Chapter Text
3rd Person POV
At Solution's most famous cafe the Mosaic, sat a hooded woman talking to a man clad in a brown coat. Their hoods were up and they were sitting rather close to each other, to any would-be onlooker they seemed to be on date; the closeness, small giggles, the looking into each other's eyes, they seemed to be having a nice time together. Unbeknownst to the people of Alexandria there sat their true former Queen, not the simulate that has the people fooled or the Endless version of her that protected them for decades but the genuine alive Queen Sphene and next to her was the man that saved them not just recently but also so long ago. While reminiscing on the past and talking about the changes, the melancholic feelings towards their situation hung off of every word. The kingdom they once knew was gone, and in its place while still the home they loved so dearly was unfamiliar and foreign to them, even more so for Sphene.
Sphene POV
Me and Meteor were talking about, well just about anything; those years without him felt like the hells, believing he had given his life to save Alexandria, but here he is now, alive and despite everything else I can not hold back my happiness for us to be side by side once again. We continued to talk about our lives and the changes to Alexandria while Wuk Lamat and Gulool Ja talked with a few citizens about upcoming plans, when a boy walked by our table.
“Your Majesty? Is that you? ” he asked. Although I had my hood on the boy's short stature meant he was able to look up at me.
“I … Um … Well …I’m sorry to disappoint, but I am not Queen Sphene …though I’m often told we look alike” I told him, hoping he would buy the lie.
“There you are! How many times have I told you not to go off alone!?” A voice coming from another direction yelled. A man came up to the boy, both sharing a resemblance, it was the father, he looked in Meteor and I’s direction. “I’m sorry he bothered you, ma’am. Come now, we’re going home!”
“Bye, not-Queen Sphene!” Said the boy and with that he and his father left. This interaction just reinforced the truth of my situation.
“ I do not know that boy, nor does he know me. No one does. Another harsh reminder that I have no place here … Yet no matter how much things have changed, I am happy. I am. For Alexandria has endured. Our sacrifice was not in vain. Even so, I cannot help but feel lonely …” I said. Wait but I am not truly alone … I looked at Meteor, the man I swore my heart too, I was only looking at my own grief, selfishly forgetting about him as he too lost the kingdom that once was. “I mean, I am happy no over joyed you-you are here with me … it is just-I feel … . ”
“ It’s okay Sphene, I understand. You love your people, and the people loved you, waking up in an Alexandria that does not know the real you, only the visage of you, it can not be easy, and must hurt like the seven hells. ” He gently squeezed my hand and smiled at me, always understanding, even when I put my foot in my mouth.
For a moment we looked at each other before Meteor broke eye contact to look at Wuk Lamat and Gulool Ja, trying to listen in on what they were saying. I took a look at his face, the time that separated us aged him, I went into stasis when I was 26 and now I a few hundred years old yet I have kept my appearances but Meteor was 25 when I thought he … died. But he lived and was sent here to the source and aged, now he is 34 . He definitely looked older, gone was the clean shaven face with short spiky hair, he now had stubble and grew his hair out to then tie it back, despite an energized look to him I could tell there was fatigue behind his eyes and smile, these years have not been easy for him. It then dawned on me, for what I have learned of this new Alexandria, so many of the heroes of eld had been forgotten, but many institutions had still been preserved in some form, but there was nothing on the rangers, the hunters were like them but there was no mention of what had become of the rangers, the people that helped to hold the line to the bitter end for Alexandria, people that signed up to protect the wilds and outskirts turned into warriors, warriors that were once under the command of Azem then Meteor. Meteor himself, despite being the very man who was the reason the dome was turned on in time before the storm could destroy our kingdom, was completely forgotten by the people.
I inched closer to him and rested my head on his shoulder, the hardness of his shoulder pauldron was a bit uncomfortable. I felt him move his arm and pull me in closer so I could rest my head under his jawline. We sat there in silence for a moment before I found the right words to say.
“I am sorry, you too must feel the way I do, the people know a version of me, but why have the memory of the rangers, and of you been forgotten?" I said to Meteor, I gently held his left hand.
“I’m not sure, I don’t mind being forgotten but for the rangers to be wiped from history, angers me. Although knowing what we know of how the memory of those that passed has been handled thanks to the regulators it does not surprise me; but still all those people that gave their lives for Alexandria deserved to be remembered by the living in some way. People like Otis and Zelenia deserved to be remembered." Meteor spoke with sadness and a hint of anger. I could feel his body tense up a little, he loved his rangers and our friends, every loss was a stab in the heart for him. I lifted myself up a bit to connect my lips to his check.
I had wanted to ask about what happened after he got his memories back and what my endless self told him but before we could continue our conversation Wuk Lamat and Gulool Ja walked up to us.
“I’m sorry I’m not being much of a guide. I don’t usually get approached this often … we're not interrupting anything are we?” Wuk Lamat said with a smirk.
“No you're not and do not worry, it’s only natural for them to seek comfort and assurance from someone they trust.” I said as me and Meteor got up from our seats. Meteor graded our empty cups of coffee to go throw them away.
“I appreciate your understanding; what were you two talking about if you don’t mind me asking?” I looked at Wuk Lamat, trying to find the right words to say.
“We were just reminiscing on the past and how much has changed.”
“I see, right then, where to next … We could take a look inside the Nexus Arcade, but it can probably wait for when we actually need something.”
“In that case, let’s head back to the recreation zone. There’s plenty to see on True Vue.” Gulool Ja said as Meteor rejoined us.
“Where to next?” Meteor asked.
“Ture Vue” said Wuk Lamat. Meteor nodded at her, it had seemed despite all this time he still would respond with head nods, a simple quirk I love about him.
As we made our way to True Vue, Meteor and I followed Gulool Ja and Wuk Lamat, they were talking to each other while we listened. I then held Meteor’s hand.
“No matter what happens Meteor, we will handle it together, as one, just like before.” I said as I looked up to him, he smiled at me. “This is our second chance, and I will not let us be separated again.”
3rd Person POV
Meteor and Sphene walked hand in hand as they followed Wuk Lamat and Gulool Ja to True Vue. The beginnings of a fire started to spark within Sphene, one that would soon become a rowing flame. While the party of four made their way to True Vue, unbeknownst to them there were eyes on them, eyes that were waiting for the right moment to strike.