"It's Too Heavy, Mother... This Crown Is Too Heavy"

Amaya awoke in the same room she'd always woken up in. She slid of the bed and grabbed a cover, knowing Amarei would disapprove if she did not. Amaya opened the door to see the same guard standing outside. He flashed a smile and bowed. She walked past Lady Morgana's room, Lady Lydia's, and Lady Jilliana's room.

She waited behind a stature as the guards moved in opposite directions from the Royal Chambers. She cracked the door open and slid in the darkened room. Amarei was awake, but Amaya thought otherwise.

"Amarei," she softly called.

"Amaya, it's early, go back to sleep," Amarei ordered.

"You promised!" She pouted. The idea of what was happening suddenly sank in. Amarei sighed a very sad sigh and got out of bed. She grabbed a cover and put it on. Amaya helped her draw open the curtains and they stepped onto the dawn-covered balcony. Amaya had seen the sight a thousand times, but still loved it, for every time the sun hit the kingdom in a different way.

"Amaya, today you are going home," Amarei stated.

"But aren't I already home?" the six year old asked. She had known no other home. Amarei shook her head.

"Of course this is one of your homes, but you are going to rule another kingdom," Amarei stated.

"Dawnacia."

"Yes, who told you?"

"No one. Yesterday, at the big party, I was introduced as Princess Amaya Dawnana Lythene of Dawnacia," she recited. Amarei winced as she heard the name. Aurora, finally I shall return, she thought.

"Today Amaya you will see your kingdom. It is lovely and I know you will like it just as much as Eveana," Amarei promised. Amaya nodded. Secretly she was scared, what if they don't like me?

A loud knock sounded on the door and Amarei went to answer it. Amaya continued to stare out at the kingdom, wondering if hers was just as serene. Amarei returned with Lydia and Jilliana trailing right behind.

"Good morning, Princess," they both greeted. Amaya swept a curtsy that was not nearly as graceful, as the Ladies'.

"Good morning, Lady Lydia and Lady Jilliana," Amaya echoed. Amarei smiled her approval.

"Your majesty, Andrew is asking when you will be down," Jilliana informed. Amarei sighed. Andrew Holeny was her advisor, but he rarely gave good advice. He was small built and large. Amaya had once thought of him as a pastry and told this to the Queen. Amarei had laughed, but made the young princess primise not to say a word.

"Very well, I suppose I shall speak with him before we leave," Amarei declared.

"He is not coming?" Lydia gasped.

"Of course not! He is advisor to the Queen of Eveana, not the Princess of Dawnacia. His place is here," she replied. The two ladies simply nodded. A Queen's word was law.

"Come Amaya, let's get you ready. Today is a big day," Lydia suggested taking the young princess' hand. Amarei gave her a quick hug and watched her leave. After the door closed, she turned to Jilliana.

"Jilliana, I do not want her to go."

"But Queen Amarei, it is HER kingdom. With Queen Aurora and King Sol dead, she is the new ruler. You've been ruling from here, but Dawnacia needs to see their ruler," Jilliana reminded. Amarei nodded.

"I know, but I'm so worried. Amaya has been kept safe these past three years. I want to keep her safe for the rest of her life," the Queen announced. Jilliana sighed.

"Amarei, you know we must install Amaya as the ruler, it is her right as well as destiny," Jilliana said. She turned and left her ruler feeling confused.

Towards mid morning, Amaya came down from her last lesson at the Palace of Eveana. She waited at the doors of the Throne Room to be admitted. She waited as patiently as any six year old could, amusing herself with the patterns on the marble floors, and hoping from one color to the next. The members of the court disregard the nuisance as child's play. However, when Lady Morgana came out of the throne room she was most displease.

"You little devil! What are you doing? Prancing around like some whore child!" She shouted.

"Morgana!" Lydia reprimanded, hearing the comment.

"Lydia this child is being a little harlot," Morgana accused. In the confusion, Amaya had slipped into the Throne Room. Amarei was seated on her mahogany wood throne. The throne was lined with gold and had deep blue valor cushions. Amaya had only never really seen Amarei in her throne for more the a few seconds and she decided that she looked very regal indeed.

Amaya walked into the center of the room and ran towards the throne. Amarei looked up as she heard the pitter patter of the feet and saw the princess running toward her.

"Amaya!"

"Oh Queen Amarei!" she cried. Tears were streaming down her face, yet she stopped herself from running straight to her only hope of comfort. She swept a curtsy.

"Oh Amaya, come." Amarei opened her arms and Amaya went straight to them. "What's wrong?"

"I did not break anything. I was just playing and Lady Morgana was yelling. She called me…well I do not know what the words meant. She was still very mad," Amaya informed. Amarei felt her blood boil.

