Fall as Lucifer Fell

"Fall As Lucifer Fell" 	"Fall As Lucifer Fell"
 	
Cast 	Cast
Main Cast:*Bentley II*Cottontail IX*Edward XIV*Glaucous Oldman*Harald Hornover*Lana Loudoun*Maximilian Walters*Octavio VI*Stag Ellis*Valencia Vixen*Vixen VII	Supporting Cast:*Eva Hornover Guest Cast: *Philippa Hornover*Victoria Vixen
Chronology 	Chronology
←Previous"In the Trenches of Despair" 	Next→"Infamy"
"Fall As Lucifer Fell" is the seventh episode of War and the 56th episode overall. 
The episode was published on February 7, 2021.
In the episode, Capricon suffers the loss of king and country while Bentley Connelly receives disturbing news in Canis.
==Appendix==
07 Fall As Lucifer Fell.png|Episode Title Card
Slide7.png|A: Map of the War, 711
15.png|B: Capricovian Royal Family, 711
2.png|C: Bovish Royal Family, 711
7.png|D: Leprolian Royal Family, 711
14.png|E: Vulpine Royal Family, 711
The Jewel.jpg|F: The Jewel, Baahaa, Capricon
Screen Shot 2020-04-16 at 2.08.28 PM.png|G: Checkerhall, Boso Bovo, Bovo
==The Episode==
—Diary of Lana Loudoun—
-September 4, 711-
Capricon is falling apart. Castle after castle is being looted and sieged. The King just died of an infection sustained from visiting the trenches earlier this year, and so his son Edward is now the leader of the faltering nation. I hear regularly of the liberations of the prostitution rings, which is gratifying. Capricon never stood a chance after seven of its eight neighbors declared war on it. General Glaucous Oldman of Leprolia is leading the might of the Granite Bloc toward Baahaa. The Jewel is likely to be ours, and thus Capricon will surrender. 
I am exuberant at the prospect and hope dearly that this spells the turning of the tides toward our victory. 
—The Jewel, Baahaa, Capricon—
—Kingdom of the Goats—
-September 12, 711-
King Edward XIV was hastily coronated after his father King William X finally succumbed to his infection last week. A fourth tragedy to strike the Hornover family after Prince Ralph, Prince Travis, and Prince Will were slain by the Granite Bloc as their castles were overtaken in the recent months. Edward only had one brother left, Harald, who lived with him in the Jewel. 
Estimates placed the Granite Bloc army only a day away. There was not enough time to evacuate the city, nor would there be anywhere for Edward to go. The Granite Bloc had blockaded the routes to Felexa to ensure the Hornovers were trapped. 
Edward was deep in mourning, and too distracted to effectively run the country. His pregnant wife, Philippa, tried to comfort him but Edward was too far gone. Three of his brothers, then his father, all dead in the course of a month. 
The Jewel, the beautiful main castle of Capricon, was doomed to fall, and he’d sooner surrender to protect his unborn child and wife than face more loss. 
“What are they doing?” Philippa asked Edward, as both stood at the window gazing down into the checkered courtyard of the Jewel. 
“They’re taking the gems off the castle,” Edward muttered. Hundreds of palace attendants were on ladders and scaffolding, prying from the façades the radiant sapphires, rubies, emeralds, pearls, and other precious stones that were the namesake of the Hornover redoubt. 
“Why?” Philippa pressed, trying to keep Edward talking. He sighed. 
“The Granite Bloc must not have them. We will bury the fortunes in the catacombs.” 
Edward walked away, steeling himself to do something. It was tempting to lie down and let the Granite Bloc steamroll over him, just to end the misery. But Edward still had allies, and one final card to play. 
