In response to reviewer FrontierBrony: Pride will unfortunately not be showing up for quite some time since he's ironically in a relative safe place while everything is going on. As for his alignment, I cannot comment and can only say stay tuned because he will have his spotlight. I do hope you enjoy Wrath because he will be getting the spotlight for a while during the climax of the War of Arendelle arc. Such a climax that've I've been thinking about for at least a year and hope to make it big.
The earlier elation on Greed's face evaporated upon hearing Elsa's words. It was replaced with shock as he repeated them over and over in his head trying to get it to sink into his mind. When the words finally did sink in, he immediately dismissed them as lies and took a step closer to the blonde to intimidate her.
"Lies, there is no way he would abandon you at a time like this. You will tell me his location."
Elsa held her chin up and said nothing as she met his red eyes with more strength than she did when the two first met. Back then, he could tell that she wouldn't bend to his will without some persuasion but in this current situation he didn't have the time to break her. Greed slowly backed away from her then turned his head toward one of the soldiers he brought with him to ambush his quarry.
"Bring me a hostage."
The soldier wordlessly turned around and harshly grabbed a doctor who started to struggle against the unyielding grip before depositing him in front of the Avaricious Sin. Greed produced a knife out of his jacket and placed the blade against the left side of the man's face near his ear with the base of the blade at his throat. He looked up at Elsa who valiantly tried to show no signs of being bothered by the action, but he could the cracks forming on her mask. This action caused General Julius to frown and tighten his fist on his sword but remained silent.
"Tell me where he is, or I will carve this man from ear to ear."
Elsa took a shuddering breath before answering. "I just told you. Edward was told to abandon Arendelle as he had the best chance to escape."
Greed slowly dragged the knife across the man's face causing him to whimper as the blade bit into his neck drawing blood. The blonde's hands shook in her bindings as she watched it happen. The Sin kept his eyes focused intensely on the monarch's slowly crumbling mask trying to see if she actually was telling the truth. What she said made sense as Wrath could easily get out Arendelle if he really needed to, but Greed was hoping that the predator's odd attachment to these people would cause him to stay and do whatever he could.
"I don't believe you, tell me where he is, or his head will be the first to roll."
Elsa opened her mouth to speak but Stonewell coughed and got everyone's attention as he rolled forward in his wheelchair. "You're wasting your time, no matter if you kill all the hostages, doesn't change the fact that she speaks the truth. Edward was never officially made a member of the Arendelle Royal Guard nor as he actually applied and registered to be a citizen of Arendelle. The terms of our surrender were the Queen of Arendelle and her forces were to surrender, Edward isn't apart of that. As such, I suggested he leave Arendelle as he is under no obligation to surrender with us."
Greed took his eyes off Elsa's and turned to the old man in the wheelchair who he met earlier when he informed them of the ceasefire. The Avaricious found the Captain to be an insufferable smart ass but could not deny the man was knowledgeable. His earlier assessment of the situation was spot on despite the Sin's attempt to make it seem hopeless. Honestly, Greed expected some sort of retaliation from the Captain before the Queen awakened but seeing her now, the Sin assumed she forced his hand.
"Where did you send him off to then? If you really suggested he leave Arendelle I doubt you'd let him wander around aimlessly. Where is he headed?"
"Does it really matter? Even if I sent him to one of our allies, he wouldn't be able to return in time before you managed to convince the Queen to sign over the kingdom and declare this an internal affair."
The Sin kept his knife firmly against the whimpering man's throat as he considered this. The Captain's words made complete sense, even at top speed Wrath couldn't gather an army to retake Arendelle before the Queen signed the kingdom over. He knew for a fact that Elsa didn't have the fortitude to endure every method of persuasion he could come up with by the time an army got here. Envy had told him that he had broken her and was about to have her sign but was stopped by Wrath who rescued her. Unless she foolishly thought she could and sent him away for help then his quarry was long gone by now.
