Still Some Goodness

With other faeries dead to the ground, Madonia's smirk widened as she relished the sight of Glaciem squirming under her powerful grip. Her hand held above in the air as the band of Aether surrounded Glaciem's neck, choking him ever so mercilessly.

As Glaciem's struggles grew weaker, Madonia tightened her grip, causing his eyes to bulge with fear.

Madonia's voice was cold as she spoke to Glaciem, her words dripping with contempt, "You thought you could take everything, but now it is your turn to suffer. You will pay for your cruelty and the pain you inflicted on my family. My father who was bestowed the throne did not even desire it and yet you stood against him."

Glaciem's eyes pleaded for mercy, but Madonia showed none. The weight of her parents' sacrifice and the betrayal they endured at the hands of this malevolent king fueled her rage. The violet Aether energy tightened around his throat, and his struggles became weaker.

Aurora, standing tall behind Madonia, was ready to pounce on whoever might dare to intervene in Madonia's cause. She was fiercely protective of Madonia and it was her vengeance as well alongside.

According to the ancient words etched into the Fae Kingdom's history, Madonia's mate held the power to thwart her destructive intentions. The thought of anyone coming into the way of her bonded faerie was intolerable, and Aurora knew she had to act.

Aurora had been subtly encouraging Madonia to embrace the idea of accepting her mate. She knew that once Madonia accepted them into her heart, they would think twice before causing any harm to her.

As Madonia continued to tighten her grip on Glaciem's throat, her burgundy eyes flickered with surprise as she sensed Ambrose's presence entering the royal court room. She glanced at him briefly, but the determination in her eyes did not waver.

Ambrose was panting heavily, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and dread as he watched his father's life hanging by a thread but he just stood there, looking in Glaciem's eyes. Was he supposed to stop her but he too wanted his father to be gone forever.

Glaciem's eyes darted between Madonia and Ambrose, his fear growing exponentially. He understood that she could easily end both of their lives if she chose to do so. Desperation washed over him, and he attempted to gasp out words to stop Madonia from harming his son, but the pressure on his throat stifled any coherent speech.

Madonia smirked as it was apparent that what could be more dreadful to a father than looking at his son in pain, not to mention, she had seen how he longed for his son to even look at him with a loving gaze.

Madonia raised her other hand and with a flick of her fingers, Ambrose suddenly appeared in front of them.

As Ambrose found himself on the ground bound by the powerful Aether chains, he looked up at Madonia with a mixture of shock and hurt in his eyes.

This was not the Madonia he had known, the kind and compassionate Crystal who had always shown him warmth and understanding, neither she was the innocent little princess that everyone cherished. Instead, she stood before him now as the feared and vengeful "Cursed One".

But amidst the turmoil in his heart, Ambrose remembered his words to the Fire Nymph in the Colosseum; to stand by her side no matter what, to face the darkness with her, and to protect her happiness with his own life. He knew he couldn't turn away from her, not now, not ever.

Madonia's heart wavered ever so slightly when she sensed the sincerity in Ambrose's aura and the genuine love in his eyes. A part of her still belonged to him as he still was her twin flame. But the anger and pain she had endured were powerful forces, and she found herself looking away, cutting off his aura so she would not feel vulnerable.

Aurora's gaze lingered on Ambrose, her mind drifting back to the innocent child he once was, untainted by the darkness that consumed his father. She couldn't help but marvel at how he had remained the same pure soul she had known a decade ago.

His unwavering goodness was one of the reasons she held on to hope amidst the foreboding prophecy that hung over their heads. She knew that Ambrose would never bring harm to Madonia.

Ambrose stood strong, watching as justice was finally served to the man who had caused so much pain and suffering in his life. Glaciem, the murderer of his beloved mother, lay lifeless on the ground, the glint of vengeance reflecting in his son's eyes.

For Ambrose, it was a bittersweet moment. While witnessing his father's demise was undeniably painful, he also knew that this was the justice his mother had never received.

As tears welled up in Glaciem's eyes, a glimmer of understanding in those. He only now at the doorsteps of death realized that his greed for the throne had cost him the one thing he held dear - his son. The realization weighed heavily on him as he closed his eyes, surrendering to the eternal slumber.

As the final breath left Glaciem's body, Madonia, fueled by a surge of emotions, unleashed her potent powers. A wave of energy engulfed all the fallen faeries.

All their bodies did not transform into the delicate flowers as usual like other faeries who would ascend to the afterlife. Instead, they were enveloped in flames, burning brightly before turning into a swirl of ashes.

Turning to Ambrose, Madonia's eyes spoke thousands of emotions. She knew the weight of what he had just witnessed and yet she did not want to offer him any solace.

"Your father shall never be reincarnated," she said firmly, her voice carrying conviction. "He is forever gone, his existence and his soul."

Her fierce determination blazed in her eyes as she confronted Ambrose, her words cutting through the tension in the air like a blade through silk.

"I shall not stay still until each and every one of your kind is destroyed," she declared as if she considered lowly to be the same kind as faeries, her voice tinged with a mix of anger and sorrow.

Although it was apparent that she should not paint all faeries with the same brush as not all faeries are at fault for Glaciem's cruel plans and were not involved with him in any possible way, but they did take a part in spreading the rumors, and cornering the royal family when her father had offered nothing but kindness and love to his subjects.

"Come, Aurora, let us join others," urged Madonia, her determination unwavering as she looked at her trusted companion. Aurora nodded in agreement, ready to follow her bonded faerie into the fray once again.

Ambrose still kneeling in the shadows, his heart heavy with a mix of emotions. Madonia's words echoed in his mind, a painful reminder of the divide between them.

The dawn air was heavy with tension as Ambrose wrestled with his emotions. He understood that there was still goodness in Madonia's heart. Despite her proclamation to destroy every faerie, she was now turning away from him, leaving him alive.

His heart shattered in pieces, knowing that he was one of the faeries she sought to annihilate, yet she hesitated.

And although he saw a chance, he knew he had no right to intervene, to sway her from her resolve. As Madonia's figure grew smaller in the distance, Ambrose battled with his inner turmoil. He yearned to call out to her, to beg for her to forget everything and start a new, but the weight of his guilt held him back.

He still blamed himself and considered himself a criminal to the royal family by keeping his father's sinister plans hidden, and his lack of courage had cost them dearly.

How could he expect her understanding or redemption when he had been complicit in the suffering Madonia sought to avenge?