A/N: Part three of my Corona slavery AU. You should read Pay with Their Lives and Illustrious Warrior first, as this picks up directly where those two leave off.
The compound was theirs.
It was amazing what grief, a little bit of hope, and a rhino could do.
Hector didn't know what was happening. He didn't know why this masked man had his rhino's whistle, or why his rhino was here in the first place. He didn't know whether or not he could trust this Eugene person, and he definitely didn't understand why Andrew was convinced that this Coronan was the ally they'd been waiting for.
Hector didn't have to understand these things though. He wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. They'd been given an opportunity, and Hector wasn't going to let them squander it.
When Hector's rhino ran into the compound he pulled himself onto its back before leading it in its rampage. There was screaming, shouting, and all kinds of sounds of confusion, and it was music to Hector's ears.
The Warden was trying to rally the guards. Hector couldn't give her the chance to continue. He desperately wanted to take his revenge and savor it. The Warden had reveled in tormenting him for all these years. She deserved to suffer and hurt for all she'd put him through. Hector knew how resilient stubborn people could be. If there was even a small chance that the Warden might escape or walk away before Hector had the chance to do anything to her, she had the chance to ruin them completely.
This wasn't about revenge. This was about getting rid of an enemy before she could hurt them anymore. Even though Hector wasn't completely satisfied with it, he rode his rhino up to warden.
She tried to stand her ground, but she was a fool to think that he wasn't going to follow through with this. Just before the rhino ran down the Warden her eyes widened in alarm and she realized that Hector wasn't joking. She jumped out of the way. Dodging and finally attempting to run wasn't enough to save her. All it did was delay the inevitable.
With one simple nudge Hector was able to lead his rhino to turn and go after the Warden. They rammed past a few guards, but Hector didn't care about them right now. His biggest concern was the Warden.
It wasn't long before the rhino caught up to the Warden. It nudged her with its horn, knocking her off balance. She grimaced and stumbled in her steps. Hector didn't give her the time to recover, or even realize what was happening. Hector nudged his rhino on, and it trampled her.
Hector had wanted to tear the Warden apart, but he would have to be satisfied with hearing the sound of her bones breaking and being crushed. He would ingrain this memory into his head. This was his new happy place.
Hector pulled his rhino to a brief stop, just long enough for him to slide off. He'd tried to be efficient when it came to taking care of the Warden, and he had to miss out on the fun part of completely destroying her nice and slowly. However, he needed to personally deliver the final blow, or else he won't know for sure that she was really gone.
Hector strode towards the Warden. She looked dead, or at the very least unconscious, but that wasn't good enough for him.
Hector looked towards the platform. He caught the gaze of a guard. They looked panicked and way too out of their depth. Hector had expected as much. These guys only acted like they had power when there was no resistance. The guard was holding a sword, but it wasn't raised and he didn't look like he intended to use it. He was just staring.
Hector held out his hand. "Give me the sword, and then get out of the way." It would probably be safest to get rid of all of these guards, but if there was a chance that they could sway any of them they could prove to be valuable assets. Until Hector knew what the plan with the guards was, he would spare them. They definitely weren't worth his effort.
The guard shakily handed Hector his sword and ran off before he could be stabbed through. Hector let him run off. He took the sword and strode to the Warden, who was lying there broken on the ground. Oh, how the tables had.
Hector didn't stop to savor their switched positions and the justice in his hands. He didn't say anything to taunt her. He just took the sword and drove it into her chest, right through her heart.
The Warden was gone. Hector had finally been able to do what he'd been dreaming of for years, and it really didn't help him to feel better. This was just the start. Now was the time for the true work to begin.
Hector took a deep breath and lowered the sword. He looked around. Adira had found herself a weapon too, though she wasn't doing anything with it. She just held it defensively as she kept an eye on Hector. She had his back, just like she always had.
