The Usurper
A/N:
1. This is still a throwback but only a year later.
2. Moira Trevailles and current Hurricane Blacksmith is the same person
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Fifteen summers ago...
It was a perfect day for a celebration.
The weather was sunny but not too hot, birds sang in nearby trees, and everybody was happy.
It was a special day for the royal family.
Today marks the 5th birthday of the only princess of the empire, Princess Moira.
Rumors have been spreading amongst the servants, nobles, and the common market places in the capital that today is also the day that the royal family of Trevailles will crown the next Emperor or Empress of Titania.
In Titania, gender, age, and order of birth matter not when crowning new Emperor and Empress. This is because instead of following the traditions, they follow the will of the Gods. Being firstborn doesn't guarantee the birthright of succession.
Thousands of years ago, Titania, a land favored by the Gods, was ridden with war because of greed. All the country's leaders wanted to conquer each other's nations; brothers betrayed brothers, thousands of children were orphaned, lands were ruined. This angered the Gods greatly. That is why they cursed all the creatures with unending drought and other calamities. Many died and suffered, but still, their greed prevailed. At one point, the Gods wanted to end the world and everything in it. But then they heard one desperate cry for help and a prayer for a miracle. It came from a boy dressed in dirty rags. His wounded arms and legs were harshly marked with scars, and dried blood like it told a story of survival. His earnest prayers for a miracle touched the hearts of the Gods that they decided to give everyone another chance to redeem themselves. They made one great calamity happen, which killed many humans and other folks who were all fighting for the wrong cause. And with this, they started a new era.
The Gods then granted the boy an exceptional gift. They presented him and the generations born from his bloodline with the power to rule over the rest of Titania as one empire. But in every generation, only one will be chosen by the Gods to rule the empire. Of course, all the other tribe leaders abhorred this idea. For how could a son of man, a mere powerless human, lead over powerful tribes such as theirs? The Gods laughed at their folly. For no matter how powerful their races may be, they still submit to their greed and prideful selves. When all of them were in chaos, the powerless compassionate human prayed for the lives lost because of the ceaseless war.
Instead of hearing their pleas, the Gods decided to humble the elemental tribes by submitting them to the human Emperor for the rest of eternity. Of course, the Gods knew that along with the power to lead all the humans and the other folks, the Emperor must have the ability to protect himself and his kingdom from the evil forces that lurk everywhere, preying on hearts corrupted by greed and evil. That is why along with the empire, they also gave him powers and a winged warrior lion named Jago to guide and protect him in leading the kingdom.
And that boy was named Gregory Trevailles, he became the first emperor of the empire of Titania. Gregory was by no means a warrior but he had successfully led Titania in peace and honor. With his humble personality and great leadership, he was able to get respect from the tribe leaders and successfully have them sign a treaty of peace with him. Of course, it didn't happen instantly but he was able to prove himself worthy of the throne as time passed.
Of course, along with the enormous responsibility comes a big warning that if he, as the Emperor, fails to do his job or submits to his earthly desires and forget his calling, he will be replaced by one of his kin born from him. This may have not happened to the first emperor or the next ones after him, but it happened to some of them, and boy were the gods mercilessly when they were angered.
And now everybody seems very excited for the rumored coronation because this was the first time they will be crowned the youngest Emperor or Empress in the long history of Titania.
Amongst the three children of the current Emperor Hanson and his wife, Empress Dana, Moira, who is turning five on this very day and the eldest of the three was already showing promise of becoming a great leader. All of her teachers for successor lessons had nothing but praises for her. Upon hearing this, most of the high nobles all wanted to have their children be friends with the young princess, may it be for their children to follow her example, build connections, or both. Some even attempted to send marriage proposals to secure a good position for their sons. Emperor Hanson found the idea highly ridiculous and ordered all the proposal letters to be burnt without even opening them. Sometime after their proposal letters were sent and received by the palace, several noble families' businesses went bankrupt, some of them got ruined by malicious rumors and some even got demoted to lower-ranking nobles. Suspiciously enough, they were all families who sent proposal letters to the palace. The proposals stopped then.
