Change Must Come

"Vander, please, listen to me."

A week has passed since Liana returned home.

"Why? So you can keep lying to me?"

"I'm trying to help Sonic! Not bring it down. This is our home, brother!"

"No, it's never been our home. It's only ever been yours."

She recoiled from him, hurt flickering across her features.

"What?"

"You embraced this island like I never did. I always thought we didn't belong here, that there was someplace else that was our true home. Now, I know the truth."

"Vander, please."

She reached out to him, but he shrugged her off.

"I can't gain the others' support without you! I want to help free Sonic, don't you?"

Liana was getting desperate. Her deadline was drawing near, and she was panicking.

"It's time for a new era here, sister. I think we should let the High Governor and the other Mainlanders stay."

"Then you'd be betraying not only our fellow mages, but also Sonic's culture and entire way of life!"

"So be it. Change must come."

"No, I won't allow it to."

Liana roughly shouldered past her brother and headed for the stairs. She walked up to the top of Erwoe. Out on the battlements, she leaned over the edge, looking towards Aeolia. Liana casted a spell that would project her voice.

"People of Sonic!"

She watched as students and teachers streamed out of Erwoe. People down in the city turned towards the school. Sonicans and Mainlanders alike put their eyes upon the mage who stood on the school's roof. Preston and Vander exited the school and looked up at her.

"Sonican! Is this how we want to live? Being told what to do by outsiders, by Mainlanders? Is this what has become of us, an island filled with the strongest and most powerful people I know? Are we going to roll over like dogs and submit to masters?"

Her eyes flicked over the growing crowd. She smirked. Behind her on the battlements stood Mikhail.

He thought, 'She really knows how to work and appeal to the people. Her plan may just work.'

Murmurs flowed through her fellow mages.

"Sonic is not just a sanctuary for mages! It's our home! I will not let our customs and culture be erased. Are you with me?"

She watched as people nodded and began to agree.

"We serve no one!"

Soon, chants of "we serve no one" resonated across the island.

Liana looked down and watched as Preston's eyes narrowed at her. Her brother also looked very unamused. Raising her head once more, she addressed the people.

"Who will help me drive back the Mainlanders?"

A sudden silence ensued. No one uttered anything.

Not wanting to see the smug look on Preston's face, she closed eyes and resorted to magic.

Swirls of silver, gold, copper, bronze, and other metallic colored smoke wound around her body. Liana's body nearly shook with the intensity of the magic. She was engulfed and soon, transformed.

"Neiiiiiigh!"

Gasps abounded and murmurs flew as everyone watched Liana become the first mage to turn into an Alicorn.

Her white feathered wings spread wide as her horn glowed shimmered silver. She reared back onto her hind legs and kicked her forelegs. Her hooves beat back down on the stone ledge.

"Neiiiigh!"

Then, magic swirled once more and she turned back to human form. Liana stumbled and nearly fell off the battlements. Mikhail lunged forward to grab her.

"Impossible," he whispered in her ear. "I've heard of Dramans, and even Phoemans, both of which are basically legendary. But this... this is purely mythical!"

She turned to look at him and gave a weak smile.

"Mythical doesn't mean impossible."

Then, she faced back to the crowd and looked down. She saw a shocked Preston and Vander. Amusement flickered in her eyes and she watched her twin project his voice.

"How, Liana?"

"Long ago, I had mastered enough spells to become a Draman, easy enough. After that, it took a lot of training and practice to evolve my magic and become a Phoeman. But even then, I wasn't satisfied."

She paused, and silence followed. Everyone was now hanging onto her every word.

"So, I trained and practiced day and night. Wearing myself out all the while. I sweated, I broke, I bled."

Everyone was watching her.

"Someone once told me that trying to be the best would be my downfall. He's probably right because at one point, I almost killed myself trying. I told myself one more time before I gave up, because if any of you know me, you know I'm not one to give up easily. before I knew it, magic swirled around me. Then, I was neighing."

"Becoming an Aliman is a hard task. It's grueling and painful. It requires hard resolve."

"How did I never know about any of this?" Vander asked incredulously.

"Because I never told anyone. And I wasn't planning to. But now, I hope you all can stand with me and help me in ridding our home of those who don't belong: the Mainlanders."

Hoots and cheers followed her words. Liana smirked. She leaned over, looked down, and winked at Preston. He gritted his teeth.

"If you stand by me, I promise that the Mainlanders will be gone within the week!"

More cheers, hoots, and hollers followed. The people had rallied behind her without the need for Vander's support. She was their Savior, their Mage Queen who would bring them their freedom.

She heard a chuckle behind her. Liana turned around to face Mikhail.

"Congratulations, Liana. It looks like you've got your army."

She removed the projection spell before speaking.

"Indeed I do. Now... let's just hope I can make a week look convincing enough."

"Does Preston not know the terms of the arrangement?"

"No, he was kept in the dark. I'm sure that in two or so days, he'll wonder why he's being recalled home."

"Hmm."

"What?"

"Do you worry you won't be able to pull this off?"

"Every day. You see, I don't want another war. I'm going to try to push the others out without bloodshed. Despite having started the last war, I don't like having to watch my fellow Sonicans die beside me."

"I can understand that."

But if I fail... I'm going to need your help."

"And you'll have it."

She flashed him a grateful look.

"Though I hope it doesn't have to come to that."

"Indeed. I must go report to Preston. Good luck, Liana."

"You too, Mikhail. I hope Preston doesn't take things out on you."

She turned back around to look at the crowd.

"I'm sure he won't, but nevertheless, I appreciate the concern. Good day... Princess Liliana."

Her eyes widened, and she choked.

"Wh, what?"

She spun around, but he was already gone, down the stairs.

"How good of a spy is he? Everyone calls me Liana. How in Hell did he find out my full name? By the gods, I will never underestimate Mikhail again. Maybe, I'll ask him to by my personal spy."