Oak Prince

"Jihoon, don't you fucking touch him!"

Taehyung's voice cut through the air, shocking Jungkook with its strength and closeness. Jihoon's head whipped around and he snarled at the Laurel Prince, forgetting about Jungkook. The blonde ran full force at the man who had tortured him mercilessly, his mind repeating one word over and over again. 

Die. 

The Oak Prince watched as their swords clashed together, the Laurel Prince screaming in anger as he forced himself forward. Jihoon stumbled backwards, the hilt of his sword catching his upper lip. Frowning, he spit out a mist of blood that was freshly leaking out of his lip. 

That a way Taehyung...c'mon!

Before Taehyung moved forward again, Jungkook noticed with distress the blonde's saturated pant leg, spilling maroon liquid in the place where he stood. The ravenette's eyes grew in alarm and he mentally panicked when he realized Jihoon probably noticed it too. 

Taehyung was injured badly...and in a war-

One must always go for the weakness to win. 

The Oak Prince only hoped that Taehyung would defend his hurt leg long enough to kill the man in front of them. Jungkook would have rushed at his uncle as well, but he didn't trust his sword skills enough to risk hurting Taehyung...

So at first, all he did was watch. 

Watched as Taehyung swung at Jihoon with powerful swipes. Watched as Jihoon kept stumbling backward, losing the upper ground. The blonde's lips were drawn into a determined frown, eyes blazing with rage and murder. The Laurel Prince stomped towards Jihoon's figure, the old bastard retreating closer and closer to the edge of the platform they were on.

Come on Taehyung...

The ledge wasn't too high, maybe seven meters tall, but if Taehyung could somehow force Jihoon off of the edge...it could be fatal. Jihoon's face was snarling, his swings becoming sloppier and sloppier as the blonde attacked him over and over again. As Jihoon was nearing the edge, Taehyung's blows only came harder. In his state of combat, the blonde took a large step forward so that Jihoon was only a push away from a launch off of the platform. 

That's when Jungkook saw Taehyung's mistake. 

His injured foot was out in the open, closest to the northern bastard when he lunged forward to push the man off of the edge. Jihoon suddenly smiled, ducking down and kicking at the blonde's weak spot. The Laurel Prince wailed in pain, hardly maintaining his composure as he fought to stay on his feet. Jihoon charged forward then, sword smashing against the other's with great force. Taehyung's sword flew from the his bloody hand, spiraling through the air. The Oak Prince watched in horror as the sword rotated right off of the edge of the platform, out of sight.

"TAEHYUNG!!"

 Jungkook stepped forward, ready to try and save the man he loved.

The ravenette rushed forward as Jihoon was about to slash the blonde's face, parrying the blow with his sword. Jihoon grunted in surprise as his attack was blocked, the vibration of the blow running up his arm. He turned to face his nephew, heavy breaths wracking his lungs and black eyes buzzing with malice. Jihoon lifted his sword to attack the person he was out for in the first place, laughing evilly as Jungkook struggled to block each swing of the sword. 

Jihoon was relentless, swinging his arm again and again with the occasional maniacal shriek as his nephew faltered more and more. The Oak Prince tried desperately to protect himself, sword arm shakily raising up to meet the silver weapon attacking him with his own. Soon, fatigue started to worm its way into his arm, and he started panicking internally. 

Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit don't die please-

On the next hit, Jungkook's arm raised a little too late. The blow came quick and sharp. 

"AAAGGHG!" Jungkook screamed as Jihoon's sword sliced into his sword bearing arm, flesh tearing apart. The sword dropped from his hand and clattered to the ground terribly loud. Jihoon's black eyes latched onto the sword as he moved to kick it off the ledge. 

"JUNGKOOK!!!" Taehyung shouted as he limped over, swordless, to somehow protect the ravenette. 

"DON'T TAEHYUNG, SAVE YOURSELF--"

Jungkook's sword flung off of the ledge, and soon both princes were defenseless against the asshole of the north. Jihoon's eyes went back and forth between them, evil smile curling on his lips. 

"Ahhh, the two lovers...how sweet. Is the Stone Prince part of this disgusting love story too?" Jihoon gargled a laugh, crazed eyes landing on the blonde, "So, "Taehyung" is it? You look like you still want to dance with me..."

"YOU'RE DEAD!" Taehyung rushed at Jihoon despite the pleas of Jungkook. The blonde spun around so that he was behind the northern bastard and tackled him to the floor, Jihoon's sword catching the Laurel Prince between the shoulder blades. The blonde shouted in pain, rolling off of the man and crouched on all fours before trying to get up. 

