I only received 6 reviews, but that's enough for me. In an unprecedented move, I'm continuing the series! I wanted to stop at A Symbol of Hope, but these ideas kept clawing in my brain, begging to be released. So this takes place 4 years later, as I'm sure you would've inferred, at Becky's coronation.

Song:
Tobey: Just the Way You Are by Bruno Stars

Disclaimer: I do not own WordGirl... or Word Girl... or wordgirl... just pick one already, folks!

Epilogue: Coronation

"I'm nervous, Tobey," said 16-year-old Becky Botsford as she fiddled worriedly with her diamond star-shaped pendant. Her boyfriend gently took the necklace from her and clasped it around her neck.

"Becky, you volunteered to do it, remember? If you didn't want to, you should've kept your mouth shut until you were, oh, maybe 846 or something."

Becky rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the bundle of nerves tightening in her chest. "Thanks for the support, Tobey," she said sarcastically.

"Sorry," he said, then seeing her expression, he added, "Quit worrying, Becks. You'll do fine, I know it. And anyways, if they hate it, then too bad for them. There's nothing they can do about it. You just have to go out there and give it your all. Besides, you're not even going to say anything!"

Becky went to the full-length mirror of her dressing room to access her appearance. She was wearing a custom made, V-neck moonlight-silver dress adorned with blooming Caritate Florems, a rare Lexiconian flower, which held the resemblance to a white rose yet gave off the scent of lavender and sage. Her long flowing ebony hair was woven with exquisite strands of pearls. A delicate crystal diadem rested gently on her head, embedded with topaz and jasmine. Becky wasn't wearing makeup, for the concept was foreign to Lexiconians, but none was needed. Alone, her flawless skin, luscious ruby lips, and sparkling chocolate colored eyes were enough to stun Tobey, along with any other male in the vicinity, into speechlessness. Becky just radiated beauty so naturally. Tobey would gaze into those eyes and couldn't believe that out of every guy in the universe, she had chosen him.

"I know, but I should still make a good impression," replied Becky. "I've worked so hard for this; I can't afford to mess up." Her mother had offered to have Becky live in the palace on Lexicon, but Becky sorely yearned for her home. Even though everything would be irrelevant in the years to come, she wanted to resume her old life, save the city, go to school, be a normal girl. For over four years, Becky had been living on Earth while tutors from Lexicon educated her about Lexconian culture, ethics, government, and everything else required to know before she became queen. Between school, crime fighting, her romantic life, and queenly training, Becky's life had been quite hectic, even more than before. Oftentimes she had trouble keeping everything straight, like the time when she accidently turned in an essay on Lexicon's Celestial Millennium instead of her Calculus homework. Fortunately, both Violet and Tobey were there to help fight crime, taking away some of the burden. Now, after four years of studying and training, everything was going to be put into practice. Becky was going to complete Cerimonia di Transiens, The Ceremony of Passing, and become Planet Lexicon's sovereign. Right now, she didn't really know what she was feeling. It felt like she was in some sort of dream state where she was watching everything from the sidelines. Her mind barely registered it when Tobey wished her good luck and departed to the stands, nor when the prestigious nobles came to congratulate her.

One part of Becky was scared out of her mind, already making up a bunch of half-baked excuses for not going out there, just like when she was trying to slip away to turn into WordGirl. That part of her despised being a princess and longed for nothing more than to turn back the hands of time and forget everything, to go back to the relative innocence of her childhood. The other one was thrilled at the prospect of being a queen, to have everyone listen to her every command and to be the limelight, a place she truly loved. Becky decided to let the second half dominate her.

Finally, she snapped out of her daze just a few seconds before those wide double doors swung open, revealing a grand open air pavilion with literally millions of Lexiconians, both on the ground and in the air. When the doors opened, thousands of heads simultaneously swiveled to gaze at Becky, with more than a few gasps brought about by her beauty. She nervously scanned the crowd for Tobey's reassuring face, but not wanting to tarry, she gave up after a few seconds and turned away. Becky tried to ignore them, focusing only on the scene in front of her.

