17 The End of King Corona

"The King is dead!" Someone yelled.

The fighting seemed to stop. Or more like it was over. I looked around us to see that most of the men were down. Some were dried up and shivering as Custard ate what seemed like smoke. The more Custard ate, the more energized felt. Are their essence actually giving me back my used up magic?

As I continued to wonder, I was suddenly engulfed in an embraced. "You're okay!" Ren cried. "I was so worried when Nora told us that you were facing a dangerous man and that Ace is hurt." As soon as the words left his mouth he paused from hugging me. "Wait, where is he?"

"It's PRINCE!" Ace grunted, still kicking the body of the dead king. With his good hand, he pointed the dagger at him. "You better keep that in mind if you want to live."

Ren gulped and nodded. Nate came next and he stood beside Ace. He grimaced at his current state. "You look...well...?" He said uncertainly.

"And you are LATE!" Ace snapped. "Where's my sister!?"

Nate raised his hands as if in surrender. "She's safe. She's with Prince Zeraph."

Ace's eye twitched. "She's what?!" He yelled. Then with his good arm he grabbed Nate's collar. "You let her hand out a boy, who's the same age as her?!"

"It's fine. They actually get along pretty great. Prince Zeraph can protect her." Ren said and I feel like I want to punch Ren for being so dense at times and saying the wrong words. It's like he can't read the atmosphere.

"What did you say?" There was venom in Ace's voice as he said it.

"Brother!" It was Prince Zeraph. He was running towards his older brother with Nora following right behind him. The young prince crouched down beside his brother.

"Zeraph?" Prince Meruem croaked and smiled weakly. "You're well. I'm glad."

Prince Zeraph was crying as he held his hands to his brother's wound. "I'll...heal you brother. Just you wait." He sniffed. Prince Zeraph drew water around him and directed it to his brother's gapping wound. It glowed into a bright light and where the wound previously was, is now a scar left by their father.

"Prince Meruem, Prince Zeraph." It was the same man who announced the death of the king. As soon as Prince Meruem was on his feet, the rest of the conscious soldiers of the Atla kingdom bent down on one knee.

"My father is dead." Prince Meruem confirmed. "I, as the crown prince, will serve as the king in acting until I am rightfully crowned."

"King Meruem!" The soldiers all said in unison.

Prince Meruem looked at his dead father in understanding. There was a brief look of sadness in his eyes before he looked up at the soldiers. "Arrest the remaining rogues. Bring the injured to the sea witch to get healed and...-" He looked down at the corpse of his father. "Carry my dead father back to the palace." He said sadly. "And from now on, we will no longer associate ourselves with the kingdom of Tereau."

Prince Zeraph came to Ace. "Prince, may I heal your wound? But I cannot heal your shoulder. I am not that strong yet." The young prince said sadly.

"I can help with that." Nate grinned and without Ace's permission, grabbed his shoulder and snapped it back into place. There was a sickening crunch as Nate lodge the bone back into it's rightful place.

Ouch. That looks painful.

Ace glared at Nate and used both hands to grab his collar. "Thank. Now I can strangle you freely with two hands."

"Excuse me." It was Prince Meruem. "I cannot thank you enough for freeing us from the reign of my father."

"He killed your dad." I pointed at Ace. I mean, someone has to take the blame. Ace frowned and slapped my hand away.

"And I should have been the one to do it, since it is my responsibility. He also took care of Roy, a difficult man to deal with." Then, the Prince's eyes met mine. "I guess I should call you Princess Rose and not Mississipi? I mean, that is your spirit, right?" He said and pointed behind Ren and I.

We both looked back and saw a grown Custard looking happy. His tongue lolled out and he was wagging his tail excitedly as if waiting for a praise. Ren and I screamed and jumped back in surprised. "Custard!" I said. "Don't scare us like that." At my words, Custard whimpered.

'Sorry, Master.' He said and his ears dropped down.

I kind of feel bad so I patted my familiar's head. "But you did a great job. Thank you." At that, Custard licked and nuzzled me with his snout affectionately.

"I want to formally introduce myself again. I am the acting king - Prince Meruem Bastian. This is my brother, Prince Zeraph Bastian." He introduced.

"Prince Nathaniel Denver from the kingdom of Vertez. The land of Vampires."

"Prince Renvier Rutledge from the kingdom of Sanver."

"PRINCE Ace Feradin from the kingdom of Tordis." Then Ace carried Nora in his arms. "This is my sister, PRINCESS Nora Feradin." Then he fixed fix gaze at Prince Zeraph, who was looking at Nora. "She's off limits!" He snapped at the young prince.

"I'm Princess Rosalie Amber Stan." I said and gestured at my familiar. "And this is my familiar. Custard."

