Chapter 29 ~ The Rivalry with the Princess of Iredescent

                                    

                                          
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~ Planet Iredescent ~
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Nothing changed in the last five years, Mara thought as she stood on the balcony of her apartment in Auraglen city. Planet Iredescent remains sparkly, glittery, stylish, and glamorous as ever. 
The last of the winter curled away in the recesses of the night as the morning dawned into a chilly, rainy day scented with flowers. 
Mara extended her wings and leapt from the balcony, making a smooth descent. She landed on the wet ground, her wings casting a beautiful reddish pink pallor over the red roses planted in front of the apartment complex. 
Mara held a sparkling red rose in her hand, the silver stems glistening with dewdrops from the morning frost. A slow steady rain fell over the spring-touched landscape, flowery blooms supplying the jeweled land with beauty and a sweet floral aroma. 
Flowers that smell like my morning latte, Mara noted as she detected traces of chocolate and caramel scent from the various flora and fauna. She had been away from Iredescent for so long, memory struck her that Iredescent florals were more decadent than Monshalowan florals with earthy notes. 
Two months have passed since Mara moved to planet Iredescent. As promised, Mara visited her family once every month, providing Killian with weekly hologram and comect calls. 
The Ruler of Iredescent and the Crimson Phoenix had returned to planet Iredescent from an important mission on planet Earth, but the Iredescent private detective hadn't had the chance to see them since then. 
Consequently, Mara spent much time with Raistin, Crimson's grandfather, who was happy to meet her again. Soon as he saw Mara's name appear from within the port of entry, Raistin personally came to see Mara, remembering her as the teenage daughter of the former Iredescent criminal. 
When Raistin asked about Killian, he was pleased to learn he was doing much better than in prior circumstances. He even personally emailed a letter with his Phoenix insignia, declaring Killian was pardoned of crime and that he was no longer an Iredescent criminal. Though Killian thanked him for the pardon, he refused to return to planet Iredescent under any circumstance. 
He will when Mara marries Crimson, Raistin thought, having seen the interest between his grandson and the Iredescent private detective, though he feared a complication that arose upon the completion of the important mission where the Ruler of Iredescent and the Crimson Phoenix finally returned the stolen princess of Iredescent to her home planet. 
Raistin searched for an opportune time for Mara to reunite with Crimson. The time didn't come until Raistin informed Mara that Crimson and Tren were at the Eykrie Durech, a popular restaurant they often liked to go to. 
Mara chose to wear Crimson's cloak that night. The velvet material evoked feelings of mystery and romance that wrapped around the adventure and intrigue, the soft swish of the cloak reminding Mara of her father's signature trench coat. 
Lights flashed, reminding Mara of her flashlight. Music played excitedly as Mara's heeled boots took her further down the street, towards the restaurant that Crimson and his cousin were so fond of. 
Mara stepped into the Eykrie Durech. Spotlights danced on her skin, warming her with heat that indicated they were on for some time. People talked quietly amongst each other, their faces aglow with lights and laughter. Servers smiled, dressed in metallic outfits that mimicked camera flashes. 
It wasn't hard to find Crimson and Tren since they were so noticeable. Mara noticed Tren looked more like the Ruler of Iredescent and less like a carefree, poorly-dressed chingabang from Sweatpants Land.