Murder Prince
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by: Asurahime
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- Chapter One -
The kingdom of Aquaria was once green, fruitful and holy until war tore the land into shreds. It was a paradise destroyed, like so many others before it. Like a garden shun by the sun and abandoned by a caring touch, plants grew unhindered and animals grew wild. The queen is on the verge of falling, leaving behind no one to succeed her place other than a prince who can never be king.
For generations, the kingdom of Aquaria has been a matriarchy and thus, no man can ever sit uncontested on the platinum throne. That is how Aquaria remained, but despite the old tradition, the people wanted peace above all. They loved their prince and wished for him to rule, but they can hardly protect themselves, let alone the power to rule them. They loved their kind, brave and generous prince.
A prince no one has ever seen.
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"Pathetic!" Belzeber scoffed as he wound his whip around the Queen's throat, wringing a cry from her lips as he charged the rope with electricity. His eyes grew wide with malice as he felt the last vestiges of her breath cease. "Just surrender the kingdom to us now and we will stop killing your people. If you don't, why, there soon won't be a soul left in the kingdom to rule!"
"Belzeber, maybe you shouldn't—" started Berial, holding up his large hands in a calming motion.
"Shut up, Berial! If you need something to do other than bother me, go and find the prin--!"
"Watch it, your eyeliner's smudged!" shouted Cliff Fittir, Head Warden of Aquios, as he connected his fist with Belzeber's jaw, gaining satisfaction at the impact.
Belzeber went flying but was caught by Berial before he could hit the walls. He struggled to his feet and rubbed his jaw, but his eyes screamed bloodshed. "You brute! You ruined my beautiful face!"
"Can it, homo!" Cliff shifted back into an attack position, but all motion stopped when the Queen let out a piercing cry.
"Your majesty, don't speak!" The normally impassive Mirage Koas was frantic as Queen Aquaria struggled to her feet, coughing blood and struggling to breathe through her injured throat. "Just lie still, please!"
Queen Aquaria looked up to Mirage and Cliff with warm crimson eyes, smiling. "My son, protect my son since I no longer can. Ignore tradition for I designate him as my heir, my only heir. This is not the time for quarrels amongst ourselves. Take care of him. Protect my Fayt in my stead. Promise me!" The order rang loud and clear, holding authority greater than what the frail body appeared capable of holding.
"I will," whispered Mirage as the powerful Queen grew weaker. "I will make certain that His Highness ascends to the throne."
"My Fayt, My Creation, I have been such a horrible mother. May Apris guide you in your paths… always…" With that, the Queen breathed her last, falling upon the stairs before the empty throne, her pale face half-hidden by her white robes. Mirage and Cliff looked away from the sight of the dead queen.
"Oh great, the queen is dead but we still don't know where the prince is!" Belzeber grimaced, licking at a cut near his mouth. "We'll leave this alone for now, but know that we won't be gone for long!"
Cliff yelled obscenities at that announcement, the muscles on his arm tensing in his rage. "Leave and go back to the pigsty you belong, pig!"
Belzeber scoffed. "Powerful words for a weak ape! Know that I'm leaving you alive so that you can bury that queen of yours. Next time, I won't be so merciful." He then walked out, gesturing for Berial to follow him.
Berial nodded rather politely to Cliff and Mirage before hurrying out to follow his partner.
After the two men exited the throne room, Cliff and Mirage collapsed to the floor, disheartened and defeated. They exchanged glances and then stared at their dead queen. She was beautiful even in death, but the power she wore like a cloak was gone and the brilliant crimson eyes were closed forever.
"I can't believe this could happen. How could Airyglyph go this far?" shouted Cliff, slamming his fist upon the pavement and leaving a sizeable crater on the floor. He turned away, unable to look at the queen he could not protect.
"This is what happens with war. Our kingdom is a peaceful one and cannot possibly be strong enough to fight, especially against a militaristic one like Airyglyph," replied Mirage. "Now, we do not even have a figure to protect."
"So now what do we do?"
Mirage looked up at Cliff. "Find and tell the prince, of course. He must be informed of what happened and taken to a safe place post-haste."
Cliff stood and picked up the dead queen. "Okay, where is he?"
