The beautiful palace gardens stretched out like an oasis of lush green lawns, meticulously manicured with vibrant flowers in a beautiful shade of blue. Majestic trees offered dappled shade, their leaves rustling softly in the gentle breeze. Stone pathways meandered through the gardens, leading to secluded nooks and grand fountains that sparkled in the sunlight. The scent of jasmine and roses filled the air, mingling with the aroma of the rich, dark soil after the fresh rain.

Amid this serene beauty, a young girl cried bitterly over the corpse of her dog. The lifeless body lay crumpled on the ground, its neck grotesquely twisted, clearly broken. The girl's sobs echoed through the gardens, a heart-breaking contrast to the peaceful surroundings. Her small frame shook with each tear, her hands clutching the soft fur of her beloved pet, now cold and still.

In stark contrast, a boy stood in front of her, his eyes glinting coldly as he watched her cry. His expression was devoid of sympathy, his gaze hard and unyielding with blood-stained hands, clenched in a fist. 

"Get up, stop crying," he commanded, his voice harsh and unfeeling. "A dog that has bitten you cannot be kept!" He took a step closer, the blood on his hands stark against the vibrant greenery of the garden. "Get up!"

The girl looked up at him through tear-filled eyes.

.

Rhea's muscles screamed for action; they wanted her to move, to fight. But all Rhea could think about was the stone in Mi Qi'er's hand. Winston struggled to stand beside her, his eyes filled with pain.

Mi Qi'er's sneer was infuriatingly calm. "Come on, Rhea. Show me what you're truly capable of," he taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance.

Rhea's eyes burned with anger. She launched herself at him with blinding speed. Their clash immediate and fierce, each blow resonating with the force of their power. Rhea moved with crazy proficiency that suited her role as a child soldier, fuelled by her rage. Her strikes precise and deadly aiming for vital points only, no movement was wasted. But Mi Qi'er was a formidable opponent, his defences were nearly impenetrable. His skin felt like hitting metal, his muscles were steel, his joints were welded together, refusing to give way to any attack. 

Rhea tried to move away from Winston, her eyes darting to him occasionally to make sure he was ok. As they fought, Winston tried to assist, but his injuries slowed him down. Rhea saw Mi Qi'er's eyes flicker toward Winston, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"You care for this one, don't you?" Mi Qi'er said mockingly. "Let's see how well you fight when you're distracted."

With a swift, calculated move, Mi Qi'er struck at Winston. Rhea's heart lurched, and she threw herself between them, taking the blow meant for Winston. Pain exploded through her side, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to falter and grounding her feet to the floor. 

"Rhea!" Winston's voice was desperate, his eyes wide with fear and guilt. Why was she protecting him? He should be the one protecting her! Yet here she was, gritting her teeth in pain. 

Mi Qi'er's smile widened, satisfied with her reaction. "Why do you do this to yourself, Rhea? Why shackle yourself to these weaklings?" He stood back looking at her pained expression as if admiring his art. "Everything you get a bit of freedom, you walk right into new shackles, this time you formed a family? A city? How hilarious!" He laughed at her face. 

Rhea struggled to stand, blood trickling from the wound on her side. "Don't fucking dare," she said, her voice strained but resolute. "They are mine, they aren't something you can touch!" 

Mi Qi'er's expression twisted with rage. "You think they can love you like I do? You're a fool, Rhea." He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "I am the only one who can ever possibly love you. " 

He was the only one who loved her, that was what she thought. But not anymore. "You don't love me, I'm just a pet you are obsessed with."

Mi Qi'er's laugh was bitter and hollow. Obsession? Perhaps. 

With a feral growl, Mi Qi'er renewed his assault, his attacks more vicious and desperate. Rhea defended herself with all her strength, but she was tiring, her movements slowing. Having to protect someone was taking a toll on her; she wanted to attack but was forced to defend and tank his attacks. He struck at Winston once more, forcing Rhea to block the blow, taking another hit herself. She cried out in pain, but her resolve did not waver.

"Why do you protect him?" Mi Qi'er shouted, his frustration evident. "Why shackle yourself to this pathetic world?"

"It's my choice," Rhea replied, her voice firm despite the pain. "Because I choose to be here."

Mi Qi'er's eyes flashed with madness. "You chose this? Over me?"

"Yes," Rhea said simply. "Over you."

When Rhea returned from her very first mission beaten and bloodied, he never said anything, they were children but they knew their fates. The very next day, her ex-husband's entire family was slaughtered to the ninth generation, the culprit being twelve year old Arthur - the prodigy of the nation. 

Mi Qi'er attacked once more, she braced herself, using every ounce of her strength to counter it. H was frustrated, why did she always pick anyone but him? Even now, she was so worried about this useless beast that she was willingly getting hurt. It maddened him to no end. 

