#gabory

I'd meet you where the spirit meets the bones

The crunching of leaves awoke her again the next day, although Jophiel hardly slept. She no longer could. A soft thudding, muffled by leather disturbed her rest and lo and behold, it was the emperor of the world's greatest empire coming to see her at early morning.

Long before any other could.

"You look tired, my love."

If had heard her, he gave no answer.

In a faith forgotten land

"I did not think you would make it all the way here, but thank you… for coming to see me. I was getting quite lonely." The Queen's words were met with the silence of the Emperor.

He left soon after and she craved his presence, still Jophiel couldn't implore Schpood to stay a while longer. Even if only to bask in the sun that warmed her grave.

The Queen realised he could walk around wherever she pleased so long as she never left the borders of her nation. Not that she longed to leave.

Yet, in the weary faces of those she met, her subjects that she tried to cheer up, there was a sense of loss. For some strange reason, she felt it was hope that had been robbed from her people.

In from the snow

There was a feast of sorts, held in honor of her whilst the visitors of Westhelm could still attend. Yet it felt like a funeral, maybe that's what it was. The Queen was unsure, she hadn't been involved in the planning.

When it was the Emperor's turn to speak, a eulogy shrouded in a toast, he did not. Jophiel watched him raise his glass, champagne strangely enough was the drink of choice. It had been her favourite when she was alive.

The Queen stood pouting by the side, lamenting that she could not taste a drink that was chosen for her. Even when they poured it on the dry earth.

She poked Schpood' side, head tilted as she asked, "Well? Aren't you gonna say something? Come on! It's my eulogy, at least say something tearful."

And yet, the Emperor that hated formalities, he declined the offer to speak. No one dared to insist, but the Queen. "What? Why the hell not?! Schpood!"

She didn’t know, he had words prepared. All on the tip of his tongue, written in the back of his hand not that he feared he wouldn't remember but that he might not be able to say it all. In the end he swallowed his words.

"At least make them cry or something." The Queen muttered, suffocated by the assault of everyone's sorrow digging into her grave, pressing into her coffin. She thought perhaps the Emperor could dispel it.

Alas, she only watched him drink more than he probably should have.

"Poor Spyder, and Owo6. Worry not, I'll watch over him. Make sire he doesn't stumble off the balcony or something. He shouldn't join me too soon."

Your touch brought forth an incandescent glow

It was only until the Emperor's cheeks were dusted pink by the alcohol that he spoke, albeit no longer a speech as was expected from earlier. Slurring his words, very few could hear him Gabory for one, the new King and the loyal aids of the Emperor.

Schpood stepped out into the dark, the balcony his Queen used to watch her people from. All abuzz and bustling in the town square, lit up by lanterns so clearly seen from the high vantage point.

"She is-" Schpood bit his tongue, "was like the sun. Warm and beautiful," Too much to be beheld by mortal hands, Schpood paused gazing at the moon who could only draw it's light from the sun and then continued, "I'm sure, she was the hope of the people. Hers and mine, perhaps I should say yours now, King."

Gabory quickly shook his head, u sure of the answer. "No, no. Tricolor shall always belong to the Queen. Even now, I only endeavor to serve her legacy."

"I see.. good man. So you shall."

A while later, the Emperor was left alone. Despite the protests of Spyder, after all, it hadn't been long since the Queen's assassination. With the motive unclear, the Emperor's life could've been at stake as well.

In the end, the Emperor got as he wished. Alone, in the dark without the light of the sun.

"Geez, you shouldn't talk to him like that Schpood. He's only thinking of you." The Queen's rebuke fell on deaf ears. She sat beside the Emperor, who put of sight slumped to the floor unbefitting of his station as some would whisper.

"Jophiel."

The shock on the Queen's face was clear, she whipped her head towards him. "Are you talking to me-" "I hope I can fill the sudden darkness you've left me holding. How could you do this to me? Knowing I'm not a warm man. You were supposed to light the way and give color to all that is grey."

He spoke the truth, the queen would later realise, he is fire. The great Emperor, he lit the path with a burning warmth.

Tarnished but so grand

Jophiel stayed with him the entire night, shooing away mosquitoes, who by some miracle she could drive away. Schpood fell asleep on the cold floor of her castle.

