Hector
Never had Francine seen Hector make such a temper tantrum in the court before. They settled in the castle of House Fairsteele, a family loyal to Hector and the Dragonhearts. Since Hector was Lord of the coasts, they gave him the throne room, but, many started to doubt if Hector had what it took to fulfill his promises and take Rassay.
A lot of allies left in the night, reducing his fighting force to a mere 700,000.
"We were so close!" Hector shouted. He turned to look at Francine.
"You!" he shouted. He took out his dagger and pointed it at Francine. "You! Why did you tell me to retreat? I had him outnumbered. We could have taken him and his armies. I should have my maps by now."
"Oh, shut up," said the assassin who killed Yuri. "When will you learn that these things require patience."
"I am all out of it!" shouted Hector. "My army is leaving me! Yuri's friends still have the maps! Avi is still out there! I have nothing! NOTHING! You promised me! You promised me!"
Rose was sitting alone in the corner of the court, flipping through her deck of cards that Francine generously returned after the confrontation with High King Yuri. She smirked, happy to see Hector in such disarray.
She enjoyed it while it lasted.
The doors to the main hall opened. Ser Baxter arrived with scholars. They were carrying something on wooden carts.
"Wait no more, My Lord," Ser Baxter said with a bow.
"What is that?" Hector asked, wiping away tears with his sleeves.
"Good news, I hope," said Francine.
"Why yes, it is," Ser Baxter said with a smile. "I have just received word that The Church has begun its conquest of Domino City and the rest of the kingdoms. The Princes of Termnnia will be taken out of power very soon. Ah, and I have a gift from a very good friend."
"What is it?" Hector asked again.
"Your destiny, My Lord."
The scholars removed white sheets from the items. It was the stone tablets of the Ancient Beasts. Attached to them were scrolls deciphering the location of the Ancient Beasts. Hector jumped up and down with joy and fell to his knees.
"ASSEMBLE THE ARMY!" shouted Ser Baxter. "Rassay is ours for the taking!"
Pegasus
Pegasus gave Jocelia her cup of hot milk and sat beside her reading The Tale of Lady Red-Eyes, a tragedy about a beautiful princess who fell in love with a Red-Eyes Black Dragon. He didn't have to read much. At the second chapter, Jocelia fell asleep.
He kissed her on the head. The corner of her mouth formed a smile as she cooed and nuzzled her pillow.
Pegasus left her chambers and went outside where Ser Tiberius was waiting dressed in the gold-white heavy scaled armor of the Royal Guard.
"That armor suits you," said Pegasus, examining the ornate armor in the dim light of the candles illuminating the halls on their iron stands.
"My Lord," Ser Tiberius bowed.
"These are dark times, Tiberius," said Pegasus. "Keep her under constant watch."
"None will get past me, My Lord. I pray to the Goddesses that we will overcome the evil that has spread in the East."
"I fear the greatest evil lies here, Tiberius," said Pegasus.
"MY LORD!" someone shouted from down the hall. "MY LORD!"
It was Antilles and Alexandra.
"What is it?" asked Pegasus.
"Hush!" said Tiberius. "You'll wake the princess."
"What is it, Antilles?" said Pegasus.
"We have horrible news from the Gray Mountain."
"What is it?"
"It's Hector! Someone gave him the maps to the Ancient Beasts!" said Antilles.
"Augh!" Pegasus gasped. "No! That's impossible. Prince Ryon took them back to the archives in Katina."
"They must have been intercepted," said Antilles. "Or, Prince Ryon's a traitor!"
"No!" said Pegasus. "Ryon loves the other princes. They are like brothers."
"All it takes is a little gold to ruin a brotherhood," said Alexandra. "I don't know who it was who gave Hector the maps but, we're too late to stop them."
"You mean?"
"He has woken it," said Antilles. "Ancalagon the Black Mountain!"
"We are doomed!" said Tiberius.
"Then there is no hope in combating that monster," moaned Alexandra. She paced back and forth. Pegasus and Tiberius did their best to keep their composure.
Alexandra always loved showing skin, even in dire moments such as this. She had the body of a beautiful goddess, and she had no shame in flaunting what she had.
"How long till he gets here, uncle?" Alexandra asked.
"They'll be here at dawn." Antilles, pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration and shivered in fright. "But there is one who could stop him."
"Who?"
"Yuri."
"You speak nonsense," said Pegasus. "Yuri is dead!"
"I assure you he's not. We have a mole in Hector's forces; Lady Rose the Princess of Frogs."
"You know her?"
"We've played together since we were babies," said Alexandra. "After Hector conquered her home she sent me messages in a secret code that we made up as kids."
"You two had a secret code?" Pegasus asked.
"Yes. During the Dragonheart Rebellion, my mother and father sent me to stay with her in New Harbor until the war was won. I tell you, Rose had a mean lady-in-waiting by the name of Uberta. She would waste no time in showing us how to be proper ladies. And she had a firm hand on her I'll tell you that."
Alexandra rubbed her bottom, her memories bringing back the sting of the relentless spankings she received.
"One day, she caught Rosie and me stealing cookies in the kitchens. After she had punished us, she locked us in different towers to keep us apart between our lessons, but we always asked the mop boy to deliver our messages to one another. We would use that code to keep Uberta at bay while the both of us made our mischief. I miss her."
"Well, are you going to tell me what she said or are you going waste time with more travels into memory lane?" snapped Pegasus. His Millennium Eye seemed to shimmer with impatience.
"Oh, of course," said Alexandra. "Rose said in her letter that before they left for the excavation of the beasts, Hector was visited by some assassins in robes of black, women by the sound of their voices."
"The Sisterhood!" said Pegasus. "I should have known!"
"Right, they had someone in their grasp. A weakened man, by the looks of it. Hector ordered them to send him to Rassay. Hector said that after he awakened Ancalagon and took the Diamond Throne, he would kill the man himself in the dungeons under the Spire. I think the man was Yuri."
"The fool that Hector is," said Pegasus, feeling joyful. "In his brashness, he failed to see traitors in his midst. Thank the Goddesses for Princess Rose."
"We could use that to our advantage," said Antilles. "Perhaps undo the mess I made."
"So, you did have something to do with all this?" said Pegasus.
"Uncle, don't tell him," Alexandra cooed, grasping his arm.
"No, my love, it's high time I told the truth, and confess my crimes. My Lord, I was the one who put Hector on the quest to find the Ancient Beasts."
"I see," said Pegasus. "Antilles as of now I place you under arrest and condemn you to death for conspiring against the High King. And your House will be exiled from Termnnia for life. Your family will disband. There will be no more House Dragonheart after tonight."
"Pegasus!" gasped Alexandra. "I beg of you to spare his life. Please have mercy!"
"There cannot be mercy for a crime as great as this!" said Pegasus. "I am sorry."
"Then kill me too!" demanded Alexandra.
"No," Antilles said softly. "You have to be strong now."
"But uncle I cannot live without you!" Alexandra sobbed.
She buried her face into his chest and wept.
"There, there, my sweet." Antilles patted her head. "Don't make a fuss. You'll wake Jocelia."
"It is quite a shame," said Tiberius. "Lady Jocelia was growing rather fond of you. But she is a girl with a heart of gold. You are not worthy of being in her company, Alexandra."
"We must pay for what we have done," said Antilles. "It is the only way the Goddesses will show us mercy. I will pay for my crimes. And you must pay for yours the way Pegasus instructed. Promise me when they sail you off the continent you will go with your head high and not make a fuss. Leave, as a strong woman. As a Dragonheart."
Alexandra nodded. "I love you," she whispered.
Two Black Luster Soldiers slapped iron shackles to both their wrists and escorted them away with Pegasus.
They split away. The Black Luster Soldiers took Antilles and Alexandra to the prison.
"You are making a mistake!" said Antilles.
"Shut up!" said the Black Luster Soldier.
"You don't understand. Yuri is in danger!"
Meanwhile, Pegasus took a squad of Royal Guard soldiers to the entrance of the dungeons underneath the Spire of the Kings.
Joey was there with Tristan, a newly appointed Sword of the High King. They were both leading a squad of Royal Guardsmen.
"Pegasus," said Joey. "We just got word from da White River Watchtower. An Ancient Beast is headed this way. What are your orders?"
"Evacuate the people outside the wall," said Pegasus. "Bring them into the city and secure them in the tunnels while I rescue Yuri."
