Without thinking, Eleanore stood. And she ran. Through twists, turns and corridors she ran, up until she reached the front of the Palace.
Everyone there gasped loudly, the secretary at the desk began fumbling, "E-Empress! You can't go out now, they're... N-nevermind, E-Empress!?"
Eleanore ran straight past her,
"WHAT WILL I TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY ASK WHERE YOU ARE!?"
Eleanore stopped and turned around to face the secretary. She thought for a moment, than spoke, "Tell them I'm at Our Place"
As soon as Eleanore exited the palace she saw hundreds of people setting up stalls, putting up streamers and setting up. She frowned, she had to get to Bowen...
Without thinking, she ran past the busy workers and through the streets into the slums. Some people had thought it was her at first, but then had decided it was publicity for the huge party tonight.
She kept running, the the dark, deserted slums in which she had once grown up, but her mind wasn't focused on that, she thought only of him.
Bowen sighed and he stepped out into the big square before the palace. Hundreds of people ran and bustled around. Bowen sighed, he tried walking up to the palace but was stopped dead in his tracks.
"The palace is off-limits, sir, please state your desires" a guard standing at the door spoke,
"I... I have to see the Empress. I'm Bowen of the old Rebellion" Bowen replied desperately
The guard thought for a moment, and walked inside for a few moment.
Bowen sighed as he waited, it was taking so long. He hoped he'd be able to stay with her, he hoped he'd be able to see her like he used to...
"Oi" Bowen looked up at the Guard who was standing back outside again, "the Empress is out, unfortunately for you."
"Wh-Where!?" demanded Bowen,
The Guard shrugged hopelessly, "Says she's gone to '
Our Place'"
Bowen thought, "Our Place...?"
He thought the guard was laughing at him, but then he realised...
"O-Our Place...!? Th_Thank you!!!"
Bowen ran through the crowds, knocking over a stall. He'd missed her! He had to see her, and he knew she was waiting for him, too...
Recko sat, lots of soldiers had come to him and asked him what to do, he just told them to wait, to enjoy the up-coming party. He was in deep thought, something he hardly ever did.
He felt lost somewhere inside of himself, he didn't know why...
The Rebellion was his entire life, he'd even held the thought that he was going to die in the War a high one in his mind. Never had he thought about life after the Rebellion, never had he thought the Rebellion would cease to exist...
And it hurt him to know that it would be disbanding soon, he had to, the Rebellion had completed it's duties, it was no longer needed...
Eleanore pushed her way through weeds and gardens as she reached muddy sand. She continued running, her new Empress' dress muddied, ruined and torn in the process.
And finally, she reached that place... And she was all alone.
She slipped her feet into the mud once more, and she made her way into the water that lay before her. She closed her eyes and smiled as the cold, refreshing water rippled past her ankles and her dress. There she stood, all by herself for a very long time.
She imagined Siberius, how she had truly thought he would become Emperor. She imagined how he had felt that day, when he gave up his position for her.
The sun was going down, and she stared out into the sunlight, reflected by the water in front of her.
She sighed, at peace.
And for some odd, unexplained reason, she didn't jump, she didn't start, when two warm arms crossed themselves over her chest.
She just smiled and whispered, "Thank you"
Bowen and Eleanore laughed and talked for hours, together, alone in that place of small, sweet serenity.
Bowen keep hugging her and laughing, he too couldn't believe how different she seemed already now that she was Empress. But he did believes Siberius' words. He never contemplated Eleanore being Empress, but he thought she truly did fit the job.
Eleanore smiled again, she was finally at peace with herself and her people.
"You're dress..." Bowen muttured, once he saw the tears in it, but Eleanore just shook her head and looked into his eyes.
"Bowen..." she held out her hand, "teach me how to shoot... With my left hand"
Bowen looked surprised, "Are you sure!? Y-You're an Empress!"
She shook her head again, slightly annoyed this time, "I'm still Eleanore... And you know that. I'm not different now that I'm the leader of the Empire."
Bowen nodded, he
did know.
Eleanore allowed a small smile to creep over her features once again, "Thank you"
"For what?" Bowen replied,
"Don't make me relay it all!" Eleanore laughed... "Thank you. Even when I lay there dying, even when my arm was removed... You were there. You were the one that kept me alive. Bowen, I felt it. I felt death. It was so warm, it was so peaceful, it was so relaxing... But then I heard you, and I heard you screaming. I knew that if I died then, I'd never be able to tell you how I really felt. Bowen... You saved me, even if you didn't mean to"
Bowen smiled, and he hugged her again, "Eleanore..."
With his arms crossed over her, he drew his pistol from his side, and with his right hand, he placed it slowly into hers.
He turned to the opposite side of her, still holding onto her chest, and he raised her arm up slowly. She rested her head on arm, and he taught her how to keep precise...
And just as the Sun began to melt into the faraway hills, Bowen and Eleanore walked back, hand in hand, towards the Palace...
Eleanore's expression stiffened as she walked through the Rebel Camp. She wondered what all the soldiers thought. She was sure the majority of them had changed their views after the Demon War, but she also knew there were those that still held grudges against the Empire.
As she walked, she noticed very quickly, a silent Recko walking alone along the waterline.
She tapped Bowen and nodded towards Recko.
