The Final Kingdom - Bonus Content - Updated Glossary

<-Epilogue

Because the universe of the Kingdoms' series is complex and detailed, here's a quick reference for some of the terms used frequently within the story.

 

Activated – A term referencing a Cultivator who is in full possession of their magic and skills.

 

Arcanery – The proper term for the infinite power inside the Apexes of Light and Dark because they have far more than just magic inside them. Technically both do possess infinite magic but Shanae's actual magic use/capacity is very limited to little more than what her own daughter has a Dual Cultivator (other than Shanae having both offense/defense as a Lead). Sayena, conversely, can use her magic in ways that no other being alive (other than Tasia) can do. Therefore, when Shanae is using arcanery as an Apex, it is easier to see than if Sayena is doing it (because there is the expectation that Sayena's magic can do anything). There IS a significant difference between magic and arcanery, particularly since arcanery—as the name implies—draws on the literal Light and Dark and Hope forces of the universe to make things happen. Therefore, when either Apex is using their magic, the term 'magic' is used, but when they start doing things outside the scope, then 'arcanery' is used.

 

Arcanistry – The proper term for the infinite power inside Tasia as the Apex of Chaos, since she possesses both magic and majik as well as more arcane forces. It acts exactly like arcanery does by drawing on the literal Chaos and Hope forces of the universe to make things happen, which means she can do everything the other Apexes can do and then some. This blend of majik/magic is exceptionally detrimental to evil because it invokes the raw power of Judgment. (Yes, she really is Karma!) Because arcanistry encompasses both a blend of magic/majik as well as what lays outside that scope, the terms 'magic' and 'majik' are still used when Tasia is accessing only those particular powers.

 

Caretaker – The term used for the soul mate of a Cultivator. Caretakers are specially chosen to have unique traits and qualities that enhance their Cultivator, and they are usually given one magical gift from either the Ruler or the Defender category depending on the need of their mate. Caretakers to Defenders are particularly special since they inevitably have the ability to enter battle at their Defender's side, and have the strength of will to hold their heart and souls together.

 

Color – Not a term, per se, but worth explaining in more detail in its own section. See Magic and Majik for more color-based information. Shanae, Sayena, and Tasia stand apart from others where color is concerned thanks to the blend inside them. Shanae's black-pink gradient magic/arcanery directly relates to her being the first and only Protea Cultivator to use and harmonize both elements of her world. Likewise, Sayena's white-gold represents the same for her with Delphinium and its two elements. Their color does not change whether they use magic only or their arcanery—but Tasia's does. Tasia will have either a purple and yellow or black and magenta combination—not gradient—depending on whether she uses Ice or True Shadow magic because both Iris and Aria only have one element each. Her majik alone is a silver-gold gradient due to her importance to both her Goddess and God. Her arcanistry, however, is a rainbow-gray gradient that echoes to her possession of every Flower Element, including Chaos.

 

Core (capitalized) – The soul and life of a planet that gives it will and holds its Flower Element power. Like living beings, a planet's Core is either Light or Dark (or for two, Gray being both). Light Core planets rely on Delphinium to keep them alive while Dark Core planets rely on Protea. This is true for the entire universe, and not just Blossom Field. The two Gray Core worlds of Iris and Aria depend on both.

 

Core (lower case) – The most basic component of all living beings that helps determine much of their personality. They are also Light or Dark, or in the case of two, Gray. Some cores in people can have speckles or aspects of the other, but never in a perfect blend except for the two Gray.

 

Cultivator – People with a Seed inside who possess Flower Element magic based on their world's flower/Core. Cultivators are divided into Rulers (who literally rule their worlds), and Defenders (who literally defend their worlds). Both Rulers and Defenders possess very different sorts of magic even when sharing an element/world. Dual Cultivators—as the name implies—fill both roles and therefore possess both types of magic.

 

Deactivated – A term referencing a Cultivator who does not have access to magic or skills though the potential for such exists inside them. A Deactivated Cultivator is all but completely powerless, including lacking immortality, unless they happen to be a Caretaker for another Cultivator.

 

Era – The term for a section of time marked by the flow of power within it. Eras change when power levels reach an absolute peak for that era. Typically, power will climb across Eras, plateau, drop, and then climb again higher. The shift of an Era can be tangibly felt by those with magic, especially High Rulers and very specifically those with the Memory Flower Element. Eras can vary in length from a few decades to thousands of years. For the sake of continuity, Era shifts are not 'officially' begun until January of the following year. Typically, the birth of a generation of Cultivators will cause the change of an Era, or at the least, will mark the 'real' start of it. Other times, it will be marked by the first marriage of a Ruler Cultivator of the first generation.

