The Last Mission

Chapter 4: Back home (flashback)

The old smell of the sea wind filled my nose as I slowly woke up from my sleep. Still sleepy, I opened my eyes and got blinded by the bright light that filled the room of bunkbeds. I took a deep breath. A brand-new day. Everyone already left the room, everyday you wake up at 5AM here. A hell, I know right? Two days ago, I came back from a mission that took all my energy, so now I had a week free with no work, no responsibilities and all the free time I wanted (and kind of deserved, I did save three families from bushfires). Without anything to do, I was going to get so bored. So, I got out of bed, got dressed and went out of the academy.

I strolled around the island, looking for things to do, offering my help, but everyone knew me and what I did, and they all had the same thing to say.

"Don't worry, we got this!"

"You go take some rest, you deserve it, Diana!"

"No help needed, girl! Enjoy this week, you!"

These people. So, I hung out. I discovered the Island. I climbed the big volcano that stacked out in the middle. I could've flown there, but I liked a challenge. Plus, my wings were still kind of burned from those bushfires. Don't worry, they will be fine. They just looked a little... black. And roasted.

I practised on my fighting skills and took on with a longsword on a straw life-size puppet, which was just as boring as it sounds. I watched my friends from the military practise, getting chased by illusions of monsters. Do I look just as ridiculous as Karen? That girl can NOT run. No offense, Karen. Okay, some offense; I don't like her.

After I had a meal with my friends and spending half of their free time in the sea, where Beth got bitten by a crab (she claims, but I think she is just overreacting), I got bored again. So, I decided to do nothing. Nothing at all. Enjoy the nature, getting inspired by the wind or something, idk. I took a nice pink blanket and went in search for a nice spot to stare in the distance and do nothing. I found a spot, with a view on the palace and on the ocean that reached the horizon. After one minute I got bored. After two minutes I started thinking about what I could do next. After three minutes I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Whatcha doin', princess?" I couldn't stop a smile forming on my face. I turned around and saw Aliyaah looking down at me, in a long gown. Oof, she hates dresses... "I hate dresses," she started complaining, "I don't understand why we have to wear them. They're uncomfortable, it's too much work, I just aarghh." Comfortable in her presence I lay down on my back smiling softly at the blue sky and she sat down next to me. She had those ugly blue slippers on again. Jeez. I wonder what she is up to now. Aliyaah always finds something dangerous to kill her time with  wherever she lets her curiosity lead her.

"What event do you have to hold now?" I asked her. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about," Aliyaah replied. I looked at her. She had a serious look on her face, her eyebrows were frowned and only now I noticed that her body was all tense. I started to get worried. "What's going on, girl?" I asked and got up to sit next to her. "That's the thing!" she used her hands to put emphasis on her words, "I don't know! I am the princess, I am wearing this stupid gown for the stupid ball that I'm supposed to lead, and I have a feeling, girl. Something is not right. They are hiding things from me. Things about you. I- I don't know what to do, they use the ball as an excuse to do their mystery mysterious things, so that I won't go investigating what this is all really about! I mean, who holds a ball for the yearly coconut harvest, and doesn't invite their best warrior? Hm? That is suspicious! And why do I have to lead this? So that I cannot leave the palace! They are using me, Diana! And they are planning something with you. I'm sure of it."

I stayed silent for a moment and let it all sink in. "It's true that I didn't get invited but... Why me?" I wondered, "I just came back from a mission, it's against the protocols..." "Since when is there a protocol that you can stay away from your responsibilities for a week? Use those brains, girl." She answered me back. She did have a point.

Suddenly she looked straight at me. "Just promise me," she demanded in her serious royal-ish voice, "that you will tell me everything you know, as soon as you know it! I am your friend, and I am going to be pissed off if they let you do something stupid without my supervision, understood?" I laughed a little. "Understood girl, don't worry."

We both sunk back on the blanket. The sun stood low; I think it was around 6PM now. We stayed like that for a while, both in our own world, in silence. Then we decided to walk back to the palace, as our princess here had to prepare. I told her all about my mission with the bushfires, she said she could've done it better and faster. She was joking, of course, but I bet she could; Aliyaah can be amazing like that sometimes. We said goodbye with a hug, a longer one than usual, and she went inside. I stood there for a while, thinking. What if she was right? What was going to happen today? Why was everything so mysterious now?

I heard a sound behind me and turned around. Nothing. I frowned. Usually my hearing is excellent, I-

It went dark before my eyes.

a/n: Hello backkkkk yes i've been gone for some time, anxiety took over my brain for a while but today was a bit better :)
this was a flashback chapter, hope you all liked it!
take care, love you all and byeee see you next chapter!!!