You breathe in deeply, eyes wide and darting around. You know this room.. it's so familiar; the smells, the sounds.

"Am I... Am I dead?" You ask softly, clutching Raphael's arm, although you're not sure if he's real or not.

"No, but you almost were," Raph speaks softly, clutching onto you as if you'd melt away, while watching you closely. You look up at him with deep e/c eyes, more confused than ever.

"Y/n!" Your mother cries out, running in with tears in her eyes. You gasp as she pulls you into her arms, and you're embraced with her familiar, calming scent.

"Mama... I missed you so much!" You sob, clutching her gown and burying your face in her neck.

"We missed you as well," your father speaks, hugging you and your mother. You cry tears of joy and kiss your father's cheek as you cling to his shirt.

"Papa.. you cut your hair.." you murmur with a breathless chuckle. He smiles, stroking your hair.

"Thank the stars you are alive.." your mother sniffles, stroking your cheek. You smile with eyes full of tears, when a strand of your hair falls in front of your eyes. You raise your hand to push it back, when the foreign color gains your attention. Your e/c eyes widen as you pull more of your now h/c hair into your view. And now you notice the color of your skin has changed as well.

"Wh-what happened to me??" You exclaim with shock, your hands shaking.

"You must understand... we had no choice, love.." your mother begins.

"You were dying.." your father utters. "We couldn't bear to loose you, after all your hard work."

"I'm not... I'm not of Lumina Stellar anymore.." you realize out loud, tears of heartbreak forming in your eyes.

While this went on, Raphael stood to the side, watching with sad eyes. He was relieved you were alive, but you weren't the princess anymore.. he pretty much took your whole life away; your entire future was crushed in his hands.

"What do I do now?" You ask in a weak voice, dazed from this sudden development.

"I'm afraid you must leave the planet.. or it will attack you, as the planet will not recognize you as one of us.." Your father whispers the words like it was the name of Death itself.

Raph's eyes widen, and he sighs softly, looking down.
'That's why it was a last resort..'

You sniffle and slowly stand, leaving your parents embrace. While your side is terribly sore, you are able to keep yourself up.
"Very well.. at least the throne will not be left with no heir." You smile at your mother, who returns a sad, proud smile.

"We will arrange fuel and supplies for your ship.. and you should give the people a final speech." She proposes, drying her eyes.

