A debt repaid (Frontdated to after 'The Magic Flight')

[not_a_prize]

Kliiment! You've got some nerve coming here!

[Well folks there's an unexpected visitor to the Unity Group. Peola's would be groom and all around pompous jerk. One could only wonder what sort of trouble was ahead with his presence... something the Princess was not willing to deal with as she stormed forward to break his face-]



"Hup-up-up-up! Wait! WAIT!!!"

[The Magnolys blueblood is quickly holding out a scroll in front of him like a shield, cowering behind it from the Princess' wrath. Something which in fact made her freeze in place before she snatched it out of his hands, her eyes quickly flitting across the carefully scribed ink before looking at the now deeply breathing noble.]



All of this. All of. This. Its all true?

[Kliiment quickly dabs away at the sweat that had developed from the panic attack before nodding.]



"Every word down to the last letter. I already had its authenticity verified by a number of scholars... and before you ask... Yes. I spoke to his Highness about it before I came here. I also have... This."

[He pulls out a second scroll with a wax seal bearing the royal insignia. Something Peola quickly snaps before speed reading the contents.]

"There were already a few messages I ensured were passed on to what passes for leaders around here. But that one. Was for you specifically."



If this is some kind of power play Kliiment...

"Just using this to make sure my family is welcomed back to the Royal Court is enough for now. After all... the King would appreciate the chance to settle this... personal matter... along with obtaining that trinket your... charming companions seem to need direly. But if its any comfort to you Princess I have quit the field. I would rather not die an early death all things considered. I wish whomever the poor fool is your intended all the luck in the world. Hah!"

[As the arrogant Magl leaves, Peola looks between the two scrolls with some anxiety...]

[1]

[Magnolys. Peola's homeworld. It was something of a surprise that the search for pieces of the Discovery of Self would bring people all the way over here. Especially to the Princess herself. The capital city itself was a sprawling anachronism to say the least as it combined medieval and modern sensibilities with a crash of a dozen cultures. The journey to seek out the Discovery Artifact itself however at the King's insistence would take some preparation... so for a while - both the Unity Group party, along with the tech team that would safely extract it were guests of the Royal Family - with free run of every part of the city.]

[From the cosy, if rowdy lowtown taverns and noisy market places, to the intricate high class shops and amphitheaters, the sweeping statue filled temples and cathedrals, to the looming convent-libraries, wide sparring arenas for both men and machina, to the vast forges where the machines of Magnolys themselves were crafted together - mecha and ships alike.]

[Be it a guided tour from Peola, Ourania, Harunn, Monika or Salwah... or perhaps your own independent exploration. The doors of the city were open to you.]

[2]

[The journey to the resting place of the Artifact was a quiet one. Machines loaded up on what was essentially a massive floating barge, yhe Unity Group was not alone in this endeavor it as Unathi along with his personal guard  accompany you all. But there was an air of uneasiness among the Royal Guard... some seemed to be breaking out into shakes or were anxiously observing the surroundings. The King himself seemed to be brooding as he looked out into the cloud covered distance. Sighing heavily the King regards you with a dire expression on his face.]



"...I must ask of you a favor of great import. Should anything.... anything... go wrong. I implore you to protect Peola at all costs and take her and anything left of my Guards to safety."

What exactly has got the king this worried?

[3]

[You've arrived close to the location of the Artifact... the many mecha accompanying you all spreading out and readying weapons. The area itself was the cold, desolate and mountainous north of the Planet... far beyond the steppes that a good number of the more martial clans of Magnolys, along with a number of Brotherhood Lodges made their homes in. Fog drifted through the area and the ground and the dark stone of the steep mountain faces were coated in snow and frost.]

[The further the party made their way... bones of terrifying beasts scattered the ground, as did a number of machines resembling that of the royal guard. The fog seemingly growing thicker, denying vision.... before the bright light of the sun broke through.... and... green. Lots of it. This place was once a battlefield a long time ago... many bones and devastated machines littered the vast expanse of the valley - plant life growing off of them and animals resting or nesting upon them. Though off in the distance...]



This is....