"And after we've rescued Yuri. He'll summon da God Cards and show dat snot-nosed punk boy-king who da real High King of Termnnia is!" said Joey,
The Royal Guard raised their golden swords and cheered.
"FOR YURI!" Joey shouted.
"I will search for Yuri," said Pegasus. He drew his sword. "Go now! And rescue the people!"
Joey and Tristan led their men into an elevator which took them to the lower levels of the city. Meanwhile, Pegasus took two Royal Guardsmen into the dungeons to look for Yuri. He lit a torch and led the way inside.
It was dark and moist in there with passages that looked the same. There were old torture chambers from the Inquisition with old torture devices and skeletons.
"How far does this go, My Lord?" asked one of the guardsmen.
"Deep into a lake under the mountain," said Pegasus. "The very pit where High King Julius hid the golden eggs from Yugi and Antar's army during the rebellion. This is also where Dalaris Dragonheart slew the Des Volstgalph called Danteleron and became Dragonslayer."
"So much death in the underbelly of the world," said the other knight of the Royal Guard.
"Well, it's going to be our job to make sure Yuri does not join them," said Pegasus. "Come it's farther down here."
As Pegasus led the men farther and farther into the roots of the mountain, the walls began to close. Soon Pegasus was separated from his royal guard.
There was nothing Pegasus could do except go on without them. He had to fight horrible subterranean Duel Monsters such as Bone Mouse and even a few Zombie Warriors. Pegasus then saw a chamber up ahead. The walls were iron bars which had a good view of the lake down below.
There was a light coming from the chamber.
Pegasus sprinted towards the chamber and spotted someone bound to a chair. A white sheet was draped over him. Only his feet and wrists could be seen.
"Yuri!" shouted Pegasus. "Yuri! It's me Pegasus!"
No answer.
The poor boy. He must be worn out.
Pegasus stepped into a chamber where he was greeted by a gust of wind so powerful it blew out his torch and left him in the dark.
He heard footsteps all around him. His heart began beating like a drum. A loud, muffled moan filled his ears sending a chill down his frame.
He felt something grab him.
Pegasus jumped and let out a scream. He jabbed his sword into the creature. It must have had hard scales or flesh, for it felt like cutting through steel.
Mmmmmm! Groaned another monster.
Pegasus could not see where it was coming from. It was pitch black. He tried using his Millennium Eye to see, but the foul magic that prevented him from seeing into Antilles blocked his powers.
Mmmmmm! Growled the creature. It bumped into Pegasus, startling him again. He let out another scream and thrust his blade into the darkness until he felt the creature with his sword and thrust the blade into its flesh.
Pegasus stood still. He listened in the darkness. He heard nothing. Whatever was guarding Yuri was surely dead.
Pegasus then felt around the floor for the torch. He found it and lit it up again with a gold lighter in his pocket. He saw torches on the wall and lit them until the chamber was illuminated with their orange light.
Pegasus turned to look at Yuri but froze when the creatures he slew in the darkness were revealed.
His two Royal Guard escorts were laying dead in pools of their own blood. Their wrists were bound, and they were gagged with cloth. Pegasus grew fearful and ran to Yuri.
"Yuri's it's time to get out of here!" said Pegasus.
He drew the sheets off Yuri. Pegasus babbled in shock and stood back.
Yuri was naked. There were bloody wounds on his body. A black bag was draped over his head.
"Yuri?" Pegasus sobbed. "Yuri?"
He removed the black sack over Yuri's head.
"NO!" shouted Pegasus.
Yuri's throat had been slit. His eyes were half opened, and his mouth was agape with blood oozing down his lips and onto his lap.
Suddenly the door to the chamber was bashed down. Antilles and Alexandra stepped into the chamber followed by Buster Bladers and Black Luster Soldiers and a garrison of men from the Royal Guard.
"No," Antilles whispered. "We are too late."
"OH YURI!" screamed Alexandra. She ran to Yuri's body and sobbed.
"Look!" shouted Antilles. "He's murdered two honorable soldiers from the Guard. Trying to protect Yuri no doubt!"
"No!" shouted Pegasus. "It's not…"
"HOLD YOUR TONGUE MURDERER!" shouted a Black Luster Soldier.
Murderer?
Then it dawned on Pegasus. Two dead guards. Yuri's mangled corpse. And there he stood with a bloodied sword.
"He murdered him!" shouted Alexandra. "He murdered him! He killed him! Your Prince!"
"Seize him!" commanded Antilles. "He murdered Prince Yuri!"
"TAKE HIM!" shouted Alexandra. "TAKE HIM! TAKE HIM! TAKE HIM!"
A Buster Blader punched Pegasus in the face. He fell to the ground with a thud before he was forcibly picked up by the Royal Guard who took turns punching him for the death of their two fallen brothers.
"We trusted you!" they shouted.
"Traitor!"
"Murderer!"
They then slammed him against the iron bars and shackled his wrists behind his back and gagged him.
Pegasus was dragged out of the chamber. He looked back and saw Alexandra smugly placing her hands on her hips. She smiled at Pegasus and blew him a kiss with her gloved hand before he was dragged out.
"Come, darling," said Antilles. "There is much work to be done."
"Coming my love," said Alexandra.
She turned to look at Yuri who was being unfastened from the chair by two Royal Guardsmen, begging Yuri's soul to forgive them for their failure.
What she saw made her freeze in fear.
Blood was pouring out of Yuri's multiple wounds. They were like fountains. Then as the soldiers picked Yuri up, blood oozed out of his mouth. Alexandra did not know if she was going mad or if the corpse was smiling at her as they took it away.
Fearing for her life, Alexandra hurried after her uncle and out of the dungeons.
Alexandra
A vigil was held for Yuri at dawn the next morning. It was short and bittersweet, for the armies of Emboldor had gathered and prepared to deal with oncoming Ancient Beast, Ancalagon the Black Mountain.
Yuri was well dressed in robes of black chased with gold. He clung onto his light-forged sword and his Duel Disk was mounted onto his wrist. A black crown glimmered on his head and two gold coins were placed over his eyes.
Alexandra sang a lament for Yuri while Yami and the others placed flowers around the alter where Yuri lay. No one wept harder for Yuri than Serenity. She sobbed on his chest for ten minutes before Yami had to gently pull her away.
Mai and Tèa knew that Alexandra was not singing it from the bottom of her heart. There were no tears falling from her eyes and she was still clad in a short skirt of all things.
Jocelia approached the alter with a yellow daisy. Antilles picked her up so she could put the flower over Yuri's heart.
"You must leave," Peter whispered to Yami and his friends. "I don't like where this is going, Master Yu-Gi-Oh. I have a bad feeling about this."
"I do as well," said Yami. "Will you not come with us, Peter?"
"I will remain in Rassay and see if there is a way to undo the wrong that has been committed here. If not, then Goddesses be with us all."
"Yugi, we can't just abandon the people!" said Tristan.
The bells began to ring all over the city.
"An Ancient Beast approaches!" shouted a soldier. "Begin the evacuation!"
"Rassay is lost," said Yami. "I fear Hector has won. Once they reach the city, he will declare himself High King. The God Cards have been lost and Yuri is dead. A million armies will not be able to fight that creature. We must meet up with Lady Avi. She is our last hope. Yuri said so."
"My jet has a cargo hold in the back," said Kaiba. "Grab only what you need and let's go before that Ancient Beast gets here!"
Without another word Yami and his companions boarded the Blue-Eyes White Jet and took off, leaving Emboldor.
Alexandra and Antilles remained in the temple where Yuri's body remained. He would be on display for the night and then be buried with the rest of the High Kings in the mausoleum.
Alexandra turned to look at her uncle and smiled. He grinned as well and moved in for a kiss. He lifted her skirt, picked her up, and sat her on top of Yuri's chest where they began to make love.
The earth started to quake. Ancalagon approached the Iron Mountains, stepping over them like it was nothing.
He was as black as the night with a glowing underbelly like a river of lava. A forest of spikes went down his back and his tail, three miles in length. The tail had the head of a battle axe. He stood over a hundred meters tall and had patches of skin that looked like molten rivers of magma. In fact, he had two volcanoes on his shoulders and when he roared it sounded like an erupting volcano. His mouth glowing like a gateway to Hades.
"FIRE!" shouted a battalion of trebuchet units, launching their explosives from the catapults. They did nothing to stop the beast.
