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Ch. 29- "Elation"

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A/N- "Hmm... That's a wonderful idea!"

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The journey to the Hoshidan throne room seemed to take much longer this time around than it did several months ago. Perhaps it was simply the influx of people. Back then, it had just been Nerr and Rinkah and Suzukaze (because she hadn't been on nickname basis with him at the time). Hoshidan sentries were posted every few feet, but they blended into the background so well that she could easily ignore them. Now, there were no more sentries. As she and her siblings and their retainers all followed the king's footsteps, the bright halls seemed more like a mausoleum than a home that once sustained life. Her retainers walked in front of her, a barrier between her and the king (and a faux pas if ever one had been made). She could not see Kaze's face- she wondered how he felt, knowing all of the effort he had put into serving the Hoshidan royal family had been for naught. Did he regret it, not taking her up on her offer to leave with his brother in Mokushuu? She didn't even know what happened to his brother, but given that her father had been in charge of the assault, Nerr could only assume it would require a closed casket.

Gunther walked beside her, his arm tight around her shoulders, drawing her closer to his side. At any other time, the need to bury her face in his chest and drape his warmth around her like a blanket would've been overwhelming, but... there was no cold, painful sadness in her now that needed to be soothed away. Misery hung in the air like a miasma, but like the chilling rains that preluded Nohrian winters, it did not bother her. Everything was still a bit muffled to her ears. Maybe that was why. The group of soldiers stopped before a pair of large, wooden doors, intricate details carved into their painted surface. Nerr didn't remember those being there before, but then again... when she had first come to the castle, everything had been open. They hadn't been expecting a Nohrian to just waltz in like they owned the place, the damned fools...

"Iago! This is the throne room, before these doors?" The simpering sorcerer nodded, his thin lips pulled into a wide grin.

"Indeed, my liege. Nothing else stands in our way; the empire of Hoshido is all yours." Garon chuckled lowly, a satisfied growl.

"At long last. I have awaited this moment for decades upon decades... Since time immemorial, our people have suffered for the crime of being born in a cruel land as these savages squandered the treasures piled upon them by the gods... But no longer, I say."

"A new age of prosperity will be ushered in in Nohr." Xander agreed quietly, his voice even but lacking the conviction one would expect from him at such a time. "I look forward to seeing you ascend your new throne, Father."

"No." Five out of six of the Nohrian siblings looked up at him, confused- Nerr was looking out the window. They were so high up, she could see thin wisps of white clouds, a sight that never lost it's novelty even after months spent in Hoshido.

"Father? What do you mean?"

"Surely we deserve to witness your first moments as the conqueror of Hoshido..." Leo pointed out quietly. Garon fixed his children with a tight scowl.

"I. Said. No. You are to stay right here."

"But Father, why?" Elise frowned, hurt by this sudden rejection. For the most infinitesimal moment, the Nohrian king's gaze softened, a micro-expression that was replaced by his usual ire before it could register.

"I must pray to Anankos. The gods do not take kindly to their blessings being overlooked. No one is to disturb me, or enter the throne room until I say so. Understood?" The siblings all glanced at one another, discomfort darkening their eyes. Perhaps they were remembering the last time their father "prayed" to his god. Swallowing, Xander nodded.

"Of course, Father. We await your command." Without another word, without any indication that he'd heard his eldest son, the king pushed the doors open, just enough to walk inside. They quickly slammed shut once more.

There was a moment of silence that seemed to drag on for an eternity, before the muttering broke out. Everyone had been thrown for a loop by that strange behavior. It was concerning, and certainly not at all like King Garon. Camilla bit her thumb nail, mentioning that, while he had occasionally attended services, especially during times of duress, their father had never been overly religious. Leo brought up the fact that he'd never even heard of this "Anankos", even scouring the royal library after that first... consultation... only to come up with an obscure mention here or there. Azura's eyes darkened at his words.

