Line #138 FanFic/FailToTheKing


1	''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5856060/1/Fail_to_the_King Fail to the King!]]'' is a ''Disgaea'' fanfic written by Varanus and based on the events of ''VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice''. The plot’s gimmick is that it’s set after the alternate “Super Hero Almaz” ending, which features Almaz being crowned Overlord and Dean of Nether Institute by Mao’s father and then being abandoned by the rest of the group for various reasons. While it’s largely considered a gag ending by the fandom (you need to jump through a few hoops to get it instead of the normal ending and several characters act very OOC by abandoning Almaz), ''[=FttK=]'' takes the notion of Almaz being Overlord and runs with it, turning Almaz’s DownerEnding into a SequelHook.
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3	The story picks up a week later when Aria, a kunoichi and former vassal of Mao, is assigned by a mysterious benefactor to check up on Almaz and finds that he’s been stuck in a HeroicBSOD since the end of the game. One hilariously brutal BrightSlap later, Almaz gets his shit together and decides to get to work on this whole “being Overlord” thing. Unfortunately, he’s got a lot to learn and no time to learn it in, because a mysterious and powerful new foe has just breezed into town with dark designs for the academy and ambitions that span the multiverse...
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5	----
6	!!This fanfic contains examples of:
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8	* AuthorAppeal: Cited by WordOfGod as the main reason [[EnsembleDarkhorse Asagi]] is appearing in the story Not that we mind or anything...
9	** Also, the idea of [[EmpathicWeapon Empathic Weapons]] is a favorite of the author, which fits in nicely with the magichange system.
10	* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Mao. In a flashback to the Almaz ending from his perspective, it's shown he actually calculates his attack patterns and enemy's predicted movements beforehand, right down to the angle his sword strokes make. Turns out, whenever he said 'My calculations were off a bit', he ''meant'' it.
11	* [[spoiler: BackFromTheDead: Almaz, right at the end of chapter 23.]]
12	* BattleAura: Monty seems perpetually surrounded by a bright yellow aura leaking out of his armor. [[spoiler: Turns out his body is nothing ''but'' aura.]] Being TheFaceless, it also served as an ExpressiveHair of sorts.
13	* BattleCouple: Adell and Rozalin.
14	* BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame: Almaz averts an early assassination attempt by Rasberyl by inviting them to breakfast and generally acting more polite than them, then calling them out and making them look rude for trying to kill such a gracious host.
15	** During the battle against Monty, when they were dueling in the [[FieldOfBlades Infinite Graves]], Almaz wins by using Monty's own swords against him. [[spoiler: Seeing as how Monty had previously described those swords as ''his soul'', he basically saw it as a very brutal, humiliating 'Stop hitting yourself!' moment.]] No wonder Monty had to suppress a minor VillainousBreakdown when the attack ended.
16	* BigDamnHeroes
17	-->[[spoiler: '''Mao''': Almaz... I watched your [=DVD=]s!]]
18	* BloodKnight: Monty. Shouldn’t be a surprise, he’s a very deliberate [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail Black Knight]] knockoff.
19	** Tav too, looking forward to the next big fight [[NotSoAboveItAll in spite of his sworn quest of revenge.]]
20	* BreakingSpeech: Tav and Zenon play freaking ''ping-pong'' with these things during their battle in chapter 21; first with Zenon mocking Tav for thinking his despair could ever match hers, then Tav countering with a KirkSummation...
21	---> ''"Can you really claim to be so lonely with Adell by your side?"''
22	** ...and immediately launching into his own TheReasonYouSuckSpeech. Which is then turned right around and ''thrown back at him'' after Adell performs his own DynamicEntry and Zenon admits that ''he's right''.
23	---> "Feel this, Etem. Feel the depth of my despair and solitude. May your knees buckle under the weight and let the black tide of sorrow drown you as you fall into oblivion. Take all of my anger, all of my pain, all of my sadness – I have no more need of it. '''''I am free of it!"'''''
24	* BrickJoke: [[spoiler: The Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann [=DVDs=].]]
