Chapter 56: Candlewick

"...the candlewick of our love, waiting for a blaze,

just like in the old days"


Meridian, Royal Palace a few hours after Dua's exorcism...

"I cannot believe that you risked your life like that, Halinor! I can't believe that all of you thought you could take on a powerful entity like Morgana just like that! Even you, Nerissa and Yan Lin! What were you thinking?!"

Kadma was furious when she arrived at the Meridian Palace to sage it after the Morgana reveal. Her sage was from an ancient Zamballan temple, it would make sure that no dark and evil, sinister presence, such as Morgana herself, would remain to linger within the Palace. As for her rage, it was boiling inside of her because of a few things.

First and foremost, the fact that Halinor had put herself in harm's way; second because they hadn't waited for her, and last but not least - this was another secret and lie to add to the Coronians' file. They were below rock-bottom in her book.

"Honestly, Kadma, we just wanted to free Dua of her."- Yan Lin sighed tiredly. They were all tired, lounging in one of the more secluded saloons of the Palace. "She has been using his body for everything ever since his birth."

The other guardians, who were all pretty much laying on the couches all nodded:

"That was her way of keeping tabs on everything and wait for her moment."- Will shook her head, ever so tense. "This is insane!"

"And we succeeded with that. Kinda..."- Irma murmured.

That was partly true. Even though the demonic entity had left his body, the effects she had left on him were yet to be combated. Dua was still unconscious, in the hospital wing. He would need a lot of rest and care to get over this.

Kadma turned around in her green olive-colored cotton jumpsuit, with wide straight legs and recounted, fixing the shall of the same color over her shoulders:

"No, I get that. Yes, you did the right thing, but we could've sought another way to do it."- she exclaimed. "And you could've called me too! Maybe with my Heart, we would've managed to trap that foul spirit..."

"You had royal affairs to take care of."- Halinor interrupted her softly, gesturing at her to sit next to her. "What is done is done, Kadma. Give it a rest, now we must think of our next move."

"But you almost suffered something terminal, Hal-"

"I'm OK. Nerissa and the girls saved me on time."- the blonde assured her and touched her cheek softly. Kadma sighed and nodded with a small smile. Thank God for that.

"Morgana's power is very strong. She's the dark twin. It's very rare that two siblings, one born with light and the other one with dark magic, are born as twins but it happened with Icona and Morgana. That's what triggered everything that followed, including these three books that we now have, thanks to Taranee."- Yan Lin summarized for the other ex-guardian.

"Morgana's Icona's twin sister."- Hay Lin added.

"Both of them were equals as they grew up, but naturally, Icona's views, magic, and overall energy fit Coronia's philosophy much better. She wanted light, riches, and abundance for everyone, hence her mother chose her for Queen when the time came. Of course, that didn't sit well with the sister."- Will went off, skimming over the pages of the changing book of the past. "Bitter and insulted, the dark twin's obsession with glorifying Coronia again got even stronger and she committed many heinous acts of hatred over the years until she officially became an enemy of the crown. She was a down-right terrorist. She met her husband, who just happens to be Visser, and together, they revived the cult of the Dark Descendant, recruiting new people and powers. Actually, even during its prime centuries ago, the cult had never been more active than during Morgana and Visser. They changed the game by creating a society of dark and greedy nobles who believe that their homeland needs a purge. A purge that only a powerful new branch in the royal lineage could birth. It got so severe that Icona and the other royals could no longer hide it from the general public, in fact, at one point she didn't even know who she could trust around the castle. That definitely didn't age well, by the way... Morgana's twisted society just kept expanding, recruiting more and more people, often even through blackmail and violence... The dark twin was so close to achieving the ancient dark dream of a pure gold-blooded Coronia, where inequality and pure blood would reign, that the Golden Spring, the literal Heart of the realm did something that it had never done before. It brought the three changing books of Coronia forth, for the Queen and the new generations to use them against the growing darkness. With the help of the three books that could see into the past, the present, and the future, Icona's forces finally prevailed and put an end to Morgana's dark terror, exiling all her supporters and destroying her achievements. The cult was destroyed. Or so she thought..."

"Morgana slipped when she went to the Palace after her sister gave birth to her eldest daughter, Magana, after years of war. Morgana basically thought that Magana's birth was something which could unite her and her sister again and bring them closer over the ideal of a better future."- Cornelia scowled. "That's real stupid, if you ask me, it was pretty clear that Icona wanted nothing to do with this, I mean, come on, they fought for years before that! What did she even expect?"

"She couldn't resist it; Magana's birth was the next level of the prophecy she cherished so much. Morgana wanted Magana to become the Dark Descendant and intoxicated by that dream, she didn't believe that Icona would use her new powers of Queen Mother against her."- Nerissa shook her head. "Which she has obviously done, erasing all her memories and people's memory of her, finally doing what she had wanted to from the beginning. Icona wiped the dark twin, the Dark Descendant prophecy, and all thoughts and memories connected to them from the Universe. Morgana's mind and her lifework were melted into a new identity and neither she nor anyone else would remember her past from this moment on. Morgana would continue to live in the Blue Bijou as if nothing had ever been. Her darkness was erased. And so was her madness...until Visser, who had convinced her to preserve all her memories in memory stones, beforehand, reacquainted her with them."

