Queen Luna

Reassignment of Power

Luna's point of view (p.o.v.)

I am Lunaria Samantha Mayberry. Luna May, for short. I am an S.S. Mayberry. I am adopted, but still a Mayberry.

The S.S. Mayberry's are a shipping and receiving conglomerate. It's been passed down for 15 generations in our family. My father, mother, three older brothers, two sister-in-laws, and myself each have a ship named after ourselves. We are internationally known.

My family has been summoned into our father's office. My brothers look worried. My sister-in-laws seem unphased, playing with their phones. Mother, by the way she's fiddling with her fingers, knows what this meeting is about. All I can do is watch and wait patiently.

"Oh, goodness!" My second brother, James Simon Mayberry, huffs. "I can't take anymore waiting! It's been half an hour!"

"It has only been ten minutes. Sit down James." Mother speaks with quiet authority.

"What do you think father has in mind?" My third brother, Johnathan Stephen Mayberry, questions. "I mean, it has to be important to call all of the Mayberrys. Right?"

"...Maybe, maybe not." Mother stated.

"I think Jon has a point. The Mayberrys only get together when it's something like war, or a Mayberry mayday is sent out, or important like passing the crown." My first brother, Joshua Sebastian Mayberry, states back.

Everyone looks at him, pondering which it could be. There's two possibilities. One, we are going to war or there's talk of war and we must all be prepared. Two, father and mother are passing their crowns down and retiring. It can only be one of those two scenarios. The third one doesn't count.

Only a Mayberry can send up a "Mayberry Mayday". It is a red button on a gold plate that sends out a frequency wave, 1,000 feet away, to another Mayberry. No matter where the Mayberry is that issued the "mayday", another Mayberry can find where it originated. That is why it is called a "Mayberry Mayday". That is definitely not the answer to why we are gathered.

Before, we could question our mother, the door to the office opened. Our father beckoned us all in.

Joshua and his pregnant wife, Katherin Mayberry, sat on the couch. James and his pregnant wife, Adrianna Mayberry, sat on the loveseat. Johnathan and I sat on the opposite side of father's desk, on the spinning chairs. Mother sat on a chair identical to father's, next to father at his desk.

"I bet you are all wondering why I have gathered you here." Our father, Jacob Samuel Mayberry, spoke with intrigue. "I and your mother have decided to retire." Silence resided over the room. "We are going on vacation across the world. We are temporarily retiring one of our ships, until John is married. We are sailing the S.S. Mayberry J.S.M. If you need us for anything, you can still reach us. You all know how."

"What do you mean by ..."if they need us"? Jake, JAKE??!!?? They won't need us!!! This is what we've trained them for their entire lives!! Grrrruuuhh." Mother stormed away as angry as a tornado. I couldn't understand why. It was only a simple statement from dad.

"Dad, aren't you going to calm mother down?"

"No, James. One of you will. Now, to find out which of you will calm her down." The office filled with confusion.

"Joshua, do you want to be King of the Sea?"

"No."

"James, do you?"

"No, father I don't."

"Johnathan, please say you do."

"No, father I don't want the position."

"I hate to ask you. You are the last Mayberry." Father turns to me, dejected. "Will you, Lunaria Samantha Mayberry, take over my position?" This just got serious. Father used my full name. He never uses my full name for anything.

"Yes, I will. I am prepared to appoint my brother, Joshua, as the King of the Sea."

"What!? Can she do that? Dad? DAD? DAAAAD!!!?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Yes, she can because she accepted my position. She has the absolute authority to appoint whomever she wants to, to whichever position she deems necessary. Are you certain you want him as your second in command, Luna?"

"Yes. I am certain. I want my brother, Joshua, as the King of the Sea and second in command. It is a temporary position until I marry. After I marry, my husband will hold that title. I will hold mother's title, Queen of the Sea."

"Joshua, what say you to the position your sister has created?"

"She is in command, right?" I nod at my brother. "Yes, I accept the position temporarily."

"Very well, congratulations to you both. I will go tell your mother. We will join you all again, because this wasn't the only situation we had to discuss as a family." Father walks away with a pep in his step.

"Did you really have to put my husband, your brother, in that position?"

"Yes, Kat. I really did. I have my reasons for doing that too." I state, angrily.

"What are those?" Kat snaps back.

"One, he's the oldest. Two, if I did not answer father and mother wouldn't get their retirement they deserve. Three, I'm not married. World leaders will not take me seriously. Four, I'm not a man. Anyone who knows the S.S. Mayberrys, knows it's always a man in charge never a woman. Five, the decision should not have come down to me. It should've been Josh or James because they are married. There has always been a married Mayberry couple overseeing the company. Six, I was under family obligation to take over. A Mayberry has stood at the helm of this company from its start, 15 generations ago. Seven, I was not about to be the Mayberry that gives the company away to someone else. Our parents would sell the company or sacrifice their well earned retirement. Eight, our parents would not be happy if we all said no."

