INT. SCHOOL AUDITORIUM - DAY

(After hearing the shocking revelation of her life, Aurora walks to her friends breathing heavily, and sweating in disbelief)

RILEY: oh here she comes

AURORA: guys, I.. I.. I guess...

ANDREW: are you okay? You are wheezing like you are eighty. Did you run a marathon just now?

AARON: and you are sweating also

AURORA: guy... strange... some...

DAPHNE: we don't speak your language right now, Aurora

AURORA: I am cold

RILEY: are you going to lie to us? Have you forgotten who we are?

AURORA: I don't understand what just happened. It's like a dream, an imagination. It's scary... wait... it makes sense. Mom was right.

AARON: alright, we are taking you home, Aurora

ANDREW: yeah, you need rest

RILEY: let's go guys

INT. EMPIRE - COURTROOM - DAY

(Walker scolds everyone deeply concerned about the Emperor and Empress)

WALKER: were you all sleeping? Didn't you notice anything at all? I hope they are fine

(Jax and Caleb enter, shaking their heads negatively)

WALKER: this is what I was scared of. I knew she wouldn't come. Angela must have poisoned her mind so badly

(Walker paces around the courtroo, contemplating a solution)

JAX: we can try to show her some evidence

WALKER: like what?

CALEB: the resemblance between herself and her mother

WALKER: that won't even come close to bringing her back to the palace. People can have a resemblance without being related

JAX: we will think of a way out of this, sire

WALKER: I hope so

INT. ANGELA'S HOUSE - SITTING ROOM - LATER

(Angela finishes packing as Aaron, Andrew, Riley and Daphne enter with Aurora. Angela rushes to hug Aurora upon seeing her distressed condition)

ANGELA: oh my God, what is wrong with her? What did you do to her? Who did she meet up with today?

RILEY: we didn't do anything, and we have no idea what happened. She stepped out for a moment, but she came back like this

ANDREW: we tried to figure out what was wrong, but she was speaking in... definitely not our language

ANGELA: you can leave now; she will be fine

AARON: take care, Aurora

DAPHNE: we are going to miss you

(Andrew, Aaron, Daphne and Riley exit while Angela sits Aurora down)

ANGELA: what happened, honey? Why the weird behaviour? You are getting me all worked up

AURORA: they... it was... they came for me

ANGELA: who came for you?

AURORA: the Emperor and Empress! They sent some... he said... I was the Empress

ANGELA: what? How low will they stoop?

Stolen story; please report.

AURORA: I don't know, mom, but what I do know is that they have been kidnapped

ANGELA: oh no, that's so sad

AURORA: mom, this is no time for sarcasm. Don't you care about your brother? We have to help them before leaving

ANGELA: are you out of your mind? Are you aware of what you are saying? We can't go there

AURORA: why? We should go there to show support. This is your brother we are talking about

ANGELA: he is not my brother anymore

(Aurora rises in anger and disbelief)

AURORA: what are you still afraid of? The people you are scared of have been kidnapped. Is there more to it, mom?

ANGELA: you are starting to annoy me now, Aurora. I've packed our things so no need to pack anymore. Let's go before we miss our flight

AURORA: I am not going anywhere until we go to the palace to show support

ANGELA: why are you so stubborn like your mother?... Me

AURORA: for the record, you aren't stubborn, and you said it as if you were referring to a third person. Mom, is there more to the story?

ANGELA: you aren't going, right? Fine, we are staying, but we are not going to the palace

AURORA: ugh, it is pointless arguing with you. I am going out

ANGELA: but you just got back. Where are you going to?

AURORA: none of your business

(Aurora walks out on Angela angrily, slamming the door)

CUT TO:

EXT. CITY STREET - MORNING

(Aurora and her friends are walking and having a conversation)

RILEY: we are so happy you didn't leave. We planned on attending the same university, but you moving would have destroyed the plan drastically

AURORA: I know, right? What was I even thinking agreeing with mom?