By morning, Spyder came to see the Emperor, surprised to see him on the floor and wondering how his cape, that had been removed and hanged by the balcony railings were draped over the man.

"I'll forgive him for drinking this much just once, you tell this stubborn man that Spyder."

Of course, the consul couldn't have done as ordered.

Still, she stuck around Schpood until he awoke, laughing at him as he complained of a wicked hangover. "Serves you right, you should've stopped when I told you to."

Suddenly, she saw his eyes drawn to the side to which she followed with her gaze. It was an unfinished banner, of what would have been Trihelm.

On that table, was also a seal, a half carved thing of dark wood of a sun. The designed would now never be finished. Jophiel stood up and walked over to the table, whether it was on purpose or a servants mistake, Schpood ended up in her room.

"Not that I mind," Her fingers traced the word Trihelm on one of the legal documents, a template she never finished.

"I designed it myself, well, mostly myself, I had help but you know. Tell me, do you like it?"

And the old widower goes to the stone every day

Before Emperor Schpood left, he asked for a sliver of the Queen's ashes. So he may keep a part of her with him, always. Jophiel stood with a grimace as Gabory filled a small glass bottle of her ashes, spared from the lava.

"I mean.. I love you guys but… That's me, you're putting me in a bottle!"

But I don't, I just sit here and wait

But when the day came for the Emperor's departure, the end of the customary days of mourning, the Queen could only follow him to the pier and not a step further.

She waved her hand up, raising her voice as the ship left the harbor. "Goodbye, Schpood!" For she realised, unable to follow him, she would never see him again.

Grieving for the living

Days passed spent in the Queen's ghostly musings around her people. Along the plaza where she watched the children play, or the castle where operations continued as if nothing had changed.

At time she would hang around by the throne room, hearing the people's plights. Jophiel breathed a sigh of relief, she had done well picking Gabory as her successor.

But for some reason, vibrant as the colors of Tricolor were she couldn't help but notice the saturation of its colors fading. Little by little. There was a sense of sadness that followed Gabory.

Even the men, the builders and farmers. She wondered if it was her fault and more often than not, at the sight of her people in agony, the Queen's heart broke.

She apologised every time.

Oh, goddamn

My pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand

One night, as ghosts often do, hovering the by azure sparkling waters, the queen felt a strange sensation. So similar to her dying moments, even as she burned a coldness came over her as her life slipped away.

The once and forever queen of Colors had begun to lose hers.

She shuddered, staring at her reflection the waters and she hardly recognise herself. Her brilliant blonde hair was dull and white, rich blue eyes like the summer sky resembled that of winter. Cold and grey.

Her fair skin, tanned by the sun had now turned pale and sickly, the side of her face and a large entirety of her body covered in hideous burn scars. Her skin peeled and burst from the slash across her chest.

Jophiel could only breath out in relief that she could feel nothing at all. Aside from once in a while, reliving the pain of her death that always resulted to her hands freezing cold.

Taking mine, but it's been promised to another

Leaning against her headstone, Jophiel realised perhaps she had always been meant to die. Her hand was never Schpood's to accept.

Oh, I can't

Stop you putting roots in my dreamland

Still, once in a while she would see a boat moored with the flag of Westhelm. Everywhere she went she'd see a jewelry or two made of metal, the works of Westhelms blacksmiths had crossed the sea and slowly became intertwined with Tricolors fashions.

Bangles and necklaces, even rings. She touched the ghost of her own ring. It had been buried with her and miraculously, did not melt in the lava. A proud feat Westhelm's blacksmiths could proudly claim.

My house of stone, your ivy grows

And now I'm covered in you

She had lost track of the days, lesser known, her memories. The Queen now only walked along her grave, or the palace grounds. Less more often of the unfamiliar places, the changing plaza that after renovation she could no longer recognise and feared to go.

Soon, even the palace gardens felt foreign and Jophiel could only haunt her grave.

I wish to know

The fatal flaw that makes you long to be

Magnificently cursed

She lay on the forest floor, watching the stars twinkle in the night sky. Every night she would recite names, who they were to her and anything else she could recall.

