In response to Visitor: thank you for saying so and I'm glad I did something unexpected, I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

In response to Scotty call: unfortunately, there will not be another lemon for quite some time. In fact there will only be one more lemon in this entire fanfic and my goal is to make it BIG but that'll take time and proper atmosphere. In the mean time, I hope you enjoy this chapter as well as the upcoming ones.

STILL NEED A BETA READER!

Pride had gathered the research materials that was requested for him and them all loaded into a bag that he would take with him when he would leave Blackdust. Lilian had already departed for Arendelle to bring Ahimoth back and trusted him to look after the kingdom while she was away. Personally, he didn't much care for Blackdust as a kingdom, it was a cesspool of backstabbing warriors who always aimed for the top.

Even when Alrick completely changed the infrastructure of the kingdom there were still holdouts that remained that challenged him at every turn. As he was recognized for his skill and still served under the King, Pride had to deal with these holdouts every once in a while, when he would be in Blackdust for an extended time. He had killed quite a few of them recently, the radical change in government stroked their warrior pride and it demanded they do something about it.

However, none of them came close killing Shahbaz. Pride rarely used his real name anymore, anyone that knew him before were all dead and there was no one else who had a right to that name. The only people he didn't mind hearing his name from was his immediate family. His mother, Dawn was the warmest person he'd ever met before. She would baby him constantly which should've irritated him but in complete honesty, he missed that most about her. Then there was his father who before the death of his wife, was a distant man.

He wasn't uncaring or lacked empathy as he did in recent years, rather he kept his family at distance because he didn't know how to connect with them. Shahbaz had learned a great many things from his father who seemed to enjoy teaching and that's where the two would bond. It was during these times; his father would smile the most and even share his deeper thoughts and feelings. He never gave specifics, but he described his life before meeting Dawn as a 'nightmare that would never end'.

He said that his father was a controlling man who used him as a tool for the entirety of his life until he became useless in his eyes and then was abandoned because of it. Such an action should have made a deep sense of hate come to life, but the opposite happened. He had a free life now to do whatever he wanted.

That being said, he didn't know how he should spend his newfound freedom.

Dawn was the one who had to push him to learn more about life and what he wanted, then somewhere along the way, Shahbaz was born. Pride's memories from his childhood were happy, he had two parents that loved him in their own way. Dawn was absolutely smothering while Talib was distant yet had his moments. One would think that they would be very happy with the life they lived.

Until Dawn got pregnant with his brother.

His father was different around that time, he was as cold and as logical as he was in recent years. He barely acknowledged Shahbaz's existence and focused entirely on Dawn. That one night, the young boy heard his parents do what all grown ups did for many different reasons. For a child, he wasn't really expected to know about sex, but he was by no means, ordinary child. He picked up on things faster than most and his father was a very intelligent man who had plenty to teach.

That night he ignored most of it since he knew his parents were grown ups but when he heard his mother start crying did he knock on their door. His father answered it with an elated smile on his face as he was already dressed and looked to be leaving. The man didn't say a word as he walked right past his son and towards the front door. As he passed, Shahbaz got a look at his mother, she was crying and had marks covering his skin.

Shahbaz was a happy child and grew up with very loving parents who adored him. Of course, there were conflicts here and there but none of them were significant enough for him to actually access the emotion rage.

As he learned about the concept of sex and the emotional aspect of it, the very next thing he learned was forcing the act upon an unwilling partner. The name, definition, and lasting effects it could do to another person.

Seeing his mother crying in the bed and his father walking away with a smile on his face gave birth to a deep-seated rage that neither of his parents had seen before. It was quite a sight to see a four-year-old Shahbaz following his father out the house and yelling for him to stop and explain what happened. Talib brushed off the child, stating it was something that he would not remotely understand. That answer did not sit well with the angry boy that just watched his mother cry and him thinking that his father had committed a heinous act.

That night was the first time that Shahbaz ever picked up a weapon.

While his father was picking up the coat by the door to put it on and leave, his son had obtained a kitchen knife and held it behind his back. When his father had dismissed him and was about to continue on his merry way, he didn't notice the boy take out the knife and jammed the blade in his lower back right above his pelvis. The strike was in anger, but it was also very precise, the blade was lodged in the part of the spine that controlled all functions below the waist. His father would never walk out on them or rape his mother ever again.

At least, that would be the case if his father was human.