25	* BrightSlap: Almaz is on the receiving end of two (so far) - One from [[TheLancer Aria]] to snap him out of his HeroicBSOD in Chapter 1, and another to prevent another one from surfacing. The second one is also a HeyYouHaymaker, and the trope is even [[InvokedTrope invoked]] by Mao:
26	-->"My extensive hero research has shown that no amount of mental turmoil can withstand a straight right hook."
27	* CheckPlease: Tink, after realising the woman he's chatting up in the cafe [[spoiler: is a spy hunting for Rozalin.]]
28	* ChekhovsGag: Several.
29	** Almaz remembers one point where [[spoiler: a demon stole his pants while he was sleeping and set a Baciel on him]] during his early Academy days. [[spoiler: Turns out Phoenix did it.]]
30	** Adell kicking the side of his house.
31	** Why Adell hates Monty Python.
32	* ChekhovsGunman: Aurum vanishes several chapters in and goes on a quest to find his old heroic nature again. It’s a sure bet we’ll be seeing him again sooner or later.
33	** A slightly more meta version with Aurum: during the Almaz ending, you never see him leave the throne room... [[spoiler: because he didn't]]. Also, [[spoiler:Champloo vanished during the Almaz Ending and hasn't been seen in the Netherworld since... because he was taking a holiday in Rhodonite Kingdom. His first appearance has him giving critical advice to, ironically, Almaz's mother.]]
34	* TheChessmaster: Cinos is a villainous version of this. Interestingly, he’s clearly not a perfect MagnificentBastard; he succeeds in isolating [[spoiler: Sapphire and Aurum]] and trapping them in the human world and he lures Almaz and several of his vassals into a deathtrap, but he openly states later on that he didn’t count on them [[spoiler: surviving and hooking up with the Disgaea 2 crowd.]]
35	* ChessWithDeath: The image is [[InvokedTrope invoked]] by [[spoiler: Phoenix when she dies and faces the Reaper.]]
36	---> [[spoiler: '''Gig:''' Hate to break it to ya, but I don't play chess.]]
37	---> [[spoiler: '''Phoenix:''' Hate to break it to ya. ''Whips spear forward.'' Neither do I.]]
38	* ClickHello: Rozalin is ''good'' at this.
39	* ContrivedCoincidence: One that affects both Almaz and Cinos when [[spoiler: the story reaches Veldime. The scope of it goes over Almaz's head, but [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments Cinos is not amused.]]]]
40	* CosmicPlaything: No, not Almaz; all things considered things have been going pretty good for him. Axel, however, is still karma's personal ChewToy.
41	* {{Crossover}}: WordOfGod says all the Disgaea characters will be appearing sooner or later. Adell, Rozalin and a good chunk of the cast of ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2\|CursedMemories}}'' have already made appearances. [[VideoGame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters Gig]] is referred to offhandedly several times before eventually making his own appearance as well and [[VideoGame/RhapsodyAMusicalAdventure Etoile]] features prominently in the backstory of one of the antagonists [[RedHerring At least, that's what we're led to believe.]]
42	* CruelMercy: Aurum gets this treatment from Almaz, who refuses to grant his death wish and tells him to go find himself and rediscover the reason he became a hero in the first place.
43	* DeathByOriginStory: [[spoiler: [[VideoGame/RhapsodyAMusicalAdventure Etoile Rosenqueen]]]]
44	** [[spoiler: ... which turns out to be a RedHerring. The Etoile who died was actually the Item God of the [[InfinityPlusOneSword ultimate gun]] in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2\|CursedMemories}}'']]
45	* DeathFromAbove: Happens when Almaz and co. find themselves smack dab underneath a [[ColonyDrop 'Big Bang']] attack. To a lesser extent, whenever Almaz uses [[PowerGivesYouWings 'Slayer's Decent']].
46	* DefaceOfTheMoon
47	* DefeatMeansFriendship: [[spoiler: After being defeated by Almaz, Monty is willing to let him wield him.]]
48	** [[spoiler: Subverted. Whatever Monty really is, he is NOT Almaz's friend as shown in Chapter 23. At best it views Almaz as just another thing to corrupt and tarnish. Subverted AGAIN when the real soul of the weapon is shown to actually rather like the kid.]]
