Avatar: The Tale of Harry, Book 4: Family

by stringdog

For 33 years, since the end of the Fire Utopia, the world has known peace and balance. Even the events 10 years prior did not threaten this. However, events are about to be set in motion that will bring the world to its knees in the coming years. Once again the world will need the Avatar to save it. Harry must step up once more but this time the threat is much closer to home.

15. Chapter 15

Here is the fifteenth chapter in Book 4, for the first time since Chapter 6 released on time according with my self imposed upload schedule. I should hopefully get the edits done for Chapter 16 as well over the next few days so that too will be released on time for y'all to enjoy, it is short enough to edit progressively over the course of a few days around my real world commitments. If I manage that then there really shouldn't be anything holding me back as Chapter 17 is set to come out after my real world shit ends and then it will easy to maintain an upload schedule, hopefully. Anyway, that is all the administrative stuff for now, there were no questions to address so sit back and enjoy the 15th chapter in the fourth installment of Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 4: Family.

Disclaimer : As always I own nothing related to these two great works of fiction.

Chapter 15

Neville groaned as he woke up on the slab of concrete that was his bed, the thin mattress he was on not doing anything to alleviate that fact, and was greeted by the cell he was in. He had lost track of how much time he had spent in the cell but he knew that it had couldn't have been more than a week inside it. That was because when Neville came too after his defeat, something he remembered vividly, he had been in a cooler, the special isolation cell used on firebenders to temporarily neutralize their bending.

He had spent about day in the cooler as that was standard protocol hence why he assumed that was how long he was in it. The result was that he couldn't bend for a week and as he tried to bend every time he woke up and still couldn't he knew that it had been less than a week since his capture.

After his day in the cooler, he was taken out of the cooler and processed by several people wearing a black uniform similar to the RCPD but slightly different with the laurel wreath of the Principate over their left breast. They were clearly prepared for this and knew what they were doing so Neville just went with it as he had no ability to resist.

Neville had served in the RCPD, he knew what to expect after he left his cell. He had been injured in his duel with Alixan so as he had expected, he was taken to an infirmary where he learned that his wounds had been healed while he was out cold and saw the extent of the damage done when his sword blew up. It wasn't pretty.

Neville was missing both the earlobe and the top corner of his left ear, he had multiple scars on the left cheek and jawline, a long, thin, scar on the left side of his neck and several scars in his left shoulder, upper chest and arm. The scars were an angry red and Neville knew that they would be permanent but he could live with them, they were a small price to pay for getting his friends to safety.

After the trip to the infirmary, which had been to make sure he wasn't suffering any ill effects from the cooler and to double check his healed wounds, he was taken to processing. He was forced to shower in front of two male guards, given a set of bland gray prison clothes that he had given to many inmates in his days, was fingerprinted and had his mugshot taken just as any criminal would. The plaque simple said NEVILLE , TREASON. It didn't take a genius to know that Neville was up shit's creek without a paddle.

After the processing, all of which was done with ankle restraints with the exception of the shower, he was given bedding, a towel, and basic toiletries before being escorted by 4 of the officers to the subterranean part of the RCPD jail. It was exactly where Neville had expected to be sent, the Solitary Housing Unit used to hold maximum security prisoners so that they couldn't' escape. It was the most secure place for all but metalbenders being held in pretrial detention in the city and Neville knew that it was the only place they would hold him.

Judging by the sounds, only about half the cells were currently occupied when he was led down the single corridor of the unit and none of the slats were open so they didn't see him. Still, he was led to the far end to the cell facing the elevator that was reserved for this highest profile detainee or inmate in the unit. It was the one that had once briefly held Hermione when she was held her prior to confession and transfer to Azkaban Prison. As soon as Neville reached the cell he was locked in there and left on his own.

Clearly whoever the Princeps was, he didn't believe in the laws on prisoner treatment as Neville was kept in the cell since then and not given any rec time outside it. The shower went off once a day and he was served 2 meals, none of which were helpful in predicting what time it was, but that was about it. He was given a newspaper every day which always proclaimed the creation of the new Global Principate that consisted of over 70% of the world and published the list of enemies who had died, been captured, or who were wanted.

