Hi everyone!!  SK here.

This chapter will feature the Spirit Soldier OCs- yes, these are the OCs I asked for months ago!  The Spirit Soldiers will be making a few appearances in this book.  Thank you so much to those of you who provided me with their OCs that I could use:
LittleSharkXD
KimikooOwO
Stars-n-Fandoms
Legendary_Etta_7
Legendary_Sinon
Annular_Eclipse
LunaRaven26

Thank you so much for you help all over again, I really appreciate it!

So as you can guess, we'll be meeting the Queen this chapter.  I hope you're excited to meet her!  Enjoy chapter 12~!!

August

I rapidly wake up to the feeling of someone vigorously shaking my shoulders.  "Mmm...?" I slur, blearily blinking up at the person.  I instantly make out the features of my twin sister even though my eyes are still adjusting.

"So you're finally awake," she tells me with an eyeroll.  "It's time to- uh..."

Her voice makes a change in tone and I suddenly become aware of Valerie's peaceful form nuzzling into my shoulder.  She's still sound asleep, a graceful smile on her face; I'm hoping this means that she isn't in the middle of a bad dream.  

Then my train of thoughts switches tracks and suddenly I'm aware of how this situation must look to Verity.  A boy and girl in the same bed?  She must think-

"Shut up," I whisper to her before she can say anything.  "She had a bad dream and wanted some comfort."

She grins, giving me a knowing look as I echo her actions and roll my eyes.  "Uh huh, sure," she adds sarcastically.  "I didn't even say anything."

"You were going to," I protest before gently moving Valerie away from me and sitting up.  I stretch, letting out a small yawn.  "She doesn't even like me that way Ver, we're just friends."

She rolls her eyes again.  What's with all the eyerolling today...?  "I'm gonna ignore your stupidity for a minute and remind you that we're leaving in ten minutes for our meeting with Her Majesty, remember?  Get dressed and meet me and the Ministers outside."

"What time is it?"

"Almost seven in the morning."

"Okay, thanks."

Verity leaves, muttering about Valerie sleeping in my bed, while I drowsily step over to my armoire to pull out my regular set of day clothes.  After setting them aside, I go to the bathroom to quickly brush my teeth and my hair, making sure my curls are as tamed as possible.  I also make sure to give my face a quick wash, feeling a little nervous at being judged the Queen of Fairies.  Mom and Dad said she was nice.  I don't think she'd judge you if your face wasn't as smooth as porcelain, I try to remind myself but fail anyway.

I enter back into my bedroom, and quickly swap my fleecy pyjamas for my regular day clothes.  Grabbing my silky scarf, I gently wrap it around my neck to complete the look.  Sometimes I wonder what I'm going to do with my scarf after I get the Necklace for myself; the scarf would cover it.  Sighing frustratedly at myself, I neatly fold up my sleeping clothes and place them on the bench sitting at the foot of my bed.  You're about to meet the Queen of Fairies for the second time in your life and you're thinking about your damn scarf!

All fairies must meet with Her Majesty once in their lives.  It usually happens one week after they finish magic training, so usually about a week and a half to two weeks after fairies first get Initiated into the Colony.  This is just for the Queen to scope them out, and it's usually a friendly and very-not-formal event.  

I head out of my room, glancing at the sleeping Valerie one last time before I gently shut the door behind me.  I walk down the rose-coated hallway, thinking to myself.

I can't remember if the Queen's Spirit Soldiers are present at those meetings.  I'd never heard the term before until yesterday, but I do remember that some other faces, faces other than those of my parents, sister, and the Ministers, were present.  I know one of them was named Star, I still remember her almost five centuries later.  

The thing is, however, I don't remember any of those faces having wings attached to their backs.

Heading out of the building, I spot Verity and the two Ministers huddling together underneath the sun's morning shine.  Summer is rapidly approaching, and the sun now awakens eons before I do; even today, it's already high in the sky even at seven in the morning.

Verity spots me, rushes toward me, and practically drags me over to the two other fairies.  "You took so long," she complains as she deposits me in front of the other two.

Heliux raises an eyebrow at me, but remains silent.  Layra, however, chuckles at my sister.  "It's alright.  We've got about an hour's journey ahead of us."

Verity and I gape at her.  "An hour!?" we both exclaim in unison.  "Can't we just use a portal to get there?" my sister adds, an edge of frustration evident in her tone.

The Light Minister shakes his head.  "Unfortunately, that is not an option.  For safety purposes, no portals can be made directly to Her Majesty's castle.  If a fairy were to have ill intentions, or if somehow they were to be captured by humans, that could jeopardize Her Majesty's and the Staff's safety.  In addition, there are ancient fairy treasures that are kept with Her Majesty solely for their protection.  We cannot risk their harm.  Besides, the flight is very pleasant, I assure you both."

