Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 10
Chapter 38: ...All Are Punished
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Brothers. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
I was in a makeshift infirmary as I noticed Danica sitting in a chair next to the cot I was in. Like most members of the Medical Corps, she was there to assess me due to the fact that my raw power was mainly a hot button issue at present. As usual, I had to endure everything as I was also in a very massive rotgut room that was there a lot longer than we were, for it was pretty much the norm for me so far. Sitting up, I was busy writing in my journal as I was also missing my family at the villa in El Anillo del Fuego on Valinor. Still, I had to offer my support to Dean as he had to ascend to the Alecrian throne, for this was not only just a birthright, but a way and mean to avert the threat of eternal winter coming.
"You really know how to keep up with things," said Danica as she noticed me writing in my journal.
"I always write in my journal," I said.
"By the way, I saw your brother writing a letter to his family and unit on Valinor in which they'll be making their way to Trujillo land over there after they fix up the mess on Skald Island."
"Did Dean give the order?"
"No, but his subordinate did in which he left Sachiko in charge. Desna's no slouch, but he also left the care of the castle to Patriarch Yorvanar, who has the Adam West parked underneath it."
I saw Danica break out her medical bag as she noticed me touching at the lower part of my abdomen where I had the caesarian section earlier. She knew of my discomfort as she was busy checking my vitals in which she also didn't want me to overload myself. Still, she followed in her mother's footsteps as she was also expecting her first child, for she was more than likely to be put in a situation that could end up jeopardizing her pregnancy if not being careful.
"I've never been to Isildur before until now," I said.
"Consider this your inaugural visit since Emperor Henry's ouster," said Danica as she slipped a blood pressure cuff onto my arm. "For a long time since the war ended, everyone is wanting the return of the Alecrian royal family in which they were protected by the Order the whole time."
"Dean's still a little puzzled about this, but he'll soon adjust to what's going on so far."
"Dean will be a formidable Emperor," said Castiel as he entered into the room. "His return has now sparked further protestations from those who demand the Stewards to relinquish power in which they have nowhere to go but to be isolated in their palace."
"I hope that he does."
I stood firm as I saw Danica finishing up on examining my vitals as she put away her medical bag. When I got up from my cot, I left the room as I saw Dean at a table writing a letter to Ravenna. From what I noticed, he missed her badly as he also had a future Empress with stepchildren and a baby on the way. I didn't blame him for being homesick, but he was more than likely to be ascending to the throne once we get a chance to storm the palace, for it was our final stand against the Stewards once and for all.
"I won't intrude on your writing, but it seems that you're still on edge," I said.
"I'm more than just a little on edge," said Dean.
"You're afraid that you'll become a tyrant than a compassionate leader."
"Our past selves had everything tossed in front of them, only for most of it going sideways."
"You'll be a formidable leader because I have faith in you. You should also have faith in yourself because you're a brave leader and a family man. Everyone looks up to you in which they'll always be there to lift you up in dark places. I also know of you to be flawed, but not perfect, in which I helped you up when you were at your lowest when I saw you drinking your sorrows away at the Wonder Nook. I also had to clean out the Impala when it had nothing but trash and beer bottles strewn all over the place. We carry ourselves and each other up when we're at our lowest, for we are all flawed, but never broken."
I saw Dean shedding tears as he stared at me in which he was thankful that he heard those words I told him. Still, he had a job to do as he vowed to see it through, for it was crucial in this time of crisis so far…
Iago was in his room as he saw the multiple protests coming from outside. Like flies attracted to manure, he viewed the protestors as lingering vermin as they were also cautious due to the presence of hellhounds running amok all over the palace. The expectations he endured have gotten louder as he couldn't take it the moment he saw Desdemona enter into the room with a look of disgust on her face. He knew of her to be temperamental, but seething over a phone call ended up pushing her over the edge as he had to do his best to calm his sister, for he was eager to keep a hold to power a little longer.
"You seem angry," he said to her.