—Antlerstag, Lyme, Cervidium—
—Kingdom of the Deer—
Stag Ellis was lying recumbent on a couch in his office, gnawing on a vine of grapes. In his other hoof was a telegram from Capricon. The new King Edward XIV was begging for aid and assistance as Baahaa was surrounded by the Granite Bloc. Ellis was sure a similar note was sent to each Summer Sun monarch. Unfortunately for Edward and the Hornovers, it was evident to Ellis that they botched their own defenses. Capricon’s army was quite extensive, albeit centrally located near the capital. Their delayed deployment of their forces, and their inability to continually staff their trenches led to countless defeats. Moreover, the string of Hornover deaths was proof that the family was not suited to rule. Four in one month? A King and three princes…that was evident of a curse upon the dynasty.
Ellis tossed the vine of grapes on the floor and read over the telegram again. Edward intended to surrender to invading forces to prevent loss of life, but was hoping that the Summer Sun could mount a surprise invasion to recapture Baahaa and maintain Capricon’s position in the war. At this point, only the capital remained unconquered by Leprolia and their allies. 
The Stag grappled over his head for the phone. He dialed the direct line to Vista, Vulpus. 
“Ellis?” 
“Valda.” 
The Vixen Queen could be heard shuffling things off her desk. 
“What do you need?” she asked. 
“Have you received a telegram from King Edward?” 
Queen Vixen paused. 
“Yes, I have it here. Let me read it.” 
Ellis waited for her to finish. 
“Capricon is dead,” she said at last. “Their inadequate defense is no one’s fault but their own. We cannot be expected to fill all their trenches.” 
“So…” Ellis pondered, “do we ignore this plea?” 
“Certainly not,” the Vixen Queen replied. “We will assure Edward that help is on its way.” 
Ellis grinned. 
“Is it?” 
A scoff. 
“No.” 
—Baahaa, Capricon—
—Kingdom of the Goats—
-September 13, 711-
Prince Glaucous Oldman of Leprolia came up beside his elderly father, King Cottontail IX. The Leprolian King had traveled as fast as possible from Sylvia to the soon-to-capitulate capital of Capricon. He would personally demand the surrender of the nation from King Edward. 
The joined armies of Leprolia, Bovo, and Phantine had completely encircled the city, but it was uncertain if Baahaa would warrant a siege before surrender or if the King would fold to prevent that occurrence. Cottontail insisted that a message be delivered to King Edward asking to be invited into Baahaa to avoid loss of life. The gathered armies were prepared to besiege all of the capital and destroy every remnant of the goat civilization if their request was denied. 
“I never thought I’d see Baahaa like this,” Cottontail murmured to his son so that no one else could hear. Ahead of them, the city was quiet, but flanks of soldiers were blockading the streets. 
“Edward must surrender. He’s already lost too much,” Glaucous posited. 
“I cannot imagine,” Cottontail sighed. He did not say anything else, and Glaucous was reminded that it was on his orders that Prince Ralph Hornover, the King’s brother, was killed at the Siege of Hornhall. 
The soldiers at the outskirts of Baahaa parted and a rabbit ran through. He carried the message from the Jewel. He was out of breath by the time he reached King Cottontail. 
“Your Majesty,” he panted, “the King of Capricon has surrendered. The Jewel is yours.” 
Cottontail deeply inhaled. Glaucous raised his fist and cheered, and the army followed suit. With no further obstructions between them and the capital, the army peacefully invaded and progressed toward the palace. 
—The Jewel, Baahaa, Capricon—
King Edward, Queen Philippa, and the other surviving members of the royal family stood together in the Hall of Diamonds, a cavernous room studded with stones that hosted all foreign dignitaries. During Capricon’s last Harmonious Reign, more than a century ago, the Harmony Holiday Galas were hosted in here. Chandeliers made of pure crystal dangled overhead. It was impossible not to feel overtly royal in this room, but Edward made a statement of removing his crown, cape, and sash. He would greet the invaders wearing nothing but a simple noble tunic. Philippa mimicked this. Together, they would appear to the Granite Bloc as civilians and hopefully escape execution. 
Last night, the palace staff buried millions of marks worth of gems in the catacombs. They were all sworn to secrecy, and sent to their families. The Jewel was devoid of its usual population, leaving only its permanent royal occupants. 