Shahbaz watched his father roar in anger as he fell to the grown gripping the knife before his right hand tensed and he whipped around and threw it at the young boy. Shahbaz was blasted with a wave of what seemed to be black sand that knocked him off his feet. He watched his father get up and pull the knife out and some more black sand to flow into the wound.

His father stood to his full height and turned with eyes filled with bloodlust as he approached the child. Shahbaz showed no fear at all when his father towered over him and before the man could do what he intended, Dawn's voice filled the air as she yelled his name. Instantly, Talib's face scrunched up into one of pain as he grips his head and thrashed around wailing. Shahbaz watched as his father fell to his knees and held his head before he screamed at the top of his lungs and smashed his own head violently into a nearby rock all the while roaring,

"GET OUT!"

The sickening crack that resounded in the air burned itself into Shahbaz's life for the rest of his life. His father's body slumped to the ground and remained unmoving. For what seemed to be an eternity, neither he nor his mother moved as they looked at Talib's seemingly dead body. The boy wanted to look away from his father's body but held his gaze until miraculously, the man's body started to move.

He lifted his head up where a stream of blood was coming down from his forehead and his eyes were filled with horror. Tears welled up in his eyes as he took in the sight of his wife and son before he got to his feet and ran. His mother said nothing and held him as Shahbaz watched his father run as far as he could away.

Weeks later, his mother set him down at the kitchen table and explained to him some specific aspects of his father's early life. She told him who he was, what he was and that last night wasn't his fault. The concepts she was telling him didn't make sense to him, but she assured him that it would when he grew up. She then sent him with a pack to go after his father who likely fled to one of his old haunts with a letter that he wasn't allowed to open.

He asked why she couldn't come with him and she responded that it was better this way. Back then, he couldn't see the reasoning behind sending a child alone after a father that ran away from home but three years later, he finally knew why. His mother was brutally murdered, and his father was forever changed into a cold and calculating individual who didn't have a shred of love that he used to have. Shahbaz remembered his job was to take care of his little brother and he dedicated his life to it.

He sought out power to be the best he could possibly be to achieve that goal. Along the way, he found out how his father came to be and how he was able to simply pull out a knife out his spine, heal the wound, while throwing sand that sent a child flying. His father had somehow gained the power of a long thought extinct mythical race that had its name lost to the ages.

Shahbaz scoured for any information on them and came up with nothing, finally he decided to just ask his 'father' about it, and he was given all the information he needed. In hindsight, it was foolish to go after Pride's stone without knowing all the facts first, but if he could go back in time, he would still do it all over again.

Mary had warned him of the danger yet still helped him get what he wanted. She told him to remember who he was and that made all the difference. Pride tried to suppress Shahbaz and make him into a memory but was not ready for the sheer determination that the boy possessed. Shahbaz didn't yield to any kind of pain inflicted on him, he relished in it in fact. The Arrogant Sin never met a host with such a defiant soul, yet it was still Pride and it would rather be destroyed then submit to a boy.

The process was long and filled with Shahbaz's screams but he endured, he fought back, and long after the point where others would rather kill themselves than continue, Shahbaz emerged victorious. Pride had its own soul devoured by a child and that child became Pride the Arrogant. As he stood reborn, his father assumed that Pride had taken control of his son. Shahbaz didn't affirm nor deny the idea as he was sure his father wouldn't care either way.

Pride now had the power he desired, and he was better equipped to protect his little brother, but Talib remained unconvinced. Shahbaz had never been deployed in a real war before so the alchemist decided to send him off to Ashfeld to see how he would perform. The reports he gotten from the campaign were promising however he wanted to know what kind of effect it had on the Sin.

To Pride, he treated it as another examination; he did what he was told, killed whoever stood in his way, and completed the mission tasked to him.

The Arrogant Sin thought he could complete the mission using his own skills rather the inhuman powers he now possessed but when unit he was assigned to was betrayed by their allies, Pride allowed himself to tap into his true powers. The allies he helped conquer their way into their enemy's capitol were crushed under Pride's full abilities. He remembered vividly tearing them apart with his bare hands then watching them retreat before going after them.

Blackdust had set up a blockade to prevent any of them from escaping but in reality, they wanted to see how far Pride would go. The Arrogant Sin destroyed any and all military elements that were foolish enough to engage him, with it ending when he removed the traitorous King's head and put it on a stick. Talib wasn't surprised that a kingdom couldn't handle in his teenage son, in fact, he predicted it.

