," Mittu replied. "Light City," Anshu read, "Is the most prestigious state in the five regions of Vallilea. It has been ruled by Queen Lissette for thousands of years, ever since Thyml fell and the queen succumbed to the throne at the age of 15." "15?! Damn." said Jiti. "Nobody knows where Princess Lise, her twin sister, is, since the young lady disappeared during the fall of Optiern. Since then, the queen has been ever-resentful towards her twin." "Sister issues!" Mahi sang. "Got a point there," Chakrika laughed. The next morning, they approached the gates of Light City. Everyone just stared at the enormous white gates. "So...big." Gagana said. Aria muttered something about talking to Arika and ran to hide behind Mahi. "Calm down, guys. I know it's majestic, but it's no big deal." Harit said matter-of-factly. Jiti glared at him. "My sister isn't used to this kind of thing. She's scared. And don't try to be modest. It's not your style, buddy." She looked at him up and down. "And jeez. Clean up a little. You look like you just went through a heat wave without a drop of water." With that said, Jiti hoisted her little sister on her back and flounced off to go talk to Jane. "Meh! Little Miss Jiti doesn't bother ME. I'm the handsomest, most intelligent, most-" "Handsomest is not a word, my dear Harit." Anshu said kindly. "I-I knew that!" "No, you didn't." Mahi replied. "Guys. Seriously. Shut up." But Kuttu's voice was lost amid Mahi and Harit quarreling. Jiti had a triumphant look on her face. "AHEM!" Kuttu cleared her throat so loudly even the adults stopped chatting. Jane beckoned Harit forward and asked him to open the gate. He obliged.

Suddenly everyone's eyes and ears were open to a beautiful white city so white it looked like it was glowing. It looked like the towns of Lil, except everywhere Kuttu looked there were people wearing gold. "Lord, these people are EXPENSIVE." Lil'ta mumbled to her husband as a haughty old woman sashayed by wearing shiny gold jewelry and a huge white fur coat. A little man scurried after her, picking up the fluffy pieces of white fur she was leaving behind. "Not as expensive as THAT." Harit pointed towards a towering gold and white palace, so big it covered all the houses with its shadow. "Welcome to Light City," he said. In front of the palace, there was a gleaming gold statue of two people. One was a kind-looking man holding hands with a stunningly beautiful woman. "Queen Elizabeth and King Harrod. Wow." In her other hand, the woman was holding a tiny baby. The man was holding a baby too. Twins. "Lise and Lissette. The most powerful set of Light twins to have ever lived." Fred said in awe. Lise stared at the baby held in the king's arm. "So alike, but so different." She whispered to herself. "Huh. I wonder where Lise is now," Harit wondered. And yes, they hadn't told him about the walker. Although Tanya said they could trust the Taryans, she warned not to tell them Lise's identity. "Say, what's the queen like, again?" Anshu said, desperate to change the subject. "Cold, weird, hates identical twins for some reason, loves war, etcetera, etcetera. Why?" "No reason. Just...citing my trivia." Anshu tapped her head for effect.

As they walked towards the palace, it was noticeable Lise seemed to cower every step closer to it. "What's wrong?" Anshu asked. She jumped at the words. "Nothing, nothing!" She said, waving her hands in defense. "I get it. She's scared, aren't you, Lise? You're seeing your twin after what...two or three years?" Luoxia said. "320 years, 6 months, and 2 weeks." Eyes widened at the words. "That...long?" Leo replied nervously, in order not to offend her too much. "Damn, you're old as a wizened wiza-," Mittu's mouth was shut tight with one flick of Anshu's scepter. "Uh, guys? You might wanna come here..." Jiti's voice reached their ears. A troop of guards surrounded Harit, and one was holding him upside down. "HARIT!" Mahi cried out. "Hey! It's okay. This is just how they check people for weapons." He told them. "WHAT?!" Now Kuttu knew the truth. These people were mad. Goose-chasing, donut-stuffed, mad! "Oh, your turn!" Harit replied cheerfully, leaping out of the guard's grip with surprising agility. "Ladies first," Fred said with a squeak. "Age before beauty!" Aria said to her sister. Mahi glared at her for a few seconds before approaching the guards. Grins crossed their faces. They took Mahi by the legs and swung her upside down. They shook her violently, and from her pockets fell her raspberry toothpaste, a lip balm, and her phone. "There! I'm clean!" She whispered. They swung her back to her feet and she staggered back to her friends. They did this for everyone, and after 30 minutes or so, the guards finally let them inside the palace.