"That little brat!" she yelled as she started to throw things all over the room. "She thinks she can size me up, but she's wrong! As for Lyra and that cripple, their days are numbered once I have my way and storm that shitty village on Valinor!"
"What little brat?"
"It was that one who interrupted Lyra in that phone call when I sent in those Zenith Vectors to kill Shayla! She's a threat to us and you know it! I know that you desired a son, but a crippled daughter is best left dangling off of a cliff to her demise!"
"She can die for all I care… I don't mind her death that much anyway. As for that royal trash coming here, he's in way over his head in which those hellhounds will make a meal of him just like he did with the past self of Ippei's loyal retainers during the Elder Days! I won't let him make a mockery out of our misery in which we'll execute him just like our own father did with his grandparents!"
It wasn't long until Iago heard the screams of some of the retainers from outside as he left his room and saw the carnage in the courtyard. The hellhounds that were kept at bay had finally burst into the palace as they were looking for both Iago and Desdemona the moment they were sniffing everywhere both inward and outward of the palace. What they didn't expect was that Casca was there as he was standing in front of the hellhound that was standing still, for this was a time of reckoning for all of the Stewards in their long thirst for extravagance and power.
"Run, Casca!" yelled Iago as he unsheathed his sword.
"No…," he said as he was kneeling in prayer. "We can't stay in power for much longer in which our extravagance and vanity is our undoing after all the throats of oracles you slit."
"Coward!" cried Desdemona as she was disappointed in Casca's behavior. "You're letting this calamity take root with all the fake news around us!"
"We had it coming for years, Desi! If only your father hadn't killed Emperor Henry and Empress Millicent…, displace their children, and signed a death warrant on one of their grandchildren, we wouldn't be in this mess! If only your father hadn't made that demon deal to put this mess upon us… No…, this is our downfall and we're thrust in the depths of Hell for the contract that was long overdue." The hellhound bears its invisible jaws dripping with blood as it was ready to strike. "I'm ready to go… and pay for the sins of what was wrought…"
Without delay, the hellhound grasped at Casca as it ripped his soul out of his body. Both Iago and Desdemona were appalled to see him lay down his life as they fled the chaos that ensued. When they reached the tunnels, they noticed a few retainers fleeing their lives as they couldn't take the mess of hellhounds scouring the palace above. It was something that they had to grapple with as they also had to flee for their lives in which their sins have ended up catching up to them. It was the bitter end of the Stewards' reign as they had to get away from the chaos, for it was too much due to the bitter downfall that was waiting for them. The tunnels had no comfort for both Iago and Desdemona as they saw the tomb of the royal family clearly. It was mainly the resting place for the deposed Emperor and Empress as it was also a reminder of their father's rise and fall, for they would soon reap what they've sown.
"There it is…," said Iago. "The tomb of the royal family… or what was left of it…"
"This place is a travesty," said Desdemona. "Our father should've been buried with honor, not have his soul whisked away to Hell!"
"And yet only we remain… Casca is dead. Cyril is in hiding. All we have is each other in which we'll do our best to hold onto power. You can't take us, you ginger-haired bitch! You may have died once in the Elder Days, but you can't find us! This place is repellent of demons like you and all of your brethren!"
Iago was beginning to lose it as he was glaring at the tomb where the royal family have rested over the centuries. He also saw the Winchester Sigil plastered on the wall as multiple portraits of past Alecrian Emperors strewn the tomb the moment he was ready to destroy the place. Even Desdemona was seeing this place to be a condemned one as she was ready to scream until Iago stopped her, for she wanted to prevent the resistance from coming forth.
"Don't…," he said. "If you did so, then you'll give away our trail."