My sister rolls her eyes.  "Yeesh, you didn't have to explain the whole thing.  I get it."

"Would you not have asked if I did not explain?"

Verity falls silent, and I spot the fragment of a grin forming on Heliux's face.  

Layra rolls her eyes at the two.  "Come on, let's go.  Her Majesty will expect us to be there in an hour!"

With that, both Ministers begin to lead us out of the Colony into the vast forest that surrounds it.  The Dark Minister quickly levitates off the ground, her indigo wings fluttering rapidly as she soars higher.  Her partner shortly follows suite, and they both stare at us still on the ground.  "Come on," she says.  "We'll fly for the first half, and walk the rest."

Verity grins and soars upward, and I follow shortly after.  Once we catch up to the two older fairies, we begin to travel what I believe to be north.  Thank goodness it isn't really windy today; having wind resistance, especially when flying for long amounts of time, is super tiring and energy consuming.

Both Minister talks to each other, leaving Verity and me in silence.  She doesn't look particularly interested in talking to me at the moment, so I shift my attention to focus on our surroundings.  I remember bits and pieces of flying this way, but just barely.  The last time I did this was almost five whole centuries ago; I only remember tiny moments of that meeting with the Queen.  I think she has rose coloured eyes, but that's really the only thing I can recall about her appearance.

Looking down, I see that we fly over the Lazuli Lake.  It's a small lagoon that has water travel into it via rivers on either side of it.  It's a fairly round body of water, with green oaks and maples circling it to form some kind of leafy canopy around the lake's border.  The center of the lake, the part that is kissed by the sun, reflects back up at us to look like a brilliant diamond.  The fairies like to use it for recreation as there is a small beach on one side of the lake.  In the summer, the lake is perfect for boating and swimming, but in the winter when everything is turned into ice, the lagoon is a perfect skating location.  

