Exiled

Exiled by Jessica Schiefelbein
Concept by Jessica Schiefelbein and Su Keptner

Chapter One-

Zohrane looked back at her home, the place where she was born, the place where she grew up, the place where she was supposed to have ruled. Tears began to flow down her face. Even p here, in the hills overlooking the city, Atlantis was incredible. Smoke rising from chimneys, the bustle of the market square, the silver domes of the temple where she'd been a djurha, a priestess. Oh, how she would miss it.
She thought about her life, about how it had come to this. She had been born the only daughter of Queen Takhvya and her husband. After giving birth to five sons, her mother had all but given up on ever having a daughter, and so with Zohrane's birth, Takhvya had been overcome. She'd treasured Zohrane, and kept the child always by her side. Never had mother and daughter been so close. Takhvya had taught her daughter everything she knew, but most of all, she taught Zohrane love, compassion, and goodness. The people of Atlantis loved their princess, and talked always of how big her heart was. But, as is always the truth, there is a dark side to every light. There was a problem with the princess.
Everyone in Atlantis was born with powers. Some could read minds, some had the power to change the weather, others could move objects without touching them. Everyone had powers. Everyone, that is, except Zohrane. Children in Atlantis did not begin to develop their powers until puberty, so in the beginning, no one had thought anything wrong. But, when Zohrane's sixteenth birthday had come around and she still exhibited no signs of developing powers, the people of Atlantis had begun to worry. Takhvya had tried desperately to help her daughter, but on Zohrane's nineteenth birthday, when she officially became a woman, she still had no powers. The people of Atlantis were on the verge of rebellion. To the, powerlessness was the ultimate weakness, and they could not have weak royalty. The Queen had tried to convince her people that Zohrane had the greatest power of all, the power of love, but the people were not satisfied. Takhvya had no choice; she must exile her only daughter.
Weeping, she kissed Zohrane one last time and told her to be strong and never forget the love of her mother. She place a small package in her daughter's hand, and ran away from her. Zohrane's father kissed her cheek and sent her away.
As Zohrane walked through the city, people came out to watch her. A few wept and gave her food, many shouted at her, some just started apathetically. She'd stopped when she'd reached the city walls. She'd never left Atlantis before. Gravely, royal guards, guards that she had known and loved since her birth, had pushed her through the gates and slammed them behind her. It was the most heartbreaking sound Zohrane had ever heard.

"Poor Zohrane," a voice startled her form her thoughts.
Zohrane looked up, a fairy floated in front of her. She sighed, it was Nexus, her only friend besides her mother. "Oh, Nexus," she wept.
Nexus settled on the ground next to Zohrane, her tattered grey wings barely moving. "You've still got me," she said, trying to comfort her friend. Nexus could be a little offbeat sometimes, and she could be flaky, but Zohrane knew that she could always count on her friend when she needed her. On the other hand, Mishter Tinkles, the mysterious, invisible cat that lived on Nexus' shoulder, could only be counted on to be an asshole.
Zohrane hated Mishter Tinkles with a fiery, burning passion. Ever since Nexus had become her fairy, on the day she was born, Mishter Tinkles had been trying to kill her. Or, rather, as he was immaterial, he'd been trying to get others to kill her.
"Oh, stop blubbering, you crybaby," said Mishter Tinkles, "at least they only exiled you. I'd have put you to death."
Zohrane's hatred of the beast dried her tears. "Piss off, rodent," she hissed.
"Oh, calm down," Nexus said to her, "he's just joking. That's just how Mishter Tinkles is."
"He's an asshole," Zohrane said to herself. The aura that was Mishter Tinkles was laughing in a rather sinister fashion. She opted to ignore the animal, and turned her thoughts back to the problem at hand. "What will I do, Nexus?" panic began to set in, "I have nowhere to go!"
"You could kill yourself," Mishter Tinkles volunteered.
"Damn it, Mishter Tinkles!" Nexus yelled, "would you PISS OFF?"
"Fine," said Mishter Tinkles, in a slightly offended voice, "I know when I'm not wanted."
"You're never wanted," Zohrane spat.
"Screw you," there was a barely audible 'pop' and Mishter Tinkles was gone. You could tell he was gone because the feeling of malice and sadism was gone from the air.
Nexus turned back to Zohrane. "You know," she said, "he has a point. You could kill yourself."
"Nexus!" Zohrane was appalled.
"Sorry, Nexus apologized, "it was just a suggestion."
Zohrane sighed and held her head in her hand. "What am I going to do?" she whispered.
Nexus thought. "Well," she said after a minute, "I know one thing you could do. Besides killing yourself, that is."
Zohrane's heart leapt, "what?" she asked.
"There is a small village across the countryside called Arma," Nexus began. "In Arma, there lives a wise woman named Essia, she is said to be a thousand years old, and in direct contact with the Goddess herself."
"Aren't we all in direct contact with the Goddess?" Zohrane cocked an eyebrow.
"Now is not the time for a philosophical debate!" Nexus snapped. "You know what I mean. Any rate, she can help you find you powers."
"She can?" Zohrane was ecstatic. She thought about it. She knew that Arma was far away, but she also knew that she didn't have any better options. She had money, so food and lodgings wouldn't be a problem, and she could buy a horse in the first town they came to. Her mind was made up, they would go.
"What's that in your hand?" Nexus shattered her thoughts once more.
Zohrane looked down at her hand, which was still clutching the package her mother had given her. She opened it, and read the note that fell into her lap.
Zohrane-
Oh, my darling, you do not know how it breaks my heart to send you away. Please, my love, know that I had no other choice. Enclosed with this note is a crown for you. On this crown is a shard of Atlantis' sacred crystal that has been passed through our family for many generations. Wear it proudly, daughter, it will protect you, and I hope it will always remind you that I love you more than anything in all the world. Be strong, let Nexus guide you, and someday I will find a way to bring you back.
I love you, my daughter.
Your mother,
Takhvya

Zohrane turned the crystal over in her hands. It was beautiful, shining with every color imaginable when held in the sunlight. In the dark, it shone violet. She put the crown on her head, and the crystal fell perfectly between her eyebrows.
"It's beautiful," Nexus said, "your mother wore that on the day you were born. She loves you a lot, you know."
"I know," Zohrane hadn't realized that she had started to cry again. "That is why we must go to Arma and find Essia. Not for me, not for Atlantis, for my mother."
"WOO-HOO," Nexus yelled, "Road trip!"