Shuriki, now calling herself Queen Shuriki once again, walked into the throne room flanked by four guards. She paused as she approached the pedestal where the throne itself sat. She frowned. This was not the throne she sat upon when she had ruled Avalor for 41 years. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her wand. With a flick of the wrist she transformed Elena's throne into one of her own desire. She decided that the entire thing should be made of diamonds. It was large, lavish and everything that the pretentious Shuriki valued. She smiled happily and with satisfaction, she took her seat.
"You may send them in now" She pleasantly said to the guards at the entrance of the room. Shuriki was the most evil of sorceresses yet she publicly conducted herself with a certain refinement in manors and when she spoke, she did so with eloquence even if the words coming out were anything but. The guards opened the doors and in walked Higgins, Victor, Victor's daughter Carla and following behind them was Esteban. Higgins, Victor and Carla went and stood by Shuriki's side and Esteban remained on his own in front of his former ally.
"You will kneel in front of me Chancellor" Shuriki commanded. Esteban hung his head and obeyed. "I'm glad you've joined us all here today. I presume this means you have changed your mind? You will vow your loyalty?" She asked , already knowing that she had Esteban right where she wanted him.
"Yes. This is true" Esteban responded sullenly, still not looking up at Shuriki. "Just tell me what I must do"
"Congratulations Chancellor! you are going to be King!" Shuriki said with an eerie enthusiasm. Esteban quickly raised his eyes, finally looking upon Shuriki. He gave her an inquisitive look. Shuriki laughed with delight. "Well I knew that would get your attention!"
"What are you talking about?" Esteban asked irritated with Shuriki's games.
"The princesses are gone Esteban. There is no heir to the throne for the people of Avalor to stand behind. There is only you. You are the cousin of the princesses. You have been a leader in Avalor for more than four decades. The people will stand behind you." Shuriki explained in a calm and cool manor. She knew that Esteban was weak when it came to power. He craved it and she used his desires to her advantage. "You and I will marry and we shall rule Avalor together."
Esteban took a moment to process what Shuriki was saying. "Where are Elena and Isabel?" He asked.
"They're gone Esteban. Isabel fell from the cliffs. She is dead. Elena has not been seen since my return. She has abandoned her people and her family. When she is found, she will be killed. They are gone Esteban"
Esteban closed his eyes, fighting back his emotions. He had lost them once and the pain the second time around was not any easier. If anything, it was worse. "What happened to my Abuelos?"
"They didn't make it out of the castle" Shuriki told him to which Esteban gasped. They would have been all he had left but now, he had nothing. He hung his head again and brought both hands to his face, rubbing his brow in an anxious state. Shuriki watched with joy as Esteban sat there struggling with his decision to choose between being loyal to his family and saving his own life and finally achieving the power he had always desired.
Shuriki waited, her villainous grin never fading from her face.
"I will do what you ask" Esteban finally said.
"Splendid!" Shuriki said with delight. "Now come stand by your queen's side. I will need your help in convincing others to follow suit." Esteban again, obeyed his new queen.
Shuriki then moved on to her next task. "Send the rest in now" She ordered her guards and when the doors opened, a parade of citizens marched in. Their mood was neither sad nor joyful. They were leaders of the city, business owners and palace staff. Getting them all behind her was Shuriki's first step in restoring her reign. She wouldn't stand for another rebellion.
The first to approach the queen was Dona Paloma. She owned one of the largest trading emporiums in the world and was highly respected in Avalor City. She was the leader of the people and she owned her role. She was incredibly wealthy and had no problem flaunting that she was. The size of her ego was equal to that of her riches. She cared about one person only. Herself.
"Queen Shuriki, I hope that we can once again work together for the benefit of Avalor" Dona offered.
"You have no remaining loyalty to the former princesses then?" Shuriki asked, a bit skeptical at how willing Dona Paloma seemed.
"Your Majesty, It does not matter to me who the queen of Avalor is, just as long as my business does not suffer." Dona confessed quite honestly.
"Good." Shuriki said, satisfied that she had Dona Paloma's support. "And what of the other city leaders? Do they share your views? The Harbor Master? I do not see him among you."
"The Harbor Master's ship was seen fleeing the harbor during the invasion your majesty. If it survived, I would assume he fled to Norberg along with his family." Dona offered.
Shuriki shrugged and made a note to appoint a new Harbor Master. She then turned to Esteban. "Do you believe that we have reason to suspect any trouble from the Harbor Master?" She asked.
"No, my queen. They are natives of Norberg, they have no reason to fight for Avalor. They will most likely go there and stay. Naomi Turner, his daughter was on Elena's grand counsel but she is just a child. Not even 18 years of age. If she returns, your navy will be more than sufficient to take care of her." Esteban replied and Shuriki took in the information and agreed that Naomi and the rest of the Turners were of no concern to her and she moved on.
One by one she spoke to the people, most vowing their loyalty, some unsure and those that were adamantly defiant were thrown in the dungeons. Most were scared. They had lived under Shuriki's reign once before and new that vowing their loyalty and going along with her vision of Avalor was their best way to survive.
Next to stand up in front of Shuriki were the palace staff. Many who had previously worked for Shuriki.
"Armando!" Shuriki said with a smile, remembering one of her old servants. "You were always good to me. I hope you will show me the same respect once again?" She asked the short and portly man.
"I will your majesty" Armando answered. He had been chief of the castle and became quite close with and fond of Elena and the rest of the royal family. He was a very timid man however with high anxiety and standing up to Queen Shuriki just wasn't something that he was able to do. He had vowed his loyalty to her and he would freely serve her.
