text: The Crown Prince's horse shook slightly, as his entourage moved slowly through the Imperial Capital. As he rode through the streets slowly, he could see that barely anybody looked at him. If the soldiers and people weren't moving bodies and clearing houses of bodies, they were sitting down on contemplation, exhausted and upset at the devastation currently sweeping the Empire. The Crown Prince looked up and saw dozens of plumes of smoke rising up from everywhere. *Smoke from the pyres*, he thought. A couple of women ran quickly towards his horse, wailing. Some of his Guardsmen quickly stepped forward to push them back, hands on swords. The Crown Prince shook his head sadly and adjusted the cloth covering his nose and the mouth; the smell of rotting, diseased and burning flesh of thousands of dead bodies was overpowering, but he had to be seen in public, to display confidence and strength. The Purple Sickness was devastating the Empire; it was wreaking havoc across cities and towns and villages and trade routes and supply lines. Just yesterday, the Crown Prince received word that four ships which had been scheduled to bring in much-needed supplies to the Capital had seen much of its crews struck down by the Purple Sickness. Riots and mutinies had broke out and everything had been lost or stolen. The situation with the troops was worse, much worse. As of this morning, more than 12,000 of his troops had perished from the Purple Sickness. The hordes massing at the Western Boundary had taken advantage of the lower numbers defending the Boundary and were now fighting their way through, village by village, town by town. The Crown Prince tried to remain positive and upbeat and strong and determined, but his father - the Emperor - was more realistic and this had caused some disagreements. The Emperor had ordered reinforcements to return back from the Western Boundary immediately and abandon their mission of providing crucial support to the troops already stationed there. The Crown Prince had disagreed with this and urged his father to reconsider. Rerouting expected reinforcements would prove fatal for those defending the Boundary. His father had disagreed and had wanted to hear nothing more on the matter. As a result, the Crown Prince was sure that the Purple Sickness would deal irreversible damage to the Empire, probably even lead to its ultimate collapse. As his entourage continued to move slowly through the streets, the clash of swords and cries of men and screams of women could be heard ahead. Thick black smoke from a nearby fire began to decrease visibility. "We should turn back, your highness!" The Second Commander of his Guard waved back to him. "The Sickness has made them mad up ahead; they 're warring with troops up there!" Dozens of people began running away from the sounds of swords and metal clashing. The Crown Prince's Guardsmen closed ranks around him and drew their swords, looking around with heightened senses and squinting eyes. "Now, your highness!" The Second Commander screamed. The thick black smoke became thicker and thicker and the entourage now slowed down. The Crown Prince tried to search for his Second Commander but could not see him clearly through the smoke. "Stand firm! Stand firm!" He heard a voice cry from behind him. The loud and angry cries were now much closer and filled the air. "Back! Back!" He heard some troops shouting. The Crown Prince's heart began to beat quicker and quicker. *If the Sickness could not even be contained in the Capital, then what of the rest of the Empire?* He thought. His Second Commander now came into view, riding through the thick black smoke. He began to scream at the Crown Prince. "Turn around now! We need to turn ar-" A bloodied and furious man, with eyes filled with rage and murder, leapt through the air and thrust a sword through the chest of the Crown Prince's second commander. Dozens of men and troops were suddenly crowding around the Crown Prince, slashing swords and pushing bodies as bloody warfare began to suddenly fill the streets. The Crown Prince drew his own sword and held up his shield, his anxious eyes darting around at the carnage. The entourage - or what was left of it - tried to turn around, but bodies and fighting men had boxed them in. Two arrows whizzed past his helmet and struck down one of his Guardsman. Crowds of women and children ran out of a burning house and moved quickly away from the deadly fighting. Then the Crown Prince was thrown from his terrified horse and launched several feet into the air. He landed on his back a few feet away and could taste blood in his mouth. A group of soldiers - not his Guardsmen - quickly formed a circular wall around him, furiously battling the rage-filled citizens. He felt strong hands roughly pick him up and place his arms around shoulders, as he was quickly dragged away to safety. His vision was blurry, but the sound of warfare started to dim as he was dragged further and further away. Through a side street, he could see two chariots waiting ahead, with two dozen troops standing guard, swords in hand. A single Guardsman emerged from one of the chariots with an expression of fear and shock on his face. "Your highness," he said, gulping hard. "The Emperor...your father...he's dead." The Crown Prince stumbled, stun and shock hitting him with the force of a dozen shields. "What...what did you say?" "The Purple Sickness reached the palace; some of the troops turned on each other and people broke through barricades. He was...killed. The Capital is no longer safe - we need to get you to safety. The Commander has been killed as well; Trayas is in charge of your Guard now..." The Guardsman continued speaking, but the Crown Prince was no longer listening. The news was unreal and unbelievable. "How...how could this all happen so quickly?" He whispered quietly. It was bound to occur sooner of later; the growing discontent following disrupted trade and supply routes and disrupted farming; the low grain stores; the growing number of the dead and bodies piling up everywhere; the reluctance of some subjects to burn their dead or dying family members or relatives. Everything had reached boiling point and it was probably not just in the Imperial Capital, but across the entire Empire. "We...have...fallen," he whispered. "I'm sorry, your highness?" The Guardsmen leaned forward, struggling to hear the Crown Prince.