Back and Forth Chap. 1 part a.

Now that the King had been captured, and everyone knew it, the country was in turmoil, complete chaos. The Royal Family was being quickly moved to the alternate world. The only one they could possibly go to. The inhabitants were completely ignorant of anything but themselves. Queen Claudia had to begin to pack up herself and her two daughters and leave. She had already received a notice from the Royal Arms informing her that her only son's life had been ruthlessly taken away from him by the enemy. War is young men dying, and old men talking after all. The notice also had informed her that her husband was a Prisoner of War. This was the biggest war in centuries, and she was now being herded off to some semi-safer place. She had lost her son, and theoretically lost her husband. She might as well have, who knew if she would ever see him again. And she knew that if he ever did come back, then he would be distant, and non-sociable as a result of his isolation from his friends, family, and his life altering experiences in the war.

She had all of her things packed, now it was time to go and check on her daughters to see if they had their things gathered. If so, it was off to the ignorant world of Earth. The Queen walked out of her chamber, and to the left, and down the hall to her eldest daughter's chamber. There were hundreds of rooms in the castle where the King and Queen presided. Only four of them were actually used for sleeping quarters. All of the servants' sleeping quarters were elsewhere on the grounds.

She reached her eldest daughter's room. It was quite elegant. A large four poster bed in the very middle, with bed hangings on all four sides. A bureau with a mirror above it, and a large closet with all of her dressing garments in it. And, a book case lining one of the four walls. There was a portrait of her on the farthest wall from where the Queen stood. On the wall adjacent to the wall with the portrait of her, was a large family portrait that was painted just before the fateful war started. There were two large trunks, and one smaller one on the four poster bed. They all had their lids pushed open and back. One of the larger trunks was filled to the top with clothing garments, and her eldest daughter Sara was closing the lid. The second of the larger trunks was half way filled with more clothing garments, and several small books. The third and smallest trunk was filled with hair dressings, make-up, and more books. Her hair brush was also laying on top of all of the odds and ends in there.

Sara had left the majority of her books on the book case. The Queen knew that that would be difficult for her, since she loved to read highly.

"I see that you are all packed up, and ready to leave for Earth, Sara," observed the Queen.

"Yes mother, I am. I have gathered the essentials that we will need on Earth. I've heard that it is the most vile place in all the universe. I've only packed my riding clothes, and my outdoor clothing. My nicest clothes may stay here for our return. We couldn't possibly be staying for more than a few days. Right Mother?"

" About that Sara, we might be there for a very long time..." she was waiting for the outburst of unfairness that was sure to come. But, as the Queen stood there staring at her daughter, the outburst didn't come. Sara just stood there looking back at her mother with anger and disgust. But all she said was, " Well, then I guess I should take along all of my riding, and outdoor clothes." this baffled the Queen, but she didn't have the time to contemplate her daughters calm behavior.

"Well, I'm going to go check on Alabama," Claudia told Sara. And out the door she went. Claudia walked at a brisk pace down the corridor once again, except this time it was to Alabama's room. Down four rooms, turn left once, and she walked to the second door on the right in that corridor. Alabama was her youngest daughter at the age of ten years, and Sara being sixteen. Alabama was about where she should be for that age. She was smart for her age though; very cunning and witty. She had no worries that she would fit in nicely on Earth if taught the proper way of things. But she was somewhat worried about how she would respond to her father not being around any longer. It was a tragic event for all of them.

In Alabama's room, the walls were painted pink, and it was not unlike her sister's room. Her four-poster bed was in the middle with hangings on all four sides. She had the portraits on her walls. One of her, and one of the whole family. The only difference was that instead of just one book case, there were two. one opposite of the other. she was soft spoken, and enjoyed the outdoors. she had gorgeous long red hair, unlike her sister who had blonde.

"Alabama, are you almost packed? Once we are all ready, we will leave for Earth. I promise, it won't be terribly horrific. You will fit in just perfectly,"

"I'm not really all that worried mother. I mean, I am a princess. They can't be ignorant enough to do something to get themselves killed can they?"

Alabama, honey, where we are going, not very many people have kings, queens, princes, and princesses. Not very many at all. And they won't know that you are a Princess. Nor that I am a Queen. you will have to get used to the fact that people can do as they please on earth,"

"This place sounds completely vile!"

"Yes, well that may be, but we will go there none the less. We will be much safer there, than here," the queen faltered for a moment and then said, "we will go no matter what. So finish packing, no dilly dallying what so ever. We must leave as soon as we possibly can," And with that, the queen walked back out the door, and went to get several butlers to carry down the luggage, for they would soon be leaving.

Going back to the main staircase of the castle, Claudia went down into the kitchen. She beckoned six butlers. Two for each herself, and her two daughters. As they walked back up the staircase and into her own room, she couldn't help but think about her husband. What was King Darceel doing now? Was he even still alive? And if so, was he thinking about her? She just had so many thoughts on the subject. She would discuss them with her sister when they got to Earth. No one really knew about her sister. She was the hidden part of the family. Only the King knew about her. Her own children didn't even know that they had an Aunt; their Aunt Lillie. With her beautiful long strawberry blonde hair, deep hazel eyes, and trim figure, she was easily mistaken for the younger sister. But in fact, she was not; she was the eldest. But she chose not to take the life of royalty. She chose a simple life on Earth. It was ridiculous, but sometimes she could still remember her own life there.

By this time, they had reached her room and she was instructing two of the butlers to carry her luggage. Then, she directed her attention to the other four butlers. Giving them instructions to go to her daughters rooms' and take their luggage. She told them that they would be leaving soon, and they should move with haste. They needed to get out of here as fast as they could. They were no longer safe in their own home. It was sad, but very true. She called her daughters to her, and told them that it was time to leave.

Taking them to a part of their own home that they never knew existed. She took them into her own room, all the way to the very back wall. She tapped the back wall once with her right hand, and twice with her left hand. Three panels in the wall slid back out of their places.

"Sara, go into the room on my left, and Alabama, the one on my right. When you get in there, press the yellow and red buttons. Then, you press the green button. Do exactly as I just said, and we will have no problems. Please, don't disobey me. It is very important that we all get to Earth safely," explained Claudia to her girls. Then they all stepped into their respective rooms. As they walked into the rooms, the doors shuttled back into their places, where on the outside, they were almost completely invisible. Inside, Sara's room, she pressed the yellow, red, and then green button. Claudia and Alabama were doing the same.

As each pressed the green button, the room started to shake. Only about a minute later, The door behind each of them opened. They each stepped out of their compartments. Claudia looked to her left and to her right, and she saw each of her daughters in one piece, and was relieved. She grabbed one of each of their hands, and pulled them close in a tight hug. She wanted to cry, but first she must find their luggage, and a cab; this was going to be a long visit. She led her children over to an area that said "Baggage Claim". She found that as usual, their belongings had been put into a normal human "suitcase." She knew that her daughters had to be puzzled. It was hard to believe that she was back on Earth, and that she was here with her family... well, her broken family.

~Elle