As the Celestial Knights zoom off into the distance without another word, streaking magical lights of their own colors where they fly, I'm left astounded and wordless for what feels like several minutes. In reality, it's only a handful of seconds before I shake myself from my reverie, but so much has happened in the last ten minutes and it's hard to process it all at once. Not to mention the fact that this new world of Knighthood evidently isn't done with me. My entire being is reeling and I still feel the power coursing through me, like static electricity just beneath the skin, but I have stuff to do, and first order of business is to make sure my things are still where I left them. And the doll has a lot of explaining to do.

  The alley is exactly as I left it, except for the very noticeable difference that the doll has been digging through my backpack and is now flipping through one of my notebooks. "You can read?" I ask her as I touch down next to her, feeling a slight sense of hesitation at the notion of picking both her and my things up.

  "Hey, none of that sass. Of course I can. Nothing interesting to read in here though."

  "I mean, it's just schoolwork, so I would tend to agree. But we've got somewhere to be. Would you prefer to ride in the backpack? Or... Can you fly yourself?" She snorts and stuffs my notebook back into the pack before turning to face me.

  "Right, the meeting. Yeah, that's important. No, I don't get any powers. Backpack's gonna be fine for now, but you need to get me something entertaining for the future."

  I nod and shrug. Everything feels surreal enough that a doll made of yarn I fixed up randomly asking me to buy her a comic book or whatever makes as much sense as anything else. She crawls into the pack, I pick it up and look into the space inside to see her make herself as comfortable as she can feasibly get before I zip it shut and feel the thrill of flight in my stomach once more.

  Only five minutes later when I'm about to land on the roof of the Somerset Conservatory do I consider the fact that the doll already knew about this meeting. I file it among the hundreds of questions I already have for her.

  The five Knights are already on the rooftop, as expected, all still in their full uniforms, and now joined by their Squires. Those haven't been much of a secret for the better part of the Knights' history, but it's still something quite else to see them in person, they're bigger than I imagined. I feel drawn to Onyxia's twin motes of starlight, Willow and Nox, more than any of the others. Feeling nervous and a little awkward about wearing an old backpack with my Knightly vestige, I touch down, and before I can even open my mouth, the five other girls break up their conversation and present a united front. Asha looks as nervous about this whole situation as I feel.

  "Here's how this is going to go," Onyxia says as she steps forward from the rest. Her tone is calm but determined. It's obvious she's not going to have much patience with me. "You're going to power down and explain everything about who you are and where you got your powers, what your objective is, and why you helped us just now. Do you have a Squire? Where are they?"

  I almost don't dare move, but at the question about my Squire, I can't help but assume she means the doll, whose name I haven't even asked about, so I start to shrug off my backpack. In a flash of fire so hot I could swear my eyebrows feel threatened, Kaida is standing mere inches from me with her sword almost touching my throat! I freeze up, on the edge of tears as she growls "We said ."

  "I- I don't know how-" I stammer out, gulping down my own fear for a moment. "I was just going to get out the doll."

  "Your Squire didn't teach you how?" It's Vida asking this time. She seems a lot calmer than both Onyxia and Kaida have so far, her voice soothing and empathetic.

  "Well- I- You see-" Before I can make much more of a fool of myself, the sound of my backpack's zipper catches everyone's attention. The doll has figured out how to open it from the inside and clambers out just enough for her torso, arms and head to be visible. If I hadn't been moments from a heart attack, I'd have laughed at how cute and silly she looks.

  "It's not Destiny's fault-" the doll begins, her voice still sounding like a high-pitched, squeaky version of my own. "She's only had her powers since a few moments before you first saw her flying. We haven't had time to go over the basics yet." Now Aria breaks in. The youngest and shortest of the Knights also looks the most at home in her uniform, with her perfectly straight, blonde hair, fair features and crystal blue eyes.

  "I see. Destiny, you feel that hum beneath your skin?" The Scandinavian Knight proves to be the most calm among them all, but in a cold, monotone way. "Focus on it. Feel the way it moves around inside you, push it out. A deep exhale might be helpful, too."

  With a bit of effort, I follow her instructions, and after a couple of tries I feel the effect. It's not quite like pushing the energy out, more like letting it dissipate. When I open my eyes again, Kaida has backed off a step, but she still looks wary. "We meant for you to power down entirely, but since you're new, this will have to do." What does she mean 'entirely?'

