Letters

SoulCon

It was a strange thing.

The thirst for power, for dignity.

Theodore never wanted any of it, all he wanted was Carabeth to carry the Empire's banner to various heights.

Right now, something was nagging at his mind. Carabeth needs me, I can be a better emperor without Inocencio and her.

He growled at his thought, they're better, my job is to ensure their success.

"You ok, babe?" Carabeth asked, her brows pulled together in concern, "Are you taking your meds as the doctor asked you to?"

"Yeah, I am," Theodore answered, "I am just worried, I don't trust that doctor, the one who did the switching, I feel like he always liked Stella." He suddenly had a dark look on his face, "And liking someone who is on the rebels' side is a dangerous thing in this mission."

Carabeth suddenly sat up in their bed, "I see, I'll have him interrogated. Anything else, Mr. Vessels?".

He hmphed before saying, "Keshia and Chicago. The city needs to see an example."

"I will," She straddled his lap before nearing his ears and saying, "Mr. Vessels."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Five Blue Westerns sat around an unconscious female with blond hair.

The oldest among Blue Westerns had the girl's head on her lap. "It is time for Akio to stop crusading around the land. Ryoku, fire the arrow. It is time for him to come home."

"Yes, Shujin Hisame." A silver-hooded figure rose from the group of five and speed-walked out of the room.

Hisame turned back to her group when Ryoku was out of sight. "When my son arrives, I want a grand celebration and all and Ryoku should be the one to greet him. The next day should be them spending time together."

All blue-hooded figures bobbed their heads at once. A figure spoke, "Shujin Hisame, Sutorimu is wondering-".

"Sutorimu can speak for herself, Safaia."

A small gulp was heard. "Speak up, Sutorimu," Hisame said in her calm demeanor.

"Shujin, I was wondering if instead of Ryoku some other Blue was there. Isn't it obvious we need a healthy pure heir for the throne?" A soft voice fluttered in, like a sly melody.

Hisame quirked her left brow and asked, "Who is this some other Blue?" 

It was a challenge.

"Me." The soft melody was suddenly very bold.

Hisame started chuckling, and the others chuckled nervously, except for Soturimu who was brave enough to look at her with defiance in her eyes instead of fear.

"You think you're worthy enough for the Blue Western throne just because your ancestors are of this land?" Hisame started to brush the blond girl's hair as though she was her daughter, as she stared straight at Soturimu.

"Yes." Hisame's hand stopped suddenly in the moments of silence that followed after the answer.

"You will never be the one. I will make sure of it, Ryoku will be your queen until the day you die. She is just as pure as the blue lilies of the river. Just because her father was an outsider does not make her an outsider." Hisame's eyes were ablaze. 

She thought of Ryoku as her daughter since the day her mother arrived at her throne, her face swollen and bleeding, and a handful of blue-hooded male soldiers chased after her, their spears pointed at her back.
"Please, save her, your majesty," the woman cried.
"What is this?!"  Hisame cried out in horror.
"Your majesty, this woman slipped out of our hands before we could stop her." The captain stepped forward, his head high as a symbol of pride.
"What is wrong with you?! Can't you see she's a BLUE!!!!?" She yelled with utter anger and disgust at her soldiers.
All the soldiers looked down and her consort, Kyoka looked at Hisame with absolute admiration.
She looked at the trembling woman and child with gentle eyes and with a cajoling voice she said, "What is your name, Mishiranu Hito?".
"I have none, I have been cast out by my tribe." She whispered. A soldier snorted, enraging Hisame.
"Karui, I want his head." That was all the encouragement needed for the men to quiet down, it was mostly because that soldier was now without his head. A  squadron of white-headed women stood in front of Hisame, next to the babe and the mother.
The woman in front of the group carried the disemboweled head as though it was a trophy and offered it to the Queen with a bow, all the Karui followed her example. Hisame nodded at Kyoka who quickly reacted by getting up and taking the head before exiting the deep blue and gold throneroom. The Karui disappeared just as quickly.
She turned back to her audience and shooed away the male soldiers with a flick of her wrist. She and the women were now alone, not even the Karui spying.
"Your child is going to be the reason for greatness, Songen." In a sudden movement, the woman's head flipped up, tears blurring her eyes. Someone finally gave her the dignity she needed, a name she had been denied since her child's birth. Songen. "Your Majesty, please let me into your service." 
"Tell me, does your child have a name?" 
"No, we were denied."
"She'll be a force of strength and power never seen before, she'll be Ryoku. She'll be my daughter. And you will follow in the steps of the Karui."