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Disclaimer: The basic concept belongs to whoever Disney assigned it to but the characters belong to us. Like our previous fic series Viva La Resistance this series requires a lot of work due to differences in Time Zone and Hemispheres.
The early morning sun was peeking in the window of the room Adria shared with her sisters. Adria tried to shield her eyes as best she could from the sun's rays since the sun was making it hard to sleep. Her attempts though were short lived due to her twin sister Athea slapping her face as the slightly younger girl woke up.
"Nice move Athea. I was hoping to get a little more sleep," Adria said as she woke up and went looking for her pale silver sun dress. She couldn't see it so she put on her Unakan Governmental uniform which was good enough. The last accessories she put on where her secure wrist phone and port belt. Both of the last items were rare among the denizens of the Tenwa's village near Nigeria City. Adria then signaled to Athea a sneaky idea. The two of them then dragged their younger sister's mat out through the still quiet village and let it slide into the river. If anything they loved to torture the younger girl. They then headed back through the village. Their mother had a not real amused look on her face when they walked in.
"You two are so predictable and easy to read. Why you two continue with that prank I don't know." Her mother commented.
"Well it is a pretty funny prank?"
"Yeah when you two were eight and Etara was four maybe it was funny but at 16 when the victim is twelve and you°ve been pulling it for eight years. Try old. Adriana factor in in part because of the work you do representing the youth of our country before President Silvino One would think you would show a little respect."
"Mom, the funny part is Etara's reaction when she gets home," Athea indicated.
"I still fail to see the humor in it."
Breakfast was soon served as the four of them ate they discussed politics. Soon as breakfast was over the girls started on their chores. The sun was just reaching a position relative to 1000 hours when Etara showed up near the area where Adria was weeding a small patch of land.
"Adria, think fast," Etara said as she threw a small bucket of water on her older sister. Adria secretly thanked the goddesses that her port belt and wrist phone were water resistant.
"Any sign of those two goons Adria?"
"Thankfully not yet. For some reason they certainly like to attack here. They've what attacked our village three times in a week's time. That's a little excessive for one place."
"Why have they been attacking here all the time?"
"I'm not real sure Etara. If I find out I'll let you know."
"Don't be surprised if mom bites your heads off for doing it to me again," Etara said as she headed toward the house.
"She kind of figured out why Athea and I were out so early. As it is I have a feeling she is worried what Silvino will think."
"How did you end up one of his special representatives as it is?"
"That's an interesting question Etara. It's not one I have an easy answer for. My friend Xelia isn't even sure. I do have a theory though."
Right then a boy about Adria's age walked up to her and sat down.
"Bereto don't you have work to do?"
"Maybe a little bit. My main concern though Adriana is if you will be ready for what's coming up the night of the Solstice," Bereto said.
"I don't know Bereto it might be too soon you know. I'm just not sure I'm quite ready for that kind of responsibility."
"Adriana, are you trying to turn your back on an agreement that was hatched out shortly after you and Athea were born? I'm looking forward to it."
"As am I since it will mean that maybe I can wake up every day without worrying about finding my mat floating on the Nigeriala River."
"Admit it Etara you actually enjoy waking up only to find yourself halfway to the sea," Adria chuckled.
"Only when I can get revenge," Etara said.
As Adria kept working away she saw the sun getting higher in the sky. Right about noon she saw the Village Elder Senjo Wiatona walking toward her.
"Senjo, what brings you by?"
"I am looking for you actually Adriana. One I want to congratulate you on your appointment as a special representative to the Unakan Government. I haven't had a chance yet. Also I sense a touch of rebellion within you. Just remember the Solstice is approaching."
"I know Senjo but I'm not sure I can go through with it. I've spoken with my friends and while they all are dating most of them within our group none of them are even considering what my parents chose for me when I was a baby. I have enough responsibility as it is with my role as a representative of the Youth of my village and country to President Silvino as opposed to the Legislature. I'm not sure I can add the extra responsibility that would be thrust upon me by the upcoming Solstice. It's not that I don't like Bereto because I do but I think about what would further complicate things after the Solstice. I know I'm not ready to think about motherhood and that would be the next thing I'd have to prepare for after the Solstice. Senjo, isn't there something you could do to delay things even a little?"
"Adria, your parents arranged things the way they did as it pertained to you and Bereto and Athea and Terebo even Etara and Minoka because as your parents tend to believe in the traditional ways of our village and our people which calls for chosing a mate of a child a lot of times shortly after birth."
"Senjo, it's not the choosing of the mate that bothers me It's my parents deciding to well you know the day of the Summer Solstice during my 16th year of life. It just seems too soon."
