The White Vixen Nymph
Chapter Four:
The Heart of an Emperor
By: fairysphinxfairysphinx: Been a long time. But, I finally got the computer fixed. So, here's the new chapter! I love your reviews, so keep them coming! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The reviews are so lovely!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Zoids, so PLEASE do not sue me!
The birds chirped a beautiful song in the late morning. Sun streamed through the window, and a wind gently ruffled the soft brown hair. Two eyes silently opened, and looked at the world around them, much different from memory. Two feet slid out of a soft bed, white and full of feathers. They silently padded out of a door and through the long corridors, turning here and there onto a side corridor.
Voices came from behind a large mahogany door. There were dainty voices, rough voices, concerned voices, and, well, blushing voices. A hand stretched out and touched the elaborately designed brass doorknob. And, after a moment, the hand twisted it, and the door slowly creaked open.
Silverware clattered onto the large table, covered in a large white tablecloth. Food stopped halfway to mouths. There were two small screams. Large eyes looked on questioningly. "What's wrong?"
Viola tried to clear her head of shock. "R-Rudolf? Your Highness?" The young boy raised an eyebrow.
"Why so shocked Viola?" he asked. "I haven't been out that long, have I?" Rosso cleared his throat.
"Rudolf. It's hard to say this. I thought I'd never speak with you again!" he smiled a wry smile. "You're a very stubborn boy, do you know that?"
"What are you talking about? I've been out for a day, two at the most! Have the mercenaries been defeated?" The four at the table exchanged nervous glances.
"Rudolf," Rosso finally said. "You've been out for over a year." Rudolf's mouth dropped.
"F-for a year?" They nodded grimly.
"The doctor said you wouldn't make it a day, let alone a year." Rudolf's face went from concerned to confused. "Here, let me explain." And he did.
The young boy sat in one of the many beautiful chairs at the table. "How could this have happened?" he whispered. "How am I alive?" Rudolf closed his eyes for a second, before turning them to Mary-Anne. "How have you been, Mary-Anne?" The girl, pale with shock, gave a shaky smile.
"I'm as well as can be expected," she said. The young boy scanned the rest of the table. Rosso, Viola, Mary-Anne….
"Who are you?" Rudolf asked a young man sitting next to Mary-Anne, almost rudely. Mary-Anne and the man blushed slightly.
"I," he said, "Am Lord Talmore Everstein, Mary-Anne's husband." Rudolf dropped a fork he had been playing with.
"Excuse me?"
"I said-."
"I know what you said! But…I'm engaged to Mary-Anne!"
"Rudolf," Viola soothed. When we thought that you were…dead…things changed. Things changed." Tears lightly brimmed her eyes. "You're the Emperor. But, Caravon Fletcher took over rule for you…and he isn't doing a good job at it." Rudolf was confused. If ever anything happened to him, Caravon was to rule until he recovered, of course. But, in all of the training courses, he had excelled them. What could he be doing wrong?
"What is he doing that's so bad?"
"Look around," Rosso said, grimly. People were walking around, cleaning, clearing used dishes off of the table. These, however, were not paid workers. They did not hold the special crest on their clothing. "These were the people from the island. These were the once mighty mercenaries. Look at them now! They can hardly hurt a fly! Slaves! That's what they are! Your trusted understudy did all of this! Pathetic! If I were you, Rudolf, deal with the large things first, the minor things later." The boy nodded.
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'So what if Mary-Anne's married?' he thought, walking down the long corridor to the throne room. 'That just leaves me to marry whoever I love!'
Rudolf had miraculously recovered. He was healthy. He was full of energy. He was even ready to do work! But something seemed to be missing. He couldn't put his finger on it. 'What's wrong with me? Everything's fine! I'm just paranoid!'
But everything wasn't fine. They passed a window going to see Caravon. Rudolf froze. It was a disaster out there. Sure, the destruction couldn't be repaired in a year, but surely it would be more than that! There was hardly a complete house. Most were half made. The once great city was now a trash heap. Not even able to rival a garbage dump.
"My city," Rudolf whispered under his breath. "The poor people! Rosso, Viola, what of them? How are they surviving?" Their faces fell.
"Half starved, half clothed. Hardly a comfortable bed to rest their weary bones." A fire licked Rudolf's eyes.
"And yet, the palace is in perfect order! An abundance of food! More beds and clothing than its occupants know what to do with!"
"Yes," Viola said. "Caravon put himself in front of everyone else. That selfish, good for nothing creep!"
"Calm down, Viola," Rosso soothed. "That dreadful man is no longer at rule. The real emperor has returned." Rudolf smiled.
"Yes. I will reverse the effects of Caravon's rule. The evils he brought upon us will be wiped away, erased for all eternity!"
"That's my boy," Rosso whispered, to where no one, not even Viola, who was standing next to him, could hear. "That's my boy."
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"I told you to get me seedless grapes!" Caravon yelled at one of the slaves. "These grapes have seeds! Now, for you're disobedience, you shall get fifty lashes with a whip!" He picked up a black whip which was by the side of the throne, and raised it, ready to strike.
"Hold it, Caravon!" All eyes in the room turned toward the door. Rudolf was leaning against the doorframe, a smug look on his face. "Excuse me, but you are expelled."
"Your highness! What do you mean?"