"That fucking sleaze!"- Irma exclaimed angrily. "He has always been such a snake! He's responsible for half of the shit that happened."

"And how did his memories survive when Icona burned her sister's existence off of everywhere?"

The women turned around. Caleb and Elyon had just entered the saloon, accompanied by the rest of the main members of the royal court; the rebel leader was asking questions. It was time for everyone to come to terms with the truth. The entire truth. The Coronian family was also here, even Miriadel had left her room to hear the denouement.

"He had stored his memory as well. They enchanted his memory stone to transmit all memories back to him when his wife returns."- Halinor said. "You see, Visser knew to do that because he was smart and because he had already stolen the first book. The future telling one. By that time, he was already working for the royal family."

"What Icona did that night, changed everything. For the most part, it stopped the growing darkness that threatened the balance in Coronia, but it also gave the two people who had rediscovered the cult of the Dark Descendant a new chance. And purpose."- Nerissa added. "Not only would they recruit pure-blooded nobles for their cult again. They also had a new plan to execute, with the help of the book Visser stole. That was when everything that we knew of began to develop. The second book began to rewrite itself once again..."

"First they divided the books that worked best when together. Kandor, the man Queen Icona banished because of his opposition because she found out he still believed that Coronia should be divided, took the second book with himself, the book of the present. It was too late; he was already on Kandrakar when she found out and she didn't want Kandrakar involved in any of this. Not beyond the golden fog that veils Coronia from all the other worlds, including the Fortress."- Yan Lin continued the story.

"Can't blame her about that."- Nerissa retorted bitterly before Halinor took the word again:

"I remember that day. Kandor, Visser's elder brother used to be an alchemist in the Aureate Edifice. He told us about his banishment and the Oracle accepted him as an elder in exchange for the second book. He tried to gather further knowledge, but the books rewrite themselves each time a new person gets involved with them. They're mystic, they cannot be controlled... However, the sages did manage to uncover a little bit about what the Dark Descendant cult was, we understood that there is a prophecy, but that prophecy had a protecting malison, as I've already told you. The book of the present knew Will's name decades before her birth... it threatened her to die if we interfered before the darkness has taken a particular form. Our hands were tied. That is why we locked the book, and all information about this cult in the forbidden wing for the time being... Unfortunately, what no one suspected was that darkness would take form on Kandrakar in the face of Kandor's curse, so many years later. The curse that still holds the fortress to this day..."

"They used the existence of books to their advantage."- Kadma murmured. "The very own weal that the Heart of Coronia bestowed to the Queen to deal with the darkness..."

"And the first book? It remained with Queen Icona in that county?"- Elyon blinked.

"I'm afraid this is where my faults begin to sway."- Magana coughed as her son wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "My mother, she... she got obsessed with driving the darkness away permanently. She was constantly agitated that the Dark Descendant prophecy would find a way to catch up with us and it was frustrating, it really was. I had to take over the throne early just because she appeared to be losing pieces of her sanity with every next year. No one could understand her because she...because she-"

"Because she had burned the memories of the cult and the war from everyone's minds. Everyone thought of the ancient legend when they heard about the Dark Descendant...no one connected it to the recent events before your birth, because they didn't remember them."- Cornelia finished and shook her head in shock over her own words.

Magana nodded and softened the sound of her weeps with her palm. If only she had known earlier...

"Not only that, Icona was being drugged with strong mind-distorting serums, by Kandor then by Visser. Morgana was playing with her psyche through her dark magic. She gave her nightmares. Constantly invaded her mind from a far through the guilt Icona felt for what she thought she had done to her... She drove her sister over the edge of sanity multiple times."- Yan Lin sighed, going over the text in the second book again. "They destroyed her, turning all her strongest emotions against her. Anxious, delusional at times, obsessive. Morgana actually dimmed her sister's light..."

"She took that book with herself when I exiled her in the Blue Bijou... I exiled her there on Visser's advice...I'm so foolish!"- Magana exclaimed and just kept crying. "T-then when they killed her, Visser had the idea that I should put her under a raven lock, an old spell that would prevent my mother's ghost from possessing the castle... (the girls remembered how Icona had managed to first contact them through Taranee and made them break the said lock that kept her spirit entrapped/ reference to chapter 29) Then I created that terrible room where I tried to erase everything about the darkness, everything about the Dark Descendant. Just like she did... and I failed too."

"Things are not as they appear... That was what Icona kept chanting. Boy, was it a spot-on line!"

"Yes, this is where we should mark something interesting that looks like a pattern with Morgana. She's so unstable, she sometimes fails herself because of it."- Nerissa threw her hair back. She was already looking for weak spots to use against the old twin. She needed to get rid of her once and for all; like only she could. "You see, she died during childbirth. When she was giving birth to Emery, she supposedly became a soulless dark entity but that did something to her. It made her even more savaged. She killed Icona and they blamed it on Leonida's darkness, but that wasn't the original plan. The original plan was for her to possess Leonida. Leonida was meant to be their Dark Descendant but Icona's murder changed the future-seeing book, adding new paragraphs in it. That's when they decided they had to wait for Leonida's baby."

"Makes sense to get rid of Icona first."- Will argued. "She would've never allowed her granddaughter to be literally possessed by darkness."

