I charged him and we clashed. Our powers truly facing each other.
I struck at him, and him at me. Our exchanged blows reverberating on each other.
I no longer had any mental block. No more reason to hold back.
Fear and Sin. The Second Ballad. The Final Ballad.
Our dance was like fire and water. Smooth and graceful versus powerful and dominating.
He launched up; I slashed down.
He struck left; I dodged right.
He shot at me with immense power, and I countered with my own grace.
It was a clash.
We were an art piece burned and scattered. A song, riding through agony.
A true match for me. A power equivalent to mine. A skill to match my skill.
He and I both glowed gold, our power spreading out throughout the void.
He summoned a sword, which clashed with mine.
My wings twitched, launching me over him.
He blocked my strike to his head.
Then I struck his back. He launched forward and let forth all of his power, so I imbued into pure fear.
Two avatars standing against one another.
I sliced and diced with menace and power.
He struck and smashed with hate and evil.
We fought endlessly. Exchanging blow after blow.
Then, I saw an opening, there for a single second. A single blip.
So, I took it.
My sword went into his side, and he roared.
"You cannot defeat me!"
"I can't? No, I most certainly can!"
He stabbed my spine as well, but my blade reached his heart.
He roared, that ancient beast.
As life finally deserted the one who stole so much of it, he became fire and power.
His eyes were now pits of fire, and a spurt of flame jutted from his mouth.
I smiled as he fell.
He roared one last time, but as a final blow, a final gift.
He imbued all of his power into me, destroying all it could touch. He demolished my insides. Burning me from the inside out.
As Peccatum died, I fell to the court.
_
"ROSE!"
We ran over as fast as we could with all of our injuries. Rose lay limp, unmoving on the ground. A smile draped on her blank face.
Then Luma gave the announcement we all were praying for.
[The Author has been slain by the Sovereign.]
We heard whoops of joy below, but we couldn't celebrate, she wasn't dead, but she wasn't far from.
"Rose, please, wake up, we won. We did it. Please."
I knelt by her. Tears filling my eyes.
"Don't forget our promise. A wedding. A big one. With roses on the walls and a red carpet. Come on, please."
A tear dripped down from my face onto hers.
"Remember? If we both survived to the end, that you would have that? Well, we are both alive, so don't go back on it now. I won't forgive you if you do."
…
"Please… Kitten…"
Then, Luma made the accursed announcement.
[The Sovereign has d-]
"Bleck."
We all looked at her in shock.
"Why you crying on my face? It's salty."
I laughed and hugged her hard.
"You scared me."
"I know, that's kinda my deal."
I laughed, then she hugged me back.
"Of course, I wouldn't go back on my promise… Pointy."
Luma smiled then revised her announcement.
[The Sovereign has defeated the last enemy… We won.]
This time… everyone cheered.
_
Gabriel POV
With Rose as the Sovereign, she did quite a bit. One of the first things that she did was let the dead pass into the true Heaven, and not the Author's heaven.
Then when it came time for the wedding, I was asked to proceed over it as I was the only technical supreme being other than her, even if I got the weaker cursed edition.
The church was chock full of people. People filled every pew.
Dallel stood in front of the podium, gulping.
It didn't help his confidence that his squad and Jalad would cheer every twitch.
Then came the moment all were waiting for.
Rose came down the aisle Elren walking with her.
She wore a white dress with red flecks.
Her golden eyes permeated through the veil.
Her brown hair went far down to her shoulders.
She stopped at the podium, where Elren administered a death glare in Dallel's direction before walking to his seat.
I spoke.
"Today, we are here to witness the union of two individuals. Rose Hood and Dallel Cales. These two are accomplished warriors who have fought hard to cement a future for all of us, but today they look to their future. Dallel, do you take Rose as your wife."
"I do, now until forever."
"And Rose, do you take Dallel as your Husband."
"I do, now until forever."
"Then, with the power invested in me, I declare you two husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Dallel raised the veil and the two kissed.
Everyone cheered. It truly was a perfect wedding. The Author would've been so jealous.
_
I sat on my throne with all of the kings of Pandora surrounding me.
"So, our alliance was made to stop the forces from destroying us. Now that it is gone, I want to ask you. Will you still stand with us under the banner of Garden."
Then Onyx snickered.
"That's a dumb question. Of course, we'll stick with you."
All of the kings nodded.
"Well, thank you for that."
Then… a reign of peace dominated the whole of our realm.
Now… all that was left was to deliver Kala's message.
I portaled over to Earth and followed the memories. I saw Heather's playing around the street. Saw her and Amy sneaking up on Amanda.
All of her memories guided me.
Then I found it. A house, small, but perfect.
I knocked on the door, and a middle aged woman answered the door.
"Hello, Mrs. Orwitz?"
"Do I know you?"
"I have a message for you."
"From who?"
"Heather."
"I heard she died in another realm."
"Yes, but she entrusted me with this message, and now that peace reigns… I wanted to bring it to you."
"Sure, what's your name?"
"It's Rose Cales mam."
"Well come in, I'll get the tea."
And so, Heather's mother allowed me into her home to deliver her daughter's final message.