The Places We Go

Chapter XVIII; Narrator Mashup

Authors note: Hello all and thank you for reading to this point! This chapter is a little weird compared to how the rest of this book has been. There are large breaks between perspectives and the first sentence of each person's part of the chapter starts with that'll characters' name. Enjoy the last few chapters!!

     Soleil knew that even after so long, today was going to have to be the day. Today, Soleil had to escape. She was already in too deep and had been greedy, staying for as long as she did instead of taking one of the many chances she had to escape, now she needed to get out of Imperial City as soon as she could. However, she and Luna had grown so much closer now it threw a huge wrench in her plan. Today, all of the guards had been given time off to celebrate the new year. Soleil took her position and began her transformation. She had chipped away the layers of the door for days to make a hole for her to fly through. Today, she had finally chipped enough so that in her seagull form she could easily fly out of it. She flew as fast as she could, down the winding staircase and into the throne room where Luna sat studying documents. When she saw Soleil, she snapped into action.
    "Where do you think you're going?" Soleil stood stunned. She had it, her chance, her moment, but Luna's voice beckoned her back. She saw Luna grab her spear. "I'll grant you freedom. But you'd have to kill me first. Become human again, fight me like a real Queen." Soleil did as she was asked. She became a human once more, reaching for her shiv. Luna spun her spear and it extended from both sides. The purple gems encrusted reflected sunlight into Soleil's eyes, temporarily blinding her.
     Luna took a jab at her, but Soleil easily dodged it. They continued in this manner, each taking weak jabs at the other. They moved round and round the room, until Soleil wouldn't be blinded by the reflecting sunlight. As they fought, Soleil began inching closer and closer to Luna, who had begun to speak.

"You think that's good enough?"

"Speak for yourself."

"Queen Soleil, you underestimate me."

"I think it's you who is underestimating me."

    This playful banter continued along with the weak jabs at each other. They heard noise coming from outside but couldn't keep their eyes off of each other. Luna began to speak again as they fought.

"Do you really think you can beat me? I've been training my whole life for this, I'm not backing down."

"I'm not going to abandon my values. Why are you so angry at us when we were in peace!"

"Mirirejar lost the war! We've been angry ever since! And so what? Does my anger make you uncomfortable? Is my anger ugly? Is it too vicious? Too violent? Am I being too loud? Does it make you nervous? Good."

Luna's eyes changed. Once a soft, comforting brown they were now flooded with determination, and perhaps a tint of regret. The fight commenced as Soleil thought back to their time together here in Mirirejar and all the times she thought that she and Luna could work. This made it obvious that they couldn't. The clanking metal created a tune similar to that they had danced to in Reilweth, and the movement resembled that of the dance itself. She must have read that wrong. Soleil saw Luna's shoulder that was exposed from the loose fabric as she spun, trying to stab her from a new angle. The scar from the stitches was still there, the lighter flesh highlighted by the light. She read that whole night wrong. Luna, using her spear, swept the overthinking Soleil off her feet. That she had done before, but instead of Soleil herself it had been her heart.
    Soleil crashed to the ground, defeated. A tear rolled down her cheek, for she knew that her time had come. Luna was about to kill her. Soleil rolled over to see her face one last time, since she wore no veil. Luna came, her spear retracted yet still pointed at her throat, but interestingly, she cast the weapon aside. She reached out her hand, and helped Soleil up. They stood there for a moment, holding hands. Luna's distinct hand was wrapped around her own, encasing it in warmth. Luna took a deep breath, then pulled Soleil closer. Then, it finally happened.

    Anastasia had seen it all go down. She heard the clanking of metal as she snuck into the palace, being the scout for Soleil. She watched the fight, trying to shoot Queen Luna with her bow. However, with the movement it would have been too dangerous for she might have hit Soleil instead. When Soleil was knocked over, Anastasia had drawn her bow. But when Queen Luna cast her spear aside, Anastasia retracted the arrow. Queen Luna helped up Soleil, drew her close, and kissed her. Soleil wrapped her arms around Queen Luna, who did the same. They stayed there long enough for Anastasia to run out, alert the others, and bring them in to where the two still were; kissing. "Soleil!" Anastasia yelled, bringing the two away from each other. Queen Luna ran to her spear, but Arlie had run faster and knocked over Queen Luna the same way she had knocked over Soleil. Luna was cuffed and drugged in front of a wailing Soleil, who Anastasia forced away from Luna. They had brought Foja as well, who sent them all back to Zellarid after so many months.
Finally home, and Queen Luna had been thrown into prison for later interrogation. They went to Anastasia's home, where the three Queens and Beau discussed what had just happened.
    "What were you thinking!" Arlie yelled at Soleil. Anastasia nodded. "How could you! That's treason!" Anastasia said, hoping to get into her head. "I'm in love with her! Can't you understand that?" Soleil said, standing up. Anastasia looked over to Arlie, who nodded at her. They took Soleil to the prison and threw her into the same cell as Queen Luna. "If you love her, rot in there with her, you traitor!" Anastasia yelled at Soleil, unable to believe she would do such a thing.

    Arlie couldn't believe what had just happened. Soleil, in love with Queen Luna! She was a traitor, and deserved to rot in jail with "her love". Arlie discussed the matter with Anastasia and Beau. "How could she! The traitor!" Arlie yelled, scaring Beau. "Exactly! I can't believe her, Luna of all people! The one who ruined me, and held her captive!" Beau began to get fired up when Anastasia reminded them of her experiences. "She put a toll on you that's not going away. How could she!" The three began to discuss her punishment, but the discussion quickly blew up into an argument over territory. Both wanted to stay in Zellarid, but one had to rule in Mirirejar. Beau tried to help them negotiate, but quickly joined Anastasia's side.

"Ladies, There's no need to fight. I've got my father's farm here, I need to take care of him as he gets older. We should stay." Beau said, concerned for the two's friendship.

"Beau's right, Arlie. He's still got his father around. We don't have that privilege. Besides, I see the way you look at Xayah. Go there, make her your Queen. Then we don't have to be the reason the people we love have to leave their home."  Anastasia said, benefiting off of Beau's comment.

"I'm not leaving. Xayah said she wants to see Zellarid, to leave Faormen and Mirirejar all together. I shall confess to her and we will be happy together. Here." Arlie said, forcefully.

"Beau and I are staying here." Anastasia said, stern.

"No, Xayah and I are staying here." Arlie said, stern.

"Arlie, Let me and Xayah stay where we are. There's no need to fight, just go to Mirirejar. You became a Queen over there before Anastasia did, and she was coronated over here first out of the three of you." Beau said, once again trying to reason with Arlie.

"He's right Arlie. Go." Anastasia said, staring at Arlie with an expression on her face Arlie had never seen on her before; rage. She couldn't get mad at her for that, however, because she knew her face was bent in the same way.