We Are All Mad Here

And so, the former princess turned witch Adella had left her matesprit to join The Signless, his Disciple and their comrades, The Dolorosa and The Psiionic, in their venture to spread a message of peace all through Alternia in the hopes of bringing about change for a better world. One where love and equality prevailed all through the planet instead of fear and tyranny. Despite the heartbreak Adella endured making this decision, deep down, she believed this was the right choice to make, in order to help be part of a great cause, and also to redeem herself for her loss against Meenah for the throne so many centuries ago. To finally be able to make a difference and help her people like she wanted to so long ago when she was still a princess......

After that night, many sweeps had passed since Adella had joined Kankri's cause. She followed him, Meulin, Mituna and Porrim all through Alternia's vast lands, helped spread his message...... In that time, she grew closer to all 4 Trolls she had traveled with. Found something she never truly had with anyone. Not with Oceana and Meenah, and not even with Cronus or his pirate crew; A family. For the first time in her life, Adella had a family. Maybe the only family that ever truly existed on Alternia during this time....... During that time, she formed a moirailegiance with Meulin. She learned many things from Kankri, and he learned much from her too, in terms of witchcraft, in terms of Mother Alternia, and in terms of the world that came before Alternia, which they both shared vague memories of. Under Porrim, she learned what a mother-child relationship was supposed to be; One filled with unconditional love and acceptance, unlike the cold distance she always felt from Oceana back then, who only waited to see who would be first to die between her and Meenah. And Mituna? Well..... Besides her moirailegiance with Meulin, Adella might truly have been the closest with Mituna out of all of them. Sweeps had passed since Adella had last seen Cronus. On occasion, she often sent him letters documenting the group's travels, telling stories of things that had happened during those times, but never once did Adella hear back from her first love...... And without her dear Dualscar there by her side? Well...... to put it simply, Mituna was there to help with her loneliness when Cronus was not. All in all, despite the loneliness Adella still felt without Cronus by her side, she was happy. Happy to be part of a cause that was making a difference. Happy with the idea that one day, because of her and the family she chose, Alternia might finally see the age of peace and equality she so dreamed of....... Little did any of them know what awaited them all in the future. Including a new member of their cause....

*The scene starts off somewhere on Alternia, somewhere deserted and isolated where there is little chance of any Imperials showing up, as a crowd of various Trolls are gathered together to watch another one of The Signless' sermons, Kankri speaking to the people about his message while Meulin, Porrim, Mituna and Adella all watch behind him, happily supporting the red blooded Troll while also being ready to chime in if needed*

Adella:......*smiles to herself, feeling a sense of pride being here and standing by Kankri's side like this*

Mituna:..... ? *glances down at her*...... *whispers* Whats got you so happy?

Adella: Just..... thinking..... *pauses*...... How long has it been since I joined all of you?

Mituna:......... 10 sweeps now, if I'm not mistaken. Why?

Adella:......... No real reason.... just..... wondering where the time went, i suppose.....

Mituna:..... I know what you mean...... We've all been doing this for so long, and yet..... we're still no closer to abolishing the Empress' influence, are we?

Adella:..... Give it time, Mituna..... change is a long process, but..... the end result one day will all be worth it......

Mituna:...... Do you..... still think about him?

Adella:........*nods slowly* Yes.... I do......

Mituna:....... Does he ever respond to your letters, Princess?.....

Adella:.......*shakes her head*..... No...... The messenger birds i send always wait for him incase he does, but..... he never writes back...... truthfully, i.... haven't heard from Cronus since that night I left his ship.......

Mituna:......... Perhaps the love he had for you wasn't as undying as yours still is for him.....

Adella:...........

Mituna: And if I'm wrong...... What do you think he would say?..... *holds her hand, intertwining their fingers together* About..... us?......

Adella:....... I don't know..... heh..... I don't know if he'd be more enraged by what we have in general..... or if he'd be enraged that of all Trolls, I chose 2 lowbloods for 2 of my quadrants...... *pauses*....... I still can't believe what he said about him..... even after all this time......

Mituna:....... Sadly...... Most Highbloods have that same mindset when it comes to us..... as far as the ones we've met go, you might be the only exception.....

Adella:........*silently looks up towards the crowd as they watch and listen to Kankri's sermon, a contemplative look in her eyes*.......

Mituna:.......... Princess?......

Adella:.......... All this time..... Kankri has kept his blood hidden from everyone who comes to these sermons..... he has good reason to..... but I've also kept my blood hidden all this time..... *pauses*...... What do you think the people would say if I told them my blood color? If they knew that there was at least one Highblood advocating for their rights?

Mituna: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adella:...... No. That's foolish to even think of doing, I know..... *pauses*..... Meenah is still looking for me..... and I would be putting a target on our backs by revealing that I'm the lost princess turned witch that the Empire is hunting down...... Nevermind. Forget I even suggested something so foolish......

Mituna:......*sighs in relief, tightening his hold on her hand, relieved that he doesn't have to worry about her putting herself or the group in danger*

Adella:........*giggles* Sorry...... You know I have a tendency to think foolish thoughts like that....

Mituna:..... Not foolish.....Maybe moreso..... overly optimistic?

Adella:...... Overly optimistic..... heh..... I thought i had let go of that part of myself after the last Empress cast me out..... and..... after what happened afterwards......

*Adella glances down at her chest hidden beneath her cloak, where low and behold lies a clown face shaped scar that she's had all these centuries, a result of the branding iron that Kurloz used on her when she was outed as a witch in front of that entire stadium of Highbloods*

Mituna:...........*turns away after looking down at thar scar for a moment, a hard glare in his eyes*........ Damn Highbloods..... Those clowns especially....... *pauses*........ Although.....

Adella: ?

Mituna:....... You were a part of their social circles at one point....... Perhaps you know of at least one Highblood you believe would be willing to advocate for us?

Adella:....... There is one i haven't spoken to since before mine and Meenah's duel...... Horuss. An Indigo blood...... perhaps if I find out what he's been up to all this time..... maybe I can see if he would be willing to help us......

Mituna:......... Do you really believe we could trust him?

Adella:.............

Kankri: Now, are there any questions?

Troll 1: Yeah! For you and the girl without horns! What are your signs??

Adella: !!!!!!!!!!

Kankri: Oh..... I do not possess a sign, sorry.

Adella:....... Neither do I.

Troll 2: 2 signless Trolls.....?

Troll 3: SHOW US YOUR SIGNS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kankri: Uh......

Porrim: Oh dear.....

Mituna: SILENCE, WORMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *his psiionics begin to power up*

Adella: !!!!!!!!!!!!!! MITUNA!

Kankri: What?? No, no one here is a worm! Love and equality, reme--

Mituna;*blasts lasers from his eyes into the air* I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adella: MITUNA! *quickly wraps her arms around him to restrain him*

Kankri:....... Maybe we should take a break for a few minutes.......

Later, somewhere in a nearby hidden forest

*The group of 5 are all huddled together near a fireplace in a cave as the moon begins to go down, this being their best choice of shelter to avoid detection in a village by Imperials, especially after Mituna's earlier outburst*

Meulin;....... Mituna? What the hell were you thinking?

Mituna: Sorry! Sorry...... Those Trolls kept asking about Kankri and Adella's signs, and.... I panicked, okay?

Meulin: Still.... What if you gave away our location to Imperials??

Porrim: No need to worry, Meulin.... This cave is far from where Kankri gave his speech earlier, no Imperial will find us here. Besides.... If I'm being honest, I don't think he was completely wrong to make a scene like that.... *pauses*..... Most of the Trolls we saw today were between Burgundy and Teal, but..... I'm pretty sure i saw an Indigo somewhere in the crowd....

Kankri: ?...... You think they might have been an Imperial spy, mother?

Porrim:....... I don't want to make an unfair assumption based on his blood color, but...... it struck me as odd that only one Indigo was there.......

Adella:........ What did he look like?

Porrim:....... Long hair, horns that pointed to the sky, shaped like arrows..... His sign was on his shoulder, and it also was shaped like the arrows one might use to shoot with a bow.......

Adella;*eyes widen, immediately recognizing the description to match Horuss*........

Mituna:*glances down at her, wondering if the Indigo blood in question might be her old friend*........

Kankri:...... Well.... Let's not jump to conclusions so soon. Perhaps our message has begun to finally reach those above Teal..... If there's a chance one Indigo might have been touched by our words, then it's already a step in the right direction.

Mituna:....... And what if they are an Imperial spy? What then, old friend?

Kankri:............

*Suddenly, they hear the sound of twigs breaking and someone falling outside the cave, letting out a yelp of pain*

Meulin: !!!!!!!!! *looks to the cave's entrance in alarm*

Porrim; Wait here. The sun can't hurt me like it can all of you...... I'll have a look.

*Porrim gets up from where she sits and hurries out of the cave to help whoever is in distress...... Everyone waits anxiously, hoping nothing terrible happens to her out there..... then, after a moment, Porrim comes back, shocking everyone as she carries a smaller injured Troll wearing nothing but a white dress, possessing a long mane of silky black hair, plus a set of large horns resembling bull horns*

Kankri: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meulin: !!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!

Porrim; This girl..... I found her unconscious on the ground. If I hadn't, the sun would have incinerated her by now......

Adella: !!!!!!!!! Porrim. Set her down here, I'll do what I can to help her!

