Is that fair to the slaves?
The question played in his mind on repeat as he stared out into the sea.
Alexander and the survivors were heading back home, quiet and broken.
Hinata stayed on the island with Ali, she'd make sure the exchange was flawless.
Alexander closed his eyes, the field of bodies was a permanent vision in the darkness.
47 dead Marines.
20 wounded.
Out of an invasion force of a hundred.
Ali's mocking taunts played in his mind over and over.
He wanted to tell him he was wrong, but he wasn't really.
He got a few details wrong.
But he got the core points correct, and it made him furious.
On the flip side, he wasn't even mad about the slaves anymore.
In all honesty, he felt nothing.
Well… that wasn't totally true.
He did feel one thing.
An overwhelming sense of humiliation.
He was so thoroughly humiliated that he couldn't help but find it funny.
He had been so stupid.
So naive…
He went in with hopes of victory and had his ass handed to him.
And the one man who thrived in the chaos, was the same man Alexander said he wanted thousands of.
He looked over his shoulder to see Wagner marching around the deck chugging alcohol.
Wagner caught his eye and marched over.
"Well, well, well…" he taunted.
"What say you? Commander? Froze up and got your assed saved by a super soldier."
Alexander turned to face him completely, his arm now healed via essence.
"Is that right?"
Wagner let out a harsh laugh as he jabbed a finger in Alexander's chest.
"That's exactly right. I watched you out of the corner of my eye, you panicked like a bitch. And that boy, Reinhardt? He's more of a man than you'll ever be."
The smell of cheap booze rolled off his breath as he leaned closer.
"And it's because I trained 'em. That boy would've died if it weren't for me. Just like Erich pissed his pants and Hans whined."
Alexander stared into Wagner's eyes.
He was right.
When Wagner returned Hans was broken, and Erich had literally pissed himself.
Alexander chuckled at the fact, a dark, bitter laugh.
"You're right…"
Wagner's eyes narrowed.
"I am?"
"YOU'RE SO RIGHT!"
Alexander's laughter was historical.
"I thought it would be enough to have a thousand men like you! Now I know I need to become you! That's why we lost, I wanted to be a savior when I should've been a killer!"
Wagner took a step back.
He wondered if it was the booze, or if Alexander was actually breaking down.
"Are you for real?"
Alexander spread his arms wide as his hair blew wildly in the breeze.
"I'm for real, so real… TO REAL!"
His golden eyes were growing to encompass the entire sclera.
Klaus looked over with a raised eyebrow.
"THIS LESSON HAS BEEN TAUGHT TO ME MY ENTIRE LIFE, BUT I NEVER UNDERSTOOD IT UNTIL NOW! ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE, AND I'LL BE THE STRONGEST!"
He laughed, gripping his hair as he doubled over.
"I'LL NEVER LOSE AGAIN. NEVER, NEVER AGAIN! ONLY VICTORY MATTERS, I SEE THAT NOW! I SEE THE LIGHT, AND IT'S BRIGHTER THAN ANY STAR I'VE EVER KNOWN! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Wagner swallowed hard, sobering up all too fast.
"AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR THAT RAT BASTARD ALI I'M STILL ALIVE AND KICKING! HE SHOULD'VE KILLED ME ON THAT ISLAND, I SHOULD'VE DIED. NOW THE WORLD WILL KNOW THE GODDESS' JUDGEMENT!"
"Fuckin' Hell…"
He just wanted to poke at Alexander, show him leadership wasn't all it's cracked up to be.
However, he might have just triggered something completely unknown.
No one bothered Alexander after that.
Leaving the boy to stand near the bow of the ship with a grin so wide it split his face.
— — —
*POV shift, Princess Elizabeth.*
Prince Fredrick and I stood near the docks, where space had been made for five ships.
He paced eagerly, rubbing his hands as he rambled.
"If Alexander wins here we'll be set. A new fleet of ships, pirate gold, and a gateway to the demon continent…"
I hummed quietly to myself, my heart aching for his return.
Though there was a spark of doubt in my heart.
I knew he couldn't lose, that's what Hinata's for.
But I know combat will change him.
I hope he chooses the right path.
We can get so much further if he'd just become a little less naïve.
We could build up this kingdom and rule the world.
I sighed softly.
