Part III
Though they didn’t intend to, they’ve finally come back to Mao’s home country, the main capital to be precise. It’s in a state of civil war as Mao and Bella’s children fight against the leaders they put in before they died. Their children, like Mao, fell to bad influences as they were spoiled after hearing the power and strength their father had before he met Bella. They think their mother made their father weak and were constantly arguing with their father as he became a more peaceful man. Thinking they would need more help, Mao and Bella ordered several wise elders to control their country and continue teaching their children the right way to live. It doesn’t appear to have worked, but both Bella and Mao don’t think their children are behind this. As they make their way through the destroyed streets, they think about who could’ve done this.
“It has to be those bastards who were a bad influence on them!” Mao says.
“I’ll rip them apart! No one messes with my babies!” Bella yells out as she runs at full speed.
“What are we going to do if our children decide to fight us?”
“Let’s hope they haven’t committed too many evil acts. I can only imagine what inspiration they took from your old self.”
“Oh no.”
Mao sees one of the worst inspirations his children took from him. To make people fear him, Mao would take the bodies of people and impaled them to the ground and to buildings as a warning. He would impale the elderly, the fit, the poor, the rich, the young, it didn’t matter to him at the time. The bodies would stay there and rot in the cities of his enemies and his conquered. If anyone would bury or move them, they would be executed and their bodies would be impaled on the streets as well.
“We have to get to them now!” Mao says with extreme worry.
Mao and Bella make it through the death and destruction to find their five children at the castle gates with their army behind them. They’re trying to knock down the gates to get to the rest of the civilians and resistance. Both Mao and Bella are transformed into adults so the soldiers and their children will recognize them. Mao is wearing his old armor set while Bella is wearing a luxurious white and red dress. They notice this and appear to realize the meaning of it.
“Clear the way! Your king returns!” Mao announces as to get the army’s attention.
The army sees their king and queen return and bow in their presence. Their children are shocked by this and stop breaking down the gates.
The army proclaims, “The king and queen are immortal! Give praise to the ultimate rulers of the strongest country on earth!”
They cheer and praise them, but Bella says, “Silence! What have you done to our capital city?! It lies in ruin with your fellow men and women lying in their own blood! Shame on you all especially the ones who made our children do this!”
One of the soldiers says, “But they organized it all! No one else made them do it.”
“My children would never do such a thing! If you do not want to face the righteous wrath of God, then turn your lives around and leave now!”
About one hundred and fifty soldiers of the four thousand retreats. Mao and Bella’s children approach them and the oldest, Martino, speaks for them.
He says, “Now that you are immortal you might see truth. Tear down this gate and restore this nation to its former glory!”
Mao says in a stern voice, “My son Martino, have you not seen sense yet? Blood and destruction is not the way to get what you truly want. It is through love of God, others, and self that will give satisfy and bring you what you need. Your mother taught me that.”
“Mother is a dolt who acts hypocritically. She’ll take childish revenge, draw pornography, and hit you to show her dominance.”
“Not everyone is perfect and temptation gets to us every now and then. Be thankful those three things are the only things she does.”
“She matters not to us. Take back the kingdom and go back to your old ways so we can conquer the world!”
“Please. Don’t let me do this.”
Bella starts to tear up as she says, “I love you all! Please! Turn around and change your ways!”
“If you won’t turn let go of this woman then I’ll kill her for you father!”
“No!”
Mao unintentionally turns into the white devil and his tendrils restrict his children and call down their judgment.
“Please, don’t be so harsh on them,” Bella begs.
“I don’t have control of it,” Mao says with fear.
Seven angelic executioners descend from Heaven and behead all five of Mao and Bella’s children then toss their bodies into the abyss. The executioners then kill the rest of the army who didn’t retreat while a cherubim shields Mao and Bella as they mourn for their children.
“Why did this happen?” Mao asks the cherubim who doesn’t want to answer.
“Because that’s the way our kids were,” Bella answers for him, “There’s nothing else we could’ve done. It was their decision and they have to live with it.”
“I know that, but…but I want there to be a different reason.”
Mao looks out as his men are killed and his city brought to even more ruin than before. His fists are clenched, so Bella hugs him from behind to calm him. After the fight ends, all three thousand eight hundred and fifty soldiers lay dead. Though they tried to fight back, the executioners sustained no injuries from the army. The cherubim and executioners then rise back to Heaven and the gates of the castle open. Mao’s most trusted official, Shun, walks out to them.
