Quietly, subtly, the biggest changes start.

Out of sight, dismissed by the order,

for such a thing can't change anything. Correct?

But the shift has already taken place.

And in time, it will bloom in all its glory.

- Ja'isi Nakamu Aise'a Eatake ,"On shifts", -53 SUT

Planet Nit'nar'kar, the inner most royal chambers; 258.246 1:89 SUT

Only the closest one to queens know when they are expecting. When the time comes the queen retires in the royal chambers and calls upon those closes to her for help and to present them first with the new royal heir. Based upon the gender the future of the heir will be decided and things will have to be arranged for the following days. A prince will grow to be the leader in the field and court other potential queens. Princess will grow to become one of the top leaders in the empire and if from the Ziumi family she would have the potential to become a Queen Mother, reining over the wast Iyat'hktal empire. Yet on that faithful morning of 258.246 Standard Universal Time something unexpected happened in the royal chambers. The newborn fourth princess to the throne was a Leafbloom. A once in thousands years rarity. Her skin was a glowing warm white, compare to the common green and yellow.

The newborn eyes were mesmerized by her father who was hanging from the ceiling of the chamber looking down on his daughter. Queen Mother Iyat'ziumi'yasu, who ruled the empire for 171 Standard years looked up to her sisters and friends as she stretched her majestic wings. "I am not going to let that happen, I'm not going to let Myu become like my mother or the Leafblooms before here. I do not care what the tradition says." she finally said answering the question that needed not to be uttered.

"Yet that only expedites the issue, shall another of your daughters be chosen for the task? For had I had foresight I would have avoided having offspring to take upon the task myself." Yasu's youngest sister spoke, still trembling from the shock that the Ziumi Queens felt when Myu was born. Certainly the entire empire has sensed it, but they could feel the stir between of the hidden Praetorians caste and their impending awakening. An event that would had to be avoided if peace was to be preserved in the known universe.

"Nay, speak not of what ifs sister, for your sacrifice would be honorable, I would not allow it either. This is the responsibility of the monarch." Queen Mother diverted her look at the new born as its four legs got tangled while trying to take first steps in its mother's embrace. The Empress consort gracefully slid down from the sealing and helped his daughter while her antennae were curiously poking him. She let out a pleasant squeak when her father's antenna poked her as back.

"What a peculiar situation, not even hour old and you create so much trouble for your mother already." the consort picked Myu up and placed her on his back where she tightly embraced him using her natural instincts. "I do hope that you will cause many more troubles." he said as he fully focused towards the Queen Mother. "I shall go in her stead. The procedures are well documented and understood."

The Queen Mother's wings immediately vibrated, but the consort quickly cracked his smaller ones, which silenced the room. He was the only one in the entire empire who would not get chopped into tiny pieces right there for such an act. He only did so on four occasions, which he remembered very well. The day Yasu became Queen Mother, that morning when she had to order the combined fleet into battle knowing it would cost millions of lives and when their first daughter was about to be born and now.

"Dangerous as it is, we have a good team that will succeed. I'm convinced that no matter what the outcome to me I will be able to prolong Praetorians in hibernation at least till the end of your reign. Beside we have some time to look more into this." he said looking at the Leafbloom on his back, his body language signaled that he was not finished and nobody dared to interrupt him. "It is her generation, not ours, that is going to be cycle-less with the universe open before them. I desire for her to fully experience it, and who knows when her time comes to have offspring there will be other races present in the chamber. She won't be able to claim her heritage openly, but that might provide her with opportunities more than worthy of her title."

Only the occasional vibrations and squeaks from Myu interrupted the long silence.

"The Praetorians are stirring. The truth is that we don't know the reason behind it, except that it coincides with Myu's birth. A Leadbloom always causes great upset. There is so little we know about them... Maybe the divergence of the Leafblooms..."

"Nay, my Queen. This is our era and our responsibility. She will be defined by her own greatness, not by memories half forgotten. After all the last knowledge of a Leafbloom is just after we started reaching out for the stars. We have advanced and changed so much since then." The Queen consort transmitted his thoughts. Others looked away silently. After all, there was no happy ending for any Leafblooms in the species memory.

"There is no way I can talk you out of this, is there?" The Queen mother spoke silently while many thoughts were exchanged through their unique bond.

"None what so ever."

"I hope she has not inherited your stubbornness."

"That would be your stubbornness, my dear." Empress consort picked Myu from his back and with excited squeak from Myu handed her to her mother.

"So it shall be." Queen Mother cuddled with her daughter. "As legends say, a Leafbloom signals the beginning of a new era." Yasu looked at everyone gathered in the room. "The beginning of this new era shall be hidden in shadows, but let us make sure that she will be able to make most of it. So let us not tardy around, there is much work to be done."

With a look at Myu's sleeping face everyone silently expressed their deepest adoration and respect and left the room. There was much to prepare for.