January 5th 2015

"Why did you do this Da Jie?" asked Yan. "Answer me!"


Yan stood herself in that airstrip, her mother's car stood by near the plane en route to Hammerstar. A windy day in Mangsten International, and one that got the attention of spectators. Shizuka turned her back to address her younger sister.

"Meimei."

"Da Jie... How could you do this to me."

Only four years prior did their older brother, Crown Prince Ryūnosuke Yan died in the aeroplane crash that took his life. A year before, their grandmother, Lingxin Yan, passed away. It certainly took a toll on the Royal Family, and with the despair, it took The Peony, Akane Yan to the realm of the unknown.

It had not been five months that the crowning of the new Peony was to be executed, and the Royal Council determined that Yan Shizuka were to take the throne in her mother's stead. The Royal Peonic Ambassador to Hammerstar is next in line to become the Guardian of the Peocracy.

"You disgraced the home that you grew up in, and abandoned!" Shouted Yan.


The Royal Council rejected Shizuka's reason to withdraw the Peonic throne based on her union to a Hammerstarian marquis. It was a long and arduous trial that rocked the country to its heart, and with help by High Paladin Elena and High Paladin Do Xeo, her endorsement for citizenship in Hammerstar had quashed any claim of hers to the throne.

A reform to an elected monarchy is out of the question, with large support of Royalists. Therefore with nothing to nullify her claim, the person who would be honoured the title of Peony would be her sister, Doctor Yan, and an unwilling heir of the duty in question.

Huawan requires her protector, and the tragedy of the court had left Doctor Yan ensnared in her responsibilities, the country could not afford the royal family surrendering their country, and Yan is forced for the crown.

"First Ryuu-Chan died, then papa, then mama and now you're ditching me?"

"....."

"All those years, was it... was it for nau--"

"Hold your tongue!" Shouted Shizuka, which certainly commanded her sister's attention. She then realized her own statements and then turned back to the plane.

"I don't expect you to understand. It is time that you stand on your own two feet, and no longer neglect your obligations as royalty."

"...You fool."

"....May Allah be merciful to you, and may Allah forgive my decision."

Doctor Yan could definitely have Shizuka restrained in force. However, the Technocracy of Hammerstar would not allow their "citizen" to be held in custody, and Doctor Yan had many of the thoughts on her mind, but it is not something that never comes in actuality.

So she watched the plane taxi and take off, instructing the Royal Guardians to ensure that airport security and the police did not disturb her. Her gaze to the plane left her motionless for an hour, with tears causing her white coat wet.

An entire month till then went on without any news from Shizuka, and without interruption from anyone. She sat on the house of Huawan as her guard, and her position as The Peony of Huawan was sanctioned. Yet an entire month went on without any word from her, until she exited her manor on the eve of the Spring Festival, providing her first address to the people of Huawan.


Her smile warmed the spirits of the people for a renewed homeland, yet her own heart bled and scarred from the incident that took her light. If there is no light to be seen from her eyes, then she must've been the light.

---

As the visitors sat down, the commemoration for the eve of the Spring Festival proceeded. The gong was rung, and a young lady came into the centre of the area and the music flowed. The light dimmed



As the light then turned on, the spectators clapped as the young lady proceeded to bow. Then moving away to the other end of the room. Afterwards, The Peony then stood up from her table, and unto the podium at the centre. Her right hand signalled for an attendant to move to the centre.


The conductor stood, and turned to The Peony, prostrating towards her before being acknowledged. Then, his hands signal for others to stand, and with his baton retracted out, signalling the beginning of the national anthem, the anthem of spirits.

The first stanza was sung by a vocalist sitting with the orchestra that was set up in the side, a chilling tune that was sung in this very treasure ship as well as throughout the history of Huawan. When the second stanza began, every one sung it, and the entire ship vibrated by the harmony of voice.

As the dimly lit room was brightly lit back up once more, a standing ovation was given and the conductor turned away from the dance floor and back to his position.

The Peony then looked to her right and her left, wearing another dress. Knowing the honourable dignitaries and heads of state anticipating for her to continue. From kings, presidents, ministers, archbishops and emperors. She viewed the High Paladin, closing her eyes in silence, and the Zollern emperor, Ivan, looking keenly. She saw King Gianluca, and next to him King Vimmru and his wife. She also saw Minister Hunt and Chancellor Harrison. Everyone was watching at her eagerly.

Her first address as The Peony of Huawan since her coronation was in the Spring Festival, and as such, her tasks are to provide another speech for the circumstances of today.


"Assalamualaikum." Greeted The Peony.

A response was made accordingly, she then resumed.

"Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, friends of Huawan. My fellow statesmen of the Peonic state. The sun is blazing, the ice thaws, and the dew reveals another hope for the year. We celebrate the start of spring as a new chapter in our lives and prepare to plant a bountiful harvest.

The world we live in is the end product of many years of history... the fruit of human determination and knowledge! Like a gem, polished to a gleam through trials... and errors. It is this fruit we take, and pass on, and face in our time. And it is always changing, evolving. Nurturing it is our task as human beings.

The choices of the past, its events, its joys and woes shaped the present as we understand it to be. As such we may bring the baggage of the past. To let go, and move on, maybe a concept favourable for many, but to leave such confined in time would cause nothing but a weight in your thoughts to face the present.

