Polaris had been sitting in her study, quietly gazing out at the dark sky, when she saw the falling star. She stood up abruptly, shoving her tall-backed silver and sapphire chair away from the elegant desk she sat at. Confused and concerned, she squinted into the night sky anxiously. Yes, it was a star. A falling star. She hastily reached for a map of the land below the Celestial Plain, Earth, and made a big red X where she predicted the star would land. Then she snatched at a small glass bell and rang it quickly, staring through the glass floor at the little beam of light, falling to the strange planet below.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a quiet knock on the big sapphire door. "Enter," Polaris said. One of her ladies-in-waiting, Marisa, came in. She was clothed in her usual silk garments of a sapphire and silver tunic and leggings, a bronze wreath forged from stardust (to signify her status) and soft slippers. She contrasted nicely with Polaris, who was wearing a flowing gown the color of the night sky, elegant silver shoes, and a platinum wreath. The queen's dark hair was decorated with several colorful ornaments, but not tied back in any way.

"You sent for me, Queen?"

"Yes, Marisa," Polaris replied. "Thank you for arriving so swiftly. Would you mind sending for Leo? There is something very important I would like to tell him." Marisa nodded, bowed, and turned to head out the door. "Wait!" Polaris called after her, and the servant turned to look. "Don't settle down just yet. I may yet send you on some other- errands- tonight."

"Very well. Thank you, Queen." She slipped out the door quietly, and Polaris sat down at her desk heavily. She had only to wait a minute or so before she heard a knock at the door.

"Mother, may I come in?" a voice questioned.

"Come in, son," Polaris replied. A tall boy, teenage-looking age, entered the room. His golden hair was curled, and the golden wreath that lay atop it was barely visible amongst the shimmering forest on this boy's head. He wore a golden tunic and leggings, along with golden shoes. He looked a bit flustered as if he had run all eight miles of the Celestial Palace to get to his mother's study.

"I'm very glad you could come, Leo," Polaris said.

"It was no problem at all, Mother. What's the matter?" Polaris stood up once more from her throne and guided her son gently over to one of the walls (which was really no more than a large glass panel). The queen pointed one long, pale, finger downwards across the sky- towards the world that lay below.

"There was a falling star, Leo," Polaris explained grimly. Leo regarded his mother with concern. "I'm afraid one of my great-great-grandmother Celestia's enchanted flower shards has finally fallen down to Earth. The human world."

"I remember you told me the story once, Mother," her son replied. "But what does this have to do with me?" Polaris started to pace around the room, her hands clasped solemnly at her stomach.

"You see, Leo, if two shards touch, disaster will strike. We absolutely cannot afford to have that happen. It could throw off the balance of the whole universe."

"But you said it was only one shard. Anyway, even if we did retrieve this fragment, how would we return it to the sky?" Leo pressed.

"It may be only one shard now, my son, but I fear that others may imitate their sister's bold move and descend as well. And returning the shattered flower to the sky is another matter- let's take this one step at a time." Her son nodded seriously.

"So what does all this have to do with me?" he repeated.

"Well, Leo, I want you to go down to Earth and retrieve the fragment." Leo gasped, stepped back, and tried unsuccessfully to regain his breath. When he had finally regained the ability to speak, he burst out, highly distressed,

"All by myself? What will I- where will I- I'm not a human! I'll have no idea how to act! You can't send me down there, Mother!"

"Not by yourself! I will send some of your siblings down to assist you. You will be fine, Leo, do not worry. This is not my will either, rather what I must do. I picked you because you are strong, and you can handle yourself. You will be the leader, and set the example for your siblings." Leo sank to the floor sadly, staring into the abyss of darkness.

"Fine, I'll go on one condition. I pick who comes with me."

"Very well, but I would like there to be no more than four of you. Who would you like to accompany you?"

"Virgo," Leo said immediately. Polaris nodded approvingly.

"She is a good choice. Who else?"

"Aquarius."

"Again, good choice. And last one?"

"I think... Scorpio." Polaris started, stepped back, and clutched at the iridescent crescent moon necklace she always wore around her neck.

"Scorpio? Are you sure, Leo? But... he's not your sibling! You're only cousins! And you know how untrustworthy he can be. Are you absolutely sure?"

"Positive."

"Very well. If you could send Marisa in, I would appreciate it very much. I will give you, say, a week to prepare, both physically and mentally. You have a long, hard road ahead. Good luck, my son." Leo just nodded and went out. Polaris went back to her throne and sat down heavily. She knew it was going to be a long week- for everyone. All she could do now was wait and pray she had made the right decision.

~SilverOwl125