"We must get you ready," said Antilles after he climaxed into his niece. "Begin your coronation. Become the High Queen, summon the God Cards and stop that beast."
"Yes," Alexandra moaned. "Yes."
When they left the temple after defiling Yuri's body, Alexandra was thoroughly bathed and dressed into her best garments. She was given the God Cards, inlaid into a gold plaque.
"What's this for?" she asked.
"You will be a Queen this night," said Antilles. "I promised you that, did I not."
"Uncle…"
"Only the best for you, my sweet."
Alexandra grew jittery. Should could not believe the moment had come. The doors to the throne room stood before her. She stopped and held her head high. It was still dark, for the sun had barely come out. She could hear Ancalagon's roar from the castle walls. She smiled, for soon that monster and his brethren would be hers too once she rid the world of Hector.
A maid approached and fixed Alexandra's hair and removed the tiara off her head.
"All rise for Alexandra Wallcroft. Queen of Termnnia!" shouted the herald.
I will have that herald's head. It's High Queen of Termnnia.
But as Alexandra got closer to the throne she noticed someone was sitting up there already for there was a large number of Buster Bladers guarding whoever it was and blocking him like a veil. Alexandra began to worry. Was the one on the throne her uncle?
I couldn't be. Slifer, Obelisk, and Ra would probably have incinerated him by now. Did they even care anymore?
Not that it mattered, for Antilles was standing at the foot of the stairs. Someone approached Alexandra from behind him.
Alexandra let out a timid gasp when she recognized the horrid smile of Francine the Shadow Lady. Her Millennium Necklace glimmering around her thin neck.
"You?" gasped Alexandra.
"My necklace never lies," said Francine. "It's time to accept your destiny, Alexandra."
The Buster Bladers descended the steps of the Diamond Throne to reveal the horse-faced Hector Ironclaw clad in the royal armor of the High King. He grinned at Alexandra and bared his large buck teeth.
Alexandra was at a loss for words.
"Speechless I see," said Hector. "A fine quality in a wife."
Wife? Alexandra was not walking into a coronation. It was a wedding.
"Uncle?" she said in fear.
"You did not think I would let a licentious twat like yourself become High Queen of Termnnia did you?"
"Uncle, don't do this to me.""
"That is enough, Alexandra," said her father Janis of Dragon's Nest.
Alexandra turned and saw her mother, Claudette, was with him too.
"Father don't make me do this!" Alexandra begged.
"Step up the throne and hand Hector the God Cards, Alexandra," Antilles commanded.
"Where is Master Yu-Gi-Oh?" shouted Alexandra, sobbing. "Where is Master Yu-Gi-Oh? I must speak with him."
"Master Yu-Gi-Oh has left," said Antilles. "Stop making a fuss and do as you are told."
"Mother!"
"I am sorry my love," said Claudette. "There is nothing I can do."
"Father don't sell me off again, please."
"YOU'RE MY DAUGHTER!" shouted Janis. "You will do as you are told and you will marry Lord Hector. NOW!"
"Uncle. Papa. No!" sobbed Alexandra. There was nothing she could do. She was nothing but a pawn in her Uncle's game. She realized that if Antilles was to be named the High Chancellor of Termnnia, he needed to sell Alexandra off as a prize to Hector and his new Ancient Beasts. With them in power, they no longer had to fear the Rejection of the God Cards, who were now stripped of all their might thanks to the rise of Ancalagon. Hector was a boy who was in the game for the power and the fancy riches he would get as King. Antilles would be ruling from the background. He got what he wanted at the expense of Alexandra's liberty and her dignity.
"I Alexandra, by the grace of the Goddesses, choose as the High King…. Hector Ironclaw. The man who is now my beloved husband. With the help of the Goddesses and the Higher Power he will rule his people well. May the God Cards smite those who will stand in the way of his mighty rule."
She placed the crown into Hector's greasy, curled, black hair. She then handed him the plaque with the God Cards. They shimmered hatefully.
"All hail Hector Ironclaw. Master of the Diamond Throne. Wielder of the Divine Beasts. Lord of Men, High King of Termnnia and all Her Kingdoms!" Alexandra said aloud, though she forcefully had to let those words out.
"Long Live the High King!" shouted Antilles.
"Long Live the High King!" shouted Lord Janis.
"Long Live the High King!" shouted the Buster Bladers and Black Luster Soldiers.
"Long Live the High King!" shouted the people.
Long Live the High King!
Long Live the High King!
Long Live the High King!
Long Live the High King!"
Evelyn
The doors of her chambers creaked open. Maidens came inside with fresh clothes to help Evelyn dress for breakfast with her husband. Ethan. She lay face down on her bed, exhausted and beaten from Ethan's ferocity the night before.
"Oh, the poor thing," said one of the maids. "No one deserves such a cruel fate."
"We'd best not fret," said another maid. "If we keep Lord Ethan waiting he'll punish us all."
They woke Evelyn, bathed her and cleaned the wounds on her face before dressing her in a black shoulderless dress and they fitted a choker around her neck with a glowing gem in the shape of a butterfly.
They brushed her hair a hundred times until it shone and tied a red ribbon in her hair.
"Do not give him cause to hurt you, My Lady," said one of the maids. "We don't want to clean any more wounds on you."
Evelyn didn't say a word. She followed her maidens like a mindless zombie. Ethan was waiting for her down the hall dressed in her father's best clothing. The sight of Ethan standing there stinking up Helmsley's garments infuriated Evelyn and stung her belly like a sword from the forges. But she kept her composure and kept her chin up.
"Good morning, my love," Ethan said with a bow.
Evelyn remained silent. Then, Ethan's calm nature faded in an instant. His cheeks went bright red and his eyebrows lowered, creasing his forehead.
"I said good morning!"
"Good morning, My Lord,"
"Your Grace!" Ethan corrected. "I'm a king now. Remember? Come. Our breakfast grows cold. The cooks made a very special feast for us. Antoine and the others are waiting for us too."
Evelyn's heart gave a leap.
Antoine, Kevin, and Ezra were okay. Perhaps, Ethan did care for them still. Feeling glad that their lives have been spared, Evelyn took Ethan's arm.
"Have you heard the news from Rassay?" Ethan asked. "Maximillion Pegasus killed Yuri."
Evelyn stopped in her tracks. Her mouth fell wide open. She blinked to keep the tears from forming in her eyes.
"Don't believe me, do you?" sneered Ethan. "He was caught red-handed, literally, for his hands were covered in the blood of Prince Yuri and two brave knights of the Royal Guard who tried their very best to defend their High King. After they buried Yuri, Hector came from the North with his army and one of the Ancient Beasts. Ancalagon the Black Mountain they call it. After Hector has settled and shows Termnnia who the real king is, he's going to continue his quest to find the remaining two Ancient Beasts. Drogeth-Envoy of Extinction and Kaiser Rex the Lord of Ancient Beasts, who is the mightiest of the three."
"They are all dinosaur monsters!"
"Fitting, given that Hector hails from the Dinosaur Lords, who may I add are descendants of Norman the Conqueror. The first master of the Ancient Beasts."
"Norman could not contain their power!" said Evelyn. "He was a Star of Horakhty and even the Ancient Beasts proved too much for him to handle. Eventually, it took Slifer, Obelisk, Ra, even Exodia with the help of the Nameless Pharaoh of Sobek to eventually seal them away. Hector is just a boy! He will get us all killed!"
"Not with the new weaponry we've created at Paradius. With those new monstrous machines, even the God Card will bend to Man's will."
"Weaponry? You mean to kill gods?"
"Only if they prove too stubborn," said Ethan. "Imagine. We can create tools that make the Divines tremble before us. There is supposedly an Ancient Beast sleeping here in Elleria."
"Gracious!" said Evelyn.
"Yes. And I will lead the hunt for it. High King Hector will reward us beyond our wildest dreams after I've captured it, Evelyn! It is a new time for the race of Men. With the capture of this Ancient Beast, we will celebrate the triumph of science over THE GODS! We will show those bitches that they no longer control our fates anymore."
His stomach growled.
"All this excitement sure has made me hungry," said Ethan. "Ah, our breakfast awaits us."
Evelyn stepped outside to the balcony with Ethan.
What she saw made her cry out in shock.
The breakfast table was laid out neatly with beautiful silverware; trays of eggs, bacon, pancakes, sausages, buttered biscuits; and pitches of ice cold orange juice sat temptingly on silver saucers.