"You've done nothing wrong," Amarei informed. She hugged the girl tight. "Now let's go, we have to leave for Dawnacia in the hour." Amarei took Amaya in her arms and carried her back into the hall where an argument was going on. Lady Jilliana had joined this argument.

"I cannot believe you would say something like that to a child. She's just six years old!" Jilliana gasped. Amarei made sure the door slammed when she came into the hall.

"Queen Amarei!"

"Morgana, do not let me hear about an even like this again!" She threatened. Amarei than began walking to the Grand Entryway so they could leave. She heard shouting behind her.

"Queen Amarei! They've done it!" He exclaimed.

"Who has done what, Holeny?"

"Teleportation! You and the Princess can teleport to Dawnacia!"

"Wonderful!" she said, following him to the center of the palace. The sooner we get there the better.

"Queen Amarei, what's telepotation?" Amaya asked.

"It's teleportation, and its when you disappear one place and reappear somewhere else," Amarei simply explained. Amaya nodded. They reached the teleporting room and got ready. Andrew came toward the Queen.

"Queen Amarei, you'll have to teleport the Princess, her energy is not yet trained."

"Very well." Amarei held Amaya close to her.

"Now you must concentrate on your destination," Andrew advised. The Queen nodded and closed her eyes. Amaya clang to her and mimicked what she was doing. The Queen began to emit a dark bluish color that soon encased Amaya as well. There was a very faint but disnict golden glow coming from Amaya. Lydia, Morgana, and Jilliana joined hands and teleported using their combined enerjy.

When Amarei opened her eyes she felt dizzy and weak, however, the sight that greeted her cauased her kness to buckle. Amaya was completely alert and found herself in an enormous ballroom. The ceiling was a mural of dawn's arrival on the land and it seemed to glint off every surface. The room was darkened as the large curtains were drawn shut. They appeared old and worn. To Amaya this was a new wonderland to expoler.

To Amarei it was a horror she never wanted to see. A scream echoed within her head and a tear formed in her. Why here? I never wanted to come back here!

"Queen Amarei!" Amaya called. Amarei looked up at the Princess.

"Yes?"

"Where are we going?" Amarei did not respond. Instead, she stood and went towards the curtains. She pulled them open and the light shown in. Amaya covered her eyes so as not to be blinded.

"Look Princess, look out among your Kingdom," Amarei commanded. Amaya peaked open one eye and gasped.

"ALL of the is MINE?" She asked with both eyes now wide open.

"Everything you see, you rule," Amarei informed. She placed a hand on the little girl's shoulder. "Come, your subjects want to meet their future Queen."

"Queen?"

"Yes, when you turn eighteen years old you will be crowned Queen of all Dawnacia." Amarei directed Amaya to large doors. They opened before the two got there. Lydia, Morgana, and Jilliana were standing in front of a small group of people. There was a man with broad shoulders and a large cape that stepped forward. He stood in front of Amaya and drew his sword. Amaya, being too young to understand, tried to hide in the folds of Amarei's gown. The man gave a small laugh.

"Please don't be afraid of me, Princess Amaya. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Peter Illyich, I am a Knight and the Captain of your Royal Army. I swear my sword and my life to you and this kingdom," He bowed and presented his young ruler with a small rose.

"I am please to meet you," Amaya giggled. One by one the rest of the people stepped forward and introduced themselves to their young ruler. There was the cook, a chubby little man with a mustache, the stable master, a tall slim man with a funny face, and the weapon master, a tall woman with golden red hair, she gave the young princess an invitation for a tour later. There were others, but Amaya had a hard time remembering everyone. Once the introductions were complete, Amaya was led to a large hall that reminded her of Eveana's Throne Room. Amarei knew that this room had been fitted to have one throne instead of two. To her horror it was her dear friend's throne that was still there, still she managed a small smile.

"Amaya, this is your throne room," she announced. Amaya looked around the throne and saw the elevated throne. She stood there quietly, not knowing what to do.

"Princess, why don't you try your throne?" The Master Carpenter suggested. Amaya looked towards Amarei and she gave a small nod. Amaya walked as gracefully as she could up to the throne.

"That's where you will sit during court and meetings. You will also greet all your foreign guests from there," Lydia dictated. Amaya gave a slight nod. She sat for a moment before Amarei broke her train of thought.

"Amaya it is time to meet your subjects." Amaya stepped down from her throne and followed Amarei out the door. The rest of her court filled in behind as they began their walk. The party climbed two flights of stone cold steps and stopped at a balcony. Amaya could see a crowd of people standing and cheering for something through the crack in the curtain. Lady Lydia went through first and began to speak to the crowd. She had always been a favorite among the people.

