Note: From now on there will be multiple perspectives. As this is the start of the final battle of the story, you'll be getting a lot more perspectives. This is going to be quite a journey. Thank you for coming along and if you enjoy it, I'm glad.

The White Darkness

By Helbaworshipper

The Roland Kingdom Arc: The Chess Board Overturned

Alice had never truly thought a war was ever possible for her to be involved in. She was never supposed to be involved. As she could tell the many masters were dying or being taken prisoner, she would remove the various pieces. With Samuel's piece gone, there was no need to delay. Slowly, she moved towards the room she had been given and changed her own clothes. Eric had not been mistaken in a way. A decision had to be made and she could not be the one to make the final decision. It had to be an appeal that truly… Truly appealed to her.

A simple green gown. A comfortable pair of shows with a cloak embroidered with all the words of the world. She slowly turned and headed towards the throne room. In all this time, she could have simply removed herself from the equation. Delayed the war and continued it another time. She could have done many things. Yet…

"I thought it would be okay."

Her hand moved to her heart as she went to the circle. She had thought it would be okay and end without her having to do anything. Even so, now it was not the time to be so timid. It was time for them to prove to her… To prove… She felt the tears she thought about it. She shook her head and the power flowed into the circle. A gray light formed and the barrier that had covered the Roland Kingdom in Fog went away as she could feel her body feeling every emotion she had held back.

"Who is it you want to save? Are you going to save this world or destroy it?"

The kingdom's buildings shook as the power flowed everywhere. Pieces reformed as it slowly formed a large building with only a few of them remaining. In the air, on what remained of the throne she sat. Her eyes, body, and even dress had transformed. The ultimate form of Lotsuan and Darva's power. The true decider of all things. As she looked out, she waited for the forces to storm in to plead their case. If they wanted her to choose… He hand tightened as she felt the Guardian's knife in her hand. They could try and persuade her.

Kyo and Frei felt the process first. They had felt exhausted and yet woke up just in time for this rather sudden power surge. The two of them could feel it through their marks who it was from. Yet, this house had been safe. Slowly, Frei opened the door and looked at the sheer scale of how it had changed. If this truly was the ultimate power of Darva and Lotsuan together… they were going to have to use their all on I. He turned to Kyo slowly and nodded. The two formed their robes and made sure they would at least arrive first.

Chris had only slightly recovered physically from the previous fight. Yet, with the fog out he couldn't afford to not follow. Mei Lin did not argue despite the worry on her face as the forces left made their way. This fight was going to have to be done whether they were fully healed or not.

King Weilhausen and Billy looked up from their spot. He looked towards it and tried to figure out how to word it. Mayura was probably not going to go, but his forces would have to in some fasion. He moved to speak with the Queen as Billy led some of the forces into the kingdom.

"Alice!" Kyo's voice was first she could tell. From her sort of perch on the throne remains, she noted he was healed more than she expected. Considering what had happened with Kayna and how he had had to deal with it rather fast, it was still fresh. Her gaze remained as it was as she looked at him. How much had he dealt with? What did he think of her using he power like this? "...Are you going to fight us?"

"If I do not, it will continue forever." She simply answered. She owed Kyo that much. She could see Frei looking more conflicted than she would expect. Perhaps his thoughts about Lotsuan were still in a way hard to discern. "No please from yourself, Frei?"

"If I do that, it'd be rather pointless." He commented softly, his hand lightly over his mirror with his robes. "You are going to fight, even if I say it won't do anything." She smiled a bit as his comment.

"It's because I did not it has come to this." Ah… some of the Weilhausen were coming in now. She could tell from how they formed such a line over the territory she had created. "Had I simply died again… this could be delayed."

"You're doing this because you can't, right?" Frei's words were more confident. He moved another step forward. "You only chose it before because you thought it would be hurting others. It's the first time you've made choices for yourself." She felt the tears form again. "You told me expecting me to condemn you for Eric's murder. As the one who has been the cause of all this war… it's more heavy on yourself than even the Lotis and Maram Masters, isn't it?" She could feel a part of her trying to weaken, but she couldn't.

"Don't use words like that to try and appease me." Alice spoke, feeling her mind return. "I've had enough of all this." She could feel the thud of more emotions bringing her back to why she was doing this. It had nothing to do with what she as Alice had done. No… It had far more to do with the sheer volume of what Lotsuan felt the deepest guilt on. How could anyone save the world and yet be in the position to cause it's own destruction? Her hand tightened on the Guardian's hilt. "No matter what choice I make, people will not be happy."

Kyo could feel something inside him break as she answered it. She could feel the sheer volume of what might be some sort of sadness inside him. Yet, he remained somehow able to look at her. She could feel the large church as it filled with everyone. Mayura was not there, but perhaps for good reason. She wouldn't have wanted to risk hurting her.

"Princess Alice," it was Chris, right next to Mei Lin. "I don't know why you're keeping this going. I can't even tell why this power is here… Yet… Can't you let us decide-"

"It's because I let you all decide this happened!" The Sura surge inside her. She could see it all again inside her. Every time the war kept restarting. Every time death happened to the ones meant to represent the will of Lotsuan. She could feel a part of her mind wanting to forget who she was. What was the point of her own will if this was… If this was the result. "If I don't die, you can't have a war with your justifications. If I live, I'm fought over like an object to be locked away forever. I'm..." Her eyes could feel the tears flowing as the power stabilized. "I'm tired of letting people decide my fate." She lifted the Guardian's dagger and tossed it in the air as the power formed a bright gray light that flashed over everyone. As it disappeared, the area almost felt empty. What remained was a simple large church. Empty of most of the occupants, the remaining one on the throne remained staring blankly as if waiting. Too tired to move, but too awake to sleep.