I sigh, lost in nostalgia, and for once I am taken away by the magic of my home.

~~~~~~~~~~

A little while ago, the four of us have stopped flying and started walking.  I do admit while flying is faster, it's nice to just be able to peacefully walk throughout the forest.  

"Do you remember anything about Her Majesty?" Layra asks spontaneously, probably trying to spark some kind of conversation with us.  "You know, from the one time you got to meet her?"

"Not much," Verity answers, clearly itching for some conversation.  "I remember that she had very, very short pale blonde hair, and maybe purple or pink eyes?  I can't recall which.  I also remember some things about some of the other people living at the castle- which I'm guessing are the mysterious Spirit Soldiers that our parents mentioned yesterday?"

"That is correct," Heliux affirms.

"I remember some things about them too," I offer, feeling a little bored of near silence myself.  "One of them had sky blue hair at about Verity's length.  I think another one of them had gray eyes and darker blue hair- come on, what's her name..."

"Brooklyn?" Layra checks.  "That sounds like her."

"Yes, her!" I almost shout, thankfully Layra figured it out for me because if not, it would've bothered me for the next twenty-or-so minutes until we arrive.  "I don't really remember anyone else specifically, but I know that there were nine of them."

"Nine Soldiers, nine Elements," Heliux remarks abstractly.

Verity and I look at each other.  "Nine Elements?" she inquires.  "What do you mean?"

The Light Minister looks at her.  "The nine Queen's Elements," he says simply.  "The Elements that Her Majesty controls to keep our lives the way they are."

"What are they?" I ask curiously.  "If we're allowed to know."

"Of course you are silly," Layra tells me with a chuckle.  "In the correct order, they are Air, Earth, Lightness, Darkness, Life, Warmth, Storm, Cold, and Time."

Verity frowns at this.  "Don't we already have fairies with some of those Elements at the Colony?  You know, Alain, Mairin, Sora, Fayre."

Heliux nods.  "Yes, we do.  However, Her Majesty can control them with a greater power than any regular fairy can.  There is always a certain extent, a limit, that our magic has.  Even yours as Leaders, even ours as Ministers.  Her Majesty, however, has no limit to what she can do.  Her power is boundless."

"Plus, she has her Spirit Soldiers to protect her, even if they aren't fairies.  The power they are gifted during the First Test allows them to possess some magic, although very limited," Layra adds on, sounding very eager. 

"Think about that next time you get into bed with your girlfriend," Verity whispers to me, cupping my ear with her hand as she speaks in a knowing tone.  "If Heliux finds out that his daughter slept with you, he can just call Her Majesty to obliterate your entire existence."

At this, both Ministers instantly whip their heads around.  I gulp.  Thanks Verity, my death is going to start in 3... 2... 1...

"You know that Valerie is our daughter?" Layra demands, sounding strangled.  "How!?"

"I don't know how Verity knows," I tell her, "but Valerie told me that you both told her right before the Council began."

"I know because I'm not an idiot," Verity says very plainly.  "Listening to the stuff you were saying at the Council, and you know, just looking at her next to both of you made it painfully obvious that she is your child.  Seriously."

Heliux is stone-faced when he looks at me.  "August, she revealed this information to you, correct?  Did she tell anyone else this fact?"

 "No, not that I'm aware of."

The tension in the Minister's soldiers visibly relaxes and they fall quicker than snow in a blizzard.  "That is good to hear," he admits, but then gives us both a stern glare.  "I expect you both to keep this fact a secret amongst yourselves until Layra and I formally tell everyone.  Is that clear?"

"Yes," we both answer almost immediately, knowing what we're dealing with.  I don't want to be the one to detonate the ticking timebomb that is Heliux.

Verity grins slyly.  "So wait, how did you even have Valerie if you don't have Necklaces-"

"August, what did Verity mean when she said that Valerie slept with you?" Heliux asks me in a slow voice, completely ignoring Verity's invasive question.

I gulp.  "It's not like that, I swear!  Really.  She just had a really weird dream and came to me for some comfort.  She fell asleep and I was super tired myself and didn't want to bring her back to her bed.  Besides, she seemed comfortable so I just slept with her."  Goddammit Verity, why do you always want to cause trouble for me!?

"Hmph, I suppose that I will have to believe you," Heliux says.  As soon as I'm about to relax, he stops walking and gives me a glare that sends my soul six feet under.  "For now."

I let out an audible gulp as he turns around and starts up his pace again.  Verity snickers from beside me, and I turn to glare at her.  She only grins wider.

The four of us walk for a few more minutes before we stop.  "We're here!" Layra announces, pointing at the giant castle standing just in front of us.  The trees clear away to give it space to sparkle, shine, and exist in all its glory.  It looks as light as air but as strong as earth, the glass light in some spots and dark in others; honestly, this castle looks like it has the same amount of life that fairies do.  It glows with the warmth of embers, and looks strong enough to withhold the tests of any storm, burst of cold, or time.  It truly is a magnificent structure, even with vines growing up it to call the castle their home too.

"Well, let's go, we'll be late soon," the Dark Minister says.  She goes up to the big stone doors and knocks twice, each knock resonating and echoing quite loudly.  She stands back and after a few moments, a semi-familiar face opens the door.  She has short, curly blue hair that just barely grazes her chin; it almost looks like Mom's hair style.  She has vibrant blue eyes, and is wearing a turquoise and purple striped sundress; black sandals cover her feet.  

The girl, who I'm assuming is one of Her Majesty's Spirit Soldiers, smiles at the four of us.  "Welcome!" she greets kindly, and looking at both Ministers she adds, "It's nice to see you both again."

I look at Verity, and Verity looks back at me.  We instinctively move closer to each other; usually when we're faced with unknown situations, we like to stick by each other.  The girl looks at both of us and must know that we're not our parents.  "It's nice to meet you... let's see.  I think I can remember... ah, I think I have it!  August and Verity, right?"

"Yes," Verity answers, sounding a little startled.  

She smiles sweetly.  "I have a habit of remembering all of you fairies, especially ones that will become Leaders one..." she trails away, and I immediately connect the dots.

