30 Worlds: Megaforce, Episode XIX: "The Ashes of Destiny"
BOOK TWO*CHAPTER FOUR
The next night, a memorial luau for Scarlett was held on the beach near Scarlett Cove, as the cove near the Phoenix Foundation's satellite facility was located had become known.
William walked up to Steve and Kamekona, the man who had cooked the food for the luau. "Kamekona, I would like to thank you for helping us on such short notice," Steve said. "It has been a very emotional 24 hours for us all."
"Steve, with all you have told me about this Queen Scarlett, I feel as if I have known her all my life already," Kamekona said. "I am sure Aunt Scarlett would have been happy to hear you speak of her with such kindness," William said.
Steve gestured to William. "This is Prince William of Cinnabar. He was the nephew of Queen Scarlett," Steve said. Kamekona held out his hand. "I am very sorry for your loss," Kamekona said. "Your aunt must have been an amazing woman."
"That she was, Kamekona," William said as he shook Kamekona's hand. "Will you excuse us? Steve and I have some things to discuss."
"No problem," Kamekona said before he returned to his cooking setup. As William and Steve walked away, Steve looked up at the sky. "How's Una?" Steve asked.
"King Benjamin has already assigned Una to quarters at Auradon Prep with an appropriate curriculum to keep her occupied," William said. "He's also got the kingdom's best counselors working with her. I'm sure that by the six-month follow-up hearing, she'll have made some major progress."
An hour later, with the food having been served, William sat at the head of the table. "Everyone, as we mourn the loss of our friend and colleague, Queen Scarlett, we must also welcome our newest crew mates: Mac, Jack and Riley," William said.
"It is also thanks to them that the Key power of all Grand Key components has evolved," William said. "Each of you can now absorb the powers of the Megaforce Change Keys and use them as we Rangers can. We've prepared a holodeck program so that you can see each Key's warrior in action and so that you can choose which power you want to use."
"Before we eat, I must also make an announcement," Sofia said. "With us becoming King and Queen of Cinnabar, we need a new High Commander of the Army and a new space defense force commander. Princess Consort Mal of Auradon, Phineas Flynn, please step forward."
Mal and Phineas stepped up to where William and Sofia stood. William received Sofia's High Commander rank insignia and stepped up to Phineas.
"Phineas Flynn, since you joined this crew, you have continuously shown ingenuity and bravery that qualifies you to become the new High Commander of the Scarlett Army," William said before pinning the High Commander insignia to Phineas' shirt.
Then, as William removed his own rank insignia and handed it to Sofia, he addressed Mal. "Princess Consort Mal, your unique grasp of tactics and battle psychology makes you uniquely qualified to succeed me as commander of the Scarlett Army's space defense forces," William said.
Sofia placed the insignia on Mal's jacket. "Thank you, William and Sofia," Mal said. "I shall try to never let you down."
"Trying is all we ask, Mal," Sofia said. "Now, let us eat and remember absent friends."
As the night wore on, stories were being traded that made William and Sofia both laugh and cry at the same time—stories that would live in their hearts forever.
::TBC::