 

Flower Element – The literal elemental forces that shape all of existence. The Flower Elements determine what sort of climate/landscape a world will have as well as the individual magic or majik inside Cultivators and witches. Nine Flower Elements are considered common as they can land in just about any hands: Nature, Illusion, Ice, Fire, Thunder, Air, Water, Metal, and Glass. The Memory Flower Element is restricted solely to those who are involved with or critical to the Hall of Records. Even more limited are the Dark and Light Flower Elements as they cannot be controlled by anyone except someone with arcanery or arcanistry—because both Light and Dark are technically arcane forces that support the universe. Rarer still is the Chaos Flower Element, which is actually as critical an arcane force as Light and Dark to all existence and can only be controlled by Tasia. There exist two 'sub-elements' of Time and Shadow, which derive from Memory and Chaos respectfully. The subs have some similar properties but work in vastly different ways, making them less dangerous to be owned—though no less rare in their own way.

 

Flower Mark – The mark on a Cultivator that denotes which world birthed their Seed. A Ruler has their Mark on their chest over their heart; a Defender on their upper left arm (Duals of course have both). A Deactivated Cultivator only has an empty outline of their Mark, where an Activated one has full color. A starting Mark will have a single blossom of their world's flower. Rulers cannot evolve, but Defenders can, and each evolution known as a 'tier' adds another blossom. When the Defender reaches their peak, their blossoms open into full bloom. Evolution is a necessity for most Defenders to increase the strength of their magic while fighting against evil. Additionally, if a Cultivator is the only one of their world, their Mark will have sparkling edges. Only the Apexes have a crown wrapped around their Marks, and the crowns sparkle upon their full evolution to Apex, which is separate of their being fully bloomed (though Shana reaches both at the same time).

 

Flower Mark (additional): Touching a Flower Mark belonging to a Cultivator is a very personal thing under any circumstance, but has specific meanings depending on who/how is doing it. A Defender who places a Ruler's hand on their Mark is outright offering respect and protection for that person. A Defender placing their Caretaker's hand on their Mark is asking for love and support from their lover. Likewise, a Caretaker touching their Defender's Mark is showing respect and love and of course support for the role they fill; this is also applicable to Rulers, but more poignant with a Defender given the danger they face. Between non-mated Cultivators, touching Flower Marks is all but casual, and is seen not unlike holding hands or hugging. Suffice to say, a non-Cultivator/Caretaker who dares touch a Flower Mark without permission has effectively violated the Cultivator in question, and has earned a powerful slap in the face—or worse.

 

Magic – The force of Flower Element power inside all Cultivators (and most Caretakers). Each Flower Element works in very different ways, though there is some overlap, and it can have as much effect on someone's personality as their core. The color of someone's magic directly relates to their world's personal flower rather than any assigned color to the element itself. This is why perverted/evil magic always looks off or putrid in color. A Caretaker's magic—if they do not have their own Seed—will have the color of their Cultivator's flower. All magic, if it is strong enough—usually once reaching full fruition as a skill inside at least a Caretaker—can be used to hold select items like weapons. Nearly all Caretakers and Defenders alike carry their weapons inside their magic. It is far more convenient and secure than any other option.

 

Majik – The force of Flower Element power inside all witches. It is alike to magic but very different and so called slightly different. It can also have as strong an impact on someone's personality as their core. The color of someone's majik directly relates to whether or not the witch is closer to the Goddess or the God, and this applies even to those not actually in the Faith or following the Path. Closer to the Goddess will make the majik silver in color, and closer to the God will make the majik gold. A subtle under color of either white or black will follow the gold or silver depending on the witch's core, but it is rarely ever noticed by the average person unless something is wrong with it. Majik works exactly like magic in only one way: the ability to carry select objects. In the case of witches, they usually carry their wands or other majikal objects for convenience. In the case of the Resurrection Cultivators, they selectively store items in both their magic and their majik.

 

Magikry – The term applied to the Resurrection Cultivators (other than Tasia) in possession of magic and majik both, used to imply when they are applying both in conjunction. They do not have arcanistry because they don't in any way or form have access to the arcane forces. Magikry only appears when both types of magic as well as majik are present, therefore it will only appear in the hands of the Resurrection Cultivators—none of their children, nor Caretakers, have or will have all three needed components.

 

Mask – The item used by a Defender to summon their armor. A Mask is a condensation and manifestation of the Flower Element magic of each world, and donning it will both shield a Defender's identity as well as give them magical armor for protection. A Defender does not need to wear their Mask in order to access their magic or weapon, but it is usually safer to put on a Mask before pissing off evil things. All Defenders of a world have the same Mask, and armor is identical on males as well as identical on females (which is determined by the Defender's identity).

 

Paradoxal Pivot – An incident where the future effects past events and not the other way around. This nearly always involves time travel, and specifically includes events 'not set in stone' where Destiny will give a Cultivator the choice of how they want their future to go. Related to this, the Memory Lag Delay is a safety function by Time herself that crosses between Eras so that people of the future don't remember the past events happening until after the events conclude in the future. In this way, they don't accidentally stop the event from happening by knowing it will happen.

