48 Ch. 47 - Corona Kingdom's dire situation
[I was thinking of making a discord server so I could someone to talk with every night however I don't know how to create one and also so I could make announcements there instead of having to make an announcement chapter every time I have something to announce.]
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Inside a spacious room, King Frederic and Queen Arianna sat on the sofa next to each other while Tigress, Jin, and Rapunzel were sitting on the other sofa right in front of them, with Jin being in the middle.
"You see, our neighboring, Firefall Kingdom has gone into a killing spree, conquering their nearby villages and towns and our Kingdom is next to theirs. Which means their king is eyeing on conquering our Kingdom. We tried to have peace-talks with him but not only did he kill our messenger, but he also sent it to our doorstep. Their king has gone mad!" King Frederic said, releasing all of his pent-up exhaustion as he explained.
"....I see." Jin nodded his head. He didn't expect there would be such a Kingdom in this world. Though it is to be expected, although this world was made for kids, this has turned into a real world, meaning that each action has consequences and not everything you see in the movie portrays the entire world.
"Which is why we are asking for your help. You have already helped our daughter and I am too embarrassed to ask for more, but seeing that my daughter is in love with you, I thought it would be better to make both of you form some kind of relationship, which in turn would tie you up to our Kingdom. Please, believe me, I am merely worried about my Kingdom and its innocent citizens." King Frederic begged as he even went down on his knees, betting Jin to help their Kingdom.
A King that is willing to put down his pride and beg someone to help him might seem cowardly to others but to Jin's eyes, Frederic is a compassionate and caring King unlike the King who became dictators in their own country.
Looking at Tigress, Jin saw how Tigress has also made her decision and he's willing to make the same decision as her.
"Fine. We'll help. But I won't serve as your weapon. I am merely going to help you, do you understand?" Obviously, Jin would help, his sense of justice and kindness has been triggered. Perhaps it is Jin's personality itself or maybe it is his angel Bloodline, or former angel Bloodline as Jin is sure that when he awakened at the Spirit Realm during his fight with Kai, he transformed into an angel just to fall in just a second.
As of now, Jin was trying to use the demonic powers that were said for him to be able to wield if he fell from grace.
But so far, Jin couldn't feel any demonic thingy inside him except for the Chi and the raging flame that is tempting to burst out any moment if it wasn't for him controlling it.
If this is how Iroh feels everyday, Jin's respect for him has increased, after all, to be able to resist the feeling of burning everything in your path shows how incredible Iroh's will is, not to mention he's calm and wise, as if there isn't a dangerous flame inside him.
"Yes! I understand! Thank you!" King Frederic didn't mind the slight disrespect, in his eyes, as long as Jin is willing to help, he's ready to put his life on the line. King Frederic isn't the same as the other Kings who highly valued their own lives, willing to sacrifice thousands of people just to live. To King Frederic, his people's lives are the same as his life. If they died and he lived, he might as well have died. There's a reason why the Corona Kingdom is called as one of the best and peaceful Kingdoms in the entire world. King Frederic treats his people as his own family.
"Thank you!" Queen Arianna was also the same, she bowed her head in front of Jin.
Meanwhile, Rapunzel stared at her parents with happiness, to her, her parents aren't cowards, they're similar to the heroes that she once read in some books.
"Alright, that's all. How about we proceed with Gothel's punishment? It's taking too long." Jin then nodded his head as he changed the topic. Since he already agreed, there's no point in dwelling on it any longer. Just because someone needed his help doesn't mean he'd take advantage of them, you might as well call him a villain also, just doing a different way from a villain.
"Oh right!" King Frederic nodded her head as Rapunzel gulped her saliva in nervousness. Despite being angry at Gothel, her memories of her childhood with her flashed in her mind, making it hard for her to accept the execution of Gothel, which is why she proposed a new punishment yesterday.
She can't bear to see her die in front of her eyes and even if she looks away, the thought that Gothel is killed would linger in her mind.
Suddenly, while Rapunzel was having hard time inside her mind, Queen Arianna held her hand. As Rapunzel's mother, her instinct tells her that Rapunzel is having trouble and since she's her daughter, Arianna must be there to ease her.
"It's okay, Rapunzel. I'll be here." Arianna soothes her, making Rapunzel smile and nod her head.
"Thank you, Mother!" She then went to hug her under the eyes of everyone.
***
*Clang!*
With chains attached on her wrist and ankles, Gothel's eyes were deemed, as if there was no more life inside her.