*Porrim nods, hurrying over to carefully set the injured Troll in front of Adella, the girl barely showing any signs of life. Adella quickly pulls down the hood of her cloak, revealing a sigil that she had painted on her forehead some time ago, then she pulls out her grimoire, which opens on its own and immediately flips to the page needed for the healing spell she is looking for. Afterwards, as Adella holds her hand over the unconscious girl, she begins to recite the spell, speaking in the old witch tongues as a light shines from her hand, the same light that was there when she healed Kankri all those sweeps ago when they first met. Just like that, all the wounds on the girl's body begin to heal on their own; Burn marks from the sun, scratches from tree branches presumably, claw marks, rope burns on her wrists, whip marks on her legs and shoulders, and more*

Meulin:....... Those marks......

Kankri: I know..... a slave.......

Meulin:....... Who do you think...... held her captive? How did she escape?......

Kankri:.........

*Soon, Adella finishes casting the healing spell, all of the girl's injuries now healed thanks to her. She closes her grimoire and puts it away, looking down at the young Troll, waiting to see if she'll wake up*

Mituna:....... She's so young..... can't be anymore than 8 sweeps old...... she's just a kid........

Adella:....... Who would put someone so young through such Hell?......

*Suddenly, the girl stirs in her sleep, her eyes shaking for a moment before she opens them...... Though her vision is blurry for a moment, it soon clears up, allowing her to look around and see the 5 Trolls all looking down at her in worry*

??????: !!!!!!!!!!! *quickly pushes herself up, quickly scurrying backwards out of fear of these strangers she found herself in the presence of*

Adella: Its alright! You're okay..... You're safe, young one, I promise. You're among friends.

??????:........*looks around at the 5 Trolls watching her, taking a moment to study their blood colors*........ Yellow..... Olive..... Jade...... *sees the color of the sigil painted on Adella's forehead*........ You....... You're..... Fuschia?.....

Adella:......*small smile* Yes......

??????:......... You're..... that lost Princess they were all talking about......

Mituna: Who exactly is "they"?

??????:..... The Trolls I escaped from.... my captors....... Purple bloods....... One of them helped me escape..... but....

Mituna: A PURPLE helped you escape?

Kankri: Mituna.....

??????:...... Yes...... I...... I belonged to The Grand Highblood originally.....

Adella:..... Kurloz...... (thinks: So..... He's a slave keeper..... why am I not surprised.....)

??????: But...... One of his underlings..... one of his worshippers....... He...... We were flushed with one another, he hated seeing me in pain, so he.... helped me escape....... I don't even remember how many nights I've been on the run, i..... I just....... I'm scared The Grand Highblood will hunt me down and take me back......!

Kankri: That won't happen.

??????:....... How can you be so sure?..... Who are you people?

Meulin:........ Let's just say in some way or another, we all were wronged by Highbloods. Including Adella. And we want to do something about it and change Alternia into a place where no one's lives are dictated by blood color.

Adella:..... I apologize for this question, but.... what is your blood color, dear?

??????:...... Bronze.....

Mituna:....... Then you know exactly what we mean. Especially if it was an army of Purples you got away from..... what is your name?

??????:....... Scarla Nitram.....

Adella: Scarla...... *small smile* What a beautiful name......

Kankri: Scarla..... *small smile* How would you like to join us?

Scarla: ??????

Kankri: We'll protect you. We move around all the time to avoid detection by the Imperials, but we'll give you shelter and safety. Plus..... we're always looking for more people to help us spread our message.

Scarla:......... You're The Signless......

Kankri:....... That is what they call me, yes.

Scarla:.......*smiles, tears filling her eyes as she crawls towards Kankri, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his lap, crying hard and deeply into him*

*No one reacts to this sudden move from the escaped slave, as this isn't the first time someone has seeked comfort from Kankri like this. They all just watch, warm smiles on their faces as they let Scarla process everything, let her seek a feeling of safety and peace by holding onto the red-blooded prophet like this. Kankri even goes as far as to lay a gentle hand on Scarla's head, Meulin doing the same as she places her hand on Kankri's*

Scarla:....... Thank you...... for everything that you do....... for all you have done.... and for helping me..... i.... I'm not worthy of your mercy.....

Kankri:....... There is no Troll that isn't worthy of the kindness of others. You survived something that most Trolls never even live to tell..... You are stronger than you realize, my dear...... And i am happy that you are here now.

Scarla: I..... I just.... don't know how I can repay you...... why you would even want a lowly slave girl like me to join you.......

Kankri: You owe us nothing. Just you being alive is enough...... The choice is all up to you..... but I truly believe you have as much to offer on our journey as the rest of these Trolls here.

Scarla:..... I.......

Meulin:...... Scarla? Have you ever wanted to learn magic?

Scarla: ? Magic?......

Meulin: Adella..... she's a witch. She healed you using her magic.

Scarla: ?????..... *slowly lifts up her head and turns around in Adella's direction*

*As soon as Scarla looks her way, a smile forms on Adella's face as she holds up her hand, using magic to make a flowing Fuschia colored light form in her palm*

Scarla: !!!!!!!!!!!!....... A...... A real witch......

Adella:*nods, not saying anything more, just continuing to let that light shine in her palm*

Scarla:......*silently sits in contemplation, coming to a decision on what she will do after the slavery she escaped from*........*looks up at Adella*....... What can you teach me?

Adella: Many things, Scarla..... but.... daylight is now. Why don't we begin training tomorrow?

Scarla:*nods* Okay...... Yes. Thank you..... Thank you, Princess......

*Leaving Kankri, or The Signless, to rest in their bedroom where Adella healed his injuries, she and Cronus march to the main deck of their ship to discuss the stranger's presence*

Cronus:........ Adella...... Who is that Troll? Vwhy did you bring him here?

Adella:........ His name is Kankri. He was injured trying to save a Burgundy blood from a group of Purples...... so I brought him here to help him. He's friendly, Cronus..... He won't tell any Imperials where I am. *pauses*..... He's a mutant, Cronus..... His blood..... Its the same as that rose I gave Lohith Vantas all those sweeps ago......

Cronus: ?..... A Troll vwith..... bright red blood?.....

Adella:*nods* Yes....... I don't know if there's a connection between him and Lohith, but.......

Cronus:....... Mutants are normally culled in the Brooding Cavwerns before they can evwer enter the surface vworld..... Howv.....?

Adella: I'm not sure. He's just.... here. That's all we know...... *pauses*...... He...... has a group, he told me......

Cronus:...... A group?

Adella:........ Before you arrived, we were talking..... about my past when I was still a Princess...... how i wanted to help our people before I was stripped of my status...... and just..... how terrible everything has gotten since Meenah took the throne....... *pauses*....... He told me I could..... teach others to use magic...... said if I trained more witches, made them less scarce than they are now....... I could..... help spark a revolution........

Cronus:.......... Adella..... Get to the point already. Vwhat is this about?

Adella:...... I think he and his friends are planning something, Cronus....... A way to get Alternia back to the way it once was, maybe even better....... Before you came in..... he invited me to join him and help make a difference...... *pauses*..... Cronus..... I think we both should consider it.

Cronus:....... Consider vwhat exactly?

Adella: Staying here. Following him wherever he and his friends are located. Joining his cause.... He clearly wants to do something to make Alternia a better place...... So why shouldn't we?

Cronus:............

*Before anything else could be said, they hear the sound of frantic panting as someone runs to the nearby dock, stopping below the ship's ramp. Cronus and Adella look over to see an Olive blooded female with long flowing hair and horns shaped like Purrbeast ears, wearing black leggings and a tattered black dress with her sign printed over it, clutching a book close to her chest*

Meulin: Excuse me! I- i don't mean to disturb you two Highbloods, but..... my..... my friend is missing, and I was told that he was carried onto a ship when Purple bloods attacked him! Is this that ship??

Adella:*eyes widen in realization* Yes! Yes, this is it... Are you Meulin?

Meulin: ?????.... How do you know my name?

Adella: Kankri mentioned you..... Come, do not be afraid. I will take you to him.

Meulin: Oh......*nods* Thank you...... *walks up the ramp, stepping onto the deck and approaching Adella* You.... You're very kind to help us.....

Adella:...... Any decent Troll would lend a helping hand, regardless of blood color. I was merely doing what Mother Alternia would want.

Meulin: Mother...... *eyes widen in amazement* You are a witch.......

Adella: Yes. *smiles* I am--

Cronus:*quickly grabs her by her wrist, roughly pulling her away from Meulin and marching somewhere afar on the deck where she can't hear them* Flowver! Vwhat are you doing????

Adella:...........

Cronus: You can't just go around telling random Trolls you're a vwitch! Are you TRYING to get culled?? Vwhat if she goes blabbing about you to someone and Imperials get vwind of vwhere you'vwe been hiding??

Adella:....... That won't happen, Cronus. We can trust her. Her and Kankri...... I can tell. Our secret is safe with them. Besides..... I can't hide forever..... Not from those that need us......

Cronus: Need--

*Kankri steps out from where he was resting before, having heard Meulin's voice when she came on board the ship*

Meulin: !!!!!!! *smiles happily* Kankri!

Kankri: Hi, Meulin..... *smiles warmly at her, a clear look of admiration in his eyes* I'm sorry if I worried you..... There were these Purple bloods, and--

Meulin: I know....... I heard what happened, and you were brought here by.... by that witch over there..... I don't believe it...... *looks over to where Cronus and Adella still stand* I thought.... all the witches of Alternia were gone.....