But, perched on the chairs were long metal pikes.
There were heads stuck to them. Evelyn wailed and fell to the ground. Her legs felt like jelly. She grew sick in her belly.
"Come, Evelyn, we can't keep them waiting." Ethan laughed.
His Templar guards forced Evelyn up. Ethan forced her to recognize the heads.
"Those two there," he said pointing to the right where Evelyn would be sitting. "Your mother and father. They will be dining next to you."
Evelyn squealed and moaned. They were unrecognizable. Their skin was ashy and their hair sticky and unkempt, for they had been dipped in tar to preserve their faces.
Ethan walked around the table showing Evelyn more of the mounted heads. "This one right here, your old lady-in-waiting."
Evelyn saw Josephine. Her mouth was agape. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
"Ah, and these two fellows. We know them well don't we. Antoine and Ser Kevin the man-loving Knight."
Evelyn shut her eyes.
"Look at them!" Ethan commanded. "Look at them or I will command my Templars to cut your eyelids off. That will be a damn shame because I love your eyelashes."
Evelyn opened her eyes and stared at the faces of her two best friends. Antoine's face was scrunched up in a look of agony. Ser Kevin was staring at the east.
"What's going on?" Evelyn sobbed.
"Sit down and I will tell you," Ethan said, sitting down on his side of the table. He wrapped a white handkerchief around his neck.
Evelyn sat cautiously at her end of the table where the heads were. This could not be the Ethan she once knew. The Ethan she knew and loved would never force her to eat while being surrounded by the decapitated heads of her loved ones.
"Eat!" said Ethan, his mouth full of bacon. "This is good food unless you want to eat one of their cheeks."
Evelyn grimaced and cut into her pancakes. The shadow of her mother's hair danced around her plate. "How can you side with these murderers?"
"Murderers?" said Ethan. "Evelyn, the Church could lead us into a whole new world. There wouldn't be all this death if people would just bend the knee and convert. Times must and always do change, Evelyn. Come on, it's a sweet deal. Termnnia gets modernized, we have a prospering young High King in the Diamond Throne. We control the six most powerful monsters in the world. For the love of the Goddesses, Evelyn, the Church has even lifted its ban on Duel Monsters. Citizens can play provided they pay the appropriate taxes."
"You are a fool if you believe the Church will lead Termnnia into prosperity, Ethan."
"No, Evelyn, it is you who is the fool! For once in my life, I have joined the right side. I wanted our friends to join us, but naturally, they wish to remain in the past. All that's left in this collection is the head of your lover, Dancer, but I have special plans for him when he gets here. And believe me, Evelyn, he will come for you, he's going to wish he never did. So that leaves…ah, that bitch-princess of Lorin. Alexis. She was never nice to me, no matter how hard I tried. That fucking Toon!"
He got up from his seat and paced back and forth.
"Yes, that's it. What a wondrous wedding gift will that be? Yes, for your wedding present I will give you Alexis's head!"
"Careful, Ethan," said Evelyn.
"What?"
"Alexis is smarter than you think. She might just give me your head."
Ethan froze and looked at her violently. He formed a shaky grin. His face muscles twitched with anger.
"Bend over, Evelyn."
Evelyn sat still and said nothing.
"Bend over, Evelyn!"
Evelyn remained defiant. She kept her composure, even with Ethan fast approaching her. He grabbed a handful of hair and pulled her towards his lips.
"I said…BEND OVER!"
"My Lord!" shouted a Templar.
"What is it?" growled Ethan.
"A rider approaches."
Ethan let go of Evelyn's hair and peered over the wall to see the rider. He smiled seeing the flaming orange hair of Phoenix Lockheart riding into the castle atop her stallion.
"Open the gates!" he commanded.
Evelyn made a dash into the main atrium where she embraced her friend.
"Phoenix you must leave!" said Evelyn.
"I can't," said Phoenix. "Where is he?"
"My Lord waits for you in the courtyard," said a chubby Green Priest. He led the two girls out the back into the central gardens which looked over the bay. Ethan was waiting for Phoenix smugly with a Duel Disk in hand.
"Where are my friends?" Phoenix demanded. "Ethan, I swear, you will pay dearly for this outrage."
"You are in no position to be making threats," said Ethan, with a cruel chuckle.
"What does she mean they?" asked Evelyn. "Who else does Ethan hold captive?"
Ethan gave a nod to one of his sellswords. The man pulled on a rope which went into the well. He pulled and pulled until Marcel came out, soaking wet and gasping for air. His arms were tied to a wooden plank.
"Prince Marcel!" cried Evelyn.
Marcel coughed and spit out water. "'Sup," he said, trying to be funny.
"How long has he been in there?" Phoenix demanded.
"He arrived late last night. After Evelyn opened her legs for me."
Phoenix felt like someone kicked her in the gut. She turned to her friend and placed her hands on her shoulders. "Did he hurt you?" Phoenix asked.
Evelyn remained quiet, but she nodded her head.
"That's real low, Ethan!" shouted Marcel. "Only small-cocked cowards rape women! It makes me sick to know we once sat in the same classroom together!"
"Oh, shut up," said Ethan.
He snapped his fingers.
A Templar came out of the castle holding onto the chain that was attached to Ezra's shackles.
"Ezra!" Phoenix shouted.
Phoenix ran for Ezra. The Templar attempted to block her but Phoenix launched a powerful fireball from her hands and knocked him away. He crashed against the wall. The impact killed him.
Phoenix and Ezra kissed. "Are you okay?" Phoenix asked.
"I'm fine," said Ezra.
"Sinners!" shouted the Green Priest. "Women should not love other women! It is against the will of Yeyu!"
"Go fuck yourself, you fat ass pig!" shouted Phoenix.
"Why I never!" babbled the priest.
"I'm getting you out of here, my love," said Phoenix.
"Were it so easy," said Ethan.
The Templars surrounded the two girls. Phoenix opened her hands, ready to perform fire magic when anti-magic drones flew out of the trees and released their horrid ping into the air.
Phoenix gurgled in pain and fell to her knees, feeling the Mana being drained out of her.
"There will be none of that," said Ethan. "Now, I promised I'd let one of your friends go. But, one must die. And the other must survive the Duel of a Hundred Cuts."
"What!" shouted Marcel. "That's a barbaric tradition that was banned hundreds of years ago!"
Ethan chuckled. "Well, it's been brought back by yours truly."
"Phoenix," cried Ezra. "The Duel of a Hundred Cuts is a terrible fate. Most would rather be burned alive."
"What is it?" Phoenix asked.
"You will see, once you have made your choice," said Ethan. "So who is going to die and who shall go?"
"Ethan this isn't fair!" shouted Evelyn.
"Phoenix!" shouted Marcel. "Choose me for the Duel of a Hundred Cuts. If you truly love Ezra, you'd spare her the torment of such a Duel. It matters not what choice you make. Ethan's made it clear that we're both going to die."
"I refuse!" shouted Phoenix. "Take me as your prisoner if you want, but leave my friends alone!"
"You'll be my prisoner, either way, Phoenix," said Ethan. "Make your choice."
"No!" Phoenix said breathlessly.
"Phoenix," said Ezra. "Marcel is strong. If there is anyone who can withstand the Duel of a Hundred Cuts it's him. Send me away. I'll wait for you in the Gardens with Yuri and Michael."
"Oh, Ezra, no." Phoenix began to weep.
"Be strong," said Ezra. "Make Ethan pay. I know you will."
"Then it's decided!" said Ethan.
The Templars pulled Ezra from Phoenix's arms and dragged her to a rock where she and Evelyn once braided each others hair and sang songs when they were little girls.
"Any last words, Ezra?" asked Ethan, drawing his sword.
"Wander the Hells of the Shadow Realm, Ethan."
Ethan shrugged and with a quick strike, Ezra's head came off.
Evelyn and Phoenix wailed. The head rolled. Ethan stopped it with his foot then kicked it into the bay.
"GOAL!" he shouted.
The Templars dragged her headless body off of the rock and tossed it over the wall and into the bay as well.
While Evelyn and Phoenix mourned the loss of their friend, Marcel was being prepared for the Duel of a Hundred Cuts. They tied his limbs to a wooden X and then put a sword into a burning barrel of fire.
"Let us duel!" said Ethan.
