Everything was quiet.
Well, that wasn't necessarily true. The sound in the castle was deafening. Everybody was screaming, and shouting over each other, and the black rocks that broke through the floors and walls made a fair amount of noise themselves, but Hector barely noticed any of it. Amidst all the noise, his mind was clear and quiet for the first time in years, and it felt euphoric.
For his whole life, as long as he could remember, he had been aware of the moon's presence. It had just been a taste, and he'd been starving for more. He had trained to be a priest and prophet, dedicating his life to hear the moon's call, just so he could be a worthy tool in her hands.
Hector felt so detached from the world that he didn't physically feel anything, not even his feet on the ground. He almost felt like he was floating, and it took looking down to really see that he was stable. He just wasn't distracted by earthly inconveniences, and it was a blessing.
His legs didn't hurt at all. The ache in his chest that he'd been feeling since the Saporian King's death had dimmed to a barely noticeable numbness. His grief, his soreness, it was still there, but it didn't hurt. It was nowhere near enough to distract him from focusing on the moon.
He sent the black rocks through the castle, to the mainland, across the borders of Corona, and beyond. The moon was always aware of the presence of her people. If there was somebody out there who hailed or descended from the Dark Kingdom, or if they revered the moon, she could feel them, and as her hands on this plane, Hector could feel them too.
The black rocks would serve as a message to everybody who was loyal to the moon. They would feel in their souls that it was a call to arms. If they truly served the moon, they would answer the summons. The moon didn't expect everybody to fight, but if she was going to the effort to reach out to them, she expected to be heard. Hectorector could understand and respect that, even if he knew that his siblings didn't. They'd never understood the moon the way that he did, and that was fine. Being the moon's hands wasn't a destiny that everybody could handle.
But sending the black rocks as a message for the moon's servants was just the second goal. First and foremost, they were telling their enemies that they weren't to be taken lightly. As such, Hector also reached out to every place that the moon could feel Corona had slaves, whether they hailed from the Dark Kingdom or not, and he sent the black rocks as a warning. The slavers' days were numbered.
Hector did these at the same time, barely even thinking about it. The moon knew what she was doing. Hector was just here to be a means to an end. It was literally what he had been preparing himself for his whole life.
What he focused most of his active thoughts on was the royalty in the room, be it the one he needed to protect, the one that needed to be destroyed, and the ones that he and the moon weren't completely decided on yet.
The tyrannical king looked humorously furious and caught off guard. He stared in shock at the black rocks for a long moment before he turned his fury to Hector's prince. He didn't know what the king was planning, but it couldn't be anything good, and Hector wasn't going to let him try. He lifted his hand and, before the king could even make a move towards the prince, he summoned a series of black rocks to form a cage around the king, tightly encasing him. He wouldn't be able to move a muscle.
"You've trapped my people." Hector said, speaking the words of the moon. "This isn't even a taste of what they've been through, and it's the least you deserve." He clenched his fists and started shrinking the cages around the king and his guards. He barely made it any smaller before he felt a grip on his arm.
Hector flinched. The touch didn't hurt. It wasn't even that strong, but compared to the nothingness that he had been feeling this light touch seemed to burn.
Hector snapped his head around to see his prince looking at him with concern and caution.
"Hey, can you pull it back a bit?" The prince asked. "We talked about this. I don't want anybody to get hurt."
Hector paused, but he still had a grip on the black rock cages. Hidden behind the numbness he felt slightly ashamed. He'd sworn to his prince that he would only go as far as he said. Hector was a man of his word, but the influence of the moonstone covered up that devotion. The most important thing to him was the moon, and she didn't think that the king of Corona deserved mercy.
This man was responsible for enslaving their people. He had convinced himself that he was in the right, and if his daughter and wife couldn't convince him otherwise then they didn't stand a chance. The easiest way to accomplish that was by getting rid of him completely. The princess would have the chance to change her kingdom, and that would be the extent of the moon's mercy.
Hector knew the will of the moon. It was his job to make it happen. He started to tighten his fists, making the cages smaller. There were grunts of pain from the king and all of the guards. It was like music to Hector's ears, but it didn't block out the cry of alarm from the queen, the panicked plea from the princess, or the desperate eyes of his prince.