Adella:.......*gently removes Cronus' hand from her wrist, approaching Kankri and Meulin* There aren't many of us left, but..... some of us still remain. Those of us left do what we can to preserve what little magic is left, to preserve Mother Alternia's gifts to Her children...... *pauses*....... Kankri and I spoke before..... perhaps...... perhaps he's right...... its a risk..... but...... perhaps if I can find Trolls to teach to use magic.... if I can attempt to bring more witches back to Alternia.... maybe not all hope is lost......

*For a moment, still confused by all of what's happening, Cronus turns to watch her matesprit speak with the red blooded and olive blooded strangers, giving both of them a wary glare, still unsure as to what their angle is..... However, he notices the red blooded Troll's complete lack of a sign, much like Adella after Oceana exiled her from the Peixes family...... He then notices the olive blood, seeing the peculiar journal she holds in her arms....... For a moment, it makes him recall rumors he had been hearing for the last few sweeps, about a group of Trolls led by a mysterious prophet of an unknown blood color and sign, his comrades consisting of a Psiionic, a disciple carrying a book with her filled with the prophet's teachings, and a Jadeblood claiming to have raised the prophet in the place of a Lusus........ After a moment, it all begins to click for Cronus*

Cronus:*eyes widen the minute he realizes what this is all about*..... You......

*Hearing the Violet blood address him, Kankri looks up in his direction*

Cronus:..... You're that Signless Troll......... The one who......... *trails off, it dawning on him what Adella is getting herself involved in*...... Both of you, get the hell off my ship!

Meulin: !!!!!!!!

Adella: Cronus! Don't be rude to our guests!

Cronus: They are NOT guests, Adella! They're vwalking targets! Misfits! Vwe're risking culling just havwing them here vwith us! Do you realize who they are?????

Adella:....... The Signless and his Disciple. Of course I know about them.

Cronus: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adella: Misfits, you say?....... Am I not one, Cronus? I started off as someone who wanted to help my people as much as they do...... Even after I was stripped of my royal status, I never gave up wanting to help others. I healed Trolls with my magic, I saved any slaves i found anytime you and Mindfang raided a ship together...... And..... that's the thing.... I'm one of the only witches left...... does that not make me count as a misfit?

Cronus: You're different! You...... Adella..... *pauses, trying to get his thoughts in order*...... You're not going vwith them.

Adella: Cronus.....

Cronus: Adella..... Come back here to me, this instant. Those people, vwhat they're trying to do? You knowv as vwell as i do that their cause is a lost one! Nothing vwill ever change on Alternia! As long as Meenah is in powver, this vworld vwill forevwer be a dark place vwhere blood color determines your vworth! Going against the Empire like this?.... Exposing yourself to Her Imperious Condescension, knowving shes STILL looking for you?! You knowv as vwell as I do that this band of idiot outlawvs are going to evwentually get themselvwes killed!

Meulin: Now wait just a minute--

Kankri;*places a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head, telling her not to butt into their dispute*

Cronus: And if you join them, you'll..... You'll....... *can't even finish his sentence, the idea of losing his matesprit too much for him to bear*........

*Cronus quickly rushes forward and grabs Adella by her wrists, pulling her towards him*

Adella: !!!!!!!! Cronus!

Cronus: You're not going vwith them.

Adella: Cronus..... Let go of me.....

Cronus: You can't just keep rescuing all those slavwes you find during our raids! Isn't that enough??

Adella: It's not even a FRACTION of what we could do for Alternia! We don't even know what happened to some of those slaves after we saved them! Hell, the other half you just made into your own personal servants! How is that any different from the lives they had before??

Cronus: I took those slavwes in because you INSISTED vwe give them a home vwhen they had novwhere else to go!

Adella: As equals! As crew members! Not as servants! We don't NEED servants, Cronus!

Cronus: Adella--

Adella: Cronus....... I have a chance to finally make up for my failures from all those centuries ago! To make things right and actually build a better Alternia for all of our people and end Meenah's tyranny for good! I have to take this, or else I may never get another chance! Cronus..... I'm not changing my mind on this, just..... *holds her hand out to him* Join me...... Abandon the Orphaner title, abandon your servitude to Meenah! Please, my love...... Help me--

Cronus: I'M NOT LOSING YOU OVWER A BUNCH OF FILTHY LOWVBLOODS WHO HAVWE NO HOPE VWHATSOEVWER TO BE MORE THAN VWHAT THEY VWILL EVWER BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*At Cronus' outburst, a long silence fills the deck. Adella just stands frozen in horror, staring at Cronus like he's a complete stranger, while Kankri and Meulin both have more somber looks on their faces, as if they expected the Violet blood to react in this manner*

Adella:......... Cronus..... what did you say?.......

Cronus:....... They're lowvbloods, Adella..... They..... they don't MATTER....... A large portion of the lowvblood population could die tomorrowv, and Alternia vwill just keep going on. They just....... They're lowver on the hemospectrum for a reason...... vwhat they do, vwhat efforts they make for change? None of it matters....... At the end of the day, nothing vwill change their place in society. But..... You're still here. YOU matter, Flowver....... I nevwer undersrood vwhy you care so much for all those dirtbloods..... but I nevwer questioned it, because I lovwe you...... I lovwe your compassion...... But I can't let you risk getting yourself culled again to givwe them false hope......

Adella:.............. Cronus?

Cronus: Vwhat, Adella?

Adella:....... That gala all those centuries ago...... on mine and Meenah's 8th wriggling day...... Lets pretend for a moment I wasn't a Fuschia blood.....

Cronus: Vwhat?

Adella:..... The night we met..... let's say I was a Jadeblood..... or Olive..... or Yellow..... or Bronze..... or Burgundy....... If my blood had been any of those colors instead...... would you have still spoken to me? Followed me to the garden? Given me your protection from Meenah's anti witchcraft laws?........ Would you have still wanted me?........

*At that, Cronus goes silent, just staring at Adella with wide eyes, but not an answer to give. He just...... stares at her, mouth hung open. Its as if he either doesn't know the answer to that question due to how little he interacted with lowbloods that weren't slaves, or he knows the answer to the question, but doesn't want to say it aloud, knowing how little Adella would think of him because of it.....*

Cronus:.............

Adella:........ Oh my god....... *looks down, her eyes filling with tears, reaching up and grasping onto her necklace*....... All these centuries together....... and I never truly knew you..... did I, Cronus?.....

Cronus: Adella..... Vwait......

Adella:........ I didn't realize how little you thought of our people...... how little you thought of my dreams for a better Alternia...... You're just like Kurloz and all the other Highbloods.......

Cronus: Adella, please, listen to me..... Flowver--

Adella: No. Don't "Flower" me......... You don't get to call me that anymore......

*Adella grips onto her necklace, the one with violet and Fuschia pearls and he candy red colored rose pendant...... and then completely tears the necklace off of her neck, throwing it to the side, the piece of jewelry sliding across the wooden deck, pearls coming undone from it and rolling around the floor in different directions*

Cronus: !!!!!!!!!!!!! *looks down to all the pearls that have begun to come undone*....... *slowly lifts his head to look back up at her* Vwait..... Princess, please.....

Adella:......... Do whatever you want, Cronus. But....... if this is your choice? I think you need to look for a new first mate......

Cronus: Adella..... Don't do this....... Don't you dare......

Adella: "Don't i dare"? I think you need to remember your place, Dualscar...... Seeing as you do see blood color after all, maybe you need to be reminded of my--

*Adella doesn't get to finish that sentence, as out of nowhere, the loud sound of a smack is heard, the result of Cronus smacking Adella hard across her face*

Adella: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meulin: !!!!!!!!!!! *runs towards her, placing her hand on her shoulder, helping her stand straight so she doesn't fall to the ground*

Kankri:*also hurries to Adella's side, immediately giving Cronus a glare of disapproval for laying his hand on his matesprit*

Cronus: !!!!!!!!!!!! *his eyes widen more when he realizes whar he just did*...... N- No..... Fuck, Adella, I didnt mean--

Adella:*holds up a hand, telling him to stay quiet, slowly backing away, a Fuschia colored handprint slowly forming on her face where he struck her*........ *slowly turns her head in his direction, for the first time since this argument began, giving him a hard, cold glare*

Cronus:.................

Adella:........... Goodbye, Cronus. If we ever meet again...... I hope its in a better Alternia....... I hope by then, you'll see how much value all Trolls have, regardless of blood color......

Cronus: Adella....... Princess......

Adella:......... I will always love you...... But I can't lose another chance to do something right for our people....... I hope one day you will understand that.......

*Before Cronus could utter another word, Adella turns around, stepping down the ramp of the ship, never once turning to look back at him. Not giving him the chance to see the few Fuschia colored tears that escape her eyes and flow down her face...... Kankri and Meulin stay on board for a moment, both turning to look in Cronus' direction*

Kankri:....... I am sorry it had to turn out this way, Orphaner.

Meulin:.......... If one day you change your mind and decide to join us, we will always welcome you with open arms...... But..... I suppose this is farewell, for now....... *pauses*...... We do hope one day, you will see the value in what we do.....