Prince Meruem nodded as he regarded Ace and I, who looked ready to collapse any minute now. "May I offer you refugee in our palace? I promise that you may leave when you want to. I will ask them to prepare rooms." Then his eyes darted at Ace's wounds. "We have healers in the palace as well. That or my brother can heal you."

Ace then gave the young prince a pointed look. "He may heal me, but it doesn't mean that he can go anywhere near my sister." Ace handed Nora to Nate. "You better not drop her or else." He threatened and returned his gaze back to Zeraph. "Hurry up and heal me!" He demanded.

Jeez. He can't even say please!

I felt sorry as I looked at the poor little prince making his way towards the menopausal elf. When the prince's eyes drifted to Nora, Ace snapped his fingers in front of hey. "Hey!" He yelled. "Eyes right here. Hurry up so we can leave this place!"

I felt Custard returning to his former self. Once he did, my knees felt like jelly and I collapsed. Ren caught me as my vision started to blur. I could hear their voices - calling me as they did so. But it was no use, I felt so tired and drained that my body couldn't move even if I willed it to. I was finally swallowed in darkness.

***

I dreamed of a man. No. A king. King Varon Lanis. I am not sure how I know. Maybe it was because we share the same color of our hair - or the fact that he was with a grown with wolf. Nagga.

I saw the two the pair walking into a strange dark forest with only a bit of glittering lights to guide them. King Varon was holding a cup in his hands. The wooden chalice.

There was movement in the forest. A tree nymph suddenly emerged.

"Keep it safe." King Varon said. "It can potentially become a tool for the revival or the destruction of the kingdom." King Varon was speaking to it before handing the cup to the Nymph. The nymph bowed and suddenly vanished into the forest.

King Varon looked at his familiar. "Let's go, Nagga."

***

The dream shifted and suddenly there I saw dead bodies everywhere. Broken buildings and debris were all over the place. Fires continued to burn as it scorched up the rest of the colors of the land.

I saw how king Varon lunged at a man with dark shaggy hair, whom I assume is king Ferius. I saw Nagga in the background pinning the Chimera underneath him. The Tamer king gave his familiar a glace, a look of sadly flashed in them. The familiar looked at his partner too with the same gaze and whimpered. They knew what must be done. King Varon will die into sealing his own familiar and the chimera into Ferius.

People screamed in the background as the fighting continued. But all was drowned out when the king spoke to his familiar.

"...no other way." Were the last words that I heard from king Varon before the scene shifted.

***

This time I was watching the Nymph with the Chalice. She was walking in a dark path that suddenly blinded me. Then I saw her giving the chalice to a group of people. They look like villagers judging from the way that they were dressed. They were wearing animal skins to cover their bodies.

I watched as they took the chalice from the Nymph and bowed respectfully.

***

This time I saw the Nymphs gathering around what looks like a bird bath made out of gigantic leaves and vines. They were chanting something is in language that I do not understand. Images of the other kingdoms suddenly flashes in my mind. The images of the villagers seems like it was being erased from existence.

Suddenly, a nymphs locked it's gaze into mine. It was the same nymph that originally held the chalice. "It's your turn to find us." It said.

***

I suddenly woke up to find myself lying on a soft and comfy bed. I looked around and the familiar setting made me realize that we were still in Atla - I mean, if there are other kingdom that uses shells and seaweeds as decorations. I tried to get up but my body wouldn't move.

"What the-"

"Had enough rest?"

I moved my head in order to look at PRINCE Ace, who was currently tied to a bed like a mad man. He was now wearing a shirt and I could see that his wounds were all healed up, but the bruises were still there. I looked at him and started laughing. "What the heck happened to you!?" I asked in between laughs.

Ace narrowed his gaze at me. "Those worthless princes told me to stay put because I was injured!" He yelled and started struggling to free himself, but to no avail. "Stop laughing!" He glared at me. "I am merely tied so I cannot move. You, one the other hand, is free but couldn't even lift the finger!"

I stopped laughing and tried to move. I succeeded but I can only move my arms. I looked back at Ace smugly. "You were saying?"

"Great. If you can move then you better untie me!"

"Aww. But I don't wanna." I said. "I mean, what's in it for me?"

"The fact that the two idiots are having a discussion with the son of the dead king."

I gave Ace a pointed look. "So? They are simply having a meeting. It's boring to listen to them anyway. Let's just wait and-"

"MY SISTER IS WITH THAT BRAT!" He screamed.

Ahh. So that is the real reason. This siscon merely wants to play keep away with his sister.

"As you can see, I can only move my arms and not my whole body." I said.

PRINCE Ace tsked. "That's what you get if you abuse magic more than you can handle. You're lucky it didn't kill you."