The clamor of voices thrummed painfully against her eardrums, and Nerr turned away from the group moving to stand in front of one of the windows. There weren't bars on them, which struck her as odd- what if someone fell through? Closing her eyes, she hummed to herself. Soon, they would return to Nohr, and there would be great festivals to celebrate the end of the war. The king would be expected to attend, to face his people and speak to them. Surely, amidst all the chaos and uproar, there would be a moment when all eyes weren't on him- Garon enjoyed his solitude, after all. The back of the neck was vulnerable on any person... She could feel the presence of people standing behind her, but put if from her mind, letting her thoughts weave between the song she was humming and wondering if a sword wasn't the best weapon to use during a sneak attack.

"Nerr?" Azura's voice could barely be heard over the din. "Nerr? I know you hear me..."

" 'Evil flowers grow, in gardens where they bloom'," The deep, masculine voice successfully cut through her thoughts, and the Nohrian girl looked over her shoulder to see Gunther standing behind her as well, following her gaze out the window. " 'Ah, the blood that stains the blossoms still looms. And history tells tale of what the people knew for sure...' "

" 'Our prideful princess had always been the devil's daughter' " She concluded quietly. The songstress looked between them curiously, her brow furrowed in confusion.

" 'Tis an old Nohrian story, Lady Azura." The older man informed her. That was right; Azura had grown up in Hoshido... Nerr wondered if they had their own version of 'The Prideful Princess' that everyone read as children. The knight looked back at her, his eyes dark with concern. "My lady, please speak to me. I know these are trying times, but I cannot aid you if you will not let me..." She glanced up at him, before turning her attention back to the window. She wondered if Gunther knew she'd been willing to kill her brother for him. No, probably not, and it was best if things stayed that way.

"...I'm very tired." A pair of heavy hands rested on her shoulders.

"I know. Soon, this will all be over, and you can rest." Quiet descended over the small group once more until Nerr voiced a question that she had been pondering for some time now.

"Azura? What do you think Anankos is saying to father?"

"Assuming the gods even answer mortals' prayers? Nothing good, I'll bet. Probably something along the lines of, 'You've done well to come this far, Garon...' " She lowered her voice into a menacing whisper. " 'Now, let us finish this; kill them all!' That's what I would assume." A small smile tugged at Nerr's lips. Yes, that probably made sense; after all, plagues did kill everything in their path. She wondered if perhaps the Rainbow Sage could hear the king's prayers as well, or did a certain god have to be invoked by name? She should've paid more attention to her theology books... The smell of burning air and magic made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"Nerr, behind you!" Azura's voice rose in panic, and the other princess had only just managed to turn around before a bolt of thunder magic blasted past her, hitting the wall and leaving a large scorch mark on the plaster. Iago stood towards the center of the now silent room, clutching a thunder tome and smirking.

"Drat, I missed. What a slippery little sneaky-snake you are."

"...were you even trying to hit me? Because you might have more luck if you aim for the wall next time." His sallow face flushed in anger, but any insult he had on his tongue were quickly drowned out by the loud, angry protests that echoed through the room, people demanding to know what the meaning of this was, and if he had in fact lost his damn mind.

"What do you think you're doing, Iago!?" Jakob roared, pulling a blade from the holster at his thigh. Felicia quickly followed suit, her own frosting in her anger.

"Why would you attack Lady Nerr?!" The sorcerer looked back at them, feigning insult.

"What am I doing? Oh no no no, I do believe the question is, what is she doing?" He turned back to Nerr, baring his teeth. "What kind of game are you trying to play, princess?" The Nohrian girl gave him a deadpan stare.

"I'm certain I have no idea what you're talking about." As usual, her lack of the desired reaction seemed to spur his fury and he stomped over to her. Clearly he thought he was intimidating, but his foppish appearance made it laughable that he thought he could stare down a warrior. He thrust an accusatory finger in her face.

"Princess Hinoka is alive! Do you deny it?"

"Of course I do." She replied easily. "That's insane. I hacked her to pieces. Did you check the corpse pile?"

"Yes, Lady Nerr, I did in fact check the lovely display you left behind. And surprise, surprise, guess what I found? Or rather, didn't find? A head." Nerr's mouth fell open in dismayed shock, and the sorcerer's grin widened. "I'll take your silence as a confession. You let her escape, didn't you?!"

"...are you telling me... someone took my pinnacle trophy? Damn it all!" Her sudden anger seemed to startle him.

