594 Unlikely Turn of Events
Isolde tilted her head, a question mark appearing over her. "Seelie court?"
Ren furrowed his brows, feeling a mix of reluctance and impatience. "So, are we supposed to go to Queen Titania's lair?" He hesitated, not keen on embarking on another long journey to the Summer court.
Time was of the essence, and Ren couldn't afford to spend more days traveling hundreds of miles and engaging in another adventure. The one-week time limit he had set for himself in the real world was quickly running out, and he couldn't afford to waste another day on Queen Titania's quests – whatever they may be.
"That won't be necessary."
All of them turned their attention to the unexpected visitor, their surprise evident on their faces. It was none other than the Queen of Air and Darkness herself, materializing before them.
"You!" Prince Zeroth and Princess Elena immediately readied their weapons and were prepared to attack. But before they could make a move, another voice interjected.
"Wait!"
A voice called out, causing Princess Elena to freeze in her tracks. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw who it was.
It was none other than Queen Aurora!
The Fairy Queen of Fall stood before them, radiating an aura of autumnal beauty. Her long, flowing hair resembled the fiery hues of falling leaves, and her delicate wings shimmered with shades of gold and bronze.
Dressed in a gown made of vibrant autumn flowers and leaves, she exuded an air of elegance and grace. Her eyes, the color of warm amber, held both wisdom and a hint of solemnity. Every aspect of her appearance reflected the enchanting essence of the fall season.
Well . . . this was a sudden twist of events. Ren mused to himself.
"My Queen! You're alive?!" Elena exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.
"Wait." Prince Zeroth grabbed Elena's hand, preventing her from getting any closer.
"Are you truly the Queen?" he questioned, his eyes full of scrutiny.
Queen Aurora's visage remained composed, and she nodded confidently. "Yes, I am alive."
Prince Zeroth was still skeptical, but Elena was convinced by the Queen's words. She gently reassured the prince, "My Prince, royal fey, do not lie. You know that."
The prince remained silent, his grip on Elena loosening as she approached the Queen, eager for answers. She questioned, "But why did you fake your death? And why are you together with the Queen of Air and Darkness?"
Queen Aurora took a deep breath, her expression softening with a hint of sadness. As she exhaled, her stoic facade crumbled, and she admitted, "It's a long story, but allow me to explain."
The Queen of Air and Darkness took the opportunity to share her side of the story. "Let me tell you what really happened. I was the first of a group known as the Unseelie, who preferred darkness and death instead of the joy and liveliness that most fey embrace.
"I attracted like-minded individuals, and together we sought to establish our own realm. Unfortunately, this meant encroaching upon the territory of other fey in the realm.
"Titania, who eventually became the leader of the Seelie Court, was displeased and took drastic action. She stripped away my true name, leaving me with only a title. Furthermore, she banished me and my followers to a separate demiplane.
"However, I anticipated this outcome and feigned compliance with her spell, deceiving Titania into a false sense of victory. Unbeknownst to her, I tirelessly created a mirror image of her beloved court — a realm for the Unseelie. And now, the time has come to show that self-righteous fey what it truly means to be a queen."
Everyone's jaws dropped, and Elena and the Prince exchanged worried glances.
Queen Aurora let out a weary sigh. "Titania's obsession with eternal summer and her exclusive focus on her own court neglect the importance of balance in the realm."
"So, you joined forces with the Queen of Air and Darkness?" Elena muttered, her voice filled with disbelief. "What about my sister?"
"She is safe," Queen Aurora reassured. "In fact, she has been by my side in the castle. With her seer abilities, she was the first to discover that I was alive."
"So you kidnapped her!" Prince Zeroth's voice seethed with anger.
"No," Queen Aurora clarified. "She willingly joined me. She foresaw the impending disaster under Titania's rule and chose to assist us in secret."
"I don't believe you," Prince Zeroth stated firmly, his voice filled with doubt.
In response, the Queen of Air and Darkness casually waved her hand, conjuring a mirror before them. Through the reflective surface, they saw a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Elena. She stood amidst a circle of fey, elves, and even Russet, their collective energies focused on a colossal crystalline structure.
Russet is still alive? Ren pondered in astonishment.
Prince Zeroth rushed towards the mirror, his fingers gently caressing the mirrored image of Elaine's face.
"Elaine!" he called out desperately, but she remained oblivious to his presence.
"She cannot hear you," Queen Aurora informed calmly. "They are engrossed in maintaining this castle within the fey realm. The ritual is not yet complete to fully integrate the Unseelie court into this realm."
Unfazed by the Queen's explanation, Prince Zeroth continued to pound on the mirror, relentlessly calling out Elaine's name.
As the tense atmosphere filled the air, Elena boldly confronted the Queen of Air and Darkness. "What will you do once you have defeated Titania?" she inquired, her voice hard with an edge.
A contemplative expression crossed the Queen's face as she considered the question. "I do not seek the eradication of the Seelie court, merely a change in leadership," she responded. "Balance is of utmost importance, and I only desire for the Seelie court to acknowledge the Unseelie and allow us to coexist peacefully."
Ren found himself chuckling softly at the unexpected turn of events. Who would have guessed that the supposed enemy they set out to vanquish would turn out to be none other than Titania herself and not the wicked Queen they had imagined?
If this wasn't still the true ending, then Ren didn't know what was.