Most of the staff followed the Chief of the Castle's lead and remained in the palace. Esteban offered Shuriki his opinion and saw no reason that they could not trust the staff. They would get their jobs done.
When Shuriki was finished with the maybe 100 people in the room she again turned to Esteban.
"Chancellor? You know these people much more intimately than I. Is there anyone among them that you feel we should not trust? Anyone who may rebel? Or may assist others in a rebellion?" She asked.
Esteban scanned the room and his gaze landed on two people. A couple. They owned a successful bakery in the heart of the city. "Yes my queen" Esteban said and Blanca and Roberto Nunez knew that he was looking at them. "Mr and Mrs Nunez" Esteban said, forcing them to step forward.
Shuriki disingenuously smiled that them. "What do you have to say for yourselves?" She asked them.
"Your majesty, my wife and I have vowed our loyalty to you. We will not give you any trouble. We live humbly and care for our bakery, we have no reason to give anyone any trouble" Roberto explained, his tone begging for her to leave them be.
Shuriki glanced over at Esteban for an explanation.
"Their son is Lieutenant Gabriel Nunez. Elena's personal guard. If he too has not been seen since your return, they are more than likely together" said Esteban, somewhat pained.
Shuriki was pleased at the information Esteban had offered. She took it as a good sign that he was going to be true to her.
"Has anyone seen this Lieutenant Nunez?" Shuriki asked the crowd. No one had. "And you Mr and Mrs Nunez? Have you had any contact with your son?" They adamantly shook their heads "no"
"Well, when he contacts you, you will contact me" Shuriki told Gabe's parents.
"You want us to give up our own son?!" Blanca asked with shock and fear. She took a step forward as she did but Roberto placed his hands on his wife's shoulders to hold her back but also to calm her.
"You just vowed your loyalty did you not?" Shuriki pointed out.
"Yes your majesty" Roberto answered. Blanca stared at her husband in disbelief.
"Well good! Then you will do as I said, When he contacts you, you will contact us" Shuriki repeated, speaking to Roberto. "And just to make sure you do not let me down, your wife will be placed in the dungeons. She does not seem to be very keen on my advice. When your son is found, she may be released. If you do as I ask and turn any information about his or Elena's where abouts, I may be somewhat more lenient in his sentencing. Now see? Isn't that good news for everyone?"
Blanca and Roberto stared wide eyed and speechless. They had nothing to say. They could not protest. What other choice did they have? Blanca was taken away and Roberto, heartbroken, remained with his fellow citizens.
"Well it seems that we are done here" Shuriki announced. She thanked the staff and crowd for their support in her efforts to create a greater Avalor and dismissed them to go about their business as usual, making sure to report back to her of any news or talks of rebellion.
Once everyone except Shuriki, Victor, Carla, Higgins and Esteban were gone Shuriki announced her next matter of business. She again called to her guards to bring some others into the room. They did. This time they guided in Luisa and Francisco Flores, grandparents to not only the former princesses but also to Esteban. Upon seeing them, Esteban was furious.
"You told me that they didn't make it out!" He screamed at Shuriki which only ignited laughter from her.
"Oh dear Esteban. You act like I lied to you. They didn't make it out of the castle. We caught them before they could escape. They've been being held in the dungeons just as you were. They have yet to vow allegiance to me. In fact, they've been down right insubordinate. There is no place for that sort of behavior in Avalor. Wouldn't you agree Esteban?"
Esteban looked upon his Abuelo and Abuela. They looked defeated. Frail, hungry and exhausted. They hadn't been treated with the sort of dignity that should have been provided to the royal family. "Let them go Shuriki" Esteban demanded. "They are of no use to you. It is pointless to keep them here"
Shuriki pretended to consider what he said for a moment but in reality, she already had their fate planned out. "You're right Esteban. They are of no use to me. Higgins? You are armed are you not?" She said turning to the man who had betrayed Esteban.
"Yes your majesty" Higgins said proudly.
"Good. You heard what the chancellor said, they are of no use to us. See to it that they are beheaded" Shuriki ordered.
"NO!" Esteban protested, confusing Higgins. "I can not let you do this"
"You are not the king just yet Esteban. You do not have the authority to stop me from doing anything. Higgins, either you behead them or my guards behead you." Shuriki negotiated. Higgins hesitated again, looking back and forth between Shuriki and Esteban. "HIGGINS!" Shuriki shouted growing irritated. "These people and the chancellor took you for granted. You told us yourself how they walked all over you. Treated you like you were nothing. Pushed you around without any kind of thanks! You mean nothing to them. Remember where your loyalty is Higgins. Remember what happens to those who forget"
With that, Higgins was in a trance. He raised his sword and with one clean swipe, he took off the head of Luisa. He wasted no time before he repeated the deed on Francisco and then returned to his queen's side. She bit her lip, trying to not reveal too much of her satisfaction as she watched Esteban fall to his knees. She had no sympathy for the man who had stood up against her two years ago. She took pleasure in his pain.
Esteban silently sobbed as he stared at the bleeding bodies of his headless grandparents, their hands tightly grasped together still. He wanted to scream out but he was in a state of shock. He could barely breath. He could barely move. The guards dragged out the bodies and Esteban watched them go as the left parallel blood streaks across the floor.
"You are dismissed now chancellor" Shuriki said, entirely unphased at what she had just done. Two guards helped Esteban to his feet and escorted him to his room.
"Well that made a larger mess than I thought it would" the queen stated. She waved her wand and the evidence of her brutality vanished.
"Much better" She said as she returned to her throne.