Chapter 7

"NO!" the Prince roared with a desperation I'd never seen before. He tried to run to me, but the guards quickly held him back. "You can't do this to her! You can't!"

I couldn't even begin to describe how I felt. I was enraged beyond all comprehension, but not the way I was earlier. I felt… almost… betrayed. Yes, betrayed. But why? All that false accusation and evidence… Was I just the unfortunate rule breaker who got caught and forced to be the scapegoat for everything that went wrong? Most of all, what would become of me now?

I didn't cry until I was returned to solitary confinement. I didn't want to give those sadist bastards the satisfaction of knowing they'd beaten me completely. But when the tears came, they brought a flood of friends with them. I curled into a ball in the corner of my cell and cried pitifully. Never in my life had I felt so hopeless. Even during those times that I had come close to death, I'd gone down fighting. But now… things were different. There was no way out. I was trapped like a rat, and was now awaiting my execution.

It seemed like hours before the valve in my eyes finally dried up and shut itself off. Now emotionally and physically exhausted, I conked out after only a few minutes. My sleep was plagued with feverish nightmares about one thing or another: standing in the center of a large crowd feeling humiliated, running around in circles and never finding whatever I was looking for, and the worst ones, standing helplessly still while being smacked with rocks and repeatedly stabbed. The worst part was watching my blood slowly flow from my wounds, knowing I was going to die soon, but unable to stop it. All I could do was cry. But the more I cried, the more I bled until the silver-ish substance drenched me and yet still I kept bleeding. There was so much blood…

I woke up vomiting. Luckily there wasn't much in my stomach to puke, but I continued to dry heave until my body registered that my stomach was empty. I slumped back, totally exhausted, wishing there was a way I could just curl up into a little ball in a nice, safe, warm place and just die there. That would've been better than sitting in this cold, dark isolation cell, with its maddening silence and unforgiving atmosphere, waiting for my execution.

It was 7 pm when I got to see the dim light of the outside again. I know it was seven because that's when they bring dinner to the lower levels and they only feed us once a day. It was only for a moment as the small door at the bottom was opened, the tray of food shoved in and the door slammed shut again. I didn't want to move from my feeble position on the floor in the corner, but my stomach growled in protest as soon as the smell of the some-what warm bread hit my nose.

I tiredly crawled over and plopped down by the tray. It wasn't anything particularly special, just the same old gruel, bread and water I normally got. As always, I attacked the bread first, but saved the water for last. It was, after all, a real chore trying to choke down the gruel. But just as I began my search for the metal spoon that was usually there, my fingers came across something else instead. Curious, I picked it up and tried to identify whatever it was through my hands, and finally found that it unrolled. A note?

A note! Holy monkeys! A note!

Upon this realization, I quickly pressed it against the floor right next to the bottom of the door where there was a small bit of light coming through. Hopefully it was be just enough to read by. It took a lot of effort, but after quite a bit of adjusting and eye squinting I finally found away to make the words readable.

I know you're terrified, Naomi. I know about everything that has happened, and I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am that any of it took place. But you have to stay strong, no matter what happens. You have more friends than you realize, and we're all much closer than you might think. I, for one, am about two stories beneath your shoes. Stay strong, for me, for Sora, and everyone else. Especially yourself. I love you.

Jericho

My heart nearly leapt out of my chest when I read the signature. Jericho… He knew I was here! I crushed the note against my chest and curled up, tears of joy welling up in my eyes. Finally, some good news for a change! I wasn't sure what he was trying to tell me through this, but for the first time since my arrest, I felt like jumping up and down for joy.

Seven meals and three showers went by. There was something different about that day, since the guards came early in the morning to get me. My shower was hot, rather than just lukewarm, and they gave me my clothes back, which had been cleaned. It's pretty stupid, but I didn't realize why I was being treated differently until they put me back in my cell.

Today was the day.

I actually didn't react the way I thought I would. I didn't cry or burst into hysteria like I've been known to do in the past. Instead, I just sat on the cold floor of my cell, clutching Jericho's note tightly in my fist, and stared at the door. Lots of things went through my head. The trial replayed itself in my memory over and over and all those feelings came whooshing back. I thought about the Prince, and all the time we'd spent together over the years. The good times, the fun we had, and even the bad times came back to me, and I couldn't help but wonder what he was doing.