It wasn't long until they heard the sound of hellhounds bellowing from above. They had nowhere to go as they were literally screwed the moment the resistance made their way into the capital. It was the beginning of the Stewards' end as their long reign was coming to an end, for the rise of a new Emperor was coming without further delay. By the time they left the tomb, they entered into the sewers as they braved the stench of the stagnant water that was drained from time to time. When they reached the surface, they found themselves in a further level of the catacombs as they saw the portraits of the royal family strewn on the wall complete with marble statues in the likeness of Alecrian rulers past. They even saw a statue of Emperor Edmund as he was dressed in his gallant clothing while sneering at the greatness that was put into it.
"Look at the great Emperor," said Iago. "It's a shame that no one will ever remember him…"
"His descendants won't last long on the throne," said Desdemona. "The hellhounds will devour them so we can escape this mess."
"We have each other while we tread through the cold dread of winter approaching. We may have been ousted from power, but there will be others who will return us to the status quo. Sooner or later, they'll regret their stance, for we hold the keys to the kingdom and no other."
"We'll bring them down a peg! We both know of the village of El Anillo del Fuego and how it settles on Trujillo land. We'll go to the room with—"
Without warning, Iago and Desdemona were spotted by some of their fleeing retainers as they came to collect them. Even though their reign was over, they didn't go without protection as they noticed their faithful servants bowing in reverance, for they would soon usher them away from Isildur into parts unknown. It may be a daunting task, but they had to move forward as they were reeling from the loss that they took, for they weren't out of the fight completely yet.
"There's safe passage near the harbor," said one of the retainers.
"We're not leaving!" yelled Desdemona defiantly. "We won't abandon our home so readily so that a couple of rats could walk into it!"
"We can't stay here much longer, my lady! The resistance has already breached the capital and there's nothing left for us to salvage!"
"Well, salvage this!"
Desdemona was ready to kill the retainer with her knife until Iago stopped her before she did so. He had to leave as he also had to bide his time the moment he and his retinue would flee the capital before the resistance had its way. When he and Desdemona followed the entourage of retainers, they fled away from the capital as they made their way towards a spaceship the moment they would leave Alecrast for good. By the time they entered into the ship, they were leaving as they would soon have the gall to bide their time, for they still had their family pride intact despite the chaos that spilled all over the place. Looking out a window, Desdemona saw the increased cold spots getting bigger as she stared at them with a cold smile on her face, for she wanted Alecrast to freeze over before Dean took the throne.
"Winter will claim this planet and no one else will take the throne," she said.
"We're all we've got, but we will be in hiding for a while," said Iago as he walked towards her.
"The royal family will never cleanse Alecrast of the eternal winter, for it's already here. Everyone will cling for warmth as it's a divine form of punishment for banishing us from power. We are of House Arkhelios and no other, for only perfection is key, not the disabled or anyone else who would stand in our way."
Without warning, the ship that Iago and Desdemona hit at a proximity mine as it began to lose power and altitude. With their hope of escaping fading fast, they had to flee the folly of the prox mine as the ship began to fall back into the Alecrian atmosphere and straight into the ocean. With the retainers leading them towards an escape shuttle, they left the ship as it crashlanded near the shore of Kidros Island in which they narrowly fled death, but for how long? Iago, Desdemona, and their retainers were on their own as they also had to navigate the treacherous path they took, for they were also running from the hellhounds that were coming after them...
Dean and I made our way into the epicenter of Isildur as we saw the protestors fleeing the chaos. What we didn't expect was that the presence of hellhounds was intense as we had to get through and protect the protestors before they became part of the menu. When we noticed some of the Stewards' retainers coming towards the protestors, they were armed the moment we saw a commander armed with a rifle shooting at some of them. Dean saw him to be a threat as he was simply a member of House Arkhelios, for he was simply acting in retaliation for having his masters displaced.
"Come no further!" he yelled as he fired a shot towards us, but missed. "You won't get farther to the palace, you false ruler!"
"Is that so?" said Dean as he stood firm while in his diamond form. "You're just a puppet who has his strings yanked too many times. As for my ascension, I will restore what's rightfully mine and to the rest of my family who were ousted over the years!"
