The morning sun shone through the window of the young princess’ room and roused her from peaceful dreams. On close inspection, however, the sun was different: m plates covered the sun like scales on a snake and slaved it to the whims of humanity.

When Iona opened her eyes, the sun's rays shone in her face which irritated the young princess.

"Computer shut the window now… no, make it disappear. Let me sleep for five minutes," she groaned. The window faded away as if a dry eraser moved across the wrong answer on a board.

"Iona, you have duties to fulfill. To make it easier, I have placed the list in hard light form, and it will be on your television when you open your oculars."

"Shut up with the complicated vocabulary! Can’t you speak like a normal person, it is eyes, not oculars."

The computer blasted the current song of Iona's playlist and Iona jumped as if she was a startled cat; instead of landing gracefully, she landed flat on her face.

"Sorry, my princess, let me turn that down." Iona could have sworn that the computer laughed as it turned the volume down. " Now as you haven't taken a shower in days, nor brushed your teeth, I will suggest that you go do your cleaning duties."

Iona paused as the computer was right.

With a flash of light, she translated to the royal baths and washed. After an hour later, Iona translated back into her room with new clothes and a confident expression that bordered on smug. However, when she turned to the list on the TV, her heart dropped and confidence was replaced with cold fear. Iona the Infinite, heir to the Solar Empire, was requested to see her mother in the gardens.

"No no no no." She repeated the word in dread. The once fearless ten-year-old girl was afraid.

The Queen, or the Goddess of the universe as per the title, was even more feared than the Master. The Master's anger never burned hot for long; a small flame that would die out in a short time. Iona's mother's fury burned like an eternal inferno. Behind her back, the Queen was known to her enemies as a demon.

"Princess, snap out of it." A drone phased through her wall and slapped her cheek hard enough to leave a red mark.

"You didn't have to slap me." Iona rubbed her cheek as the sting of the slap faded away and she turned to the drone.

"Lady Iona, why are you so afraid of your mother? Aren't mothers supposed to be loving and nurturing to their offspring?" The computer phased the answer in that way as it was curious about Iona's answer.

"Mother is known as the Butcher of Worlds. Brother told me that one day I was kidnapped by a dynasty and Mother in an act of rage burned their worlds, and wiped out the entire dynasty. What do you think she will do to me when I cursed her out?" Anxiety flooded Iona's body as her heart rate increased.

"Princess, could you be overreacting, and could your brother be lying?"

"He could but I never overreact. I am a pretty reasonable person."

The computer laughed as the drone clapped its hands. "You realize what you did yesterday right?"

"Yeah, yeah, shut up I get it," said Iona as she dismissed the drone.

"According to my algorithm, it will be advisable to go to her. If she has to come to you, I predict that it will not go well. If you wish to argue, I can run more models."

Iona the Infinite, heir to the Solar Empire, brushed the drone to the side and exited the room. The hallways were long with golden floors, flanked by ten-foot tall statues made of onyx that added some flavor to the halls. Iona preferred gold, but she wasn't the designer. The craftsmanship of this statue invoked jealousy in young Iona. This much care would have taken years, no centuries of practice. This much love was beyond the rash princess.

"Princess, what are your orders?" The voice shocked Iona out of her daydreaming and she jerked back.

From her shadow manifested an eight-foot-tall, onyx-armored man with floating runic symbols spinning around him. He was a giant, a representation of the mastery of genetic engineering. In his hands was a sword that vibrated with an audible hum.

"Escort me to my mother please."

"Yes princess, as you wish." The royal guard bowed towards Iona and turned to walk.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"So I hope you all aren't too mad that I escaped from your friends’ couple of days ago. I think it is safe to say that I beat the royal guard," stated Iona with the same smug expression she placed on her face when she was sure of herself.

The royal guard covered his mouth while walking with the princess.

"Why are you covering your mouth? Do you have to sneeze? At least do it away from me."

Iona glared at the guard with a pout, sure that he was laughing behind his hand.

"I forgot, what are you again? We have so many guards, so you will forgive me if I don't remember the types of the guard."