But Jihoon was too fast. 

"TAE, LOOK OUT!"

Jihoon's free foot kicked the Laurel Prince's side, sending his body into the side of the statue. Taehyung's head snapped backward, smashing against the statue's base with a sickening crack. Jungkook screamed as the blonde crumpled to the floor, eyes flitting shut. 

Jihoon moved for the unconscious prince, sword raised to bring it down through the male's neck. Jungkook sprinted forward in a last attempt to save Taehyung's life. 

"STOP! JIHOON!-" Jungkook's eyes began to tear up as the next words rolled from his mouth. 

"KILL ME."

Jihoon froze then, the Oak Prince's words sinking beneath his thick skin. His sword paused midair and he flicked his black eyes onto his nephew, who was standing a few steps away, arms raised up in surrender. 

"You heard me. Kill me," A tear fell down the ravenette's cheek. The blood from his sliced arm trickled down his forearm, "You can have all of Noirwood. You can strip me of my power and get to see me die..." Jungkook's lips trembled, "But don't kill him. I know killing the Laurel Prince wasn't your priority. Kill me and spare him. He won't bother you from now on."

Jihoon's sword lowered to his side, his eyes squinting at his nephew's words. His spit out a glob of blood, seeming to ponder the boy's statement. Jungkook continued, stepping closer to his uncle. 

"Jihoon...I know you hate me for what my father did to you...but family doesn't always have your back," the ravenette's eyes fell to the blonde on the ground, thinking about how Taehyung's father abused him, "I...if the only way you can forgive my father is by killing me, then I'm not stopping you. Just don't kill the other two princes. They'll even leave Noirwood. Send them somewhere else. Please..." the Oak Prince didn't know what else to say, tears falling down his cheeks. 

Jihoon watched his nephew carefully, seeming to mull over something in his mind. His head lowered, obscuring his facial features from Jungkook. The Oak Prince was shaking all over, hands still wavering in their spots above his head. 

Then...slowly,

Slowly-

Jihoon's head tilted up. 

That's when Jungkook knew there was no hope. 

The northerner was laughing hysterically, black eyes fuming with insanity. His chest rose and fell with each burst of laughter and his sharp white teeth haunted the Oak Prince, whose heart sank in despair. The color drained from Jungkook's face as his uncle stepped forward and raised his sword out. When the bastard could contain his laughter, he wiped at his eyes, opening his mouth to speak.

"Jungkook...ahh, HAHAH...still the naive and useless nephew I thought you to be...AHAHHAHA," Jihoon shook his head as he walked forward. The Oak Prince took steps backward as salty tears fell down his cheeks, "IT'LL BE A JOY TO KILL YOU, A JOY!!! YOU THINK YOU CAN SAVE EVERYONE JUNGKOOK??!!?  HAHAHAHHA!!! THAT'S NOT HOW THE WORLD WORKS!!! I'LL KILL YOU AND I'LL KILL THEM ALL!! KILL LAUREL!!!  KILL STONE!!! KILL EVERYONE!!! I'LL KILL THEM ALL, KILL THEM ALL!!" 

Spit flew from the man's frothing mouth, his arms shaking with excitement and adrenaline. Jungkook's mouth fell open at his uncle's declaration, whispering to himself in disbelief. 

"No...no no no Jihoon you don't want this..."

But the man was too far gone. 

Jihoon smiled one last time at Jungkook before lunging forward, sword made to stab the Oak Prince straight through the heart.

"GOODBYE JUNGKOOK!! SEE YOU NEVER AGAIN!!!!"

Jungkook screamed in fear as the sword pushed forward. 

Stone Prince

Jimin rushed towards the staircase, dizzily dodging soldiers and corpses as his legs were pushed to the limit. His head was furiously pounding and it took everything in him to maintain his consciousness. The black spots in his vision pulsed and threatened to overtake him, but Jimin willed them away by speaking the names of the ones he loved. 

"Jungkook. Taehyung. Jungkook. Taehyung." 

The gray-haired male stumbled as a gas mask got caught up in his feet. Why was he so clumsy?

"HEY STONE!" a barbarian rushed at him from the side, sword attempting to prick him in the chest. The Stone Prince jumped to avoid the collision, sword raising up to block himself from getting hurt. Their swords clanked together, Jimin blinking in confusion as to why he was being so slow. Normally, he would've killed the man the moment he laid eyes on him...but now...

"DIE PARK!" the man shoved forward, sending Jimin sprawling across the mud. Rolling to the side, the gray-haired male nearly missed a slash to the gut. In the distance, a faint scream pricked at his ears. 