"Our parents aren't dead," I say quickly.  "They just wanted us to come today on their behalf to do more of the Leader duties.  They're both perfectly fine!"

"Oh, that's a relief," she says, the tension in her shoulders decreasing.  "In case you don't remember me, I'm Sylkie," she introduces.  "It's a pleasure to see you both.  Come on in, I'll go get the others!"

The girl- Sylkie- holds the door open wide for us, so the four of us shuffle in just as she disappears.  Heliux and Layra don't look particularly bored or excited, but Verity and I scan the interior of the castle.  We are clearly in the foyer, a gigantic glass staircase in front of us that leads to an empty throne.  To our left and to our right are entrances to various hallways, and behind the throne I can see more of these entrances.  I hope this place isn't one big giant maze, I don't wanna get lost.

A moment later, Sylkie comes back with four people behind her.  The first one is a girl with long brown hair with the tips dyed blue.  Her unfocused eyes are a chocolate brown colour and she wears a plain white shirt, what I think are denim shorts, and black shoes.  I wrack my brain for a moment, and I realize that this is Star!

Another girl, a girl who I think is Brooklyn, follows closely behind Star.  She has long hair the shade of a night sky, and eyes the shade of rain clouds.  She sports black jeans with gold stitching, and a silver t-shirt that is similar in colour to Star's.  She is fairly shorter than the others too, the one person who is shorter than Layra apparently.

"I heard that."

Shut up, you know you're short.

"Hmph.  Come on, you can at least try and be nice."

Ignoring Layra, I focus on the next person that comes up as he waves.  He wears a gray hoodie, his black spiky hair being hidden slightly underneath the hood.  He has plain black eyes, and even though they seem very cold, I can still sense some warmth in them.

The last girl that comes up is a taller girl with wavy brown hair, so dark that it almost looks black.  The tips of the strands end with a light caramel colour, like tiny sunbeams against a dark sky.  She has midnight blue eyes, and sports a cyan-coloured t-shirt tied with a knot at her hip.  Like Star she also wears shorts, and like Sylkie she sports black criss-cross sandals.  

"Come on guys, introduce yourselves," Sylkie scolds.  

"I'm Star-"

"Yeah, we remember you, and you too Brooklyn," Verity interrupts.  "But who are you two?"

Star grins.  "You're just as sassy as I remember you.  Awesome," she says, bumping fists with my sister while the other two introduce themselves. 

"I'm Hiro," the guy says, while the remaining girl introduces herself as Lunaria, but we can just call her Luna.

"I'll go get the other three, you guys talk!" Sylkie says enthusiastically, running off into the left hallway.  

Star grins at Heliux.  "So, you still a grump?"

I raise my eyebrows at this daring girl, and turn to Heliux who immediately frowns.  "I was never a quote-on-quote grump."

"You were always a grump, Mr. Grump," Brooklyn teases.  Luna just rolls her eyes as both Star and Brooklyn begin chanting "Grump!  Grump!  Grump!" while Hiro just remains silent.  I raise an eyebrow at the whole situation.  Are they not afraid of Heliux lashing out at them for teasing him?

"Stop it, you're both being childish," Heliux frowns, swatting the two away.  "Instead of behaving like toddlers, why not talk to our two future Leaders over here?"

I want to say "It's fine, I'm okay awkwardly standing here" because these people are basically strangers to me, but I don't.  I have to toughen up, Heliux is right.  You're going to be a Leader one day.  Better start acting like it.  I pause.  Wait, did I just say "awkwardly standing here" out loud!?

"Future Leaders still?" Hiro asks.  "I guess it's good that your parents are still alive and well."

"Very," Verity says wholeheartedly.  "They just wanted us to come here so we could get a sense of some of the things that we'll eventually be doing as Leaders.  Personally though, I just think they wanted to sleep in."

This causes mostly everyone to laugh, even Layra and I.  Heliux and Hiro remain silent though.  I know that the Light Minister never laughs really, and Hiro must be the silent type as well. 

I engage in small-talk between the Soldiers, and it doesn't take long for Sylkie to emerge once again with three more Soldiers following her.  The first has dark skin and darker hair, her hair flowing downwards like ocean waves.  Her eyes are a beautiful ice blue, and she dons a fluttery white and pink caged dress with flats to match it.  She spots my gaze and waves.  "I'm Kya," she says nicely.  "It's nice to see you again, August- and you too Verity!"

I smile, about to respond when the second person introduces himself.  "I'm Reza by the way.  It's a pleasure to meet you both."  He is super tall, even taller than Heliux surprisingly.  He has blue eyes the colour of the sky, and has many cloths draped over him.  

"It's nice to meet you, Reza," I tell him evenly, and Verity does the same.  She turns her gaze to the last person, asking, "and who are you?"

"The name's Mlm," she says.  She has platinum blonde hair that ends right at her chest, and emerald green eyes.  She wears a simple black dress over a white collared long-sleeve shirt, but not a smile.  She sounds a little shy when she speaks, and the way she looks at us gives me a slight mysterious vibe if I'm to be completely honest.

"It's nice to meet you, Mlm," I tell her.  Verity does the same, and we both look at each other thinking the same thing.  Where's the Queen?

Before I also notice how there are eight soldiers present, not nine, and that all the soldiers have mysterious symbols on their faces, I hear echoing footsteps from above us.  Everyone turns to see a girl with platinum blonde hair with rose highlights, whose rose-coloured eyes stare imperially at us.  Her hair is styled into a pixie cut, her bangs slightly covering her right eye.  Her skirt literally looks like someone took a picture of a sunset and painted it on it; her top is a beautiful golden colour with long draping sleeves.  I notice that she has wings, unlike all the Soldiers; her top pair are light-coloured, while her bottom pair are dark.  She stands in front of the throne holding a large silver staff in her hand, a pink-coloured sapphire sitting, levitating, and slowly rotating in its center.

Her Majesty smiles at us, striking the staff to cause an enormous echo to ring throughout the castle.

"Welcome."

Ooh cliffhanger alert well kind of.  I hope you enjoyed this chapter!  Again, thank you to the people above who supplied me with OCs to use for this story.  They will appear in future chapters!

Here is the drawing of Her Majesty (done a long while ago, so it's not as good as my current ones.. oops.):

Anyway um that's it from me today.  Stay tuned for more! :)