The only failing that Pride had in his mission was that he spared the civilians and those who surrendered. This forced Rakat to order his forces to sweep up any and all survivors then sending Pride off with Asger to hopefully beat out that sense of mercy. There were many times that Shahbaz would've killed his mentor but was reminded by Talib that he wasn't to kill Asger under any circumstance.

Truthfully, Shahbaz cared little for what the alchemist had to say. His father was someone he used to love very dearly and was now a completely different person. Perhaps the death of his wife destroyed any sense of decency he possessed but Pride always suspected something else was at play. He knew Talib wasn't human and that there was more than just one soul in that body, the question was was the loving father he looked up to still in that body or was he completely gone?

Shahbaz never could get that answer, he protected the alchemist with the small inkling of hope that his father would come back but after seeing Talib again and remembering what the alchemist did to him, Shahbaz buried any feelings he had for his old father. If Lilian ever tried to kill the alchemist again, he would let her, she had lost a father to that monster.

It somewhat saddened him that he never realized they shared that in common.

He had spent his life fighting and clawing for power and now that he had it, he had no one to fight for. His family was gone, his King was missing, he traded his humanity for power; what was left for someone like him? Shahbaz doubted he'd ever have the answer to that question beyond destroying the people that had earned their place on his kill list.

Pride looked out toward the horizon; he had no idea what to do with his life, but he also wanted the choice to decide. Asger and Talib tried making a slave out of him but he would not let it end that way. They may have their hold on him for now, but he would find a way to be free.

There was nothing left for him in the past, all he could do now was move forward.

Elsa's head throbbed as it did often lately but that didn't make it any easier for her to open her eyes and take in her surroundings. She was lying down in a bed in an unfamiliar room. Her body protested when she tried to sit up and a groan escaped her throat that alerted the person that was the room with her. Gerda was at the door conversing with someone but upon hearing the blonde regain consciousness, she rushed to her side.

"Elsa, thank goodness you're awake! You've had us all worried!"

The blonde continued tried to sit up which prompted the maid to support her upper back and sit her in an upright position. Elsa reached a hand at her side to feel where that bolt grazed her and felt that her ice had melted, and she now had actual bandages. The material was tightly bound around her abdomen that caused discomfort, but she found it much easier to move when compared to the ice she had holding her wound closed.

"W-what's going on? How long have I been unconscious?"

"Not too long, there's apparently some kind of temporary cease fire and Walter called for a meeting in the war room not too long ago."

Elsa groaned as a wave of pain washed over her as she slid her legs over the side of the bed. Gerda instantly looked ready to protest when she saw the blonde intended to sit up, but the young woman was already on her feet with a determined expression on her face.

"Where is Captain Stonewell now?"

"He might still be in the war room."

The blonde took a shaky step forward before she almost fell to the ground if it weren't for Gerda's arm rushing out to catch her. Elsa was about to pull away from the maid and make her own ice crutch, but the older woman's expression left little argument that she would help the Queen to the war room. The walk to the war room was mostly in silence since Elsa was getting her thoughts sorted out.

She remembered passing out after creating those large ice walls to block the cannons from firing on the village. Before that, she recalled that some guards were sent out to find Anna and Kristoff while evacuations were on their way before the enemy made landfall. Edward had gone off on his own to lead the soldiers who ambushed away while she was taken back to the castle. Gerda told her that she wasn't unconscious for too long, but she wanted to know what had happened to the people closest to her.

"Gerda, has Anna, Kristoff, and Edward returned yet?"

The maid's face fell at the mention of those three names before clearing her throat to speak. "Your Majesty, Edward returned while you were unconscious and left to go meet with Walter in the war room. However, both their Highnesses have yet to return."

Hearing that they didn't know where her sister was while the enemy had invaded the village made Elsa's knees buckle. The next thought that crossed her mind was Anna being captured and at the mercy of monsters. The images that came from that scenario made her heart go up in her throat and pumped panic induced adrenaline through her body. Before Gerda could stop her, Elsa tore off down the hallway toward the war room.

I need to send out a search party right now!"

The blonde could hear the mother figure behind her calling for her and asking that she slow down but the monarch had already made it to the war room and wrenched the doors open. The Captain was deeply studying the map of Arendelle and had various figurines at several locations. The doors being flung open didn't break his concentration in the slightest as he focused all of his attention on the town square.