The Summer Sun—the Vixen Queen, Stag of Cervidium, Queen of Felexa, Macaw of Psittancyna, and Chequer of Scuridiae—all pledged their troops to recapture the Jewel and spare Capricon. Though they would have to surrender today, they would not be forgotten. That reassured Edward.
Edward had been born to rule Capricon after his father, William X. He was married, he was expecting an heir, and he was widely popular with the people. But now he wanted nothing more than to retire from public life and raise his unborn son in peace. Perhaps he would not have felt the same if the war did not ruin his family. Nothing else mattered more now. 
His only living brother, Prince Harald, was with his wife Eva, plainly dressed as well. Their two sisters—outside the line of succession—were off to the side. 
There was a firm knock at the enormous gold doors of the Hall of Diamonds. The doormen turned to the King, their faces nervous. Edward nodded, and they pulled the doors open. 
King Cottontail IX of Leprolia, with his son Glaucous Oldman, strode into the Hall. In stark contrast to the Hornovers, the Oldmans were decked out in full royal regalia. King Cottontail even wore a cape so long that he had attendees holding it up. They appeared shocked to see the modest wear of the goat royal family. Edward could understand that; they were generally seen as the most extravagant. He almost chuckled thinking of the incongruity of the simple tunic in the Hall of Diamonds. 
“Edward,” Cottontail greeted, nodding in his direction. Edward and his family fell to their knees and bowed. 
“Your Grace,” Edward responded. Cottontail looked him up and down. 
“Why are you dressed as a commoner?” 
“I will soon cease to be a King,” Edward deadpanned. “I see no reason to be an actor upon your stage.” 
The King of Leprolia puffed out his chest, where a silver breastplate engraved with a silhouette of a rabbit gleamed. 
“I am sorry for the loss of your brothers and your father…”
“No, you aren’t,” Edward snapped. “You don’t give a damn. The blood of my family is on your paws. Their deaths necessitated your approach to the capital, and the fall of my Kingdom. That is war.”
Cottontail crossed his arms. 
“And are you prepared to s…?”
Edward cut him off by kneeling. The family followed his example, lowering themselves. 
“I the King of Capricon surrender this castle, city, and country to you and the Granite Bloc. We beg that you spare our lives and the lives of everyone in this city, and we will humbly submit to peaceful occupation of Capricon.” 
Cottontail readily agreed. There was an unspoken respect for each other, as monarchs of Cartonia. Before this war, there had been no animosity between Leprolia and Capricon. Edward now wondered if any of this was worth it. No side seemed to have anything better to offer over the other. 
“You will leave the Jewel,” Glaucous ordered. “Your family will be under house arrest in Goatmore Cottage. You will be stripped of all attendants, and provided with a living wage from your own treasury.” 
Edward complied, knowing there was no alternative. 
“What of my child?” Philippa inquired, rubbing her stomach. Cottontail frowned. 
“Your babe will be born to you in Goatmore Cottage. Your sisters-in-law may serve as midwives. As long as you and your husband remain out of communication with the Summer Sun, we’ll have no issue.” 
Cottontail snapped his fingers, and several soldiers brought in a fat scroll. 
“Are you prepared to sign the instruments of surrender?” Cottontail asked his unfinished question. Edward quietly inclined his head. They went together to a table erected for this express purpose and Cottontail unrolled the scroll. It outlined in detail the terms of surrender. Edward took his time to read, and found all of them relatively fair given the circumstances. There was little protest that could be made anyway. 
Capricon would cease to be a sovereign state. All of its assets would be liquidated and dispersed to the Granite Bloc’s treasury. Should the Granite Bloc emerge victorious in the war, then Capricon would be reinstated as a provincial government. It made no mention of permanent plans for the Hornover family, but Edward felt slightly confident that the Granite Bloc would not execute them. The Vixen Queen and Stag insisted that the slaying of King Poultrus in Gallix was essential to preserving the alliance’s strategic advantage. Edward trusted his old allies, and hoped these terms of surrender would be soon undone. 
