Chapter 19: The Fruit of Sin One

The envy and greed that have taken hold of the brother's heart, drain the last drops of love left in his sister's soul


Elyon Brown- Escanor had never imagined that she'd live to see the day when she'd fake her own arranged wedding. All her once dreams and opinions of marriage were in the dust by now. But as she stood by the lonely altar, somewhere far behind the hills north from Touris Filney, clasping her bouquet of white poppies and lilies, she couldn't help but shiver.

The abandoned altar in the outskirts of that particular settlement was perfect for the occasion because of many reasons. One of which was its mystic origins. And the mystic objects that were just recently put around it... As usual, Nerissa knew what she was doing. Her desire to see Phobos terminated was surely greater than the Queen's. Elyon's was more reconciliation and resentment. Dark emotions which he had left it her, strong enough to make her go against her own principles. She, the girl who once could not even think of hurting a fly, would now turn her brother into pure nothingness...

Andan put his hand on his wife to-be's shoulder. His love, she could indeed feel, but what she could not yet determine was whether that love was meant for her, or rather her power and ability to preserve his kingdom.

Elyon sighed. Once again, she was letting her demons get the best of her. She had to have more trust in herself and those around her, she constantly reminded herself of that, but none of the things that surrounded her could give her that much needed sense of security.

The dry winter wind and gray sky, ruling around them, were sucking her hope out. The unknown gave no peace to her young heart. The presence of a man she was supposed to trust near her, tampered with her confidence.

The young Queen stirred in her place nervously and took a look around herself. The crowd of phantasms surrounded her and the prince, as they stood by the altar. The altar was all set. All set according to their plan. Now all that was left was to wait for her brother. But even though she was supposed to await his arrival short for breath, once she actually heard that familiar, low, despotic voice, she felt her heart tighten painfully:

"My apologizes, dear sister. We didn't mean to be late for your wedding. But after you distrustfully cancelled and then decided to turn the ceremony a tad more private, you hindered us. Just a little, though, have no worry. We're here now."

Phobos was on the tip of the iceberg of his breakneck, princy arrogance. In his dark garments, consisting of a long mantle and a pair of pants, all made of finest silk, embroidered with a set of blood-red gems and his long, fair hair flying back with the wind, he looked as confident as ever.

"On the other hand, you know what they say. A Queen is never late. Everyone else are just early."- Leonida added in a sultry voice as she lined up with the man.

Elyon and Andan turned around to face them, a set of thousand different emotions swirling around. Elyon glared at the new-arrived pair hatefully, as her fiancé locked fingers around her wrist again. They exchanged quick glances. It was now or never.

"Excellent location, by the way."- Phobos sneered and for a second, her heart went in her heels.

He knows! He knows everything!

But just as her scalding suspicions were getting the best of her once more, her brother allayed them, unwittingly:

"This is where a part of our great-grandmother Winona's dust was scattered after her cremation. A sacred place, our mother called it... An appropriate place for you to wed. Even if you hoped for that to remain a secret from me, in vain, sister. I'm here. I'm here to celebrate with you."

Elyon closed her eyes and exhaled in relief, finally relaxing her brows for a second. No. Phobos wasn't aware of he was in for and that could only bring her joy. As joyful as luring her homicidal brother into a deadly trap, risking everything could be, of course.

"So am I."- Leonida interjected with a devious smile. "It makes me very happy that none of you are fighting us. We're not here to fight either. We're here to celebrate."

"Why would you, or we, for that matter, want to take a part of the same celebration."- Andan's harsh voice broke Elyon off of her befuddled thoughts. "No one has invited you here, you are criminals and will one day, sooner or later, rot in hell! How dare you show up after all you've done, Leonida! You killed our father and the Gods know what you've done with our mother! You will be seized at once, for your audacity to even show up here, nefarious trollop!"

"Watch your tongue, brother!"- Leonida retorted, looking daggers at her sibling's burning glare.

Elyon carefully measured them with a glance. Both Coronians were beside themselves and neither of them was going to relent. Leonida was an insane woman, but her false courtesy and comfort had quickly been diminished by Andan's open hostility, something which made the young queen quite restless. What if her fiancé lost his nerve and lashed out, fizzling their plans?