"Emperor… Emperor?" Jophiel scratched her head, pointing a blaming finger at a bright star that seemed to outshine all the others. "Oh, Schpood… my Emperor."

As the star blinked back at her, she recited what little left of her memory, "A tyrant? A madman? Was he, or was it someone else. How could a mad person be so great if he is?"

And she wandered even more, trying to recall the feeling of his stubble against the pads of her fingers. Or the color of his eyes.

He's in the room

Your dark eyes are all I wish to see

He wants what's only yours

She looked to the corner of her eyes, of the man shrouded in robes. He had been following her around.

"Pardon me, Death… I've promised my hand to someone else. You shouldn't have taken me."

'For I may forget many things and even myself but not him, nor that we promised to be each other's person and I am his alone.'

Oh, goddamn

My pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand

The pale horseman faded away, like a figment of Jophiel's imagination but she was sure he would come knocking again. The Queen refused to leave, her earthly matters had yet to be settled.

Looking at her hands, bony and ash like with dark fingernails and maggots squirming, she wondered if Schpood minded that her hands were cold the last time he held them.

Taking mine, but it's been promised to another

Oh, I can't

It became a passing thing, the rising of the sun. The Queen remained on the floor, strewn about the flowers when she heard the gossiping of busybodies, passing by the footpath near her resting place.

"It's a wonderful project, I believe."

"You think so? Eh, I mean… So does that mean the alliance is still in place?"

"Who knows, but a sculpture for the late Queen to be displayed at the Citadel of Westhelm? Come on, that's good news."

The Queen sat up, confused, hair tangled, and head tilted a habit she had during her lifetime not even death could shake off. She watched them pass, saw the glimpses to her grave as they hurried away as if spooked.

"Westhelm?" The Queen asked herself, "Where's that?"

Stop you putting roots in my dreamland

Jophiel didn't know she could have dreams, or if it was a dream at all. Watching the verdant flora of the forest, she danced singing to herself and bored out of her mind. With no one to talk to or to do, she tried to sleep.

A vision came to mind that had her bolting upright. "Strange, up until now I could never sleep?" It was a memory. Of Schpood. She saw herself holding a small potted plant, what it was she couldn't recall.

The Emperor blanched at the gift, "That thing's going to die here." The Queen laughed in the Emperor's face, pushing the pot into his hands. No one could refuse the Emperor, no one dared to but Queen Jophiel.

"No, it won't. They're quite resilient you see. And prickly, like you."

Jophiel sat there, wide eyed and dazed.

"I hope that plant lived…"

My house of stone, your ivy grows

And now I'm covered

At times, there'd be people of a strange fashion. Foreigners, Jophiel concluded and it puzzled her why they left gifts and paid respects at her grave.

Clover blooms in the fields

One of them, a stranger dressed in dark flowing fabric a touch of red that seemed sinister. Her hands covered in rings, the metal work intricate laced by henna swirling in patterns. Her hair light, pale golden under the sun but a fading cornflower blue almost the shade of ash in the shadows. The young lady knelt at the Queen's grave, weeping.

Spring breaks loose, the time is near

It was night again, Jophiel trying to hold onto her memories but they were determined to slip through her fingers.

Emperor Schpood insisted on walking her back to the castle after she showed him around town. It gave the Queen a pause, she had hoped to send the Emperor back on his own, surely he can do that by himself.

"Must you stick by me like a leech?"

Schpood frowned, unable to tell her 'Yes, he did. Every moment possible.' After all, they were separated by a vast ocean, he would cross regardless, and their times together was rarer than water in the desert.

"When you put it like that, my Queen, it makes it difficult to agree. Besides, who else would listen to all the reasons I hate Commonwealth?"

"But I want to ride my horse back, I'm afraid it's not ideal for chatting." In truth, Queen Jophiel was only tired of the Emperor's ramblings, much as she was she didn't have the heart to tell him to stop.

Schpood grinned, taking her hand. "I know, my Queen. Besides I'm an excellent rider." He bragged he could yap and gallop at the same time.

Much to the Queen's amusement, as soon as the Emperor mounted the black steed brought for him, it neighed and kicked almost throwing the man off. "He's a good judge of character." Jophiel joked, in between laughter. And while he struggled, Schpood retorted, "Of course he is."

Afterwards, riding by the fields became a past time for both monarchs. Racing each other and chasing each other. The horse had indeed been a decisive one.

What would he do if he found us out?

The Queen was snapped out of her reminiscence by the eerie gust of wind. Her dull eyes met a void of darkness. There he stood again, Death.

This time, it was she who begged. All the dignity of a queen stripped as she fell to her knees. "Must you take me from them? Just once, let me see him again. Please."

Crescent moon, coast is clear

Spring breaks loose, but so does fear

But she was not granted her wish and so Death left her, voice hoarse in prayer he refused to grant.

So tell me to run

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" Jophiel screamed to the high heavens, trying to pry the man off from her grave to no avail. The dirt came loose and his shovel broke through the wooden coffin.

"No! No!"

The Queen felt her spirit tugged away, dragged through the forests as she tried to cling to Tricolors flags but the wind carried her away. From there, she was taken to the Coalition much as she would've loved to visit before, Jophiel did not wish to part from Tricolor.

Thankfully or not, President Cass banished the one who stole her remains. Queen Jophiel thought that finally, her people might catch up and bring her home.

But as Addison crossed the sea, her hopes were shattered. Furious, the Queen tried to touch him and take her head back. Her hands passed through like mist.

"No! Give me back!"

By twist of fate, cruel or coincidence, Addison struck a deal with Westhelm's Emperor. Upon seeing him, his dark hair and even darker eyes awoke the Queen's dying memories.

"Schpood…"

It happened quickly, with a scream only she could hear. The Emperor upon receiving the late Queen's remains, cut the thief down. Jophiel's legs shook, it was brutal and yet, comforting.

Schpood had not wasted a second in righting what had been done against her. Her cold, dead heart fluttered anew. Her eyes suddenly felt warm watching him cradle the box of her remains with none of the ruthlessness and rage moments ago.

It was a gentle hold, something she'd teased him for before and now felt forlorn.

The Emperor ordered word be given to Tricolor. Grey eyes that used to be blue watched dark eyes tremble, the pads of the Emperor's calloused hands caressed the box, as if unwilling to part.

On begged and borrowed time

From her peripheral vision, Death appeared. A chill was in the air, Jophiel rubbed her freezing hands on Schpood's arms hoping to warm him. She hadn't noticed the goosebumps rising.

The Queen's eyes resembled that of a doe as she clung to her lover and cried out to Death, imploring him if not to bring her back then at least to let her converse with her Emperor.

This time, Death answered. He shook his head and said, "You're a greedy thing. You must be satisfied now."

"With this? Barely a touch? I want to feel him, to hear him. No, let him hear me."

Or dare to sit and watch what we'll become

She glued herself to Schpood as the hours passed, waiting anxiously and excruciatingly for her people to retrieve her. She almost wished they wouldn't.

Instead of attending one of his council meetings, Schpood brought her to the Colosseum. Her remains left guarded at the Citadel. She sat beside him, by the arm of the throne like chair made just for him and brushed his dark hair from his face.

"Strange, you don't seem to be enjoying the show… What's wrong?"

Of course, Schpood didn't answer.

Queen Jophiel's eyes scoured the crowd. For some reason, she saw a striking beauty seated not far. Clapping as the match reached a peak. Before, Jophiel would've turned away but now the violence of each strike seemed not to burden her anymore.

Or she had no stomach to be sick.

Watching Schpood, she leaned down resting her head against his chest. She wondered if he would ever marry another. At the thought, she shook her head.

"Even if he did, what right does a dead woman have to object?"

She comforted herself with his scent and his voice as he spoke. She wished she could feel his warmth, or the firmness of his muscles as she rested her weary body against his. To know he was alive and in the flesh and she, dead and a ghost.

Savoring each moment, she tapped her finger over his chest, counting the heartbeat she couldn't feel.

Tricolor came swiftly, taking both their Queen's remains and Addison's. Schpood sent a few of his own elite soldiers to ensure she would be entombed without delay.

"Forgive me, Jophiel. I would go myself if I could. But, I'll have a mausoleum built for you… and I swear, your rest will never be disturbed again."

