François rushed past Ho, not caring about how out of breath he was or how his stomach was flipping like a flapjack. Ho saw him and grabbed him by his arm, making him jump.

"Monsieur Doh!" He pushed away slightly, tasting blood in his mouth from all the running.

Ho grabbed him again. "You need to go in this church! I have fifty people inside, but I can squeeze you in!"

"No!" he was already getting picked up and being carried in, kicking and screaming like a toddler throwing a fit. Luckily for the older, he dealt with five fussy toddlers in his parenting days, then two more after that.

He was put in a chair. He was gobsmacked by what he saw. Not only were the people in fine spirits, they were partying. The candles were on, it smelt of beer and perfume, it was nearly like being at a club.

"The wife might want a vacation after this!" Two old men walked past him, smoking and walking as if it was any other day.

"If you're lucky, the light will strike you!"

He felt sick as he heard them laugh. Vagian people find comedy in any tragedy, especially the older ones. During World War Two, after a night of bombing, the Germans came back to the public partying in the streets. He never understood it, despite marrying someone who laughed it the face of death more times than he'll like to remember.

"Can you believe it?" He looked over to a woman that was breastfeeding. "The King Father is back to life."

"Oh, it's really nothing." Ho covered her with a blanket, although the heaters were already on. "Thank God Lloyd put heaters during his reign."

François took a deep breath, his sides still hurting. "I need to go find him! My husband-"

"That's Prince Dauphiné?!" The eyes turned to him. "Jeez, really let yourself go."

"Thanks, asshole."

"Why would his majesty be back? He's been dead for three years." The woman fixed herself with a frown.

Another man shook his head. "A shame, that is."

Ho made the music lower. His friends were also enjoying themselves, playing guitars. "He should be in the sky-"

There was an uproar. François was eagerly going for the door when people pulled him back for drinks.

"He'll be our king again!"

"We'll get that bitch out of the castle! She's done nothing but ride on his fortune!"

They raised their glasses to the sky as a beam of pink light lit up the church. The redhead turned as white as a sheet. "To you, our king!"

François rushed out into the storm, rain soaking his clothes from the date. He screamed and covered his ears as an explosion was heard. Vagu, a place of purity and law, was now a fallout. Robbery, theft, and a murder were all taking place at once right in front of his eyes next to city hall.

He ran to the store that was being stolen from. He took a gun, bullets, and bandages. He felt something underneath his foot. He saw a redheaded blue-eyed doll with two braids, pink ribbons, and a white dress. She loved dolls, they were her only friends.

He took the doll, put it and the rest of the stuff in a woman's empty purse on the ground, then got out. There were no cars around, but there was a horse. Two men were fighting over it. One wanted it for food, the other to leave.

He hid his Star of David in his shirt and shot both of them. He didn't kill them, but it was enough for him to steal the horse and ride off. He was going to find Lloyd.

---

Lily was currently getting her hair brushed by her grandma. Like her brother, her hair grows insanely fast. It was long again, though she cut the ends here and there. Da-Eun found this moment so enjoyable. The brushing drowned out the sobbing from outside the door.

"Should I wait to do this?" Lily was smiling at herself in the mirror, her makeup already done. "Lloyd and my parents aren't here."

"It's end of the world, what time do you have to lose?" She put pearls in her two long braids. Sarah gave her three finest yellow gown she owned.

"You're right." She smiled wider as she put a crown on her head. "Remember when you showed me and Da a wedding?"

She chuckled and nodded. One time, the girls had asked her why her and grandpa have rings on fingers, so she showed them all the weddings around the world. Da liked it, but it didn't appeal to her. Lily, on the other hand, was just as esthetic as she is now.

"I remember that." She had her hands on her shoulders. "Remember-"

"Lily, he's ready! Let's start!"

And just like that, that little girl was running away from her.

---

Luna had to crawl under a bridge, muffling her sobs with her hand as she heard what was left of the army coming to attempt to fight whatever was going on. She was helping a family find food when they all shot dead by some random person who then tried to take her crown to sell it. She barely got away, having to run on her cut foot.

She never saw anything like this. She cried out for both of her moms, and felt even worse when neither of them were there.

"I don't want to die!" She sobbed, her clothes and hair a mess. "Mommy would be so mad at me if I die!"

She heard a whisper, turning her head to look where it was coming from. A little boy in clothing she didn't recognize was standing right in front of her.

"Follow me!" The little brown-haired and eyed boy with a weird accent held out his hand for her, smiling wide.

She sniffled and took the offer, fixing her dress as she stood up. They ran, the people around them seemingly being unaware of their presence. She bumped into a man's leg.

"Luna! Why are you here!" Beom picked up the crying and wheezing young girl, his father standing next to him.

Su-Yeong put a blanket over her shoulders. "I'm your great-grandpa, darling-dear. I'm your Grandpa's dad."

