Outfit of a lifetime

Talia walked into Maila's room a couple of hours after the ceremony and briskly opened the spire curtains before shaking the duvet off of Maila, earning a grunt of disapproval from her. Talia laughed and began setting out multiple outfits for Maila to change into, who had still not even bothered to look at what Talia was doing. Instead, she turned and pullet the comfortable duvet over her shoulder, ignoring Talia's giggles.

Talia walked over to Maila and shook her awake,forcing her out of bed, much to Maila's disappointment. The sun filtered through her windows and was already setting, making the forest contain a beautiful orange glow over the chartreuse green. The regal trees and lively birds were getting ready to slumber for the night, but each Stelra would celebrate the new Captain of the Royal Guard.

Maila looked at the four possible outfits picked out by her friend, and smiled at Talia's great sense of style.

The first outfit was an emerald gown adorned with gold detailing that was embroidered in leaves and flowers that cut just above her knees, trailing behind her, with a low cut back. It had long priest-like sleeves that didn't go over her shoulder and was paired with seaweed green flats as well as thin black tights.

The second outfit was a sweet-heart cut, body tight dress that flowered out at the knees in a peaceful mint green colour, with glittering gold lining and sleeves that just wrapped around her arms and crossed over her back in a leaf shape. The dress was paired with a cape that attached to the sleeves, and fell below the leaf detailing, trailing behind the dress, and small mint green heels.

The third outfit was an armoured version of her training uniform, consisting of a metal chestplate which had intricate details of royal flowers and a basic cut Goddess of Life. There were knee high metal boots which were padded inside and had designs trailing up and down each boot. There was a parakeet green cape attached to the chestplate backside.

The fourth and final outfit was of a white blouse paired with a brown leather corset with a seaweed green bow and laces. There were dark sage coloured leggings with knee high leather boots and a seaweed green cape that flowed over the shoulders.

Maila studied each outfit carefully and sighed in defeat as she asked Talia to call for their other best friend, Sulon Tureberry, the second in command, for help.

It took a few minutes but the 21 year old soon showed up, sporting a confusion filled face.

"I know I'm so amazing, you want to see me at all times, but princess, you need to get ready right now." Sulon said cocking an eyebrow in Maila's direction. Both girls laughed and Maila walked towards the boy.

"I'm blessing you with my presence, and you complain? Tsk tsk, Sul, how rude!"

All three friends laughed and walked towards the four mannequins that adorned the four outfits.

"I can't pick one; I'm the Captain of the Royal Guard- I want to show I'm not too feminine, but as the first female Captain, I want to show feminine power, and grace too. I'm stuck and there's only two hours left to prepare!"

Sulon looked at the outfits and shook his head. he pointed at the third outfit; "This one is good. It's got your armour but with a velvet cap which adds the feminine element you want. Pair that with curled hair and a small headpiece, and you should have the perfect look. You're overthinking this though." Talia nodded and giggled, preparing to take the outfit off of the mannequin so that Maila could change.

"Okay, go now, I don't want you to see me naked!" Maila laughed.

"But I know you're just joking, and the bathroom isn't too small!" Sulon pouted playfully and all three laughed as he was pushed out of the room by a red Maila.

For the next two hours, Maila changed and prepared for the most important party of her life.

Even the representatives of the other three Monarchs would be there, ready to congratulate her on behalf of their king or queen, and she couldn't afford to mess up even in the slightest.

Just like that morning, Maila walked down the stairs of her spire, this time with Talia, and they separated at the Great Hall doors. Maila took a deep breath and nodded for the doors to be open.

Like for the ceremony, the room was decorated with exquisite greens and golds, this time with the benches pushed to the walls with small coffee tables next to them, so that the floor would be wide open.

Maila walked to the altar and looked at each guest there, the room packed with smartly dressed Stelra. She suddenly felt subconsciously insecure, but took the glass of Grapevine and raised it, smiling radiantly.

"Thank you all, this party, this celebration, makes me more than proud and overjoyed, and I can't even begin to explain how thankful I am for this position and opportunity! Please, on my behalf on on our kingdom's, enjoy this night with eternal happiness and youth!"

A loud applause was heard, and Maila shook the hands of many Stelrid.

The night went by in a blur, filled with nervous laughter, and socialising, many important individuals introducing themselves to Maila, Stelrid who she'd never even heard of. She drank a small amount of Grapevine, knowing that she should be responsible, and almost never got to sit down to have a break. By the time Talia took her to her room, Maila's arm was aching and she had a buzzing headache that failed to go away over the course of the party's 5 hour duration.

She flopped down on her bed and closed her eyes immediately.

"I'm exhausted..." she trailed off, her words slightly slurred and mumbled.

"Well don't forget that super important meeting tomorrow at mid-day." Talia laughed as she closed the curtains.

"Don't remind me..!" Maila grunted and turned over, falling asleep in seconds, much to Talia's dismay.

~~~

The sun filtered through Maila's curtains, and Maila slowly sat up, noticing her armour was back on the mannequin; Talia must've took it off for her.

Groaning, Maila stood up and prepared for the meeting, wondering what it was about, excited about the fact she was now Captain of the Royal Guard and was now on duty.

She rushed down the stairs of her spire and towards the meeting room, being the last one there.

Once everyone was sat down and quiet, the Queen addressed everyone in the room;her presence was unusual, even more so with her advisor, but Maila shook the feeling of foreboding off.

"I'm sorry to call you all at such short notice but this can not be left any longer. My advisor and I have found that we have been put in certain circumstances that put us in a critical position. I'm afraid that after many hours of brainstorming, the only solution is to invade another planet to make our home, and after conferring with Kings Vaum and Noan, as well as Queen Siwa, our nature element shall invade first. If our mission is successful, we shall move each resource, mineral and Stelra from our planet to the new one. Our target has been picked and it shall be the planet Xanus."

In a matter of seconds the room went from silent to chaotic, noise erupting from each side of the large table, people screaming and disagreeing, wondering what the cause of such a drastic decision could have been.

Maila, however, didn't speak, didn't move or even blink. She sat there, her mouth hanging open in astonishment.