Supremacy
Red paper with white patters clung to the walls of the moderately sized room. A golden cross hung against the far wall, simple in its way yet with a touch of elegance in the diamond pattered that reflected off its surface. Dull grey filing cabinets of varying sizes lined the walls with who-knows-what crammed into them. Just beyond the center of the room, below the golden cross was a cherry oak desk.
The desk it's self was ordinary. A leather rolling chair that could swirl was sitting near it and it was obvious where the desk could allow the object to rest even though it wasn't there just then. The oak desk held two drawers on it's right side; one small for pencils, pens, whole punchers and of-the-such while the other was larger, maybe the size of two and a half of the before mentioned drawer, length wise. One long drawer, maybe about an inch thick, was beside them above the space left for the mentioned leather chair. As I had said, it was not the desk that held any particular interest but, instead, what lay upon the desk.
For there, upon this cherry oak desk with three drawers of different depths lay the former lord of the country with an air of innocents none had seen in this particular individual, at least anyone but, perhaps, his late parents. He lay, pale as snow, in an oversized farmer's shirt and nothing else. White loose material slipped from his right shoulder exposing more flesh then necessary. Long dark lashes rested against high cheekbones as long blond hair fell over his right cheek hiding a painful looking bruise.
He looked so fragile the way he was and he lay so still, so pale was he that Taichi wasn't sure the illness hadn't taken him yet. Pneumonia the blond carried and it was bad. The tall brunette was sure that the boy in front of him would not have survived the night if he and his companion hadn't found him.
It had been a little over five hours ago when he and Jyou had been making their way back to the church. They had made the decision to cut across the farmer's field. Ever since 'the invasion' had occurred those who chose to farm would kill without question anyone they found in there fields.
It had been a late hour at the time, the sky was clear and the air was cold. The loose material they wore weren't much for keeping them warm. The moon was full which offered them just enough light to see a few steps in front as they traveled amongst the large stocks of corn. The field was large enough to feed a small community, though the farmer was probably just trying to build up stock for the coming winter.
As they came to the center of the farm land they met with a stable. The farm house was a ways away though both boys could see the front door and they were sure a shot gun bullet would have little trouble covering the distance between. They stayed low to the ground, crouched over; they made a dash for the stable. The adrenaline they both felt caused there breath to rush from there lungs and with haste they took it back in.
They crept quietly along the outer wall of the stable and stopped at the edge. Taichi leaned his back on the wall resting for a moment against the old wooden planks that formed the stable when he noticed a sound that was barely audible above his own breath. At first he was going to ignore it but as he prepared himself for another dash over a larger piece of open space he wondered if the sound was what the thought it was.
Images of a small child curled in a corner just on the other side of the stable wall, mere inches from him, with their teeth chattering in the cold…
Logically his mind told him it most likely wasn't what he thought it was but he couldn't leave unless he knew for sure. Ever since the invasion the world was turned up side down and no one knew what or who could be found just around a corner.
"Tai, come on." Jyou had whispered confusion creasing his face.
Taichi looked at him with an expression of strict seriousness. He held a finger up to indicate that his friend should wait a moment and turned his ear to the stable. "There's someone in there." Tai spoke softly.
Jyou's breath hitched at the thought that the farmer may very well have heard them. He got ready to run for the continuation of the corn stalks but Tai had other ideas.
Tai turned the corner of the stable and headed with haste towards the entrance. A large wooden door frame permitted his passage, the door lay wide open, and he entered the shrouding darkness with confidence that it would protect him from the farm house's site range.
The stable seemed empty at first notice. There were two stalls on either side of him as he entered, empty they both were. There were three ahead of him, vacant as well but unlike the two on either side of him the stalls were left open. Straw covered the ground, with a pile of straw in the right stall, untouched. The path in front of him split after the two stalls at the entrance, right and left.
He had first noted the lack of an odor when he had entered which was his first indication that there would not be an animal of any sort to be found but he had heard something and he wasn't leaving until he knew what it was.
He was about to take a step forward when his arm was grabbed and he was spun to look his friend in the face. Confusion laced those blue eyes of his, questioning his friend on the boy's stupidity.
"I heard something." Tai whispered, trying to answer his friend's silent question.
"What if it's the farmer?" Jyou asked, trying to lower his voice as much as he could, sounding as though he were afraid to speak.
"It's not. It's too quiet." Tai said, sounding certain. Jyou still didn't seem convinced so Tai added, "Trust me."
Jyou debated with himself for a second while his mind told him all the reasons why he shouldn't trust his friend with this but after a moment he sighed and Tai grinned.