 

Power – A catch-all term that can apply to magic/majik/et al as well as the various smaller levels of gifts and skills inside people. Power can either be manifested wholly as a properly named item, or simply exist to make people feel/act/respond differently to stimuli. Typically used to describe someone who either does not yet know what sort of gift(s) they have, or someone who doesn't have gifts strong enough to be named at all. This term is especially used where the planets, gods, goddesses, and demi-god(dess)s are concerned since they don't really fit into any of the categories and not unlike the Apexes use gifts/skills outside normal defined scope. If someone references Shanae's 'Dark power', for example, they are implying a combination of all she possesses, otherwise they would name them specifically. Power is also the term used to apply to musical gifts since those particular gifts are not Flower Element-based. However, Tasia, as a Mystic, could arguably classify her musical gift as being under her arcanistry because of her ability to bend existence. (Note: Holy power specifically refers to god/goddesses/demis, divine power specifically refers to Destiny, and arcane power is Light/Dark/Hope forces wielded by the Apexes.)

 

Seed – The item inside a Cultivator's soul that makes them a Cultivator. Their entire soul comes from their Seed, which is why ripping out a Cultivator's Seed will kill them. A Cultivator can choose to willingly sacrifice or burn out their Seed to release greater and stronger magic/power, but it will kill them. This applies even to the Apexes.

 

©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.

Kingdom Series Table of Contents->

The Final Kingdom - Epilogue

<-Chapter 19

(Twenty years later)

Peace continued to spread and grow. Children grew. Lives were lived beautifully. The goddesses and gods at the highest levels could rest and relax. They did not need to hover and watch over every detail. There would be no more wars.

When Destiny sensed a portal opening behind her, she turned with a smile. It had been five years since she had last been visited by her Apexes. The last time had been to invite her to Anna's wedding. She had declined to attend in person, but she had watched from a distance. She still worked with Love and Life to create the perfect soul mates for those who needed them—not just Ruler Cultivators, but also others of particular importance. She had picked out Anna's before she had been born, and seeing them happy and smiling had made her day better.

Nothing and no one came out of the portal initially, and she stepped toward it with a puzzled frown. "Shana? Siobhan? Anastasia?" She took another step closer and then stopped in her tracks as someone stepped out. Her hands slowly lifted to cover her mouth, and tears began to shimmer across her eyes. It was not her Apexes.

The man who had entered her domain was tall and strong shouldered, and he was more beautiful to her than any other she had ever seen. Cornflower hair clung to his face and neck, copper eyes carried a soft glow that her soul recognized instantly, and a familiar birthmark shimmered against the light brown skin of his chest. He began to smile at her, and there seemed to be a promise of forever in the curve of his lips. "You," she whispered. She hesitantly reached out and stopped just before her hand touched him. "Is it you?"

Devin caught her hand and pressed it to his heart under his mark of power. Inside, its rhythms beat at the same pattern as hers. "I'm here now," he said softly. He drew her closer in his arms and buried his face in her hair. "I just knew you were waiting for me. You're not alone anymore, Destiny."

Tears spilled down her cheeks and then she threw her arms around him tightly. "I'm so sorry for what I've done," she whispered against his shoulder. "I took your parents from you."

"There is nothing to forgive." He tilted her chin up and tenderly kissed away the tears clinging to her lashes. "Let it go, Destiny. Everything is the way it's supposed to be." He cupped her cheek and smiled. "What is the one thing you want most?"

"You." Her lips trembled as she smiled. All the pain and loneliness of millions of years were sweeping away. She wasn't alone. Her soul mate had come to her. She had never dared dream she would have one. The incandescent feeling that swelled inside her heart and soul felt shocking in its depths and oddly foreign. Happiness. How beautiful it was. "I want you."

"I'm here," he said simply.

As his arms caught her close and his lips claimed hers, the happiness welled inside her until it knew no bounds. There was no longer only one absolute force for the universe. She was Destiny, and he was Hope. Together they would rule until the end of all existence.

Finally, the last happy ending had arrived.

 

©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.

Bonus Content: Updated Glossary (Later Today)->

The Final Kingdom - Chapter 19

<-Chapter 18

The next few days were horrendously busy. The Resurrection Cultivators almost didn't see each other at all. The worlds needed to be rebuilt, and the cities needed to start getting on their feet again. A newfound hope existed inside all who lived. Smiles came quicker. Hands were held out to help. If you didn't have much, there was always someone with something they could give.

Shana was scarce those days. She stayed at her manor while the others took care of things. She had passed the torch to Tasia, and she ached with loneliness for her missing friends. She was the only member of the Elder generation to remain behind.

On a clear morning near the beginning of December, she found herself walking through the mountains that separated her two homes. Eventually, she ended up near the shrine that overlooked the Protea Kingdom. The city and castle alike looked like a busy hub of activity that felt familiar to her, for she had seen it before at the beginning of the Resurrection Era.

Softly, Tasia said behind her, "The next Era will begin on my birthday."

She turned in surprise. "So it was that close all along. We just had to ensure it arrived."

