ACKKKKKKKKKKK! EPIC EPIPHANY! HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA I'm so happy right now. I know, I know, I'm cheating. I said two more chapters, and now I'm putting in an excerpt. At least it's short. Sorry...Not sorry. I felt like I needed to clarify a few things that have gotten muddy over the length of the story. THIS STORY WILL END before 30 chapters! I swear!

I hope you enjoy it.

Siobhan Whitlock! Welcome back! This one is for you, dear one.

Dedicated to Manda Dawn. You know what you did. It's not possible to do this without you, sweet girl.

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Remain Nameless

Kaedra knew that it wouldn't be long now. Isabella and her vampires had just sat down for the noon-day meal. Bella was fending off a million different petitions, had been almost every moment of the day since she had been forced to promote Lizzie to head of the Spellman line. Kay had helped her some: a product of misplaced guilt about keeping this from her friend, no doubt.

Ah, there he was.

The black-painted old man who's back was covered in golden sparks had just entered the dining hall, but Bella had her back turned; she didn't see him.

Perfect. How many times had Kay warned her to watch her exits?

The Akira almost never ventured out of their accommodations since they had come to Camp, except for the occasional meeting with the Seers' Council. There had been a great many developments since then, and Bella had been too noticeable in her efforts to keep them from the Cullens.

Between the Void, Edward's new biometrics, Bella and Edward's meddling in Spirit-work, and the vampires being chosen by the magicks to become Fae, Bella really should've seen this coming. Of course, Kaedra may have helped things along by putting the Akira's requests for a meeting at the bottom of Bella's daily paperwork stack. Bella always procrastinated when she was tired.

It was never a good idea to keep the Akira waiting.

Bella's yelp when the man rapped her on the head with the head of his staff was worth all the effort. Her friend shot her a dirty look immediately, but Kaedra just raised an eyebrow and mouthed, "Who, me?" Bella couldn't prove anything. The priest was spitting mad, wagging his staff at Isa like a lecturing mother.

"Spoiled child! You delay destiny's call. Honestly, Isabella, what am I to do with you?"

"Mikahel! Uh. Hi! How're things? Accommodations to your liking?"

His eyes narrowed. "They will suffice. I believe you have introductions to make, child."

"Uh. Right. These are the Cullens. That's Edward. Say hi, guys."

Watching the vampires squirm in their seats like they had been sent to the principal's office under Mikahel's glare was almost as fun as hearing Isa's yelp. Which was, of course, when things ceased to be funny in the slightest. Kaedra felt the panic hit her even before Mikahel had finished saying the words.

"Isabella Swan, there is to be Atmiya Mitra. The Choosing is come."

Mikahel hobbled away as quickly as he had come, the tittering crowd parting for him. Kaedra watched him leave and absently wondered who went paler, her or Isabella.

I was born in a big gray cloud
Screaming out a love song
All the broken chords and unnamed cries
What a place to come from

Though the Choosing happened every year, the time at which it took place was not fixed. The Choosing served as the marking of the year; and in addition to the young ones graduating to adulthood and choosing their soul-mates, it also served as the formal declaration of governmental changes.

Basically, when the Akira deemed it time, they declared to the acting Queen that Atmiya Mitra was come, and the Queen had until sundown to prepare.

I wish to remain nameless
And live without shame
'Cause what's in a name, Oh
I still remain the same

Atmiya Mitra was the only time that Destiny had a direct voice in the day to day lives of Fae citizens. Kaedra and Bella had both agreed that if they could possibly get the war over with before the next ceremony, that would be awesome, please and thank you. They had deliberately placed it on the back burner and left it at that.

You can call it what you want
You can call me anything you want
You can call us what you want
You can call me anything you want

Because it was not just everyday Fae that bowed to Destiny's hand. Bella had missed her Choosing, and as a result she had never been formally coronated. Though she had a place in the throne room, it was a preliminary one, a projection of a maybe. Destiny had never formally chosen her to rule, biometrics or no. The magicks had never had a chance to show the shape of Bella's rule. When they did, it would mean Bella's claim on the throne was absolute, and that anyone who challenged it was declaring war on every Fae who followed Shanarra's path.

Everybody lets you down
In this brief hole of a town
What a difference of the rushing out
Tell me what you're running from

It was the spark that ignited the gunpowder, and the Master's revolution would fly out of everyone's control. It would mean the end; the choice would be unavoidable, and there was absolutely nothing anyone could do about it.

I know everybody lets you down
I'll do the same
But know I'll always be around
This can remain the same

Bella's lover clutched at her as she had to sit down, still rubbing her head. The rest of them flocked over her like mother hens. However, Isabella's eyes were locked on Kaedra's own across the table, and Kaedra saw a reflection of her own absolute terror painted on her face.

