Celestia zoomed through the hallways of the palace as the scavengers behind her chased closely behind, waiting for an opportunity to swoop in and grab her, but she wasn't going to make it that easy.
Left then right then jump, and she was finally in the moving canyons of the Great Landing, an ideal place to lose the scavengers, the 2 year old decided as she began plotting her course through the tricky terrain.
"Your Highness," one of the scavengers called, "Please wait for us."
Wait for them? And get captured? Celestia didn't think so as she started her plan to get through the moving canyons, which seemed busier than usual.
Celestia wondered about it for a staggering 6 seconds right before the tallest scavenger could get her, but she was too fast for them.
"Your Highness!" the biggest scavenger yelled angrily, "Get back here!"
Never! The princess declared as she ran past canyon after canyon until she reached the edge of the plateau.
She stopped moving and looked all around at the Valley of Stairs below her.
A treacherous place. Speny had told her about the many victims of this valley. She had no choice but to turn back. Perhaps if she went west, towards the Sky Drops of Chandeler, then she would be able to outrun the scavengers.
Yes! A brilliant plan, she thought as she turned around and prepared to maneuver her way through the canyons once more.
She lifted her right foot to begin her flight, but the toddler felt something tug at the back of her dress before she felt her entire body falling into the Valley of Stairs.
It was strange. She didn't see anyone before she turned around, but she knew she had upset everyone as all the maids and butlers all rushed over to her or screamed.
She was going to get in trouble, she thought as her head landed in what felt like a pillow before her body followed.
Oh no. She was in a lot of trouble.
"You okay?" Speny asked as she looked up at his face while lying in his arms.
She was fine, I guess.
"That's great then." he said with a wink, making the two year old burst out laughing.
He looked like a pirate when he did that, and it was just too funny for Celestia.
"Your Highnesses, are you alright?" one of the butlers asked, but Celestia was perfectly fine ... as the scavengers got to her.
Nuts!
"So you were running away from your ladies-in-waiting, again." Speny said with a smirk, but it wasn't Celestia's fault.
They started it! They were going to stab little ole Celestia with an unknown weapon.
"It's not a weapon! It's a comb!" the lying scavenger cried.
Everyone says that.
"We really need to lay you off those adventure films, don't we?" Speny asked, but he quickly took it back when he saw the tears building up in Celestia's eyes. "Fine. You can watch one a week."
One?
"Yes, now stay still as the ladies fix your hair."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
If Celestia died the blood would be on Speny's hands.
"I'm sure it will."
It really will, though. It was the same with whoever pulled on-
"What's the commotion about?" Guild Leader Lamy said as he walked into the room with Maho next to him.
A young butler rushed over to him as he said, "The young princess lost her balance on the stairs, but Prince Spencer caught her before she hurt her head."
"And is there a reason that you find the situation so amusing that you wear a smile?" Maho snapped at him.
"N-No, of course not, Your Highness."
"Celeste just lost her balance, Mahogani." Speny defended, "There's no need to be such a fun sponge when no one got hurt."
"What did you call me?"
"Didn't father call for the four of us?" Lamy said, probably trying to end the brewing fight between Spency and Maho.
Too bad, Celestia thought, she wanted to see them duel to the death! She wanted to see blood!
"We really need to lay off those action movies." Lamy said as he picked Celestia up from Spencer's arms.
Celestia clung to Lamy tight as she noticed Maho glaring at her and Speny as they walked down the stairs.
Lamy patted her head as he walked towards Fafa's Big Chair room with Speny.
"Great job catching her, Spence." he said as he patted Spencer's hair.
No fair! Celestia wanted him to tell her good job too!
"What have you done to deserve it?" Speny asked with a smirk, but Celestia didn't cry once as the scavengers washed her hair.
Her two older brothers bursted out laughing as they congratulated her on her glorious feat, but their laughter soon died down as they lined up in front of Fafa's Big Chair room.
