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The moment had felt surreal, like a strange dream, frozen in place. The world stood still, both sides simmered in the silence that followed. It's almost like...no one could process the sight before them.
The only noise Ira heard was the pounding of his chest and the one, clear thought in his head rang louder than any cry.
What have you done?
Ira gasped for air, as though he only just came up after years submerged in water. His breath came out in a cold plume.
He took a shaky step forward. King Mercenare was gone. Struck down by the Precure the moment he was set free.
Though it hadn’t been without its consequences. Like a stack of cards, they’d fallen one after the other.
Rosetta had been first to go. She tried to shield Sword, her shield was too late to form. Taken by the shock, Sword followed soon after.
Ace and Regina had died fighting, just as two halves of the same whole were destined to.
Finally, Heart had sent the final blow in an act of desperation. Using up everything she had, including her life force.
Unlike the others, whose bodies still lay about, Heart had faded away, burning out like a dying star.
Only a lone Diamond remained on the edge, staring out with a far away gaze.
Ira took another step forward, the biting cold didn’t deter him.
”Gone…they’re all….” Her voice shook. Diamond took one step forward just as Ira reached her, wrapping his arms around her.
”Stop!” Diamond halted, though she didn’t look back as Ira clung to her desperately.
His legs shook until he collapsed to his knees, hand still gripping the edge of her dress. His other hand reached up to touched his cheek, only now noticing the tears that rolled down it.
”I’m-…” Ira choked. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
Cure Diamond fell to her knees, her transformation lit up and faded away, the blue dog lay at her side in an similar state of shock.
"Ira." Bel spoke from behind. "Move." Ira lifted his head, turning to face Bel. Bel held out his hand, dark energy collecting. "Unless you want to die as well."
Ira bit his lip, his grip tightening. "No. I won't. Stand down, Bel."
"What's wrong with you?!" Marmo cried. "Get out of the way!"
"I said I won't!"
"Go away...," Diamond finally whispered. Ira lifted his head. "Go away go away go away!" Her hands came up to her head, pulling at her blue hair. Was she talking to everyone or no one? All three Mercenares could sense the strange feeling. Her psyche, it wasn't darkening...it was freezing.
"Go away! GO AWAY! I can't- I won't-" Bel clicked his tongue and launched the ball of dark energy towards her. A single tear rolled down Diamonds cheek. The moment it hit the ground, everything seemed to freeze.
The world went black, empty and cold. Ira felt himself drifting, yet something still held him in his place, the guilt, the memories of what he's done to the one person who showed him kindness, the need to try and do something to fix it.
When Ira opened his eyes again, he knew he'd been encased in ice by the puddle around him. For how many days? He had no idea, nor did he care. He had something he needed to do.
Ira looked around to see the blacks and reds that once consumed every inch of Trump Kingdom had completely shifted to sparkling silvers and blues. Bel's attack had frozen mid air and fell to the ground, breaking into hundreds of pieces. But what stuck out the most was the vacant spot that Cure Diamond had been in moments ago.
Where is she? Those were Ira's first and loudest thoughts.
"Is she gone?" Marmo wondered allowed, pulling her coat tighter around her as the cold wind battered against them. Why was she still standing there? Why was Bel? Had they all...been frozen.
"No...I can still feel her psyche," Bel muttered, pointing at the castle. Ira could sense it too.
Marmo snapped her fingers and paused. "Huh?" She snapped again, and again until she finally disappeared and came back. "I...can only go to the human world."
Bel snapped his fingers as well, only to get a similar result.
"What's happening?" Marmo demanded.
"That girl," Bel hissed. "She did something." He turned towards the palace but Ira stepped in his path. "Step aside, brat."
Ira said nothing, holding Bel's gaze.
"What do you think you could possibly do?" Bel snapped, he grabbed Ira by the hair and brought their faces close. "I don't know what's going on in your head that's making you try and protect a Precure but if you think that you can stop me you have another thing coming."
Bel let go, teleporting into the palace. Ira followed and so did Marmo. Bel stormed through the palace, looking into different rooms to try and find the Precure, but before he could, the trio heard a deep growl.
A large blue beast stepped out of the shadows, lips peeled back in anger, it's dark blue eyes resembling an empty abyss. Ira stepped forwards, his hand extended.
"Where's Diamond?" he asked calmly. The dog growled and lunged at Ira, toppling the boy over. Immediately, it's jaws went for his neck but a small, distant whistle stopped it. The dog slowly, hesitantly pulled away, like it was disappointed it didn't get to kill him.
"Where's Diamond?" Ira repeated calmly, like he wasn't almost killed. He sat up.
"Where is she!" Bel demanded.
"She needs to fix our powers!" Marmo cried. "This place is already freezing my nose off!"
They were all silenced by the sound of heels clicking against the ground. Out of the shadows stepped Cure Diamond, her empty gaze fixed on the trio. Ira stood up and stepped away from the two.
"You!" Marmo stepped forward but the beast blocked her path. "You did something! Fix it right now!" Cure Diamonds eyes gave nothing away.
