[center]THE DAY BEFORE[/center]

There wasn't anything truly magnificent about the capital of Plegia; the only thing that really stood out was the skull of Grima near the castle's courtyard, which usually served to scare off children that visited the country with nothing but sand. Though, Xanxus wasn't here for tourism; he was here on official business, and he had no time to waste. Riding to the capital had already chipped hours out of the night and proved somewhat difficult from the terrain, but nonetheless, he was there now.

Two Plegian soldiers tensed as they rushed to open the gates to the palace, having not questioned Xanxus about the unannounced audience with the King in the midst of night. It was obvious to them just who he was, but he didn't care about such meaningless titles and statuses. They never mattered to him, as long as he was the one in control of the situation. 

He never took his hand from the hilt of his sword; when he had been an hour away from the capital, he'd seen a stray wyvern flying in the opposite direction, towards their camp, knowing full well that it had belonged to one of the Ylissean scouts that Lantus had sent. He was unsure of what specifically, but it was obvious that something had transpired between the scouts and another armed collective. Their scouts had not returned from their patrol in the capital, and one of the few answers was the Shepherds.

[b]"Well met, Uncle."[/b] Xanxus greeted Parnell, the King of Plegia, in a friendly connotation as he strode casually into the throne room. He turned his head slightly to his back and saw the doors that were the entrance into the throne room slam shut, returning his eyes to the back of the King. [b]"I've a request on behalf of the Exa-"[/b]

Parnell turned back to Xanxus and raised a hand as he were telling him to stop, interrupting him. [b]"I've heard enough, Xanxus."[/b]

[b]"What?"[/b] Xanxus' bored look quickly shifted into a venemous glare. [b]"Beg your pardon?"[/b]

It was then that soldiers, bearing the Plegian coat of arms, emerged from the shadowy corners of the throne room. He counted a total of six, half of them being wielders of magic and the rest as assortment of swords and axes. As Xanxus looked back into the eyes of Parnell, it wasn't hard to see the King's clear intentions. [b]"What's the meaning of this?"[/b]

[b]"These are my finest soldiers,"[/b] Parnell seemed to ignore Xanxus' question. [b]"They'll be more than enough to stop you."[/b]

Xanxus sighed, shaking his head and brandishing his sword. [i]So, he does know something.[/i]

[b]"Parnell, if we're going down this road, you're going to need more than six people."[/b]

---
[all of this typing is taking a toll on my humanity, so I'm either going to revisit this battle scene at a later time, or it's just gonna be skipped for the interest of time.]

[b]"Is this all that has been recovered of Plegia's might? Still beneath the shadow of your predecessors, I see."[/b]

[b]"You may be my sister's son,"[/b] Parnell paced along the throne room, his seemingly nervous hands trailing behind him and wrapping around the hilt of a [url=http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Levin_Sword]lightning-imbued sword.[/url] He looked to the ground for a moment before averting his look back at Xanxus. [b]"But you're no more than the scoundrel your father was."[/b]

Xanxus laughed. [b]"Now, now, I would be angry too if my castle [i]could[/i] be conquered so quickly by a [i]single person.[/i] A sore loser, are we?"[/b]

[b]"Though, I never intended on any of this to occur,"[/b] Xanxus continued, using his foot to turn the corpse of a Sorceror on to their side. [b]"I simply came with a request, holding no ill intentions, and in an impulsive decision, you sent your six of your own people to their deaths. Yet, you call me the scoundrel? Scum."[/b]

[b]"I know that the Exalt is the one who ordered for the massacre of the Shepherds, and I know that you were the one who carried it out. As much as I sway for peace, I cannot allow such a murderous act to go unnoticed and continue without justice, and if it means that I must end my own nephew's life..."[/b]

The King of Plegia gritted his teeth and released the sword from its scabbard, raising it above his head. [b]"... Then for the greater good of Plegia [i]and[/i] Ylisse, so be it. Prepare yourself."[/b]

Instinctively, Xanxus stepped to the side as an arc of lightning slammed onto the tiles at where he'd been standing. [b]"Parnell, think about your country. Think about your family, and what you're throwing away."[/b]

[b]"Speak no more!"[/b] Parnell continued to send lightning bolts down the throne room and towards Xanxus, almost as if he was confident that he would beat Xanxus. Kings and rulers like Parnell were not meant to be warriors; perhaps they hadn't meant to exist at all, but instead, they were the products of a world subjected to nothing but the foppish greed. This entire squabble with the King would end faster than the lives of the Shepherds when he would find them.

Xanxus effortlessly avoided the flurry of lightning and, seeing an opening, took a single step that propelled him greatly forward. He raised the sword above his head and as he was close enough to see Parnell's fearful expression, Xanxus swung downward to end the old man's life.

[b][i]"Release."[/i][/b] A voice mumbled as the noises within the throne room suddenly came to a hush, and a figure appeared between Xanxus and Parnell.

[there'll be a continuation of this in a later post. I cannot focus any longer with five ADHD kids under the age of 10 all around me.]