The night before the coming of age ball.
"Princess Marina." Estile said in a hushed tone as she ran into Princess Marina's bedroom.
"Princess Marina." Estile said as she searched for Princess Marina with her eyes.
Finding Princess Marina in the pit, Estile hurriedly rushed towards her.
"Thank goodness I found you." Estile said in a hushed tone.
"Is something wrong?" Princess Marina asked in the midst of her bestie.
"Princess Zarya's gown for the coming of age ball is also green." Estile said, like she just revealed a big secret.
"We can both wear green." Princess Marina said flippantly.
"No!" Estile said in a hushed tone.
"It's your coming of age ball!" Estile said in a whining tone.
"No one is allowed to compete with you!" Estile said fiercely and Marina looked from her to Lorraine who stood behind her.
Noticing that Princess Marina's eyes were now on her, Lorraine shook her head in exasperation before nodding as if to say, "humor her".
Begrudgingly nodding to Estile's request, Princess Marina said "Is my mom aware of this change?"
Nodding quickly, Estile said "Of course!"
"She sent the royal guards to fetch him." Estile said gleefully.
Sighing because she never had a choice in the first place, Marina let herself be ushered to the empty ball room downstairs.
"I am sure that the royal seamster forgot that your gown was supposed to be green." Estile said as she led Marina to the empty ball room.
"Princess Zarya also has dark green hair so picking a green dress is only natural." Estile said in a strained voice.
"But Princess Zarya also has hazel eyes, couldn't they give her a dress to complement that?!" Estile said in frustration before clearing her throat.
Seeing the light pouring out of the ballroom, Estile hurried Princess Marina forward.
"We have less than 12 hours to find you a new dress. There is no time to waste!" Estile said to Princess Marina.
The coming of age ball
Marina Chase stepped out in a shimmering amethyst gown that shifted like twilight when she moved. The fabric flowed in liquid folds and gold filigree traced the bodice in delicate, curling motifs shaped like vines and constellations. Faint golden highlights glimmered along the hem and trailed the sleeves so when she turned, the accents flared into brief halos. A narrow belt of hammered gold leaves encircled her waist, and from it fell a cascade of sheer, amethyst-tinted silk that moved like enchanted mist. An amethyst bow was placed on her hair and her gold earrings were dangling butterflies. Her pendant was gold and featured the family insignia of the burning sun and in her hand was a staff that was not steel nor wood.
Curtsying then bowing, Princess Marina said "Blessed by the spirit of fire, the third star, Marina Chase greets the Sun and Moon of the empire." and the crowd erupted in whispers.
"Fire?" someone from the crowd whispered.
"Did she say fire?" said another person from the crowd.
The King raised his hand and the hall stilled.
"Come to me." The Queen said in a beckoning gesture and Princess Marina moved towards the King and Queen.
Kissing her mother's hand and kissing the King's ring, the King took her hand and said "Happy birthday my darling angel." and the audience clapped.
The King cleared his throat and the clapping died down.
"I was hoping to give you your first gift but it seems like your mother already got you one behind my back." The King said but the Queen chuckled while shaking her head.
"While I would love to steal your thunder," The Queen said with a giggle.
"Princess Marina made that all by herself." The Queen said and whispers erupted once again.
"What does it do?" the King asked curiously and Marina raised her head to reveal her grin.
"I always felt bad that I took your eyes and hair but nothing from mother." Princess Marina said and both the King and Queen chuckled.
"So I prepared this gift for her." Princess Marina said with a grin.
"You ont have to." The Queen said in a hurry.
"It's your big day, are you sure you would rather give me a gift?" The Queen asked and Princess Marina nodded before walking to the center of the room.
Stamping her staff to the floor, the top of the staff glowed blue and water flowed out of it. The water pulled upwards to form a trunk before splitting into branches made of ribbons of water. The branches arched inward and outward and spilled downward in shimmering streams and the leaves of the forming tree were delicate filaments of spray, each one a transparent sliver that trembled without wind.
Freezing the tree to give it more definition, Princess Marina presented her mother with a frozen willow tree.