Neville was pleased to see that everyone else had escaped and were believed to be in either the Northern Water Tribe, the Northern Air Temple or on the lamb somewhere in the Principate. Still, it was painful to hear of the deaths of 5 World Leaders, especially when they were written about in such positive terms as if their murders had been good things. Neville had no idea what was going on but he knew that it wasn't good.

That had been Neville's existence for the past few days at least but the actual length of time he'd spent here still eluded him he. He ate, he read, he showered, he tried to exercise, and he made sure he was clean shave just to give him something to do and an excuse to check out the scars on his face. It wasn't much but the routine kept him occupied, most of the time. When it didn't all Neville could think about was Hannah and his potential fate. It was not a good time to be alone with his thoughts but he couldn't help going there at times.

That was why when he heard the lock on the outer door click and the door begin to slide open Neville was expecting another trip to the cooler meaning that he had been in custody for a week. At least it would be a break from the current monotony of the cell and a chance to get out of it briefly.

What he had not been expecting was a stunning, busty and slightly familiar looking blond woman in a formfitting, dark blue, outfit designed for waterbenders standing there with a set of full platinum restraints in her hands and 3 beefy officers behind her. She had a shining platinum armor covering her shins and forearms, a waterskin at her hip and a machete on her back and held herself with a calm composure of someone who knew how to fight. Neville knew she was a warrior of some sort.

Naturally Neville's eyes were drawn to her chest to see the gold laurel wreath of the Principate there. Hers came with a blood red waterbending symbol in it which meant that she was one of the Uniques. The symbol left little doubt in his mind what her specialty was, there was only one thing a symbol like that could mean and it chilled him to the bone. She was a bloodbender.

"Turn around and place your hands on your head then back up to the bars Neville." The woman said in an accent that couldn't quite hide its roots in the slums of the Southern Water Tribe and at once Neville knew who she was, he'd heard that distinctive accent while teaching at the Academy, albeit thicker, and there was only one woman who it could be. "Don't make me force you and don't think for a second I wouldn't do so."

"I don't doubt that someone like you wouldn't hesitate to compel me." Neville said as he turned and assumed directed position before backing up to the bars as he recalled all he could about the girl he'd once taught the swordsmanship to and knew of her troubled past from her file at the Academy. "I didn't realize that you had given yourself to the darkest form of all bending though Sylvia but then again you were always a damaged person if your file was anything to go on."

"You have no idea what I have been through Master Neville, that file doesn't even cover half the shit I suffered before I went to the Academy." Sylvia spat out as she reached between the bars and expertly attached the ankle cuffs a few notches too tight before moving up wrap the belly chain and lock it in place behind him and whispered into his ear. "I have been through more than most will in ten lifetimes and if it weren't for the Princeps I would have snapped and either be in a solitary cell in the bloodbenders wing of that supermax prison in the Fire Nation or the ground. He saved me, he taught me how to control my unique gift."

"You don't have gift." Neville said simply. "You have a curse that will destroy you."

"Oh it is a gift if I use it right and I always use it right, I am not controlled by it, I control it." Sylvia growled. "But no matter how much I would love to bloodbend you right now, and don't doubt that I can't, I am under orders to take you to the Princeps unharmed and that includes the harm that bloodbending causes. Turn around and lower your hands one at a time."

"The Princeps wishes to see me?" Neville asked as he turned and did as Sylvia had instructed hoping his guess was right. "What an honor, and here I was expecting to be left in here to rot for the rest of my life."

"You would be lucky if he did that." Sylvia said as she synched the cuffs tightly onto Neville's wrists not breaking eye contact with him as she did. "No, he has something special planned for you depending on your answer but I will leave that to him to explain, he wants the privilege. Now behave yourself, I wouldn't want these fine officers of the Principate Protection Force to rough you up, the Princeps wouldn't be happy if that happened either."

"Very well then take me." Neville said noticing that there was pure love in Sylvia's mad eyes when she mentioned the Princeps and it caused Neville to involuntarily shudder.

