This last chapter is dedicated to all those who've read this, even silently. This is for all your love.
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"Come on!" Marjorie squealed and pulled me out of the room, making me chuckle at her immaturity. The war is over and the NightMaires had retreated. I never thought I could do this, I never thought I was strong enough. Every warrior had come to the White Castle to celebrate this joyous occasion and were bent on seeing their 'saviours'. I held my cerulean ball gown up as we rushed down the stairs. It looked like it was literally taken from a fairytale, which I'm not really fond of but damn, it looked good.
The material stuck to me till my hip and then gloriously fluffed up into two, a sparkling, turquoise lace layer over a clear blue satin gown reaching till my heels. The white stilettos she forced me to wear dangled against me as I held them by my right hand. Models who've mastered the art of heels should be worshipped, trust me when I tell you this, it's not an easy job.
My hair stood up in a bun, some stray strands beautifully curling down. Wow, they were really tamed. Tiny, ocean blue flowers adorned parts of it. Marjorie really had outdone herself. She told me this was how her grandmother had dressed her hair when she, as a tiny girl, loved to imitate princesses. You need to look good, she'd said, this is your Coronation Ceremony.
What's wrong with simple jeans and a tank top I will never understand.
At first, I had no idea what she was blabbering about the ceremony and all, until dad explained everything to Keith and I in the morning.
"The Matter was white," Dad started,"when Keith attacked Fyra and you Lashed on Thanatos." We both nodded. I thought it was because I was extra angry or something, but apparently not. "When the DreamMaker was created, Thanatos came into existence. Obviously, God saw the evil in him and proceeded to kill him but that would mean that the DreamMaker would cease to exist too. So he made another being, the Destined One, having half of the powers Fantasia had, in the disguise of a NightMaire. He named this being Chavez, the maker of dreams." He motioned to Keith.
"Your mother knew. Your mother knew what you were. We were best friends and she supported my decision of leaving the Supreme Leader position. In return, she confided in me with your secret. She asked me to promise that I would protect you in her absence and would search for your other half, Azlyn, and only then will Fantasia's powers come back to life. Clearly, more than one person knew this." He hesitated for a moment, letting us take it in. Keith whispered slowly,"Thanatos."
"Yes, Thanatos. Ophelia didn't just kill your mother to prevent the Negativity Crest from breaking, Thanatos somehow compelled her to. But she didn't do this knowingly, she was driven merely by an illusion, an illusion that your mother was the most dangerous NightMaire. He took you in, prepared you for the right time when the DreamMaker would be found and hence, Azlyn, because it would make most sense if the DreamMaker itself is the other half."
"So I have endless Blue Matter and he has Red Matter and obviously the combination would be White Matter." I cut in, understanding everything little by little. Dad nodded in agreement.
"That's correct. He wanted to finish the DreamMaker. But there was one problem. Only Chavez could kill her and hence, Keith was sent for this mission. Fyra would've combined both of your's pure spirits, and channelled the power into Thanatos, making him the most powerful being that ever existed. Now, this was a strictly need-to-know mission, therefore the war kept on going while he orchestrated the whole thing in the sidelines."
Dad finished with a sigh, probably with all the explanation. I'm sure Keith and I were still confused but atleast we knew everything now. "Today, both of you will be officially announced to the Upper World, which is called the Coronation Ceremony. It's the same day as the end of the war, so expect a lot of people, food and wine."
That made us laugh as Dad pulled me into a hug. "And I expect you both to actually dress up." I groaned out loud to which he paid no attention to and sent us off to our rooms at once.
And now here I am, waiting near the dais, holding hands with a boy who I'm glad to have met. Keith's eyes crinkled as he smiled at me, looking gorgeous as ever in his black-and-white formal suit, topped with a bow tie.
He leaned in,"You look pretty.", leaving me red. "Y-y-you too." I stammered, as he chuckled. "You don't call a guy pretty, you know that."
"Well, that's because you're a girl."
"Then that makes you a lesbian."
"What the-" I was cut off by his soft lips on mine again, as he moved slowly, with passion. He stopped just as slow and felt him smile against me. What was he trying to do, turn me into a beet?
"You still feel nervous around me, so cute." He went back to his arrogant self. I covered my smirk as I rolled my eyes and smacked him playfully. He feigned hurt, "Oww!"
Dad silenced us, turning our attention to Gabriel who'd taken the stage.
"And I now welcome, the two people who are the reason we're present here, Azlyn and Chavez!"
We were nudged forward and came into our view were the hundreds of beings, jumping up and down as if they were in a club and their fists were high in the air. Few nodded at us with a silent smile, few sent us flying kisses. They looked fairly normal, the only difference being that we knew they weren't.
We took the centre of the stage as an elderly lady staggered towards us, followed by Marjorie holding two purple velvet pillows. The old lady stopped in front of me, flashing me a sweet and comforting smile as her hands found a thin platinum tiara, with a single blue crystal in the between accompanied by silver branches. I stooped down as she placed it carefully over my head, someone opened a party popper as streamers and confetti flew all around.
She placed a bit thicker platinum tiara with a red gem on Keith's head, as he mirrored my actions and even the surroundings did. She whispered to us both, "I will thank God everyday for the two of you." We smiled back, as she staggered away.
Dad delivered a heart touching speech, there was this part when he was like he knew I was capable of all this feats and someone from the crowd shouted out that he died before I was even five. I expected him to get angry, instead, he laughed loudly and nodded in agreement, not prior finishing that,"... She's everything I always thought she'd be and I'm damn proud of her. Keith, better take good care of my little star, will you?"
Keith responded with something that sounded like a 'Certainly, sir' and I smiled at the scene.
The ceremony obviously went on gleefully and it ended too fast. It was time for us both to go, only after Dad promising us that we'd come back soon. "Go study like normal kids do." He cackled, making us frown. Somehow, I felt that he was a very lonely person, and I told him that I would bring mom next time.
He reacted as his eyes went wide, "What? You'll kill her and get her soul here?" I got lost in peals of laughter. Clearly my dumbness was inherited. Ouch.
"No, I'll get her here in her living flesh. Then, I'll make everything seem like a dream when we get back. God filled me in on that power." I grinned skyward, not realising that we're actually not on earth.
"That reminds me, it's been three days since you disappeared. Your mom must be so worried that she might've called the police! You guys need to hurry!"
"Oh, that's just going to be a nightmare to her." I raised an eyebrow, showing off my power, of course.
He chuckled and pulled me into a tight hug.
Keith looked at me with his hands outstretched, "Ready?"
I held them and sighed, looking at everyone for the last time. Nah, I'll be back. With a bang.
Okay, let's not dwell on how wrong that sounds.
"Ready."
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Author's Note:
I'm literally crying now. I have this habit of falling in love with my characters, and now that they're gone. :'(
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Affi ❤️