"What?"

"It was that fucker Hans, wasn't it? I left her head on top of the pile- for aesthetic purposes, of course- and now you're telling me it's gone?!" The princess unsheathed her blade, pointing it at the crowd. "Which one of you little shits took my head?" Amidst Xander, Leo and Elise's fearful concern, Camilla hid behind her hand, her shoulders shaking with mirth. Iago sputtered for a moment, trying to regain control of the situation, which had quickly devolved into a macabre circus.

"Enough! Stop acting like you're innocent- I mean, stop acting like you're a murderer! You're not fooling anyone; we all know you're too weak to raise a blade to anyone, you stupid little bitch!" His indignant squawking seemed to have carried through the halls, and now, a large group of soldiers, Hans among them, had gathered to see what all the commotion was about. Paying his newfound audience no mind, Iago flipped his tome open once more, runes glowing at his feet.

"I'll suffer your pathetic act no more; you've betrayed us for the last time. Since King Garon is clearly too sentimental to do what must be done, I'll just take your pathetic life myself!" He raised his hand high, readying another spell, but quickly pulled it back with a high pitched shriek of pain as a beam of elder magic cracked through the air, striking him said through hand. As Iago clutched the singed limb to his chest, Xander stepped forward, his blade unsheathed and radiating magic in visible waves. The shimmering air around him only exaggerated his fury.

"As though I would ever allow such a thing to happen..." The king's advisor looked up, the visible side of his face a rictus mask of enraged disbelief. The gathered soldiers too could scarcely seemed to believe what was playing out before them.

"Out of my way, Prince Xander. I'm finishing what you were too weak to deal with. Otherwise you too will be branded a traitor and executed for your crimes." Everyone present was affronted by those words, and Nerr could scarcely believe how stupid Iago was- daring to threaten the heir to his kingdom with execution in front of the entire royal family and their army? Just how high was he? If Xander found the situation as amusing as she did, his face did not show it, his frown becoming no less severe.

"...Then so be it. If you wish to harm my sister, you'll have to go through me first, but I suggest you consider your words. You think to raise a weapon to the crown prince of Nohr? Ha. You'll die trying." Finally, the gravity of the situation he'd unwittingly gotten himself into dawned on him, and Iago paled to the point where it seemed there was no more blood left within him.

"Wh-what are you saying...?"

"I am saying that I challenge you to a duel, you spineless coward. I have had more than enough of you and your sadistic manner of doing things. That my father would allow something as craven as you to bend his ear makes me sick, and I will tolerate it no longer. You have two options left to you, Iago; repent and be cast away like the filth you are, or die by my blade. Either way, you will disgrace my kingdom no more." The crowd of soldiers cheered, and while Nerr spied some who's faces were twisted in disdain at the prince's words, they were clearly outnumbered by those who looked upon him with admiration and pride. Bolstered by his brother's words, Leo stepped forward as well.

"Count me in as well, Xander. I've long desired a chance to express my discontent with the dark path our kingdom has been led down, and what better way to do so than by airing my grievances out to Nohr's royal advisor? I'm certain once his tactics have been used against him, Iago will understand why we disdain them so." His eye widening in fear, the pale man backed away, shaking his head fearfully, trying to deny the situation.

"Y-you don't intend to kill me, do you!? Your king's, your father's, most trusted aide? That's not v-very becoming of Nohrian royalty, n-now is it?" It was Azura's turn to step forward, her delicate features marred with disgust.

"It's not very becoming of the king's advisor to try and murder Nohrian royalty, now is it? Such a shame our father isn't here for you to hide behind his skirt..."

"We can always just say you were slaughtered by some remaining Hoshidan forces." Gunther quipped. "The things they did to your body... How tragic." Iago's thin chest rose and fell sharply as he gasped for air, taking note of all the sharp, deadly instruments being focused on his form. He continued stumbling away.

