Difference between revisions of "The Rat Prince"

Latest revision as of 17:40, 11 April 2013

Beatrix of Alexandria had once faced down a hundred knights and routed them with ease. Her legend was such that few dared to face her in battle, and none dared to do so alone.

Yet even she had to question her Queen's command, for Queen Brahne had sent her alone to the magnificent tree city of Cleyra to demand the surrender of the King of Burmecia.

She would never question her Queen openly, for her loyalty was infallible, but now she wondered if her Queen truly had this much faith in her, or whether she'd sent her to die without backup.

When she arrived at Cleyra, the multitude of guards at the entrance of the tree city blanched visibly and quaked in fear. Alarms rang, radio calls were made, and before long, the Alexandrian General found herself surrounded by the full might of Cleyra's army. Armed with their new technology which had been provided by their mysterious backer, the odds against her seemed in surmountable. Among their ranks were now many highly trained magi, and their weapons were of the highest quality that could be mass produced. Their officers had honed them to be a force to be reckoned with, and yet still there was fear in them. The soldiers still spoke amongst themselves, whispering such gossip as /That's Beatrix? The Cold-blooded Knight who knows no mercy?/ /They say her swordsmanship is the best in the land./

The Cleyrans had been known as a nation of pacifists, but the refugees from Burmecia and their backer had quickly changed that. Their General was a veteran Nezumi who had seen many battles, yet he liked this not. It made no sense for the Alexandrian General to come here so brazenly. As he stepped out to face her, General Beatrix's clarion voice rang out, delivering the message precisely as her Queen had commanded.

"People of Cleyra. By order of her majesty, Queen Brahne Raza Alexandros, the sixteenth of her name, you are commanded to turn over the King of the fallen nation of Burmecia for his just and lawful execution as a war criminal. Failure to comply will have severe consequences."

The entire army of Nezumi just stared at her, dumbfounded. And then one of them began to laugh, and then every single soldier broke out in loud guffaws. Only the Cleyran General was not smiling. When he spoke, his voice was entirely somber.

"I'm afraid that we cannot acquiesce to your request."

General Beatrix would smoothly withdraw her sword, and at once the laughter ceased. Some of the more brazen foot soldiers even dared to take a step forward, ready to end the life of the greatest General that Alexandria had ever known.

And then behind her, a corridor of darkness would open, a flamboyantly dressed man stepping out, before taking a bow. One hand was dramatically placed over his chest, while the other was extended behind him. Some would recognize him as the power behind the Alexandrian throne, an arms dealer known as Kuja.

"And so the sand rats bare their teeth and attempt to emulate the ferocity of the Lion. But in their hearts, they are but craven rodents, who don't know that they are already routed. It would be wise, to listen to the Pernicious Rose."

Snapping his fingers, two Black Mage dolls would emerge from the portal, holding their arms up high, as they suspended a flailing Nezumi child in their gravity magic. While the child was humbly dressed, there would be some who would recognize the errant Prince of Burmecia, Puck.

"I believe you're familiar with the Rat Prince. Should your sovereign desire his heir to live out the hour, then I suggest that he yield."

The glower that General Beatrix cast Kuja's way was wilting. The man had dared to steal her glory away, and worse yet, had used a hostage to achieve their goals. The stain upon her honor was almost too much for her, as she entertained the thoughts of spitting him upon her blade. And yet she stayed her hand, as she knew that what man's actions had been commanded by her Queen.

The response from the Cleyran army was frantic. Despite the fact that the King of Burmecia held little power in Cleyra, they had no desire to see his line extinguished.

Everything went exactly according to plan. The King debased himself in front of the Alexandrian General, offering his life for his son's. While his posture still held the poise of royalty, he knew he was defeated. The Dolls released his son, allowing him to skitter off into the crowd, while they restrained the Monarch.

The Dolls would bring the Burmecian King first through the Corridor of Darkness, before Kuja would motion for General Beatrix to enter the corridor first. Literally shaking with rage, she would step through the portal stiffly, before the man would offer yet another bow to the gathered Cleyran forces, and departing through the portal.

The armistice caused by the fall of their world had been broken. Now there were only echoes of a war which seemed imminent.