"I won't accept a false leader! Iago and Desdemona hold the keys to the kingdom, not you, so I suggest that you—"
It wasn't long until we saw a hellhound sneak up from behind the commander as it crushed him to death with its jaws. When we saw it running off, we had a gut feeling that it would go after the stragglers who fled in which they had nowhere to go, for their time was already up as we speak. Still, we pressed onward as we rushed into the palace in which it was mainly riddled with dead bodies of what was left of the retainers. It was a massacre conducted by hellhounds as we saw them littering the ground with their bloodstained footprints. We had to remain on our guard as we were also no stranger into dealing with hellhounds, for they have been a nuisance since time immemorial.
"Okay, Fido; dinnertime's over!" yelled Dean as he was ready to attack.
The hellhounds were howling as they were targeting us until we heard a whistle in the distance. Looking up, we noticed a familiar face standing in the distance as he was leading the hellhounds away the moment he stood firm with a smile on his face. It was Maro as he had his reasons to turn the tide in driving the hellhounds away from the palace, for he was eager to direct them somewhere before the battle was over. With the major threat gone, we noticed the rest of the resistance scaling back what was left of the retainers as they fled out of the palace, for the usurpers had their last stand in this time for their power to end. Still, we made our way further as the mess of what the Stewards and hellhounds made was evident of the abuse amongst the capital's citizens, for the reign of tyranny was coming close to an end.
"You simply came here, but the remaining usurpers have fled into the underground catacombs,"said Maro as he walked in front of us. "Still, with the palace liberated, there's one Steward left, but sadly, he is plotting his own demise before we get to him."
"That's too bad 'cause I'm gonna be the one to end his misery," said Dean.
"It won't be easy, but your search for the Steward in hiding is in vain."
"What happened to him?" I asked.
"Let's just say that he took the honorable way out…" Maro fishes out a piece of blue cloth with blood stained all over it as he showed it to us. "Cyril Maitland took his own life in which he committed the act of seppuku just to spare you a fair fight. He took the coward's way out instead of fighting you in which he'll take his stupidity to the grave."
"I've read about it in which it was a samurai's code to end himself if his honor is besmirched. Cyril was overwhelmed in which he had no other choice but to take his own life in which he knew what was coming."
"He knew of the prophecy, but his friends won't give up so easily. Iago and Desdemona may have fled the palace, but they won't get far…" Maro sees a ship in the distance crashing into somewhere unknown. "I rest my case… Sadly, those two Stewards may have failed to leave the planet, but their folly in the form of proximity bombs blew up in their faces."
I saw Maro leave in a plume of red smoke as I was left with the rest of the resistance fighting what was left of the Stewards' retainers who stayed. I also noticed Castiel approaching as he was riding on Barca's back while fighting against the stragglers who were left behind in the chaos. We had our work cut out for us as we went towards the interior of the palace the moment we noticed some of the civilians coming out of their hiding places. The battle was intense as we mostly cleared the palace of what was left of the retainers who lived here for years, for this was a victory that gave us an edge after all. When I went inside of the main hall of the palace, I saw it to be a place that was redone in the image of the Stewards who lived here since the ouster of the royal family. When I walked into an empty room, I noticed the throne at the very end of it as it was unoccupied for a long time. Still, I wasn't here to be a ruler, but I was eager to allow Dean to ascend the throne as I saw him burst into the room, for he was seeing what was left behind by our forbears centuries ago.
"This place has seen better days," he said as he walked towards the throne.
"It's a shame that Dad never told us about our true birthright, but we can't let our status fade further into memory," I said as I was looking at some of the paintings on the wall. "For centuries, our ancestors ruled this planet and treated everyone fairly, but their status was forgotten over the years."
"And yet we're here to take over a planet after the Stewards abusing their power due to their constant taxing and tithing on the chieftains and citizens alike."
"We'll plan a coronation once we get everything settled and restored. I can have some of the servants bake you a large apple pie just to commemorate this occasion."