"I will beat you all right," said Phoenix. She sniffed and dried her tears. "This is for Ezra!"
"So you say," said Ethan. "Well, let's see if you're so confident after I explain the rules of the Duel of a Hundred Cuts. Only one of us will duel with four thousand Life Points. That will be me."
"If I don't play with Life Points, then what do I play with?" Phoenix shouted.
"Oh, you'll see," said Ethan. "I draw!"
He examined his hand. I summon Unknown Warrior of Fiend (ATK/1000 DEF/500 LV 3) in defense mode! Then I place one card face-down and end my turn."
"I draw!" shouted Phoenix.
"Activate trap card!" Ethan shouted. "Poison Draw. During your draw phase, the card you drew sets out a toxic gas that normally deals five hundred damage to your Life Points, but, since you are not dueling with Life Points…"
He nodded at his torture, a fat man with a brown sack over his head. The man took the blade out of the fire.
"What are you doing?" cried Phoenix.
"The Duel of a Hundred Cuts!" laughed Ethan.
The man started cutting off Marcel's left leg.
Marcel let out a scream of agony as the red-hot blade cut through his muscle. The torturer had to use an axe to break the bone off before he finished cutting.
Marcel puffed and wheezed as he sobbed. He felt panic, watching the torturer pick up his amputated leg and tossing it into a wooden barrel. He then pressed a hot iron pan over the wound to sear the flesh and stop the bleeding.
Marcel screamed feeling his muscle and flesh get cooked.
"In the Duel of a Hundred Cuts, your Life Points are your friend's limbs. Each limb gets cut off piece by piece. But I'm merciful, so Marcel will only have to suffer four cuts, meaning he loses his limbs completely when you take damage."
"But that means Evelyn loses if she takes damage three more times!" shouted Evelyn. "Ethan, that's not fair!"
"Not fair?" laughed Ethan. "And they call me the cruel one. You want poor Marcel to actually suffer one hundred cuts! I can if you want."
"No!" shouted Phoenix. "No, it's fine this way."
"Phoenix…" croaked Marcel. "No! Duel the way it's supposed to be played."
"I won't!" said Phoenix. "Don't ask this of me, Marcel! I place a card face down and summon Gibarix, Phoenix of the Western Skies in attack mode!"
(ATK/ 700 DEF/ 800 LV 4)
"Now for his effect, it allows me to draw one card, and send one Phoenix monster to the Graveyard. I send Yubarix, Phoenix of the Eastern Skies to the Graveyard, which allows me to draw one card. Then, I banish Yubarix to special summon another Yubarix from the deck to the field. (ATK/ 400 DEF/1200 LV 4). Now, I will overlay my two monsters, to summon Geldarix Phoenix of the Northern Sky in attack mode!"
(ATK/ 1900 DEF/1900 LV 4)
"Geldarix's effect activates. Send two Phoenix monsters to the Graveyard, and draw two cards and gain one thousand Life Points. Now I shuffle."
Ethan laughed. "Regaining Life Points. For what good that will do you! Marcel can't grow his limbs back."
Ethan's men laughed.
"No," Phoenix agreed. "But I will remove an Xyz material from my Geldarix to turn your Labyrinth Warrior into cinders. Then I attack you directly!"
"I think not," said Ethan. "I use a quick-play spell, Intercept of Soul. When I get targeted by a direct attack, it allows me to summon a level four or lower monster from my hand in defense mode. And I choose, Bright Master!"
The Phoenix's flame attack destroyed an elderly man with bright robes.
"Now for Bright Master's effect. When it gets destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, he inflicts five hundred points of damage to my opponent."
"NO!" shouted Phoenix. "Marcel I'm so sorry!"
Marcel braced himself as his other leg was cut off by the red-hot blade. Again, the torturer slapped the hot pan over his wound to stop the bleeding.
"Two more hits and you're done for, Phoenix," said Ethan. "Why don't you quit and spare Marcel the pain?"
"Don't you fucking surrender!" shouted Marcel. "I will never forgive you if you do! Keep fighting, Phoenix! You can win this!"
"No, she can't," sneered Ethan. "It's over. I banish my dark monster and my light monster so special summon Black Luster Soldier-Envoy of the Beginning!"
Phoenix gasped in disbelief once the monster erupted from a white arcane circle of elegant design.
(ATK/3000 DEF/2500 LV 8)
"No! Phoenix!" shouted Evelyn.
"Now my warrior attacks your Phoenix monster!" said Ethan. "But wait, there's more. For after it destroys your Phoenix in battle, Black Luster Soldier can attack again!"
"Marcel I tried!" sobbed Phoenix after the duel was lost.
Both of Marcel's arms were cut off slowly.
"Well, he survived the duel," said Ethan. "So I guess, it's time to let him go."
The Templars laughed, picking up Marcel.
"Where are you taking him?" shouted Evelyn.
They slid him down a shaft into the water below. Phoenix and Ezra shoved past the Templars in time to see Marcel violently shimmy and shake on the walls of the shaft before he plummeted into the water and sank.
"It's so good to be the king!" said Ethan, marveling his Black Luster Soldier. "Now I have two beautiful girls to keep me company! My queen and my very own pyromancer. A hot one at that."
"You monster!" growled Phoenix. "I'll kill you!"
"You threaten the king!" shouted a Templar.
"Don't hurt her, Ser," said Ethan. "Take my prizes upstairs to my quarters while I attend court. And keep those drones nearby, lest this one burns down all of King's Rock."
A horn blew in the distance.
"What was that?" said Ethan.
"My Lord!" shouted the Green Priest. "An army approaches. There are thousands of enemy troops!"
"What?"
"They're being led by the Knight of Wine and Songs!"
"Dancer!" Evelyn whispered.
"But he's not alone. Prince Jon, Prince Stas, and Prince Jaeyoung accompany him."
"There!" shouted Evelyn. "The Princes of the alliance! Here to rescue us! There is going to be hell to pay when they find out what you did to Marcel and Ezra."
"I bring even graver news, My Lord."
"What is it now!"
"House Dragonheart is fighting alongside them!"
For once, Evelyn felt joy course through her frame as she saw Ethan standing there, frozen in shock and at a loss for words.
"Get them upstairs!" shouted Ethan. "Hide me in the throne room. Prepare the army for battle."
Not giving Ethan a chance to prepare, Dancer drew his sword and roared, charging down the slopes of the Royal Hills.
The small cavalry Ethan had protecting the Royal Hills was decimated in ten minutes flat. But in that time, Ethan's Templars stormed out of the city gate and charged. There were only 4000 of them against the 20,000 outside, but the Templars had the best phalanx in the land and held the gates.
Archers and snipers took to the castle walls and the towers to provide support for the troops on the ground.
Prince Jon and his army, The Wolves of Riftgaard, were annihilating Ethan's Templars with a flaming battle axe. A weapon of his forefathers known as Odin. He then summoned Gearfried the Swordmaster.
Ethan clawed his face when he saw the warrior Duel Monster decimating his warriors. All his anti-magic drones were being used to contain Phoenix's power. Now with that iron warrior down there his troops were going to be destroyed.
He saw a flash of green coming from the east. Prince Jaeyoung wearing a set of ornate robes under black steel plating styled in Uzumenese. He fired a magnificent gold bow with arrows that summoned an ethereal green dragon which flew across the ranks of the Templars and incinerated them.
"SHOOT HIM!" cried Ethan.
Suddenly Prince Stas rode to Alex's defense on his platinum armored Pegasus mount and used his hand to form an arcane barrier which shielded him from the arrows and bullets of Ethan's marksmen.
"So much power," sobbed Ethan. "I had no idea the princes carried so much power. Now I know why Master Yu-Gi-Oh specifically chose them for his alliance."
He turned to look at his council of Green Priests. "Who are my closest allies?"
"House Alloway and House Ellion. Combined they have a total of twelve thousand men."
"House Alloway and Ellion are many leagues from here!" shouted Ethan.
"They can make the ride, My Lord, though it could take two hours."
"Bullshit two hours!" shouted Ethan. "Look at them! Those princes are masters at swordcraft and magic and summoning. At this rate, the battle will be over in ten minutes! They will have my head! We must evacuate!"
"My Lord, there is nowhere to go," said another Green Priest. "They have completely taken the Royal Hills. They have us surrounded."
Down in the Royal Hills, Dalaris Dragonheart approached Prince Jon.
