Chapter 218: | 218 | TIMESKIP: Part Six - Complexities of Pregnancy
It was in midnight when the Dragon of Liberation went into slumber. It was a highly-confidential news that not even the highest-echelons of the United World Government knew. There were only three individuals with awareness of what had happened.
First was the Dragon's Husband, Abraham Shepherd. Second was the Dragon's Best Friend, Charlotte. And third was the Dragon's Trusted Attendee, Mercedes. The three of them were there when Laplace announced her temporary departure from the United World Government.
It happened in the twilight of evening, to which the three were called upon by the dragoness herself in the western shores of the island of Crescere.
"What do you mean by leaving, Laplace?" Abraham uttered, confusing about the words escaping from his wife's mouth. She had just gotten pregnant, it wouldn't do good for her and their child to be travelling throughout the sea.
"I meant what I have said, Abraham. I will be temporarily leaving the United World Government. I simply have no choice." Laplace closed her eyelids, trying to avoid looking at the eyes of her husband. She had already made her decision, she didn't want to leave in regrets.
"But why? At the very least, I want to know why!" Abraham wondered if there was something wrong with him that caused Laplace to leave. It made his deepest insecurities that should have been trampled long ago, arise from the bottom of his heart.
Charlotte and Mercedes observed the arguing couple. Even though there were things they wanted to say, they felt that it was not their place to intrude in the couple's argument. After all, it was in regards to the relationship between the two.
It was something that they shall not infringe.
"I'm pregnant, Abraham. You should know that I'm not a human or a beastfolk." Laplace responded and explained the reasons of her departure. "My instincts are calling for destruction to the things nearby of me. I am barely controlling myself, otherwise Dawn City would have been burned into the ground long ago."
"Time is running out for me. If I am near the United World Government or any kind of settlement, it won't be long until I'll instinctively destroy them without a tinge of mercy." The more words that escaped her supple lips, the more heavy the atmosphere became.
"The birth of a dragon is a complicated matter, Abraham. I apologize that you couldn't have a normal experien-" Laplace gave her apologies with a wry smile, but was immediately interrupted by Abraham. "Don't apologize! I didn't marry you to act normal."
"I understand... I'm not foolish. I know how painful it must be for you." Abraham softly smiled at his wife, whose tranquility was akin to the calm before the storm. A singe tear dripped from her golden eyes as she muttered. "Thank you for your understanding, My Love."
"I'll return immediately once I become normal." Laplace declared with determination as she turned her gaze towards the two, who were merely observing the two of them. "Charlotte, Mercedes... Take care of this idiot and make sure that he doesn't do anything foolish while I'm gone."
Mercedes calmly nodded, understanding the weight of the matter. Charlotte sighed and answered. "That's already a part of my job since the beginning. Assuring that the two of you don't do anything stupid." She felt saddened at this farewell as it deeply ached her heart.
"But... Laplace. Take care of yourself, otherwise I'll be joining him looking for you." Charlotte continued, gazing at the shimmering golden eyes of the dragoness. "Also, don't fall to your instincts to no matter what."
"Remain rational as you have done before. You are, after all, Laplace Shepherd first, Dragon of Liberation second."
"Thank you for your support, Charlotte. Take care of him." The edges of Laplace's lips rose as she gave the Prime Minister a hidden yet obvious wink. Charlotte couldn't help but scoff while shaking her head exasperatedly.
Laplace turned her attention to Abraham who was in utter silence. His gaze was only at her as if imprinted the very image of her into his memory. She stepped forward and hugged him tightly. "There's no need to be a worrywart, My Love."
"It should only take several months to calm my instincts down." She gazed at Abraham's anxious eyes and softly kissed his lips with a passionate embrace. After a short while, she took a step back and touched her abdomen.
"I'll be back, My Love." Without delay, Laplace jumped towards the evening heavens and a radiant flash quickly followed. It blinded everyone and everything as a gargantuan eastern dragon slithered into the dark skies, heading towards the endless horizon.
Silence encapsulated the shores in which the dragoness left her three most trusted companions. Abraham, Charlotte, and Mercedes could only watched as the silhouette of the eastern dragon become a dot of black in the evening skies.
A minute passed by before Mercedes straightened her back and saluted to the Authority of the United World Government. She couldn't help but give a request to the middle-aged man. "Sir, can I take my leave?" Her words were straightforward.
