ENDLESS

S6 Chapter 18

At the Water Kingdom, Queen Aria is in the storage room, looking for a disposable bag to put the pregnancy test in. It would be a while until Dragon comes home, and she didn't want to place it down anywhere. 

It'd be gross. 

Bridget and Nate heard her running out of the bathroom joyfully and had followed her, now standing outside in congregation on how to confront her.

''But shouldn't we wait until she tells us?'' Nate whispers.

''Of course not, we have to celebrate!'' She says, her volume barely matching his.

''I don't know, Brid..'' He takes a sneaky glance towards the opened door then turns back to her.

Aria found a bag to put the pregnancy test in, her ears picking up on their whispers. She almost wants to laugh at how unconcealed they're being, but she stifles her amusement and steps out before they can react.

''Could you two be any more obvious?'' She puts on an annoyed tone, crossing her arms over her chest.

Bridget and Nate glance at her in surprise before straightening up as if they weren't standing there the entire time. ''What do you mean? We were just.. walking.''

Aria raises her eyebrow. ''You mean following me.''

Nate shrugs. ''Yeah, she means that.''

''Nate!'' Her face snaps towards him with a look of betrayal. ''You're supposed to be on my side!''

Aria giggles, her feigned expression of irritation melting away. She doesn't bother hiding it anymore, lifting the bag towards them. 

They realize it's a positive pregnancy test and brighten, smiling happily. The two of them pull Aria into a hug.

The Queen's eyes widen as she tries to prevent herself from being crushed, prying their arms away. ''Oh gods! No, not group hugs!''

''I can't believe it! I'm going to be an aunt!'' Bridget bounces like a little kid receiving a gift.

''You're already an aunt, dear.'' Nate points out with amusement.

''Even more of an aunt!''

They all laugh, the joy spreading through the air.

. . .

DEATH KINGDOM

''Why did you leave?''

It's the first question that slips out of Dragon's mouth and he almost regrets it, watching the way his mother's puffy red eyes haze over with grief. Persephone's lips tremble as she speaks. ''After you ran away, I feared for my life. The last thread holding your father's sanity snapped. He became obsessed with the weight of the Gods judgement. He turned on me at last. My family helped me escape.''

Dragon's brain pulsed in confusion as the cogs of his mind spun furiously, trying to understand what she was talking about. ''The weight of the Gods judgement?''

''Yes, my dear.'' Persephone's quiet, soft voice lowers into a whisper. She avoids his questioning gaze for a few moments before resolutely looking back up. ''It's about time I share it with you. I never got the chance. I hadn't been able to decipher it at the time, but the Gods' will has passed.''