Chapter LXXI

That night, they celebrated outside the castles, where the flowers and trees arced for the skies, where the music was from the cawing Staravia and whistling of the waterfall. Still, despite the soil beneath them, most that had come – legionaries and gladiators and folk who had crawled all the way from Twinleaf – were clad in lacy suits and gowns that floated like falling petals.

Nova's own dress, curled closely around her bandaged skin, deepened through an ombre of blues until it reached a warm black. And even though she looked just as sleek as those around her, she couldn't quite bring herself to join the flocks of people – there were simply too many, and she still felt like she was soaring and climbing the clouds.

Gladiators bowed at her. Nobles eyed her warily. Her friends were littered around her Pokémon, holding them and squeezing.

Yet, everyone gave her space. Like they knew she was still remembering to breathe.

"…so, about that island…"

Almost everyone.

Nova snorted and glanced down at her shadow. "Just because I'm the… Just because I beat Cynthia, doesn't mean I can pull out islands from my arse."

It felt too strange to call herself a queen. It felt too foreign on her tongue.

"…well, don't you own all of sinnoh? if you could just cut out a small part for me…"

"You can get Spear Pillar. Share with Dialga."

"…he stinks…"

"…HOW RUDE…"

Nova's brows shot up as she heard the loud, clanking voice of the time legend. "Do you plan on joining us, Dialga? Or are you just going to be a voice in my head?"

"…DEPENDS. IS THE FOOD ALRIGHT?..."

"Aren't you mighty and powerful and all-knowing?"

"…I CONTROL TIME, NOVEMBER. NOT THE SWEETNESS OF A TART…"

"Well, just have a look at the future. Do I barf after I eat the tart, or—"

"…please. no talk of this barfing. i've seen enough…"

"Rude."

"…RUDE…"

Nova stared down at her shadow for a moment.

She had so many questions for the two of them.

Had they known that she would be standing here, in this moment, a strange, heavy crown balanced over her head? Had they known, all along, that Barry would die? Or had there been many possibilities – all these different futures – where every second in her life had changed the outcome? Had they seen all the possibilities? Had she surprised them?

And, most of all, was there more?

After all the legionaries, all the hell against the Galactic Healers, all the pain of fighting for the crown and freedom—

Was this it for her?

Sit on a throne, and rule a kingdom?

Or was there more?

Instead of asking, though, she just sighed. Found Riley's eyes as he wove through the crowds, his hand lifted to her in a wave.

Whether this was it, or whether there was more hell and adventure to come, she didn't want to think about it.

All she wanted to think of was now.

"You did it."

Those were the first words Riley uttered to her the moment he stepped towards her, the first to shatter the strange circle around her that no one had dared to cross.

She had hoped for more. A fierce kiss, perhaps, in front of everything, making all those maidens blush when they saw the distinct lack of engagement rings. Perhaps even an embrace, where he would lift her in the air and spin her around and they would laugh and cry and she would punch him for being a sop.

But no.

You did it.

Courteous. Gentle. Polite.

"So I did," she told him.

"How do you feel?"

"Hungry."

"Really?" He gave her a weary smile. "Not proud, or happy, or confused—"

"Hungry."

He raised his hands in surrender. "Of course. I believe the cake will be out soon."

That made Nova perk up. "Cake? There will be cake?"

"Of course."

Something about that made Nova smile.

It had all started because of cake, hadn't it?

"Anyways," Riley was saying, glancing down at his hands. "I was wanting to ask you something."

Nova heard Darkrai chuckle in her shadow. Frowned. "Oh, Arceus. You're not about to propose, are you?"

"No…?"

"Oh. Shit." She made a face, kicking at the dirt. "That's embarrassing."

Riley, too, seemed frozen in place. "Do you want me to, though? Because, I mean, I can, but today was about you, so I didn't want to, but if you want, I definitely can—"

"No."

"Oh, you don't—"

"No, not that either. I want you to, just—"

"Not now?"

Nova winced. "Well, yes now, anytime, but only when you're ready."

"Well, I am ready whenever, but if you're not—"

They both paused. Staring. Eyes shining in the night. Streaks of silver falling over their stupidly flushed faces.

Then, they both laughed.

"You don't need to act proper because I'm the queen," Nova said, flinching as she said it.