"Captain!"

Hearing the voice of his Queen, broke the old man's pensive state as he looked up to see Elsa taking very urgent strides toward him. His eyes wandered to her side where he could see some bandages poking out of her ripped ice dress. The Captain bowed appropriately as she finally closed the distance between them and stared her in the eye where he could easily pick out the fear and panic that dwelled in her blue orbs.

"How may I assist you, Your Majesty."

"You can assist me by explaining why the Princess and her husband have not been found while we're being invaded!"

The tone she took was loud and would've forced any other men to back away in apprehension. Any other day, he would've been proud and respond as the Captain of the Royal Guard should, but Stonewell knew that the woman in front of him was talking as Elsa and not the Queen of Arendelle, even if she didn't even realize it.

"They left earlier this morning to see the Prince's family. They expressed their desire to be alone before they left, that being said, I sent a detail after them to follow them in case anything should happen. We've yet to receive word if the royal couple was found or not."

Elsa's face morphed from the increase of panic that wracked her as she tried to school her face into a Queenly expression and keep her tone calm and commanding. "We need them back now. Mobilize the entire castle guard, I want them found."

"I'm sorry to say Your Majesty, but that would be highly unwise."

The blonde froze when she heard the old man speak those words and she looked down at him to see that his face betrayed no hint of emotion. She would've thought that he would be eager to find Anna and Kristoff, but to see him with an emotionless face sparked a fire within her.

"Your opinion has been noted Captain, but it was not a suggestion. I order you as the Queen of Arendelle to mobilize the castle guard and deploy search teams."

Stonewell cocked his head to the side as he held her fierce stare with a calm one. Any other time, he'd be off doing what she commanded, however today they were up against an enemy that would punish irrational decisions. The old man knew much more information about their current situation than anyone else in Arendelle.

Today, he couldn't afford letting her make hasty decisions and letting her learn from them so she could be a better ruler. He couldn't teach her today. Today was the day to perform, not learn.

"Elsa."

The flat tone he took with her coupled with the intensity that dwelled in his eyes caused her to be taken back for a moment before her panic tried to get her to remember she gave him an order. She shook off the shock and was about to remind him of his place when Stonewell suddenly stood up to his full height and towered over her before gesturing to the map, specifically, the town square that was directly between the castle and the gates out of Arendelle.

"While you were unconscious, the enemy has taken a number of your people hostage and are holding them at the town square. This includes the guards that were assigned to evacuate them. Our forces are dwindling between squads defending what little ground we have as well as completing objectives to turn the tide. Mobilizing what men we have defending the castle would be pointless as we'd have to get past the enemy stationed at the town square and rescue the hostages before attempting to locate your sister."

Elsa looked at the map as he spoke, and she leaned on her hands staring at it. Her hands began to shake, and she gripped the edge of the table like it was her lifeline to reality.

They have hostages?! I need to save them. But…what about Anna and Kristoff?

As the blonde continued to quietly stand there, Gerda walked the next to Stonewell and could see a troubled look cross his face before he wiped it off immediately after. The maid knew that despite his rough exterior and his abrasive personality, he deeply cared for the two royal sisters as if they were his own. To know that they were in the middle of a battle must've been painful, but it was an inevitability that he tried to make them ready for.

While he waited for the blonde to say something, the doors to the war room opened up and Hector walked in with Edward, Ahimoth, and Klein behind him. Hearing the doors open made Elsa turn around and when she saw Edward appear through the doorway, she did the first thing that came to mind. She quickly rushed over and latched onto him with her arms and held him as if he'd disappear if she let go.

The young man remained still as he stared at her for a moment before his eyes slid up to meet the Captain's, both of them communicating without them speaking.

Stonewell's eyes asked if Wrath did what he suggested. The predator responded that he couldn't do it, which meant that currently, the only option they had was surrendering Elsa.

Wrath gently grasped her shoulders and pushed her away until he could look her in the eyes. It didn't take her long to realize who she was actually in front of. While it didn't change her relief upon seeing him, the predator remembered where he was and who he was with thus he acted like a subject in her kingdom should.

"Your Majesty, I am pleased you are alright."

