Alright, audience, time to get sucker punched right in the emotions.

Lotor held his side as he entered the private viewing chamber. Krolia was the only one here at the moment. The open coffin was framed in the purple flames of the Kral Zera and an overabundance of flowers littered the floor and coffin. Lotor steadied himself, suddenly faint. He clenched his jaw, eyes sore from crying as fresh tears began to fall. Steeling his resolve, he walked to the casket and looked inside.

She was beautiful even in death. The fire hadn't damaged her. Lotor put a hand over his mouth to stifle his sobs. His knees gave out and he fell to the floor, one hand on the side of the coffin. Her name was barely a murmur off his lips, but he could not stop his grief. The wall he'd managed to assemble in the days since the rescue mission came crashing down on top of him. Suffocating him.

He doubled up on the floor holding himself. His wound ached, but he was beyond caring about physical pain. Talias was dead. His aunt and surrogate mother, the woman he loved more than those who gave him life, was gone. Her light snuffed from the universe in a single moment along with too many others.

He was unaware of how much time passed before warm hands gently held his shoulders. Krolia coaxed, "There now. Come along, Lotor."

He allowed her to guide him to his feet and trudged along beside her to a bench. A pile of used tissues filled the space near the wall. Krolia sat and pulled Lotor into her side. Her arms wrapped around him and he cried into her clothes of mourning. Hours must have passed while they grieved together, but at last he didn't seem to have any more tears to shed.

He felt hollow, his senses deadened. Blowing his nose did nothing to relieve the stuffy pressure from crying. Krolia gently stroked his hair, distant eyes locked in the middle distance. Lotor whispered hoarsely, "This is all my fault. I never should have..." He shut his eyes and held his breath.

Krolia whispered, "Shh, precious one. There was nothing to be done."

He bit his lip to the point of drawing blood. Then he asked, "How are the others handling what's happened?"

Krolia sniffled and blotted her eyes again. "Marikus was here, but he left with a medic. His heart... I'm not sure he can handle losing her. Alphonse has been healing in the castle with the paladins, but Keith's-" She choked up and had to wait until the sobs passed. "They said they're attending the mass funeral. Kolivan... I haven't heard from him in days. He's in denial. I- I don't know how to convince him that our son..."

She covered her face with both hands and openly wept once again. Lotor hugged her and she clung to him. Lotor set his jaw. "I promise, I will find the truth, Krolia. Whether it kills me or not, Keith will face justice. Haggar and Sendak will pay dearly for this."

Her broken sobs were the only response he received. There was a knock on the door. A servant apologized, "I'm sorry, Emperor Lotor, but we've arrived."

Lotor said nothing, but supported Krolia as they went to the casket a final time. Krolia took a flower and placed it on Talias's chest beneath her hands. Then she kissed two fingers and placed them to her sister's lips. The servant caught her when she stumbled toward the door. Lotor leaned over the coffin and put his forehead to her's one last time. He whispered, "Thank you, Talias, for everything. I love you forever. Goodbye."

He took a moment to gather himself, then joined the funeral procession. He found Krolia and wrapped an arm around her and she leaned into his side. He kept his head high. Most of those gathered were unknown to him, but his people had come out in the thousands to grieve together. The bonds within the empire were stronger than ever. If only the one responsible for that were here to see it. Maybe he wouldn't have betrayed everyone who ever loved him.

A child was crying loudly where she refused to leave the dead. Lotor glanced over to see Gnov hold the girl to herself as she too wailed her grief. A boy looked back to the viewing room before throwing himself at Gnov and the girl. Gnov squeezed them both to her chest and began walking away. He saw her turn back and mouth, 'I love you,' before they were lost among the crowd.

They exited the funeral star-ship and went to the far end of the hangar where a small dais waited. Lotor's throat clenched up. He wasn't ready for this eulogy, but in truth, no one was ready for this eulogy.

Keith was training. He had been given an altean dagger to replace the luxite blade and he was still learning to handle this new alchemy. Plus it kept him from dwelling on the past. He pushed his emotions away yet again and went into the drill once more.

