Keep or Destory

Aquarmia sits on the edge of the examination table, Rina having just allowed her to sit up once more, one hand clamped over her mouth trying to slow the panicked breathes. The other clasped over her midsection, pressing into it slightly. The news that she was carrying the heir to the Skylarkian throne was slowly but surely sinking in.

Rina turns from storing her equipment and places one hand on Aquarmia's shoulder, “Are you going to to be okay, milady?”

Tears of fear were ready to fall and Aquarmia quickly shakes her head 'no', “What am I going to do? Rina, what am I going to do. What will Phoenix do when you tell him!?”

“I'm not telling him anything,” she answers, “The patient-doctor privacy act prevents me from saying anything. I am only required to alert the King if there is an outbreak of disease that could effect the kingdom.” Rina gives Aquarmia a soft comforting smile, “The only one who is going to tell him will be you, and you alone. If you so choose to say anything.”

“Can you get rid of it?” Aquarmia asks next, wiping away the forming tears.

The doctor retracts her hand and looks away, “It... is not something I normally practice or advise. I do know of someone who performs such measures at request. Are you truly considering it?”

“I um...” the Queen looks away, lifting her hand from her midsection, casting her gaze down at the trim smooth metal that make up her middle. The front flat, sides nicely curved, little muscle definition could be seen, oh how soon that picture would change. It would be so easy, and the best part only three would know. But her stomach churned at such an idea begging her mind to change, making her feel rather nauseous for a moment, “I need to think on it.” Aquarmia finally answers.

Rina nods, “Take all the time you need, your majesty.” The Queen nods sliding off of the table, allowing her long tail to drag across the floor for a moment before curling it back into a ball, “Ah, milady,” Rina speaks once more causing Aquarmia to pause, “If you do choose to keep the heir, I will need to see you every two weeks, and please, return when you decide so I can start what you and the child will need, alright?”

“Of course,” Aquarmia answers without turning around, instead simply walking out of the medical wing and back towards the grand hall. She passes several servants and guards as she walks, each pauses to bow and greet their queen before moving on with their orders and daily tasks. Most fall on deaf ears as Aquarmia walks, holding her head high, trying to hide her worry. Thank goodness for the lessons she got from Facundra's Queen, Paroloa.

But she was not the only one with matters weighing heavily on her mind. At the other end of the castle King Phoenix looks at the High Priest, his eyes drawn wide, “No.... no... not you as well....”

The priest nods sadly, sitting on his knees, one hand grasping a gnarled walking stick, and his head bowed in regret, “I... am afraid so, your majesty. This morning, when I awoke, Skoloroko's calming words were no longer there. I ran to the dragon's High Ruler, he spoke that he felt the fade during the night. Already he has sent some to search but it has been fruitless.” The old priest then looks up to the horrified king, “Did you notice he was gone as well?”

“I did,” Phoenix answers, “As I do each morning I waited and listened for the sound of Skolorko chasing away the demons of the night, but his song never came. Even after the sun had long been in the sky not once did that mighty trumpet come. It is as if he has vanished.”

The High Priest stands up, “We cannot let word of  this get free. There will be panic in the streets! Our Great Protector, oh mighty Skoloroko, have you grown so weak that you have vanished back to the Almighty?”

“It's not the people's panic I fear,” Phoenix replies, “But the demons hunger! Why, if they caught wind, they would overtake us, and we would be plunged into a Nightmare like world of old. And if the rumors of King EagleEye are true-”

“Speak no more, I beg of you,” the elderly humans interrupts, “I do not know if my heart can bear it....”

Phoenix draws one hand to his chin, his mind spinning, there has to be a reason, a Great Protector does not simply vanish! Do they? It was said that they were born of hope and good will, and would protect their lands so long as those they protected believed. Plenty believe in him, don't they? Why, the kingdom's birthday was only a month ago. A time for all to come together and renew the Great Protector, renew Skolorko's strength to its fullest. And indeed, it was restored! King Phoenix, the High Priest, even the Dragon's High Ruler felt it, and Skoloroko's trumpet was heard across the land that day!

The king suddenly grips his head, “Think now think! What has happened between yesterday evening and this morning? It was a new moon, the Hunters spoke of little activity. Normal when there is not a moon in the night sky.”

“Did something happen at the castle?” the Priest suggest, “The temple is the same, the shrine does not show any sign of being broken. But Skolorko's presence is no longer there.”

Phoenix shakes his head, “Nothing, the guards spoke of nothing unusual, same for the servants. The only eventful thing was...” He pauses and wear a confused look, “Aquarmia's nightmare?” he shakes his head, “No, no, nightmares happen regardless.”

“A nightmare?” the Priest ask curious, “What kind?”

He was quick to wave it off, “She woke up feeling like she got stabbed. She didn't have a physical wound.”

Unconvinced but with little to go on, the Priest drops the matter, “We shall continue to seek what we can around the shrine, and the dragons in their valley.”

“And I both here and across my lands,” Phoenix nods in agreement, “We must not let any word or rumor of this matter begin. Pretend as though nothing is wrong. As much as I hate it.”

“Of course, may the Great Protector....” he trails off with a grimace, “may Almighty watch over us all.” the holy man states bowing to the King then turning to depart back for the shrine.

Phoenix groans and rubs the sides of his head, “What I would give for some good news right now....” adjusting his wings and crown, he readies himself to face the public and makes his way back towards the Great Hall, “Mikrei!” He calls out to an older human male his, trusted advisor and schedule keeper, “Please tell me today is going to be a good day....”

