-= The Best Morning Of My Life [The Second Interlude] =-

Present day.

My name is Nicole. I'm the Queen of the Acorn Empire, situated in Mobotropolis of Mobius South.

I think I slept for thirteen, maybe fourteen hours last night. I was used to the alarm being the thing to wake me in the mornings, but today, it was the crack of dawn, and my eyes were wide open, staring at the swirling old patterns of the ceiling in my bedroom. The sun tinted everything in streams of rich bronze, its thin stripes tumbling through the blinds and across my body.

Sitting up in bed, I stretched and yawned, feeling the artificial bones in my neck and back clicking in place, and tossed aside the covers. My toes wriggled in the soft carpet when I got out. Outside, I could see the pink clouds off in the distance, a bird briefly flying past to perch itself somewhere on the castle roof. I imagined that the clouds would be rolling in later today, and getting darker with the hour, but that was a worry for then, not now.

The shower beckoned. I began shuffling over to the bathroom, tossing my blouse and pants aside as I went. I showered long enough for the skin on my fingers to wrinkle up. I used the fruit-scented shampoo today, that I kept for special occasions, and spent half an hour painting my face with the same makeup I'd used on the day of my inauguration.

I looked at the cat in the full-length mirror, from head to toe. Those beautiful green eyes I'd been blessed with all those years ago shone like emeralds this morning, and I couldn't remember the last time I'd looked in those eyes to find the dark circles under them were gone. I know I've complained that sometimes I feel maybe, a little out of place in my current body. I'll admit sometimes it feels like I don't know who I am. Today, though... I was looking at Nicole Genevieve Acorn. Me. And I saw that it was a good thing to be.

Throwing on a bathrobe, I made my way out to the kitchen - none of the royal cooks were up yet, so I made my own breakfast - nothing too extravagant, just a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and some toast with butter and a sliver of raspberry jam.

I took the plate into my office, and sat down at my desk. Normally the first order of the day was to switch on the holographic computer and read over the day's tasks and news, but today I wasn't that bothered. To be honest, it just didn't seem important. Instead, I turned around in my chair, folded one leg over another, and looked out the window.

The first signs of movement for the day were starting to show. A package delivery hovercraft was cruising the streets, the road all to itself. The bakery down the road had its lights on, the folk inside hard at work producing the day's batch of fresh bread.

Then it was time for a run. I threw on some clothes - just a simple set of loose cargos and a singlet. I tied my hair back, threw on some perfume, and stepped outside.

Out on the courtyard lawn, I saw Lupe had beaten me outside, practicing her martial arts on the grass.

"Good morning!" I hollered, breaking into a stride to close the distance.

"Oh, Nicole," Lupe said, exiting her combat stance and turning to me. Her eyebrows went up at the sight of me. "Hello. You're looking... well, today." There was no sarcasm in her voice, but there was plenty of surprise.

I gave very unladylike bow: "Thanks," I beamed. "I thought I was going to beat you out of the castle this morning. Guess not."

Lupe wiped her forehead with the back of her arm. "I was actually about to freshen up and head back in, get things started for the day. Where are you headed?"

I shrugged. "Just going for a run. I'll be back in an hour or so."

"Didn't you say yesterday that we'd be catching up first thing this morning to prepare a press release?" She frowned.

"Ah, don't worry about it," I said, flicking my hand as if I were taking the idea and tangibly throwing it into the grass. "We've got all day, right? It's a beautiful morning, let's just enjoy it for what it is, for a change. What do you say? Take the morning off, we'll meet up after lunch."

Lupe looked at me for a while with some puzzlement. After a moment, it turned to worry, and then it all fell away, like she'd finally clicked. "I suppose I could use the time," she said, smiling. "I'll see you in your office at midday, then."

"Great," I nodded, and watched her turn to gather her mat and towel from the ground, and begin heading for the porch. "Lupe, one more thing," I called after her. "Come back a moment."

She dropped her things where she stood, and walked back over. "Yes?"

I held my arms out at my sides earnestly, and took a step towards her, cocking my head, a ludicrous grin on my face. "Please?"

Lupe gave a light chuckle, mirroring my smile. "Of course."

She walked right up and I threw my arms around her, squeezing as hard as I could and kissed her on the cheek. I felt her hands folding around my back, giving me a gentle pat.