49	* DidYouSeeThatToo: Between Adell and Yukimaru after [[spoiler: Aria intercepts them and gives Almaz a piece of her mind]].
50	* DramaticIrony: Any reader who finished ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2\|CursedMemories}}'' is well aware that [[spoiler: Rozalin is both Zenon, the Overlord that Tav is hunting for revenge... ''and'' the little girl from the Snow Village that he almost gave up his quest to become a father for]]. He isn't.
51	* DreamingOfTimesGoneBy: Rozalin, dreaming of [[spoiler: her past life as Zenon]].
52	* EvilCounterpart: As confirmed by WordOfGod, [[spoiler: Tav is basically what Adell could become if he ever lost Rozalin]].
53	* EvilSorcerer: Cinos fits the description quite well.
54	* EvilWeapon: Sienna's cursed axe fits the description perfectly, and has displayed a disturbing habit of forcing its wielder to relive their memories. Mao seems to be able to suppress it to a degree.
55	** Mao even lampshades it when he sees it, because it "positively screamed ''evil''". It's been revealed that [[spoiler:it is in fact the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Grand Madness]], the [[InfinityPlusOneSword ultimate axe weapon]] in Disgaea 3, and is slowly driving Mao (more) insane.]]
56	* TheFaceless: Monty's helmet covers his face, and once that helmet gets knocked off, [[spoiler:he's promptly killed and transforms into a [[EmpathicWeapon sword]].]]
57	* FailureKnight: [[spoiler: Etem's motivation]].
58	* FixFic: Sapphire’s OutOfCharacter in the Almaz Ending is explained as the princess being overwhelmed, confused, and angry at the notion that Almaz has become the Overlord she set out to kill [[StepfordSmiler but covering it up with her usual façade]]. Her first major scene in the story has her regretting her actions and trying to get back to Almaz to sort out her feelings.
59	* FlatWhat: [[spoiler: From [[BigBad Cinos]], of all people.]]
60	* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Averted! Many of the gameplay elements Disgaea is best known for have actual effects in the story. Leveling, transmigration, mana and weapon skills have all seen use so far.
61	** The changes of personality generic units undergo when they [[InsistentTerminology transmigrate]] into a different class is explained as [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody a sort of mental condition called Transmigrative Compulsive Disorder]]. Basically, the demons get so gung-ho about their new forms that they tend to only focus on what those forms do and lose their sense of self.
62	** Turns out, all you have to do to read someone's title is just look at them closely.
63	** The fic's best example of this trope? [[spoiler:The villains of the story are not demons, but Item Gods.]]
64	* GunsAkimbo: Rozalin, with ''[[{{BFG}} Gatling guns]]''.
65	* GuysSmashGirlsShoot: Taken literally with the [[spoiler:Item Gods]]. [[MagicStaff Tav]] and Phoenix seem like the odd ones out, until you remember that -by ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' mechanics- a staff user's normal attack can only be used from one square away, while spear can attack from two.
66	* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: Tileyfa mentions that the humans of Holt Village see her as one.
67	* HardWorkHardlyWorks: Played with. [[TheAce Jericho]] has spent his long lifetime transmigrating over and over to perfect his skill with the sword with the side-effect being a huge number of useful skills such as healing, sensing mana, StealthHiBye and the ability to create and manipulate Dimension Gates. These skills come in handy a lot in the story, but on the other hand, despite centuries of training every canon main character is ''still'' stronger than him despite the fact they've only been fighting for a few months, tops.
68	* {{Homage}}: [[FieldOfBlades Infinite Graves]] is already noted on the Disgaea page to be an [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Unlimited Blade Works]] reference but Almaz’s battle with Monty more directly references the Shirou vs Gilgamesh battle in UBW, with swords flying every which way and Almaz’s copied blades breaking with every use.
69	** Monty himself deliberately invokes the Black Knight skit from Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail during his fight with Almaz. Hilariously, Almaz actually [[JustForFun/OneOfUs calls him on it]] and makes a few references of his own before the fight ends.
