The Sanctuary
Rowan could see Lily coming from behind him. He smiled and rose to his feet, immediately rushing forward and giving her a big hug. He never ever wanted to let go.
"I'm okay n-now. I had a nightmare about my father and it was... not pleasant." Rowan's voice was quiet as he whispered into her ear. "How about you, are you alright? I hope you didn't have a nightmare too?"
He really hoped Lily was okay. Rowan never wanted anyone to get hurt. He would rather take their suffering for them. Especially when it was Lily, who was always kind and supportive even in his darkest times. Not even Agatha would curse Lily, wasn't that right?
Luno thought for a moment. He had never dreamed of Solara betraying him before. In fact, he never had nightmares unless Agatha or Zelkova induced them. Zelkova had only done it once, given him a 'nightmare' about bad music as her task for Truth or Dare. Otherwise Luno had too much control over dreams for them to really turn bad.
When Flynn looked into his eyes, the old king decided he could confide in the boy. Flynn was the son of Kelly and Ben, two of Luno's best friends he ever had. The Soares were not just close to the throne, they were also close to the hearts of those who occupied the throne.
"In my dream," He said, "Sunny was angry at me. I know she would never hurt me for real, but that would be my deepest fear. If it were to happen. So I think that yes, those dreams were meant to scare us with what we feared most. I'm really sorry you all had to go through that."
His smile had only faltered, and it quickly returned when Flynn continued to speak. "King of Dreams? That's so cute! I love it!" Luno honestly loved when people thought of nicknames; it reminded him of his daughter's silly ones. "Honestly this just means I have to one-up Agatha again. Don't worry, it will be easy. I will make everyone dream of cupcakes!"
He could not stop giggling as Flynn put the thought of a warm, huggable, patient Agatha in his mind. "That's so," He managed to say between laughs, "That's so cute!"
Once he had calmed down, he just sat down in the grass, smiling as he looked up at the boy. "So, about your friendship with Mallory. This is what I love about you Soares! You have so much determination, I'm surprised you don't all turn into phoenixes like Sunny! I'm really glad you're getting along better with Mallory now, and I knew you could make friends with her."
---
Birvale Beach
Ivana felt like she was surrounded by idiots. Amber wasn't stupid of course, and Vivien wasn't nearly as bad as the Samuel Aguado idiot. Ivana was very embarrassed to be related to her brainless, spineless cousin. Maybe a spontaneous lobotomy would make him smarter. She imagined throwing a knife into his forehead, in the style of the famous Clotilda Adamson, and watching as her defenseless victim dropped to the floor. She imagined finding the spear of the famed Acacia the Enlightened, and impaling that boy right through his practically nonexistent backbone.
The anger made her fighting spirit burn. Ivana continued to charge up more metal pieces, in case Amber missed. She wasn't even looking at the manticore; she had perfect faith that Solara would keep it at bay. Or at the very least, that idiot Samuel would distract it and get himself eaten. Then they wouldn't have to worry about the fool on their team. Keeping him alive might be harder than anything else.
---
Celestial Tower
"I yelled at Amber. She wanted me to help her or something, so I just yelled at her. I hope she heard me because she's in the middle of a huge fight right now." Clotilda was rambling, but she was so excited. She loved seeing her friends fight. They always kicked butt sky-high, and it was so funny. Clove especially loved to make up superhero names for them. Amber was Lightning Woman... ah... Clove would probably need to work on more creative names.
'I'm glad it went well," She said cheerfully and grinned at the Soares. She was honestly in such a good mood because of the fight. Clotilda practically fed off the energy of violence that came from fights and brawls. Whenever she saw one happening, she got so happy and ridiculously hyper.
"I want to see Blair. I know I'd fit best in her army, but I would probably hate everyone there. I'll make you a bet. If I don't intimidate Blair, you get a hug. If I do intimidate Blair, you get a hug and a kiss!"
---
The Underworld
Zelkova just smiled softly and rubbed Amelia's shoulder. Family reunions could be rather tough in the afterlife. Unfortunately, Zelkova had personally witnessed some of those. Some of the worst were when family members had killed each other. She had broken up some very violent encounters.
She wore an apologetic expression as Amelia entered the nightmare classroom, and Zelkova had to close the door behind her. Poor Olivia was in there too. Those girls would be 'learning' among the worst of students to ever walk the Underworld. Hopefully they would sit beside each other.
As for Zelkova, she had a job to do.
Agatha knew the kiddo would be angry. Funny little mosquito girl buzzing in her ear like the pest she was. The old woman just stood there with a calm smirk, not even cackling as Regina screamed like the whiny baby she was. This silly teenager thought she had some kind of real importance.
She was just like Solara, that idiot hothead... thinking she could bring hope and light to all of Hesenia. That was a hilarious joke. Solara was nothing more than a candle with too much determination and arrogance for her own good. Agatha could easily snuff her out with a single breath, a single word. Weak. They were all weak.
"I couldn't tell ya, kiddo." Agatha chuckled and just patted the girl on the shoulder. "I needed your reaction to be perfectly real. You've got Loony down there with ya; can't have you projectin' the wrong thoughts. Now you also got a real nightmare to share with the others. You felt lonely, eh? Well this oughta fix things. You're one of them now, kiddo."
She cackled. "Just remember your place. That was just a warm-up, to figure out what everybody's really scared of. Now that you're here, want the list of their fears?"
---
Parliament Building
"Amelia.
That is enough."
Alastair clenched his teeth, but remained still. The bandages hurt a lot more being applied compared to last time. Virisia wasn't being unnecessarily rough; he couldn't blame her. She was probably more effective than Atalanta anyway. Alastair's wife would scream just seeing blood, and she would cry just unwrapping the bandages from the roll.
"You fought well.
Besides Solara, no one else has managed to hit me."
Despite everything, he managed a smile at Virisia's words. He wished he could take back everything he did. Back in those days, he would tell himself he had a good reason. He wasn't so sure anymore. So many times, he had gone too far. Even sentencing people to death simply for expressing opinions of hatred towards him.
"It's over now.
Do you have any last words?"
"Thank you," He said simply, even if he disagreed. Virisia had always been such a loyal follower. Through everything, she had remained by his side unfalteringly. He remembered why he had called Virisia here, to speak with her. And why he wouldn't call anyone else in her place.
"I pledge allegiance to my liege, King Alastair Brown...
And will to the last second of my life."
"... I must explain. Amelia did attempt to kill me." He sighed and looked down at the body. "But I let her say some last words. And she only wanted to see her mother again. I still killed her, but it was different from the past times I've killed. I wasn't angry. I felt... bad.
"I want Death to take me to my mother... and...
Thank you."
Alastair took a deep breath. "This all made me realize... I've forgotten that the people I rule over are human, too. As much as I hate to admit it. So are my enemies."
Then he thought of Agatha, and he felt the familiar anger flaring in his chest.
"Most of them are human, anyway."
"No. I have to thank you.
You made me realize why I am here.
I must do my duty, as King of Hesenia."
"And I do not mean that to insult you." Alastair sighed. "You may be a demon, but I have to admit- I trust you more than I trust any other human."
He took a deep breath.
"If Agatha ever takes control of me... you, more than anyone, will notice. I need you to do me a favor. Don't let Hesenia be destroyed in the case Agatha tries to act through me."
"It will be alright...
... My daughter."
"If it comes down to it... I want you to take my life."
