Requested by
Yoa-Chan
『 Cruel Fate 』
"Princess?" Coco asked from outside the door. "The King wants to see you. I'll wait for you in at the stairs in the basement"
I didn't reply as I heard her leave. I sighed and walked out the room. Their friends are trapped as a giant Lacrima, Father no doubt wants me to convert them to magic energy.
As I walked, I was pulled to a corner, I opened my mouth but stayed silent when I noticed who it was.
"What do you need?" I asked my other self.
"Look, you need to help us, let me take your place and save my friends" she begged.
"Go, but how would they know? You've never been a Princess"
"Magic, you know?" She smiled, a bright light surrounded her and her clothes turned to mine. "Transformation magics my specialty, along with [Element] Dragon Slaying Magic"
"Wait, tell Coco to get her Legion and help you out. Take this" I took a small Lacrima out my pocket.
"What is it?" She asked, staring at it twirling it in her hands. I smiled.
"A gift my brother gave me, he said that if I ever, desperately needed help, smash it to the ground. Use it wisely" I told her.
She hugged me before walking the way I came. I walked back to my room, seeing no guards there. I breathed and quickly slipped in, my only option now was to hope and pray that I made the right choice to make.
As I sat on my bed, a loud explosion was heard and I turned, looking outside my window to see the Lacrima and Extalia, inches away from each other, except that the Lacrima was gone. I quickly ran down to the battle grounds.
I looked up to the sky and saw an endless, ongoing battle. For the first time in a long while, I was scared.
The Doroma Animu, the exceeds turning into Lacrimas, it was all a mess, and it was my Father who started it.
Suddenly, a Legion was hurling towards me and my eyes widened. I couldn't move if I tried. My body was frozen out of fear.
I instinctively covered my face with my arm, shutting my eyes, scared.
I waited a second...
10 seconds.
And yet nothing happened.
"Princess, are you alright?" I heard a voice behind me. I opened my eyes to see the Legion meters in front of me, covered in bandages. Hughes.
"I'm fine" I said, looking up to the battle. "Just scared of what might happen"
"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you" I heard seriousness in his voice.
"Thank you" I gave him a small smile before turning away to see two people running to us.
"Brother?" I whispered.
"Lily?" Hughes suddenly turned the way I was looking.
"[Name], I'm sorry, I don't have time to explain but you must follow me" Jellal quickly spoke, pulling me lightly away.
"The princess is to stay in the castle at all times, they are the Kings orders" Hughes countered, instantly taking my other arm.
"[Name], you have to choose. I won't force you, but it is time for another era" Jellal calmly said, but I could see the worry in his eyes.
"I'm sorry Hughes, but a princess must do what's best for the kingdom, and I don't think that this place will survive with Father in charge" I smiled and gently shook his arm off, following my brother.
"You remember the Lacrima I gave you? The one I told you to keep safe but never use?" He asked, Pantherlily following behind us.
I nodded and reached up for my tiara, picking off the small rounded Lacrima in the centre. I gave it to him.
"Good, now you have to listen carefully, both of you" Jellal said.
I was shocked as he told us what was to happen next.
"No... Jellal, we can't kill you" I said, eyes widened.
"It is what you must do for a new era"
"You know I can't rule, you can't leave me to do it by myself" I argued.
"Which is why Lily will be at your side"
"I won't do it" I said. "And that's final"
"Pantherlily-Sama! Terrible news!" A guard ran in.
"If it's the anima then..."
"I've seen you've been trying to stop it"
"No, that's not what I'm saying..."
"That aside, there're people acting violently near the castle, destroying one neighbourhood after the other..." he trailed off.
"It looks like the panic is worse than I expected" Jellal spoke.
"Then we've got to do something quickly" I exclaimed, worried.
As we walked towards the castle, large explosions were heard. I followed behind Jellal, to see the other me and her Dragon Slayer friends destroying the city.
That's... a risk and a somewhat brilliant plan.
"You get into the castle, I will not risk you getting harmed" Jellal forced.
"But..."
"You should go, Princess" Pantherlily told me. I sighed and walked up the stairs, to the balcony, with Sugarboy, Byro and Hughes.
As the anima pulled them all out, [Name] floated towards me. She smiled and hugged me, staying in place.
"Thank you, I'm glad I met you"
"And I am glad too." I spoke and took my tiara off, throwing it to her. "Take it, as a reminder and a token of my thanks"
"But Princess, you cannot.." Byro interrupted.
"She deserves it, she helped this kingdom" I turned to face him before a necklace was thrown into my hands. It was one half of the yin yang, Yang.
"Thank you" I looked up to see her smiling brightly and goofing off with my tiara.
That's a side of me I never thought I would be able to see.
➳➳➳
I ran along the new streets of the royal city, smiling and waving to the people. Not wearing my fancy ballgowns but a simple white shirt and [Favourite Colour] skirt with black boots.
"Morning Princess!"
"It's a bit early to be out, are you running an errand for His Majesty?"
"Oh no, I just wanted to see the city." I smiled.
"Watch yourself then" they all smiled.
"Of course!"
I turned into a dark alley and stopped halfway down the path.
"What's this doing here?" I whispered, hand to my chest.
"Look what we have here boys" someone called from behind me. I whipped around to see a group of men, all taller than me.
"What are you doing? Why are you here?" I asked.
"Well she's a pretty one ain't she" one of them grabbed my arm.
"Let go!" I yelled, trying to force him to let go.
"Well, we could always sell her, how much money do you reckon she's worth" He yanked my arm.
I winced.
"For the last time, let go!" I yelled.
"You heard the Lady, let her go" someone said. My eyes brightened, seeing who it was.
"Hughes!" I exclaimed, happy.
"You scoundrels let the princess go and I won't report this to the King, then maybe you might live another day"
The man suddenly let go of my arm. I stepped back, hand rubbing where he had roughly grabbed me.
"T-the princess!?" They yelled, shocked, shrinking into the dark.
"Run like the cowards you are" Hughes glared at their backs and finally looked at me worry in his eyes. "Are you alright?"
"Sorry" I looked down. "I just wanted to see the place"
"Next time, get me to come with you" he sighed. "Or else His Majesty will kill me for losing you. Let's get back"
"Okay!" I smiled and skipped in front of him.
"Out of all the people, I just had to fall for her" I heard something whisper in the wind.
"Did you say something?" I asked, turning around.
"N-no" he hesitantly replied but I brushed it off.
"Alright, let's go then"
I started walking, completely oblivious and unaware of how the man behind me looked at me.
『 Cruel Fate - End 』