Greed didn't want to accept that; Wrath couldn't be tracked since he hadn't been in proximity with the Talib recently. If the predator had really ran then that was it, they had no way to track him or have any inclination of where he would go. Arendelle had many allies and even the closest one would alert the other members and a large-scale army would be on its way here. A large army that Greed would have no way to identify which one is Wrath, his truest desire would be lost to him. This attack where he was in command was his only shot to kill that bastard that took everything from him without Father or Talib getting in his way.
With all of that going on in his head, Greed looked up at Elsa, and while staring her in the eyes, he brutally jerked his arm and made the knife cut clean through the doctor's neck separating his head from his body. A couple of people screamed in horror as some of the Weselton troops recoiled at the action as the General growled as Greed tossed the man's head at Elsa's feet. The head made a sickening sound as it bounced off the ground before hitting her ice shoes and making her shrink back in disgust and outrage.
"Which way did he go?"
Elsa mouth was agape, and she forgot how to speak as she kept her eyes focused at the doctor's severed heat at her feet. She had seen death before but nothing as callous and brutal as what she just witnessed. The head continued to bleed, and the expression of fear and pain was forever immortalized on the man's face. Her body started to shake as bile started to crawl up her throat which forced her to cover her mouth in an attempt to keep it at bay. All she did was delay it as the smell hit her nose and she turned around and threw up what little food she had this morning.
After the last of the bile left her mouth, she felt the base of her ponytail being grabbed before it was pulled harshly, and she was now face to face with Greed again who had a cold expression on his face.
"Which. Way. Did. He. Go?"
Elsa defiantly stared back into his red eyes before she spat in his face in an unqueenly manner and spoke. "We've surrender like you asked, now hold up your end of the agreement."
Greed threw her to the ground and loomed over her, doing his best to not assume his true form. The leather grip around the hilt of his knife squeaked as he gripped it tightly. The Elemental on the ground gathered herself before looking back up at him with the same defiant stare. This earned her an open-handed slap that split her lip and once again had her back on the ground.
The captive guards all looked ready to charge despite the rifles pointed at their backs. Seeing their benevolent Queen being treated in such a way lit a spark in their hearts and made them want to make that bastard pay. Stonewell looked at his men and felt pride swell in his chest at their fierce expressions but kept his face completely emotionless. On the inside he was pissed as well but hid it better and knew that he needed to keep his mind sharp and clear of emotional distractions that would make things worse. Instead of watching his granddaughter being treated in such a way, he focused on General Julius who began to look increasingly uncomfortable with the situation.
Elsa once again gathered herself before propping her body up with her bound hands and glared at Greed while some blood dripped down the left corner of her mouth. The Sin's teeth grinded against each other as he was about to strike her again when a beam of light caught his eye. Momentarily taking his eye off the Elemental to what was causing the shine of light, he looked up to see that it was the reflection of the sun off a little girl's ice sculpture. Greed narrowed his eyes at the little girl before looking back down at Elsa whose glare only intensified then looked back up.
"Bring her to me."
The Avaricious pointed at the little girl and the soldier from earlier wordlessly snatched her which made her start screaming. Elsa, who saw what was transpiring found a burst of strength as she got to her feet and put herself between Greed and the incoming soldier. "She has done nothing! I've told you, we sent him away and have no idea where he's going, stop this now!"
The heartless man grabbed her shoulder and pushed her to the ground then held his hand out for the little girl. Once he had her by the scruff of her shirt, he placed the knife at her neck and looked at Elsa.
"Which way did he go?"
The blonde was slower at picking herself up this time and wordlessly raised her hands in a surrendering gesture. Greed felt a red spark go off around the hand that held the knife as he told himself to hold it in. He needed some kind of direction of where his quarry went off to, he would do anything to get it. He looked down at the little girl who started to cry and at the back of his mind, he thought of Ian's daughter. The action he was about to take was monstrous to be sure but the craving for Wrath's life easily overpowered any sense of guilt. His hand tensed, ready to remove her head from her shoulders when a harsh grip caught his shoulder.
Turning around with a glare, he wasn't surprised to see it was Julius who was right behind him. Greed had to remind himself again to not assume his true form as he held the General's glare with his own. "I'm warning you once General, step back."