[There was a ship partly embedded into the ground... the more that the group moved to it... the more noticeable it became that there were far less wreckage and much more bones until there was no longer any sign of the Royal Guard at all. The remains of the creatures slowly forming a makeshift path and corridor leading to where the artifact undoubtedly was.... and where the corpse of a truly gigantic monster lay. There upon its skull was a battered Regalis. Its armor cracked and the gold luster of its frame long since faded. Yet covered by moss as it was and worn by the sands of time... the tight grip it retained on the spear that was lodged deeply between the eye sockets of the great beast spoke only of triumph. The way to the artifact long cleared by the late queen.]

[As the various crews made to recover the artifact from the ship, Peola sits by her father. The king cradling something in his hands... seemingly unsure.]

Father...

"I'm not sure if it would be wise to do so..."

...They may be Aunt Verana's last words...

"......"

[Peola notices your presence and is quickly moving over to you.]

I need your help.

Comments

1

[actuallyselfish]

Dido looks around and whistles in fascination at the imperial capital of a mystical kung fu planet. "So this is your hometown?" She asked Peola. "Got any favorite restraunts from when you were growing up?"

[not_a_prize]

Well... there were a few my father used to take us to when I was a lot younger.

[Ah yes those simpler times....]

I didn't get to visit those places that much since a few years ago when people started trying to marry me.

[And as befitting of a mystical Kung Fu planet, it seemed that there were a number of flowering trees across many avenues and streets... and while Magnolys was far from what one would describe as a perfect civilization, Dido could tell at the very least that even people at the bottom of the ladder were living with some degree of comfort.]

They weren't really fancy places either. Just quiet taverns and small places that just felt... warm? Welcoming. There wasn't any worry about appearances or status or anything.

[actuallyselfish]

"...take me to one of those!" Dido suggests, giving Peola's sleeve a childlike tug. "The more of a hole in a wall it is, the better!"

She grunts. "Come to think of it, you still owe me a drink from back then!"

[not_a_prize]

If I remember you owed me a drink too after that thing with your mom. You never got to that.

[Peola gives Dido a lighthearted shove to the shoulder.]

Come on Dido.

[The Lucky Casque was a building that definitely looked lucky to still be standing to say the least. The stone and wood looked more than a little aged - a little burnt in places, cracked in others and the sign depicting a sunrise over a barrel with a happy looking drunk sitting next to it looked like it was knocked around a few times.]

[The clientele was definitely not one would expect from that of a place a king - even before his crowning - would have taken his family. Rough, unpolished and in the case of the small crowd surrounding a pair that were arm wrestling with intensity... loud. This was like one of those stereotypical bandit dens in the fantasy novels.]

[Tending to the bar was an old woman who was cleaning up a tankard, barking angrily at a man three times her size as he tried to sneak his hand over to a freshly filled one that did not belong to him. The drink thief's hand pulled away as if it barely avoided getting burned by the fires of hell, looking extremely terrified. Glancing over, the old barmaid waves Dido and Peola over to an open spot at the bar.]

"Naraus solarie druss crin har kel'reen vai hrau taro."

That means-

[There's a loud snort as the old lady squints at Peola in a clear 'shut it' expression.]

"I can explain myself well enough girl. Its an old barman's greeting; It means 'keep the sun at your back and enjoy a cold drink friend'. Welcome to the Lucky Casque. The only damn tavern in the damn capital not to get burned down back when the First Monarch put Magnolys together. What can I getcha?"

[actuallyselfish]

Dido holds up some fingers. "If you've got something dark and bitter on tap, we'll take two of those, barkeep."

Dido sits down on one of the bar stools (assuming that Magnolyan bars have stools). She glances around at the tavern occupants briefly to see if Peola's royal presence raises a stir.

"If you don't mind questions from an off-worlder, " Dido says to the barmaid, "what happened that caused this place to nearly burn down?"

[not_a_prize]

"Want to start with the good stuff? Woman after my own heart."

[Chuckling, the barmaid fills up two rather sturdy looking mugs with something that definitely was dark - a rich foam rising and 'shaved' off the top gently. As for the stools... they looked as old as the bartender and creaked a little... but given the size of some of the other patrons it looked like it would be in no danger of breaking from Dido's weight.]