Sylvia was as devoted to the Princeps as Bellatrix had been too Voldemort. That made her the more fanatical and zealous supporter of him. Couple that with her bending and clear lack of mental stability, Sylvia was now probably second only to the Princeps in terms of threat level to the world.

Sylvia seemed to not notice this as she just nodded, produced a platinum key and opened the barred inner door of the cell. She slid it to the side and took a step back to allow Neville to shuffle out in his restraints. He did and then fell into step behind Sylvia while the other three formed up around him just as Neville would expect for a prisoner of his status. It was time to find out who was behind this, it was time to meet the Princeps.

No one spoke as Neville was led down the corridor of the SHU and into the elevator at the far end. Instead of going up to the main jail facility, the elevator went down and into the subterranean part of the building that was seldom used. All Neville could do was shuffle along in his restraints as he was led out of the elevator in the underground tunnel and to a waiting prison transport van.

The underground tunnels had been built long ago, back during the administration of President Minchum when Voldemort became more than just a threat in the shadows as he had been during the early years of the First Purity War and was closing in on an attack on Republic City. As such the tunnel system was built as a way to evacuate key areas of the city should Voldemort attack. The plan had originally been proposed after Kuvira's invasion but had been scrapped as too expensive to justify until a new threat emerged in Voldemort.

The tunnels were meant to connect the jail to the RCPD HQ, the Presidential Palace, the courts, and the main train station to several other tunnels that exited into the countryside outside Republic City. However it had never been completed as they had gone over budget and Bagnold discontinued the project after Voldemort was defeated. They were still useful though as they provide safe transport of prisoners, an escape route for the President, and a safe refuge just in case. Now Neville was being transported via them just as he had done in the past with certain high profile prisoners.

Neville was led to the van and helped into the transport bay in the back by the guards as he could physically get by himself in with the leg irons on. Once there, his chains were attached to the specially constructed rings in the van to secure him in place. Then two of the burly guards got in to keep an eye on him while Sylvia and the third guard went to the cab of the van. Moments later the van was put into gear and they set off.

There were no windows in the back and the guards didn't talk so Neville had no idea where they were going but there weren't really many places it could be. He had been in the tunnels many times before but had never really figured out how long it took to get from place to place so he couldn't even make a guess other than that it was either the RCPD HQ or the Presidential Palace as they made the most sense right now. He just had to sit back and enjoy the ride as best he could.

When the van finally came to a stop Neville had no idea what to expect when he got out. He had to wait a few more minutes before the back door was opened by Sylvia. The Unique waited for the guards to leave and then climbed in and unlocked Neville's restraints. She helped him up and then the guards helped him out of the van given his limited mobility so that he didn't have to jump down. Neville was finally able to see where they were, recognizing it instantly.

They were in the special underground exit underneath the Presidential Palace. It was used to evacuate the President in times of crisis, at least to a more defensible position within the tunnel system, and so that the President could travel safely to the RCPD and back whenever he or she needed to do so covertly. It was never used to bring a prisoner here. Still, Neville wasn't surprised because the location would be perfect for the Princeps, it was the seat of the United Republic government so naturally it would be his seat of power as well.

"Move, the Princeps is waiting for you." Sylvia said shoving Neville so that he started shuffling towards the elevator that led into the Presidential Palace. "He's a busy man so best not to keep him waiting."

Neville didn't say anything as he shuffled forward and into the elevator, the formation around him forming up again, all the guards vigilant just in case. Neville didn't understand why they were so vigilant, the nation had fallen and all of those who would have the skills to rescue him were not in the city. Still, he was not going to question it, he needed to learn who the Princeps was and what he wanted even if he couldn't do anything about it.

Sylvia pressed a button and the elevator began to ascend. Neville knew that it could access two floors above them, the antechamber behind the main Council Chamber where the cabinet met and the upper level where the administrative offices were.

Neville was a little surprised when they rose to the top floor given the fact that an entire corner of the Palace had been blow apart by the bomb that went off in the President's office and he doubted that it would have been repaired this quickly. The elevator likely wouldn't have been affected but still, it was odd that they went to this floor.