Hence the new page of our lives is nothing but a vehicle to face the problems of old, and confront the issues of now. We define time, and its flow, as with the universe itself. We must not be deceived by the idea of eternal stagnation, for we may not change nature, but whatever is natural changes.

The times are intense for all of us, yet, it's only essential for living creatures to fight to protect their own lives. But what makes us human is that we fight for others.

A question once posed to me, who do you fight for? How hard must you fight...? That's the true depth of what human life is worth. Even when the conflict is over, and the relations that connect us are severed... We always return... Time and time again.

Now I ask... For you to stand your ground, guest."

---

As she made her speech with a succinct voice and articulate speech. Shizuka listened intently on their guest table with her spouse by her side. She had listened of the outcome of four years away from her sister.

The first day that she came back to her country is the day that she saw how The Peony has developed, and how her overall posture mirrors their mother and grandmother. When Shizuka learned of her sister's ideas of facing the baggage head-on without concern, an emotion came out since the course of her flight.

It was not easy for her to relax and come to terms with the decisions she took four years ago, she had no wish to take the office of Peony of Huawan, and as a result, sacrificed her sister in exchange for freedom. If the ends justify the means, how could it be well if the proper means are not the transport that led her to those outcomes?

Fear of being identified the minute she entered the room with the High Paladin blew out of proportions, and seeing her sister's sorrow hidden underneath maturity and duty, is one that certainly troubled her heart. Her husband took notice, and with their two-year-old son dozing in his arms, gave a nod, as if he trusted what must be done.

Of course, the Sapphire Paladin stood up from her chair and did the forbidden act of leaving before The Peony completes her speech. Something that does not bode well for the Peony herself. For the attention of the guest that stood up had incurred the Royal Guardians to capsulate Shizuka.

Being a Hammerstarian, despite not of their blood, had meant she had to acquire several defence mechanisms. As such in that party, she unsheathed the blade that's under her skirt and fixed a defensive stance against the Royal Guardians.

Rin did not hesitate to command the Sapphire Paladin to be held down, and the Raquelle looked at the entire mess without upsets in her heart. As such, she ordered her aides-de-camp to stand down as well.

Shizuka was prepared to fight the guardians off, other than being an international prosecutor, she is also a seasoned martial artist, one carved deeply to her soul. Before any act goes on and totally wrecks the Spring festival, The Peony gave her direction.

"站起来!" She ordered, with stern authority. It certainly gave Rin a jolt, and proceed to direct the Royal Guardians to take a step back and stand by.

The Peony did not wait to walk her way towards the commotion. She walked unto the dance floor and made her way towards Shizuka, she had wandered the efforts that this person took at such a sacred time in Peonic history. There was something, nonetheless, that made the figure extremely familiar.

"...And you are?"

"......" Shizuka maintained her stance. The Peony decided to gaze at the figure's characteristics, hair that steeped to her shoulders, gleaming white skin, several injuries on her chest and a pair of goggles worn. Unless she is Neo-Steamlanndian, she is surely someone that wanted to hide her face.

She continued to look below, towards her arms. One containing the blade, that caused such trouble towards the Royal Guardians. She noticed the grip of the blade, and the blade itself.

"On my sister's 30th birthday I gave her a gift that honoured the completion of her degree. A custom made sword that is made of the finest steel and a handle that anatomically fit her hands." Said The Peony, she grew closer than the guardians, and Rin seemed to be aware of the situation.

The Peony then saw the goggles on Shizuka's face, which perfectly hid red rings of crying. Tears had certainly moistened the figure's face, along with despair as well. She proceeded to take off those goggles, before her hands being held by the figure.

"...It would be best if things didn't come to this." Said Shizuka.

"...It's been too long, and it is time to face it now." Answered The Peony, continuing to take the goggles off. Revealing the face of her sister.

It certainly sparked chatter and uproar in the hall, one surprised of the revelation. After all, Shizuka is a character that seemingly dirtied the Royal lineage. The Peony then gave a smile to her sister and processed the face that's before her.

"There's always a sense inside me that you'll come back." Said The Peony, "Allah has sealed my role as guardian of Huawan, but there is never a time that I neglected to pray for us being a family once more."

"......"

The Peony then squeezed her sister and embraced her. Wept rather loudly in rage, sorrow and satisfaction.

"It has been a long time, Da Jie." Announced The Peony, "welcome home."

Shizuka acknowledged The Peony's embrace and allowed the turn of events despite the commotion it will bring. Even for only for a little while, she would like to be thankful to finally have her sister back.

The Peony then let go of her embrace and summoned for Rin.

"Rin, please arrange for a table for Da Jie Shizuka and Lord Rowena in the Royal Table. Immediately."

"Yes, my Nuwang." Curtseyed Rin, she looked at her older sister and bent to her as well.

"Please come join us at the royal table, Da Jie." Requested The Peony, she then looked at the other guardians. "Make sure they are treated well, understood?"

"Yes, my Nuwang!"

---

After the preparations finished, The Peony then stood up to the podium once more.

"We are thankful for your patience, honourable guests. Without further ado, let us wish well for a new year!"

She rose her cup of tea and invited others to do so.

"乾杯!" She shouted before others respond, she sipped her tea. Signifying the start of the spring.

---

The party proceeded with the food presented on the tables of the guest and the others.