Chapter 24 - Long Live the Queen
Once again, the kingdom of Arendelle had survived the worst, but had been hit hard. Once again, the royal city was reduced to a state of ruins engulfed in ash and smoke. Accompanied by the few soldiers who managed to survive this apocalypse, the population of Arendelle returned to the midst of destroyed houses, devastated streets and in the distance, the half-collapsed castle. The lifeless bodies of soldiers from Tabor, Arendelle, and Northuldras warriors lay everywhere. But also, several corpses of titans were present.
But the people were speechless at the sight that presented itself to them. Returning to the destroyed docks of the city's harbor, Godzilla slowly leaned in, letting Elsa descend from his muzzle and set foot on solid ground. Alongside Godzilla, Kong did the same, gently resting his hand on the ground to allow Moana to descend. The Queen of Arendelle and the Chief of the Island of Motunui looked at each other, fatigue showing on their faces, but also renewed hope after such a victory.
_ "Thank you ..." said Elsa.
_ "No ... thank you ..." Moana answered frankly.
The recognizable and powerful roars of Mothra and Rodan were heard, and the two flying titans came in from the air, circling several large circles before they could land on the ground. Mothra leaned down, flapping her wings and let down the two young priestesses who Elsa immediately recognized and smiled to see them again. Miana and Maina came up to the queen and greeted her with respect, bowing.
Rodan had also landed and Elsa saw Anna, although injured in the shoulder but still strong, slowly descend from the giant fire bird. Once her foot was on the ground, Anna gently patted the tip of Rodan's muzzle, thanking him once again.
Seeing her sister still alive, Elsa couldn't hold back her relief and ran to her. The two young women, letting tears of joy flow, hugged each other tightly. For his part, Godzilla looked at each of the other titans: Kong, Mothra and Rodan, and thanked them with a nod. Without them, he would never have been able to win. Behemoth and Methuselah, though wounded, also reached the King of the Titans, bowing before him. Godzilla greeted them as well, thanking them for their dedication and for fighting for him. Scylla and Muto having given their lives, Godzilla knew their sacrifice had not been in vain, like all those who had died before them. This war had cost so much, both titans and humans ... but this time, it was well and truly over.
Elsa and Anna continued to hug each other for long seconds.
_ "This time, I thought it was really the end ..." Anna sighed in tears "... I thought I would never see you again."
_ "You would have done the same for me, I know." Elsa replied with a smile, wiping Anna's tears with her fingertips.
_"Mom!" Then came the voice of little Iduna, who ran to Anna, who hugged her, hugging her also with strength and love. Iduna was followed by Kristoff and Olaf, who were also more than relieved to see Elsa alive. Arendelle's soldiers and the surviving Northuldras arrived with the population of Arendelle and the Stone Trolls, all seeing the city and castle in ruins. The inhabitants also showed repressed anger and fear towards the titans, not daring to approach them. Godzilla felt all their anger towards him and his ilk. And in a way, he didn't want to blame them. He would get over it, as always, knowing that he had done his duty.
From the docks, the flagship of the French fleet, badly damaged, acosta. Belle and Prince Adam got off the ship, escorted by the soldiers who survived the battle. Elsa thanked them for their support during this war.
But although the victory had been achieved, it was not without consequences ... the losses had been very numerous ... many of Arendelle's soldiers and Northuldras warriors had perished ... Scylla, Muto, the Lieutenant Mattias, Chief Northuldra Yelena, Sven ... very painful losses, but consequences of this conflict which had lasted too long ...
The lifeless bodies were all gathered in rows, all covered with sheets. Elsa gathered all the people around, so that all could pay a last homage to these brave souls who had sacrificed themselves for the common good. Kristoff and Olaf were the hardest hit by Sven's death, but Elsa and Anna were with them to comfort them as much as possible. When the time came, a dignified funeral would be held for everyone who had sacrificed their lives in this final battle. At Honeymaren's request, Yelena's body would be brought back to the Enchanted Forest, to be buried there in the tomb of the Northuldra, among the other chiefs. Lieutenant Mattias would be buried with dignity in the vault of Arendelle. Scylla and Muto will be buried alongside King Caesar and Zilla, at the titan cemetery at the foot of the mountains. For Sven, Kristoff decided to bury him on a hill bordering the waters of the fjord. In remembrance of his oldest friend, Kristoff stayed alone by the grave for several minutes, and spoke of his happiest memories again, as if Sven was still there to listen. This sight had hurt Anna enormously, but she had respected her husband's wish.
