Hi everyone, SK here.

I haven't even started writing this chapter yet and I already know this is gonna be a hard one for me to write.. not just because it's the second last chapter.  

Anyway.  This is probably the most important chapter in the book, so I'll let you get reading.  

!!! WARNINGS: Not a warning but I'm giving free hugs in the comments

- NO POV -

With the aid of hundreds of Spirits by their side, the fairies now fight back strongly against the humans.  Old friends, family, gather side by side to defend not just their home but their entire way of life.  

"Did you talk to Alara?" Layra's voice is almost drowned out by the battle.  Valerie mentioned it to the Minister quickly before she leaped off to go with the Leaders.  "Gardenia?"

The former Queen sighs.  "Yes, I attempted to- but it seems Alara does not want to show her face here, at least not now."

Heliux lets out a sigh; why would she?  Why would she?

"Leafeon, a Leaf Blade please."  Gardenia turns back to the Ministers after her Mist Pokemon executes the command.  "You know, I remember when you two couldn't even look at each other- and now you have a child together."

Heliux lets out a small hmph noise as he shouts out orders to his Pokemon.  Turning to the first Queen, he tells her in an annoyed tone, "Your Majesty, is this really the time for that?"

She looks at Layra who seems to busy with her Absol.  "He's still obsessed with using titles, I see."

"Absol, Night Slash at the Arbok then go defeat that Gengar before it gets to Alakazam!"  The Dark Minister has an exasperated smile on her face as she looks at her partner.  "Yes, some people never change no matter how long they live... but I wouldn't have it any other way."

"A question for the both of you-"

Heliux cuts off Gardenia with that strict tone of his.  "Your Majesty, we should be focusing on the battle, this is not the place for chit-chat."

Gardenia smiles sadly at the Light Minister.  "This is the first time I've gotten to talk to either of you since my death, and it could be the last.  I need to ask this..." the first Queen seems to lose her words for a moment while she composes herself.  "Do you despise me for what I did to you both?"

"At times, at times I did," Heliux replies with a clear undertone of anger in his voice.  "Milotic, Scald!"  He turns back to the former Queen, some hidden emotion in his eyes.  "When I hated Layra, it felt like I was suffering everyday.  Then, I had that short time when I was able to love her properly, before we were separated.  When we got separated I suffered knowing I could only see her once every century for mere hours.  Almost my entire time with the fairies I've suffered."  He lets out a dry laugh.  "I suffered either not having love, being away from my love, losing loved ones... but now, Layra's back with me for good.  And I have my daughter who is everything to me."  He actually... smiles at Gardenia.  "Yes, I despise you.  But I also have so much to thank you for, friend."

"Yeah, um... Love's better at words than I am, so that comes from me too," Layra adds quickly after he finishes, but not before shouting to her Goodra to use Draco Meteor.  She locks eyes with the former Queen before continuing.  "Our lives weren't the best, they never were.  Being immortal made it worse, but some things got better too.  At least neither of us will ever be alone."

Gardenia smiles at the two before fighting alongside her friends once more.  "I'm glad to know that," she tells them, and she means it.

"Pikachu!"  Ash's cry is as loud and proud as ever.  "Quick Attack into Iron Tail!  Greninja, give some Water Shurikens to Pikachu!"  Ash is always fired up for a battle, no matter what's happening or what the stakes are.  His Greninja tosses out his signature water weapons while Pikachu jumps on them, illuminated by his blue Quick Attack light.  The Water Shurikens provide a path for Pikachu to run up to strike an opposing Tyrantrum hard with an Iron Tail.  Despite having spent centuries apart, Ash still has good synergy with his Pokemon.

"Sylveon, help Pikachu with that Tyrantrum," calls out Serena.  Even if the Pokemon was trained for performances, Sylveon can still swiftly deal with any Dragon-type in the blink of an eye.  "Braixen, you partner with Greninja for now."  Her hand finds Ash's in the heat of battle, the two of them latching onto each other and never letting the other go.  They already lost each other once.  They aren't going to do it again.  They need each other's strength.

The two blonde-haired siblings run up to the two former Leaders.  "There is no way we aren't fighting beside our friends," Clemont says, his voice raw and emotional.  His eyes sparkle as he pushes up his glasses with his pointer finger, the tiniest glimpse of dawn sunlight catching on the frames.  "It was the four of us, just how it started, and that's..." he trails away, letting everything finally sink in.  "That's how it will end."  He knows that his two best friends have passed away, he knows that, but before it didn't feel like a proper goodbye.  This, a goodbye after a battle to end all battles, this feels like the goodbye that they deserve.

