New Moon arrived. As it did every month, of course.

Most would've never thought anything of it. 

"It's just like any other night," they say.

But for Queen Fiona Coralia--and the other Royals of the 4 Kingdoms, the New Moon was special.

The New Moon called for a night of peace. The one and only night of each month in which all 7 Kings and Queens met in peace to discuss important matters. 

The carriage ride was all down a rocky mountainside, with her Adviser chatting her ear off the entirety of the ride.

'Be polite' this,
'but not weak' that.

Queen Coralia stood outside the meeting room of Teeara's castle.

Every month, the Lunar Call was held in a different castle, but this time is was the Earthen Kingdom.

As Queen Coralia stepped through the door, she saw that she was the first to arrive. She was early. Her Adviser had told her they'd been late if they didn't move faster.

She greeted King Percival Lovegrove with a polite, yet stiff, handshake. Queen Coralia knew him as a man of few words, but when he did speak, he usually insisted people refer to him by a less formal name, usually just "Percy". In her experience, he was friendly enough, unassuming, and rather decisive.

Queen Coralia was much less proper with Queen Odette Lovegrove. She was fairly similar to King Lovegrove, but both her and Coralia were women, so they could be less formal. They shared a quick hug and a "hello, how are you?" before Queen Coralia turned to the final person in the room.

Prince Terran Lovegrove.

Queen Coralia found him the most pleasant to be around. She personally found herself a bit self-conscious that she was like "that annoying younger sibling", but he never showed any signs of being irritated with her.

Queen Coralia had really only gotten to know Prince Terran in the past year. This was because they had one major issue when it came to communication:

Prince Terran cannot speak. He uses sign language.

Queen Coralia was never "bothered" by this, but she only learned sign language a year ago. Before that, King or Queen Lovegrove had to translate for her.

That got tiring very quickly, so Queen Coralia took it upon herself to learn sign language. When speaking to Prince Terran, she usually just speaks, but she has to be able to understand what he says back to her as well.

"Cora!" Prince Terran signed. He usually finger-spelled out her name, and 'Cora' instead of 'Queen Coralia' is easier and faster.

"How are you?" Queen Coralia asked, vocally.

"I study a lot and try to learn something every day. It's good."

Queen Coralia knew something was off. His signing was slow--hesitant-- and he tried to avoid eye contact with her.

She tried to brush it off, but as conversation continued, her suspicions only grew more...

Queen Coralia continued to get caught up with Prince Terran for a minute or two, before she felt a tap on her shoulder.

It was her Adviser.

Queen Coralia said goodbye to Prince Terran, before taking her seat. There was an empty seat to her right, but her Adviser was seating on her left.

Her Adviser immediately turned back to whispering in her ear, as they had done in the carriage.

"Make sure you don't lie, but you can't let them think we're weak. The last thing we need is the Firens banging down our door with their army because you told them that our people were sick."

Queen Coralia knew many things:
-Her Adviser would talk for her, and if they slipped up, they would blame Queen Coralia.
-Her people were not sick. They were not starving. They were not thirsty. Her Kingdom was doing well.
-The Firen army was the most feared army of them all, but the Watern army was very close. Followed by that was the Earthen army, and then finally her own. She'd been using her time to develop her army better, but it was painted by the public that the Airin army was fearsome, but small. 

Queen Coralia snapped back to attention when the doors opened. Two people stepped in the room.

King Dylan Elvy of Aquia. Both he and his wife were very young to be King and Queen, as King Elvy just started his reign 6 or 7 years ago. He was married about 3 years later. But, Queen Coralia was the youngest--and the newest--ruler in the 4 Kingdoms, of course. Queen Coralia knew King Dylan to be a master of his element--water. She had heard rumors that he could speak to undersea animals, but wasn't sure if they were true. In her memory, he had been very calm and social. He talked a lot, and made a lot of jokes. She also knew him to lose his temper around the Firens...

King Elvy's wife was Queen Miya Elvy. It made sense why the two had been married, as she joked around quite often as well. During a visit to Aquia, Queen Coralia had seen Queen Elvy putting on a water show for the children of her Kingdom. Queen Elvy had been very uplifting and smiles in some of the darkest times. Queen Coralia noticed something a bit off about Queen Elvy.