"You've gone too far. We have their Ice Queen at our mercy, and she has agreed to surrender. Our objective for this invasion was to force her surrender and take over the kingdom with as little civilian casualties as possible. Whatever your grudge is with this Edward person, doesn't mean you can butcher innocent civilians. Stand down Greed."
The Avaricious said nothing as he continued to glare at the General with his knife still at the little girl's throat. He could see the Weselton troops out of his peripheral vision watching him anxiously and inwardly scoffed. These humans were soft, he was really getting tired of them holding him back from doing what he needed to do. He honestly didn't give a shit if this invasion succeeded, he just wanted Wrath dead and now he had what the predator wanted most at his mercy, he would not let them get in his way.
Greed removed the knife from the little girl's throat before pointing it at the General's face before speaking. "Now you listen to me, without me, none of you had any hope to pull of this operation. All of you just cowered at the might of the Snow Queen. It was only thanks to me that you even managed to land your ships without being frozen. I promised your King a kingdom and I will deliver, but make no mistake, I will kill you if you continue to interfere."
General Julius only stared at the knife in his face as he looked into the enraged eyes of the usually cold Commander he hadn't known long. His orders were to follow the plan and assist Greed in whatever the man needed. The General had been following orders ever since he joined the military. It was expected of him since day one and it was what he always did. The previous King was a hard man who valued strength above all else and passed down that lesson to his children who fought amongst themselves for their entire lives. The General was happy his own children adored one another and looked up to him as a hero.
Despite the many things that war and conflict had made him do which made it hard for him to look at his family, he knew where to draw the line. He could attack a kingdom, invade and capture civilians, but he could never execute them when they've already surrendered. Greed didn't seem to share that sentiment and had every intention of going through with what he was planning, even the Duke looked a little uncomfortable but was too afraid to say anything.
As the two glared at one another with neither of them backing down, a Southern Isle soldier rushed into the town square with panic on his face. "General Julius! There's a situation at the main gate!" The two men who were staring each other down earlier turned to the soldier.
"What is it?"
"A-a giant snowman has appeared at the gate and nothing can stop him!"
The General bit his lip and looked at Elsa for a second before turning to the reporting soldier. "Gather our forces at the main gate, we'll get the Queen to call off her monster." The soldier went saluted then rushed toward the main gates into the village while Julius started toward Elsa but was blocked by the knife at his throat.
"She has information that I need now, once she gives me what I want you're free to take her." The General looked ready to argue but was interrupted by Stonewell who rolled over next to the blonde.
"You've already won Greed; you have Arendelle completely secured and have our Queen at your mercy, what does one man matter to you?" Greed turned to the old man and was about to open his mouth to answer but was cut off.
"Unless, you're still mad about him killing your wife and daughter. Then after spending so much time tracking him down, you can't stand the thought of him slipping through your fingers when you have an army at your beck and call. My, that would piss me off. I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now." The conversational tone that had underlining teasing aspect almost had Greed transform right there. He had a definite grudge against Wrath and wanted him dead more than anything. Hearing someone make light of that infuriated him to no end.
The Avaricious shoved the little girl to the side who was instantly enveloped by Elsa's protective bound hands, before closing the distance between him and the old man in three strides. Once they were close, Greed leaned over and placed the tip of his knife at the Captain's throat forcing him to look at the raging red eyes in front of him.
"Choose your next words carefully."
Stonewell didn't seem worried in the least and took on a pondering expression as his eyes lazily looked around trying to think of something. Greed's hand twitched in anticipation for whatever insulting comment that would be the last the old man would ever speak again. The moments he waited felt like an eternity for everyone in the square before Stonewell finally looked back into Greed's eyes.
"Alright, you seem dissatisfied by the previous deal of us surrendering in exchange for you ceasing hostilities. Instead, you wish for Edward's location. So I'll offer this new deal since you've broken the old one. I'll tell you exactly where he'll be and the hostages shall be released."
Greed only brought the tip even closer to the man's neck, a warning of what will happen if he tries anything. "Where is he?"
"He's right behind you."