Apparently it had been cleared up at least as Neville didn't see any mess when the elevator doors dinged opened. He had seen the results of many bombs in his life and while the walls were pock marketed with shrapnel holes and there were some scorch marks in the hallway that was it, all the debris had been removed and cleaned up.

Neville was silently led through the hallways to the other side of the Palace, away from the area that had been blown up. That was when he realized where they were going, the private study of the President. While the President had a public office, which still had a spirit tree in it, where the President conducted official business and where the bomb had gone off, there was a second, smaller, corner study on the other side of the Palace for the President's personal use. It had been installed by President Raiko after the tree incident to be a temporary office until Asami sorted the designs out and Raiko returned to his normal office.

Since then the small study was used as a personal office for the President to use as he or she saw fit. It was used to conduct meetings with donors, friends, and off the books meetings for black operations that couldn't be discussed anywhere that the public had access to. It was also a place where the President could unwind after a hard day and enjoy a drink, or their significant other, in private. Ron had used it mainly to meet with Harry and Neville for advice before Harry's voluntary exile, after that Ron seldom used it so Neville hadn't been in the room in over 8 years.

When they reached the oak door, Sylvia gave an elaborate knock on it that was obviously to signal who had arrived. This was proven when she opened the door without waiting for a reply. The guards stayed outside as she led Neville into the room to finally meet the Princeps and see who was behind the worst single attack on humanity in history.

The room itself hadn't changed much since Neville had last been here. It was a simple, small study and had been kept that way by Romilda after she became President. It seemed that it was kept for a particular purpose and most Presidents seemed to enjoy that purpose and didn't mess with it.

A large bookcase took up one wall filled with books on every possible topic, while a fireplace with two comfortable chairs in front of it was set into the other wall. There was an ornate desk with a plush leather chair behind it and two more in front of it in front of the window that overlooked the square that the Palace fronted. A small drinks cabinet was in a far corner filled with decanters of fine whiskeys and bourbons from around the world. Behind the desk, his back to Neville and looking out of the window was the man who Neville assumed was the mysterious Princeps.

The man was clearly either current or former military and almost certainly an earthbender given his style preference. He stood tall, broad and rigid in a long, dark green, military style greatcoat. His jet-black hair was cut short in a classical military style and looked neat. A platinum crown of sorts that looked like a laurel wreath encircled his head which further added to Neville's suspicions that the man was the Princeps. The only of thing was that his hands were clasped behind his back, his left hand was twitching a little and covered in a black glove while it was held in his ungloved right hand.

"Leave him Sylvia." The Princeps said in a very familiar voice but one that Neville couldn't quiet place but felt he knew and hadn't heard in years. "Return to your duties."

"My Princeps?" Sylvia asked with concern in her voice, confirming to Neville that she had feelings for him. "Are you sure."

"It is fine, do not worry, I can handle him." The Princeps said dismissively. "Neville is fully restrained and even if he wasn't, he doesn't have his bending back yet as it hasn't been a week since he was captured and even if he did, I can easily beat him in any form of combat. Besides, I want to talk to him alone, he's an old friend and deserves that right. Go and gather the other Uniques who have returned to the city and prepare my upcoming broadcast. The time to reveal myself and the goals of the Global Principate to the world is almost at hand."

"As you command Princeps." Sylvia said with a deep bow before turning and leaving. "We await your presence and glorious message."

Neville was focused on the Princeps, who hadn't replied to his Unique, as he heard Sylvia leave and shut the door behind her. He was now alone with the man who had taken over almost three quarters of the world in one fell swoop and who apparently knew him as an old friend further confirming Neville's suspicions that he knew the man. That was just one of the many answers he wanted.

"Welcome to my office, Neville, what do you think?" The man asked without turning around to look at him. "I always preferred this office to the formal one, that one will not be missed."

"Who the fuck are you?" Neville asked bluntly, he wasn't in the mood for games anymore and seeing as he was here in chains he may as well get right to the point. "You just destroyed the world as it was known, threw it into an imbalance not seen since the 100-year war and killed countless people including several world leaders. I want answers and I want them now."