Unlike the Coronain siblings, Phobos appeared to be rather amused. Elyon narrowed her eyes as she watched him observe the glaring contest between their 'better halves'.

No, Phobos. I will wipe that stupid smug grin off your face today, Elyon thought, meeting her brother's cold pale-green eyes. I will punish you for all your evil deeds, you soulless being... You find joy in others' misery, yet no one, this universe knows, has been able to build their happiness for the account of somebody else's crushed dreams and pain. You won't be an exception.

"Oh, well, leaving aside my darling brother-in-law's rude greeting."- the Evil Prince began, a wicked smile playing on his lips, as he slowly started to approach his sister. "I believe everything and everyone are to be much more favorable, once our news is delivered. Lose the stone face, sister. It's a happy occasion. You mustn't sulk on your wedding day. Not when that same day is all so special for your brother, also."

Elyon blenched slightly noticeably but decided to ignore his words. Whatever he was saying and whatever he wanted to achieve wasn't important. It was important for her to get the plan on with.

"I'm glad you came, Phobos. You've obviously finally grown a pair. Congratulations."

"Excuse me?"- Phobos cocked an irritated brow, making his sister smile coldly in response. "And what is that supposed to mean, your Highness?"

"Oh, I think you understand what I mean to say."- she went on calmly.

Leonida and Andan had even halted their argument, too busy being fascinated by the lines being exchanged between the other sibling-pair.

"All these months you hid from me. I can only be happy that you finally gathered the courage to face me. We both know who the stronger one is, between me and you. That has always been such a big complex for you, hasn't it? I guess I should thank her for helping you deal with your inferiority issues."- Leonida just gawped at the other woman as she turned to her and gifted her with another cold smile. "Thanks to Leonida."- Elyon went on. "We can settle our scores once and for all before my marital life begins."

Phobos needed a second to swallow the bitterness of the insult and come to terms with his sister's audacity, without blasting at her. The man stirred in his place, tightening his fists. No, he had bigger plans to achieve. The conniving little bitch and her attitude weren't going to make him forget his goals.

And as the Prince opened his mouth to reply to the Queen again, he had already returned his smirk, she so hated.

"Ah, Elyon, but you haven't even allowed me to break my news to you yet. Our news, that is. Sister, I hope that you haven't forgotten the oath you gave me. Your friends seem humbled enough. Follow their example, will you? Your hands are tied."

Elyon watched him wink at her 'friends', he had no idea were actually phantasms, a cautious spark playing in her eye.

"If they are, come and shake my hand, brother."- she said innocently, yet in a pinprick tone, which she knew would trigger him. "Why are you staying all the way over there? Don't tell me you're afraid of your little sister and her greater power. You mentioned some news that you have? Come and announce them to my face."

Phobos smiled insincerely. What did this simp think? He was going to bury her with his big news. Did she really think she could peeve or intimidate him when he knew better than anyone that her days on the throne were numbered? Yes, they were numbered and he was going to tell it to her right at this very moment.

And the guardians? Well, they and all their allies would simply watch and cry together with his spoiled brat of a sister, once the announcement was made.

Leonida watched the prince take slow, yet firm steps towards the altar, maintaining an eye contact with his sister the entire time. He was so confident, so smug as he walked... But she wasn't.

The more she looked around herself, the more the oddity in the entire picture became clearer to the blonde. All these people, their enemies, that just stood by the scene, like some sort of décor. The outré altar, far from the capital and all the loyal subjects, and Elyon. Standing in the middle of it, a look of covert triumph on her face.


Cedric had had a bad feeling about the entire day ever since morning. He had woken up with cold feet, in the literal meaning of the phrase, and whenever that happened, misfortune was sure to follow.

He had woken up with cold feet the day of Queen Elyon's coronation, 11 years ago, when an end had been put to Phobos's reign. He had had cold feet on the day of his failure in the final battle in Heatherfield, ten years ago, as well.

Up until now, the shapeshifter had chosen to completely ignore that bad feeling. He had chosen to ignore his misgivings because if he didn't, he was destined to never succeed in anything. It was better to try and fail than not try at all, right?

