A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
***
The shocking news swept throughout the Empire like wildfire. The sun is at it's peak, but the talk is hotter than its heat. Supporters of Sun paraded and crowd around the Plaza to celebrate Moon's execution. The Princesses's birthday were to be held for a week-long, that's why the city is still packed with the visitors, merchants, and beings who came from other lands. On the sidelines stood Moon's few supporters, weeping that they will lost the only person who truly cared for people like them below the triangle.
One of her supporters is a bed-ridden Ancient who is nothing but the thinnest skin and bones. It could barely walk, talk, and eat. It wasn't Moon who saw him first, but she's the first to lend out a hand. The Ancient is suffering from an unknown illness, and this Ancient is known to be 'Ori', his name. That said, he himself can't tell when is the last time he saw the light for he could barely open his eyes, too. Maybe immortality is a curse. He would've gotten the peace he's been craving for if only he's mortal.
"A-Ahh... Ahhh..."
The grieving lady who told him the news pushed him down the bed, shaking her head, when he tried getting up. Despite her tight finances and budget, Moon went to the point of starving herself to save up and build a home for her people. She couldn't do much for them but feed them and house them, for she do not have enough power to give them a better life. She didn't even know how much it already mean to the people she have helped, and she will never know now.
Ori resisted and gathered all his strength to see her. There, in the Plaza, supporters of Sun are screaming her name while cursing at Moon. The ones who loved Moon couldn't do anything but cry every drop of water in their body.
When the Imperial Family arrived, the crowd cheered for their Princess. Sun waved her hand to them with a bright smile, thanking them for believing her and giving them flying kisses. The Pure Nobility were already seated, heavily guarded. They do not want to miss their spectacle. On the other side were the Impure Nobility or the Earthlings, disturbed by Sun's audacity like she's a campaigning politician trying to win the people's trust and votes.
A toxic smoke-like aura choked the Ancients when King Liorei arrived with Princess Lorreign. She never left his side, locking herself around his arm to assure that he wouldn't go insane. However, half of his face has turned into a Veil with a huge single horn on his head.
Skadi Eira landed on the center stage where the guillotine is, waiting for a head to cut. The Ancients didn't notice her arrival because they were busy saving themselves from death.
"Dad," Princess Lorreign called before kissing his cheek. The King absorbed his toxic aura and gritted his teeth. He listened to her despite his wanting to kill the Ancients and everyone from his aura alone.
Skadi Eira walked down the stage and climbed to the balcony where the Imperial Family will be watching. She sat beside the Empress, on her left, and did not say a word to them and ignored their stares.
Princess Lorreign noticed that House Xirquit are not present. It saddened her when she remembered how they had to put their son to sleep just to stop him from chasing Moon. She believe that they're traveling back to their Duchy now to save their son's heart from burning up to ashes. And she also believe that they will come back to spill blood.
"Begin the ceremony!" Skadi Eira said with excitement and clapped her hands.
The cheeky Prince Zephyrus climbed the stage to read the scroll in his hand.
"In accordance with the laws of the realm, and word of Skadi Eira, a Deity and the Matriarch's close confidant, we announce the execution of Moon who deceitfully posed as the true Princess of our great empire. The severity of this offense undermines the trust and integrity of our Imperial lineage and the Matriarch's blood. Right now, the justice will be served before our people, and may the true identity of our beloved Princess be restored. Bring the impostor in!"
The gates opened where the Imperial Knights dragged Moon in. The crowd played once again like a band, echoing in triumph over falsehood. If only the Princess is not clinging on her father, King Liorei would've transformed and devoured the immortals to bring them death.
Prince Zephyrus chuckled, "That's what you get for trying to be who you're not."
Moon watched his back as he walk to join his family in the balcony. She roamed her eyes around. The weather won't mourn for her. As if it too sided with Sun, for it's such a great day.
"MOON! WE BELIEVED YOU! MAY THE DEITIES PITY YOU!" Her people cried out at the top of their lungs.
It brought her relief that they remained faithful to her despite the outrageous topic of gossips that she could only leave in her wild imagination. It surprised her to see Ori, the sickly boy she have been nursing from the moment she found him.
The Imperial Knights left until one remained to cut the rope.
"Will it be too much if I will ask for the King to do the honor of taking my head?"
Suddenly, the crowd hushed in silence.
Moon added, "As I am a Veil, I hope you will use the right weapon and deliver death to me swiftly. Would you, Your Majesty?"
