A week of planning had finally turned into the dreaded wedding and coronation day. Siyan sat on the end of Hazel's bed wearing traditional Gyontanik robes with his head in his hands. Meanwhile, Hazel stared blankly out the window at the gathering crowd outside the palace.

"I can't do this," Siyan said, "what if it doesn't work?"

"It will. All you have to do is stick to the plan."

Siyan nodded, twisting his silver hair around his fingers. Time seemed like it was slipping away faster than anyone could keep up, and Hazel couldn't bear to think of what might happen if her plan went wrong. She shuddered at the mere thought of being behind her friends being hurt.

"I'd better get dressed," Hazel said, looking at her frazzled appearance in the mirror.

"I'll leave you be, then."

As the bedroom door slammed closed, Hazel let out a massive sigh of relief. She just needed a few minutes alone to go over the plan one more time in her head. Siyan and Nedoza would be the only ones to act out the plan, and there was nothing she could do if something started to go wrong. All she could do is try to protect them the best she could with her unstable powers, and even still, the words of that woman from earlier that week haunted her mind.

If she didn't do it right... what if she hurt Nedoza or Siyan? She'd never forgive herself. Hazel shook herself back to reality. She needed to get dressed.

Her reflection was barely recognizable. She wore a red lace dress which was perfectly tailored by Nedoza herself to fit her human form. Silky fabric made up the inner skirt, just above her ankles in the front and dragging on the floor in the back. From her shoulders was attached a translucent sort of cape, and on her head, a ruby-encrusted headpiece. She looked like royalty.

Black makeup imitated royal facial tattoos, each recommended to her by Siyan to represent different parts of herself. A double-ended arrow across her nose to represent the distance she travelled, a single circle on either end of the arrow to represent her youth, and lines connecting the corners of her eyes to her ears to represent observation. She sighed as she turned around.

Bells rung in the next hour. She had to make her way to the ballroom, or she'd be late. Hazel stood still for a minute, her heart lacking enough motivation to move forwards, but eventually she dragged her feet out of the bedroom. There was still time.

Hazel raced through the halls, nearly tripping over her own feet as she dashed down the stairs and pushed her way through the crowds to get to the thrones. Siyan pointed to the chair labeled Asrian, which Hazel quickly sat down on. She crossed her ankles, pulling them in nervously. If one thing went wrong... She tried not to think about it.

Siyan stood up as the crowd began to settle in, taking his ceremonial sword out of its sheath. Blood still stained the blade in spots, an eerie reminder of that horrific day. He held it proudly in his hands as an elderly Council member hobbled her way to his front. Siyan pushed the sword back into the sheath. She cleared her throat, silencing the whole room immediately.

"Today is a glorious day for this kingdom," she began, "and though we have suffered much loss in recent times, this day will bring about a great change for us. Prince Siyan and Princess Nedoza are the final generation in this cycle, and are therefore destined for one another by fate. Their love will cleanse this kingdom of impurities and bring us back to greatness!"

The crowd cheered, oblivious to the tears rolling down their beloved prince's face.

"And now, behold, the belle of the Gyontanik Empire, Princess Nedoza Tridfai!"

The double doors of the ballroom opened, revealing Nedoza looking more beautiful than ever. Her long black hair was tied into a bun like a crown on her head, a net of flowers and jewels attaching a pearlescent veil which moved like a feather in the breeze as she walked. She wore a dress fit for a goddess, the skirt as wide as the walkway and a train embroidered with cultural symbols and encrusted with gemstones which shone like stars. In her hands was a bouquet of red-stemmed flowers with petals larger and more vibrant than anything Hazel had seen on Earth.

She made her way up to the thrones, standing by her brother's side. Though the veil obscured her face, Hazel could sense her deep frown from where she sat.

The elderly woman took out two crowns, each like a larger and more intricate version of the headpiece Hazel herself wore. Both siblings knelt down, allowing the woman to place one on each of their heads. As they stood back up, Hazel's heart raced. It was time.

Nedoza and Siyan glanced at each other before linking their hands and raising them up. The elderly woman smiled.

"Long live King Siyan and Queen Nedoza!"

The crowd cheered once again, and as they settled, the newly crowned royals prepared for the plan to finally come into play. Nedoza broke away from her brother and stood next to the Council member.

"For tens of generations, our family has been tied to medieval practices," she said, her voice gradually gaining confidence as she spoke, "for every three generations, the eldest siblings have been forced to marry. This is the last time this will ever happen."

Siyan stepped up as well.

"Our first declaration as King and Queen of the Gyontanik Empire is to rid us of this ancient system, and bring in a new era of modernity. From this point on, this family is free of any forced marriage, our children and onwards will see freedom to love, as will we right now. This wedding is officially canceled, and a new one shall begin."

"No, no, this cannot happen!" the Council member hissed.

"Too bad, it's already started," Nedoza said, pushing the short woman away.

From the crowd, a woman in a violet dress just like Hazel's stood up. Siyan looked at her with a huge smile across his face and nodded. She walked slowly up the aisle, all eyes on her. It was Nosiji, an Unaltered Nafen, standing proud against all odds.

"It's Unaltered!" someone shouted from the crowd.

"Silence!" Nedoza bellowed back.

"She's my fiancee," Siyan said, welcoming the woman into a close hug, "and I love her more than anything else."
"This is all going wrong!" the Council member interrupted.

She stormed to the thrones, grabbing Nosiji by the arm and attempting to pull her away. Siyan quickly grabbed the hilt of his sword, bringing it menacingly towards the Council member.

"I'm the king here," he growled.

The woman protested, but gave up. He was right, after all. She was powerless against him.

Siyan reached into his robe pocket, bringing out a golden necklace with the most beautiful amethysts Hazel had ever seen. They were violently purple and shone wonderfully in the natural light that illuminated the ballroom. Siyan gently put it around Nosiji's neck, a true smile lighting up the king's relieved face.

"Princess Nosiji Tridfai," he began, "welcome to the family."

The crowd was silent at first. Then came a single clap. One became two, two became four, until applause and cheers filled the room. It was the beginning of a new era, one that would change the empire forever.

"Together, the three of us will bring this empire back to greatness! We will reconquer old lands and bring the Barrenlands into lush life once more!"

More cheering from the crowd.

Hazel wiped the sweat off her forehead, stepping up and giving Nedoza a hug.

"It all turned out okay," Hazel said.

"I don't believe it..."

"You'd better start!" she teased.

It was a perfect wedding after all.