A week later found Ryuuga, Masamune, Tithi, Yu, Kyoya, Madoka, and King back in the Amazon village, in the temple of Artemis.
Kurai had yet to arrive, but that was because she was required to come last.
At that moment, a silver falcon swooped through the ceiling, ravens, hawks, crows behind it.
The falcon began singing from it's throat, a dark and sad melody. The doors opened and Kurai walked through, prompting the people inside the temple to stand.
Ryuuga glanced at Kurai, noting she wasn't wearing a speck of color- not even in her hair. Just her crown.
Kurai was in a knee- length black dress with black wrist length fingerless lace gloves. Her eyes had gone flat black, adding the scary look that the black makeup had already caused. She had on black stockings and heels. She also wore her wolf's skin cape, the red ruby replaced with a very familiar onyx.
Wow. Ryuuga thought. Either Bao stole the Kronos Onyx from Aguma, or Aguma did it volunteering. Probably the former, knowing those two.
"Poor Kurai." Hi murmured from besides Masamune. "She must be heartbroken."
"I would be too, if my mom was killed by my own uncle." Masamune whispered, keeping his eyes down.
"Hush." Ryuuga elbowed the two in the ribs.
"Amazons..." Kurai spoke from the base of the Artemis statue. Everyone looked up. "We are gathered here today for the ceremony of my mother, Queen Fernis. Her death was honorable, for she died fighting a threat to our tribe. She was someone I looked towards for guidance, someone I looked up to."
Kurai paused, choking up.
"But before she died, on her last breath, she told me two things. One, a new Era for the Amazons is upon us. Two... Since my own daughter is not yet of age, she has chosen a new queen until she is of age."
Everyone was leaning foward now. A new Queen? Who could it be?
"The new Era is that of women and men getting along, letting men into our tribe, so that we may flourish. Now, weather or not that will happen, is up to your next Queen.
"And that Amazon woman who has proven herself worthy is... Kuroi Tsuki."
The silver hawk on the shoulder of the statue of Artemis screeched, taking flight. Tsuki landed on the ground, then transformed back up, her eyes set wide open.
"Are... You serious?" Tsuki breathed.
"Not me. My mom was, and I can see why." Kurai stood next to her friend, slipping her silver crown off and placing it on Tsuki's head. The jewels glowed as they were transformed to their new holder.
"You're strong, willing, independent, a person who is willing to listen. You're intellegent and determined. All these elements were shown when you led me and your friends into the battle against Nemesis on my orders without hesitation. Those things make you worthy for becoming the Queen of the Amazons."
Kurai paused again, remembering that those had been her mother's exact last words. A single tear leaked from her eye and trailed down her cheek.
"And now, for the lighting of the shroud." Kurai got out.
A torch was presented to Kurai. She turned to the base of the Artemis state, looking up at the goddess' face.
"Let it be seen, that on this night, Queen Fernis of the Amazons joins our goddess in the stars, living as free and wild as that of the wolves that always followed her." Kurai lit the shroud, watching the sparks fly up into the sky.
As they reached the stars, a constellation that no one had never noticed before glowed brightly. It was a hunter's wolf with a bow in it's maw and arrows on it's back.
After seeing that constellation, Kurai collapsed, blacking out.
A panic went up when the group came back to WBBA, with Kurai unconsious.
"She's just worn out. And if any of you try and disturb her..." Ryuuga let the threat hang in the air, his amber eyes blazing.
Everyone backed off, then attacked Tsuki and King when Hi pointed out the crown.
Safe to say they were gonna be distracted for a while.
Tsuki laid in bed that night, her eyes on the crown that was glinting in the moonlight.
Did Queen Fernis really say that? Tsuki wondered. That I was worthy to be the next queen?
"Go to sleep Tsuki." King's arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her flush against his chest.
"I can't after tonight, now can I? I mean, next there's the Queen Ceremony, where the decision will be final. Then after that, there's the fact I'll have to decide how I'm gonna lead the Amazons. And-" Tsuki was cut off by King's lips on hers.
"Will you cut it out with the worrying already? I swear, you can be worse than Kanji sometimes." King grumbled under his breath.
"So... You don't want me to lead the Amazons the way Kurai wanted? The new Era?" Tsuki arched an eyebrow.
"What? Wait- What do you- Are you-" King stumbled over his words, shocked.
Tsuki laughed. "Oh, you're so dense! Of course I'm gonna lead the Amazons the way Kurai would've! She'd kill me if I did otherwise. Hi too, for that matter."
"No kidding."
A peaceful silence enveloped the two. King broke it.
"It's still hard for you to believe, isn't it? That Fernis is dead?"
"Yeah. She was... A really nice woman. She'd always walk through the tribe. Hell, when Kurai met me and my sister, she made us the royal assisstants for Kurai and Gin Ryu on the spot."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Kinda hard to believe huh?"
"No. Kinda cool actually. Also, how else would Fernis have been able to tell you were ready to be the nest queen? I bet her final choice was made when you lead us against Nemesis."
"How is that you're so smart some days, yet wild others?"
"I'm only dangerous when I'm cornered or dead tired."
"I'll take the hint and shut up... Good night King."
"'Night Tsuki." King's grip around her waist tightened slightly, then relaxed as he fell asleep.
THE UPCOMING CHAPTER IS A PEEK INTO THE NEXT SEQUEL. IT WILL FOLLOW.. WELL, JUST READ THE NEXT CHAPTER AND I'LL EXPLAIN. HEHE.
-shadowritergirl