*On that note, Kankri and Meulin walk down the ramp and leave the ship, following Adella onto the dock. Cronus just stands there for a moment, looking down, watching as Kankri, Meulin and Adella all converse with each other*

Adella:........*looks back up at Cronus, this time letting him see the tears on her face. For a moment, it is almost as if she begging, PLEADING him one last time to reconsider and join her*

Cronus:............

*A crew member of the ship walks over towards his captain*

Crew member: Your Highness..... we must be leaving, soon...... Is..... Is the Princess not joining us?.....

Cronus:.........*shakes his head, turning around, walking away from the edge of the ship* Pull up the ramp..... vwe sail nowv.....

Crew member:....... Yes, sir.....

*Soon, the ramp is pulled up, preventing anyone from boarding the ship. The anchor is pulled up soon after, just before the ship sails out into the sea, leaving Adella, Kankri and Meulin behind. The trio watch as the ship gets farther and farther away...... Adella watches as her matesprit drifts farther and farther away from her, out of her reach, possibly never to be seen again*

Adella:.........*looks down, clutching onto the skirt of her dress, completely breaking down as she lets out uncontrollable sobs, tears dripping onto the dock below her. She falls to her knees and covers her face to muffle her sobs, as she mourns all the sweeps she and Cronus spent together, and all that could have been if words were chosen more carefully*

Kankri:.......*gets down on his knees behind Adella, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into a gentle hug*...... I'm sorry........

Adella:*keeps sobbing, but she reaches up and rests her hands on his arms, appreciating this gesture from him despite her heartbreak*

Meulin:........... Come with us, Adella...... We'll introduce you to Mituna, the Psiionic, and Porrim, the Dolorosa...... She will make you tea to help you nurse your broken heart back to health.

Many centuries passed ever since Adella was stripped of her title as Princess and thrown out of the Peixes castle. So much happened in all that time..... For one, Meenah had defeated Empress Oceana in their duel, culling her with ease and immediately claiming her new role as Empress of Alternia. With this role, Meenah had claimed a new title; Her Imperious Condescension, or for short, The Condesce. With this new era under the new Empress came an era of greater darkness for Alternia..... Lowbloods were even more oppressed than ever before, many losing their homes and livelihoods as The Condesce allowed Highbloods to cruelly exploit them in whatever ways they saw fit. Slavery had become rampant, as had needless cullings towards Lowbloods, or anyone deemed weak in the eyes of this new, much crueler Empire...... To complicate matters further, when The Condesce had first taken the throne, one of her first acts had been the banning of all practices of witchcraft, and the order to cull anyone caught practicing it, after a witch who had come to read her fortune at the castle had foretold that one day, a witch would usurp and overthrow her. As such, many Imperial guards were scattered about Alternia, carrying out their Empress' orders and culling any and all witches they came across..... But all through this literal witch hunt, one witch in all those centuries had managed to evade the guards, and The Condesce's totalitarian grip at every turn..... None other than her sister, Adella herself, at this time known as The Hornless, or The Disgraced, who in all that time had been living a comfortable life hidden on her matesprit Cronus Ampora's ship, now known as Orphaner Dualscar, after an incident with a dangerous sea creature that had left a permanent scar on his face. In all that time, Cronus and Adella had traveled through many seas and many lands on Alternia, seen vast lands that Adella had only ever imagined from her books, and long the way, she had met and befriended her matesprit's kismesis, the infamous Marquise Spinerret Mindfang. A few occasions, Adella found herself assisting whenever Cronus and Mindfang, or her real name, Aranea, would raid another ship, but only when that ship was run by corrupt Highbloods or had slaves on it that needed rescuing. Of course, all that time, Adella had to do everything to hide her magic, to hide her identity as a witch, or else she would risk being found and culled by Imperial soldiers..... But, when absolutely necessary, it never stopped her from using her magic to help those in need.......

*Somewhere in a small village, many Trolls roam about, mostly Lowbloods, as they try and mind their business, going about their daily lives...... Among them, hidden beneath a cloak, is none other than Adella herself, who had taken it upon herself to travel to this village and stock up on supplies while her and Cronus' ship was anchored at the dock. Now, with a bag of food, bandages, medicine, and other necessities on hand, Adella makes her way to exit the village and travel back to the ship, making sure to keep to herself, hoping no one notices her lack of horns thanks to her cloak*

??????: You! Old Troll!

Adella: ????? *quickly turns in the direction of that voice, wondering where it came from*

*Looking into an Alleyway, she finds a Burgundy blooded Troll being cornered and harassed by a horde of Purple bloods*

Purple blood 1: You! Rust blood! Give us your bread!

Burgundy blood: N- No, please......! All of my money went to this food, i..... I'll have nothing left until i--

Purple blood 2: Money?? Ha! *pushes him to the ground* Don't make us laugh, mothafucker! You stole all of that, didn't you?? Tell us..... Where did you really get it? As if a dirt blood like you can even afford an entire bag like that.....

Burgundy blood: Please.... None of this was stolen..... I got it from the market just--

Purple blood 3:*snatches the bag from him* Consider this your payback to us, for allowing you to walk this world with that filthy blood that flows through your veins!

Adella:......*growls to herself, about to step in*

?????? : You!

Adella: ?????

*When Adella turns her head, shes surprised by the appearance of another Troll, one who hides himself with a cloak much like her own, one with short nubby horns on his head, who is quick to march towards the scene she stumbled upon*

?????? :*quickly kneels down to the injured Burgundy blood* What gives you the right to treat him this way?! What makes your Purple blood any better than his or mine?!

Purple blood 1; Oh? And just what color might that be?...... Perhaps you share the same lowly color as him?

?????? : What does it matter what color my--

*One of the Purples is quick to retaliate, kicking the mysterious Troll right in the nose and knocking him over, sending him skidding across the sandy ground. Because the Purples are still in the alleyway, Adella is the first to see the blood leaking from this strange Troll's nose..... candy red colored blood*

Adella: ??????...... (thinks: Candy red blood? That...... No, it can't be..... can it.....? )

*Adella goes to help the strange Troll, who at this point was knocked unconscious.... Just before hearing the gut wrenching screams of the Burgundy blood as the Purples can be heard using their weapons to beat him to death, culling him on the spot in that dark alleyway*

Adella: !!!!!!!!!.......... *stays frozen where she is for a moment, like she's conflicted on what she should be doing at this point*.......... (thinks: Don't, Adella..... You can't save all of them.....its too late for him..... ) *looks down at the strange nubby horned Troll below her*....... (thinks: But you can still help him......)

*Careful not to catch the attention of the Purple bloods, Adella picks up the stranger from the ground, carrying him in her arms before carefully scurrying away to the farthest but safest place where she can help heal his injury*

Adella:....... (thinks: Cronus won't be pleased one bit with this..... but he will understand....)

Later

*Darkness surrounds the mysterious Troll who Adella had saved while he sleeps..... But after a moment, he begins to stir, slowly waking up, letting the dim lighting of this room take over his vision..... As he fully wakes up, he is greeted by another light, a shining, sparkling, glittery Fuschia colored light that is held towards his face..... It takes him a moment to realize that this light is coming from the palm of another Troll*

Mystery Troll: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adella: Please, do not fear me. I brought you to my ship so that I may heal you. That Purple blood..... he gave you a hard kick in your face.....

Mystery Troll:.........

*The light soon fades after Adella is finished healing him, allowing him to sit up in the bed where she placed him as she moves her seat back, allowing him to have space*

Mystery Troll:*slowly raises up his hand, reaching to his face, touching his nose as he slowly processes that she healed him just now*...... Thank you....... *pauses*..... You..... You're a witch..... are you not?

Adella:..... Yes. As I'm sure you well know, there aren't many of us left..... Not since Her Imperious Condescension took the throne..... and then issued the order for all who practice magic to be culled.......

Mystery Troll:........*looks to the top of her head, and then to her violet colored dress, seeing she has no sign present*....... You have.... no horns..... or sign.......

Adella:...... I once had both..... but they were.... taken from me, to put it simply..... *looks to his very, VERY tall pants*....... You also have no sign......

Signless:........ I heard of you...... You're that Princess who was cast out when she became a witch.... aren't you?

Adella;*laughs to herself* I see they still talk about me after so long..... But yes. That would be me....... Former Princess Adella Peixes.... Disgraced Royal turned witch...... *looks back up into his eyes*...... Your blood........

Signless;*flinches, tensing up and clutching the sheets below him*

Adella:....... The last time I saw such a beautiful color was on a rose I once had in the castle garden..... but.... I gave it to a witch when she asked for it..... in return, she gave me her grimoire, where I learned all that I know now...... Her name was Lohith Vantas.....

Signless:............

Adella:....... Tell me..... what is your name?

Signless:......... Kankri.

Adella:............*says nothing, her eyes only slowly widening in silence*.........

Signless:....... Princess?.......

Adella:..............*Fuschia colored tears go down her face*...........

*In Adella's mind, the flash of another memory is seen, this time of a young Troll with nubby horns, wearing a bright red sweater, his arms crossed while he appears to be talking to someone*

Adella:......... Its you...... Its...... really you......

Kankri:.......... So...... you remember too? Heh..... Here, I thought i was the only one......

Adella:....... Its still only bits and pieces, but...... yes...... I remember a few things.... and some of our friends...... You, Aranea, Horuss, Kurloz, Meenah of course, my sister..... Cronus...... Heh..... we actually found each other again....... And i..... I remembered Meulin once, a long time ago.... I still havent found her.....

