Forever Destined To The Silver Shadow

Celestia's POV: 

I left the banquet hall after the toast. All he wanted was to announce me as his Queen to the lowlanders, and he got what he wanted. So if I leave now, it doesn't make a difference to him. 

And I can't stand and see while Theo behaves as a perfect King in front of his naive subjects. It is better to go back to my room and do nothing! Tangerine must be missing me. Before I came to the banquet hall, I placed a few berries in her cage. 

She must not be hungry, but she must be hysterical as I did not let her out of her cage for two days straight. Tangerine has the potential to teleport from one place to another. 

If she wants, she would be able to free herself from the cage by teleporting. But she has never done that even once because she doesn't want to disrespect me by leaving without my permission. 

When I got into my room, the first thing I did was release Tangerine from her cage. Her golden-brown eyes glittered in happiness as she flew around the room. I hope that she doesn't get herself in trouble like she did last time. 

She flew close to the door and gave me a shock. "Tangerine, come back here," I called out. But she didn't respond to me. She tried to fly out of the door, but I ran over there and closed the door even before she could get out. 

"Tangerine," I yelled at her, who was hovering above me. "Why are you behaving like this? Do you want to get hurt again?"

She wasn't a bit scared by my words. What happened to her today? This is not her normal behavior. Something is not right here! She fluttered her wings, and then she drifted towards the window. 

"Tangerine, no…." I shouted. But she was gone. 

Why did I leave the window open? I made a mistake by letting her out of the cage. But this is unusual! She never disobeys me unless she is hungry or when something is bothering her. If that is the case, then what is bothering her?

Whatever! I can't let Tangerine fly around this palace. What if she gets in trouble again? I rushed out of my room immediately. I have to find her before someone else spots her. 

She went out of my room window so she must be out in the gardens. I rushed over there and tried to spot my pet. Since it was New Moon Day, it was so dark outside. 

I wasn't able to see anything in the darkness. Why did she have to misbehave today? From a distance, I was able to see her bright pair of golden brown eyes that were shining bright in the darkness. 

I hurried over there and tried to catch her with my hands. But instead, I knocked over someone! The person was wearing a dark-colored robe, so he was completely invisible to me. And Tangerine was on his shoulders! She never gets close to complete strangers. 

"Who are you?" I shouted at the stranger. He immediately lowered his dark cloak that was covering his face, and he revealed his face to me.

"Darius," I almost screamed out. So this is why Tangerine flew away from me! Firebirds can sense their friends and enemies around them even when they are a little far away. She felt the presence of Darius from the room and flew to him. She is very intelligent! 

"Celestia, are you alright? Did he hurt you for leaving him?" Darius questioned me anxiously.

I shook my head immediately. "He didn't do anything to me. But he did warn me not to run away from him again. And if you are here to rescue me, then please forget about it."

"No, Celestia. I am not here for that. I am here to retrieve Father Oberon's crown back," Darius announced. 

"That seems even riskier," I gasped. "Listen to me! We have to forget about that crown! If you get into the palace and try to steal the crown, then Theo will somehow catch you. Few Siren girls are here now, and they can read minds and control you."

Darius clutched his long sleeves and sighed out in frustration. "You think that I am not aware of everything you just said now? I know the risks, but despite that, I am doing this for the sake of Aiden! The Highlanders are rebelling against our father now, and the reason they lost their trust is because of this damn Crown."

"But what difference does a Crown make? Our father is going to be the King with or without a crown," I mumbled out. 

He shifted uncomfortably on his feet after he heard my question. "From the beginning of the creation era, people always considered the person with the Crown as the King! Since the Silver Shadow has it now, people are slowly acknowledging him as King," Darius explained to me.

The cool night weather didn't make me shiver at all. But whatever Darius told me caused my bones to shiver. 

"Highlanders can't side with the Silver Shadow," I cried out. "We must find the Crown!"

"Exactly," Darius said. "Now tell me where he hides all the artifacts?"

I got dazed by his question. "I have no idea," I blurted out. "And I am not sure if the Crown is in the Emerald Palace. It could even be in the Selene realm!"

"No, it must be here," he argued with me. "Silver Shadow has made the Emerald palace as his residing place now. So he must have moved all his artifacts and his weaponry here."

That could be possible too! "Fine," I said. "But I know nothing about this palace just like you. We have to split up and look out for the artifact room."

"Okay," Darius said. He then took out something from his robe and gave it to me. Even though it was dark, I was able to comprehend that it was a vial. 

"Very few drops of Unicorn's blood are left in this vial. This is not enough, but still, it will help you," he said.

"Thank you so much," I replied and tried hard to stay strong.. This is not the time to break down! I have to retrieve my father's crown.