"As much as she would have had a say in anything. After that, Magana even adjured her to silence with the magic she performed on her body and spirit in the hidden room."- Nerissa pointed out. "She was already made a silent letter... The moment Icona started talking about the Dark Descendant in detail, her spirit got ripped apart. Actually, I think that it would've brought Morgana greater satisfaction for her sister to be alive and helpless, just a witness to her evil."

"Well, yeah, shoot, she missed that opportunity. Hasn't she done enough damage either way? Then the book told Visser about Leonida's descendant and how much stronger she'd be and the whole fiasco with Emery and Dua began-"

"Yeah, who is Dua's mom?"- Irma shot and started going through the pages of the second book. "This doesn't make sense to me- "

"Why?"- Cornelia rolled her eyes. "What does it matter who she is, she's not a part of the overall story- "

"No, she's right."- Will shook her head. "Avani's presence maddened Morgana. There has to be a reason for that."

"Avani is Phobos's heir."- Elyon began carefully. "She has more rights over the power than the baby which Morgana was planning to possess and gain full control of. What's the use to her if Avani takes the powers?"

"Look at this, I knew it! Look at these paragraphs about Emery taking a lover."- Irma pointed at the page she had just found, ignoring the Queen's remark. "There's...ink all over. Over the lines that speak of the woman, how is that possible?!"

"It isn't..."- Halinor exclaimed as she and the other guardians gathered around Irma to have a look at what she was saying. "These books have been in my possession for the last six months. The second book was in the Forbidden Wing before that, no one could've- "

"Unless someone deliberately crossed words out in the future-telling book."- Will clicked her fingers. "That book was in Visser for years. Technically, as it predicts certain parts of the future, it's possible that some information appeared in it first, before it appeared in the present-based book that was on Kandrakar right?"

The others just looked at her and nodded. She was right.

"So, the details appeared in Visser's book first and someone scratched them out... But why?!"

Cornelia exclaimed heatedly and opened the third book, only for the rest of her fellow guardians to eventually see the disappointing sight too - each and every page of it was destroyed. Covered in some sort of black gunk...

"Squid ink."- Nerissa remarked, galled, glaring down at the destroyed pages. "It's impossible to clean from paper. The entire book is of no use тo us now- "

"Hell's bells..."

"They distorted the future book to create setbacks for us."- Yan Lin commented. "Perhaps it did reveal that we will eventually have it- "

"So, now what."- Irma made a disappointed sound with her tongue and glared at the book. To think that that a few hours ago all of them had been elated about getting their hands on this stupid thing. "Who did this, anyway, Visser?"

"I suppose that is why Leonida and Phobos didn't care about the book and Taranee managed to send it to us so quickly."- Hay Lin murmured despondently.

"Now nothing. Whatever, forget it. With or without the first book, or the third volume, or whatever this is, we will go on."- Will declared fervently, attracting everyone's attention on herself. Her leadership skills were so on point by now that even Nerissa barely questioned her anymore.

"We will go on and we will win. We have to win. We've gone too far to fail now."


Coronia...

Taranee took a deep breath as she looked around herself one last time. Time had come. Time for her to break free of her forced service to Leonida. But it was very hard to do that given the fact she had fallen slave to the unhinged princess' will fairly. She had lost at her game. Then again, it had been an impossible game to win. Leonida had made sure to make it impossible because she wanted to have a hold over her. Taranee was crucial to her plans. She had told her already on a few occasions. But even with most of her free will subjected to Leonida's whims, the fire guardian had found a small door. Now she had to get through it at the right moment. With one last clever trick... It really was for the best that she was the "smart one" ...

"Taranee."- Leonida's voice stopped her dead in her tracks. "What are you so pensive about? And where are you going?"

She did stop and eventually turned around to meet the indigo eyes of the princess who stood against her with a stiff upper lip and in her long silken robe. Leonida was angry. She was very angry and Taranee knew why. Not only had Emery escaped during the destruction of the county, the book they had gone for was also tampered with and couldn't do anything for her. At least she had killed Visser. The man who had defaced her entire life. But that wasn't enough and Taranee knew it. She knew the depths of Leonida's mind all too well by now, after weeks of the princess' mind games. She, the Queen, on the board, had begun to appear predictable in the eyes of her pawn. Taranee's eyes. The little flames of her power danced in them as she retorted:

"I'm just strolling around the castle. I can't sleep. Why, is that bothering you?"

Leonida gave her a testing look and crossed her arms on her chest:

"Oh, it bothers me. It bothers me that you're denying me and my authority over you. Still. You're relentless and you're disloyal."- she hissed. "I know you're using my unstable emotional states against me, you're trying to break my thrall!"

Taranee endured her glare calm and collected which seemed to enrage Leonida even more. She had expected that. She had expected it but she still said:

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Leonida. Your nerves must be getting the better of you."

"Don't you dare try to deny the truth which we both know, Taranee!"- Leonida snapped. "Don't tell me you expected me to believe that you just thought of the Blue Bijou one beautiful day. I know that you've been talking to your friends! I can see it in your eyes!"

