Jeongguk held onto the grips around his pegasus tightly. He wondered if his father felt this nervous before every battle or if he thought he'd survive his last.

"Look!" he heard amongst the mutter of the soldiers. Jeongguk looked around. The shield was healing.

"He did it," Jeongguk mumbled, a smile making way to his lips. Jeongguk sighed and shut his eyes tightly then brought his closed hands to his face.

"Alert! Arms up!" he heard their leader yell and Jeongguk eyes shot up to the sky. The shield that was becoming one again just a few seconds before was falling apart. He realized he let out that breath of relief too soon. Who's he kidding? Jeongguk knew none of this would end easily. He didn't even try to process what had just happened as his body automatically got into the position.

Maybe it was his damned luck but standing right at the edge of the shield with a victorious smile was none other than Zorock. Of all the places around the edge, he had to be directly in his sight. Maybe he would die in his hands after all.

Or not. The shield disappeared completely and so did Zorock. Unfortunately, Jeongguk knew just where he would be.

•—•—•

"Why the hell did you do that mother?" Taehyung heard Jin yell but his focus was on the falling flower petals. Its glow had subsided and slowly, the fire consumed it all and the shield came down with it.

He slowly turned his head to see Linda struggling against the guards trying to take her away. "Stop!" Taehyung yelled and walked up to the woman.

"Explain yourself," he demanded, doing his best to not just burst out in tears then and there. Linda scowled and turned her head away towards her son.

"For you, you naive idiot! You were supposed to be King, you were supposed to save us all. Do you know how much I've given up? How much stress and pressure from Taewon– sorry, Zorock, I had to endure? I can't let this child who came two months ago take everything I've worked for!" she yelled then turned back to Taehyung. "All you had to do was put the shield down or die. Zorock would've let my son and I have our freedom, we would've all ruled together. If I can't have this, neither can you."

"You fucking imbecile, I can't believe I called you my aunt," Taehyung muttered. He couldn't even look at her. "Dungeon," he said to the guards. "Isolated."

Linda continued to struggle and call out her son to help, who only stared back with watered eyes as if he was about to burst any second.

Taehyung turned back to the dying flower and all the council members arguing and confused on what to do. Taehyung gulped and formed him orb only to look into a void of darkness. There was nothing he could do.

They all witnessed the last petal fall and the shield was completely gone.

"Everyone, to the safe room now!" he ordered and no one tried to argue with him as they all rushed back inside the palace, except for Namjoon and Jin. He then signalled for Mage and she was instantly by her side.

"Prince Jin, you're not in the right state of mind for a battle," Taehyung heard Namjoon say as he quickly got onto Mage. He turned back to see Jin on his pegasus, wiping away angry tears with the back of his hand. Taehyung didn't even suspect if Jin was a apart of this all, but he knew by that fiery look in his eyes, he was the one that was most affected by Linda's betrayal.

"Let's go, cousin," Jin shouted and Taehyung nodded. Namjoon didn't try to stop them, he only wished them good luck and went inside. They both flew up and shared one last look. Before they could order their pegasi to go, a black cloud appeared and Taehyung knew exactly what it was.

When the cloud dispersed, Zorock was there with an amused smile while he was riding one of his shadow creatures that almost resembled a pegasus of theirs.

"Good to see you again, nephews," he said then looked at Jin. "Your mother does not disappoint."

"Fuck you," Jin said. "Tae, you got this?"

"Yeah, go," Taehyung said and they didn't need any more exchange of words as Jin went off to take his place.

Zorock clicked his tongue as he watched Jin go. "Thought this would be double the fun," he said with a fake frown. "Anyways. I've got a deal for you."

"No," Taehyung replied, knowing a deal from the enemy will never favour him.

"Ah c'mon, hear me out, hmm? Each second we waste, more of your elves die. You think I care about the casualties on my side? I can both destroy and create them, they're my little puppets," he said.

Taehyung clenched his jaw and held himself back from just getting a pounce at him. "Fine. What's your offer?"

"Now that's what I like to here. It's simple, actually. Have all you soldiers surrender. Step down from the throne, give all control to me."

