Author's Note: And now the journey comes to its conclusion. Thank you all, one last time.
In memory of PsycoChick32: this story was all for you, my friend. I only wish you could've seen it through to the end.
-x-
Epilogue: The Hero Comes Home
Queen Kimberly Hart returned home triumphant on the back of a shining white dragon with her husband at her side. At the stroke of noon, with the sun at its apex, the two seemed to shine with inner and outer fire.
Garbed in a finely wrought and brilliantly pink dress decorated with embroidered firebirds in red and gold, Kimberly flouted the traditions that said she should wear only the colors of her family. What was even more surprising was that Kimberly was visibly pregnant and more radiant than anyone could remember seeing her before. Or, that was what they told her, at least.
The castle, her family's ancestral home ever since their flight from Phaedos, fairly sparkled in the brilliant noonday sun, and the entire court turned out to greet her. If anything had been amiss recently, there was no sign now. If some of her Councilors were less enthusiastic than others in their welcome, she graciously failed to notice.
Upon Lord Jonathan Scott and his wife Isabella, for their part in governing her kingdom in her absence, she bestowed medals of highest honor. Farkas Bulkmeier and Eugene Skullovitch were elevated to the shared rank of captain of the royal guard, which had been empty all the long months since the plague. If Kimberly thought it strange that these two had helped to maintain order in the realm, she hid it with a smile. For Angela, Kimberly saved perhaps the most surprising reward of all: a seat on her Council. In Phaedos, she had seen the dangers of a stagnant Council. The rest of her Councilors did not know it yet, but Angela was only the first of many additions Kimberly planned to make.
With that out of the way, Kimberly began the long and tedious process of reintroducing her companions, with all their new ranks and honors, and presenting the Phaedan emissaries to the court. When Jason was introduced as Emperor of Phaedos, Kimberly calmly took note of who looked genuinely shocked, who seemed pleased by Jason's good fortune, and who looked as if they were up to no good. There would be trouble later, no doubt, as everyone fought to establish the most profitable ties with their new ally.
She didn't envy Jason any of that.
She was just glad to be home in one piece, with her husband beside her.
For the first time in weeks, Kimberly truly felt that, in the end, everything was going to be okay.
Jason would assume control of Phaedos, and she had no doubt he would rule the empire as justly as he knew how. Zack would stay by Jason's side, his second in command and staunchest and, as always, best ally. Billy and Katherine would continue their work in Phaedos; she hadn't told them, but she'd already decided to find a new archivist for her own archives, so they could stay together in Phaedos doing the more important work of going through Zedd's papers. And Trini⦠there was no telling yet what Trini would do, but Kimberly was sure that, whatever it was, it would be the right thing for everyone.
She felt a pang at the thought of how many of her childhood friends would now be moving on to new things, even though she knew this wouldn't be good-bye. They'd still see each other and often. Aisha, Rocky, and Adam would be staying on as her new honor-guard, and their Ninjetti power of teleportation meant that Phaedos was only a thought away.
Late in the day, when the courtiers had at last departed to prepare for dinner, Kimberly still sat on her throne, upon the dais in the empty throne room. Tommy came in after a few minutes, looking relieved. "I've been looking for you," he told her. He worried more now, after everything they had been through, as if he did not quite believe she was really still alive.
"I just wanted to stay here for a while," she murmured. For the first time, this throne felt like it was hers. This was the place where she would spend much of her time from now on. From here, she would rule.
Tommy sat beside her, upon the King's throne. His place now, too.
"I can hardly believe it. It seems like this whole mess started just yesterday," he commented. "And now it's over."
She reached over to rest her hand on Tommy's. The other hand rested gently on her belly, where their child was still growing strong. "This chapter of our story may be ending," she told him, her voice rich with promise, "but another is just beginning."