The five archdukes and duchesses were arranged in a perfect circle, motionless except for their rapidly moving mouths chanting an ancient Lexiconian blessing in both their native tongue as well as every other known language in the universe. Becky processed slowly across the pavilion, feeling millions of eyes boring into her head, yet refusing to acknowledge their existence. She came to a stand still between the archdukes of Veritas and Animi. Positioned in the very center of the circle was Miss Power, known to Planet Lexicon as Queen Islanzadi, lying motionless upon a slab of shinning crystal etched with golden runes. A single beam of sunlight shone down upon her, creating a sort of spotlight upon the sovereign. Without breaking the chant, the Archduke of Vertias turned and handed Becky a ruby-red sword, dating back to the very beginning of their civilization. The moment Becky made contact with the artifact, a powerful current of wind swirled around her, a million spirits of past rulers whispering in her ear. She had never felt more connected to her home planet then she did in that moment. Little strands of pure energy, strands that would increase hundredfold when she became queen, connected Becky to every living being on Lexicon. She was aware of every single person, yet was experiencing their thoughts and feelings as intensely as if they were her own. It was like she had become the embodiment of every Lexiconian, yet harmonious with each. Forcing the overwhelming flood of information and emotion to the back of her mind, Becky focused her attention on her mother.

Her mother looked amazingly peaceful, as if her looming death held no cause for fear or anguish. To Becky, she looked quite fragile without her extravagant gowns and the crown of Lexicon, which was sitting on a small podium off to the side, waiting for the next ruler. The Light of Hope hovered a feet above the queen like a tiny little sun. Miss Power smiled sweetly at her daughter, trying to offer some emotional support. Becky was not raised with the planet's philosophy, so the idea of bringing about her mother's dead was difficult for her to cope with. Many times, her tutors had summoned up holographic projections of her mother to practice on, just to get used to the idea. It had been emotionally taxing, but Becky had managed to stab it every time. Now faced with the real, living version, she didn't know if she could do it. A hushed silence filled the air as the crowd waited with baited breath. Although Islanzadi had ruled Lexicon kindly for the past five years, those previous decades of oppression and suffering were still branded in the minds of the populous, so many gathered there were actually joyous to witness the death of their queen.

Becky timidly stretched out her hand, letting the Light of Hope float into her hand and zoom into her heart. Once again, after so long, she was finally filled with that spectacular, complete love that singed in her veins and tasted like honey. It filled her with warmth and made her feel as light as a feather. Once the power had settled down inside her, Becky raised the sword, positioning the tip directly over her mother's heart. Although she wanted to appear strong, she couldn't stop the flow of tears as she prepared to end her mother's life. The sword trembled violently in her hands as Becky tried to regain her composure.

"Alexa, it's okay," whispered Miss Power comfortingly. "Just kill me, sweetie."

"Mom, I don't want you to die," Becky whispered in reply trying to move her mouth as little as possible. Her voice quivered with emotion as she tried not to bawl like a baby in front of her entire kingdom.

"Darling, I've lived for over nine centuries. I've had more than enough time to enjoy all that life has to offer. I don't want to stay anymore. I'm ready to leave the world behind and see what lies ahead. Keeping me alive isn't going to do any favors to either of us."

Becky nodded and tried to drive the sword into her mother's chest. As soon as she saw the tiniest speck of blood staining her mother's plain white sacrificial gown, she drew back in alarm as if the blemish was some hideous spider. The crowd was getting anxious, wondering what the hold up was. Why couldn't their glorious warrior princess, the one who had freed them from oppression, use the sword?

Miss Power sighed in frustration at her daughter, who had barely made a centimeter deep cut into her flesh. "Alexandria, I'm begging you, just kill me," she pleaded, not even bothering to keep her voice down this time.

But both of them knew she would never do it. To the astonishment of the crowd, Becky tossed the sword away, suddenly repulsed to touch it.

"I'm sorry. I can't."

Then a glowing red arrow buried itself in Islanzadi's heart and the world went dark.

Didn't expect that, did you! Well, yeah, maybe some of you did, since Becky hates killing people (which she should!). Want to find out what happens next? Stay tuned for Angel's Sacrifice, the fourth book in the Radiance saga! I'll probably post that on Thursday, following an every other day pattern with the rest of my chapters due to school. It's only my fifth day, and already they're asking for a five-paragraph essay!

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