  "And you being as new as you are also changes this conversation by a lot." Onyxia's stance has changed. She's less on guard, and her squint is directed more at the doll than me. "Willow, Nox, do either of you recognize this doll?"

  "Nuh-uh. She's new." Willow, the bright mote of light.

  "Never seen her before." Nox, the one who's dark almost to the point of resembling a small black hole.

  "Anyone else?" The rest of the Squires, except for Eo, the silent fox sitting at Aria's side, all chime in in the negative. "So we've seemingly got a new Knight, who doesn't even have a handle on her transformation, and a Squire no one has ever heard of. Intriguing. So, little doll, mind explaining things to all of us?"

  I wouldn't have guessed I was going to get the answers to any of my own questions this way, and even though I'm starting to feel put on the sidelines a little bit, I'll take what I can get. The doll clears her throat with a very exaggerated "Ahem" and clambers the rest of the way out of my backpack, then onto my shoulder. "I am Destiny-" she begins, but is immediately cut off by both Asha and I echoing the same sentiment.

  "No, she's Destiny."

  "No, I'm Destiny."

  The little girl of yarn somehow manages to look perturbed at both of us before she continues. "Yes, and so am I. And technically, she isn't a Celestial Knight, nor am I a Squire, at least not in the sense your own Squires would define it. Though if you want to use those terms for us, they're not inadequate."

  "Hang on, this is confusing," Asha breaks in again. "You've been in Destiny's care for months already, now you're alive, claiming to also be named Destiny, and now Destiny's hair is the same curly blue as yours. And she has powers. How does that work?" Wait, what, my hair's blue now? I start looking around for a reflective surface, but on this remote rooftop, none are to be found. I guess I'll have to confirm that on my own later.

  "If you would let me explain, please. There are things I can talk about, and things I have to keep secret for now. Just as is the case with your own Squires," small Destiny says, this time not leaving enough space for anyone to interject themselves. "Much like yourselves, Destiny is chosen for a higher purpose, which aligns with your own, I assure you. The pact she and I have made is similar yet different to your own as well." Not wanting to toss extra kindling on the fire of what I feel is already a heated conversation, I decide not to mention the small fact that we never made a pact, at least not to my knowledge. I can ask her about that later. "And just like your own Squires keep secrets from the public, there are things that will remain between Destiny and I."

  I clear my throat and catch the eyes of each Knight in turn, smiling nervously. "I promise you, I'm just as confused as you are about all of this. You can vouch for me right, Asha?"

  "Yeah, I've known Destiny most of my life. She wouldn't know how to plan an evil plot to save her life. No offense, Des."

  "None taken?" Someone clears her throat and we all turn our attention to Aria. Her blonde hair is cut in in a blunt chin length bob, matching the more severe style of her uniform, which is a nice, calming blue

  "I don't sense any hostile intention either. Pretty sure she barely even knows how to do more than fly and stab."

  "Rude," I comment, a little bit offended. And unsettled by the idea she might have read my mind without permission. "But true."

  "I still don't trust her. Think about it. Why would a sixth Knight just show up out of nowhere, after all these years?" Kaida interrupts, looking from me to Onyxia, who sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose, other hand on her hip. With the cannons she uses for her attacks transformed back into her twin Squires, Willow & Nox, she looks like the least harmful of the Knights at the moment. And absolutely stunning, with those long legs and her pink hair.

  "If I'm being honest I'm not fond of the idea either, but it's hard to deny she was helpful in today's battle. Vida, you've been awfully quiet, but you found Destiny passed out in a bus before her first transformation right? What's your opinion?"

  "Well," her voice is as calm and soothing as it was when I first met her. The rabbit-shaped Squire, Syd, is sitting by her feet, being one of the most prominent Squires in the conversation. "She seems well intentioned, and Syd seems to trust her as much as he trusts any of us. Plus, we could need the help. I mean, what if Renata-"

  "Point taken," Onyxia cuts in before Vida finishes her sentence, shooting the green-haired healer a stinging glare. "Destiny, welcome to the squad. On a probationary basis! You're untrained, inexperienced and don't even know how to control your transformation yet. And I'll be clear that I'm keeping an eye on you, watching for any suspicious behavior... And that goes doubly so for the doll. Incarna," she addresses my friend, whose purple curls bounce as she turns her head. "Since the two of you already know each other, it won't compromise the rest of us if I assign you as her mentor of sorts. Make sure to bring her up to speed, basics only, and help her understand her new powers." Stinging words, but I guess I could use the help.

