The Last of the Miras

L | Go-Jū

Within the personal office of the Alabastan monarchs, Helen looked at her adoptive parents and at the same time her immediate uncle and aunt. Both looked at her with parental love, slowly filling the five year gap since the time she was orphaned and rescued by Queen Titi.

"What brings me here to your office, Cobra-ojisan? Titi-obasan?" 

The couple's only niece walked in as she sat on the love seat sofa, facing the opposite side of the monarch relatives who looked at the seventeen year old girl.

"How many years has it been, dear?" Queen Titi queried the adopted princess while cupping her hands together.

The aforementioned princess thought and counted on the years she resided in Alabasta since she was orphaned. 

"Five years have passed, Titi-obasan."

King Cobra nodded as he replies, "Five years ago," he thought to himself as if checking if he was right mathematically but soon he restates it. 

"Actually I meant six years ago. Your mother, Athena-neesan sent us a package, a locked dandelion colored vintage chest with green leaves and blue iris flowers accentuation arrived in the palace. There was a letter which she specifically mentioned to us that we should give it to you on the eve of your eighteenth birthday." He gently smiled at his niece.

"She also mentioned that there's a letter for you inside the chest." 

The specified item was given to Helen by her Aunt Titi. 

"Here, only you know how to open this." Helen's face scrunched in skepticism as to how she would open the item.

How should I open this thing? She thoughtfully asked herself.

Suddenly as if having a eureka moment, a thought crossed her mind giving her an idea how to open her mother's gifted "Pandora's box".

Maybe the answer is found within the family heirloom which onii-san gave to me. She finally concluded.

I'll make do something with this once I get back to my chambers.

"Is there anything else in store for me, Cobra-ojisan? Titi-obasan?" 

She held her box close to her heart as if holding the last remaining piece of her mother's memory.

Both monarchs held hands as they told the beige haired niece simultaneously. "A simple party will be thrown in your honor tomorrow, Helen-chan."

The soon-to-be birthday girl thanked on the planned event for her by the only extended family, her maternal aunt and uncle.

"By the way, the day after will be the start of your seven year advancement training."

Helen smiled at the thought of another set of training for her physical combat training and advancement. It would be a way for her to get back on her own two feet from the traumatizing event she had in her lifetime.

No more will I get to undergo the same kind of experience. The seventeen year old monarch said to herself.

"Where would this training of mine be located?"

"In a secluded island, wherein only the Nefertari family knows and owns the place." King Cobra replied.

"Did anyone else got to use this family's private island?"

"From what I've heard, it was eons ago. Presuming around four thousand years way back."

"I see," the teen princess paused as she readies herself to leave the room. "Is there anything else for me, Cobra-ojisan? Titi-obasan?" 

She asked the royal couple one last time to which both of them replied. "We already have said on what we must."

The beige haired seventeen year old rose from her seat, walked her way around the coffee table and directly behind Alabasta's parents as she hugged them. It was an expression of deep thanks as she kissed their cheeks goodnight.

"Thank you so much, Cobra-ojisan, Titi-obasan."

Right after her thanks, she walked away from them as she was going straight for the office door. Just before she completely left, with the door covering most of her body, she turned back half of herself as she said her goodnight once last time.

Both maternal relatives waved and also replied good night for their only niece. Once the door to their office finally closes, both of them had their own moment of silence, rewinding and reminiscing all of their memories spent together with Helen.

Titi, being a protective and caring second mother to her instant additional child through her husband's sister whom she sadly haven't met and yet learned how Athena was like when she was still alive through her only surviving child, Helen.

Most especially Cobra, a strict yet caring foster father as compared from the past, being the one cared for by his sister. The tables and times have now changed its position: he now has the role of Athena, his sister, as he does the caring for the one closest to her memory, Helen.