"Ah impatience, something too common these days but then again I had 7 years to force patience upon me, well I had also been planning this for a decade prior so I was well accustomed to the concept." The man said and something about that time period sent a shiver down Neville's spine. "As for your baseless accusations, I did what was necessary to set the world straight but I know that you will not understand. However, you will get your answers, it is the least I can do for you right now."

Only after the man finished speaking did he turn around to face Neville and he gasped at who the Princeps was. He hadn't seen him in over 7 years, not since the news reports of his crimes were shown, though the years of forced patience now made sense to Neville. Grinning at him was one of Neville's best friend's sons and his godson's older brother; James.

"I am guessing from your shocked expression that you weren't expecting me to be the Princeps." James said with a twisted smirk that Neville had never seen James make. "Then again, when dad sent me away to the prison I was forgotten about wasn't I?"

"No, you weren't, we remember you every day." Neville said finally recovering from his shock and meeting James's now cold brown eyes. "Your crimes were horrific and with your family ties it was even worse that you would do something like that. Your father went into voluntary exile from the United Republic as penance for what you did. He hasn't been the same since."

"Well he is in for an even bigger shock then." James said with a chuckle that held no humor. "Cos soon he will learn that I am the Princeps."

"James, you know your father won't let this stand, right?" Neville asked. "He will stand against you and face you once again when the time comes. It is his duty and no matter what, the Avatar always does his duty."

"I don't expect him to back down but I am still his son, it will make him hesitant and that is what I am counting on." James said simply though Neville doubted that the man before him was the same boy that Harry had raised. "I and I alone am in the right position to defeat the Avatar when he stands in the way of balance, progress and the Global Principate."

"It didn't stop him from taking your hand when he stopped you 7 years ago." Neville pointed out. "Speaking of which, how do you have 2 hands now? I'm guessing you're compensating with your bending or something like that."

"Correct, I have followed in the path of other bending legends like Toph and Ming Hua." James said as he raised his left hand and removed the glove to show of the silver, metal, clearly artificial, hand he now had and flexing the fingers in an almost normal fashion. "I have used my bending, in my case my own unique level of metalbending, to overcome my disability."

"It that…?" Neville began as he recognized the high shine on the hand that had replaced James's missing hand.

"Yup, platinum." James said with pride as he put the glove back on and lowered his arm. "I have been able to affect it for a while, ever since my days at the Academy in fact. I hid the extent of my abilities so as to avoid suspicion as I spent hours practicing my skills and shortly before my incarceration, something I partially planned by the way to further my network that helped me overthrow so many failed states once I realized I had gone too far that fateful night, I could bend platinum."

"That shouldn't be possible." Neville said once again overcoming surprise in a matter of minutes. "It's too pure to bend."

"Well I can do it because I can sense even the tiniest traces of earth." James said with a grin. "It works perfectly, with a few kinks that need to be worked out, but that will come with practice. My skills makes me the greatest metalbender to ever live and makes your weapons redundant against me. It is also why I am also a Unique. I couldn't bring expect them to follow me if I didn't have the same gifts after all."

"James, what has gotten into you?" Neville asked, it was becoming more and more clear that the man in front of him was not the same boy Neville had known since he was born. "This whole Princeps thing, it's not who you are."

"Oh, but it is me, it always has been." James said with a cold, predatory, smile that chilled Neville's blood. "You see, being the son of the Avatar has always been tough. 17 years ago, it was Albus who snapped, repelled against him and almost died because of it but it was no less hard on me than it was on Albus. It may have even been worse because I was actually a talented bender, the top of my field with metal though I cannot lavabend like Lily so I actually had expectations thrust upon me."

"Well of course, you were the Avatar's eldest son and the one who inherited and then surpassed his skills in metalbending." Neville said. "And you were doing it. You were top of your class, head boy, accepted on your own merits and not your family's reputation to the Imperial War College, the youngest leader of a Terra Team in history, and well on track to ending up on the Council of Five. You were exceeding expectations James all the way up to the moment you threw your life away 7 years ago."