"Dedenne, Thunderbolt!" Bonnie's Dedenne leaps into the fray, as strong as ever.  She turns back to her brother and two best friends.  She doesn't say anything, but she doesn't need to.  They all understand what she means.  The three of them still can't believe how much she's grown up centuries later.  They still can't.

"Luxray, help Dedenne!" the Advisor commands with a thrust of his wrist.  The wolf-like Pokemon follows Bonnie's Mist Pokemon, keeping it safe while it delivers strong electric attacks to its opponents. 

Ash has that same determined look on his face, the same one he wore in his gym battles when he was human.  "Greninja go with them, if there's anyone that bothers them you better be showing them your Water Shurikens.  But first..." both of them can feel it, the force pulling them together.  Except, Ash can feel it twice as much.  He bonded with Pikachu once during his battle with Drago, and he's feeling that same sensation again.  He wonders if he can even bond with two Pokemon at once, but he figures there's no better time to try.  This is the moment to end all moments.

A column of water, sparking with lighting, roars to life around the former Dark Leader.  Serena temporarily lets go of his hand, shock passing through her.  Similar columns form around Greninja and Pikachu, which help to dispel the attacking Pokemon.

"What's this!?" some humans are crying out, for the bond phenomenon is so rare that few have ever had the chance to witness it.  After a few seconds the water dispels, leaving Ash-Greninja and Ash-Pikachu on the battlefield, as well as Ash himself feeling more powered-up than ever.

He takes the hand of the love of his life, both of them latching onto each other securely once more.  "Witness our strongest power!" he says, shouting at the top of his lungs, then starts attacking on a rampage.

Serena, on the other hand, doesn't feel powered up in the same way Ash is; not just because she isn't impacted by the bond phenomenon.  Unlike him who's happy to battle, she is simply happy to be surrounded by all her loved ones, old and young.  Her children, her friends.  She's happy to have a second chance. 

She can still remember the day when she said goodbye to Sylveon.  

"Sylveon..." my voice trails away. I kneel down and place both hands around her cheeks, and give her a weak smile. "Don't be so sad. We'll see each other some day, I know it."

Serena smiles to herself; it seems that she was right after all.  She doesn't even have the Time Element.  Nostalgia begins to cover her like a blanket, she hasn't been gone for that long but it feels like everything's changed drastically.  One thing has remained the same though, their objective.  To protect the land of magic and the fairies that dwell inside it.

"Let's give it our all," she tells Ash, gripping his hand even harder.  Her voice can barely be heard above the sounds of battle, the sounds of hardship, but Ash hears her.  He always hears her.

"Of course," he returns, and she hears him too.

All around, fairies young and old are fighting with every fibre of their beings.  Valerie's blessing has not been taken for granted, oh no.  Fairies like Lillie and Mallow are teaming up with fairies such as the previous Dark Leaders Rin and Xavier.  The two Advisors from before the time of war, Ryder and Forest, fight side by side just as they've always done.  Queen Melodia takes it upon herself to personally make sure that Drago does not step a foot out of line, Arceus knows what she'll do to him if he does.  

Valerie's Spirit Soldiers are also fighting with vigor.  Naturally, with his strong party of Pokemon Red leads their part of the attack, and skillfully too.  Along with Red's Pokemon, Leaf and her Ivysaur are doing well, not surprisingly of course as Red has trained her before.  Nate and Rosa, together with their Samurott and Servine, are making quick work of their enemies, same with Hilda and Hilbert with their Pignite and Oshawott.  

Some of the fairies are attacking with them too.  Brendan and his Grovyle are helped by May and her Blaziken when an Abomasnow enters their vicinity.  Ethan and his Typhlosion are somehow outshadowed by Kris and her Feraligatr, the latter being known for being fierce on the battlefield.  However, when a Victreebel shows up, she begrudgingly lets Typhlosion help her out.  

As for Valerie herself, she's with the two Leaders in the center of the field.  Ash and Serena are nearby, as well as her parents, but she's trying to make it so that they can all concentrate on the battle... well.  Almost.