Leonida's anger after the failure she had lived to yet again was immense. Adding Taranee's betrayal? It absolutely drove her nuts. She began taking dangerous steps towards the guardian, cornering her like a rat:

"I don't know how you did it but it is the last you'll ever do if you cross me again! I will kill you before I let you go back to the guardians with all the new information you've been eavesdropping in order to gather, for weeks-"

"You don't know how I did it? Maybe because you were too busy fucking Phobos five times per day!"- Tarnanee snapped back having seen a new chance opening. "Your mental capacity is not that big, Leonida. You wanted to prove a point when you enthralled me as cruelly as you did, but your mind isn't that vast. When occupied by something, like a strong emotion of pleasure and love, your control weakens. Even Nerissa's control over her thralls weakened all these years ago, and she had made them complete zombies! You thought you could do better by keeping up this elaborate spell with me? Looks like you haven't really done your homework."

"How dare you!"- Leonida screamed and did something unexpected. She grabbed the gasping Taranee by the arm and swung her like a doll across the corridor, throwing her into one darkened saloon.

Taranee looked back from the ground, as her assailant entered the room, daring once again:

"What? You can't bear the fact you're falling in love with him, huh?"- she taunted. "Maybe because what falling in love cost you with last time?"

"You glib witch!"- Leonida roared and pulled her up on her feet again, clasping her neck in a murderous grip. "You think you can bully me into freeing you, don't you? You think you're so smart, and you are, Taranee, you really are. That's why you're still alive."- she hissed against the coughing guardian's cheek.

Taranee felt the need to breathe, to fight for air, but Leonida's magic prevented her from fighting back.

"I still need you, but I'm not a fool to let you leave this place with all that you know now. I didn't just let a spy into the heart of my Palace."- the princess shook her head and let go of the other woman sharply. Taranee coughed and shuddered. "Don't make me murder you untimely. Don't test me. Because you will never be free, you hear me? Never!"

Taranee stopped rubbing her neck and just stared at the other woman.

"What did you say?"- she challenged all of a sudden, to Leonida's rage. "I will never?"

"You will never be free!"- the honey-haired shouted in response. "Never!"

"No, I will never be..."

"Never, indeed!"

"Be free...I will never..."

"Be free!"

The room was shaking. This was their last mind game...

"Never?"- Taranee murmured.

Leonida smirked and got closer to her, intoxicated by the moment, whispering right into her mouth:

"...be free."- she smiled.

When Taranee finally smiled back with the flames in her eyes growing more rapid and more vicious, Leonida caught wind of her fatal mistake and gasped in shock, but it was too late.

"You know, I never expected to be this easy. But you were right. I studied you very well during those last weeks and I happened to realize that you have the crazy desire and habit of finishing other people's words."- Taranee shook her head. "You know. Mental magic. Consent and words... I am free now, thanks to that habit of yours. You made me your thrall by making me fail at an impossible game. Now we're even."

"You pathetic wasp!"

Leonida's screams and her magic shook and defaced the entire room. The walls cracked, every piece of furniture flew and broke into separate pieces and the windows' glass got shattered into millions of pieces. Her rage fueled her magic as she threw Taranee around and slammed her into every hard surface she could with incredible force. If she wasn't in her guardian form, she would've probably died of head trauma...

"You are asking to die, you glib guardian! I didn't want this! I didn't want to kill you, but I've suffered too many betrayals. Too many failures! I cannot afford your back-stabbing trick to cost me with more!"- the unhinged princess yelled over the commotion, ignoring the other woman's hopeless screams. Finally, when she slammed her on the floor for the umpteenth time, in her feet, she relaxed a little bit, taking deep breaths.

Leonida smoothened her hair back and looked down at Taranee's wounded body struggling to push her chest up from the floor.

"I'm sorry, Taranee."- Leonida whispered gravely. "You did help me a lot. But you did it for personal gain only and I've been aware of that from the beginning. I still didn't want things to end this way..."

She focused her burning golden magic on the dark-skinned woman and aimed a fatal shot at her. Then the light engulfed the entire demolished room and when it died down Leonida kept her eyes closed.

She knew that when she opened them, she'd see Taranee's charred remains and she dreaded that sight. But when she did eventually dare take a look, she gasped:

"How did you-"

"Villains are made, Leonida. And you were made one against every odd of fate."- Taranee muttered as she struggled to get up on her feet and succeeded. "But we are not on the same page and we will never be because you crave insanity. And I'm a guardian. I didn't betray you. I was never with you for your twisted intentions and you know it!"

"How did you survive my spell?! I'm much stronger than you!"- Leonida exclaimed, absolutely baffled by the turn of events. "I have the power of two hearts and Queen Mother, I'm unstoppable-"

"And I have also established a bond with your baby, the source of your power!"- Taranee yelled in response, quenching the very next spell Leonida threw her way as if to prove her words.

"Your daughter that you made me take care of."- the fire guardian went on, as Leonida involuntarily took a step back in her shock. "She willingly established a bond with me and my magic, because she knows. She knows her time to rule hasn't come yet! The forces inside her feel that you're threatening the balance in so many realms! You've threatened even her! You've sped up every moment of that baby's short life mercilessly! The magic within her is more unstable and unsure than in any other magic user I've ever encountered!"

"No..."- Leonida shook her head. "That's impossible. Phobos and I are regents of the power, we-"

"I have a bond with her too now, and that bond, as well as everything else that I now know about you and Phobos, and your weakness, will serve my friends in the war that's to come. Not you, as you wanted!"- Taranee shouted. "You played with me, you made me choose between my friends and family in a game of chess, hence you could enthrall me because I lost! But your chess game will fail you too, Leonida! You lost today. You may be the Queen of your new game, but the Queen's main purpose in chess is to protect, not rule. Protect her King, or in your case, all that stolen power. You see, sometimes even the Queen might fall from the pawn's weapon. Other figures may come to take from you."

