Chapter 139 Mother Moonstone's Story
Elara's POV
"A prophecy about me?" Lily's voice shook. "Saving or dooming the world?"
Mother's magical barrier around the Void Walker flickered. "We don't have much time. The seal is weakening."
"Then talk fast!" I grabbed Mother's arm. "What prophecy? What are you talking about?"
The Void Walker laughed from inside the barrier. "She doesn't know. The great Queen Elara doesn't know her own bloodline. Delicious irony."
"Quiet!" Mother strengthened the seal with another burst of magic. Then she turned to us, her face grave. "Sit. Both of you. This story begins three hundred years ago."
"We don't have time for history lessons!" Drakon protested.
"We don't have time NOT to know this," Mother snapped. "Sit!"
We sat. The throne room crowd gathered closer, listening.
Mother took a deep breath. "Three centuries ago, the Moonstone family was royalty. Not just nobility, we ruled the entire Southern Kingdom. We were Seal Keepers, guardians of ancient magic that imprisoned the Void."
My world tilted. "We were royalty?"
"The most powerful magical family in existence." Mother's eyes grew distant. "Your great-great-great-grandmother was Queen Celestia Moonstone. Yes, the same name as the princess you impersonated. She named her daughter after our ancestor."
"Wait." I tried to process this. "Queen Morgana stole our family name?"
"She stole more than that. She stole our kingdom." Mother's voice turned bitter. "Queen Celestia discovered the Void was weakening its prison. She tried to strengthen the seals. But someone betrayed her. Someone who wanted power more than safety."
"Morgana's ancestor," Faye breathed.
"Exactly. The Shadowthorne family." Mother nodded. "They poisoned Queen Celestia. Framed the Moonstones for treason. Hunted us down. Killed most of our family. The few who survived went into hiding."
"And became commoners," I whispered. "To escape."
"To survive." Mother touched my cheek. "I grew up not knowing any of this. My mother told me only bits. Warned me never to use magic. Never to draw attention. But then you were born, Elara. And the magic was strong in you."
"But I never showed magic until recently."
"Because I suppressed it. Gave you herbs to block your power. Keep you safe." Mother's voice cracked. "I thought if you never knew, you'd never be in danger. You could live a normal life. Be happy."
Anger flared in my chest. "You hid this from me? My entire heritage?"
"To protect you!"
"I had a right to know!"
"And I had a right to keep my daughter alive!" Mother shouted. Tears streamed down her face. "I watched my mother die for being a Moonstone. Watched my sister burned at the stake. I couldn't lose you too."
The anger drained away. I saw the truth in her eyes. The pain. The fear. She'd lost so much.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I didn't know."
"Of course you didn't. That was the point." Mother wiped her tears. "But then you became queen. Married a dragon. Started combining magics. The magic in your blood awakened despite my efforts. And I realized the prophecy was coming true."
"What prophecy exactly?" Lily asked quietly.
Mother looked at her. "When the Moonstones were hunted, the last Seal Keeper made a final prediction. 'In three centuries, when the Void breaks free, twin daughters of Moonstone blood will decide the world's fate. One will bridge worlds. One will transform darkness. Together they either seal the Void forever, or the Void consumes all existence.'"
Silence fell.
"Twin daughters," I said slowly. "But Lily and I aren't twins."
"Not by birth. But by magic." Mother gestured between us. "You both carry the Moonstone seal magic in your blood. You both awakened it in different ways. You by combining magics. Lily by transforming void into light. Together, you're more powerful than any Moonstone in history."
The Void Walker's laughter echoed. "And that's why I'm here. To kill you both before you can fulfill the prophecy. Better to destroy you now than face you at full power."
The barrier shattered.
The Void Walker lunged at Lily.
Drakon shifted and intercepted. Fire against emptiness.
"We need to complete the prophecy!" Mother yelled. "Girls, hold hands! Channel your magic together!"
Lily grabbed my hand. Power exploded between us. White light from her. Rainbow creation from me.
The magic merged. Swirled. Created something new.
Ancient runes appeared around us. The same ones Mother had used. But stronger. Brighter.
"Yes!" Mother cried. "The Seal Keeper magic! It's awakening in you both!"
The Void Walker shrieked and retreated. "No! Not possible! You're untrained! Weak!"
"We're Moonstones," Lily said, her voice echoing with power. "And we protect this world."
We raised our joined hands. The runes expanded, forming chains of pure light.
The chains wrapped around the Void Walker, binding it.
"This is temporary," it hissed. "I'll break free. I always do."
"Then we'll seal you permanently," I said. "Just like our ancestors."
"You don't know how!"
"We'll learn."
Mother stepped beside us, adding her magic to ours. "The full sealing ritual requires preparation. Specific ingredients. Ancient words. And it must happen during a celestial alignment."
"When's the next alignment?" Drakon asked, still in dragon form.
"Ten days." Mother's face was grim. "During the Unity Ball we planned. The celebration of peace between kingdoms."
"Perfect." I looked at the Void Walker. "We'll invite everyone. Every kingdom. Every species. Show them all what unity can accomplish. And in front of everyone, we'll seal the Void forever."
The Void Walker struggled against the chains. "You're announcing it? Telling me your plan? Foolish!"
"Confident," Lily corrected. "We're giving you ten days to prepare your best attack. Because we're going to win anyway."
We pushed the Void Walker back through its portal. Sealed it temporarily with our combined magic.
The portal closed. The throne room was suddenly quiet except for everyone breathing hard.
Then cheering erupted. We'd survived. Won. At least for now.
"Ten days," Drakon said quietly. "To prepare for the biggest battle of our lives."
"At a ball," I added. "While celebrating peace."
"Very us," Lily giggled, still holding my hand.
Mother pulled us both into a hug. "I'm sorry I hid the truth. But I'm so proud of who you've both become."
"We're proud too," I said. "Of being Moonstones."
Over the next week, preparations consumed the castle. Planning the Unity Ball while also preparing for battle. Inviting guests while gathering spell components. Decorating while training.
The night before the ball, I found a sealed letter on my pillow.
It was addressed in handwriting I recognized. Queen Morgana's.
My hands shook as I opened it.
"Dear Elara, congratulations on discovering your heritage. Yes, I knew. I've always known. Why do you think I chose YOU to impersonate Princess Celestia? Because you're the last true heir to the Southern Kingdom throne. And tomorrow, at your precious Unity Ball, I'm coming to claim what's mine. Not as Morgana. As something much worse. The Void Walker was just a distraction. The real attack comes tomorrow. Sleep well, cousin. -M"
The letter burst into flames in my hands.
Cousin. She'd called me cousin.
Which meant the Shadowthorne and Moonstone families were related.
Which meant tomorrow's battle wasn't just about sealing the Void.
It was a family war three centuries in the making.
And I had no idea who else in my family might still be alive.
Or what side they were on.