  "Sure, cap'n." The relief in Asha's eyes is very apparent. She hid her trepidation well. "This is gonna be fun, Des! Just like how we played Knights as kids... Except with our lives on the line this time." Right. That. I hadn't thought about that part in a hot minute.

  "Yeah, maybe I'll be needing that training after all."

  "You will," Onyxia confirms and then lifts a few inches off the rooftop. "Knights, good work today. We'll handle debriefing tomorrow, get home and rest first. Destiny... I hope we aren't making a mistake with you."

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  With that, Kaida sends me one last venomous look before most of the Knights shoot off in different directions, leaving behind Aria, Asha and myself. "I live in the dorms out here," Aria explains before I can even ask, reaching down to scratch behind the ear of the silent white fox that serves as her Squire as it sidles up to her and nuzzles into her leg. "I'm just going to de-power once you leave and go do my homework."

  "Yeah, we should leave. Come, Des, I'll fly you home, we should talk just the two of us." Asha comes over to take my arm and gives me a reassuring squeeze. "Aaand... What about you... Destiny?" she asks the doll, who's still standing on my shoulder.

  "I will return to Destiny's backpack," comes the squeaky-voiced reply as she does indeed crawl back into my backpack, zipping it from the inside.

  "Do you mind if I pick you up? Easier than having you transform again. And lets us talk."

  "Oh, no, of course!"

  "Alright, then here we go. See ya around Aria!" Asha says, sending a quick gesture at her squad mate and then slips an arm beneath my legs, the other behind my back and scoops me up into a bridal carry style, quickly setting off and flying at a leisurely pace toward my part of town. As we fly away I catch Aria powering down in the distance, even as she keeps looking in our direction. I got the sense she's some kind of genius, especially if she's younger than the rest of us and already studying at the Conservatory. Her mind's probably already running through everything and figuring things out I haven't even thought about myself yet. To my surprise, her hair remains blonde in her civilian form, unlike most Knights in history whose hair changed colors.

  Okay, I won't lie here. I've known Asha since we were both small kids, and despite my proclivities, I've never thought of her as anything other than one of my best friends. But stars, she's strong, and the way she holds me makes me feel safe, protected. The cool air of the height at which we fly only makes me feel the blush on my cheeks all the more keenly. "How're you feelin'?"

  "I- uh-" I mumble, but then clear my throat, trying to wipe the sudden light attraction toward my oldest friend. "Well, it's all a little overwhelming. I certainly didn't expect anything that's happened in the last three hours when I got up this morning."

  "Yeah, sounds to me like you got a more abrupt introduction to this world than the rest of us. We all were approached by our Squires a couple of months before our first fight, given a while to consider whether we wanted this life and get a little bit of basic training and a briefing."

  "Did you hesitate at all?"

  "She did not. Your companion barely allowed me to finish explaining the compact before she said yes." That's a new voice, a deep, masculine timbre that almost resonates in my bones despite having no nearby surfaces to echo off of. Its owner turns out to be Kareh, the ambiguously lizard-shaped Squire that gives Asha her powers. He sits on her back and peers over her shoulder at me. "It is my pleasure to finally meet you Miss Destiny Drake. My Knight has shared many tales of your exploits both at and outside of school." I would never have expected the otherwise unassuming Squire to be so... Proper.

  "Nice to meet you too."

  "Like he said, no, I didn't. Would you have? We wanted this for as kids. It was the chance of a lifetime! But anyway, there's more than a few things we need to talk about and we don't have the time right now, so let's start with the big ones now and then we can handle the rest after school tomorrow," Asha explains. She sounds a lot more serious than I usually know her to be, but I suppose that makes sense.

  "Yeah, good idea. I should probably also call my parents and tell them I'm not dead, too."

  "Yep, that's step one. And don't worry, even if they saw you on TV, they won't realize it was you. The transformation makes sure we don't get recognized by anyone who isn't a Knight."