"How can you all take that filthy savage's side!? You're supposed to be loyal to Nohr! You've let her corrupt you; don't you hear what you're saying?! That's deceitful! It's traitorous! It's-"

"Exactly the kind of thing you would do, isn't it, Iago?" Elise hissed venomously at the older man as he stepped to close to her. "You and Hans are the worst people ever! All you've ever done is make innocent people suffer, and even worse, you're always mean to Nerr even though she never did anything to you! I hate you two so much! I hate you, I hate you! I wish you were dead!" For as long as she'd lived, Nerr had never heard her little sister say that she hated another person... and it hurt. It hurt that this cowardly monster in front of her had driven her precious Elise to such horrible emotions, and it seemed Camilla agreed, given the way her lip twisted.

"Perhaps I don't feel as strongly as our darling Elise, but then, I doubt anyone is capable of rivaling her emotions... And to hear her say that you're deserving of hatred? Oh, Iago... the devil himself would garner more sympathy from me. You've made it quite clear you're not beholden to the royal family, and that you would willingly kill us; that's treason if I've ever seen it. You need to die now, so I hope your affairs are in order." If the sorcerer's breathing grew any more panicked, he was going to pass out, which would've been wonderfully amusing, but Hans took the opportunity to step forward, glowering at the royals, his face even uglier in his anger.

"Are you really threatening to turn your blades on your own people? How can you traitors live with yourselves?"

"You would know all about turning your blade on your own people, wouldn't you, Hans?" Gunther sneered, his grip tightening around the haft of his lance. "Remind me again, how many innocent people did you murder before before Garon made you his bitch? I recall you weren't nearly so confident when you were facing the gallows, you dastard."

"Oh, you'd know all about being the king's bitch, wouldn't you? Unlike some people, I'm not about to give up power for a willing cunt. I knew I should've cut your damn head off before I knocked you in that chasm. Well, I'll fix that mistake now!" Unhooking the ax from his belt, Hans charged forward, and Nerr unsheathed her Yato, fully intending to cleave him end to end once he got close enough. He never did, however, as a wall of water erupted in front of the small group. She could hear the berserker cry out in pain as he slammed face first into it, and as the water fell, drenching the ground, the pallid fighter lay on the ground, clutching at his head in pain.

"Such a pitiful, ugly man..." Azura's voice was quiet. "I can't imagine what shortcomings you're trying to make up for, nor do I care. You've caused enough pain to last a lifetime..." The sight, of all these people turned against the man who'd made her life a living hell, filled Nerr with a kind of euphoria she'd never felt before. Now she wasn't crazy for wanting him dead, not when so many other people did as well. The joy, the relief, the satisfaction that came from knowing that bubbled inside her like a spring and she laughed, a rhapsodic supplication to the heavens. Hans looked at her as if she had just grown several more heads... each them contained within several more heads that leaked poison.

"Oh, Hans... didn't I promise you long ago this day was coming?" Her voice was sickly sweet, like honey, as she cooed at him, prompting the bald man to scramble to his feet in an attempt to put some distance between them. "I will break you in ways you never dreamed you could break... You will beg for death, but it will not come... You will rue the day you molded me into what you are..."

"Do you not hear this byak whore?!" Iago roared to the room at large, gesturing to her wildly. "She reveals herself for the monster she is, and you just stand there doing nothing! You miserable cretins; kill her!" A few of the soldiers stepped forward, their faces dark with rage, but the majority by far simply looked at one another before shaking their heads in disgust. Some actively backed away from the sorcerer, as if afraid that they might be considered guilty by association simply by standing too close to him. "What are you doing!? Don't back away, you cowards!"

"The only coward here is you, Iago." Xander said, his voice deathly quiet. "These soldiers will not bend to your selfish whims; they know who their commander is. We await your orders, Nerr. You have plotted this course; give the word, and we shall act upon it!" Nerr stepped forward, beyond her family, finally putting herself between them and the things that threatened them, rather than the other way around.

"Soldiers! Hear me. This is not your fight. You have fought long and hard, and our victory is laid at your feet, but your battle has ended. These men, if you can call them that, have done nothing torment and murder the innocent. They are the reason Hoshidans think us demons, they are the reason our people rebel! But no longer. They will pay for their corrupt crimes with their lives... but I would not have their blood on your hands. So I tell you now, leave this place. Leave these monsters to their fates and prepare yourselves to see your friends and family once more. I will see you all returned to Nohr once I take it back!" Iago seemed on the verge of tears as the throng of soldiers marched from the room, all but a few dozen remaining, and out of those, only a handful did not move to stand beside the royals.