The Avaricious snarled and was about to slit the man's throat when he heard a commotion behind him follow by an unbecoming squeal. Turning around, his face transformed into one of shock when he recognized Wrath standing a few meters away with the Duke of Weselton in his grip. His quarry was here as if it was a gift of providence, he completely dismissed the Captain from his mind as he faced the monster that made his life hell.
"Wrath, I've finally f-"
The sound of a blade scraping against its sheath caught the Sin's ears as a blade erupted from his chest, surprising everyone. Greed looked down at the blade sticking out of his chest and tried turning around only to realize he lost all feeling to most of his body. He could still move his head as he turned his neck as far as he could to see Stonewell out from his chair with what seemed to be the handle of his cane in his hands. The Avaricious chided himself, he should've been thorough.
"That's your plan, kill me and take out the Commander while holding the Duke hostage?" Stonewell shrugged before answering.
"Yes, actually that was my plan. I know this won't be enough to kill you but still it's pretty damn satisfying." The Captain gripped the cane handle with both hands before wrenching the blade left, tearing through Greed's chest before coming out from under his armpit. The body limply fell face first to the ground as soon as the blade left it and began to bleed profusely. Stonewell didn't seem to mind all the rifles being pointed at him as he grabbed the part of the cane that hid the blade and slid it back in before using it as it was supposed to be.
"Well Julius looks like you just got promoted."
Talib had watched the events unfold below him with a frown. Greed had let his emotions get the best of him and now it put him in an awfully bad position. With the Avaricious Sin being 'dead' and the Duke being held hostage, Arendelle had a significant amount of leverage over the Southern Isle General.
The alchemist looked down at Wrath with a pondering expression. Greed had lost control of the situation so it was actually feasible that he should take this chance to capture the Furious Sin. Weselton was still a minor problem but they still had the prototypes who were all still ready to be deployed.
Lust was still gone and he would've looked through her eyes if he wasn't so interested in the scene below him. Greed was still alive and aware of the situation around him, Wrath knew that so it was interesting to see how it would play out, especially considering Weselton's fanaticism. The man in the wheelchair looked to have something up his sleeve and was always planning ahead. From the way he carried himself, he seemed to have the situation completely under control.
Talib stared hard at the Captain as he got the feeling that there was something to him. The alchemist only considered the Ice Elemental and Wrath a threat but with the way Arendelle was moving, there might be another threat he hadn't considered.
As he thought this, the Captain glanced up at his perch and gave him a determined stare before turning his attention back on the General.
The Weselton troops were divided, some were aiming their weapons at the captive guards, others at the Captain that killed their Commander, and even less at Wrath who held the Duke hostage. General Julius had raised a hand to calm the troops as he glared at Stonewell who was patiently waiting for him to speak.
"Tell your man to release the Duke and no more violence shall occur."
The Captain hobbled over to his monarch and offered her a hand to get her back to her feet before answering. "You'll forgive me if I'm not in a very trusting mood. We came to surrender as you asked and you said you'd cease hostilities, yet your man proceeded to execute a doctor looking for one man who isn't even a part of Arendelle."
Julius frowned as he looked back at the young man who had a knife to the Duke's neck, it was steady yet there was a clear gap that left the man's skin untouched by death's fine finger. "Tell me, had our man actually gone through with the surrender would things not end up the way it did? Our Commander is dead and you have one of ours as your hostage, what guarantee do we have you won't kill him?"
Stonewell looked to Elsa who shared a look with him before she turned to Wrath.
"Release him."
The predator removed his knife from the Duke's neck and stepped away from the sniveling man who instantly scrambled to the nearest group of guards. The General had a confused expression on his face as he turned back to the Captain and the Queen. He hadn't expected that from them, he expected they demand he release the hostages in exchange for the Duke's life. Honestly, he would've granted it but now that they had released the noble, they had no leverage. Julius stared into the eyes of the famous Ice Queen and expected cold fury or disinterest but instead, saw a firm resolve.
What are they thinking?