[Peola gave her own mug a glance before carefully taking a sip, her eyes bugging out before her drink went back down to the bartop as the princess gagged a bit from the strength of the brew. This? Had the old woman laugh. It got a few chuckles out of the bar as well. Surprisingly Peola's presence didn't cause that much of a stir at all. From the looks of some of the Patrons it was more like they were waiting for her eventual visit to this place.]

AKPTH-!

"A bit of a lightweight Princess? I would've thought a daughter of that rapscallion Unathi and that little firebrand Serak would be able to hold her drink better."

[Shaking her head at the memories and Peola's surprise (and incredulousness... seriously the woman referred to Serak affectionately) the barmaid looked immensely pleased by the question before cracking her knuckles and working the kinks out of her neck.]

"I've told the story a bunch of times to people from around here... but I've never got a chance to tell an off worlder. Back on the last days afore Magnolys got pulled together like it was - this here city was under the charge of the meanest, coldest and harshest thing anyone'd ever have the misfortune of being ruled by. Her name was Duchess Xenalia- Yes I know you've got things to say since its your family history Princess but SHUSH! This is my bar, I'll tell the tale."

[Peola looked adequately sheepish and nods.]

"Now where was I... Ah yes. Right. See... like I said; the Duchess was a cruel one. Heart chiseled right out of ice... had her reasons but she was still right bitch. When Queen Teresia - our esteemed First Monarch came knocking Xenalia had a good chunk of the city put to the torch to give the Queen a hard time while she shored up her defenses. Guess what was one of the places that didn't get reduced to kindling."

Is the beer any good to an Earthling pallet?

[actuallyselfish]

Dido taps the thick wood of the bar stool by way of response, then takes a professional gulp of the beer.

"How did you keep this place intact, then?" Dido asks, wiping a foam-stache from her lip. "Hoses? The mother of all bucket brigades?" She's struck with a thought. "Or did you snuff out the flames with just a wave of your sleeve?"

I'd imagine it'd go down smooth but kick like a draft horse

[not_a_prize]

[The aged woman let out a bark of laughter before regarding Dido with a wry smirk.]

"Me? I'm old and I won't deny it girl, but I'm not that old-"

[There was a comment from a snickering blonde girl hauling in a barrel. The old woman hucked a few nuts in the general direction of what was probably some ribbing.]

"-...but since you asked? The ancestor who owned the place vandalized an aqueduct to drop some water here and on the neighbours. Course that flooded the basement 'ccordin with how the story goes. There was a little worry about the Duchess making heads roll... but eh, the hag was busy at the time."

Re: Dido Approves

[actuallyselfish]

Dido coughs a little bit as the dark takes effect. "Heady..." she wheezes, glancing to the side at Peola, watching her reaction as the story is told.

"So when your ancestor was throwing a water party, Peola's big ancestor was fighting the Wicked Duchess in order to unify the land. Was it–?"

Dido gulp another sip from her mug. "–was it a spectacular flying battle?" She asks. "Flashing blades and fists and feet, huge explosions, Ki flying everywhere? Or were they mainly shooting each other with firearms?"

[not_a_prize]

[Peola had a small nostalgic smile, yeah she remembered this story... though she got the feeling that something about it was missing this time around. The bartender let out a soft sigh and had a small grin on her face as she polished another mug.]

"Well... not so much fighting the Duchess herself. Queen Teresia definitely had a fight on her hands just getting into the palace. But Xenalia herself? Well... there's a lot of plays and songs about it. But sum of it was... the Queen saw a lot of herself in the Duchess... more what she could have became really."

[Remaining silent for a while she glanced at Peola with a bit of irritation.]

"Oh. So NOW you want to keep quiet!"

I thought you said that you wanted to tell the story since its your bar!

"I meant with my family history! This one's all yours."

[Rolling her eyes, Peola took another swig of her drink. Letting out a rather comical noise after and shivering. Her hair spitting out tiny sparks of ki in reaction to the drink.]

Okay... so... The Duchess and the First Monarch actually had the same reason for their attempts at unifying Magnolys. They both lost their loved ones. The Duchess lost her husband early on and waged a war to bring down all the other nations and rulers of the land...