"I've not fallen."- Leonida hissed as a single tear rolled down her cheek. A tear of despair. "I shall not fall. When the final battle comes, Taranee, you and your friends will be just lateral damage, among all figures who oppose me."

Taranee returned her look cold, long, and pensive for a few moments, before teletransporting away:

"You're damaged. You are, and unfortunately, by the looks of it, there will never be a happy ending for you."

Once she was alone, Leonida fell apart. She sobbed and then screamed, falling to her knees in desperate cries.


One week later

Nigel Ashcroft entered the bistro he had been called to pleasantly distracted. It was an ordinary Tuesday evening; he didn't expect what was coming for him in the slightest. Yet here he was. In this little modern place, he and Taranee had been on dates a few times. It was a special place for both of them. Once a sushi bar that they had first hung out in as teenagers, before the renovations that had left the place in its present form. A lot had changed over those last 11 years indeed. But at the same time what was most important remained. The memories. Their happiness. Their love... Especially after being reunited with Taranee again after a particularly hard period.

Nigel ran a hand through his spiky red hair and just smiled at Irma who was coming his way, all loud and full of life. Irma was a great friend. Even during the testing last weeks, when he had been seriously hostile towards the guardians, angry at them for being unable to help save his girlfriend from Leonida's grip, she hadn't let go. She kept assuring him that everything would be better even when he was losing hope, feeling all alone and miserable. She was quite demanding and persuasive and that helped. Irma, alongside the rest of the girls, had been there for him. He really couldn't imagine the hell he'd have been frying in, if it weren't for them.

They really had great friends, him and his girlfriend, Nigel had to admit. Their friends were the best.

"Hey, stretch, you look hot and smart! Love that for you."- Irma exclaimed deviously as she tugged on the sleeve of his formal white shirt.

"You're not half bad yourself. Yeah, I tried... since you said be formal. What is this, are we celebrating something? Tell me already, I'm curious!"- Nigel chuckled as he looked around himself and spotted different familiar faces, including Taranee's parents.

Irma just waved a finger pushily, flashing him a mysterious smile.

"Not yet, Nige. Not yet. Now go, mix up with everyone. The big surprise is yet to come."

With that, the Latina gave the man a view of her back in the royal blue lace mini-dress, and headed back towards the group of her waiting friends, all dressed in semi-formal, end-of-summer clothes.

Nigel shook his head, amused when Hay Lin tapped his shoulder:

"Nigel."- she smiled. "I think that it's not just Taranee's family here today. Your mom and brother are here too."

"My..."

But she was right. He saw Danny and his mom in the distance, where Hay Lin had nodded at. They were...chatting, around the same table with Theresa?! What were the odds, normally she couldn't stand them for many reasons? But now she looked...happy and warm, even around them. Nigel just stared in astonishment for a minute before turning to the young Air guardian again:

"What is going on around here, though? This is unreal."- he chuckled and shook his head. "Did I win something I'm unaware of?"

Hay Lin winked at him before hiding her hands in her short red dress-kimono.

"Of course, you did. Just wait and see for yourself."

After she left as well, he gave up. Apparently, what was to happen this evening would only be revealed to him when it happened. Having made peace with that he did the only logical thing that came to his mind.

Nigel had a drink and talked to the guests. He just relaxed, enjoying his time to the fullest. It felt sensational to be able to do that after so long.

Of course, he couldn't help but wonder where was Taranee, at first, and not seeing her among the invited soon made him catch wind of the fact that maybe she was going to surprise him in some way. But even with that, this surprise truly caught him off guard. In the best way possible:

"Nigel, you having a good time? Thought you would."

Everyone went quiet in anticipation and the music died down as Taranee appeared on the stage. Nigel cut his conversation with Martin short only to be mesmerized by the view.

His girlfriend in a beautiful white overall jumpsuit, with a heart-shaped neckline and off-the-shoulder lace straps, secured to her elbows. The legs of the gown were elegant and wide cut, and her feet were in high heels that gave her grace leverage. Delicate silver jewelry, no glasses, beautiful sleek updo, and subtle makeup... She was gorgeous. Taranee was a gorgeous bride.

Unable to take his eyes off her, Nigel realized that this was happening. It was real and it couldn't be sweeter:

"Thank you, everyone, for being here today on my hasty invite. It means a lot."- Taranee went on with her speech. "I really wanted for all of you to share this day with us. I know that what I'm doing, organizing this improvised wedding just like that may seem beyond odd and unthought of, but I know us. I know Nigel. You guys, this place. This beautiful evening. When you think of it, this is all we need, isn't it?"

"Absolutely."- Nigel said to himself, feeling his eyes tearing up from happiness as everyone around him cheered and applauded.

Taranee laughed as she waved at herself. She was emotional. But this pure emotion was driving her towards new brave horizons after what she had gone through with Leonida. It had made her realize that she didn't want to procrastinate. She didn't want to wait, just because she was still very young, because life was good either way or because she and Nigel had never wanted a big wedding, to begin with. This ceremony was actually perfect for them and they both knew it.