"Mmm." Tasia walked over to stand beside her and they looked together out over the scenery. "I and Racine both felt it pretty clearly shortly after the Final War, that the fabric of Time itself had shifted as it does to bring a new Era. Come January 1 of next year, we will begin Year 1 of the Kingdoms Era. We don't know how long it will last—Eras can be decades or millennia—but it exists, and we know it will be more beautiful than any other."

Shana tucked her hands in her pockets. "I saw you got to meet Jean and Byron."

"Yeah. Don't say it; I know I'm a lot like them."

"In the good ways." She smiled. "The first time I met you was the first time I felt the grief for losing Jean finally go away. You've got her spunk, but you've got Byron's fierce will."

"And his love."

"Naturally, that." She closed her eyes. "I don't think you'd be able to do what was needed if you did not love me." She took a breath and walked a few steps away. "You knew. You knew this was the time."

"Of course I did. The entire reason for my existence, the very price of my birth, hinges on this moment." Tasia blew out a breath. "I admit that it gave me a few bad moments when I first understood what it meant. Being destined to kill my best friend in battle? It's not a comfortable realization. But as I saw more and more events happening . . . I accepted it. And when all of this began . . . I could understand why it had to happen. Why it had to be me."

Shana turned around. "I knew all along that I would die in battle—that I had to do so in order to preserve the integrity of my Dark soul. How awkward it was when I began to realize that there was no one who could defeat me. Then I took your hand, and I felt the Chaos power sleeping inside you. Do you know how happy I was?"

"So you choose this destiny?"

She smiled. "Funny, isn't it? In the end it really does become a choice. If the others were still here, I might choose to stay as well. But they're not. We're not needed anymore. Not on this plane. The duties are meant to be shared, just as Storm said. Shanta and Selene have ruled the Realm for millions of years. I think it's time that Siobhan and I took over. I have lived through three Eras on this world. I am ready to live through the next in another."

"You still want to be a grandparent though."

"Well, of course. We're hoping for a baby boom, actually."

"It's already starting. Sunlight is pregnant."

"Ha!" She grinned. "What do you know. For the first time, Nature is the first to start a baby boom. I guess that's a sign of the changing times, too." She drew a deep breath. "I'm ready." She removed her Mask from the necklace it hung on beside her communications mask and the pendant her Caretaker had given her millennia before. She enlarged the Mask and stared at it on her palms. "It began this way," she murmured. "And so it ends. One last time to wear the armor."

Tasia removed her own Mask, and they both pulled them on to summon armor they would never need again in the future. Tasia stepped forward and held out her hand to call for the divine ritual blade of her lineage. She swung it up to hold the blade before her face. "Five thousand years ago, this sword was used to defend your life. It is only fitting that your life end by it."

Shana drew her sword as well and swung it through the air. "Nemesis called you my destroyer. He was wrong." She rushed forward on a shout and attacked in the same motion. Their blades clashed together and their eyes met. "You are my savior."

They had fought together before. They had trained and sparred for years. They had never tried to defeat one another; they had only ever played around, knowing full well that an attempt at defeat would be lethal. This time was different. This time they fought with all their skill. This time they fought to win. They fought to kill. Only one would walk away.

They were so closely matched in strength and skill that the fight moved in only a short area around the cliff. Clouds gathered in the sky in one of Protea's rare storms called by excess Nature, but the lightning that flickered echoed black and white. Rain began to fall, and the ground grew slippery under their feet though they did not notice. Blades locked and came apart and locked together again. Sometimes a blow got through guard and armor alike, and blood was drawn. The drops of gray and black brought forth clover as the planet itself bloomed from the force of Hope inside the two Apexes.

Swords met and tangled together and then were lost to the side. The fight did not end. Hands and feet became weapons. Strikes were blocked and countered and absorbed too fast to be seen. Shana managed to come up under Tasia's guard and took her down to the ground. She didn't stay there long. Tasia was able to flip her off and reverse their positions. Shana knocked her free and they rolled apart only to spring up and move in again.

Unknown to either of them, the Resurrection Cultivators and their Caretakers had gathered below the cliff and watched the battle. No one said a word. They had known it was coming.

Sheer strength was not winning either Defender any ground. Shana hurled a blast of straight Dark power at Tasia. She managed to dodge most of the attack, and she absorbed what she could not dodge. Mottled bruises covered both of them. Mud and blood streaked them. Tasia countered the Dark blast with a blast of Chaos power from her fingertips, and the blow knocked Shana halfway across the area.

Shana slowly and painfully gained her feet again. Dark power could absorb everything except Chaos power; Light power could repel everything except Chaos power. Nothing was more painful to the Apexes of Light and Dark, nothing more deadly, than the power of the third Apex.

The fight picked up again, but it had begun to shift toward Tasia. Her blows became more likely to land, and her strength began to grow as Shana's finally began to wane. Tasia had thrice shattered her soul, thrice rebuilt herself stronger, and in doing so, she had pushed herself to a state where her sheer physical and magical capacity actually surpassed her sister-Apexes. She had no limits—except the driving need to do only good.

