FFXV: After the Fall

Chapter 34

   "I'm sick of running." Gladiolus said as he saw the ten-plus vehicles pulling up nearby and dozens of guards creeping forwards, guns pointed at everyone in the group.
When enough were assembled, the Emperor himself climbed out of his own, bigger vehicle, wrapping his robe around him as he walked towards them slowly, bare feet hating the feel of the grass.
   "...had I not seen it with my own eyes." He cooed. "Tell me, how on earth did you manage that? I'd really like to know."
   "Think we'd share that with you?" Nyx snapped defiantly.
One of the guards poked him in the shoulder with a rifle.
   "Why yes," Iedolas smiled, "you will actually. If you do, I may be willing to overlook what all of you have done today."
Gladiolus sneered. "If you think we buy that, you're even dumber than you look...Emperor."
   "Nice boxers." Prompto added.
Iedolas glanced down at himself, seeing how the breeze revealed them to all in front of him, and he pulled his robe tighter around his body stiffly. "Enough games." He growled. "You will tell me your secret, before I allow you to die." He then looked at Helena, and his scowl grew even harsher. "And you should know better." He said with contempt. "What you have done is a crime beyond imagining, punishable by death if I remember rightly. I have a mind to exact that punishment myself."
   "Out of the goodness of your heart?" She asked lightly.
   "Yes, actually. A very good guess."
She shook her head. "Sorry to disappoint you, but there's actually a set order to high-ranking judgments such as these. Were you aware of that at all? No, I suppose not. I'll go next."
   "There's nobody else here who needs that. You are lying."
She smiled. "Wrong. There's you."

At that moment, the others realised that she was still holding both types of magic. She used them now, one last time, to invoke the call of judgment that was only reserved for the most serious of crimes, the one she never thought she'd ever need to use.
A second later, the rest of the army screamed and backed away by several metres as both Bahamut and Hades took to the field, instantly responding to the call as was their role.
In a tiny corner in the back of her mind, Helena was relieved that she'd not interrupted Hades and his pet Succubus again.
She then took a step forward. "I call upon you to determine the fate of Emperor Iedolas Aldercapt," she said, "who is charged with altering the course of events on Eos for personal gain. His actions very nearly led to the destruction of the planet, as well as everything else that the balance ever stood for." She then stood down, and let the two otherworldly Kings take over.
   "So this is the source of our trouble." Hades said as he gazed upon the Emperor, who was now sat on the floor and scared nearly out of his mind. "I was hoping for someone more impressive than this, not the mere worm who cowers at our feet."
   "His plan was impressive." Bahamut deflected. "It is often the case that the owner is lacking in everything else." He then stepped forward to look at the face of the Emperor. "You are guilty of more than your corrupt ambition will ever let you know." He said in a stern voice. "On normal occasions I'd allow the accused a moment to speak in their defence...but you have no words that I wish to hear. Brother?"
Hades also moved closer. "The only ones I desire to hear are the screams his soul will make for the next century or so."
Bahamut nodded. "Indeed. Very well then, take him. I have no wish to gaze upon this man for a moment longer."
   "My second will take him for me in this case. I can amuse myself with him later." At these words, Diabolos appeared again, instantly spearing the Emperor through the heart with one of his wing tips before picking up the limp body and vanishing with it.
Bahamut then looked at the army cowering nearby. "You will be spared," he said to them, "as you were only led by corruption, not harbouring it yourselves. Seal your Crystal in a safe place and tend to your city, and you will receive word on next steps. Go."
As one, they all screamed and fled, jumping back into their vehicles and driving away as fast as they could.
   "Couldn't happen to a nicer guy." Nyx said.
Bahamut and Hades then turned to look at Helena.
   "And now...it is your turn." Bahamut said to her.