They always had to stand in a certain order as the loud man yelled, "Your Majesties, the King and Queen of the Kingdom of the South, I present to you your children. First Prince Lameckus Vin, First Princess Mahogani Guan, Second Prince Spencer Kei, and now Third Princess Celestia Mariah."
Celestia giggled a bit as she realized the loud man didn't know how to count, but Speny and Lamy seemed sad when the doors opened and there was a little girl standing in the middle of the room.
"Your Majesties, do I have permission to break protocol?" Lamy asked as Maho glared at and Speny stared at that little girl.
Why did Fafa and Mama not look at the girl? Why did she hide behind Gwanpa when Lamy got close to her?
"Your Majesties," Spency said next, "May I also have permission?"
Fafa and Mama didn't say no as Spency also approached the young girl. She looked like Fafa. Like a lot.
Celestia wondered why she looked so much like him as she finally hugged Speny and Lamy after Gwanpa said, "Go on. Give your brothers a hug."
Huh? Those weren't her brothers! They were Celestia's brothers! Who was she anyway?
The toddler stormed up to the little girl and bragged about how she didn't cry while her hair was being washed, and she looked thoroughly impressed by the declaration.
As she should.
"I couldn't do that when I was your age. You're so brave." the girl said, making Celestia blush as she changed the topic.
"This is your older sister, Kiara." Gwanpa explained, "And this, Kiara, is your little sister, Celestia."
Older sister? Celestia didn't understand how it was possible to have more than one sister, but she really didn't mind the soft brown eyes Kiara looked at her with.
They weren't a glare like Maho's and they seemed … nice.
Okay! After careful deliberation, Celestia decided to add Kiara as the newest member of their guild, but since she was new, she would start on the lowest level. She'd have to work hard to become a co-Guild Vice Leader like her, the two year old firmly declared.
"Who are the guild leaders?"
Gwanpa and Lamy.
"Who?"
Celestia pointed at them, and Kiara looked betrayed as Gwanpa frantically explained what a gwanpa was.
She was weird. Like really weird.
Perfect.
*****
That was the sixth explosion, Celestia noted, as she, Cloudy, Chayse and Awan began their part of the mission by breaking into the dungeons.
They had the easiest mission, she thought as they watched Cloudy suspend all the guards in the air before throwing them against the walls.
The easiest mission, however, also happened to be the most important part of their assault on Rus.
"Got it!" Chayse announced as he dangled the set of keys in the air. Awan patted him affectionately on the head, and Celestia wondered how they were able to make her feel like a third wheel on a rescue mission.
Whatever. First thing was first anyway, they needed to get the dungeon doors open.
They had practiced before, but Celestia was a tad bit nervous as they began their system of opening and throwing. Everyone had to move quickly as Awan, Celestia, and Chayse tossed the keys between the three of them and opened the dungeons.
"Follow the bird." they each said to every set of prisoners they released, but Celestia immediately noticed a pattern.
All the prisoners' eyes were dull and lifeless.
She only imagined the abyssus Richard had put them through as they continued to open the dungeons. It was all they could do, she thought as Celestia instructed Chayse to go into and break any shackles they may be wearing.
"Go help him out too, Celeste." Awan added, "He might accidentally hurt some of the frail prisoners."
And so, Celestia turned to go help her deer friend, before turning right back around after hearing yelling behind her.
She felt herself relax as the scene of Princes Jared and Gustavo reuniting with their youngest brother warmed her heart. She called for Awan to throw her the keys, so he could enjoy the reunion.
He tossed the keys to her, and she tossed them to Chayse, so they could start on his side, but the keys just hit his head before landing on the floor.
Chayse!
"H-huh? Sorry I got sidetracked."
It was fine, she said with a smile as they continued deeper into the tunnels.
He clearly looked bothered by Awan meeting his brothers, so Celestia mentioned how it was nice to see him get along with them for the first time in a long time.
"Yeah, I guess." he replied dejectedly as he broke the shackles of people's ankles.
You know, Celestia and Kiara would've gladly adopted Chayse into their family. The only problem was that an adoption would ruin Awan's wedding plans.
