"Rose! Rose, oh please, wake up!", a woman called, panicked. "Rose, don't do this," a male voice said. "She can't wake up! Please do something, Tomas!" "Rose, please," Queen Stellina begged as she held her hand. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she turned to face a man with a tamed beard and identical aquamarine eyes. The entire land of Uniclandia fell silent, not even a breeze moved the leaves. Nothing.

They all stood in pure shock, unable to move that their queen has fallen weak. Queen Stellina cried out as she held Rose's head to her chest. "My sweet rose". Tomas knelt down to her feet, sobbing heavily as he began to sing.

Little Rose, little rose the day will come when you'll thrive and bloom,

It's then I'd like to take you to the moon-

you'll shine with the stars ever so soon.

Little Rose, little rose you'll be your very own queen,

You'll shine like the stars so everyone can see...

As he and Queen Stellina sang tearfully, a single tear from them both dripped onto Rose, gleaming brightly, a warm golden light began to embrace Rose's body, her hair billowing in a cool breeze, the debris of the war being dusted off the ground their queen lies on. The light became brighter and brighter by the second, blinding Rose's allies as they shielded their eyes. Queen Stellina gently pulled Rose off her chest to see Rose's eyes open with tears. "And my love for you will always be," the three of them sang in unison, rejoicing Rose's awakening. Rose held Queen Stellina's and Tomas' hands, crying softly. "Mom? Dad?" Crying in relief, Queen Stellina pulled her close again. "My sweet daughter!" Tomas lifted himself up to embrace the two women he cared about the most; his wife and daughter.

As they all closed in on each other, the dark skies had vanished into a clear blue sky, the burned trees bloomed into the lush green ones with the colorful flowers revived as the birds and critters sang with the sun shining down on the pure land. The humongous castle of thorns had turned into ash and dust, the kingdom of evil did no longer exist.

"I love you so much!", King Tomas cried as he held Rose close. Rose's obbing had softened just enough to speak. "Why didn't you tell me?" Queen Stellina sniffled as she caressed Rose's face. "We knew that if you knew we were your parents, you would see it as a chance to go back to your real world. But my strong girl, you fought your battle as you were destined to. Everything will be as predicted now. Thank the stars, dear Rose, you made it out alive." Rose cried harder once again, hugging them both tightly. Amos, Mila and all the others all ran up to Rose joyfully. "Rose, we won! We won!" Rose swiped at her tears, laughing. "It's over. We made it."

Queen Spina groaned as she held the back of her head. "This won't be the last time you see me!" Rose turned as she stepped closer to her as Amos pulled out his diamond cuffs, locking Queen Spina in them. "Let me go! Now!", she screamed as little critters hid behinds logs. "No. Uniclandia is ours, not yours. I hereby announce that you will be sentenced to life in prison, without any access to magic abilities. Amos, take her away please". "NO!! You're making a mistake you will pay for, my dear niece. I swear on my life!", she shrieked as she tried to break away from her shackles. Rose stopped dead in her tracks, taking in her words. "My dear niece?", she repeated in shock. Queen Spina grinned mischievously.

"Oh! Your mommy didn't tell you the entire truth?! Well dear sister, you have been revealed. We have the same blood. What you are throwing into life imprisonment is your own flesh and blood. Surprise, my dear! Family is who you fought," she sneered. They all stood quietly with dropped jaws. As Amos stood firm holding his grip, his face curled in disgust as well as the others. "It hurts knowing I have to do this, but it doesn't matter if we are family, what you did comes with a price you'll pay, my dear aunt. She won't ever try to gain her vicious reign on Uniclandia. Not ever," Rose retorted. Queen Spina's eyes bulged with surprise and rage. "NOOOOO! YOU WILL PAY! IT WILL NEVER BE OVER! I WILL RETURN!"

Rose watched bewildered as Amos dragged her away. Rose then turned to her parents, tears stinging her eyes. "Why did she have to be this way?," she asked desperately sobbing. Queen Stellina pulled her into a hug. "I know, it hurts. It's merging I've had to live with for a long time. But I would never let her get in the way of your life, even if we share blood". Rose sniffled as King Tomas and the others hugged her. After a long moment, Rose broke their silence. "I'll be okay though. We have to move on, am I right?" They all nodded happily in agreement.

"You're right! We must celebrate now!", Mila exclaimed jumping up and down giddy. "We will prepare your coronation, and the people will be there too!" Mare added holding her hands to her chest. Fiama and Shivat both laid on the ground exhausted, laughing happily of their victory. "Our friends here have served well in this war," King Tomas stated proudly. Rose smiled gratefully as she sighed with relief. "Can't argue that". Queen Stellina chuckled in response, drying her eyes. "I say Amos needs a promotion, he's been injured more than any of us!" Rose raised her eyebrows. "I know. Not to mention his hand being burned". "Come on! Let's get back to the Castle of Abalonia," Rose nodded as Queen Stellina swirled her arms in the air with a wide smile. The silver mist exploded, as a result of a white unicorn and an ornate silver a diamond carriage with filigree appeared in front of them. Rose dropped her jaws impressed. "Mom, that's amazing! How much more do I not know about?", she asked curiously grinning. "Oh, my dear, there's more".

Rose's grin grew wider as she hopped into the carriage in awe. As they rest of them filed in, the unicorn neighed as began trotting down an emerald path, with pink sapphire flowers blooming and opal butterflies fluttering around the carriage. "When's the coronation, Queen Stellina?", Mare asked holding Rose's arm lightly. "Hmm, maybe a couple of days. We need time for the people to arrive and some time to cope with our loss". Rose dipped her head as Celeste's last words rang in her head. Mila nodded sympathetically as she hugged Rose. "Just remember she will always be with us. In the stars". Rose blinked back tears, nodding. "Thanks".

As the girls chatted about the preparations, Rose took in the fresh scent of flowers, thinking over and over of how she didn't realize that the queen was her mother, or how she even forgot about her parents. "Don't feel guilty, the war was so much, I don't blame you for forgetting about returning to your parents," Queen Stellina said as she rested her hand on her knee. Rose stared in disbelief. "How did you know I was thinking about that?" "A mother knows". Stepping out of the carriage, the castle sparkled beautifully, just as she remembered when she first laid eyes on it. "C'mon," Fiama said as Shivat ran to the entrance doors.

🌹

"You wretched idiot, you'll rot for this," Queen Spina snarled at Amos. He laughed at her remark. "No," he said as she tossed her into the damp, gray cell, "you'll rot in here, not me". He smiled sarcastically as locked the cell, twirling the keys with his fingers. "How could you do such a deed to your own family?" Queen Spina scowled as he stared, stunned. " "Well, we come in twice a day for you to eat and you have a spot in the corner as well," he said chuckling as he pointed at the dark left corner. Queen Spina fumed at his attitude and turned away. "Leave, you brainless dog". Amos laughed as he walked away. "Yes, ma'am. All hail the Queen of Prisoners!" Queen Spina scratched her long mahogany nails on the bars, screaming.

At last, Queen Spina has been defeated! But little did Rose know that her nemesis was her very own aunt... If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider giving this a vote.⭐ Thank you!