Chapter Text
It was Spring time. The plants and flowers blossomed beautifully. Roses, Lillies and even weeds flourished. Years ago, from a time Katherine remembered vividly, threats of demons and other dangers lingering over her head but love was on her right side. Back then, spring time would've been celebrated with a special gnome of hers. They would've recreated their first date, a small picnic out in the fields of the overgrown with tea and cakes, but now is spent on the balcony of her empty feeling palace. It's been colder, the halls haunting her without Shubble by her side. Everything seemed duller even if it's been decades since her death. Nothing has been the same for Katherine since her lover's departure from the world.
Whenever her eyes gaze upon a small mushroom of any kind her mind is filled with Shubble and some days she can't handle it. Katherine should be able to grief easily since she's lived for centuries but something about the gnome stuck to her heart and refused to let go. In Katherine's opinion, Shubble took her heart the moment they connected eyes, completely smitten. She was willing to do anything to be together again.
Katherine's accepted death from the moment she watched her lover die. She's been ready ever since then to be taken away and reunited with her love. Whenever she was fighting mobs she'd let go sometimes. She'd stop fighting back and see how it would feel like to just slip away like that, away from the world. But She has too many responsibilities, she couldn't just die. She'd eventually come back to her senses and finish them off. Afterwards she'd wish she would've just let them kill her off.
None of that mattered anymore
Katherine was one of the last living Rulers she'd befriended years ago. Her allies slowly deceased one by one after Shubble did. She always was doomed to die young, gnomes were known for their short life span, only shortened even more outside of her homeland. Everyone else mourned with her along with the knowledge they'd soon join her. Katherine often found herself crying to sleep thinking about the faces of her old friends no longer alive to goof around with, no longer around to spend the day together or fight alongside each other. Only her and Scott remained out of the twelve rulers. Of course others have taken their places respectfully but Katherine was too hurt to get close to them. She feared getting too attached and the cycle repeating over and over again.
Scott didn't have much time left either, that's what scared Katherine the most these days. He's been her greatest ally and friend since the near start of her creation. Bonding over small things like royalty and immortality formed a friendship like no other. They spent decades alongside each other, telling secrets and more often than not taking a stabbing for the other. Katherine smiled at a distant memory she has of Shubble worrying to death after Katherine moved in front of Scott. An enemy was attacking him and lunged at his chest, but Katherine stepped in so she would take it instead. She remembered how Shubble's hands felt as she tightened bandages around her and the fear in her eyes. Katherine's hand hovered over the large spot near her chest, and smiled.
This time though, the sword would go in swiftly and won't miss. She has everything in order already. She confided in the overgrown to choose a new ruler and Katherine had already been training the chosen one so they'd be ready in time for her planned demise. Though no one else knew, other than one.
Katherine heard the sound of heels clicking softly on the polished floors of her palace. Her eyes stayed on the garden below the balcony. She'll make sure to write down a reminder to her people to take care of it when she's gone. She picked up her tea pot and poured the contents into an empty teacup next to her own, now cold. She picked the cup and plate underneath it up and turned around to face the person, or elf, that entered her room.
Scott stood tall and shined in the soft glow of the sun. The gold he wore, each piece significant to one of their friends, made him seem glowing like the god he was. His face was aged along with his overall appearance. Small wrinkles and grey hairs covering his teal head of hair were not enough to signify his true age. Part of Katherine was envious of the others appearance. Fairies look ageless their whole lives, a tribute to their seemingly endless lifespan. If Katherine looked aged and old maybe she'd feel like an actual being, she'd have comfort knowing that soon it'll be over and have her aged face to prove it. But sadly what she wanted was rarely what she got.
Katherine offered the cup and plate over to Scott which he gracefully took, accompanying her to watch over the horizon. They stayed silent and just enjoying each other's company for a while. That's how a lot of their outings went, just comfortable silence, and that was okay for the pair. After some time Scott was the first to speak.
"Katherine, are you sure you want to go through with it?" Come out of the Elf. Katherine simply smiled and turned towards him.
"I'm sure, it's my last wish as selfish as it is. I want you to be the one as my greatest friend. Both me and you know you're used to the sight of blood." She joked, hitting his shoulder with hers. She got a small chuckle out of him.
"Well I'm glad you chose me for this deed. Even as i take it with great sorrow, I'm ready when you are" Scott placwd his hand on Katherine's shoulder and squeezed gently. His emotions overcame him though and he pulled the fairy in for a tight hug, one too memorable to forget after death. Neither wanted to pull away and tears were shed as well but both had too much pride to admit it. After not enough time Katherine pulled away, fearing if she didn't she'd rethink her choice.
"I'm ready now" Katherine's smile never faltered as she spoke. Scott nosed slowly before first taking out something from his pocket. It was a small gold chain which had a small flower molded from the yellow material dangling from the chain. He placed it on Katherine's neck and clasped it from behind. Katherine held the chain in her hand and looked at Scott with teary eyes.
"A goodbye gift, i left a similar one on Shubble's grave, just something you two can have before you pass" Scott spoke softly obviously holding back tears. Katherine let hers fall and chocked sobs as she finally broke down. She hugged the other again tightly knowing how much she's going to miss him.
Katherine pulled back once she'd calmed and reached up towards her ears. She gently unclasped the butterfly wing shaped jewelry that hanged from her ears and handed them towards the elf.
"Here so you'll remember me too" Katherine said.
Scott took them and placed them in the closest pocket to his heart before unsheathing his sword resting beside him.
"You ready Katherine?" Katherine nodded tears still flowing down her face
"Thank you, not only this but everything. I'm glad we met and i love you, you're my best friend" Katherine spoke as she looked the other in the eyes. Scott lifted the sword and pointed it towards her heart. Tears rolled down his face as well but smiled regardless
"I love you too Katherine, say hi to Shubble for me" and with that the sowed plunged into her chest and Katherine's heart was pierced. A painful death to say the least but a decision she did not regret in the least. In her final moments all she could think about was her friends and lover she'd soon be face to face with.
When Katherine opened her eyes again she was met with a bright light and the feeling of grass beneath her. The world around her seemed normal, just like before. Though none of that mattered when she was facd to face with her late wife looking at her with disbelief. No words were spoken as the two hugged like the world was ending. Enough passion and love to fuel a whole planet. Nothing could come between the two of them now with each other in their arms. Tears of joy and sadness was the only sound heard from the two lovers finally reunited.