Chapter 450

"Why? Why Not?"

The Swords weren't the only ones who had watched the resurrection of Regole. Rihanna witnessed the clusters of pyreflies and ancient magic resuscitating the Atlantian city.

From a distance, she and her fellow Nephillim witnessed as the souls returned one-by-one. It was like watching leaves blossom on the branch of a tree after a long winter.

Rihanna had also observed the argument amongst the Swords regarding the optimal method of filtering the returning Atlantians.

When Prince, defeated by popular vote, stepped away from the Swords to sulk, Rihanna followed closely behind.

She tailed him to a small lake outside of the city. He stood over the water, sipping Draco Tonic from his flask and skipping rocks across the water's surface with only his thoughts orbiting his mind and the chirps of Cricketune filling the air.

From the shadows, she called to him, "Hey," she coyly greeted as she stepped through the unkempt grass and approached him.

Prince looked over his shoulder, his eyes tracing the outline of a petite woman in the darkness. Her darker skin was lapis-blue under the starlight. Was it Sasha? No. Sasha's hair was longer. There was no way it could be Alexa, who was a lot shorter than this woman. Eva was a lot taller and her skin would be a lot lighter in the starlight.

"Who-" Prince began. Then, she stepped closer. Her tawny-brown skin, sharp brown eyes, blackberry lipstick and neck-length hair came into view. "Rihanna?"

She smiled at him, "You're out here by yourself?"

"Looks like it," Prince confirmed, taking a sip from his flask.

Rihanna, wearing a neck-strapped teal-dress, her fingers and arms covered in gold bangles and rings, "You're not lonely," carefully squeezing Prince's arm.

Prince turned to her, taken aback by her putting her hands on him, "I can be by myself and enjoy the company," continuing to sip his flask.

Rihanna softly sighed, "What's on your mind?"

"It doesn't matter what's on my mind." Prince dodged.

"Of course it matters," Rihanna countered. "Atlantis is a clean-slate. A fresh start for the pharaohs. No politics, no government yet. Atlantis is a chance to build a new world. A new kingdom in this world. You can shape it the way that you want."

Prince rolled his eyes, "If only it could all be so simple."

"What makes it complicated?" Rihanna released his arm.

"Sithis." Prince answered.

"Are you going to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder?" Rihanna asked, "Or are you going to start living your life and building the future of this world like you're destined to do?"

Prince sighed, "Why me?"

"Why not you?" Rihanna challenged. She circled Prince until she found a waist-high rock to sit on. She pulled up the back of dress, not wanting to risk tearing it and sat, "Maybe you should ask that question. Why not you? Who better to do it than you?"

Prince silently sipped his tonic.

Rihanna continued, "You don't have your memories but that's alright." It wasn't as if his memories would serve Rihanna any good. His memories of love and life were structured around Sasha and Eva, not Rihanna. Prince, in the present without his memory, was fair-game and still made the crown she sought attainable. "You don't need them. Your memories don't make you the man you are. They'd make you everything you don't want to be which is a relic from history that'd be outdated for the present time."

Prince turned to Rihanna, "I guess you get it. Sasha and some of the others keep bringing up the memories and the past. The way things were and how things could be if I had those memories but why bother?" He vented. "How would any of that do me any good now?"

Rihanna smiled, "Well, you're going to get this island completely back soon. It'll be fully resurrected. Then what? What do you do next?"

Prince opened his mouth to respond but Rihanna cut him off.

"Before you say anything," Rihanna smiled, "You might be the only Sword who has an answer or the balls to make a move. Everyone else is just going through the motions. So why not you to build this new world? Why not you? Would you be a bad ruler or president?"

"I don't know." Prince admitted.

"America had Trump and a whole lot worse leaders, Prince." Rihanna giggled, "I don't think you should worry so much. Just do what you think is best."

"But the others-" Prince began.

"They can get on board with what you're doing or," Rihanna stood, "we," gently placing her hand over his chest, "will roll right over them."

"We?" Prince curtly scoffed. "There's no 'we', Rihanna."

Rihanna stared into his eyes, "Is there a Sasha and you?"

"Hell no." Prince responded.

"Then what's the problem?" Rihanna shrugged.

Prince carefully took her hand, "You're coming on strong. For what? Do you need muscle because you're not strong enough to do it on your own?"

Rihanna burst into laughter, "Oh my," she giggled, "I can't believe you seriously just said that or even thought that shit." Rihanna backed away, "I'm probably more powerful than you."

Prince blinked; there was an excitement in his eye. "Okay," he nodded, "prove it."

Rihanna covered her mouth, trying not to laugh, "Okay." Drawing a pokeball. "How's three-on-three sound?"

"My pokemon could use a workout." Prince smiled.

"Mine don't need one." Rihanna smiled. "So there's nothing in this for me, unless, if I win…you'll think about what I just asked you."

"You won't win." Prince drew a pokeball.

The two competitively smiled at eachother.

"Let's go!"