Aftermath

My dearest Kor,

The king called us all together, including that dratted advisor Nightwing. If it wasn't for him I might be home with you now, instead of penning these words, but what's done is done. I hope you can forgive me for what I've done to you, to Kumo.
My brother was shocked when I told him that I'd had an affair with the woman we had hired to tend to you during your difficult pregnancy with Kumo, let alone that I had been aware that it had resulted in a pregnancy. I visited the babe once or twice when she and Kumo were toddlers, but after that just sent money every now and again on her birthday to ensure she would be well taken care of. I didn't want to... to worry you, darling... you had had such a difficult labor, and you were... you were happy, for the first time in a long, long time, when you beheld your son. After so much trying, I couldn't put a damper on your joy.

Lamda... he looks so grown-up, doesn't he? Remember when he was a rambunctious little kid they sent to me for training? Sometimes he gets a look in his eyes and I fear for him.
Nightwing, of course, insisted that any lessening of the punishment would result in judicial anarchy; that we couldn't reduce all four sentences or there'd be talk of bribes; and lastly, that I was a traitor who deserved to be locked up along with them. He also recommended the deaths be slow and... painful. He didn't used to be this bloodthirsty, but something about war made him eager to become the king's dungeonmaster in addition to his advisor and his right-hand man.

I don't trust him, either.


The king admitted that I would need to be punished, but considered perhaps torture as a punishment for the youths, rather than death. Of course, the leader, the one they wanted to put on the throne, had to be killed, but the other three...

Then my nephew said the words that ring in my ears as I pen this note to you, the words that wrenched my heart in a way I didn't think possible.

"Have Uncle carry out the sentence on Theta, to prove where his true loyalties lie."

The King agreed. The sentence would be reduced to 50 hours of torture for high treason on each of the two girls and the blue boy- on my daughter, by my own hand!- and death for the leader.

The sentancing

An Account of the Sentencing of the Treasonous Youths.

Firstly, the King addressed the Court, asking for silence


The four were dragged before the King , and made to be silent, for such is the way of the law.
The female, Theta, seemed smug. In attendance behind her were the Princesses Angela and Muriel, and the Prince Gabriel.
The male, Sigma, seemed unconcerned for his fate. Behind him in attendance were Duke Omega and the Crown Prince.


The sentence was handed down, and it was Just and Goode: The four would be put to death for High Treason.


The female, Lyn, began to sob and plead for her brother, Xenon. She said that the King most High could not understand the situation as he had never been "sick", but failed to disclose Xenon's sickness.
The male, Xenon, rebuked her sharply for her unseeming conduct.


The other female, Theta, began in anger to protest that, while she would go to her death, the real villain would go unpunished: her sire, whose abandonment of her lead to her desire for vengeance.


The King most High and Goode asked of Theta who her sire was.

The female dramatically turned and pointed to the audience...



The King most High and Goode consulted with the Queen most Radiant and Pious and decided that it was only Just that she be put to death for her crimes as the sentence was handed down.


The Duke rose in protest of this sentencing.
"Wait."

"...she is my daughter."

The King decided that, in his infinite mercy, he would grant the Duke one night and one day, until sunset, to come up with an alternate punishment that would be Just.

The Crown Prince urged him to hold to his path of Justice

but his father, the King, reminded him that Mercy was as important a value as Justice.

Extra! Extra!

Terrorists attack! Superhero team saves the day!

That's right, and you heard it first from us, the Castleton Weekly News Special Edition! Photojournalist Robert Brown was dispatched to the scene, where four unknown terrorists stormed the castle, followed by a number of bewitched humans who, upon being hit in combat, immediatly snapped to their senses and ran off. The four terrorists exhibited strange powers, but needless to say, everyone's favorite superhero, Darkstar, was there to save the day! However, in a strange twist, he had four friends fighting alongside him! He granted the Weekly an exclusive interview (the complete text of which you can find in our next weekly edition, in newsstands this Saturnsday) in which he stated that, "we go way back. I won't reveal any secret identities, but we've been friends for a while, and I've been training them on the side in case I ever needed backup. I could probably have handled this on my own, natch, but it's good to have friends."

Exclusive photos inside!

Darkstar looks to companion Angel while ally Metatron looks on

Behind Metatron, junior teammates Samurai and Cerulean join the fray

One terrorist seemed particularly interested in Samurai; here she goads him about his father. Hidden connection? the Weekly will uncover the truth!

Here Samurai responds that he has no idea who the terrorist is- or does he? Scoop next week!

Here we see the terrorist preparing some sort of magical blast effect....

Which Samurai dodges...

But which has devastating effects on the landscape!
Here we see Cerulean particularly concerned for Samurai's fate.
Meanwhile, Angel and another terrorist, referred to on battlefield as Lin, stare each other down.

Suddenly, as seen in the below exclusive pictures, Lin's true powers came to light- and the poor tripleteamed Angel was rescued by the physically stronger Metatron. What a pair they make!

With friends like these, Darkstar managed to repel the terrorists, and local police are searching for them. We here at the Weekly are confidant that the terrorists will be found and captured within the week, and we'll cover every step of the way on this exciting new turn of events.