Queen's Island

13. Shatter.

It was cold night. Clouds which were too thin to hold any living soul flew low through the Kingdom, creating a mist on the cobblestone and grass of the village. The statue of the Queen stood on a pillar in the middle of the village square, shadowed. The Palace sparkled in the moonlight like diamond.

Ave and Boxy were in their room, you know, chilling.
"You know, we should ask for a pet. I was thinking a peacock or swan, they're so cute." Boxy said.
"Mmhm, totally." Ave replied.
"I've always loved birds..."
"Haha same, but my dad was always like, 'pets stink up the house!' , you know?"
A voice was coming from the Great Hall, screaming at the top of their lungs.
"Probably Zoro," Ave groaned and opened the door, "Let's check out what he's doing."
They walked into the Great Hall, and saw King Zoro of course, but also Dreamer and Pon, their torsos and legs tied to chairs.
Boxy trotted over to Zoro, "Hey darling."
"Oh, hey." Zoro said. "Just questioning these fools."
"I can see that," Boxy replied, and stood to Zoro's side.

The tiles of the Great Hall glimmered like ice in the sun, and a deep velvet red carpet rolled through the middle of the floor, passing by tall arched windows of stained glass, leading to a long wooden table covered in a lacy white tablecloth, around it were beautifully intricate designs on wooden chairs. Climbing the velvet carpet further led to a throne of which King Zoro probably sat alone to eat his meals. Looking up, the delicatley etched marble pillars held up a gorgeous roof of stained glass of all colours, gleaming and glistening under the stars and Seven Moons.

It was at that moment Dreamer saw Ave, still leaning against the doorway.
"YOU TRAITOR!" he called, and everyone turned to look at Ave.
"I was just following orders!" she explained.
"From who? Dirty King Zoro?!" Pon said.

"...Actually, I didn't know anything about this."
Ave nodded, "Yea, It was Boxy's idea." Everyone then stared at Boxy.
"It was payback." Boxy said.
"For what?" Dreamer questioned.
"That little beast of a child almost mauled me to death!" He nodded towards Pon.

"I'm sorry.. I guess? I don't know what you're talking about..."
"Okay okay, everyone shut up! I want to ask some questions." King Zoro said, and put his scrawny hands behind his back and began to pace to and fro.

"So... still going to Queen's Island?" he asked Dreamer.
"How do you know of it?" Dreamer replied.
"Oh I dunno, maybe the extensive knowledge of my most loyal servant."
"Oh, is that me?!" Boxy gasped.
"No you dimwit! It's Avee!" He turned to look at Ave, who nervously giggled and waved.

"I'm guessing you're not going anymore, know why?" Zoro grinned, and leaned towards where Dreamer was sitting.

"Because there's nothing left to protect. You have her powers."
"And what about it?"
"Nothing, nothing. You already know. But for those who don't, his abilities of his now match those of a Godseeker's." Zoro explained.
Pon jerked up. "No way! Dreamer, why didn't you tell me?!"
"Because it wasn't necessary. I'm not using them."
"When did you get them though?! I don't remember you going any-"
"As soon as this lame excuse of a King knew. I retrieved them after my first meeting with him."

"And you never told me! What else have you not told me? Where did these powers even come from in the first place?"
"Because," Zoro interrupted, "Long, long ago, the first Ruler of Heavishen was given the powers of a Godseeker - by a Godseeker!"
King Zoro stopped his pace and stood close beside Boxy.
"Every new Ruler must be given those powers... correct?"

"Well, yes, correct... but I was the rightful Ruler either way." Dreamer said.
"Until you ran away, then we had to elect a new one - ME!-
-...But because I'm a demon, suddenly I'm just not worthy enough?!" he screeched.

"Luckily, there is a way to take them..."
"What would you use them for? You're already King, isn't that enough?!" Pon questioned.
"To...to create an even world... To let everyone live in harmony and luxury. To stop discrimination against all species, a perfect world..." his voice trailed off.

"And being King? It's not enough. Making and erasing rules is not enough. I need the ultmate power. I need the Godseeker's power."
The Hall was silent except for the whistling wind outside the Palace walls.
"...It's for the greater good."

As though lightning had struck, a grey and blue blur crashed through the ceiling of glass, shattering it. As shards of glass fell, so did the figure. Zoro yelped and leaped out of the way, but at a cost.
The figure had targeted King Zoro with a heavy, fatal kick.
It had struck Boxy.

Time felt as if it had stopped, but everything happened at once. Boxy fell back and shattered. His entire torso crashed into tiny pieces of crystals. He lay down motionless like a broken porcelain doll. His body and neck were completely shattered.

"BOXY!" Ave screamed. She ran over to crouch at his body. Zoro sat there, eyes unseen, but guilt and terror could be read on his face. Then, he ran. He ran as quickly as his legs let him.

Meanwhile, the figure stepped out of shadows. Tefi.
"Dreamer! Pon! Let's get you untied!"
She took her dagger and slashed at the rope. It fell to the ground.
"Dreamer, get us out of here!" Pon shouted. Dreamer scooped up Pon and Tefi in each arm and shot upwards out of the hole Tefi had made with a flap of his wings, and out into the night.
--

Hours passed. Boxy still lay there like a broken mirror, his pieces spread out across the floor. Laying at his side was Ave, arms limp, staring into what was once the full-of-life face of her best friend. He did not stare back. Tears did not fall anymore, only the silent chokes of her trying to still comprehend what had happened.

This can't be real, she thought. It's just a nightmare. Wake up, Ave. Please wake up, please... But this was real. All of it was real.

Zoro had tip-toed into the hall. He took off the cloth wrapped around his eyes, a sight he only let Ave see.
"Please Avee... let's get help..."
But she wouldn't budge. She could only stare at the shattered body of Boxy, his eyes grey and sunken.