"People of Dawnacia, today your ruler will be presented to you. Annoucning her Royal Highness, Princess Amaya Dawana Lythene!" Amarei gave Amaya a light push and she went out onto the balcony.

"HAIL PRINCESS AMAYA! HAIL PRINCESS AMAYA!" The crowd began to chant. Amaya waved to her subjects not really knowing what else to do. Amarei had come out on the balcony and was searching the crowd for the Black Knight. Lydia made a quick speech on the Princess's behalf and than the crowd began to disperse.

Amaya was beginning to feel tired but hid it well. She ran down the steps and waited at the bottom with Knight Peter, who had raced her. The Stable Master, William, asked her if she wanted to see her horse and she agreed. The group than went to the stables where the most beautiful mare was brought out.

"This is your horse, we have not named her yet, would you like to Princess?" William asked. Amaya hesitantly patted the mare on the nose.

"Yes, can I name her, oh Queen Amarei, what is that water that covers the flowers called?" She questioned.

"Dew, Princess."

"SunDew, can I name her SunDew?"

"Of course, Miss Amaya," William said. "I'll have a name plaque made you tonight."

"Yea!" The Princess smilied.

"Would you like to see the armory?" Inquired Chelsea, the Weaponry Master.

"Yes please," The princess replied before Amarei could object. She followed Chelsea to a room at the far end of the Palace. It was large and well lit. There were hundreds of different types of weapons. Amaya's eyes lit up. "Miss Chelsea?"

"Yes, Princess?"

"May I have a weapon?" Amaya asked. Everyone in the room looked towards the six year old. Amarei's blood began to boil and an image of three years ago formed in her head.

"Absolutely NOT!" She snapped.

"But Queen Amarei!" Amaya begged.

"Your majesty, I do have a small blade that would suit the young princess, and its not very sharp. I would of course give her proper lessons," Chelsea announced.

" I could also train Miss Amaya," Knight Peter defened.

"Please Queen Amarei," Amaya pleaded. Jilliana came forward.

"It may be a good step in ensuring her saftety," she whispered. Amarei sighed.

"Very well."

"Thank you!" Amaya replied happily. Chelsea presented the young princess with a small sword. Amarei nodded a small approval, but a pedestal at the end of the room caught her eye. She broke off from the rest of the group and examined it. Two daggers lay, side by side, stained red.

These blades slayed our rulers, Queen Aurora and King Sol. Their deaths will be avenged when the Black Knight's head is mounted, she read.

"Miss Chelsea!" Cheslea hurried to the Queen while Lydia held Amaya back.

"Yes, majesty?"

"Chelsea, please hide these from the princess," Amarei ordered gesturing to the blades.

"Of course, Queen Amarei. I'm already working on it," Chelsea responded. Amarei nodded and the two returned to the rest of the party. They went back to the main part of the palace where Jilliana approached Queen Amarei.

"Queen Amarei, your gift for Amaya has arrived."

"Thank you. Princess Amaya, please come here." The young princess moved toward the Queen. Amarei reached into a basket that had been brought before her. She removed a small black ball of fur. Two almond eyes starred at the little princess.

"A PUPPY? For ME?" Amaya gasped and the Queen nodded. She took the small animal in her arms and cradled it. Amarei dismissed the rest of the court, and led Amaya to her room. Remembering that this was when she'd first met the young princess, she felt herself tear. The princess was still holding the small when Amarei led her into the room.

"Amaya, this will be your room," she announced.

"But, where will you be?" Amaya asked.

"Amaya come sit here," Amarei said as she patted a spot next to her on the bed. The little princess did as she was told. "Amaya, I'm not going to stay here you. I have to go back to Eveana."

"Than I go home to."

"No, your home is here now. This is your Kingdom. Lydia and Morgana are going to help you, and I will come see you every now and than."

"WHY? I don't want you to go!" Amaya cried.

"The puppy will keep you company while I'm away," Amarei declared. Amaya started to cry and Amarei pulled into her lap. "Hush little one," she coaxed.

Amarei rocked the little princess till she fell asleep. She laid her down in the large circular bed with purple satin sheets and the puppy curled up next to its mistress. Amarei looked around the room and saw it wasn't much different since the last time she'd been there. The dollhouse still sat in the corner, just the way it had been left. Everything looked the same to Amarei, as she recreated the scene in her head. Her eyes fell on the small table where there was a small box. The box was beautifully decorated and in her heart she knew it was the one she'd given to the princess. I should let her keep it, no matter how painful it is. Someday I will tell her the truth. Amarei took one last look at the sleeping princess, before she left.

"Welcome home, Princess," she whispered, "welcome to the kingdom of Dawnacia."