"But Your Majesty," Shinou went on, becoming serious now, "Even if I could show you every detail, it would not change the ultimate outcome."

"What's going to happen, then? As much as you can tell me," Yuri asked urgently. He needed to know. He needed something to go on. They were in the dark literally with a monster that could see better than they could. It was fast and it was poisonous. Only fire could kill it and yet, he'd find a way to help somehow, to give what he could to do it.

Shinou tilted his head to one side with slight confusion.

"Do you mean giving you all of this advanced warning to prepare your forces wasn't enough? Even now, a handful of your men on horseback are chasing it. Granted, it's been going on for awhile now and the horses, as well as the riders, are probably tired."

That's right… Yuri straightened up and gave a serious stare.

"Anything… anything you can tell me."

"As you wish, then…" Shinou sighed in a deep, velvety tone with his cape dancing in the breeze, fluttering over his shoulder. "On this night, the one who was once betrothed to a monarch will meet the end."

"Sorry…?"

What did he just say?

Something cold ran through Yuri. He looked to Murata for something. Disagreement? Understanding? Assistance? His friend's eyes showed concern but that was all.

"No," Yuri breathed.

"Lady Cheri will lose her youngest child on this night. It is unavoidable."

Yuri was back stepping and shaking his head 'no', not being able to comprehend what was being said to him.

"I'm not going to allow this!" Yuri glanced the way Wolfram went. "This isn't going to happen."

He pointed a finger at Shinou, who in turn looked upon the gesture with dangerous eyes. No longer was the boyishness on his face or in his stance.

"I don't want a death sentence. Tell me what's going to fix this," he demanded, his voice raising in pitch.

"You cannot change what will be because the decision was never yours." Shinou straightened, stiffened. "And you asked specifically what would come to pass… and I answered."

He cocked his blond head to the side once more, curious if the double black would push him further on the matter.

"Don't tell me that this is fate!" he said heatedly.

The Original King rested his hands on his hips. "This won't be fate. As I have already said, this will be free will."

Then, he turned his face to the moon again, head tilted up, eyes unblinking as though viewing something far beyond their simple existence.

"It's coming. It's almost here. Resign yourself…"

"No!" Yuri said hotly.

"It comes… through the trees… accept this."

"I can't… don't you understand that I can't?!" Yuri turned on this heel and took off at a sprint for Wolfram and the others. The only sound that he could hear was his own breathing in the dark, desperate and ragged.

I have to find Wolfram…

Even if it means that Wolfram will hate me forever.

Even if it means that Wolfram might leave me.

Don't ask me to bury you, Wolfram. My soul would break.

Petikan daripada novel fanfiction karya penulis fanfiction kegemaran aku, Harpgo, yang kini telah tamat ceritanya. Kini, dia sedang menulis novel fanfictionnya yang terbaru, The Wedding's End.  
   Dan aku menetapkan misi untuk bahawa bulan Oktober ini adalah bulan untuk aku mencetak dan menjilidkan karya fanfiction kegemaran aku.