MerendinoEmilano: Merry Christmas, time to finish up this arc.
/*-*/
Sonic ran up to the front line as the bullets seemed to slow down. Sonic shoulder was… sore and dripped a little bit of blood, nothing too bad. It was nothing in the face of his curiosity. The enemy defenses at the bridge was silent.
Sally stood at the front barrier, and peaked over the edge. Sonic crept closer to her and peaked up, "Hey Sal, what's going on?"
She turned and saw his wounded shoulder, which caused Sally's face to contort, "Are you ok?"
Sonic smiled at her, "I'm good, just a flesh wound." Sonic laughed it off, but she didn't seem convinced. Sonic rubbed her shoulder, and she smiled, leaning into his hand. She was stressed out, and needed some positive touch.
Sonic peaked up out from over the boxes, where he saw hands raised up, and several men walking out, being led by a familiar white fox, covered in red splotches. Sonic turned to Sally as they walked out.
"They're surrendering!" Called out the fox, walking towards them. The soldiers waited with their rifles ready for any tricks. Some bullets continued to fly out in the distance, as if the word hadn't gotten out.
"It's over." The fox said as they approached. He sounded frustrated, and bitter. Sonic and Sally once again looked at each other nervously.
They walked closer to the bridge, with many of the soldiers standing down. All the defenders looked… hopeless, lifeless. They slumped down against the barricades as Sally gave the order, "Round them up, and prepared to send them home."
Sonic was a little worried that the soldiers and people were going to get locked up. He didn't really think it was fair that they got punished for Nagus and some nobles. Thankfully, Sally put his mind at ease, and seemed to treat them well.
They walked further along the bridge, and Sonic saw people from his city and villages. They somehow seemed both tired and excited. They'd won, and beaten the main Freedom Fighter force to the capital city. They didn't seem to be missing too many people as well. Most seemed to give tired laughs and cheers as they passed around food and drinks.
Then there were the bodies of the defenders. Some of the defenders were still alive, just nursing a broken leg or sore back. Other… they were pulverized, torn apart, shot dead. Sonic sucked in his regret as they picked up the pace towards the palace.
Fiona came up along his side, "How are you doing?"
Sonic turned to her and smiled, "I… I'm fine. It's just… sucks that Nagus couldn't step down."
Fiona almost snorted, "I'm not surprised." She didn't seem to elaborate, but she still gave Sonic a concerned look.
Sally turned back, "Sonic, can you come with me?"
Sonic blinked, before he read into it. Without her.
Sonic turned to Fiona who seemed to smirk, but held up her hands and backed up. Sonic had a feeling Fiona wasn't happy about it, but she wasn't fighting with Sally.
Sonic nodded and walked with Sally inside the palace. It was devastated. Solders were shot and crushed behind rubble and pieces of the castle.
They gave it their all to defend the palace, but were torn apart by a behemoth. Sally stepped over the bodies, a concerned look on her face as they walked down the halls, full of paintings of… Nagus. Sonic was pretty sure that there should have been Acorns on the wall.
They continued forward, trying to avoid the painting's on the wall. Sonic wasn't sure what they were going to find, but Sonic had a suspicious feeling that it wasn't going to be pretty.
They arrived at the throne room doors, and Sonic could see that they were damaged, with the door cracked open. Sonic could see red on the floor.
He looked at Sally again, and she shared his concern, but they pushed in the doors, and walked inside to see… two bodies. Sonic recognized Geoffrey's ugly form anywhere, he just… never wanted to see him dead on the ground, covered in his own blood from a cut at his throat.
Then there was Nagus… Sonic tried to laugh, but even that came out shaky and half hearted, "He… really lost his head." Sonic tried to joke. Sally was still frozen.
Sonic looked at her, and followed her eyes. As he looked up from Nagus's corpse, he found the head, upside down, resting on one of the arm rest's of the throne. It was being held by a brown paw, which gripped the beard. The body attached to it sat in the throne, being surprisingly big enough to hold the Wolverine.
He held the crown in his other hand, casually holding it off the edge of the arm rest. One of his eyes was sown shut, making him seem even more unnerving.
"At last, You are here. All the work I have done will finally be rewarded. Now… bow." Johan growled at them.
Sonic blinked a couple times, but he quickly put the pieces together, "Not today!" Sonic shouted and rushed at the Wolverine. He jumped up and shot forward at Johan's unarmored face. Sonic curled up as he went airborne, only to suddenly feel the ground beneath him.
