Three Weeks Later)

(Arte's POV)

"Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!"

This...

Taken by shock, Arte stared at the sight that loomed in front of her eyes. How could this be real? How could this be happening?

No...I knew from the very beginning...that this would happen.

This was supposed to be an uneventful day. Arte had been heading to the main part of Pandora in order to do some shopping. The ingredients for brioche were running low, and Xerxes adored brioche. So she'd determined that she'd have to go to the market and restock on supplies. Arte had been in a good mood - just the thought of Xer's delight when she showed him the freshly baked snack brought a grin to her own face.

Humming "Lacie" to herself, the maid had made the trip down to the town on foot, wanting to enjoy the beautiful, sunny day and the chirping of the birds.

She'd gotten closer to the plaza where the market was held, expecting to find the bakers, merchants, florists, and all the people trying to make money selling what they had to offer. But instead...

Instead, she'd found this.

As she'd neared the plaza, Arte's sensitive ears had picked up a faint chanting sound. Bewildered, she'd cautiously crept her way down to the main area, the chanting growing louder until she could make it out. Two words, being shouted over and over and over again, that chilled her to the core.

"Kill him! Kill him!"

Hiding herself behind a building, Arte had peered around the corner to the plaza, her stomach sinking. She'd feared she already knew what was going on, and to be frank? She wasn't surprised.

Standing on the steps of the balcony located dead in the plaza's center, head held high, face stern, sword raised, was Alice.

Arte's adopted sister.

Shelly's other adopted daughter.

"For the freedom and justice of the citizens of Pandora - for us - we shall storm the palace and execute the one responsible for all of this!" Alice shouted.

"FOR FREEDOM!" the people howled. "FOR JUSTICE!"

Alice brandished her blade. "Follow me, people of Pandora! Together, we will usher a new era! An era of peace, comfort, wealth, and power! No longer will we have to bow to the whims of a spoiled, corrupt, foolish prince! For all those that were unjustly executed on Prince Xerxes's orders, WE WILL FIGHT! AND WE WILL WIN, NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!"

"WE WILL FIGHT! AND WE WILL WIN NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!"

Ah...Alice. Arte smiled with melancholy. No matter what you say to anyone, no matter how much you lie to yourself and everybody around you, I know the real reason you are standing at the head of this revolution, like a beacon of hope. It's all...to avenge our mother, isn't it?

Yes. Alice was leading this revolution, giving this speech, offering all of these comforting words because she wanted Xerxes overthrown. But not for the people, nor was it for justice, as she claimed.

No. It was all just for vengeance.

Alice, you fool. the maid thought fondly. For the sake of revenge, you're willing to lie to others, aren't you? You're willing to kill any and all who stand in your way just to quench your own need for retribution. They may later call you the heroine, but you and I both know...that you...

"Today is the day!" Alice announced, oblivious to her adopted sister observing her from the shadows. "We shall storm the palace and finally put to rest the souls of all those who died unjustly!"

The crowd roared in approval.

"LET'S GO!"

Eyes widening, Arte turned and fled back towards the palace. Xerxes. Their target was Xerxes.

Her prince.

Her friend.

Her Xer.

Pandora will perish.

Arte knew that. There was no way the soldiers would hold against such an onslaught. Yes, they were more experienced, and yes, they had training, but they were vastly outnumbered. It seemed that every able-bodied person in Pandora - Arte had even spotted a few grim-looking women (I'm not sexist, I swear!) holding plows and pickaxes in their hands. The citizens outnumbered the army three to one, and also, their resolve, their utter determination to get a hold of the prince that had oppressed them for so long would crush the soldiers. The resolve of the army, if there even was any to begin with, would be weak and easily swayed. Xerxes was no kinder to his own guards then he was to his people - why would they want to fight for him and risk their lives for him? If anything, they'd turn against him. Only Mariam would remain steadfastly loyal to Xerxes until the end because she'd been the closest of friends with his mother and father, and her undying loyalty to them carried over to their son.

Otherwise, though, there were no soldiers who bore any love for their prince. Mariam, as impressively inhuman and strong as she was, could not possibly defeat all of those people by herself.

Yes, Pandora would fall.

But Xerxes...

Xerxes would never be brought to an end.

Arte would not allow it.

Even if it was what he- what they deserved. The people had every right to hate Xerxes, to despise him. He treated them like slaves. He treated them like objects, not people that it was his duty to lead and protect. He did not even understand the value of their lives.

Even so, even if this was the thing called justice, Arte would not let it pass.

Soon this country will come to an end

At the hands of the enraged townspeople

But even if we so rightly deserve this

I will still fight against it.

THE PLOT ESCALATES!

This story is almost over. Like I said, I will be making two sequels, and as of right now, the plan is for them to both be much shorter than this story.

Thank you for reading, and I'll see you guys soon!