But today, his limbs were ice-cold, and ignoring the discomfort was far from easy. Even after he had transformed in his serpent form, leading the Larveggs and a group of Lurdens, to attack the central square, the awful coldness and grave feeling refused to go away.

Maybe it was because the man couldn't trust Leonida and her judgment. Maybe because their actions were barely thought through and foolish, or maybe because, ten minutes after launching his attack, the huge snake found himself roped to the hard ground by giant roots.

"You came here even though your masters were already headed for the new wedding location. You came just to taste blood and pain."

Kadma Starlighter had a thing for summarizing situations, people, and their flaws, in particular. And as she gazed down at Cedric condemnatory, her purple apparel and long, dark braid flew back with the wind created by the earth that was opening under the monstrous Larvegss, trapping them in mud mounds for good.

"You terrible beast, once we take you with ourselves to Zamballa, as a prisoner, you'll regret being this blood-thirsty."

Cedric glared at the ex-guardian while trying to set himself free in vain. His small army was reckoned with in the matter of minutes, as before his very eyes, these three loathsome women gathered.

It had been a set-up, which he had expected. The people, whose death Phobos had ordered under Leonida's influence, were safe and sound, while he was a prisoner. Again. Cedric snorted inaudibly. He wasn't surprised when the three heart keepers shattered the monsters. Each one of them was strong on her own, but their powers combined, the power of three different hearts, was cosmic. They could definitely destroy him and do whatever they wanted with him, thanks to all that power. They weren't gullible either... But to his luck, the shapeshifter had actually paid some attention to his cold feet this morning.

"Why is he grinning?"- Will said to Nerissa's ear, alarmed by Cedric's facial expression not being in unison with his situation.

Nerissa raised an eyebrow and then relaxed it back down.

"A worthy question."

But just as the redhead was about to tell the raven-haired guardian that she wasn't liking what her tone was suggesting, Cedric spoke:

"You can forget about imprisoning me and let me go now if you know your bessst interesstsss. Unless of courssse, you don't care about what happensss with Queen Elyon's left-behind bridesmaids and ring bearers. These poor kids from the villages nearby. From the remote provinces..."- and he nodded somewhere in the distance. "All of them were promised to be a part of Elyon's wedding, right? She forgot to take them to her new location, however, and you forgot to hide them from the open, I'm afraid. Don't worry, they're under our wing now."

"What is he talking about?"- Raythor, who had just made his way to the three women, barked.

And as the sounds of little kids' anxious voices were heard, all eyes followed them to a group of hooded figures in the distance behind Cedric, who just grinned.

"Shapeshifters..."- Raythor answered his own question in a murmur. "But how- "

"Did you seriously expect me to fall in your trap, with a rightfully functioning mind, without some sort of guarantee for my salvation?"- the shapeshifter hissed with resentment. "Pleasse. I only followed her Majesssty's orders, but I'm not that slow-witted to come here unprepared! I knew this had to be a trap. These children I met, picking flowers in the woods, were just the thing I needed to come here and pretend to be unaware of the situation."- and letting out a shrill, contended hiss-like laugh, the Lord stirred in his place. "What you'll do now is release me and let me go. You already evaporated my army of Larvegss, but if you try to do the same with one of us, these poor kids will pay the price."

Raythor grunted with resentment, but he had to accept the defeat. The three guardians beside him, also knew that their hands were tied. Cedric's smug grimace made Will's blood boil, but when he ordered Kadma to release him from her roots, she nodded nevertheless. The ex-guardian blenched, but she did what she had to.

Will watched tensely, her gaze moving from the snake to the poor child hostages in the distance. There was no way to rush and save them without endangering them. They were too far away and the figures surrounding them were too many.

"Good."- the shapeshifter hissed, once he was finally free. "Now. Before we go, I'll need to know that you're not going to come chasing us to the so-called wedding ceremony, once these children are no longer endangered. Excussse me, but we all know there has never been trust between us."

"What do you want?"- the redhead asked through gritted teeth.

"Well."- Cedric pretended to be deep in thought, as he towered above his enemies. "Since your plan partly failed, why not disrupt it completely? I'd like to be able to reach the prince without you on my tail. I want to open his eyes and have him flee before your people seize or hurt him. You can suck that failure up, can't you? I mean unless you don't care about the fate of the little bridesmaids and ring bearers."