She's not sad. She's not regretful. She can't feel anything but her craving for freedom from the curse of immortality. Before, many have tried to end her so her cruel reign would stop. They used all possible methods but they never work. That's why she's curious about how she died and got herself in this yet another mess.
Skadi Eira scoffed and raised her brow at the King, "Go on, do it. It's your daughter's dying wish. It's amusing how you could disappoint so much without even trying."
"Do it so it would be over already, Dad. Bring the Empress's sword!" Prince Fiery ordered. The Empress widened her eyes on him.
King LIFE found himself chasing the steps to Moon. Her eyes followed his move until he's right in front of her. King LIFE feel the beating of his heart. It's not fast but slow, like it's taking its time to beat. The longer he stare at her, the shorter his breathing becomes. Chills are shooting down his spine. His hands have gone cold and stiff.
Moon flashed a satisfied smile. It was enough. Seeing him this close is enough. Despite the roughness of his personality and attitude, his face is comely. The genes of Daro is as wonderful as the Matriarch's. That leaves her to think with fantasy just how beautiful their offspring would be if their love for each other won and survived.
The Imperial Knight delivered the Empress's sword to the King.
"Your Majesty?" He called to cut his attention to Moon. He gulped when he saw the sight of it. He stretched his trembling hand to get it by the handle, and that's when hehyperventilated. His hand spasmed as his nerves tingled, telling him something he don't know.
When he looked back at Moon, his pupils shrinked when he saw how she's badly waiting for it.
"W...Why?"
Moon's eyes gleamed with confusion.
"Hmm?"
King LIFE took the sword and held it tightly.
"Why are you smiling? Why are you not afraid? How could you crave for death so much that you're smiling?"
Moon was astounded as first, until she replied.
"I'm only a shell now. I have died long ago. I was murdered by this family. Additionally, you've been killing me each day. Does it upset you? Do you want to see me cry? What's the sense of living forever, if I am pathetically unhappy and desperately asking for something you will never give?"
Moon took a deep breath of everything one last time.
"May I have my last words now, Father?" she asked and made a few steps back to give the King enough space when he swings the sword to cut her neck.
King LIFE saw a vision of a woman with an appearance so familiar to him but a face so unrecognizable before his eyes. She was golden, like that one time he saw his wife transform into a being befitting the descriptions of a goddess.
Right there, sorrow returned to Moon as she look back at everything at the back of her mind.
He lifted his hand and positioned himself. His head is ringing, his vision is becoming blurry and seem like everything is spinning around. He opened his mouth to gasp for air.
Ori forced his eyes to open.
He gathered his strength in his hands and brought it into motion as she deliver her last words as her direct gaze haunt him.
"Among all your children, why am I the only one you never loved?"
The sword swiftly descended. He made a clean and smooth cut. The justice was finally meted out. The defeaning silence is not as loud as the voices in his head. As Moon's despairing head fell, his hands weakened until the sword slipped away from his hand.
And in Ori's half-moon eyes, Moon's execution happened over and over again.
Sun hid her grin behind her fan. She won. It was undoubtedly her win.
"I... No... It's..." King LIFE swayed. He held a step back and lost his balance. He picked up the sword and went back to his feet. Moon's body remained standing. Her head rolled over the stage with her eyes wide open, meeting Ori's dumbfounded gaze.
King LIFE walked away with his tangling feet. The Imperial Knights helped him when he lost another footing. His stomach turn upside down. When he fell, the knights, too. As he puke, his tears were falling for a reason unknown to him.
Watts Xirquit stood where he is. He witnessed everything. He got there in silence, and he's walking to her in silence.
His family caught up then, running after their breaths. Their eyes widened from the sight. Moon...is gone.
"Ely...zena..." His cracking voice called her name as he surrender to his weakening knees. His shaking hand picked her up from the ground. Her blood poured down to his lap from her open neck.
Her body fell just then.
Everyone's holding their breaths.
Their eyes slowly widen when his body emit electrifying sparks.
His crystal-clear tears fell to her face. He rock his body back and forth as he embrace her head. The sparks surrounding his body became stronger and angrier. Moon's twinkling dusts is now returning back to the skies. And when he couldn't hold it anymore, his heartbroken scream echoed from the surface to the heavens. A burning, blinding light exploded from him, sweeping everything away in sight.
"ELYZENA!!!"
Prince Izaac created a barrier to protect his family the their people, but his effort became useless against the wrath of Watts Xirquit who finally unleashed the power he's been keeping from their knowledge.
The area of his wrath grew, leaving the royals no choice but to evacuate everyone from away. Except for one, standing in the same spot, unscathed.