Cottontail signed first, with Glaucous as his witness. Edward took the ornamental quill pen, posed for a photograph, then signed. Philippa was his witness. 
Soldiers approached the royal family at Glaucous’s beckoning. 
“Take the Hornovers to Goatmore Cottage.” 
King Edward went with his family without incident. 
—Checkerhall, Boso Bovo, Bovo—
—Kingdom of the Cows—
-September 14, 711-
The surrender of Capricon was met with joyous proclaim across the nations of the Granite Bloc. Parties erupted in the streets, and many soldiers at the trenches held raucous celebrations. It was the Bloc’s greatest victory yet. 
King Octavio VI and his family partook in the victory lap, making sure they were seen by all their citizens so that morale would skyrocket. Capricon was being shaded on every map as being under the occupation of the Granite Bloc, divided into six occupation zones. Bovo donated the zone allocated to them to Canis, to provide a buffer between the dogs and the Summer Sun. 
At the dinner feast, Octavio raised his glass before the entirety of his court and government. 
“To King Cottontail! Champion of Capricon!”
The room cheered. Octavio kept his glass poised. 
“And to Prince Glaucous! Victor of the Battle for the Jewel!”
The cows that had been a part of the trek toward Baahaa were deployed home, so that they could see their families and celebrate their accomplishments. Octavio would present them with medals too. But nothing could last forever, and the cows of war would be sent south toward Felexa, or west to Scuridiae. Despite the Granite Bloc’s apparent numbers advantage—twelve Kingdoms versus four—the deer, foxes, chipmunks, and parrots had vast populations and a seemingly endless supply of troops. 
Octavio chugged his glass and forced himself to forget the analytics of war tonight. This was a happy occasion! One Kingdom down, four to go. 
—The Rook of Vulpus, Vista, Vulpus—
—Kingdom of the Foxes—
-September 21, 711-
Queen Vixen VII was in a sour mood; the cats were already botching their defense of the northern Felexan border. If the Granite Bloc was able to overcome Felexa, then Cervidium and Vulpus would be next on the block. The Capricovian buffer was gone, thanks to the incompetence of its rulers. She was infuriated to hear that King Edward had simply allowed the Leprolian army to invade, giving up the Jewel as if it were a peasant home. Were none of her allies as strong as she was? In many ways, Edward reminded the Queen of King Poultrus of Gallix. And if that were the case, she should have…
“Majesty,” a pimply fox with a long nose stammered, “h-her Highness Princess Valencia is here to see you.” 
The Vixen Queen nodded curtly. She missed her old page—Matthew something. He was far more skillful, but alas he was drafted. 
The Queen’s sister entered in a tightly-fitted purple dress. 
“Sister,” she said sweetly, “you haven’t answered my telegrams.” 
The Vixen Queen rolled her eyes. 
“I have more pressing issues, as you must know. What do you want?” 
Valencia sat on the bench of the windowsill, her back to the sun. 
“My daughter, Vanna, has reached the age of maturity. I wish to betroth her to a boy from the Gatton family. They have much riches, and will suit her well. But I require your permission, dear sister.” 
The Vixen Queen leaned back in her chair. 
“Which Gatton boy?” 
Valencia did not miss a beat. 
“Thraxon.” 
The Queen guffawed. 
“The eldest! I think not.” 
Valencia stood angrily. 
“Who else in the family would be eligible for his hand, then? Your daughter? Violetta? She’s barely 3. He’s 19. Vanna is the only one in our family that is suitable.” 
The Vixen Queen scowled. Valencia was right, but Thraxon Gatton was once to marry the Queen’s now-deceased daughter, Veronica. Before she dueled her sister and was shot. 
“Fine. Is that all?” 
Valencia, obviously content at her successful matchmaking, merely smiled. 
