“SILENCE.” Victoria thundered. Amelia blinked in surprise.

Her voice was being generated over all channels. In addition to that Victoria had suddenly lost her princess title and sprouted 10 health bars. In the place where her full name and title had been next to those health bars was simply her name, Victoria. “I see you now, Void, hated enemy of Half. Do not think we will let ourselves be killed.”

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Local Announcement - Half Queen’s Rage.

Half Morale in vicinity upgraded to Valiant

Half Health in vicinity upgraded to +50%

Aura of Vienne - Half stats increased by 100%

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“Get off the throne!” Victoria leaped to the side, and Amelia began to back up. Everyone had been expecting this moment. This was why they were all gathered. Amelia didn’t want to be anywhere near Victoria when she picked up Changer. Amelia scrambled back as Victoria grabbed Changer. The blade in her hands began to spark a murderous fiery red, climbing from the pommel all the way up to the point. In the blink of an eye, she was up the steps and was striking at Raven with a large, merciless, overhand cut.

“[Aura].” Amelia cast immediately, stupefied. She had expected Victoria to be strong, not to evolve into a raid boss after finally being provoked. The little Half crushed the throne in its entirety, wooden shrapnel dispersing in every direction as Raven leaped out of the way. When the sword struck the top of the chair it had not cleaved through it. The touch of the sword had literally exploded the fine wood upon the barest of impact points. It was like the sword had touched the wood and every particle in it had shrieked in wood terror and fled in every direction.

“Hunter!” Amelia snapped immediately.

Hunter was already moving to the grand hall’s doorway. She threw open the doors even as everyone else took stances to make sure the Halves didn’t interfere. Moments before they had been docile, now they were watching helplessly, small hands fisting in rage as Victoria chased Raven around the room.

“Hahaha. Everyone stand aside! Let me fight her and then I can be Hero Queen!” Raven crowed. Despite her words, there was a note of panic and urgency in her voice, and her head kept turning over her shoulder. She couldn’t gain any distance from Victoria at all, who chased her relentlessly.

“Let no Half interfere with my fight. Though, those who wish to join enemy Raven in battle against me may come in any number.” Victoria decreed moments later. The Halves in the room stopped resisting and started to back up on their knees to the walls. Schulia had picked up King Johanis by the scruff of his fine doublet and was jerking him back toward the relative safety of the walls.

Raven stopped running at that point and turned, her arm raised at the start of an overhead slash. “[Rule One], [Final Form - Overwhelm].”

“Raven!” Elisha cried out in surprise. “What are you doing?”

Victoria didn’t care about the danger or didn’t understand it. She was like a small furious and unstoppable force as she sprang on one of the tables and then pointed her sword at Raven’s throat. At the last moment, she raised her sword above her head and blocked the aura intensified 3rd release Raven had just used on her. The invisible hand that guided the sword from the heavens came through the ceiling to aid the strike. Her knees didn’t buckle and her health bar didn’t move. Instead, her feet splintered the wooden table and the blow actually carried her to the floor through it as it was smashed under her. Through all that, she did not stop blocking and then easily parried the blow by lazily shoving Raven's sword away. Her eyes had not even looked up. Furious and dark and full of wrath they had stayed on Raven as if Victoria could simply scald her to death with the heat of their anger.

“I’m not feeling like I can hold back,” Raven yelled back even as she scrambled backward several paces trying to gain some distance on Victoria, though she only came up to Raven’s waist, looked like a god of death. “Now shut up.”

“KILL HER!” One of the guards finally blurted out. Moments later shouts from the Halves filled the room, calling for the death of Raven and for Victoria’s triumph.

“Raven.” Aidan said calmly, and then, “Hunter.”

“Shadow Fall. Phase 2!” Hunter called. Immediately and with a swiftness that shocked the Halves, everyone who had been holding them hostage left them where they knelt and ran out of the hall as quickly as they could.

Moments later Amelia heard a crash from the hallway and looked back to see that Victoria had actually destroyed parts of the door that hadn’t been open wide enough as she swung madly after Raven. Raven was laughing breathlessly, ducking under the jumping slash of the murderous half as she ran out into the hallway behind them.

Crashes and a cacophony of cursing and smashing continued in a path toward the main gate. Everyone was running as fast as they possibly could and Raven, who by now was doing nothing more than dodging and trying to slow Victoria somewhat, did little to stall the irrationally murderous Half that was hot on their heels.

“Raise the gate! By order of the King!” Hunter yelled, loping out into the courtyard.

“But!” The Captain looked shocked. “We cannot! Void is at the gates!”

“Open the gates,” Hunter replied again, moving passed him. He was being too slow. There was a murder midget chasing them. “Shadow Fall!”

Immediately everyone began knocking down Halves that were bracing the gates. Forsythe was already removing the bar. Everyone was sputtering and yelling at once, the noise almost deafening, but it all ceased as Raven came skidding around a corner into view.

“Holy crap hurry up!” She complained when she saw the doors were still shut. Seconds later Victoria, the small death, rounded the corner with her bright and fiery blade.