Call me when you need me, call me when you need me
Call me when you need me
Darling, believe me, darling, believe me
Darling, believe me, darling believe me

It would seem the throne room was opening tonight. All Fae would gather, and Isabella Swan would be acknowledged as Queen of the Fae.

Atmiya Mitra was here.

Darling, believe me, darling believe me
Call me when you need me
Call me when you need me
Call me when you need me

Rise Up

Kaedra had lived an exceptional life. She had seen The Beginning of Havana, The Purge of the Ipswitch line. She measured her life in eons, not years. She measured it in moments, big and small, horrific and awe-inspiring . Since the end of her life as Queen, as Shanarra, very few things had surprised her, and even fewer had touched her heart.

Until Isabella Swan entered the scene. The girl was an impossibility, the exception to every rule. She bled power from her pores but didn't want it. Hell, most of the time she didn't even use it. Bella was born a Queen, noble blood to follow Shanarra's own, and blessed with power that Shanarra would gladly have died for, once upon a time. But it was her character that left everyone in awe.

Isabella lived for her people in a way Shanarra had never managed. She believed in them, in their goodness and their strength. She trusted them, trusted in their loyalty. She sacrificed for them casually, so naturally it was easy to overlook; she threw herself into her duties and bent everything in her life to follow her in serving her people.

The best part was that Isa didn't even see it.

Hell, even Isa's pet vampires weren't immune to 'the Bella effect'. The mother one spent all day in the kitchens and was steadily working her way to becoming Bella's head-of-house. The father was an exceptional healer and poured himself into every patient. He was quickly becoming beloved by the Fae. Her siblings had each found their niche: the Seers' council would gladly leap in front of a fireball for Alice at this point, the war-torn one was going to run the School soon if the first-years had anything to say about it, Beauty Queen was starting a revolution of community in the young ones: she truly taught them to be selfless in their love for one another. The boy, Emmett was due to express any day now. He could command a battalion with ease, all the loyalty he inspired.

The Fae could march into hell for Isabella and her strange little family. They would, too: most especially because she would never ask it of them.

It had been a long time since Kaedra had been Shanarra. It had been a long time since she fought those battles, ripped herself apart choosing between loyalty and love. She had sworn she would never face that part of herself again, had buried herself alive for a thousand years so she could lock it away with her love for Samael. In the end, Shanarra had been unable to choose, and her people had suffered for her weakness.

Kaedra knew the truth: Shanarra had been no Queen in the end.

But the thing about Isabella Swan? The thing about Bella was that she was. She was a Queen the likes of which Kaedra had never seen. She forgave, she showed mercy, she upheld justice. Again and again, with every action Isabella took, she proved to Kay who she was.

Kaedra could sympathize with Samael. They had been raised in a world where the sort of power Isabella wielded would have been worth every betrayal of every value. There was a part of Kaedra that screamed for her to possess it for herself, no matter how much Kay tried to shut it up. But Samael did not know who Bella was, why Destiny had bestowed her such extraordinary power. Destiny had given Bella the power she possessed because Isabella Swan was the Queen the Fae needed. At the end of all things, Shanarra and Kaedra had only one thing in common anymore: The Fae were her only remaining loyalty.

So, as Kaedra gathered outside the throne room for Atmiya Mitra surrounded by a thousand Fae from all around Havana, she determinedly thought about what her people needed from her; instead of the wrong feeling that came with anyone but her taking the throne, or the wrong of knowing Samael would face Isabella on the battlefield.

And then the doors opened.

For four thousand years, the throne room had remained the same. It moved, it appeared, it followed the current Ruler to their castle: but it's structure never changed. The throne faced the Fae, only slightly elevated, and the pentagram reminded all Fae of their true rulers: the elements and the character they grew from. The throne room was a constant, a scared symbol of the structure of Fae government. Through every ruler between Shanarra and Isabella, it had never changed, besides the structure of the throne on the dais. Or thrones, as the case may be.

Until, apparently, right now.

When the gilded doors opened, they opened to an elevated balcony above the half-circle stage and the thrones. The Fae were now drastically elevated above their rulers. This change alone would be symbolically relevant, an impossible shift of power that could not be, but Kaedra barely even registered it.

Because on the tiered stage below, Isabella's lonely golden throne stood on the highest platform, in the very center of the pentagram. Behind it, on the same level, was a strange gold and white podium which was situated back and to the left, closest to the pillars that formed the edge of the space, between Spirit and Fire. And a step below it, in the shape of a half circle and separated onto either side were six identical white and winged thrones, situated three by three between Isabella's throne and the balconies housing the Fae people.

What. The. Fuck.

Kaedra's mind raced. Her muscles locked. She knew her panic was showing on her face. The Fae around her were awed as always, but they didn't know, they didn't see the magick that formed this room, didn't understand its unchangeable nature. They were blind to the significance. Only one thing could possibly have had the power to affect these changes. Even Isabella couldn't do it.

