Chapter 27 - Zorya's Pirate Coronation

"She wasn't looking for a throne, just a sky where she'd be allowed to dance, but her queen saw her and gave her the sails."

Return to the Hope kingdom dawn slowly glided over the vanilla milk sea pink and orange reflections ran along the sugary waves, and each ray of light seemed to awaken a piece of sleeping confectionery at the port, an improbable ship, immense, soft, shaped from golden biscuit and sculpted pastry cream, floated with dignity Zorya, standing, arms crossed, observed in silence she looked serious, as always, but a small, discreet smile was already forming.

—"Why do I feel like this is going to end up as another giant sweet treat…"

And as often in Hope, she was right.

For at the top of the blue tower, the door opened with a rustle of liquid stars. Saphira descended, enveloped in a soft mist and a calm glow. Beside her walked Élya, her armor shimmering under the sun, her step tranquil but vigilant Saphira approached she stopped just in front of Zorya no grand speeches just one sentence.

—"You have no choice."

Zorya raised an eyebrow.

—"Of… what exactly?"

—"To be Queen of the Pirates of the Hope Kingdom."

The ship transformed into a floating stage.

A marshmallow throne was hoisted onto the deck the knight slimes formed a guard of honor, their candy cane lances shining and trembling with excitement. Hope whirled in the air, launching rainbow confetti from a whipped cream cannon Morpheus, leaning against a star railing, silently drank his celestial foam, eyes half-closed but softened. Saphira, standing on a polished nougat platform, raised her arms.

—"You stole the moon, but you gave me back a smile you chose to stay by my side, and today, i choose to give you a kingdom. Not a kingdom of fear, but a kingdom of freedom."

A magical silence settled. Then Hope, arms spread.

—"TADAAAAAA!"

The pirate crown arrived, floating on a biscuit cushion. It was woven of sugary gold, set with enchanted sea pearls, and adorned with a phoenix feather, picked up by Ra after his last rebirth.

Saphira gently took it. Her fingers barely trembled she placed the crown on Zorya's head, then handed her a cane sword made of black sugar and sweet shadow.

—"You are now Zorya, Queen of the Pirates of the Hope Kingdom, and if anyone says otherwise, I will strike them down."

Zorya raised a hand, with all the solemnity expected of her.

—"I, Zorya, solemnly promise to protect all candy ships, fight bad moods with songs, and never steal anything but hugs."

A silence, then a general burst of laughter even Kael, in the distance, smiled between two flashes of lightning.

The festivities began in a tumult of joy a diving contest in spicy honey syrup a spaghetti sword fight, where each defeat required eating an entire plate of pasta a joke duel between Zorya and Hope, where the one who laughed had to wear a ridiculous hat for an hour. Saphira, playing a cosmic tambourine, created waves of colored sounds with each beat and Zorya, she laughed she laughed, for real not to play a role not to answer a joke she laughed because she was there because she had been chosen because she existed and was loved.

End of Chapter 27 - Zorya's Pirate Coronation