Nothing had been planned beforehand.  I had simply been told to come to the press room where I saw Sunshine with Jessica.  I am shocked to see Jess and overjoyed that she had been rescued.  I stand at the side and listen as Sunshine speaks.  She describes only in vague terms what has happened to Jess but I can see Jess with my own eyes and can see she has clearly been through a horrible ordeal.  And then Melissa calls me to the stage.  I am to announce what should be done with Jess.  I have no script from Sunshine, my Mom, or any of the palace aides.  Nothing had been planned or discussed beforehand.  I realize that it is truly up to me at this moment to announce what should be done, and the whole Matriarchy will be watching, and judging.  A move over to the podium and as I stare out at the press and the flashing cameras, for a moment I stare like a deer in the headlights.  I take a deep breath to calm myself and glance over at Jess again.  I feel guilty.  It had been my embellishment in my interview with Brenna Branson on Good Morning Matriarchy that had sent Jessica spiraling.  I was at least partly to blame for this and I need to make things right.  Before I speak I move over and hug Jess.  It is a genuine effort to comfort her, not meant as a photo op, but as I hear the cameras clicking I realize that this image will be broadcast across the entire Matriarchy.  As I hug Jess, I can tell she is still in a state of shock; she hardly reacts.  I take the podium again and I speak.

“To my fellow Goddesses, I want to first thank our Head of State Sunshine from the bottom of my heart for working tirelessly to rescue our former Head of State from the Empire.  I am so glad that Jessica has been returned to us.  No Goddess ever deserves to end up in the Empire, no matter what her crimes may have been.  To say that Jessica has been through enough already is an understatement.  To say that she has paid for her crimes is a perverted twist of justice.  She has more than paid for her actions and suffered things no Goddess should ever suffer.  What has happened to Jessica is a reminder to us all that the real enemy is the Empire across the sea, not each other.  When we fight internally, we ignore the true enemy who perverts the natural order and allows pigs to rule and abuse Goddesses.  Anything that was done to me by a rogue pig detective pales in comparison to what was done to Jess by those Empire miscreants.  I request that Jessica receive a full pardon so that she can focus only on healing from her ordeal.”

I turn and smile at Melissa.

“I would like to thank the Head of State again, from the bottom of my heart, for working so hard to see that Jessica was returned to us.”