"Traitors!" He screamed "I'll see you all dead! Every last one of you!" Pulling a staff from the interior of his feathery robes, he raised it above his head. Thick clouds of sludge filled the air around them, the vile stench of excrement and rotting meat growing stronger as the miasma coalesced into roughly shaped figures. Even as the putrid slime molded itself into familiar green decomposing flesh, it continued to drip as though it remained in a semi liquid state. The newly birthed Faceless roared their discontent at being dragged into existence and lunged at the closest solider, one who stood beside Elise. He raised his lance and managed to ward off the initial blow, but a left-handed hay-maker caught him in the face, crushing his skull as it knocked him backwards. "Rewarded as a traitor deserves..." Iago laughed manically. "Just as you'll all be!"

"We will cut these monsters down, soldiers! And we'll deal with their Faceless, too! Attack!" The clamor of screams, growls, and clanking armor was deafening, but Nerr would not let it distract her. As she locked blades with one of the wicked or misguided fools that decided to stand by Iago, she could see the contemptible bastard running back out into the hall, undoubtedly looking for a place to hide until the fighting was over. The princess pulled her Yato free and smashed the pommel into the opposing soldier's face before thrusting the blade into her throat. She gurgled wetly as the blade slid back out.

All around her, her family and friends hacked fought their way through the threat as if it were the most trying battle they had yet faced. Kaze dragged his blade along the gut of one of the Faceless, it's viscous, rotten bowels spilling onto the floor as Shura let loose an arrow that sank into the beast's skull, right between the eyes. Screams and the stench of burning flesh filled the air as Odin and Elise unleashed a barrage of Ragnarök spell into a group of dissident soldiers, their anguish cut short by Beruka's ax and Lazwald's sword. The pounding of heavy feet made the floorboards behind her creak as a Faceless ran towards her. Nerr turned, swinging her Yato, the blade cutting through the decaying flesh and brittle bones of the monster's hand, it's fingers landing on the ground with a nauseating squelch. As it howled, a silvery lance was thrust into it's chest, the sharpened edge cutting down through the flesh and spilling the thick, gelatinous slime that served as it's blood onto the floor. Gunther pulled her back before the beast could fall atop her, and she looked over her shoulder.

"Where's. Hans."

"The craven prick fled with Iago."

"Then I have business to attend to elsewhere. Xander!" Slicing his holy blade across the face of a warrior, the crown prince looked up at her. "Our prey is trying to escape."

"Not while I draw breath!" Jamming his blade into the hysterical man's abdomen, Xander knocked him aside and joined his sister, who was already pushing her way out the antechamber and into the hall, not waiting to see who was following. Her feet were slicked with blood that left a fading trail as she ran. She had just turned a corner, only to nearly collide with the bloated belly of another Faceless. It growled, fetid saliva dripping from the edges of it's mask as it raised it's fists above it's head, fully intending to pound the young girl to a paste. A throwing ax cut through the air above her, it's curved blade sinking deeply into the monster's arm.

"Ha HA! Take that, scurrilous wretch!" The floor seemed to shake as Effie dashed forward, Arthur hot on her heels and readying another ax.

"Why don't you pick on someone smaller and twice as strong as you?" She lunged at the Faceless, knocking it to the ground. One blow of her fist left a massive crater in it's skull.

"You have my gratitude." Nerr intoned to the pair, sliding between another group of Faceless, knowing they would be dealt with in short order. It was clear Iago was trying to overwhelm them, and the horde would not stop until he was dead. She reached a door that she knew hadn't been closed before and tried to throw it open, nearly breaking her arm in the process.

"Stupid locked door!" She threw her weight against it, and was knocked back as a javelin exploded through the thin paper screen at the top, only deflected from her neck by her pauldron. The force threw her to the ground, though, and she growled through gritted teeth, fumbling for her dragonstone. The sensation of being torn apart and re-molded felt different this time, for there was no pain, but rather, the knowledge that there should be pain. A strange aesthesis, but one she would not complain about. She kicked at the door with her back leg, and though it shuddered, it did not break. "Stupid door! Open up!"