“You seem troubled. What is it? Felexa’s army tactics, I assume?” 
The Vixen Queen sighed. 
“Nothing gets past you, sister.” 
The bitch always knew everything. The Queen had once launched a covert investigation to root up her spy network, with no luck. Undoubtedly many of the Queen’s spies were also serving Valencia. 
“The real issue,” the Vixen Queen vented, “is morale. The Granite Bloc is teeming with it, and as theirs grows stronger, ours is certain to weaken. And no one is more of a positive reinforcement to Granite Bloc morale than Bentley Connelly.” 
Valencia’s eyebrows went up. 
“Bentley Connelly…ever the thorn in your side.” 
If the Vixen Queen could kill anyone in Cartonia, it’d be Bentley. She didn’t care at all about the Canisian Crown Prince when Victoria became enamored with him. He was collateral damage to the ordered assassination, but he got so choked up with his lust for her that he got everyone else involved in the war! When she abolished the Harmony Crown, he riled the Kingdoms against her. He made it personal, and so many of the Summer Sun’s defeats were directly or indirectly by his hand. 
Whether she liked it or not, Bentley was seen across Cartonia as the vanguard of the Granite Bloc. This war meant something to him that escaped everybody else, and with that came a drive and determination that would not be easily snuffed. 
“I must do something,” the Queen mused, “to weaken him.” 
“Invade Canis,” Valencia suggested with a yawn. 
“How do you expect me to do that?” the Queen shot back. “They’re surrounded by allies, even on the sea. They’ve further buffered themselves with occupation zones of Capricon. I spoke to the Macaw in Psittancyna and he refused to even consider an invasion of Canis until Porcinia has fallen.” 
Before Valencia could retort, the Queen continued, “And furthermore! Canis has superior strategic prowess, always anticipating my next move. Bentley is truly the head of the snake, but I cannot get close enough to cut it off.” 
There was a moment of silence. 
“Well,” Valencia uttered, “if you cannot perform a military strike, and you cannot outmaneuver him, then maybe you need to hit him somewhere you can.” 
“Obviously,” the Vixen Queen hissed. Valencia cocked her head. 
“Hit him personally.” 
“Personally?” 
“Yes,” Valencia replied, looking pleased with herself. “Tell him the truth of Victoria Vixen’s assassination…”
The Vixen Queen leapt to her paws, her face contorted in anger. 
“Are you mad!”
Valencia must be absolutely crazy to suggest it. Reminding Bentley of the assassination would only intensify his fervor. Victoria’s name was hardly mentioned anywhere nowadays, at least not publicly. 
“Hear me out,” Valencia said calmly. The Queen, still boiling, glared. “We send an anonymous letter to Canis, addressed specifically to Bentley. It simply states that there was a conspiracy to assassinate Victoria, with help from inside Canis.” 
“But,” the Vixen Queen rebuked, “then there would be acknowledgment that a conspiracy even existed!”
Valencia waved her paw. 
“Then change the wording that Leevey Foster had help from Canis. Bentley will order an investigation, become distrustful of everyone around him, and if they manage to find our co-conspirators, he’ll be devastated. At any rate this will distract him for a while, on a wild goose chase in his own capital.” 
The Vixen Queen mellowed; she saw some of the merits of such an action. She couldn’t be certain that it would work, or that Bentley would be able to locate any conspirators without the Vixen Queen listing them explicitly. 
“I’ll have Chancellor Holstein draft a few letters,” she said. “Thank you, Valencia. It’s worth a shot.” 
—Goatmore Cottage, Baahaa—
—Leprolian-Occupied Capricon—
-October 27, 711-
-1 Month Later-
Former King Edward XIV was not enjoying house arrest at all. The cottage was cramped with nine occupants, soon to be ten with Philippa’s forthcoming birth. They had sent an appeal to the King of Leprolia to allow them to move to a larger home or divide the family, but the request was quickly denied. 