I also couldn't help but wonder if what Jericho had said was true. Did I really have allies somewhere up here that I didn't know about? …Fat chance. With all the crap I've been getting away with for the past however long, which were all things branded as super granddaddy no-no's mind you, I doubt anyone up here besides the Prince, his brother, Calista and Gabby had any sympathy for me.

I flinched a little when I heard my cell door being unlocked after who knows how long passed and I squinted into the light up at the guards.

"It's time, Angel."

"I'm ready." The tone of my own voice surprised me. Since when had I ever sounded that mature? That resigned yet… defiant?

I kept up the brave façade as they led me to the elevator. The whole way up, I could feel my heart banging profusely against my ribs. I knew I was scared, but the funny part was, I didn't feel scared. The tattoo on my back seemed to sense what was happening and grew warm as I was led to the only place in the Heavens that I had never been inside of: the arena.

As expected, everyone was there, and the Council Members were all assembled in their own little area with the best view. The crowd went nuts when I finally came out into the open, but I paid little attention. No, my focus was on the one thing I hadn't expected to see here.

"Hello, Naomi," the Prince said with a half smile. I just stared at him like he'd sprouted feathers and just finished dancing the chicken dance while singing I'm a Little Teapot.

"What are you doing here?" I blurted as the guards snapped heavy shackles around my wrists. His smile faded and he looked away slightly.

"I'm here for the same reason you are. To be executed." My heart leapt into my throat.

"What? Why? You didn't-"

"According to them," he spit out the word 'them' like it was poisonous, "I did a great deal of things."

"The Council?"

"Yes. But that's not the real reason. They probably would've let me go, but I just…" he looked me right in the eye, "I just couldn't go on the same without you, Naomi." I dropped my head. "Life without you wouldn't mean anything. So if I can't live with you, then… I'll die with you." I practically started bawling my eyes out.

"But I thought, after all that crap on the Island of Time, you didn't want to die!" I exclaimed, trying to reason with him. Even if it would break his heart, I didn't want him to die. I loved him way too much to let him sacrifice what could be a wonderful future just for me. But he just shook his head slowly and smiled at me.

"Not anymore."

"You're crazy!"

"I'm in love."

"Prince, don't do this! They'll have no reason to keep you after this! They'll let you go!"

"I can't live a full life without you."

"Yes you can! Go back the Babylon! Marry some pretty girl! Become King! Have lots of little Sora juniors!" By now, there were streaks of hot tears streaming down my cheeks. He snorted out a laugh at the last part.

"No woman, princess or not, would be able to replace you, even if she did have my children."

"You're nuts!"

"Like I said, Naomi. I'm in love."

"I cannot believe you! You stupid, stubborn- argh!"

Thump.

The ground shook slightly with this new sound.

Thump.

Everyone's attention with drawn to the huge, strong steel doors on the far side of the arena.

Thump.

I suddenly couldn't shake the ridiculously enormous sense of dread my spidey sensed were tingling over. My heart fell into my stomach and began thumping around like Daffy Duck on a sugar high.

"…She didn't…" The Prince must've heard me because he looked over at me, eyes wide.

"What? She didn't what?"

"…Angelica… called…" I gulped when another loud thump was heard. "She called for the… golem."

"The what?!" the Prince yelled, probably as surprised as me. I'd never seen an execution, but I've heard that there are a lot of methods, depending on the crime, and public opinion. By far, the golem was the worst, since he was just a big, stupid mass of bolder-like muscles, and enjoyed squeezing the life out of his victims.

Suddenly, the huge, heavy door slammed open and out stepped the biggest, meanest, most pissed off looking monstrosity I'd ever seen in broad daylight. I freaked out.

"Oh God, I can't do this anymore!" I shrieked, and started pulling uselessly on my chains. "Get me outta here!" I struggled, but obviously, it did no good. Somehow, the Prince managed to stay much calmer than I was.

"Naomi, calm down!" he yelled.

"There's some freaked up version of Bigfoot over there and you're telling me to calm down?!" The thing let out a loud, annoyed and angry sounding roar than his nap had been interrupted. "Holy crap! Mommy! Help me!"

"Naomi! Calm. Down!" I didn't. "Look at me!"

"I don't wanna die!"

