I decided to do an alternative timeline chapter because I can. Enjoy.
Gods the pain!
Every struggling gasp sent burning pain throughout her body.
'S-so this is it?' The young woman thought as her breath slowed.
Slowly, agonisingly slowly the pain began to fade, and then.. nothing.
Curiously, the young woman opened her eyes.
"Am.. am I dead?" She pondered aloud as she seemingly floated in a pitch black void. Huh, so this is the afterlife? Nothing but a gods forsaken empty void? Or was this her punishment? To float aimlessly in an empty void because she failed her people.
"Heh… hehehehe!" Gods why was she laughing? She was dead for fucks sake..
Tears fell from her eyes as her laughter slowly degraded into sobs. She was dead… this was it, there was no going back, no saving her… Gods, there was so much she still wanted to do.
She wanted to tell Raubahn that she saw him as a father.
She wanted to tell the monetarist bastards that they could go to hell and that she was the ruler of Ul'dah and not them.
She wanted to finally find the courage to make her relationship with Naruko known.
She wanted to marry Naruko...but most of all…
She wanted to live. She wanted to live damn it!
H- -e- -n-
"W-what was…!" the young woman let out a startled shriek as a ball of fire shot past her.
He- -eel- -ink
More balls of fire fell around her 'W-what's going on… am.. am I in hell?' Nanamo thought in a panic as the stars themselves seemed to fall around her.
Hear. Feel. Think.
'What the…' Suddenly a bright blue light enshrouded her.
Nanamo shielded her eyes from the intense light 'What is happening?'
"Dearest Nanamo… beloved daughter." A soothing voice cut through the light.
Gingerly opening her eyes, Nanamo gasped in shock.
Before her was a crystal that was monumental in size. A crystal that looked exactly how Naruko described the Mothercrystal looked. "H-Hydaelyn?"
"Thou hast been burdened with a truly unjust fate… stricken down by the machinations of one who would plunge Eorzea, nay the entire star into chaos.. dearest daughter..I offer thee this chance."
"W-what?"
"Go dear child.. thou fate can yet be undone."
"W-wait what's going-" Nanamo was cut off as she was flung away from the Mothercrystal's realm.
Shortly after Nanamo faded, a figure bathed in light smiled sadly
"Although it may sap me of some of my remaining power...I will not allow you to suffer this pain again.. dear friend."
A tear slid down the woman's cheek as she slowly dissipated into small crystalline flecks of light.
And thus did she change fate. For better or for worse… she wouldn't allow Naruko to suffer this emotional turmoil again.
It's funny how this small but well meaning act of hypocrisy could change things so drastically.
Nanamo's Chambers
*Gaaasp*
Nanamo shot up into a seated position. Her eyes wide.
"W-what...what was…!"
Nanamo started gagging. Gods it felt like she was going to vomit up fire…as a reflex she brought her hands up to her mouth, which in hindsight wasn't a good idea as a deluge of up chucked wine spilled from between her fingers and down the front of her gown, staining it a foul red.
The young monarch fell onto her hands as a vile red liquid rushed up her gullet and out of her mouth. No doubt the poisoned wine she had ingested along with whatever she had eaten today.
Gods above it burned! It was also extremely bitter with a coppery tinge to it.. probably the bile that came up with it along with some blood. Hells some of it even shot out from her nose.. probably because she tried to stop it a moment ago, but fuck did it burn.
With a few sputtering gasps, Nanamo realized just how close she was to the freshly upchucked liquid she was and pushed herself away.
Though sadly, that didn't prevent it from getting on her hands. So while she was still in a daze, Nanamo wiped the foul mixture on her gown, staining it further.
Now if she was of sound mind at that moment, Nanamo would have looked at herself in the mirror and saw that she looked like a freshly slain corpse. Her skin had an ashen pallor, her gown stained red, her eyes cloudy and bloodshot, her hair had even come undone.
Sadly, however. Due to her current clouded mind, she thought nothing of the rather macabre appearance she had.
"Ugh… I.. I need.." Nanamo murmured as she stumbled out of her chambers...with some effort. She was in no state to be even walking, and yet here she was.
Slowly, she stumbled her way towards the Fragrant Chamber but in her current state the five minute walk would take several times as long, but with luck she may stumble across one of her Sultansworn… oh who was she kidding, Teledji likely had the floor cleared hours ago to ensure her death.
As she walked her vision blurred every so often, this usually was accompanied by this infernal ringing in her ears and a surge of tainted wine and bile from her stomach forcibly ejecting itself from her mouth… oh the poor, poor cleaning staff. It's going to take them ages to clean her stomach contents off the masonry and the rugs.
Halting for a moment to take a few raspy breaths she noticed a faint glint of something on the ground. With some effort she bent down to grasp the object.
It was a short dagger. One that looked exactly like the one that Naruko kept sheathed in her boot.
Eyes widening, Nanamo's mind immediately went to the worst possible conclusions. Before she lost consciousness she faintly saw Naruko getting dragged off by Teledji Adeledji's goons, all the while that smug prick gloated about how Ul'dah was now his…
Knowing Teledji, he'd definitely take Naruko to the banquet and accuse her of regicide. What better way to solidify his hold on the City-state then to announce that she'd been murdered and then to immediately follow up with her supposed killer being taken into custody at the crime scene… a showy demonstration that wouldn't fool anyone with half a brain, but would get the point across.
A hot anger flooded Nanamo's veins. 'First that.. that cunt killed my parents, now he's tried to kill me and frame my Naruko!?' Nanamo thought in a fury as she broke into a sprint despite her body screaming in agony. Where this newly found energy came from she didn't know, but by the Twelve she wasn't complaining.