Ori.
"H-Hey, l-look at the O-Oracle Tree..." Crown Prince Claxiord made known as he turn pale from witnessing how it withered in an instant.
The world quakes from the tremendous power Watts Xirquit is unleashing. It's not just them, but the world made everyone know his heartbreak and insanity. Those who are sleeping and going on with their lives peacefully was succumbed by fear of not knowing what's causing the turmoil.
Meanwhile, Skadi Eira is laughing while watching everything from above. She expected nothing less from Azarese's choices.
"The explosion is always the strongest when it's been held back the longest. Perish. Eliminate them, Watts Nikola Xirquit," she giggled and flicked a graham ball in the air and opened her mouth to catch it.
He went up to his feet. His mourning eyes looked past his shoulders.
"I...will destroy you."
He turned around completely and swing his hand aside to clear his path. Half of the city was erased, and Skadi Eira choked from the graham ball she's trying to catch again while watching him upon seeing what he did.
"Are we going to stop him?" The Grand Duke asked, thrilled about what he's seeing. His son his sweeping the dirt off his way effortlessly. He's coming to their way, but he's not scared of him. Rather, he's worried for what's about to happen to the Imperial Family.
"No," said the Grand Duchess, "Let him. He will only rage even more. Let him pour everything out in one go. We took his love away forever. I don't even know how we're going to comfort him. Moving on will be difficult. We don't deserve his forgiveness."
Lady Elektra nodded, "I can't agree more, Mom. I don't mind getting destroyed by my Wattsycakes babycakes. I will take him in."
Ohms Xirquit locked her neck in his arm, choking her.
"Let's not get on his way. He's coming for the Dragunovvs. Let's pick him up once he's done."
And with that, they stepped aside and gave the Imperial Family belittling and cynical stares.
"What...have we done?" Prince Ascel stuttered as the Grim Reaper get closer.
"Get behind me. Protect Mom," Prince Izaac said as he leave to meet Watts Xirquit halfway.
The Young Lord lift his hand to the side and closed his fist. Their mouths gaped open when the Palaces crumbled like Legos one after another, falling into ruins. He did not care whether there are people inside. For him, each of them contributed to the fall of Moon. Therefore, they should meet the same fate.
"Limiter," Prince Izaac summoned. A gauge-like being with wings, feet, and hands popped over his head, "Five percent."
"Limi~ Limi~ Power limiting to five percent applied! Have fun going easy, Your Highness! Limi~ Limi~" Limiter cheered and clapped its hands.
Prince Izaac pulled a chain in the thin air and threw it to the Young Lord to bind him. To his surprise, the chain suddenly froze in the air and became stuck. The Young Lord went on, walking as the chain tremble beside him. His glowing blue eyes shoot laser beams to his enemy. Prince Izaac put up a transparent barrier to protect himself. Chains emerged from the ground and resisted Watts Xirquit. In return, he took Princess Aurora as hostage. The invisible force wrapping around her squeezed her like sponge. And like sponge, her blood was squeezed out of the holes of her body.
"AURORA---"
He took the chance to cut the Prince's throat and binded him with the chains he created himself.
"Y-You f-freak! You will pay for this!"
Prince Fiery gave everything he got, only for his fire to be put out by a soft blow of the wind.
"What!?"
"How could an ant be so annoying? You don't even sting that much."
The Prince didn't like what he said, "What the fuck did you just said---"
He didn't got the chance to finish his sentence when some force twisted his head around and around before pulling it apart from his body.
"K-Kyaaah!!!"
Blocks of debris floated in the air and smashed the Ancients. And since they are immortal, they regenerate. And every time they will regenerate, the debris will crush them again.
"Did you really think I wouldn't wage war against you?" He tilt his head slightly to the side, "Come at me. You're better than this. I'm not even putting much effort yet. It'd be fun since you can regenerate."
His family sat down on the safe debris to relax and chill.
"I'm so proud of him. That's my baby," Lady Elektra sobbed. Grand Duchess Xerene hugged her while nodding.
"Right? We didn't know he's that powerful. Our Wattsycakes truly is the blessed one."
And so, the Princes made up their minds and ganged up on him. The Earthlings gathered with the Xirquits and watched from the sidelines.
"How is he so blue?" They wondered the same thought and got the same empty answer. Only the man himself knows. Or maybe, Gerson Liorei too, who's going around stabbing every supporter of Sun in sight with his Veil arm that is shaped into a blade.
"DAD! STOP! Please, stop!" His daughter begged as she pull him back, but the King is determined to kill every Ancient in sight.
