Chapter Text
"The kings have fallen" he confessed through the phone and, a few seconds later, the silence of the call was interrupted by the other man's voice.
"...Understood, I'll take care of getting it to the princes, you know the code". He hung up the signal and then looked out of the window at the next carriage, where two boys of different ages were darting picturesquely towards their destination.
He sighed heavily, carving out one of his eyes and walked to the door that divided the carriages.
"My God, this is going to be difficult. He muttered before opening the door and catching the attention of the two infants.
"Your Highnesses" he spoke to them almost perfectly hiding the nervousness in his voice.
"Yes Mountain Tim, what can I get you?" The older of the brothers questioned respectfully.
"What I will tell you next will not be easy your highnesses, but...". He took a pause to gather his courage and speak in front of those two innocent children.
"His majesty the king and queen have passed away" he spoke firmly so as not to show weakness at such news, immediately feeling the guilt take hold of his body. Both fell silent almost instantly and the only sound was the train moving at full speed along the tracks.
The distant sound of the bells indicated to them that whatever the man was saying was not a sign of a bad joke, one.... two... three... They seemed to know no end. Finally after a couple of seconds, the largest of them nodded in slow, still processing.
"Mountain Tim, please... leave us alone" Nicholas requested wrapping his arms around his brother's body in a hug to show his companionship, as the younger prince would begin to let salty tears fall along with soft sobs.
"As I commanded your highness, if you need me ring the bell." The prince nodded lowering his gaze to his brother. The so called Mountain Ton obeyed, turned and disappeared out the door. Yet even there, where he seemed far away, he could hear the heart-rending cries of Johnny, the youngest heir.
Arriving at the central town, everything was in solitariness, nobody seemed to inhabit that town as all the streets were in complete loneliness.... It was finally happening.
The princes were transported in a royal carriage, where the youngest boy was still whimpering, now doing it silently and without drama; next to him, his brother kept his face firm and serene, but lost in nothingness and emptiness.
"Your Highness," Tim snapped Nicholas out of his thoughts. "I know I am no one to speak like this, but if you wish to cry on behalf of your parents it is completely fine and you are free to do so" he spoke sheepishly to his superior, who formed a delicate smile and slowly shook his head.
"That doesn't matter now Mountain Tim, I am fully capable of controlling myself" he forced a smile again, he was lying.
The arrival at the palace was especially depressing, their entry into the palace began in sad solitude as they were led to the tea room, where they were both forced to wait a few minutes in complete silence.
"Stop babbling like an imbecile, how does such stupidity cross your mind now?" both princes heard the whispers of royal attendants arguing behind the entrance to that room, one of the participants was clearly Mountain Tim.
"The code states that the heir is to be crowned hours after the kings death" the other attendant responded defensively, Blackmore was his name.
"No, the code specifies that it should only be done if the heir has reached the required age. Look at them, right now they are just children who have been left without parents and you talk about stupid codes" they spoke in low voices trying not to be heard by both princes, it was useless as they could hear everything from the sofa.
"And what are we going to do until I turn twenty-five, leave the kingdom to chance?" questioned Blackmore beginning to despair.
"The position must be taken temporarily by Duke Jona-" he was interrupted by the blond-haired man before he could finish his sentence.
"And I am the crazed one. No, no and no... That man was accused of treason against our kingdom ten years ago. Does that head of yours no longer remember?" He asked with his hands on his hips and looking plaintively at the other.
"Of course I remember, but the prince is not fit to take office and there is no other relative willing to rule," Mountain Tim spoke again a little louder. Nicholas had definitely had enough of his allegories and covered his little brother's ears.
"Do you doubt our highness's abilities?" He questioned trying to turn the conversation against him.
"Don't be an imbecile Blackmore, of course not. What concerns me most here is the royal jewel, it is barely capable of carrying a minuscule part of the stone" Tim's tone of voice modulated and he finally lowered his voice.
"That's why I worry, the duke shouldn't be in command of a blade as powerful as this one," he watched the larger man roll his eyes before nodding wearily.