ANDREW: she wants the best for you, Aurora, no matter how she upsets you

AARON: Andrew is right. My mom can be controlling some times. She is the definition of a perfectionist. I am not allowed to wear multiple colors, and I am not allowed to wear sneakers

DAPHNE: that's tough, bro

RILEY: well, I got my aunt to always support me when I get in a fight with my mom. It seems all moms are the same. They want the best for their kids

AURORA: mom is an extremist

(The conversation continues until Daphne and Riley receive a text)

RILEY: (screams) I got in

DAPHNE: me too

ALL: (in unison) congratulations girls

RILEY: did you apply already?

AURORA: yeah, I am waiting to be accepted

ANDREW: me too

AARON: me three

(The friends bursts out laughing when Aaron's phone rings)

AARON: mom is calling; I have to go, guys

ANDREW: I have to babysit my younger brother

RILEY: I have to share this news with Auntie

DAPHNE: we will see you later, Aurora

(The friends exit, leaving Aurora behind in sadness and thoughts)

AURORA: mom is definitely hiding something from...

(Before she could finish her sentence, two bodyguards from the previous morning approach her)

AURORA: you again? What do you want? Are you stalking me?

JAX: we have proof

(Caleb takes a photo from his pocket and shows it to Aurora)

CALEB: this is your real family. Your mother's sister was jealous of her so she kidnapped you and turned the palace into emptiness

JAX: the Empire is empty without its Empress

AURORA: I have this same photo but mom explained everything to me

CALEB: she lied, Empress

JAX: are you familiar with the word "flower"?

AURORA: no

JAX: your mother addresses you as her flower

AURORA: my mom addresses me by my name, Aurora

CALEB: well, we did our best, Jax. Let's go tell sire that the Empress is adamant, just like her mother...

(Upon hearing Caleb's last words, Aurora thinks for a moment)

AURORA: what do you mean adamant like my mother?

JAX: your mother, the former Empress, is so stubborn

AURORA: mom made mention of that earlier. She.. if I come with you, do you promise to bring me back? Do not even dare kidnap me

CALEB: we will be executed for kidnapping our Empress

JAX: we give you our word

CUT TO:

INT. EMPIRE - DAY

(Aurora is awed by everything she is seeing, looking around and admiring everything until she gets inside the palace)

AURORA: I have a question, but you have to be honest with me

JAX: at your service, Empress Flower

AURORA: is this heaven's secret quarters? The view is mesmerizing

(Her admiration of the Empire is cut short by Walker, who enters, looking so happy to see Aurora)

WALKER: you came! Thank you so much for coming, Empress Flower

AURORA: good day, sir, my name is Aurora

WALKER: alright Empress Aurora, welcome to your Empire. I am Walker, the guardian of the Empire. I'd love to show you around if you are up for it

AURORA: sure, I'd love that

WALKER: then come with me, Empress

(After some minutes of walking around the palace, Aurora falls in love with the Empire)

AURORA: this is amazing. The Flower pendant is for me?

WALKER: of course, your majesty

AURORA: I think mom has a similar pendant as that

WALKER: your mother put the pendant on your neck when you were little. I guess your aunty removed it so that you wouldn't be found easily

AURORA: she is not my aunty; she is my mom

WALKER: whatever you say, Empress Flower... I mean, Aurora

AURORA: I have to head home now; mom must be worried about me

WALKER: sure, but you know your ways around here if you'd like to visit sometime

AURORA: you guys are messing up my head. My mom is a good person; she is my mother not my aunty, and she didn't kidnap me

WALKER: I don't want to upset you, Empress, but everything is true. Angela is not a good person

AURORA: I don't remember telling you my mother's name. How did you know?

WALKER: I know because she was living in the palace. She is your mother's sister

AURORA: wait... why do you keep saying my mother's sister? Mom said she was related to the king

WALKER: she would lie to keep you away from the truth

AURORA: alright, I'm out of here

WALKER: Jax and Caleb will escort you home, but I have to warn you. No matter what, Empress, do not tell your mom about this

AURORA: why not?

WALKER: she might get angry and end up hurting you

AURORA: my mother wouldn't dream of hurting me

WALKER: that's what you think. Jax, Caleb

(Jax and Caleb enter)

WALKER: take the Empress home; ensure she is safe

AURORA: thank you

(Jax and Caleb exit with Aurora)

FADE OUT