  "So that's why I never knew it was you!"

  "It is a glamour, young Destiny," Kareh breaks in, his long flat snout poking over Asha's shoulder. "One of many aspects we Squires made standard with the change, along with improved physical performance and resistance to damage. I can only assume your own Squire made the same choices, but I saw only minor variances in your aura compared to my Knight's."

  "I've got a lot of questions for... Chibi Destiny? I'll make sure to ask her about all of that too."

  "We can only hope the glamour also covers your new hair. Or that you can manage to transform the rest of the way back." Asha smirks at me. "The blue suits you though. Makes you look really cute. Maybe dyeing it wouldn't have been the worst choice after all."

  "Well now I don't have to." The two of us could never be anything more than friends, nor would I really want to. But I have to admit, being carried like this and complimented by her at the same time makes me temporarily feel a certain way about Asha. This time I'm sure my friend can't miss the blush on my face as I sheepishly look away from her and smile to myself, tucking one of the newly-curled strands of hair behind an ear. Fortunately I don't have to endure that slightly awkward situation for long before Asha sets down in one of the wooded areas near my home, where no one will see us land. She puts me back on the ground and adjusts my top a little.

  "There. You should probably take it easy today, Des. I know you already know this, but there's a lot of impressions you need to process, and maybe you could take some time to talk with Chibi Destiny too. Oh, and eat something sweet. Please. You'll need it."

  "I- Yes, thank you. For the lift, too."

  "Yeah, you're welcome. This is a good spot to transform, actually. Glamour doesn't stop people from putting two and two together, so it's good to have a place you can sort of disappear first."

  "Oh- Uh- Okay, I'll keep that in mind. So... Tomorrow? Do we just make up some kind of excuse for us to go off on our own after school?"

  "Hmmm... Maybe. You do also have a good excuse to stay home from school for a couple days, what with having been caught in a monster attack and all. If you want the time to settle. I could just say I'm checking in on you and bringing you homework or whatever."

  "True. I'll just text you what I decide tonight and we can plan after that, yeah?"

  "Works for me. Alright, see you tomorrow. And... I'm happy you're joining me, Destiny."

  Instead of saying anything more, Asha gives me one of her most genuine smiles before she takes off, zooming away with that telltale purple streak in her wake. I stay behind for a moment, almost rooted to the spot as the enormity of all the revelations that have been heaped upon me over the last three hours start weighing on my mind. Eventually I finally manage to start walking home, almost mechanically so. There are so, so many things I need to do and I can't figure out which order to do them in. I need to talk with the doll- Destiny. I need to call my parents. Okay, it's only those two things, but come on, I have a lot of other things on my mind. There's only supposed to be five Celestial Knights, and now I'm number six? Or, well, according to Chibi Destiny I'm not even technically a Knight? Okay, probably call my parents first. There should be a few hours before either of them gets home so I can spend that time questioning Destiny.

  "Yes, dad, I already called mom, but she didn't pick up so I left a message. Yeah, I'm fine, just a little shaken. No, not a scratch," I say into the phone as I shrug off my backpack and look in the hallway mirror as soon as I get home. Miraculously, it's true, I don't have a single cut or even so much as a bruise despite having been in the center of a monster attack and even been hit by it directly. Even my school uniform has been repaired and is clean. And yes, my hair is also the same curly blue as Chibi Destiny's... And I swear my hips didn't look so curved this morning. My bust seems bigger too. "I'm home now. Probably just going to go lie down and take it easy today. Yeah, I'll see you in a few hours." Parents soothed, I finally have a moment to calm down and start processing what's been happening, and it doesn't take more than a few moments before I collapse to my knees. My mind is going a mile a minute, I can't grasp a single thought for more than a moment before the next asserts itself and demands attention, only to just as quickly be replaced.

  I don't know how long has passed when I feel something move on one of my hands and look down to see Chibi Destiny standing on the floor next to me. I must have gotten so lost in my own mind I didn't even notice her unzipping the backpack and walk over to me. "You'll be okay, Destiny," she says and pats my hand. I slump and sit back on my ass, leaning against the wall next to the stairs.

  "How do you know that?"

  "Comes with the territory. Given enough time and practice, you might be able to see the threads on demand too."