Nombles is currently attacking rapidly along with Corviknight and Curses, having by now built up many Quiver Dances.  When the stray Rock-type comes by, Corviknight is trick to take care of it with a Body Press.  When a Fire-type comes, Curses easily can take the hit due to its resistances.  They all cover each other's weaknesses, the three of them are perfect together, a perfect trio.  

Valerie's heart starts to beat faster and faster due to nervousness.  This battle, it's already gone on too long.  Along with attacking, she's used it as time to think, and it's time.  It's time to end this, it's time to end this part of her life.  Of all their lives.

She smiles, it's time.

But first, she needs to talk to August one more time.  She doesn't want to do this without him, even though...

She shakes her head.  "August, I need to talk to you.  Alone."

He glances at her as if she's crazy, to him she might as well be.  "Alone?  Now?  Don't you think we're kind of busy?"

She gazes at him with a hard look in her eyes.  "This is about my second test.  I need to talk to you."

"Go, quickly," Verity tells us before either of us can say anything else.  "I'll cover for the both of you being gone.  Battling's what I'm good at, after all."

"And I will help."  In shock the three fairies turn around to see the woman that's about to become their former Queen, Alara.  

Valerie can't believe her eyes, there was not a very high chance of this happening to begin with.  "What are you doing here?"  Somehow she's able to leave the anger out of her voice.

The Queen shrugs.  "Her Majesty," she points to Gardenia, "reminded me of a few things.  I would like to still save myself while I can."  She grins.  "And I would like to start by beating the hell out of Lance.  Contrary to what you might think, we were not on the best of terms."

Verity grins.  "Well, Alara, I'd like to do the same thing for him killing my mother.  Help me."  The two girls move off into the distance, completely ignoring Valerie and August standing there dumbfounded.  

"Let's go," Valerie says quickly, grabbing August's hand and pulling him into the forest.  "There's not a lot of time."  Her breath catches in her throat, there's not a lot of time, not a lot of time at all.  No time at all, no time.

No time.

They continue further into the woods until they're far enough from the battle, so far away that not a single sound reaches them.  With white magic swirling around her fingertips, Valerie creates a portal.  "Come," she tells August, practically pushing him through.  The Light Leader's been silent this whole time, he's wondering what she's going to be telling him, he's wondering why Verity didn't come along.

They arrive at the Lazuli Lake.  There is not enough sun to make the water sparkle, the sky is still a beautiful azure blue, maybe closer to a cobalt blue.  Definitely not light enough for the sun to be fully above the horizon.  "Valerie, what are we doing here?" August questions as she goes to drag a boat out of the shed.  He rushes to help her, both of them pulling it out to the water.  She rushes to grab oars.

"You... you know we don't need the oars, right?" August reminds her, smiling internally as he remembers she did the same on the day when they shared their first kiss.

She turns back to him, a heartbreaking smile on her face.  "I know we don't.  I'm just... trying to waste time."  Despite not needing them she brings them to the boat anyway.  Both of them get inside, the Light Leader using his magic to push them both out into the water.

"Valerie, what's going on?"  August is a bit scared now, scared for what she's about to tell him, scared for what's about to come.

She doesn't reply right away, instead dipping her fingers in the water.  Droplets cascade down her fingers, dripping back into the lake from which they came.  "This lake really is pretty, isn't it," she comments absently.

August sits there silently, knowing she'll continue.  "Do you remember when we first came here?" she asks, turning her head slightly back to look at him.

He nods, a smile coming onto his face as nostalgia washes over him.  "I do.  I tried to teach you how to use magic, we danced together, and then... you kissed me."

She blushes a little.  "And then there was that giant misunderstanding.  I was mad, I tried to get over you, but..." her eyes wobble as she looks at him.  "I couldn't.  I love you, August.  I'm always going to love you, you're the one I want to see at the end of every bad day, you're the one I'll come to when I'm..."

"When you're what?"

She shakes her head, now looking off into the distance once more.

August lets out a little huff, the wait is killing him.  "Valerie, please, tell me."  She mumbles something, but he doesn't catch it at first.  "What?"

"It's you."  She looks so heartbroken.  "You're my second Queen's test."

It only takes the Light Leader a second to remember that the second Queen's test is to cause eternal suffering to the one you love.  His stomach sinks as he looks at her.  "Wh-What?"

