I Looked to the Sky and Said
(Please I’ve Been on my Knees)
Chapter 3. Sweet and Tangy
summary: Lance stared at the mark on his wrist, shaped as some sort of V and when he looked to the man in front of him, the man who held a blade to his throat, he saw the same mark staring back at him.
An opposer, a galra as his soulmate.
“Once silver turns to gold, the one dressed in red shall bring forth an end to the monarchy.”
chapter 1| chapter 2| chapter 3
It was scorchingly hot out as Keith stood beside his mother in the main and biggest Galra city. It was the Summer Parade. This day was a celebration for Galra everywhere, where each person could give their respects to fallen Galra of the past.
The label ‘parade’ was only half of the event. A long, detailed parade would go down the streets showcasing different events crucial to Galra history. There would be fresh markets full of different delicacies people had taken all Spring to prepare as well as merchants who had came from all over to sell and trade.
There would be food served in one of the parks and a live music area and even Zarkon was feeling kind, a firework show late in the night. However, this year was different than any in the past. The royal family of Altea would be in for a visit. There have been people from different civilizations to this event before, Keith and his mother had just purchased a few crystals from a travelling Balmera merchant, but this was the royal family. The only royals who ever attended this was the Galra empire and they were much different than the Alteans.
They had arrived in a regal, futuristic style buggy? Carriage? Keith wasn’t sure what it was, it hovered slightly off the ground and was nothing he had seen before. It was beautiful, carved from a white sort of material, engraved with light blue. It was hard to explain what they looked like, perhaps something out of story his mother had told him once.
He could see a man who he assumed was the King, he had smiled when he first arrived, being escorted to a privacy tent with his daughter. The two had matching white hair and marks resting on their cheekbones. The girl was around the age of him, he assumed at least and she had a walk that would tell anyone she was a princess even if no one knew whom she was. She was poised with grace.
Her posture was strong, her facial features soft and elegant, her dress resting above the ground, brushing against a few strands of grass but never into the dirt. It was a white gown but Keith could see a pink hue that made the dress a baby pink.
As the parade went down the gravel streets of the impoverished town, highlighting gruesome battles, the depiction of the Emperor’s coronation, the birth of the prince, Keith couldn’t help but stare at the royals. How pleasant it must be to be in a well shaded area with plenty of fruity drinks and soft desserts while he and his mother felt the sun beat on their dark hair till it burned to the touch. His mother had spent the last of her spending money that wasn’t on groceries from the market on crystals she had found pretty. He was sure his mother would enjoy a beautiful dress like the princess.
How did the fate of people get dished out? Who chose whom would be struggling and who would never have to worry about a thing in their life? How was it fair that he and his mother would never experience that lifestyle?
Keith looked away from them, feeling a grumbling sickness swirl in his stomach when the princess and king smiled at something Emperor Zarkon had said. Keith had never spoken to the emperor, and he wondered if he had or ever did, if the emperor would take pity on him and change things for the people.
“Mother,” Keith began, turning to his mom who watched the parade with a faint smile. “Mom, I’m thirsty.” He spoke out, feeling the way his tongue stuck drying to the inside of his mouth.
Krolia looked away from the theatrics, glancing down at her son. She subtly felt the coins in her pocket, out of sight from Keith. “Me too,” She smiled now, genuine and full as she reached for Keith’s hand, pulling them out of the crowd.
Once away from the cramped space, she placed her hand on top of his head, feeling how hot his hair felt to her touch. She made a soft ‘tsk’ sound, ruffling his hair gently. “You should’ve worn a hat, Keith.” Keith gave her a tight smile in return, she had told him multiple times how hot it would be today, but hats made his head look weird when he caught his reflections in bodies of water.
The two found their way to a booth selling juice, many different kinds, some even Keith had never had the privilege to taste. He assumed this merchant was out of town. Krolia held him close to her side as the two scanned the tiny sign listing off different flavours.
“Mm, we must try something new,” Krolia smiled, looking down at Keith for a moment before pointing to the word ‘mango’. Keith looked up at her and how she smiled at the man running the booth.
Keith found himself looking back toward the parade, his eyes finding the top of the tent again but too many people had stood in the way of his view of the royals. He wondered how many new things they got to try, if it was rare and scary to hear words of fruit they never knew of before.
Krolia led him off to a patch of grass near the parade, holding two plastic cups in her hands as she moved to sit. She let out a sigh, grateful to be off her feet for the time being. Keith lowered himself beside her, taking the drink when she held it out to him.
“Let’s try together, okay?” Krolia smiled, tapping her plastic cup against Keith’s. “It smells very good,”
Keith nodded, looking into the cup at the dark yellow, light orange liquid, smelling how sweet the fruit was. Tropical. Keith looked at Krolia again, watching as she brought the cup to her lips, he copied her actions feel the cold liquid hit his lips before she nodded and they both took a sip.
An instant refreshing feeling hit Keith’s tongue, it was rich, smooth, and tangy against his tastebuds and Keith couldn’t help but gulping it all down. It wasn’t like fruit he had tried before, it wasn’t as crisp as apple juice which also held a tartness to it. This was different and Keith could imagine that he would spend the rest of his life wishing for this again.
As Keith went to say how delicious the flavour was, screams broke out around them. His eyes darted to the sound, seeing people who were all watching the parade with cheer, now run in different directions away from the street. Krolia had instantly grabbed Keith, pulling him toward her as people pushed past others, some even running in their direction.
“What’s happening?” Keith asked as Krolia’s drink, still half full of juice, fell and the sweet fruit seeped into the grass. She stood, pulling him up with her and the two ran as well, falling into step with those around them. Keith looked back, allowing his feet to trust his mother’s navigation as he tried to see anything.
He wasn’t quite tall enough yet, especially when there was so much people who, just like his mom, were holding onto hands of their loved ones to keep people together. Keith wanted to know what was happening, he wanted to know if guards were surrounded the royals to keep them safe too. He pictured knights dressed in marble like blues, swords raised and so sharp that even a leaf in the air would be sliced on impact.
People were still screaming, his ears sometimes not being able to understand the words around him. He could sense fear, and he could see it on the people around him. People pushed people, not caring who could be hurt from the action, all anyone cared about was escape.
By the time the following week had come, Keith had known what had caused the commotion, what had greyed such a beautiful day. The Galra had attacked. King Alfor was killed by a general. A war would come.