I had to pause because sobs began to escape me, and I looked at the teardrop as more sobs left my trembling lips, until I lowered my bloody lips to the rock and kissed it gently, like it was the last time my lips would touch anything remotely connected to our Notorious Queen.
"So show me a sign that...you're proud of me, babe," I begged as more sobs escaped me and I put my head to the floor and cried. "Brianne."
I sobbed uncontrollably as a soft breeze passed by, one that held a tender warmth to it even though my body was frigid cold. I continued to cry, not caring if the world could hear me. I'd done the one thing everyone seemed to doubt I'd be able to accomplish.
The least I can do is cry until my very sockets dry up.
I didn't want to dare think of the future, or how I'd even survive from this moment onward, but at least I could recognize one tiny victory even though it was clear we'd truly failed.
We lost the most valuable gem of all.
The soft lick to my forehead made me realize Luna was here to comfort me. She arrived when I needed her the most, and I guess today would be no different.
Lifting my head slightly to acknowledge her, I looked into the large eyes of pink that stared up at me as golden-orange sparks swarmed their massive surface.
"MewMew!"
I stared at Elsa's tiny body as she purred and playfully tapped my fist. Opening it up simply out of shock revealed the teardrop rock was gone, but it didn't matter because my eyes caught onto the bare feet that stood mere inches from my line of sight - leaving me no choice but to slowly look up and acknowledge the woman standing there.
I thought I was imagining the view as the sky was washed with pastel colors of pink, orange, gold, and hints of teal blue, and the fluffy clouds slowly passed by as the sun continued to set.
The mere background was nothing in comparison to the stunning beauty before me.
"Br...Br..." I couldn't even say her name with my shaky lips as I took in her figure. She stood there completely naked, but with her hands covering her lower part while her orange-gold locks were so long, they literally covered her breasts and surpassed her butt in length, but seemed to help be a perfect curtain.
She was smiling down at me as her tired eyes met mine.
"No matter how small our spark of love is, its touch can change someone's lifetime." She quietly repeated the spoken words from the festival as she slowly lowered to her knees before me. Her hand sought my cheek, and her gleaming lips curled.
"See?" she whispered. "You proved to the world that even if I'm not around, you won't lose control."
Her eyes, which were back to their usual brown color, shimmered with happiness as she wiped away my tears while her own tears ran down her cheeks.
"Sorry for scaring you, Jax. I'm here."
The last two words were what triggered my movement as I closed the distance between us and hugged her tightly. She relaxed in my arms as she gently hugged me back - and the warmth and touch of her slim body set off the waterworks as I sobbed into her shoulder while relief overtook me.
The relief of everyone else came in the form of claps as one began the trend until the stadium cheered in happiness.
Nothing could express this moment as I cried in the arms of my eternal love.
Against all odds, we found a way to prevail. We've achieved the ultimate ending: victory.
25
Graduation Promise
~BRIANNE~
* * *
"Last but not least. Please welcome to the graduation stage, B-"
The cheers exploded before Professor Phoenix could announce my name, leaving me giggling at the end of the stage as my Notorious men stood in wait for me on the other side.
Diplomas in hand.
"Brianne Marie Harlow!"
"MewMew!"
I lifted my hand to pat Elsa's head as she continued to sit on my shoulder. With bold steps, I walked upon the stage. I thought the cheers couldn't get any louder, but they did as people young and old clapped and screamed my name in happiness.
Professor Phoenix stood in wait for me, my rolled-up diploma in her hand while a bright pink box sat on the podium. When I reached where she stood, she offered me my diploma first, and the crowd went insane as we posed for the standard picture.
I couldn't help but give her a hug a second later, which made her laugh as she hugged me back. Pulling out of the hug, I remained in my spot as the crowd quieted down.
Professor Phoenix nodded to the vast stadium audience before she reached for the box on the podium. Ms. Electra came over to take hold of the box for the special occasion.
"Today, we are honoring one of our prestigious students with the highest, rarest award that's ever been given to a student since the creation of Witchling Academy. This medal is Witchling’s Elite Medal of Honor. It acknowledges that the wearer of such award has not only gone above and beyond for the students, professors, and bystanders who live on Witchling Academy property but has aided in saving thousands of mages from great catastrophe. This medal opens many doors for its owner, but more importantly, it instills that Witchling Academy soil will always be a place to call home. Brianne Marie Harlow, congratulations."
The booming cheers sealed her words as she opened the pink box to reveal the medal of metallic pink with gold and orange accents. The striking image of a female student pointing their wand in battle was displayed in gold with my name engraved at the bottom.
Lowering my head, I allowed her to slip the medal onto my neck then turned to face the audience as flashes from the cameras went off. I looked to the crowd to see my parents, Starlight, Katsume, and Sebastian - all of them clapping and cheering in pride.
Father was fighting hard not to cry while Mother was a sobbing mess. The two of them still carried smiles as they waved at me.
This was the moment we'd worked so hard for, and here I was, on the graduation stage, being recognized, praised, and honored.
I started as a nobody, one who had no legacy attached to her name other than her family's good deeds. The gifted sixteen-year-old with no friends, who somehow managed to graduate with the highest medal of honor, multiple friends, four amazing boyfriends, and a congregation of people who wouldn't remember me as a Harlow, but as the woman named Brianne, who managed to save Witchling Academy from a universal terrorist attack.
After one final bow and a few pictures with the rest of the administration on stage, I walked to where my four amazing boyfriends stood in wait. The moment I was hidden by the curtain, they crashed into me with massive hugs, leaving me to laugh as we cheered long and hard - our bodies jumping up in down in glee, which ended up making the crowd laugh because they could clearly hear our gleeful declaration.
"WE DID IT!" we cheered.
Eight semesters. Four solid years. We'd managed to do what the Shadow Kingdom wished to stop us from achieving, and the payoff was fantastic to experience.
Graduation consisted of pictures, autographs, news reporters, and getting moments with our families.
We finally got to change out of our gowns to have a private meeting with Professor Phoenix, Ms. Electra, and Sebastian. I wondered what role he played with his recent collaboration with the magic council, but then again, so many Witchling Star situations forced him to be involved, so he'd somehow become a part of the grand team that aided us in getting to this final moment.