If he killed the king, their people would be free of his tyranny, but it would break the princess' heart. Her pain would hurt the prince, and his pain would hurt Hector's king.
His king…Edmund…he wouldn't want this. He would probably hate it, but he also wouldn't blame Hector for one moment. Edmund knew what it was like for Hector to be under the moon's influence. He knew how hard it was for him to resist her power, both physically and mentally. Hector didn't want to resist her, but even if he did he didn't think he could.
The princess wouldn't understand that. As compassionate as she was, her heartbreak would be stronger than that. And because she understood the sun's influence, she would probably think that the moon's hold was the same. She would think that Hector had complete control, and because she believed that, Hector's prince would as well.
Edmund and the prince would fight about it. They'd been reunited after so long, and a rift might be driven between them, all because of Hector. He couldn't do that to his king. He couldn't hurt his brother like that.
Hector tried to justify it to himself. They wanted an alliance with Corona, not just to be free from them. The Dark Kingdom would be stronger for this, but if they killed the king they would just make themselves enemies of the kingdom of the sun. They might cause a war between their people, and the Dark Kingdom couldn't go through that.
Hector's hands were shaking, and the pleasant numbness that he'd been feeling got stronger, leaning more on the uncomfortable side. The moonstone started to feel piercingly cold in his grip, but he couldn't let it go.
Hector could sense the moon's disapproval. She needed to remind him of exactly what his place was. What he was here for, and what had happened the last time they had fought against her will.
In an instant Hector felt every bit of mental and physical pain that he had experienced in the past twenty five years.
The pain in his back from falling off the roof. The piercing in his soul when he saw the Saporian king stabbed. Every second of loneliness and terror, when he felt like he was absolutely alone and would never have anybody on his side again. Every broken bone. Hector felt it all at the same time, and he felt like it was going to break him.
It was this pain that reminded him of the one constant hope and relief in his life. The moon. Even in the rare moments when he didn't think his siblings truly understood him, or on days when he wished that the guards would go too far and kill him, just so he could stop hurting, Hector had been able to get through it because he knew that the moon was always there, watching out for him.
Hector didn't know when, but at some point his legs gave out beneath him and he was kneeling on the ground, head lowered in a bow. His eyes were open, but unseeing as he silently cried. He'd let the moon down, and he would continue to do so, because even though she was giving him another chance to prove his loyalty, he didn't crush the king or guards. He kept them trapped, but didn't go further, because how could he?
The prince, princess, and queen all tried to talk to him, but Hector couldn't truly hear them. He couldn't feel anything but hopelessness and guilt. He wasn't focused on wielding the moonstone anymore. It was only by the moon's mercy that the black rocks didn't release their prisoners or dispose of them. They weren't spreading, they were just still, waiting for his command.
He didn't know how long he was there for, but eventually he heard a door open and new people enter. His first thought was that it was a threat, but the moon sent a feeling of calm through his soul. This was a friend.
"Hector," He heard an all too familiar voice. There was a reassuring touch on his cheek. It hurt, at first, but the relief from the cold was nice. His tears were brushed away. "Brother, come back."
"I-I can't." Hector said. If he let go of the moon's presence, he would go back to being empty and powerless. Every inch of his body would hurt again.
"Yes, you can." Edmund's voice said. "You're so much more than just a tool of the moon's. You did good work with the moonstone, and we'll need you to wield it again in the future, but right now you need to let it go." Edmund let go of Hector's face and put his hand on top of Hector's. "Just give it to me.
It was tempting, but Hector didn't just serve Edmund, but the moon as well. He was equally loyal to both of them. He knew that she didn't approve of his reluctance, but that didn't mean that she wouldn't be understanding.
Hector reached out to her, pleading for forgiveness. For a long moment he felt nothing, and then through the numbness he had a sense of comfort. Disappointment was still there, but so was compassion.
Hector let out a shuddering breath as he forced his fist open, letting the moonstone fall into Edmund's palm. As soon as the moonstone was out of his grip, all of the pain and sensation that had been numbed flowed back into him. It was overwhelming and he suddenly felt drained.
Hector groaned and started falling forward. Edmund caught him and held him close.
"She's so strong." Hector muttered. "I'm not good enough for her."
