Ever After

XLIII. Final Battle

The sun finally set and we're totally left in the dark. Luckily, the stars and the moon are up there to light our place.

I look at Nickolas peacefully sleeping beside me. I pulled myself closer to his chest to hear his heartbeat. It will always be the best music to my ears.

"Gusto mo na bang umuwi sa palasyo?" He asked as he hug my shoulder covered by the sleeves of my silver

I just shook my head and pulled myself closer to his chest. I weaved a deep breath and cried silently. Yet, he can still hear it.

"Hey, why are you crying?" Tanong niya at pinunasan ang luha ko.

"I'm sorry for everything I've done, Nick."

Until now, I'm still cursing myself for everything I've done in the past. My evil doings, the wickedness. Especially for the fact that I made the man I love the most suffer.

"That's enough. You made a lot of apologizing today, huh?" He said in a mischievous tone.

Napasimangot naman ako. Everytime I apologize, he will just laugh at me like it isn't a serious matter.

Inilapit ko ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya at mahigpit siyang niyakap. He hugged me back and I can feel his heart beating.

Dug.

Dug, dug.

Dug.

"Nickolas, I may not change the past, but I promise to set everything right for the future."

* * *

I looked at the sword reflecting half of my face. I still look the same but it seems like everything became different. This Victoria is different.

I traced the metallic sides of the sword with my fingers. It's been a long time since I last used you. Gagamitin ulit kita... pero sisiguraduhin kong para na sa kabutihan.

"Ashley and Ethan already found out the enemy's den. Ang mga kawal ng Winzellia at ng lima pang mga kaharian ay nakahanda nang sumugod."

Ngumiti naman ako at tumango kay Nickolas. Sabay kaming lumabas at naglakad patungo sa kinaroroonan ng mga kawal.

I'm the one who arranged everything in this battle. To the plan, the backup, the armors and the magic we will be using.

I mentally laughed. I remember , in the past, I'm one of their enemy but now, I led them.

Lumapit si Nickolas sa akin at hinalikan ang noo ko. He held both of my cheeks and gave me a sweet smile.

"I'm so proud of you, Victoria."

I felt butterflies in my stomach as sweet flowers bloom in me. Him calling me in my real name gives a blissful feeling in me.

"This is the only thing I can do for all the wrong things I've done in the past."

Nakapuwesto na ang mga kawal upang sumugod habang nasa kabilang dako naman ng baybayin ang mga kalaban.

I'm confident that we will surely win because compared to our thousand warriors, they only have less than a hundred. Plus the potions I made for our additional protections.

Inaabangan namin ang pagsugod ng unang kawal sa panig ng mga kaaway upang maghudyat na simula na ng laban. Ngunit ilang minuto na ang nakakalipas pero wala pa ring isinasagawang kilos ang mga kalaban.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Nickolas. Something's odd in here.

Napaatras ako nang makita ang mga itim na nilalang na naglalakad pasulong mula sa kabilang panig. Napakarami nito na tila libo ang bilang.