[Exterior, M'Roku City, Planet Ferasa]
[August 26th, 2394; 16 years ago]

[Rriana M'Rau sits on a blanket, basking in the bright sunshine of a quiet day in Sh'isarr Centennial Park]

[Suddenly, the sound of footsteps behind her draws her attention and she turns to greet her longtime friend]

Rriana: M'Rerra, what kept you?

[Leans up to nuzzle her friend's muzzle]

M'Rerra: Couldn't help it, got a dressing down from my platoon leader.

[returns the nuzzle a bit curtly, earning a puzzled look from Rriana]

Rriana: What? Ms. 'Militia life is the only life' got punished? What for?

M'Rerra: I don't know, it's not my fault the males can't keep up with me. All I did was ask him my time on the assault course, and he came back with something like, "You won, but you lost, you arrogant puke! You left your whole platoon behind the enemy lines!"

Rriana: [exasperated scoff] It's called 'teamwork' for a reason you know, maybe you could try uplifting your team-mates for a change? Like the humans say, "You're only as good as your weakest link". I can't wait until militia service is over, but my team get along so famously, this whole thing might be worth it after all.

M'Rerra: Maybe, but no-one in my squad could hack it in the real galaxy. There's so much out there besides this rock, none of them would last a week in Starfleet Academy. I want to be with the best of the best, make a difference, actually keep the Federation safe! You know how many enemies the Federation has, and that's not even talking about the android revolt on Mars a few years ago-

Rriana: [getting annoyed] Here we go again...

M'Rerra: What, what's wrong?

Rriana: Nothing, it's just...there used to be a time when duty and the militia and the Federation wasn't all you ever talked about. Remember the day we cut out of class early to go see the wind-chasers fly? Remember how we beat all the males at the festival games that one year? Remember the day we met, how we wouldn't let our parents takes us home until we'd both made the perfect crown of flowers? I just...I miss those days...[looks down at the ground]

M'Rerra: [sighs, a wistful smile forming on her face] I do remember, Rriana. Guess what, there's a field near the training grounds, and everything's starting to bloom. I spent hours there one day, picking and picking until I had this...[presents a beautiful crown of multicolored flowers and hands it to Rriana]...I knew you wouldn't accept anything less than perfect...like on the day we met...

[Rriana gasps, then grins widely in appreciation placing the crown on her head]

[Rriana stands up and does a spin in place, modeling the crown, casting a warm, loving smile at her best friend]

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Many thanks to Octavio-Monstero (Feneksia) for a wonderful YCH!

Rriana:  Sunstreak091
Art: (Feneksia)  Octavio-Monstero