I could feel her breathing in my ear, the warmness of her near me, and before I knew it, I was sobbing. "Lupe, I've gotta say something," I choked the words out, the water welling up in my eyes and in my sinuses, making me sound like I had a peg on my nose.

Lupe pulled back and looked at me, her eyes furrowed. "You okay?"

I smiled and nodded at her through the tears. "I'm fine. Really. But just hear me out on this one thing."

"Of course, what is it?"

"I love you. All of you," I said to her. "In all this time, I haven't said it nearly as much as I should. I'm supposed to be the Queen and call all the shots, answer to no one. But I've been leaning on you all the whole time. Over these past seven years, you, Antoine, Bunnie, Rotor, Chuck, Griff, old Rosie back in Knothole, Knuckles... you've always been there for me."

I stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath, and pulled her in again, hanging on tightly.

"You're the best family I've ever had," I said, the words pouring out of me like a cup running way over. "I love you so much..."

Lupe gave me a reassuring squeeze, and I rested my head on her shoulder for a moment, hearing her heart thumping right through her body. "We love you too, Nicole. And you've always been there for us, too. Don't ever think we'll forget that, will you?"

I leaned back, holding her at arms length, looking her in the eyes. "Nope."

"You going to be alright, Highness?"

I sniffed and nodded, giving her shoulders a squeeze. "Uhuh. Sorry, I guess I just have to let that valve open every now and then. Thanks, Lupe."

Lupe gave a good laugh. "Don't be sorry, love. I'm just glad to be at your side. So," she broke contact with me, and turned back for her things. "Midday, at your office?" she asked, over her shoulder.

I nodded again. "Uhuh."

"See you then, then."

"Bye, Lupe." I waved, and watched her heading inside the castle again, and looked around at the high walls, old as the Acorn Empire itself had ever lasted and not looking a day worse for wear.

I strolled lightly along the grass, and out the gate, feeling like I weighed nothing. Then I ran.

I ran.

I ran until Mobotropolis was gone, and all around all I could see was green and gold and blue and brown and purple and red. The air tasted like sweet, cool water, and smelled even better. I bobbed my head up and down, the wind in my ears phasing in and out, mixing with the sound of chirping birds and the gravel crunching beneath my feet.

The trees stretched from the ground and went up like they'd never stop until they reached the clouds. The long grass and the long branches swayed to and fro like they could go on dancing forever. I kept running and more than ever it felt like everything was alive.

The world was alive. I was alive. I was part of it. It was part of me. Everything sang to me and courted me and complimented me and my God, it's so hard to believe that I don't wake up and realise this every friggin' day.

It was around eleven when I finally got back to the castle. Griff was waiting for me just outside my office, along with two other soldiers.

I nodded and smiled at him. He nodded back, but there was no smile on his face.

"Miss Acorn," he began, with his face as straight as possible. "I'm hereby placing you under arrest for the murder of Lord Christof of the Brotherhood of Thamael, and crimes against the national security of Mobius South."

One soldier stepped forward with a pair of shackles in his hand, and I nodded towards him as I offered my wrists like a blood sacrifice. The cold metal slapped against my skin, and I looked him in the eye. He stared straight back - he was no coward. He wasn't a million miles away. He was right here.

"You will be held in detention indefinitely until a jury is assembled," Griff continued, reciting the lines straight from the old Mobius military manual. "You will be notified in due time as to when your hearing is scheduled to occur, at which time you will have the opportunity to defend and or redeem yourself, or accept your prescribed sentence. Now, please come with us." He turned around, to lead myself and his two soldiers to his hovercraft, where I'd be transferred to detention.

"Griff," I asked.

He stopped in place, his back to me.

"Make sure Ari knows about this," I told him.

He nodded just enough to notice, and began walking again.

And so the trust for this nation now settles in their hands. And the blame for this horrible situation rests in mine. I will confess to a crime not committed by me. I will accept my sentence. And I'll have my punishment for you all, for the hope that you can make things right again, and the flow of blood can be stemmed.

Because I have to do this. Before I forget the reason I live with this. Because even though you'll hate me, I'll still love you. Because I know you are good people. And you don't deserve to suffer.

You don't deserve to suffer.

You don't deserve it.