"Tsk. Stand aside, sister..." Leo's voice, haughtily amused, rang out behind her, and the Nohrian princess reluctantly took a few steps back. The floor shuddered as verdant trees exploded from beneath the wooden planks, their gnarled branches reducing the doors to splinters. "That's how you open a door, Nerr."

"I'm very impressed, Leo. Now excuse me while I show you how to open a man's ribcage." There were a small group of soldiers in the newly exposed room, though they were still outnumbered by Faceless.

Rearing up (and deciding she would look very majestic with a rider), Nerr lowered her head and charged into the fray, knocking aside several fighters and goring two of them. Rather than put any semblance of strategic thinking into her actions, she let the draconic voice in her mind set her actions. Humans had been the playthings of dragons for eons for a reason, only inheriting the world when they were done with it. A man in pelts ran up to her, swinging his heavy ax. She could tell it wasn't Hans because she could smell the vile stench of pure, unadulterated evil on him, so she simply batted him away with her tail, the jagged plates that made up her scales rending his flesh as he crashed into the opposite wall.

Behind her, a knight was trying to thrust his spear through Camilla's chest (one of the only unarmored parts of her), but she tittered as she brought her ax down on the shaft, splitting it in half. From there, she aimed her blows to his armor, the holy blade shearing through the steel plates and carving into the flesh beneath. Elise's long two-tone locks stood on end as she channeled her magic, the flames from the Ragnarök spell causing the flesh of the Faceless it engulfed to bubble and blister before it peeled off in charred flakes. A bevy of infuriated royals and their retainers made short work of soulless monsters (and Faceless). Over the final clashes of blades and gurgled death rattles, the hateful voice Nerr had been listening for finally reached her ears. She could hear Hans grunt as he swung his ax, only for it to be blocked by something metallic with a clang. She swung her head to and fro, trying to pick him out amidst the carnage.

"I've been waiting to do this for so damn long..." Clang! "You just don't know when to give up and die, do you, old man?" Clang! "Just like your little slut!" A clatter, as she saw the pale fighter bearing down his ax against the shaft of Gunther's lance.

"I won't give you the satisfaction of dying."

"No? Then maybe I should go after your little whore first, give her a good, hard fuck, then rip her pretty little head off! You'd go down easy after that."

"Not as easy as you would think!" The older man twisted his lance, driving the wide spearhead into Hans' leg, slicing through both leather and flesh from knee to ankle with ease. The berserker yelled, stumbling back... only to hit something solid, yet too close to be a wall. Water dripped on him as though he stood under a gutter and the smell of fear in the air became tangible as he looked up into the featureless blank that looked down at him. Offal slicked off the razor sharp horns as it's thick feelers swayed lazily.

"Hello, Hans" He could barely process that cordial greeting before Nerr's mandible opened wide and she ducked her head, clamping it down on the closest piece of flesh she could reach, which just so happened to be his shoulder. Hans screamed, trying desperately to beat her off, but she paid his blows no mind. They may as well have been little rabbit paws, thumping softly against her bulk. Tugging and shaking, she pulled at the limb in her jaw, the sharp edge of one of the protrusions that lent itself to the appearance of teeth cutting through the meat little by little. Grabbing him with one massive claw, she shook her head violently, a vicious crack emanating when his humerus could take the strain no longer. Dropping the weeping, convulsing man, his arm barely hanging on by a few tendrils of skin, the princess chuckled to herself.

"This is the greatest day of my life! I've been pining for this day for so long, I could TASTE it..." She could feel his blood run down her throat, a pleasant metallic tang. "Oh, it tastes wonderful. Beg me, Hans! BEG ME for your worthless life...!"

"Gods..." He croaked, spittle flecking the corners of his mouth. "Please... Please, STOP! It hurts...!"

"Oh, it hurts?" She raised her long fingered claws, knocking him across the floor and leaving a visceral trail. Stalking over to him, she dragged one sharp talon down his torso, cutting through the skin and tough layers of muscle, opening up a line of pink and yellow. Blood oozed out, dripping across him as he writhed in pain. "Not as much as it's going to, TRUST ME."

