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Chapter Text

The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the war-torn landscape of the kingdom of Beacon. Before the towering gates of the royal castle, a sea of rebel banners rippled in the evening breeze, while the elite guard of the monarchy stood firm in defense. Though the rebellion was large, their weapons and armor were not as formidable as the guard’s.

Stepping forward, at the head of the rebel forces stood Petra, raising her voice to address the queen and her guards.

“Your highness,” she begins, her voice carrying across the courtyard with unwavering conviction, “we stand before you not as enemies, but as citizens demanding our birthright— freedom from tyranny and oppression!”

Her words echo off the stone walls of the entrance, resonating with the gathered crowd and stirring sense of purpose in their hearts. The queen, Isa, stood confident and regal in front of the guard.

“For too long, we suffered under the weight of your rule,” she continues, her eyes flashing with determination. “But now longer we will cower in fear! No longer will we bow to the whims of a corrupt monarchy!”

The cheers of rebels swell around her, a chorus of defiance that shakes the very foundations of the kingdom.

“We demand justice.” Petra declares, her voice ringing out with steady resolve. “And we will not rest until every man, woman, and child in this kingdom knows the true meaning of freedom!”

With a final rallying cry, she raises her fist in defiance, her eyes blazing with confirmation as she awaits the queen’s response.

~

As Jesse stands guard at the castle gates, her eyes fixed on the rebel leader addressing the queen and her followers, she feels a surge of conflicting emotions welling up within her. On one hand, her loyalty to the crown demands that she defend the kingdom against all threats, but on the other, she cannot help but empathize with the rebels’ cries for freedom and justice. The rebel leader’s words ring out across the courtyard, and Jesse knew she was speaking with her soul. She cannot deny the sincerity in the woman’s voice, nor the passion burning in her eyes of fellow rebels.,

But as the queen steps forward to address the rebels, Jesse’s attention is drawn back to her duty. She listens intently to the queen’s words, her heart heavy with the weight of her responsibility as a member of the royal guard. (also the weight of that damned armor,) She knows that her duty is to protect the crown at all costs, to uphold the laws of the kingdom even in the face of opposition.

Yet, as the queen pleads for peace and understanding, Jesse cannot help but feel a pang of doubt. Is there truly no room for compensation, no hope for reconciliation between the kingdom and its dissenters?

~

“Citizens of Beacon,” the queen started, her voice carried across the courtyard, calm yet commanding, as she addresses the rebel leader and her followers. “I hear your cries for justice, but I urge you to consider the consequences of your actions.”

She steps forward, her reveal bearing undiminished despite the tension in the air, her gaze meeting Petra’s with a mixture of empathy and authority.

“Violence begets violence,” she continued, her voice tinged with sorrow. “We are all subjects of this kingdom, and our duty is to ensure the welfare of all its citizens, regardless of their station or beliefs.”

Pausing for a moment, the queen’s eyes sweep over the assembled rebels, her expression of mixture of concern and obstinacy.

“Retreat now, and I promise to consider your grievances with the utmost sincerity,” she implores, her voice carrying the weight of her responsibilities as ruler. “There is still hope for a peaceful resolution to our differences, but it requires cooperation and understanding from all sides.”

But deep down, she knew this was a conflict that couldn’t be resolved without war. All she could hope for was the winning side, to be them.

With her plea delivered, the queen steps back, her guards standing firm at her side, awaiting the rebels’ response.

As the queen’s voice fades, a ripple of murmurs spread through the ranks of the rebels, their faces contorted with disbelief and frustration. Petra’s heart pounds in her chest as she listens, her resolve hardening with each passing moment.

“She speaks of peace, yet her words ring hollow,” Petra declares, her voice rings with defiance as she turns to address her fellow rebels. “Don’t be deceived by her promises of reconciliation. The crown has shown us nothing but misery and misguidance!”

A chorus of agreement rises up from the rebels, their anger and frustration boiling over. Petra’s mind was soon filled with thoughts of anger and something along the lines of, “how dare she lie to us about the promise of peace,”

“This is nothing but a waste of our time. We will get what we want, violence or not. But by the looks of it, there doesn’t seem to be any other way.” Petra held her arm up, a signal.

The queen’s eyes narrowed in disappointment, and she sighed greatly. “Guards, deal with these rebels at once.” She ordered, and all of the guards complied. They raised their swords, waiting for the rebels to come forward.

Jesse clung onto her sword, her nerves burning with anticipation. The rebels had never thought to fight against them, but now, it seemed they had no choice.

Several war cries broke out, and the rebels had started running towards the front, weapons in hand. Petra stood her ground as rebels ran past her, and she subconsciously locked eyes with Jesse. She clutched her mace, tearing away from the eye contact and charging in anger. Jesse’s sword rose, and the two clashed their weapons against each other’s.

The match went on, and the outcome of the battle would only be decided hours after. Lead by pure anger and determination, the rebels kept fighting, careless about the fact that they were outnumbered.

Chapter Text

I recently found out about that I’ll be very busy for the next few months. (This is an outside issue,) and I won’t be able to complete this work like I planned. Maybe if I come back, I’ll write some more stories outside of MCSM. Otherwise, I’m sorry if you wanted an actual second chapter. Right now, I’ll post a scrap work that I planned like, a week ago (before I take my leave).