Mirage stared at him. "I thought you knew…"
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Fayt, prince of Aquaria, ran through the forest, slicing at the twigs and branches that blocked his path with powerful blades of wind. In the darkness of the night, only the glowing white symbols engraved upon his skin provided the watcher any indication of where he was.
"I can't believe this," growled Fayt, holding his hand out in front of him. "Wind Blade!" A particularly large branch was severed from its tree and flew off, never to be seen again. "Cliff, Mirage, you two will get an earful when I get back! Mother…" Fayt was drained and frustrated at the unfamiliar surroundings, but he grit his teeth and ran on. "I have to warn my brother and his soldiers!"
The blue-haired prince was so lost in his own meditations that he did not see the Dragon Zombie in front of him. Before he could take another step forward, Fayt found himself staring into the blood-shot yellow eyes. "Where did you come from?!"
The dragon lashed its tail in fury, rising from the ground and hitting Fayt right in the chest. The wind was quickly knocked out of Fayt's lungs as he was sent flying into a tree. He opened his green eyes despite the pain to see the enraged dragon rushing towards him. With the last of his strength, Fayt raised his hand and braced himself as runological circles formed before him.
"Stay away from me! Lighting Bolt!" The velocity of the dragon colliding with the spell caused an explosion that sent the prince flying off a cliff. Fayt felt pain shoot through his body, forcing his eyes wide open with shock. The last thing he saw was the ocean of stars spinning silently above him like the souls of the dead, eternally watching but unable to interfere.
Mother, even now there is nothing I can do, is there? Brother, we need you now more than ever. I'm just… not strong enough…
Green eyes closed and faded to black.
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Albel Nox drew his cloak closer to him, livid at the cheerfulness on his right side and the aura of utter gloom on his left. It was beyond his understanding how his two companions could get along with each other when the two personalities were the textbook ingredients for unparalleled hatred. Then again, his two companions were not exactly… normal.
"A undead dragon… it's close."
A sharp cry, the scent of blood and the rustling of cloth prompted Albel to look up. He regretted the action immediately when he felt something rather heavy hit him on the head. "Fucking maggot!" yelled the swordsman as he fell over backwards, quickly losing consciousness with the force of the hit.
The two companions, Adray and Romero dropped their belongings in surprise as their leader was downed by an equally unconscious, blue-haired young man.
Adray approached the sleeping pair. "Romero, what was the forecast for today?"
The Lord of the Undead joined his companion. "Clear into the night."
"With a chance of raining boys, apparently," said Adray as he turned the newcomer over. He then noticed the fading white symbols forming a circlet over the boy's forehead. "How often does it rain princes? This boy is the prince of Aquaria!"
Romero's eyes flashed in surprise before noticing something else they should have noticed immediately. "Adray, the master is also unconscious. What should we do?"
A grin grew wide on the older man's face. "Enjoy the moment. It's not going to last, after all."
Romero sighed and shook his head. "Indeed."
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Albel opened his eyes and fought back the urge to murder something, preferably what caused the pounding in his head. "Where is the little worm that did this?!" He opened his crimson eyes and saw Romero and Adray near a fire, the latter making dinner and the former placing protection shields around an unfamiliar blue-haired boy. He also noticed that for one running rampant through the forest, the boy's garments were surprisingly fine, more fitting for a person to wear to court.
"So, you're finally—" started Adray, but he was cut off as Albel leaped over the fire.
"WORM!" snarled Albel, drawing the Sword of the Crimson Scourge with a swift, clean motion and slicing viciously against the wards. Needless to say, Albel did not have the best of tempers.
Romero held out his hand, willing a massive scythe to materialize. Using the weapon, he knocked the Crimson Scourge out of the way. When Albel came at him again, Romero barely managed to block the unforgiving downward swipe of the sentient sword. By the fifth block, even Romero started to lose his patience. "Master Albel, you are acting like a barbarian!"
"Out of the way, maggot!" growled Albel as he charged again, the Crimson Scourge shining like a beacon. Romero knew that if the sword descended again, even he would be unable to deflect it.
"Ice Needles!" yelled an unfamiliar voice before Romero and Adray saw spears of ice hurtle from within the barrier to hit Albel, effectively freezing the raging swordsman in place.
