Finding Mary

Prologue

(Three years ago)

"Asonia, the key to ruling our people is not with fear, but with compassion." Zar'gwei said, standing next to his daughter on the balcony.

She stood looking outwards to the city. The entire planet, all one government, all one people, and all had equal say in important government matters.

The planet Zindaki was beautiful. Full of grasslands, and meadows, farms and forests, it had little pollution, four major oceans, and three continents.

To Mary, the planet was utterly beautiful. With a blue sky, and orange clouds (orange due to the dust particles in the air), the scenery outdid Earth in many ways.

"Yes father, I know. 'Compassion rules with more strength than fear'. You've said that many times in my lessons." Mary replied, her golden eyes moving to her father.

He was a bit of a strange man, with crazy brown hair, and a goatee. In all honesty, he looked like a mad scientist without a lab coat. She looked nothing like him.

Zar'gwei looked at her with sad eyes. "You will take my place in less than two years, this is a big responsibility. Do you think you're ready?"

"Yes. I think I am." Mary looked back out to the city, the wind making her dark red hair fall into her eyes. "Though, I'm still not used to this."

"You miss your friends, don't you?"

"Yeah, but I've made my decision." She put her hand on his shoulder and smiled. "I'm go it to support my people."

Zar'gwei nodded, and turned to her. He opened his mouth to say something when a look of pain flashed across his face. His hand went to his heart, and he fell to ground.

Mary caught him halfway to the ground, and put his head on her lap. "Father? Father!" She said, trying to get him to open his eyes. "HELP! Please someone help!"

Three guards and a servant came running out, and froze. One of the guards ran to find the royal doctor.

Mary laid him flat on the ground, and checked his pulse. It was faint, and growing fainter by the second. Her instincts kicking in, she placed her hands on his chest and immediately began CPR.

By the time the royal doctor arrived, his heart rate was even lower than before, and it was too late. "No! No!" Mary cried, tears flooding her eyes and trailing down her freckled cheeks. "Not again."

The adviser to the court, a tall man with wiry black hair and bushy eyebrows ran to the balcony just as the doctor pronounced him dead.

The emperor was dead. And his heir wasn't ready. He made his way to Mary, and knelt down to where she was sitting. Knees to her chest, and back against the balcony wall, she cried, watching everything, but not seeing anything.

"Zaclyn, what am I going to do? I'm not ready! I was supposed to have another year.... I'm not ready....."

"Asonia, you are more than prepared, your father made sure of that. You've only been here a year, but you've excelled. It's what he would have wanted." Zaclyn said, his voice soft, and his grey eyes full of raw emotion.

Mary nodded, still not used to her real name. She wiped the tears from her face, and smiled weakly. He was right. She could do this.

She had to.
~
(About two weeks later)

The servants scrambled around Mary's room. Prepping things for the coronation. A swarm of beauticians and and makeup stylists buzzed around her.

Some brushed and intricately braided her hair, while others covered her face with white makeup cream. A style similar to how the ancient Chinese did their makeup.Her lips were painted red, and her golden eyes were lined with black.

When they finished, all that remained was one girl. She had flaming orange hair, and green eyes. She helped Mary into the ceremonial robes, then left.

Mary looked at herself in the mirror. She didn't recognize her self at all. She looked like a Queen.

She closed her eyes. "I am Asonia Geay, heir to the throne of Zindaki. Daughter of Zar'gwei Falih." She whispered.

But when she opened her eyes, she still looked like Meredith Stern, the youngest to graduate from Starfleet. The daughter of Robert Stern.

Mary sighed, and leaned against the wall. All the makeup. All the jewelry. The huge room. It was too much.

All she wanted was to go back to room 207 on deck three of the Enterprise. But that time was past.

Zaclyn knocked on her door, and Mary's head shot up. "I am Asonia Geay. I am Asonia Geay." She whispered, then opened the door.

Time for the coronation. There was no going back now.