The guards were escorting her from behind and front towards her new prison cell. Gothel thought that she would be executed however, instead of being executed, she heard that she would be brought to a larger room, which made Gothel come up to one conclusion.
'It must've been Rapunzel. She probably still sees me as her mother. I could use that feeling to set myself free. But how am I gonna talk to her?' As if 'luck' were shining upon her, she finally saw her new cell but what caught her attention was the bunch of individuals standing and staring at her. One of them is Rapunzel.
'This is my chance!' With excitement in her eyes, Gothel started her act.
"Rapunzel, please! Let me go! I took care of you, Rapunzel!" Crocodile tears started welling up in her eye and Gothel used her best to show how pitiful she looks right now.
However, all she met was a cold stare of everyone, making her stop in her tracks, allowing the guards to put her in her new room and lock the door.
*Clang!*
The moment the door closes, Gothel grits her teeth and she yell in anger.
"You ungrateful brat! Trust me, you should've killed me! I will get out of this place and tear your family apart! And we will be together forever, Rapunzel!" After finally exhausting herself and hurting her throat, Gothel took her time to take a look in her surroundings and that's when she noticed the mirrors everywhere, when she said everywhere, she literally means everywhere!
Not even the ceiling and the floors were spared! There were no windows that allowed her to see the outside world. She feels like a woman trapped in a room, similar to Rapunzel's situation in the tower except that her situation is far worse!
Looking at one of the mirrors, Gothel saw her appearance and noticed the wrinkles in her face, making her shocked and panicked.
"No! No! No no no no!" After circling around and seeing nothing but mirrors, Gothel immediately turned back and tried to knock on the door however, she saw that the door was gone, it is now replaced with the same mirror.
The only source of light that she has in the room is a candle in the corner and the small holes on the ceiling. If the candle dies out and the day turns into night then she would be met with pure darkness.
"No! Let me out of here! Rapunzel please help me!"
***
Outside the nightmare room, Rapunzel was looking away with her eyes closed while her mother, Arianna stayed true to her words earlier and stayed by her side, never leaving even a second.
'That is quite a cruel punishment, I bet Gothel would turn insane in just a week. Scratch that, maybe she'd be crazy before the night falls.' Jin said to himself while Tigress beside him didn't show any emotion, keeping her cold face.
"Let us go back." King Frederic said as he slowly walked out of the prison hallway, almost every soldier that he passed on would bow their heads to him.
***
Before they could go back to the carriage that carried them here, Jin and Tigress decided to explore for a bit around the Kingdom before Jin left outside to fetch his unofficial crew.
"Take me with you! I also want to see more of the Kingdom!" Rapunzel raised her hand in volunteering and said as she made a begging expression to her parents.
"Hahaha, it's fine. You can go." King Frederic smiled warmly before giving his permission.
"Just make sure to stay out of some dark alleys, our Kingdom is not a crime-free kingdom." Queen Arianna advises before climbing inside the carriage.
"Thank you, Father! Yes, mother!" Rapunzel smiled and replied.
The moment the carriage was dragged by the horse away from them, Rapunzel jumped in excitement before dragging both Jin and Tigress outside the prison walls where they would have their small adventure in the kingdom.
Their trip around the Kingdom wasn't that bad though it is also not that good as Jin felt like it is a bit boring in the kingdom, there are no games to play or some places with entertainment. There are only bars, puns, shops and restaurants around the Kingdom.
It took them a few hours before the other two got bored. When Jin looked up and saw that the sun was about to fall and the night was about to come, he turned to Tigress and Rapunzel.
"Do you guys remember the Snuggly Duckling? I was thinking of going back there as I have something to do there. Rapunzel, tell your parents I will be back, okay?" Jin said as he pecked Tigress's lips, making Rapunzel pout as she saw in her two eyes.
"I'll come with you!" Tigress said however, Jin immediately refused her.
"There's no need. It would be better for you to be in the kingdom, after all, if the neighboring kingdom has decided to attack while I'm gone, they could rely on you." Jin stated as Rapunzel asked.
"Don't you need a horse? I could tell my mother to come and fetch you one of their best."
"There's no need....I, alone am enough." Jin said with a smirk before he slowly floated off the ground.
"I'll see you guys later." Jin said with a salute before flying high and away outside the Kingdom's walls.
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[Next Chapter: Ch. 48 - The Heroes of Justice]
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