Chayse giggled a bit as he blushed at Celestia's declaration, but she was just happy to see him happy again.
"This may sound harsh," Chayse began as they walked down the last corridor, "I just thought he was like me. I didn't know he had other family to come back to."
Oh.
"Besides that! Why are all these cells empty anyway?"
They probably belonged to those who had been executed. Mostly government officials and other powerful magicians who opposed Richard's tyranny.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
It was alright. All Celestia could do was remember and celebrate their lives with the newest member of her family.
"Huh? You're pregnant?"
Absolutely not! Kiara would end her. She obviously meant-
"Celeste?"
That voice! Was it really-
"Celestia!"
The young princess ran over to the only occupied cell in the corridor to see her eldest brother at the bars.
"I'll get you out, Your Highnesses." Chayse said with a smile. "Please, Lameckus is just fine." the excited yet battered prince replied as Chayse broke the shackles which held the First Prince and the rightful King of the South after Celestia opened their cell.
The warmth that filled Celestia's body as her eldest brother latched onto her with all her being was one she thought she would never experience again as she felt Lameckus tear up on her shoulder.
"I thought Mustollini had gotten you too."
He wasn't able to get them, but he did get Spency, Mother, and Kingus.
"I know."
Celestia only realized her father was behind her when he cleared his throat and declared, "That behaviour is not becoming of a prince, Lameckus."
However, the first born didn't seem to care at all as he finally let go of his youngest sister and clung onto a surprised Chayse.
"I owe you a debt for which my life will never be enough." he exclaimed, but Chayse meekly replied, "Not at all. I just owe your sisters my own life."
"Sisters?"
"Kiara and Celestia. I'm sorry. Are they not your sisters? You just look so alike, so I just assumed-"
"No! They are my sisters. I was surprised since Celestia is here alone."
Kiara was fighting the Light Creator's Magician as they spoke, and they needed to get them out of the dungeons as soon as possible.
"Is she?"
Yes, Your Majesty.
"... Well, it's good to hear she's using her power for good."
Celestia tried to ignore it, but the sight of her malnourished father and eldest brother broke her heart as they made their way back to the others.
"I'm Lameckus, by the way. This is my father, Winston. Shall I know the name of our savior?"
His name was Chayse Myra, Celestia answered, confusing Awan and Winston, causing Chayse to blush, and Lameckus' already rather large grin to grow even more.
Welcome to the family, the princess whispered to the bashful deer-boy as they followed Cloudy to the toughest part of their mission.
*****
Celestia peered outside and scanned the destruction Chaeryoung's bombs brought to the Palace Rus and all of the surrounding area.
It was just as Raphael and Brandon had predicted, Celestia thought as she scanned the empty courtyard.
"I'm all clear on my side. How about you?"
She was ready.
"Alright."
Awan turned around and gave Chayse the signal to start moving with Group A through the courtyard to the servants' quarters.
He gave a slight nod before signalling for the group of silent inmates to follow closely behind him.
The plan was going as smoothly as it could until Chayse took one step out of the blind spot, causing Cloudy to start chirping wildly as a giant stone flew towards the deer boy.
He didn't hesitate to destroy the stone as Celestia ushered the inmates back to the safe corridor where Cloudy had put up a protective barrier.
"You three," she remembered Mrs. Park explain, "will most likely come into contact with Starlight, Felix, and Mahogani."
She was right about those three, the princess noted as she, Awan, and Chayse were surrounded. However, she immediately knew something was off as soon as Chung-Ae walked into the courtyard.
"Stealing prisoners? How rude." Chung-Ae commented, but Celestia was more concerned with why her own sister and uncle joined Richard. The man who killed her own mother and little brothers and destroyed their kingdom!
"Uncle Mansa is dead too, if that makes you feel better." the heathen said with a smirk as Celestia leapt out of their defensive formation and attacked the queen with grinch green eyes.
She blocked the princess' initial kick and even threw her back, but she sure wasn't expecting Celestia to use the ground as she sent her flying with both feet.
