Chapter Ten: Sacrifice
Tecna could feel her magic surfacing from within. It had reached a new level of power once she had uncovered what mistakes were made generations ago and what she had done now to rectify them. With this new level of power came an awakening of her true form. Tecna had now obtained her fairy form, and it was beautiful.
Her vibrant magenta hair maintained its asymmetrical pixie-cut style, but lengthened a few inches in the back to below her neck. The part in her hair was accented with a bright yellow upside down pi symbol shaped barrette. Her outfit consisted of an orchid tube top and shorts with a light green petal-shaped breast plate covering the top. Around her waist were more violet petal-shaped accents. On her feet, she wore strapped purple barefoot sandals just like the other fairies. Her gloves were translucent, light blue in color and reached above her elbows. Tecna felt her magic course through her into the top of her back. She looked over her shoulder to find that she too had sprouted wings. They were ample in size and butterfly shaped with violet outlining and jewels dangling from the tips. Around her neck was a yellow choker with her own fairy dust bottle hanging from it.
"I'm a fairy." Tecna breathed. She now knew why she didn't belong on the throne of Zenith. She was much more than that. Being Queen of Zenith only restricted her. However, with her newfound knowledge of herself and her peoples' history, she still knew she needed to uphold the same responsibilities as a fairy that she did as a queen. She still had to right the wrongs of the past and lead by example for the generations to come. Showing that the most logical decisions can be dictated by love, compassion and selflessness. So, Tecna took her fairy dust bottle from her neck and held it in her hand. Then she opened it and sprinkled the dust into the vortex.
"Fairy dust... close the portal." Tecna commanded as she set her fairy dust free. It surrounded her, weakening the fierce winds. Then, she used her new wings to fly up to the wall of the portal and began pushing the vortex down to the opening. The newfound fairy of technology continued to push her way down the Omega portal until the vortex stopped entirely. When the force of the vortex collided with the hole of the portal, it created an explosion which caused the ground underneath Tecna to cave in. It was then that she was certain that Timmy and Elyssa's fears would come to fruition. As one last goodbye, she sent a signal flare up to the sky with her magic. When the gaping hole widened enough, she fell deeper and deeper into the darkness.
Meanwhile, back in the outskirts of Magix' Enchanted Forest, Timmy and Elyssa had finally decided to scavenge the abandoned spacecraft for parts to repair the Owl. They desperately hoped that if they could return to Zenith, that Tecna would have done what she needed to do and reunited with them there. Timmy was taking apart the ship's mechanical components to see what they could make use of. Elyssa was searching for other pieces and brought them back to Timmy for inspection. Digit had also helped the two find what they needed by squeezing into the smaller spaces in the wreckage. However, as the robotic pixie floated in mid-air, she began to sense that something was seriously wrong.
"Elyssa, s-something's h-happening t-to m-me," Digit's voice became distorted. The Zenith princess immediately turned to notice the pixie and was horrified by the sound of the distortion.
"Timmy," She called, "something's wrong with Digit! I think she could be damaged!" When Timmy heard Elyssa call, he instantly ran over to see what was going on.
"What do you mean?" Timmy asked before he realized what she meant, "It seems as though Digit is malfunctioning, but that can't be right. Tecna's enhanced powers granted Digit the ability to go without recharging. So what is happening to her?"
"I c-can f-feel h-her m-magic f-fading," Digit tried to explain, "I t-think s-she's g-gone t-too f-far." With every word, Digit's voice began to slow and deepen. Then, she finally shut down, her eyes closing as she fell to the ground. Elyssa and Timmy watched in horror, and it only took a few seconds later for them to feel the same thing.
"Digit's right, I can't feel Tecna's magic presence anymore," Elyssa confirmed, "It's no wonder she shut down. Tecna's magic gave her sentience, so without the magic, Digit has no life."
"I can't feel it either…," Timmy paused, "Digit said Tecna went too far…, what did she mean?"
"For those who seek the truth, if they dare to seal themselves within the vortex…" Elyssa recited the words her mother had told them all those years ago. She thought she had forgotten about the warning, but it all resurfaced when Tecna had been called to fulfill her destiny.
