Soleil would never be her home.
Clenching her hands over her dress skirt she placed a small on her face meeting her mother's eyes through the mirror. Empress Titania's smile grew smaller at the sight of her struggling daughter before reaching down to grasp on of Celesti's hands in her own.
"You and your brothers always tried to be strong since you were children. It's something that broke my heart even now. Sometimes I wish I could go back to those times before the wars. You three were only children, so carefree. The guilt always ate me up each night, how fast the three of you grew. Even now you three pretend to be so strong, I wish you didn't have to pretend in front of your own mother." Empress Titania spoke in a solemn tone as tears filled her eyes. Her hands shaking over Celesti's as memories of the last time she has seen them as children resurfaced. Her eyes widening with a start as Clesti placed her hand over her mother's. Gazing down at her daughter Celesti smiled up at her giving her a slight shake of her head.
"This is my home. Of course, I would want to protect the home I love with all my heart." Celesti smiled warmly to her mother as tears swelled in Empress Titania's eyes. Letting out a smile Empress Titania forced out a small laughed wiping her eyes gentle.
"Your the one leaving yet you're still comforting your silly mother." Empress Titania forced a small laugh, tears filling the corners of her eyes.
"Come, let me do your hair." With a smile, Celesti nodded her head as she closed her eyes. Feeling her mother's gentle hands caress the top of her head. Letting free her hair from its braids before picking up a hairbrush. Silence filled the room as Empress brushed through Celesti's long locks of hair. A small smile appearing on Empress Titania's face as she recalled combing her daughter's hair when she was a child. She treasured those moments the most.
Humming softly Empress Titania combed through Celesti's hair. Taking small strands of hair to braid back from her face while leaving two thing strands in the front. Holding the braids together with star-shaped pins.
Under the peaceful silence, Celesti's eyes opened at the sudden weight feeling of something around cool her neck. Glancing up at the mirror her eyes widen as she spotted the necklace she had seen for so many years around her mother's thin neck around her own. The same necklace her mother had received from Celesti's grandmother. The heirloom was something passed down to each first daughter of the family line. Celesti could recall how she would watch in awe as she sat on her mother's lap. How beautifully the fluorite crystal gleamed under the sun's light. The crystal held up by a thin silver chain, On top of the crystal the figure of a blooming tree was visible. If one looked closly the beautiful figure of her mother's birthplace spirit guardian could be seen among the tree with her faithful wolf at her side. Made of white gold its tree roots hugged to the top part of the crystal as accident words were carved into the trunk.
"Our mother, who is gentle will always be with us." Empress Titania recited with a smile as she placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders.
"She protects all her children as she will protect you."
With a tearful smile Celesti looked up at her mother placing one hand over hers.
"Thank you,mother. I will treasure it."
Standing outside the palace Juvel nervously ajusted his collar with a awkward smile. Feeling two pairs of small eyes glaring at him had become uncomfortable. Since his arrival those two pair of small eyes had been following him everywhere he went. Always pulling traps, some he caught sight of quickly while others he was surprisingly unable to see until seconds before.
With an awkward smile he turned to the two pairs of eyes only to flinch at the two twins' glaring eyes. Their bodies hidden behind their mother's skirt as their burning glaring eyes burned right through him.
He let a silent sigh in relief as he caught sight of princess Celesti coming out of the palace doors escorted by her eldest brother. Prince Sirius. He silently scolded himself as he felt the tip of his ears burn. Side by side the two siblings were too beautiful beyond compared. One a beautiful rose while the other a pure white lilly he wouldn't ever dare to touch. As the white lily's soft eyes that gazed down at his sister looked up at him. His heart raced slightly the softness in the lily's eyes gone.
Juvel watched silently as the family said their goodbyes. Celesti smiled softly as her father pressed a kiss on her forehead pulling back as he smiled down a bitter sweet smile at his daughter.
"Your heart will always be with Celestia as mine will be watching over you." With tears she smiled hugging her father before moving on to her hot tempered brother.
"Behave yourself while I'm gone." She warned him with a small giggle, tears still very visible in her eyes. With a frown Rigel gazed down at her in silence for a moment before letting out a small smile.
"Look after yourself. If anything send a message. You know I would burn that baby prince's empire if he doesn't treat you right." With a sad nod she brought hugged hugged him close. His eyes remaining at his sides before a moment before wrapping them around her tightly.
"I love you dearly brother. Thank you." His eyes widen at her words before letting out a regretful smile.
"It was never enough, I should have protected you more. I love you." He whispered to her bending his tall frame slightly to plant a kiss on her forehead. Pulling away she gave him one more smile before turning to the crying twins. Kneeling she smiled, opening her as they quickly rushed in.
"Behave for mother and father. Study and don't forget to look after one another. I love you two dearly my little stars."
"Please, don't go." Seren begged gazing up at her with tears streaming down her red cheeks. Her younger brother Lupus clinging to Celesti's clothes.
"I won't ever really be away. My heart will always be with you two." Celesti smiled petting both their heads before taking out a two small crystals wrapped in a cloth.
"Here I these made. Brother Sirius and I have one each. You can use these two send me a message or to talk to me. Okay?" With tears still running down their faces they nodded their heads clenching each of their crystals close. With a smile she kissed them both on the forehead before giving her mother one last hug. Their goodbyes already done moments ago. Looking up she smiled as Sirius held out his hand to escort her to the knights waiting for her with the carriage packed.
Taking his hand she welcomed his warm silent presence one last time as they walked down the palace stairs. Stopping at the bottom the turned to each other in silence. His eyes flickering down to her necklace letting out a tiny smile.
"It suits you." He muttered reaching out to touch it before shifting to pat her on the head.
"Please don't forget not to fall asleep in your study. And not to miss any meals,even when your not cold please take your teas before going to bed. Don't fight so much with Rigel, or overwork yourself, and-"
Celesti's words cut off as her brother suddenly brought her into a tight hug. Her eyes widening before noticing the slight tremble in his embrace as if he were trying to fight back what he was feeling.
Hugging him back just as tightly she smiled rubbing his back smoothly.
"We'll always be together. I can't imagine a life without you big brother. I still need you to hold my hand when I'm walking. I love you so much." Celesti whispered holding back a sob .
"I will always be holding your hand." Sirius whispered back to her pulling away softly to kiss her forehead tenderly.
"I will always be holding your hand through the nightmares and the demons. Through the rainy days and the bright days." He promised her pulling away fully as he teaches down slipping a ring into her finger. Gazing down at it she smiled as the Celestia crystal embedded in to the ring gleamed.
"Whenever you need me. I'm here, I would tear down the whole empire if you said you wanted to come back home." He smiled down at her, chuckling she hugged him once more before pulling away. Their hands still gripping on to each other before slowly letting go as she turned away with a small tear slipping down her cheek. Opening the carriage door, Juvel gazed down at her avoiding eyes with pity as he tried to smile at her.
"Shall we?"
Her knight and shinning armor would always be holding her hand.