She went to use her magic, but she suddenly couldn't move her body as she caught Felix in the corner of her eye.
Celestia couldn't do anything as she watched Mahogani's grinch green tentacles flying at her until a familiar back appeared in front of her and stopped the blast.
"You alright, Celeste?" Lameckus asked as Celestia realized Felix's hold over her had disappeared.
She looked around and soon realized why as Chayse stood in front of the two brothers.
"What kind of freak of nature are you for my power to have no effect?" Felix said, giving Celestia a much needed confidence boost.
"You can go ahead and help our new brother."
No. Chayse could handle himself just fine.
"Did you say brother?" Chung-Ae asked snidely, "I thought I had taught my pupil better than to give the title of royalty to any freak he may come across."
Before Celestia or Lameckus could respond, however, a stream of ash surrounded the treacherous emperor and suffocated him until he broke its hold.
"Still up to your old tricks huh?"
Celestia and the First Prince turned to see the ash return to their father's hands as two identical swords as he said to them, "You two take the octopus. I'll kill this snake once and for all."
Yes, Your Majesty!
"Father is just fine."
Unfortunately, Father's moment of humanity was cut short by a sudden attack from both Chung-Ae and Mahogani, but Lameckus managed to block 6 of Mahogani's 8 killer tentacles.
Celestia pinned the last two to the ground before sending her flying into the sky with another kick before Lameckus used his field green magic to slam her back onto the ground before turning around to help father.
"How dare you turn your back to me!" she screamed as she launched one more onslaught, but her tentacles were simply cut off as a midnight field green forcefield surrounded her.
Awan emerged from Lameckus' shadow as he yelled to Chayse, "Throw those two over here!".
The obedient deer-boy threw an unconscious Starlight, and a badly beaten Felix into the barrier beside Mahogani as Felix continued to complain.
"Can you really do it, Lameckus?" Mahogani screamed as Celestia went over to help father. "Can you really kill your own little sister?"
"No. I can't kill any of my siblings. I practically raised you guys. I cannot kill any of my little sisters, but I can kill the demon who murdered my little brothers and mother."
Celestia stopped tying Chung-Ae up when she heard this and looked over to see her oldest brother say, "That's why I'm going to rip Richard apart when I get my hands on him."
A chill ran down Celestia's spine as she saw Lameckus' eerie smile as he said those words, but she ignored it as she dragged Chung-Ae into Awan and Lameckus' forcefield.
She knelt down beside the forcefield to reinforce it, but she suddenly heard Awan scream in pain.
"Don't!" Chayse yelled, "I'll take care of him. Reinforce that forcefield!"
And so with strict instructions, Celestia strengthened the cage before running over to check on Awan.
What was wrong with him?
"It's magic." Father immediately said as he limped over.
If it was magic, Cloudy would've been able to heal him, Celestia thought, before her blood started to run cold.
"I'm surprised the former king figured it out so quickly." Prince Jared suddenly said as he and Prince Gustavo walked over to them with Cloudy as their hostage.
They harmed their own brother? How could they?
"It was quite easy, no?"
Celestia turned to see two more familiar faces as Thomas and Harrison showed up behind them.
"Right."
What was going on? They were meant to be fighting-
Celestia never got to finish her thought as she watched Mrs. Park come out of nowhere and go to kick Thomas in the head, but she knew the next battle would be difficult as she watched him easily dodge her ambush with his glowing star yellow eyes.
"Sorry, we're late, but I'm glad to see you guys are alright."
Daisy!
"Hi, Princess."
"Ha!" Prince Jared laughed, "Don't tell me you actually think you can beat us when half of you are injured."
"Geez," Daisy sighed, "You kids really never know when to give up, huh?"
"No," a voice Celestia hadn't heard in years agreed, "They never do. Do you, Jared? Gustavo?"
Celestia felt her stomach tie itself in knots as she watched Cheyton smile at his younger brothers with his glowing magma red eyes.