Him speaking in such a formal tone made Gerda frown a bit as she felt that given what was going on, the young man could express more of his feelings considering the present company. Elsa looked somewhat dejected he responded in such a way and was about to say something but was cut off by Stonewell speaking.

"What was the result of your mission?"

Wrath bit his lip as he glanced at Elsa who looked at him with a mix of a worried and confused expression. He knew the next course of action if he said that he couldn't handle the situation himself, but he didn't know what else to say, he wasn't the weapon he used to be anymore.

"Not much has changed from my initial report, the hostages are still being held at the town square. Arendelle is on lockdown with the enemy holding positions across the village. Fortunately, it seems that the other groups of hostages were evacuated before the enemy occupied most of the capitol. Moving around Arendelle in a large group will be difficult as most of the streets have a squad or two on overwatch. It is possible to move around without being detected with small numbers but not enough to mount a proper rescue of the hostages."

"Did you learn anything else, like the state of the main gate into Arendelle, the harbor, or the ridgeline?"

Wrath shook his head as Ahimoth strode forward to speak. "My men and I managed to destroy the enemy ships in the harbor so there is no chance of the enemy being able to use the cannons should the ice wall fall. I've instructed the thirty soldiers I brought with me to regroup here while Private Klein and I scouted out the town square where we ran into Edward."

Stonewell nodded before turning to Klein who remained mostly quiet throughout the entire exchange. "What about you Klein, anything to report?" The young guard looked a little distracted but instantly perked up when he heard the Captain addressing him.

"Nothing substantially different than what was already said sir. The only thing I can think of is that while we were on our way back, we heard a squad mention someone called General Julian or something."

The Captain narrowed his eyes before they widened when it looked like he just realized something. His mind started to race before he seemed to come to a conclusion of some sort. He turned to Elsa and cleared his throat to get her attention.

"Your Majesty, its time you are made aware of the entire situation. The enemy has ordered a ceasefire and offered a parley where they were will cease hostilities in exchange for your and Arendelle's surrender. As you were unconscious, we couldn't make this decision without you, so we thought of trying to explore other options. One of these options was me suggesting Edward to decimate the enemy ignoring the threat to the hostages' lives."

There was a collective gasp at what Stonewell just said. Elsa looked horrified at what she heard, and her eyes shot to Wrath who looked away in shame. He could not bear to look in her eyes and see what she thought about him for even considering for a second of throwing away innocent lives. Ahimoth looked pissed at the old man for suggesting such a thing as he remembered the last time those claws caused the deaths of a mass number of innocent lives.

Hector was the only one who knew of the Captain's suggestion beforehand and stared hard at the old man. The things that's Stonewell's done today alone went against his known character that he lived as in Arendelle for so long. At the surface, it may seem that he was cold and callous with his eyes only looking toward victory but to the noble it was different.

Take care of her, that's all I ask of from you.

Hector knew exactly who the old man was talking about, the personal implications would only dawn on him if anyone else had listened in on them. Who it was wasn't the problem, it was the fact that Stonewell asked him of all people to do so. The two of them, have butted heads since the day the noble joined the Royal Guard. There was genuine hate between one another and that was something that would never change despite the small amount of respect they held for one another. Stonewell went even so far as to tell him about the will he had hidden in his desk as well as his wish of who should replace him.

He didn't want to believe it; Hector honestly never really considered the idea of Stonewell not being around. Walter Stonewell was a legend all on his own for those who the details of his life. For a man of war to live so long was an impressive feat and his daily routine made it seem that despite him getting older, he was still in perfect shape.

Yet today, Stonewell showed the signs that his life had taken a toll on him. Here he was standing as an imposing sturdy stone wall but on the inside, he was breaking down. The actions he took today told the noble one thing that he didn't think would ever happen to the unstoppable and impossible Walter Stonewell.

Walter Stonewell didn't expect to live after this day.

Elsa's hands clenched as frost began to build in her palms as she looked ready to screech at both Wrath and Stonewell, but the Captain once again cut her off.

"However, it seems the runt couldn't bring himself to do it. Which brings us back to the current situation. We don't have the numbers to engage the enemy head on and with the hostages in play we cannot make a move without putting their lives in danger. Greed also threatened that if negotiations do not go well, he will execute them one by one and bring their heads to the bridge until we surrender. We may have the means to barricade ourselves in the castle, but it will mean the deaths of all the hostages. Knowing all of this, what do you wish to do?"