"Everything was expected of me." James continued ignoring Neville's pleading words. "I was supposed to be great but I didn't know what I wanted back when I was a student, back when I was the same age my dad had been when he knew what he wanted. That is why I tried law enforcement because it was what dad did, I was going to make him proud, but it didn't fit with me. The military was better but I was still missing something, It wasn't until after the Unholy Triumvirate attack that I found my calling, I was going to united the world and make it better."

"How, James?" Neville asked. "How were you going to do something that didn't need to be done."

"It took years of careful, patient, planning and studying the greatest leaders of all time, both the good and bad ones to find out what worked and what didn't." James said clearly enjoying his moment to gloat about his plans and missing Neville's point entirely. "I had to recruit my Uniques and my other followers, it was hard work at times but I did it and killed any who might ruin it. My arrest and sentence helped because the Imperial Military foolishly split up my Terra Team who were all loyal and they broadened my influence until I could launch my strike. You saw how successful that was."

"Yes, but what do I have to do with all this?" Neville asked knowing that James wouldn't see reason, he was too far gone for that, and switching gears to himself. "Why was Team Avatar and other high-profile individuals targeted for capture and not termination? Normally when some crazy nutcase launches an attack he or she kills all those who could threaten their power, especially the Avatar. However, you let your father survive and tried to capture the rest of us. Had my wife not died and I felt that someone was needed to allow Ron and Lily to flee, I too would have fled as well but someone had to hold y'all off."

"Fair point." James said with a nod. "You deserve an answer to that question. Simply put, I needed high profile prisoners to show my skill and my determination to the world. Consolidating power is hard, especially over such a large area, but if I can show the world how serious I am then I can make that happen faster than considered possible. Plus, I wanted my siblings so I could force dad to stand down and let me rule the whole world in exchange for their lives but alas the didn't so that means war."

"You already control most of the world, why do you want more?" Neville asked seriously hoping that James wasn't that far gone to kill his own brother and sister just to win and trying to reason with James even if he didn't believe his own words. "You have us on the ropes and cornered in the far north. You could sue for peace and force Harry and all the World Leaders, both the remaining two and the 4 new ones, to accept your domain over what you have already conquered."

"Don't lie to me Neville, remember I am as good as my father is at truth seeing, he did train me personally in the art so that is to be expected." James said with a toying expression on his face as he destroyed Neville's attempt to get to him with ease. "We both know that dad will never let me rule, he believes too much in the old nations of the world and how they are needed for balance and all that bullshit. The greatest flaw, the one weakness all Avatars suffer from is that he or she often believes in the idea of the nations being split so that each element has a nation or region."

"The nations serve a purpose in society." Neville countered. "And even if the old notions of a nation per element are outdated due to the growing interconnectivity of the world, hence the need for the United Republic, that doesn't mean that nations are obsolete. They help maintain a sense of order, balance and stability in the world. A sense reinforced by the very nature of the Avatar Cycle."

"Yes the world may be interconnected then ever before but as you pointed out it is still split into nations and we do not need the nations anymore." James said as the fanaticism began to creep into his voice. "Just look at the choice my cousin Victoire was forced to make all because she was born an airbender and heir to the Southern Water Tribe's Throne. Dominique is better, I always knew that and she is my best friend for many reasons even if she doesn't see reason at the moment, that doesn't excuse the fact that Victoire shouldn't have had to make her choice."

"She had a choice and she willingly made it." Neville pointed out. "She had never once regretted it and you know that."

"She was still forced to make that choice, a choice she never should have had to make in the first place because there shouldn't be more than one nation." James snapped back. "That is what world needs, a singular leader under a single Principate and that is what I will create. With it we will finally have balance and peace for eons to come. I had hoped to only leave the Northern Water Tribe free as that is where dad so taking it was a near impossibility is but I didn't get all I had hoped for so alas there will be more blood. There will be a war needed to create my vision but such is the nature of progress, it must be born from blood."

"Listen to yourself." Neville said trying to plead with James and his burgeoning madness, straining against his restraints so much that they cut into his wrists and he started bleeding. "You sound like Voldemort, Hermione, Ozai, Unalaq, Kuvira, Zaheer and all the others in history who have wanted what you now also want. You sound just as insane as they do. I know that Harry taught you better."

