Disclaimer: All characters, settings, or other story components taken from the Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, or Trials of Apollo series belong to J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan, respectively. I do not own any of the aforementioned. I do not intend to use this story commercially.
A/N: Hello again! This chapter is extremely short, but again, it makes more sense to split it this way. I will try to get the next chapter out today, too, but it might take a little bit longer. Please read and review!
Memories flicker, in and out, like a butterfly's wings.
First comes Mama, smiling at me from the shadows in our home.
You are a princess. Words and kindness are your sharpest weapons. You are destined for great things.
Memory after memory.
Face after face.
Мама and Feliks and Vikenti. Inna and Esfir. Alik with his huge grey eyes. Liliya, her muddy paws on my shirt.
I let go of them all.
I can't run.
But I can fly.
I can fight.
But I don't.
I greet you like an old friend; an equal; a comrade in arms.
You are mine.
I am yours.
I am a princess, and this is my destiny.
Next come Amelié and Matt, smiling and young.
They don't speak. They don't need to. I have never let them weigh me down.
Friend after friend.
Harry, dangling off of a set of monkey bars. Look at what I can do!
Neville, holding a spoonful of mashed potatoes. We're here. We actually made it!
Hermione, sitting on the edge of my bed. Shh. It's okay. It was just a nightmare. They can't hurt you anymore.
Ron, throwing snowballs one Christmas. My mum made you a Weasley jumper; you're part of the family now!
Luna, giving me a special smile. Don't worry. I believe in you.
Look at what I can do.
Look at what I've become.
They can't hurt you anymore.
I won't let them hurt me anymore.
I am part of the family.
I am part of them.
They are part of me.
Rachel, holding her cup of coffee. Come with me.
Thalia. If you ever, ever disappear like that again...
Nico, gazing up at the forest. I think it's amazing.
You're coming with me.
You are part of me.
I am a princess.
I accept you.
I accept my past.
I accept my destiny.
I breathe in.
My mind is free, loose, light, as if a weight I never noticed has disappeared.
I'm free.
The memories are gone. No. They're not gone. They're part of me; making me stronger rather than pulling me down.
I am a princess, and this is my destiny.