The queen.

Queen.

She had a feeling that it would take years to get over it.

"It's rich coming from you," Riley shot back. "Look at the way you're standing."

Only then did Nova realise that she was standing, quite simply, like some puppet. Ankles glued together. Spine straighter than a bloody sword. Hands clasped together, all posh and sweet.

"Oh, piss off," she hissed, reaching out to punch him.

"That's more like it."

"Anyways, what were you going to ask?"

Riley gave her that smile of his – rogue and bright. Arceus, how had she handled that when they had first met? How hadn't she melted to the ground the first time he had wrapped rope around her and thrown her into a wagon?

"The queen's first dance," he told her. "I was wondering—"

"No."

"Oh."

Nova reached out, finally, pressing her hand to his cheek. "I promised someone else first. But you'll be the second dance. I promise."

Then, in front of everyone, she kissed him.

Her lips tender on his, his hands warm as they wrapped around her. A burst of feeling across their bodies, like a rush of a wave, enough to wash away the pain and doubt and breathless guilt.

Enough to make time stop, just for a second.

After that, the spell was broken.

Sure, some of the nobles looked even more horrified and instantly moved away from her while she wove through the people, but others reached for her.

She found Wake and Lady Spiral, embracing them. Lady Spiral showed them Gussy, their baby, who was wrapped up in blankets and cocooned in Joy's arms. For some reason, everyone cooed and made little squeals around it, but Nova took one long glance at it and gave them all a pathetic smile.

If she was completely honest, babies were kind of ugly.

Still, when it opened its dull grey eyes at her, and lifted a small fist to her mouth, she felt something in her heart stir. Felt hot tears prick her eyes.

After one last embrace with Joy, she turned, only to find Volkner bowing for her.

She had to admit, there was a small breath of relief when she realised he was half-mocking his way through the bow.

"Did you hear there's cake?" he asked her as they hooked arms and moved past the gushing children.

She snickered. "Don't step on it this time, aye?"

"Don't spit on my face this time, aye?"

"Tough bargain."

He released her upon the sight of Fantina, who was standing by the edge of the falls. She hadn't danced or eaten or uttered a word to anyone all night.

She had just watched the water tumble down.

"I should talk to her," Volkner said.

Nova only nodded. Then, as he began to stalk his way to the legionary, she moved back into the people.

Hugging people she had never even seen before. Shaking hands with calloused palms of other gladiators she had fought with.

Then, she found Duke Rowan.

Her grandfather.

As she called for him, and as he turned towards her, his face brightened. And there was this pang – of longing and churning regret. Because all she could see in those eyes was a father she had hated for years, trapped in the Distortion World. All she could see was a man who had given Barry his first Pokémon. All these people who would have wanted to be here. Who would have held her right now.

"November," he said to her, already placing big hands on her shoulders and grinning. "You—"

"The plate you gave me," she quickly cut in. "It saved my life."

He only waved it away. "You would have found a way without it."

"You really think so?"

"It's in our blood."

As he said it, their eyes locked.

She thought of the crown on her head. She thought of the scars across her face.

Once upon a time, this man had been king. And, had each second been different – had a few people made some different decisions in a matter of seconds – her world would have been something else. She may have grown up in the castle. She may have grown with a sword in her hand to begin with, or glasses of the finest whiskeys, and long gowns with maids pouring out from around her.

She may have found her spot on the throne, without all the blood and death surrounding her.

And yet…

She glanced over her shoulder. Where Tric the Infernape was stealing food from a buffet. Where Rhys the Luxray was dancing with Tatiana the Garchomp. Where Owl the Gastodon was slowly trying to chase after Leila the Roserade, and where Bailey the Staraptor was getting piss-drunk on ale.

And she knew that this was the way she wanted.

This is the way she needed.

"Aren't you going to have your first dance?" Rowan asked her suddenly.

Nova squeezed his hands. "I am. I'm searching for my partner."

"But Riley is back there—"

He saw the shine in her eyes as she gestured over to the one person that was only metres away from both of them.

Then, with understanding, he gave her a warm hug.

People bowed as she walked past. A few were confused bows. A few were hesitant, awkward bows. But most were low and grand.

For most had seen her in each gladiator battle.

