Angella paced around her office, looking out the window as Glimmer played on the ground. Nell had returned late that evening, telling her that Shadow Weaver would likely be coming to Bright Moon. It felt strange that they would finally bring Shadow Weaver back from the abyss. Back into their company, with the Horde collapsing from within.

She looked toward her daughter, the daughter Shadow Weaver had tried to attack two years before. What would Shadow Weaver do around Glimmer? Could the sorceress be trusted? The only people who could vouch for her were her former student and her former fiancé – both of whom had had poor experiences with her. Angella herself had only met the woman once, back when she boasted the moniker Light Spinner and wanted more than anything to stop the Horde.

A knock came from her door, and she flinched; every movement caused her to jump since she'd decided to protect Micah. Her page stood at the door, looking nervous. "Your Majesty?" he asked softly.

"Yes?"

"The Alliance...they've called an emergency meeting."

Angella wrung her hands, her breath caught in her lungs. "Alright," she said. I'll have to be shrewd if I want to calm this storm, she thought, teleporting to the war room.

The Alliance looked incredibly displeased when she arrived - particularly King Gian of the Snows, who was glaring daggers at her. She refused to sit down. "Why has this meeting been called?" she asked firmly, though she already knew the answer.

The glares deepened. "Do not play the fool with us, Angella," King Gian said icily. "We know you plan to bring Shadow Weaver back to Bright Moon. That is why you sent Micah out there, is it not?"

"He went to the Seraphite tunnels to stop Shadow Weaver from getting in against my wishes," Angella replied.

Nell was notably absent from the gathering. Not good. Princess Talyn sighed impatiently. "And yet, we know you sent the doctor out there," she said. "To tend to Micah's wounds. So you must know he's coming back with her."

Angella clenched her jaw, her knuckles tightening around the back of her chair. "And what does this Alliance think of rehabilitating Shadow Weaver? Are you going to kill the woman despite her ailment?"

"I don't care what her ailment is, frankly," Gian said. "Her forces invade my country, and I will not stand for it."

"She hasn't been seen in almost two weeks," Angella returned. "How could she have given the orders?"

"Do you think that matters?" Talyn snapped. "She nearly killed your daughter and almost took Bright Moon. If you cannot punish her because of your silly Seraphite values, this Alliance may as well be considered over."

A prick of ice rammed through Angella's stomach. "And what say you, King Rei? Queen Morgause?"

The two remaining royalty wouldn't meet her eyes. Angella scowled. "If she is under Bright Moon's jurisdiction, she is ours to deal with as we see fit. As she is a citizen of Bright Moon –"

"She committed international war crimes," Gian pointed out. "Therefore, she should be internationally punished."

"And you want her to be executed. Is that right?" Angella retorted.

"Of course. Shadow Weaver deserves to die each time," Talyn said, "for every life she ended. You don't just get to play favorites because your husband has affection for her."

"I'm not –"

But the Alliance ignored her. "All in favor of Shadow Weaver being punished when she arrives?" King Gian asked. His hand shot up, as did Talyn's and, surprisingly, Morgause's.

Moons, Angella thought, her heart sinking. Three against two. "Fine," she said quietly. "But I know what you did, Gian. I know you drugged Nell with a truth spell to tell you everything." She raised her head high. "And if it happens again, Bright Moon will not come to your aid when Dellanova is invaded. Do you understand me?"

Gian looked bored. "Empty threats do nothing, Queen Angella. You must know, it is you who need us."

It was confirmed then, but if they could just get through to Shadow Weaver...

We can do it, Angella thought. We have to.

She scoffed. "We shall see." Then she teleported away to find Nell, who was undoubtedly torn apart by what the Alliance had done.

✧✧✧

Shadow Weaver sat next to Micah the whole night, unable to sleep. She had considered fleeing while she still could, but a small part of her did want to go to Bright Moon. She would be safe, and they would be able to cure her. But if they couldn't...

We'll always love you, Micah had told her. No matter what.

Her bottom lip trembled. Micah opened his eyes. "Hey. What's the word?"

"My vision has returned," Shadow Weaver said quietly. She sighed, looking toward the window. "Micah...tell me the truth. Why did you run away that night?"

He didn't have to ask what she meant. Silence followed for a long moment before he replied. "I...was scared," he said. "I think I told you that before."

She trembled. Scared of me.

But that's what I deserve.

"I apologize," she said, looking straight at the door. "You're going back to Bright Moon tomorrow, are you not?"

Micah nodded. "Yeah." His eyebrows knit together. "Are you coming with me?"

"I don't know."

His hand found hers. "Please," he said. "Please, Light Spinner, come home."

I don't have a home.

She said nothing as he continued. "I promise you'll be safe. We'll get you a big room with a nice bed and the best soaps and bath bombs on Etheria. You'll be able to sleep as much as you want and get to eat real food again."

Her stomach growled in reply. "And Adora? Carmen?"

"The Horde will crumble without you." Micah looked excited. "We can help them, too. And Nell..."

Nell. So he'd figured out how she yearned for him, even now. She blushed, looking off to the side. "Tell me...what is your daughter like?"