The First Monarch... lost her first love to one of the Duchess' armies after he was recruited as a man at arms by one of her rivals. The difference was Xenalia made a choice to allow her bitterness to rule her, wanting to punish the land for what it took away while Queen Teresia after finding love once more wanted to make a kinder world.

When she looked into Xenalia's eyes... they both saw the loss they suffered reflected in the eyes of the other. It was what allowed the Queen to ease the Duchess into laying down her arms peacefully.

[The bartender laughed at that part though.]

" 'Course there's where it get's interesting! There's a bunch of divided accounts here and there. The old records have some language that the scholars are still debating over about what happened to the Duchess after. Some say that after the surrender the Queen took Xenalia as a General in her armies like she did with some of the people she beat. Others went and said Xenalia decided to exile herself to some distant part of Magnolys... but the interpretation everyone really loves was that she actually married the Duchess along with her other lover!"

"Course the only one's that'd know the truth is the Royal family. Didn't hear a peep none from your Pa princess. What do you say?"

[Peola coughs a little bit before downing the contents of her mug with a wheeze.]

Say what now?

"...See. That was the exact same thing your Pa did to avoid that question. You really do take after him!"

[actuallyselfish]

Dido's eyebrows raise. "Oh," she says. "Wow."

She looks at Peola, head tilted to the side. "So. Is falling head over heels for Super-Villains a Nefless family tradition?" She asks. "Cause, I mean...yikes, that would explain a lot!"

[not_a_prize]

[There was a bark of laughter from the bartender again as Peola made a face.]

That's not funny Dido. If it was then Ana would be vowing vengeance on people and shaking her mechanical arm at people saying she'd get them next time, but you don't see her doing that do you?

[actuallyselfish]

"What does Ana have to do with..."

Dido blinks and nods to herself. "Oh! I never put that together...but yeah, you two make sense!"

She learns her elbows on the bar counter, addressing both the barkeep and nearby customers: "But never mind that. Who wants to hear about what Peola got up to on my home planet?"

She pauses for drama. "Who wishes to hear the stirring deeds of Peola, Suitor-Slayer?"

[not_a_prize]

[Dido's answer was a chorus of cheers and raised mugs, tankards, bottles and what have you, stomps on the floorboards and wallops on the tables echoed the sentiment as they unanimously called for the mechanic to tell the tales. The barkeep was halfway to telling them to stuff it and tone it down... then did a 180 and joined in the cheering with a rather trollish grin at the princess.]

Oh dear sun no.

[Peola on the other hand felt that she was faaaar too sober to deal with this and waved for another drink, downing it with almost indecent haste with little appreciation for the brewer's art.]

[actuallyselfish]

Dido drains her beer and holds up a hand for silence.

"You've heard the rumors," Dido says. "Flocks of vultures swarming around the Magnolias Royal Court, suitors from noble families grabbing after Peola's hand in marriage–for the good of the kingdom, of course," she adds with venomous sarcasm. "Strange how the kingdom's good and their own gain go hand in hand, is it not?"

Dido pauses to let the customers boo and jeer a little.

"But Peola refused to give in to the manipulations of these gold-diggers! She escape to my homeworld, and offered her services to my people as a warrior of justice! She fought alongside us, defending the Earth Sphere from great monsters and invading empires, against demons and dimensional beings!" Dido smiles. "I'm not ashamed to say her courage won my admiration, and my loyalty!"

Her smile turns to a scowl. "But then four ambitious suitors sniffed out Peola's location! Xun the Braggart, Kiliment the Craven, Phannuel the Sleeze, and Cennetig the Geneseeker! They came to earth with Regalia, convinced that they could win Peola's hand by beating her in combat!"

Dido chops the air with her hand. "But Peola drew a line in the sand!! She swore to thrash these suitors so soundly they'd flee back to Magnolias and never exploit the helpless ever again!

First came Xun and Cennetig, who tried to–!"

[actuallyselfish]

Dido coughs and rubs her neck.

"–but my throat's gotten dry and scratchy," she wheezes dramatically, turning her empty mug upside down and shaking it. "If only I had something to sooth it! And we were just getting to the good part too..."