"Nigel, we were torn apart a few weeks. By unforeseen circumstances and events this time. And when I came back home, you just proposed to me. You did it, it was an amazing night. You made me realize that we actually both want and need this. We have everything when we're together, really, we're stronger, happier, for sure, and believe it or not, all my friends agreed at once. Even Cornelia."- Taranee added and the audience in the bistro laughed.

Everybody knew Cornelia and her wedding aspirations. The blonde herself sobbed happily as she wiped her tears away. Words couldn't describe her happiness for Taranee, as well as that of the other three girls that had made each other's lives complete for years.

"Well, I wanted to do something amazing for you too. You proposed, I figured that going through with the wedding wasn't that hard."- the Fire guardian smiled at her soon-to-be husband and his full of love and appreciation face, beaming towards her. "People say that tying the knot sets the relationship in stone, but we both know that our relationship has already gone through that stage. We've been apart, we've been separated and reunited in so many different ways, but I don't want to ever have to feel that again. That feeling of not being next to you. Marriage is just a formality, but the vows are going to be something I'll stand by. We have the apartment, our own place; we are both done with school. For now, right? Your proposal and this wedding are the next logical step. But before I ask you to come here and marry me."- she paused her heartfelt speech to gaze into his eyes, all across the room. "I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you. More than I show it! You are an amazing person who I'm lucky to have. You've taught me to be a better version of myself, many times with your love, kindness, and warmth, yet still, you've never wanted me to change unless I've wanted to. You complete me like nothing else does, Nigel, and I've never thought that's possible until the first few years of our complex but real relationship. I love you so much. I'm looking forward to a life with you, where we bring the best out of each other and appreciate each other on a different level, our level; like we've been learning to do from the very beginning. That's kind of what I like most about us."- she finished, meaningfully, with a direct reference to what he had said to her before their very first kiss all these years ago. Something they both remembered very well.

Nigel couldn't wait any longer, he barely allowed Caleb to put him in the formal black jacket, he was tasked with getting the groom in, and then ran towards the stage. He lifted his bride in his embrace and kissed her passionately before the authorized legal entity that would make their marriage official could blink. Their family and friends cheered and supported them through applause and exclamations. Everybody was happy for them. Even little Nathaniel, Cassidy and Peter's baby, clapped his little hands from his stroller.

"This is so fucking precious, man."- Irma commented, half an hour later when their friends were officially a married couple and the slow dances were beginning. "I can't believe that nearly a year ago, I was teasing her about becoming Mrs. Ashcroft, and now she is! She's freaking Taranee Cook - Ashcroft!" (reference to chapter 1)

"She deserves it. They deserve it, they're made for each other."- Cornelia declared happily.

The slow magical music had begun. Their partners were all here, ready to dance the blues with them.

Hay Lin, Will, Irma, and Cornelia all swayed close to each other with their boyfriends, and the newlyweds were going to dance in the perfect center of their once-favorite sushi place.

"They really are. I am very pleased with how everything turned out today."- Will commented as she met Matt's grin and grinned back. "We all did good."

"If you could feel it, this room, the positive and happy emotions in it!"- Hay Lin gushed. "It's out of this world, girls. All this positive energy, this amazing moment... it will do all of us good, trust me. It's like a piece of ambrosia to the soul!"

Eric smiled at her and gently pinched her chin:

"I believe that even without your empathic powers, we feel a very big part of this awesomeness you speak of, cutie."

He's here in my bed, and why?

My lipstick's smeared all over my thighs...

Those who're able, are able, to keep on their clothes, and,

finish at the table...

Nerissa's appearance on the stage with Cobalt Blue and the slow tango music marked the moment the couples started to dance.

But chemistry to us is a game,

a flaming game we always have to play.

And shatter, they shatter,

with the end of the day,

all my vows

that you won't sway

I wear just perfume, lipstick and a tattoo,

when you make love to me everything smells of you...

Who's here to be cautious?

Listen to their conscience,

and block the emotions?

Taranee's smile didn't leave her face as she danced with her now-husband. Everything was perfect. She couldn't have asked for a better wedding day. A better person next to her. She was Mrs. Taranee Cook-Ashcroft and that was everything she wanted tonight.

Oh, baby, baby, would it be passé?

When the lights go out, you and me,

and your hands start to wander,

can I please surrender...

Can you break the shackles?

Oh, darling, darling, yes, it would be top!

If we could be together and never stop,

if we could be true, and, leave aside the egos...

the candlewick of our love, waiting for a blaze,

just like in the old days

"Mi corazon."- Nerissa leaned to whisper in the microphone before herself. "Te quiero mucho." (My heart, I love you so much* from Spanish*)

He's here in my bed, the bare proof,

that it's not about character or truth,

it's a chance of passion,

a passion is fueling,

us, together burning

I wear just perfume, lipstick and a tattoo,

when you make love to me everything smells of you...

Who's here to be cautious?

Listen to their conscience,

and block the emotions?

Oh, baby, baby, would it be passé?

When the lights go out, you and me,

and your hands start to wander,

can I please surrender...

Can you break the shackles?

Oh, darling, darling, yes, it would be top!