"You won't feel any physical pain, I promise you."  She shifts closer to him in the boat and places both her hands firmly on his shoulders.  "I promise you."

"Then what's the sacrifice then?" his voice is breathless, like a gust of wind.  

"This relationship," she tells him evenly, taking deep and shaky breaths in order to get her words out.  "Us."

August doesn't know what to feel, this can't be happening, this cannot be happening.  "Y-You're breaking up with me?  After all of that?"  He's shaking.  "After all we went through, this is how it's going to end?"

"Auggie, I-" she stops herself, trying not to let her tears fall.  She has to be strong, strong enough for herself and herself only because pretty soon, he isn't going to be in her life anymore.  "I'm so sorry.  This is how it's going to be.  I'll always love you."

The Light Leader is heartbroken, wanting to yell or scream at her or maybe even both, but he stops himself.  Simply breaking up with a person isn't what he'd deem eternal suffering.  He loves Valerie very much, but he would move on eventually, right?  Wouldn't they both?  His heart sinks as he realizes that there's another hidden catch that she's not telling him about.  

Besides, if Valerie really was just going to break up with him for her second test, it would've been finished by now, she would be crowned Queen, and this whole debacle with the humans would be over.  None of that has happened yet, so there must be something else... or at least that's his reasoning.

"I don't want to do this without your consent," she relays to him, looking distraught.  "This is... a big deal.  I-"

"What exactly are you going to do?  Be honest with me, please."  I'm giving you a chance to come clean, a chance to tell me the way you actually wanted to, August pleads internally.  So please.  Tell me.

Of course, she shakes her head.  "You'll... see.  But I promise you, it won't be so bad.  You won't remember a-any of this," she tells him, her voice breaking as tears start to fall.  "You won't remember any of it."

"Hey, come here."  He opens his arms to her and the two hold each other in a gentle embrace.  They don't let go, neither of them want to.  Letting go means letting go for what could be the last time.  Both of them know it's the last time they'll ever hug like this, they don't want it to end.

All good things must come to an end.

"W-We should go back," Valerie says with a slight stutter, wiping her tears away.  She tries to think positively, this means that she'll finally be crowned Queen and the crisis with the humans will end.  "We need to go back, actually.  We've ran out of time."  Her last sentence seems to echo in both their ears.  

"We've ran out of time."

August is still concerned.  "Valerie..."

She shakes him off.  "No, I'm ready.  I'm... I'm ready enough."  She takes his hand, this being one of the last times she'll ever get to do that... and she knows.  Valerie gives him a nod, trying not to let herself crumple apart.  She's been through so much, she reasons with herself, she can take one thing more.  One more bullet, one more burst of pain.  She can do it, she can do it.

Valerie smiles at him, a smalls mile.  "Let's go."