"LOOK AT ME!" Still panicked, and now crying in sheer terror, I stared at my lover with desperate eyes. "If you break down, you're giving them what they want. They want to see you like this, Naomi! They want to see you begging for your life like some pathetic coward! Just look at Benjamin up there!" I glanced up. Sure enough, Councilor Benjamin was sitting comfortable, smiling down at the scene while casually drinking a glass of red wine. He made me sick.

"…I g-guess you're… right…" Although I was still terrified out of my wits. He was right. They wanted me to die with no dignity left in me. The crowd made that no secret. They wanted to see all honor and pride stripped away and me on my knees, begging for the mercy that would never come.

Then the golem spotted us.

"Naomi," the Prince said, now softer as the pissed off colossus began charging towards us. I looked at him tearfully. He smiled warmly. "I love you, darling." I sniffled, trying to stand as tall as I could.

"I love you too, baby." I just shut my eyes and bit my lip as one huge, powerful hand snatched me from he ground so hard and fast that the shackles slipped right off of my hands, taking nice big flaps of skin with them. I braced myself just in time as the golem roared and began to squeeze.

Kiri: Well, I'm glad to anounce that I am most certainly not dead!

Dark Prince: Unfortunately.

Kiri: Hey!

Dark Prince: I waited for months for you to get off your lazy butt and write this because you sai I would be in it! But now, I see that hasn't happened!

Kiri: Yeah... well... about that...

Dark Prince: Yes, what about that?

Kiri: erm...

Naomi: We're all about to be KILLED and all you can think about is that you didn't show up in here?!

Dark Prince: Of course! I, unlike my counterpart, have a fan base to please. If they don't get any of me, they get rather... unruly.

Prince: Hey! I do so have a fan base!

Dark Prince: Yeah? well, where are they?

Prince: ... I don't know. Perhapse they merely became distracted by the new game... They will come back, I 'm sure.

Naomi: There has been a good amount of new fics based on that game...

Kiri: Tell me about it! Do you know the trouble I went through to get that game?! Holy crap! But in my humble opinion, it was NOTHING compared to the Sands of Time trilogy.

Prince: :)

Kiri: I mean, the game is absolutely gorgeous in terms of graphics, but the story leaves much to be desired. Not to mention the fighting was lacking. The whole game was just way too monotonous, since all you do through out the game is travel across some dangerous area, fight a bad guy or two, fight a boss, heal the grounds, and repeat. Booooooorrrrring. I beat it in only a few days. Although I do kinda like the new prince... and Elika's AI is actually good!

Dark Prince: Not to mention my not appearing in it.

Prince: Is that all you can think about?!

Dark Prince: My fans seem to love it about me. Just like your fans love something about you that we all find irritating. Oh wait, that's right. You have no fans.

Prince: ...

Kiri: FAQ TIME!

Q: WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?!

A: ...stuff.

Q: What 'stuff'?!

A: You know... stuff.

Q:... Fine. But will you be updating faster from no on?

A: I certainly hope so. I'm about to graduate high school, and having nothing to stress out over makes life rather... boring.

Q: Fine then. So... is Naomi gonna die?

Naomi: NO!

A: Obviously, the answer is know. Why would I end it with so many un answered questions and no happy, sappy romancy ending?

Q: Are Jericho and Ryunosuke planning something?

A: What do you think?

Q: Yes?

A: Perhapse.

Q: ugh. Well, at least the Prince was a sweetheart to Naomi at the end.

A: I know, huh? Even thouh they have lots to talk about later. (wink)

Q: Lots to talk about? Like what?

A: Oh, I dunno. Their illegitimate son, for one?

Q: Prince still hasn't forgiven Naomi for that?

Prince: no.

Q: Prince, you sould forgive Naomi for that.

Prince: Why?

Naomi: Because we weren't even together at the time, for one thing.

Prince: ...

Jericho: You had Dalila.

Prince: Woah! Where did you come from?!

Jericho: (eye roll) right over there.

Prince: The broom closet?

Jericho: I thought it was the kitchen, but the door slammed shut before I could figure out where I really was.

Dark Prince: (snickering)

Jericho: (ice water)

Dark Prince: o.o;

Jericho: anyway, you had Dalila, and I had Naomi because you were acting like a horses ass.

Prince: Was not!

Jericho: yes you were!

Kiri: Well, I'd better stop this before there are any more fights here today... I hope ya'll like this chapter and I hope to get another one out a little more quickly this time around. So until next time... (singing) So long! Farwell! Untill we meet again...!