"That is a wondrous axe you have there, My Lord," said she. "Where is Prince Ryon? Was he not supposed to be here?"
"He's just late is all," Jon said with a hearty laugh. "He should get here quick. He's missing all the fun."
"With powers such as yours, I imagine this is nothing but a game to you, eh, My Lord?"
"War is no game, Lady Dragonslayer," said Jon. "I mean sure one side loses and one side wins…and at times it can be fun if you know how to play…and…." He paused and stroked his beard. "You knnow, war is a game."
Dalaris laughed. "You Berja are a bloodthirsty race of men. Perhaps I can have a taste of your ferocity in my tent, Lord Jon."
"You sure you can handle the might of a Berja, Dalaris?"
"If I can match the strength of a True Dragon, Lord Jon, I am more than sure I can handle your beastliness. Oh, but, aren't you married to Lady Summer?"
"She loves company," Jon said with a wink.
"JON!" shouted Stas, who was being surrounded by Templars.
"My friends need me," said Jon. "I'll hold you up on that offer Dalaris."
"I look forward to it, my handsome prince."
Jon smirked and charged back into the battle.
Something in Dalaris's person began to ring. She had a computer mounted to her vambrace.
"Father?" she answered.
"It's almost time," Antilles said on the other line. "Be ready."
Pegasus
There was a light coming in from down the hall of the dungeon. Maximillion Pegasus heard the thud of footsteps along with the drips of water and the occasional squeak of rats. The footsteps got closer.
Pegasus could make out two men from the glow of the torch. The flames revealed the golden armor of a Royal Guardsman and a scrawny man with gold-white hair. Antilles.
"Antilles Dragonheart," Pegasus said with a cough.
"Leave us," said Antilles.
"Yes, My Lord." The knight of the Royal Guard walked away after he lit a torch for Antilles.
"My, my," said Pegasus. "The robe of the High Chancellor suits you, Antilles. I believe you made some additions to it."
"I did, yes," said Antilles.
"Do what do I owe the pleasure?" asked Pegasus.
"Hector has conquered Rassay," Antilles answered. "He is now the High King of Termnnia and has named me his High Chancellor.. The God Cards have not intervened with his rule. It seems Ancalagon is too powerful for even them. But…he can't use it in a Duel because…"
"I know," Pegasus said with a grin. "You want me to make the cards for Hector?"
"Yes. To contain the power of the beast and so Hector will be an unstoppable Duelist."
"Why do you favor the lad, Antilles? Could I call it favoring? It wouldn't surprise me if he was just a means to your own ends too. Just like poor Alexandra."
"You're very smart, Pegasus," said Antilles. "In time, I will get rid of him, too."
"You plan on getting rid of the most powerful man in Termnnia again?"
"You are mistaken if you believe Hector and Yuri are the most powerful men in Termnnia."
Pegasus sighed and made another cold smile.
"I see. The boy is nothing more than your puppet," said Pegasus. "To enforce your rule, you pull his strings. And to get me out of the way you have framed me. You got what you wanted. The rule Termnnia and you don't even have to be High King."
He started clapping.
"Well played, Antilles. Well played."
"Mm-hm," Antilles agreed.
"As for containing the monster, the card alone will not suffice."
"Paradius has devised ways to make the Divine and Ancient Beasts bend to the whim of men. Now. The cards. Will you make them?"
"I have already made them into cards," said Pegasus. "I did so a long time ago."
"Where are they?"
"I'm not telling you."
"You'd risk death just to be cool and defiant?"
"We're all bound to die sooner or later, Antilles. And with the Ancient Beasts about to wake, I can't think of a more opportune time to decent into the Gardens. The cards for the Ancient Beasts are hidden in secret vaults that I designed myself. Well, I should thank Seto Kaiba as well for the security."
"I'm surprised he did not want to take the Ancient Beasts himself," said Antilles.
"The thought occurred to him once in a while," said Pegasus. "But let's just say he wouldn't risk an apocalypse just to defeat Yugi-boy."
"A gleeper of souls," said Antilles. "Are you trying to take mine?"
"Believe me, Antilles, if it weren't for this shadowy force shrouding the Spire of the Kings, I would have done so the moment you came in here. That power is not coming from you, would it?"
"No," said Antilles. "There is an assassin from the Sisterhood walking here. She is the one who killed Yuri."
"Makes sense," said Pegasus. "They are chosen warriors of Anubis and Zorc. That kind of power could only come from them."
"Tell me where the cards are, Pegasus," Antilles said, clearly tired of Pegasus's games. "You wouldn't want something terrible to happen to baby Jocelia would you?"
"Leave her out of this, Antilles!" barked Pegasus. "This is between you and me!"
"Have I hit a soft spot?" said Antilles. "Good, because only you can spare Jocelia the pain the inquisition of the Church will put her through."
"What? The inquisition? Why?"
"We know Jocelia is a mage. She tried her best to rescue you and burned three of our soldiers."
"Where is she?"
"In a cell, deeper in the bowels of the castle," said Antilles. "Poor thing. She has such a fear of the dark."
"Antilles!"
"If you want her to see the sun again, I suggest you tell me where the cards are. Tell me now, or I will send her to Satellite Prison."
"The prison city outside of Domino? You wouldn't?"
"I would," said Antilles. "I have the order already drawn up. A carriage awaits her outside, ready to depart after you are sentenced."
"Sentenced?"
"Yes. You are condemned for the murder of High King Yuri, remember? The Senate have agreed to spare your life by exiling you out of Termnnia. You will lose all the land you hold. And your two sons Gekko and Yako, wherever they are, will drop the name of Pegasus. Your House will be disbanded."
Pegasus cringed at the thought.
"Take the offer, Pegasus. Satellite Prison is no place for a lady as young as Jocelia. There are many felons in that prison who take pleasure on girls her age."
"You bastard!"
"The cards, Pegasus."
"If I give you one, you will promise to let us go. Spare us both and I shall reveal the other two to you."
"You already have one on you, Pegasus?"
Pegasus reached into his coat and took out a card wrapped in gold foil. He handed it to Antilles, who quickly unwrapped it.
"Ancalagon the Black Mountain," he said with an ear-to-ear grin. "How fortuitous."
"Is it?" said Pegasus. "Young Hector only found the weakest of the three."
"Weak you say?" said Antilles. "Five thousand attack points. Level twelve. A horribly long effect. I can't read letters that small in this light. If power such as this pales in comparison to the other two, I can't wait to find them. Ah, brilliant artwork, Pegasus. My compliments. And this holographic foil. Is it new? A three-D rising image. What is this secret gold rare?"
"Yes," said Pegasus.
"Then all is in order," Antilles said, carefully putting the card into his robes. "You will be taken to the gates of the castle to stand trial."
"Those cards…were meant to go to Yuri, you know."
"Yuri is dead now, Pegasus. He played the game of thrones and lost."
Jocelia
Jocelia only had one window to light up her cell in the high towers of the Spire. That was one thing Antilles lied about to Pegasus in the dungeons below. She was in a lonely tower with a little bed and chamber pot. Her hands were scrapped for she had banged the walls in a mad tantrum. An anti-magic collar was fastened around her neck to keep her from casting spells and doing further damage.
High heels clip-clopped down the halls to her cell. It was Alexandra.
"Open it," Alexandra commanded her guard.
"But My Lady, your uncle…"
"I SAID…open it."
"Yes, My Lady," the knight of the Royal Guard said. After a struggle with the keys, the locks opened and the iron bars of her cell door opened.
"Did they hurt you?" Alexandra cooed, kneeling down and opening her arms. Jocelia sobbed and scampered into her embrace. Jocelia began to cry.
"What are they going to do to papa?" she asked, nuzzling Alexandra's chest.
"I don't know, my sweet," Alexandra said petting the back of her head. "Your father has been condemned for the murder of Prince Yuri, and unless he reveals the secrets of the Ancient Beasts, I fear he will be sentenced to death."
Jocelia wailed.
"I know your daddy," Alexandra said, trying to pacify her. "He is a smart man and will make up for his wrongs by telling Hector where the cards for the Ancient Beasts are."
"By my papa would never do such a thing." Jocelia sniffed. "He loved Yuri. Somebody else must have done this."
"I know this must be very hard for you, my little angel. But the High King was found dead by Pegasus's hand."
"Not my papa!" sobbed Jocelia. "Not my papa!"