Andrew was running around, fighting the guards and yelling over his shoulder for his people to do the same. That wouldn't do. Hector took a step towards Andrew, but stopped when he saw Edmund doing the same thing. Edmund had this.
Andrew wasn't used to being a leader. He was a warrior at heart, but his people looked to him as an example. He had to lead and inspire them, teach them how to fight for themselves, not just try to fight for all of them.
Hector watched for a moment as Edmund stood next to Andrew and talked to him before leading him up onto the platform. The stage of their humiliation and torture would serve as their means of motivation.
A few of the other Saporians, more than Hector had expected, were fighting against the guards. Most of the guards were fighting back, but a fair amount of them, namely the ones that had been there for the most and least amount of time, had already dropped their weapons and knelt on the ground. They knew when they were defeated.
Hector trusted that his sister, his king, and Andrew would take care of the remaining guards. They would reclaim control. Hector had never been good with control. He was a protector, and right now there was one person that he not only could, but needed to, protect.
Hector handed the whistle to Adira. "Continue the fight. I'm going after Varian." Hector knew that Andrew believed that Eugene could be trusted, but he wasn't going to believe that until he saw it for himself.
"Be careful." Adira said. Hector knew that she was worried about his back and legs. She didn't say as much, but she didn't have to. She was always worried about him whenever he got injured.
"Aren't I always?" Hector smirked. He began to walk towards the main building. His legs shook as he went, and his back was killing him. This was the first time that he had done any significant movement since being pushed off the roof. They'd been locked in the cabins for days, and there had been too many of them in there for Hector to even stretch properly.
Hector stumbled slightly. He could have easily caught himself, but it wasn't necessary. A gentle grip on his arm steadied him. Hector turned to see the masked guard that had given him the whistle. At some point in the past few minutes he had taken off his mask and Hector saw a man with gentle eyes that just didn't belong with guards.
"Hey, I got you." The man said. "You're Hector, right?"
"Who wants to know?" Hector frowned slightly.
"My name's Lance." The man smiled broadly. "I'm friends with Eugene."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Hector raised an eyebrow. He continued on towards the main house, and Lance went on with him. He actually supported Hector so he could move a little faster and not risk falling again.
"I guess not." Lance chuckled. "Hopefully it will soon. Eugene is here to help you guys, I promise."
"Then why'd he take Varian?" Hector asked.
"Well, for one thing, do you think the kid would be up for seeing that?" Lance gestured over their shoulder towards where the Warden's body was. Hector didn't answer, but he didn't really have to. They both knew that Varian, who felt faint at the sight of blood, would not cope with any of this well. "And the other reason, well, you'll see."
Hector didn't like mysteries and surprises, but being a servant of the moon meant taking a leap of faith and walking into the darkness. Despite his unease and frustration, Hector continued on to the main building. He lowered his sword as a sign of good faith, but he kept his grip tight on it. He'd be able to be ready to fight at a moment's notice.
"Just keep calm." Lance said as they approached the door. Hector scowled and pushed the door open. In his experience when he was told to keep calm it was because something bad was about to happen. He swore that if anybody hurt Varian he would tear them apart, and their death wouldn't be nearly as quick and merciful as the Warden's had been.
Hector was ready for a fight, but as soon as he laid eyes on the people inside his insides seemed to freeze. There was a clattering sound, and it took him a long moment to realize that he had dropped the sword. He couldn't bring himself to care.
"Q-Quirin." Hector said breathlessly. He never thought he would ever see his brother again, but there he was, looking just as he had years ago.
Hector stumbled forward, towards his brother. Quirin stepped away from Varian and met Hector halfway, pulling him into his arms.
"Brother." Hector said desperately. He'd missed his brother so much that it hurt. He'd pushed that pain to the side because he knew that his brother was safe, and had the opportunity that had been taken from all of them. Hector hadn't wanted to ever see his brother return here, if it meant him being pulled back into slavery that he didn't deserve, but seeing Quirin here when they were starting a revolution of sorts, it was all that Hector had ever wanted.
