SERENA

PART I: Chapter 2 - No Preferences

It's been seven months since Serena was born and the King is expectant to see which element she will control.

The Royal Family is in Serena's bedroom and they're all playing together.

"Maybe we can speed up the process." King Soky says.

"What process?" The Queen asks.

"The process to know what will be Serena's element."

"Soky, she's just a baby. There's no way to tell right now."

"We'll see. Where are the blocks?"

"In that shelf over there." She points to a shelf on the wall to the King's right.

King Soky looks up and sees the blocks he was looking for. He gestures with his right arm to bring the blocks close to them and they land between him and Serena, who is in her mother's lap. There are four blocks and each one represents an element.

"So, Serena, which one is your favorite?" He asks his daughter. Serena looks at him when she hears her name but she doesn't do anything else. "Come on, choose one."

"Do you really think this is necessary?"

"It's just an experiment. Put her closer to the blocks so she can reach them."

"Alright."

Queen Nami puts Serena in front of her in reaching distance of the blocks. Serena looks at the four blocks in front of her but doesn't try to touch any of them. The King says her name and she looks at him with eyes wide open. He points to the blocks but she is distracted, looking at her father's bright purple hair. Queen Nami laughs as the King is visibly frustrated.

"I told you it wouldn't work." She says.

"It will." He assure her. "Serena, hey, look at the colorful blocks." This time she actually looks at the blocks. "Which one is your favorite?"

Serena looks at the blocks for a few seconds and then touches the yellow one. A big smile appears in King Soky's face and he looks at Queen Nami, expecting her to have the same expression. She just laughs at him.

"She probably just chose the yellow one because it's the brightest color. You know that, right?" She asks him.

"No, she chose yellow because air is the best element." He replies and the Queen punches him softly in the arm. "She's going to control the air, just like her father."

"If you really think this is legit we should try again. No experiment is only done once."

"Yes, you're right."

He makes sure to get Serena's attention and asks her to choose a block again. Serena looks at the block again but this time she touches the green one. The disappointment in King Soky's face is very obvious and the Queen laughs again.

"I told you it didn't mean anything."

Some time goes by and King Soky keeps obsessing about Serena's element. He tries to make her choose an element almost every day.

"Soky, no child develops their power this early in life." Queen Nami keeps telling him.

"I know, but some children show some preference when they're still very young. Serena's almost one and a half, she could show some preference."

"Well, she doesn't. Stop pressuring her."

"I'm not pressuring her, we're just playing. She has no idea why I'm doing this."

"Exactly! She has no idea."

On the day Serena turns one and a half years old, the King's five advisers reunite to discuss an important matter. After they reach a decision, King Soky's main adviser, Rafi, calls him to let him know what they decided.

"Your Highness, we've been talking and there's something we should discuss with you." Rafi tells King Soky.

"What is it?" The King asks.

"It's about the Princess."

"What about her? Is there something wrong with my daughter?"

Rafi and the other advisers all look at each other and then Rafi looks at the King again.

"I wouldn't say there's something wrong, but there's a possibility that there might be a problem with her." Rafi says.

"What problem?"

"We know you've been worried about her not showing any preference towards any element and the truth is we're worried too. If she was as strong as she's supposed to be she should be showing some kind of sign right now."

"She's too young." King Soky repeats what his wife keeps telling him. "She will develop her power when she's ready."

"Yes, she probably will. And she might be very powerful but we can't know that yet. And what if the Princess isn't powerful at all? How will that make the Royal Family look?"

"What do you mean? What do you want to do?"

"I think you should have another child, Your Highness. Just in case."

"Fearing that Serena won't be powerful enough is no reason to have another child right now. We can wait until she's old enough to actually use her power."

"How old? Old enough that the Queen's fertility starts decreasing? Your Highness, you can't risk that."

"Nami is still very young."

"Yes, she is now. But she won't be young forever. I'm only thinking about what's best for you and your family, Your Highness."

King Soky ponders about that conversation for a few days and decides to talk to the Queen.

"I think we should have another child." He tells her.