Finding The Queen

"Halt," a feminine voice calls from behind Ryker.

The threat turns to find the least expected person standing before him, her presence calming the winds and guiding the stars as they turn through the night. "Leave him to me."

The Queen of the Kaiyo stands before the two of them as they freeze in place.

"Well, isn't this lovely," Ryker comments. "I wouldn't call this a reunion, but-"

"You've picked an interesting day to crawl from your grave, Mr. Ikari," Azura calls, waving the Reaper next to him to lower their weapon. He turns to watch them as they obey, shocked at the response the Queen has given to her entire elite team being slain.

"I thought it was convenient. You believe that burning my family to ashes was convenient too, yeah?"

"I had not done that to your people, I knew they were innocent," Azura barks. "That action was not under my command. My elites have betrayed my orders."

Ryker chuckles before spitting out another puddle of blood.

"Yeah, right. The Reapers are under your command. I know what your intentions are," Ryker growls.

"Do you?" Azura raises a brow. Ryker throws his arms up, glancing at her as she steps closer to the both of them.

"You want this to end. Shoot me, kill me. I've fought so hard to bring my people to safety. I wanted to bring them to a place where they didn't have to feel like they were in danger, or like they were being hunted. I fought for them," Ryker paints his boots crimson, "Where are they now?"

Azura looks to the Reaper and presses her palm against their chest, grabbing their holstered handgun with the other.

"I fought for my people, too," Azura says calmly, "My elites soar for justice. That justice has been lost with the innocent lives that were once yours to rule."

"You believe that because I've lost what I rule over, I'm no longer a sovereign?" Ryker stares.

Azura steps back gracefully, aims at the Reaper in front of her, and pierces a bullet through the metal of their wings.

"No," she says, as she fires a final bullet through the helm of the Reaper and watches them fall back to the cannons below. "Even after you lose what you ruled, you will still find something new to control. You will never be satisfied with what you have. You'll find it useless after all the mistakes pile up, take your anger out on it, and leave it to die."

"Why would I do that with my people?" Ryker scoffs.

A tear runs down Azura's cheek.

"Why would you do that to mine?"

"You just killed one of them!" Ryker exclaims.

"What does it matter when one remains if you're just going to kill them too? You're ruthless, powerful, and you'll slay anyone in your path to a false justice. I watched it happen, and I won't allow you to take that chance again. I am not a ruler either, don't you understand? You had slain my most treasured elites, one by one, and I couldn't do anything to help them. Their blood drips on my hands when I couldn't even reach them," Azura drops the gun with tears flooding her cheeks, "I made sure that you did the same. We are equal now!"

"We were never equal! You have always been above me. You had led me on before the war. You hunted me down when I tried to run. You had me caged without anywhere to run or hide. My people have feared you," Ryker bites back.

Azura releases a heavy breath as she fails to keep the situation calm. With careful thought, she drags the straps of her white dress off and lets it fall to her feet. Ryker holds his breath as he gazes at the Queen's body before him, her pale skin marked with crimson scars. Dark lines mark over her body with heavy detail. Little cuts cover her chest and stomach while scars wrap around her thighs. Her back is blanketed in a permanent wound, and her arms are weaved in lines.

Not all of them had come from her own will.

"No, Ryker," Azura whispers, "They knew the Kaiyo would've helped them if they weren't so hostile toward something as small as a name. They didn't because they knew you would've been the one to hunt them down instead. You forced them into submission - into a name of your own. They've feared you. I've feared you. You put these marks on me because you claimed I'd be more beautiful. You killed a countless number of my dreams. You've picked me apart, piece by piece, Reaper by Reaper, and I did exactly what you said."

Ryker growls. "What's that?"

"Look around," Azura waves her arms, "We're at the highest point of the city. I've stood above what has made me weak. I've let you turn my celebration into a chaotic murder spree. I've let you spread your name across every billboard above the countdown to something I don't have. What more do you want from me?"

"I want to watch you burn," Ryker says as he steps toward the edge again, "Because even after all the life I've ripped from your hands, you haven't lost everything."

"You are everything," Azura responds as she carefully follows him, "I loved you, Ryker. We had spent eight years of our lives together, and I don't want it to cease. My world has orbited you for so long, and no matter how many lives you would take yourself, I always knew mine would still be yours."

She kneels before him, her dress now waving away from her, and takes the bright crown resting on her head to hold it in her hands.

"You had always told me," Azura stares into the gems of the object, "That when I felt like the city was crashing down over me, I was supposed to spread my wings and fly to solace."

Ryker gazes as she reaches out to him, the crown still shining with the moonlight.

"I can't do that without you," she says.