They clung to each other for several long moments before Hector found the strength to pull back.
"You…what are you doing here?" Hector asked. "I thought you weren't going to come back here."
"I always intended to come back." Quirin said. He sounded sincere, but twenty years was a long time to be gone. Hector didn't need to ask what had changed. It was obvious. Varian was here now. Quirin was here for his son.
Hector understood why Quirin's son was the driving force to encourage him to make a move, but he couldn't help but feel just a little bit hurt. He tried to push that feeling down. He shouldn't be jealous of his nephew because his dad didn't want him to live as a slave.
But a small part of Hector wondered why Quirin had been okay with leaving them behind in this life. Had their safety and freedom not been worth the risk of losing his own security?
Hector didn't voice these thoughts, because it didn't matter. Quirin was here now. That was all that mattered.
Hector sighed and leaned against his brother again. For so long he'd been fighting, not just for himself, but for his siblings and anybody who didn't feel like they could fight for themselves. There was still a long fight ahead of them, and Quirin had never been one to unnecessarily stir the waters, but now that he was back Hector felt like he didn't have to fight for everybody anymore.
Quirin ran his hands down Hector's back and arms. It was partially to provide comfort and reassurance, but Hector knew that Quirin was looking for injury. He always used to do this, ever since they'd been kids. Hector didn't bother to hide his grimaces and winces when the bruises on his back were brushed against. Quirin's touch was gentle, but Hector was feeling particularly sensitive right now.
Quirin frowned in disapproval and pulled Hector back again so he could look at his face. Hector had no idea how he looked. He hadn't seen his reflection in years. Whatever Quirin saw, it couldn't be very good. Quirin's expression darkened.
"You're hurt." Quirin said.
Hector scoffed. "That's nothing new."
"This is different." Quirin said. He was far too observant.
"The Warden pushed him off the roof a few days ago." Varian said quietly. Hector should have known that he wouldn't be able to keep a secret while Varian was here.
"She did what?!" Quirin growled. He looked ready to storm outside and get back at the Warden. Hector would have to disappoint him.
"I already took care of her." Hector said. "She's not going to be anybody's problem again."
"Why would she do something like that?" Eugene asked. Hector turned to look at him, only to frown. This young man, there was something painfully familiar about him. Hector was so busy trying to figure it out that he didn't even bother trying to answer the question. He just stared at Eugene until he realized with a jolt that it was the pain in his eyes. It was identical to the way that Edmund expressed his pain.
Edmund's pain was deeper than Eugene's was, but the way they expressed that pain was the same.
As soon as Hector noticed Eugene's eyes he started to notice other similarities, and not just physical ones. Yes, Eugene looked remarkably like Edmund had when he was young, but it was more than that. More than anything else it was the way that Eugene carried himself, as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulder, but he was far too proud and confident to let it get him down.
Hector also knew that Quirin and Andrew wouldn't trust just anybody. If Eugene was their ally, there had to be a very simple and good reason why the others would believe it. Hector had a suspicion about just what that reason could be.
"...Horace?" Hector frowned. Eugene flinched ever so slightly, but he gave Hector a very sad smile.
"I guess I'm going to have to get used to that name sooner or later." Eugene sighed. "But yeah."
Hector scoffed, which then turned into a chuckle, and it wasn't long before he was laughing hysterically. This was rich, and absolutely beautiful. Corona's prince consort was the Dark Kingdom's prince, and it seemed like his loyalties were toward the Dark Kingdom. Otherwise, Quirin wouldn't trust him, and Eugene's friend, Lance, wouldn't have handed Hector the means of starting an uprising.
Hector laughed for a long time. He hadn't really had a lot to laugh about in this place. Having a rare moment of joy felt absolutely incredible. "I knew my vision wouldn't let me down." He smiled at Eugene, and he realized that there was one more reason why he looked familiar. "You've got the moonstone, don't you?"