Mikrei, a blond haired outlined by silverly white human, nods giving a short bow to the king before looking at a data-pad, “Ah yes, your majesty. Last night being rather uneventful there is no clean up for today. Czar Frost has requested an audience with you at your earliest moment, Sir Rocket has picked several hopeful knight to be for you to examine. The governor of Riverdale is still waiting word about those documents.”

“For the Almighty's sake!” Phoenix groans, “I've told her time and time again before I can let the make the bridge fully automatic I am waiting word from Queen Paroloa! The Grand River belongs to both sides, we must make an agreement first! Send Paroloa a second request for me.”

“At once sire,” Mikrei answers, “Reports of the dragons and the cities along the mountains having another dispute have been coming in constantly since sunrise.” Phoenix groans, just what he needed, to make another audience with the Dragon's High Ruler. He had nothing against the dragon kind but boy were they ever stubborn! He was certain this was a ruse to get him before their High Ruler seeing as Skoloroko has vanished.

“You majesty,” a female gundam bearing the marks of a castle servants trots up to and bows to him, “Begging your pardon sire, but I come with a message from the queen.”

“You may speak,” Phoenix answers looking at her curiously.

The servant bows again, “Queen Aquarmia request to speak with you privately in the library. She wished me to note that it was an urgent matter and that you should come immediately.”

His orange eyes quickly change from agitation to concern for his beloved wife, “Is she alright? What is wrong?”

“My Queen did not say,” the servant answers.

“Mikrei, hold those thoughts,” he orders the human before dashing away in a flash of fire pass the gundam servant.

“Oh my,” the servant speaks watching him run.

Mikrei sighs and shakes his head, placing one hand fist on his hip, “How to get Phoenix's attention: mention Aquarmia.”

Aquarmia waits in the far corner of the library, twisting her hands together, her tail weaving back and forth, in and out of knots. How would she tell him? How would he react? Were her brothers and sister right? Would he just toss her aside or end up using her to produce countless heirs! No, no they had to be wrong about him. Just because they had horrid experiences with stepfathers and their mother left them, Phoenix wasn't like them. Surly not. One the plus side, if they are right, she can get away from him easily enough, seeing as she is water and he is fire.

After what feels like an eternity, the heavy doors open and shut, the clack of metal footsteps on the cold marble floor are heard, “Aquarmia? Are you still in here?”

Her breathe catches in her throat, moment of truth time, “I'm back here!” She calls out stepping out from behind the book case and wrapping her tail around her feet, “I am not keeping you from something, am I?”

Phoenix shakes his head as he walks towards her, “Never,” he answers with a smile, “You, wanted to talk to me about something?” He approaches her slowly taking sharp note of her nervous shy stance.

Aquarmia slowly nods her head, “I... have to tell you something, and... I'm... not sure how to say it.”

“Then just say it,” he offers cupping her face in his left hand, “I could use some good news right now.”

She gulps and pulls away from him stepping back some, “Are you sure this is good news?”

He recoils slightly, “What's wrong? Are you sick?”

“No... well, yes and no,” she looks at the ground every fiber of her being telling her not to say it but a gut wrenching feeling urges her onwards, “Phoenix....” She lifts her fear filled blue eyes to meet his worried orange eyes, “My fire bird, Phoenix....”

“Yes?” he speaks encouragingly mind racing a mile a minute, what could be afflicting her, causing her to behave in such a manner.

“I...” she speaks slowly,  “I...,” she inhales deeply, curling away from him and looking at him out of the corner of her eye, may as well just say, “I'm pregnant.”

Phoenix becomes lost for words, his eyes grew wide, you could almost make out his jaw dropping behind his face mask as the news sinks further in, “I-you-” his eyes dart between her face and her midsection for a couple of seconds, “Aquarmia... this... this is fantastic news!” He laughs and yells in joy before grabbing her in a tight loving embrace, tears of joy falling from his eyes.

Aquarmia gasps sharply in fear, freezing up. But once caught in his embrace sighs in relief and nuzzles into his chest crying in relief, “You... you really mean it? You... aren't just saying it?”

“I mean it! With my entire being I mean it!” He calls out as he dances with joy, “Aquarmia my love! A child! Our child! A son, part of me and part the women I love the most! This is just the news I needed to hear.” Phoenix bows his head giving her a quick kiss, “But... how long have you-?”

“No more then a few weeks,” Aquarmia answers  using her tail to push her self up some returning the kiss, “Nothing more then a small ball of energy right now. What makes you so certain it's a prince?”

Phoenix answers still in glee placing her back on her feet, “Simple my dear! There is a pattern, three males followed by one female as a first born. My mother was the female that ended the last chain and I am the first male in the new chain. Meaning,” he moves one hand to rest on her midsection, “this little one is a male as well.”

“Hasn't that pattern been broken a couple times?” she asks not buying it.

“Only once,” Phoenix answers, “There was a dispute with a set of twins, one boy and one girl. The girl was technically first but not since then has the chain been broken.” She merely shakes her head at him, she will defiantly need to have that checked the first chance she gets. He then places his forehead against her forehead and whispers, “Does anyone else know? Aside from the doctor?”

“No one,” she answers, “Let's keep it like that for a bit. We don't need the paparazzi chasing us down again.”

“Alright,” he answers, giving her another kiss before reluctantly pulling away, “Forgive me my queen, but I have other duties.” He takes her hand and kisses the ring on her finger.

She sighs and softly nuzzles the top of his helmet, “A king's job is never done.”

“Never,” he remarks, “Nor will I be letting you out without a knight following.”

“I'll count on it.”