Some time later, the door opened and he felt Haggar enter. She stood watching him with her hands folded at her waist. It scared him that he was starting to grow accustomed to her quiet attention. He finished the drill somewhat clumsily and groaned. Using his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face, he called, "What time is it, mother?"

Haggar finally approached and answered, "The new cycle begins in two vargas. Have you been up here all night?"

Keith frowned. He honestly wasn't sure, but must have been. "I want to master this alchemy. I cannot best Lotor in combat until I do."

Haggar placed a hand on his arm, forcing him to lower his dagger. "That was a bold move, removing your mask. The emperor dropped his guard then, but he will not do so again. You must be more careful, my prince."

Keith ducked his head at her gentle rebuke. "Yes, mother. I will."

She reached up and cupped his cheek. "You should rest. We have many deca-pheobs to teach you, Keitaran."

Keith closed his eyes in resignation. "Yes, mother."

He paced to the door as his true fatigue struck him. Her voice made him pause with a question. "Answer me honestly, boy, do I repulse you?"

Keith looked back at her and answered, "I am scared of you and what I've become. I... I am trying to love you, Honerva."

She lifted her head in surprise and a soft smile crossed her thin lips. Her voice was gentle as she said, "Thank you for your honesty, my son. I am relearning how to love as well. In time, precious one. We have many deca-pheobs for this also. For now..."

Keith shivered as she suddenly appeared beside him and reached for his shoulders. He closed his eyes and allowed her to guide him to her chest. He hadn't lied, but this felt wrong. He didn't let it show though. He put his head to her chest and returned the embrace as long as he could tolerate. Then he stepped back and left the training room without another word.

He was nearly to the captain's quarters when a small noise caught his attention. Pausing, he turned and followed it to the small bedroom of the first lieutenant. The door was cracked open and the gentle weeping came from inside. Putting his palm against it, he whispered, "Acxa, may I come in?"

"Prince Keitaran? No! You shouldn't-"

Keith pushed the door open anyway and saw her with her knees pulled to her chest in a corner of the small bed. She was crying, eyes red and puffy. Her cheeks were splotchy and a line of snot went from one nostril to the corner of her lips and down her chin. A small transponder was clutched in both hands.

Keith's heart instantly went out to her and he shut the door quietly. Going to the cupboard, he retrieved the roll of what served as toilet paper and sat on the bed beside her. He held out the roll and took the transponder as she blew her nose. His own eyes watered in sympathy. Then he noticed the voice coming over the transponder and his breath caught in his throat. "Acxa, what is this?"

Her lip trembled and she stuttered, "I- I hacked a on-one way com-mmm. The em-mpire is holding a f-funeral for the de-ad. I'm s-so sorry, Keitaran. I shouldn't have failed you."

"Hey," Keith murmured and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her into his shoulder and felt his own tears start to fall. "I'm responsible for my own actions, Acxa. The empire was never supposed to be there. I planned for this to happen as soon as I realized I needed to protect my friend. I'll protect you as well, Acxa. We are in this together."

Acxa was about to respond when a man's ragged voice began to speak. Keith squeezed her shoulder and listened as Lotor began his eulogy. There was no way to stop his grief any longer. They listened together, silent apart from their sobs. Then Lotor said, "Let their bodies become as stardust once again in unity with the universe."

A loud grumble began and Keith asked, "What's happening?"

Acxa answered quietly, "The ship holding the dead is sailing into the heart of a star. That has become the tradition since the destruction of Diabazaal."

Keith was about to ask something else when a list of names was read. He forgot how to breathe. He didn't know if he ever would again. Princess Talias of the House of Lethua was the first name Lotor said.

Keith covered his mouth in horror. The rest of the names passed in a blur. He recognized more than a few and he felt more cold and dead inside with every addition. At last he could take no more, but the list came to a blessed end. His emotions were too strong. He wasn't capable of holding them in. He held his head and screamed. His body was wracked with pain as he spasmed unable to process anything except this agony within him. He screamed until his throat was raw. Acxa held him to herself, desperate to hold him together, but there was nothing that could heal this. Nothing except Talias herself... and she was gone.

So yeah, I've been crying all day since I started writing this. I have cried less at actual funerals. I could hardly see what I was typing through my tears. I hope you guys feel something, or else I don't know why I'm writing this.