Child emperor c!Tommy with Techno, Wilbur, and Philza as his advisors.
Tommy was crowned emperor as the only child of the late emperor and empress, both people who were quick to spoil the only prince of their empire, even going so far as to assign the most skilled knight, most wise advisor, and most knowledgeable instructor in hopes of preparing him for his reign which they assumed would happen far into the future.
Unfortunately, they were met with a sudden death at the hands of assassins, leaving a ten year old child, who had never known strife, on the throne.
He was a child through and through, wasting no time nor expense to get what it was he wanted, even if it meant taking from the loyal citizens.
Unfortunately for the people, the three men around him could only bend to his demands, one part guilt for the death of his parents and early enthronement and one part fondness for the boy they've watched grow. They stood by his side through every selfish act, every word laced with greed, and every thought fueled by childish desire.
They found it hard to say no to him, with his big blue eyes, his rosy cheeks coated with baby fat, and his strikingly blond hair (a symbol of the royal family).
Of course, there came a day where the people had had enough. So much so, that they sought the most wise people in the empire to aid them in a revolt. The grief stricken people voiced their qualms to the advisor, the neglected soldiers complain to the knight, and the scholars complain to the tutor.
Despite their wishes, they know a coup is bound to happen, and even if they try to stop it now, the people will only try again.
And in their minds, the life of the boy they've grown to cherished, if it's going to be taken regardless, should be taken by people who have loved him even in his worst.
They take the forefront of the coup, sneaking passes everyone in order to be the first ones to make it to the throne room, where they find the child emperor on the throne, crown on his head, shining brighter than they ever knew possible....and he's wearing a sad smile on his face.
The stare at one another for a what feels like an eternity before the boy-their boy, speaks up.
"Times finally come, hasn't it?" He asks, as if he's expected this the whole time, as if he knew the type of anguish the end of this day would bring.
"I'm glad it's you three at least...you lot always did your best to take care of me."
"what-" Wilbur begins, before he's interrupted.
"I'm sorry" Tommy quickly says.
"I know I should have been better...I should have never believed what he told me. And...I'm glad his control over me will finally come to an end and the people can finally be free from my reign."
The three men stand in the center of the room, wondering what their boy means, wondering which god forsaken scoundrel could have possibly snuck past their watchful eyes and uttered whatever it is that haunts their golden boy like this.
But before they could ask, they hear the sound of footsteps, hundreds of them.
"The people are coming, boys. Give them something to celebrate." Tommy says, a smile on his face, as if what he's telling them to do is something as easy as throwing a party, as if what he's telling them to do isn't the equivalent of plunging a sword through their chest.
Techno walks closer, his hands shaking in a way they never have, even throughout all the battles he's endured, for once, Wilbur has no remark to make, his silence an unpleasant surprise, and finally, Phil has no solution to offer, a first for a world-class scholar.
Techno looks down at the child-practically a baby in his eyes, and he's hit with memories of a young Tommy running through the grand hallways of the palace-and...and he hesitates, he can't possibly bring himself to kill the young emperor.
Sensing the turmoil raging within, Tommy grabs a hold of Techno's hand, guiding it to point the sword directly at Tommy's own neck.
He swallows the bike building up, mustering the courage to speak
"you should do this quickly..be ause if you don't, they'll stop at nothing to finish the job themselves." He says quietly, in response, Techno's grip on the hilt of his sword tightens, and I'm seconds, it's blade has found its place nestled right in Tommy's heart.
The blond gasps, his laboured breathing slowly-painstakingly slowly, turn into gargles as he begins choking on his own blood, the color slowly draining from his face.
And all Techno can do is watch, because if he has the audacity to kill his liege, the person who he has sworn utter loyalty t, then he needs to have the respect to look into Tommy's eyes as the light begins to leave them, this is the only way he knows how to pay his respects for a life taken.
And soon, the boy has died, as if he was never alive to begin with.
And quiet falls upon the room, the three men not having the will to break it.
And suddenly, Wilbur falls to his knees, slowly bringing his hands to his face as he sobs, Techno, not having the words to comfort simply looks away, giving what privacy he can, and Phil remains silent, the only evidence of emotion is grief slowly leaving his eyes dull.
They stay this way for a while, before they suddenly hear the footsteps from earlier picking up volume.
They are filled with rage.
They understand the people were suffering, but in their eyes, they wouldn't think twice if they had to sacrifice the entire empire of it meant their boy could live happily.
Only one of them may make a loving off of welding a sword, but that does not mean the others don't know how to slaughter.
What is the point of the empire continuing if they're only reason for existing is dead?
Once night falls, the throne room is reminiscent of a battle field, corpses lay scattered, while Tommy, being eliminated by moonlight, glows almost similarly to how he once used to.
As the moon rises higher the three of them wish for the same thing.
They wish for another opportunity to save the boy from whatever or whoever it was that was tormenting them so, and as they stay seated on the ground, the huddle against one another in hopes of comfort, and slowly begin drifting off to sleep, a sleep they know they don't deserve, but seek out nonetheless.
Their eyes close and darkness consumes them.
One by one, they are awoken to the sunlight blaring in their eyes, the stuff ground beneath them now feeling like soft mattresses. Startled awake by the sudden softness, they look around only to find themselves in what was once their rooms, no sight of the other two to be seen.
Rushing out of their rooms, they make their way to the throne room, meeting up with one another in the process, barging through the doors, instead of the corpse of their emperor sitting on the throne, they're met with the sight of Tommy comfortably sitting on the throne, looking down at them sternly before recognizing them and breaking into a smile.
"I was wondering where you guys had gone!" Tommy exclaims, hopping off the throne and running for them, his arms opening up for a hug.
They look at each other in confusion, unsure of what is going on.
How could the child who had been dead mere hours before be alive and well, treating them as if they had never betrayed him?
Taking a closer look, Tommy looked...younger, he was already young to begin with, but this Tommy did not look the age of the Tommy who's corpse lay sitting on the throne only hours prior.