"So, this is it, Sam…" Dean sits on the throne as he stares at everything in the room. "I know that I'm poised to be Emperor, but what about you?"
"My place is everywhere in which Reiko and I have a home where we make of it. As for my own kingdom, it'll be situated on Erebor in which I'll be glad to come and go just to help everyone. We may not be like our ancestors, but we also had our fair share with what got thrown at us for a long time, for this was something that feels more like a golden age with the family we keep."
I continued to stare at the pictures as I noticed a familiar one with my past self and Dean's standing next to the Impala. It was an old one as I saw it to be a symbol of what we went through in which it was a relic from the time of the Elder Days. By the time I turned around, I noticed some of the resistance burst into the throne room as they bowed in front of Dean, for he was mainly to be the new Emperor of Alecrast and the rightful heir to restore Alecrast's former glory at best.
"This is all too much for me," he said.
"Not all of it," said Shigeru as he entered into the throne room. "Iago and Desdemona may have fled, but from what I heard through the grapevine, their takeoff failed due to the prox mine that it ran into. They live for another day, but they won't last long if they even get a chance to return to prominence."
I was alarmed by Shigeru's words as I feared that the remaining Stewards would soon plot their vengeance if we ended up letting our guard down. When I went outside, I was thinking about Cyril's demise as I had to find the body, but where was it? I began my search through the courtyard where some of the resistance kept putting the dead in body bags. When I saw blood coming from one of the sheds, I went towards it as I opened up the door to find Cyril's body while holding his katana in his hand. He really did take the easy way out due to him committing seppuku as I examined his body in which the wound on his abdomen was healed after I noticed the blood staining his clothes. I never expected him to recover, but something was a little off as I felt his pulse still brimming with life in his neck. What I didn't expect was that his eyes opened up as he sat up while holding his katana in his hand, for he was still reeling from his attempt to take his own life.
"Why haven't I died?!" he cried. "It should've been a means to an end after denying the royal family the restoration it deserved!"
"It seems that you dodged a bullet, but your abilities have been unnatural from the start," I said.
"I should've been dead by now… It seems that some of Iago's wild oats kept me alive from afar, but I know for a fact that his daughter's birth triggered my immortality and I didn't see it!"
"What are you talking about?"
"When Iago kicked Lyra into the point of miscarrying, she was far along in which she nearly died, but she gave birth to a crippled daughter who was taken away to that city where all the disowned had lived and thrived…"
"Kolinahr… It was where the Dowager Empress Sayaka lived at after her family disowned her for receiving medical treatment for her cancer than adhering to their natural methods. From what I heard, Lyra lost the baby in which she banned Iago and Desdemona from treading to her land again."
"No… The baby lived, but Bruce and the rest of the Clover Brigade were forced to secrecy by Gonzalo Trujillo not to tell Lyra about the 'shame' she put on her adoptive clan. For years, she forgot about it until Mauricio brought her to the Trujillo Clan's homestead out of Kolinahr because of the fact that he despised the treatment of how the disabled were put aside. As for Gonzalo? He lives in Kolinahr as an engineer due to his work on improving the waterways there until the Executive Division ransacked it. His children also lived there in which they eventually looked down upon Shayla while she spent years in that halfway house while living in a sterile room."
"Does Lyra know about it?"
It wasn't long until I noticed several members of the Hunter Corps burst into the courtyard as they ran towards Cyril the moment they slapped a set of handcuffs on his wrists. When I saw him being led away into a paddy wagon, I had pity for him as he was also cursed with the immortality that he was forced to endure. Even though he was a Steward, he surrendered without a fight as he knew of the downfall that happened in plain sight, for this was the undoing of what House Arkhelios started in the first place…
Reiko arrived at the Trujillo Clan's homestead as she was noticing Shayla in the courtyard still knitting while sitting in her wheelchair. Even though she didn't speak, she remained mute as she also couldn't move her legs after being born crippled. When Reiko noticed her knitting a scarf, she picked it up as it was longer than any other rope that came along over the years. It was a mixture of many colors as Shayla finished it up in which she was starting to feel more alive than living out her days in a sterile room. When Mauricio entered into the courtyard, he was there to check up on his half-sister as he had his reasons to protect her, for she was someone who was broken for most of her life.
