Northstar Vale When Stars Align

It felt like the last thing she truly remembered was watching as Yuudai prepared to step in, a few words were shared and then everything seemed to tumble into what could only be described as chaos. Their eyes, one by one eventually turned to her.

Don't look at me like that.

She felt small in response, trying to get a hold of the situation and yet her words didn't seem to be heard. Was she being ignored? No, the words didn't come out. What could she do? Jump in and separate the men? 

Coward.

Of course, she couldn't... Her whole body froze in a state, she had been so tired and all this was such a shock to her system. Like waking up by being thrown into a frozen lake; and even in her own little world to make sense of it all, even here she still couldn't swim.

Cerulean eyes flashed at pivotal moments, blood. She saw blood. Takeshi's words rang sour in the air. So much blood, from him. From Yuudai. By Takeshi.

Why were they doing this?

Should she accept Yuudai's offer to kill Takeshi, would that bring the peace she craved for the Empire?

Murderer!

Awenfen spoke up, Collision did too. Their eyes met hers again, one by one, and only an empty owlish stare could be offered back. Awenfen begged silently for help, Collision accused for his trust to be misplaced. 

They hate you.

Takeshi spoke again, this time they fell on deaf ears as her throat felt suffocating. Like a gag had been placed. She wanted to leave, she had to stay! It felt like every fiber of her very being was being shredded right here and now, every decision to try and keep the peace erupting in this very moment and it was all her fault. It hurt. She couldn't breathe. She looked at each of them one last time before everything went black. Crashing to the ground with all the grace of a fallen oak, eyes wide and gulping for air like a fish out of water - all she could see now was the comforting image of her. Yuuki, mom. 

What would she do? With all the grace of a true Queen. 

And just like that, the Empress, no, the child retreated into her own little world between mother and daughter.