"How dare you use children as a bargaining chip, you revolting spawn!"- Kadma interrupted him with hatred in her voice. "You and your prince are felons and trash, that's what you are!"

"Will, if the old cow doesn't shut her trap, one of these children will lose a head."- Cedric hissed deviously, pinning the redhead with his serpent pupils. "The decision is yours. Our freedom or their lives."

Suppressing her desire to destroy the reptile, the keeper of the Heart nodded grimly, keeping her hands up.

"Fine, you win. We'll agree on anything. Don't hurt these kids...They're innocent."

"No, that's not enough. I want a, how did you call it? Ah, yes. An oath."- and the snake smiled wickedly. "A magical oath. Swear that you're not going to come after me to the place of the fake ceremony. I'll give you a few moments to decide."- he added triumphantly, giving the little group his back and crawling a few steps back.

"My plan is not to fail because of some queer shifter and the villagers' stupidity."- Will almost jumped once she heard the venomous low voice of Nerissa, who was talking for the first time since Cedric had announced his hidden trump card.

"We have no choice."- she murmured bitterly.

"Oh, we shall see."

"What is there to see, Nerissa, it's too dangerous. We can't toy with these kids' lives."- Kadma interfered.

Nerissa held her head high.

"Bring her."- she then turned to hiss in Raythor's ear. "Bring the spy from the carriage."

Glum, but decisive, the captain nodded with a stern face and headed back to the royal carriage he had come with. Will blinked in dismay as she watched him return after a minute, with what looked like a child, tied up with electrical rings, in his hands.

"What the..."

"I suppose I could agree to that. I could give in and allow you to thwart my plan."- Nerissa called coldly, grabbing a hold of the ginger-haired child. "Or we could trade your spy's life and welfare for that of these children you blackmail us with."

Cedric turned around to face her but his face had already lost all its triumph. Will, however, still couldn't understand.

"Mancy."- he whispered in shock. "No..."

"Spy? Mancy? What the heck? How can you use this child to get out of the situation, Nerissa, do we have to go over what's right and what's wrong again?"

"I'm Mage."- Nerissa said stubbornly "And if I must use one dirty shapeshifter spy like Mancy, as a bargaining coin, to save Meridian children from these worthless sludges over there, then I will."

"Discriminating shifters from other Meridian ethnicities, some Mage you are."- Cedric hissed hatefully. "The Queen might be liberal, but her subjects not as much, I see. You call yourself Mage, sorceress, but you're just a villain. You'll never be like her, she never made a difference- "

"Oh, bite me."- the ex-guardian snapped and glared at him. "Besides, you never even knew her. "

"You're wrong! My mother knew the ancient Mage before you took her place with deceit. She helped her, you'd never-"- Cedric argued, but the woman cut him off harshly, absolutely unimpressed with his words:

"Decide. Mancy or these children. Can you afford to lose your precious little spy?"

Still confused, Will looked over at Mancy, who Nerissa held roughly, pointing a fistful of lighting at. Spy or not, she was a child and looked utterly terrified. But before Will could say something, Kadma had rushed to her friend's support:

"How dare you seek democracy and equal rights, monster? You were the one who threatened innocent children first! One reaps what one sows!"

Cedric looked torn. He had known this would be a bad idea...He also knew that he should've paid more attention to his cold feet... Each time...But in the end, he saw himself forced to reconcile:

"Fine. Don't hurt her...I'll...I'll release the village children. But you'll soon regret this, I'm warning you. You can't stop Phobos. You're trying sorceress, but all your attempts will be in vain."

Will raised an eyebrow. And why was Cedric ready to abandon his threats and wishes in Mancy's name? What was their connection?

Nerissa sneered coldly, as she held her minacious sphere of magic dangerously close to Mancy's face:

"Enough hallucinations, fool. Let's get this over with, we have a ceremony to attend. And, by sunset, I'll personally show you just how defeated your Phobos will end to be."

Cedric didn't reply. He just looked daggers at the darned woman.

