Ugh, guys, I'm so sorry. I meant to have this up about a week ago, but I've been procrastinating too much, and school is crazy and AAAAAAAAAA. Anyways, here is the next chapter. I feel super bad, so I almost already have the next chapter ready and will post ASAP. Title is "When it All Falls Down" from Audiomachine again. Plz tell me if you guys like these song titles. I think it's kinda fun to do them.

Yuuri watched through the window as more carriages began to arrive at the castle. He saw officials climb out, as well as Benz and the Prime Minister. The two seemed to be in a very heated discussion, and shut themselves in a small room down the hall once they were in the castle.

As Yuuri walked by, he caught a snipped of the conversation.

"…too young!"

"He's mature enough! This shouldn't be a problem, sir."

"Seventeen is too young, Your Honor! Princess Mari was struggling with her duties, and she had been preparing herself for eight years!"

"I won't stand by and let the senate make decisions slowly, Prime Minister. I refuse to let both kingdoms fall under the supervision of a twenty-one year old while you and your senate take three months or more to make a decision about our leadership!"

The Prime Minister seemed to pause, most likely with an angry look on his face, attempting to stare down the embodiment of Dusk. "I won't be like Solis. I refuse to let my plan- "

"What plan, Prime Minister?"

"Nothing of the matter, Dusk," the Minister replied shakily. "I've made my decision, and Prince Yuuri should not be allowed to rule."

An angry huff came from Benz. "We will discuss this later, Prime Minister. We are all stressed and tired after today's events. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to speak to the prince."

Yuuri rushed away from the door as it opened, and he saw a softly smiling Benz with a fuming Prime Minister behind him. "Yuuri! Come with me, please."

Benz grabbed Yuuri's arm and pulled him down the hall. Yuuri looked back and saw the Prime Minister glaring at him with dagger eyes.

"Where are we going?" Yuuri's own weak voice surprised him as he spoke for the first time since arriving back in Lunis.

Benz led him up to a stairwell. "Don't worry. You just need to take care of something." The two climbed the high stairwell in silence. Once they reached the top, there was a small door to the left. He opened it, and a soft gasp echoed around the small room.

They were in the tallest tower of the castle, with a large balcony overlooking the city. Soft lights shone from shop windows and small houses. The forests that took up most of the ring-shaped island were dark from here, and the small villages were flickering with campfires. The lake in the middle of the island was shimmering under the eternal night. He could see the Midworld from there, still day, but darkening quickly as Benz brought Dusk. In the distance, there was a fainter glimmer of brighter light: Solis. "It's beautiful."

"Isn't it?" Benz closed his eyes as a soft breeze rippled through the air, lightly tousling Yuuri's hair, as he, too, closed his eyes and felt the peaceful atmosphere. It was as if the world was holding its breath and waiting for something incredible. Yuuri couldn't help but feel as if he had let it down.

Benz looked down at him. "Your father's duty was to raise the moon every night. Now it is yours until a new king is crowned, whether it be you or somebody else."

Yuuri blanched. "R-raise the moon? I don't know how…"

Benz faced him and grabbed his shoulders. "I'll teach you. I do something similar, remember? I bring Dusk every night, but it's your job to bring night itself." Benz looked at Yuuri, prying brown eyes seeming to stare into Yuuri's soul. "Do you trust me? I need to you trust me."

Yuuri nodded hesitantly. "Good," said Benz. Now, close your eyes."

Yuuri did so. It was so quiet up here. The only sound was the soft wind rustling through the distant trees, and his own quiet heartbeat. "Feel your magic, Yuuri. It's there, you just need to feel it." Yuuri felt out in the silence, and something was there. A being there, begging for him to reach out…. "That's it, Yuuri."

Then, in a flash of dark colors and emotion, his father came. The hall, earlier that same day, and man, dark haired, sword raised. There were men behind him, but Toshiya was not facing them. He was trying to get to two prone bodies lying on the floor. "There's somebody here…."

Benz was at alert in a moment. In a moment, he understood. The magic had been waiting for the next in line to take over, to show Yuuri what had happened to his predecessor. "Your father's last moments, Yuuri. Tell me what they were."

"There's a man," Yuuri said shakily. "He has a sword." The man raised it, a silent cry echoing somewhere in the distance, and leapt at Yuuri. A small cry of fear left his throat as pain coursed through his body. "He wasn't looking. H-he was looking for me." The pain came again as his father hit the floor, yelling in pain. "It hurts, Benz. It's hurting him." he wailed as hot tears started streaming down his face.

Benz looked sadly at the trembling boy beside him, eyes clenched shut and tears streaming down his face. "He's dying, Yuuri. This is your job now. Take the magic. It's yours now."

Yuuri cried out as he reached out again, further, terrible memories and pain washing over him, and he reached out…. And took the power. He shot his eyes open and looked out at Midworld. The moon was climbing into the sky steadily.

He sank to his knees with a sob as the tears came. His shoulders shook as Benz took him into his arms and helped Yuuri lean into him. "It's okay, Yuuri. I'm here." Yuuri turned his face into the man's chest and wept for his family and what was to come.