Purple Roses

INTERLUDE: CONFESSIONS

Cara's P.O.V

I apply the dark red lipstick on my lips.

My hair is done in a ponytail so that it doesn't affect me when the fight breaks out. I look at myself in the mirror. I know, first glance that this is not me. But to get where I need to be, this has to be me. I drop my gaze and look at my neck. The finger marks have faded but if you look closer they are still there. I get up from my makeup chair and walk to my bed. The outfit that I requested has been placed on the bed.

I let my gown slip to the floor and start wearing the dark purple suit.

This is it, I guess. If I fail to show them I'm strong; then I fail as the future Queen Luna. If I make one mistake; then it's the end for me. Dancing with dragons is no joke. Seated on the bed and staring at the wall, Rosie comes into my mind. Her smile, her energy and her presence. I miss her. But this is not the time for that. I have to focus. I breathe in, trying to steady my racing heart. 'It's alright. Everything is going as planned. Everything is alright.' I chant in my head. "It's going to be alright." I say, breathing out slowly. Rosie has been declared missing. The Royal Palace is in a state of panic and they need a successor.

A knock on the door brings me out of my panicked state. That's when everything starts sinking in. I'm going to meet the grand elders or better addressed as the 'Dragons' to decide the fate of the other dimensions. The royal powers given to the first 'Sparks' and hundred years down the line to my dad and now me.

Uncle opens the door and steps in. I stand up and turn to look at him. He looks at my attire with a blank look. "It's time to go. I assume you're ready." He asks. I nod and straighten out my back to seem proud and tall. "Yes, Uncle." I say, my tone clear and bold. He smirks. "Good." And he turns on his heels. "let's go." He says and walks away, leaving me alone once again in my room.

I follow behind him, closing the door behind me. We walk down the candle lit corridor of Uncle's castle until we reach a stair case that goes down a cellar. "Your highness." He does a little bow as a sign of respect. I acknowledge him and start making my descend. I hear murmuring coming from the other side of the door. I make my face as neutral as possible. They should not see or smell how scared you are. I extend my hand to grab hold of the door knob but stop when I see my hands shaking.

"Your highness?" Uncle asks from behind me. I quickly hide my hand from his sight. "Open the door for me Uncle." I tell him, my tone clear and bold. I don't hear a response coming from him. I don't turn around to look at him. The sound of his shoes hitting against the tile is the only thing I hear until his long arm reaches past me and his hand grabs hold of the door knob. He pauses and I feel him lean in to whisper something in my ear.

I don't flinch as his warm breath fans the side of my neck. A Queen Luna doesn't flinch. I wait for him to say something or give me a threat but he says nothing. He's mad, I can tell. He then opens the door. "Thank you." I say and quickly walk in. I know once everything is done and dusted, Uncle will not let this slide.

~

"So you want to be Queen, one day huh?" Uncle asks me as we both look at the sun setting over the Kingdom.

"Yes. I know I can lead the Kingdom and make it great again. Like it was when mom and dad were still here." I say, feeling a sense of peace within me. Dad and I used to watch the sun set before he disappeared and things made sense.

"You know you'll never be Queen Luna." He says bluntly. I turn to look at him and see him smiling at down at the Kingdom. I gulp and nod. "Yes. As long as Rosie is still here I'll never have a chance." I agree sad. "And as long as common blood runs through me, I'll never have a chance." I add.

"But." He asks me, wanting me to continue. "There's no but, Uncle. As much as I want to be the Queen Luna, Rosie is the rightful heir. There's nothing I can do about that." I extend my hand so as to grip the whole Kingdom in my hands. Near yet so far. I then see Uncle's hand extend towards the Kingdom as well, right next to mine. I look up at him eyes wide. It then hits me that Uncle also must have had the same dream as mine and just like me had given up on it.

"I also thought that way, years back you know." He smiles, staring at the Kingdom. "I also thought that the Kingdom should be run by the rightful heirs to the thrown; regardless of the fact that the exact rightful heirs are not fit for the position. Not ready for such power and control over so many peoples' lives." His hands form a fist.

"I know all about the despicable things Kings, before your fathers' reign, did secretly within and out the Kingdom. But because of preserving the peace within the Kingdom I kept quiet about it." he drops his hands and lays it on the balcony rail. Uncle had a weird look on his face. His eyes were burning with fury but his face was smiling all happy and peaceful. He looked scary. "I see a younger version of myself in you Cara." He says and his eyes land on me. "I see someone who will change the Kingdom and the way people like us are treated." He adds. He then sighs deeply. "But you still believe the rightful heirs should take their place and hopefully lead the kingdom back to its former glory regardless of the qualifications." He chuckles.

He then leans in close. "Between the two of us, I think you would make a better Queen. Not Rosie." He backs up and smiles at me gently. He then lays his hand on my shoulder. "Come on Cara. It's getting cold, we should get inside." He says and walks away leaving me alone in my thoughts. I look back to the Kingdom before me. 

'Between the two of us, I think you would make a better Queen.' Uncle's words replay in my head. 

I smile at the compliment. 

I turn around and walk back inside the Castle.