It's done! I know you all have been waiting patiently, and I'm happy to say we made it to the end. Of course, there's an epilogue so no one cry if your favorite character doesn't show up. All will be seen again, in time.
Thank you so so so much for every review and favorite and follow. It means so much. Even you little buggers dying for an update! You people are actually the best. It's because of you all I got this out. Be proud of yourselves :D
Writer's block and fight scenes killed me, if anyone was wondering why this took so long to come out. But now it's done! Let's celebrate!
Without further ado, Enjoy!
When Feliciano and his entourage arrived at the castle gates, the heavy iron barrier was wide open. "Where are the guards?" Ludwig asked, slowing the cart.
Feliciano looked out from where Ludwig had concealed him under a heavy woolen blanket. The blanket protected him for the evil, rash inducing hay, and kept him concealed from sight. The king lay hidden in the cart too, but laying as far down as he could go. The last thing they needed was all hell to break loose when the monarch appeared after being missing for so long. No, they needed to save the big surprise for when the Queen was sure to least expect it.
"Maybe they decided to give up the duties of being a big, mean, scary guard and instead all went to pick flowers!" Feliciano said excitedly. It seemed like the only option to him.
Ludwig risked a smile at Feliciano's nativity. "Somehow, I doubt it"
"It's an execution" King Romulus said, sticking his head up between the two before Ludwig pushed him back down.
"An execution?" Feliciano whispered, horrified. "Oh god, no, Romano!" He went to jump out of the cart, but Ludwig wrestled him down. "Ludwig, Ludwig, let me up! We have to go right now! What if we're too late? Romano's in trouble! Ludwig!"
"Shhh!" Ludwig snapped. "Both of you, stay down! This will not work if you show yourselves now. I have a plan but we have to move carefully. Romano will be fine."
After much coaxing, Feliciano settled down. Ludwig began to steer the cart back through the gates, keeping his head down. No one stopped him. He parked next to an old, withered tree, and began unloading the contents to avoid suspicion.
No one paid him any heed. Around the castle courtyard, servants prepared for the Queen's greatest celebration yet. A master craftsman had built a guillotine from scratch, decorated with flowers and green vines. White tents and with feast tables were set up for after the main event.
"This is insane" Ludwig whispered to the cart.
Romulus' voice replied. "Executions were always Katerina's favorite pastime."
"I remember she had one for my birthday one year. It was kinda fun" Feliciano said. Ludwig shot him an odd look, raising an eyebrow. He smiled sheepishly in response. "I meant food wise. The food was fun."
Ludwig saved himself from having to respond by the sound of the band starting up, this time with full force. Hurriedly, everyone took their seats as the queen appeared next to her outdoor throne.
"Subjects! Nobles! Lords and jesters, I am glad to see everyone has made it to this lovely occasion." She smiled. "The execution of a traitor to the Vargas crown!"
Gasps from the crowd indicated something had entered their midst. Ludwig had to crane his neck to see a boy, much smaller than him, being lead to the guillotine. He couldn't tell from so far away, but he had to assume it was Romano.
"We don't have time for anything special." Ludwig whispered urgently to Feliciano, who had climbed out of the cart. "Take your father and head to the queen. I'll stop the guards and free Romano. Do not do anything dangerous, okay? Let your father do the fighting"
"I promise" Feliciano stood on his tiptoes, giving Ludwig a quick kiss.
Romulus grinned, stretching his legs out. "Don't worry, boy. I can protect my son from my wife." He and Feliciano disappeared around the cart. Ludwig stood up, entering the crowd unnoticed. It didn't take much to shove people out of the way, as he could lift any one of them up with little effort. Soon the crowd parted, depositing him in front of the two guards and a stunned Romano.
Ludwig didn't wait. He punched the first guard straight in the jaw. The man yelled in defiance, throwing Romano aside. The second guard, one that was tall with dark skin and a white mask, caught him as he tried to run.
Both guards drew their weapons, but one preoccupied himself with a struggling Romano. Ludwig put up his fists. It was one on one at the moment.
Fake left, go for the throat. Dodge, dodge- bam. Ludwig was forced to back up as a fist connected with his head. He lunged again, this time dropping low and kicking a leg up, just enough to strike the guard hard in the side and knock him away. He didn't get back up.
The second guard looked more irritated than worried. "What is with you people?" He demanded. "I'm ordered to kill one kid and everyone's got something to say about it!"
"Sadiq, stand down" Ludwig said evenly. He reached for the fallen guard's sword.