70	** Monty, in his sword form, [[Manga/{{Bleach}} wraps himself in bandages in lieu of a sheath]]. Lampshaded by both him and Almaz.
71	** Almaz later on uses summoned swords like Nero from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry 4''.
72	** Pandora is a reference to both the Pandora's Box weapon from VideoGame/DevilMayCry 4 ''and'' to ''Franchise/BlackRockShooter'', the inspiration for her human form.
73	* HotBlooded: Adell, literally during one battle. After [[BloodFromTheMouth coughing up blood]], it hits the ground and begins to steam.
74	* IncrediblyLamePun: In Chapter 13: "About the phone call… even with the best telephone service, there's a problem with calling other planets. A big problem. Huge. It's the rates. [[spoiler: They're astronomical."]]
75	* ISurrenderSuckers: Phoenix, when caught in an ambush, tosses her spear away and unconditionally surrenders. [[spoiler: Cinos catches it ''after it cut through several stories of the castle'' and [[BoomerangComeback throws it back to her]] while the heroes' guard is down.]]
76	* LetsGetDangerous: Phoenix thought [[ButtMonkey Tink]] would be easy prey. [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass Phoenix thought wrong]].
77	** The entire fic is an extended one for Almaz, really.
78	* LightIsNotGood: While not [[AntiVillain entirely a villain]], Tav and his heavy light motif most certainly falls into this bill.
79	* ManipulativeBastard: Cinos has moments of this, especially when [[spoiler: he lures Almaz into an ambush by baiting his love for Sapphire.]] Phoenix, on the other hand, seems to be a master of this, delivering a harsh TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to an ''ally'' in order to nip a potential HeelFaceTurn in the bud.
80	** It's explictedly stated by [[spoiler: The Emcompasser]] later that part of the reason he didn't want to work with Cinos was he enjoys deliberately withholding information until it suits his purposes to reveal it. And Cinos does ''exactly'' that after [[spoiler: figuring out Rozalin is the reborn Zenon]].
81	* MathematiciansAnswer: "A-are you [[spoiler: Rozalin... or Zenon]]?" "'''Yes.'''"
82	* MentalWorld: Phoenix enters her own heart at one point, [[spoiler: the inside of which is a [[VideoGame/PhantomBrave Phantom]] filled white-hot iron city built atop a sun, floating in a starless abyss.]] This is directly contrasted to Mao's crystal wasteland in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3\|AbsenceOfJustice}}''. Apparently the trick to traversing these worlds is an AlternateCharacterInterpretation of whoever's heart you're in.
83	** Almaz's heart takes the form of an enormous city made of copper with a diamond replica of Rhodonite Castle at its center.
84	* MissingStepsPlan: This line:
85	---> It was a routine plan – Step One, crash in, kill everything inside. Step Two, steal everything that wasn't nailed down. Step Three, steal the nails. He was a little sketchy about Step Four, but Step Five was supposed to be pure profit.
86	* MomentKiller: [[spoiler: Phoenix]] in chapter 16-17. [[spoiler: Emphasis on the ''killer''.]]
87	* NoKillLikeOverkill: Mao’s Giga Ice.
88	** To say nothing of Monty's Dimension Thrust. [[spoiler: [[EpicFail We say nothing because it missed Almaz completely]].]]
89	* NoodleIncident: At one point, waking up in an unfamiliar room, Almaz idly remembers all the other times in the past that he's woken up in a strange room, wandering around in the middle of the night after somebody had stolen his pants, trying to avoid demons, only one time a Baciel spotted him and-- At which point he re-suppresses the memory.
90	** Adell refuses to comment on what made him hate Monty Python, but it's somehow Axel's fault.
91	* NotSoHarmlessVillain: At first, Monty seems like a joke because of his reference spewing [[spoiler:going as far as getting his arms cut off for the sake of the routine.]] Then he gets bored and [[LetsGetDangerous decided to]] [[TurnsRed actually start]] [[IAmNotLeftHanded fighting.]] And keeps on fighting, [[HopeSpot even after they thought it was over]]. If Almaz wasn't so cunning, it would have ended much differently.
92	* NotWhatItLooksLike: Aria catching Rozalin [[spoiler: heading to Adell's room for comfort after a nightmare]].
