I am happy! I don't have to go to school tomorrow! Sadly, tomorrow will be reserved for finishing Rose in Wonderland. Damn, look how far we've come. I'll upload the end it next weekend. Prompts will be up as often as possible over the course of the week. That's enough of the schedule, and let's begin!
I yawned. It was rather early in the morning, and someone had awoken me by knocking obnoxiously on the door for the past five minutes. I dragged myself out of bed and opened the door, not caring how I looked. Imagine my surprise when I came face to face with Aradia, who was holding a tray with pastries on it. "Good morning!" she chirped, a smile plastered to her face.
"What do you want?"
She laughed. "Well, someone isn't a morning person! Sorry for waking you Rose, but Her Imperial Condescension ordered me to bring you breakfast."
"Thanks Aradia," I said, taking the tray from her.
"Remember, the execution is today. Did you get enough sleep?"
"I believe so. I suppose I will see you later?"
"Hopefully in the White Kingdom! See you later, Rose." With that, Aradia left me alone to eat my breakfast. I took one bite out of the pastries, and was repulsed to find some sort of yellow liquid inside. I checked the pastries, each having the color of the lowbloods, with the occasional green being found. I pushed the tray away, no longer hungry. I checked the room for a different dress, but didn't find anything. I was stuck in the dress I had worn last night.
I left my room, coming out at the same time Jade did. "Hi Rose! I don't think we ever met properly. I'm Jade Harley! It's great to see you again!" she exclaimed. She reminded me of an excited puppy, and the dog ears certainly weren't helping.
"Hello Jade. How are you?"
"Nervous. What if the plan doesn't work? I'm so afraid. But it's okay if I get to see Jake again," she said.
"I suppose it would be nice to meet my older sister," I thought aloud.
"Gee, I thought you already met her. Well, I guess you'll see her again soon!" she chirped.
We went to the courtyard, where a few trolls had already set up for the execution. The Condesce had not yet arrived, nor had anyone else I knew. I assumed that Aradia and Damara were trying to set the twins free.
Over the next few minutes, more trolls arrived. Nepeta and Equius were getting Arthur and Pounce, and Rufioh and Horrus were already clearing our escape route. I thought that Dave was freeing the carapaces, as he had not yet arrived. Everyone else had arrived, with the exception of the higher bloods and John and Jane.
Finally, after a few more moments, they arrived. They sat at the top of the tower, looking over everyone. I wasn't worried about John or Jane. Their escape would be simple. John, being the Heir of Breath, would control the wind to help them get to the ground.
"Let the execution begin!" the Condesce sang. The applause she received was sickening; the higher bloods cheered and clapped whilst the lowbloods watched from the shadows.
Darkleer brought the four trolls up to the platform. They were in chains, but stood tall. He hooked the Signless up to the wooden structure, chaining his hands. His robe was gone, and he was now in his leggings. "Any last words?" the Condesce asked.
The Signless looked up. He scanned the crowd and, finding Karkat and Kankri, began speaking. "I have been peaceful. I have been kind. I only dared to speak what others had been dreaming for so long. I had dreams too. Dreams of what might have been. Where blood was simply blood, and all of us were equal. If wishing for that is heresy, then yes, I deserve to die. I've seen acts of the most kindness, and the most vile cruelty. They say powerful beings find anger when they have no room for love. What made you so? Are you scared of change? Scared of those who are different?"
The lowbloods found hope, an came out of the shadows, slowly flocking towards the Signless. "I realize, I am different from you. I have known feelings that none of you can ever hope to know! I have known the comradery of a friend who supported me against all odds. I have known the compassion of a guardian who took me in when no others would and raised me to dream and hope. I have known a love and passion that transcends all definition."
His tone changed, and he now looked to the crowd. "There's no use hiding it now. You all can see me for what I am! The Signless, the Sufferer! The mutant. My blood burns brightly for all to see! It is the flame of a revolution that you cannot ever hope to quell! My memory can be erased but my ideals will never die."
He was now angry, nearly seething with penned up rage. "My mistake was believing I could change a world infected by hate and corruption! You have taken the freedom of an innocent troll and turned his blessings into a curse. The pity you've taken on my Disciple will wound her," he said, looking at Darkleer as the higher bloods gasped. "She has known true love and you have forced her to a life of solitude! Forced a mother to watch her son die! I see you for what you are. I always fucking have! I thought I could fucking change you! Fuck me for being a fucking fool. Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!" Darkleer shot the arrow, hitting the Signless in the stomach. Karkat gasped, and a few red tears were visible on Kankri's face. The Psionic had his head bowed and there were red and blue sparks around his head. The Disciple cried out, and the Dolorosa was in shock.