[not_a_prize]

[Of course what accompanied the cheering was lots of curious and speculative looks. Some even looked more than a little surprised, others simply nudging each other smugly. Dido'd find another mug slid over to her every bit as welcoming as the first.]

"Come on then girl. Don't leave us in suspense."

"Xun the Braggart huh? Sounds a bit like him... he earned most of that bragging though."

"Pffhah! The boy was as dull as a stump! Easy on the eyes though. And I heard them brotherhood types do a lot of their training shirtless. Rowr."

...Ew. Didn't need that image.

[The barkeep laughed again as she mentally scarred Peola.]

[actuallyselfish]

Dido takes a small sip from her new mug.

"Much better! As for Xun...he was not really a bad egg...but his strategy for winning Peola's heart was to strut around like the gaudiest Peacock ever...particularly when he appeared during our battle with the Megamen of Master Albert–!"

[actuallyselfish]

Dido goes on to describe Peola's conflicts with the various suitors, spicing up the telling with dramatic pauses, hushed whispers, and colorful metaphors.

She takes a few liberties with her retelling, though. First, she always seems to describe Peola as striking the final blows against bad guys and leading battalions more often than she actually did.

Second, she leaves out Peola's family troubles with Ourania and Serak.

"...so there Peola was, standing on the altar next to that slime-bastard Kilement! She hated the thought of being bound to this scum in noble's clothing...but according to her father, if she'd didn't marry, the people of Magnolys would lose faith in her and the Nefless family line!"

Dido fixes everyone in the tavern with a stare. "Tell me, people of Magnolys....is any of that true?" She asks rhetorically.

3

[star_of_sad]

My... help?

[The strange surroundings fully consumed Setsuko's attention, the giant skeleton painting a picture of deeds past better than words. But now she snaps back to reality.]

What are we going to do?

[not_a_prize]

... My father's...

[Peola glances anxiously at the King who's slowly turning the object in his hands back and forth, a desolate look in his eyes.]

What he's holding... well... its the Regalis' equivalent of a black box.

[Funny how Peola knows what Black Boxes are when she has no idea about video games... then again she did pilot a Gespenst.]

I... I honestly don't know what to do. My aunt's last moments are on that thing and... I don't know if I should talk him into watching its contents and maybe find some closure or something else...

[star_of_sad]

Was she the one who fought that...

[Setsuko's gaze moves to the massive monster's remains.]

This wasn't such a long time ago, was it?

[not_a_prize]

She was. It was sixteen years ago... maybe a few more than that.

[There was a weak chuckle that didn't seem at all like it was from amusement.]

I always thought that my father's hair was grey because he was a bit old you know. Never thought that it might be him having to take my Aunt's place on the throne... never thought it might still be bothering him either...

[star_of_sad]

I can believe it has been bothering him... I really can.

[Setsuko takes a deep breath.]

Someone needs to watch this. I don't know if your father really wants to... I don't know what's on the recording. It's true that it could be something that gives closure.

But it also could... be not pretty.

[not_a_prize]

...

[Which is partly why Peola was so worried about it... Setsuko was right though. Someone did need to look through the contents. If at the very least to be sure about what effect they would have in the end.]

Either way... someone would know what happened. I'll go get it from him. Setsuko... do you think you can talk to someone? Get something ready to use so we can look through the thing?

[star_of_sad]

[Setsuko nods.]

I will. And...

After we watch it, I hope your father will be able to, too. If there's anything on it that he may want to... or need, to hear.

1/2

[not_a_prize]

[A while later and the recording was plugged in... the sound of frantic battle filtered through, roars, orders being yelled out over the fury of beasts. There were scrambles and jumps that were often peppered with the howls increasing before it terminated with a loud and enraged roar... and an almost deafening crash. More static. Then the image returned of a battered woman, blood trailing down her face and several injuries - a number of pieces of shrapnel having pierced the armor she wore into the cockpit, leaving even more trails of crimson seeping through the cracks.]

"If you're hearing this message... then that means I succeeded. What's left of my personal guard have returned home and have a chance to live out the rest of their lives and the path to the artifact that these creatures had blocked is clear. I hope that... whatever my soldiers and I have bled for... have died for... will truly be worth the effort and that our last moments were not in vain."