93	* ObviouslyEvil: Cinos is accused of this by some of the protagonists, though all demons try to cultivate this look. Aria calls it a [[LampshadeHanging "'fallen angel' renegade heretic" look.]]
94	* OCStandIn: Several. Aria and several other vassals from Mao’s army are all based on the generic player units, and Cyprus is the Cu Sith that Sapphire summons for her Shunpo Moondance technique. The rest are all run-of-the-mill {{Original Character}}s.
95	** Same goes for the antagonists, only with slight adjustments. Cinos himself is a Heretic (male healer) wearing a cape/robe, Phoenix is a Valkyrie with gauntlets as well as greaves, Sienna was a Heavy Knight/Berserker and Tav is a mix between a Sinner from Disgaea 2 and a Brawler from Disgaea 3.
96	* OhCrap: Plenty, but of particular note is Adell's after learning [[spoiler: his new friend Tav is seeking revenge on Overlord Zenon]].
97	* {{Omake}}: An extra scene at the end of Chapter 10 explaining why [[spoiler: Adell got the Creator/MontyPython references]].
98	* OneWingedAngel: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] by [[spoiler:Cinos' true form: a staff.]]
99	* PhysicalGod: [[spoiler: Cinos, Phoenix, [[AxeCrazy Sienna]] and [[GoodOldFisticuffs Tav]] are Item Gods of the ultimate weapons from Disgaea 3. [[{{BFG}} Invincible]] and Radiance are set to follow.]]
100	* PowerGivesYouWings: So much so with 'Slayer's Descent', of the [[PureEnergy wings of light]] variety
101	* PreAsskickingOneLiner: Mao, facing a hoard of feral demons:
102	--> "Today we're conducting an experiment entitled 'Newly Spawned Demons; Lifestyle in a High Hostility Environment'. Glad to see so many volunteers!"
103	* ThePromise: Darkly twisted by Cinos:
104	-->'''Cinos''': It's just that I promised his Princess that I'd make him suffer. It was really more of an idle, '[[ForTheEvulz because I can]]' kind of threat, but... you know how I am with promises.
105	* RedOniBlueOni: Phoenix and Cinos.
106	* RunningGag: Pointing up [[spoiler: to indicate Almaz is about to Slayer's Decent on somebody]].
107	** "I landed on a rock..."
108	* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Almaz says this about Sapphire, leading Aria to amend her previous statement:
109	-->'''Aria''': His girlfriend without benefits.
110	* ShoutOut
111	** Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann and Dragnaut get references early on after Mao plunders Almaz’s DVD collection.
112	** Monty is a giant Creator/MontyPython reference-spewing machine.
113	** One of Almaz’s attacks is noted to rush toward its target “[[VideoGame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters like the Death Master’s scythe]]”.
114	*** Another mention later, of how Tav looms over somebody like the Death Master.
115	** A minor one, but in Axel's appearance on TV alongside Pleinair and her rabbit chew-toy Usagi, he calls Usagi [[Anime/SailorMoon 'Serena']] by mistake.
116	** [[ItMakesSenseInContext This exchange]], right after [[spoiler: Almaz and the D2 group become good Series/{{friends}}]]:
117	----> "Where did you put it?"
118	----> "In the freezer,"
119	---->"… and you think it's safe there?"
120	---->"Well, safe-er,"
121	** "This axe is an eyesore. This axe. This axe. [[VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}} This chair]]- I mean axe."
122	** Salvatore orders Mao to [[Manga/{{Psyren}} "use telekinesis to drag the sun's rays into a laser beam."]]
123	** Aurum [[Film/ThreeHundred laments being unable to fight in the shade]] because the arrows blotting out the sun produce their own light. So he produces his own shade.
124	* ShutUpHannibal: "I'm not the one who made a mistake." Asskicking ensues.
125	* ShutUpKirk: "[[ThePlan Remember the pact?]]"
126	* StealthPun: Phoenix's alias in Chapter 14. [[spoiler: Cassandra Strahl... Cass Strahl... Kestrel, a [[TitleDrop bird of prey]].]]
