Red and Blue, Black and White

[thethiefofvictory 339]

The Marshal gazed at his army. A thousand frail, hungry, weak men barely able to stand at attention. Many of them, injured. Yet, holding their swords and guns in their hands, rallying for their nation, undeterred by their pain. For a moment he felt pity. Then he was proud that his brave army would fight till the literal last drop of blood. These men would sacrifice everything for their nation and beliefs. He had no reason to fear a powerful enemy.

 

Before him stood the Royal Palace. Majestic as ever in material beauty, but dead. Where the King once lived, now housed insects and scavengers.

 

Far into the distance, the War Palace lighted up. Its deteriorated, colorless walls turned to perfect black, displaying a blurred reflection of faint moonlight and water droplets. The Scythes were visible, working their magic to repair the building, through the brief openings in the walls that once housed windows. Seconds later, those openings were shut by glass, and reinforced with weapons that protruded out from a newly-created hole in the glass.

 

The Marshal walked forth, defying the wind to which houses and once-mighty skyscrapers bent. His men followed suit, indifferent to this force of nature. Their enemy looked on from behind the War Palace, and with every passing moment they lost confidence in their superiority to which the city testified a day ago. How could these ill-equipped men possibly dare to face them? How could they survive the War Palace?

 

The assassin who had activated the War Palace stood at its roof, gazing at the island below her. Behind the War Palace, the Reds stood, ready to fire their guns and cannons at the advancing Blues. She watched the Reds talk in hushed voices, presumably discussing the Blue advance and the raging storm. She watched them as they exchanged looks of fear while trying not to become victim to the wind. She watched the Blues march, determined. Normally she did not care for any faction, but this sight moved even her to a tear or two.

 

It was not long before the Blues reached the riverbank, tired but ready to fight. She walked towards the stairs and climbed down till she reached an elevator. She stepped in, and a second later she was looking at the doors of the War Palace. She turned and looked at the Scythes, standing the way they were when she entered. This time, though, their weapons were sheathed, and their faces wore friendly expressions. She opened the doors and walked out, and heard the doors close themselves.

 

“Red Marshal Kevin. Ironic, isn’t it? You lead the Blues, but I imagine history will remember you as the Red King.”

 

“I need a favour.”

 

“Kings do not ask for favours.”

 

“I am not a king.

 

“Really?”

 

“Look. I need a favour. Can you reprogram the War Palace for us?”

 

“The War Palace does not fight for a certain faction. It merely seeks to stop war.”

 

“Open it.”

 

The assassin walked back to the doors and pushed them open. The ten Scythes were there to greet her, as they were three hours ago. This time, they did not need to scan her.

 

“What do you order, Your Majesty?”

 

She smiled. The robots respected her and saw her as the Queen. Your Majesty was music to her ears.

 

“Let them in,” she said, turning to look at the Blue army behind her. This gesture was enough for the Protectors, whose faces turned to a welcoming smile towards the Marshal.

 

The army marched in.

 

The doors closed themselves as the last of the Blues entered the War Palace, facing the podium where the Marshal now stood next to the assassin.

 

“Soldiers! Are you ready for war?”

 

“YES!”

 

She heard the quiet whispers of the Red soldiers. "So that's why the Blues can fight."

 

Thanks for reading! This is part of a series, complete details in the linked post. 

Edited July 28, 2018 by thethiefofvictory

[LOLKILLERTOTHEDEATH 1,921]

Approved!

 

I will admit, I was a wee bit confused at first, but after reading it again I thoroughly enjoyed it. I caught one or two grammar mistakes, but nothing that's overly significant.