Rosewood and the legend of the Unicorn

Chapter 27- The New Queen

Like being reborn, Ariana stretches out of her cradled position, peacefully opening up her eyes.
But as she extends her legs and bends her back slightly, a searing shock wave shoots through her stomach.
She grips onto her bandaged abdomen, then awakes suddenly, eyes wide open and then gasps in shock.
Ariana begins hyperventilating but soon enough a shadowy figure rushes towards her. As she attempts to sit up the figure pushes her back down. And his reassuring voice finally lets Ariana know she's okay "it's okay Ari, it's okay just lie back down. You're alright, everything's going to be fine."
"Wha - where - what's happened? Where am I?" Ariana mutters In a frantic state, ignoring the constant pain flourishing through her body.
Ashton grabs both of her shoulders gently, and lowers her back to the bed. He uses one hand to stroke her long, frizzled hair away from her tear-filled eyes, and the other to hold her hand, gently stroking her palm.
"You were injured Ariana. But you're okay now, in fact, everything's okay. Well, almost everything..." Ashton says then looks down to the floor trying to avoid his own tears leaving his eyes.
"I can't remember anything Ashton... Did - Did I turn into a Unicorn in front of every single soul in our village or was it just a terrifying dream?"
"Oh it was no dream Ariana. You revealed yourself to everyone, and from then on everyone was on our side. They believed everything we said about the legend and then Ridge turned up and-"
"Wait Ridge saw me in my true soul?"
"Yes but everyone saw him in his true soul... after he came crashing in to the town centre, he - um - he released a ball of - of fire, and it hit you - and you went down and didn't wake up again. Mady managed to save you, but you nearly d- I don't want to talk about it really. All that matters is that you're here now."
"But where everyone else? Where's Ridge?"
"Ari ... Ridge is gone."
"Gone?" She says enthusiastically with her eyes brows raised.
"Yes - Ridge is dead... so I guess that makes you our queen."
Her brain is unable to fathom this unexplainable moment of triumph but also of regret. "So you're telling me, that the whole town fought against Ridge, killed him, and I wasn't even there to help?"
"It wasn't your fault Ari. In fact, when Ridge shot you to the ground it made the crowd even more resentful, and we attatcked him almost immediately. He tried to get the dark souls back on his side to wipe everyone's memories, but what he hadn't realised was that everyone was already on your side, including the dark souls. So Ridge had just unknowingly revealed his secrets to everyone, and then the fight begun. Ridge was killed in no time."
"Wait! What about my dad, Nixon where is everyone! " Ariana speaks attempting to sit up again in a flustered panic, but Ashton lowers her back down calmly.
"It's okay Ari, they're fine. They're all gathered in the town centre."
"Oh... right. Ashton, How long have I been like this for?"
"Only a day."
"A DAY!?"
"Yes, Ridge died yesterday, his body has been disposed of and now everyone's gathered in the town centre... waiting for you."
"For me?"
"Ariana, you're a Unicorn, you're our true queen."
"Why am I the queen when Ridge was only called the mayor? In England you either have a king or queen, and a mayor?"
"Well Dragons, when they gained power, didn't want to be named a king. This was because they didn't want to be associated with Unicorns, our queen, in any way. They wanted to detach from our old ways and become their own kind of leaders. But now, that the truth has finally been settled, Rosewood is ready to accept a new queen."
"But Ashton... I'm not really our queen."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well you know when you told me to run away?"
"Um - yes." Ashton replies looking shameful.
"I told you that I met many more Unciorns, in that different dimension to the old Rosewood back in England. They're the ones who should be leading this town. I'm too young Ashton, there are many more suitable Unciorns that should be queen, like Parisa! Not me."
"But Ari, no one knows that any more Unicorns exist! They think you're the only one."
"Then I need to tell them the truth."
"No! You don't. If they wanted to be part of our lives, and become our queen then they would have done it already. You said it yourself, they had loads of opportunities to help and save us but they've remained hidden. Away from everyone else not wanting to be known. If that's what they want then they certainly don't deserve to run our town. You could have stayed with them when you went there if you wanted, but you didn't. You chose to come back because you knew that this was your real home and it was the right thing to do."
It takes a while to form a reply, but after not much thinking, tears begin strolling down her cheek. "That means a lot to me Ashton. I never felt like I fitted in anywhere. I thought you all didn't want me to be a part of your lives. And now to hear that everyone wants me to become the most important part of our town, well I - I"
"Yes Ari, we do. And they're all out there waiting for you. Are you ready to go out there and greet everyone?"
"Almost."
"Almost?"
"I just want you to know something Ashton before we go out there. I want you to know that the main reason I didn't stay with the Unicorns, was you. It's always been you Ashton. From the day I saw you at the first bonfire, I felt something  I've never felt before. And it was the first time I remembered something about my past. I still can't figure out what it is exactly, but I know it's assocaiated with something happy, and warm. Something I feel comfortable with every time I think about it. And I always think about it when I'm with you... Ashton, I love you."
"I love you to." And without another wasted moment, he gently grabs Ariana's head and pulls her in for a loving kiss. Their lips dance together as if they were a lock and key, each moment becoming more magical than the last. A new found energy is built up within Ariana, and she sits up, and completes the kiss herself. Now both facing eachother with the biggest smile either of them have ever formed, Ashton helps lift Ariana up off of the bed, and they begin walking outside.