Queen Elvy seemed to be... gaining weight. Especially in the stomach.

Queen Coralia took it as a sign that Aquia was eating well.

King and Queen Elvy rushed through their greetings before taking their seat. King Elvy sat beside Queen Coralia's Adviser, and Queen Elvy just beside him.

Only two people had to arrive.

Queen Coralia hoped they weren't too late... 

Since King and Queen Elvy arrived, her Adviser could warn her no more.

Like she hadn't heard every warning they'd ever given her before.

King Vukan Indulf and Queen Natalya Indulf had yet to arrive. Queen Coralia was about to consider the fact that they might not show up, when the doors slammed open.

King and Queen Indulf stepped inside, their heads held high.

Now that they had arrived, the actual meeting could begin.

Everyone took their seats.

"Since we are the hosts, we will share our news first," Queen Lovegrove said, standing up. Her husband stood up as well, but said nothing. As to be expected.

"Our Kingdom is thriving. Not just the plants either. Our people are well-fed and happy," Queen Lovegrove explained.

It was the generic response. The generic response you heard at least once every Lunar Call. Generic to hide the truth.

Something was wrong. Queen Coralia didn't know what, but she knew something wasn't right.

Queen Coralia looked over at Price Terran, but he did not lock eyes with her.

"We had a minor fire--"

There. That was it. Queen Coralia highly doubted it was "minor", as Queen Lovegrove said.

"--There was a struggle, but the fire is put out and we are stronger than ever," King Lovegrove gently interrupted and finished for his Queen.

"King Indulf, Queen Indulf, why don't you go next?" Queen Lovegrove offered as she sat down.

King Indulf stood up in confidence. Queen Indulf stood up just after.

"Our Kingdom is as good as ever. One of our worst thieves has been caught, and is now in our prison. He will rot in there," King Indulf was proud of catching this thief. It was clear to Queen Coralia.

"Our battle training is going well as well, more trained soldiers coming out than ever," Queen Indulf announced.

Queen Indulf looked around to see everyone's reaction to this news, and Queen Coralia did her best to keep a straight face.

Queen Indulf then sat down, and King Indulf shortly after.

"Queen Coralia, you can go third," King Lovegrove said decisively.

Queen Coralia stood up, and so did her Adviser. She opened her mouth, but her Adviser beat her to it.

"The Kingdom of Celi has been doing well. Our army is growing larger by the day. We had heard word of a massive thunderstorm coming our way, but we have averted its course."

Queen Coralia glanced at her Adviser. They did this every time. Every. Single. Time.

"I personally have been on a search to find a reasonable suitor for Queen Coralia. No proper results have been shown yet, but I have not given up hope."

It was the one thing Queen Coralia had asked them not to say. The one, single, thing.

And they said it.

Queen Coralia was forced to hold her tongue and keep a proper face. She couldn't show her distaste.

She wasn't particularly against arranged marriages--as she always knew she would have to be involved in one--but she felt that she was far too young.

She found it more appealing to worry about that when she turned of age at 18 years. Most Kings aren't married until they are at least 20. So why worry about it when she was only 14? Queens are usually married earlier(at about 19), but she did not fight it right.

That was all though. She was done. She sat down, and let out a sigh.

"King and Queen Elvy, of course you are final," King Lovegrove said.

King and Queen Elvy stood up at the same time.

"Our Kingdom has been doing well. The rain we've been having is perfect for both training and watering crops. Us and our people have been eating especially well," King Elvy said.

"We can all see that," King Indulf remarked, "Just look at your wife."

And then the fighting started.

"What did you just say?!" King Elvy snapped. His temper had burn from just one sentence.

Everyone was yelling, standing up, but Queen Coralia stayed in her seat. Even her Adviser had joined in on the fighting. They stayed neutral, but were just as loud and unhelpful.

Queen Coralia kept her calm for as long as she could.

"Enough!" King Lovegrove suddenly cried out, silencing the entire room.

Everyone stared at him, eyes wide.

"This meeting is over! Go home."