"Thank the gods that you're safe," he said as he had a smile on his face.
"You care about Shayla more than anything, don't you?" said Reiko.
"I couldn't let Uncle Gonzalo and his familia keep her in that sterile room in the halfway house in Kolinahr after what she went through the years. Instead of having the love and care by all of us despite her circumstances, she ended up being at the mercy of those doctors who ran the halfway house where they stuffed her in a sterile room with nothing but some yarn and knitting needles. If only my uncle hadn't forced Bruce and his friends to lie to Madre the moment she was raped by that pendejo after losing Papi."
"You don't get along with your uncle, do you?"
"I'm civil with him, but he was out of the running of our clan because of his bad habits. He started with running a gambling den in which some of us told him that he would be like a wrinkled Terran if he didn't change his ways. He later ran an egg racket in which he used breeding chickens to lay eggs while selling them cheap during the grocery crisis. The real reason why he was ostracized by our clan is because of the fact that he looked down on the disabled in which he accused them of ruining society, so he took Shayla away to Kolinahr the moment she stayed in that halfway house for most of her life. The one who put kicked him out was my aunt Lucia, who has married into the LaPointe Clan. She put her foot down when she saw Gonzalo paying people to keep Shayla in that halfway house in which it was also the last straw. Her actions spoke volumes when she finally banished my uncle to the same place he hated and that was Kolinahr itself."
It wasn't long until Lyra rushed into the courtyard with a newspaper in her hand. When she showed Reiko and Mauricio the front page, they noticed the resistance taking over the Alecrian capital as it was a sigh of relief that the threat of eternal winter was now averted. She was also grateful that the resistance finally ousted Iago and Desdemona from power as they had nowhere to go, for their actions had bitter consequences in the making.
"The time of the Stewards has now come to an end!" she declared as she smiled.
"What happened in the capital?" asked Reiko.
"Iago and Desdemona fled, but their failed attempt to go offworld fizzled when their ship ran into a proximity mine while it crashed into the ocean. As for the future Alecrian Emperor, he has to step up in which he'll do his best to restore the integrity that the royal family left behind. From what I know, Casca Dunford was killed by a hellhound, but Cyril Maitland still lives after his attempt to end his own life failed, only to be cursed with immortality before being taken away in handcuffs."
"So the captured Steward got struck with immortality, but he won't last forever."
"Not so fast!"
It wasn't long until a familiar face entered into the courtyard as she was still dressed in her black dress. It was Odette as she was there on business in which she was also there to issue a warning to everyone, for she had to deliver what would occur in the future. Even Lyra noticed her clearly as she knew of her to be more of a threat than an ally, for she wasn't too fond of witches who came and went.
"You have no right to be here," she said.
"Cyril Maitland's curse is real, but it was activated in the form of crippling a Nephilim in the womb," said Odette. "Iago and his blatant misogyny has cursed one of his comrades in which it was also a warning not wear it on his sleeve just to get what he wanted: a male heir to carry on his bloodline. Gonzalo took your daughter away to avoid the shame on his clan, but actions turned to consequences when he was banished to live in Kolinahr to have some humble pie, only to force Shayla to live in that deplorable halfway house most of her life without warmth or care."
"You cursed Iago, didn't you?"
"I wanted him to age like a wizened monkey, but when he kicked you while you were carrying Shayla, that set off a chain reaction when House Maitland had its own children carrying a burden that would cause him to stop aging during adulthood. With the Stewards out of power and the true rulers coming to claim that was rightfully theirs, they have so many obstacles to overcome and fulfill the prophecy that was put in front of them. Dean may be the rightful heir to the Alecrian throne, but a certain tall god has a kingdom waiting for him on Erebor just to keep everyone in line. As for the rule of the Stewards being in disarray, everyone from all over the galaxy has celebrated the downfall of House Arkhelios and their comrades in which their efforts to give chieftains free rein while reaping the fat from the public. The Winchester Dynasty has been restored where it belongs, for its displaced retainers will soon return to Alecrast and greet them after being in the Order's ranks over the years."