Prince Fredrick perked up, pointing a finger at an incoming fleet.
"They're here! And look, they secured the ships! He succeeded!"
Fredrick pumped a fist in the air as he jogged up the docks.
I smiled, following behind him.
The wandering moon was the first to dock, its hull narrowly missing the wooden pylons.
Sailors rushed to tie the ship down.
It was then that I first noticed something off.
The men aboard the ship weren't celebrating, they looked… distraught?
Broken.
And exhausted.
The gangplank slapped against the dock with a thud.
The first down was a pair of corpsmen carrying a Marine with a missing leg on a stretcher.
Oh no… Alex.
"Clear the way!" One shouted.
Fredrick and I stepped back as men rushed from the docks to assist.
A line of stretchers followed the first, men missing arms, legs, even ears and eyes…
I raised a hand to cover my mouth, this wasn't supposed to happen.
Fredrick's earlier excitement faded as he awkwardly adjusted his collar.
What came after the wounded men were bodies covered in blood-stained cloth.
The flow seemed to never stop.
I almost couldn't believe it, how could so many die?
These men were armed with the best I had to offer.
But what really worried me was Alexander.
"Please be okay…"
I whispered under my hand.
The bodies were laid in rows on the docks.
47 in total.
After the bodies, came the marines who survived.
They marched down the gangplank in single file, their rifles ported to their shoulders.
Their uniforms were tattered and bloodied, their eyes sunken and low.
Klaus, Hans, and Wagner were next.
Wagner and Klaus marched with their shoulders straight and heads held high.
But Hans… he walked with a hunch and a gaunt face.
I braced for the worst.
But then, Alexander appeared.
My eyes widened as I realized he was distraught in the slightest.
He smiled as he scanned the docks.
And when his gaze landed on me, his grin grew ever wider, reaching his eyes.
I felt my chest tighten.
"My love… you're okay?"
I took a few hesitant steps forward, and Fredrick followed behind me.
Alexander laughed, jogging down the gangplank.
His uniform was crisp and clean.
"Okay?"
He repeated, stepping on the docks and meeting me.
"I'm better than okay! We got the ships, the island, and I learned a very… very important lesson."
He spread his arms, beckoning me into his embrace.
I obeyed, walking into him as he wrapped me in a tight hug.
He smelled the same, his warmth was the same… but somehow I felt wrong.
Like my Alexander had been, replaced.
I looked up from his chest, my hands gripping his uniform.
"My love, you seem… very happy given the situation."
He looked down at me with those fiery golden eyes.
"What? You mean the dead? That's natural… dying is natural."
I felt my hair stand on end, my heart racing.
"What did you say?"
I asked, my voice hiding a subtle tremble.
His grin didn't falter, instead, he looked at me with wild eyes.
"I said dying is natural. It's the price you pay to live. And I have never felt more alive."
His voice dropped to a whisper that made my knees shake.
This was not Alex, my Alex would've cursed.
He would've cried and grieved.
He would've blamed himself.
But this one…
Fredrick stepped forward, his hands behind his back as he cleared his throat.
"Alexander, it seems your mission was a success despite the circumstances."
He spoke slowly, as if he was testing the waters.
"It's unfortunate for the men who died. But with the resources secured from the island, you could train a new battalion."
Alexander looked over and nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, I'll have the survivors form my new NCO corps, with Wagner as first sergeant."
Prince Fredrick's eyes bugged.
He coughed, thumping his chest.
"O-oh! Alright… we'll discuss more when the emotions die down. Until then, I'll be around."
He turned on his heel and walked away.
It was more like a run.
I looked up at Alexander.
"You just–you didn't even bring up the dead. Alex… are you just skipping past the dead and wounded?"
I asked with baited breath.
Please… please give me a good answer.
Alexander nodded.
"I'll have their families compensated with five months' salary. And full military honors."
Oh… oh my goddess.
I shook my head in disbelief.
The Alexander who left was an emotional, naïve, and passionate soul.
And the one that returned was a cold-hearted military tactician.
And yet… he still had that passion I loved.
This is Alexander, HE'S PERFECT!
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss.
He gripped my hips in response, returning the kiss with a fire I've longed for.
My new Alex…
Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, mine, mine, mine…
ALL MINE.