"You are easy to predict." The Wolverine grumbled. Sonic suddenly felt fingers glide over his quills, before digging into his rolled up form. Sonic compressed his stomach muscles tighter as he realized what Johan was doing.
Unfortunately, the fingers found their mark, and began to forcefully uncurl Sonic, despite all his attempts to stop the beast. Sonic screamed as Johan jerked him open by his arms and legs with a howl.
Sonic winced as he felt himself held over the Wolverine's head. The pain actually died down, and Sonic looked down to see Sally with her energy blades drawn, frozen. Sonic struggled against Johan's grip.
"Now… Bow." Johan growled at her.
Sonic growled, "DON'T LET HIM WIN, SAL!" Sonic flexed his stomach muscles trying to pull out of Johan's grip again. How was he this strong?
Sally closed her eyes, before her blades disappeared, "Alright… fine, you win." She got down on one knee, and lowered her head.
Johan gave a satisfied snort, and suddenly let go of Sonic's arms, before shoving Sonic into a wall, causing his back quills to lock up instinctively… into the stone. Sonic thrashed against the wall as Johan pulled away, "DON'T YOU TOUCH HER!"
Sally frowned at the ground, seeming… scared, angry and… ashamed? Sonic tried to relax enough to get out of the wall as the beast casually walked back to the throne that they fought so hard for. Sonic growled, and stomped against the wall, trying to force the stone loose.
Johan grabbed the crown off the side of the throne, and picked up Nagus's decapitated head. He turned back to them, "All that I have worked for has been achieved. Do not fear, I haven not come to hurt you yet."
Sally's fist was shaking. Sonic knew she was smart enough to not try something alone… but her recent history had made Sonic feel… terrified for her in that moment. Sonic snarled and took a deep breath, which came in and out shaky.
"I have come to give you a gift, one befitting your courage and will." Johan growled, raising the skull of Nagus by the beard if his right hand. Sonic felt sweat drip down the side of his cheek as the beast drew closer to Sally. What kind of gift did he have? Sonic was skeptical of anything he was going to offer.
Sally dared to raise her head and Sonic saw Johan whip his right fist back, before throwing it at Sally. Sonic shouted, "I SAID DON'T TOUCH HER!" He pulled his fist, and the skull flew at Sally.
Then it stopped be the beard, twisting and flinging red blood and… yellowish clear liquid onto Sally. She jumped and shook as red and yellow poured down her face.
"By God's power," Johan growled, walking around to her side, and throwing the head again, "And by my own." He moved to behind her, throwing the head again, "I grant you the right to lead these people, and bring them to prosperity." He threw the head on Sally's other side, continuing to cover her head in some humiliating ritual with blood and the other stuff.
Sally looked so uncomfortable, and angry. Sonic began to elbow the rocks behind him, and felt them weaken. Almost…
"And I bestow upon you a crown that was already yours by right." Johan growled, and Sonic jerked back… to see him place the crown of the Kingdom of Acorn on Sally's head, with her eyes wide.
Sonic blinked at the sight, frozen in shock. Was Johan… helping them?
"May your reign be long, and your battles be legendary." Johan backed away from her and gave a respectful bow of the head.
"W-what? You aren't… you aren't taking the crown?" Sally asked, sounding distant and shocked, "Why? WHAT'S THE TRICK!" She shouted in a confusion that Sonic shared.
"I told you before, that I fight for you. I am an honorable man, I do not lie." Johan growled with a certain smugness to him.
Sonic didn't know what to think. He wanted to hate Johan, to find the trick, but what point was there to giving up the kingdom? If he was tricking them, Johan had them where he wanted them.
Sally shook her head, "Y-You were honest… You really were on our side?"
"I have no reason to lie. All that I have done has been to give this kingdom to a worthy ruler, and prepare it for war." Johan growled, holding his arms out high, "Now it has its true ruler, a woman who leads from the front as she should, never sending her men to fight a battle that she would not fight herself."
Sally still seemed in shock as she rose, panting. The stone finally gave out, and Sonic dropped to the ground, but his fire had vanished. Was it…fair to hurt him now?
The door burst open and Elias rushed in, "SALL-" He stopped and looked at the decapitated body of Nagus, then to Johan, "ARREST HIM!"
Some of the guard rushed in, and Sonic… stayed still. He didn't know what to do. Sonic saw Johan look to Sally as the guards circled around.