Kankri:..... Meulin.... *smiles* She's with me..... So are Mituna and Porrim, but..... Well.... I call Porrim a different name now..... "mother".....

Adella: ???????

Kankri: It's a long story...... *pauses*........ Adella.... Back then..... you weren't really a Witch Of Heart, were you?

Adella:...............

Kankri:..... Nevermind..... I'd rather not discuss that horrific game......

Adella:...... Agreed. Kankri...... Back there..... the way you went up against those Purples.......

Kankri: Heh...... Don't give me a lecture on how dangerous that was, Adella...... I hear it from Porrim all the time. Besides....... *trails off, looking down, likely realizing what happened to that Burgundy blood*....... Its not right..... what all those Highbloods do to those more vulnerable....... *pauses*..... Princess.... was it like this back then? When you and your sister were still just Heiresses?

Adella:....... Oppression against Lowbloods has existed for as long as we've been on this planet, yes...... But it didn't get this bad until SHE took the throne..... until she had almost all witches culled...... *pauses*..... Witches..... they were protectors of Mother Alternia, protectors of all of Her children, long before Fuschias even appointed themselves as royalty...... Now, with most of the witches gone...... There is almost no one left to protect Her children or Her gifts...... Those of us left do what we can, but.... sadly, its not enough..... *looks out to the nearby window* And I fear what may happen when the last witch dies out........ when magic dies and is completely gone from this world.......

Kankri:......... You weren't born with magic. You learned it, didn't you? From another witch's grimoire?

Adella:..... Yes......

Kankri:........ Then if another witch's magic could be passed down to you..... it can be passed to others. Other Trolls can learn magic, become witches, and become protectors of Mother Alternia...... and in doing so, those witches can become the protectors of those who need it.

Adella:........ And how long before all those witches are hunted down and culled? How long before those innocent Trolls are culled for practicing magic i taught them? How long would such a joyous revival of magic last until my sister sends out her soldiers to destroy it all again? How long before i risk speeding up the inevitable, and the last welder of magic dies? *pauses*....... In my own way, as long as I stay hidden, I am helping to keep magic alive....... *pauses*...... You know..... it's my fault things are like this...... if I had just stuck to tradition and fought my sister.... if I had culled her, then culled my predecessor...... if I were on that throne now, Alternia wouldn't know the kind of suffering it has known for so long....... but it's like this now because of my own naivete....... Because at 9 sweeps old, I actually believed I could change the minds of thousands of greedy Highbloods......

Kankri:...... Don't blame yourself for the cruelty of others, Adella. You made a stand that night..... I know. The story of your refusal to fight your sister back then spread all over Alternia, and my mother had told me the story. You stood for what you believed was right. Not many Trolls have that kind of courage, especially not anymore. Even now, you wish to see a better Alternia someday, yes?

Adella:...........

Kankri: I can show you the way to free our people, Princess. Join us.... Join me, Meulin, Mituna, and Porrim. With your magic, with what you know..... You could help inspire a revolution.

Adella:............

Kankri:.......... *reaches a hand out towards her, waiting for her to take it* Adella..... I see it in you..... I see how badly you want to set things right, to still help those who can't help themselves...... Please...... won't you trust me?

Adella:...........

*Just then, the door opens very abruptly, as Cronus suddenly bursts in, having come back to the ship from whatever errand he was running before*

Adella: !!!!!!!!! *quickly turns in her seat, her eyes widened by hee matesprit's sudden entrance*

Cronus: Hm?..... *looks to see the stranger sitting on the bed he and Adella share*

Kankri:....... You must be Cronus. Or.... Apologies. You go by Orphaner Dualscar, yes?

Cronus:........ Flowver? Who is this? Vwhats going on?

Adella:....... Stay here, Kankri. Cronus? I'd like to speak with you about something.....

*As the scene starts, there is nothing but dead silence, nothing but pitch black darkness....... The last thing Princess Adella had seen before she fainted from blood loss was the cruel smirk of her sister as she betrayed her in front of an entire audience of Highbloods, before she was dragged away by the royal guards by order of Empress Oceana. Now, for a moment, it is as if the void had consumed and embraced the disgraced royal, cast out for demanding a change where death was no longer necessary to earn the throne, as well as for her transgression of practicing magic, despite her family's rivalry with the witches of Alternia*

Adella:......*groans to herself as she stirs a bit in her unconscious state, slowly opening her eyes*

*As Adella wakes up, she already knows she is no longer in the castle that was once her home..... Rather, she instead finds herself somewhere else entirely. Somewhere much darker, the only lights illuminating the room being a few torches on the walls, a few candles placed around her...... and a particular clown shaped chandelier hanging from the ceiling*

Adella:....... A clown....... Huh..... did a Purple blood bring me here.....? *blinks groggily, trying to move, but something is amiss*..... Wha...... Wait.......

*Adella looks up above her, realizing she is bound by cuffs around her wrists that are hanging from the ceiling, her body dangling above the floor by a few inches. On top of that, the body suit she wore to the duel between her and Meenah is no longer on her body, instead replaced by a worn down, torn up purple gown. Fuschia blood is still caked up on her face as a result of bleeding out from where her horns once were*

Adella: ????? *tries to pull herself free from these cuffs, but to no avail* What is this???? Hello?? Is someone there?! I demand to know what this is all about! Who dares to imprison a member of the Peixes family?!

*At that, the sound of cruel, taunting laughter is hears from multiple individuals, the sound faint at first until they appear to be coming closer to whatever this room is....... Suddenly, a set of doors open in front of Adella, as 5 figures wearing purple hooded cloaks walk in, their faces hidden by the hoods, bit their horns exposed the minute they walk in...... and for Adella, it doesn't take much effort to recognize one particular pair of horns amongst this crowd*

Adella:....... Kurloz.......?

*The 5 cloaked Trolls all lower their hoods, revealing 5 Purple blooded Trolls, evident by the all too familiar face paint they all wear..... including none other than Kurloz Makara himself, the newly appointed Grand Highblood at only 9 sweeps old*

Kurloz:........ Hello there, Princess..... Oh, wait. That's not your title anymore now, is it? Heh.... you really put on a show back there, didn't you? Never in my life did I think I'd get to see anything as amusing as you embarrassing that old Empress in front of thousands of Highbloods...... It was a real mothafucking sight to behold.

Adella:...... Kurloz...... What is this? Why..... why am I chained up......?

Kurloz:......... At first, I was happy to see you standing your ground, telling Oceana to fuck off with the whole "culling your opponent" tradition...... then Meenah went and stabbed you with hee fucking trident, and I just about up and stormed down there to get you out....... then...... *pauses*...... Adella..... tell me the truth..... did you really get yourself involved with witches?

Adella:..............

Kurloz: Have you been dabbling in witch's magic? Are you a witch now?...... A servant of the fake goddess known as "Mother Alternia", meant to turn others away from the glorious, unending love of The Mirthful Messiahs?

Adella: W- Wait! Kurloz, it's not like that! Listen...... This last sweep, i..... I learned so much...... Mother Alternia, she..... she's real..... She's been real all this time...... But it doesn't make your beliefs any less real, Kurloz! If anything, you don't know the connection that they and Mother Alternia share--

Kurloz: SILENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adella;........ Kurloz.... Please..... Whatever this is, just...... you don't have to do this..... please, just listen--

Kurloz: No, it's you that needs to listen, Adella. I know you...... I've known you since we were wrigglers, and this isn't you. The Adella Peixes i know would never involve herself with such heretic, sinful beings that want to disrupt Alternia's natural order. She wouldn't..... wouldn't be involved with beings that go against--

Adella: That go against everything YOU believe in?? Is that it??...... Maybe you didn't know me at all, Kurloz. Or maybe you only knew an idea of me. The one that you wanted to be your matesprit..... and now that I've been cast out of my home with my title stripped, that means you have every chance to make me yours...... But you don't want me if I'm going to involve myself with witches and magic, and dedicate my life to Mother Alternia, right??

Kurloz:............ Exactly. A follower of The Messiahs and a follower of a heretic God that doesn't exist? That could never happen..... it would never work...... frankly, we try to cull as many of those mothafuckers as we can......

Adella:..... So. That's it then...... You're here to cull me..... after 9 sweeps of friendship, you're going to use your beliefs as an excuse to cull me for my dedication to Mother Alternia...... is that it?

Kurloz:........... This ain't a culling, Adella......

Adella: Then what is it??

Kurloz:........ We brought you here to help expel whatever demons that witch cast on you that you met...... the one who introduced you to this life. Whatever she did to make you lose your way, we're here to cast those mothafucking demons out of you.

Adella:........ What are you--

*One of the cloaked Trolls gives Kurloz what appears to be a branding iron....... which Kurloz then carries to a nearby burning fire pit, before holding that branding iron over the fire, which causes it to glow a bright red color. The branding iron just so happens to have the classic ":0)" clown face as its shape*

Adella;*eyes widen as soon as her eyes adjust enough in the darkness to see that branding iron glowing, realizing what's about to happen*.... No..... No, wait..... Kurloz..... Please...... STOP! NO!