"Whoa," whistled Adray appreciatively. "No on has ever been able to shut him up that quick!"
"Indeed an impressive skill," agreed Romero before the two looked back at the only half-conscious prince. "Made even more impressive that his highness is able to execute such a skill in his state."
Fayt had one hand extended towards a shadow that had rushed at him. He was aware that two other figures surrounded him, but only the charging figure emitted any aura of hostility. Ingrained instincts of self-preservation caused him to cast a spell before even gaining awareness. After the danger passed, he opened his eyes to inspect the two figures surrounding him more clearly. Fayt was surprised to find himself in the company of a large, tattooed man and another man who exhibited signs of being one of the undead. "Where am I?"
"Ah, so your highness is awake. You are in the forest in our humble camp," Adray bypassed the frozen Albel and squatted down before Fayt. "I must admit you gave us quite a scare when you flew down from the sky. How are you feeling?"
"Like I fell off a cliff," groaned Fayt, rubbing at the incredibly sore spot on his head. "Who are you?"
"I am Adray Lasbard, the gloomy guy next to me is Romero and the one your highness froze is Albel Nox. He's a bit violent, so we'll leave him as he is right now. But don't worry, he'll come around. On a side note, what brought your highness all the way out here in the forest just to jump off a cliff?"
"I didn't jump, I fell… more like was thrown by an unpleasant encounter with a dragon."
Romero levitated Albel near the fire so that the gruff swordsman could thaw before joining the other two. He caught a flinch that the prince was trying to hide. "Adray, check him first before questioning him. I smell blood."
Adray smacked himself on the forehead before scanning Fayt with a spell to see the extent of any damages. He drew the prince's right arm forward, earning a sharp hiss of pain from his patient. The arm was badly burned and bleeding, amazing Adray that Fayt could hide the pain that he was suffering. Despite looking tattered and burned, the fingers were curled like a vice around a round object. If nothing was done soon, the injury could cost the prince his arm.
"What were you playing at to earn this?" asked Adray, pouring an analeptic on the wounds.
Romero sniffed the air and focused his gaze on the wounded arm. "It was indeed a dragon. Only dragon's blood can cause this kind of burn. An undead dragon, I am certain of it." He approached Fayt and uncurled the fingers from what they were holding captive. A large yellow stone with a blood-red center fell into his hand. "A dragon eye."
The cracking sound of ice signaled the liberation of Albel, but all the swordsman did was glare poisonously at the newcomer. "A dragon, eh? You're a brave little maggot to rip its eye right out of its skull. Or are you just stupid?"
Adray and Romero looked at Fayt with unadulterated horror. "Did you?" Even Romero looked disturbed by the idea as he handed the jewel back.
Albel sneered. "When a dragon dies, its whole body decomposes immediately, save three parts. Ripping out its eyes gives you two, and the last drop of blood in its heart gives you the third. But any half-wit bounty hunter would know that dragon's blood burns as much as its fire. Are you sure this worm's a prince? His actions are more like an incompetent bounty hunter to me."
Fayt did not like the lanky man's tone and stopped himself from firing a Fire Bolt to burn something unmentionable. "What else could I do? Aquarian royalty are forbidden to carry any type of metal weapon or instrument for the purpose of harming another, even for self-defense."
"Aquios must be headed by morons!" snapped Albel, enjoying Fayt's growing antagonism towards him. "Well, what is your highness doing all the way out here?"
"Castle Aquios was attacked by Airyglyph. Cliff and Mirage, the castle wardens, told me to stay put and hide, but I couldn't just do nothing. I set out to look for my brother and tell him of the threat to our country." Fayt stood up and thanked Adray, marveling at his healed arm.
"I wasn't aware that Aquaria even had princes," mused Romero, an unfathomable glint in his steel-gray eyes. "Let alone two."
"It's not exactly common knowledge." Fayt lowered his head. "Only women are supposed to inherit the Aquarian throne. Neither my older brother nor I were ever meant to succeed, so we were destined to play secondary roles. But even so, I want to protect my kingdom! There is no one else to ascend!"
Albel laughed mockingly. "But there isn't much you can do, is there? Do you even know where your brother is?" Fayt shook his head slowly in defeat. "A prince who can't fight on a wild goose chase to find his lost brother in order to protect a kingdom that doesn't know he exists. Ha! Tell me another!"