She winced before sighing, "Go with them."
Johan's nose let out a… disappointed sigh. Not an angry one… almost… like he was expecting it. The large beast followed the guards out of the doorway.
Some of the guards looked scared, holding axes and guns in shaking hands. Other looked upset, passing an angry look at Sally and shaking their head. Sonic felt like… both.
"THIS BEAST KILLED A KING, SEND HIM TO THE DUNGEON TO AWAIT TRIAL!" Elias shouted angrily.
A piece of him didn't want to give Johan free any longer. But another part of him felt guilty. Johan did good for them, helped them, and he was sent to jail for it.
Sonic looked down at the headless corpse. Johan was dangerous. Sonic rushed out to follow Johan, ready to help out the guards if he tried anything.
As the guards took the wolverine outside, many soldiers gathered around. Sonic saw Fiona scowl at the sight as well. "What's going on with him? What'd he do this time?"
"Killed Nagus." Mumbled one of the guards as they shoved Johan along, warranting a snap of Johan's jaw. The guard pulled his hand back.
Sonic saw the white sheep from his city also stand up and look angry at the sight. She ran off into the city, with gunfire dying down.
Fiona growled, "What? Nagus was a crazy wizard. That's not a reason to lock him up!"
"I didn't give the order, sheesh." Grumbled the guard as Johan was led down into the dark pit below the castle.
Fiona walked up to Sonic, "What the heck? You're really just going to let that happen?"
"I think he's dangerous…" Sonic mumbled, not even believing his own words.
"Look, I think he needs to be locked up too, but not for that reason." Fiona grumbled, before shaking her head.
Sonic nodded passively. He had a lot to think about.
/*-*/
Fiona sat back against the gate that separated the palace from the bridge. She was busy looking at the gate that was torn down by the wolverine.
She had an interesting feeling in her heart. Fiona was honestly terrified of him still, but he helped the princess and the Freedom fighters. Fiona didn't see where the response was warranted.
Johan did what he was asked, and if he was being imprisoned for that, then what else could they lock someone up for? Fiona began to think about her future.
She saw Sonic moving in and out of the palace. He was in a hurry, probably from the princess who was preparing everything with some sort of ceremony.
Fiona then saw the princess come out and look at the destroyed gate. Were Fiona's eyes deceiving her or did Sally look… fuller? Her stomach seemed a little thick, her breasts and hips seemed larger. Fiona found herself re-evaluating her previous theories.
Sally scanned the gate, before Fiona saw who she was looking for. There, at the east gate, was Maximillian Acorn, being wheeled in by Alicia Acorn, the one Fiona didn't mind. Max looked especially glum. He almost seemed like he was in a distant land.
Fiona sighed and slumped back as Frederick came up, "Ar- Fiona, I'd like you to come with me for this historic occasion."
Fiona blinked at her brother as he seemed almost giddy with excitement, "Historic occasion?"
"Yes, I get to be present for the coronation of King Maximillian Acorn. This will be my first coronation, and I am… excited." Frederick calmed down with the last word.
Fiona frowned, before asking, "They've choosing Max? Why?"
Frederick faltered and sounded suddenly nervous, "We… discussed possible alternatives. Many of us disagreed. Most do not wish to reinstate Elias Acorn, as his failures led to the rise of the republic. The other's seemed too likely to favor one noble house over the other."
Fiona nodded. That made sense, to an extent. Fiona was pretty sure someone would make a play for the throne. She just wished she was there to see it.
"There's also the matter of Nagus's nobility." Frederick mumbled as he turned to the palace doors.
Fiona followed along, "What, are they still fighting? Do you need me to talk to them?" She smiled at her brother.
"No, they have stopped fighting, but refuse to disband their armies until they are pardoned." Frederick sighed, looking down. He seemed somewhat worried.
"So you need a king to pardon them, and you need one quick?" Fiona smiled smugly, "Alright, I want to watch this."
They walked inside the auditorium, and Fiona could see the dust that had been building from the last two weeks. The room lit up, and there, on the stage, was Sally, adorning a crown… THE crown.
Sally stepped up to the center of the stage as some people stood off on the side. They didn't seem like nobles. They seemed like regular people.
"The republican revolutionaries." Frederick explained, shifting nervously, "They waited for us to attack before rebelling."
Sally took the stage as Sonic sat by Fiona.
"How nice of you to join us, blue." Fiona smiled his way.