Whether it was howling her name across Veilstone, or flying across a sea in Pastoria, or burning down an entire ballroom in Hearthome. Whether it was announcing to the world who her father was, moments after stepping on his battered body, or turning a Regigigas into a statue, or crying until her voice was raw as she lost her best friend.

They had seen it all.

But, despite that, there were shocked gasps across the room as she found the one lady who was seated in a wagon.

"Mother."

Lady Vernia's brows shot up. "November."

"May I have this first dance?"

With an Alakazam's psychic powers moving her limbs through the air, Lady Vernia's dancing was fluid and graceful. In fact, Nova was the one struggling to keep up – trying not to stumble and trip as her mother twirled and glided in the air, her arms moving like they had all those years ago, her body twisting in ways Nova had never thought possible.

"Your Luxray dances better than you," Vernia pointed out, laughing. With her hands on her daughter's waist, she helped her spin across the grass, the pink light from Alakazam whirling around them. "It seems Pokémon are more impressive than we expected."

Nova found herself grumbling. "Did you know that they can speak, too?"

"What?"

"Barry showed me a long time ago. He could communicate with them by teaching them words."

Vernia went silent for a moment, her face softening. "Wow."

"Yeah. I can't wait to teach Rhys something like fuck. He's going to—"

But her mother was shaking her head. "I should have known. You and Barry. You two were always something." She gestured over to a woman who was standing awkwardly by Duke Rowan, fumbling with her hands, her face puffy and weary. Barry's adoptive mother. "We should have known you two would be special. We should have trained you from when you were younger."

"Probably best you didn't," Nova said. "If Barry knew he was special, it would have gotten to his head. He would have run off before he could sleep with our neighbour."

"He what?"

"Slept with our neighbour. That sweet goodwife."

"But she was married—"

"And that's why he had a black eye for a month."

"Oh."

They were giggling at that – like little teenagers, ducking their faces and laughing behind their hands. Finally, Vernia gestured for the Alakazam to stop. And the woman slumped over, falling over onto November's shoulders, squeezing her daughter tight.

"I'm proud of you, November."

Nova knew she was crying, then. In front of all these people. And she didn't care.

Because she wasn't breaking. Not anymore.

The cake itself was a work of art.

The icing had hues of soft summer roses – dusky red bleeding into soft pinks. Something about the swirls of buttercream – lined with real flowers from Floaroma, reminded Nova of Bebe. She would have loved it.

Cynthia stood by the cake, a dagger in hand. The hilt was encrusted in a golden steel – platinum, she had called it – with diamonds and pearls studding it.

"It is tradition for the old ruler to hand over the dagger," Cynthia said.

She looked stunning. A dark, velvet dress clinging to her body. Even with all the pink cuts around her arms and face, her smile had a serenity to it – an enchanting calmness that made Nova want to bow and throw the crown back at her.

But November only glanced down at the dagger and snorted. "Don't stab me with it."

"It's very tempting."

Then, as the weight of the dagger fell into her hands, she found a paper on the table, beside the cake. It was the same one Cynthia had lifted up to her in the arena – the one about changing her name.

"You never answered me," Cynthia said. "Did you ever decide? On a name?"

Nova rolled her eyes.

Then, she lowered the knife. Not slicing through the cake – instead, cleanly tearing the paper in half.

"I don't see what's wrong with November."

They ate cake and danced and laughed until the sun rose.

Perhaps, in another world, where each second had been a little bit different, it would have been Barry there, on the throne, eating cake. It would have been November, buried beneath the ground, her spirit breathing over them.

Perhaps, in another world, November and Barry were never to leave Twinleaf. Destined to look after the poor and helpless, clawing their way through mud until an illness snatched away their life.

Perhaps, in another world, Fantina would not have pushed Lady Vernia down the stairs.

But all that matters, dearest readers and writers, is this world.

All that matters is now.

THE END.

There is AN EPILOGUE PLANNED SO DON'T UNFOLLOW JUST YET PLEASE—

I just have one more chapter to go! It's an epilogue about a few things. I think the most important thing you'll learn from it is who the narrator is! So if you still have no idea who the heck it is, stay tuned! I will aim to get it out a lot sooner!

I have so many thank yous to make, BUT I WILL WAIT for the next chapter! See you then!