Your Highness~ [Lumity Fanfiction AU]

[73]

December 24th, fourteen twenty, six days later.

Luz was relieved to feel an emptiness between her thighs in the foul morning, and made sure to quadruple check that she was once again female. She wrote a letter to Amity, and the postman was off again.

She had not recieved any letters from Amity, but one from Mayor. This time, she opened it, but was called to clear out an area a few miles off. The letter would have to wait.

Hunter silenced his group, ears perking, the witch pointing a finger over his group, waving them along. Forming into a single line, they crept along with Hunter, Luz looking to Paco. The stallion gazed at the ground, still, listening.

He bucked slightly, Luz patting his nose, "Hey- Hey, we're okay. Paco? Hey look at me-"

Paco let out a weak whinny, staring at Luz, lowering his head. "Nhhzz.."

"I won't let anything happen to you, Paco." Luz hugged his snout. "We'll be in and out, so keep quiet."

He softened, gently nudging her and taking a step forward. Luz took his reins, creeping alongside the others, glancing around. She too had the uneasey feeling, of being watched.

But from where she knew not, and the thought sent shivers down her spine. She was too frightened to look around, too afraid that if she did find the eyes of her watcher she'd meet their sword as well. So she didn't look around.

Paco knew better than to draw attention, but by Titan he had never been this anxious since he was chased by a pack of wolves. "Paco."

He perked, snorting softly. "Mhhh?"

"I need you to listen. For breathing. Not ours. Find it. And turn your ears to it."

He gazed at Luz, allowing her to completely guide his movements as he focused on the sounds. Weakening wood, hissing of the dying flames, the soft breathing of Hunter who was several feet away from him, and a soft, guttural hum twenty-two (22) feet to his- Paco's ears flicked to the left, then flicked back, forward, back, left, forward, back-

Paco whinnied, leaning on his front hooves and kicking back, making contact with a shield. Swords were drawn, Luz lunging behind Paco and ramming into the shield, pulling it down. "I surrender-!" The demon drops the shield, raising both hands.

Luz shoves him down, throwing her sword, piercing a second demon's right shoulder to her right. He cries out and falls back, more demons coming from the debris. "You are lucky.." Luz hisses.

The demon she shoved down looks up at her, tears rolling down his cheeks in large beads, "L..Lucky..?"

"You speak fast. Others do not get that chance. I am not merciful in battle." Luz grabbed his shield. "I will kill you and drag you to Hell if you run..Stay. Put."

She charges forward, pulling her sword from the demon's cooling body. The pommel of her sword is thrust into a soldier's neck, a cough escaping them before they fall limp, Luz ducking behind the shield at the rapidly approaching arrow. It shatters against the shield on impact.

Paco's hooves blur past Luz, a large 'CLANK!' following his unimpressed squeals. "Stay in formation! Do NOT let them separate you!" Hunter exclaimes.

"COWARD!"

Luz turns, "N-No-! I-" The demon crawls back.

"YOU SURRENDER IN A WAR WE ARE DESTINED TO WIN, FOR THAT I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD!!"

Paco bodyslams the perpetrator, briefly stunning him before he is back on his feet and swiping for Paco's neck. Hunter pulls back the surrendering demon, standing him up and examining him quickly before snapping to one of his soldiers. "He'll be taken into custody, see to it he makes it safely."

Several bodies hit the ground in the span of ten minutes, silence soon falling on the decaying town. Three surrendered, the rest were finished off, and the dead were put together, dog tags tightly grasped in their blistered hands.

Hunter sniffles, laying down the flower on the fallen soldier, muttering softly in a foreign tounge. Masked figures in white come from the woods, then those in yellow. Medics.

From both sides of the war.

The beings in white laid several stretchers down, bringing their fallen close and lying them atop it, retreating to the woods. "..Why don't we kill them, Hunter..?" A demon asked softly.

"The medics are not part of our wars. Nor are they citizens. They merely take the dead, and treat the wounded." Hunter sheathed his sword, turning. "A maid, perhaps. They clean our bloodshed, and they mustn't be injured or killed. Or we are targeted, and are mauled beyond repair or recognition."

"What will happen to us..?" A surrendered demon whispers.

"You will be brought with us. And sent home when the war ends." Luz states. "We may be ruthless, but we have morals. We will not injure you til we have viable reason to." She opens her pack, offering rations. "Hungry?"

^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^

Late into the night, Luz and her group returned to the main camp, Luz finally resting to read her letter from Mayor.

'Dearest Luz Noceda, December 23rd.

It pains me to send you this news. But I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. I wasn't enough. I failed you. Please forgive me. Find it in your heart to bring me mercy. I couldn't do anything. I'm so sorry. Please, please forgive me.

Luz.

Parvati is dead.'

Luz stood, eyes widening before they glossed over, "P..Parvati is..?"

Parvati? Dead. But I saw her in perfect health not too many moons ago- Parvati is dead. And she had made me dinner- Never coming back. No- She can't be- Parvati promised- A husk, now, of everything she used to be. Parvati--

Luz swallowed dryly, choking on a sob.

'Demons doning the color yellow and a crest with wings came to our village. They wanted our crops, but what was left was for us to share. They didn't like that. I couldn't get to her in time. Luz. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I was useless. I'm so sorry I couldn't protect our Parvati.

My wife will be buried on the evening of December 25th. And she will never be seen again. And neither will I. Please. Help me refrain from doing something I will regret. Come quickly. I need you.

-Chestire🐾'

Cries could be heard throughout the camp, cries that could transverse languages, species even.

Luz poured her heart out that night, begging for a sign from a God. Begging for it to be a test, a lie. A jester, a fake, a dream. Luz cried all night, and dreamt nothing, but a black abyss.

Tis, the adventure continues.