Bowen shrugged, confused, but Eleanore walked with him towards Recko, who turned in a simple way towards them as they came up to him.
"Empress?" he asked, you could hear a touch of surprise in his voice that she would be out at the Camp, but it was a mysterious tone.
Eleanore nodded, "Recko... It's good to see you again"
Recko didn't reply.
"...Recko, on that day... We all helped each other to destroy that Demon and save everyone... And, well... Since that day, I've held each of you as good friends inside my heart. I think we really developed strong bonds with each other..."
Recko eyed her suspiciously, unsure of the flow of conversation.
"I... I don't know what plans you hold for the Rebellion... But if you wouldn't mind, as Empress... I'd like to ask you to help us. I'd like to ask you to be the new Dawn Team."
Recko felt unsure of Eleanore's offer, and he closed his eyes and shrugged, "I'll think about it"
With that he turned and he took a few steps away...
"I'll see you tonight..." he replied over his shoulder, before continuing off along the waterline.
Eleanore looked at Bowen, who smiled, "Nice job"
She smiled back, and they continued walking on...
Lots of servants put strange things in her hair and added strange accessories to her garments. Eleanore just sat, allowing the people to do this for her, for about an hour.
When it was all finished, she stood slowly and looked into the mirror. She saw a totally different Eleanore, a totally different person.
Her hair was tied back in an exotic way, and she was wearing blood-red robes. She looked truly beautiful, and all the servants agreed.
All over Central, people gathered, having a great time. They bought festival food and special items, they all danced and laughed together, all throughout Central,
everyone was enjoying themselves.
Eleanore stood in the Throne Room, people all around her. She took a huge breath and stepped forwarrd, opening the doors to the large balcony in which she looked over all the people.
A huge sea of gasps flowed from the crowds as they all turned towards her, a figure on the top of the palace.
She smiled, she couldn't help it, and she spoke loud and clear,
"Central... All you gather here today so cheerfully, and after such a disaster has ruined our beautiful city, and our Empire.
I am truly glad to see your faces tonight, and I am truly happy to see that you have all accepted me as your Empress...
It truly was a sudden thing, when Siberius decided to hand over his coronation rights right there and then.
I---It was truly a great blessing... To hear all your cheers and applause when I stepped up to the podium, unwilling. But you cheered me on.
Because of this, Immestrial, I have vowed to myself to protect you forever, no mater what city, country or state you come from. This is an Empire, not just a city, and I will not do what our previous Emperor had done. I will not forget about you, because of what you have all given to me.
Fate acts in weird and wonderful ways, and sometimes I think the Demon War may just have been a revelation for all of us, but none of us can understand the ways of the supernatural.
Demon or no, our Empire will prevail. We are the Phoenix. We may have fallen, we may have burned, but a Phoenix will always arise from it's ashes, ready to live another day."
The crowd erupted in cheers, and everyone clapped and smiled.
"...And I'd like to say that for all those who exist out there, unbeknown to the world... It is you who can truly make a difference. To Siberius, wherever you are, thank you... And for Sei, wherever the fallen go when they close their eyes and sleep for eternity, I hope you are looking over your Empire today... And I hope you are proud of what it has become. Since Hangyakunin, we have prevailed, Immestrial...
And we will not stop now. Immestrial will know peace and judgement!" Eleanore smiled the whole time, she truly believed her words.
The crowd didn't stop cheering, and everyone was smiling...
Until suddenly, the ground in front of the Palace began to move.
Huge blocks of land before the palace shifted ever-so-slightly, and in one second, the all moved back, to reveal large cannons...
The same ones used in the Demon War.
A mixture of responses came pooling out from the crowds, and Eleanore stood, wide-mouthed. But just as suddenly as they appeared, they fired, and right past Eleanore they flew...
And they exploded into beautiful myriads of colours, from green, yellow, red, blue, every colour you could imagine.
The crowds stared up in joy and remarked at the fireworks, and so did Eleanore.
She truly felt happy, she knew nothing could go wrong now. She had no reason to push her emotions away anymore, she would fight
forward, and she would live forever for her people.
As she stood, smiling into the sky, she felt two arms cross over her chest again. She turned around, and she smiled warmly into Bowen's eyes, and there, in front of all Immestrial, they kissed, a true symbolism of their love for each other.
Off in the distance, a single person moved. Siberius stared out at the ever-so-distant Central, and the wonderful lights flashing above it. He stood alone, the breeze rippling about him.
But from his rebuilt house, he didn't feel happiness or sad, but he was stuck in an abyss, a mixture of both.
He stayed there all night, watching the lights over Central, and he remembered them, his once true and only friends, how one by one they all disappeared from his life.
He hoped they were watching, wherever they were...
He loved them, and he'd never forget them...
Ever.All throughout the slums, families stood outside their houses and stared silently at the lights above.
Operhaned children ran through the streets, laughing and playing tag.
But some orphans just stared at the sky, without even moving. Some just sat with their heads towards the ground, some would never get over the horrors that had plagued them those few days ago...
Two pairs of eyes stared up at the sky, at the beautiful fireworks bursting with life.
She lay next to her friend, her only link with her past, and she closed her eyes, smiling, just her and her friend, they lay there, together....
~Search for the Skies
A Futuristic Med-evil RP...~The End
)), such as this post for example:
