37 : Royal Pride

The time Stephen and Xena arrived at the palace, it was empty - from guards to maids - and they had no clue why.

The war had long ago started.

The old and young women were at home praying including children while men and other adults were out to fight.

"Where is everyone?" Xena questioned to no one in particular until a guard - the only one left in the palace - flew to the halls and on the sight of Stephen, he stopped.

"Prince Stephen! Thank God I found you. I thought you were at war zone b-"

"War zone?"

"You don't know?! Our kind and humankind are at war!" Xena gasped with both of her hands over her wide mouth while Stephen's eyes narrowed.

"Take me there." And just then, his wings snapped open and the guard's eyes widened.

"Sire you wings! They are back!" Stephen only nodded and then looked at Xena,

"You stay here." Xena didn't reply, she wanted to say that she wanted to come too but she would just delay his arrival at the battleground so she kept quiet.

She will find a way later.

And just like that, Stephen and the guard flew out threw a window.

Xena just hoped that Cassius would be alright.

Xena then cast her eyes down at her clothes and cringed at the horrid dress - it was gorgeous but not anymore. She decided she should change and just like that, she went into a random room and took whatever clothes she was able to find.

Which included - fortunately - a long thick dress that was tight from the waist and loose from the bottom. It was free to move in as well as a strong material that couldn't rip easily.

Xena happily pulled the green dress on, pulled her ginger hair - which was already in some small braids - up in a ponytail and walked out.

She was barefoot and she liked the feeling of cool marble against the base of her feet. Now she knew why Cassius always walked bare feet - she did too but her father forbids her from it.

She ran into the empty palace and decided to make a stop at the room she was previously staying in with Cassius.

She only seemed to remember the room when she passed the door. She shrugged and went in anyway but when she did, she was great fun that she did.

On the bed was a bag, a very familiar bag that Cassius might have forgotten here. The bag held the sword - the same one that was said to be the strongest weapon ever created.

Xena shrugged - maybe he didn't need it. He was really strong after all. Xena still stared at the sword.

All her life - she was someone who gets scared easily and was not as brave as her name, hair, and eyes implied.

This sword brought her braver side out, more confident and fearless. Xena liked it. She prayed that someday, she will be able to be like that in reality, without the sword.

Someone who lived up to her name.

Xena sighed and laid back on the bed. Maybe Cassius wouldn't mind if she picks the sword up and transforms into her fearless self once again.

But then again, she would black out and become a killing machine.

Maybe, just maybe for once, she could be of some help, and just like that, her fingers caressed the zip of the bag.

.

"Don't hold back!" Cassius shouted on top of his lungs and his voice roared in the forest. Lord Christopher stood in front of them and single-handedly threw one man easily a few feet away.

"Cassius!" A voice called from a distance and Cassius looked up to see his brother with gold wings sprouting out from his back. Cassius watched wide-eyed.

"Stephen." He whispered with his mouth agape.

Stephen came and landed right beside Cassius.

"You are alive," Cassius whispered again.

"Of course I am. Let's have revenge, shall we brother?" Stephen said with a sly smirk and Cassius nodded with his own smirk.

What Cassius still didn't know was Xena was also alive. He thought she was dead and because of that, he had ordered some of his men to kill every human after the war.

They don't deserve to live. Cassius thought that for someone who could betray their own kind, he will not let them live.

Now, he not only wanted revenge for himself and his kind, but he also wanted revenge for Xena. Also, he just hated the humankind.

Cassius and Stephen's full force raced towards lord Christopher but he was stronger and easily pushed them both away with only a slight push in their direction.

Cassius and Stephen stumbled a few feet away and groaned.

"This hurts my Royal pride," Cassius muttered and cracked his knuckles. "I am going to bust his poor excuse for expensive life."

And just like that, everyone raced forward - once again attacking the single human who was easily winning.

Karen was out, creating a shield from the incoming witches. They were still giving power to lord Christopher and Karen was determined to find the source.

If she was able to kill or stop the source, lord Christopher would start to fall weak. The type of spell lord Christopher had asked for was not easy to conjure. What witches did not tell him was 'The spell must remain continued until the fight ends.'

So the second lord Christopher wins, he would lose all his power but Karen was adamant to put the spell on an early stop.

But she was outnumbered.

A dozen witches would easily destroy her, no matter how strong she was.

She spotted the witches stepping closer and Karen held her breath and prayed to the lords above for help.

And as if her prayer was answered, a woman with fiery red hair came from behind the witches, cutting them in half with the sword she carried.

Xena cut relentlessly with a sadistic grin on her face as she cut through anyone and everyone she was able to see.

Karen watched wide-eyed from above the tree - hidden from sight - as Xena smiled at the bodies of now-dead witches.

Hopefully - the witch doing the spell was also between them but she was wrong. The old witch who was doing the spell was hidden. Still hidden.

Xena looked around, trying to find more people to kill, and smiled when she spotted a dozen more witches, ready to attack.

"You know tango ladies? Let's do it then." Xena smiled murderously and turned the sword in her hands and then just like that, she ran towards them.

...
I know that I am giving a lot less description but deal with it. I don't know what to write anyway - in the details - I know about the story. You may like the end very well.

Also, Cassius and Xena are stupid and that's why they are both the perfect match for each other.

If I wrote a sequel or spinoff, it would be named 'Oblivious' - if you get what I mean.

P R O Q U E E N