With a primal shriek, she descended on him, ripping him apart like wrapping paper. Her claws scraped against his ribs as she tore strips of flesh off, throwing them aside. Her head was too big in this form to fit inside him, but she made do, chewing on his side, his organs popping and spilling vile liquid into her mouth which she made no effort to spit out. In fact, she didn't try to spit out anything this time, simply swallowing the meat and skin and fat that worked it's way inside her mouth. It was a marvelous feeling, casting off her humanity and simply letting her instincts take over. Hans' screams had been as a candle, in that while burning very bright, they did not last very long. By the time she could feel his spine grating against her mandible, the joint fluid and cartilage sticking to the roof of her mouth, he had stopped shaking. He had stopped living. At once, it felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and the princess sighed, letting herself shrink into her smaller, weaker form. She could feel the slimy, tacky blood drying around her mouth, the flesh under her nails and stuck between her teeth... she felt fuller than she had in months, and strangely, no sense of nausea accompanied it. She turned back to the rest of the living soldiers, paying their horror and disgust no mind.

"Iago~?" Leo composed himself the quickest, walking over and pointing to another set of closed doors, these held shut by the runes glowing around the frame. Nerr calmly sauntered over to them, barely noticing the blood squishing between her toes. She knocked on the door, drawing her hand back as a shock ran through it. "Iago? Come out, come out~ I'd like to talk to you about some things..."

"Get the fuck away from me, you Hoshidan whore!" His voice was muffled, but she could still hear the panic rising in it. "When King Garon finds out what you've done, he'll slaughter you all like rats! I hope you're ready to pay for your treachery, you putrid slut!"

"No, Iago. I'm ready to kill you. Get out here and face me like a man, you little bitch." She glanced back at Leo, who shrugged, before turning her attention back to the door. She could hear manic laughter emanating from within the chamber.

"You're going to die... you're all going to die! Not me; I am the highest ranking general in the Nohrian army. I have the king at my beck and call! That senile fool and his 'Anankos'... He might've wanted you to suffer, but I'm the one that made it happen. I told the Hoshidans you'd be in Macarath. I said we needed to see you kill Ryouma to be sure he was dead. I'm the one who sent the Faceless that killed that flying rat of yours! What was her name, Lilith? What a lovely thing to inscribe on a tombstone!"

His laughter, which continuously grew in pitch, broke off with a shriek as a beam of dark red magic struck the door, piercing the wood with ease and singing something within the room by the smell of it. Xander stepped forward, his face dark with hatred. Rearing back, he kicked one of the doors, it's hinges coming loose slightly. Two more kicks, and it collapsed on top of the cowering ball of terror. Iago actually squeaked, like a little mouse, as the crown prince reached down to grab him by his feathery collar, pulling him to his feet.

"EEEEK! No! NO, PLEASE! Don't kill me! I don't wanna die!"

"You're much less boastful without anything to hide behind, I notice." Xander spat. Camilla stepped forward, lifting his chin with her ax. His flesh froze to the blade the moment it made contact, the skin peeling away with a sickening rip as he tried to move his head.

"At least try to have a little dignity, darling. This pitiful display is bringing shame on your whole family." He pulled himself away from the two eldest royals, tripping over his feet to get to Nerr, prostrating himself before her.

"Please, Lady Nerr! Spare me! Have mercy! You've always been merciful; that's why everyone loves you!" She remained silent, feeling his tears and snot drip on her toes. "All I did was follow King Garon's orders, just like you! If you don't like the tactics I used, blame him! I wouldn't dream of making you suffer for no reason; he wanted to sacrifice you to his heathen god, he's crazy! I'm innocent! Innocent, I say; it was all just an act! You wouldn't kill an innocent man, would you?!" Wordlessly, Nerr reached down and grabbed the older man by his scruff, unceremoniously dragging him over to the quivering mass of flesh that used to be Han, and throwing him face first into the gore. His scream was nearly enough to shatter glass.

"I would kill you in your mother's womb, Iago. That's what I did to Hans, and really, I only did it to make myself feel better. You're why Ryouma is dead. You almost got my sister killed. You killed Lilith... Imagine what I'm going to do to you." Weeping, he scrambled away to Leo, clutching at the young prince's boots.

