Rise of the Lycan Queen

Ascension

Ashley held the scroll in her hands for several minutes before she could bring herself to open it. She slowly unfurled it, and could see the handwriting of her father. She read the scroll several times, and realized it was much more than the writings for an alliance. He was writing a message for his children, and it happened to coincide with his wishes that they inherit a world where peace reigned. It was why they hade made the Alliance in the first place.

Ashley felt the tears falling, and saw them on the scroll before she closed it. She remembered the conversations she had with her father, and knew if he could see and hear her now he would be mad with her. He would tell her that she was allowing her personal feelings to cloud her judgement, and she knew he would be right. She sat down again when she finally began to pray to the Goddess of the Moon.

"Artemis, I know we are all supposed to be children of the moon. I just do not know if I can do this." she said as she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she wondered where the valley below her had went.

"Be strong little one. It may be hard, but what is right usually is." a male voice said behind her that she recognized.

"Daddy?" she asked as she turned around. She instantly recognized the man, and ran to hug him.

"Hi baby girl." he said as he wrapped her up in his arm. "Wish things would have turned out different."

Ashley felt the tears flow as she hugged him tightly. "Me too."

After a few moments he held her out for a moment and looked at her. "You look just like your mother. Glad you got my eyes though." he told her warmly. "You know what you need to do, you just have to let that pride go a bit baby girl."

"I know Dad, I just don't know why it had to be this way." she said looking at him.

"Sometimes things go sideways, and we have to adapt. They did what they had to survive, just like you and the Wolves baby girl. Do not fault them for that." he told her wisely. "I wish we had more time, but you are needed there desperately." Cameron told his daughter.

Ashley nodded, knowing he was absolutely correct about all of it. "One more question, will we win if I do this?" she asked.

Cameron laughed as they walked through the meadow. "Someone might be able to answer that, but it isn't me. All I can tell you is that you have a better chance with them, than you do apart."

Ashley sighed at the answer, and knew it was his way of saying almost no one could see the future for certain. "I guess it is time for me to go than, isn't it?" she asked.

"Just about, one more thing I need to tell you. You are meant for things far greater than anyone could have ever imagined. Do not turn your back on the other children of the night, not even the Vampires. Only a few of them are responsible for what has happened, the rest are as innocent as you are in this moment. Mercy is the far more difficult path, but is worthwhile to achieve." Cameron told her before he pulled her into another hug and she closed her eyes. "Love you baby girl." he said as she felt her arms close in on themselves.

She also knew she had returned to her body when she felt herself sitting, and cried again as she remembered her parents.

Ashley stayed on the peak until the sun had finally fallen below the horizon. She started the descent lost in thought, and before she knew it she was at the edge of the meadow where the Altar was. As soon as the first wolf saw her, he lifted his head and gave a short howl alerting the others that she was there.

As she looked, the moon began ascending over the mountain, and the trumpets sounded. There were a dozen of them, and the melody washed over her like it was calling her forward. She walked along the path, and realized it was the same one that hundreds of her ancestors had used when claiming the Throne.

"Tonight we gather in this sacred place, to witness the ascent of our Alpha and Queen. All Hail the queen!" David Hammer called before the Wolves howled no matter what form they were in.

Ashley never slowed her pace as she walked along the Ancient path that the Wolves were spread along as she looked up at David. He was the only other member of the Royal Lycan Pack, and the only one who could perform the Ceremony by tradition.

"Long has it been since we have gathered after the fall of the King, and time again for our people to be blessed with the true ruler of our Race. Princess Ashley, Daughter of Cameron has proven she is the Heir we have long sought." David said as she reached the halfway point along the path.

"The last thing that she must do, is prove she is worthy to lead us all. Any who wish may now stand before her, and should they conquer her, they may take her place." he said as one of the Wolf Alphas did just that.

"I challenge this fraud." Peter Long of the Blood River Pack called loudly enough to be heard by all making her smile.

"I suggest you decide to move, otherwise I will take it personally." she told him calmly.

He didn't hesitate with his attack, and she leaned back and watched as his fist went flying past her face. The growl that erupted from her could be heard by all of them, as she transformed smoothly in just a few seconds.

She roared at him with every bit of strength she had, and every one of them was stunned beyond belief. She was standing at just shy of 9 feet tall, and her pure white coat glimmered in the moonlight. "Test me again." she challenged him making most of them drop to a knee as she advanced towards Alpha Long. He involuntary stepped away from her, fearing what was before him before he dropped to one knee in front of her.

"I withdraw my challenge!" he yelled loudly as she stepped right up to him and growled menacingly. She raised her head and howled, her Aura fully formed now as she challenged any who dared to stand in her way again.

She stepped around him, and as she slowly changed back as she walked, every one of the Wolves knelt before her. The remainder of the walk was uneventful, as she stepped up to the altar.

"Long have I believed that we have been alone, that none of the other Races cared what happened to the Wolves in our Packs. For 13 years, I believed that the other Races sat idly by while we were forced to suffer the heinous acts of the Vampires. Recently it has came to my attention, that the reason was apparent to not only my parents, but the Royal Families of each of the Supernatural Races.

"It has forced me to reconsider a great many things over the last few hours, and I believe my father said it best. 'Despite the appearance that we are different, each of our Races rises and falls together. We all are children of the night, and despite our differences we are more alike than we are different.

"'No matter what happens to those that lead, it is necessary that who come after remember that we must stand United. If we cannot do that, we will all eventually fall. Dragons, Witches, Lycans, Werewolves, Vampires and so many more of us survive here in a symbiotic relationship. We all grow stronger and share in the strength of each other, and grow weaker as the others do as well.'" Ashley said re rolling the scroll as she looked at Gretchen and Draycon.

"With the power of this New Moon, I affirm to not just the Wolves and Lycans who will follow me, but to all Races of this World, that together we will become stronger. On this moment factions of Vampires strive for nothing more than to eliminate any opposition to their rise to power. We will meet any who wish to weaken us in battle, and show them that together we are strong. Together we cannot be torn apart, and that we will stand against any who wish to challenge us. United we will stand strong through the test of time. Separate we will all wither and decay as time erases us from this existence." she said as she picked up the dagger next to the altar.

"With my blood I affirm I am the Heir to the only rightful Heir to King Cameron and Queen Camille." she said as she sliced the meat of her palm and placed it on the crystal that instantly turned bright white. "With my oath, I swear I will do everything in my power to ensure that we do not survive as a Race, but thrive as an Alliance of Races. Supernatural or not, any who wish to grow stronger with us shall be welcome, as we grow stronger together." She said loudly enough to be heard by every person that was there.