127	** In Chapter 8, Tink first appears, backed up by several zombies [[spoiler: [[IncrediblyLamePun because only total deadbeats would work with him]].]]
128	* TakingYouWithMe: [[spoiler: Tink attempts this in Chapter 15]]. Later, [[spoiler: Phoenix apparently ''succeeds'' with Almaz]].
129	* TalkingWeapon: Monty. He claims to be [[ShapeshifterModeLock mode locked]] into his magichange form. [[spoiler: In reality, he's [[InfinityPlusOneSword the Yoshitsuna]].]]
130	* TalkToTheFist: In Cinos' first appearance, [[spoiler: Sapphire instantly realizes trying to debate with him would be a bad idea and [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim shoots him in the face with an arrow]]. [[SubvertedTrope Which he catches]]. [[DoubleSubverted Then it explodes in his face]].]]
131	* TemptingFate: Acknowledged by Jericho, who idly wonders "WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong?" at one point:
132	-->"Whoops. I just jinxed the trip, didn't I?"
133	** Almaz also has a mild panic attack when he catches himself doing this during [[spoiler: the first invasion]], scolding himself for just making it worse.
134	* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Phoenix, realizing Adell's about to use a special move on her, says this word for word.
135	* TooDumbToLive: The nameless Omega Sentinel who challenges Mao and suggests -- to his face, no less -- that he’s either afraid or too weak to face Almaz. Everyone around him immediately takes a giant step back.
136	* VillainousBreakdown: Cinos in Chapter 22 when Tav confronts him after [[spoiler: Phoenix had been killed.]] [[ShutUpKirk Unfortunatly, he got better.]]
137	* VillainsNeverLie: Happens with Cinos. ''A lot.'' Such as commenting that he left [[spoiler: Sapphire]] stranded in the hands of several demons. [[spoiler: That is, in the Human World accompanied by Aurum and her [[LoyalAnimalCompanion demon wolf]].]]
138	** As well as in Chapter 21, revealing [[spoiler: he sent Aria to help Almaz at the start of the story]], framing it as a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech while neatly sidestepping the issue of [[spoiler: her clear UndyingLoyalty towards Almaz.]]
139	* WhamEpisode: Chapters 19-21. Lots of big [[TheReveal reveals]]. Mainly that [[spoiler: the {{Big Bad}}s are all Item Gods, and Cinos plans to force Zenon's hand by ''anniliating'' Holt Village]].
140	** Then in 20, Phoenix can use [[spoiler: ''Chartreuse Gale''. And summons the dead from Rhodonite.]]
141	** And 21... [[spoiler: Rozalin awakens both Zenon and Etolie's power.]] And Cinos reveals [[spoiler: ''he'' was the one who sent Aria.]] Oh, and [[spoiler: Monty is Kobayashi]], and [[spoiler: Phoenix kills Almaz]].
142	* TheWorfEffect: According to WordOfGod, Chapter 15 deliberately invokes this [[spoiler: to fully establish Phoenix as a threat, given the author's disappointment at how easily she was dealt with during her debut]].
143	* WouldHitAGirl:
144	-->[[spoiler: '''Tink, while [[TurnsRed turning red]]''']]: I would not lead a lady on, and I am loath to let them come to harm... but, that is fine. After all, ''you'', madam, are no lady!
145	* YouBastard: WordOfGod says [[spoiler: Tink's kamikaze attack in chapter 15]] is meant to invoke this feeling whenever the reader sees it in-game.
146	* YouCanBarelyStand:
147	-->[[spoiler: Etem]]: You have grievous internal bleeding and practically every bone you possess is at the very least fractured, not to mention your broken arm.
148	--> Adell: [[{{Determinator}} Ha! That just makes us even!]]
149	** Another case with a different character, Jericho's injury [[spoiler:, a burnt hole where his left lung should be,]] should relegate him to bed rest. Instead, he 'appeals' a petition in the Dark Assembly and, more seriously, [[spoiler: charges off to distract a giant lava serpent from destroying Holt]], all while only being held together by his own [[HeroicWillpower mana and resolve]].

Context FanFic / FailToTheKing