Eugene jolted. "How did you-?"
"I saw it." Hector said. "The moon blessed me with a vision a few days ago, during the eclipse."
Eugene looked stunned. "A vision…You're the one I saw in my dream."
Hector was excited. He'd never had a shared vision before. The moon had answered his prayers, and Hector hoped this was just the start.
He had been so sure that nothing could make him trust Eugene, but now he thought that he wouldn't hesitate to put his life in the young man's hands. Quirin trusted Eugene, and coming from a man who didn't trust people easily, that said a lot. The moon must think that Eugene was worthy, or else it wouldn't have allowed him to take the moonstone, and it wouldn't have given him a vision.
And Eugene was Horace. He was Edmund's blood. Hector didn't think that someone who had even just a little bit of Edmund inside of them could be all that bad.
Edmund…he didn't know. He had no idea that his son was here. Hector couldn't let him suffer in silence any more. Hector had sworn years ago to do whatever he could to ease Edmund's burdens, and there was nothing that Hector could do more than give him his son back.
Hector grabbed Eugene's arm and started to pull him outside. Eugene stumbled a bit, but didn't resist. He let Hector pull him outside, and when Hector stumbled slightly Eugene caught him, just like Lance had done before.
"Are you okay?" Eugene asked quietly enough that Quirin, who was watching, but not following them, wouldn't hear them.
"I haven't been okay in a long time." Hector said honestly. Eugene reminded him far too much of Edmund, and Hector could never bring himself to lie to his brother. "My legs have been busted for years, and the Warden screwed them up again when Varian arrived. And, you know, falling off the roof did them no favors."
Eugene faltered slightly. "Should you be walking right now?"
"Probably not." Hector said.
"Then why are you?" Eugene looked aghast. Hector found himself faltering now.
"I-I have to." Hector said. For twenty five years he had gone on, even when it felt like he couldn't anymore. There hadn't been room for weakness. There were no breaks, and no days off. If he was physically able to move, he was put to work, and if he didn't then the Warden and guards would punish him until he really was unable to work, and they'd still push him to continue.
"Yeah, I don't think so." Eugene said. He grabbed Hector's arms and pulled them both over one of his shoulders. Before Hector knew what was happening he found himself being lifted onto Eugene's back and shoulders. "Now, where were you dragging me off to?"
Hector scowled. He could have easily taken Eugene down and made him leave him alone, but that might have involved hurting him, and that just wasn't worth it. Hector swallowed his pride and just let Eugene do what he wanted.
"To see your dad." Hector said. Eugene's breath hitched.
"My dad." He said quietly. "That…yeah, I'd like that."
"First though, take me to my rhino." Hector said. He didn't really mind giving his legs a break, but he would much rather be carried by his rhino than by his prince. How was he supposed to expect people to respect him if he let himself be carried around by somebody that most of the people here saw as an enemy? "Let me have at least a little dignity."
"Alright, fair enough." Eugene said. He started walking towards Hector's rhino, who ran to meet them. The rhino huffed and nudged at Eugene, pushing him back and almost making him lose his balance. "Okay, okay, take it easy." Eugene said. He pushed Hector onto the rhino. It was an awkward transition, and Hector had to struggle to adjust himself to find his balance, but it was definitely preferable to being carried about by Eugene.
Hector looked at Eugene and held a hand out to him. "Come on." Eugene hesitated and Hector raised an eyebrow at him. "I mean, unless you'd rather walk and risk getting attacked by slaves who might want to get rid of their supposed future master."
Eugene made a face like he'd just smelled something revolting. If Hector had any doubts about who Eugene was loyal to, it would be gone now. Eugene was one of them.
It was time to bring the royal family back together again. Hector edged his rhino towards the platform. Edmund and Andrew were standing side by side, talking to the people and encouraging them. Hector was reminded strongly of the way that Albrun had been when he had brought on the Warden's wrath and tried to bring hope and defiance back into his people's eyes.
