Like a Diamond in the Sky

[Felicity Mason]

Big Brother Graxin had done as he promised. He was going to take her with him. She would be his Padawan. The moment he got permission from Mother, of course. The little 'Princess' was still legally a child. Parental permission was still required. Still, she was certain Grax could do it, convince their mother, the Queen, to let her train. She would have to. It was the only way to save the girls reputation now. She'd run away with a boy. Socially, that was something that could damage a reputation in high society for life. They needed a good cover. This was it.

As for Felicity herself, she was hardly concerned with what the rest of Noble society thought of her either way. She had no plans to join with the petty squabbles of politics. All she wanted was a way out. A way to ravel, explore, do something meaningful with her youth while she still had it. She did not want to be her mother. Who would want to ever turn out like that? So much responsibility. It had to be exhausting.

The only thing she had to give up was her very dearest friend in the entire Galaxy. Owain Barnabus was many things, cocky, arrogant, foolish, rude, but he was also honest. That was more than anyone else was willing to be with her. She could trust him. When he said something, she didn't have to read into it, she didn't have to wonder if he was using her to get something from her or her family. And now he was gone. Probably back on Imerria with his Uncle, living and serving in her fathers Manor. And when would be the next time she saw him? It was impossible to know. That was the worst part of it all, not ever knowing.

For not the first time, Felicity had managed to slip from the watchful eye of her body guards to seek refuge just on the edge of the Palace gardens. It was the least safe place on the Palace grounds. Anything could happen to her. Someone could easy snatch her. Good. Cause a little more drama for her dear Mother. It was her fault really, for smothering her like this. Well, she would only have to deal with the stiff gowns and boring royals for a little while longer. Any moment, Grax would come find her, he could always find her when she hid, and he would tell her that Mother had agreed to let her go. She knew Mother would say yes. Somehow, she just knew.

[member="Alek Verdikis"].

 

[Alek Verdikis]

Oh yeah! Sight seeing time! None of the other Jedi would figure out where he was at. He played it brilliantly. His cardboard cut out of himself was so realistic that no one would ever notice he had ventured off to go sight seeing. Naboo was the perfect place to go. Those waterfalls were just screaming for Alek to dive off like a majestic swan. First, however, he had decided to visit some of the shops. What could he say? He liked to have some souvenirs. After he was all done he had a nice little bag of stuff that he placed on his little ship.

The waterfalls was next as he had a typical white t-shirt and swim shorts on. He didn't want to get his nice padawan robes wet after all. He wasn't completely stupid. At the bottom of the drop had his Jedi robes just laying on the ground far enough away to avoid getting water splashed on it. "Hope you're ready to submit, waterfall. Cause you're about to get owned." He said as he gave a nice stretch to get ready. Jumping up and down a bit swaying a little here and there to get the blood flowing, Alek was all ready. "Here goes!" With a running start Alek jumped off. A yell of excitement filled the atmosphere as he was moving down with the water. Then came the finale as his body hit the pool of water.

Bursting up from the water, Alek felt so refreshed and energized. There was an intense rush of excitement flowing through his blood. His heart was still pounding heavily in his chest. Swimming up to land, he couldn't stop himself from smiling. It had been awhile since he felt this rush. The last time he felt like that was the time he outran a very dangerous granny armed with a very deadly purse.

 

[Felicity Mason]

The little Princess sat curled up in her 'secret place', just a little cove she'd found when she was a few years younger, before mother was Queen, Back when she was still allowed to play outside. She'd hidden here during many a party, when mother would try to introduce her to the young sons of politicians and wealthy businessmen. Now at the age of fifteen, she found it quite cramped, the hedges were starting to become over grown at the gardeners started to neglect this part of the garden after the invasion, and she had grown quite tall. Still, she could sit on the crumbling stone bench and read a good story from time to time.
Father had loved these stories. Stories about heroes. Stories about monsters and magic. Stories about Princesses too, the kind of Princesses that would go out, fight a krayt dragon that had been bothering her people. Or a Princess who could travel as she pleased, just like in her favorite story, the one about The Princess of Winds. She smiled as she fished that old worn leather book out of her bag and cracked it open. Father read this one to her often when she was a child, often sneaking back in long after Mother had fallen asleep just to read another chapter to her. She loved that story. In so many ways, she felt like she was the Princess of Winds. Being raised mostly on Imerria certainly helped with that as well, of course. She'd grown so used to the windstorms on that world that sometimes the serenity of Naboo was... uncomfortable. Too quiet.

Ah yes. Just another quiet day outside the Palace, until something entirely unexpected happened. She heard a voice and a splash from not so far away. Just outside the palace walls, just over the polished white stone were the waterfalls. Dozens. She loved the sound they made. She'd listen to them as she went to sleep, watch them from her bed room window. But nobody ever went to play in them. It was dangerous. The rocks below were an absolute death trap. So why was someone...?

She put a hand to her forehead, the book tumbling out of her fingers. The boy. There was a boy playing in that water. Only a little older than her. She could see him, well, most of him. Not his face. His face was in the water. Most of him was. And the red...

She stumbled off the bench, panting on her hands and knees in the crisp green grass. She saw something again. Only a glimmer. She never saw much, but when she did, it hurt. It always hurt. She grabbed the bench, forcing herself to her feet again. Best not to stay in the grass too much. She might stain the dress Mother had picked for her. This was pearl pink shimmersilk. It was hard to dye this fabric this color. Made it expensive, especially with the fashionable embroidery and beading. Mother had really spared no expense for her welcome home banquet tonight.