It wasn't long until Odette fished out a scroll as she rolled it out and showed it to everyone. It was a royal decree by the Alecrian royal family as it was an event that spoke volumes. Even Reiko saw it as she was aware of what was going on in which she was happy that we averted the threat of eternal winter, for she would soon see me again once my mission was concluded. She was thankful that Alecrast didn't become like Gehenna as it was our homeworld that we clung to over the years. She also had to keep her secret intact, but she also had to be cautious when it came to the prying eyes of witches, for Odette wasn't fooled by the lies that she heard. When she saw her go into the garden, she was eager to confront her as she couldn't let her secret stay under wraps forever, for it would be revealed whether she liked it or not.
"I know of your secret, Reiko," she said. "You're the silver dragon who aided Sam in stopping the Zenith Vectors from creating a train crash. You also stopped one of Ailnoth's servants from killing him and you later saved Sona's life from that group of Zenith Vectors. I know you more than anything in which you can't keep your secret forever. You're one of the two silver dragons of prophecy in which you and Sam are easy targets."
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Silver dragons are very rare in which their scales fetch a large value that is worth more than a billionaire's luxury yacht. When you saved your ward's life, you changed back into your normal form, but not without shedding those scales that are mainly used for armor and other clothing. The Va'Kihri were known for their crafting of clothing in which some of their works were stolen by the Zenith Vectors. Silver scales are the strongest, but most of the dragons who bear them have been extinct for centuries until you and Sam changed into the same creatures that would aid Dean into ascending to the Alecrian throne. As for the clothes that the Va'Kihri crafted, their lesser works were obtained by the Zenith to be impervious to melee and projectile attacks, but the only flaw is that they are weak against both diamond and silver. It's a match made in Heaven and Hell in which it'll rain on the parade of Jacob Doran and his cronies once those leftover scales are collected once they're shed."
"I know about the silver scales, but I also want them to be used by those who have a strong sense of honor, not ones who would abuse what the Va'Kihri made."
It wasn't long until Reiko ran into the bushes as Odette noticed the silver dragon emerging in front of her. The sight of it astonished her as it later returned to normal once Reiko was back to her normal form with a mess of silver scales on the ground. Picking up one of them, she had an idea as she saw a a wicker basket filled with freshly picked cotton and another one filled with cleanly sheared wool from a sheep. The idea of combining those materials with the silver scales would be a game changer as she used her angelic aura to meld them together while turning them into a large ball of silver yarn. The yarn itself was big as a bowling ball as it would be useful for Shayla to knit, for it was a marvel all by itself.
"You used your abilities to craft that large ball of yarn, didn't you?" said Odette.
"I did, for I wanted Shayla to have it," said Reiko as she was now sporting a jeweled sigil on her forehead. "She may run out of yarn, but she has the ways and means to craft what she makes."
Odette didn't say another word as she noticed Reiko in her new appearance while holding the large ball of yarn in her hands. She was at the mercy of the goddess in front of her as she was also aware of what was yet to come in which she stood still and not use any of her witching magic whatsoever. By the time Reiko returned to the courtyard with the ball of yarn, she saw Shayla in her wheelchair as she did nothing but look at the scarf that she just knitted earlier. When Reiko gave her the large ball of yarn, she started to shed tears of joy as she was happy with what she was given to her, for she was blessed with the yarn that she had. Even Lyra was happy that Shayla was adjusting as she also vowed to protect her from harm, for she was mainly a cripple who was dealt a bad hand in life.
