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WARNING:

This scene contains harsh visions and descriptions that might be unsettling to read without warning even more than the other sections of the story. Please read on when ready. I do not wish to spoil anything specifically but adding the warning is necessary.

This scene was inspired by Emmeryn's Sacrifice, Chapter 9, of the Fire Emblem Awakening game. [The GIF above]

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t w e l v e

"What? Now your reasons for this war involve the mythical race as well?"

I hear the words of the humans being spoken around me but I cannot keep my eyes away from my sister up on the balcony. She sadly watches the argument unfold like she already knows what is happening. I cannot help but tighten my grip on my bow as anger bubbles up to the brim inside me. What makes these humans think they can just use us for their own gains like we are objects to be won?

The king next to my sister chuckles, "Well, of course! You know what the myths say, Stan. Don't tell me you have forgotten! When I defeat your kingdom, and murder you, I will have both your treasures and the mythical Elven magic!"

"That magic is not yours to just fucking take, Stewart!"

The king laughs again, "Oh, but it is, Stan. With this bitch's magic under my control, I will become God of this land, and I will live forever,"

Abby turns her attention back to us as the kings talk, like she knows the next thing they are going to say. The sound of her loud voice surprises me as it echoes through the courtyard, "You leave my sisters alone, you slimy bastard,"

Without warning, I helplessly watch the king slap Abby across the face as she does nothing about it. He grasps her chin with his dirty hand and forces her to look at him, "What was that? What did you fucking say to me, bitch? The only thing you are allowed to do is what I say, and if I tell you to bring your fucking precious sisters to me—"

What? He's planning to use Abby to bring us to him as well? Is that why she looks so depressed to see us here?

She forcefully spins away from his grasp on her and turns directly towards us hiding in the courtyard.

What is she doing? She is about to alarm all of the humans of our whereabouts! Doesn't the king want both of us too?

She places her hand over her chin where he was gripping her tightly and her hand begins to glow a faint yellow. Her eyes narrow down towards us, "Why are you two doing here? They will find you! Get out of here at once! I told you not to follow me but you did anyway!"

The king behind her widens his eyes as he quickly approaches the balcony's edge where Abby stands now. He smiles evilly at us as he sees us hiding away in his courtyard.

"If you do anything to them, I will never give you my magic,"

He turns his gross and sedative eyes towards her and continues smiling, "That is where you are wrong, Elven Queen. Any shit that you do is under my command. Nothing is your choice,"

As he reaches up to grab her chin again, I cannot take it anymore. I lift up my bow without a second thought as it glows yellow brightly, lighting me up in the darkness. I aim at his slimy hand. It is like second nature as I swiftly aim my weapon towards the evil human. I feel no fear at all like the previous time I took aim and everything melts away except for my target. I focus my gaze on his hand about to touch my sister once again and let lose my arrow.

I hear Abby gasp loudly as the arrow whizzes between her and him, nailing him in the hand. He jerks his hand back, yelps out loudly, pulls it out and glares down at me while rubbing his hand, "Don't you touch my sister!"

I can see the blood drip from his wound I just created as I hear the sound of his skin tearing echoes in my head from when he tore it out a moment ago. Allys whimpers at the sight as she tightly grips my gown at my waist behind me.

"You little whore!" The king shouts out loudly with anger dripping from his lips. He points his sword down at me and glances around his courtyard, "You made a mistake showing yourself in my courtyard. You will never leave here. You will be mine,"

However, none of the humans near us in the courtyard have moved from where they are standing. It looks like most of the ones near us belong to Stan, and not Stewart. I narrow my gaze back up at his that is now glaring at me, "We came to take her back from you. And that is what we will do,"

He continues glaring at me but he pauses for a moment, "The mythical Elven race who claims peace is coming towards us humans with violence?"

I hear an angry voice grumble from a human nearby, "You are the one bringing violence to them, Stewart!"

He turns his gaze back to his, "Well, might I also remind you that you are also standing in my courtyard with your fucking weapons raised at me as well, Stan!"

