I cried.

Chapter 26

The sky erupted in light, trees around them shining brightly as a bolt of lightning streamed across the sky, edging from one side of the sky to the other, blacking out the stars. Bethany stood in all proudness, cackling madly as blood continued to drip down her face and onto her shirt. Lightning flashed again and again, so constant it didn't break apart, a constant light making it seem

It was like watching a stop and go movie, where only snippets were revealed. Ivan heading to the woods and pulling down a branch for a weapon. Feliciano almost cowering underneath Ludwig as he covered his ears with his hands. Kiku and Heracles holding onto each other tightly, one of the biggest displays of affection Alfred ever saw from either.

Yet most of all was Arthur, standing with his arms braced against the pole holding him in place. His arms were straining, all the while he stared ahead at Bethany, eyebrows knitted together. Alfred watched with utter fascination as he saw muscles ripple underneath his shirt as the pole broke away and Arthur fell to the ground. Alfred moved forward but was tossed back a moment later.

The lightning stopped. The thunder which once silenced them now left the air feeling empty, for not even the crickets made a sound in the night. Arthur was struggling to his knees, pain etched across his face as he continued to pull at the candy-striped pole still stuck in his chest. The entire carousel lurched again and again, centaurs pulling themselves free and dragging themselves to their feet, while their pairs tried to help the best they could.

In their hands, splintered wood sat, poles which once held them in place now were ample weapons. Alfred only saw any of this for a second though, before he turned and looked back to Arthur, panting and holding himself up against the heart of the carousel.

"What have you done?" Bethany screeched, her nose finally stopped breathing. She waved her hands around, as if she was calling for help instead of just making movements. Alfred looked around, seeing everyone else as they wondered who was she was screaming at.

Arthur was no longer panting, still standing tall as he glared straight at her. She glanced at all of them, before bringing her glare to Arthur. Even though she was shorter, she seemed to tower over him. Arthur didn't seem to notice. Someone behind him, Alfred figured either Kiku or Matthew, put their hand on a firm grip on his shoulder, keeping Alfred in place.

"You think you'll will you stupid little horse? You have nothing beside a pole of bugs and boys who aren't even close to being men!" sneering, she jabbed him in the chest with her finger. Yet he didn't move an inch to move her away. Alfred tried to move forward, but the hand of his friend held him back.

"That's enough Vual, leave this poor girl alone. She's innocent."

"Oh, you poor child, that's all you are, a child. I don't care about the girl, she's weak, a pawn stupid enough to fall for my tricks," Alfred gaped, but Bethany-Vual?- was still talking, "This is my land! And it's about time the rest of you left."

Arthur reeled back just in time to avoid the smack of her palm. Vual's palm was bright and red, putting all the force it had behind the hit. Arthur slammed the rotten pole onto Vual's back, cracking it in half as the creature fell to the floor.

Alfred had enough of being still, he struggled against the hands holding him back, finally turning to see who it was, screaming at the sight.

Rotten wood melded together to form a beast, one which could have only been one of the other creatures of the carousel before it was torn down. A mangled mouth opened and closed, as if trying it's best to speak words and breathe life again. Alfred turned onto his back, watching as it came closer and closer using rotten poles for arms to drag itself closer. Alfred kicked wildly at it, each kick sending a pile of blackened wood.

Before he could blink the creature was gone, Heracles having come out of nowhere and rammed straight into him. For a moment, Alfred watched as Heracles kicked at him with his hooves, before he was searching around looking for Arthur. He saw Gilbert throw Matthew onto his back just in time to avoid a fatal blow from another creature, this one more intact. He saw Ivan and Yao almost pressed together, fighting off more than they should. And finally Antonio and Ludwig kicking away at the monsters, some of which Alfred could recognize. Feliciano and Lovino were nowhere in sight.

Arthur was behind him, fighting as Vual avoided him, barely moving at all. Yet together they moved an intricate dance, barely touching the ground before they were pushing off it once more, scampering away from an oncoming blow. With each clash of Arthur's hooves dirt flew off the ground, and Vual moved with each and every kick, just avoiding the ragged end of Arthur's mangled pole.

Alfred flung himself forward, feet kicking on the ground as he struggled to get his footing. Yet finally he was moving forward, right in the way of Vual and Arthur, intent on helping his centaur. Yet the two barely noticed him, still continuing their dance even as Alfred ran in the middle, letting out a furious cry as he tackled Vual to the ground.

The being bucked to get Alfred off him, but the blonde wouldn't move, wrestling with Vual as he tried his best to gain the upper hand. Dirt and grass came with them as they tumbled together, barely taking time to suck in air as they turned over and over again on the ground, cuts and bruises with nails andfists appearing. Vual was screaming with Bethany, their voices mingles together as Alfred still struggled for the upper hand. Alfred flinched at the sound, barely noticing the lightning cracking along the sky at the sound of her voice as well.

Alfred was knocked to the side as the creature on top of him was before. He tumbled to his side, rolling over and over again until finally he stopped, rolling onto his back to look at the stars shinning down. For a moment, Alfred forgot everything, for the stars were shinning and nothing else mattered. Then lightning flashed and Vual stood over him, laughing at all the horror he brought.

"You see? You can do nothing," Vual laughed, Alfred scooted back, but Vual stepped forward with him, offering no escape.

"You're friends are going to die, and I'm going to burn this place to the ground, and burn you along with it. This is nothing, you insignificant little bug. I will burn your precious little centaurs to the ground, and then nothing is going to-"

It stopped, just like that. Vual didn't say another word, hand lifted in the air as a final strike that was never going to come down. Alfred glanced down from eyes which were slowly fading, to see a sharp end of a branch sticking out of Vual's stomach. Vual fell forward, and Alfred rushed forward, barely catching him before he thumped to the ground.

"Beth?" Alfred croaked out, his voice scratchy and rough from his screams. There was still fire there in her eyes, her hands going to grasp the wood sticking out of her, nails digging into it. Finally the fire faded, and it was just Bethany there.

"Alfred?" she whimpered. Alfred nodded briskly, throat tightening. "My stomach hurts."

"I know, it's okay," he told her, shifting her to take pressure off her back.

"Where's my mom?" she whispered. Alfred could barely hear her over the final sounds of fighting going on behind him.

"I'll find her, okay? Just relax you're going to be fine," he choked out. She nodded, snuggling her head against his chest. Alfred placed his hand over hers, feeling her sticky blood underneath her palm.

Bethany closed her eyes, and never opened them again.

Alfred clutched her tighter, feeling the blood continuing to leak out as she took her last breathes. When she breathed no more, he reached and removed the branch from her, tossing it to the side as he laid her on the ground, placing her hands over the blood soaked garment as if to hide the wound. For a moment, he could believe she was asleep.

"I'm sorry," another voice said behind him, one which Alfred recognized. He turned to Arthur, standing for a moment before he dove to the other, hugging him and burying his face into the centuars shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Arthur repeated. Alfred said nothing, hugging Arthur closer as the sounds of fighting slowly died behind him.

They gathered around Bethany, no one saying goodbyes, no one offering any promises or words that she would find peace in the afterlife. Feliciano managed to find a single flower, and placed it in her hands as though it would offer her peace. Alfred held hands with Arthur, and they stood together for a life taken away too soon.

"We can make another potion a different time," Alfred finally spoke, his voice rough with unshed tears, "for now we have a funeral to prepare."