"Well, you know I wouldn't miss this for the world." Sonic gave her a playful elbow.
"Attention, attention!" The princess called out to the nobles as they sat down. Everyone quieted down. Sally nodded gratefully, "I have been given the crown by… the Wolverine, who's trial is to be held. With my power, I restore the rights of the nobility to elect a king, and hereby abdicate the throne."
She picked the crown off her head, and held it as a purple pillow was brought over. Sally held onto the crown for a few seconds.
Fiona felt a little smug from the sight. Sally was finally tempted, she finally understood the appeal of being selfish. She wanted to be queen so badly, and she was just selfish in that moment. It was enriching to say the least.
Sally finally set down the crown and Fiona could see her ribs deflate from it. She remained on the stage and put up a smile, "Now, We may proceed with the discussion for the nob-"
"With utmost respect." Called out lord Ramston, "We have dire issues which need to be resolved, and we have selected our candidate for the throne."
Sally looked mildly upset by that. Fiona turned and saw Sonic looked confused as well.
The princess scowled, "Why was I not consulted for this?"
"Your brother stood in for you as your vote. We had time of the essence and you were… cleaning yourself." Lord Ramston bowed his head, respectfully, "I ask you forgive any insult, as that was not our intention."
Sally scowled, and grit her teeth. Fiona suddenly felt on edge. Things could quickly blow up if they didn't-
"I understand, things need to happen. Can you present the candidate?" Sally asked giving out a sigh.
"We propose Maximillian Acorn for the crown of the kingdom of Acorn." Lord Ramston stated proudly.
Sally looked to the room, "Is the whole of the nobility in agreement?"
The room murmured in approval.
Sally nodded, "Very well, let us convene the coronation… father, are you here?" She looked around nervously.
Fiona heard the sound of the wheelchair being pushed and saw Max Acorn come from the back of the stage. He wore a harsh face, which briefly lit up when he saw Sally.
Sally turned and picked up the crown and scepter from a herald, before turning back to her father, "Father, I am proud to proclaim the third coronation of King Maximillian Acorn. Long may he reign." She placed the crown on his head, and swayed the scepter back and forth, before handing it the old chipmunk.
Max sighed, before grumbing, "I vow to protect my kingdom from all threats, within, and outside. I will not let us fall." Nothing about this felt… ceremonious. Then again, Max was crowned three times. Fiona had a feeling that it was monotony at this point.
The nobles rose and clapped. Fiona rose out of a desire to not stand out or look bad. Sonic seemed conflicted, but he clapped with them.
Then the nobles sat down, and Sally went to take a seat. A herald spoke clearly, "We have several agenda's today. First is the matter of the Wolverine, charged with regicide. Then there is the matter of the nobility who sided with Nagus during the rec-"
"THEY ARE TRAITORS! THEY WILL HAVE NOTHING!" Max shouted, panting angrily, "They chose to side with the traitor… I will not let them be free of punishment."
The room was silent before Alicia came out and smiled, "Perhaps we should hold a recess. My husband is very tired, and needs sometime to think." She smiled down at Max.
He looked back at her, and nodded, "Yes… I propose we recess for a brief time so that I might… properly understand the situation."
Fiona watched carefully from her seat as they took a break. Many of the nobles didn't even get out of their seats. Sonic and Frederick leaned in to talk to each other.
"We don't need to keep this civil war going. Can we talk him down?" Sonic asked her brother nervously.
"I don't know… I was expecting him to be calm and wise." Frederick mumbled nervously.
"I'm going to go talk to Sally, and see if we can't talk a little sense into Max." Sonic smiled weakly, standing up and rushing up the stairs of the auditorium.
Fiona sighed and slumped back. She closed her eyes against the soft chair.
"King Max is quite old." Frederick muttered, again sounding nervous. He sounded quite eager to change the subject, "Do you fancy Lord Hedgehog."
Fiona's eyes bolted open and she looked around. Sonic was still off talking with Sally. Fiona nodded at her brother, "Yeah I do, When did you stop calling him 'Lord Sonic'."
Frederick smiled wide, "Well, I approve. Would you like me to schedule a meeting with-"
"No, he's dating the princess." Fiona did not need her brother's help. She didn't want the worst case scenario, where he stayed away from her forever because he felt awkward around her. The Best case scenario would be that he drops Sally(Unlikely) or that he would give her pity attention. She didn't need that either.
So Fiona waited in silence to avoid making the situation awkward.
