AULANI
Ezra truly was the best king Kaiora had ever seen. The land was healing and being restored under his stewardship and with my help, uniting western ways and people with the natives of the land. We were swiftly married and I became Queen Aulani of Kaiora.
It wassogood to have my voice back. People from all over asked questions about the sea and the Coral Realms. I taught the locals how to sing to the birds, and we continued to tackle the frog problem. By the day of our wedding, not a coqui could be heard.
Meanwhile, Ho‘ohuli remained Ezra’s close counselor and advisor. Kalei was our trusted and good friend, and, despite her feeling like a traitor, we reassured her it wasn’t her fault. We still loved and cared for her.
She underwent a fair trial and accepted her punishment as assistant to the royal event planner.
Princess Cressida’s trial took a long time, as we had to gather witnesses and give her a fair hearing. As punishment, she needed to restore the land that she damaged. She literally had to work the earth, and, last I heard, she had become a rather strong farmer and botanist.
Her father sent an apology letter, but did not interfere with her punishment nor fight it to get her back home. It was a testimony to the fact that he did not truly care for her and I hoped, with time, she might heal and find peace here in Kaiora, working and tending to the land.
Tavo’s “troops” peacefully and willingly returned to their home, with Ezra promising to forge stronger ties with their governments.
Tavo was exiled, a decision Ezra did not take lightly. Now, Tavo had to confront the foreign cultures he so readily embraced for the rest of his days, never to return to Kaiora.
Tavo, much to his credit, did not resist or mouth another bad word against his brother. If anything, guards and servants who escorted Tavo off the island mentioned that he spoke highly of Ezra, as if he truly admired him.
And I couldn’t blame him.Iadmired Ezra. He balanced everything so well, keeping his people grounded in their culture, roots, and land, while still being open to foreigners and their modern ways.
I thought of this as I stood on the balcony and stared up at the stars.
Thank you,I said, admiring the vast space above. The sea sparkled in the distance. The cool night breeze gently blew my hair and sheer, soft blue night robe.
Warm arms wrapped around my waist and my husband kissed my neck. I giggled and touched his face.
“You look like you’re thinking about something,” he said softly.
“Do you hope it’s you?”
Ezra grinned and held me tighter. “Maybe.” He followed my gaze. “Do you miss it?”
I nodded. “Sometimes it feels so far, but… I have you.” I placed my hands on his arms. It was especially nice that wecould actually speak to each other… not in our minds, but with our voices.
“We’ve both changed, haven’t we?” Ezra said quietly. “Not just in body, but in heart. In the way we see the world, in the way we see each other.”
“Yes… I thought I had to leave one world behind. To become someone new, someone better. But now… I see how much I was meant to be here. With you. And my gifts… they were all for a bigger purpose.”
“You were meant for me, and I was meant for you.” He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against my cheek. “And now we’re both home. Here. With each other.”
I turned so I could see his beautiful green eyes. “You know… I never imagined my tale would end like this.”
He laughed. “Your tale… or your tail?”
“Both.”
His smile only widened.“It hasn’t ended, Aulani. It’s just transformed.” Then he leaned in and kissed me. I could recall the first time we kissed—not so long ago—when I still had fins and he had just transformed from a frog into a man. That kiss had been a breach, exhilarating and joyful, like a whale breaking through the surface, like dolphins spinning mid-air in sun-kissed spray.
But this one… this kiss was so much more.
It was an anchor. A promise. A new beginning. And I was done for.
When we finally pulled apart, I grinned against his mouth. “So… what now?”
He kissed my jaw and spoke against my neck, then pulled back enough so I could see the mischief in his eyes. “Now? We live hoppily ever after.”
I groaned, but laughed into his warm, hard chest. “If you ever turn back into a frog, I amnotkissing you for a third time.”