Blasts of dark and chaotic power were exchanged, and both thudded onto the ground on opposite sides. Their hands closed around their swords and they lunged toward one another. Softly, under her breath, Tasia whispered a spell on her sword. She ducked under Shana's swing and came up at the ready. The tip of her sword pierced Shana's chest and continued all the way through her armor and into her Ruler Flower Mark beyond. One did not need to actually reach the heart on a Ruler Cultivator to kill them; destroying their Mark could be just as effective.

They staggered apart and Shana stared at her. Her sword hit the ground with a clatter as she lost her grip, and her knees began to buckle. Tasia leapt forward to catch her and slowly lowered her to the ground. "It should hurt," Shana whispered. "Why doesn't it hurt? I was ready for that."

"I cast a spell on my blade." Tasia removed her Mask and put it aside. The wounds remained, and the damage to her armor transferred to her normal clothes. "I numbed the wound. Your last moments shouldn't be painful." She removed Shana's Mask as well and then tucked it into her hand. "It's done, Shana. You're free."

"Yeah." Shana closed her eyes with a smile. Numbing spell or not, she didn't think it would have hurt anyway. There was too much joy inside. "Thank you." She looked up at her friend and was glad to see no tears in her eyes. "I love you so much, Tasi. I was blessed to know you."

"The feeling is mutual."

"Can I make a final request?"

"I don't do last rites."

"Don't be silly. I want a song. I want a song all of my own. I want your music to carry me to the Realm where everyone is waiting. Liena and Jean gave me songs once. I need one from you. Everything in threes, right?"

Tasia closed her eyes and reached inside. The music was not far under the surface. It had been simmering for years, had been slowly bubbling higher and higher with every passing day. It finally spilled free into the air in a gentle melody of love and acceptance.

That day we met, I felt it inside

That we would set each other free

Meant to meet, meant to love

We walked hand in hand side by side

 

But that time has passed

And we can’t hear your laugh

Unless we stand very still

Because then we feel it near

 

The warmth you showed us won’t fade

I hear you laughing in the land around us

And when I see you smiling across the sun

I'll know you’re shining down on us

The rain slowly began to stop falling so heavily, and the wind began to gentle. Black proteas began to bloom across the land around where they knelt. Shana's eyes closed and she smiled. Her heart was slowly beginning to stutter, slowly beginning to lose its rhythms. She could feel it beating in tune with the music. They would end together.

That day we met, it was destiny

Foretold long before we two were born

In my heart you will continue to live on

Even though your footsteps have faded

 

Because the times have passed

And we can’t hear your voice

Unless we stand very still

Because then we hear it inside

 

The warmth you showed us won’t fade

I hear you laughing in the land around us

And when I see you smiling across the sun

I'll know you’re shining down on us

 

The warmth you showed us won’t fade

I hear you laughing in the water around us

And when I see you smiling across the sun

I'll know you’re shining down on us

 

It was destiny, fated to be

But we wrote our own stories

We walked because we chose to

And we chose how we said goodbye

The clouds began to part as the last note faded away into eternity. The sun shined down softly onto the cliff and swept across the two there. Under Tasia's hand, Shana's heart stopped beating with the last note of the music. The sunlight swept over her form and she began to glow brilliantly. In flickers of darkness and sunlight, she began to fade. Into Tasia's mind, her voice murmured, It'll be nice to not be the greatest anymore.

Tasia closed her eyes with a smile as Shana disappeared into the sunlight calling her away. I may have defeated you, she thought back, but you will always be the greatest Cultivator of all. She opened her eyes and looked up at the morning sun sweeping across the land. "I'm not crying," she said softly as LeAnn and Rodi knelt beside her. "The time for tears has ended." She turned her face into LeAnn's shoulder and closed her eyes as her lips trembled. "Okay, maybe I'm crying a little bit."

"We won't tell anyone." LeAnn held her closer and closed her eyes as well. It was truly done. Destiny had been fulfilled, and the final price paid.

Everyone was free.

 

(One year later; Aluria)

Time passed. When a year after the Final War had passed, it was hard to find evidence it had ever occurred. Cities and countries thrived in the first year of the Kingdoms Era. The peace was not fragile nor tentative but instead deeply felt. Celebrations were underway on Aluria. New royal children had been born. Joining Queen Sunlight's daughter was a son from Queen Moonlight and a daughter from Queen Starlight.

Rose fidgeted and hovered outside her parents' bedroom door, chomping at the bit to get in and see her baby sister. She wasn't the only one hovering. Phoenix was pacing, too. Luc and Dana, smart people that they were, kept out of the way.

Jeo opened the door and laughed. "Okay! Get in here!" He grinned when Rose shot past him. The younger Cultivator was only a few inches shorter than the elder. "She's growing up too fast." He sighed at Phoenix. "She's already hearing interest from future suitors. Damn it, she can't have those until she's twenty!"

Luc pulled a face. "Tell them to not bother waiting. Rose is going to marry me." He turned on his heel and walked away.