"Adriana, a lot of people go that route at that age. Somehow I have a feeling you will do fine. Despite your responsibilities to Silvino, your friends, and the people of Unaka, both as a special representative and as the Protectress of our village. Your Steed was the Ancient Greek Goddess of the Hearth and to the Ancient Greeks on Earth she was a protectress not only of the hearth and thus the home but of the City and State. Just as you do for our village."
"I have no idea what you are talking about Senjo."
"I think you do but I know when it's best to say nothing."
Adria then walked away and was soon in the woods surrounding the village where she ported away. She found herself in the Kitchen at Articia.
"Adria, what brings you by?" E-Berg wondered.
"I wanted to talk to Articula about something."
"You know where to find him," E-Berg said as he lifted his tray which contained a mug of hot chocolate with a few marshmallows on it along with a hot bowl of soup and a sandwich and headed off. Adria poured herself a cup and added some extra chocolate to it and instead of marshmallows she put a huge dallop of whipped cream on hers before helping herself to the sandwich fixings. She skipped the soup. She then walked down to the War Room. Articula glanced up as she walked over to the conference table and sat down.
"Adria, what brings you by?"
"Just a small problem Articula and a concern. For one thing I think Senjo the Elder of my village might know I'm a ranger. I haven't even told my family yet. I know I have to tell Bereto and soon but well that's where my problem comes in."
"So this Senjo possibly knowing you are a ranger was your concern. Who is Bereto as it is?"
"A month from now he will be well my husband. My parents are real traditionalists and I guess one of the traditions they believe in is that a girl when she reaches adulthood which in my way of life is at sixteen is to be married off. Well the wedding is the night of the Summer Solstice. Here is my problem Articula while I have no problem marrying Bereto I'd rather wait. Yet I'm not sure how to get my family to understand my desire to wait. I tried to talk to Bereto but he seems to want to get it out of the way and my 12 year old sister since both my twin sister Athea and I are to be married the same day can't wait for it. We tend to pull her sleeping mat into the river near our village while she is sleeping."
"If anything Adria you are a product of a traditional family and your role in the village both as a ranger and as a special representative to President Silvino are very untraditional roles for someone."
"Especially for a woman. In my culture woman tend to the crops and home. Men are the hunters and when needed the warriors."
"Does this make you regret your role as a Ranger?"
"No it doesn't. I said how not even Mount Meruda erupting could keep me away and I meant it."
Adria finished her lunch and ported home.
"Adria, I stopped by your house to talk some more but you weren't there?"
"I was on official business," Adria said as a porting sound was heard. Adria turned around.
"Dani, what are you doing here?" Adria wondered.
"Just seeing what a weakling like you can do one on one."
"I better warn you Dani this weakling bites," Adria said as she went into a fighting stance.
"Like I'm scared."Adria then began a regular battle with her.
"So what about my village attracts scum like you?"
"Not too much really. I noticed you haven't called for your little buddies."
"I don't need them Dani to take you on."
"Are you sure?" Dani hinted as she signaled behind Adria where Jolik was on hand with a few Tylai holding Athea, Etara, Senjo, and Bereto hostage. She then saw Dani's sword.
"You're going down," Adria growled.
"What are you going to do."
"This," Adria said. "Ranger Astro Morph. Power of the Silver Star."
Within seconds she was in her primary uniform. She started out with a couple blasts from her hand blaster. She then from out of nowhere pulled her Ram. She managed to accidentally aim it backwards but in such a way it happened to impact Jolik in a sensitive spot. She then took Dani out with a ram in the side of the head. Soon as they had headed off she powered down.
"You are something else Adria," Bereto said. "This have anything to do with why you wanted to wait despite the decision our parents made for us to well you know."
"It has a little to do with it. You see my friends and I as in the other special representatives and I are all involved in the whole Ranger thing. Bereto, even if I wasn't a Ranger and special rep for the Planetary President I'd still might have decided to wait. Besides I've only been a Ranger for a little over a week and well I've been unsure for weeks about the wedding."
"Adria, I can understand your problem. You have a lot of responsibility to the planet as a whole. You certainly did good out there against that goon. I bet you really scrambled her good. I'm willing to put off some aspects of our life together until after you finish up your time as a Ranger. By that I mean starting a family but as far as our getting married goes I think we should follow tradition and our parents wishes."
"Much as I want to wait I think you have a point. One condition though Bereto."
"That being."
"The other Rangers are on the guest list."
"Probably a good idea."
A while later Adria was posting a small notice on a board in the War Room.