"There is darkness in people's hearts, Jocey. Even in the hearts of our daddies. Poor Yuri was killed because your father wanted the crown."
"He's a traitor then?" Jocelia sniffed.
"I'm afraid so. Now, come. I do not wish to speak with you here. Let's get you out of this horrible place."
"But those men from the Church locked me here in the tower. They said no one must let me out."
"They will, Jocey. I have higher authority than them. If they have a problem with my rules, they will take it up with my uncle."
"We will protect you, My Lady," said the Royal Guard knight outside.
"You see?" said Alexandra. "Let's go get you cleaned up. You're so filthy."
Alexandra ordered her knight to undo the chain shackled to Jocelia's ankle. When she was freed, Alexandra carried her out of the towers and back to the King's Level to her quarters.
In her room, she had a tub ready.
"The water will not affect the collar will it?" Alexandra asked a Silver Priest who was objecting against letting her out. He followed them since leaving the towers.
"One of my idiot cousins was killed when he brought a toaster to his bathing pool."
"Not that I know, Your Grace. I was born and raised in the West. I have no knowledge of how technology works."
"You are animals slapping this thing onto her like a common dog!" snapped Alexandra. "If I was High Queen I would have your heads!"
"I beg your pardon Your Grace," bowed the Silver Priest. "But these were orders from your Uncle."
"Indeed," grumbled Alexandra.
She started unlacing the laces of Jocelia's dress.
"What are you still doing here?" snapped Alexandra. "Get out!"
"Your Grace," the Silver Priest bowed and left.
"All of you get out!" she commanded her knights, even the maids who were going to help clean Jocelia.
When they were all gone, Alexandra stripped Jocelia out of her torn and dirty dress and helped her into the tub. Jocelia gave a sigh of relief. The water was warm and seemed to melt away her worries. There were sweet-smelling suds rising out of the water that went up to Jocelia's shoulders.
"What's going to happen to the princes?" Jocelia asked. Alexandra poured cherry-scented oil into her palm and started rubbing it into Jocelia's scalp. "Papa says they are on the run now. But why?"
"They've started a rebellion against High King Hector," said Alexandra.
"What's a rebellion?" Jocelia asked.
"When people fight against a power they do not love. They refuse to obey Hector."
"It's only fair," Jocelia said but she stopped talking once Alexandra picked up a silver pitcher and poured water over her head to wash away the suds.
"They loved Yuri," she continued. "They were like brothers. Hector was just so random. Why him of all people? He's so cruel. He made Princess Rose cry in court the other night."
"Hector will learn to be a true king one day. And if he doesn't, I'll make him."
She gave Jocelia a wink.
"As for the princes, they had to accept the change." Alexandra picked up a damp cloth and wiped Jocelia's ears. "Instead they revolted and chose violence."
"I thought they were better men than this," said Jocelia. "Does that mean Hector will kill them too?"
"Yes."
"What about Uncle Yugi? And Joey, Tristan…and…Lady Avi."
"I'm afraid so, my little angel," Alexandra said sadly. She took Jocelia's arm and scrubbed it with a moist sponge. "We are at war with them now. And they are our enemies."
"No," said Jocelia. "Oh no."
"Woe is me," Alexandra said, wiping a tear out of her eye. She hated to admit it, but she had grown rather fond of the princes.
She missed Jon's cooking. Stas's crude jokes. Michael's cool disposition.
"Woe is me? You had nothing to do with this," Jocelia said with a bright smile.
"No, little angel, I've done some very bad things. Now my sins have come back to haunt me."
"I know you. You're a wonderful woman with a big heart."
Alexandra paused.
"Right?" Jocelia asked.
"There is still much about me you don't know, little angel."
"No. I know everything about you, Alexandra. I love you. You're the mommy I never had."
Alexandra did her best to keep her emotions stored inside. She just called her mommy.
Bubbles flew into the air and Jocelia happily popped them with her nose with an angelic laugh.
Alexandra smiled, feeling well knowing Jocelia was showing happiness again.
When she was done with her bath, Alexandra picked her up and dried her and dressed her in a white dress with blue silk bows and ribbons.
There was a knock on the door. A furious and impatient knock.
"Enter," said Alexandra, spraying Jocelia with perfume.
The Silver Priest was back.
"What is it?" Alexandra asked sternly.
"It is time."
She came out of the castle hand in hand with Alexandra. The roar of an angry crowd assaulted her little ears. The day was warm. The sky was blue. The clouds were scarce and puffy.
But for Jocelia Pegasus, she had never seen a darker day. Alexandra walked Jocelia up the steps of a platform where High King Hector stood wearing black robes. He was surrounded by a gold formation of the Knights of the Royal Guard and a row of Swords of the King was standing at the foot of the pedestal.
Alexandra's Des Volstgalph, Bruton, was standing over all of them, adorned in the golden armor plating of the Royal Guard.
In the distance, Jocelia beheld Ancalagon the Black Mountain looking down into the city.
"He's so big?" Jocelia said breathlessly.
"Don't look at it, little angel," said Alexandra. "Look at the sky. Isn't it the most beautiful shade of blue?"
Jocelia was too scared to notice.
Francine the Shadow Lady stood next to Hector, smiling proudly. Behind him stood Princess Rose dressed in a shoulderless gown of black with dark blue ribbons.
"My Lady Pegasus," she said with a bow.
"I thought I commanded you not to speak!" snapped Hector.
"I was just bidding hello to the Lady of Duelist Kingdom, Your Grace."
"I don't care. Say another word and I'll have Ser Baxter cut out your tongue."
Jocelia tugged Alexandra's cape. Alexandra knelt so that Jocelia could whisper in her ear.
"What did she do?"
"They had an argument the other night. Hector had her wed to him again."
"Again?"
"They were already married, but, he wanted to do things properly and show off his power by having both me and Rose marry him at the same time after his coronation."
"You mean he has you both as wives?" gasped Jocelia. "Just say no!"
"Were it so easy, little angel. But, after the wedding, Rose displayed her anger. Hector had her beaten by Ser Baxter. Now Hector has ordered her silent for a whole month under pain of death."
"You girls are in your twenties and he is but thirteen! You have to show him who is the boss!"
"One day we will," Alexandra poked Jocelia in the tummy to make her giggle. She kissed her forehead. "Just be patient. One day, us girls are going to run things around here. Now keep your chin up. Be joyful, your father is going to be spared."
Standing on the other side of the boy-tyrant was the mysterious lady in the black hooded cloak.
Jocelia tried her best not to look at her, but she couldn't help but try to search for a face. She could not, for her hood was like the vastness of a black eternity.
A formation of Black Luster Soldiers holding the royal colors was lined against the edge of the stone platform where the crowd had gathered before. Their eyes seemed engulfed in flames when they spotted Jocelia.
"The traitor's daughter!" one of them shouted.
"Shame on you girl!"
"Why did you not inform the High King of your traitor father's plans!?"
Jocelia hiccuped and buried her face into Alexandra's thigh.
"Aw," cooed Francine, seeing Jocelia shiver. "The poor little thing's scared to death."
Jocelia squeaked and concealed herself behind a handful of the cape Alexandra wore over her leotard.
"Do not be frightened, little one," said Francine. "Hector said your father will be spared if he agrees to show him the way to the other two Ancient Beasts."
The crowd grew restless.
"Execute the girl too!"
"Off with her head!"
"She is a traitor as well!"
"Traitor as well," growled Alexandra, holding Jocelia tight. "She's just a baby. If I could I would command Bruton and have him massacre the lot of them."
"And you call the High King cruel," chuckled Francine. "Let them speak their poison. They are just angered by the murder of High King Yuri. Hector has agreed to show mercy once Lord Pegasus has revealed the location of the other two Ancient Beasts.
Such powerful monsters for Hector to control? Jocelia thought. Could the Goddesses be so cruel as to let these horrible series of events unfold and transform Termnnia into this boy's little game board?
If so, then she, Alexandra, the princes, the Black Lusters Solders, even all the people in the crowd, were mere pawns in his little game. Pawns who he could discard and sacrifice without a care.
Then the crowd grew even more violent.
Pegasus was let out of the dungeons. He squinted seeing the sunlight for the first time in days. The angry mob shouted even louder as the Buster Bladers who led him out of the dungeons paused so that everyone could see him.
After the pause, they marched into the crowd.