Then, the trade could begin. One by one, the village children were sent to cross the distance and when all of them, except one, were with Raythor and Kadma, it was time for Mancy to go to the shifters' side. Of course, Nerissa and the veiled shifter, which held the last sobbing bridesmaid firmly, were not willing to make the first move of trust and change.

"She'll be free when you set Mancy free."- Cedric said with a crude expression on his face.

"Forget about it."- the former guardian tossed her hair and held Mancy even tighter in her electrical rings. "I'm not taking risks."

"Neither are we."- Cedric hissed. "You don't expect us to just surrender, do you? We also need some reassurance."

Nerissa tilted her head and gave him an outrageous smile.

"I don't expect you to, but I'd say it's in your best interest."

"Since when do you care about our interests? Enough, sorceress."

Her green eyes followed a certain gust of wind and when the sand erupted around the last hostage, she only smiled victoriously.

"Good job, Sandpit!"- Raythor cheered once the sand golem came flying down with the child. "We can now take all these children to safety!"

"Go."- Nerissa ordered before her friend could protest.

Kadma just nodded firmly before getting in the royal carriage with Raythor, speeding towards the Palace.

Cedric blinked in perplexity and turned around only to see the shifter that had held the girl down on the ground. Their last captive-gone. Macny- still in Nerissa's hands.

"NOO!"

He tried to attack her with his tail. But she just needed to raise her hand to halt his attack and numb his entire body. She was too powerful with the new Heart. Too powerful.

"Did you seriously think that you'll get away that easily?"- Nerissa's voice thundered. "After your master used my grandson as means of blackmail at my ball, and then vamoosed, you expected something different? Oh, no. But you and your Mancy are going to reunite. Not here, but in your cell on Zamballa. Your new home."

Will was going through her own thoughts on shapeshifters, their deceitful human appearances and the idea of using Mancy as means of blackmail against Cedric, an idea clashing with her moral beliefs and values, when she noticed something alarming. On one house roof, not too near, but not too far from them either. Nerissa was too absorbed in her gloating and the seeming victory to notice it. The suspicious figure and their menacing bow, which was being pulled right at that moment, aimed straight at them. There was not a second to be wasted, the redhead knew it. She also knew that what she was about to do would result in the enemy's possible escape, but what other choice did she have? In the spur of the moment, she pulled Nerissa back with herself, flying as far from the ground as she could. But even with that, the arrow that had just collided with their previous standing point, released its suffocating green smoke, enveloping them in an impenetrable curtain.

"Drat!"- Nerissa yelled in vain. The smoke was beginning to clear up, but Cedric and Mancy had disappeared. Will looked up to realize that so had the mysterious archer. "They've run away! This is your fault!"- the brunette hissed, turning to glare at Will.

"Whaat?"- she exclaimed, irritated. "You'd rather me leaving you to be shot? Didn't you see that someone launched an arrow, Nerissa? Cedric had help; it's no one's fault that he managed to flee. He had this emergency option pre-planned."

"Thank you for stating the obvious."- Nerissa snarled back. "But we're expected elsewhere now. I'll have to think about this new mysterious supporter of Phobos later."

"Wait a minute."- Will took the gleaming Heart out of her blouse. "I believe that the Heart of Kandrakar would like for us to fetch a few additional allies before we head for wherever Elyon's luring Phobos to. Cornelia is reaching to me."- she added, explaining herself before opening a portal in the dual veil.

"Whatever. Just hurry up."- Nerissa rolled her eyes and crossed her arms on her chest.

She couldn't get over the disappointment and anger over her flopped action that easily. No, the fact that Cedric and his spy were backed up by someone else on Meridian, and the even more irritating reality of their escape, was to give Nerissa a headache. And whenever her head ached, she was prone to losing her temper and sense of morality. More than usual.


"Andan!"- Elyon screamed in shock as Leonida swung her fiancé in the air, like a rag doll, tightening the grip of her magic around his neck. "What are you doing?"- she yelled reproachfully.

Leonida gifted her with a black ice of a look.

"What do you think? That I'm that stupid? What's really going on around here is of no importance, what is, is that this false ceremony is over, we're leaving and you're going to stand back! Unless of course, you want to be widowed before you've even wed."