  "The threads? You mean those strings I saw attached to everyone during the fight? The ones that let me know when Asha was in danger?" She nods and sits down on the floor opposite me, leaning against the bottom of the stout dresser.

  "The very same. Perhaps I should explain everything, or as much as I can, from the beginning?"

  "That would certainly help with my confusion. I have so many questions. What was that pact you mentioned? I don't remember making one with you. And why do I look like you now?" Destiny clears her throat and nods as sagely as a one-foot tall doll of yarn can.

  "I'm afraid the answer to both those questions is one, and not so simple. But let's start with a counter-question: Why did you pick the name Destiny?"

  "I... Don't know, actually. I've always known my old name didn't fit, and that I'd need to pick a new one when I started my transition. Nothing else seemed right, and I just woke up one day, with the clear sense that 'Destiny' was right."

  "And that's sort of where our story starts. Whether you believe in it or not, whatever you want to call it, Destiny, fate, is a fundamental force of how our universe operates, and you are her chosen." I scrunch my nose and give her a dirty look, a sour taste in my mouth.

  "Are you saying I didn't pick the name myself? That I was always destined to go with that?" The thought alone makes me a little angry. Picking that name was an important part of asserting my identity on reality, of telling people who I am.

  "Not quite. It was still your choice. There is some wriggle room in the tapestry. Though most just follow Destiny's plan, people can make choices that affect both the now and the future, but certain paths are set in stone and must happen. You, in particular, are unbound by these laws, so I imagine your subconscious was influenced by the moment you were chosen. On the contrary, your choice also decided my name. If you wanted to be called Brenda or Andrea, so would I have been."

  "That... Makes some sense, I guess. So why do I look like you then?"

  "An unintended side effect, I must admit. Your transformation works much like that of the Celestial Knights, glamour, increased physical attributes and all, but as the chosen of Destiny, you have a small measure of subconscious control over reality itself even in your base state. When you de-powered, the magic must have sensed your desire to change your physical appearance and accommodated it. As far as I know, only the Knights are going to notice that there's a difference. To everyone else, you will have always looked like this."

  "Wow. That's a lot to take in already. We might have to have talks like this on a regular basis so I don't feel overwhelmed."

  "I understand Destiny. There are few more key details to go over, but otherwise you just say the word and we'll handle the rest of the conversation another time." I bite my lower lip and think to myself I probably can't handle my conception of the world around me shifting much more today, but I still nod at her and decide to do my best to pay attention. "For one thing, I recommend not telling anyone about the true nature of your powers. People tend to short circuit a bit when they learn fate is real, even if it doesn't work the way most of them think it does."

  "Alright. Then what's this about a pact?"

  "You're the one who picked me out of the trash, fixed me and cared for me, Destiny. You accepted me into your life, brought me with you everywhere. That was us sealing the pact of you being chosen."

  "But I didn't agree to any terms. And what if someone else had brought you home?"

  "That's what it means to be chosen. You don't get much of a choice. No one else could have picked me up. Only you would have stitched me back together and replaced my stuffing."

  "So what if I don't want this?" I grumble, pulling my knees up under my chin and hugging them.

  "You can walk away. You have the choice to never use your powers again, to never transform. Life will go on, Destiny will find another path, as she always does. But we need you, and I think we both know you're not the type to just sit back and let evil prevail."

  "Fuck, you're right." I sigh and let my head thump back against the wall. "Fine. I have... So many more questions. About my powers, about what you need my help for, about why you speak of Destiny like it's a person, but we'll have to save those, because now I really need to go lie down." I sit for a minute more before I get to my feet and pick up the backpack, then look awkwardly at the doll, who's also gotten up. "Uhhh... Now that you're... Sentient, I guess, I don't want to be just pick you up without asking, you know?"

  "It's fine. I prefer to remain near you, so if we need to go somewhere and I'm not otherwise occupied, you can just bring me with you." I shrug and put my hand on the ground next to her, palm up, and she steps onto it, then sits down.

  So with a sentient doll in my arm and the burden of this new duty weighing on me, I go into the kitchen and pick a slice of leftover cake from the fridge, go upstairs and lie down, passing out before I can even think about taking a nap. The cake is eaten later that night as I text her that I'll be coming to school tomorrow, honoring my promise to my friend and new squad mate to eat something sweet.