Micah blinked. "Well, she's got a pretty strong personality."

"I wonder where in the world she could have gotten that from," Shadow Weaver chuckled.

Micah snorted. "Yeah, me too. Not like I had a teacher who taught me that strong personalities were the coolest thing west of Meya." He paused. "We'll find a way to cure you of the Spell. But until then, we'll help you get your magic fix. Nell's a genius – I'm sure he can help you."

I just want someone in my final days of sanity, Shadow Weaver thought, looking at their hands. She sighed. "You won't let me say no, will you?"

"Why would you?" Micah asked her, his dark eyes gleaming with a cheerful determination. Shadow Weaver wanted to respond, but the protests died on her tongue. Her other hand moved to her stomach, and she felt the scar he'd given her when he'd burned her.

"Will you...hurt me again?" Shadow Weaver said softly. "Be honest with me."

Micah looked at the place where he'd wounded her, then averted his gaze. "Not if I can help it."

She relaxed. "Then," she said, "I'll come. And Micah?"

"Yes?"

"I..." She shook her head. "No. Never mind."

"What?"

She turned away. "I'm willing to give you another chance."

Silence.

"I understand," Micah said.

Silence.

✧✧✧

Micah gripped Shadow Weaver's hand the next day as they stood in front of the mirror. Then, taking a deep breath, he looked at her. "Are you ready?"

She paused, eyeing the Seraphite rod again. "As ready as I'll ever be," she said softly.

Micah enchanted the mirror. "Take us to Queen Angella's office." The mirror shimmered for a moment before displaying their destination, and Micah gazed at the great glass. Moment of truth, he thought. Then he stepped into the liquid, Shadow Weaver behind him.

The pressure crushed in on them, and his leg hurt so severely that Micah feared he would pass out. But this was their safest bet to get to the palace. Nell would be waiting for them on the other side. They could start over with Shadow Weaver – no, Alura – and everything would be okay.

They exited the light at the end of the tunnel. "Oh, Micah!" Angella cried, gripping him tightly in a hug until he couldn't breathe. Then, she stepped back, smiling.

Shadow Weaver hung back near the door. Angella stepped toward her, extending her hand. "Hello, my dear. It has been a while."

Shadow Weaver wouldn't take her hand. "Where's Nell?" she asked in a small voice.

"Nell is...well..."

Micah frowned. "What happened, Angie?"

"She's here," a voice called from outside. "Break down this door!"

Shadow Weaver looked toward the door, then back toward Micah. Her masked eyes were filled with horror. "Micah...did you..."

"What's happening?" Micah repeated to Angella, his heart pounding. BANG! BANG! BANG!

Shadow Weaver backed against the wall. "You son of a pig!" she shrieked at Micah. "You betrayed me?"

"No! I – I didn't –"

"Stay here," Angella ordered. "I'll deal with those children."

Micah nodded. Shadow Weaver was breathing heavily, shaking with rage. Her hands clenched and unclenched as she gazed at him with murder in her eyes. Then, with an anguished cry, she socked him in the nose. Micah stepped back, eyes watering, though the pain wasn't nearly as bad as he'd expected. "Stop!" he shouted. "She's going to help us!"

"And I'm sure that involves executing me, too. Because I'm a monster!" Shadow Weaver sobbed. "I see now I can't even ask a single favor from the only person who ever cared about me!"

"Shadow Weaver, please," Micah said desperately. "I swear to you...I had no idea that would happen. I promise we'll work something out. But you have to –"

"'Trust me?' 'Worship me?'" Shadow Weaver mocked. "Trust is a conquest. Trust...is a war."

And with this, she rammed into him, and the stained-glass window of Angella's office shattered as the two tumbled onto the ground. The door burst open as they fell, and soon, the Alliance shot out the window in pursuit.

No, Micah thought, eyes watering as he slowed his fall. No.

Shadow Weaver was surrounded. And she was weeping bitterly, falling to her knees as though the world was about to end. Micah burned with anger for the Alliance. After everything he'd done to earn back her trust...they were intent on ensuring she never forgot how she'd been wronged.

She laughed. "You think I'm surrendering, is that it?"

"We would prefer to have you dead," Talyn snapped.

"I know," she whispered. "All of you would." She looked right at him as he said that, her ice-cold gaze searing through Micah.

The Alliance prepared their attacks. Micah teleported into the center, casting a protection spell as they fell. He heard Shadow Weaver scream from beside him, and the bubble was filled with a piercingly cold wind.

When he dropped the spell, she was gone. And with all his energy expended, Micah fell on his back and closed his eyes, hopelessness settling over him.

I dug her grave when I forged this alliance.

I really am an idiot.

❂❂❂

Did you know...

- I wanted this whole arc to be similar to "The Promise," in which Shadow Weaver almost takes Micah's hand but refuses at the last moment.

- The Alliance was hard to write, and I struggled a lot to characterize them. If I could change one thing about this story, it would be that.

Tell me what you think...

- Who do you agree with - Angella or the Alliance?

- Is Shadow Weaver right about Micah? Why or why not?