Utterly strained, with her heart in her feet, Elyon managed to retort, glancing at Phobos. His right foot was still out of the altar's scope...

"What are you talking about? My wedding is today, just like me and Andan originally decided. Let him go! You said you're not here to fight!"

"We're not here to fight, but we're not here to fall into a trap either!"- the honey-blonde yelled back and then pointed at the crowd. Elyon didn't follow her finger, her troubled eyes were on Andan, hanging in the air and turning blue by now...She had to do something faster... "I happened to notice that not only are your guests unusually static! None of them have shadows! Which means that they're not really here. "

"What?!"- Phobos looked around abruptly with hatred in his eyes. "Bitch."

"Good try, but not good enough!"- Leonida took another step back, blind to the sufferings her strangling spell was inflicting on her helpless brother. "Don't try toying with me, Queen Elyon of Meridian! We'll be back to announce what we have to announce at your actual wedding! Don't you try sabotaging that if you know what's good for you and your kingdom!"

"Why is it so important for you to attend my wedding?!"- Elyon screamed, once again looking up at her fiancé hanging in the air. "Just state your demands now and begone! And stop hurting Andan!"

"NO!"- the other woman yelped relentlessly. "I will kill him unless you give me your word! That is my demand and final offer!"

The straw-blonde ruler tightened her fists. If she tolerated Leonida's demeanor another second wasted in vain, Andan would die and she'd lose it. Her last drop of sanity and will to live. No, she had to do something to stop this madness! And then, she noticed it- her lifeline signal. Phobos's two feet were both on the altar's upper platform.

"I just remembered something, Leonida."- the young Queen then turned to the other woman, coldly. "I don't like to receive demands and orders. Especially in the borders of my own kingdom!"

"NOOO!"

The energy fireball that Elyon let off, almost caught Leonida by surprise. She had to use her both hands, dropping Andan face flat down on the way, to create a golden force shield to repel the attack. But even with that, the Queen's spell was too powerful and fast, Leonida was sent flying back, and even if she landed on her feet, by some insane chance, she was out of the altar. Just like Elyon had wanted.

"You've overflowing of newfound chutzpah, sister."- Phobos turned to her, gritting his teeth, once relieved that Leonida had ended unharmed. "I'll wipe that smirk off your deuced face!"

"Now, Ely. Do it now!"- Andan cheered her on, as he rolled forward to escape one of Phobos's lingering dark spells.

Andan was down on the grass, out of the altar and so was his sister. Elyon turned to face her own brother, striving to look unfazed as the maniacal prince roared in his fury.

But regardless of how furious he was and how much he wanted to blast everything around, the process of his terminal dethroning had already started. The phantasms had vanished. The mystic gates of the altar were closing, outlined by the three relics that Elyon and Nerissa had previously hidden in the three opposite columns of the said altar.

*Flashback to the previous night*

"How are you sure that this ritual will have the wanted effect? What if something goes wrong."- Elyon asked, hugging herself in her long royal cape.

The night was cold and veiled in fog as she and the older woman made their way to the altar. An altar that had once been made sacred and mystic with her great-grandmother's ashes.

"What if something goes wrong?"

"It won't."- the ex-guardian replied shortly. "Once you lure Phobos in the heart of the altar, your own powers, deviated through your locket, your mother's crown jewel and her grandmother's mace* will give you the natural right to drain Phobos of all his magic and life force. Because they all belong to the Queen. That's you."

"I know all that, you told me the facts and the story already."- the girl interrupted her.

They had reached the place which now had to be prepped for the following day. And still...

"You also told me about planning to perform this ritual without my consent. That's not my point. I'm saying what if something goes wrong and the ritual fails to drain Phobos?"- Elyon said anxiously as she sat at the bottom step of the solitary altar. "What if someone tries to interrupt the ritual before it's over?"

Nerissa busied herself with placing the relics in their places, where they'd remain hidden in the main columns.

"Don't test my nerves on the finish line, Queenlet. Once the three relics are activated and Phobos is in their range, you'll be the only one who'll have the ability to adjourn the rite of life force drainage. Now, be a dear and give me your hair locket."

*end of Flashback*

"Nooo, my King, get out of there!"- Leonida screamed, but it was already too late.

