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The loud gunshots and screams of soldiers falling to death surrounded the royal carriage. Ichika peeked her head through the lacy curtains and smoothed her sweaty palms on her hanbok. She took a deep breath before deciding to open the door herself and stop this before more innocent people die. She set her sights on a group donned in maroon and slate robes and red glowing gems. They were shooting fire at any guard that came near.
Ichika gritted her teeth and imagined the ground around the assassins sinking. As her eyes were closed in concentration, an assassin quietly crept toward Ichika about to stab her.
She made the ground sink into a hole that the other fire assassins were unable to get out of. The guards made quick work of them, removing their gems and putting their hands into fireproof handcuffs. Ichika smirked in satisfaction. She knew Bonhwa would give them a less-than-glorious death for putting her in danger.
The assassin finally slashed at her, stabbing her in the back. Ichika slowly pulled it out and quickly covered it in water suspension to prevent infection before glaring at the assassin and locking them in the ground literally. They quivered in fear at the Queen's fierce stare.
She put them in a prison. They struggled out, shooting at the rock. She had to constantly reinforce the rock to make sure they couldn’t break out.
“You monster! We should kill you freak of nature!” They had the courage or perhaps, stupidity to yell. She simply smirked and stuck her tongue out at them. Then for good measure, she slammed some water in their faces. They sputtered, not expecting the retort from a member of the royal family.
Although, while she was distracted with the others, someone came up and slashed yet again at her midsection. She felt the second stab clearly and yelled out in pain, falling to her knees. She used all of her power to subdue them while keeping the other ones in place, screaming as her brain started to feel as if it was splitting apart, keeping her focus on so many things at once.
The soldiers finally were able to take them away and Ichika could finally relinquish control of her elements. Her soldier bowed to her, feverishly apologizing and begging for forgiveness. She rolled her eyes and waved them off.
“Jaden, Your Royal Majesty, I renounce my position as Captain of your guard. I was unable to protect you from harm.” Captain Jangmi Mindulle said, with her head down.
Ichika pursed her lips before screaming “Shut up! Stop crowding around me and saying sorry! I need to see my family and a doctor. So please, hurry up! Let's go for Jade’s sake!” All the sniveling was ridiculous and annoying. After that, she fell to the floor, coughing up blood.
“Dang it…Someone help me get the Queen! Her Majesty needs a doctor right now! Hurry!” The captain ordered. Two soldiers came over rapidly and picked her up carefully, making sure not to injure her abdomen even more.
They tried to get to the palace as fast as possible, but Ichika seemed to get worse by the minute. Her tawny skin was now pale as a sheet as the water she was trying to keep there fell as she succumbed to the darkness.
“We need to go faster! The Queen just fell unconscious and she couldn’t control the water anymore.” A soldier in white yelled. The others nodded and the captain looked out the window.
“We are almost there. So calm down.” The captain said while trying to calm her breath. The king was going to be so mad. Ichika can’t stop him if she’s unconscious.
Jangmi just hopes she comes out in one beating and breathing piece. The king always needs someone to blame, so if he blames them, then they will most likely pay with their lives, especially if the queen dies. Well, if she dies, then Jangmi would gladly go down with her. Ichika was the only reason she was alive.
She glanced back at her best friend and gulped. Ichika was looking worse by the minute. Jangmi sent a prayer to her ancestors and hoped that she would be fine, although she knew most likely she would not.
“Captain? Are you alright? Your breathing is fast and you are even paler than usual.” She heard a voice behind her say. Jangmi steadied her face and straightened her posture.
You are the Captain of the Queen’s guard. Everything is perfectly fine and will be. Jangmi told herself in her mind.
“Of course, Miho.” She said turning to her second-in-command.
“Are you sure?” He replied skeptically, not believing her. Miho was Jangmi’s best friend, other than Queen Ichika. He knew that Jangmi feared the king. Well, practically everyone feared the king.
She went over to the girl she had a crush on ever since she stepped foot in their country. Jangmi put her fingers to her neck and noticed it was getting slower and her skin was like ice. She stood up and ran over to the front.
“Hey, you! How much longer until we are at Hana Palace? Pick up the pace unless you want Her Majesty dead!” She shouted at the driver, hoping no one noticed the slight quiver in her voice. Miho put a hand on her shoulder and she calmed down slightly.
“About 15 minutes, Captain Mindulle. I can go faster, but it’d be above the speed limit. Do I have your permission?” The coachman asked calmly, seemingly not having a care in the world.
“Were you not before? What the heck! Her majesty is bleeding out and we are just going at a leisurely pace? Move!“ she screamed, infuriated. She shoved the driver out of the way and he tumbled onto the road.
“Hey! Are you just leaving me here!” The coachman yelled at the ebony-haired woman. Jangmi just ignored him and drove on. She had to get the queen to safety. She freed the horses and put the carriage into car mode. They didn’t need theatrics, they needed speed.
Jangmi thanked her lucky stars she learned to drive commoner vehicles. She accelerated and it sped down the road. She swerved around the other carriages. She knew she was getting some odd looks but didn’t care. They could all get lost for all she cared.
Soon she pulled into the Hana Palace in less than 5 minutes and jumped out.
“Doctor! I need a doctor immediately! Her majesty is gravely injured!” She called out loudly. Several nurses ran out with a stretcher. They carried her out and laid her down on the stretcher and rushed her back into the noble hospital.
Jangmi looked at Ichika nervously. Please be okay. Please. I love you. Don’t leave. Jangmi felt her eyes water and looked to the sky willing them away. Don’t be a weakling, Daughter. She heard her father’s voice in her head. Wincing, she shook her thoughts out and reminded herself he was no longer on this earth. He couldn’t hurt her. But the king most certainly could.