"He wouldn't be like this in the first place. He's gone too far, all because we didn't believe him," Duke Paris.
"Guess, we've truly been brainwashed then. Would he spare us? Or is he just saving us for later? Scares me," Chancellor Titania.
"We're all at fault. But we shouldn't forget who's behind all of this."
They all searched for Sun and found her protected by her knight.
Prince Maxigaufeas squinted his eyes at him.
"What was his name again? Her knight? Does he even have one?"
Lord Thirdy stood beside him and placed his arm on the Prince's shoulder.
"And, where did he come from? I've never seen his face, ever. Sun said that it was deformed, poisoned by a Veil during the Armageddon War and miraculously survive thanks to the Empress's healing potions. She said it was so hideous that he had to hide it behind his helm," he added as a trivia, stirring their overthinking minds again.
"I think it was 'Dryllivan'? Sun called him that earlier," Duchess Denise remembered. Duke Yohanne pat her head.
They winced when Prince Terra was sliced into half.
"D-Don't you think he's being too ruthless? That's not the character he established. That's not the image he made us believe."
Emperor Maxism hit Lord Spike on the head.
"We all have our bad sides, boy. I always tell him that having a bad side doesn't mean he's bad. We all know his character. He's a nice man with the kindest heart. It's just one of his colors. Let the man cook. He's furious and heartbroken."
Lord Spike pouted and scratched the part where he was hit.
"We've all been there, haven't we? Rage truly is frightening, but it could be satisfying, too," Duke Yohanne said.
Their speed can't be seen anymore by the naked eye. Each are taking damage and the Young Lord isn't invincible. The Princes are all in different leagues yet he can handle them all at once and dealing damage.
"They're not being serious," Lord Ohms clicked his tongue after.
"Eddien would've killed him before he could reach the final boss, Izaac. They're going easy on him, excluding the quadruplets. They lack practice and training. Stupid weaklings."
They nodded at the assumption of Marchioness Sennoma.
But one matter has been bugging Princess Selene most.
"If Moon traveled, Astaroth can't be behind that, right? Since he sealed his Chronokinesis away after the War to choose peace and family. He gave up using magic way before Moon was even born. And the seal can't be lifted since the Deities sealed it for him. So... Who changed the timeline?"
Thanks to her, they're now giving it attention. The topic is not new anymore for them. Astaroth, not just once but many times, have changed their timelines over and over again. He wanted his mother to get back to where she truly belong and know who and what she truly is. And in each timeline, some story repeated as it was destined, while some came to the worst or easiest turn.
"Maybe... That?"
They all look up and saw the Deity laughing over their heads evilly, enjoying the view of the Princes ganging up on Watts Xirquit.
"Ah, I have the feeling that it's not her doing. She's way too unserious," they nonchalantly remarked.
Skadi Eira felt their stares beneath her and looked down on them. She smirked.
They boredly looked at her.
"Yup. Definitely not her doing. Hundred percent."
"If only Astaroth is here, a simple yes or no would be enough. We can look out the details of the rest. That would be enough," Archduke Devonacci sighed.
They flinched in surprise when Lord Thirdy suddenly screamed his lungs out. Prince Maxigaufeas who was frightened punched him.
"What the hell is up!? You scared me!"
But Lord Thirdy was too depressed to even answer him.
"I-If Moon is gone, w-what about our triple date? AAAAHHHH!! I FUCKING HATE YOU, SUN! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!"
Prince Maxigaufeas kicked his leg this time.
"Worry about that later! This bastard---you're an idiot!"
The adults slapped their palms on their faces. It's too shallow.
This time, another scream erupted and it's from Lady Elektra. Her teary puppy eyes glistened.
"B-But... But Moon and my baby... They made a baby... She can't be joking about that, right? The name's too fucking cool to be made up right on the spot! And nobody has used the word 'Astrophel' in this world yet! Mom, we are grandmas already in their first timeline! Huhuhu, my grandson!"
Lord Ohms couldn't handle his sister's stupidity anymore and choked her with both hands.
"You're an Auntie, not a Grandma. Stupid. Go to school. Enroll in The Academia again. Idiot!"
Still, it brought solemn pain and melancholy in their chests. Maybe it's one of the reason why the Young Lord is wreaking havoc. He thought about his son that almost lived. That said, Moon must have had a miscarriage.
In the midst of their silence, the Empress's voice weighed the loudest when she called for Prince Izaac. Her next phrase brought them to their feet.
"T-The barrier... The Forsaken Continent... It was broken!"