Chapter 104 Reuniting With Family
Drakon's POV
The Void Emperor's attack shattered the castle's west wing. Stone and debris rained down as I shifted to dragon form, shielding Elara and Faye with my body.
"Everyone to the inner chambers!" I roared. "Evacuate the civilians!"
But the Void Emperor wasn't done. He raised both hands, preparing another devastating blast.
Then something impossible happened.
Elara's mother, her supposedly dead mother appeared between us and the Void Emperor. But she looked different. Translucent. Glowing with silver light.
"Mother?" Elara gasped.
"Not quite," the spirit said in a voice that was Mother Moonstone's but also something more. "I'm what remained of her soul after the Void Emperor's possession was removed by death. And I have a message."
The Void Emperor paused his attack, seeming curious.
"He lied to you," the spirit continued, addressing Elara. "I wasn't his willing anchor. Centuries ago, when I was born, dark magic cursed my bloodline. Every first-born daughter became his anchor until freed by death. I spent my whole life fighting his influence, trying to protect you and Lily from him."
"You knew?" Elara's voice broke. "You knew he was using you?"
"Not until you left for the Northern Kingdom. Then the possession grew stronger, and I finally understood." Tears streamed down the spirit's translucent face. "I got 'sick' because I was fighting him, trying to die before he could use me to hurt you. My death wasn't tragedy, it was my final act of protection."
"Mother..." Elara sobbed.
"But death freed me, and now I can tell you the truth." The spirit turned to the Void Emperor. "Your anchor is broken. You have no power here anymore."
"FOOLISH WOMAN," the Void Emperor boomed. "I HAVE OTHER ANCHORS. OTHER VESSELS. YOUR SACRIFICE MEANS NOTHING!"
"Wrong." Mother Moonstone's spirit smiled. "The curse ended with me. Elara and Lily are free of your influence forever. And your connection to this realm died with my body."
The Void Emperor screamed in rage. His form flickered, becoming less solid.
"He's losing cohesion!" Faye shouted. "The anchor's destruction is pulling him back to his prison!"
"NO! I WILL NOT BE IMPRISONED AGAIN!" The Void Emperor lashed out wildly, his attacks becoming desperate.
"Quickly!" Mother Moonstone's spirit urged. "While he's weakened! Strike now!"
I didn't need to be told twice. I breathed dragon fire while Elara unleashed her silver ice magic. Our combined attack hit the Void Emperor directly.
He shrieked as the golden light tore through him, unmaking his physical form piece by piece.
"THIS ISN'T OVER!" His voice echoed as he dissolved. "I'LL RETURN! I ALWAYS RETURN!"
Then he vanished. Pulled back to wherever he'd been imprisoned.
Silence fell. Everyone stared in shock.
"Did we win?" Thorne asked uncertainly.
"For now," Mother Moonstone's spirit said. "He'll try again eventually. But not for centuries. You've bought the world time."
She turned to Elara. "My brave daughter. I'm so proud of you. Of both my girls. You've become more than I ever dreamed."
"Don't go," Elara begged. "Please. We just found each other again."
"I'm already gone, sweetie. This is just an echo, using the last of my life force to deliver this message." The spirit touched Elara's face gently, though she couldn't feel it. "But I'll always be with you. In your memories. In your strength. In every kind thing you do."
She looked at me. "Dragon King. Take care of my daughters. Love them fiercely. Protect them always."
"I promise," I said, my voice thick. "With my life."
"Good." She smiled. "Then I can rest peacefully."
She faded slowly, like morning mist in sunlight. Her last words were: "I love you both. Forever."
Then she was gone.
Elara collapsed against me, sobbing. Lily ran to us, and I held both sisters while they grieved properly this time.
"At least she died fighting for us," Lily whispered. "That's how she'd want to be remembered."
"Yes," Elara agreed. "As a hero. A protector. A mother who loved us until her very last breath."
We buried Mother Moonstone the next morning with full honors. Both kingdoms attended. She was celebrated not just as the queen's mother, but as the woman who broke an ancient curse and saved reality.
During the ceremony, I noticed people whispering. Looking at Elara with a mix of awe and confusion.
"They don't understand the full story," Thorne said quietly. "About the blackmail, the forced marriage, all of it. Rumors are spreading."
"Then we tell them the truth," Elara decided. "Everything. No more secrets."
That afternoon, we gathered both kingdoms in the largest courtyard. Thousands of people packed in, with magical projection showing our faces to those too far to see.
"People of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms," Elara began, her voice magically amplified. "You deserve to know the truth about how I became your queen."
She told them everything. The blackmail. Lily's capture. The forced deception. Queen Morgana's plots. Her growing love for me despite the lies. The truth coming out. Almost being executed. The wars, the battles, the sacrifice.
No detail spared. No excuse made.
When she finished, shocked silence filled the courtyard.
Then a Southern citizen shouted: "You lied to us! Pretended to be our princess!"
"Yes," Elara said simply. "I did. To save my sister's life. I'm not proud of the deception, but I won't apologize for choosing family."
"Queen Morgana was our rightful ruler!" Another voice called. "You helped destroy her!"
"Your 'rightful ruler' tried to end reality itself," I countered. "She used dark magic, tortured innocents, and nearly killed everyone. Do you defend that?"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some angry, some ashamed, some confused.
"I'm not asking for forgiveness," Elara continued. "I'm asking for understanding. And offering a choice. If you can't accept a commoner as queen, I'll step down. Return home. Let the kingdoms choose new leaders."
"No!" Multiple voices shouted.
A Southern woman pushed forward. "My son died in the war. Died following Morgana's orders. I hated you for that. But now I learn she was controlling everything? Using us?" Tears streamed down her face. "Maybe I've been angry at the wrong person."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Elara said gently. "Your son was brave. He deserves to be honored."
More people spoke up. Sharing their pain, their confusion, their slowly shifting perspectives.
But not everyone was convinced.
A group of Southern nobles pushed to the front, faces twisted with anger.
"This is unacceptable!" Their leader shouted. "A peasant girl sitting on thrones she has no right to! We demand..."
He never finished.
An arrow flew from the crowd, striking him in the chest.
Chaos erupted as more arrows flew. Assassination attempt. Multiple attackers hidden in the masses.
I shifted and covered Elara with my dragon body. Guards rushed forward.
But we were too exposed. Too vulnerable.
And somewhere in the screaming crowd, I heard a voice call out:
"Death to the false queen! Long live the true heir of the Southern Kingdom!"
Someone else claimed the throne. And they'd just declared war.