"General Julius, Captain Stonewell has told me of your exploits since the last time Arendelle and the Southern Isles have supported one another in difficult times. He tells me that he remembers a steadfast young and just man who was a gem among the brutal Commanders that came before you. He assures me that a man such as yourself would not sacrifice the innocent and endanger their lives for the sake of pride. I have complete trust in my Captain and wished to speak with you."
The Duke seemed to finally found his voice as he hid behind two of his soldiers. "Do not listen to a word she says! We have her completely surrounded and she knows it! She must have some devil's magic ready and waiting while our guard is down!"
Julius looked at the screeching little man before turning to Elsa who did not seem phased by the outburst. "He's right, Your Majesty, we do have you surrounded and since you ordered your man to give up the Duke without anything in return you have no leverage. What reason do I have to listen to what you have to say?"
"The reason you should hear me out is that your wish to avoid war."
The General had a curious expression as when she said that. What could she possibly mean by that? "War, with whom? When you sign over the kingdom, this invasion will be declared an internal affair and the other members of your alliance will not be able to do anything."
"That is true, however its not them who will start another war." Elsa gestured with her bound hands at the multitude of burning buildings around them. "Look around, war is all around us and innocent people have suffered because of the greed of one man. The one man who is not even here to take in the price of the events he's set in motion. Your King Hans isn't here standing beside the people he's put in danger"
"A King cannot risk falling by charging in the front lines."
"But a King should value the lives of his people over his ambition. Your home was attacked by an unknown force then he arrives with an enemy kingdom to take over the throne before throwing your kingdom back into war with another soon after being attacked."
Julius silenced the treasonous thoughts that formed in the back of his head and quickly rushed to the defense of his King. "You speak of matters you know nothing about. Our King has braved multiple assassination attempts that have claimed the lives of his kin and has gained support from an enemy kingdom to save our home. What he does is for the good of the kingdom and it is not our place to question his motives!"
"Then where is he? If he is as brave as you make him out to be, why isn't he here? Is he afraid of a Queen who has already surrendered? Why appoint a man who went back on his own agreement and killed an innocent man over his own General?"
The General looked at the dead body that was on the ground. His King had informed him that Greed had saved the monarch's life and made it possible for Weselton to give them aid but in the back of Julius's mind were doubts. This mysterious man did not seem to care an ounce for the men he sent into battle. His cold and calculating demeanor suggested that everyone around was the equivalent to chess pieces for him to control. The value of life seemed lost to this man and more than once did he admit that he planned on slaughtering every man, woman, and child should things not go his way.
Julius wondered how his King could tolerate such a man, but sadly dismissed it as the mindset of the late King. All that matters was strength and nothing else. Many of his men were dissatisfied with that ideology but were bound by their oaths to serve and feared the punishment for treason. When he heard the story of how Alrick overthrew his King, part of him actually considered such an action but immediately dismissed it. He wasn't a King, he wasn't of royal blood, and he didn't want to be the cause of a civil war that could endanger his family.
"My King cannot be too careful especially when dealing with the unknown capacity of your powers. Tell me, if he had come here, would you not have your man taken him hostage and force us to surrender? I think it is truly fortunate that he wasn't here and thus leaves you with nothing."
"I would have Edward release Hans if he decided to show himself. I could've had Edward keep the Duke hostage and force his troops to surrender but I didn't because it would only prove that I am no better than Greed. I value the lives of all my people, I would endure any hardship for them if it could make their lives easier."
"Then surrender, if your words are true then surrender to my King."
Elsa took a deep breath and squared her shoulders; she was about to take a gamble that could end very badly if it didn't go her way. Stonewell and Wrath both had neutral expressions on their faces as they both stared intensely at her. She held their faith and Arendelle's in her hands.
"If it will benefit my people then I will surrender but let me ask you. Does it not strike you as odd that someone managed to track down all of Hans's brothers and had them all killed yet miraculously miss the youngest and last in line for the throne? Especially after he came to Arendelle and once again failed to take the throne once again knowing that his brothers would seek retribution? When he first made an attempt on the throne, I decided to allow him to return home and continued trade with the Southern Isles as I believe a kingdom should not suffer for an individual. When your kingdom was invaded, I sent an ambassador to assess if you required assistance and hopefully negotiate a peaceful resolution. Can you honestly tell me, without a shred of doubt in your mind, that once Hans has taken Arendelle, he'll just stop? Or do you know he will send you off to another war where more will be lost?"