She couldn't even speak, trying to utter that she was only trying to help and got lost when she tried going back to the castle. They went to the shelter they managed for the injured, Marie hiding another woman who died from her injures.

"Darling!" Beom gave her to his wife. She picked up her foot. "Beom, get the kit. She's hurt."

Su-Yeong put her on his lap. She cried into his shoulder, sniffling and getting snot in his shirt. "How did you find us?"

"A-a boy brought me here!" She cringed when she felt alcohol getting put on her cut. "Where did he go?"

"Aw, you poor thing. You must be exhausted."

She was made to lay down, still shaking from the fear and cold. As Beom was telling her everything would be alright, there was a cacophonous boom, followed by the ground shaking. The tall man looked out the window.

"Jo!" Su-Yeong rushed to him. Jo was flying down, his long body stretching out all over the capital. "You better-"

"Shut it, boy!" He tackled him to the ground. They felt Jo stare at them before looking away. "We're all on the top of his list! If he sees you, you sign yourself, Luna, your wife, and everyone else here's death certificate!"

The sky was now a blinding hot pink. "He's going to get my children! He's going to hurt Lloyd!"

Marie closed the window, sweat running down her leg. "Just keep calm." She started crying as she spoke. "Just be quiet."

---

Susu covered her ears as Jo let out a cry outside. Sarah and Haruki were still hysterical, Da and Étoile were silent, and the candles were almost dead. Peter sat on the floor, his feet behind him.

Lily walked with her grandmother from the hallway, looking like a queen. Peter was bright red, Rocky by his side. She sat next to him, holding his hand.

"Take a sip of the tea." They grabbed the tiny tea cup and took a sip each.

Da-Eun lit the two candles. When the flames synced and the smoke twisted together, the couple kissed. They were now married.

"Congratulations, you two!"

The newlyweds looked to the others, were all out the room already. The siblings were going to look for their parents, the other two were going to find Valentino, and Sarah was going after Luna.

"We should go too." Peter helped his wife stand before putting Rocky and the other dogs on their leashes.

Da-Eun put them in a bubble. They banged on the glass with their hands. "I'm coming with you. Stay in there."

---

---

Valentino finally found White's torso, wailing and hugging it with one arm. Her fake one was ripped from her by a woman to sell for food, the pain being unbearable.

"White, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" She cradled him by her stomach, not caring that people were glancing at them. "I would've loved to marry you!"

The sky turned blue, as if it was the middle of the day. She looked up and screamed. Staring back at her was a giant with paper white skin, three purple eyes, and long hair that floated up in the sky.

"Lloyd?!"

He looked down at the torso. He was calm, a tear falling from his left eye. "I wish for his return."

He flew off as Valentino felt the arm he lost all those years ago grow back, then watch as White's body was placed back together. The man with now white hair screamed as he fell down, shivering and sobbing from the pain and cold.

"Angel!" She picked him up, White going into her embrace. "I'll marry you! I'll marry you!"

He thanked her and wailed as Haruki and Susu embraced her. They put him in the blankets. The chaos paused as the people ran greeted their king.

"Kids!" Ho picked them up, laughing out of relief.

Beom was holding Luna as him and the two others came from behind him. "Why are you out-"

Da-eun snapped over to them. Su-Yeong ran to her and picked her up, kissing her. Beom tried to hold in a sob.

"Appa!" Lily broke the bubble and ran to him, showing off her ring. "I'm married!"

Marie and Beom both eyed Peter. "Long story."

White looked at Valentino, still sniffling and his voice weak. "When ours?"

"Luna!" The young girl got down and let her aunt hug her. "We were so worried!"

"I'm-" Sarah was already running to her. "MOMMY!" They embraced, her mother stroking and fussing over her tied hair.

Peter was laughing and trying his best to explain the story to his new in-laws when Da and Étoile appeared screaming. Marie jumped, looked to what they were pointing at, and screamed as well. Jo was right in front of them, holding the screaming François in his fist.

"Please don't eat me!" He was trembling and trying to break free. "I'm French, I taste like shit!"

They moved away as he grabbed Blueberry. She cried and wiggled as he held her to his open mouth, the redhead beating on his scales.

An ice blasted slapped his face, followed by blinding white light in all of his eyes. He wailed and let go of both of them. François and the dog were picked up by a huge white hand.

"That's enough, you fool." François screamed and smiled as Lloyd blasted him miles away. "Don't touch my husband."

He put them down. The family looked at his unearthly face, his grin going up to his ears.

"Be not afraid."

François had to hide his legs. "Sir, this is the hottest moment of my life."

He laughed, his voice finally deep. "I'll take care of this." He smiled at his parents. "Don't worry about this burden any longer."

He kissed François' face, the grinning man falling down from the force. He flew to where he was, the sky the prettiest shade of violet. Beom's stomach was hot.

"Kick his ass, son."

----

Franz Simm
In the Loge