"Lord Leo! I've known you since you were a child, I witnessed your birth! As wise as you are, surely you understand that only a man with no choice would do what I was forced to... I had to stay in the king's good graces for my family! You love your family, you would do anything for them- you understand! Please, milord, spare me! Tell them not to kill me!"

"I don't think so." Leo pulled his foot back, only to kick the sorcerer in the jaw. "My sister happens to be an exceptionally good judge of character; if there were a single, redeeming quality about you, she'd be the one saying we should give you another chance. You're just too stupid, Iago- burning all your bridges and then trying to go back..."

"You don't deserve mercy!" Elise yelled at him. "You never showed it to anyone else; what makes you think you're so special? You're mean, and nasty, and evil, and all you do is make Nohr a worse place to live. You can't admit to killing Lilith and then expect us to just ignore that! She was like a sister to Nerr, which means she was like a sister to the rest of us, too! We should lock you in the dungeons and let you starve!"

"No, Elise. I have a much simpler solution." Xander stepped forward, his sword raised high, before bringing it down on the hysterical man. It shore through the thin golden collar he wore like wet paper, cutting through the jugular, cracking the clavicle, before eventually embedding in his sternum. He shook violently as blood pooled out, darkening his black robes even further. As the prince wretched chis blade free, Iago fell back, still convulsing slightly, before finally going still. The royals stared at him in silence for a moment, each mulling over their own thoughts. Leo spoke first.

"Well. That's done with. I have to say, it feels wonderful knowing he's finally out of our lives."

"I don't know, baby brother; I wouldn't be surprised if this thing slipped back into the void and reconstituted itself. Perhaps we should burn what's left, just in case." Camilla rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Something Iago had said found it's way to the forefront of Nerr's mind, and she looked over at Xander.

"He actually still has a family?"

"I believe so, though I think it's simply distant cousins by now."

"Hmm... They deserve his remains. We'll send them his head in box... of scorpions." That was tradition, after all.

"Father is undoubtedly done praying by now." Azura whispered, trying to rub the blood out of the ridges of her nails. "We should get back, before he suspects something is wrong."

"What about the mess?" Elise asked, her voice tight with worry. Camilla patted her on the head.

"Don't worry, dearest; we can't be blamed for what the Hoshidans did. They're very messy. We tried to come to Hans and Iago's aid, but we were too late."

"It was truly a tragic turn of events..." Nerr nodded solemnly. "Oh, well! Let's go; I need to wash my face. And rinse the taste of offal out of my mouth." Leaving the room with her family and friends in tow, the Nohrian princess's heart felt lighter than she'd thought could ever happen in such a situation. Granted, killing Hans had been akin to a physical release, leaving her euphoric and dazed, but she would've thought she'd feel something for the humans she'd cut down on her way to him. But no. There was nothing. A blessed, empty blank. And it was wonderful.

000

A/N- Ding Dong, the Hans is dead. Finally! -Leans back and takes a drag- Gaaawd, that felt good to write. Seriously, I've been planning that scene since before I started writing this fic. I always wanted Nerr to go on a cannibalistic roaring rampage of revenge, and it finally happened (so looking forward to that in 'Birthright'). I know I amped everything in this chapter up to eleven, but really, the writing in the game is so bland, it makes it kind of hard to take seriously. Given that 'Fates' is rated teen for all the "blood" (where?), "violence" (I've seen more violent kid's shows) and "suggestive themes" (Camilla) you'd think they could get away with some heavier dialogue, at least in the evil 'Conquest' route (you know, to drive home what a monster you are for not siding with Hoshido?) but no- it's pretty much 'Arthur', as in, heavy for eight year olds. But I'm not even mad to that (I just ignore it in-game and play out my own dialogue in my head)- what I am mad about is the fact that Gunther doesn't get any unique dialogue when going up against Hans. The man pushed him off a bridge! I hold a grudge when people hold up the check out line at the grocery store. If anyone needs unique dialogue in this game, it's Gunther (mostly with Hans and Garon). It could even be considered an easter egg, since I'm the only lunatic that doesn't bench him.