"Your actions will cause chaos and destruction, Stewart, you fucking coward! It is you causing the violence! Hiding behind your followers!"

He chuckles and slides his eyes back to mine, "That is because I have a larger kingdom than you, Stan. I am larger, stronger and smarter than you. And now that I have all three mythical Elven royals, the Queen and both princesses, I will be the most powerful being on this realm! Now be a dear, Elven Queen, and go retrieve your precious sisters for me,"

He begins to raise his hand back up to her, but he stops when I notch another arrow in my bow trained on him, turning his angry glare back to me. He snaps his fingers and dozens of his own bowmen notch their arrows onto me from atop his castle walls. I feel fear bubble back up inside of me and all the confidence I once held moments ago melt away.

I slide my eyes to Abby's and try to plead with hers. She must know we will not leave here without her, despite the orders she gave us to never follow her here. I knew this would happen but I felt we had no other choice. If we do not get her back, our magical barrier will die forever and our forest will disappear. She holds the magic we need.

She is the source of our life magic. Abby, you must come home. Without you... we will all die.

I watch her emotions swirl around in her eyes as she studies me. I see her eyes move slightly lower, as she studies Allys behind me as well. I keep my bow trained on the king beside her and I try to ignore all the arrows now trained on me.

"I would watch what you do, little Elven princess. No matter what you do, you will join your sister under my control and there is nothing you can do. So be a dear and give yourself to me or d—"

"You will fail, Stewart! This war is now continuing because of your selfish greed for the magic of the Elven race!"

"Enough!"

Abby's voice breaks the king's words off and the courtyard goes silent as her voice reverberates through the courtyard. Her voice lingers for a moment before fading away. I watch her slowly look around the balcony. I move my eyes around the balcony too and this is when I notice one part of it connecting to the long and tall arms raising far above the courtyard center.

She slowly turns and gently glides over to the edge of the balcony, leading up the columns raising towards the sky. They are wide enough to walk on and at an angle that is climbable.

She's not planning to climb up that, is she? What purpose would that give?

She begins to ascend the column pointing towards the sky and does not look at me anymore. She keeps her gaze fixed forward at the end all the way up and murmurs begin to fade in around me as the humans watch her movements.

As I continue watching her, I feel my weapon lower to my side as I cannot find the will to hold it up any longer. I ignore everything around me as I move from my spot, wanting to stay beneath her but the humans are now in my way. Allys stays close to me, also watching up at our sister, climbing the column.

When I cannot continue following her, I glance around at the humans before fixing my gaze back on my sister, fighting back my emotions bubbling up within me. What is she doing? Whatever she plans to do, can't she do from the balcony? Where is it safer? What are you thinking now, Abby? We need you to come back with us!

As she nears the edge, I feel entire body begin to shake violently as fear controls it now. Her tall and thin figure is now lit up entirely by the rising sun in the horizon as it slowly rises. Her long blond hair whips around her the further up she gets. The bright green gown glows as she continues to watch forward. Does she realize how close she is to the edge now? Why won't she watch where she is stepping?

"What is she doing, Alexis?"

I feel a sudden sadness wash over me when I register her question. All I can do is shake my head as she suddenly stops at the edge of the column. I begin to hear her voice faintly, her voice is no longer loud with passion or emotion, but soft and gentle like the wind. She lowers her gaze down slightly, bowing her head.

"As for the peace I search for... you cannot possibly see who it is for,"

She pauses before lifting her gaze back up to the sky slowly, "Alexis. Allys. Just know... that I will always love you. Why must the things that mean the most to me... be impossible to achieve,"

My eyes widen as warm tears begin to prick my eyes. There are more meaning to her words than what she is implying here. I do not fully understand until I see her begin to fall forward with no warning.

"Abby!" I feel my feet push me forward as I hear Allys burst into sobs behind me. I try to push my way through the humans but I will never make it in time. Tears stream down my cheeks as I stop just in time to see Abby's body hit the ground.

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:'(

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See you in the next part!

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