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Ria and Esa, the Final Queens
Ria’s year of ascension when she was 21 was a busy year for the new monarch. The previous year she had, under guidance from Craxic, married Aque Duronius and the following year (the year of her coronation) given birth to a daughter, Esa. She enjoyed a peaceful reign for the first 17 years and committed her time to her political and linguistic learning, and in cultivating the arts of her planet and political interplanetary relations. The arts took a new experimental slant concentrating upon metaphors with a dark foreboding, (fore-sight perhaps) in a movement called the Visionists. The works also concentrated heavily upon human emotions as well with key works being the novel ‘Ejitenzu’ (Existence) by Tyralis (one of the last works entirely in ancient Aquarian), the poems ‘Conscience’ and ‘Descent’ by Litorius, and ‘Metaphor’ by Amalytp, and the painting ‘Avalia’ (‘ancient’) by Mavalier. Ria herself concentrated on her politics, although it was reported that she herself had written some short published poems, ‘Purpose’, ‘Angel’, ‘Whirlpool’ and ‘On How Life is…’. Ria passed an important consitutional change, which affected her senate. She previously would have been allowed one personal representative but she felt her voice would be drowned out despite her choosing the very vocal Craxic. Instead she passed an amendment, which would allow the Queen to appoint four personal ministers to the senate, equal to the representation sent by Libra and Galatea. This would increase the senate size to 19 and they agreed in a majority of 8 to 7 to pass the amendment. Ria duly appointed Vela, Parras and Demeti, all nobility and friends of both herself and Craxic. Thus the reign passed on peacefully, Esa grew up less pretty and with less common sense than her mother yet retained the stubborn sarcastic traits. The princess was still a blonde haired beauty, just lacking the stunning nature of her mother. On her plus side Esa was more humble then Ria and had an incredible intellect of her own and took easily to the difficult education plan Ria had set for her daughter. The princess was however plagued by a depression for no apparent reason, she would fly into mad rages and quick sullenness in strange cycles which led Ria to never be able to guess when Esa would be happy and when she would be suicidal. Ria knew her daughter was also in love with her friend Princess Cassandra and did have to wonder whether that was contributing or whether it would ever manifest. It emerged that Cassandra did have the same feelings but had to force their eventual relationship into quietness as the tumult of the later years of Ria’s reign began. The year brought two changes, the positive was the announcement from the Moon Kingdom of the creation of the Sailor Senshi as guardians to Princess Serenity and Esa’s appointment as Sailor Aquarius. However ironically on the exact day of that announcement, the planet was invaded by the Saiya-jin race and the future of the Aquarian monarchy threatened. The arrival was kept as quiet as possible, the people would not respond well to more change. In this case, Ria had initially fought with Craxic over the resolution but chose pacifist reason and intelligent arguing, it helped her that the invading king was physically strong while mentally weak and she was able to use words to avoid a ‘proper’ invasion. Instead she (against her better will) used Esa as her bargaining tool, something Esa could never really forgive her mother for, and betrothed the young girl to the saiya-jin prince. This thus gifted the saiya-jins the impression they were still receiving the planet although the matriarchal Aquarian society would seek to prevent this. For Esa it meant a loss of her best friend and love, confusingly another figure was added to this triangle. Prince Topaz, the younger brother of Endymion of the Earth loved the Aquarian Princess. Ria knew of this and she tried to allow the marriage to happen so Esa could stay with Cassie but knew that given the strength of the saiya-jins it was impossible. Life tried to quieten down again into routine although this dark cloud constantly hung over their heads. Esa attended her first Senate meeting at 18 and lived the normal life as an heir to the throne, when she was 21 however, Ria died from a terminal illness that had plagued her since childhood in recurrences. She was only 41 and the Princess devastated. Craxic and Topaz came to her aid as the saiya-jins returned, but the senate refused to comply to the agreement made by Ria and declared a state of war fully authorized by Esa who against the orders of Craxic and Topaz decided to fight. She claimed that as a senshi with protectorate of the inner system and of Serenity she was adept to fight but they tried to prevent her. The ensuing feud once the Saiya-jins landed was referred to as the Great Battle of Aquarius fought on the Great Aquarian Plains. The battle had a confusing end, the Aquarians miraculously won, but in victory the Queen was captured and the Saiya-jins won by a quirk of default. The invaders exiled Topaz back to the Earth and Craxic was removed from his position. Esa managed to prevent his execution as the monarch (the invading Prince was still no relation to her), but she feared for her life in saving Craxic’s political position. These changes could not however be given a chance to take effect. ~*Queen Ria, the final 'proper' Queen*~
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