"So…, you're saying that Tecna is…?" Timmy couldn't even complete his thought aloud, this was his greatest fear coming to reality. Elyssa had no words to respond, she froze in absolute shock. She hoped that, through some miracle, Tecna would be able to return to Zenith after she had sealed the portal and restored the Magical Dimension to its former glory.
"You told me to trust her!" Timmy suddenly shouted, "You told me that there'd be a chance she would get out of this alive! Did you even stop to consider this would happen-?"
"Yes I did," Elyssa tried to speak but her voice shuddered with every breath, "I'm just as shocked as you are. I had complete faith that Tecna's life would be spared! For her to boldly decide to accept her part in this prophecy and to make up for our family's past mistakes… it doesn't seem right for her not to be rewarded for the good that she's done."
Timmy froze upon hearing what Elyssa had to say. He reflected on what Tecna had vowed to the people residing in Magix' Enchanted Forest. She was determined to break the spell and allow them to return to their realms of origin, no matter what it took. Even at the cost of her life. Timmy himself said that Tecna knew there was a chance she would die while sealing the portal. They were only hoping that wouldn't be the case. He heaved a deep, shuddering sigh of his own. He knew that being angry at himself or Elyssa for not stopping Tecna was selfish. He did learn from Helia that he had to be just as courageous as his lover, and it was unbearable. He redirected his fury at the world, at this prophecy and the fact that cruel things happen to good people. On impulse, Timmy turned away from Elyssa and began to run. He felt he needed to be alone, but wasn't sure what he would do once he was.
"Timmy, stop!" Elyssa shouted out to him, but he didn't listen. Tears flooded his eyes as he continued to run. Elyssa knew what it was like to lose someone close, when she and Tecna lost their parents. Losing Tecna too would've been the final nail in Elyssa's coffin, so to speak, but she was aware enough that as long as she was able to take the smallest step, she would go on to lead her kingdom at her older sister's request. But first, she had to be there for Timmy. He had poured his heart out to Tecna only to lose her. He had nobody else. So, even though Timmy refused to stop, Elyssa followed him.
Suddenly, a bright green light flashed across the darkened sky like a shooting star and was drawing closer to them. It then landed right in front of them, blocking Timmy from going any further. They both came to a standstill as the light got brighter. Gaping, Timmy asked, "What is it?"
"It looks like… Tecna's magic." Elyssa thought, "She was able to see the treaty between the other realms of the Magical Dimension and our grandfather. The events that led up to the spell being cast on the Enchanted Forest."
Before Tecna fell into the Omega Portal, she had commanded her signal flare to seek Elyssa out and reveal to her what was learned. As the vision from the vortex materialized, Elyssa and Timmy could see what Tecna had. The same groups of people from all over the Magical Dimension, the same representatives and realm leaders. Elyssa could see how formal her grandfather made the exchange, and just like Tecna, she could tell what was lacking. Then, a voice could be heard in the winds, which said, "What is needed is compassion as well as the desire to learn different perspectives."
"Zenith has always been encouraged to learn and innovate," Elyssa added, recognizing the voice as Tecna's, "What we've lacked is compassion and understanding. Tecna has shown this generation of other realms that we've learned how logic can co-exist with empathy and love. It's under her rule in Zenith that we have fostered this new ideology. I'd like to know what I can do to pass on this discovery."
As Elyssa finished, another pure white light began to engulf her and Timmy. It spread through Magix' Enchanted Forest and claimed the people within.
Bloom, Stella, Musa, Flora and Helia, as well as everyone else that the group from Zenith had met, were also surrounded by the light.
"What is happening?" Helia was shouting over the crowd's curious chatter.
"Tecna set us free," Bloom declared, "We are being returned to our rightful homes." Then, a cheer of overwhelming gratitude roared through the crowd as they readily accepted the light. Princess Bloom and her patents were transported to Domino where they could restore their kingdom, as was Princess Stella and her family.
Musa and her father emerged in a wide open field in Melody. The birds sung happily as they flew around them. She took a deep breath of air as the sound of music playing could be heard from a nearby town. Musa looked back at her father and embraced him in a hug before she flew off into the skies of her home realm to join the birds in freedom.
Flora, Helia, and her family appeared within the lush, green forests of Lynphea. Flora looked around and marveled at how much the trees and plant-life were flourishing. Lynphea had been lucky that its people were spared the devastation caused when some of its inhabitants were trapped in Magix. Now she could see for herself what home she was meant to have, and it was more than anything she could've ever asked for.