Contrary to his sister, Arthur-currently three was more interested in fighting and weaponry and would rather hang out with his elven friends than open a book and attend his successor lessons. Some nobles who were rooting for Arthur to be the next emperor of Titania found his interests to be rather disappointing but this has never bothered Emperor Hanson and Empress Dana. They let their children decide their life paths.
After all, in the end, it was the Gods who will choose whom they deemed rightful for the throne. Every heir from the Trevailles family knew there was no use fighting against the Gods and going against their fate. It was like both a curse and a blessing at the same time.
The third prince Declan, still a mere babe, was free from the silent power struggle and expectations from the nobles… in the meantime that is.
But even with all the people trying to push their expectations and beliefs to the heirs, the emperor and empress never pressured their children with the burden of the crown and let them enjoy their interests however they want to.
Titania was a peaceful empire and had been that way for many generations.
Now, with the news about the early coronation, it feels like there's a different air brewing in Titania these days.
You could almost taste the excitement in the air as the palace maids and manservants either skip or whistle as they do their assigned tasks. It was truly a joyous occasion for the Central Kingdom.
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After hours and hours of preparation, and the time of the celebration was coming near, carriages carrying nobles started to arrive one by one- the ballroom where the party is being held was slowly getting filled with beautiful people all dressed for the occasion.
It was indeed a very special day.
As the sun started to bid goodbye to the skies, the other folk nobilities also arrived and graced the humans with their ethereal presence.
It was such an enchanting and rare experience for the humans to see the other folks. Even with the peace treaty established, the other folks rarely show their presence in the human realm unless necessary or it was a celebration big enough to warrant their presence.
For some nobles and commoners who still doubt the rumors about the coronation, the presence of the other folk nobility was enough to silence the naysayers.
Along with the party of the other folk nobilities who arrived were the five tribal leaders who currently lead the five vassal countries of Titania. King Kygo from Terriona, Queen Seraphina from Zypheria, King Gunther from Affira, King Zarino from Aquilica, and the elusive and mysterious leader of Zoran, King Silas.
Most partygoers held their breaths as the other folk nobilities went to greet the rest of the Royalty. It was a mystifying, jaw-dropping event for everyone who happens to be present at that time.
Princess Moira and her brother, Prince Arthur were no strangers to the other folk nobility. This was because their father always bring them whenever a council meeting with the vassal leaders happens. It has also been a long time custom to have the noble heirs train with each other.
After a very long series of customary greetings from the nobles, the Emperor finally announced for the party to commence.
Lively music started playing, dancers filled the ballroom and everyone felt euphoria in the air. It was truly a beautiful night.
Just as the night reached its peak, the Emperor stood up from his imperial seat along with Jago and his family. And as soon as they did, the other folk nobility all followed suit and headed straight to the dais where the imperial family all huddled together.
All of a sudden, everything seemed to stay still. Silence filled the big ballroom… it was as if everyone were anticipating the big announcement they have all been waiting for forever since they heard the rumor mill.
"I am truly grateful for having you all here to witness my eldest child as she celebrates her fifth year of being born in this world. No words could express how happy I am to hear all of your good wishes and love for her. With this, I am hoping for your continuous support of my beloved daughter as she rises for a new role…" the emperor said before looking back for a second only to gesture to Moira who stood beside her mother and brothers just a step behind her father.
As the young girl approached her father albeit a little shyly, she noticed her brother Arthur's hand still holding hers. Arthur gave Moira a small encouraging smile and a nod before he let go of her hand and gave her a little push. His little act gave her all the encouragement she need to face what's going to happen.
"Just as the Gods willed it to happen, generations and generations have been led by one of the chosen Trevailles bloodlines and it will continue to be so unless the Gods say otherwise. Many a great king has been marked and listed in the long history of the Empire of Titania. Many were hailed great but there were also a few who failed their people. I hope that the next generation of Emperors will lead our empire with a just and kind heart as our predecessors did before us."