The blonde could not believe the old man in front of her. Never before has she ever been this angry with him, he just admitted to sanctioning throwing away the lives of her people by using Wrath as a weapon in the same capacity as those monsters did before. Thankfully, the predator couldn't go through with it which made her proud but angry all the same he even considered it. She knew she was unconscious, and that the situation changed while she was in no condition to do anything about it but under any circumstances was it alright to sacrifice the lives of her people. She thought the grandfather figure she respected for so long would know that, but apparently, she was wrong.

"Captain, words cannot express how furious I am with you. I would've thought you would know better than to think I would let any of my people die to save my own life. When this is all over you will be punished. Right now, the safety of the hostages comes first so I will agree to their terms and order the immediate surrender of Arendelle."

Walter looked at her with an emotionless face before he turned to Klein. "Notify the enemy that we are surrendering." The young guard remained frozen at the order before he slowly began to move toward the door. Elsa turned and raised a hand to Cameron who was about to walk past her.

"That is unnecessary Cameron, I will tell them myself."

Elsa gave one meaningful glare at the Captain who impassively watched her before she turned around then walking into an arm that halted her. She didn't have to guess who stopped her, the earlier spark of anger was still there but it cooled when she turned her head and saw him stare straight ahead. Wrath said nothing and his face showed no emotion but to her, he was desperately trying to figure out what to say.

Honestly, she wasn't surprised he would try to stop her. She was about to surrender herself to Hans who launched an invasion of her home. It was dangerous but her people's lives were at stake and she had told him time and time again that she would do anything to protect them.

Edward never said the words out loud, but she could tell that it killed him every time the reality of her position would override any of her personal desires. He treated her as a normal woman any time it was just the two of them and she couldn't value that enough, but she was Queen, and it was her duty to make every sacrifice for her people.

Wrath wasn't as expressive as the young man but that one time he shared why he remained in his courtyard showed that he didn't like her imprisoning herself either. He even said that if she were to run away, he'd follow her just to make sure she had the choice to do whatever she wanted. Elsa had thought about it a few times since that night, just leaving to do and be whoever she wanted to be. Anna would be sad to see her go but she was sure her sister would support her decision. Gerda and Kai were unknown to her, but she knew that they would want her happiness. Stonewell already told her that she could do whatever she wanted just to be prepared for the consequences, but she was sure, he wouldn't mind.

…And the young man who said he loved her would follow her whatever she went every step of the way.

It was a nice dream, but that's all it was, a dream.

And it was time to wake up.

She gently grasped his hand that rested on her shoulder and blocked her path before tugging on it. The hand predictably didn't budge. The situation was depressingly familiar, he was once again holding her preventing her from moving. Back then, they were arguing trying to hurt each other and now, she was trying to protect her kingdom and he was trying to protect her. Last time she tried to force herself out of his grip because she now realized that she thought he was trying to force his will over her, like those bandits did.

She felt he was trying to oppress her and lock her away and she wanted out. Now it was different, she lifted her hand and made his head turn her way so she could look into his eyes. "Please, let me go."

Wrath registered the request in his head and remembered Edward's earlier thoughts on it. The young man agonized but decided that if she asked him to let her go, he would let her go if he loved her. The predator never made such a consensus and could very well force her to remain but instead he opened his mouth to speak.

"Is that what you really want me to do Elsa?"

It was a loaded question. There was so much more to it than him physically releasing her. If he let her go then there was a very real chance she could be walking into her death. Wrath knew that Elsa didn't want to die, and she was actually someone who enjoyed freedom. He'd been out with her multiple times and memorized the way her face would light up whenever she was out the castle, and no one knew it was Queen Elsa next to them.

Her decision to sacrifice herself was one the Queen of Arendelle was expected to make. However, Wrath didn't ask the Queen that, he asked Elsa if she wanted him to let her go.

He hoped she would say no, he hoped she'd say that they would figure out some way to rescue the hostages and beat back the enemy but that resigned smile he had grown to detest slipped on her face as she nodded.

Wrath's hand tightened on her shoulder instinctively as it protested the command the brain sent to the appendage but slowly and with great reluctance, it fell limply to his side. Elsa was now free to do whatever she wished but she remained where she was. The blonde could see it was killing him to let her go and she deeply appreciated it.