*Saying nothing, Kurloz's face remains completely reserved as he removes the branding iron from the fire, carrying it with him as he approaches Adella again. At this point, 2 more of the cloaked Purple bloods approach Adella, both of them grabbing her tight by her chained arms to force her to hold still*

Adella:*tears fill her eyes as she begins to hyperventilate. She kicks her feet, tries to thrash away from the two Purple bloods holding her, but nothing works, as shes forced to remain still, watching with fear as Kurloz gets closer and closer with that branding iron* NO! STOP! KURLOZ, PLEASE!!!!!!!!! STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Not reacting to Adella's pleads for mercy, Kurloz holds up the branding iron, moving it towards her...... until it touches Adella's chest and presses into her flesh, the sound of burning flesh combining with the sound of Adella's deafening, agonizing screams*

Kurloz: Mirthful Messiahs..... I ask you as your Priest, your highest ranked service, to listen to my pleas and forgive this pour misguided soul. She knows not what she has done, going against your word, against your love like she has. Whatever demons have taken over her, courtesy of the servants of this so-called "Mother Alternia", I ask you, Messiahs, to help rid her of them. Rid her of these demons, and show this Princess the way once more! Show her the true way, not the way these heretic witches have tried to show her!

*Adella's screams echo all through these dark halls, especially as Kurloz presses the branding iron deeper into her chest. Fuschia tears go down her face as a result of her pain, this unbearable pain which not only torments her physically, but the betrayal of her old fried causing her much harm, the emotional hurt of Kurloz doing this to her, of Meenah betraying her, of Empress Oceana casting her out...... Those feelings hurt much more than any physical pain ever could*

Kurloz: Messiahs, use your glorious influence to save this poor soul before me tonight! Let her see your love, let her see the way! Let her know what horrors await for the witches that go against you, and what glory awaits for all those who eventually reach The Dark Carnival! REMIND HER OF YOUR MOTHAFUCKING MIRACLES THAT YOU GIFTED US WITH, AND HELP HER SEE THE MOTHAFUCKING LIGHT!

*In that moment, the doors burst open, someone uninvited barging in andinterrupting this ceremony....... As the Purple bloods all turn to look, the intruder is revealed to be, surprisingly, Orphaner Cronus Ampora*

Adella:*can't speak at this point, her screams having caused her to lose her voice in that moment, only able to let out a whimper of pain while the iron is still pressed to her chest, her eyes glassy with tears*...........

Cronus: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kurloz: Huh...... Well, ain't this a mothafucking surprise..... Cronus Ampora? The Orphaner? Here to bask in my presence? And just what could you mothafucking want from me at this...... very crucial ti--

*Without hesitation, Cronus storms up towards Kurloz. Before the other Purple bloods could stop him, Cronus gets close enough to where he's able to throw a hard punch right into Kurloz's face, causing the latter to fall from the force of the attack, landing on the cold concrete floor as he drops the branding iron*

*This attack causes the other Purple bloods to immediately act, about to attack the Seadweller prince simultaneously, but Cronus stops them as he pulls out his signature weapon, Aehab's Crosshairs, and aims the weapon at all of them at once, which makes them freeze up where they stand*

Cronus:........ Now...... Since you all havwe enough brains left to remember your place on the blood caste..... Here's vwhat's going to happen; Vwhichevwer one of you has the key to these cuffs binding my princess, you are going to givwe them to me. I am going to free her from these chains, and you are going to let me vwalk out of here vwith her........ if anyone makes an attempt to stop me, I vwill personally pierce your skull vwith one of my fucking harpoons from this vweapon..... am I clear?

*No one says anything, all the Purple bloods hesitant to make a move or do anything, really. The only one who speaks up is Kurloz as he slowly sits up on the floor, a bruise forming where Cronus punched him*

Kurloz:...... Its you, isn't it?

Cronus:...... Elaborate.

Kurloz:...... Heh...... My whole life, I thought of every way to try and win her heart...... something to make her see what's in front of her besides those mothafucking books she loved so much...... After last sweep's gala, though? The signs were there...... I could tell from looking at her that another mothafucker had stolen her heart before I could....... Heh...... couldn't stop wondering who the hell it was...... should have guessed it was you.......

Cronus: What the hell does any of that have to do with the torture you just subjected her to??

*For a moment, despite her weakened state, Adella slowly turns her head in Kurloz's direction..... Just like the night she and Cronus met, a vision plays out in her head; A young Purple blooded boy...... Rather, a younger Kurloz, heavily resembling how she knew him when they were 6 sweeps old...... but in this instance, he's smiling as he looks into the eyes of another Troll; An Olive blooded girl with beautiful long hair, a blue tail, and horns shaped like Purrbeast ears*

Adella:..........

Kurloz:.......... My point is..... I thought I could make her mothafucking happy if I led her back on the right path........ showed her the way of The Messiahs..... But if its you she wants...... Well.... who am I to stand in her way?..... Who am I to steal someone as lovely as her from a brother, right?

Cronus:........ Just givwe me the fucking keys, Makara........ So i can get her out of here and vwe nevwer havwe to see your fucking face again.

Kurloz: Heh...... Whatever you say, fishy brother. *reaches into his pocket, pulling out the keys to the cuffs and tossing them to Cronus*

*As soon as Cronus has a hold on the keys, he puts his weapon away and immediately begins to unlock the cuffs that have already begun to scar Adella's wrists. Once both cuffs are unlocked, Adella falls from her bindings, and Cronus catches her, Adella holding tight onto Cronus' arms while her face is buried in his chest*

Adella:......... Kurloz........ Its not me.....

Kurloz: Huh?

Cronus: ?????

Adella:.........*glances to Kurloz, a single Fuschia tear escaping her eye*........ One day...... You will find her again...... She just..... doesn't exist yet....... But...... You will be reunited someday......... that...... that i can promise.......

*At that moment, Adella faints in Cronus' arms, and everything goes black*

*After Adella's rescue, some time passes, a few hours at that...... And soon, the darkness fades once more as Adella wakes up again. Instead of the cold dungeon where she was brutally tortured, this time, she wakes up on a soft bed in a dimly lit room. The ceiling, walls, and floor are all made of wood, the only other furniture present being a desk with a journal and a lantern on top, serving as the light source. As Adella processes her surroundings, she feels a swaying motion beneath her, as if whoever's hive she was in, it was actually floating on top of a vast body of water..... it takes her about a minute before Adella realizes she's on a boat*

Adella:...... Wh-..... Wait..... *glances around the room she woke up in*........ Where.....

*The sound of a door opening is heard, and as Adella turns her head, she sees that Cronus has come inside, carrying a bowl of cold water and a wash cloth*

Adella:...... Cronus.......

Cronus: Flower...... *a relieved smile forms on his face* I was starting to vworry you vwouldn't wake up..... Thank God--.... Or.... I suppose I should be thanking Mother Alternia, yes?

Adella:........*just smiles at that, a soft laugh escaping her throat*

*Cronus walks over, sitting on a stool he placed next to the bed and placing the bowl of water on the nightstand next to him. He takes the wash cloth from the bowl, squeezing out some of the excess water before gently placing it on Adella's forehead so the cold water can help lower her high temperature. For a moment that seems to feel like an eternity, both Cronus and Adella sit in silence, just staring at each other, either wanting to just live in the moment with one another, or one of them waiting for the other to say something*

Adella:......... You..... You came for me.......

Cronus:........ I'll alvways come for you, my Princess.....

Adella:....... Heh...... at least..... I'm still a Princess in your eyes.....

Cronus:.......... Adella...... Vwhat happened in the arena....... Vwhat vwere you thinking?

Adella:........ I thought...... I thought i could trust Meenah...... I went to her last night proposing we forfeit from fighting together..... that we try to aim for ruling together...... as sisters........

Cronus:....... Sisters who were told from the beginning they vwould havse to one day fight each other to the death...... I knowv you cared about her...... But you should havwe knowvn something like this vwould happen.....

Adella:........ She's my sister..... whoever said i stopped caring?.....

Cronus:*goes quiet for a moment, just staring at her, stunned she could bring herself to still love someone who betrayed her in such a cruel manner*....... Adella......

Adella:...........*looks back up at the ceiling in a contemplative manner*....... Maybe..... Maybe this is for the best...... maybe it's just one stepping stone in a chain of events planned by Mother Alternia...... *pauses*...... Do you think.... if Meenah has won against mother....... that she'll be a good Empress?

Cronus:......*chuckles dryly, looking down*..... Knowving your sister? I dread to think vwhat kind of Empress she vwill be.......

Adella:............ Thank you, Cronus..... for saving me..... and being the only Highblood in our social circle to still be here for me......

Cronus:........ *reaches out and takes her hand in his own* I'll nevwer leavwe you, Flowver..... No matter vwhat anyone says, no matter vwhat happens.... I vwon't eveer leavwe you to those beasts, or to anyone..... *pauses*...... Adella..... stay here vwith me.

Adella: ?.....

Cronus:........ You'vwe been cast out of your home. Betrayed by your sister, disowvned by the Empress....... stripped of your royal status...... and you havwe novwhere else to go...... stay vwith me, here, on this boat. *chuckles a bit* That is, if you don't mind gallivwanting about vwith me on all my little pirate advwentures that I'vwe been getting invwolvwed in, on top of keeping Gl'Bgolyb fed. Heh..... I meant to tell you, I met someone recently.... a rather interesting Cerulean blooded girl. She..... vwell.... heh...... she piques my pitch interests.......