A little later, the Queen Elsa called for a private assembly, outside of Arendelle. Only her closest allies were invited to this meeting.
Intrigued by Elsa's request, who had not wanted to say more, Anna, accompanied by Olaf and Kristoff arrived at the designated place of the meeting: the top of the hill where stood, high and silent, the two engraved and tall stones constituting the tombs of King Agnarr and Queen Iduna. A light drizzle had risen over the area dominated by a gray cloudy sky obscuring the sun.
Anna, holding her daughter in her arms, Kristoff and Olaf arrived, and could see that they were apparently the last to arrive for the assembly. In front of the tombstones stood Elsa, in her immaculate white dress and wearing on her head the queen tiara. Beside her was the dark-skinned, wavy-haired woman, Moana, warmer dressed to better endure the Norwegian climate. Princess Belle and Prince Adam of France were also present alongside the Queen of Arendelle. A little to the side were the two twin priestesses, Maina and Miana. Honeymaren had also come, and had since been appointed as the new leader of the Northuldra, wearing Yelena's necklace as a symbolic status.
But humans weren't the only ones invited to this meeting. The gods were too. Godzilla. Mothra. Rodan and Kong. The four primordial titans were there, standing in silence, as if waiting for something. Their imposing, overwhelming gazes gazed at every human, like supreme judges awaiting a verdict.
As she walked towards this assembly, Anna could feel it ... there was a curious atmosphere ... and Elsa looked so serious, not smiling and looking at her sister like that ...
_ "Elsa... what's going on? Why did you absolutely want to get us all here?" Anna asked, a little nervous. The queen then advanced several steps, until the middle of the assembly, in the sight of all. Godzilla, Kong, Mothra and Rodan, each standing on one side and thus forming a square around the humans, still waited without doing anything.
_ "If I made you come here in this symbolic place, it is for a very specific reason ... because my friends, in a few moments, the history of Arendelle will change ..." announced Elsa. These words intrigued everyone. After speaking, Elsa turned her gaze and gently extended her hand to Anna, inviting her to join her in the center.
_ "Anna ... come to me." Elsa asked calmly. Although puzzled, Anna confided Iduna to Kristoff and obeyed, coming up to Elsa.
Moana, Honeymaren, the Twin Priestesses, Belle and Adam ... all also remained very serious and silent.
_ "On your knees ..." Elsa asked then, still very calm and serious. Anna was more and more confused by this behavior, but preferred to obey and put one, then her two knees in the grass. Elsa then turned to Moana, who in turn stepped forward and gave her something ... an Arendelle's sword, made of steel and with a beautifully forged cross-shaped pommel. Elsa then took her queen's tiara and placed it delicately on Anna's head, the latter remaining stunned in silence. Standing to the side, Kristoff, Iduna and Olaf watched without understanding. Elsa, holding the sword firmly, spoke forcefully so that all could hear her.
_ "It is here, at the top of this hill, centuries ago, that the great viking, Ragnar Lothbrok, founded the kingdom and the dynasty of Arendelle ... here he was crowned the first king of Norway , and it is also here that he was cremated on a pyre after a long and prosperous reign ... here too are buried his descendants, King Agnarr and Queen Iduna I ... But this hill is not only a place of eternal rest, but also of birth ... here were crowned several kings and queens in the long history of the kingdom ... thus, me Elsa, proclaim here, in the eyes of the gods and men, the coronation and birth of Queen Anna of Arendelle, daughter of Agnarr and Iduna and descendant of Ragnar!"
Anna gasped in amazement at the words that made her heart leap high in her chest. Kristoff and Olaf were also speechless. Elsa then lowered the sword onto each of Anna's shoulders, as the official sacrament of her new title. After crowning Anna as the new queen, Elsa pulled back, inviting her to stand up and bowed to her. Moana, Honeymaren, the priestesses, Belle and Adam all bowed too.