There was so much she wanted to say and do but the life she had was nice. She had a sister who loved her, a brother-in-law that became her first real friend, two parental figures who were there for her even when her world was behind a closed door, a grandfather figure imparted a great deal of knowledge…

…then finally someone who knew what it meant to be and loved her for just her.

She wished she could've done more but there was one last thing she could do if it was the last time they would see each other.

Grabbing the hand that had fallen in such defeated way with both her hands she squeezed it as she opened her mouth to impart one last thing to the man who meant a great deal to her.

"Remember, I'll always l-"

Talib watched from his perch on the clocktower as Elsa and someone in a wheelchair were being escorted to the town square where Greed awaited below. The alchemist had thought of all the logical things that the Ice Elemental could've done and felt this outcome was the most likely. At the same time however, he also expected some form of resistance however, he could see from his vantage point that she had those magic sealing cuffs on and there were no Blackdust soldiers on the rooftops like they were earlier.

He had watched Wrath come alone and weigh his options on what he should do. The alchemist expected the Furious Sin to make the logical decision and just slaughter the enemy soldiers and save as many hostages as possible, thus taking away Greed's leverage. However, Wrath seemed to let his emotions get the best of him and left with the Prince and some other human.

Interestingly enough, Talib was certain he saw Wrath but for some reason, he couldn't sense him at all. At first, he was able to, but it was quite faint but now looking at him, he couldn't tell him apart from a regular human. Perhaps it was because of Wrath's low supply of soul echoes to sustain his abilities that made him so hard to detect? Whatever the reason, Talib considered capturing Wrath right then and there but decided against it as it would only make the situation messy.

Greed had already engineered the situation to where the Elemental had no choice but to surrender. The alchemist would finally be able to complete his study of Subject twelve and determine if she would be an asset or a liability.

Greed looked quite pleased with himself as the Queen of Arendelle stood before him with her hands shackled. The little worm of a man known as the Duke of Weselton had a smug holier than thou look on his face as he could see the witch he had feared was at his mercy. General Julius was the only one of the three with an unhappy expression as he looked over to Stonewell who gave him a scolding look.

The Avaricious Sin stepped forward until he was an arm's length away from Elsa who glared at him defiantly. "Good evening Queen Elsa, I must say, I wasn't expecting your surrender to come so soon. The negotiations were supposed to take much later this evening, but I suppose you wished to cut to the chase."

The blonde squared her shoulders and raised her chin before speaking with an authoritative voice. "We agree to your terms, I surrender myself and Arendelle and in exchange you cease all hostilities."

Lina was sitting not too far away could hear what they were saying and the people next to her softly gasped. They didn't expect their Snow Queen to surrender. The little girl heard a scuffle come from the group of guards who tried to get them out of Arendelle. She looked over to see one guard had rushed forward and now had his face planted to the ground with a rifle aimed at the back of his head.

"Your Majesty, you can't!"

All the other captive guards looked ready to rush but Elsa opened her mouth before they did.

"That's enough, I will not endanger anymore Arendellian lives. I greatly appreciate your concern, but your duty is to protect the people the same as mine. You all should know that your first priority is the people rather than the crown." The lone guard let what she said sink in before he rested his forehead against the ground in defeat.

The Duke started to chuckle as he found the whole situation humorous and was about to add his own comments in, but Greed spoke before he could. "You are correct with your surrender, hostilities will cease. You will proclaim this conflict as an internal affair and order the visiting entourage of Blackdust to leave and return home. You will then sign over your kingdom to a representative of our choosing and once the transfer of the crown has been completed, we will depart."

Elsa solemnly nodded and was about to turn around and lead Greed to the castle to issue her surrender when the Avaricious Sin grabbed her arm. "One last thing."

The blonde turned around with a raised eyebrow as Greed's red eyes glowed brighter.

"You will order Edward to surrender himself into our custody with no resistance."

Elsa's face gave nothing away as she fully turned to face Greed and spoke with an almost dispassionate tone that let out the tiniest sliver of what she was feeling.

"Unfortunately, that is quite impossible as Edward has already left Arendelle."

Hey guys new chapter! Also just realized I just missed the second anniversary of this fanfic :D. anyway I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for the next one that will hopefully be up next weekend. Just finished watching Attack on Titan Season 4 today and I'm actually kind of glad that its being postponed until winter. The reason why is because my goal is to finish this fanfic before the end of this year. Please drop a review or pm me if you wish to contact me and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.