Reverse Scale

"Your Majesty, the mothers of my people have a saying. 'They're bad because you treat them like they're bad.' I've been here for less than a week, and even I can tell that the Fractured are being treated unfairly, being driven from the homes they grew up in and treated like trash by their own families.

"Your Ancestor's conflict with his companion of Hope has addled your minds. Even your Ancestor was able to forgive his companion, yet your people—"

"DO NOT tell me the story of my own ancestor, boy!" Rathna bellowed. "I've spent centuries learning the history of Venlanz. Throughout the thousands of years my family has ruled this planet, not once did we initiate conflict with the Fractured, and not even before that. THEY have always been the ones to start killing our families, burning our homes, killing our livestock, not us!"

Rathna leaned forward, the lightning-shaped points on his storm-themed crown glowing. "I have summoned you here, fed you, clothed you, for one purpose, and one purpose only. To rid Venlanz of the Fractured scourge once and for all. My ancestors have tried reasoning with them before; it only led to death and heartbreak. You WILL fulfill your duty, or you'll be treated like the animals you were brought here to cull."

Fate rested his hand on the hilt of his sheathed Miao Dao. "I don't take kindly to threats, *Your Majesty*," he said quietly, mockingly. "I can see you have lost your reason in your hatred. Perhaps it's time for your daughter to take the throne."

"HA!" Rathna leaned back into his throne. "My subjects would never accept her. And even if they did, you have no right to dictate who ascends the throne in my absence. Even I do not have that right. My family has remained the royal family for years, but it was not always passed on from parent to child. I have many cousins and nephews, and if the will of the Ancestor demands it, they shall be the ones to ascend."

"The will of your Ancestor? Well, let's ask him then, shall we?"

"No one speaks to the Ancestor!" One of the advisors yelled. "He may only be consulted on matters of great importance!"

"And this isn't one?" Fate retorted. "You fools have stayed cooped up in this palace too long. You're all oblivious to the struggles of this world, bar from second-hand accounts that may not even be truthful. Tell me, when was the last time any of you had ever spoken to a Fractured, besides to torture them like the animals you believe them to be?"

"Irrelevant!" Rathna jumped to his feet, pointing at Fate with a finger crackling with Lightning. "You will do your job, or I will put you down! Not only will I kill you, I'll have my Time Embodiments track down whatever scum you call family and have them executed in front of me!"

Fate broke into a smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "What did I say about threats, Rathna?" he asked, drawing his blade with a toss and striding forward.

"Savior, please!" Dinan begged. "You can't win!"

"She's right, brat," another of the advisors said, arms bursting into flame. "You're outnumbered."

"Last chance, boy," Rathna warned, the lightning on his finger intensifying in brightness. "Stand down."

Fate kept moving forward, raising his sword as he turned incorporeal. He tried the easy way, but Rathna didn't want to listen. Rarely did he kill his employer, but each time he did had one common thread.

They threatened his family.

Fate wiped the blood off of his Miao Dao, using a special cloth his Master had given him that was able to clean any grime off of a blade. Around him, scattered throughout the throne room, were the dismembered bodies of the advisors.

Fate was on the dais on which the throne was situated, and at his feet was the now-headless King Rathna. His head was at the foot of the dais, having rolled down and splattered blood all over the white stairs. The room was littered with fresh blood and scorch marks, along with several puddles of water.

When Fate had wiped off the last of the blood, he sheathed his sword and moved to Princess Dinan, who was balled up on the floor behind the throne, her frame racked by sobs. He crossed his arms, waiting for her to get ahold of herself.

Six and a half minutes later, she finally looked up, her eyes puffy and her cheeks still bearing the tracks of tears. "You didn't have to kill him," she whispered.

"I did." Fate leaned down, saying quietly, "no one threatens my family." He leaned back, extending his hand. "Besides, I tried to make him listen to reason, but he was too entrenched in his perceived superiority. I've dealt with many people like that. The only thing they know how to do is bring themselves down, along with everyone else."

Princess Dinan stared at his hand like it was a poisonous snake, fear and apprehension flashing in her eyes. Hesitantly, she grasped the hand and Fate hauled her to her feet. Once she was standing, she took in the carnage Fate had wrought. A fresh tear spilled down her cheek.

"Thirteen lives to save millions. I'd say that's a fair trade, wouldn't you?" Fate said, glancing at the head of King Rathna.

"How could you be so cold?" Dinan whispered.

"You forget," Fate responded, walking down the dais. "I'm a murderer by trade. This," he gestured to the body of one of the advisors, "doesn't even move the needle anymore. The fact I took action at all is more morality than I've shown in years."

"But why?"

"This is what you wanted, isn't it? A way to end this whole thing without one side wiping out the other. I gave you the opportunity to act on it. Now, get out of your head. Let's go talk to your Ancestor, shall we?" He looked over his shoulder, stopping as he waited for Dinan to follow. "We need to find out who's gonna bring this world to a state that isn't so shitty."