Julius tried once again to silence the treasonous thoughts in his head but this time they demanded to be heard. He did find it odd that every single one of the twelve brothers were killed with only the youngest one surviving. When Hans was finally allowed outside the kingdom, the General personally arranged his security detail of men he trusted to watch the Prince. When that unidentified force attacked and Hans came with his personal ship backed by Weselton forces, he expected to see his men again but was dismayed to hear they all died.
Back then, amongst the fighting, he didn't recognize the men that were guarding the Prince but he did recognize their uniforms. They were all wearing Southern Isle uniforms yet from what the King told him, his protective detail was all killed and he barely escaped. If that were the truth, then how did he take his ship back and procure the uniforms of his fallen guards? The General at the time felt that he was being paranoid and dismissed those thoughts from his mind as he recognized the sole surviving royal member was Hans.
The attack left many soldiers wounded and crippled their strength. The General was worried that an enemy might see this as a prime opportunity to attack but the first foreign ship to come was from Arendelle, seeking to know the situation. His King had told them he suspected Arendelle had orchestrated the assassinations and wished to see if they had succeeded. He found that that didn't make sense.
If the Queen of Arendelle really was behind all those assassinations, why wait all this time to pull them off? Why suffer their continued position in an alliance she had worked so hard for? Arendelle kept out of other kingdom's business and prided itself on being neutral ground, why risk all of that? The case the King made was that Queen Elsa held a grudge against him after he valiantly tried to save her kingdom from herself who endangered it but plenty of other dignitaries would argue against that. Plus, she was well within her rights to have him killed or at least put on trial for the attempt on her life instead of letting him be extradited back to the Southern Isles.
In short, the Queen of Arendelle had plenty of chances to harm the Southern Isles instead of turning the other cheek.
This whole invasion was made on the premise that the Ice Queen would eventually expand her dominion with her first target being the Southern Isles. His men were told that and Weselton believed surely believed that, yet he was remained unconvinced. Even now, the Queen had surrendered herself and threw away her only leverage to get what she wanted just so she could speak to him. She had far too many opportunities to come out ahead, but she chose not to.
The General looked over to Stonewell who was tapping his fingers on his cane. Arendelle and the Southern Isles had many exercises and joint trainings together so it wasn't uncommon for officers to know each other. Julius had met the Captain of the Royal Guard years ago and was instantly impressed by the wealth of military knowledge and strategy the man possessed. Even as a Major who was younger and outranked the older man, Julius learned a great deal from the man and wondered why he was only a Captain when he had the aptitude to be a General.
Julius honestly dreaded going up against the Captain as he was sure the old man would have a whole slew of strategies and tactics ready for the incoming enemy force. The dead body not too far away proved that one should never underestimate the Captain. Which also raised a question in the General's mind, Stonewell was a very blunt and callous man when it really mattered. Earlier, when Edward managed to take the Duke hostage and the Captain killed Greed, the old man knew full well that Julius would not order his men to fire. He couldn't risk the Duke's death as it would cause a wedge with the Weselton forces.
Stonewell would've demanded they release the hostages if he were the one calling the shots. Even if he wasn't, he would've advised his Queen of his suggestions that would give them the advantage, but she chose to let the man go. That act, while naïve and self-harming, showed the General the kind of person Queen Elsa of Arendelle was. She was a person who valued life, her actions proved as such. From her creating those ice walls to stop the cannons to having her people evacuate then going so far as to surrender when she could've easily plunged them into a winter.
Greed had said that her compassion for her people was a weakness, but to the Julius, it was a mark of great strength.
"Say it were possible…if the Southern Isles withdrew from Arendelle, would there be any form of retaliation?"
The Duke jaw hit the floor at the officer's words and pushed his way past his men. "General! You can not be serious! Do not fall for this witch's lies, she will say anything to get what she wants. We have her right where we want her, there will never be a better time than now!"