"Those are your terms? Give up? You really think we've been preparing for weeks to just give up?"

"I've been preparing for decades!" Zorock yelled. It was different, different from all the times he'd seen him at the edge. He was upset. Pain, sadness, and anger all fused into one was never a good mixture.

"You don't have to do this," Taehyung said. "If you surrender, you can live amongst us in peace."

Zorock sneered. "Peace? You think I want peace after all they've done to me? I'm selfish, King Taehyung. And I like to see people suffer for all that I've endured."

"These are innocent people!"

"Yeah, well, so was I. This world takes innocent people, chews them up and tears them apart to shreads then spits them right back out. If I had to go through it, so do you all."

Taehyung shook his head, he and Linda shared some similarities. No wonder they somehow teamed up. He didn't know what more he could say to change his uncle's mind. He knew there was nothing, at least nothing from him. It left him with no other choice.

He shot a ball of all the energy he could muster up right at his uncle's check, getting him to be pushed back. "No deal," Taehyung said.

"Hard way it is," Zorock said, shaking his shoulder to prepare himself and lifting both his hands. Taehyung and Mage did their best to dodge against them as he shot back his own. The pegasus had some magic of their own. They could sense danger coming anywhere around them so Taehyung didn't have to be looking at Zorock the entire time. He decided it'd be best if he led him away from the palace.

"Flying away, dear? You know, last time I ran away from home I didn't come back for ages," Zorock yelled and Taehyung wondered how he was so loud when he was not following. So leading him away wouldn't work.

Taehyung pulled out his gun. "Herero fi estil," he casted on them, removing the Steel of Death spell.

"Did I hear that right, nephew?" Zorock yelled, dodging the bullets seamlessly. "You're taking back your Steel of Death spell? Genius, by the way, even if they're are some complications. Only the caster can remove it. I've taught you well."

"Shut up!" Taehyung yelled, frustrated. He wasn't even fighting back and Taehyung was the one losing ammo and any confidence he had in the beginning.

"Well maybe not well enough. You can't have emotions on the battle field, young one. If you're afraid to kill me, how will you survive?"

"I said shut up, Taewon!" Taehyung said.

"I told you to not call me that!" he yelled and finally began to hurdle more dark flames at him.

Taehyung didn't think that'd work. Emotion on the battle field could really mess you up. It was the only strategy he had at this point. He decided to continue.

"How is it anyone's fault you couldn't control yourself? Your father loved you, didn't he? How can an elf who loved you think of you as a monster? Sounds like a you problem, no?" Taehyung riled him up further.

"Shut your little whiny ass mouth, troublemaker," Zorock yelled back. It was very little, but Zorock focus was shifting. Anger blinded his eyes and he left vulnerable spots open that Taehyung was able to nearly hit. The elder shot without much aim missing Taehyung half the time.

"I mean, how did you manage to lose all those who presumably loved you? First your people, then your parents, to think you would've learned what was wrong but you go on and lose Namjoon too."

"Why the hell are you talking?" Zorock's spells got bigger but his aim worsened.

"You know what, forget that. You could've changed, lived a better life. But you come back and lost the last bit of family you had left. My parents!" Taehyung yelled and he realized while trying to get Zorock steamed up, he was getting caught in his trap too.

"That's it! No more chasing! You're wrong, Taehyung. I'm losing the last bit of family I have left right now," Zorock said and stopped in the air. He formed a protective shield around him as he shut his eyes and raised his hands to both his sides. The black spheres were different from what he had shown Taehyung before. The King sat there wracking his mind on what to do. He didn't think this was one he could run away.

When Zorock opened his eyes, there were no pupils to be seen as it was all just entirely black. He gathered both his hand on top his head then shot right at Taehyung. As if on instinct, Taehyung shot back with something equaling in magnitude. He didn't know how he did it or what he did, but it stopped the beam of darkness reaching him by creating one of his own. The two fought to push their beam, currently meeting in the middle.

"Give up! It'd be one less life I have to take!" Zorock yelled.

