The Final Chapter

Change Of Plans

Chapter 17

He looked at the plans again, then back at the wall. Like he had done repeatedly for the last hours. "Where are they?!", he yelled. His subordinate shivered in fear: "I-I-I don't know, my Prince..." Aether turned towards him with an expression of frustation. "Anything from Kaeya?" A negative answer to this too. The Prince began to get crazy. The Herald, that should escort Lumine back to him, had not returned yet and he feared the worst. Someone did betray them. And that someone had to be Kaeya. He turned back at the table looking at the plans again. A Mage had reported the fall of Narukami island and the death of the Electro and Geo archon. Everything went according to plan. Almost everything. No sign from any other archons yet. Footsteps approached the table.
"I-I'm leaving then...", the subordinate said, while someone stepped next to the Abyss Prince. "You're late", he groaned. His guest held back a chuckle and went over the plans with his finger. "And you are very irratated today... Having a bad day?" Aether looked up to the opposite side of the table, straight into the malicious right eye of the Jester. The Prince let out a mockingly fake smile and then put his finger on the map. "Actually we are doing great. The Shougun fell at dawn yesterday. Liyues archon a while before. Two down, Five to go...", he explained while pointing to the cross on Narukami island, "Did you accomplish anything?" His guest nodded: "Assassins killed Barbatos and Buer, leaving two" He crossed their names and nations of the map with a pencil from the table. The Prince raised an eyebrow at him. "Three, Pierro", he said. The Harbinger looked slightly confused back at him and then shrugged and put the pencil back down. Aether glared at him. Not this again. He really valued the support of the Fatui but if their plan should work they would need the gnosis and death of all archons. Even the Tsaritsa. To bring them all to that place. This discussion was not one the Prince was willing to have today. Yes their plan has come along nicely until now, but knowing that Lumine was still out there, not knowing the truth... It established the risk to hurt her. Or worse the risk to face her as an enemy.
"Are assassins on their ways to Fontaine and Natlan?", he asked. "Yes", Pierro replied, "I'll get informed as soon as it's done" The blonde nodded. "Inform the Front! They should stop the attack and get them here!", he commanded. Mages rushed through portals, setting his command into motion.
"So we have arrived at the final stage of the plan?", the Jester asked only to receive a nod again, "Well then I will return to the Tsaritsa. I'll report back to you"
The Prince looked at him and then smiled: "No you wont." Two mages teleported next to Pierro and froze him into place. The first Harbinger looked at the Prince in shock. "To answer the question written in your face: Yes I know of your plan Pierro", Aether said still smiling. With a sinister expression. "What are you-", the Jester began and tried to move but Aether cut him off. "Your plan to undercut our operation!" The Harbingers face barely changed, but the prince knew enough about him to see the surprise in his face. Pierro wanted to speak again but Aether cut him off again: "How am I supposed to get the last gnoses? Simple. The Heralds teleporting your Fatui agents report back to me. So they will get the gnoses and hand them to me. All that's left is to kill your beloved Cryo archon and retrieve her gnosis too..." Right on cue a Herald teleported into the room. "Your High-", he stopped mid-sentence and looked at the situation. "I bring the Hydro gnosis my Prince", he reported quickly and pulled out the gnosis. The prince turned around, still smiling, and took the Gnosis from him: "Thank you... Focalors was no easy enemy, was she?", fascinated he looked at the little figure, "You may leave..." Slighty bowing the Herald left the scene. Aether put the Gnosis down on the table and looked at the Jester. His face first full of concern began to form a mocking smile: "And how do you think you'll get the gnoses we already collected?" Aether chuckled. "It's simple. We invade the palace. The Tsaritsa already collected four gnoses for us, plus her own she still posseses. Five at once!" He laughed like a maniac. Then his expression hardened again: "But you, who betrayed my nation after the collapse, should not experience the day our nation rises again and destroys the Heavenly Principles... Kill him"
Taking the Hydro gnosis from the table the Prince left the room leaving the execution to the Mages. He looked down, from the little balcony in front of the room, further in the cave, where the Heralds and mages crowded Hilichurls and fighting machines left from Inazuma. "My people! The day has come! Our final attack is today, against the Tsaritsa!", the prince said overjoyed. Mages and and Heralds cheered and Hilichurls roared with them. He gave a sign and portals opened, leading straight towards the Tsaritsa's palace. It was a fine distraction for a few troups to invade the palace, so he could get to the archon and fight her. "Your Highness? The last gnosis..." A Herald appeared behind him, the Pyro gnosis in hand. Aether smiled. Finally his plan began to work. "Good. Now. Get me in the palace", he commanded taking the gnosis and putting it away. A portal opened before him. One last look went over his army storming through their portals, executing his plan perfectly. Roaring and battlecries filled the cave but between all of them he heard something familiar, something he believed to never hear again. A blonde haired girl stood at the end of the stairs, to the balcony, a sword in hand and eyes filled with deep hatred.
For a moment time stopped and something in him, that was suppressed for far too long, came back to him. His voice left him and all Aether managed to say was: "Lumine?"