A blazing Fire Bold singed some strands of hair near Albel's face, cutting his laughter short. Instead, his expression changed into one of mixed hostility and amusement. "You worm…"
Fayt lowered his hand, runes on his forehead glowing and his green eyes blazing in suppressed ire. "Whoever said I cannot fight?"
A loud, monstrous shriek pierced the night and Albel smirked, holding the Crimson Scourge horizontally before him. "Bah! It's never around when you want it to be, but when you don't need it, it comes. Just like a nagging mother."
Adray and Romero stood up. "Need help?"
"Don't get in my way, fools," replied Albel before he jumped impossibly high into the air. Seconds later, a one-eyed Dragon Zombie crashed into the small encampment, smelling of death and hungry for blood. From the air, Albel snickered childishly. "Friend of yours, maggot?"
Ignoring Albel's taunt, Fayt's eyes grew wide at the sight of his previous predator. Instinctively, he raised an open palm in defense, ready to cast a spell. "Thunder--!"
Romero drew his hand down, breaking Fayt's concentration and dissipating the spell. "Just watch Master Albel, your highness. We follow him for a reason."
Adray crossed his arms behind his head and leaned back, lips quirking into an obnoxious smile. "He's not completely disposable. He can be useful for certain things… like pillaging… and killing… and that's about it."
Albel locked gazes with Fayt, smiling wickedly. "You may be able to fight, prince, but not like this!" The vermilion-eyed swordsman twisted his body sharply in mid-air and descended. He held the Crimson Scourge pointed down like a lance right above the Dragon Zombie's cranium, impaling it and pinning its jaws closed upon the ground. It screeched its fury, its sole eye spinning wildly with insanity. Dark blood flowed like a river from the wound, scorching all it touched. Albel grabbed the dying dragon's tongue and braced one foot against the ground and the other on the hilt of the Crimson Scourge. With a mad grin, he pulled sharply at the dragon's tongue, splitting its body in half even as it shrieked defiance against its assailant.
The process of splitting the dragon's body with the Crimson Scourge was long, slow and agonizing to even watch. No longer able to watch the torture before him, Fayt turned away and averted his eyes, but even that could not stop him from hearing the deathly screams.
Once the dragon was severed in half, Albel bent down, lifted the dragon's heart with his steel claws and split it in two. Within the depths of the broken heart shone a dark jewel, red as blood. "Mission accomplished, maggots. Let's go."
"But it's still alive," muttered Romero, remarking that undead creatures take longer to die than others.
"Shut up and just follow me, fools," snarled Albel as he kicked half of the dragon away from him.
Fayt hated to admit it, but Albel was powerful, powerful enough to protect the kingdom should Airyglyph attack again. Swallowing his pride, Fayt knelt down before Albel. "Wait, please. Hear me out."
Adray and Romero stopped and faced Fayt, but Albel kept his back turned away, languidly tossing the jewel in his hand. "What is it, your highness?" drawled Albel, looking like the incarnation of apathy. "We have a deadline to meet, so make it quick."
Fayt clenched his hands into fists and grit his teeth, it hurt his pride that he should ask help from such an uncaring person, but this is something larger than himself. The prince of the once-mighty kingdom of Aquaria prostrated himself upon the ground before the uncaring swordsman. "Please help me protect Aquaria!"
"Your highness…" started Adray as he glanced between Fayt and Albel. Romero shook his head and sight, unsure of how to reply.
"No." The reply was short and curt, surprising even Adray and Romero with the sharpness of its tone.
"Please! Please help me unify this land. There is no one else that can," whispered Fayt.
Albel turned around, a dark grin on his face. "Look, maggot. I am a bounty hunter. I don't do volunteer work. If you want me to do something, what's in it for me?"
The green-eyed prince stood up and looked straight at Albel, resolve radiating from his figure. "I can't use the kingdom's fortune for something that I decide, so I can only offer you myself. I will be your servant from today on."
"WHAT?!" shouted Adray, alarmed at what the prince of Aquaria was offering to a bounty hunter he barely knew, a blood-thirsty, homicidal one at that. He was astounded, but both he and Romero could not help but admire the prince's loyalty to his kingdom.