Rhea pushed herself to the limit, her vision blurring from exhaustion and pain. She felt herself faltering, her strength waning. Mi Qi'er pressed his advantage, his attacks relentless and brutal. Rhea stumbled, her defences crumbling under the onslaught.

"Rhea!" Winston called out, his voice filled with desperation and fear. He struggled to reach her, but his own injuries left him powerless to help.

"You see, Rhea?" he said softly. "You cannot escape me. You can never escape me. All you have to do is follow me back, let's go back to our world, we can be happy, you can even keep the stupid rock; I don't mind."

Rhea looked up at him, her vision fading. She felt the darkness closing in, her strength slipping away. Mi Qi'er knelt beside her, his hand clasping around her neck with a twisted tenderness.

"You will always be mine," he whispered. "In this life and the next. So let's go home. Your tribe, your mates, they will all be destroyed, and you will be free again to come back with me." She had shackled herself to useless feelings and emotions—things she did not need to have. 

Rhea's eyes were listless, "Archie, you forget, your job is to kill me." He kept talking about bringing her home, she knew he was sent after her to end her life, so why did he keep talking about going home? Arthur was the man assigned to guard the homunculus, his job was to track her and kill her if she deserted her country, so now there was no future for them, it was impossible. 

"You know Rhea, In every world, in every universe, I will love you, so we will be going home together, and you just have to wait for me to find you again." 

His words were sinister, and then she understood what he meant, he planned on killing her and taking his life. Why was he so sure they would have a next life? Why was he so confident in finding her again? It baffled her how he grew up to be this twisted; it hurt. 

Just one.

She forced herself to slap his hand away, it angered him, she knew that, but she needed to stand up and fight. She could not fail, this was the very reason she was born. It would be pathetic if she lost at this rate; she just needed to get Winston out of here, but Mi Qi'er was all too aware of her weakness and was using it to the best of his advantage. She staggard to her feet, wheezing uncomfortably and taking her fighting stance once again. It didn't matter what he was planning, but he would have to ask the king of hell before he could take her life!

Winston watched helplessly, he knew she was holding back because of him; she didn't want him to die. He couldn't help but smile bitterly. He wanted her to abandon him; he wanted her to leave him and fight without restraints yet she had to protect him like some damsel. His eyes glossed over the messed-up hall, his eyes landing on a small knife on the floor. He could cut off one of the weights shackled to her feet. 

.

Leo sprinted through the palace corridors, his heart pounding with urgency. The walls seemed to close in around him as he made his way to the safe room, where he hoped to find Harley and Dali. The sounds of battle echoed faintly from outside, a reminder of the chaos that had befallen the Black Wind Tribe.

He burst into the room, finding Dali cradling a distraught Harley in her arms. The little girl's sobs filled the space, her tiny body trembling with fear and grief. Dali's face was pale, her eyes wide with worry as she tried to soothe Harley's inconsolable cries.

"Leo!" Dali looked up, relief and desperation mingling in her gaze. "What's happening? Where's Rhea?"

Leo knelt beside Harley, wrapping his arms around her protectively. "Shh, it's going to be okay," he whispered, stroking her hair gently. "We're going to get you somewhere safe, I promise."

Dali's eyes filled with tears as she watched the scene. "What about Rhea? When is she coming back!?"

Leo's expression hardened, and he stood up, turning to face her. "Dali, you need to leave now. Take Harley and use the underground tunnel. It's too dangerous to stay here."

"But Rhea—" Dali began, her voice breaking.

"Rhea will come back for us!" Leo shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. "But right now, you have to go! Protect Harley."

Dali's face crumpled with emotion, but she nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. She gathered Harley in her arms, her puppies following her. Nobel and Thorne stood by her side to comfort her and she made her way to the hidden entrance of the tunnel, casting one last look back at Leo. "Please, be safe."

Leo watched them disappear into the tunnel, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. Once they were out of sight, he turned and ran to his lab, his mind racing. He knew what he had to do, the situation would be salvageable if he could destroy the dragon. 

In the lab, he rummaged through his workbench, his hands shaking as he pulled out a bomb he had been meticulously working on. The device was small but powerful, designed to unleash devastating force. He stared at it for a moment, the reality of what he was about to do sinking in.

When it came time to wear the bomb, Leo hesitated. The fear of death gripped him, a cold, paralysing sensation that crept up in his heart, almost overwhelming him. But he thought of Rhea; he couldn't afford to be afraid.

Gritting his teeth, he fastened the bomb to his body, securing the straps with trembling hands. The weight of it felt foreign and heavy, but he stood tall. He had died once anyway; what was a second time?