After another few minutes she arrived in the Royal Promenade..which was suspiciously empty.
As she neared the Fragrant Chamber her legs nearly gave out, causing her to tumble into the nearby wall for support as she gasped raspily for breath. And after a moment she slowly pushed towards the large doors.. gods she hoped she wasn't too late.
Inside the Fragrant Chamber
Naruko grunted as another boot slammed down on her back. Teledji and his Crystal Brave cronies wanted to make a show of her breaking, but she wasn't gonna make it easy for them .. damn, if only she hadn't dropped her knife on the way here.
"You are only making things harder for yourself lass. Just admit you are a Garlean spy and that you killed Her Grace. I promise I'll make your death quick." Ilberd sneered with a smirk. Only for Naruko to spit on him "Go fuck yourself you dog! I hope you choke on Teledji's coin!" She roared only to be kicked in the face for her action.
"Snide little bitch." Ilberd scoffed.
"How about you untie me and say that. Oh wait that's right, you won't you fucking coward!" Naruko bit back which ended in her getting kicked hard enough to roll her onto her back.
Off to the side, Raubahn was still in shock.. Nanamo was dead? And… and Naruko had… no.. no there was no way. Naruko would never harm Nanamo.
"Hmm.. not only did you murder Nanamo.. but you are also a Garlean spy. Tut tut Warrior of Light." Teledji said smugly "You may as well confess. Afterall, even the Scions know of your guilt." He continued grinning as if he just won a million Gil.
Naruko looked over to her comrades and was met with glares and looks of condemnation.
"So do make it easy on your-" Teledji was cut off by a loud scream from the crowd, causing the others to look at the woman.
"T-t-there! B-b-by th-th-the-" the woman stuttered, pointing at the door.
"By the Twelve!"
Turning, Teledji's eyes widened in horror as Nanamo's blood soaked corpse shambled towards him. Her bloodshot eyes filled with a demonic fury unlike anything he'd seen before.
"Teledji…" Nanamo rasped as she stumbled forward. Her mouth and clothes were stained in a viscous red liquid.
"N-no! Stay back!" Teledji screamed as he backed away, only to trip over Naruko's downed form.
Off to the side even Ilberd was taken aback by the sudden turn of events. However, he knew that this would only end badly for him so instead of helping Teledji he made a break for the door, the other Braves following suit.
The others however, could only stare in a mixture of shock and horror as the seemingly undead Sultana stumbled forth towards Teledji. Who after he tripped, began shuffling backwards until his back hit the table.
"S-stay away monster!" He screamed, But Nanamo did not halt her advance.
He had hoped that when she reached Naruko that her attention would turn to the bound woman, but alas, she simply tried to climb over her… it was then when he saw the dagger.. and when he proceeded to piss himself before passing out in fear.
A fear that had proven unfounded for before Nanamo could get over Naruko, she froze and the hand holding the dagger released its shaky grip in favour of being brought up to cover her mouth as she retched.
And much like before, this proved for naught as she seemingly vomited up a substantial amount of blood, most of which landed on Naruko who looked more concerned for Nanamo than she did about getting covered in what looked like blood.
"For fucks sake! Help her you fucks!" Naruko shouted at the gawking crowd as she tried to shift herself to break the ropes. This was halted when Nanamo flopped forward limply, murmuring apologies for being sick on her and for getting her dragged into this.
This got the others moving as Kan-E-Senna rushed forward, followed by Raubahn.
Within a few moments Naruko was free from her bonds and Nanamo was being treated. However, one small problem reared its ugly head.
"Why are you just standing around? Arrest her." Alphinaud demanded.
"Oh go fuck yourself Alphinaud." Naruko scoffed from Nanamo's side. "I clearly didn't try to kill Nanamo, and I'm not a Garlean spy you gods damn halfwit."
"You were part of the XIVth!"
"Was, Alphinaud. Was. Besides, your grandfather knew, hell Nanamo and Raubahn knew." Naruko revealed, much to the Scions shock.
But before anyone could retort, a buzzing sound came from the table.
"That's probably my Tomestone." Naruko said as Y'shtola reached for the object.
"Who is.. Gremlin?" The white haired Miqo'te asked as she stared at the screen.
"Probably her-"
"It's Tataru. So you may as well answer it." Naruko cut Alphinaud off.
Shrugging, Y'shtola pressed the green symbol and then they were greeted by panicked shouting.
"Naruko I need help! The Crystal Braves have gone mental and are trying to kill me! *Crash* Shit! I'm at Cid's Workshop.. hurry!"
With that the line went dead.
Naruko looked down at Nanamo and then back towards the others. "Well then, looks like I'm cleaning up your mess Alphinaud. Fucking told you the Crystal Braves was a disaster in the making." She huffed before standing up and re-equipping her Warrior gear.
"Raubahn, don't let those fucks near her." Naruko motioned to the Scions before teleporting away. Leaving a silent chamber and a stunned group of people.
Welp, that was an alternate version of the Bloody Banquet. What did ya think?
I've got another chapter or two in the works(by that I mean it's half done) and it just so happens to be what Naruko was referencing in the Starlight Celebration chapter, y'know the Moonfire Faire thing but also I have a Krile focused one... Either way really I'll probably finish both, but after that I'm gonna try and focus on In Crimson it Began. I've let that languish for far too long.
Funnily enough, this was actually an idea that hit me after one night and I had wanted to implement it in the main fic but couldn't, but I liked it so meh. I might make another chapter or two based on this timeline though. Though this time, Nanamo somehow finagles her way into going to Ishgard with Naruko, and the reason is actually a logical one…kinda.
Care to guess what the chapter name means?