When the prince turned around in daze, the mystic whirlwind of blinding bright-blue energy had sealed the open spaces between the columns of the altar.

Leonida tried to dive forward, but as she did that, she almost got herself stabbed by the sharp tip of a big sword.

"What do you think you're doing, Andan, you lousy brat!"- she spat and glared at the man that had halted her. "Out of my way, or I'll destroy you!"

But she couldn't and she knew it. She could already feel her darned mother's curse kicking in, in spite of the anti-curse amulet around her neck. Trying to harm any of her relatives would always result in feathers and defeat for her. And as if that wasn't enough, her brother sliced her protective spells, which were meant to push him away, effortlessly.

"What's the matter, Leonida? After all the grave crimes you've committed, you thought I'd still be foolish enough to face you unprepared?"- he challenged. "We've been preparing for this day. The Mage gave me this sword, it cuts through black magic, magic like yours! You ruined our family, but I won't allow you to ruin our kingdom as well!"

"Andan! Stay back or you'll regret it!"- the ex-princess shouted, as she dodged the swings of his sword. "Stay back!"

"Why so bitter, sister?"- and Andan tossed his hazel locks back, swinging the sword again, slowly, but surely, bringing her to a cornered position. "Not so ferocious on your own anymore, ha? Phobos, your inhumane lover, and ally, will be terminated and you'll be thrown in jail! We've brought you to a place which you can't flee by any magical ways! This is the end!"

Leonida panted angrily, as she dodged his attacks. Did he seriously believe that his stupid sword was what was mitigating her strength? It was the damn curse and turn of events, her pregnancy and their trap that had gotten her into this...

Leonida cursed mentally, swearing to escape this atrocious situation, one way or another. Once her plans were successful, she'd finally have the power to undo her mother's curse and then her brother would pay...

But now, the advantage was his. Andan pinned his sister to a big tree, harshly, putting the blade of his sword like that of a guillotine, against her neck.

"You're going to tell me exactly what I want to know if your darned life is still dear to you after everything."

Leonida bared her teeth as she listened to her brother. How insolent he was, talking to her like that after he had taken what was rightfully hers! But he was just faking his newfound valor, she heard it in his voice. Deep behind that façade, he was still terrified of her and all she was capable of. And Leonida suddenly knew just how to reverse the situation to her advantage.

"You'll tell me how you got through the veil! How did you escape Coronia and what have you done with our mother!"

"Our mother, huh? You really love her, don't you, Andan."- Leonida giggled innocently, but with a death glare that made the man's back hair bristle. "If you care about mommy dearest so much, then perhaps you better get the weapon the Mage gave you, away from me. Because, brother, if you dare tamper with me and my plans, if you dare cross me a second time, her Majesty Magana will pay the price."

Once it fell, her brother's facade revealed the fear and doubt on his face. He did not respond immediately but merely narrowed his eyes, losing his militancy, like a dog, whose teeth had just been pulled out.

Leonida smirked and pushed the blade away on her own, without him trying to resist her. Of course, he wouldn't risk. Not when Magana was in question.

"Now. I suggest you stop worrying about whether my life's dear to me or not, and get out of my way for good, baby brother. Stop playing the hero, it doesn't suit you. You might as well also want to stop your sweet, but awfully brash fiancée. You know, just to make sure that mommy won't wither."


"Unimaginable! I won't end like this. I won't end outsmarted by any of you!"- Phobos hissed.

He was like a wild animal pressed to the wall in the altar sealed by energy whirlwind. He couldn't flee by any means and each one of his attack his sister could absorb. How had he gotten himself in this nightmare was a terrible question that tampered with his dignity and confidence, but he had to fight for dear life. He had to think of a way to escape that same darned girl he had once been able to control...

Unfortunately, that naive girl had matured, as the prince realized. And controlling her was now closer to impossible than ever...

"This is the end, brother."- Elyon stated firmly. "Think of all the people whose life force you've been draining for years, thanks to the hidden spring under the Palace. This altar will do the same, but this time the victim of its power will be only one, and that'll be you! After everything, Phobos, after every crime, death and all the other unethical acts committed by you, this seems like the perfect closure fate."

