Forgiving the Forgotten 2

CHAPTER 2: THE EXILED TWIN
[AMENATSU'S POV]

I could see the laser lights flashing before the entry arch to the dock. It was foggy, unusual for this time of the year. For the last time I was docking on my home planet. My days here were over.
'All the best... Amenatsu", "You'll be terribly missed", "Had a great time, try to stay in touch if it's not too dangerous man", voices of my friends poured in through my head set as the ship I piloted slowed to a halt.
I didn't hear Hebi's voice. She was already offline. The last thing she had told me was at the camp- 'have a good life....' So that had been her farewell. Ah. The realization churned in me for a while.

As the last of the ships sped to their home planets, I picked up my only backpack and pocketed the key card. Before hopping off, I saw my faithful ship for the last time. Ironically, the ship had a misprinted dragon as the symbol of our planet- Tatsu; the dragon.
My mother, perhaps the most beautiful woman I had known till date, received me with a warm smile. I could see sadness working its way up to her eyes, in the crinkles at the corners of her eyes, in the soft glaze and the fierce hug she gave me. Somehow, I knew I was not supposed to cry.

The walls of the palace drew me inwards, my mother's hand still clutched tightly to mine. I left my backpack at the door before entering the room where Tatsu and father were sitting.
The huge throne room was filled with chairs and few workers were arranging them, for the coronation of course. And Tatsu, the ever elegant, scribbled away in air- sheets as my father watched over.
He saw mother and me coming, and stood up to hug me. His only words, "My brave young dragon."

My brother, the king to be, stared at me in a trance like state when I snapped him out of it, "Your training certificates have arrived Tatsu!"
And smack! One on my back. My father's hand and his angered voice, "He's going to be the king! And you call him by name!"
I wriggled free off his grip and wheeled around to face him, "I wasn't told I too would have to say that to my own brother..."
Slap! On my cheek now, why the hell did I turn to face him?
"But father.... What have I done? Why are you angry with me? I just came back!"
Smack! I. Was. Positively. Infuriated.

My father's voice bellowed in my ear, "How dare you back answer the king!"
I could feel my anger. But no... I had learned to keep it in check. So... keep it in check Amenatsu... keep it in check....
Before I knew it, I was heading for my quarters. All the paintings I had hung had gone, the wall papers were changed. And my luggage was already packed and stacked in a corner for me to pick up and leave.
Tears rolled down my cheeks. And I wiped them off with my dusty sleeve. Footsteps behind me, from the left, my mother's.
"Amenatsu, you've to calm down my dear."

Her soothing words and calming hands on my back relaxed me a bit. I stayed with my back to her. Turning back and facing the person talking to you wasn't always the best idea, as I had been taught a few moments ago.
"Amenatsu, your father is just nervous about Tatsu...."
I replied sorely, "I guess so, after all how can he take out his anger on the 'king to be', when the lesser unfortunate twin is waiting to be the punch bag. I just came back and that's the last thing he would say to me! Great!"

My shoulders shook with the tears I was controlling. My mother's consistent hand stroked my back, but she said nothing. So I ranted, "And that new king does nothing but watch his brother get scolded! Do you have anything to say to me? Or would you rather have me off on my way outside this system?"
Still she said nothing. I began picking up my bags. There was no one in the long hall to see me except my mother. And this was the last time I was going to see her. I wish I could... I wish I could stay back.
I turned and mother hugged me gently. She didn't look me in the eye. Ah! Even she was guilty about me being sent off.
"Mum... is it alright to say that I don't want to go?"

She nodded her head and said, "Yes it is. Is it alright for me to say; don't go son?"
"As a mother it is, as a queen it's not...."
I understood what she meant. That as a son I could wish not to go, but as a prince, I could not.
I didn't know how fast the walls passed or how the future king waited near the dock. I didn't look at anyone before leaving. I just wanted to get the hell out of here.
I didn't even meet Hebi before leaving. How could I? When she wasn't interested. And moreover, they had already told goodbye.
How very weird... all I had when I was setting out were my clothes, a few bags stuffed with books and information files on other planets and of course my file reader. The last one's a device which can read anything this universe made- from scriptures to the most advanced data files.
And in a few days I was millions of light years away from the Islands. Never to return.

My supplies were barely able to sustain me. I had to, unfortunately, dock at some place. Quite unwillingly I switched on the radio to allow signals from docks allowing me to land to come in. instantly five signals jumped up. Two from trading planets and the other three from resident planets.
Since I had nothing to trade, I decided to politely refuse the trading planets and researched the resident planets.

Emperia was the one famous for farming of wine or something. Wuldock was a planet filled with orphans, like me, which was famous for the duels and the matches it held. I totally disregarded that one, I had no intention of fighting with anyone. The last planet was Jerome. I knew about this planet. I thought it was good. It was paradise. That was the place I would retire in. When I wanted to settle down, Jerome would be the place. It was tempting, very tempting to check out paradise but I accelerated into space to look for any other planets. Finding none, I returned to my first few options. And in the end I chose Emperia.