"DON'T TAEHYUNG, S A V E Y O U R S E L F--"

The Stone Prince grew cold with fear at hearing the key of desperation in the ravenette's voice. Jimin pushed himself up off of the mud, crying out as a fresh wave of pain sunk into his mind. The barbarian snorted behind him, picking up something. 

"Can't be the Swordsman of the North without a sword!" the barbarian chuckled disgustingly, clinking the two swords together. 

Jimin's let out a yelp of horror when he looked down to see his muddy hand absent of a sword. His gray eyes grew as the man approached him, the barbarian's rotting teeth making an appearance as he laughed at the Stone Prince's shocked expression.

 He dropped his sword?

This...why was this happening...to him?

Another hardly audible scream came from the statue. 

"STOP! J I H O O N!-"

The horrifying sound of Jungkook's wailed pleas gave Jimin the boost of energy he needed to book it out of there. Leaving the barbarian trailing after him, a minute passed before Jimin lost track of the barbarian who was stupid enough to get lost as he chased after the Stone Prince with two swords. 

"I'M COMING JUNGKOOK! I'M AAGGHGH!" Jimin clenched his jaw as his entire body rallied against him. The agony was the worst it had ever been...Jimin's teeth bit into his tongue enough to make it bleed incessantly. His gray boots pounded against the stairs of the staircase, eyebrows crunching when he saw the corpses of the Oak Soldiers meant to protect Jungkook. 

Please god no please don't let them no NO NO!

Jimin skipped the stairs by three, holding tightly to the rail to steady himself. At the top, his breath hitched before he choked on the blood pouring into his throat. 

No, Jimin don't-

But the Stone Prince couldn't help it as he threw up blood all over the ground, hands clutching at his stomach as it convulsed. The force of his sickness made his eyes prickle with tears. 

STOP JIMIN, THEY NEED YOU!

The Stone Prince walked sideways towards the statue as he was vomiting, trying with everything in him to help the other two. After everything was out, Jimin raised his head up and almost fell over from how lightheaded he was. Wiping his mouth with his hand, he pushed on, reaching the base of the statue with blood dribbling down his chin and light armor. 

Despite his condition, he knew that if he made a sound now, it might bring harm to his counterparts. So instead, to the best of his ability, he rounded the statue, creeping lightly on the soles of his boots as fast as he could. 

"No...no no no Jihoon you don't want this..." the sound of the soft whimpering of the Oak Prince made Jimin's chest tighten in pain. 

Please let them be okay, please-

When he rounded the corner of the statue, he wanted to scream. 

The scene before him might've been spotty because of his vision, but to Jimin...it was deadly clear. 

The Laurel Prince was a crumpled mess, unconsciously sprawled at the base of the statue. Upon closer observation, the gray-haired male could see his chest rising and falling...which gave him a bit of comfort. But his comfort was soon replaced by horror as his eyes flicked to the other two. Only a few steps away, the Oak Prince had his arms up in surrender, tears pouring down his face. Jihoon had his sword pointed at the younger, his eyes pulsing with insanity. Jimin tensed up at Jihoon's next screamed words.

"GOODBYE JUNGKOOK!! SEE YOU NEVER AGAIN!!!!"

Then...

Everything became crystal clear to Jimin.  It was as if everything was in slow motion. 

His head stopped hurting. 

His heart stopped aching. 

The realization of his condition...and the circumstances of the situation...

Made everything clear for him. 

He had no sword...he was sick...the one he loved was going to die if he did nothing. 

It was as if his insides were waiting for this moment, this piece of redemption.

This sacrifice. 

Jihoon lunged forward, sword rushing for the ravenette's chest. Jungkook's scream pierced the air, rattling Jimin's ears with its shrillness as the gray-haired male stepped forward. 

Stepped forward...

Forward...

Into the sword. 

The cold blade shot straight through the Stone Prince's light armor and out the other end of his body. However, Jimin could hardly feel it. The only thing he could feel was a sense of ease. 

His purpose had been fulfilled. Jungkook was saved. 

The gray-haired male smiled as surprise registered on Jihoon's ugly face. The bastard's lip snarled up, yelling in anger.

"You...won't...kill...Jungkook..." Jimin choked out as he fell onto his knees, sword protruding from his chest. Jihoon only gaped at him, head tilting to the side in disbelief. 

Behind him, the Oak Prince's blood-curtling shrieks cut through the still air. 

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

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You can hate me, but I'm not apologizing...

This was planned from the beginning. 

:( If it makes you feel better I cried writing this. 

Thanks for reading...:::((((