"You now have more yarn to make a scarf with the official Tom Baker seal of approval," she said as she walked towards Shayla. "You have a talent that can give you a lot more comfort than the sterile environment you're used to over the years." She sees Shayla still shedding tears as she remained mute while holding the ball of yarn in her hands. "I know that you can't speak, but you've been dealt a terrible hand in which you had no loving family to comfort you. As for the bastard who sired you, he's off of his pedestal in which Dean will take the reins of being Emperor. I also know that he doesn't give a damn about you, crippled or not. He's afraid of you in which he wears his misogyny on his sleeve just to want an heir. As for Desdemona, she's the apple of his eye in which she wears her pride like a worn-out dress. I know for a fact that Mauricio did the right thing into bringing you here not only for me to forgive your presence, but to see closure." Lyra hold's Shayla's hand as she didn't want her to feel alone. "I will protect you and so will the rest of our family. If Iago or Desdemona ever show up here, I will end them if they harm you or anyone else who live here."
Lyra made her point clearly as she grabbed at the scarf that Shayla knitted earlier. She was determined to keep the cripple safe as she also had a sense of closure that had to be realized, for she couldn't let the monster who defiled her set hold near Trujillo land again…
Dean was in another part of the castle as he was looking at what was left behind. The sight of our grandparents, father, and aunt in one of the portraits was a homely one, but marred by the presence of the Stewards for years as it was a reminder of what was truly stolen from us. When he looked at another portrait, he saw our grandfather's face riddled with a red "x" as it was besmirched with a hint of decay. When he turned around, he spotted Castiel in front of him as he brought Ravenna with him in which she was stunned to see what was there, for she would soon become his Empress while restoring dignity to the Alecrian royal family.
"I've brought her, Dean," he said.
"So, this is the Alecrian palace," said Ravenna as she saw everything put in motion.
"This place has its charm, but this was something that Dad never talked about," said Dean.
"Wait…" Ravenna spots an old egg-shaped figurine on a shelf as she noticed it plugged into the wall with a cord. "I've seen something like this in which Aster told me of how her family invented this device." She turns it on as classic rock begins to blare all over the room. "It never lost its edge when it came to playing tunes that the Impala had in its interior."
"And the chicken laid a egg that played nothing but Skynyrd all the live long…"
"Everyone is waiting for you," said Castiel.
Dean rushed outside in the courtyard as he saw some of the people living in the capital bowing in adulation while welcoming his presence. The threat of eternal winter was replaced by a late spring as the sight of flowers rose up and bloomed everywhere. It was a sight of renewal as the arrival of the new Alecrian Emperor was more than just a restoration, but a sense of longing for those who cared about everyone and not ask for tithings. When Dean walked towards Ravenna, he felt at her stomach where their baby was nestling in as he was ready to have his family with him in this moment of clarity, for he had a duty to uphold.
"Do the kids know about this?" he asked.
"No, but Aster's family served alongside the Alecrian royal family until they fled to Essos," said Ravenna. "From what I heard, you're first in line to the throne."
"Yeah, but it's about to get a little complicated. I'm used to being a soldier, but a ruler? I'd make a very crappy one."
"You won't make a very crappy one!"
I burst into the room as I made my point clearly. I also didn't want Dean to feel discouraged as he had a duty to uphold. Still, I couldn't let him get away from what was put in front of him as I also wanted him to restore what was taken away from our family over the years, for this was something that I had to keep him tethered to his duty. I was more than glad that he was there to take the throne as I was also thankful that the eternal winter was averted at the last minute. We had our work cut out for us as we helped to restore what was lost, but we had to know a little more of the history that was erased, for the people were yearning for us to return to prominence after clearing out the usurpers earlier, for we were there to bring clarity to everyone in general.
"So…, this is it," said Dean.
"We're with you," I said as I was offering my support.
"Let's hope that this goes smoothly…"
Dean was now ready to ascend as he was had his reasons to do so. Still, he was new at this, but he also had to learn with so much experience as he was now adamant into restoring the Alecrian royal family to prominence, for it was our true birthright after all…
To be continued...