Adella: Oh? *smiles, giggling in amusement* Does she, now?

Cronus: Yes..... *pauses*..... Adella.... if not here, vwhere vwill you go? Please.... stay here vwith me....... Let me protect you from vwhatevwer crazy bastards might try to come after you. No doubt, vwhat happened today vwill surely put a target on your back...... *pauses again*...... Adella.......

*For a moment, Cronus reaches into his pocket, pulling out the same necklace he held onto at the arena; When he uncurls his hand and reveals the piece of jewelry, he reveals it to be a necklace made with multiple Fuschia and Violet colored pearls. But what really catches Adella's attention is the candy red colored rose shaped jewel at the center of this necklace*

Adella: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *stares down at this necklace as she sits up on the bed, her eyes widened in amazement at how beautiful this piece of jewelry is, especially because she can tell Cronus made it himself by hand*........ *slowly looks up into Cronus' eyes*

Cronus:....... Adella Peixes..... my love...... my Flower....... *reaches around her to put the necklace on her, clasping the two ends together at the back of her neck, then taking both of her hands into her own, looking into her eyes the whole time*

Adella:....... !!!!!!!!!!! *as if something dawned on her, her eyes widen in horror* Wait.... Oh no..... Lohith's grimoire--

Cronus: I retrieved it for you.

Adella: !!!!!!! What??

*Cronus motions one of his hands over to his desk, where next to his personal journal lies the very grimoire that Adella has protected with her life for the last sweep*

Cronus: When I brought you back here to my ship, I hurried back to the castle on my hoofbeast....... I didn't see Meenah or Oceana, but one of the servants was just seconds away from tossing it into a fireplace.... Thankfully, I had enough jewels on me to bribe him with, in exchange for the book.

Adella:...... You..... went all the way back for it?.....

Cronus: And whatever other books I could carry from the castle library, once I memorized your favorite titles. I know how much you love them, but..... I know how important that grimoire has been to you since that witch gave it to you..... how much magic has come to mean to you..... I could never discard something so important to you......

Adella:........ Cronus.......

Cronus:....... Please...... I must know where your heart lies...... if you will stay on this ship with me..... or if you feel that you must go on your own......

Adella:............ *smiles, reaching out and taking his hand in her own*...... I think you already know the answer to what my choice is, my love....... and I wouldn't choose anything different...... Out on the sea, seeing Alternia, going on daring adventures with you?........ Such excitement is all i ever truly wanted...... Heh...... I only just now realized...... No longer a Princess? My title, stripped from me?..... I'm free..... I'm..... free......

Cronus:*gently caresses the side of her face in his hand* Adella...... You haven't seen anything yet....... Just wait until I show you what these seas have to offer....... You were meant for far more than being cooped in that castle......

Adella:......... I was, wasn't i?.......

A sweep passed after that fateful night, when Princess Adella met the handsome Orphaner, Cronus Ampora, and when she met the aging witch, Lohith Vantas, who gifted her her grimoire after the Princess gifted her her prized single candy red rose. Unbeknownst to almost everyone but Cronus, Adella had spent all that time practicing and learning to use magic as she studied Lohith's grimoire, and over that single sweep, Adella had gotten to a point where she was now almost a master at the art of witchcraft. Now, as her and Meenah's 9th Wriggling Day approaches, as the inevitable moment of Meenah and Adella's duel for the role of Heiress approaches, Adella has gotten to where she could now be considered a fully fledged witch..... Of course, with the feud between witches and Fuschia bloods that has lasted for centuries, there is still the possibility that should Empress Oceana learn about Adella's secret dabbling in witchcraft over the last sweep, she would lose her title as Princess forever. Adella knew this, and yet it never stopped her from wanting to become Heiress, from wanting to do good for the people of Alternia as their Empress...... But of course, Princess Adella being as kind and naive as she was, she wanted to find a way to earn the role without having to cull her own sister, as hungry for power and control as she was..... and so, the night before their 9th Wriggling Day, before their fateful battle, Princess Adella had decided to approach Princess Meenah with a proposal......

*Inside the castle, we see Adella peeking into the training room where she and Meenah had spent sweeps sparring one another to practice their fighting abilities, finding Meenah inside as she practices with her trident, using the weapon to stab various punching bags over and over, knowing that her sister is practicing to stab her tomorrow*

Meenah:*letting out multiple battle cries over and over as she keeps stabbing each punching bag multiple times, a fierce look in her eyes as she prepares herself for tomorrow, ready to give it her all*

Adella:........*takes in a deep breath and exhales, closing her eyes*...... She's still your sister, Adella...... You hatched together..... You can do this..... You got this....... *opens her eyes, walking into the room and approaching Meenah*..... Meenah?

*Startled, Meenah quickly turns around with her trident, pointing it right in Adella's face, the spikes just inches away from her*

Adella: ! *instinctively takes a step back*

Meenah: Adella? Heh.... shit. *lowers her trident* Scared the hell out of me..... You almost got culled before our big day tomorrow. Or were you hoping to tap out now and just let me get it overwith?

Adella: No. Actually, i..... I did want to talk to you about tomorrow........ About our match.

Meenah:...... Yeah? Heh.... Couldn't wait to give me your last words? Your final chance at wishing me good luck in my future as Empress? You already know you stand no chance against me, right?..... Maybe if you had spent less time in that fucking library, you'd be more of a challenge to me.

Adella:....... I wanted to propose to you something, sister. Just hear me out. *pauses*....... What if we just...... didn't fight?

Meenah:......... What?

Adella: Just listen. *pauses*...... Maybe mother will cull us for it, or threaten to, but..... we both know she won't live forever..... sooner or later, she NEEDS an Heiress...... and this kingdom? You know i never speak ill of mother, but Alternia could do so much better....... We're both almost 9 sweeps. We could have CENTURIES to do amazing things for the people, and she has, what...... only 100 sweeps left? Maybe less than that? How long before new blood gets to take the seat and make change happen? And why should either of us have to fight to the death to prove we deserve to be Empresses?

Meenah:......."Empresses"? Plural?

Adella: Yes. Meenah..... Tomorrow, let's forfeit the match. Lay down our weapons. Tell everyone watching us that we won't take the other's life. That a sister's blood is not worth becoming Empress...... and let's make a declaration that we'll face mother together. Meenah..... Who said there needs to be one Empress? Why can't there be two? Think of all the amazing things we could do for our people together!

Meenah:............

Adella:......... There's..... another thing, as well....... *pauses*...... Remember our Wriggling Day party last sweep? Where i met Cronus?

Meenah: Yes?.....

Adella: I.... I met someone else that night, too..... a witch.

Meenah: ???????

Adella: Her name was Lohith Vantas. She was dying of old age, and....... she gave me this.

*Reaching into a satchel she was carrying, Adella slowly pulls out the very grimoire that Lohith gave her a sweep ago, and shows it to Meenah*

Meenah:.......... You've been in possession of a witch's grimoire this whole time.....

Adella: Yes. And..... and I've been practicing all the spells from it as well! Most of them, anyway.....

Meenah:......."Practicing"?...... Wait..... You're saying you're..... a witch?......

Adella:..... I am. I'm a witch, and I'm not afraid to say it. I may very well be the first in our bloodline to engage in magic and become a witch...... But I still won't forfeit my right to the throne if I can help it. If we both can help it..... *smiles* An Empress who is also a witch.... think of all the ways I could use my magic to help people, Meenah! I can even teach you magic! We..... We could change Alternia in so many ways, both of us.... 2 sisters sharing the throne, sharing magic, helping our people with it, together! Sister...... what do you say? *holds out her hand towards Meenah* Won't you join me? Can't we rule together?.......

Meenah:.............. You know what? Yeah. I like the sound of that..... *reaches out, holding Adella's hand with a firm grip*....... Sisters first, Royalty second..... right?

Adella:*her eyes light up, her smile widening in joy that Meenah actually agreed to her plan* Yes! Thank you, Meenah! Thank you... *lunges forward to give Meenah a big, affectionate hug* Tomorrow, lets make slaying Fuschia blooded brethren a thing of the past..... lets change Alternia forever. Sisters forever..... right?

Meenah: Yeah...... *slowly hugs her back* Sisters forever......