"I've got my orders." Sadiq growled. "Never thought both a king and the most loyal member of the royal court would betray the kingdom"
"Alliances change"
The strike was so fast Ludwig almost lost his life. But years of training kicked in and he trust his sword up to bloke, just in time. The clang of metal on metal resounded throughout the crowd.
How Sadiq managed to keep his grip and keep Ludwig at bay was beyond him, but all Ludwig knew was that the fight was going to be hard. Sadiq slashed at him, nicking him in the side. He hissed, pressing a hand to his side.
"Not as good with a sword as you are your fists?" Safiq mocked.
Ludwig grunted. He tried to force the man back, but it was hopeless. Across the courtyard, the doors to castle shuddered. More reinforcements Ludwig thought hopelessly.
The masked guard noticed it too. "Stand down, Ludwig"
Two things happened at once. The first was Romano, whom Sadiq had almost forgotten completely. He jumped into action and kicked his capture as hard in the groin as he could. With the high pitched cry of a newborn, Sadiq crumbled.
Then that the castle doors burst open, revealing a frantic Antonio and murderous Arthur. Behind them lay at least a dozen unconscious guards.
Arthur darted toward the queen, who was on her throne and screaming for blood. "What happened to my guards?" She demanded. "You! What are you doing here?" The former adviser leapt towards her and whipped out his wand. Antonio didn't stick around to see what happened. The second he spotted Romano with two guards at his feet, he ran toward him.
"Romano!" Antonio cried joyously. "You're alright!"
"I am not alright" Romano shot back, gesturing around. "These buffons were trying to chop my head off!"
Antonio scooped him up into a hug, relief washing over his features. "I thought I was too late"
"Don't be stupid" But even having said that, Romano smiled, wrapping his arms around his king's neck. Antonio's face looked streaked with dirt and grime, as was his, but to Romano, he was the greatest thing he had ever seen. He actively tried to crush the urge to kiss him.
Antonio took the fight away, choosing to bring Romano down to meet his lips. When they parted, his eyes were shining. "I love you"
Romano's face blossomed red. "I don't hate you" He sputtered out.
"Does that mean you love me?"
Romano scowled. "Maybe" He titled his head up for another kiss, this time longer than the last.
"Uh" Ludwig cut in. Any gratefulness Romano felt at being rescued was crushed in an instant. "I hate to interrupt-"
Antonio released Romano reluctantly. "Of course you do"
"But" Ludwig continued. "We still have some unresolved issues to worry about." He pointed to where the queen and Arthur were facing off, each with a weapon of mass destruction. Arthur with his wand, and the queen with the broken limb of a chair.
Off to the side of the large platform the queen set up, two barrels were moving suspiciously.
"Wait" Romano said, catching Ludwig's arm. "Did you find Feliciano?"
"I did" Ludwig explained. "And the king, who might actually be your father. And I'm not entirely sure, but they both might be attempting to take down the queen in a barrel"
"That's a problem" Antonio hummed. "We might have to go do something about that"
"No shit" Romano said, cracking his knuckles. Both Ludwig and Antonio shared a look over his head. Antonio glanced down at his intended. "Uh, sweetie-"
"Don't sweetie me!" Romano snapped. "I am not letting the crown prince put his life in danger again"
"And I am not letting you put your life in danger again." Antonio made sure Romano looked him in the eye, which only gave him a better chance to eyeroll.
"She only tried to execute me."
"Please?"
"I'm not waiting here for these goons to wake up."
"Go to the castle, it's the safest place" Ludwig said. Romano grumbled, but he still complied. With him out of the way, Ludwig and Antonio charged.
[=]
Meanwhile, Feliciano was getting to do something he had wanted to do for the longest time. He was taking control of his life.
Inching along in a poorly constructed barrel, he could just barely make out his mother on her throne. There was an aggressive smirk on her lips, and Feliciano had a hard time believing that she was ever anything else but cold hearted. Was this really the woman who had raised him? Sang him lullabies? Said she loved him?
No. Feliciano shook his head to clear away his doubts. This was the woman who deprived him of a father. A father, who was currently scoping the path out in front of him. Occasionally a hand would wave, indicating he could inch closer.
He peeked his head out of the top of the barrel, and much to his surprise, he saw Arthur standing on the platform, with a wand pointed in the Queen's face.
"It's a shame it has to end like this" He drawled. "Your days of tyranny are over, Queen Katerina. I have severed you faithfully for years and you used me, locked me up in the dungeon, and gave me the biggest fucking headache!"
The queen scoffed. "The thing that would really be giving you a headache is your reflection. It's a real eye sore. It's the eyebrows I think"
Clearly taunting Arthur's eyebrows was the wrong move. In an act of pure vengeance, the former adviser waved his wand and made it so the queen's own eyebrows grew. Her screech of horror was enough to shake the whole kingdom.
