Rebellious
Chapter Fourteen - Emperor
It was hard to digest; the conversation that they all had with the guards, it was taking Raven a long time to digest before he could hope to get it out of his mind. The conversation was bothering him completely; so he was barely paying attention to what Rudolph was saying. Shadow was confused with his master; he knows that something is wrong with him, but he doesn't know what since Raven never let him become too close to him. Sapphire wasn't bothered with Raven at all; it also appeared that she wasn't bothered with his existence either. Mai actually seemed to have acknowledged Shadow since she speaks with him quite frequently; however, she also seems to actually tell him off when he does anything wrong, or when he misunderstands something.
Sapphire didn't even care if her organoid companion actually spoke with the other organoid; even though she is Mai's master, she would not order her to have no friends. Right now; Rudolph was in Sapphire's care as she was with him. The white haired female still did not even trust the dull black haired male that was a few steps behind her. She could also tell that Raven didn't trust her either; which didn't bother her to the slightest, she just wanted him to go on his own path, and to not be stuck with her all the time. However; according to his profile, he would only obey Prozen, and since the order was from him, he would listen and not disobey. This was one of the reasons why she absolutely despised Raven with all her heart's content. She despised all people that listen to Prozen and she truly hated Prozen himself. She knew what his objectives were, she knew his goals and plans, but yet she didn't dare tell the Emperor just in case he was to lose trust in her.
However; it has been nagging at her for the past eight months, and she just can't seem to get rid of it once and for all. She had known all about his goals and plans for a few years now; however, it only recently started to nag at her eight months ago. Her only choice was to risk it with the Emperor and to just tell him straight out; at least she'll have it off her chest, and she would have at least warned him in what's going to happen. It was all she could do; whether he believed her or not, was out of her control. The uneasiness reached Mai and she gave a gentle growl to comfort her master that looked slightly gloomy; whether or not that she accepted the comfort, was down to her. Sapphire sighed quietly before lifting her head and stroked Mai's snout. She soon stopped as she knew this corridor very well; the corridor that leads to the emperor's room. She took a deep breath before gently and calmly releasing it. Her heart began to pound in her chest as she grew nervous; it was only a few steps away, and very soon she'll have told the emperor.
Rudolph stopped right in front of the doors and knocked on the right hand side one gently. A raspy but sick voice replied and he opened both the doors before walking inside. Sitting up in his red bed was the very sick emperor. He was actually on his death bed at the moment; but still he continues to run his empire. Sapphire walked right up to the side of the bed before kneeling down on the floor. He smiled gently at her as she kindly returned the smile with one of her own. He placed a hand over hers in comfort as he wanted her right beside him at the moment. She could feel the coldness of his hands as they slowly were growing colder and colder by the day. She placed her left hand over his as she gave him some comfort; however, he knew that something was on her mind. He was about to ask her about it till she shook her head to indicate not at the moment.
He looked up and saw his grand-son, Mai and two others he doesn't recognise. Mai walked over and nuzzled the Emperor's face gently, which was actually her comforting the old man. He laughed slightly before stroking the gold organoid's snout. She removed her snout away from the emperor as she walked back to his grand-son as she guarded him just in case something was going to happen. He looked to his grand-son with a kind smile on his features; his grand-son held a few tears within his eyes, and he walked over to his grand-father and got onto his bed before hugging him. The emperor removed his hand from Sapphire's and hugged his grand-son that was silently crying into him. Sapphire could feel how much love they have for each other; and that they don't want to let the other go, however, they both knew that his time was almost up in this world. He separated from his grand-son and Rudolph got off the bed and returned to Mai's side. The emperor then looked to the other two with a slightly puzzled look.
"This is Raven and his organoid Shadow; they are also working for the Imperial army; however, Prozen ordered him to keep an eye on me" Sapphire spoke to him gently.
"Prozen still has distaste in you since you don't obey him? He really is a cautious man since you've shown him that you can be entirely dangerous" he replied to her.
