The city of Queensgate is bright as day.
We the Wretched are gathered at the Gate proper, where a new addition adorns the square's heart. A bed of roses, each bloom a different color, surrounding one much taller flower that's white as snow and is burning with the deep red of Umbra's pyromancy. A hushed and painful reverence hangs over us all, and the crowd parts as Umbra carries me through. Once we reach the center, closest to the roses, she sets me down with a sigh and quietly explains.
"This will be their memory. Forever, the roses will blossom, and the white rose will burn. Never will that flame be extinguished. Should the day come that this fire dies… It means I am dead too. In this sense, the fallen will live on through me."
I brush a claw across a yellow bloom. "Beautiful. Poignent. The white rose… The white dragon. Let her burn for all eternity."
"Bit harsh, isn't it?" Aurora hums from above, towering above me alongside Umbra. The top of my head reaches Umbra's mid thigh, but I'm barely knee height compared to Aurora. Just like I am, she's restrained by a leash and collar, except hers is made of cold accursed iron, and her hands are bound as well. "I get to symbolically burn forever because my Primarchs killed some of your soldiers during an invasion which you instigated as the aggressor?"
"Ssss!" Umbra swipes her bladetail through her sister's apparition, which reforms right after. "This is a monument to all who ever suffered beneath the conditions you created. Not only those who fell in this most recent battle."
"Ahh. That makes much more sense."
I would glare up at her but it would hurt my neck.
"What the fuck is she doing here?" Alabaster demands, shoving through the crowd. Even a giant like her is only hip-height on Aurora, but that doesn't stop Bast from squaring up to fight. "Oh, good! She's on a chain! How do you like the taste of axetail, you fucking monster?"
"Mm. I prefer a fattier cut than tail meat."
"So do I, but I'm going to fucking destroy you!"
"It won't do anything," I mutter to Bast. "She's a projection. Not real."
Bast swings on her regardless, to no avail. "Fuck you! Damnable snake! Break out of that lantern right now! I'll fuck you up a second time!"
"At ease, Bast," Umbra sighs, nudging her away with the flat of her tailblade. "You'll have your chance at retribution. Not now. Soon. Afterwards."
"You heard her," Aurora snarls with a vicious sharp-toothed grin. "Back off, little dragon. I'll devour you alive, kicking and screaming as I chew you up like you're worthless fucking meat–Mmm!"
"Enough." Umbra has gagged her with rose vines. "No more talking. You're here to be disciplined. Not to cause more problems. You will watch the proceedings without another word. I apologize, Alabaster. Perhaps it's best to address this now, before we begin."
Bast has backed off toward Umbra, taking me with her. Keeping me under an arm, she growls, "That might be for the best."
"Wretched," Umbra says in a soft but commanding voice that carries far. "My kin. My people. My friends. This is my younger sister. Aurora. The Goddess of the Light. Defeated, sealed away, and now in chains. I cannot and will not impede your righteous anger towards her for what she's done to us all. In fact, I encourage it. However, as difficult as it may be to accept, the time for violence has passed. The war is won. We now stand in the ashes of all that it has cost us. As such, I ask of you… Stay your claws, your fangs, your tails. For I've another means by which your frustrations may be unleashed upon the guilty party."
I hug Bast by the waist at her side, holding my breath.
This all seems dangerous. What if a riot breaks out?
With a flick of Umbra's wrist, the chain binds her sister to the floor just in front of the rose bed. "She will be made to witness the memorial of those whose lives were lost fighting against her. Following which… Each of you, should you choose to do so, will have the opportunity to speak your minds directly to her. One by one. Tell your story, state your woes, your bereavements, your infuriations. Tell her exactly how she has hurt those you love. How she has hurt your friends, colleagues, and associates. How she has hurt you. Aurora will have no choice but to hear your grievances, face your pain, and suffer your judgment. But know this. It is but one step on the road to our retribution. There will be more penance to come. If anyone is dissatisfied with this arrangement, speak now."
The only sound is from the roaring waterfalls throughout Queensgate.
But then Bast speaks up, her rough voice dripping with hatred. "I don't want her here. This isn't for her to see."
Umbra lowers to a knee just in front of us, reaching out to rest a hand on Bast's shoulder. "I wouldn't be doing this if I thought it was fruitless. Being made to face the impact she's had on others is the only way your pain will be made real to her. It is the same idea behind why I touch people when we meet. Once I do, you cease to be a disembodied voice, and you then become a person. Do you understand, Bast?"
"I understand, but that doesn't mean I like it. Or agree. I'm here to remember the dead. To remember my friends. Not to stand in the shadow of their murderer. And certainly not to teach this snake some lesson about basic fucking empathy."
"Then you needn't do so. The opportunity will remain for as long as she is under my control. If you choose not to face her on this eve, then you may do so on any other."