[A weak and somewhat delirious chuckle escaped her lips as she wiped some blood away from her face.]

"Unathi... little brother... I'm so sorry for the burden I am placing upon you. I know you never wanted to be king and I did everything in my power to spare you that responsibility so you could seek your happiness. But even so despite what father and mother had often said I know that you will be a worthy ruler... perhaps one greater than I. Just remember little brother... to not let the warmth of your heart be worn away by this duty."

2/2

[not_a_prize]

"Harunn my brave nephew... I know that you will grow up to be an amazing young man. Never forget what is important to you... never stop protecting it. Whether you become your father's successor or not... your family will always need you."

"Peola my lovely niece... so much like your father. There is so much of the world you have yet to see... and so much beyond as well. Do not be afraid. Take a chance and take flight. Your father will understand... the need to be free. The need to soar."

"Ourania... forgive me... for I will never have the chance to meet you. But know that you are loved... and that the world is waiting to welcome you with open arms little one."

[Verana shakes her head, staving off the bloodloss as best as she could.]

"Serak. Your parents were wrong on so many accounts... conflict and surviving it... that is not the only measure of strength. Though you may think yourself weak in your darkest moments for having fled from them to spare yourself further suffering at their hands... You did not let the scars they inflicted upon your body and soul define who you were. I saw that in your eyes whenever you held your children or when you stood beside my brother. I am proud to have had you as a member of my family."

"All of you... take care... and goodbye..."

[With those last words the queen slowly began to slip from consciousness... the recording ceased. Peola said nothing... but she reached out to the screen with trembling fingers.]

[star_of_sad]

...

[Setsuko stays silent while watching, and continues to do so after the recording is over.]

Your father...

[For a while at least.]

He never wanted the throne, did he.

[not_a_prize]

He... he mentioned it once... I didn't really pay it any mind at the time because...

[Because he had been trying to get her married off. Peola completely put it out of her mind soon after too. It explained why she had memories, albeit faint ones of several places outside of the Palace... why they all seemingly ended around the time her Aunt...]

Sun damnit... All this time and I didn't even notice...

[It didn't help there were so many parallels between them too. An idolized older sibling doing their best to keep the pressure of bearing the royal blood off of them. Misfortune striking... the difference was in the choice they made. Peola couldn't help but send her fist into the wall at that.]

If Harunn actually died... if things went badly... I...

[Would she have run away? Would she have done the same as her father?]

[star_of_sad]

No, don't think about it like that! Things could've went really bad... but they didn't. That's all that matters.

And your aunt's message wasn't only for your father... you know. The two of you really aren't that different.

[not_a_prize]

Its... actually pretty scary now you think about it...

[Peola lets out a slightly helpless chuckle, looking tremendously uncomfortable.]

You're right though... things managed to be alright for my family this time around. Looking back at everything after learning all of this... it just feels weird.

There's a saying about this back on Earth right? Something about hindsight?

[star_of_sad]

Yes. Looking back at things, everything seems much more clear...

But that wasn't the case when we had to make difficult choices. So even if we made mistakes - we shouldn't blame ourselves for them.

3

[whats_a_good_end]

[The size and number of beasts made Ana grateful -incredibly grateful- that the entire place seemed to have been cleared out prior. But things always fell apart the most spectacularly when it looked like everything was fine. And she had a promise to keep to Unathi. One eye stayed glued to Peola at all times, the other for any sign of a monster still with some life left to it.

[But there hadn't been any signs of it. And discovering Verana's fate changed everything. She'd never seen the king look the way he did now.]

Help?

You've got it.

[She tries to smile reassuringly.]

[not_a_prize]

I... its...

[Peola struggles to find a way to word this to Ana.]

Have you ever had someone lose somebody they really cared about a long time ago and... and they just have way of knowing what their last moments were?

[The princess glances over at her father in clear discomfort.]

I don't know what's the right answer... do I convince him its not worth it or... or tell him to risk it even if it might not be...

[At all pleasant.]

[whats_a_good_end]

... Too many times to count.