"That rotten man doesn't want me to advance in the rankings of the army. The only reason I joined the army willingly was to protect you and Rudolph; however, if that was not my goal, I would only be here against my own will" Sapphire replied with slight distaste.
"Sapphire; I really appreciate your defence and goal to protect us; however, you know my time is coming to an end, so the person I won't you to protect is my grand-son. I don't want him hurt; and he needs a lot of support when he takes over the throne, he's still young, but he knows a lot about how to control the empire. I want you to be beside him as his personal body guard when he is crowned. You do promise that don't you? You do promise that you'll look after him till the time that he actually gives you freedom?" he asked her.
"I'll never let you down with that. Rudolph is my top priority; no matter who agrees or disagrees, I will protect him with my very life. I'll even sacrifice myself just to know he is out of harms way" she replied truthfully.
"That is very good to hear Sapphire. I thank you from the bottom of my heart" he replied.
They exchanged smiles to each other as they both understood that each word actually held the truth within. Emotions were spoken within each word; Sapphire truly wanted to cry, however, she would never cry since she considered herself weak if she did. Besides; she knew that the last thing he needed was her crying in front of him, so she held strong. She wasn't able to tell when his time to pass on would come; but she did know that it wouldn't be too long, there was no denying that.
"I would like to speak with Sapphire alone for a while; if you do not mind of course" the Emperor asked the others.
"Of course; Your Highness" Raven replied bowing slightly to him in respect.
However; Sapphire knew that Raven didn't really respect him; it was an act of courtesy. The only person that Raven ever obeyed and respected was Prozen; so the act that he was pulling, it didn't even work on her, however, it did work on the Emperor. Raven, Shadow and Rudolph left the room along with the guards that were inside. The Emperor knew that it must be a private matter for her to not speak it out in front of the others. Sapphire watched as the door closed behind the others before she turned to the Emperor, seriousness was within her eyes, but yet, also hope and faith was within them also.
"Emperor Zeppelin; I am sorry if this causes you to lose your faith and trust in me; but I really need to tell you. Prozen is using you to claim the throne. You dying of a natural cause; it isn't true, Prozen poisoned you by placing poison in your drinks. After your dead; he will either order an assassination to kill Rudolph; or kidnap him and hide him somewhere far away. During the time that Rudolph has been; so called kidnapped, he will take over the throne till he returns. However; Prozen doesn't plan on ever letting Rudolph return, so he just might continue with the assassination" she spoke firmly.
The words sunk into the emperor's head and he took in all the information that was nagging at her. What she spoke was serious; either it could be false and she just wanted to get rid of Prozen, or she was actually telling the truth. Zeppelin was totally surprised by what was actually nagging at her; and she was right. If he had not known her, or even got to know her, he would have lost his faith and trust in her. However; since Sapphire never plans on lying, or ever lying in the first place, he trusted everything she spoke. But the one problem was actually proving it; otherwise he would just get away with it because it was hearsay. Sapphire knew that this information would have to be proven, but the problem was actually doing that. Mai growled softly as she hated to see her master; and the emperor, in a difficult situation.
"Sapphire; I've taken all of your words into consideration. I know you too much to know that you would never lie; especially to the ones that you trust. However; you also must know about the main problem" he replied.
"Yes; proving the actual situation that Prozen is actually planning that, it would be a difficult task" she spoke.
"Sapphire; I've always known…" he started off but paused.
Sapphire gave him a puzzled look as she looked into his dark brown eyes. His eyes stared focused on hers as he saw that she was puzzled. There was something that the emperor always knew; and yet he was now bringing it up. Sapphire had always known that he had secrets; and most of them can not be told. However; her eyes were totally confused as they stayed locked with his. Sapphire deeply wondered what he knew; was it something that was for her, or something that was against her? She could never tell since most the times he was unpredictable.