Destiny.

The Akira began their cast, and the pentagram overflowed its bounds on the floor. Fire, Water, Spirit, Earth, and Air shined, marking their chosen Fae with the blessing of their affinities. Then, the room grew silent, awe-struck and slightly fearful as the elements bled into the center of the pentagram, beneath where the golden throne sat. They blended impossibly, before light like sunshine surged impossibly up from the stained-glass image, forming a golden beam of holy illumination. There, in the middle of the light, poised and resplendent in her glittering gold battle dress, sat Isabella Swan.

Well, so much for keeping her affinities in all elements a secret.

Kaedra's mind was tripping over itself. There was only one ruler of the Fae. A Queen. This was how it was, how she had designed it to be. The other thrones were subservient to the main one, the golden one, but they shouldn't be there. Sharing power went against every Fae instinct, the six smaller thrones were a symbol of power derived from Isabella's. Her power was shared, no longer as absolute as it had been. She had the final say, still, but now others had power, they could dispute her.

The Akira ceased their cast, and the room held its breath as their Queen stood and began her song.

You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry go round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains

Isabella beckoned to Edward, bidding him join her. She led him to the strange podium, and as he crossed the pentagram in the floor, his biometric wings revealed themselves, spreading imposingly from his back. He took his position, and scarlet flooded his eyes. The podium was a gold and white shield. Edward defended Bella's back.

A protector. A champion.

And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
And I'll rise up
High like the waves
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousands times again
For you
For you
For you
For you

Next, Bella approached the other Cullens. She led them, one by one, to each of the six thrones only slightly below her own. Their eyes shined with aura magick when they each stood in front of their chair. A symbol shined into existence at the floor of each throne: the bloodline crests.

Advisors. Head-of-houses. Leaders. A council.

When the silence isn't quiet
And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we'll take the world to its feet
And move mountains
We'll take it to its feet
And move mountains

Isabella Swan stood in front of the golden throne, looking upward and out at her people with her sword fully extended. When Mikahel turned to her, raising the crown above his head, she sat, and the Cullens sat with her, save Edward, a guard at his post. She spoke her oath, and the Fae responded with their refrain joyfully. The words of the Royal Oath seemed to ring in Kaedra's mind, casting her back to the day she had taken her own oath, made her own promise to protect and serve the Fae all the days of her life.

And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
For you
For you
For you
For you

I will guard the Fae bloodlines and their honor all the days of my life.

So Mote it Be

I will honor the character of the Elements and protect their casters

So Mote it Be

I will protect the right of choice possessed by every Fae citizen within my realm.

So Mote it Be.

I will keep the balance of Life and Death, Light and Dark; and the expression of both on the circle of life.

So Mote it Be.

I will live all the days of my life seeking first the will of the Bloodlines, until Destiny bids me cross the eternal waters.

So Mote it Be.

All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
And for that we have each other
We will rise
We will rise
We'll rise, oh oh
We'll rise

Every Fae took a knee. The Cullens stood, turned as one, and bowed to Isabella as the crown was placed on her head.

I'll rise up
Rise like the day
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I will rise a thousands times again
And we'll rise up
Rise like the waves
We'll rise up
In spite of the ache
We'll rise up
And we'll do it a thousands times again
For you oh oh oh oh oh
For you oh oh oh oh oh
For you oh oh oh oh oh
For you

It was a beginning. A new way of governing. A new community, one with a promise of a voice for every Fae bloodline, noble or not. It was the realization of Shanarra's dream, a true sharing.

It was impossible.

And yet, here it was.

She saw Marcos shoot her an awestruck look out of the corner of his eye. He was surprisingly teary. Kaedra was helpless to stop the smile that bent her lips as she knelt with the other Fae.

So Mote it be.

Until the Day I Die

Destiny had spoken. If Isabella lived through the war to come, she would form a government like the Fae had never known: she would build a community Shanarra had only dreamed of, a utopia for Shanarra's beloved people. The final battle was coming, and with it came the unavoidable choice; and now, the hope for an impossible future.

Kaedra slipped out of the exuberant throne room before the tears in her eyes could fall; suddenly unsure of whether the choice would be Isabella's alone. She had taken an oath too, so long ago, and the words rang in her mind. She couldn't tell if they were in her own voice, or Isabella's.

Something was shifting within her, something in her aura finally aligning: loyalty and love, Shanarra and Kaedra. A choice made; an answer acknowledged. Yes, Isabella was the Queen the Fae needed. In the privacy of her office, Shanarra raised a glass in an unseen toast.

Long Live the Queen.

Until the day I die
I'll spill my heart for you, for you
Until the day I die
I'll spill my heart for you