If we could be together and never stop,

if we could be true, and, leave aside the egos...

the candlewick of our love, waiting for a blaze,

just like in the old days

Theresa Cook sniffled and wiped her teary eyes. Her husband, who held her around the waist as they both swayed on their feet, in the last notes of their dance, was crying soundly.

"You know, Lioney."- the woman began, with a smile, looking over at Nigel's earnest laugh and affection whilst holding their daughter. "Taranee could've never made a better choice."


Coronia, The Blue Bijou...

Morgana appeared in front of the old house; the last that was standing somewhat whole out in the flattened county. The Blue Bijou was ultimately destroyed after Leonida's rage. And everything lay in ruins. Not that she had ever liked this place. Neither was she surprised that her husband had perished. Her true wrath was caused by her son's betrayal.

She roared as she went through the debris, passing through walls. Where was he? Where was he hiding and why had he contacted her? She wasn't going to spare him. She wasn't going to let Emery live after he had sold her out as he had. Not only would he die, but she would also make sure to rip his soul and spirit into pieces, just like she had done with her wretched sister Icona after the traitor had tried to dispose of the baby. (reference to chapter 40 )

"Emery, where are you?! I can sense your presence!"- the woman yelled as she stormed the remains of the house. "EMERY!?"

Her wrath and despair were on cosmic levels. She roared on the top of her lungs and rampaged:

"Why!? WHY DID YOU TRAMPLE ON ALL OUR DREAMS FOR THE GOLD-BLOODED WHY DID YOU BETRAY YOUR PARENTS, YOU FILTHY GNAT?! YOU KILLED YOUR FATHER FOR THE SAKE OF WHAT? ANSWER ME!"

Her magically-elevated voice shook the forlorn county from the ground up.

Her energy started pushing the remaining parts of the house too. She wanted destruction. She wanted to sick and destroy everything that kept being in the way of her mission:

"YOU!"

Morgana had caught a glimpse of something. Or someone, much rather, getting behind one still standing door. No... This time she would die. Her posture was unmistakable.

The ghost followed the female figure with an ear-piercing scream before getting blinded by a strong light that surrounded her. Morgana screamed again, but this time, in agony. When she regained her eyesight, there were no more ruins or walls around her. She was out in the open. And a pair of dangerous indigo eyes, identical to her own, was staring right into her:

"Your dreams."- Leonida repeated as she glared at the entity with disgust. "Your dreams have taken quite a toll on this family, haven't they?"

Morgana didn't say anything, she tried to stir in her place only to find out that the other woman's magic was preventing her from moving. For some reason, however, the whole situation seemed to bring out a sick smile on the ghost's face.

"You're a pack of traitors, all of you."- Leonida hissed bitterly. "Should the fact that your son betrayed you too surprise you, at this point? I've lost more than I've ever bargained for because of every single member of this darned royal family. And I want to rule over multiple dimensions."- she added meaningfully, emphasizing the unreal price she had paid just to suffer, her eyes sparkling. Yes, Leonida was a victim. Their victim. But Morgana seemed to acknowledge something else:

"But look how much you've earned through all that, my dear."

She didn't seem to mind that she had gotten herself into a trap. On the contrary, she looked quite calmer now, that she was standing before Leonida, forgetting all about the fact that her traitorous son and that bane were still out there, free and plotting together.

"What I've earned."- Leonida repeated again, beside herself. "You're dead a long time hence you've forgotten the levels of pain and tragedy a single living person can take! I'VE BEEN PUSHED OVER MY EDGE, MORE THAN ONCE! BY YOUR DISGUSTING DEAD HUSBAND, AND THAT FOR YOU!"

"For Coronia's sake and future."- Morgana argued fervently. "Still and all, do you think that you would've ever been as powerful as you stand today had the circumstances been different? No, my dear. Nothing could match the power you possess now; you are the strongest Queen our glorious realm has had in hundreds of years! You made history thanks to us!"

"I made his death more painful and terrible than all his murders. He murdered my father, my baby, my grandmother! I destroyed his spirit with my new power!"- Leonida yelled, talking about Visser's demise. "You will never see him again, ever!"

She wanted to inflict pain on the demon before herself, she wanted to see her hurt but the cruel silver-haired woman just smiled. She smiled and laughed in her face:

"Good! You got your way in the end; you got your vengeance."- she said calmly and then went on with full speed:

"My husband was merely chosen to do the will of the descendant, the glory of Coronia! Like many others, he had his part, like Kandor, like all those whose faces you haven't even seen! Do you think that we are the only ones who want this? Many people in your kingdom have had impure intentions for the crown for years, some of them even worse than us. We want to fulfill the will of the Heart of our world, my dear! Darkness is not the real evil; the real evil is the abuse of the powers and riches of this land and the stains the peasants leave on our reputation! Visser was high in the hierarchy, but his actions have belabored you, of course, you can do whatever you want with him to feel better, I agree with you! The Dark Descendant was raised by many people, and all these people are just components of her greatness and rising, don't you understand? Now that so much has been achieved, you and I want the same thing."

Leonida was at a loss for words. Morgana had tried. She really believed herself when she tried to persuade her. What a lunatic.

"So you're that final element that gets to rule with the Dark Descendant. You want to be a part of 'her'."- she sneered.

Morgana pursed her lips:

"I am the Dark Twin. It is my duty."- she reminded her. "The prophecy obliges me to do so. Have you ever seen the full prophecy about our homeland, Leonida? The one your grandmother and mother almost forever erased? Everything in it has been realized so far! Everything!"