"You are dismiss, Director." Abraham replied, prompting the silver wolf to nod in understanding. Charlotte could only watch, unmoving, like a spectator. She wanted to do something, but couldn't act on it. She was a coward, despite being the first Prime Minister of the UWG.
There were many things she feared, and it was losing everything because of a decision. It was for this reason, despite her confidence in chasing after Abraham, she rarely acted upon her feelings regardless of the support of the dragoness.
Besides, Charlotte knew that Abraham needed time alone. After all, his wife had just left to spare the United World Government the damnation of a dragon's wrath.
She slowly stepped back and uttered to the middle-aged man. "Apologies for not being able to help, Abraham. I won't interrupt you." Charlotte walked away with heavy breathe, taking a glimpse of Abraham in each and every moment.
Though, before she could take her dozen step away from Abraham. She remembered the trust that her friend had given to her. Charlotte knew what Laplace's words meant. But other than that, she also knew that Abraham wouldn't declare a responsibility without reason.
Through this thought process, Charlotte returned and caught Abraham's hand, dragging him away from his former spot. It was a lot easier than she expected, though it made her realize that helplessness and weakness that Abraham felt.
"Cha-Charlotte, what are you doing!?" Abraham's escaped his helpless trance as he felt a pull that was making him move forward. His darkened eyes had some light of them return as he questioned the actions of the Prime Minister.
"You need something to lighten up your mood. How about you pay the favor you owed before just recently. I already have a restaurant in mind." Charlotte softly smiled at the middle-aged man while dragging him away. It wasn't her usual mood to be smiling, and it wasn't the time to do so.
But it was a needed expression to help the one she admired.
"W-What!? When did I owe you a favor?" Abraham was confused, wondering where the favor came from. Charlotte furrowed her eyebrows and looked at him in the eyes. "Don't tell me you already forgot about it?"
"Who do you think prepared you the C-130 you flew on to reach this island?" Charlotte resisted the urge to grind his forehead for forgetting an important favor. Though, she halted herself and simply continued pulling him.
Abraham couldn't resist as his mind was still in the process of understanding the things going on. Everything had just happened to fast for him to even understand despite his evolved mind. The emotional toll of Laplace's departure was too difficult to manage for the middle-aged man.
Charlotte couldn't help but feel as though she had made a fool of herself. Her forced smile far from her usual self made her realized something important.
'Laplace... How ruthless can you be? I can't believe you wanted me to be the replacement of your position in his life while you're gone. A temporary puppet that would keep him in bay. However, I guess it's the only thing I amount to.'
The Prime Minister finally made the decision to dedicate herself into a choice, whether it was the right or wrong one would be for the future to answer. Though, one thing was clear. There was something she wanted to be. And it was to become the moon in his life.
On the other hand, Mercedes felt tears dripping from her eyes. The departure of her superior had just brought some things in her mind to crash down. Her admiration towards Laplace wasn't to be underestimated. The dragon was her idol, an unstoppable figure in her life.
The circumstance that brought her superior to leave the United World Government made Mercedes feel weak. It was as though there was nothing she could do, which she hated. After calming a part of her mind, a determine gaze escaped the silver wolf.
"I will dedicate myself to your calling, Lady Laplace." At this moment, she knew better than to disappoint the Dragon of Liberation. It was time to act.
...
Meanwhile, in the cold and black-painted sea reflecting the brilliance of the twinkling stars. Mercedes kept slithering in the black heavens trying to go as far as possible from the United World Government or any settlement in the Ferus Sea.
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While doing so, she could feel her consciousness waning. She understood that her instincts were beginning to take over. The Dragon of Domination was about to take control of her body. She wanted to fight back, reminding herself of her best friend's advice.
'I can't waste anymore time! I have to keep moving! I need to be quick!' Her anxious thoughts resounding, trying to maintain a tinge of her consciousness. However, there was nothing she could do as her consciousness faded into a blip somewhere in the mind of the eastern dragon.
The gargantuan eastern dragon kept slithering across the night skies, though its golden-eyes were replaced by crimson-velvet ones, shimmering like scarlet stars in the night. Its growl resounded throughout the heavens and the earth as it finally opened its jaw, bellowing a thunderous roar.
*ROARRR!!!*