Chapter 5: The Seal is Broken! The Rosé Apocalypse Awakens!

The courtyard fell into a hush as Celestia von Aurelia stepped forward, pink eyes gleaming with anticipation. The moment had arrived. The seal that had bound her power for so long—the shackles placed upon her by the fabric of reality itself—was about to be undone. Or at least, that was how she chose to narrate the scene in her mind.

Her crimson cloak flared as she dramatically extended a hand, resting it upon the pulsing crystal of the Luminara Nexus. The moment her fingertips made contact, a seismic wave of raw magic burst forth, shaking the very foundation of the courtyard. Rose-colored energy erupted in a dazzling display, spiraling around her like an endless waltz of crystalline petals.

Seraphina took a step back, her golden eyes widening in alarm. The intensity of the power was staggering, almost oppressive. Even their parents, powerful and composed as they were, exchanged a glance filled with barely concealed concern.

Celestia's voice rang out, rich with theatrical bravado. "At last! The Carmine Archon's shackles have shattered! Rejoice, for the Empress of the Rosé Cosmos has returned!"

The air pulsed violently as Celestia's Rosé Apocalypse awakened in full force. The roses that bloomed around her weren't just magical constructs—they were manifestations of her will, woven from the very threads of existence.

Rosé Cosmos Manifestation – Ethereal pink crystalline roses materialized in the air, their petals shimmering with untapped power. They coiled around her in elegant, twisting patterns, awaiting her command. A single stray petal landed on the ground and, without warning, the stone floor beneath it crystallized into pure rose quartz.

Vivienne's breath hitched. That wasn't normal elemental transmutation. That was reality being rewritten.

Celestia, oblivious, giggled in delight. "Behold! The very land bends to my will!"

Seraphina, who had just awakened Solar Imperium, an ability that literally allowed her to dictate the laws of existence, suddenly felt deeply unsettled. What kind of power had her sister just unlocked?

Eternal Rosé Dominion – The swirling blossoms expanded, filling the courtyard with an eerie, yet breathtaking sight. Everything within its radius became subject to Celestia's will, though she had no idea of this fact. The petals hovered around their family, harmless for now, but if she so much as thought of changing something, it would become reality.

Aldric subtly reinforced his own defenses, just in case.

Celestia laughed, spinning in place as the petals danced in rhythm. "Yes! The Rosé Cosmos flourishes once more! No longer shall it be restrained by the paltry chains of this mortal realm!"

Seraphina swallowed hard. "Mother…?" she whispered.

Vivienne's expression was calm, but the way her fingers tightened against her gown betrayed her unease. "She doesn't realize."

Seraphina's heart skipped a beat. "Realize… what?"

Before Vivienne could answer, Celestia thrust her arms out, dramatically declaring, "As Empress of the Rosé Cosmos, I decree that all who stand before me shall tremble in awe!"

The air trembled.

A faint hum of energy rippled outward. The gathered knights stationed at the courtyard entrance visibly staggered, their knees buckling for just a moment before they caught themselves, exchanging confused and alarmed glances. Even the nobles who had been observing from the palace windows took an involuntary step back.

Celestia huffed in satisfaction, completely unaware that her Empress's Decree had momentarily forced reality itself to acknowledge her words.

Seraphina felt a cold sweat forming. "She thinks… she's just playing."

Aldric exhaled, rubbing his temple. "That's a mercy."

Vivienne nodded. "If she understood the true scale of what she can do, there would be no telling what could happen."

Celestia, meanwhile, was basking in the afterglow of her grand proclamation, arms crossed and a victorious smirk gracing her lips. "Fear not, my beloved subjects! I shall wield this power wisely and justly! …Probably."

Seraphina groaned. "She said 'probably.'"

Carmine Rebirth – As Celestia dramatically flicked her hand, one of her crystalline roses shattered against the stone floor, releasing a soft pink glow. Unbeknownst to her, this was a piece of her immortality, a part of her own essence now stored within the very ground of the palace.

Aldric noticed. He very much noticed.

Vivienne folded her arms, watching her youngest daughter prance about, blissfully unaware that she had just embedded her own resurrection point into the fabric of their reality.

Seraphina buried her face in her hands. "She's an actual walking catastrophe."

And then, as if to prove her point, Celestia threw her hands up once more, voice ringing with unrestrained excitement:

"Now, let the Rosé Cosmos BLOOM!"

The world held its breath.

For a brief, terrifying moment, the sky darkened. Above them, thousands upon thousands of glowing pink roses began to materialize in the heavens, each pulsating with raw, untamed magic.

Seraphina gasped. "Oh no—"

Vivienne reacted instantly. With a flick of her wrist, a golden sigil flared into existence, wrapping around Celestia in a protective constraint. "That's enough, little one."

Celestia pouted, arms still raised. "What? I was merely summoning forth the celestial gardens of my realm!"

Seraphina jabbed a finger upward. "YOU ALMOST SUMMONED A SKY FULL OF MAGIC NUKES."

Celestia blinked, following Seraphina's gaze. She tilted her head. "Oh."

The roses, still hovering ominously, suddenly flickered.

And then—

They harmlessly burst into soft pink motes of light, dissipating as if they had never been there.

Aldric let out a very slow breath. Vivienne loosened her spell, allowing Celestia to move freely again.

Celestia, oblivious, simply dusted off her cloak. "Ah, how fickle the cosmos can be. It seems even my power has its limitations."

Seraphina's eye twitched. "Limitations?"

Vivienne turned to her husband, sighing. "We need to monitor this."

Aldric ran a hand down his face. "Closely."

Seraphina took a deep breath. Her sister—her adorably unhinged, delusional sister—had just demonstrated the power to rewrite reality itself.

And the worst part?

She had no idea.