SERENA

PART I: Chapter 3 - The Birthday Party

"We will, once Serena is older." She replies.

"No, I mean right now."

"What? Why?"

"Rafi talked to me and he has a point. We should make sure we have at least a very powerful child, powerful enough to be the ruler one day."

"Serena will be powerful."

"I hope so but we need to be sure we have a child that can rule Elementia. Just think about it."

One year and a half goes by and it's Serena's third birthday, which makes King Soky excited because most children develop their powers when they're three years old.

Serena's only friends are the children of some of the people who work at the palace and they're all at her birthday party.

The party is in a large hall of the palace decorated with the four colors that correspond to the four elements. If she already controlled an element, the hall would only be decorated with the color of that element. Serena still plays games with her father to try to choose an element, but the truth is she still doesn't have a preference, even now that she actually understands what she's doing.

There are colorful banners lining the walls and the tables full of food are also decorated with colorful pieces. It's a beautiful sight and Serena is amazed looking at all the colors surrounding her.

"Do you like it?" Kiana asks Serena and she nods, still admiring the colors. "I was the one responsible for it." Kiana is fifteen years old and she's Rafi oldest daughter.

"I love it!" She hugs Kiana. "You're amazing!"

"Well, I have something else amazing for you."

Kiana kneels to be closer to Serena's height and smiles. She puts her left hand on top of the right one and then lifts it slowly. As she lifts her hand, Serena sees something green and thin and opens her eyes and mouth wide when she realizes what it is. Kiana hands Serena the flower that's in her hand and Serena smiles once again.

"It's so beautiful!" Serena exclaims. The flour is as red as Kiana's hair. "Thank you." She says as she grabs the flower.

Kiana gets back up and looks at Queen Nami.

"I can take care of her, Your Highness. In case you get tired and need to rest."

"Thank you, Kiana." The Queen thanks her. "I would appreciate it, after we eat the cake. I can't miss the cake." She smiles. "Pregnancy cravings."

Everyone gathers around the cake to sing to Serena and then Queen Nami cuts the first slice of the cake, giving it to her daughter.

"Happy birthday, baby." She hands the plate with the cake slice to Serena and kisses her forehead.

Some servants get closer to the cake, while the Royal Family steps away, and they cut the rest of the cake. The cake is served and everyone continues to laugh and talk as the party goes on.

A couple months later, Serena's brother, Rakon, is born. His hair is as white as hers and the King and the Queen are in love with the little boy.

The Royal Family is in Rakon's bedroom and King Soky is playing with him, making Serena's colorful block float over the boy. Queen Nami is with Serena but, when Rakon starts crying, she walks over to his crib, leaving Serena alone.

"Can I go hang out with Kiana?" Serena asks her parents because she's feeling left out.

"Of course, baby." The Queen answers. "Do you want me to take you to her?"

"No." She replies and leaves the room.

Serena walks through the big hallways of the palace looking for Kiana. She looks into every room she goes by and eventually finds her.

"Princess, what are you doing here?" Kiana asks when she sees Serena entering the room.

"Can you take me outside?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know... Can you take me to the place where you practice?"

"That's a bit far away. I'm not sure the King and the Queen would be okay with that."

"They know. I asked." Serena lies.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay, let's go." Kiana takes Serena's hand and they leave the palace.

They walk to the place where Kiana usually practices controlling her element, earth. It's a place where everyone who controls earth joins to practice, no matter what social class they come from. The place is huge and there are trees and flowers everywhere in the dirt floor.

"Wow!" Serena exclaims looking at all the vegetation.

"I know, right?" Kiana replies and smiles. "Do you want to choose a place for me to make a tree grow?"

"Yes!" She exclaims excited.

Serena looks around trying to find the perfect spot. She runs towards an empty space but another kid gets there at the same time. He has bright red hair just like Kiana and is just a little taller than Serena. She looks at him, waiting for him to move because she's used to people doing what she wants, but he doesn't.

Kiana joins the two kids and kneels between them.

"Hey, are you here alone?" Kiana asks the boy.

"Yeah, my parents are working." The boy answers.

"What's your name?"

"Nolyn." He says. "And yours?"

"I'm Kiana."

"And I'm Serena!" Serena exclaims and Nolyn waves his hand to greet her.

"So, I was thinking we can grow a tree together here." Kiana says.

"I can't do that yet." Nolyn tells her sadly. "I've only been doing this for a year."

"That's why we can do it together."

"Okay." He says and smiles. "What about you, Serena? Your hair is still white."

"Yeah..." Serena says and looks at the ground. "My father is always saying that I should control an element by now."

"Don't worry about it. It will come when you least expect it. The first time I made a tree branch grow it was completely by accident." He says and Serena laughs.

Nolyn and Kiana put their hands together on the ground and, slowly, a tree starts growing as Serena watches amazed.

When it gets darker Nolyn leaves and Kiana takes Serena back to the palace.

"Come on." Kiana tells Serena. "Let's tell your parents about today and your new friend."