The moon was reaching zenith when I returned to Moonhaven, finally after turning away from my father. I was completely blown away by how beautiful it was, with the moon's bright light reflecting off of every surface. Then from within, a brighter light exploded from the hole in the top of Moonhaven.

"That must be the pod," I thought absent-mindedly. Then I gasped, I was supposed to be there! I ran towards Moonhaven, leaping from the ground onto the balcony, and ran inside. The pod had bloomed, and there was a trail of gold sparkles, wandering around, it appeared as though it was looking for someone..

I stepped forward, out of the crowd of Leafmen and Plantfolk, and the trail turned towards me, and in front of my eyes, formed itself into a glittery Queen Tara. But Queen Tara was not alone. In her arms, she was holding a lightly pink skinned newborn, with a shock of curly blonde hair, wrapped in a dress from the white pod petals.

"You've done so well, Mary Katherine," she said to me, her voice filled with warmth and happiness, "You've brought the pod to Moonhaven so our forest could continue to live."

With every word she spoke, my heart grew heavier, because I knew that this was the end of my journey. Tears ran down my face, and I hugged myself tightly.

"Mary Katherine, I-" Queen Tara leaned her head slightly, as if she was hearing something from an earpiece. Then she smiled and looked at me, tenderness in her bright eyes. "Sorry, it's MK, isn't it. MK, I chose you for a reason." Gently she lifted the newborn in her arms. "Maybe more than one reason," she whispered. "Your journey is not over yet."

My face went slack in shock and my arms dropped to my sides. "Your Majesty," I trembled. "You can't mean.." I gestured to the infant in the dead Queen's arms.

Queen Tara smiled triumphantly, but her eyes were comforting. "I know it's not what you expected, MK. But you formed a bond with this pod while you were traveling with it. You protected it. This infant will only grow into her greatest form if you are here to nurture her."

The baby started to squirm a little, and from underneath her, one of the pod roots stretched out to me. My heart grew in warmth, and I smiled and reached out to touch it. The root wrapped itself around my pinky finger and gripped it tightly. I choked out a crying laugh.

"Now, MK," the Queen said, her voice drawing my eyes back to hers. "I give you a choice. You can stay, and raise the young Queen," her voice took on a playful tone and she muttered a bit, "Which I might add, is your destiny," she grew again serious, "Or, you could go back into your old world."

I felt another tug on my finger, and again in my heart, but for a different reason. With my free hand I ran it along my ponytail. "What about my father?" I asked softly.

"Don't worry about your father. I have the most grand surprise for him, if you should stay," Queen Tara said mysteriously.

I looked around the cavern. It was nearly just as beautiful inside as it was out, but I was looking for familiar faces. Ronin was staring in complete shock at the Queen, and my heart broke for him, because you could see all of his emotions in his face. But when I looked at Nod, he was looking in the exact same way at me.

"Please stay," he mouthed at me. A tear dripped down his face and he quickly wiped it away , but when tears rolled down mine I let them stay.

I turned back to the Queen, and she was looking at me expectantly. I looked down into her arms, and the little girl.. my little girl was staring at me as well. She had completely lucid, beautiful clear blue eyes.

I smiled at the Queen and stretched my arms out and carefully took the little pink thing into my arms. It felt like the most precious weight I had ever beared. But I was still scared. "I don't know anything about raising a baby," I whispered to Queen Tara.

She laughed, "Neither do any other first time parents." She pushed a strand of my hair back and hugged my gently, careful to avoid squishing the baby. Queen Tara turned to the crowd, and there were many tears and laughter at the sight of her face. Ronin was staring at her, transfixed, and he was smiling at her, sadly. Queen Tara smiled at him as well. "There's that smile," she called playfully.

Queen Tara put an arm around my shoulders and put her arm underneath the baby and proclaimed, "I present to you, Queen Alisia, and your new Royal Advisor.." she looked at me, grinning and shouted, "MK."

Another surge of white light filled the Moonhaven, it rose with the cheers of its people. The roars were nearly deafening, and yet Alisia did not cry. A root rose to my face, and wiped one tear off of my cheek. "Hello, baby," I whispered to her softly.

The entire cavern was on their knees to honor their baby Queen, and when they rose, I saw Queen Tara stride purposefully over to Ronin. He looked weak in the knees, almost like he might get sick. She placed a hand on his elbow, and another hand on his neck, and she kissed him slowly on the cheek. Their faces stayed close for a while, whispering things, and the entire kingdom turned away to try and give them some privacy.

I turned my back, completely still transfixed by this baby, this being in my arms! The shock was settling in. I was to stay here! And raise a baby! This was the greatest responsibility I had ever received in my life. I was jumped out of my thoughts by a tap on my shoulder. I whirled around to see Nod, looking at me and Alisia, slightly delirious.

"So I guess you're staying then," he said, and he rubbed the back of his neck, looking almost, just a little bit, embarrassed.

I bit back a grin. "Put your arms around me," I echoed, thrilled.

Nod looked a little nervous, looking down at Alisia, who was laying complacently in my arms, but he put his arms around me carefully. I jumped up on my tiptoes, and put my lips on his, thrilled. I heard Alisia laugh, and our lips detached, and I felt green little vines wrapping around my waist, and I saw that Alisia was wrapping us together.

"That wasn't a goodbye," Nod said, rubbing a finger gently down the side of Alisia's face.

I giggled. "No," I agreed, "It was definitely more of a hello."