Lullaby's Tale ~ Listen to the Reign.

To My Darling Children

Looking up at her brother Astra help up the letter "It's addressed to us"

"Maybe we should open it then?" Taking the envelope and picking up the silver opener their father always kept at his desk. Sliding it across the top of the envelope, the sound of the paper tear filled the room as the young nobles held their breath.

Pulling out the letter Astra began to read, shocked that the letter was a mixture of mothers tiny cursive and her fathers barely legible writing.

'We knew this day would come' their mother started. 'Never wanting to worry you we never told you, but it's time you knew. As you already know our name is Vega, the mighty North Star, but what you don't know is that Earth was our savior planet not our native planet. In a kingdom named Cassipiea, in one of the many rings of Draco we were the most recognized noble family. Related to Queen Serina, we were the knights of not only the kingdom but of the whole Andromeda galaxy. We came to this planet when Prince Nash took over, the Queens awful nephew. We were told to take the royal children and flee the galaxy.'

Looking at one another, they shook their heads in disbelief.

"It can't be" Astra looked at her brother, rubbing her shoulder Atlas looked between her and the letter. "Read on we need to know more"

'Our darlings, though raised as our own you were not ours. We raised you like pirates so that you may become strong enough to take back what is rightfully yours. We won't make it to the end of your journey for Nash's guards have found us. Be brave our young royals and take back your Kingdom.'

Clinging to her brother, tears running down her cheeks. Holding her close Atlas just rubbed his sisters back unsure himself of what's going on. Picking up the trembling girl he carried her to one of the soft couches. Setting her down, a thick cloud of dust rising before he joined her. Scooting closer Astra stayed close to her brother for the rest of the night. His giant hand carded through her hair as his own tears began to fall. Rest was troublesome for the siblings but sometime in the night sleep captured them. The next morning as the old grandfather clock struck ten o'clock, Apollo opened the library doors and pushed in a small cart containing the siblings breakfast.

Leaving the tray for when they awake,Apollo left the library and shut the doors. With a small whine Astra wakes at the thud of the door. Rubbing her eyes and sitting up the sea captain turned princess shakes her brother awake.

"Wake up oaf" Shaking Atlas' shoulder harshly the giant of a man soon began to wake.

"I'm up! I'm up! You can stop shaking me shrimp!" He grumbled as he sat up running a hand through silver hair.

Standing up and puffing the dress she'd worn for their return Astra walked over to the cart layden with their favorite foods. Smiling slightly she uncovered the first dish to reveal a danish pastry completely covered in powdered sugar. Atlas stood beside her and opened the other dish that was stacked high with scones and crepes. A small teapot sat on the corner of the cart with two matching cups, the thick fragrance of Earl Grey wafted for the steaming pot.

Sitting back down on the couch, food and tea in hand. The siblings start to talk about the letter. Knowing their parents were quite the tricksters, their first thought was that it was a joke. Is it though? Would they go that far? So many questions filled their minds as they ate.

"Do you believe it?" Astra asked as she sank her teeth into a pastry.

"I'm not sure, do you?" Running a hand through silver hair and down his neck.

"I mean why would they lie about something this big?" Looking down as she sipped her drink its warmth giving some comfort.

Wrapping his large arm around her Atlas pulled her close trying to aid the confusion swirling in their minds. With an abrupt movement Astra stood, with determination she started up the spiral staircase to the top floor of the library. Following her with a puzzled look Atlas made his way up the iron steps to where his sister was perched on a rolling ladder already collecting books.

"Atlas, remember when they taught us 'latin' but told us never read the latin books up here? What if they weren't lying? What if the books up here could tell us everything?"

"You're a genius at times, i'll have Apollo send word to the ship that we'll be gone a few days"

"I'm always a genius you git!" With a pout she slid down the ladder and put the books on an end table. "I'm going to change this dress is rightfully uncomfortable."

Walking out of the library and down the hall to her room, Atlas made his way down the grand staircase and to the kitching hoping to find Apollo there. With a quick pace both siblings made it back to the library, both tasks complete. Pulling open the mahogany doors they run up the spiral staircase eager to get to researching the truth. Climbing up the ladder Astra started to gather more books while Atlas started to leaf through them, using a quill to mark important passages. With a tiny yelp Astra started to fall from her place on the ladder, like a bolt of lighting Atlas was there to catch her. Pulling her close to his chest Atlas hummed, his sister though a 'tough' pirate was crying, fear in her eyes.

"Shh, your ok,you didn't hit the floor, your ok" Big brother mode was in full gear as he comforted his younger sister. Burying her head into his chest to hide the tears running down her face. Setting her on the armchair Atlas look at her, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"At least you didn't break anything like when you where a child"

"That was your fault, you pushed me off the ladder!" Pouting she stood up and wiped her face.

"I was twelve, you gotta forgive me"

"I wasn't even six yet! Your the idiot who pushed a five year old off a ladder"

Sighing she picked up a small leatherbound book and stormed to the otherside of the library. Plopping down in a throne-like chair she opened the book and started to read, letting out a small whine when she realized she left her tea down stairs. Not bothering to get up she hollered for her brother. Still in big brother mode he came running to the area Astra was sitting. Looking up at him with huge puppy eyes she smiled sweetly.

"Dearest brother would you bring me my tea and a blanket?"

"Weren't you just yelling at me?" He raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"That was before i needed something, now please get me my tea and my fluffiest blanket?"

"As you wish my captain" With a joking bow he made his way down the stairs and out the mahogany doors.

Continuing to flip through the small leather book each word seems to flow off the page. Sitting upright as a certain sentence caught her attention. "It all begins today" Standing she started to pace while she read unable to sit still any longer as the anticipation of finding the truth consumed her. As he walked up the stairs Atlas looked at the pacing girl, tea and blanket in hand he made his way over to her. Setting down the requested items in the chair that was once occupied by the young noble.

"Did you find something"

"Not just something, it's everything!" With a quick pace she walked towards her brother, a smile on her face. "This changes everything"

Looking over her shoulder at the passage she was pointing to as she began to read, her melody of a voice filling the quiet room.

"It all begins today. The fight was brutal and we lost many but we never lost the royals. Our knights are recovering as we await another attack from Nash and his forces. Leo and Cassandra my top knights will be taking my children to the next galaxy to not only save them but to train them to take back the throne. My dear sweet Atlas please take care of your sister for me, Astra is such a delicate flower but she has thorns that need to be sharpened for battle. Astra my dearest princess when you learn to sharpen your thorns make sure to dull Atlas' he's such an angry child and i fear it will kill him one day."

Closing the book and glancing up at her brother as the lethal cats twirl their limber body around their feet.

"You know what this means? Don't you?"

With a spark in his eyes Atlas looked at his sister with a smile "It really does start today doesn't it?"