The Light Leader makes the portal, the last one they'll ever step through together.  "As you wish, Your Majesty."

~~~~~~~~~~

"That's what you get," Verity says in a harsh voice, "for hurting my fairies."  The human quickly retracts their Pokemon into a Pokeball and flees for what he thinks is his life, probably.  At least that's what she thinks.  After they couldn't find Lance, her and Alara split up.  Verity's still searching though, she wants to find him and give him hell.  

She picks up a low growl from Curses.  The Dark Leader turns to face him only to find her Mist Pokemon nudging its head to the side, pointing at someone... Lance.

There, in the middle of the fray, is the person that she wants to kill.

But, she's learned by now.  She's learned not to let her get ahead of herself.  Killing Lance would be sweet, sweet revenge for the suffering that he caused upon them, but she knows deep down that Lance is just a troubled human affected by a fairy spell.  

Still, that isn't going to stop her from giving him hell... on the battlefield. 

"I'm going for Lance," she tells Lin, who's fighting valiantly near her with her own brother.  Verity runs off before her friend can muster a response.

"Not without me you're not."  With shock, the Dark Leader turns around to find her father speaking to her.  He's as determined as ever to give that man hell for killing the love of his life in cold blood.

Verity can't wrap her head around it.  "Dad, how- you aren't going to yell at me?"  She's shaking, Curses floats beside her.  "You aren't going to get mad?  I- you know what I did to you!"  Of course, she's avoiding saying the truth due to the fact they aren't alone.  "Hate me!"  She want to scream, to shout, to raise her voice.  "HATE ME!"

Ash stands still, not saying anything at first.  "Verity," he says slowly, approaching both his daughter and killer, "that day, you weren't yourself.  You weren't thinking straight.  I know you did what you did out of fear, fear and anger.  You were afraid of dying yourself, dying like your mom did.  You were afraid and those thoughts turned themselves into malicious insanity."  His hand rests itself on her right shoulder, he smiles.  "What you did was unforgiveable... by most.  I always find it in me to forgive, just as you do.  I love you just the same."  Ash knows that deep down, despite whatever she might've been thinking on that day, she regretted killing him.  He knows that she knew he was willing to sacrifice his life for her own, but she was afraid... she was afraid not of herself dying like Serena, but him.  That's why she did what she did, that way she could at least be sure how her father died.  But Ash won't say this out loud, he knows Verity is aware of this deep down.

He pulls her close for a hug, Verity standing there in shock.  Thoughts are racing through her mind.  All the mistakes that were made, all the moments lost by her quest for revenge... all the mistakes.  All the moments lost.  "Dad..." she holds him tight for a few moments, not knowing how she could've been blessed with having this man as her father.  Then, the two go fly off to face Lance, their Mist Pokemon running and hovering after them.  

Lance is there with his team of Dragon-types, and grins when he spots the two Leaders.  "Dragon Claw, Dragonite!" he commands, pointing toward Curses.  Unfortunately for him his other Pokemon are busy fending off other fairies without his command, so it is a one versus three situation.

"Curses, Phantom Force!" Verity's command is quick enough to be heard before Dragonite's attack lands.  The Galarian Dragon-type promptly disappears into the void.

Ash grins.  "Pikachu, Quick Attack- Greninja, Water Shuriken!"

The former Dark Leader's Pokemon begin to rapidly attack the Kantonian Dragon-type, who frantically tries to fire out Dual Wing Beats at the two opposing Pokemon.  Pikachu and Greninja begin to wittle down its strength, and when the moment is opportune Verity grins.

"Curses, NOW!"

Instantly, the Dragapult bursts through a portal and slaps Dragonite hard with his translucent tail.  The Dragon-type falters and flops to the ground, where Lance promptly recalls it.  After a few seconds, he turns his head to call for one of his other Pokemon.  "Sal-"

"Stop."

The voice is loud and authoritative, and it comes from the back of the fray.  When Verity sees who it is, she quickly runs back and joins them.  Most of the fairies and all of the humans are confused, but when they try to keep fighting the voice continues.

Valerie, along with August and now joined by Verity, step out into the clear.  "Stop," the soon-to-be Queen repeats, using the same tone as before.  "Stop."

The chaos of battle quiets down to a little bunch of whispers within a matter of seconds.  With the two Leaders by her side, she steps out further.  "It's time for all of this to end."

Lance is angry.  "As per the agreement, since this is a forfeit on your side-"

"This is not a forfeit.  You all are tired.  All of us are tired.  But I have a solution."  Her voice shakes for a split second, only noticeable by Verity and August who are next to her.  "I have a solution that will fix everything without violence.  I won't wait anymore.  I won't wait."

"We won't let you put another spell on us, Fairy," Lance growls, the Salamence he was trying to call earlier now flying menacingly in front of him.

August raises his chin, grabbing both his sister and girlfriend and flying up into the air with them to be better seen by humanity.  "All of this has been a misunderstanding," he states, "a giant misunderstanding.  A spell was put on you, by mistake, and it caused anger... and not just from all of you.  From all of us.  Anger is never good, it never is.  That's what caused this.  Anger, unneeded, unnecessary anger."