And drink my husband's wine

It truly felt like goodbye. Jophiel approached Schpood, to lay a gentle kiss upon his cheek.

On the other side, was Death. She had finally agreed to go.

Oh, goddamn

My pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand

As she turned to walk away, her hand brushed against Schpood's, just barely and yet for a moment she felt his skin. A warmth that only be so human.

She had never turned faster, a splash of color returning to her cheeks as the zap of electricity revived her heart for a brief moment.

Taking mine, but it's been promised to another

"This is the final time, are you coming Queen Jophiel?"

But Jophiel couldn't tear her gaze away from Schpood, as if she were rooted by his side. Her heart wavered.

"You have fulfilled your role upon this Earth, as fate would have it. And I… Have been more than generous to grant your desires, as you were a much beloved Queen in your life time.

Come with me now child. "

Oh, I can't

"I'm sorry. I can't leave him."

For some reason, it seemed as if she'd displeased Death. Jophiel didn't mind, he had upset her in return. She wanted more time.

"I will not fetch you again."

"I know."

"Well then, so be it. I hope you don't come to regret this decision, Queen Jophiel of Tricolor."

He's gonna burn this house to the ground

It seemed the restrictions upon her were lifted, soon as Death's shadow no longer hovered over her. She could travel freely from Tricolor to Westhelm without abandon.

One night, upon entering the Emperor's chambers she noticed the broken glass on the floor and roaring fire in the fire place burning fiercely as it consumed paper and fabric she couldn't recognise.

"Schpood? What's wrong?"

He was furious. She could see it from the reflection of his face illuminated by the fire. All of a sudden, he yelled, "Jophiel!" She was startled, jumping from her skin. That was when she paid attention to what glass was strewn on the grey stone floors. Bottles of wine, rich and that only which an emperor is worthy of.

"How dare you abandon me!" The Emperor raged, a crash echoed in his room. Jophiel immediately left the room to find Spyder or Owo6 who she had not seen for some time. Thankfully, she found him.

'Oh, that's right. They can't see me. What's the use of asking .'

"Empress?"

"Owo6?"

Jophiel stood stunned, "You can see me?" What once had been a striking pink was a little faded, but the consul's eyes sparkled as he ran to the Queen. "It is you! Oh, Empress! Thank goodness! I thought I was gonna go crazy here."

"Wait, wait. You're dead?"

The young man chuckled, "Eh, well.. it is what it is. Why are you here, Empress? Shouldn't you be in Tricolor?"

"I'll tell you later, right now Schpood- He's, I don't know. Drunk? He might hurt himself."

And for the first time since they met, Jophiel saw the color of melancholy on Owo6's face. "I see you haven't been here long enough. He's like that some times… especially if.. someone mentions you. The Emperor will be fine, Spyder knows to check on him by midnight and morning. He's just venting his frustrations."

"Frustrations? Of me?"

How's one to know?

I'd live and die for moments that we stole

And so, the Queen returned to the room alone. There, Schpood who would've been her husband spoke again. But this time she answered, "I did not leave of my own will! You think I wished to die?!"

She answered again, more fiercely, "You boorish man! And now you say you loathe me?! How dare you! It is not my fault you are so distrustful! She was my friend! I trusted her!"

She struck her palm across his chest, "So do you! Why?! Why must you provoke me so? Am I not already gone from you?! I learned my lesson, must you rub salt on my wound!"

Jophiel stepped back at his response, if it could be called that, and retorted, "Forgive me then, for hurting you." She spat, "It wasn't my intention. But if you'd felt so averse to my ideals, why would you even accept my hand in marriage? And you claim I'm the one with pride? Did you take me for a fool?"

She could not bear his answer, fury spilling from her chest as she scoffed in disbelief. Of course the Emperor couldn't have heard any of it. She argued anyway, as fervently as if he could hear her. "I shouldn't have sent that proposal. I should've cancelled the damn thing when I found out your plans, and yet… you're right. I was a fool, I should've seen you for what you are. A tyrant, whose madness is fueled by arrogance and vanity! Your volatile, insensibility to-"

"I love you, Jophiel."