Then King Max was wheeled out. Sonic zipped back into his seat, and the nobility sat down. The old king finally spoke, "I have decided to postpone any decisive action against the less loyal nobles until I can fully evaluate the state of the kingdom. We will proceed with the next agenda."
A herald gave opened his scroll, "Very well, we have the trial of the Wolverine, charged with Regicide!"
Fiona shifted back in her seat as the charge was laid out, and the nobility began to murmur among themselves
They waited until Fiona could hear the sounds of shouting and commands. Then Johan entered the auditorium. He walked… silently. It was almost as unnerving that he wasn't even fighting with them as it was when he was snarling and snipping.
The beast was dragged in front of the king, who held up the scepter. Johan faced max as Fiona watched intently. She saw Sonic standing up, ready to jump in at a moment's notice, with Sally already down at the bottom rows.
Max looked back at Johan with a serious look on his face, "What crime is this beast being charged with?"
The herald mumbled, "Regicide."
Max seemed to scan Johan's body, looking up and down. He finally grumbled, "Is there a prosecution of sorts to confirm this?"
Fiona shifted slightly in her seat as Elias Acorn came down and climbed onto the stage, "This beast is charged with the murder of Ixus Walter Nagus, an active king at the time of his murder."
A noble from the front row stood up, "We can not allow anarchy to reign in our lands. To allow him to kill a king and keep his life would be an endorsement to any rebel seeking to over throw the monarchy!"
"The beast was acting under orders!" A noble from the other side of the auditorium shouted back.
"No Orders were expressly given to attack the capital!" Another noble shouted.
Johan sat and remained silent. Why wasn't he defending himself? Fiona felt like he was up to something.
King Max frowned and tapped the scepter against the floor, quieting the council, "Why was he attacking Nagus?" He seemed hesitant to pass any judgement.
Elias frowned, "We were leading a rebellion against Nagus, the Tyrant king." Elias seemed surprised that his father was not supporting him.
Fiona could see Sally also watching, but remaining silent, and looking a little conflicted.
"Well, beast do you have anything to say to that?" King Max asked Johan, almost hopeful.
Johan remained quiet, until he stood up and snapped his chains, snarling in the process. Guards and Sally rushed forward… only to see the chains and shackles dropped, and Johan sat up proudly.
King Max seemed a little shocked by the actions but shook his head, "No… Very well. Why was Nagus dictated a Tyrant?" Fiona felt like the judge should not be serving as the lawyer for the prosecuted. Fiona frowned.
She realized that Johan didn't even have a lawyer. No one to defend him. He was alone.
"Nagus… was voted out of power by the right of council." Elias explained softly, almost too quiet to hear. He seemed upset, glancing at Johan.
Fiona then realized it: Elias didn't have a case. Nothing to prosecute Johan for. Nagus was either a pretender, and thus Johan did not commit regicide, or that Nagus was a legitimate king, and they were all rebels. Elias needed Johan to incriminate himself, otherwise, it was just an act of…
Max scowled, and tapped the scepter against his wheelchair, "Is there anything else I need to know before I recess to make my decision?"
Elias frowned and shook his head.
Max nodded, "Then I will take some time to decide the beast's fate. We will now recess." With that the King was wheeled away by his wife, and Johan was led away by guards.
/*-*/
The Saxons tended to look down on philosophy. The idea of thinking instead of doing was not something the Saxons enjoyed. More so was the fact that philosophers tended to be vague in nature rather than be direct.
Yet there was one philosopher who said that life was like a circle, and that men would return to where they started. Johan had dismissed the idea long ago. It was hard to deny the philosopher now, Johan thought to himself humorously.
Still, he sat in the cell as they discussed and evaluated his case. Johan simply set in his cell, and awaited the results. His contract forbade him from attacking his guards, or breaking out of his cell, not that he would need to.
"So… You sent me away because they were going to lock you up?" Gewis grumbled, his internal conflict being apparent in his voice.
"It was a thought." Johan growled, clawing an itch on the top of his head. The young prince seemed to be prone to quick and rash reactions. He had hoped that princess would take her role as queen, and stave off her brother's wrath. Still, He had to prepare for the alternative.
Johan felt his blood boil slightly as he realized that the princess gave up the throne. Johan had chosen her, not the old, weak, crippled fool. She gave up a throne that should have been hers!
"So you did good, and you were thrown in prison? That doesn't seem right." Gewis mumbled, perhaps more to himself than to Johan.