Verity wishes that these two let her in with them to practice whatever spiel this is.  "All we do is protect this world.  We keep the natural order.  All of us sacrifice any chance at what you would call living a normal life to maintain this order while the rest of you get to fulfill your dreams.  And you attack us.  How dare you?"  August squeezes her hand, and she takes a breath to calm herself down.  This is trying to invoke peace, she can see what they're doing, and she's making it worse.  "Like August said," she tries to improvise, "anger is never good.  It's poisoned us all... and our Queen has a plan to make all the anger dissipate."

Valerie doesn't attempt to correct Verity.  "That's right," she promises, grabbing the twins and returning back to the ground.  "It will all end... right now."  

When her feet touch the ground, she calls for the Ministers and Alara to join her and the Leaders.  "August, can you do me one last favour?" she smiles meekly at him.  "I need an umbrella.  A big wide one, enough to cover all six of us."

He's trying to be strong for her, he really is.  "Of course."  While he crafts the umbrella, Valerie mutters a few words under her breath, her eyes lighting up with violet fire and her hands covered in a golden glow.  After a few seconds, the dawn horizon is covered with grey rain clouds.  Valerie makes sure all of them are under the umbrella by the time the first droplet makes contact with the ground.  Out of the corner of her eye, she spots her friends out in the rain watching her.  She knows it's impossible for them to get affected by the rain, and she needs their strength.

The rain comes gently down, pouring over all of them.  The creatures that it touches, whether human or fairy, become almost frozen in place.  When it touches the Spirits, they become washed away, transported back to the Spirit Realm where they belong.

Valerie is sure to thank them all before the first vanishes.  August becomes terrified, so does Verity, they're going to have to say goodbye to their parents again.  Luckily, the two make it close enough to the umbrella to say a proper goodbye before the rain washes them away completely.

Behind them, both Pikachu and Sylveon bow their heads to their former owners.  Both Ash and Serena are forced to watch for the second time as their Pokemon abandon them, returning to the stars from which they came.  

"Mom, Dad," August is trying to stop his voice from breaking, this isn't even going to be the hardest part in all of this.  His voice draws the attention of his parents back to him and his sister.  "I-"

"Ssh," shushes Serena, a gentle smile gracing her features.  "Neither of you need to say anything.  We both know all the love you have for us, and both of you know all the love we have for each of you.  We're the proudest, the proudest, of both of you for making it this far."  Somehow, Serena is able to keep it all together... she knows this will be the last time she will see either of her children for a long while.

"We didn't have time," pours out Verity, her fingers shaking under the umbrella that Heliux is strongly gripping onto, "we still don't have time to say goodbye.  There's so much that needs to be said, I- I don't want either of you to go."

Ash smiles.  "But we've already gone," he reminds her, making both twins flinch.  "We've been gone for a little while now.  You'll see, both of you will continue to carry on.  Remember you've always got each other.  We will live on in your memories and in your hearts."  The rain is pouring down on both former Leaders, Ash and Serena gradually fading away as the conversation ensues.

Both Leaders are mortified, then comes the tears.  "We'll miss you," sobs August, "we won't ever forget about you.  We'll miss you more than you can know."  He wipes at his eyes, but he keeps crying.  He can't stop himself, he has to watch his parents die for what is essentially a second time.

"Thank you for everything, for everything you've ever done for us," adds Verity through tears, "Thank you so much."

The last thing that Ash and Serena get to say to their children is a simple "we love you" before they fade out of existence once more.

The last spirit to fade away is Gardenia, who gives a nod directed at Heliux, Layra, and Valerie before she disappears.

By now, the rain has affected everyone else it has touched.  The fairies are standing there, frozen in place staring at the humans, while the humans are looking back... but not with anger.

With wonder.

From underneath the umbrella, Valerie amplifies her voice again using magic for all to hear.  "Humans, fairies, all of you.  This is a new day and age for us all.  A day and age where humanity will come to know our ways."  The Leaders look shocked at this, but both Ministers nod, deep in thought.  They figured there would be a time like this eventually, a time when humans knew and were okay with the fairies' existence... and of course it was their daughter that set this into motion.

She smiles.  "But now, it's time for you to return home."  With a flick of her wrist, the humans start to disappear from the area one by one.  The fairies, however, remain.  There is still one thing that needs to be done here.  

Valerie must past her second test.  She must be crowned, right here, right now.

She looks at the twins.  "Well, this is it both of you... thank you both for being in my life while you could, I enjoyed every second of it, every second."  Her voice is raw, so raw.

Verity immediately catches on to what this is.  "If we touch that rain, we'll lose our memories of you?"  Her voice is uncharacteristically wobbly.  "We won't remember who you are?"

"N-No."  Valerie shakes her head.  "None of the fairies will remember who I am, apart from my parents, and it will look like I just appeared now.  Any memories you formed with me up to this point, they'll be erased... until you d-die, of course.  Spells can't be placed on spirits, so they'll return with your death."