Hector would just have to make sure that the same thing that happened to Albrun didn't happen to Andrew and Edmund.
The two of them were instructing Adira and some of the bolder Saporian nobles to gather the guards. While Hector had been with Quirin the guards had either given up or they'd been attacked until they yielded. It was clear just by looking at the guards who had continued fighting back, because they were bleeding and injured.
Hector wasn't surprised about which guards were unharmed. There was Julien, of course. He had been kind to the Saporians for years. He'd done his job and stayed loyal to Corona, but now that the tides were turning he was willing to turn with them. As for the others who gave up easily, they were the young ones who had only been transferred here for a few years at the most. They weren't intentionally cruel, they just turned the other way because they were scared of the consequences of what might happen to them if they refused.
Being a guard was dangerous. Hector hadn't seen it for himself, but he'd heard it from Albrun, who had heard it from Julien, that if guards were caught being soft on the slaves then they were taken away and never heard from again. Nobody knew whether they were just fired, or if they'd been imprisoned themselves so they didn't share the secret of the slavery going on in Corona.
Now that the slaves were starting to fight back, maybe those misguided guards who felt like their hands were tied would find the courage to rise up and fight with them.
Andrew jumped off the platform and walked in front of the gathered guards. "Alright, you all know what's going on here. This system is being torn apart, and we're reclaiming control. If you resist us, well, I admire your stubbornness, but you're not stopping us, and we're not going to give you the chance to try."
Andrew gestured towards where the Warden's body had been left. "If you think I'm joking, take a good look at your boss. We won't hesitate."
"Hang on." Eugene got off of the rhino and strode towards Andrew. Eugene looked a little panicked. "You can't just kill people for doing their job."
"This isn't a job for them." Andrew glared at the most defiant of the guards. "They're cruel because they can be. They never showed us mercy. Why should we give it to them?"
"We don't have to stoop to their level." Eugene said.
A Saporian who must be feeling particularly bold pushed themselves between Eugene and Andrew, shoving Eugene back. "Who are you to tell us what to do?"
Hector growled. He was tempted to hop off his rhino and attack the Saporian, but he knew his legs would just give out beneath him, and that would completely defeat the purpose of what he was doing.
"Don't talk to him like that." Hector said. "He's here to help us."
Everybody was stunned into silence. It wasn't in Hector's style to defend slavers. Hector took advantage of this silence. He had wanted to give Edmund and Hector a quiet moment, to be a little more sensitive about the revelation, but they couldn't afford that right now. The Saporians were so riled up that they were going to see their best ally as their biggest enemy.
"Your highness, get up there next to his majesty." Hector nodded at the stage. Edmund was just watching him curiously. Eugene took a deep breath and climbed onto the stage so he was standing just next to his father. The two of them just stared at each other. Eugene looked a little bit faint and overwhelmed, like he couldn't believe this was happening. Edmund stared at Eugene in quiet confusion before he stiffened and his eyes widened.
Without Hector having to say a word Edmund knew just who he was looking at. Even after twenty years he recognized his son.
Hector pulled his rhino next to the stage. He gestured to his royalty. "Just as your long lost prince returned, so has ours." Adira whipped her head around and stared at Eugene. "Eugene, prince consort of Corona, is Prince Horace of the Dark Kingdom, and he's going to help lead your people, my people, all of us, out of this role that we've been pushed into."
Hector turned to see that Edmund had pulled Eugene into his arms and was holding him close. Eugene was tense and looked slightly uncomfortable, but he was returning the embrace. They both looked like broken men who had found the key to putting themselves back together again.
When Hector looked towards the people they all looked the same. Broken, but ready for a change. Saporians. Brotherhood. Those that were unclaimed, but had just as much of a right to their freedom and identity as the rest of them. They were all there to fight together.
The sun was setting on the kingdom of light. It was time for a new day to begin.