Chapter One: My Wedding Day

He could hear his heartbeat in his ears, his hands tightening a little on the steering control before him. He had been in dozens and dozens of fire fights before, but nothing like what they were preparing to do now. He could hear the voices on the radio, coordinating the coming attack as the crafts moved through space. He had to admit, it was somehow unsettling . . . and deceivingly peaceful, the quiet they were enjoying right now before the most expansive battle any of them would ever see, perhaps the last that any of them would ever see. He felt the quick and reliable response of his craft beneath his hands and let a soft breath into his helmet. It was reassuring to feel everything being at the top of its performance. He knew his craft up and down, every bolt and weld. He trusted the wings he rode on.
He glanced to the side of his cockpit, looking out the re-enforced glass at the world they orbited. It reminded him of Earth, even though he'd only been a boy the last time he'd seen it. He could see the Lionheart floating ahead and to his right, launching its alert fighters. It was only a matter of moments until they came around the curve of the world to engage the swarm on the other side.
The thought sent a chill through him and he had to focus himself yet again. He'd been flying against the swarm since before the end of the earth, he didn't have time for the fear he was feeling now.
He glanced to his side to look over the world again, not being able to stop his soft, somewhat ironic smile. He fully figured that in only a few hours he would be dead, along with nearly everyone he knew and it was all for a world and people he had never met and knew nothing about.
"You'd better be worth it." he whispered to the planet before he heard his commander's voice on the radio. He answered immediately.
"Defender Bravo-1 check left. Assault underway. God-Speed everyone."
He released the radio button and dropped his hand to the throttle lever and pushed it to full. Captain Cress Alvin's dark chocolate eyes flashed beneath a lock of his dark hair as he felt his ship spring forward, a grin spreading over his lips.
"Now let the good times roll!"

~

The air was warm, almost thick. December had to admit she enjoyed the feel of it, it felt like something wonderful was about to happen. She pushed her thoughts back as she looked back to the full mirror once again thrilled with how the long and ornate wedding gown looked upon her, contrasting sharply with her shoulder-length dark hair, resting in curls today. She turned her shoulders again and again, twirling every once in a while to watch the way it moved on her. Cast would be thrilled, she was certain. The thought made her smile widen.
There came a knock at the door behind her and she looked back with a smile, although quickly looking back at herself in the mirror, again admiring the dress. "Come in." she called behind her and the door opened.
A maid peeked in, smiling warmly at the girl in the dress. "The preparations are ready, M'lady; are you?"
December beamed and nodded quickly, "All but a little make-up. Would you help me?"
The maid as about to answer, but they were interrupted as an unusual noise filled the air. Both she and the maid looked quickly to the balcony, the curtains blowing softly in the breeze there while they searched for the source of the sound. They slowly moved over to look out, still searching for the noise when they found where it originated.
High above the balcony, slowly drifting downward there was a large and oddly shaped craft floating into the courtyard, wind seeming to blow off of it. She couldn't take her eyes off of it, her curiosity irrefutable. It was like some sort of great sculpture! She wondered if it was meant as a gift for the wedding. She giggled at the thought as she watched it come to a soft landing, part of it opening up with people walking out of it.
"Amazing . . ." she breathed softly as she watched it happening. She was convincing herself more and more that it was a wedding gift. She consciously scolded herself for the little selfishness and smiled to herself. Whatever it was, it was wonderful, just like anything was on her wedding day. She turned back to the maid and smiled broadly. "This day only gets better!"
The two moved together away from the window to sit down and finish her makeup, the maid returning her smile. They continued chatting idly while the maid happily applied the various powders that would give her the extra little touches that she probably didn't need anyway.
They were very nearly finished when a cry suddenly rang out through the palace, making both look up. It was only moments after the cry when the unmistakable sound of combat magics being used began to be heard. Both bride and maid stood in alarm, at once rushing to the balcony to look out over the courtyard. The people who had previously walked off the craft were now running back to it, several bolts of dark colored energy lancing violently after them. A few were struck and fell down, the rest getting on board the craft, which immediately began to rise. The maid let a shriek and ran from the balcony back inside, but December couldn't bring herself to look away, transfixed by the scene before her.
The craft rose, up and up, rising above where she watched before enough of the bolts struck it that it began to fall, continuously being struck by the magic bombardment falling upon it. As it came level with her balcony, it finally fell, whatever force it had that made it rise suddenly coming to a stop. The soft humming that came from it turned to an ugly grinding noise before it stopped and the craft keeled and fell downward. December watched it fall until it hit back into the ground, nose first. Upon impact, the ship seemingly crumpled and exploded in a fireball, the heat and force hitting her fully. She felt her body be thrown from the lip of the balcony into her room, her dress catching a blaze until she crashed into something at the end of the room and all went dark.

December rose violently from her bed, the sheets falling off of her as she did. Her breathing was irregular and she had to pause to compose herself. It had been four years since that day, but she still had the dreams about the day that her world turned upside down. That was the day that the City in the Sky appeared.
She slowly rose, her nightgown covering her slim body as she climbed from the bed, moving to take an over robe to cover her.
She would never be able to get back to sleep after having that dream, she never could. She would go to see the prince.
Tying her robe, she moved to step outside; she knew he'd be up, he always was.