The great jeweled bells of Amon Heth began to toll even louder up on the towers of myrrh and silver in the highest levels of the Spire of the Kings.
The people cursed him. Spat on him. Shoved him. Women slapped him and clawed his face.
From the balconies above the streets, people threw food at him.
"After all Yuri had done for us!"
"He was the hero we needed!"
"Your greed has cursed us all Pegasus!"
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself!"
Jocelia whimpered and held a tight grip onto Alexandra's arm. Pegasus was led up the stairs and was forced to stand under the pedestal where Hector, his knights, and his council stood. He looked through the group and saw Jocelia shivering like she was out in the cold.
"Get her out of here!" Pegasus shouted over the roar of the crowd.
Ser Baxter shut him up with a pommel to the gut.
Jocelia gasped.
"Strike that man again and I will have you tried as well!" shouted Alexandra.
Jocelia felt relief. Alexandra looked so furious and demanding. She even seemed to stand higher than even Hector no counting that she was five feet taller than he was and that she was more than nine years his senior.
Francine took a step forward and held out a pacifying hand to silence the crowd.
Slowly, their cries died down.
"Before we begin," said Hector. "I would like us to offer a moment of silence for the tragic loss of my cousin. Your one true king. Yuri. The Eradicator of Anubis."
The people hung their heads.
Sobbing could be heard in the throng.
The bells began to toll ten times so the gates of paradise could open and let Yuri's soul enter.
Then all was silent again, save for the sound of the seagulls soaring over the Bay of Kings.
"I am Maximillion Pegasus! I have come before you to confess my crimes against the crown. As the High Chancellor, I am the Right Hand of the King. It was my duty to protect the life of my lord, High King Yuri of House Delgado. But I betrayed his trust and plotted to have him murdered…so that I may take the throne."
"TRAITOR!" shouted the people.
"He was my cousin!" shouted Hector. "And even though Daveed and I were at a contest to see who would rightfully sit on the throne, I would never resort to killing him. He is family. And it is in the Code of the House that we must always honor and love our family. And I loved my cousin Yuri…to the very…to the very end."
Hector started to weep. Though he was doing it rather poorly.
But the crowd was too stupid to see past the lies and offered moans of sympathy for the boy. Some even wept with him, mourning the loss of High King Yuri.
"The king still mourns!" shouted Francine, holding him close. "He cannot speak. Let the traitor continue with his confession."
"The remaining cards for the Ancient Beasts are in a vault in the underbelly of my castle, Duelist Kingdom. I give them to High King Hector. The One True King. The combination for the lock is on this note."
He reached into his red jacket and took out the piece of parchment. A Platinum Priest took it and held it high for all to see.
"And now I give my soul and surrender myself to the will of Yeyu the Master of the Fires of Judgement." Pegasus declared this with a cringe.
The Platinum Priest stuffed the instructions into his jeweled pockets and held a hand over Pegasus. He slammed his jeweled staff on the ground three times announcing that he was going to speak.
"Almighty Yeyu is a god of justice. A god of the law. But. He is also a god of mercy and compassion. The man has confessed his crimes and has fully acknowledged Hector as the High King of Termnnia. He has converted to the One True Faith of Yeyu and generously gave Hector the cards of the great blessing of Yeyu. His children. The Ancient Beasts. Your Highness. What is to be done with this man?"
Hector walked forward, wiping pretend tears off his face.
"In exchange for the cards, my darling wives, Alexandra and Rose, who have been taught the game of Yu-Gi-Oh by this man, ask that I spare his life and sentence him to exile in the Isles of Iron. My sorceress, Francine de Lavonne, asks the same. And the traitor's daughter, Jocelia, asks for mercy for her Lord Father as well."
He walked to Jocelia and ruffled her hair then patted her head. Hector smiled at her and nodded before returning to the front of the pedestal.
"But mercy is for the weak! I loved my cousin Yuri. He was wrongfully murdered! And so long as I am the High King, murder and treason will not go unpunished. Maximillion Pegasus! I sentence you to death!"
The bloodthirsty crowd erupted with a thunderous roar. Alexandra and Rose shouted at Hector to stop. Jocelia tugged and pulled on Alexandra's cape, begging her to make Hector call off the execution.
A Buster Blader tied a noose around Pegasus's neck while another pulled on the rope and raised him high above the crowd. These were no ordinary Buster Bladers. Their armor was colossal and black with gold trim. Black, hooded, shoulder capes draped over their armor. A skull and crossbones laser engraved on their helmets.
"STOP!" shrieked Jocelia. "PAPA!"
"Stop this!" pleaded Francine. "Hector stop this!"
Pegasus's face was turning red as he dangled up above. His legs violently waved back and forth while he desperately gasped for air. The crowd was throwing rotten food and cow pies at him.
The Buster Blader let go of the rope and let him fall to the ground with a loud thud. Pegasus took this moment to breathe.
The Buster Blader pulled the rope and hung Pegasus high up again. He repeated the process four more times.
"Hector, don't do this!" shouted Alexandra. "Don't kill this man. Not in front of his daughter."
"Then blindfold her," Hector laughed cruelly.
"She's just a little girl. Don't, traumatize her for life, Hector, please. I'll do anything."
"Anything?" Hector said rubbing his chin.
"Yes. Whatever you ask. I will do."
"Very well, Alexandra. You will entertain me and my guests tonight in court. And whatever I say goes. Understand?"
Alexandra had a bad feeling about that. She looked at Jocelia who was struggling to get free from Rose's grip. Then to Pegasus who was raised back up to suffocate.
"You have my word," said Alexandra.
"Good. And. You will surrender custody of your Des Volstgalph to me."
"What!"
"Whatever you ask, I will do. Remember?"
Alexandra looked at her dragon. The beast's eyes seemed to tell her not to do it.
"Take him."
"Very well," said Hector. "My very own dragon to ride into battle with. Stop!" he commanded the Buster Blader.
Jocelia bit Rose's hand. Rose shrieked and let her go from the sudden sting. Jocelia hitched up her dress and scampered to her father.
"Wait!" cried Alexandra. "Jocey wait!"
Jocelia did not listen and ran to Pegasus. The crowd was throwing rotten food at them both. Jocelia did not care and hugged her father.
"Papa," she sobbed. She wailed into his jacket.
"Jocelia," groaned Pegasus with a smile. He took her in his arms.
"Lady Alexandra has asked that I give mercy to Lord Pegasus!" Hector announced. "I am a just king. So I will end Pegasus's suffering. Ser Baxter!"
"Yes My Lord."
"Bring me his head."
Alexandra screamed at the top of her lungs. Ser Baxter put a black hood over his head. The lady in the black cloak followed his right-hand knight.
"Papa!" shouted Jocelia.
"Go, get out of here, Jocelia!" shouted Pegasus. "GO!"
Jocelia saw the black-hooded Ser Baxter approach and she froze like a statue. The woman in the black hood then stood behind Jocelia.
She held out her hands and a silver sword with rose statuettes materialized over her palms. She handed the blade to Ser Baxter.
Jocelia remained frozen. Her eyes wide with fright as she stared at her father.
Ser Baxter gave a few swings of the sword.
Jocelia babbled uncontrollably. A puddle of urine formed from under her dress. Pegasus looked at his daughter. Tears streamed down his good eye. "Behave okay. I love you!" Jocelia was too traumatized to speak. Even move.
Pegasus then looked up at the hooded woman. Her hands reached for her hood. She slowly peeled it back to reveal herself. Golden hair streamed down from the hood to the woman's shoulders. Ghostly blue eyes peered into Pegasus's soul.
"NO!" he shouted.
"Duelist Kingdom was your only chance to free me," Cecelia Pegasus said coldly. "You failed. Now, you must pay."
"Cecelia…my love. How could you?"
"Goodbye, Pegasus."
Pegasus took his gaze away from the demon standing above him and looked back at his daughter. He shut his eye.
Ser Baxter gave a powerful swing.
Blood splattered on Jocelia's face and dress. She quaked and whimpered.
Cecelia turned to leave. Ser Baxter coughed to get her attention.
"It's not right. You shouldn't be alive!"
Cecelia said nothing and continued on her way.
"What about your daughter?" asked Ser Baxter.
"Keep it," Cecelia said emotionlessly. "I don't want it."
The crowd cheered and erupted into a thunderous applause.
Jocelia could take no more and let the darkness take her.