"That's not what I mean." Bast's white plating bristles. "She shouldn't be here at all. It's an insult to the dead we're here to honor."
Tightening my hold around her waist, I murmur, "Aurora is here under no pretense of honor, Bast. She's muzzled, bound, and chained to the floor, being forced to watch. I don't think that's insulting. I think that's justice…"
"Hells, I wish we could just fucking behead her." Alabaster's tail thrashes, clanging her axe blade upon the stone floor. "Damn it. Fine. Fine. But only because… Haunt would say the same damn thing…"
She falls quiet after that, hugging me in return.
I hope it helps. Even just a little.
Aurora's stare has fixated on me.
Rising to her feet, Umbra whispers, "Thank you for your understanding, Bast. Does anyone else have objections?"
The crowd remains silent.
"Then we will begin shortly. I'm still waiting for a few…"
"Thanks," Bast mumbles to me. "You helped…"
That makes me happy. A little, at least.
"Crim-Crim!" Penny suddenly tosses herself at me. "There you are! You're okay! Back to life, and–H–Hi, Alabaster. Sorry. Can we have her?"
"All yours, little librarian."
Penny hums me, I hug Penny, and Zip hugs us both.
And so I'm a little happier.
"You're okay, right?" Penny asks, patting me all over to check for injuries. "Are you? You seem okay. Does it hurt anywhere?"
"I'm okay, Penny." I pet her head between her cute fuzzy antennae and kiss her, pleased to have my little moth girl in my arms again. And to have my tall racer girl's arms around me. I kiss Zip too and manage a weak smile. "Yo, drac."
"'Sup, drac. So sexy of your cute tail to still be alive and kicking." She lowers her voice and mumbles in my ear, "Peps is a little… Y'know. Too much activity. Kinda stressed."
"Well, it's all over now." I hug her tighter and kiss her soft fragrant white hair. "We did it. We won. All that's left is rebuilding. And… trying to forget."
"Racer dive bar," Zip smirks. "I'm gonna make us our own spot. Boss Lady's already sold on starting a few leagues. Even said she'd help carve out the courses. It'll be straight wings, drac. Gonna call it… The Redline."
My heart swells and I choke up. "Wh–What? But that's… Wait, but that's–"
"You? Yep. All you, baby girl. Wouldn't be here without your cute ass. Gotta put you on a pedestal. You'll be our mascot."
Head on my chest, Penny mutters, "I thought Crim-Crim was the Red Storm."
"She is. But redline or redlining is a term she inspired. Means to go stupid fast in a sudden burst, like when she bolts around as an electric red…"
"Spark?"
"A red line, babe."
"Oh. Oh. Right."
I rest my chin atop her head. "How… Mm… How is she? Hilde. Umbsy told me she was staying with you."
The two of them trade a look.
Oh no. That can't be good.
Zip winces and shrugs. "Hasn't left her bed. Won't say a word either. Except one…"
"Your name," Penny murmurs.
I wince too. "Shit. Guess I'd better see her soon."
"Sooner the better." Zip rests her arm around me, kissing my cheek. "We'll be there. You're not facing any of this alone. You've got us. Always will. And I'm pretty sure the Boss Lady likes you. Maybe just a little."
"Just a little," I snicker and smile. It doesn't last. "Thanks. Both of you. I… I really needed to hear that. And the same goes for you. Always. I love you two so much…"
"We love you too, Crim-Crim."
"Fuck yeah, we love you."
The three of us kiss and hug and snuggle.
Hells, I need this. I need so much love.
I think I'd fall apart without it.
"Um." Penny pauses, antennae brushing together. "Sh–Should we… Or maybe… Maybe after?"
"Probably after. Because uh…" Zip points past us.
Umbra is standing off to the side, staring at the floor.
Zip mutters, "I think she's waiting for us."
"Yes. I need Crimsy back. But please, take your time."
"After," Penny nods, then kisses me. "I love you, Crim-Crim. Thank you. For… Fighting. For us. For all of us. Thank you. You're my hero. Our hero…"
"Yeah, second that." Zip kisses me too. "Love you, Crim. Glad we could help, but MVP goes to you for sure. Things really are about to change now. Big time. All for the better. That's your doing, baby girl. Keep that tail up. We'll find you afterwards."
I hug them both. "I love you too. Hells, I love you both. So fucking much. Thanks for believing in me. Thanks for fighting with me. You've been at my back this whole way through. So… Thank you. Mm. I love you…"
We spend another moment spreading the love.
Then I sigh and prepare myself for what's to come.
This is sure to be painful. But it needs to be done.
With a parting wave to them, I return to Umbra.
Her tongue darts out and she lifts me onto her shoulders. "Are you ready, my love? There is no rush."
I slump forward and rest my cheek on her head, taking a deep breath of her freshly washed hair. "I think so, my love…"
"Very well. Then we shall begin."
All of the roses catch fire.