"My father taught me how to fight but that was all he taught me." James shot back and Neville could see the madness in his eyes and knew that there was no hope left for James, he had become a zealot to his own cause and would have to be stopped by force. "Those who you mentioned are evil, there is no doubt in that, but I am different. Unlike them, I will actually make the world a truly better place with no oppression or inequality. That is what the Principate will be."

"James, all of those people thought that they were making the world or their nations a better place because they were making it in their own warped image." Neville said knowing that James was beyond saving but still unable to understand how James had gotten to this point. "They twisted or perverted their philosophies to justify committing evil acts in order to create what they thought was the perfect society. They all sounded just like you and they all were insane in their own rights. I should know, I faced two of them myself. Please, don't go down that path James."

"It's too late for that now isn't it Neville." James said without emotion, shaking his head at Neville. "As far as the world is considered, I began down that path 7 years ago and this will solidify it. My followers have grown over that time and once they see me for who I truly am they will love me. The PR and my cult of personality is already in full swing, it has been for years just under my title and not face. Besides, the one thing I acknowledge that I have in common with those other famous villains of the past, and I know that if I fail I will join that list, is that I will do what is necessary to accomplish what I believe is right."

"Then that makes you just as bad as them." Neville said. "You are using your own twisted views to justify you actions, you are no different from them."

"Yes I am." James said his gaze stern and resolved as he looked Neville in the eye. "Because unlike them I know what I have to do to ensure the world is balanced is wrong in the eyes of society. They did not. They saw their acts as good and noble for various reasons, be it purity of blood and the natural order, setting ancient wrongs write by any means necessary, stabilizing a kingdom, or whatever else they were fighting for. I, on the other hand, know full well what I am doing is wrong."

"You do?" Neville asked confused at James's admission of his own evil.

"I do." James said with a somber nod. "Sometimes, the only way to make the world a better place is for good people to do bad things for the betterment of all. Someone who truly does what is necessary for the greater good and not the good they believe it to be but the actual greater good. What I am creating will be made through blood, pain and the sacrifices of the consciousness of good men and women like me and my Uniques but the results will speak for themselves. When the world is united under the banner of the Principate we will have everlasting peace."

"I see that there is no reasoning with you is there?" Neville asked knowing that his question was rhetorical. "You are too far gone for that, you have been for a long time."

"No there is not." James confirmed. "And once I set out on this path it was too late for you, or for me. I will do what is necessary to succeed, no matter the personal cost to me and my soul."

"Then why am I here, why am I not rotting in my cell?" Neville asked, he had his answers, he just needed to know what James was going to do with him now. "You have me captured, you can ransom me or leave me in a cell out of the way of your losing war."

"I plan on neither, instead I have a special purpose that you will serve for me very soon." James said as he walked up to Neville and examined the fresh scars on his face, gripping Neville's chin in his good hand and causing Neville to recoil at the touch of a man he no longer knew. "Don't worry, those scars won't bother you for much longer my old friend. You see, it is almost time for me to show the world my convictions and my determination and there is one way to do that."

"And that is?" Neville asked with a gulp, he did not like the look in James's eyes as the man he had known all his life studied him.

That James said something that made Neville's blood run cold. It was at that moment that Neville knew for certain that the James he had help raise was dead. In his place was a monster who was about to unleash a war the likes of which the world had never seen before.

"Why your public and live execution for treason against the Principate of course, when you refuse my offer to join me that is. Time to get ready Neville, you are about to die live on camera."

Dun dun dun. Sorry I couldn't resist leaving the chapter off like that, it was too tempting to do so. As the chapter implies, the next one will be the great reveal to the world as to who the Princeps is and a the first showing of the extend of James's philosophy so stay tuned for it as it is coming in a week's time. The next few chapters will further set up the Principate and begin the major conflict in Book 4. That is all I have for this relatively short post chapter note so s always please follow and favorite both this and myself so that you can stay up to date with new releases (chapters and stories) and please keep the reviews coming. Until next week.

Stringdog