“Captain Mindulle, the king is requesting your presence.” A messenger said bowing slightly. Jangmi gulped and reminded herself that she was a noble with more elvish blood than most. She still hadn’t done the ritual, so she still needed to carry out her required duties. She still had value. Please, please, please be okay! I will never forgive myself if you die. …And well I’d be dead too!
With that thought, she followed the messenger and her guards followed her toward the throne room. The two guards nearest the door slightly bowed respectfully and let their maces go outwards. Four other guards pulled the heavy doors open and it groaned miserably. Jangmi set her shoulders and stepped into the brightly lit room and slightly squinted her eyes, adjusting.
“Captain Mindulle.” The king’s voice boomed throughout the room, bouncing off the walls. Jangmi squished all her fear to the bottom of her feet, trying to rid herself of it.
“Tell me. Why was my wife attacked? Why is she now gravely injured to the point where she may die?” The king continued, drawling whilst having the coldest voice imaginable.
Jangmi quietly gulped before saying with all the confidence she could muster, “I apologize, Your Grandest Majesty. I have failed you as a Captain in your military, and I deserve all and any punishment. The Rubies unexpectedly ambushed me. But please, give me a second chance.”
“Regardless of that, you should have been ready for any sort of attack. Her Majesty should not be injured no matter what. This should have never happened. You will get your punishment along with the Rubies you have captured. You know I give no mercy.” The king harshly said with an icy look.
“Take her away. Don’t let her out.” King Bonhwa said, waving his hand at the guards.
The guards saluted the ruler and dragged the commander out. He smoothed his raven locks down, and for a second a flicker of worry for his wife passed through his dark eyes.
In a different wing of the palace, two children played, running around, giggling. One had a slightly grander tiara, marking her as the Crown Princess, Chikyu. Her features matched her namesake, Earth. Her reddish-brown skin was the same color as the iron-rich soil that helped grow their plentiful crops and her eyes were not the color of emeralds, as much seemed to suggest. No, they were the same bright green as you might find on a leaf in the deep of the rainforest, untouched by a human’s hand, holding pure innocence. Her dark, wild hair framed her heart-shaped face, with plump, dark pink lips.
Chikyu was running behind a girl who also had a tiara, marking her as Chikyu’s younger sister, by 16 minutes. This was Umi, a girl who looked like the opposite of Chikyu, even though she was her twin. Umi had long, wavy dirty blond hair, that had many colors, and aquamarine eyes. She had a light tan because she spent most of her time in the water. She couldn’t help it, it was like the sea called to her.
“Princesses! What did I say about running!” A maid yelled after them as they almost knocked her and the pile of bedsheets she was carrying over.
“Sorry, Nana Rosie!” The mischievous twins chirped back before running off and giggling again. The old maid sighed, knowing it was useless.
As they were rushing around, they bumped into two soldiers with solemn looks on their faces.
“Didn’t she tell you two to stop running?” One of them, Jeomgi, said, raising his eyebrow.
“...Yes,” Umi mumbled, not understanding why they were in trouble. She was a princess! She can’t get in trouble!
The second one, Soobin, huffed, “Never mind that, where are your caretakers, your highnesses?”
“Um…we left them to get the macaroons! The kitchen only makes them once a month!” Chikyu excitedly said. She loved macaroons, especially the pomegranate and pistachio ones. Often, she had dreams about them and woke up drooling.
“You can have them later. We need to go, now.” Soobin sternly said to the now pouting princess.
Chikyu didn’t understand what was going on. What could be more critical than macaroons? Although seeing the gloomy face of the two, she had a feeling in her gut to drop it.
“It is about your mother and holds the utmost urgency. She got attacked on her way back from her delegation to Chakistani. She is in the Medical Wing currently being healed.” Jeomgi softly said, knowing the extremely deep bond between the mother and daughters.
Both girls' eyes widened and they rushed to the medics. Despite being only 6, they knew the gravity of this situation. They had overheard hushed conversations between their mom and Captain Mindulle, several times. The Rubies were mentioned many times along with “...fire stamina is much better than expected…burn…you could die…be very careful…”.
Chikyu looked at her younger sister, who had tears gathered in her eyes. She grabbed her hand, trying to provide some sort of comfort, while they continued running. The soldiers were simply walking behind the princesses, their large steps no match for the girls’ tiny feet.
Soon, they reached the wing and were greeted by a horrifying sight. Nurses rushed around, carrying both traditional herbs and wheeling Commoner inventions. A nurse noticed the girls and was about to protest but closed his mouth, seeing the delicate tiaras adorning their heads.
“Would you be so kind to direct Their Highnesses to Her Majesty’s room? You know they have a healing effect on her when nearby,” Soobin said to the nurse, slightly mockingly. The nurse feverishly nodded, waving them towards the room. He pushed a door open, leading them into the excessively sterile area. Seeing their mother, the princesses immediately rushed over, linking their tiny hands to hers.
Ichika was white as the pristine sheets, and thick bandages wrapped around her torso. The rhythmic beeping was the accompanying music to Umi’s pitiful sobs as she tried to wrap her small 6-year-old mind around the situation. It wasn’t Mama. Mama had gorgeous dark sienna skin, Fushia heart-shaped lips, and stunning blue-green eyes. This version was too pale and her eyes were closed, hiding their beauty.
They tried to give their energy to their mother, but it wasn’t working! Her skin was still dusty and colorless, but they did notice an uptick in the beeping of the machine. Chikyu noticed Ichika’s eyelashes fluttering and soon her eyes opened. Both siblings gave a small breath of relief they didn’t they were holding.
“Chikyu, Umi, my children.” Ichika rasped weakly, “I love you two so much. I only have so much time before the stars call me. You both are now the holders of the Jade Sapphire and Jade Emerald as my descendants. You are Jadens now.”