[She looked over at Unathi. The pieces were different but the situation oh so familiar.]

Test piloting's an ugly job. A lot of people don't get off as easy as I did... and sometimes their final moments aren't the most dignified.

But the eggheads always need to know. No matter how sad or painful it turns out being... it's something you have to face. Otherwise you'll go your whole life wondering about what happened in those last moments.

Besides...

[Ana looked to Verana's Regalis, defiant and fighting to the very end.]



If it were you... you'd want me to know, right?

[not_a_prize]

[Looking up at the Regalis, Peola reached out to hold Ana's hand in response to the question.]

I would. Thinking that you'd never find out and what it would do to you... it'd hurt a lot more than actually...

[Dying. Peola wasn't able to say the word, simply squeezing on Ana's hand and taking a deep breath.]

Thanks Ana...

[whats_a_good_end]

Any time.

[The squeeze is returned, Ana leaning her head over to rest on Peola's shoulder.]

We should be there for your dad when he does listen though.

[not_a_prize]

Yeah... something.... something tells me this won't be easy for him...

[It would not be long before the King finally made the decision to bite the bullet and view his sister's last moments. As Verana spoke what would be her last words Unathi removed his crown with trembling hands, laying it close by as he leaned forward - his shoulders slumped as if bearing a great weight. There was no disguising the faint tremble and the silent tears shed... not just for the loss of his sister... but for just how far everything had crumbled after her death. Serak... his children. Himself.]

"Verana... I really did make such a mess of things didn't I? You'd be ashamed..."

Father...! That's... that's not true at all and you know it!

[Peola's anxiously reaching out for her father's hand, holding onto it tightly.]

"I threw everything I had into ruling to do everything to live up to her... and see what it had caused daughter!"

[Unathi grips his beard tightly, teeth grit as he keeps his head low.]

"A court full of vultures as many of your friends have so clearly pointed out! You and Harunn and Ourania... I have done so much wrong to all three of you... my own flesh and blood! And Serak..."

[It was so easy to simply just choose to believe she was always that bad. Wipe away the blame.]

"That I would choose to waste away... crumbling into an ashen shadow of my former self for the sake of duty... that I was a weakling and that her family was right about me... about those not from the Northern settlements... All those her words.. her worst fears that her parents were right... I was foolish enough to dismiss her than allaying those concerns... it nearly cost Ourania her life... it crippled your brother and nearly killed him as well..."

"Such mistakes... as both a father and a king. Do you expect me to simply ignore them Peola?"

That's... I...

[There was a thunderous sigh from the King.]

"What of you Ana Racik... I assume you have thoughts on this as well?"

[whats_a_good_end]

... I do.

And you have made mistakes but... but that doesn't make you a bad ruler, or a bad father. I've seen bad family. I actually have one. If you want to see for yourself I can but I think you'd hate me for it afterwards, and I'd hate them even more too.

Your sister said it herself; she didn't want you to have to be king... so in a way you weren't ready for it. You just... tried to do what you thought was best.



But I think everyone understands that. Peola, me, Ourania, Harunn, the Unity Group...

A lot of mistakes can leave marks that can't be healed.

[Lives lost, bodies ruined, friends turned enemies...]

... But you haven't made any like that. And you've been making it up to everyone as much as you can. And I mean, there's still time so... I mean even with Peola's mom you could still... try to fix things.

[Somehow. Maybe. Ana had no clue on that front.]

[not_a_prize]

[The king remained silent for a long while. Fix things... its been years. Would it even be possible? Would it be worth it to try? His anxiety showed on both his face and his feelings, Peola gently resting her hand on her father's shoulder.]

Aunt Verana'd want you to try... and like Ana said you've been making it up to everyone. If we can get it after everything that's happened... maybe getting through to mother... it'll be hard but it can still happen.

[It wasn't long before she simply hugged Unathi.]

You're a great king... and no matter what... you're my father and I do love you.



"... Thank you. Both of you... it is of great comfort to my heart to hear what has been said."

[Whether he meant his sister's last words, the encouragement from Ana and Peola or both, its hard to say... but regardless of that it seems the king is in better spirits, if still sounding a bit tired.]