"You miserable man!" Queen Katerina screamed, breaking off the arm of her throne and using it to hit Arthur hard in the side. "How dare you!"
"How dare you insult me!" Arthur screamed back. There was the sound of a fight, and Feliciano sunk his head back in his barrel. Oh lord.
His plan was to camp out there and wait for the battle ended, until a new voice joined the fray. "Katerina, release the poor man from your choke hold. It's me you want" Feliciano gasped as he saw his father stand up, broken fragments of his disguise at his feet. Both the queen and Arthur looked on, dumbstruck.
"Romulus?" Queen Katerina whispered. "How did you- you were supposed to be locked up for eternity!"
Romulus shrugged. "Seventeen years was enough for me." He turned to address the crowd, who had been captivated by the fight. "Your king has returned. I trust you have all been well. I have traveled many miles, and fought many fights to be here again."
A townswoman swooned. Many more took up cried of astonishment, and men raised their hats. "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
"The boy on trial is to be released." Romulus declared. "He is no traitor to the throne. The queen has lead you astray. She, of all people, is a traitor to her people." There were many horrified gasps as the crowd turned on the queen.
"He lies!" She cried, desperate to turn the tide back to herself.
"There was a reason I was missing. Queen Katerina had me chained deep in the mines! She is the traitor!" Romulus roared. "Arrest her! Guards!" Only one of the unconscious men stirred, and Romulus was forced to realize almost all of his security had been taken out. He frowned. "Okay, I'll arrest her."
It was with little effort he took a metal ring from the barrel and twist it around the queen, securing her arms. The crowd roared their approval.
"That was ridiculously easy" Arthur scoffed, a little too soon.
The queen screamed, and her bonds broke. Even Arthur took a step back as he realized that what she had done was not natural. "I will not be forced back down. Not now, not ever!" She turned to Romulus with fury in her eyes, and picked up a sword from a fallen guard.
Romulus was not ready for the attack and the weapon caught him in his abdomen, crumpling him in an instant.
"Dad!" Feliciano yelled, scrambling out of his hiding place and making his first mistake. The queen ran toward him, placing the sharp edge of the sword, wet with blood, at his throat. "… Let- let me go..." Felciano whimpered, but his pleas weren't enough for her.
Queen Katerina began to moved, pulling Feliciano behind her. "This is your prince!" She jeered to the crowd, holding him at sword point. No one moved in fear of loosing another monarch. "Just try and take him!"
Behind her, Arthur raised his wand. "Releasa!" He yelled, shooting a powerful spell at the queen. A smile was her only response as she deflected it back to him with her sword. Arthur shouted as green flames consumed his body. The queen scooped down a picked up his wand, and kept walking.
"Feliciano!" Ludwig shouted, finally close enough to see what was going on. "Let him go!"
Instead of physically hurting the man, like she was so eager to do, Katerina stood at the entrance to the castle, Feliciano gasping for air in her hands. She smiled. "Come and get me"
She waved the wand, and the castle doors slammed shut. Ludwig strained his ears, but all he could hear her evil laugh through the heavy wood.
[=]
One second everything was going well and the next, Feliciano was being dragged away, begging for air. Romano took a few panicked breaths. He had to intercept the queen before she could do anymore damage. It was all up to him.
It was easier said than done. No sooner had he stood up then the doors locked from the inside, indicating someone powerful had just entered the castle. Romano looked up to see the queen deposit Feliciano on the floor. She gave him a nasty smile, but made no advances to hurt him.
"Oh, dearie me. Looks like you're defenseless!" She brandished her sword. "It looks like all I have to do is kill you, and then off the prince"
"You don't have to do this" Romano said, balling his hands into fists. "You don't have to hurt Feliciano, you can just let him go. I'm your real problem"
"It's too late for gambling, sweetie. My cover's blown. My kingdom thinks I'm a traitor, and they're right of course. All I have left is revenge."
She lunged, and Romano fell back. Dodging a sword was tricky business, and twice Romano heard the swoosh of the blade going right past his ear. He had to keep her away from Feliciano.
But despite his need to protect the crown prince, Feliciano had other plans. With the restricting hand off his throat and the constant fear of his life waning, color was slowly coming back to Feliciano's cheeks. He pulled himself up to his knees.
Romano's cry of pain forced him completely to his feet, as he saw the pauper- no, not the pauper anymore. As he saw his brother clutching a now wounded arm.
Feliciano looked around the entrance hall wildly, looking for anything to help. Aha!
