I waited, tense and restless, until Bellamy returned. He carried something and began unlocking my chains.

"It worked?" I ask, hope flickering.

"No. Wonkru decided to attack without Octavia." He says, hurrying.

"Then why am I free? Bellamy, what's happening?" I ask, watching him unlock the last chain.

"The only way to stop this is if you become commander again." He tells me. I just nod.

"It's risky. The flame already being in my head- no ones ever done it before" I say

He meets my gaze, fear flashing in his eyes.
"Will it hurt you? I can't ask you to-" he starts

"No. I'll be fine. I have to do this. It's the only way" I interrupt

"Put this over your head" he says, handing me a cloth. I cover my face partially and let him lead me through the halls. Finally we reach the room where Gaia waits. I remove the cloth, taking in her solemn expression.

"Are you ready to become Heda again?" She asks

"I'm ready" I nod

I stand in the center of the candle lit room, my braided hair falling around me. Gaia raises the ascension horn to her lips, its sound filling the space with reverent power. Then she approaches, dipping her hand in black paint and marking my forehead between my eye brows.

I kneel as she holds the flame. Moving my shoe

"Ascende superius" gaia intones, pressing the flame into my head.

Pain sears through me, and the world around me vanishes to black. I stand in the void, no floor beneath me, only darkness. Waves of pain crash through my body repeatedly- every commander reconnecting, testing me. I hear their voices echoing.

"You dishonor the flame....you removed it, and yet you return to lead"
"You're weak. Love does not make you strong"
"You don't deserve to lead the people"

The pain threatens to overwhelm me, but through it all comes one voice: calm, proud, unwavering.

"I'm so proud of you. Love makes you stronger. You deserve to lead. You deserve the flame. You deserve love, Diana. You are Heda" lexas voice steadies me, and I feel strength returning.

The commanders appear before me, a sword thrown to the ground.

"Fight. Show us your worthy" a voice commands. I grasp the sword, bracing myself.

Three of them attack at once. I defend, striking them down, only for more to rise, relentless. Each attack hurls me into motion, spinning, striking, evading, until each and every one of them was disarmed.

"Enough!" I shout
"You yell this at me, but look at yourselves! What have you done as Heda? You've killed, waged war, spoken of peace but achieved nothing. Here I stand, wanting to achieve what you did not, and you criticize me? Look inside my head! Look at what I have done for my people! I deserve to be Heda! I deserve love, the very thing you call weak. You say love is weakness. I say it's strength! And who is stands here after defeating all of you? I do! I am Heda, and I will lead my people!" I yell.

The voices and the pain fade. I hear Lexa's final words:

"Well done" she said

Then, darkness.

I awaken slowly, my body aching, eyes adjusting to an empty room. Where is everyone? I rise, tentatively, and start forward. The door bursts open- Monty is there, grinning.

"Diana! You're awake" he smiles

"How long have a been out?" I ask

"About a day. Listen, I need your help. Octavia put Bellamy, Indra, and Gaia in the arena. We have to get in and tell everyone the farm is working." He says, holding a plant in his hands.

"What the hell are we waiting for?" I say, and we run toward the bunker.

At the door, a guard blocks our way, shoving Monty back. I step forward.

"Heda" he mutters, bowing.

"Move" I command. He steps aside. Monty rushes through, harper behind him, and I follow.

"Monty, get out of here" Bellamy shouts

"Guards, take him away!" Octavia yells

"No one touches Monty!" I yell, stepping forward. Silence falls. Whispered voices rise: Heda...Heda....

I nod to Monty. He steps forward, speaking to the crowd.

"Octavia told you we have to march, that we have to fight for the one place left where we can survive. But she knows that's not true." Monty says

"Monty, you don't belong in here" Octavia snaps

"The hydrofarm is working again. Soon it'll be processing enough food to feed us all here. Using the same techniques, we can grow crops in the wasteland. Ask Octavia- She's seen it with her own eyes." Monty says

"Go to war if you want, but at least tell them that they have a choice." Monty adds

"Is it true?"a guard asks

"Blodreina no more!" Someone shoots, and the crowd erupts, tearing down fences and rushing forward. Octavia orders are ignored as everyone cheers.

I turn to Bellamy, pulling him into a hug.

"I thought you wouldn't wake up. I was so scared" he murmurs

"I'm here. I'm so glad you're okay" I whisper

We hug harper and Monty, laughter and relief mingling.

"Monty as I said before, you surprise me everyday" I say smiling.

I look for Octavia- but she's gone.

"Where did she go?" I ask, glancing around. No one saw her leave. Without waiting, we all run out together, the people following, freedom in our wake.