The others blinked after him, and then Dana said, "Well. Damn. Yuiki owes me money."

 

(Protea Castle)

The Immortal Fields flourished as much as the kingdoms did in the new peace. People dreamed stronger, brighter, and better. LeAnn continued in her role as Ruler of the Ephemeral Plane, and she kept an eye on things from a distance just as Pallas and Allister did. She and Chance would normally have been traveling at that time of year to visit some allied worlds, but she had given in to the over-protectiveness of her loved ones. That didn't mean she wasn't cranky.

"I want to go riding or something," she complained at Chance as he walked into their bedroom. "I feel like a bird in a cage! I'm going stir crazy!" Hearing herself, she groaned and put her face in her hands. "I'm whining. Damn it, I am my father's child after all."

He smiled and gently rested his hand over the large swell of her eighth-month pregnancy. "Can we compromise? I'll take you out on the boat if you promise not to go into labor early. I don't recall a single Protea Ruler who wasn't born roughly a month to two weeks premature—including you."

She covered her hand with his. "She wouldn't do that to you."

"Are you positive of that?"

"She promised."

He kissed her tenderly. "Is she going to be like you?"

"Maybe. Are you okay with that?"

"I'm better than okay. The world needs more women like you."

She promptly pushed him toward the door. "Okay, the whining was bad enough. Don't make me cry on top of it. Take me on a boat."

He just laughed.

 

(Delphinium Castle)

If there was anything people came to Delphinium to buy or trade for, it was their incredible breed of horses. They were beautiful, powerful creatures with indomitable wills and gentle patience with any rider. They were bred and raised as part of the Delphinium Kingdom itself, and the ranch portion of the palace had been opened after the war. They had already entered their third season with no signs of slowing down, thanks to High Queen Reagan's incredible gift with the creatures—a sure sign of the Protea blood still inside her body.

When Reagan looked out the window and saw Pallas walking a patient stallion, she smiled and went out to join him. "She better not fall!" she scolded.

He smiled at her, and their two-month-old daughter waved her arms happily from her perch in her father's arms. "She won't fall. She seems to be quite happy up here. I've learned that when she gets fussy and can't be calmed, a ride around the area works nicely."

She grinned impishly. "It always worked on me, too." She caught a handful of the stallion's mane and climbed gracefully up onto the horse in front of her husband. "Give." She took their daughter and sighed contentedly as Pallas wrapped his arms around her. "This happy ending thing works for me. How about you?"

"I've always been a big believer in dreams coming true."

 

(Gladiolus Castle)

When Kari walked into the castle workshop where her husband was fussing around, she stopped and blinked in bemusement. All she could see of him were his legs as he dug around under a desk. "I brought cookies."

"I'll eat them when this stupid thing stops speaking in Ancient Protean!"

She bit her lip to hide a smile as she put the tray down. Adding on a computation repair workshop to the castle had seemed a bit odd at first, but it worked out perfectly for them. It gave Storm a place to tinker and fuss when he inevitably encountered a low tide of duties to do, given the peaceful state of their world.

A contented gurgle from the bassinet diverted her and she walked over to look inside. Her daughter smiled up at her, and she reached in to lift her out. "Hey there." She snuggled her daughter for a moment and then carried her over to Storm. She knelt down and said solemnly, "Baby Yumi says Daddy needs to come have some cookies."

Storm peeked out at them and then began to smile. "Well, who am I to argue with such a smart girl?" He sat up and grinned. "By the way, Mom, someone was trying to levitate the other day."

She winced wryly. "Brings a whole new meaning to baby-proofing the castle."

 

(Daffodil Castle)

The nice thing about being able to use Portalpads, Logan reflected to himself as he returned home, was that commuting across a galaxy proved not that big a deal. It would have been a hell of a commute from Daffodil to Iris without magic, that was for sure.

"How was your workout today?" Raine called from her art room as she sensed him enter that wing of the castle.

"Normal. I cheated, and then he cheated, and then we tag-teamed Terry. Fun stuff." He leaned in the doorway and smiled at the scene. There was more paint on Raine and Devin than on the canvases. "I'm not sure art will ever invent a non-messy way of being created."

"The mess is half the fun," Devin told him cheerfully. He put up his brush and stopped to pat the large swell of Raine's belly. "He wants milk. I'll go get it from the head chef!" He skipped out of the room merrily.

Raine smiled after him in bemusement. "He knows my cravings before I do. I'd be unnerved if I didn't know what he was." At sixth months pregnant, she had only just started to gain in real size. She hadn't yet confirmed the potential gender of her child, but she had no need to try. Devin had known from the get-go that she would have a boy. He even seemed to have the ability to communicate with him. Raine smiled at her husband. "Give me a kiss before he comes back."