"I am a member of the onyx guard or shadow guard due to what we do. We exist between the physical universe and the shade dimension. No dimensional entity, demon, xeno nor trespassing can escape our eyes."

"By the stars that is so cool. Tell me about the shade dimension."

The guard snickered as he shook his head. With a swipe of his sword, he tore a hole in reality. The hole didn't scream, no, it bellowed like a bear. The darkness of the hole was unnatural, there was no light.

"Where is the light?" asked Iona.

"There is no light in the shade dimension. I would advise you not to go there till after your studies as there are monsters that prey on unsuspecting mortals."

"Have you met other aliens there that are not mean?"

"You are so funny princess, Yes there are other aliens there. Now we should resume our walk." The guard closed the portal and resumed walking.

Iona was disappointed at how vague the answer was.

In the next stop, the two examined the massive gate made of wood and it radiated with purple psionic energy. Feelings of peace rushed over Iona and covered her like a blanket. Any anxiety, fear, and terror have washed away.

"This is the doorway to the garden? I admit I never explored this part of the palace."

"It is my princess, this gate has materials from the Summerlands. The Goddess is fond of that place."

With the symbol of open, which required the user to make a spiral motion with their fingers, the guard activated the gate.

"Wait, it is a portal!" Shouted Iona.

"Yes princess, she took a piece of the Summerlands and made it into her little kingdom. You will find no fae there."

When two entered in, a sweet-smelling aroma filled Iona's nostrils. This garden was vast, Iona was an ant and this garden was the forest. 'How did mother plant this?' She thought as she stood still and examined the tall trees with fruits hanging from the branches. Some of the fruit fell and busted on the ground like a water balloon. The grass was trimmed and the bushes were full of life from glowing worms to bees from old Earth.

Iona lost any words, it was as if the realm removed her sharp tongue.

Servants walked around the garden and did maintenance on the flowers.

"Guards and servants leave." The disembodied voice was calm but it thundered with authority. In a microsecond, all the servants and guards left like frightened deer.

"Young lady, come closer." The tension was thick as oil, Iona was sure that her punishment would be swift and harsh.

Iona said nothing as she walked to the sound of the voice and looked upon her mother. Her mother was covered in soil, and so were her clothes. She looked like she spent the entire day gardening, no, the entire week doing it.

The Queen's pink fairy wings extended from her back as she stared into the soul of her daughter.

"Do you have something to say to me?" There was no sympathy, nor fury on her face. Iona could only see disappointment.

"Mother you see I was…."

"No young lady, do not give me any excuses." Iona's mother interrupted her sharply.

"You are right, I am sorry." Tears formed in her eyes as she felt the guilt covering her heart. She didn't have her father to help, nor her brothers and sisters, it was just her.

"I want to know why. Why did you say such horrible language to me?" The Queen's voice was hesitant as if she was on the verge of tears like Iona.

Iona did what she hadn't done in a long time. She began to full-on ugly cry as she confessed to her mother. This type of crying didn't resemble crying in cartoons. No, this type of crying was not pleasing to look at.

"I thought you were going to send me away forever. I thought I was a disappointment, I… I thought.." Iona stuttered while covering her eyes.

Iona was a mess, but her tears were sincere. However, would her mother understand?

"Why didn't you come to speak to me, Iona?"

"I didn't think you would understand."

"Iona, you are my beloved daughter, I can never dream of disowning you." The queen embraced Iona in a bear hug that lifted Iona. Like a blanket, the queen's love covered Iona and the queen wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed her forehead.

"You are my daughter, I will never stay angry at you forever. Let me tell you who you are. You are Iona the Infinite, a star that outshines even the brightest psychic entity that dwells in Phase space, not a xeno, nor a stranger." Instead of disappointment, Iona felt compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.

"I love you mother."

"And I love you to my child, I won't ground you but you will have to help me in life my garden. Also, I will take a trip to the Summerlands so it will be nice to have company. Do you agree to those terms?"

"I do mother, I do." Said Iona as her mother released her.

"Now come, we have work to do, and we must prepare for the ball that you will host."