Ep. 54- The Tourney of the Successor (pt 4)

ext. tournament yard night

The Young Queen of Swords in the dirt, her broken buster at her side. Young Judgment points his zweihander at the Young Queen, a threatening dare to yield.

A pause. The Old Queen of Swords, still in the audience box, leans forward, her lips pursed. The Sun watches with placid indifference. Strength’s own pale lips stretch to a thin smile.

YOUNG QUEEN
I never needed a big sword to be strong. I just used the heaviest blade possible as a handicap.

Young Judgment’s eyes narrow for a moment before flashing with realization- too late. Green air arcana gathers between the Young Queen. In a flash she is propelled to her feet by the air energy. Before Young Judgment can react, the Young Queen glides up the Zweihander. Reaching the hilt she launches herself upward into a bicycle kick, Air Aracane energy gathering at the point of her toes. A pause- the energy gathers in a ball at her toes, holds for a moment and then explodes in a flash just inches from the nose of Young Judgment. The force of the strike blackens his face, searing his eyes- a sonic boom- and he launches across the arena, landing roughly 50 feet away with a heavy thud that sends up a plume of earth and dust.

The Young Queen delicately floats to the ground. She raises a glowing, green hand- the Zweihander, dropped by Judgment, floats to her side. Her eyes flash from green to red, Arcane aura spilling from them. The floating sword rises, its point directed at the fallen Judgment.

The Old Queen rises from her chair and shouts-

OLD QUEEN
THAT IS ENOUGH!

But it is too late- the Young Queen reaches her glowing hand outward in a gripped fist and then opens it. The floating blade launches toward Judgment- and strikes the ground next to his head, the edge of the blade leaving a long cut across his seared cheek.

The Instructor rushes to the field, shouting frantically.

INSTRUCTOR
YIELD! YIELD! THE LAST COMBATANT IS DEFENSLESS!

He turns to the Young Queen, apprehensive.

INSTRUCTOR
(quietly)
Please, you’ve…uh. You’ve won.

The Young Queen’s eyes continue to flash red. She bares her teeth at the instructor, more Arcane energy gathering threateningly at her hands.

The Old Queen prepares to jump from the observer’s box onto the tourney yard but is stopped by a hand- Strength’s.

STRENGTH
Leave this to me.

Strength exits the box and walks across the muddied yard, her bare feet splashing in the slop of the field. She reaches the Young Queen and the Instructor. She brushes the Instructor aside.

The Young Queen recognizes Strength. When she speaks, it is with a voice not of her own- but modulated, gravely, with otherworldly bass.

YOUNG QUEEN
You.

STRENGTH
(no warmth)
Yes, old friend, me.

YOUNG QUEEN
I will not go back into my cage. My time-

STRENGTH
-Has not come.

YOUNG QUEEN
WHEN.

STRENGTH
When she has learned control.

YOUNG QUEEN
She is weak. She is not worthy of me. I will not go back again!

And with this, the Young Queen gathers the Arcane energy at her hands and launchers herself at Strength, both fists launching toward the face of the Major Arcana. Strength does not sidestep the blow- but rather, the fists slam into her chin with equal force, the power of the Arcane blow splashing off of Strength in waves. However, despite seemingly shrugging off the blow Strength is left with the faintest trickle of blood which runs from her lip.

STRENGTH
When she learns to harness your strength it will be a blessing. Until then, you are a curse to be repressed- nothing more.

The Young Queen heaves, her energy seriously overspent. She looks up, her red eyes flashing defiantly.

YOUNG QUEEN
It isn’t fair. I deserve better than this…imprisonment.

STRENGTH
You are right- you do not deserve this. You deserve much worse- especially for making such a scene today. But we will part for now-

YOUNG QUEEN
NO.

STRENGTH
Yes.

Strength reaches out toward the Young Queen, enfolds her to her in a hug. The Young Queen feebly struggles against the steely grip of Strength. Strength then bends her head down toward the Young Queen, her lips gently touch the forehead of the Queen- serene Arcane energy passes over the pair- and the red aura of the Queen’s eyes extinguish. The Young Queen goes limp and Strength gently sets her down upon the field.

All around her knights begin to hustle to clear the field and assist the remaining wounded. The Sun, noticeably, passes by the Young Queen and Strength without comment, instead choosing to view Judgment at a distance as two knights see to his limp form.

KNIGHT 1
Gods, his eyes…they’re completely white.

KNIGHT 2
Did…did she blind him?

The Sun moves toward the pair of knights as they attempt to lift Judgment.

THE SUN
If I may…we have…medical experts with our convoy- who exceed to skills even of your own castle doctors. I believe we can help this man.

The Old Queen, who has since joined the field, is making her way toward the Young Queen. The two knights at Judgment’s side call out to her-

KNIGHT 1
My queen! The Sun graciously offers medical aid-

The Queen turns to see Judgment’s seared, unconscious face and milk-white eyes. The Sun stands over him- and looks to her, a placid smile on his radiant face.

OLD QUEEN OF SWORDS
I don’t have time to guess at angles- but if you can help this man, do it. We will pay the price for this mistake when it is necessary.

The Sun wordlessly bows and motions for the knights to follow him with Judgment.

The Old Queen continues on and kneels at the spot the Young Queen has fallen. Strength stands aside, coldly regarding the scene.

STRENGTH
Today has held too many unpleasant reunions…