Taehyung did his best trying to hold up. This was sucking all the energy left in him after casting the shield spell. Maybe if he hadn't, he would've had a little more fight left in him. The meeting point was getting closer and closer to Taehyung. Every time he forced himself to push it back, it'd succeed but come right back to it's original position, maybe even closer.

"Ahh!" Taehyung yelled shutting his eyes tight, trying to motivate himself to keep going. It couldn't end like this. When he reopened his eyes, he saw Zorock little shield being disrupted yet not causing any damage to the caster. Ice shards.

"No, no, no," Taehyung muttered to himself as he looked at the elf on his pegasus not too
far. "Get out, Jeon," Taehyung yelled but Jeongguk ignored him, continuing to cast spells with one hand while the other held the gun. Seemed like Taehyung wasn't the only one who didn't want to kill.

Taehyung couldn't even spare another glance at Jeongguk, the task at his hand becoming more and more difficult. Everything hurt, his body felt like it was going to just collapse at any moment and all he wanted to do was just give in.

The meeting point was getting closer and closer and Taehyung knew there was nothing he could do to push it back any further. He accepted his fate, he did put up a fight if that meant anything. At least he could look at his lover's face one last time. He wondered if Jeongguk would hate him for breaking their promise.

Taehyung forced a smile and turned to look at Jeongguk. "What..." Taehyung mumbled seeing Jeongguk flying right at him. His eyes widened, too late to realize. Jeongguk couldn't look at Taehyung's face when he jumped off his pegasus and fell right into the beam.

Taehyung was pushed right off his pegasus and hit hard against the ground. His ears were ringing and his vision felt blurry. He could barely roll to his side as if a heavy weight was on top of him. Taehyung brought a hand to the side of his face, shaking his head lightly to get his senses back.

He heard a faint mewl coming from his right. "Mage," Taehyung breathed out, crawling to get by her side. He placed his head on the pegasus. They were still connected, Mage was hurt but alive. Judging by how quickly the pegasus got back on its feet, Taehyung knew he didn't have to worry. The elf managed to get back on his feet, his head still spinning lightly.

"Jungkook," the name came out as a whisper. He saw the elf laying on the ground, his body so limp. He wasn't moving.

Taehyung ran. He didn't care if it hurt, he ran to him and fell on his knees beside the younger. "Jungkook," he called out softly, bringing his head onto his lap. "Jungkook, please," he whispered as he placed his fingers on the side of his neck, trying to find a pulse.

"Fuck," Taehyung cursed. He opened his wrist call and yelled into it. "I need a Doctor right now! Please!" He didn't know if anyone would come, there was a little part in him hoping they wouldn't to be quite honest. Wishing they wouldn't come and confirm what he desperately hoped it wasn't.

"No one will come out. I saw what happened," Namjoon came running to him with another. "Jeongguk, you idiot," he mumbled then bit down on his bottom lip hard as if he was trying to hold back tears. Taehyung didn't try. Tears were rolling down his face but his sobs were quiet.

"Gguk, wake up. C'mon, this isn't funny," Taehyung said as he watched the doctor place a hand over his chest. She closed her eyes and when she lifted up her hand, there was nothing. Taehyung squinted and he could roughly make out the shape of sphere from how his vision looked bent, but it was still transparent.

"Wha-What is that?" Taehyung asked looking at the doctor nervously.

"His orb," she explained simply. The tears paused and Taehyung shook his head. Even if his heart had stopped, the orb would've had some colour since he still had that possibility of being saved. She placed it back and gave him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, your highness," she said and got up. Taehyung stared at Jeongguk trying to process it all for a moment before he spoke.

"Go back to safety," he said, eyes still on Jeongguk. She stood there unknowing of how she could console the King. "Go!" he yelled again and the doctor nodded, bowed and ran inside.

Taehyung carefully caressed a hand over Jeongguk's face. A sob had first escaped then immediately, the tears returned and he let his head rest on Jeongguk's body as he cried into him. He couldn't think about anything else, not the kingdom, not Zorock, not even Namjoon who wasn't there by his side.

