I woke up on a throne.
A huge one.
Gold. Twelve feet tall. Carved with constellations, ancient wars, and symbols that felt like they were watching me back. It wasn't stiff or cold like a villain chair should be—it was… comfortable. Like Celestia itself had gone, yeah nah, you're not getting up yet.
I blinked. Groaned.
"…Why do I feel like I got hit by existence?"
The last thing I remembered was snapping my fingers and erasing King Dreadixz from reality. Before that—space folding, time shattering, Dark Don getting ripped out of the void, Incarceration screaming like hope owed him money.
After that?
Nothing.
I sat up—and froze.
They were all there.
Not lined up. Not formal. Just… there.
Olsen leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, already grinning like he knew I'd wake up. Prince was perched dramatically on a golden railing, lightning crackling faintly around his boots like he was resisting the urge to pose. Archie was upside down on the floor, flames flickering harmlessly from his hair.
"HE LIVES," Archie announced. "AND HE LOOKS CONFUSED."
Ella stood near the center, calm as ever, hands folded. Demaurion hovered nearby, arms tense, eyes sharp—relief hidden under attitude. Angel was scribbling notes mid-air with a floating hologram, Kai curled around his shoulders in mini form, tail flicking.
Sophia leaned against Emely, who was bouncing on her heels like she drank ten energy potions. Jocabed stood quietly beside them, hands tucked into his sleeves, watching me like he was making sure I was real.
Mason sat cross-legged near the throne, unmoving. Kayson was absolutely destroying a golden fruit platter.
Power stood apart.
Still. Watching. Smiling like this was always how it was supposed to end.
I opened my mouth—
"YOU'RE ALIVE—"
Starla hit me like a meteor.
She slammed into me, arms wrapping around my neck, wings folding instinctively as she squeezed like she was trying to fuse us into one being.
"STARLA—WAIT—I CAN'T—"
"DON'T CARE," she snapped, voice shaking. "YOU DISAPPEARED FROM REALITY."
"I NEED—AIR—"
She froze.
Pulled back.
Saw my face.
Oh stars.
Her cheeks lit up gold-pink. "S-sorry—!" She laughed, flustered. "I just— you scared me."
I smiled, breathless. "…Worth it."
She punched my shoulder lightly. "Idiot."
Laughter rippled through the room.
Javier shifted nearby, leaning heavily on Lonnie Mae's vines. He looked wrecked, pale, but alive.
I stood instantly. "Javi—"
"He's stable," Lonnie said, sharp but tired. "Cracked skull. Severe exhaustion. Will live."
"That's the best sentence I've heard all day."
Javier smiled weakly. "Did… did we win?"
I nodded. "Yeah. We did."
Olsen stepped up and bumped my fist. "You punched a god so hard reality took a nap."
Prince flicked imaginary dust off his shoulder. "Honestly? Iconic."
Ryan Buckner rolled past on his skates, live-streaming. "CHAT, HE'S AWAKE—DROP THE W's—"
Angel snapped a portal open under him. Ryan vanished mid-sentence.
"…You're welcome," Angel muttered.
Before I could say more, Starla grabbed my wrist again—gentler this time.
"Come on," she said. "There's something you need to see."
She pushed open the massive doors.
Light flooded in.
Celestia—reborn.
Golden cities stretched across floating valleys. Magic highways streaked with light. Diamond spires reflected pastel skies. Wind spirits danced. Falcons circled. Barriers shimmered lazily as Kwa'asja floated half-asleep mid-air.
And below—
A sea of Celestianites.
Every tribe. Every element. Every color.
They saw me.
The roar hit like thunder.
"KING LENS DON!
KING LENS DON!
KING LENS DON!"
My tail curled instantly. My face burned.
"Oh no," I whispered. "That's… a lot of people."
Starla stepped beside me and draped a golden cape over my shoulders. It was warm. Heavy. Real.
"They chose you," she said softly.
I stepped forward.
"No photos—RYAN PUT THE CAMERA DOWN—"
Instant silence.
"I know Celestia wasn't perfect," I said. "I know some of you were taught to hate. Some of you hurt others because someone told you they deserved it."
I drew my daggers.
"That ends now."
I raised them high.
"I won't rule through fear. I won't label tribes as monsters. I'll protect this world as someone who lives in it."
I smiled.
"I, Lens Don of Celestia, accept the throne—not to dominate—"
Cheers swelled.
"—but to make sure no one ever fights alone again."
The kingdom exploded.
Jaylen scribbled it down. Checked the box. Boom—law of the land.
We all hugged—Olsen first, then everyone piled in. I smiled.
"If it weren't for you guys… I wouldn't be here."
Later—after hugs, chaos, Sophia roasting Archie, Emely sliding across the balcony on ice, Demaurion quietly staring at the sky, Power resting a hand on my shoulder—we stepped through Angel's portal into the Grolian Forest. It smelled wet, earthy—like a jungle. The sun peeked through the trees, golden-orange against a blue sky. Felt peaceful.
We stood before Queen Grolian's castle, a towering, mossy green palace. Forestinite dragons soared above, and deer-fawn hybrids hopped around like a fantasy postcard.
I brought Kai with me—Ella had sent him to the castle for safety during the war. Eldritch must've had something to do with his insane form upgrade back then.
Lonnie Mae helped Javier limp toward the castle. Queen Grolian was waiting at the doors with open arms. They vanished inside.
I smiled. Javi was gonna be okay.
"Alright," Sophia said. "I'll stay with Javier. Gotta bring him back to Musicia once he's healed. The hedgehog deserves a break."
I nodded. "Thanks."
I stepped through Angel's next portal—back to Celestia.
From the edge of the balcony, I looked one last time at the golden valleys, the pastel skies, the glowing city.
I was king now. I could do anything. But right now?
A king's gotta rest.
"Let's go home," I said. "We all need a break after that insane journey."
Angel opened another portal—a swirling blue gate—and one by one, we stepped through.
On the other side? Sunset. Celestia's outskirts. Purple, orange, and pink sky. Ground shimmering gold.
Angel opened portals home.
One by one, they left.
Ella waved softly. "Rest, Don."
Prince saluted dramatically. "Try not to get boring, Your Majesty."
Olsen grinned. "You'll be fine."
Starla stood right next to me, watching the sky of Celestia.
Then—
I felt it.
I looked up.
Dark Don stood alone on a jagged golden outcrop. Arms crossed. Watching.
Only me.
I walked closer. "You alive?"
"Barely," he replied. "You fight like you hate existing."
"…You helped me."
He shrugged. "Don't get emotional."
I smiled. "Thanks. Rival."
He smirked. Rocket shoes flared, shifting into skates. "Try not to mess it up, King."
"No promises."
He laughed—quiet, real—then shot off across the skyline like a silver comet.
I turned back.
Starla stood beside me. "…You'll visit, right?"
I nodded. "Always."
I took one last look at Celestia.
Golden. Alive. Free.
"…Goodbye," I whispered. "I've got you."
And I stepped through the light.