She sighed happily as he obliged but was careful to keep her hands off his uniform. Her life seemed almost idyllic and she loved every moment. She ruled her peaceful kingdom while still creating art for her sister's books. She sold her standalone works across the various galaxies. Logan still co-ran Tasia's combat school that had been in stasis until the kingdoms settled; it had recently started up again, with him, Rodi, and Terry taking turns with Tasia to teach infrequent classes around their other duties, and Allister even chipped in. Someday, when their children rose to rule, they would shift wholly to those normal lives again. The promised gift of immortality for Cultivators would be truly obtained now, and they wouldn't have treasured it without fighting for it.

 

(Aster Castle)

If you wanted to guarantee a full house at your theatrical studio or concert hall, you booked Theodore Aster. The king of Aster only had time for occasional performances, but no one turned him down! He had released a musical album at insistence from his fans, but they would have to wait for the next one. He only had time for two things on his plate, and since the kingdom would always be one of them, music had been replaced without hesitation by his pregnant wife.

"You should be resting," he scolded Kimber as she lounged on their balcony in a two piece bathing suit. "You also have no guilt."

"I am resting." She opened one eye. "And I can be pregnant and sexy."

"Well, I won't argue with that, but you're causing low flying spaceships to lose altitude." He tugged her up to her feet as she laughed and spread his hands over her large belly. He tried terribly hard not to coddle her, but it was a struggle sometimes. Even Cultivators could want to nurture and shelter their Caretaker, especially if said Caretaker was carrying their child! "At least I kept my promise. I did not get you pregnant until you'd had time to adjust to being a queen first."

She gave him a quick kiss. "And thank you for it. But I'm pretty sure we were equals on the getting me pregnant part." She nipped his lip and watched heat fill his cerulean eyes. "You could remind me of that, though."

"Will you nap after that?" he teased as he scooped her up to carry her into their room. The increase to his majik had resulted in his being able to carry his Caretaker as often as she carried him, and they mutually enjoyed such a thing.

"If you get me tired enough."

"Challenge accepted, my queen."

 

(Orchid Castle)

Aster wasn't the only planet to produce theatrical talent. Coming from Orchid was also the current king. He had stepped onto a stage in an ancient role played by hundreds of actors, and he had stolen it for his own. In the year since the Final War, he had been seen in a handful of others from across the ages, and he had even been seen in the historic epic Prayers. He had played main supporting character opposite Theodore Aster and Anastasia Iris without being overwhelmed, and his fame had been secured.

He had been on an extended leave of his own, however, given that he had a three-month old daughter he positively doted on, and he also wanted to better support Gail who had discovered pregnancy to be both . . . difficult and sometimes unpleasant as a child of the Realm. Still, she had made it through, and so had their daughter.

Ryan sat on the side of the bed beside the rocking chair holding Gail and their daughter, and he grinned. "When did you say her wings would be breaking in?" The wing part of Gail's genes would not fade for another two generations, so both Orchid and Hyacinth would be having winged Ruler Cultivators for a while—not that anyone complained.

"Probably around the age of three." She smiled. "A magic/majik casting empath who can fly. I think we should ask Tasia to do the vetting for all nannies. We need majik ones to hopefully prevent too many incidents. You know someone is going to end up a newt otherwise."

He just laughed. "Some more than others."

 

(Carnation Castle)

Beth was a happy camper. With everything settled, she had been able to find time around her duties as queen to start doing hair and designing clothes again. Her first line would be hitting the stores sometime soon, and she was trying to find a way to con some of her friends into modeling for photos. The pregnant ones were safe—until she finished her maternity line—but the others were fair game. Without Shana, though, she had needed a new photographer, but she had found one in a not-so-surprising place: Vincent! It turned out the Alurian Defender who had born more than a passing resemblance to the Apex of Dark had in fact also shared her love of photography. He had been taking photos of his own team and friends for most of his life, and he had cheerfully agreed to take on any photo needs of Blossom Field. Beth felt quite happy with that arrangement; he had one of hell of a gift of his own.

She looked up with a smile as she heard the main door of the royal suite open. "Welcome home!" she called.

Terry walked into their sitting room and smiled at seeing her surrounded by random fashion sketches. The maids had gotten into the habit of going through them before tossing them, and sometimes they had saved designs from being trashed. "Have a good day?" He stopped to kiss her but kept his hands to himself because he was still sweaty.

"We did." She patted her still flat belly. "Not a lick of morning sickness. The herbal concoction that Emily and Raine came up with has been a miracle worker." She propped her chin on her hands as she watched him strip off his top. "I need to start designing another line of men's clothes."

"You aren't going to get me to model. No way, no how."

She grinned. They would just see about that one, wouldn't they?

 

(Hyacinth Castle)

The explosion released a plume of smoke from the vent on the top of the laboratory attached to the castle, and it also released a string of explicit curses. People just ignored it and went about their business with smiles. Explosions were a common enough occurrence around the lab when the queen was at work. She was always tinkering with something or another.

Silas smiled wryly as he walked into the lab and turned on the fans. "Okay, now what?" he asked in amusement.

Emily shoved her goggles up on top of her head, and only her eyes were left uncovered by soot. Said eyes had also narrowed with a scowl that matched the one on her lips. "Let's just say that sulfur and raw fire majik Tasia bottled for me don't like to play nice."