Elsa once again ignored the little man's shouts and nodded. "I swear on my honor as Queen of Arendelle, no form of retribution will be taken if you cease hostilities."
The little man's jaw remained opened as he was looking at the General speechlessly until he snapped his jaw shut and pointed to the officer. "That is not your decision to make! We must rid the world of her devil's magic and if you can't find the constitution to do so then I will!" The Duke raised his hand to signal his men to prepare to fire but the sound of heavy footsteps made the ground shake. The Weselton soldiers all looked panicked at the sound and searched for the origin until a large snowy foot came from behind the clocktower.
Another foot joined the first one and brough into view a hulking beast of snow that stepped into the town square. Marshmallow stood at his full height and curiously looked around the square until he found Elsa then instantly started stepping over to her. "Momma."
Each footstep made the Weselton troops shudder as the giant snowman didn't even pay attention to them and only focused on the Queen. Wrath had a raised eyebrow at the name the snowman called Elsa but said nothing as he finally reached the blonde and scooped down to envelop her in a hug. Elsa lightly chuckled and patted the snow that was squished into her face before being let down.
"Its good to see you, Marshmallow. I'm sorry I haven't visited in a while. How are you and your little brothers?"
"They good Momma. Big brother looking after them. Felt you in trouble. Came down to help Momma."
Elsa understood and smiled softly at the large snowman. Everyone else on the other hand were transfixed by his sudden appearance. Wrath was more curious than anything else at the exchange while Stonewell regarded the giant for a moment before turning his attention elsewhere. General Julius looked a little nervous while the troops from Weselton were shaking in their boots at the large snowman as they were told how effective conventional weapons were against it.
Elsa softly patted the large snowman before she turned her attention to the General. "I am a woman of my word, if you tell your forces to surrender, I will allow them to leave without any sort of retaliation." The officer nodded and was about to head toward the main gate to check on his soldiers who failed at holding the large snowman back when the Duke yelled.
"Just because he's surrendering doesn't mean we are as well! We still have hostages and I demand you call off your monster and surrender!"
Stonewell chose this time to cough to get the small man's attention. "My lord, if I would be allowed to give you some advice, I'd suggest looking at the houses that are currently surrounding you."
The Duke had a surprised expression on his face and glanced at the houses around them and saw nothing special about them. About to dismiss it as some kind of trick, he was about to turn back to the situation on the ground when he noticed a glint in the windows. When he squinted enough, he could see the shape of a rifle in the window of the house nearest to him aimed right at him. The house next to it had two windows with two more rifles aimed at them as well. Dread started to fill his stomach as he glanced all around and saw multiple rifles in the windows all pointing at him and his soldiers.
Whirling back to the old man who had a nonchalant expression on his face, the Duke thrusted a finger at him and shouted. "You were buying time to get your men in position! That witch lied to us!"
Stonewell sighed as he leaned forward and put all his weight on the cane in his hands. "No, Her Majesty didn't lie. I originally planned on taking you hostage and forcing your men to stand down, but she decided to try and reach a peaceful resolution. I told her that it would give my men time to get in position as a ruse but she insisted that if she could get both of you to cease hostilities, then they wouldn't be necessary. I know Julius would be more likely to accept her offer but you on the other hand are driven by your fanatical fear of her abilities. The only way we could dissuade you, would be to threaten your life as you are very afraid of death."
The Duke sputtered a couple of times trying to form a response as he looked from the rifles in the houses, the large snowman who began to glare at him, to the witch who was giving him a stern glare that said there would be consequences. He could see out of the corner his eye that his men were starting to panic wondering what they should do. The captive guards looked ready to spring at a moment's command from their monarch and with the current situation Weselton was outnumbered.
I still have hostages! Maybe I can use them to get away!
"Don't forget I still have hostages! You tell your men to stand down right now!"
Stonewell frowned before he turned to Wrath. "Runt."
The Duke barely had a second to look at the odd young man before his throat was grasped and he was lifted off the ground. He stared into the blue eyes of the man who held him hostage earlier, wondering how this man could move so quickly. Stonewell cleared his throat one more time then faced the soldiers from Weselton.