"I mean, Rudolf said, walking forward, "That you shall never work in this palace again. And," Rudolf said with a grin, "You are under arrest. An emperor is a person who is supposed to govern, look after, protect, and supply his people. And you have followed none of these simple rules and duties. All were broken or disregarded. You cared for no one but yourself. An emperor is supposed to put his people before himself. Caravon, you are no longer my understudy. Guards," he said, turning slightly to the two military men standing by the throne, "Arrest him." All faces brightened. The guards gladly seized Caravon, and took him to the dungeons. "George," he said, turning to an old man, "Take these down. First off, never shall slavery ever re-enter into this kingdom. He [or she] who ever re-introduces it, shall be immediately imprisoned. Second off, if an Emperor ever fails to fulfill his duties, then the People have the right to impeach him, and replace him with one who they think more fit for the job." The old man, who followed the emperor around, writing down whatever he's told, usually new decrees or laws, was joyous. This was a welcome change from Caravon, who made laws that benefited only him. "Oh! And before I forget, get me a list of the laws and decrees passed by Caravon, please. Thanks, George." The old man hurried off to pass the laws and gather the others.
Rudolf smiled inwardly. "Do you think," he said to Rosso and Viola, who were standing right behind him, "That we can gather the slaves together, and free them all at once?"
"Of course. We'll get right on it! You, though, go sit down! You look beat!"
"Yes ma'am!" As Rosso and Viola went to gather the slaves, Rudolf sat down in his throne. The lights had been improved. They weren't as bright now. More soft and easy on the eyes. Rudolf's eyes slowly closed. It had been a long morning. And he was still in his pajamas!
'Oh well,' he thought. 'It's not like anyone will really see me. Just the slaves. And the only mercenaries were men! They thought too lowly of women to allow one of them to fight with them!'
Out of nowhere, there was a crash, the shattering of glass, and a stifled scream. Rudolf's eyes snapped open, and scanned the room. There, near the throne, was a girl, no older than him. She was crouched over a silver tray. Glass lay shattered about it, and a large amount of some food spilt as well. "Are you alright?" he asked the girl. Large grey eyes turned upon him. They were dull, and looked rather lifeless.
"Are you going to tell the Emperor?"
"Well, I…."
"Oh, please don't tell the Emperor! He said he'd decapitate me the next time that I messed up! Please!" Rudolf couldn't help but smile.
"Of course not." He made his way over to the girl, checking to make sure she was okay. He knelt next to her. "Are you one of the slaves?" She nodded, stifling a cry. "From the nameless island?" She nodded again. "But I didn't think that there were women there."
"One," she sobbed. "Only one. Me."
It was at that moment that it clicked in Rudolf's mind what was missing. "Ayu?" The girl looked up, tears in her eyes, startled.
"How did you know my name?" A smile burst onto Rudolf's face.
"Ayu! It's me, Rudolf! Remember?" Those beautiful eyes brightened.
"Rudolf? Is that really you? What are you doing here? And where is the Emperor, anyway?"
"Yes," he said. "It's me. I live here. And as for where is the Emperor-." The door to the throne room burst open. George walked in, slightly out of breath.
"The new laws have been dispatched, as told. And here are the laws that Caravon passed, Your Highness." Ayu knitted her eyebrows.
"Rudolf, what is he talking about? And why did he call you, 'Your Highness'?"
"Young lady!" George scolded. "You are to address him as Your Highness or Emperor Rudolf!" Her eyebrows rose.
"Emperor Rudolf?! You're the Emperor?" He blushed.
"Guilty as charged!"
"But…where were you the past year?"
Rudolf looked a little sheepish as he said, "In a comma. Long story."
"Okay." A knock sounded at the door, and a bunch of men, plus Rosso and Viola, walked in.
"Are these the rest of the slaves?" he asked.
"Yes Rudolf." He smiled.
"Listen, and listen well. You are no longer slaves. Now, you will not get off in the fact that you tried to destroy us. Everyone who was in on the plot to destroy us will stay about a year to half year in jail. But you are no longer slaves. Now, if you will, please aid them to the dungeons, until the jail is repaired. Thank you." As the parade of ex-mercenaries marched out, Ayu went to follow. "Ayu wait! You're not going to jail!"
"But you said-."
"I said everyone who was in on the plot to destroy us was to go to jail. You weren't in on it. So you don't go to jail." Ayu's grey eyes showed much gratitude. "So, um, what are you going to do now? Are you going back to your home?"
"If nothing else comes up."
"Stay here for the night. Think about your choice. And, if you decide to go, then I can have you flown back."
"Alright Rudolf."
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that afternoon
"What does it really matter if she goes back home? She belongs there!" Rudolf said to himself, pacing the floor. "I mean, if she wants to go back home, let her! Or, I can give her a reason to stay…."
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later that night
"What do you think this large order is for?" the driver asked his partner as he unpacked a large load of cargo.
"Something to do with the Emperor," the other said, as he finished unpacking the load.
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the next morning
A knock on the door brought Ayu out of the bathroom, toothbrush still in her mouth. "Coming, coming, she said. "Yes?"
"Are you Ayu?" a large man asked.
"Yes, I am."
"I have a delivery for you."
"Okay, bring it in while I rinse my mouth." She headed back to the bathroom. When she came out, she found the room covered in flowers. On a table in the middle of the room, there was a card. Opening it, she read, " 'Ayu, these flowers are for you. I know that they're no like what you're used to back home, but I hope they're just as good. Ayu, please stay. I need you. Signed, Rudolf'." Tears brimmed Ayu's eyes. "Oh Rudolf!"
"So," a voice said from the open door, "Will you stay?" Ayu turned to face Rudolf.
"I…."
END OF CHAPTER FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fairysphinx: Hee hee! Cliffie! Oh, I love my job as an authoress! Oh, well. I have to update all of my other fics before I come back to this one, so you might have to wait a while. But please keep reviewing! Thanks! See you next chapter!