Stop you putting roots in my dreamland

My house of stone, your ivy grows

And now I'm covered in you

And I'm covered in you

"Schpood…"

So yeah, it's a fire

It's a goddamn blaze in the dark

He confessed. "To think I couldn't stand the thought of losing you. And here I am, in a bedchamber fit for two. Unfinished with decoration for you, my Queen. Answer me this, am I not the foolish one? I am the Emperor of Westhelm but you made me suffer in vain. That's a crime punishable by death. If only I could punish you to a lifetime of imprisonment by my side.

You've taken with you what I could never hope to recover. My heart, my being, my thoughts and my comfort. You're the closest to peace, my peace that I had. I wonder, if I'll meet you in paradise. I don't think we will end up in the same place."

And you started it

"Honestly, Jophiel… if you're listening anyway. This is your fault, I thought it was only an alliance. How could you make me love you?

You started it.

Sending that proposal… then getting assassinated. You're the catalyst to all this. I don't know if our marriage could've stopped these but we could've tried."

You started it

So yeah, it's a war

The day of reckoning came far too quickly for her and at the same time too late.

War is coming.

But the poor ghost Queen, flitted from her own nation of colours to the empire in the west in an attempt to discourage them. "Gabory! Gabory, you must listen to me, please! Do not embroil our people into this!" But when she could not haunt the new king enough, she turned to Westhelm.

But there she knew chances were slim, regardless of her wishes and herself they would go to war. She tried, with all her strength to move one of the figurines. It moved only a little, barely toppling a little.

Gabory looked to the Emperor, Tricolour's forces had just arrived. "Is it just me, or is the Queen with us today?"

"It could be a sign, a blessing of victory."

It's the goddamn fight of my life

She watched the war unfold, bloody in it's carnage and burning in it's path. Soldiers fell, on their swords, to their deaths. Jophiel could only witness history in mortified horror.

The Emperor led the forces of the Alliance valiantly. The enemy approached him from behind. "Schpood! Behind you-" The soldier swung as the Queen screamed, reaching out to protect Schpood but the sword only went through her intangible body.

"No!"

Thankfully, unlike her, the Emperor's guard had his back.

And you started it

Fluxion and his men had come near the end, to see through what they've begun.

You started it

While the final battle had reached it's peak, the war raged on.

Oh, I can't

Stop you putting roots in my dreamland

My house of stone, your ivy grows

Watching her people die Jophiel cried.

"Stop, enough, you don't have to do this."

Her knights and warriors, gentle men and brave ladies fighting ferociously, for the Queen's justice. Those whose smiles she now remembered trudged on with an intense determination she was proud of them to have. But seeing one by one fall, the queen wept. Bitter tears of colorless grey.

And now I'm covered

Scarlet blood stained their swords, azure bruises covered their skin and the verdant green of life fizzled out of the fallen.

Courageous were the Queen's knights, slain they became. The fair citizens of Tricolor.

In you

The aftermath came slow, and full of more sorrow than one could imagine. There was peace at last.

Though the Queen would always miss the bustling square, now bare of it's people. The hollers and songs and laughter that dominated her kingdom had dulled. A gaping wound on tender flesh, healing ever so slowly.

In you, you

Many long days had passed before Schpood crossed the ocean again and set foot on the now recovered Tricolour. Jophiel smiled as she watched him approach, it was early. Far too early for any man to be out and about, much less visiting a grave.

"Took you long enough. I was afraid you'd never come."

Now I'm covered in you

Schpood stood by her grave for a long time, it wasn't until the sun began to shine over the Queen's statue that he began to talk. He greeted her as usual and then, went on a tirade of the events. Abridged for the most part and despite the sadness she felt during that time, Jophiel laughed at how he recounted it.

"I was there so at least I know you're exaggerating that particular tale. Did you come here to comfort me?"

Schpood lay the bouquet of flowers he had gotten picked himself a top her tomb. He held it for a while as if unwilling to admit defeat that he had nothing more to say.

Jophiel embraced him, a warm smile on her now once more vibrant and colour filled visage. "Thank you, my Emperor. Also, you needn't worry so much about your two troublemakers. I'm taking care of Skipolo and Owo6, of course along with all the rest of our people now with me."

In you