SERENA

PART I: Chapter 14 - Serious Conversations

King Soky is soaked in water from the Water Symbol and the three adults look at Serena in shock. Queen Nami and Rafi are surprised and concerned, but the King is looking very angry. Not only did Serena hide from him that she can control water, but she also just disrespected him.

Serena can see the expression on her father's face and she knows she's in big trouble.

"Father, I am so sorry." She tells him. "I didn't mean to... It was an accident."

"We know, baby. It's okay." Queen Nami says.

"No. It's not okay." The King disagrees. "How long have you been able to control water? How long have you been hiding this from us? Can you control air too? What else are you hiding from us, Serena?" He yells the last two questions.

"I just found out. Today." Serena replies.

"Really? And when were you planning on telling us? How do I even know that you're telling me the truth?"

"Soky, if she's saying she found out today, it means she found out today." Queen Nami tells her husband.

"Then why didn't she say anything?" The King yells again.

"Because I wasn't sure if I could really control it or not!" Serena yells too and it only makes the King visibly angrier, so she lowers her voice for the next sentence. "I did it by accident and, when I tried again, I couldn't do it."

"But to throw water on my face you could do it, right?"

"It was an accident, father. I didn't mean for it to happen." She knows she will probably regret what she's about to say, but she needs to let it out. "And it only happened because you were being very unfair with me. You want me to marry some stranger and I won't do it."

"Serena, don't you test me." The King gets closer to Serena as he says that and looks down at her. "You're going to do whatever I want you to do and you're going to marry whoever I want you to marry."

"I..."

"But for now, that conversation can wait. We have more serious matters to talk about." He doesn't let her speak. "Tell me, Serena, and be very honest, how many elements can you control?"

"Three."

"Are you sure about that? Because if you control all four we have a big problem."

"I don't. I can control three. Fire, earth and water. That's it. I swear I'm telling you the truth."

"You better be. Because if you're not, we will find out anyway. You can't hide your powers forever."

"Soky, we have no reason to doubt her. She has never lied to us about her powers before." Queen Nami tells him.

"Before there was no risk of her being an Omni-Elemential."

"She's not an Omni-Elemential and she won't become one. And we are going to trust her."

"We are. For now."

Serena just wanted to hear her parents saying that they would protect her even if she was an Omni-Elemential, but they didn't. They just want her not to become one because they will execute her like they execute all Omni-Elementials and she's sure about that now.

"Can we get back to the marriage conversation now?" Serena asks, because she desperately wants to stop talking about Omni-Elementials.

"What else is there to talk about?" Her father questions.

"Everything."

"Everything's already decided."

"Fine. You don't want to call it off, then don't. But I'm still the one who has to say the 'yes' at the wedding and I won't. Everyone will be there watching and I won't get married. And I think that might be more embarrassing for you than calling it off. But that's your choice." Serena looks her father in the eyes as she talks and tries to hide all the fear she's feeling.

The King is taking deep breaths but doesn't say anything.

Before he can figure out what to say, Serena turns around and starts walking away from them.

"Serena! Serena, get back here!" King Soky yells at her but she continues walking away. "This conversation is not over!" She can still hear after she left the Throne Room.

Before Serena can get to her bedroom, she finds Rakon and Kira in the corridor.

"Is everything okay, Princess?" Kira asks her. "You don't look well."

She stops talking and realizes there are tears falling down her face. She didn't even realize she was crying until Kira mentioned it.

"I'm fine." She says.

"Did you talk to mom and dad?" Rakon asks.

"I did. They want me to get married to some random man that I don't even know."

"And will you?"

"Of course not!"

Rakon and Kira look at each other for a split second and then look back at Serena.

"So, you're going to disobey father's order?"

"I'm not going to marry someone I don't know. I can't. And I know it might get me in trouble, but I can't do it."

"Okay, okay, calm down. I think you're right. You should marry whoever you want and not listen to what father tells you. Besides, you'll be the Queen and he won't be able to do anything to control you."

Rakon knows what he's saying is not true. Once Serena turns 18 years old, she will indeed become the Queen. However, for the next few years, King Soky and Queen Nami will still have a say in what happens or not in Elementia. And, when they think she's truly ready to rule alone, they'll step away from making decisions.

"Yes, you should do what you think is right, Princess." Kira tells Serena. "And if marrying a stranger feels wrong, then you don't do it."

Three years go by and Serena is now 17 years old, almost turning 18.

King Soky still hasn't given up on the idea of Serena marrying the man he chose for her, so he didn't call off the deal with his family. However, that's the least of Serena's concern in this exact moment.

In a few weeks she will be crowned and will have so many more responsibilities she's not sure she's ready for.

For the last two years, she's been taught on how to be a Queen and rule a whole planet, but she still feels like she's has no idea what she's supposed to do when the time comes.

The only thing making her slightly calmer is that, being almost 18, it's very unlikely that she will become an Omni-Elemential.