"It could have killed me!?"

"It would have if your familiar didn't absorbed some of the magic from the rogues." He said. "Now go and wake up your lazy familiar and tell it to untie me!"

"Custard? Where is he?" I actually know where Custard is because of our link. He was sleeping beside me on the bed. I simply want to annoy a certain PRINCE.

"Beside you!"

"Which side?"

"I can snap your head to see him if I could."

"Geez. Just say the magic word."

"The magic word."

"You're not very good at this, are you?"

The door suddenly swung open and Nate, Ren, and Prince Meruem appeared. Nate and Ren saw me and immediately grinned. Ren attempted to tackle me in a hug, but Nate grabbed him by his collar. "She's hurt you mutt."

Ren looked back and glared at him. "Right. I'm sure that's the only reason you're stopping me."

"Good. You both are awake." Prince Meruem said and earned a murderous glare from PRINCE Ace.

"I was already awake when you lot tied me up! You bastard are lucky that I am not at my full strength." Ace yelled.

"I feel like I am not welcome here." The Sea Prince laughed nervously. "I should get going and have everything ready for you guys."

"Get back here you son of a virus!" He yelled, but the sea prince is now gone behind the doors. Ace diverted his attention to the two other princes in the room. "Well!? You guys had fun. Might as well share what you've discussed!"

Ren and Nate flinched at the elf prince, who can't seem to talk without yelling. "Right. It will we a long talk so get yourselves com-"

Nate was cut off by Ace. "You better not say comfortable!"

"...right. Sorry." Nate mumbled as he and Ren started to tell us what happened after I passed out.

They have taken the rogues into their underwater cellar. At leas the rogues who still have their essence. Apparently, Custard had taken more than half of the rogue's essence making them harmless even when they are together. There were a few men from the kingdom of Atla who lost their essence as well, but these were the men who were loyal to the late king and attempted to murder us.

PRINCE Ace will be pardoned for the murder of the king, as it was decreed that it was merely a self defense to save Prince Meruem and I. The Atla king will also cut off ties with the kingdom of Tereau and agreed that one day, they will start trading with the other kingdoms. But not at the moment of course. Right now, they want to properly rebuild their place until they are strong enough to open their place to the others.

Prince Meruem also promised to release all the women that his father kidnapped and have them escorted safely to their respective families.

I was happily eating that food that was served to me. Custard seem to be enjoying the food as well. Ace was also eating while cursing about how ungrateful the people are for tying him up. I could only assume that he was already planning on how to murder the rest of the royal family.

By noon, we were ready to leave. Acting king Prince Meruem and his little brother, Prince Zeraph came with us to the port. Ren carried me behind his back because my body still couldn't move. Nate held Custard as he shook hands with Prince Meruem. "I look forward to our next meeting." Nate said.

Prince Meruem nodded and handed him a conch. "We may contact one another here. Let us know if you ever need help. If it is within our power then we will come to you aid." Then Prince Meruem move his gaze towards me. I felt Ren let out a low growl as he started to approach us. "Princess Rose, I wish you the best." He says.

"You too!"

"I said she's off limits!" Our eyes turned towards Ace, who was now carrying his sister and glaring at prince Zeraph. "You can't look at her, you can't speak with her, and you may not approach her!"

"Bwother, I wanna say goodbye to my fwend." Nora pouted at Ace while Zeraph was shaking under the elf PRINCE's glare. Nora gently hit her brother with her small fist. "Stop being mean to my fwend! I hate you." The look on Ace's face was priceless that I had to laugh. Ace gave me an irritated look and I quickly hid behind Ren.

Soon, we rode a gigantic clam that would take us back to shore. We all said our farewell to the two sea prince and waved them goodbye the moment it carried us up.

I heard something someone chewing metal and I turned to see that Custard has something in his mouth. "Custard? What's that? Nate, my familiar is chewing something." I told him. Nate seem to realize that Custard, was in fact eating something.

"Hey, spit that out." He ordered and handed the conch to Ace so he can grab what was in my familiar's mouth. He moved the little wolf so that it was now facing him. "Come on. Drop it." He ordered Custard. My familiar simply grunted and moved his head away from Nate's hand when the vampire prince attempted to grab his mouth. Nate frowned at the stubbornness of Custard. "Bad boy. Spit it out!" Nate used his hands to open Custard's jaw. Custard growled, but Nate was too strong and he finally managed to open the wolf's mouth. The thing in Custard's mouth drop and we all looked at the bottom of the clam to see what it is.

It was a pendant made out of gold.

We were still inside the clam, but we all felt the chilling breeze when we realized what was happening.

"OH MY GOODNESS, CUSTARD STOLE FROM THE PRINCES!" I screamed in horror. I mean, not only did we - I mean Ace - killed the king, but we also stole from them!