The girl lifted the hem of her dress, the instant she felt well enough to walk and hurried to the edge of the gardens. She could hear him even more clearly now. That strange lightness in her head felt like it would be enough to float her away. She pushed a decorative iron bench to the side of the wall, pulled herself up and watched the strange boy play in the water. She could almost see his face now, but that wasn't the strangest part. Something else about him. A prickle in the base of her mind.

"Pardon me," she called over the wall, "but Her Majesty the Queen has declared these falls unsafe. It is forbidden to enter this area."

[member="Alek Verdikis"]

 

[Alek Verdikis]

Getting out of the water, Alek gave a nice good stretch. He was half tempted to do that again. Of course he didn't want to do it too many times to where he becomes use it. Wouldn't make it fun anymore. Sometimes the thrill was just as exciting and fun as doing the actual thing. He definitely didn't want to lose the trill.

As he decided to take another crack at it, the sound of a girl's voice caught his attention. Someone was watching him. Was he finally get a fan base? Oh yeah, next step would be his own show. He can already see it now, it would be called The Fabulous and Sexy Alek Show. Perfect.

Turning to see a girl, he noticed she seemed to be rather young. Close to around his age if not a little bit younger perhaps. When he remembered what she said, he looked down to the pool of water before turning back to face her with his thumb pointed to the water from over his shoulder. "Seems pretty safe to me. And I would know, I just jumped in it. " He smirked a bit before walking over to his towel.

 

[Felicity Mason]

The girl let out a little sigh of relief when she saw him going for his towel. She'd arrived in time. He wasn't going to drown. She wouldn't have to feel guilty when they fished his body out of the water because she didn't stop it.

"Well, now you know it is not, in fact, safe. Her Majesty's word is law. Leave the falls and I will not report you."

She sounded so different when she was in the palace. Proper, but firm. Just like mother taught her. But when it was Owain that she was around, oh, if Mother heard the way she spoke around Owain, she might just die. The girl tossed her pretty blonde curls over her bare shoulder, watching the boy to be absolutely certain he left the falls. Safely. If she'd figured anything about her visions, it was that sometimes they were just warnings, and sometimes they were unavoidable prophesies.

She was so very hoping this was just a warning. She did not have her Mothers talent for healing.

[member="Alek Verdikis"]

 

[Alek Verdikis]

Alek raised a brow. Did she just say if he leaves she won't report him? Where is his big snazzy ghetto woman with the around the world back snap when he needs her? "I'm sorry did you say jump again?" He placed his left hand up against his ear and turned his ear to face her slightly as if he didn't hear what she said. "Well if you insist." He gave a quick shrug before dropping his towel and preparing to get back up there to jump again.

"Ya know, you're a pretty cool adventurous gal to ask me to jump again. You should try it too!" He said as he began to make his way back up there. Second times a charm. Of course if the girl was serious about reporting him and he were to get escorted off, then Alek was going to have them work for their money. Besides, he's been worse situations. This was gonna be as easy as pie. Mmmm pie.

 

[Felicity Mason]

She'd won. She was about to turn around, jump off the bench and head back inside the palace, when his words hit her ear. She froze, watched him drop his towel, then immediately she kicked off her shoes and swung her leg over the wall.

"Stop!" she cried, landing on the grass before sprinting after him, "Stop! You'll get hurt!"

There was no time to run back inside to the guards. She was going to have to try to save him herself, or fail and watch him fall to his death. How stupid could this guy be? What part of 'off limits' did he not get?

[member="Alek Verdikis"]

 

[Alek Verdikis]

Alek gave a faint smile as he noticed she was running after him. Man, he was already having girls chasing after him. All he needed was a group of them and a pimp suit. Then he would be all set. Her running could have made for a great dramatic movie as well. Just have her move in slow motion with very dramatic and sad music, cue in an explosion or two in the background and perfect. He should be a director.

Picking up his pace, he eventually made his way up to the top. He stopped at the top near the edge as he waited for her. She was going to have some great front row seats to this action. "Oh hey! Did you come to jump as well? Very refreshing I'll tell ya that."

 

[Felicity Mason]

The girl slowed as she neared the falls, carefully reaching behind her to untie her bodice. If she had to, she could swim after him. But not in this heavy gown. She shrugged her arms out of one sleeve, then the other. Pushed the fabric down her waist, slipped out of the full skirt. Now she was standing there in a white slip. She reached up, carefully pulling the sparkling jewels from her ears, laying them down on top of the dress, followed by the heavy necklace.

"If you jump, it could be the end of you," she warned, stepping closer, feeling the wet slippery rocks soak through her clean white stockings, "My mother is throwing a party for me in the Palace. Please do not make me mess up my hair by diving in after you."

[member="Alek Verdikis"]

 

[Alek Verdikis]

"You should jump!" Alek insisted as he motioned her to try. "Fancy parties are boring anyways. You only live once, might as well live to the fullest." To him, life was all about taking chances and living each day excitingly. Some days he'd feel lazy sure, but he considered those his rest days. "Tell me, do you feel content with your life right now?" Alek asked, curiously. "Don't you want some excitement? To feel alive?" To him, that rush of excitement was how to truly live. Because then life would feel that much more precious.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

"Yes," she shouted back, inching along the slippery rock after him, "Yes, I do want to feel alive. Yes. I hate the parties. Yes. They are boring. You know what else?"

She was close now. The roaring waterfall around her could drown out her voice now. Could, if she wasn't willing to shout louder than a born and bred Lady should.

"If you jump, it will be the last time, I promise you that. You will fall and you will never get back up."

How did she know that? She didn't. But sounding like a mad woman was the least of her concerns. If she could go another day without seeing someone die, she would call that a win.

[member="Alek Verdikis"]