"It's hard to believe we're actually home," Flora's father said with a deep sigh. Flora nodded in agreement as she watched her younger sister began to play within the flowers. Then, she turned to Helia.
"Lynphea is just as beautiful as you described in your family's stories," He said, "And I have been looking forward to the day I can live here with you for a long time." They embraced and shared a sweet kiss as the smell of fresh grass and flowers surrounded them. They too were happy and free, something they never thought would happen in a lifetime.
All was still in the realm of Andros. The vortex had vanished and the portal was sealed. Aisha stood still after witnessing the sacrifice of a brave fairy who had just obtained her wings. She sighed with deep sorrow, even she didn't expect the Omega Portal to claim Tecna. She, along with many others, thought that since Tecna was the one the prophecy spoke of, her life would be spared. Unfortunately that was not the reality. Aisha was about to return to her palace when the blinding light engulfed the majority of her kingdom. It claimed the convicts that had gotten free and relocated them back to the Omega Dimension. Once the light died down, Andros' waters were as crystal clear as she was told they used to be. After a while, the mermaids began to slowly peak their heads above the surface. When they were greeted and assured by the Princess of Andros that they'd be safe, they started to splash and play on the beaches like they once had long ago. Watching the mermaids play, Aisha took in the smell of the crisp, fresh sea air.
"Thank you, Tecna," she whispered sadly, "You have saved the whole Magical Dimension."
Just then, the voice of a man began to shout, "Hello, is anybody here?" Aisha whirled around quickly to see Lieutenant Nabu wandering around the shore. He had mysteriously been transported to Andros by the light, possibly because he wished to live there.
"Oh," Aisha began, "I don't think I've met you before."
"No, you haven't," Nabu said, "My grandfather lived here before he left for Zenith and became lieutenant of their royal army. He was trapped in Magix' Enchanted Forest along with countless others. He has told me stories of the beautiful oceans of his home realm, and all throughout my life I'd wished to see them for myself. I suppose now I finally got my chance."
"Well, I'd be happy to show you around," Aisha offered, "I'm Princess Aisha."
"Princess?" Nabu gasped in embarrassment as he bowed to her, "Forgive me for not bowing in your presence. My name is Nabu."
"It is no trouble at all," Aisha assured him in a giggle, "Come, I can't wait to restore all of Andros' wonderful sights!" So, Aisha took Lieutenant Nabu back to her castle in order to find him a new life within the kingdom.
A couple notes. In the Frozen 2 movie, Anna sees the truth that Elsa had discovered before Olaf begins to die. I thought it would be interesting to switch those two points, where Digit shuts down first, signaling Tecna's death and prompting Timmy to yell at Elyssa and begin to run away. This also makes use of the shooting star symbolism from episode 14 of season 3.
I also took inspiration for the way Elyssa and Timmy both handle the news of Tecna's death from my own experience. When I first was informed that my dad was found dead, I was more in shock than anything. I rarely cry but allow myself to when the opportunity presents itself. This is how Elyssa is dealing with it because she knows she has to take care of the citizens of Zenith and fulfill Tecna's wish that she is to take her place. On a side note, I did bring in that earlier into the story, whereas in the movie, it was such an abrupt solution to Elsa stepping down from the throne. But back to Elyssa and grieving, she is handling it in the same way I am.
Timmy, on the other hand, is representative of my stepmom's grief. My stepmom has lived with my dad for 27 years and saw him every day. Unlike me, she was going through everything he was going through. So, without him, there is a big hole in her life. I am still apprehensive about the fact that Timmy shows more emotions for the loss of Tecna than her own sister does, since Elyssa has had more time with Tecna. However, like my stepmom, Timmy goes through a whole host of emotions as a response to the news. Mostly anger but slight depression that could potentially increase with time.
And in case you're asking, this is inspired by our first reactions to the news of my dad's passing. We are doing better now.
And finally Aisha and Nabu! I wanted to pair them up and I hinted at it when Nabu was talking to Elyssa about his desire to see Andros. But upon writing these last few chapters I completely forgot. So, I added it in while proofing. It's brief after Aisha relishes in the restoration of her realm, but I hope it can set the stage for something beautiful between them.