"I did no such thing," she said finally. She turned and began to walk away. Bel launched two attacks her way, one hit her, but it bounced off harmlessly, as though it was blocked by some barrier, the other was blocked...by Ira.
"Ira!" Marmo demanded. "What are you doing?! What's wrong with you?! Have you forgotten who you serve?!" Ira stepped closer, the beast growled, but it's growls softened as Ira fell to one knee, hand outstretched as he took Cure Diamonds hand.
"No...I know who I serve. My mind is clearer then ever." Even with her gaze blank, shock crossed her features at Ira's bold declaration.
In all honesty, Marmo preferred it when Ira was a loud brat. He'd been a constant pain in her side but that had been better than this. Ever since that day, Ira had been completely different; he spent almost all of his time in that palace, either outside the now dubbed "Queen's" door or inside it. If he wasn't there, he was training, for what? No one knew.
He made it very clear where his loyalties lay, denouncing King Mercenare entirely and warning Marmo and Bel of the consequences that will befall them if they choose to harm her.
Cure Diamond- or "Her Majesty" as Ira referred to her, had spent her first few months locked away and wallowing in grief. However, as time past and her heart continued to freeze, the memories dulled, though the pain stayed ever present.
The queen, frozen in her grief, and her loyal servant, frozen in his devotion.
Though her majesty was not emotionless, far from it. The trio had seen her wrath, and they felt it as the world continued to freeze over, even seeping into the Mercenares base to the point they had to wear much heavier attire constantly.
Though Ira never seemed to mind; going into that frigid hellscape constantly just to visit her. Every day he passed over that bridge, casting a quick glance to the four frozen bodies below, looking far less like tragic reminders and more like benevolent statues. Each time, he would bow his head and whisper something. Be it a prayer to a god he did not believe in, or an apology for the guilt he knew was true.
Ira would wait outside her door, only leaving if ordered. Many times when he was permitted access, Ira would follow the same routine. He would watch as her majesty connected sheets of paper together from books either in the palace or that Ira brought. He had no idea what she did it for, she would never answer when asked, he would bring food, sit for a bit in silence, or conversation if she wanted.
On special days though...it was a bit more...personal.
Ira stared at the storm outside as it battered against the window. Her majesty's face was inches away from it, her hollow gaze reflected in the pane, her frosted breath clouding its clear cover. How angry she must be; Ira thought.
Bel's arrogance had let the Precure escape, and he had attempted to take his anger out on the beast. The beast now rested by the couch, it's paw having been bandaged by its partner. She always had such a wistful look when she cared for others. Ira had long since noticed it, it almost looked like joy.
When Ira had first realized that, he came to her once with a broken hand. Her majesty had casted a glance at it, she seemed unhappy but took care of Ira anyways. Afterwards, she ordered him to never hurt himself again. Ira had no idea how she had figured it out.
"You can just ask me to kill him," Ira reminded her. She shook her head and her gaze returned to the windows as Ira continued to weave her hair into a braid. He had stopped by because of her anger, and she wordlessly sat down by the window and motioned him over. Now he was here, tying her deep blue strands together. They resembled the deep, shining blue her eyes once held, though now those were as dark as the moonless night sky.
"I want to see the sun," she whispered finally. "I can't remember the last time I've seen it. But it felt...warm, and it was bright."
"You could make the clouds part," Ira offered. An icicle shot from the ground, barely puncturing his cheek. Ira didn't pull away, he barely reacted aside from angling his cheek away to continue braiding her hair.
"No." Her voice was curt. Despite her anger, the icicle immediately melted. "I'm sorry, did that hurt you?" Ira quickly wiped away the dot of blood from his cheek.
"No, it didn't."
"There are times...I feel like I have no control over my powers, and then there's times...I feel so in control of them...I feel like I lose parts of myself in them. Like...pieces of a puzzle that make up my person. I know...I already lost some...so far away...yet just within reach. But every time I try to reach out and grab it...it hurts." Her hands gripped her dress. "It hurts so much. Those pieces! The Precure! It all hurts and I just want it gone!" A painting fell and immediately froze over.
Her majesty took a few deep breaths. Ira remained patient as ever. "I don't..." her voice shook, "want to loose the pieces I have left. But I'm scared I will."
So am I; Ira thought. Though instead, he just offered a soft smile.
"I'll help you keep them," he assured. "I'll make sure they're tied to you, nice and tight so they can't escape." Ira placed a hair tie in her hair. "And while I'm at it, I'll defeat those Precure."
"...Don't get yourself killed. I don't want you to lose your life simply for my wish." Ira couldn't help but let out a wry laugh. Of course he would!
Ira's life, as far as he was concerned, was her majesties. He helped take away the lives of her friends, the least he could do was offer his life in exchange. Hell, if she asked for his life to be snuffed out at this very moment, Ira would climb to the top of this palace and leap from the balcony.
But saying that would only hurt her, even if it was true. So instead he just said: "It's my job to grant your wish, no matter if I lose a hand, a heart, or myself. I owe you that much."
She was silent for a time. A long...long time. Finally, she sighed. "If only...I could remember why you have such a great debt. I suppose...that's just another lost piece."