Your Highness~ [Lumity Fanfiction AU]

[74]

Christmas Day, December 25th, Fourteen twenty.

A cease-fire was called, and a grand celebration was allowed to take place. Luz wouldn't be present for it, though.

She sent a letter, and her higher ups wouldn't recieve it til the day after tomorrow, so she couldn't be stopped. Paco rode all night through the fires, dead, and the fresh powder, for Luz's sake.

As the sun began to rise, Luz could see the outline of the little town, and she tugged roughly on Paco's reins. He whinnied, scrambling to stop, raising on his hind legs slightly. "Luz?- We're almost there--" Paco shuffled on his hooves.

"Paco."

He stood at attention at once, ears perking, "Luz."

"Those aren't our banners, are they?"

He rose his head, spotting the banners. Paco was colorblind, but he was no jester, and he knew that the color was different. The sigil was the exact same, colors for the design in the proper shade and place, but the backing- "No, they're not." Paco snorted softly. "What do we do?"

Paco stepped back, whinnying softly to Luz who snaps his reins. "Let's go."

He moves forward, walking towards the gates, the banners flapping in the light breeze, and the smell of blood absent. Cheshire mentioned death, no? That lacked, here.

Paco picked up speed, eager. That smell was alive, definitely- He stopped at the gates, ears scanning the area. He took a hesitant step, then another, quietly stomping to the homes. "Something is wrong." Luz rose her head. "This town dons our banners, but our people are not here." Luz narrowed her eyes. "..Paco, please find where Par.." She swallowed. "Her, please."

The stallion trot up ahead, towards the never-ending farm, approaching Parvati's home. Luz hesitated, but slid off Paco's saddle and approached the door. Her vision blurred, the knight wiping her tears quickly before knocking.

Shuffling ensued behind the door, then it cracked open, "Who is it?" A man hissed.

Luz kicked the door open, drawing her sword, "Who are you? What are you doing in the home of my-" Luz gasped.

The tired witch rose her head, dazed and hungry, stomach lurching at the discarded bread everywhere. The man lunged, Luz grabbing his jaw, head turning to him. "Greet the devil when you meet him." Luz spat. "You filthy scum."

She squeezed, the man gripping her wrist, gagging. Two witches and a demon jumped to their feet, charging for Luz. They stilled when a deafening 'crack' followed, the man in her hold falling limp. Paco stepped in, nostrils flaring as his ears pinned back, tail whipping in the air.

Luz's eyes burned with rage, her tense hand opening, the man's body falling to the ground in a heap.

The next minute was a blur, but the mess was cleared soon after, bodies disposed of in the compost. Luz let her body relax when she entered the house again, and stumbled over to the tied witch. "Parvati- Par..vati--" Luz choked out, untying her as quickly as possible.

"Mhgh- Hhff-" The witch sobs, throwing her head back to knock against the wall. "Hmngh- Hhff- Hiffcc-"

Parvati tightly grips Luz's shoulder when her hands are freed, the knight removing the cloth tightly wrapped around Parvati's mouth, pulling her close and peppering her face with kisses. Parvati wails, a strained smile on her dry lips as she wraps her arms around Luz.

Paco nudges the two, falling to his knees and nuzzling Parvati. "I thou- hicc- I thought you were dead!" Luz yells. "Cheshire-- He- Oh Parvati I'm so glad you're okay!"