"For many generations, we have celebrated the sacred tradition of crowning a new Emperor for the empire of Titania. And tonight, marks a new era in our long great history, for tonight, by the will of the Gods, we will be crowning a new emperor and the youngest one to ever be crowned as such. Please welcome the new Empress of Titania, my eldest daughter Moira Trevailles!!!" Hanson, the now-former emperor announced proudly.
Massive cheers and claps were heard inside the humungous, elegantly decorated room.
Moira stepped beside her father and shyly looked at the people before her. Her people.
It was then that Jago who had been the guardian for the many appointed Emperors in Titania decided to take his rightful place beside the newly appointed ruler as he always did for thousands of years.
"Greet your people, my little Empress!" Her father encouragingly urged. Moira looked up at her father-
"I would like to" Moira started but was rudely interrupted
"Seriously, how funny can you all get?" A loud female voice boomed over from the second-floor terrace. Everyone's attention immediately turned to where the voice came from- the newly crowned Empress' speech all but forgotten. But instead of seeing a face to match the entity, all they were able to see was the lower half of what seemed to be her ball gown. She was hidden behind the big drapes.
Former emperor Hanson looked at the second-floor terrace mixed with alarm and terror. Being an emperor for more than half his life, he had learned to be wary about any type of danger to ever befall his lands. So far, there have been no incidents that brought his family or his people any harm before…until now.
"How dare you interrupt this sacred tradition! Show yourself, intruder!!!" Hanson all but shouted. Then with a glare at the momentarily frozen guards, he ordered, "What are you waiting for? Seize her!!!"
The lady, still hidden by the drapery melodiously chuckled as if the former Emperor said something that amused her. Her laugh sounded so hauntingly beautiful as if she was singing a sad harmony instead of just mocking a royal.
The imperial guards went to seize the intruder in a flurry but they were all stopped by dark cloaked figures coming out of the shadows. They were all holding a staff with them and by the looks of it, they were mages! One by one the mages went out of their hiding and now gradually surrounded everyone inside the room. The imperial guards were easily defeated by an immobilizing spell.
It was an ambush!
The moment they noticed the impending threat the vassal leaders shared a look before proceeding to gather around the royal family.
With the way the mages are strategically placed to surround all of them, it seemed that this was a planned attack. Whoever planned this ambush has been planning it for a long time. Even escape was not an option for the royal family and the vassal leaders.
Panic ensued from the guests making it hard to concentrate on their enemies.
The mysterious lady was still in her crazy laughing fit but this time she was slowly trudging her way to the nearest staircase leading down to the ballroom.
Ever so slowly... She was purposely taking her time-making them all anticipate to put a face behind the haunting laugh. It seemed effective in making the guests shut up in fear of what's to come because they have all quietened down from the commotion.
Beside's the maniacal laugh the lady was making, they can now hear the mages chanting some sort of spell, again and again, their voices gradually reaching a sickening crescendo.
"How hilariously naive of you lot! Do you really think your reign will last forever? Even your great gods cannot save you from what's to come!" The mysterious lady said as she continue making her way to them.
Jago growled loudly at the woman's claims. What blasphemy! She's now arrogantly mocking the gods!
"Tut, tut, you pet cat! The once-great revered guardian now reduced to this lowly weak creature before me? How utterly disappointing!" She said before launching into another fit of maniacal laughter.
Now that she has reached the bottom stair, they were able to see her full stature but unfortunately for them, her face was hidden behind a beastly mask of some sort fully covering half of her face up except for her eyes as black as midnight as they look at them in hate and derision.
Seraphina frowned as a sense of familiarity hit her. It seems that whoever this masked lady is, she had already crossed paths with her before.
In fact, it wasn't only Seraphina who was feeling that way. But also the rest of the vassal leaders, Jago, and Emperor Hanson included.