"Now we do things, my way. Your leader is at my mercy; you will drop your weapons, get on your knees, and place your hands on your head." All the soldiers glanced at one another then at the Captain who was giving them a flat look before slowly, they all followed his instructions. Before long, the captive guards had taken the discarded weapons and kept an eye on the Weselton soldiers as well as the four silent soldiers that Greed brought with him.
The civilians were to be instantly released and taken to the castle by a detachment of guards. General Julius would go with them unarmed and grant them safe passage to the castle where he would issue a cessation of hostilities. The Duke was to remain in Wrath's custody until Arendelle was free of attack and he was escorted to a secure location.
At least that's what the General and the civilians thought would happen, but Elsa, Wrath, and Stonewell all kept their eyes on Greed's body, whose hand had begun to twitch. Wrath, who was closer to the General grabbed him by the back of collar and pulled him and the Duke behind the fountain as Elsa pulled Lina with her and hid behind Marshmallow's leg as two gunshots rang out.
Greed watched Wrath pull his two fellow Commanders behind the fountain and was sure that the Ice Elemental had dodged his handheld blunderbuss shot. He heard a familiar sound of that blade being drawn from the cane and was ready this time as he turned around in time to drop his guns and pull out two knives out of his pockets and block the stab aimed at his neck. Stonewell disengaged the blade lock when he realized his attack was blocked and went for another quick thrust but Greed tossed his daggers in the air before dissolving into dust then appearing on top of the fountain a short distance away and catching his daggers.
Julius and the Duke looked up from their cover in shock to see the supposedly dead Commander glaring at the two of them. The General was speechless while the little man raised a finger and stuttered. "B-b-b-but you're dead!"
Everyone around them seemed to share the same sentiment as Greed cracked his neck before he spoke. "Yeah? Well now so are all of you." Stonewell moved quickly and pointed at the man on the fountain before roaring.
"FIRE!"
It took half a moment before all the guards under his command rushed to fulfill his order and open fire but that slight delay was all that Greed needed. A symphony of shots filled the air and perforated Greed who spasmed as each shot struck his body and left a hole in it. He remained upright as red lightning started to erupt from his wounds, his eyes, and his mouth. His body violently began to shudder before it exploded into a large dense cloud of black dust with a faint red light in the middle. The cloud parted and revealed the red light to be a red stone that started to such in the black dust around it until it began to form into a solid gold mask. Black dust began to flow from the mask until it looked like someone was wearing a black sandy costume with a gold mask.
While this was happening, Stonewell yelled to his men to evacuate the people to the castle while Elsa had Marshmallow pick up her and Lina then lead them to the castle. Wrath pushed the Duke and General Julius to follow while he stood and waited for Greed to finish his transformation. When the Avaricious Sin finished, he pulled out the two daggers that was in hands before and instead of rushing his quarry, he dove straight toward the stunned group of Weselton soldiers who didn't have a chance to react before they were all slaughtered.
After finishing, Greed turned to Wrath and Stonewell and spoke with a smile in his tone even though his mask didn't move. "No black dust for you Wrath."
Talib watched the events unfold and his frown deepened even more. Greed had assumed his true form and was about to take on Wrath while the Ice Elemental was escaping back to her castle. The situation now forced his hand.
Turning to Gluttony behind him who was still supplying Sloth, he snapped his fingers to get their attention. "Sloth, continue your assault on the other kingdoms. Gluttony, I want you to capture that Elemental before she can get those cuffs off."
The Voracious Sin got to his feet and started down the stairs when the alchemist called to him. "Take three of the prototypes with you for insurance."
Hey guys, looks like things are starting to get exciting. Greed has finally revealed himself and Gluttony is about to take the stage. I do hope you stay tuned because the next few chapters are going to be dramatic and heart racing. I can't wait to write them, and I hope I can get my vacation approved so I can spend more time pumping out more chapters since I won't be working.
As always please PM me or send a review to contact me and I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can. Have a nice Easter (If you celebrate it)