You nod, but your eyes are sad and faraway as you fall into deep thought; everyone notices your behavior, and says nothing.

~~~

In your room, you prepare for your fair well party and final speech. Your maid fixes your hair, sniffling and holding back tears. Her pale hands tremble slightly as her fingers comb through your h/c locks, twisting and fashioning it into a loose braid to lay over your shoulder. You wear a gold head piece, that has a single, dark blue jewel in the center front. The sides are designed to look like wings, which tuck into your hair like a comb. Your earrings match your head piece; gold, and molded like wings, with a second part shaped like an arrowhead and pointing down.

You take a deep breath as you fix your head piece from it's slanted state; a gift from your uncle, and one of the few things you chose to bring with you once you depart Lumina Stellar. Staring at the mirror in front of you, you examine yourself in a dark blue dress that reaches the floor, with long, frilly sleeves, a low neckline and silver lace lining the edges. You find the sleeves annoying and pointless, but as your mother picked it out for you, you'll wear it for her.
Looking away from your attire, you look at your maid: Luna, with tears brimming her eyes as she works. She glances at the mirror and meets your eyes, which pushes her to tears.

"Oh Luna.." you murmur, pulling her into a hug. She sobs into your shoulder as you rub her back gently. "Please don't cry, Luna.." you whisper, biting back your own tears as you feel your throat clench up, making it harder to swallow. You remember when you first met her at the age of 10.. she's older by only 5 cycles, but she treated you like her equal, if not more because you were royalty.

"I'm.. I'm so sorry miss.." she apologizes, hugging you tighter. "But I'm going to miss you terribly.."

You sniffle and bury your face in the soft, sweet-smelling fabric of her shirt.
"I know.. I will too.." you mumble your reply as you hug your dearest friend closer.

She slowly pulls away and wipes her eyes.
"Oh dear... I got your shoulder all wet.." she smiles softly and gets back to preparing you for your speech. You sniffle and blow your nose, when you spot a note on your dresser. You pick it up to read.

"When did this.." you trail off, your eyes wide and mouth hanging open as you read the note.

"Oh.. a guard brought that in while you were washing." Luna replies, tucking back a few stray silver locks as she observes you with kind brown eyes. "What is it, miss?" She inquires softly.

"I didn't know until now.. oh, Sewcen," you whisper, sitting on your bed in a daze. "I can't believe.."

Luna doesn't say anything else; she sits beside you and pulls you into a comforting embrace.
"You've had a long day, princess.."

"I'm not the princess anymore.." you correct her, your voice lacking life, or anything else. You were numb by now, that note was the final shove to send you flying off the cliff.

"You will always be our princess.. we will sing great songs of the young girl who slayed her evil aunt to save her planet, putting life and limb on the line for her people." Luna rubs your shoulder soothingly, and you close your eyes. "You are our hero, Y/n.."

What only seems like seconds later, you open them to scan over the crowd of silver haired people standing before you, staring up at you in shock. You take a deep breath and step to the railing of the terrace.

"People of Lumina Stellar," you begin, your voice strong and echoing through the still air. No one dares to breathe as they listen closely to their princess. "Today is a day that will be recorded in the Great Book as a day of celebration and remembrance!" You glance to the side and see your parents standing to your right, your father holding your mother as they smile proudly. "For today is our first day free of Diana Starlight!"

The crowd erupts into applause and cheering until you raise your hand for silence.

"However, that freedom came with a price," You feel your voice losing it's strength. You open your mouth again, hesitant to speak, when a familiar, strong hand takes yours. You know it's Raphael.. you recognize the roughness of his skin, and the strength in his grip.

"I fought her with every ounce of strength within me. I fought with the strength of Lumina Stellar, and with the strength of all of you, and I prevailed, but nearly lost my life." An eerie silence falls over the land; it seems the very planet is listening, along with all the plants and animals. "I would have died if my comrade, Raphael, and the Queen had not retrieved my star."

Hushed gasps and murmurs of disbelief and shock respond to your words.

"But I am sad to say, such luck did not travel with everyone in the battlefield," you continue, bowing your head as you hear Sewcen sobbing behind you, her body crumpled in her chair. "We lost a brave warrior that day, by the name of Farję Ex'yhr. He was a brave man, and the cry of his love will echo across Sister Moon for years ahead!" You shout with strength, for his memory, and for Sewcen. The people below match your cry, shouting Farję's name in a powerful chant of remembrance and gratitude. You motion for Sewcen to come and join you on the terrace, and she hesitantly complies. You take her hand and raise it in the air, and the people chant louder for her.

"People of Lumina Stellar, I leave you not in sadness, but in joy and pride of how strong you all are! Live in love, and never forget this day! The Day of Remembrance! For those lost and gained!"

Sewcen smiles faintly as black tears roll down her face. She hugs you tightly, and you hug her back as a few tears fall from your eyes.

"I am immensely proud of you, Y/n.." she whispers, stepping back and wiping away your tears.

If you had any words to say in return, you couldn't summon them. Every emotion flooded over you, over and over like waves on a beach. Your friend was now gone.. you would have to leave your home in only a few hours, your family, friends would never see you again.. and what's worse, the numbing liquid you took was starting to fade away, and your side began to ache again.

Your thoughts disappear as you feel Raphael snake his arm around your waist, pulling you against his chest in a gentle, protective manner. You held his hand that rested on your side, and stumble/walk inside as the party began outside.

"You did a great job, Y/n," Donnie remarks, rubbing your shoulder in a kind gesture. You spot your parents tense up at all the people touching you without even asking permission, and you manage to chuckle softly.

"Thank you, Donnie.." you murmur wearily. You feel a pinch in your arm as the doctor injects the liquid into your arm again, and you slowly stand to your feet. You force yourself to take the next steps down the hall, walking out with Raphael to join your people in the festivities for one last time.

Your last day on Lumina Stellar..

(Y/n's head piece and earrings:

Y/n's dress:

Enjoy!!)