Archive of Our Own ^beta

It had been a month since they returned to Soluna, and in that time, Cherri hadn’t seen Apo at all. So, why was there a thing on her schedule that said that today was Apo’s knighting? She’d heard nothing of the knight and had assumed that she’d left, probably taken a break, not been working towards her knighting.

Cherri had had a lot to deal with, so she hadn’t necessarily been able to try to find Apo to be able to talk to them. Her father made a brave sacrifice for their kingdom, and she wasn’t going to let that be for nothing. She’d been hard at work writing new policies, planning out the new layout of the castle, and doing diplomacy with their former allies.

Cherri wasn’t going to lie to themself; they missed Apo. They missed the genuine human contact; it was so lonely now without seeing her fishing, playing Farkle, or working on their house. They missed when Apo would willingly give them the random items that they’d ask for, even if they were stupid requests. They missed being able to tease her, trying to see how long the “stoic knight” facade could stay up, and when Apo would laugh at something they said. They missed the rare moments when the facade dropped, late at night, while they were talking. Apo was sitting on her bed next to Cherri, a rare moment where she had taken off her armor to clean it, or when she had allowed Cherri to help her brush her hair and put it into the bun she always wore it in.

Those small moments were the things that made Cherri feel like the luckiest girl alive. They made them miss her so much, the hurt only intensifying because they thought Apo actually genuinely cared about them, but had seemingly disappeared the second they were free to leave. Did those moments not mean anything to Apo? Were they just doing it because it was their duty, and didn’t care?

“Lady Apo, Do you swear to protect the kingdom of Soluna and it’s inhabitants?”

“I do”

“Well then, by Solunian law, you are now an official knight. Please state the oath and the position that you choose to take.”

“My oath is that I swear to always protect our queen, and be by her side as her personal guard as long as I am allowed and fit to do so. Because of this, I will be taking the position of the queen's personal guard"

She will be what? Cherri had assumed that since they hadn’t talked to each other, they were going to go their separate ways after the ceremony. This was not something she had expected at all. She would need to find them later and talk about this, but it would have to be later as she had to at least attend part of the festivities.

The festivities were in full swing, but Cherri had not seen Apo at all. There were many times they’d been so close to being able to leave and look for her, but every time, they would get stopped by someone wanting to know what happened while they were gone.

Eventually, though, a game of Farkle was started among some of the others, and Cherri was able to slip away. She knew exactly where to look first and headed towards the palace gardens. And there they were, sitting on the bench in the middle of the gardens, around the beds of newly replanted lilies.

“Apo?”

“Your highness, respectfully; what the hell. You scared me.”

“We need to talk about your oath.”

“What about it?? I meant what I said.”

“Why don’t you want to do something else, you can take a bit of leave now, maybe travel. Or maybe find a person you’re interested in!”

“Well, I don’t really want to travel, and no other person will ever interest me like that.”

Oh.. oh! Cherri tried not to think much about what Apo meant by ‘other’.

Cherri looked up and accidentally made eye contact with Apo, who was looking down at her. Her heart seems to stop for a second as she notices that Apo’s brilliant ruby eyes are shining in the moonlight. She can feel the flush creeping up her face and looks away again.

“Do you really want to know the real reason?”

“Yes.”

Apo pauses to take a breath before whispering in a voice barely audible

“Because my whole life and world is you.”

Cherri was too stunned to say anything else. Apo really did care about them, and the only thing that they could think of was to ask Apo if they really meant it.

“Was this always going to be your oath?”

“No. My oath used to be that I would protect all of the Solunian royalty; however, over the two months I spent with you in the Red Kingdom, it changed. I was able to reflect on it more, and what I truly wish to fight for is to protect the person that I hold close to my heart, and always to make her smile.”

Cherri was once again left Speechless by Apo’s words, as all the things she could have said somehow disappeared. There was a moment of silence, then Apo spoke again.

“I’m sorry my lady, that was improper of me, I shouldn’t of said that, please forgive me.”

“Apo.”

However, there’s no response from the knight. Her back is turned, and she looks towards the ground.

“Apo.”

Still nothing.

“Apo. Look at me.”

Apo turned around, their eyes growing wide at the expression that was on Cherri’s face. It was not one of anger or disappointment but one of care.

“I don’t care about what is proper or improper, I’ve MISSED YOU! The moment we got back and you were dismissed you left! You never said anything to me, or talked to me in the entire MONTH we’ve been back.”

“I…” Apo trailed off, taking a moment to recollect her thoughts

“I was trying to finish up the rest of the process for my knighting ceremony so I could get to pledge my oath, there was a lot of stuff to do.”

“I thought you didn’t car.e”

“I care so much, that’s why I needed to finish everything so quickly, I needed to make sure that nobody else could take that job!”

Cherri suddenly realized how close they were standing to each other, their faces just mere inches away.

Apo looked at Cherri, making eye contact with the shorter girl. However, her eyes accidentally wander toward Cherri’s lips. She immediately looked away, and Cherri could tell she was panicking internally. Her face remained stoic, but her eyes were slightly wider than they usually would be, and her breathing was vaguely faster than before.

Cherri realizes what just happened, her eyes going wide. She hopes she isn’t misreading the situation and isn’t about to regret what she is about to say.

“Apo”

“Yes?”

Apo’s voice is shaky, and she once again looks at Cherri

“Whatever question it is that you’re overthinking, stop it and just ask.”

“I don’t know what you mean?”

“That’s your ‘I’m panicking and overthinking what I’m going to say.”

“What if it’s something I’d regret asking after?”

“Apo Kuna, stop overcomplicating it, Just. Ask. Me.”

“Can I kiss you?”

Cherri doesn’t give a verbal response; instead, she wraps her arms around Apo’s neck and pulls her closer. Apo somehow gets even closer, but pauses and hesitates, whispering.

Apo then closes the distance, and it’s somehow everything that Cherri has ever wanted. The kiss they share is short, but it’s full of months of longing, wondering, and hoping.

Apo pulls away, and her face is full of doubt. She’s gorgeous in the moonlight; its light illuminates her face, and the reflection from her armor casts a silvery glow around her. She turns away before speaking.

“I shouldn’t have done that, I’m sorry, I’ll go now, I-”

Cherri didn’t let her finish her sentence, grabbing her collar and pulling her down into another kiss, this time it’s one full of passion, of fiery love and strong feelings, of months of not getting this, but wanting it so much. of all the longing in that time channeled into that one kiss.

They finally break apart, Cherri looks up at Apo, her Apo, to see that she’s looking at them like they’d personally hung the moon and stars.

“My lady-”

“Apo, please. Call me Cherri.”

“But that’s-”

“That’s my name. There’s nobody else here so there’s no need for formal titles right now.”

“Cherri”

“Yes?”

“I… I love you.”

“I love you too Apo”

Apo kissed her again, slowly, full of love, and she smiled. This, she could get used to.

There, under the moonlight, they were able to be them. Not a knight and a princess/queen, but Apo and Cherri, two people in love, two stories just starting a new chapter. Together