"Should we head back?" Ren asked as he looked at the pendant fearfully.

Custard jumped down from Nate's grip and grab the pendant again. 'Master, I found this in the ground! I never stole it.' He said.

"Custard, listen. Even if you found it, you simply can't take it."

'I found it in the sea floor! No one owns it.' Ren opened his palms towards Custard and the little wolf dropped the pendant to his open palm. 'Look. It has rust and moss.' My familiar insisted.

Ren brought the pendant up. "It's dirty." He said before handing it to me. "I don't think it comes from their treasury if it's like that."

"Well I don't want it." I said as I pushed the pendant back.

'But, master...I got it for you.'

"Custard, this is not finders keepers you know." I told him.

Custard dropped his ears and whimpered sadly. At this, the princes and Nora gave me a look that made me feel guilty. Wow, look at them. They are siding with my familiar now. And before they used to not like him.

Custard looked at me with his big round brown eyes and whimpered. I bit my lips as I was too weak resist that look. I look at the pendant on Ren's hand and snatched it. "Okay okay!" I resigned. "I'll keep it. Thanks, Custard." I mumbled.

We were finally back on land. We hoped off of the gigantic clam as we made our way back to shore. The prince's trouser wet wet as they walked through the water. A few snorts brought our attention to the 3 horses in front of us. It was Ryde, Garius and Midnight.

We looked at Ace and, in return, he raised an eyebrow at us. "Of course I called them. You think we can walk all the way back to the palace?" Well all shrugged and was about to move when Ace stopped Ren. "Take my sister. I need to speak with that." He said and pointed towards me.

"Hey I have a name." I said.

Ren look hesitant to hand me over to Ace. He simply stood there while carrying me on his back. I look at Ace and figured that he wouldn't back down unless we will comply to his request. Nora stared at the two prince as if comparing them. When her eyes darted back to her brother, she grinned widely.

I tapped on Ren's shoulder. "It's fine. Meet you with Garius later." Ren gave me one last glance before setting me down. I took my hand and handed it over to Ace.

"Be quick." He told the elf prince and frowned. Then he took Nora as they made their way to where Nate is with the horses. As soon as they were gone, Ace held my hand and lead me to sit on one of the rocks near the beach. I looked at him curiously as I wondered why he called me here to talk.

"Any time now." I told him when a few second flew by and he wasn't talking.

"You did good."

I blinked. Did I hear him right? "Pardon?"

"Back at Atla. You did well in using your powers." He said. He wasn't looking at me or even meeting my gaze. "Without you, I wouldn't know if we would have survived." I still looked at him. Speechless as to what I just heard. Is he complimenting me? There was a slight tint of red on his ears, but I couldn't tell if he was blushing or not since he was facing the other way. "That's why...whatever I said before that upset you...just forget about it."

I tilted my head to the side. "Upset? When?"

Ace frowned and finally looked at me. "The day we were taken." He said. "You were tearing up when I said you mean nothing to me."

I starred at him as I tried to remember. "When?"

"When we were taken!" He snapped.

Then I remembered him talking at that time, but I wasn't listening. Could he be misunderstanding things? "Um..." I said uncertainly. "I don't exactly remember what you were talking." I laughed nervously and scratched my cheek. "But I didn't cry because I was upset."

"What?"

"I actually couldn't sneeze at that time."

This time, it was Ace who blinked. "You wanted to sneeze?"

"Yeah. But I couldn't because you kept talking about something."

"You...!"Ace massaged his temples and gritted his teeth. And now I could tell that he was blushing. I couldn't tell if it was from anger or embarassment.

Either way, I didn't want to miss this opportunity. I grinned teasingly at him and snickered. "Wait." I grinned. "Are you actually worried that you upset me?" My grin grew wider when I saw how red his face was right now. "You are!!" I declared.

"No I'm not!"

I clapped my hands and laughed even more. "Your face! You actually felt bad!" I breathed and started fanning myself. "I should write this on my diary!" I squealed. "Imagine. PRINCE Ace. THE PRINCE Ace is worried about hurting my feelings!"

Ace gritted his teeth and glared at me. Suddenly, it would seem like an idea popped into his head as he grinned evilly. "Yes. Keep laughing." He said and started to walk away from me and towards the horses.

I stopped laughing. "Ace?" I called for him when I realize what he was doing. "Ace! You do now that I still can't move the rest of my body, right?"

"You can move your arms." He called out and waved without looking at me. "Crawl if you have to."

This guy! He really is going to leave me! I tried to move my legs but it didn't respond. Damn it. "Ace! Wait. Come on. You can't handle a joke?" I called for him. Louder this time. "Ace? ACE!?"