The day of Arsha\u2019s Coronation finally arrived. Arsha tapped her foot nervously as she looked at the doors to the Throne Room. It was set up as a themed coronation, but she didn\u2019t know what the theme was. \u201cOnes, I know you\u2019re not in a position to do anything about my prayers,\u201d she muttered, \u201cbut PLEASE give me a sign that the theme\u2019s got nothing to do with the Final War!\u201d The trumpets blasted. \u201cHere we go,\u201d she mumbled. She opened the door and was pleasantly surprised by the theme. A tank-like machine stood by one side of the aisle as a yellow creature with pincer claws stood on the other side. A monkey waved his arms and grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHad the Doc take care of the Vrelmax and Legonan before you showed up!\u201d hooted the monkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKindly refrain from calling me \u2018Doc\u2019!\u201d called a voice. The owner of the voice was an elderly, well-dressed gentleman with a cane, top hat, monocle, and pointed beard. \u201cMy apologies for this unannounced visit, My Lady,\u201d said the man, \u201cbut the Vrelmax and Legonans had a frightful plan to upend your coronation and undo history as we know it! I couldn\u2019t let this slide, you understand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI understand completely, Dr. Snood,\u201d assured Arsha. \u201cI\u2019m surprised the Vrelmax and Legonans went with a joint operation. They aren\u2019t exactly friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, it wasn\u2019t a joint operation, it was a war. A temporal cold war, if you will. The two sides are trying to be masters of the Nineteen Timestreams, but we all know that the Stream Masters are the real guardians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd yet you\u2019re the only one breaking the Non-interference Oath.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow, now,\u201d chided the current Dr. Snood, \u201cthere\u2019s no need to bring that up. Now, I must be off.\u201d He took his hat off and pulled a silver rod out. He pointed it at the frozen Vrelmax and Legonan and they rose into the air. \u201cGood luck, Arsha Royana!\u201d he called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey! Wait for me!\u201d called the monkey. The group then left and the doors shut. Once they did, the sound of an ancient engine could be heard gunning itself, then fading away. Arsha smiled as she turned to her parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery nice touch,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe figured you could use something joyful,\u201d replied Hanako. Elgrad then nodded his head to the priest. Arsha bowed to her parents, then she turned to the priest, placed her hand on the Codex, and raised her other hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, Arsha Royana, do solemnly swear,\u201d began the priest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, Arsha Royana, do solemnly swear,\u201d repeated Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat I will execute my duties as Queen of the Mid-realm faithfully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat I will execute my duties as Queen of the Mid-realm faithfully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will uphold the laws and dreams of my people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will uphold the laws and dreams of my people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will care for those that are in dire straits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will care for those that are in dire straits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith the help of the now Mortal Divine Ones, I will not let evil corrupt my judgement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith the help of the now Mortal Divine Ones, I will not let evil corrupt my judgement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf necessary, I will give my life to save my people, should disaster strike.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf necessary, I will give my life to save my people, should disaster strike.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hereby pronounce you Queen of the Mid-realm!\u201d The crowd cheered as Arsha sat on the throne and waved to her subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy friends and family,\u201d she began, \u201cit has been a long, tough road for all of us. There were moments where we nearly fell to despair when Oyed was around. But we persevered. We triumphed over despair. We\u2019ve proven that hope is stronger than despair. We\u2019ve proven we won\u2019t surrender to hopelessness. Now, we can enjoy the peace that will reign, and so will our descendants. I don\u2019t exactly have a glass in my hand, but I propose a toast! To the unity of our people!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo the unity of our people!\u201d cheered the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the initial ceremony was over, the ball was in full swing. Arsha and her lovers were dancing merrily, with a noticeable smile on Foresna. \u201cNow this is a ball I can get behind,\u201d he said as he danced with Gorfanth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, masquerades aren\u2019t THAT bad,\u201d replied Gorfanth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI want to see my lovers\u2019 faces as we dance,\u201d insisted Foresna. \u201cI want us to gaze lovingly in one another\u2019s eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, a mask DOES tend to hide the eyes in some cases. It\u2019s never a bother to get lost in your eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFlatterer!\u201d Lardeth and Malnar then came up. They all swapped partners so Foresna danced with Malnar and Lardeth danced with Gorfanth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArsha and Falnii will be coming up to us in a minute,\u201d mused Malnar. \u201cI haven\u2019t had a chance to dance with Fluffy and I know Foxy\u2019s looking to dance with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen we exchange when they come,\u201d said Foresna. \u201cFor now, I just want to be with you, Bonfire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTell me, did Arsha propose to you yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, she said she wanted to propose to us all at once.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerfect! Now, when she\u2019s gonna do that, I have no idea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMe neither. It\u2019s tearing me apart!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMay we?\u201d asked Arsha\u2019s voice as she and Falnii twirled up to them. They exchanged partners, making Falnii and Malnar one pair and Arsha and Foresna the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHave fun!\u201d called Falnii as she and Malnar twirled away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is a perfect night,\u201d sighed Arsha as the two Mid-realmers danced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAny peaceful night with all of us,\u201d replied Foresna, \u201cis a perfect night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrue that.\u201d Soon, Arsha and her lovers all had a turn with one another and the ball wound down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As everyone was heading to the port, Arsha and Foresna stopped Malnar, Gorfanth, Lardeth, and Falnii. \u201cGuys, hold up!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFoxy, is something wrong?\u201d asked Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s something I need to do first!\u201d urged Arsha. She then arranged everyone in front of her and pulled out a long box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArsha, what\u2019s going on?\u201d asked Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something we\u2019ve all been waiting for since we first started dating,\u201d replied Arsha. She then knelt down, giving them all the same idea. \u201cKing Lardeth Felompha, Ambassador Falnii Loftanaf, Farmer Foresna Falshenda, Queen Malnar Emboramii, Blacksmith Gorfanth Steelhorn,\u201d she opened the box and revealed five rings, \u201cwill you marry me?\u201d The stunned silence only lasted for a second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cQueen Arsha Royana, do you even need to ask?!\u201d replied Gorfanth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYES! YES! A THOUSAND TIMES, YES!\u201d cheered Falnii. She spoke for everyone. Arsha slid the rings onto their fingers, then hugged them all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe better start planning,\u201d said Arsha. \u201cThis is gonna be the Wedding of the Age!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll plan when we all return to our castles and tell the Realms the news,\u201d said Lardeth. \u201cFor now, we must make sure the Realms are ready.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t wait for the day we finally say our vows!\u201d cheered Arsha. Malnar, Gorfanth, Lardeth, and Falnii said their goodbyes and headed to their ships so they would make the announcement. It was finally time for the Realms to REALLY be united.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The day of Arsha\u2019s Coronation finally arrived. Arsha tapped her foot nervously as she looked at the doors to the Throne Room. It was set up as a themed coronation, but she didn\u2019t know what the theme was. \u201cOnes, I know you\u2019re not in a position to do anything about my prayers,\u201d she muttered, \u201cbut […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,239],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-5498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-6-the-eternal-age-of-unity","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5498"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5498\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5499,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5498\/revisions\/5499"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}