Namjoon had seen Zorock on the ground, in a similar state as Taehyung. He slowly walked toward the stirring elf, his hands reaching in his pocket. Before he could reach him, Zorock had gotten up. With a wobble in his stance, he raised his hand and formed a flame.

"Move out of the way, Namjoon!" he yelled but clearly out of breath. The beam had taken a toll on him too. Of course it had, Taehyung's magic and his were too powerful combined. They'd knocked down trees and some stones around too.

"You don't have to do this, Taewon," Namjoon tried, slowly taking some steps to him but Zorock didn't move an inch.

"If you don't move, I'll have make you," Zorock warned but Namjoon kept walking.

"Please, my love. You can end this," Namjoon said and he could see Zorock tense up at his choice of words.

"I said move," he said and Namjoon kept going. Zorock prepared himself to shoot judging by the way his hand shook, but he failed and the flame died out. Eventually, Namjoon was right in front of him.

"You could prove yourself by stopping now," Namjoon said and Zorock shook his head.

"You know I'm done doing that."

Namjoon slowly reach out to place a hand on his cheek. "I know the elf I fell in love with is still there."

"I'm sorry, Joon. Now move, the elf you love is gone."

Namjoon exhaled a heavy sigh. "Then I feel better doing this," he said and hit him hard in the chest with on of his capture balls. He let go of Zorock and stepped back.

Zorock scoffed. "Your little potion still hasn't been perfected. I can speak just as all those years ago."

Namjoon shook his heads and bent Zorock's raised hand back down. "You won't escape this time, nor be able to cast spells."

Zorock squinted his eyes as if he was trying to find the bluff. He made some frustrated faces before he finally stopped trying. "You'll regret this," he warned.

"No, Taewon. I won't. Not as much as I regret waiting all these years for you."

Taehyung lifted his head up. His emotions were taking control and he let them. There were no more tears, just anger. He began to breathe heavily. His vision was back to normal yet he couldn't see clearly, all he saw was red.

A gasp left his lips as he felt himself rise up, floating just a bit above the ground. The black veins returned now all over his body. It felt like something took over him as his eyes darted around until he found Zorock yelling out words he couldn't make out at Namjoon.

He flew as fast as he could toward them, levitating Jeongguk's sword that had fell on the ground to his hand while he was at it. "Step away, Namjoon!" he yelled and Namjoon quickly followed the order.

"Your highness, wait–" before Namjoon could even finish, Taehyung grabbed Zorock by the neck, lifting him up to the air. The elf groaned and gasped to take a breath but Taehyung didn't feel an ounce of guilt watching his face squirms. He shoved the gun to the side of his uncle's head, finger on the trigger.

"Do... it," Zorock choked out, somehow managing to smirk through the coughs. Taehyung scowled and tightened his hold. He should just pull the trigger. He deserved it for all the pain and suffering he's caused everyone. All the lives he'd taken away. Taehyung still couldn't explain to himself what happened to Jeongguk. His heart refused to but his actions were certainly from the side of him that knew Jeongguk was gone. Gone forever.

Taehyung kept strangling his neck, watching Zorock suffer. He saw his eyes roll to the back of his head then his lid close shut. He thought it would've been more satisfying. Something in Taehyung snapped and he let go of Zorock, letting him fall to the ground. He dropped the gun too and watched the fallen elf.

Namjoon couldn't help it. It was still the elf he was helplessly in love with. He rushed over to him to check him. A breath of relief passed, as much as he hated to admit it, when he saw that he was still alive, just passed out. He then felt a buzz at his wrist call.

"The creatures stopped attacking," he heard through it. Namjoon immediately looked at Taehyung who stared down at them, his gaze hard and cold.

"What are puppets without its puppeteer? Kill them all," Taehyung replied, no emotion to his voice.

He flew back to Jeongguk and gently picked him up, one hand under his knees and the other under his arms. Taehyung flew back up and left the palace without looking back. The war was over as soon as it started but there was nothing about it that felt like a loss more than a victory to Taehyung. He lost his everything.

—•
dhm 😬

Bye<3