#queen's shadow

Femslash February 2025

Btw, I love seeing you in Tumblr.

The true devastation of that epilogue is that I very much "had you in the first half" during the *pro*logue, and then you were all "she can't possibly do it again."

I emailed in the first draft of that book to my editor, got on a plane to Salt Lake City, walked into the convention centre and immediately ran into Pablo Hidalgo, who said "I got an email from [editor]. That was extremely mean."

Star Wars - Ahsoka, Queen's Shadow, Queen's Peril, Queen's Hope by EK Johnston

They both enter an unfamiliar world with the desire to do good and make a difference. They're both judged by appearances. Sabe made the wrong impression in the beginning because she talked to the wrong people, so she was avoided by potential allies in the freedom movement. Her first mistake was so crucial that it was impossible to gain trust and she'd have to restart under a new identity.

So I decided to back up and start figuring out all the lore I never bothered to piece together before, because I thought it was just a casual styling game with a cute story (I was wrong). Sadly, I can't figure out how to rewatch the prologue in the game, but I found videos of it on YT. (Note to self: it's called "Queen's Shadow" or "Shadow Queen.")

King Sayet died in 672. His descendants fought over 3 treasures he left behind. A 9-day-long styling contest was held in Roertedam to stop war from breaking out. The Master Stylists all lost, and the 2 finalists were Princess Elle of Pigeon and a pink-haired girl called "Hostess L" (who I think could be Nikki as a time traveller... I've played a few chapters of Shining, as well, that's why I'm thinking time travel). Princess Elle won 2 treasures, while Hostess L won the 3rd and disappeared.

Princess Elle was known as the "Reincarnated Goddess" (if they've said the name of the goddess, I don't remember and didn't see it in Queen's Shadow). In 676, Princess Elle ascended the throne and became the Iron and Blood Queen. She founded the Iron Rose Legion to steal designs and clothing.

Cut to a scene of Nanari, Queen of Lilith (who's just a ghost or hologram or something) telling Nikki she brought her to Miraland to stop some kind of catastrophe (the destruction of the world mentioned in Shining?). Momo says his great-great-grandfather told legends of a parallel world that settles arguments through styling competitions. (Also, I just realized, if time travel IS involved, that wasn't Momo's ancestor telling this story, but Momo himself... Anyway...) Nanari gives Nikki a pretty dress and shoes, and we meet the Gifties, who do all the styling judging in this world. As far as I can tell, Gifties don't appear in Shining or Infinity... sad. Maybe they just looked different and I didn't recognize them.

Anyhoo. I plan to reread the 1st 14 chapters and catalogue my findings for my own understanding.