"Deal. We'll protect the kingdom for you," replied Albel without a hint of hesitation in his voice.
"WHAT?!! Aren't either of you going to think about this?"
Green and crimson eyes both eyed the tattooed man. "No." The decision in their voices silenced him.
Romero however, had other matters in mind. "But highness, if you are to be Master Albel's servant, would not the people realize something going on?"
"My mother had crimson eyes, so that is something the people would easily accept. Princes of Aquaria are born to be forgotten," said Fayt as he looked at Albel. "No one knows how I look like and I am rarely outside the palace. We must announce a successor to the throne within five days of the Queen's death—I am the only one with connection left to the throne. The only one with a true rune circle proclaiming me as Aquarian royalty. My mother is most likely dead and my brother is nowhere to be found. Albel will have my role from now on, as prince, then as ruler of Aquaria."
Albel's smirk widened into a grin similar to an animal baring its teeth. "King. I like the sound of that." He then laid eyes upon a single shining pinpoint below his feet. "Servant, rip the other eye out of the dragon."
Adray tried to stop Fayt, but the blue-haired prince had already reached in with his left hand and pulled out the jewel, causing the older man much frustration in healing him.
"Will this do?" asked Fayt, holding out the yellow jewel and ignoring the burning in his arm. "Your highness?"
Albel approached Fayt and roughly jerked his chin up. "Quick learner. You'll do just fine. I'll unify your little kingdom for you, maggot."
Fayt glared half-heartedly as he jerked his chin away. "There's one more thing."
Romero coughed and hid it with his hand turning away. "Yes, the circlet of white runes that distinguishes Aquarian royalty. Without that, no one will believe that Master Albel is the prince."
Adray shook his head. "Well, that's some plan, then. How are we going to fix this?"
"There are two ways to get it: either be born into royalty or drink the blood of royalty, willingly given of course," said Romero, indicating the dark runes on his own forehead. "But should you do the latter, the runes will cease to glow once the bearer of the originals dies."
"I am going to enjoy this." Albel grabbed Fayt by the shoulders. "Think of a happier place as best you can, maggot. This is going to hurt."
Fayt stared straight back at him, pulled down his collar and nicked a line with a sharp nail, drawing blood. "Happy places only exist in dreams, your highness. Making that into reality for the people is my duty."
"Wrong. Your only duty now is to do what I wish," drawled Albel as he fixed his teeth upon the pale flesh, unsatisfied with the blood that has already been drawn. Fayt flinched as the swordsman bit hard enough to hurt, knowing that Albel was clearly unconcerned with the pain he was inflicting. But Fayt ceased to struggle as he hardened his heart, convincing himself of what this alliance meant for Aquaria.
After what seemed like eternity, Albel removed his teeth and licked his lips. He blew lightly into Fayt's ear, causing a barely perceptible shiver. Fayt's eyes grew dark before he collapsed, drained of magic.
"You're mine now." Albel lifted the boy and tossed him like a sack of potatoes into Adray's arms. "Let's move, worms."
The tattooed man fought the urge to yell, rave, or wring Albel's callous neck, an urge that quickly died when he saw the brightening runes on swordsman's forehead. "Apris protect us…"
Albel sheathed the Crimson Scourge and kicked the disintegrating dragon aside. "Romero, call your overgrown rodent."
"Her name is Abyss," replied Romero frostily before whistling a series of low notes. An enormous bat could be seen approaching from the distance. "What is our destination?"
"To Aquios Castle in Aquaria, my kingdom," said Albel with an unbalanced light of excitement in his eyes. The twin set of runes on his and Fayt's foreheads blazed blue-white. "Not bad for a day of work."
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End Chapter One
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Author's Notes:
For a long while, I honestly thought that I was over my Star Ocean fanfiction spree, which kind of disappointed me, but I found myself pulled back in when I finished the second to the last chapter of Vermilion. I think it's because I like that story too much to simply let it die. Along with that, I decided that I wanted to write an AU story and that was when I came upon Murder Princess, where the main character of the bounty hunter-turned-princess might as well be a female Albel. I thought, why not?
Please approach this story with an open mind; there may be other elements that can offend people (other than the pairing of Albel/Fayt). It's been two years, but the fire still burns.