“Halves!” She cried, surveying all the guards still with weapons. “Fight for your lives. Shadow Fall is your enemy and has slain your kin!” Victoria leaped forward like her legs were made of springs, appearing beside Raven. With a murderous sideways swing she called out grimly, “[Grendal Slayer].”

With no other option, Raven straightened her blade and took the blow. For a second it looked like she might actually stop it, and then Victoria suddenly swung her hips into the strike. Raven’s feet immediately left the ground and she shot out the gates as they opened just in time, bowling over hundreds of the Half who had been trying to force their way into the castle. She sprang to her feet, apologizing as she stepped on many of them.

Fortunately for everyone, the Queen’s decree that they all fight Shadow Fall was met with a lot of confusion. The guards who had been taken hostage had finally begun emerging from the castle, grim and relentless as they charged through the courtyard, often jumping incredible distance upward and forward, and began ringing Shadow Fall in a circle. Gone was the relaxed movements and the Half that charged out of the castle bounded over obstacles twice their size with the ease of deer.

Victoria paid no mind to the people milling in front of the gate and swept past them with such speed that Amelia felt the wind in the rush. Raven’s sword was pointed to the ground as she tried to verbally urge Halves away from her, and before she could raise it Victoria had planted one foot on the top near the point and stomped it into the ground. Her other foot nimbly took another step up the blade and Changer was suddenly at Raven’s throat.

“Disappear!” Rage filled Victoria’s eyes and Raven’s mouth actually dropped open upon seeing the small Half not only holding her dark two-handed sword down with her feet but actually balancing on the blade and standing atop it. Amelia could see the frantic thought as Raven’s eyes darted around. If she dropped the sword she would be slain. If she moved she would be slain. If she did not move she would be slain.

Yet the strike did not fall. Victoria hesitated, some of the rage leaving her eyes.

“Phew.” Hunter actually fell on her butt in sudden relief.

Amelia couldn’t have agreed more. Some small part of Victoria had hesitated because something was amiss. Victoria must have decided she had plenty of time to finish Raven at her leisure because she took a moment to slowly look around at the stunned Halves that were still scrambling away from Raven’s feet. She looked back carefully over her shoulder, showing remarkable nimbleness in not falling while she did. At last, she leaned forward, her blade hovering close to Raven’s throat and looked the dark-haired warrior in the eye.

“Explain.”

“Uhh. Tada!?” Raven shouted, her voice sounding hoarse. Her eyes moved since she couldn’t really move her head, falling on Amelia. “Amelia! You are in charge again! I don’t want to be the Hero Queen anymore.”

Amelia stiffly moved forward as people parted. “Raven, when the Queen allows you to drop your sword, let it go slowly.” She commanded.

“Yes!” Raven said frantically. “Good idea!”

After a quick and murderous last look, Victoria hopped to the side and her feet hit the ground. Her hair was disheveled and sweat gleamed on her forehead, yet even the small act of stepping off Raven’s blade had seemed regal. “Do so.”

Amelia was relieved that her voice had returned to normal. Raven dropped her sword and held up her hands over her head slowly. The members of Shadow Fall too began disarming. Everything had gone roughly as planned, though the decision to only have Raven engage Victoria had been a lucky break. If Victoria had been changing targets half of Shadow Fall might have died in the grand hall.

“I am Empress Amelia of Elysium. I greet you, Half Queen, as peer to the realm. Welcome to the four kingdoms.” Amelia did not bow, nor did anyone behind her. They’d decided bowing and kneeling was overrated and frankly, after some quiet and happy agreement, they decided not to do it anymore.

“Then tell me, Amelia of Elysium, what treachery is this? Do you seek to convince us that you have taken our kingdom? Dispirit us that you might murder us behind walled doors and makeup story as you desire?” Victoria’s voice was laced with hate and suspicion.

“No. If you ask anyone around you they will tell you they saw the same image. It was like when I told you the story. Pictures appeared and everyone believed they were being attacked.” Amelia admitted. “A small trick.”

“As was your decoy ruler?” Victoria nodded her head at Raven, though her sword never dropped. At least, Amelia thought, the red was starting to leave.

“Yes. Frankly, she is the quickest among us and we thought the best to avoid your blows.” Amelia said. She left out the part that there had been some quiet agreement that Raven and Aidan were the best at provoking people.

“Yes. No harm has befallen.” Victoria seemed to consider this. “This does not mean you are a friend.”

“Agreed.” Amelia smiled then, feeling it creep over her features. She was really happy she got to see the fight in the grand hall.

“Your face contorts evilly,” Victoria remarked. “Do you betray your intention?”

“That’s just her face.” Aidan snarked.

“No, I smile because your suspicion is finally worthy of your people. Already I can see you want to believe that we are allies but you hold back, fearing that your trust will betray your people. I greet you again, true Hero Queen Victoria.” Amelia smiled and held out a hand suggestively palm upward. “Sheath your sword and we will speak now.”

“I will not,” Victoria said after some thought. “You called us Kingdom of Corpse, and I would have you withdraw your insult.”

“I will not.” Amelia countered just as seriously. “At the time, I was completely right. Within one day, the 25 of us destroyed your whole kingdom and took the throne room. It was through our leisure and strategy that you even picked that sword up. Now, drop it so we can finally talk about where I come from.”