"But that means... while we're alive..." Verity's voice breaks.  "No.  Valerie, you can't do this.  The three of us, we're an unstoppable team.  The perfect trio.  You can't break us up."  

She smiles thinly.  "You can still be a duo," she points out, trying to be brave, trying to be strong.  "And we can still be a trio, but we'll have to form it all over again."  A sigh escapes her, a sad, regretful sigh.  So many regrets, chances not taken, but now is not the time for remembering them.  

"This is my second Queen's test.  To inflict eternal suffering on someone I love.  That someone is August.  By performing this memory wipe, we won't be able to spend the rest of the years when we are both alive together.  When you die, August, you'll be forced to live with the regret that we lost that time, and with your memories back, you'll be alone until I die millions of years later."  Her voice shakes.  "In order for it to work, I've had Mom and Dad," she glances toward them, "swear to secrecy and not tell you anything regarding what your new selves will know about me.  I also need to erase everyone else's memories to prevent them from telling August anything... that includes you, Verity."

"So... this is it then."  Tears start to slowly pour down Verity's cheeks again.  "This is our ending, for the three of us."

"The rain it'll-" Valerie cuts herself off, trying to think of the best way to word it.  "The rain will cleanse you of any pain you're feeling.  You've both felt so much over the past couple days, everyone has.  You'll feel at peace at last.  I wanted to do that much for both of you."

Verity takes a deep breath.  "I'll go out first."  She walks toward the edge of the umbrella, pausing.  "Might as well get it over with, there's on use hesitating if this is what has to be done.  Just..." Valerie is met with a desperate smile from one of her best friends.  "Just promise, in your millions of years of life, promise not to forget about us, okay?  Not to forget about what we had?  Our friendship?  Don't forget.  Please.  That's my final request to you, Val."

Valerie nods shakily.  "Verity, I won't.  I won't ever forget.  I promise."  

The Dark Leader doesn't say anything.  She just smiles, turning to face her best friend and her brother.  She steps backward.  She takes another step.  And with her third step, she's fully out in the rain. 

"Thank you for everything," she says before her eyes flash gold.  Then she looks confused.  "What... what's happened?"  She looks at Valerie.  "Uh... I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?"

Valerie tries not to cry, she expected this.  "I'm about to be your new Queen," she says kindly, "and I'm going to complete my second test now.  Could you please go check and make sure the rest of the fairies are okay?"

She smiles and does a little bow.  "Of course, Your Majesty."  Verity walks out into the distance toward her other fairies.

Valerie smiles fondly at the girl, then stiffens when she remembers what's about to come.

She turns to August.

She takes a deep breath.  

She opens her mouth, but she starts crying.  Heliux and Layra so desperately want to comfort her but they know now is neither the place nor time.  "A-August," she stutters through tears, "I love you so much.  I'm so sorry I'm doing this to you, I- I-"

He gracefully approaches her, slowly touching his nose against her own.  "Boop," he whispers.  "Smile for me.  Please?"

Valerie smiles, laughing through tears.  "August, I love you so much."

He falters.  "Are you sure there isn't any other way?" he checks.  "You're sure?"

She smiles sadly at him.  "I- I'm sure."  She grabs onto his arm.  "You- you need to go."  She doesn't let go his arm despite her own words.  She doesn't want to let him go, not now, not ever.

But she must.

For this is the path she has chosen to walk.

"Valerie, I- I need to tell you something," August says quickly.  "Before my mind forgets about it.  A confession."

Valerie's interests are peaked.  "Go on-"

"I will.  But first... one last kiss for me, please.  Before I go, one last kiss."  He leans into her, gazing at the beautiful violet-gold eyes that will shortly no longer belong to him.  She stares back into the cerulean eyes, the ones she first fell in love with.

They lean into each other, and their lips meet for the last time.

"Valerie, what I wanted to tell you," August says mentally to her during their kiss, "is that I know your secret."

S-Secret?  Wh-

"I know that you're pregnant, and that you didn't tell me."

Wh- what?  How, I-

"You... accidentally projected it to me."

~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday...

August boops Valerie's nose, and she gets all flustered with a cute smile that he loves.  "Wh-What?" she asks.

He gives her a smile.  "You seemed down, and I wanted to get you smiling again.  What'd you wanna talk about?"

"I've figured out what I need to do for my second Queen's test, I need to hurt someone that I love and that someone is you. I'm pregnant, you're going to be a father, but you'll never be their dad while they're alive. I'm so scared, so so scared, about what is going to happen tomorrow, because that's it. Tomorrow is our last day."

August is in shock.

He knows that she didn't mean to project that to him, but... what.  What did he just hear.  She's... she's pregnant?  He's going to have a child, he's going to be a father?  Valerie is going to use him as her emotional sacrifice...?

No, he wasn't supposed to find out this way.  He has to leave everything to her, he trusts her to pick the right path.  And if the right path is the one where he doesn't know, or the one where he fakes he doesn't know... even if it hurts him, he has to do it.  For her.

For her.