He swipped a sword from an old rusty suit of armor, praying it wasn't as heavy as it looked. "Hey mom!" Feliciano called. "Give me a chance to fight too!"
Feliciano had to thank Ludwig for all the improptu fencing lessons. Even though the weapon in his hand now was much heavier, it very well saved his life as the queen turned on him. "Be a good boy, Feli!" She crooned as she tried to decapitate him. "And listen to your mother"
"More like old hag" Romano cried. She knocked Feliciano sideways and rounded on him. He threw a priceless castle decoration at her with his good arm.
Feliciano and Romano suddenly became a tag team. Every time the queen got to close to Feliciano, Romano found something to chuck at her with his uninjured arm. And when the tables turned, Feliciano charged with a high pitched battle cry.
They couldn't last forever though. Even a few minutes of this was exhausting.
All of a sudden, an idea came to Feliciano. When the queen's back was too him, he made wild gestures to Romano, indicating the staircase.
"What?" Romano asked, bewildered.
"I said off with your head!" The queen screeched.
Feliciano almost rolled his eyes. Without stopping to see if Romano got his memo, he ran to the staircase that lead to the tallest castle tower. Ludwig would be ashamed if he knew what he was planning.
Thankfully, Romano understood. Or at least, he didn't want to stay alone with someone trying to kill him. He took the steps two at a time.
The prince and the pauper raced up as fast as their legs would take them, spurred on as inane screaming indicated the queen following them was not happy.
"Just a little further..." Feliciano panted. He was stopped at a door that lead to the balcony. "Quick, through here!"
The open air did not have much to offer, just blue skies and a view of the whole courtyard. Feliciano was relieved to see King Romulus sitting up, but he was holding his side tightly. Arthur too, looked unharmed.
Romano's attention was directed to the door they had just come through, expecting Queen Katerina any minute. She didn't disappoint, smashing the wood clean through. Romano grabbed for Feliciano's sword to defend them-
Something white and hot blinded his vision, and pain like he had never felt engulfed him. Feliciano screamed as Romano crumpled, clutching his body in pain.
"What did you do to him?" Feliciano cried horrified, as he saw his mother now held Arthur's wand in her gnarled grip.
"It's a simple torture curse" The queen explained. "Arthur sure does know his stuff. I was hoping I wouldn't have to use this powerful magic on you too, but you've left me no choice." She waved the wand at Feliciano, who dropped his sword with a yelp.
Never one for being too bright, Feliciano reached for his weapon again. Queen Katerina shook her head. "Oh no, that won't do" With another wave, Feliciano found himself paralyzed.
The queen cackled at her good fortune. "Whatever will I do now?" She asked to no one in particular, for now Romano was holding in chocked sobs from the pain and Feliciano could not move. "I know!" She said suddenly, snapping her fingers. "I'll kill you!"
Romano found himself as the unlucky victim as a hand wrapped around his neck, lifting him off his knees. The queen smiled. "Don't cry, sweet heart. I promise you'll die when you hit the ground" She forced him back, now dangling over the railing. "Arrivederci!"
For years to come, no one knew what mistake she made. Maybe magic needed eye contact to be binding. Maybe the paraysis spell was only for a few seconds. But maybe, and this was what Feliciano wanted to believe, maybe the will to fight for the ones you love was stronger than any spell.
Whatever the case, as soon as she let go of Romano, letting him fall down to earth, Feliciano gained control of his limbs. He didn't wait, jumping Queen Katerina and pushing her as hard as he could, right off the side of the balcony. She screamed as she fell, an awful sound that haunted his nightmares.
And then was she was gone.
Sobs wretched from Feliciano's mouth. But not for the mother he had lost. "Romano?" He whispered, hoping for a miracle. Perhaps someone had caught him or he grabbed the wand and wished for wings or-
"Oi! Don't just stand there and cry, help me up!" Feliciano nearly fainted with relief as he stuck his head over the railing to see Romano hanging from a decorative gargoyle, not two feet below. He quickly hauled him back to safety.
Feliciano threw himself at Romano, hugging him for dear life. And for once, Romano hugged back. "We're okay now" Feliciano found himself babbling through the hug and the tears. "And my moms dead. And evil. But also dead. And the king's back- oh my god, Romano you're my brother"
Romano pulled back at that. "Whoa, did I miss something or-"
"I heard her say it. She tried to off you when we were babies. You're a prince! I'm a prince!-"
"I'm a prince?" Romano asked, stunned. "I… I have a family?"
"This is all too much. What will Ludwig think, having to keep alive two crown princes? And who will marry Antonio? This is all too much..."
Romano let Feliciano babble, a smile creeping onto his face. He was a prince. He had a family. Everything was looking up