"You will never see your dream of possessing my daughter realized."

Phobos's interference startled both of them. Even Morgana whose face immediately grew hostile:

"Your yes-man of a husband is gone. Your son betrayed you. You're in no position for having a parley, you shall be annihilated! None of us cares about your prophecy, ghost."- the prince, who had appeared as sudden as a ghost, himself, hummed coldly. "An end shall be put to your pointless objective."

"Pointless?!"- Morgana raged as she dodged one of his spells. She could finally move again, but she still faced difficulties with teleportation. "You dare speak about lack of purpose, tyrant?!"

Phobos narrowed his eyelids at her. He knew demonic entities and how to deal with them. For the most part. But with her amount and type of power, it would be a difficult task.

"You executed your role and your part is over!"- the silver-haired woman raged. "She should've disposed of you long ago- "

"Enough!"- Leonida interrupted her angrily. "We are a family now. We are not elements and parts of anything. We are one."- she added to the ghost's dismay, as Phobos lined up with her and placed a protective hand around her shoulders. "And you're alone. That's why you're growing desperate, but I didn't summon you here for that. I summoned you here to destroy you!"

Morgana's eyes widened in disbelief and outrage when Leonida's magic threw her to the ground:

"An end to the dark twin and this miserable county, where she was first banished to. Eloquent, my Queen."- Phobos's lips twisted into a dark smile.

Leonida smiled as well:

"She forgot that we're the legitimate rulers of Coronia now."- she hissed deathly. "Her glorious homeland..."

"Morons!"- Morgana's gory laugh echoed in the open.

"Not again!"- Leonida exclaimed in shock. Phobos just tightened his lips and watched.

She repelled the spell that had been thrown at her, aiming to annihilate her. She repelled it and broke it off completely:

"I am the dark twin. Did you really think that your dark magic, be as it may, united, could be the end of me?"- Morgana sneered. "I feed on dark magic! Your powers are useless against me! You made a dire mistake!"

She then fired back at them, riving the air but Phobos welcomed the shot and started engulfing it. Even if with visible efforts:

"So do... I. I've mastered..."- he grunted as Leonida watched in awe and Morgana full of hatred. "...the art of absorbing my opponents' magical auras long ago. You are nothing that I haven't absorbed already, dark twin..."

"You prideful fool!"- Morgana barked. "You can absorb magic, but not darkness in its pure self! There is just a certain amount of pure darkness one can take and I shall push your limit today!"

And as if to prove her words, Morgana intensified her dark attack and got Phobos to fall on his knees, quickly getting overwhelmed by her magic. She was right...he fed on magic, on life force, but never so much pure darkness...

"NO!"

Leonida had pushed her off, liberating Phobos of the pressure. Morgana glared daggers at the young woman, who created a wall of her golden magic around herself and the prince:

"I am Queen Mother, I have new magic! I will banish you from this realm forever, Morgana! I will finish and avenge Icona's undertaking!"

"Foolhardy little girl!"- Morgana was able to snigger from above her. "The Light Twin is capable of doing that... you, on the other hand? You and your dark magic? You and your prince are dark magic wielders, your magic is transforming even that of your source, the baby, what is left the last bits of inheritance from your grandmother flowing through your veins!"

Leonida gasped and pursed her lips tightly as she looked at the cruel entity, trying to remain unbudging... But she couldn't. Knowing that she couldn't stop her made her extremely insecure, despite all the magic power she possessed.

"You cannot stop me! No one can!"- Morgana hissed like a snake, adding salt to the wound. "I will merge with your daughter; I will finish the prophecy of the Dark Descendant and everyone who comes in my way will find their doom!"

"I will do everything in my power to make that impossible for you."- Leonida hissed gravely. "My magic may be unworthy of finishing you, but it can protect me and my family. My daughter! You will never get close to her again! Never, Morgana! You are going to be defeated! SO SWEARS QUEEN LEONIDA!"

Just like her grandmother, she opposed her. She opposed her just like Icona. History had a strange habit of repeating itself, often with a lot of irony:

Morgana threw one last incinerating glare at the younger woman before disappearing:

"You shall see, your Majesty. I will make you regret your rejection in one way or another. You are not going to live happily ever after - I will put it out like the wick of a candle; this is my promise and curse for you!"

Leonida blenched but the evil being was already gone. She snuggled in Phobos and closed her eyes. Then she teletrasnported them away from the wretched county. This was the second time in the last weeks her happy ending had been predicted impossible, and she was growing more and more terrified of the possibility of that turning out to be true.


A/N: It's been exactly two years since the first chapter of this story was published. That's quite the milestone for me. Now, five chapters away from the big finale, I'm more than happy with it. I've taken my time and just wrote whatever I felt like writing during these two years, and I'm most happy with it because, to me, enjoying the process of creating good fiction with your writing is the best feeling for a fiction author. I've tied almost all loose ends by now too! Each and every one of these 56 chapters has been written with my entire heart, as well as all characters. Thanks to everyone who's been engaged in the journey as my readers. I have new ideas up my sleeve, and a third book plot, so stay tuned! Stay tuned for the big finale and let me in on your thoughts. Lots of love!

xoxo,

jimel