"How about if that's for the prince to decide?" excused Mountain Tim finally opening the door, pretending with all cheek that the conversation minutes ago had never happened.
"Yes your highness," Blackmore's voice boomed through the hall. "Would you be willing to take office in a few hours?" The man never beat around the bush, he always got to the point with everyone; the young prince jumped at the surprising proposal.
"What? No... No, I'm not fit to be one yet," he spoke apologetically, as Blackmore earned a sly look from the other. "In fact, if I wished anyone to take the throne temporarily it would be none other than Duke Jonathan" he commented as a suggestion pretending not to have heard a word of the other's talk.
"I understand your highness... I withdraw" he turned and walked out of the room and back to the same place where they were arguing.
"You see? He's already told you, now leave the poor children alone they least need to know about the throne" he spoke indifferently before falling silent as he watched a familiar face approach them.
"Excuse me" Ferdinand murmured, opening the drawing room doors and observing the young heirs seated on the sofa.
"Your Highness, it is time to take him to the meeting room, we will discuss the royal throne and they need your opinion" The older of the brothers nodded dubiously before sighing in fear.
"Alright... Johnny, stay here I must go" he whispered in his inbred's ear and receiving a nod from the latter letting him go.
His older brother's departure caused Johnny to start whimpering again, and Mountain couldn't bear the sobs and went over to carry him.
"Is there anything I can do for you, your majesty?" the man asked without receiving a response, feeling the boy cry in Tim's arms.
"Then... I suppose I should take him to his room to change." He didn't have a chance to take a step as Johnny's voice would interrupt him.
"Why my parents, Tim?" In between his crying the boy asked hugging that man who from now on would be in charge of taking care of him even more.
"I have no idea your highness, I would also like to know" he replied in an almost whisper climbing the stairs of the palace in silence and listening to the crying child.
The day after such a fateful day the funeral of the kings began, no matter what their guests were, most of the people were there, simply praying for the kings who had brought prosperity to their home.
Outside the palace the villagers had organised themselves, whimpering and praying for the eternal rest of their former rulers.
The streets had become filled with sadness, where there was nothing but uncertainty for them.
Two funeral boxes left the palace at exactly twelve o'clock and headed for the royal cemetery; there, the lifeless bodies of Mary Joestar I and George Joestar I were buried after the bishop prayed for their souls.
"Hail Mary".
"Pray for them."
Johnny stared silently at the nothingness on the ground, why despite it being a sunny day he could feel the cold air sending shivers down his spine.
He would be lying to his morale if he didn't shed a tear, if he didn't throw himself into the funeral boxes to weep for their death or pray that it was all a bad dream and he was about to wake up; but all his tears were empty, it was ironic considering the horrible sadness his heart held.
His gaze shifted to his side, Nicholas was staring at the funeral boxes about to be buried underground, his face looked completely calm as if digesting the death of his parents was a piece of cake. His older brother's hand went to his shoulder, drawing him close.
No one was able to make a speech or at least stay, everyone, including the Joestar brothers left as soon as they had the chance.
That night Johnny heard his brother cry his eyes out for the first time in all that time. Nicholas had locked himself in his room and now perhaps he begged for mercy until the knots in his throat wouldn't let him breathe or until the tears burned like acid, perhaps until his eyelids turned red from the times he tried to wipe his sodden face, but he was sure that night his soul must have left his body so his mind could rest.
Johnny was sure that his brother suffered the most in these events. Johnny at least had to be pampered a little so that he could be calmed down, but Nicholas, Nicholas would not stop for all the fortune in the world.
He was the only one to attend the royal coronation, where Jonathan Joestar I was crowned as temporary king under the official supervision of Nicholas and forbidden to touch the divine jewel of kingship.
He watched it all, as the blue-haired man was crowned king, listening again and again to the almost forced exclamations of the crowd praising Jonathan.
Long live the King!
Long live the King!
Long live the King!