The brunette turned around, smile vanishing from his face and continued his slow pace to where his path split. For a moment the sound of his friend's footsteps were all he heard but then the chattering of teeth, softer then before, had him turn his attention right and as the wall of the stall cleared his view his sites were set upon a person that he recognized immediately.
Images came to Taichi's mind. It was only a few years ago but it felt like a hundred or more. A different time it was. People worked to eat, and fed there families and relaxed in the evening by a fire. Kids would kick a ball outside at dusk with there friends and their siblings. Neighbours would visit and laugh until time was late.
And it was this boy in front of him that he remembered clearly from an upwards view. He would look up at him as the boy stood by his father's side as the Lord would make a speech to his people. It was this boy that he was taught by his mother to always fall to his knees in respect as the other would travel through town in a carriage or by horseback with guards dressed in metal keeping him safe. It was this boy who would have been his next ruler. Yamato Hiroshi Ishida
Now, just a few years from then and here he was, hung from his wrists in a stable, full rounded lips turned blue, teeth chattering, for his loose fabric that barely covered what was important would offer no warmth at all. Dried blood had traveled in streams down his arms from his wrists, the ropes having cut his skin open some time before. More blood had flowed from some where behind his fabric and down the back of his dangling legs.
Taichi had stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide at what he was seeing. He friend gasped behind him and at that sound a soft pair of blue eyes, peeking behind stands of golden hair, looked up at them, clouded over with an inner mist, looking completely hopeless.
No reaction did the other make from seeing them standing there. The ex-ruler just stared in silence. Never did those eyes close as Taichi took his time to right his head around what he saw. Never did he blink as he waited to see what would happen to him now.
Tai had thought that perhaps he should just leave as though he had saw nothing but the thought of him just turning has back on the other in need made him silently chastise himself. A leather strap clung to Taichi's waist, hanging loosely just out of site under his shirt, and there, held by this strap, was a dagger.
He grabbed hold of the simple black handle and took it out of its holster. He moved closer to the blond and as he did so the blonde's eyes moved to the object the other held as though he felt he should keep watch on this instead. As Taichi came face to face with the blond those eyes were then focused on Tai's brown ones and in their depth were a pleading. If the blond was asking to be helped or just not to be hurt any further Taichi would never know but the two options that lay for him were so depressing that he never had any desire to look into them.
The blond finally closed his eyes as Tai cut the ropes above their heads. Taichi caught Yamato as the blond fell, the blond holding neither the strength nor the desire to stand on his own. Tai crouched with one knee on the ground with the other bent at a ninety degree angle and he held the torso of the shivering blond with his arms.
"Jyou?" Tai spoke in question though he hadn't waited for a response before he continued. "We need to go. Can you grab this?" Tai said gesturing towards the dagger he still held.
"Yeah…" Jyou spoke uncertainly. He hesitated before he paced towards Taichi. "Sure…" Jyou grabbed the weapon from Taichi's hand and Tai took the opportunity to adjust Yamato so he could carry the other back to the church with them.
And as Tai held the blond on their trek back to the church the blond fell into a ill-fit sleep.
&&&&&&&&&&&
The Invasion of Palace Evalians
In year 239 of the Ishida Empire civil conflict was on the rise. Rumors and exaggerations of decisions the royal family made were tainting the minds of the populace. The numbers of punishable crimes made from angry individuals were causing jail cells to fill overwhelmingly.
A small group of people consisting of maybe five hundred citizens started protesting, what they called, 'unnecessary disciplinary action'. The royals seemed to ignore their protests.
A man under the name Benjamin Sous Collins was accused of monstrous acts towards his wife and two daughters and, due to his lack of humanity and regret, was sentenced to death.
The country was in an uproar at this announcement. Rumors had the royal family appearing as liars. Protest was brought to the palace gates and did not heed for the weeks leading up to the execution.
The execution was carried out none-the-less.
A short period that would later be known as 'the silence' occurred over the following week. The streets were bare in comparison to what's considered the usual. No major offenses were committed during this period. It, in fact, was overly peaceful, which only made the residence of The Palace nervous.
On the second sector of the third season, the 23rd night, 'The Invasion' took place.
The Palace was taken by storm in the middle of the night. Armed with swords, daggers and guns less then five hundred men and women invaded the Palace, killing servants and guards alike. By the time they had made it to the Lord's study the halls were painted red. The conquest from front gate to Lord Ishida's study took less then twenty minutes. By the time the two lords had heard the first scream it was too late. They were swarmed over by the intruders.
Emperor Hiroshi Ishida was hung from the window until dead at two in the morning while his son Yamato Ishida was stripped of his clothing and tied to a post on a wagon. At dawn, in show of victory over their former Ruler, they paraded the Prince through the Imperial city of Evalians.
In the years that followed the country became an immoral Hell…
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.