"It is not much different than your story." Johan growled at his companion. Gewis simply shook his head.
"Why'd you do it anyway? Give the princess the crown if you knew they going to lock you up? You could have been king." Gewis mumbled quietly, as the guards looked his way.
Johan gave a soft snort, "These are not my people. They would resist me, and fight me to put a king they desired on the throne. Better to have a worthy ally on the throne than kill half of the people of this kingdom."
Gewis growled angrily, "I bet you have second thoughts now." He sounded angry with Johan, or perhaps he was angry with the kingdom. There was a silence between them.
Johan decided it was best to explain himself, so he growled, "I sent you away because I did not want you to be imprisoned. You do not belong in chains."
"You think they would have locked me up with you?" Gewis frowned at Johan, not disputing the possibility.
"I believe you wouldn't have let them imprison me." Johan growled, pawing at the ground, "It was not worth a rash action."
A scent reached Johan's nose, and he perked up. He saw Lanolin peak her head around the corner of the stairwell that led into the cells.
She approached sheepishly, "What happened to you?"
Gewis spoke for him, "He was locked up for killing Nagus. The prince is petty."
"I don't appreciate you insulting my son." A feminine voice stated clearly from the stairwell. Lanolin and Gewis jerked as Johan caught the smell.
She smelling like Sally, but was different with something in the core smelling odd. Johan turned to see the lady squirrel. She was older, a sister? Or perhaps a mother?
"Greetings, magnificent Wolverine." She gave a light bow that seemed to be a greeting for higher classes.
"Spare me your civilized speech. Tell me why you are here." Johan snarled.
The squirrel had small smile on her face, "Very well. I am Alicia Acorn, wife of King Maximillian Acorn. You have met and worked with my children."
"You are the wife of the weak one, the mother of a failed prince, and a worthy princess." Johan growled, growing annoyed by her presence.
"My son is learning." She mumbled, clearly growing angry with Johan's tone. He didn't care.
"A kingdom does not have the luxury of waiting for its prince to learn." Johan growled, clawing at the ground, "He must be able to provide guidance and stability for his people!"
"Indeed, which is why I am here." The queen smiled, as Gewis and Lanolin looked at each other. Alicia's smile turned angry, " There are nobles who refuse to stand down with my husband's rise to power. If we let this go unpunished, we set a precedent that my husband can be challenged for any detail. He has been challenged enough."
"SPEAK ALREADY!" Johan barked. He was tired of stories and explanations.
"Very well. I don't want my husband's rule to ever be challenged again. I want the nobility to know who rules this kingdom, and that treason will not be tolerated." She growled angrily, "I want them punished, and turned into an example."
Johan understood, and at least she was being direct with him, "I can kill them, but I see no reason to do so." Both Gewis and Lanolin shared a look of fear at his words, as if the queen was dangerous for Johan.
"I could sway the king to release you from prison." Alicia bartered as though it were a fair offer.
Johan decided it would be best to show her why her offer was worthless. He reached up and grabbed the bars of the cell, and began to bend them, pushing open a hole large enough for him to walk out, "I can leave whenever I please."
"But honor keeps you here." She pointed out calmly. Alicia was right in that regard, "You did not betray your honor before, and you won't betray your honor now."
Johan growled, "My contract will expire soon. Then I will be free to do as I please."
Alicia frowned at Johan's statement, before sighing, "Very well, what do you want?" She was angered by his posture, but it did not matter.
Johan thought for a moment. He was not expecting her to come with an offer. He finally settled on his decision, "A pardon for Gewis and his men that aided me in the battle."
Gewis turned and looked shocked at Johan. No matter, he did not deserve his status as a criminal.
Alicia scowled, before nodding, "Very Well."
"I want my armor back." Johan growled, clarifying his desire. He was not going to give it up.
Alicia nodded, before turning around, "I will handle this. Our deal stands, remember that."
He did. When the door was finally opened and his armor was returned, Johan stepped out into the bright sunlight. The king would not be challenged by his nobles again.
/*-*/
Alright, that this the fake of the kingdom arc done. Up next, "The Darkest Hour" arc…. Which won't come for a little bit.
I'm actually going to be taking a break from posting new chapters for a little bit. Merry Christmas everyone.
Please leave a review. I tried to work on this arc and I would love feed back from my readers. If you don't want a public response, send me a private message and I will respond shortly. Thank you for sticking with me this long.