"Imagine that." He walked over and leaned down to put his ear against her very large belly. "Hey! I can hear something! They're saying 'Mommy, time to take a break!'"

She snorted out a laugh before she could help herself. Only ten years earlier she would have never imagined to find herself in that position. Married to her guardian Caretaker. Pregnant with twins. Ruling a world that was like her mother. Studying chemistry. Finding ways to make science and majik play nice together. "Silas?"

He straightened and smiled. "Yeah?"

"They're not saying 'Mommy needs a break.' They're saying 'Mommy really needs a cookie.'"

He started laughing and scooped her up off her feet. "Hey, I'm not going to argue with you about what they're saying. You're the one carrying them. Are you sure they're both girls?" he added wistfully. "I really want little girls like you."

She grinned up at him. "You have heard of being careful about what you wish for, right?"

 

(Statice Castle)

"Mommy only has one eye," Relisha told Allister solemnly as he came home.

"How long has she been working at it?" he countered dryly. He hung up his hat to exchange it for his crown, and Melina flew off his head to go see what Percival was watching on the Visuality in the media room of the royal suite. "I thought I asked you to babysit her."

"Well, I tried," his daughter said reasonably, "but she mumbled something in another language that I didn't recognize."

He laughed. "Okay, I know she's been working too hard if she's speaking languages long forgotten." He headed down the halls toward the area of the castle where Racine had her workshop for doing jewelry designs. In the room, she had on her visor, and the single lens in the middle did indeed make her look like she only had one eye. She was working on a very delicate loop on an equally delicate chain, and she was hunched over her work. Because he didn't want to startle her, he brushed her mind. You spoke Ancient Statician to our kid, and she is very confused.

She started laughing and straightened up. She shoved up her visor and grinned at him. "We really do need to teach her that soon. I always forget I can speak it until it comes out my mouth." She groaned as his hands came down on her shoulders and started rubbing the knots away. "I needed that." She leaned back against him and held up the piece she was working on. "Freshly commissioned for Reagan's birthday. The hard part is making it look delicate without actually being delicate."

"Just like its future owner." He tugged her up to her feet and looped his arms around her waist. "Melina has the terrible two distracted with a film theatrical, and there's no pressing business." He nibbled teasingly at her ear. "We could steal an hour or two and I could work out the rest of those kinks." The drawled words were a deliberate enticement.

She sighed contentedly as he lifted her off her feet. "Only if you insist."

 

(Iris Castle)

"Eww." Anna sniffed at the pot on the stove and frowned up at her mother. "Maybe I should make dinner."

Tasia couldn't take offense. "Your mother isn't perfect, hon. You knew that. I can't cook to save my life." She turned over the ladle and potholder with a smile. "If Rodi wasn't running late, he'd be making dinner like he normally does on the chef's night off." Every Friday night, she had given the chefs the night off so they could attend their kids' special events at school, so Rodi usually made dinner for everyone instead.

She sat down at the kitchen counter and popped open her Personal Computation Machine. It started loading, and she grabbed a cup of tea. "No garlic," she scolded Anna. "I don't like it."

"It's the only way to save this stuff," her daughter retorted. "You won't taste it." She heard familiar footsteps approaching and brightened. "Daddy's back."

Rodi walked into the kitchen with his arms full of flowers, and he laughed when he saw the scene. "I just had this feeling that dinner might be a wash if I was late. Can someone grab me a vase?"

Tasia snagged one from a cabinet and put it down for him. She smiled as she watched him arrange the bouquet. "Have we been experimenting again?" She flicked a finger over a petal and felt the surge of majik inside. He had been taking a great deal of fun and joy out of overseeing the gardens of the palace, and he was guilt-free about using Nature majik to help his plants grow and his flowers last longer. The other gardeners had even started selling bouquets, for cheap, in the nearby marketplace since they had more than they needed at the castle. They now got sold alongside the more thriving than ever Witch's Apples.

"The last batch lasted two weeks without wilting. I'm aiming for a month." He scooped up Daelan as he skidded into the kitchen and then walked over to sniff at what Anna stirred. "Needs garlic."

"Told you so," she told her mother smugly.

Tasia just snorted and sat down in front of her PCM. Rodi came up behind her, and she leaned back against him contentedly. "I think I've finally decided on what I want to write next," she murmured. "I think I can finally do it justice. It's a tale that needs to be told. I've never written nonfiction, but it's such an unbelievable story that I think it'll work."

He put Daelan down on the side of the counter as Anna hurried over to watch as well. They always gathered to watch the first part of a new story come together. They liked to try to guess what it would be about and where it would go. They weren't always right, but, this time, the very first two lines told them everything they needed to know. She was right, as she usually was. It was indeed a story long overdue for telling. And perhaps it was appropriate that it would all end in the way it had started.

There was only one absolute force for the universe. That force was Destiny.

 

©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.

Epilogue(Later Today)->