"I've always known that being with others ties you down. You are capable at doing much more than this; yet you're tied down to do what the army wants you to do. Sapphire; I do not want to see you tied down; I had never wanted that for you. It was only till recently that I had figured it out; I've always wanted to tell you, but Prozen rarely giving you missions from me, I was not able to. Sapphire; do what you believe is right, do not let anyone stop you; do not let anyone tie you down. Even if it means being rebellious to anyone; do not allow them to control who you are. I want you to be happy; I do not want to see you so miserable like I always have been" he spoke with kindness.
"Emperor Zeppelin; I am happy, I'm happy with you and Rudolph…" she was then cut off by the emperor.
"You haven't been Sapphire. I can see it within your eyes; you're still truly miserable, sad, heartbroken, and misunderstood. I know you want to be happy with us; but all the pain you've had, all the tortures, you can't consume it long enough without at least one person seeing. I am that one person Sapphire; and I am most defiantly sure that Mai has sensed your unhappiness" he said as he looked at Mai at the last part.
Mai gave a gentle growl in acknowledgement that he was indeed right. Mai and Sapphire hold a special bond that can not be broken; however, they do not show it around others that they do not trust. The emperor knows of their special bond; but he does not know of their power that they both hold. Both their own powers; when they are separate, is completely feared by anyone that sees it. However; not one has seen their true powers when they are separate. The purple sinister eyes that has been known by all; that wasn't Sapphire's true power; it was a very tiny sample of it. Mai's power has yet to revealed; which Sapphire can take an estimate guess that she is the most powerful organoid.
However; when both of them are 100% connected; by hearts, minds and souls, then their power would be totally unstoppable. So far; they have not even connected together to even begin their ultimate combined power. Mai has only been revealed; to others, that she is an ordinary organoid, however, that is not even the truth. She is far beyond a normal organoid. Sapphire has only appeared that she is a teenager with changing eye colour that is completely feared as if she was a purple eyed demon. But the truth has yet to be revealed to all; including Mai and Sapphire.
"So you've noticed. To do what I believe in… is that what you want me to do Emperor Zeppelin?" she asked him.
"Yes; I've always wanted you to do what you believe in" he replied.
"If I do just that; I'll be called a traitor by the Imperial army. What I believe in… I believe that Prozen needs to be proved that he is a villain that needs to be taken out of commission immediately. Rudolph's life is in danger after you have left this world; so I will do exactly what I believe in. If I am called a traitor to the Imperial army; I know that me looking like a traitor, is actually me doing what is right" she told him.
"Taking away the problem from the situation? Sapphire; I know you're only fourteen years of age, but your mind is much more mature than most adults. I truly am proud of you" he said with a smile.
"Sometimes the problem needs to be destroyed for good; it all depends upon how much resistance that the problem creates" she spoke.
They continued to speak to speak for a while longer; however, Sapphire changed the subject to the mission that she had done. He was truly grateful that she carried out his task that he asked of her. She was indeed grateful that she was given the mission in the first place; it was not for the sake of Prozen, but for the sake of the Emperor is why she had done it. She soon said her farewells as she left his room with a bow. Mai bowed her head before walking off after her master. They came out of the room and Rudolph ran over to her and gave her a huge hug. She hugged him back and kissed the top of his head; she spoke gentle words before saying goodbye to him. Her, Mai, Raven and Shadow walked out of the palace and back the way they had come. They walked through the front grounds of the palace and saw their zoids had been untouched.
Sapphire walked over to the Liger that felt the presence of its master. The hatch opened up and she jumped inside; the Zaber Fang opened its hatch up and Raven too jumped inside. They both then turned around after Sapphire gave her farewells to the guards. Mai and Shadow ran besides the two speeding zoids that continued to go out of the empire's front gates. The desert's terrain was now surrounding them; with waiting surprises that could end up good or bad for them both. However; a feeling ran up Sapphire's spine which told her something was indeed going to happen.