"Oh. Um. I never seen it that way before. Joshua, will be honored to be your second in command. Won't you, JoshyPoo?"

"Yes, my darling KitKat."

"I support our sister." James, Adrianna, and John all say in unison.

"Our daughter is brilliant!!" Father bounds in happily.

"Yes, dear. I know she is. After all, we did raise her from a toddler." Mother sits a plate of fruits down on the desk. "This is going to be a long night. Eat up, all of you." Mother looks at Josh.

"Now, on to some serious business." Father states calmly, with a stoic face. "There has been talk of a war. I don't know if we are being called to action, but we are being summoned to a kingdom wide summit."

"Woah! Wait a minute. We are being summoned to a summit, but there's only talk of war happening? That makes no sense!"

"Calm down, Johnathan. There's nothing to worry about. It is only routine for us to be present at a kingdom wide summit. It is our job, as S.S. Mayberrys to be prepared for anything and everything, also to listen and speak when asked. UNDERSTOOD?"

"Yes, Sir!" We said in unison while saluting.

"I have a question." Adrianna raises her hand.

"Go ahead and ask. Adrianna, there is no need to raise your hand. We are not in school. We speak our minds around here, even if it's not something we want to hear."

"Sorry, Josh. When we all go to this "summit" are we taking all the ships or just one? Are Kat and I allowed to go on our husband's ships, or not?"

"Good questions, Adrianna. I believe Luna should answer these, since she is now in charge." Everyone turns to me, once father says this.

"No, we will not be taking all the ships. Yes, Kat and Adrianna can go on their husband's ships. As for which ships will sail," I found myself in thought. "That would be mine, Joshua's, James', Johnathan's, and Father's. Wives will sail with their respective husband. If we go to war, the wives will all stay on land. The rest of us will be very careful. Have I made myself clear?"

"Crystal!" Everyone says in unison.

"Dismissed! Everyone, except Luna and Joshua."

I turned to Joshua. He's searching my face for answers too. I don't have any, neither does Josh.

"You are not in trouble, stop trying to figure out what is going on." Mother whispers at us. "We just have some paperwork to finalize. We figured, why not get it done today and start our vacation tomorrow! Josh, your father needs you to fill out and sign papers giving you his title. Luna, I need you to do the same for my title to be transferred to you. That's all."

Josh lets out a breath he was holding. I roll my eyes at him. It is a huge relief we are not in trouble. I have a really weird feeling, but that could just be the butterflies in my stomach wanting release.

S.S. Mayberry contract transfer of title to Joshua

I, Jacob Samuel Mayberry, transfer my title "King of the Sea" to Joshua Sebastian Mayberry.

I, Joshua Sebastian Mayberry, do hereby accept the title "King of the Sea" under the command of Lunaria Samantha Mayberry.

I understand this title will be temporary. I understand this title will be transferred the moment Lunaria Samantha Mayberry gets married.

I swear to uphold all laws, regulations, guidelines, and rules of any kingdom, country, city, town, village, and settlement as an S.S. Mayberry.

I solemnly swear to adhere to Lunaria Samantha Mayberry's authority.

I will work with the "Queen of the Sea", Lunaria Samantha Mayberry, as equals. I understand she has the final say in any vote or argument.

Signed: King of the Sea, Joshua Sebastian Mayberry

S.S. Mayberry contract transfer of title to Luna

I, Maryanne Leanna Mayberry, transfer my title "Queen of the Sea" to Lunaria Samantha Mayberry.

I, Lunaria Samantha Mayberry, do hereby accept the title "Queen of the Sea".

I swear to uphold all laws, regulations, guidelines, and rules of any kingdom, country, city, town, village, and settlement as an S.S. Mayberry.

I work with the "King of the Sea", Joshua Sebastian Mayberry as equals. I know I have the final say in any vote or argument.

I understand the "King of the Sea" title will be given to whomever I marry, until we choose to retire.

Signed: Queen of the Sea, Lunaria Samantha Mayberry

"Alright. It is done. We can go on vacation now, husband!" I hear mother excitedly say, while we leave.

"Yes, but what if Luna needs her father? What if Luna runs into those "three kings"? What if..."

"Stop! We cannot continue to live our lives for them. We raised them to know what to do. No more WHAT IFS!! We need to pack our bags for vacationing around the world. Now, GO GET READY!!!"

"Yes, dear."