His Excellency Gets an Heir

The Strange & Unusual Universe of Silver Moon Unicorn

(I’m not sure what to think of this story in the Guardian archives. I’m not even sure who the being Claude talks to after he dies. I don’t even know how the Guardians got this story. Was it from Lady Adele or Prince Jaems? Perhaps. However, it does explain where Prince Jaems came from. —Silver Moon Unicorn)

Claude was bleeding too much. Adele bent over him. The situation was hopeless. The shooting had stopped, but there was no way to stop the bleeding. Adele took Claude’s hand.

“I know I’m dying. I can see by your face that you can’t do anything to stop it.”

Adele tried to smile.

“It’s alright. I just wish I could have brought a real smile to your face.” He went limp.

Adele gasped and held back a few tears.

******

Claude was lying down on the ground. He wasn’t bleeding anymore. He couldn’t feel much of anything. He didn’t see Adele. He sat up without any trouble. He saw nearby, a woman sitting on a rock. She had wings.

“Welcome, Claude.”

“Hello.”

She remained sitting on the rock. Claude stood up. He studied her for a moment.

“Are you a fairy?”

“No.”

“Am I dead?”

“In a sense.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Your body died because it bled too much. Your spirit soul or essence of your being is still alive.”

“Oh, okay.” He furrowed his eyebrows. “So, what is this place?”

“An in between place. You may get another body if you so choose.”

“Oh?”

She smiled. “I believe you wanted to get Lady Adele to have a real smile.”

“Yes. She wasn’t happy. I just wish there was something I could do to make her smile.”

“There is one thing you could do.”

“Stop His Excellency.”

“Exactly.”

He scoffed. “That wouldn’t be easy, but I’m sure it would make Lady Adele happy.” He paused. “Wait, she’s a Lady?”

“Yes, her cousin, Princess Catherine, named her her heir. The Princess cannot have any children.”

“Oh. I see. If that’s the same Catherine I met at school, then I know Adele will probably outlive her.”

“Yes, it would appear that way. Elves do live longer than humans.” She paused to watch him. “Would you be willing to help us defeat His Excellency? It would make Lady Adele happy.”

“I do want to make her happy. I’ll do anything to get her to smile.”

“Good. Then you will have to become His Excellency’s son.”

“Uhh, yeah I don’t see how that will help.”

“It’s simple. You will have to betray him and kill him.”

Claude’s eyes widened. “I don’t think I could kill anyone.”

“You did.”

“That was self-defense. What you’re asking me to do is commit murder.”

“It may not be murder. You would be setting billions free from the worst tyrant in history.”

“Perhaps. I still think it sounds like murder.”

“As His Excellency’s son he will try to teach you hate and contempt for everyone else. He will expect you to commit murder on a regular basis. He will expect you to kill Lady Adele and Princess Catherine.”

“I’m sure he will expect that of me. I could never kill Lady Adele.”

“If you fail him, he will kill you.”

“Then by being his son I will have no choice but to kill him before he kills me.”

“There is a problem with you being his son.”

“What’s that?”

“You may become what he wants you to.”

“How would that happen?”

“It’s easy to do as we’re told when we live in physical bodies. The hardest thing is do go against everything we were taught. I’m afraid you won’t make it by yourself.”

“Yes, I do understand that. I’ve seen enough people fall into that trap. Will you help me to remember what I’ve agreed to do?”

“I can do that from time to time. I can’t be in that realm where you can see me all the time. I better start when your education begins. You’ll probably be a child when you first see me after being born.”

“Okay. Then I will do as you ask for Lady Adele and everyone else living under the tyranny.”

“Excellent. I do hope you can carry out your mission.”

“Wait, who will my mother be?”

“Oh, well let’s see who it could be.” She stood up and walked over to a bowl of water. “Let’s look.”

Claude walked over to the bowl and saw His Excellency and some of his mistresses.

“What about that one? She looks like she would be a good mother and a sharp contrast to His Excellency.”

“Yes, I think you’re right. We’ll just have to make her birth control fail.” She paused. “Are you ready to begin?”

“I guess so.”

“Okay. I will meet you when you’re a child to remind you. You may forget this whole incident after you’re in a womb again.”

“Have I lived in another body before?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. I guess that explains why I don’t remember living before this last life.”

“It’s quite normal. Ready now?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

She spread her wings and smiled at him as he faded from sight.