~~~~~~~~~~

Valerie is livid, gazing up in him with almost... fear.  His eyes are still closed.  August, I am so sorry, I thought it would be easier, I'm a horrible person I don't deserve you.  I'm selfish, I'm so selfish you deserve better.

"If this is truly the best path for us, then I'm not going to get in your way.  I just thought... I just wanted to tell you that I know.  I owe you that much.  And our kid-"

Twins, two sons.  Aurelio and Cerulio.

"So that's why-" Valerie can feel his smile underneath the kiss.  "I know you'll love them for the both of us."

Valerie breaks apart from him with a sob, she knows that they are wasting time, but she doesn't want him to go.  She doesn't want to let him go.  August looks down at her in confusion, and both of them are thinking the same thing, if one of them doesn't forcibly let go, neither of them are going.

Valerie places both hands on his chest.  She gazes up at him, at those cerulean eyes she thought would always be hers.

She takes a deep breath.

And then she pushes.

She pushes him out into the rain.

"I love you," she cries, pouring her heart out as her voice breaks.  She chokes on sobs as he stands out there, the rain soaking his clothes, his skin, his very soul.  "I love you so much, I'm waiting.  I'm waiting until we can finally be together again, I'll wait until the end of time."

"I'll always love you, and I'll always wait.  No matter what."  He smiles.  "I love you so much, Valerie."  

His eyes flash gold, and Valerie sobs.  Her parents attempt to reach out to her, but she pushes them away.  She has to be the one to do this, this is on her.

August stares at her, confusion in his eyes.  "Are you alright?" he asks in a concerned tone.  She smiles, even while thinking she's a stranger of course he's worried about her.  "You're crying, did something happen?"

"My name is Valerie..." she pauses.  Her last name definitely isn't 'Skie' anymore.  "My name is Valerie Lithirose.  I'm about to be-"

"Your new Queen," Alara finishes.  The rain comes to a stop, and Heliux folds up the umbrella.  The clouds dissipate, revealing the beautiful sunrise that was happening behind them.  She holds out the Staff, and nods to herself.  "Eternal suffering.  Yes, you've passed both your tests now... which means, this Staff is going to be formally passed down to you."

"Alara, I sincerely hope you find peace in your death," laments Valerie, hand on her heart.  "I hope your afterlife brings you everything you were hoping for."  Oh, Valerie still doesn't like this Queen, but at this point, likes and dislikes do not matter anymore, nor do hate or love.  This is a person on their deathbed, and all of these things have been washed away, washed away with the rain.

"As do you, when your day finally comes," she returns.  Closing her eyes, she thumps the Staff against the ground just as the other fairies are gathering around to witness the passing of the Staff.  "With this, I formally pass the Sapphire Staff down to this lady right here, and with my words, its power now answers to her.  Binded by Sapphire for all eternity, this girl is now the Queen of Fairies."  

Bright ribbons of magic swirl around Alara as soon as she passes the Staff to Valerie.  The rose-coloured sapphire that once sat in its heart now falls to the ground, replaced with a beautiful new gemstone coloured violet, swirled with gold.  All the fairies watch as Alara's wings shatter and crack, her Spirit finally dying out after a life long-lived.

Valerie takes a deep breath, about to take back her spell, when she pauses.  She got rid of their anger, but she does not want to get rid of their memories of fairies.  Not when she is trying to merge the two worlds together.  She looks to her parents for reassurance, and they nod.  

"The new Queen," Heliux announces, promptly bowing down to the girl with the violet-gold eyes and the violet-gold Sapphire.  Layra bows down with him, and one by one, all the fairies bow down to their new Ruler.  

As the sun rises past the horizon, Valerie catches sight of a red leaf flying over August's head, the leaf getting stuck on a nearby branch.  

When she blinks, it's gone.

... well, I hope you enjoyed.  One chapter left.