He says, “You’ve brought us angels to save us. You truly have achieved redemption, my lord.”
“Not yet,” Mao responds, “I still have much to do.”
“I am sure that you will obtain it soon since you are alive and the angels came down to your aid.”
“I hope so my friend.”
“Are you going to rule us again? You were our mightiest king and there might be more rebellion.”
“No, I won’t. I died and am reborn for a different purpose. There won’t be any rebellion for generations after what has happened today, so be at peace. Again, I command you my last command. Keep the city safe and continue to teach them in the ways of our Lord God.”
“As you wish my king. We will begin with repairs for the city and burying of the dead.”
“If you couldn’t repair my child-”
Bella grips Mao’s arm while tears are still in her eyes.
“Forgive me my king. We tried our best-”
Mao puts his hands on Shun’s shoulders.
“I’m sorry too. I should’ve been a better king and father to begin with.”
The two old friends embrace then say their final goodbyes again. Once Bella and Mao leave the city, they turn back into teenagers. They hold hands as they go as they bear the pain of their children’s deaths. As the day turns to night, the sky light starts to turn into various colors and appears to be dancing around. Bella and Mao come to a field of roses and begin to hear angelic music played.
“This must be the angels comforting us,” Bella says with wonder.
“They should after what we’ve been through,” Mao responds with some distain.
“Don’t be that way Mao. They’re doing us a favor. Appreciate it. If we weren’t there to stop our children, then they would’ve killed more people.”
“…You’re right.”
“Let’s enjoy this and let the past be the past.”
Mao and Bella enter the field of roses and begin to dance to the music. The music is unlike anything made even by the great musicians Mao obtained for Bella when she was queen. Its cadence, tempo, and sound are foreign, but it brings peace to their souls and a smile to their face. The lovers dance and dance until they fall in exhaustion. They smile at each other and cuddle while admiring the lights in the sky then fall asleep.
Rested and rejuvenated, they continue their journey. They approach a small town and see that a prophet is talking to the people in center of town.
He says, “The tyrant Mao is alive and young! Be wary of him as he is dealing harsh judgment to everyone who shows their sinful nature!”
Mao and Bella don’t exactly know what to do about this. The prophet seems to have been told this information by someone in Heaven because they don’t think word of what happened yesterday has spread yet even though they aren’t far from the capital city. They decide to keep low and see if this town will be of any interest to them. Throughout the day, Mao and Bella help people out then disappear before they are rewarded for their efforts. The two do acts such as; stopping thieves, picking up things that people drop, cheer up young children, and help store owners clean up their vandalized markets. Of course, Mao has problems doing most of these acts besides stopping thieves, but Bella humbles him and gets him to help these people. A messenger from the capital arrives and tells the people what happened there yesterday.
The prophet comes out and says, “My words have come true before I predicted them! Heed them for Mao is among us!”
The couple try to leave town, but a few people catch them and try to bring them before the prophet. Fearing for Bella’s safety, Mao transforms into the white devil. Everyone from the town gathers in awe of the reborn tyrant.
“Behold! I, Mao the Tyrant, am alive! I, the tyrant that spilled the blood of hundreds of thousands of people and killed their children or sold them for a profit! Deal your judgment to me while you still can!”
The town is silent as to what to do so Bella speaks up.
“Don’t do anything to him! He dealt righteous judgment to his children and their armies and now they lie in ruin. He is a changed man who only punishes the wicked and sinful! Today, he and I helped you with your problems, so please! Don’t hurt him!”
“Young girl, who is Bella his wife,” the prophet says, “We do not deal in revenge. We only offer forgiveness.”
Mao is taken back by this then says, “Wa-What? I had to have done something to you that has made your lives worse than it is. Do something about it!”
The villagers come one by one to say, “I forgive you.”
With each "I forgive you", Mao staggers and collapses in weakness. He turns back into a teenage boy and cries because of the town’s mercy. Bella embraces him to calm him down then the people of the town offer them a celebration for Mao’s victory in the capital and change of heart. Everything from music to food is prepared in minutes and Mao is the center of attention. Bella sits with him and tries to get him to smile, but he’s too shocked in tears to do anything. Eventually, she gets him to dance with him and talk with everyone who tell him how thankful they are that he’s changed his ways. The party the town put together in minutes lasts the entire day and by the next morning, Mao and Bella leave the town with leftovers from the party and more energy to move forward.
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