"You are the most worthy person I know." Edmund said. He wrapped the moonstone up in a cloth and put it into his pocket. They stayed on the ground for a long moment before Edmund stood up and helped Hector to his feet. He staggered a bit, but his prince, Horace…Eugene…whatever his name was, he was right there to support him.
"Whoa there," Eugene said. "You're okay. You're good." He looked at his dad. "I've got him." Edmund nodded his appreciation and turned his attention to the king of Corona. Hector felt like the confrontation between the kings was really important, but he couldn't focus and pay attention. He felt like he was going to fall asleep on his feet. He leaned against Eugene, who easily supported him.
"Sorry." Hector muttered. "Your orders were clear, and I almost couldn't…"
"But you did." Eugene said. His voice was full of nothing but understanding. "You didn't hurt the king, or the guards, or anything. You have no idea how much that means to me." Eugene was quiet for a moment. "Is it painful? To serve the moon, I mean."
"It's…demanding." Hector said. "She expects a lot of those that serve her, and she's not exactly merciful. I let her down, and it was inexplicably painful." Both because of the moment of torment he had felt, and because of the knowledge that he wasn't as devoted to the moon as he had striven to be.
"Well, thank you." Eugene said. He looked towards his father. The kings were talking in hushed voices, both of them looking absolutely furious. The two of them couldn't hear what was being said, but Rapunzel, who was closer to her father, could. She looked conflicted and scared, but suddenly her eyes widened in horror.
"War?!" Rapunzel's voice broke. She sounded devastated. Hector really did think that she was a kind-hearted girl, and hearing her so upset was heartbreaking. If Hector wasn't so tired, in pain, and worried about his own people, he would feel sorry for her.
"You may have magic, but you can't control it." King Frederic said in a louder tone. "I have legions of people who will fight to defend their land."
"You're a fool if you believe you're the only one." Edmund said quietly, using his kingly tone that Hector didn't often hear from him, but would never get tired of. Edmund stepped back towards Eugene and Hector. "I will give you time to reconsider. I don't ask for a lot. You can keep your precious kingdom, and we never have to see each other again. All I want is for you to free the people whose lives you have stolen from them."
"Those slaves are criminals who are getting what they deserve." Frederic practically growled.
"I will be back for your answer later." Edmund said. "You've seen how strong even the mildest powers of the moonstone are. If you try to come after me or my family, we will defend ourselves, and this time we won't hold back."
Hector was relieved. He wouldn't have to feel conflicted if the moon wanted King Frederic's head. It was a lot easier to be devoted to his king and the moon when they aligned, as they truly should.
"Lance, Eugene, help Hector." Edmund said. He didn't want help, but he was feeling too weak to even stand on his own two feet. Letting go of his pride, Hector let the two young men support him.
Rapunzel ran up to Eugene and kissed his cheek. "I love you, you know that, right?"
"I love you too." Eugene said. "Try to talk some sense into your father."
"I will." Rapunzel said. She looked at Hector. Fear was in her eyes, but it was unclear if she was scared of him and the powers of the moon, or afraid for him and his well-being. "Be careful."
Hector nodded as they started to make their way out. Edmund led the way, reaching for the moonstone in his pocket. He would use it to defend them should they run into trouble. Hector was feeling weak and defenseless, but despite his uselessness and fatigue he didn't let himself close his eyes and give in to the darkness. He couldn't fall unconscious while in enemy territory. During his time at the compound he had learned against doing that.
Edmund had to use the moonstone a handful of times to keep them safe, but the going was clearer than maybe it should be. A couple of castle servants watched them leave, an almost hopeful look in their eyes before they retreated back. Hector wondered how many of the servants were actually slaves themselves.
They left the castle grounds and walked through the capital. Hector was having a hard time keeping his eyes open, but through sheer determination and stubbornness he stayed awake. It was only when they got to the bridge where his rhino was waiting for them did he let go. He grew limp in the young men's hold, but they caught him. Hector knew that he was safe with them.
Edmund and his son would do anything for their people. Hector hoped that he could do the same for them. He tried, but he struggled. Despite what Edmund seemed to believe, Hector wasn't as strong as he needed to be. He did his best. He just hoped that it would be enough, because they couldn't afford to fail now. Too much hung in the balance.