_ "Long live Queen Anna!" they all said.
And in their own way, Godzilla, Kong, Mothra and Rodan also expressed their agreement, with powerful roars up to the sky and echoing throughout the area.
Anna did not know how to react or what to say and stood there, frozen in her amazement, as Kristoff, Iduna II and Olaf joined her. The little girl was ecstatic with all her might to see her crowned queen and wanted to touch the tiara with her fingers. In turn, Anna was congratulated by the members of the assembly, but could hardly hear their words as she was shaken by the news. Then finally, it was Elsa's turn to stand in front of her.
_ "But ... but Elsa ... why did you do that? You're the queen, not me." Anna asked still in shock. Elsa smiled tenderly at him and came to take his cheeks in her hands.
_ "Now it's you. I can't keep my title as Queen of Arendelle."
_ "But tell me why!" Anna insisted. Elsa became more serious again and turned her gaze to Godzilla, who was also looking at her and seemed to give her a slight nod.
_ "Anna ... understand me ... the threat of destroyer titans has been defeated, but ... I have other obligations now ..." Elsa explained, pointing to the titans. "although victory is ours, this fight has also demonstrated a sad truth ... humans and titans are not yet ready to peacefully cohabited ... not yet ... and now being the fifth titan ... I must now go with them, me too ... "
Anna gasped again at the announcement, and Elsa made it clear to her that she was really sorry and in pain to tell him that.
_ "No ... no ... no, no, no! You ... you can't leave! I refuse!" Anna said, shaking her head in denial.
_ "I have to, Anna ..." Elsa insisted in her turn, torn "... after what has just happened, the other leaders of our world will never accept that a titan reigns at the head of a human kingdom ... it is better for everyone that I go ... have no fear, I will not be alone."
Elsa looked over to Godzilla who was still waiting.
_"No!" Anna cried, tears emerging from her eyes. "I refuse to let you go! As queen, I order you to stay!"
Elsa smiled tenderly to see that the barely crowned Anna was already giving her first order. But unfortunately, she couldn't respect him. As the fifth primordial titan and goddess of balance, Elsa could no longer mind the affairs of a human realm. Her duty was now elsewhere and far greater than anything she could have imagined.
Anna, knowing that she couldn't hold Elsa back, finally gave in and with her head bowed, shed all the tears from her body. Elsa gently rested her forehead against hers and let her cry to lighten her heart. The two sisters, not related by blood but by love, hugged then with force and Elsa kissed her sister with love on the forehead. Kristoff, Iduna II and Olaf, also sad to see Elsa leave, but respecting her decision, also came to embrace her. Kristoff promised Elsa that he would take care of Anna, and she thanked him for that, trusting him completely.
Elsa joined Moana who was about to return to Kong who was also waiting.
_ "What are you going to do now?" Elsa asked.
_ "Return home, to my family and my people ... and tell our story to all ..." said Moana, who then held out her hand to Elsa. "Farewell, Elsa ... it was an honor to meet you."
Elsa smiles and grabs Moana's hand in hers tightly.
_ "All the honor was mine, Moana."
Elsa looked up at Kong, and with a respectful nod, greeted him and said goodbye. The giant gorilla returned his salute and smacked his giant fist on his chest.
Anna, now the new queen of Arendelle, and surrounded by her husband, her daughter and her closest allies, then in tears, witnessed the departure of the titans ...
Rodan roared powerfully, soaring, making several arcs in the sky before moving away towards the west and gradually disappearing into the sea of clouds. Mothra too flew away with power and elegance, carrying the twin priestesses on her back, and returning to their homeland. Thanks to her unique connection to the ocean, Moana was once again able to push the waters aside, which gradually formed a path for Kong to walk on dry ground. The giant gorilla, the daughter of the islands on his shoulder, gradually moved away from the fjord, for a long journey back to the Motunui archipelago.
Godzilla was the last of the titans to leave. After a last roar, the great king of the monsters gradually sank into the waters of the fjord, preparing to swim out to sea and leaving only his back and spines protruding. Holding onto one of the monster's backbones, Elsa gave one last look to Anna and the others, smiling at them and greeting them one last time as she slowly drifted away from her family and her kingdom, towards this new world that was now hers.
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