The Fiery Queen

Epilogue

A girl standing outside with her rough stone house in her background and a cemented lawn as her ground. Basking in the sun and watching the birds flying in the bright sky. She longed for her life to hold more meaning. Thoughts saying like, "I don't belong here." Runs wild through her mind that made her stare intensively direct at the sun, without a blink even once. Fortunately, her mother's concerned and worried call, interrupted her.

"Ani! What are you doing out there staring at the sun? Do you want to get roasted?" Constance exclaimed.

"I still don't understand why we had to move here. We had a beautiful life in Bukidnon. Why did we have to leave?" Ani grumbled as she picked up the empty pail and headed back to the shaded area of their lawn. Her mother sighed deeply as she tried to explain their situation.

"Ani, your father's pottery business was not doing well. We had to move to a place with better opportunities. Here, we have relatives to work with, the sea is our main resource, and they are all experts at fishing."

"Then why is my name Ani? My classmates were named Sophia, Princess, Michelle, Julie...guess their parents thought long and hard about their names." Ani quickly shut her mouth when she saw her mother's glare at her.

"Your father thoughtfully named you. Your name is defined by 'harvesting.' We sowed goodness in life and love with each other and we reaped it. You and Kaya are the fruits, the core of our dreams. As a thanksgiving to nature, he named you that. I think your name is special, like the names you mentioned; you just have to see it. Now go and hang this again," her mother said as she put the pile of clothes in her empty pail. Ani heard the clanging of the old roof gate lock and saw her sister arriving from school.

"Well, here comes Princess. She might need to know how to be useful sometimes," she said.

Ani jumped out of her stool and walked up to her sister while bringing the pail to her sister's face.

"What's this?" Kaya asked.

"I believe, those are my clothes." Ani teasingly replied.

"So?" Her sister snickered.

"So... you hang it."

"Or throw it away?" She raised her eyebrows and shoulder.

"You're looking for trouble. I hung your clothes, sis, now that you're here hang mine."She rushed inside the house.

"Annie! Your sister just got home! She has to rest, she's in a pageant tomorrow. And she needs to study later. Give your sister a break!" her mom shouted at the door with her hands on her waist.

"I'm going to study too plus you don't want me staring at the sun!" She talked back.

"Ani!!!" Her mom turned. And went back to the stool. "Kaya, if you must, stop teasing your sister. You tease her then spoil her that's why she's acting like that to you."

"Don't worry Nay, she will grow in no time. I'll help her." Kaya assured her mother.

Ani started reading the novel "The Invincible Tyrant" in her room. She lay on the bed, furrowed her eyebrows, squinted her eyes, and breathed steadily as she delved into the plot.
She dislikes reading it because of the female lead who is the villain. "I mean! Why is wickedness being patronized and romanticized? She's so mean and cruel! Ughh, I can't keep up with her." Ani exclaimed.

The only thing that gets her through reading is the presence of the second female lead, Keira, and the leading men. "Good thing there were real lovely casts here," she said to herself as she slid onto the bed. As she's lying down she hold up her book to continue her reading. However, the real reason she do so, is because of an upcoming class recitation. She can't afford to be embarrassed in her class, can she?

"I can't! I will be answering all the questions given to me!" The book dropped on her face.

"Oww."

Minutes later, Kaya... entered their room and removed the book from her face. She then sang a hymn to her.

At midnight, she began to dream. In her dream, she walks along a sunlit path amid a tropical forest. Luscious green leaves and grasses line her way, and animals and insects abound. She hears a group of women singing, almost like chanting. Trying to see clearer, she took few steps to get closer. She catch a glimpse of glowing figures in the distance. They all look at her, and suddenly a flash of lightning strikes, burning everything and everyone. Then she wakes up.

"I knew it! Too much reading makes dreams wild." She got up and stared blankly at nowhere. "Maybe I need to put it aside for some time." It was still dawn. She noticed her sister was not in their bed. So, she got up. Amidst the heavy storm, her fear compelled her to search for her sister.

"Ate Kaya? Ate..." she whispered.

Gently, she opened the door and attempted to enter her parents' room. Seeing her sister exiting through the living room's front door, she almost called out but then remembered her parents were asleep.

"That girl, is she sleepwalking?! Ate Kayaaa..." She shouts quietly. She followed her sister to the door but she was already gone. She saw her again when a bolt of lightning struck.

"Anak ng kidlat! What is she doing there?! Is... is she?" She gasped, held her breath, and screamed, "...floating in the middle of the sea?!"

Ani then heard a cold unfamiliar voice calling her name. "Mia? Why would you go there? You see, it's cold, dark, and strange, right? Go back to bed and let the storm pass. Wait for the sun; it will soon show up." The unfamiliar voice persuaded.

"Who's speaking... where are you? Why is my body obeying you?" Suddenly, her body moved out of her will and turned towards her home and started walking like a puppet on a string.

"No questions asked, they say, 'ignorance is bliss,'" the voice laughed louder and louder.

"Shut up! Ani, come here! This is Kaya! Don't listen to the witch! I told you, right? We're not from this world. We have to save everyone." Kaya urged her with a sincere yet calm desperation.

"Ate, I still can't believe any of this. I'm terrified of the water, that horrid voice, and even you, speaking while floating on the ocean! I'm scared of my own body; it's moving on its own!" She wept as she spoke.

"Remember the power you possess? Command your body to obey no one. Tell yourself that you will only heed your voice, not anyone else's. Believe that you can, Ani! Even if it's scary, know that you were born to be a queen. You can surely overcome this storm." Kaya's spirit appeared before Ani, though her body remained at sea.

"Okay, I am Ani Pabia. I need to help my sister, so will I. Even if it seems crazy, I must confront my fear and stand where she does, on the sea. Now you are my body, and you will listen to and obey no one but me." Suddenly, the pressure that had been enveloping her vanished. Alas, she was freed from the spell. Although she's trembling, she observed her body and smile imprinted on her face, "Ate Kaya! I'm free! You were right... I have the power!"

"I knew you could do it. Now, please hurry over here." Ani took carefully took steps when a shadowy figure chased after her. While looking back, she sprinted as the waves tossed toward her, lifting her from the shore. The witch nearly drowned in the same waves pushing her into the ocean by the air as if conspiring to ensnare her but managed to vanish after casting a spell.

"Wow, are these all your powers?" Ani asked in bewilderment.

"Ani, it's time for you to meet our sisters again." She was gently submerged by the waves to the sea's bottom and lost consciousness.