*Cut to the next night, the night of Meenah and Adella's duel; The scene shows a large stadium somewhere deep in the castle, like a gladiator pit. The seats are all filled with multiple Highbloods who came to watch the match, Empress Oceana sitting at the very top in her throne, while Meenah and Adella both face each other in the arena, their battle stances ready, and their tridents gripped tight in their hands as they wear black bodysuits adorned with the Pisces sign on it, plus their tiaras. For a moment, it really looks like both Meenah and Adella are ready to actually fight each other. While the audience watches in silent anticipation for the fight to begin, a bronze blooded servant for the castle quickly rushes in, the announcer for the Alernian Royal Family*

Bronze blood:*pulls out his trumpet and blows a tune into it for a moment, then puts it away* Ladies and Gentle Trolls! Honorable Highbloods who have traveled all this way on this night! Tonight, you are here to witness a historic moment for the Peixes family line.... 9 sweeps ago, the Mother Grub laid 2 Fuschia blooded Trolls in the same clutch, Princess Meenah Peixes and Princess Adella Peixes! Both were almost culled, but the lovely Empress Oceana was merciful enough to spare both and raise them, allowing both the chance to grow and prove which one is worthy of being her Heiress...... A kind act on her part, however..... There can only be one Heiress. And so, you are all about to witness the very first duel between 2 Fuschia blooded Princesses..... One shall go on to face Empress Oceana for the throne, but for the other? This will be their last stand..... May the strongest Heiress win! *blows into his trumpet again, before scurrying away*

*The sound of a bugle playing goes off somewhere nearby, and at that, all the Highbloods in the audience cheer loudly, some hoping one Princess or the other will win, while others, specifically certain Purple bloods, just want to see bloodshed, no matter who wins....... The only ones in the audience not cheering are the impassive Empress Oceana, and Orphaner Cronus Ampora, who is hidden somewhere amongst the other Seadwellers, and not looking too excited for whatever the outcome might be to this*

Cronus:....... Adella.........*in his hand, he lightly grips onto a necklace he's holding in his palm*

*The cheering continues, soon turning into loud chanting as Meenah and Adella continue facing each other, everyone waiting for one of them to strike the first blow with their tridents....... Suddenly, Adella takes her trident and throws it across the stadium floor, the gold weapon sliding across the surface. This causes the chanting and cheering to falter before everything goes quiet, all the Highbloods wondering what's going on*

Oceana:*raises an eyebrow in confusion*.....

Cronus: !!!!!!!!!! Flower.... what are you doing??

Adella:......... I will not strike my sister.

*Murmuring can be heard from the audience, many of the Highbloods clearly disgruntled by this turn of events*

Adella:...... You all heard me. I will not strike down my own sister! *looks on at everyone in the crowd, a clear look of determination in her eyes* I, Princess Adella Peixes, stand before you all tonight to declare..... No, to demand that the tradition of killing the Empress or killing an Heiress for the right to the throne ends now!

*An uproar ensues from this bold claim, many Highbloods booing or shouting in anger at the Princess*

Cronus: Adella.......

Adella: All this slaughter..... All the bloodshed of so many lost sisters, for what? Because they weren't strong enough against their centuries old predecessors? Of course they weren't! 9 sweep old princesses being put up against Empresses who have had MILLIONS of sweeps of experience????? How is that even fair?? Where's the justice in a match with a clear disadvantage?! *looks uo where Oceana sits* Well, mother?? Tell us! Where's the justice in that?!

Oceana:...........

Adella: Well.... It doesn't have to be this way! No one should have to die just to prove themselves! Meenah and i..... We're more than ready to take on the responsibility of being Empresses, when the time is right! Both of us! But for now, we demand that a new age is brought to Alternia! That changes are made, so no more Heiresses have to die so needlessly! That Heiresses are no longer forced to kill their predecessors to take the throne!..... We demand that we both have the right to rule together once Empress Oceana's time on Alternia ends!

*This only results in even more booing and angry shouts from the Highbloods watching this, most of them even more enraged that Adella would dare try to change the status quo like this*

Adella:*the determination in her eyes still remains, as she refuses to stand down and falter to their craving for bloodshed..... But in that moment, she notices how quiet Meenah has been this whole time*..... Meenah?

*Meenah just stands where she is, silently staring at Adella with her trident in her hands, an unreadable look in her eyes*

Adella:....... Meenah? Please, join me..... I cant do this alone...... Your voice matters just as much as mine...... *holds her hand out towards her* Please...... Let them know with me how everything will change after tonight.......

*Not saying a word, Meenah walks up towards her sister. For a moment, Adella thinks her sister is really fulfilling her end of the deal, that they'll both really help make Alternia a true paradise from here on out with this first step.......*

For a moment, Princess Adella's heart was full of hope...... Hope that for the first time in 9 sweeps, she and her sister would truly be united. That with their efforts, everything would change on Alternia, and all would truly know peace and equality....... The closer Princess Meenah got to her, the brighter that light became for Adella..........

And then, in one brief moment, in just a matter of seconds, like a candle in the wind, that light was completely snuffed out as Meenah lunged her trident forward and impaled Adella with it in her abdomen

Adella: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*The angry chanting soon descends into loud cheers of rejoice now that one of the sisters had finally drawn blood, something they all wanted to see the moment they got here*

Cronus: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *quickly gets up from where he was sitting, but the seadweller next to him quickly grabs him by his arm*

Seadweller: Where the hell are you going?! It's getting good, now!

*Amongst the crowd, a certain Indigo blood, Horuss Zahhak, watches all of this with a horrified look, his hand covering his mouth in shock*

Horuss:............

Adella:*her legs tremble, and then she falls to her left knee, trying to maintain balance with her right leg as she coughs up blood, looking up to Meenah*....... Meenah....... Why..... We...... We made a pact......... why.........

Meenah:........... *looks out to the entire audience in the stadium* ADELLA PEIXES HAS LIED TO ALL OF YOU! Last night, she admitted to me that for the last sweep, she's been dabbling in magic, after receiving a grimoire given to her by a witch!

Oceana: ???????

*This results in more outraged chants from the audience, their anger now completely directed at the wounded Princess*

Meenah: Last night, when she told me she wanted us to rule "together", she admitted to me that she committed this grave sin against the Peixes name! And then she said she wanted to use this magic of hers to "help" the people of Alternia once she obtained the throne! Do you all trust a witch, of all beings, to lead your kingdom?!

*More angry shouts from the mob in the stands, it being all too clear how they feel about a witch leading them*

Adella:................ Meenah....... You...... You lied.... to me.......?

Meenah: THIS PATHETIC EXCUSE OF A PRINCESS DARED TO BRING MAGIC INTO THESE ROYAL WALLS, KNOWING WITCHES HAVE BEEN OUR ENEMY FOR GENERATIONS! DO YOU WANT SOMEONE LIKE THIS TARNISHING OUR BLOODLINE AND DESTROYING ALL THAT THE PEIXES' HAVE BUILT?!

*The whole crowd shouts a collective "NO!" in agreement with Meenah. At this point, with the exception of Cronus, everyone is now against her*

Meenah:...... Well. I think we all know who the people want, then.......

Adella: Meenah...... Please...... I don't understand--

*With the trident still impaled in Adella's abdomen, Meenah lets go of it for a moment, reaching out and instead grabbing hold of Adella's horns, shaped exactly like hers*

Meenah:.......... You don't deserve to have these horns adorning your head........ You're not a Peixes...... You're a disgrace........

*With no hesitation, and barely any struggle, Meenah just completely rips Adella's horns off of her head, Fuschia blood spilling down Adella's hair and onto the floor as she lets out a loud, agonizing scream, tears spilling down her face and mixing with the blood on the floor*

Adella:*her scream begins to falter, all the blood loss she has endured causing her to become very weak, nearly falling over on the floor, but she tries to keep herself upright*.......

*Out of a moment of desperation, a need to call out for help, Adella looks around the audience in the arena, her eyes landing all the way to the top, where Oceana sits, staring down at her........ But when she looks up at the Empress, at the woman who raised her, all she sees in Oceana's eyes is a cold glare. The kind of disgusted, disappointed glare that would shatter any child if they received such a look from the person who raised them*

Adella:............... Mother...... please........

*Meenah tosses Adella's severed horns aside, beginning to approach her once more to reach out for her trident..... But then, Oceana holds up her hand, and like that, everything in the stadium silences, even Meenah pauses in her movements, she and everyone else looking to the very person who holds the fate of all of Alternia in her palms*

Oceana:.......*stands from her throne, slowly walking forward in the balcony where she sits, looking down to her 2 daughters*.......... Meenah? Do not cull her.

Meenah:....... What?

Oceana:....... There is no need. Just for simply bringing witchcraft into my castle, she will be banished.

Adella: !!!!!!!!!!!!!.......

Oceana: If she wants to live the witch's life..... let her. Let her live the nonviolent, nomadic witch's life she so desires, far, far away from the Peixes name........ Adella?........ You always were the weakest out of the both of you. But I had hoped maybe you would prove you truly had the strength to lead Alternia....... That you would continue to maintain our traditions. You disappoint me........ you should have been the one I culled when you were just hatched......

Adella:....... Mother......

*Meenah grabs hold of the trident still lodged inside Adella, before completely yanking it out of her body, Adella letting out a yelp of pain before more blood spills from her body*

*In that moment, unable to take this sight anymore, Cronus quickly dashes from his seat, trying to get past as many Highbloods as he can to reach Adella in time*

Oceana: Guards? Take her out of my sight! Get her out of this castle!

*Just like that, a duo of guards quickly storm in and grab the weakened Adella, dragging her out of the arena by both arms and through the castle halls leading to the exit..... All the while, Adella's blood continues to spill, smearing itself all over the castle floors and carpets, as she becomes more and more weak every second. After what seems like an eternity, the guards reach the castle's main doors, pushing them open and then tossing Adella out of the castle for good, and onto the hard ground outside*

Guard 1:.......... Farewell, Princess.......

*The castle doors close, the sound of Adella being cut off from her life as a Princess sounding off like the sound of church bell ringing, marking the end of an era, and seemingly, the end of Adella's life....... Adella can only lay there before her former home, her wound making her too weak to even get up, and her skin getting more and more pale with every second as she begins to resemble a corpse. But after a moment, a shadow appears as someone approaches Adella, standing above her and looking down at her...... The figure in question kneels down to Adella and picks her up, holding her in his arms and burying her face into his shoulder as if to try and provide her comfort*