"Fuck." The Signless looked up, pain written on his face. "I am angry... Because I forgive you. I may be the biggest fucking fool in all of Alternia. But when I close my eyes, I see a world where we all work together. And it's so fucking beautiful," the Signless finished, a smile on his face before he fell unconscious.
The lowbloods were ecstatic, gaining numbers and becoming more angry. One in particular was flying above the others, with the same wings as Rufioh. He had bull horns and the orange taurus symbol on his chest. He was wearing a black leather chest plate and black pants with red rips. "Come on guys, let's fight back!" he yelled, raising his lance in the air. The crowd cheered.
"Enough!" the Condesce yelled. Even this wasn't enough to calm the lowbloods. "Release the dragon!" she yelled.
Jade grabbed my arm and we ran for cover. I looked around. None of the heroes were still around, and they must have already left. Feferi, Meenah, John, and Jane all had disappeared. "We need to run!" I exclaimed. She nodded and we ran across the courtyard, trying to get back to the castle. I looked back and saw the Summoner fighting the dragon while it ate and killed many of the trolls.
One of the guards tried stopping us. Jade made a rifle appear out of no where and threatened the guard, getting us into the castle. "We have to leave, now!" she exclaimed, worry written over her face.
"Do you know the way to the White Kingdom?"
She nodded. "What about the others?"
"I'm worried too, but there isn't time! We need to leave now. Come on, let's go." I said.
"Okay, but I might be able to get us there faster. Hold on for a sec," she said. She brought her hands together and exhaled. Green wisps swirled around us, enveloping us. Soon we were covered in a green shell, and I was weightless. Suddenly the green disappeared, and we were in a white courtyard. "Yes! I did it right!" Jade exclaimed.
"You had doubts?" I asked.
"No," she replied quickly.
"Right. This is the White Kingdom?" I asked.
"Yeah. When my dog Beq was still around Jake and I used to come here all the time! I bet I still know where the rulers are. Follow me!"
"What about my sister?" I asked.
"She'll be with them. Are you nervous?"
"Yeah."
Don't be. She's really nice!" Jade brought me across the courtyard. The set up was nearly identical to the Condesce's castle. Instead of pink, the castle was dominated by black and white. A few carapaces walked around, mysteriously enough wearing rags. Some stopped and stared, going as far as bowing down.
"Gee, I wasn't nearly this popular when I came here. Must be you," she said.
"It's actually rather unnerving. I would prefer less attention," I replied. "The woes of being a celebrity."
"Ha, yeah right. Hurry up if you don't like the attention!" she giggled. "We're getting close." She brought me to two tall doors, one black and one white. Instead of knocking, she pushed the doors open, saying "Hello, anybody here?"
Four carapaces were sitting in thrones. Two of them were white with yellow and blue robes. The other two were black with purple and black robes. The room, instead of being divided like the other rooms, was a swirl of checkered patterns. Above their heads was a tapestry that had twelve markings on it. They looked oddly familiar.
"Are you interested in the god tier markings?" the white carapace woman asked.
"God tier markings?" I asked.
"Yes. The symbols for the god tier elements. Which looks familiar to you?"
I scanned them. Each looked familiar to me, some sparking faces in my mind. The one that stood out the most was the sun symbol. The same symbol on the necklace from my mother. "The sun symbol."
The faintest smile crossed her lips. "Jade, it's been long. I think you would like to see Jake?"
"Oh my gosh, where is he!?" she exclaimed.
"In the kitchen. I think he's trying to cook. You might want to check up on him," she said.
"Uh oh, come on Rose! The world is at stake," she said, surprisingly serious.
"I'm afraid she can't go. We need to talk," she said.
It's sort of my headcanon that when they were kids, Jane and John did most of the cooking. So Jake wouldn't know anything about it. Anyway, expect a new chapter of this tomorrow. Seriously, we are three chapters away from the finish. Also, the Signless' speech is not mine. It's on YouTube under the name of The Sufferer's Final Sermon. Bring tissues if you want to watch it. Final order of business, I am still accepting requests for what story I should write next. Choices are:
-Rose Through The Looking Glass (0 votes)
-Professor Layton and Homestuck Crossover (0 votes)
-Sdurb (1 vote)
-Appledash one-shot (0 votes)
Alright, I'm out.