"Reveal yourself, you fiend!" Hanson ordered the masked lady.
"Such impatience my dear emperor ... Oh, my bad! you are no longer the emperor now... therefore I no longer have a need for you! Hah! however, I wouldn't say the same about that little wench beside you." The lady uttered unperturbed by the glares she was getting from all of them.
Hanson gently pushed Moira behind him to where her mother, the empress, and her brothers are. The empress was visibly shaking in fear and was holding her youngest and Arthur a bit tightly close to her.
Jago made a fearsome growl once again as if to instill fear in the woman but she remained unbothered by them. It just made her smile wider than before that it was borderline creepy.
"Don't you dare harm them!" Seraphina shouted.
"Always the hero, I see." The lady just replied with a bitter expression.
This made them all frown for the amount of familiarity in her expression was so unmistakably obvious for all of them to tell.
"Who are you?" Seraphina dared to ask again.
"Do you really wanna know?" The woman returned with a smirk as if she's already anticipated this. "Well, I would hate to disappoint you..." She continued before slowly lifting her gloved hands to untie her mask from the back and slowly but surely lifting it off her face. "Sister." She finished with a smile directed at the flabbergasted Seraphina.
Collective gasps were heard from the crowd and the royal leaders. Indeed it was someone they knew too well.
"Uriah how could you!?" Seraphina uttered the same time Emperor Hanson, disbelievingly exclaimed "Duchess Brunhild!!!"
"Yes, it is I. Surprise." She replied with fake enthusiasm.
"How could you do this? you Traitor!" This time it was King Kygo who shouted.
" Ugh, how predictably boring! Of course, I have my reasons, petty reasons if I may add. But I would be lying if I said that I wouldn't want to see all of you dead because I pretty much do. I have been waiting for this all my life!" Uriah crazily replied.
She was getting delusional! It would never be up to her to choose who will rule the throne of Titania!
"You will never succeed!"It was King Gunther who shouted, enraged.
"Oh, but I will! OPEN THE GATES!!!" She wailed.
What happened next was complete utter pandemonium.
One by one numerous portals opened mid-air and hideous monsters went out then proceeded to grab human nobles who went screaming in fear for their lives.
The vassal leaders like instinct directly went to fight monsters near them while saving civilians on their way. Seraphina engaged her sister in a hand to hand combat, both of them matching each other's strength.
Jago launched himself mid-air to fight the flying creatures aiming for them. While Hanson grabbed a sword from the nearest frozen guard and proceeded to stab the monster that was about to make its way to his family. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't able to see the monster also aiming for him. It was too late for him to retaliate when the monster plunged its claws on his back and took his heart out in the process. Just like that, the past emperor bled to death while staring at his family. The Empress who saw the horrifying scene screamed in agony along with the shaking Arthur, the ignorant Declan, and Moira who was wailing her heart upon witnessing what happened.
Jago immediately flew down to where the imperial family are located and proceeded to tackle the monsters who were trying to get near them. After successfully clearing a path for them, Jago urged the Empress and the kids to ride on his back so he can fly all of them to safety. Arthur hopped behind Jago first then came Moira.
Just as the empress was about to follow suit, some creature's slimy tentacle made its way into her torso, getting her and prince Declan on a vice grip before it pulled the empress and her baby to its being.
Jago, Moira, and Arthur could only helplessly watch the scene in horror. Arthur was now full-on wailing his heart out in agony.
Moira who was momentarily frozen in shock shook herself to reverie before letting out a horrifying scream and losing consciousness.
A/N:
I am really sorry for the unannounced hiatus. I was seriously in a bad shape this past month, both physically and mentally. As I mentioned in the past chapter, I recently started a new job that took most of my time and energy in writing. It was such an exhausting situation for me but I'm glad I have already overcome that situation. Now I can go back to writing once again! Thank you for your unwavering support! I appreciate you!
I hope all of you are safe and happy!
-Empressnico