"Ethics."- Phobos smirked bitterly. "WHAT ETHICS?! This realm was never ethical to me! I've always been shown the door, while female heirs have been put on pedestals! How is that fair, Elyon. How is that ethical?!"

"Frankly, Phobos."- she retorted coldly. "I don't care!"

His pale green eyes widened in shock from what he had just heard, as Elyon continued:

"Because, from the first day of my life, you've never been fair to me. And even after all the compromises that I made for you, you turned and stabbed my back again. Stop flaunting how wronged you are. That ship has long sailed, and all your evil has erased all memories of the once unjustified boy. That boy is gone, Phobos, as are the last tears of hope and love which were left for you in my soul!"

"Sounds fair."- he said through gritted teeth. "But frankly, this means you're no different than our mother. Be careful once you undo me...History might repeat itself. Don't be surprised if one day you wake up and your son has organized a coup..."

The eerie meaning of the cold mock, ringed in her ears as she stared at the man in front of herself. A man so desperate, ready to do and say anything just to stay alive... But still, the provocation Phobos had shot, had had the wanted effect.

"If you must know, if I ever have a boy, I'll do everything in my power to spare him the hurt and misunderstanding! I might even fight for male descendants in the future, to actually be able to rule. If it's possible to overthrow certain mystical heights and legal affairs, then I'll fight for that, I'll be an activist for male rights on Meridian, Phobos, but even with that, any novelties in the law will never be in power for you! As far as you're concerned, your reign over this realm will never be welcomed or possible. Never, you evil pig!"

"Fascinating, sister!"- the prince sneered. "Your words are touching; despite the open malice you have for me! I'm finally ready to commend you for taking a good step as a ruler!"

Elyon frowned. She realized she couldn't spend another minute listening to this troubled and sick-minded man's ramblings. Using her powers to activate his, she slowly began to drain his life force in the whirlwind of energy that surrounded them, more and more tightly.

"My admirations, Elyon! Even if you kill me now, you'll do the right thing, I'm sure of it!"

"You should talk about what's right and 'good steps in ruling.' As I already said, keeping in mind all that you've done, you'll never be anything but a tyrant for Meridian! So save your breath, brother! Whether you like it or not, with every passing second, the possibility of you taking your last breath, increases!"

His body cringed as if shocked, as magic and power were leaving it, magnetized by the Queen's own life force and the three key relics, yet the man managed to smile maliciously and shout in a powerful voice:

"You may not understand it now, but your words do give me hope, Elyon! Because I'm sure that what you're ready to do for your descendant, you'll be willing to do for mine too! Even if you chose to deprive him or her of their father now, you'll never deny their right to the throne."

"What?! What are you talking about?"- Elyon exclaimed faintly, as her magic flickered in distress, in unison with the shock upon the statement she had just heard.

Phobos coughed, falling down to his knees. The magnetizing strings that attached him to his sister, were loosening up, but he was already quite fragile. He blinked his eyes a few times, before stopping them on the Queen's aghast facial expression. A priceless expression...

"That's right, little sister. Leonida and I were planning to announce the good news on your actual wedding day, but given the circumstances, I decided I might as well reveal them before I lose my chance to do it personally. Congratulations, Elyon. You're going to be an aunt. And your niece or nephew will automatically be next in line for your throne."


Trivia: 'Winona' is the name I chose for Weira's grandmother. If you remeber well, in the "Stone/ Star of Threbe" episode, Yan Lin tells the girls about how the ancient Mage created the mystical star that neutralized their powers, for Weira's parents to be able to retrieve her unharmed after she got lost as a child. In the flashback, the parents were seen as ordinary people, not as Queen and consort, which comes to show that Weira's mother was never on the throne. Now while that was never really explained, I chose to interpret it this way- Weira's mother renounced the crown because she fell in love with a low-class peasant man, who her mother (Winona) and the kingdom could never accept as royal consort. Weira's mother lived her life the way she wanted to, but agreed on Winona's death wish before the old Queen passed away of advanced age. Thus her granddaughter Weira became Queen of Meridian.

A/N: Stay safe everyone! looking forward to hearing from you. If you haven't yet, definitely go check my latest W.I.T.C.H one-shots. Sending u all lots of light and love.