They were not brought any news from the outside world, and could only watch from the front windows or back garden of the cottage as Baahaa was transformed. All images of the royal family and its emblems were removed from buildings and streets. Leprolia had been given occupancy of the capital, but soldiers from all species patrolled the streets. The guard outside Goatmore Cottage itself was a revolving door of varying species. 
In the final month of her pregnancy, Philippa had grown irritable, and took out all her aggression on Edward, for whom she blamed for their misfortunes. Occasionally she directed her anger at the deceased William X, whose desire to control Phantine and Bovo had suctioned Capricon into the war. 
As Edward tried to read a book on Capricovian law, Philippa stormed into the room. Her hands were on her hips around her bulbous stomach. With a furious glare at her in-laws, she wordlessly dismissed them. 
“Philippa?” Edward addressed, closing his book. Her lips were pressed together. 
“I want to know if you think that this was worth it. I know you did not have a choice, and that your father acted as King and did what he wanted for Capricon. But do you personally think that this was all worth it? Is your child being born into squalor worth the contributions we gave to the Summer Sun?” 
Edward rose to comfort his wife. 
“Calm down, dear…”
“No!” Philippa cried. “Do not tell me to do that. Do not presume that I am acting irrationally, or crazy. This has nothing to do with the pregnancy. I am angry on my own accord. Now tell me: do you think this war was worth it?”
Edward sighed. 
“I don’t know. If the Summer Sun liberates us, then perhaps…”
Philippa scoffed and laughed haughtily. 
“No one is coming to save us. They have abandoned us. We will be perceived in their eyes as weak, as another Gallix. If they had gotten here first, they would have executed us like the Petukinaus.” 
Edward gasped. 
“Don’t be preposterous!” 
Philippa was unmoved, and more determined than before. She paced the room, breathing heavily. 
“I remember thinking that if the Vixen Queen and Stag would kill Poultrus, then who was to stop them from doing the same to another of their allies? I thought we had malicious bedfellows.” 
“But darling,” Edward protested, “King Poultrus betrayed us; he tried to send his troops to the Granite Bloc.” 
Philippa did not seem to care about that logic at all. 
“The deer,” she spat, “then murdered the entire Petukinau family. Prince Alexander and his children…so innocent. They even renounced the throne. But it wasn’t enough. Oh…oh if the Granite Bloc seeks to kill my boy…” 
Philippa collapsed, but Edward was close enough to catch her. He eased her into an armchair. 
“No one is going to take our son away,” he whispered, caressing her belly. Philippa wiped away her tears. 
“Ten days,” she murmured. “We were King and Queen of Capricon…for ten days.” 
As the terms of surrender included the removal of Edward from the throne, he was truly the nation’s shortest-reigning King. Once the flourish of his signature was stained in ink upon the treaty, he ceased to be King Edward XIV of Capricon and became merely Edward Hornover. 
“It was not worth it,” Edward said finally. A weight seemed to bounce off his shoulders. He had been pushing the idea away, trying to preserve his father’s legacy. 
“It wasn’t?” Philippa repeated, her eyes wet with tears. 
“Not at all,” Edward sighed. “To lose so much of my own family, and my birthright, and our sovereignty…for a cause that I never truly understood…how could that be justified? We needed a purpose to galvanize our troops, but we never had one. Vulpus was defending their Queen and fallen Crown Princess, Scuridiae its naval interests. But we got into this because Father wanted land, and the Vixen Queen promised we could get it. Now here we are without any land to govern. We are…”
He paused, unable to think of the proper word. 
“Ruined,” Philippa moaned, and Edward nodded. 
—Highland Castle, West Terrier, Canis—
—Kingdom of the Dogs—
-October 28, 711-
The weather was nice, and Bentley was tired, so he spent his evening with Victoria down at her memorial. He replaced the flowers in the vase and continued working on a permanent garden for her. By now he was sure that someone in the palace knew about the memorial, but no one said anything, and he was never followed. Bentley told Thumper about it, and once took him, but Thumper had understood the importance and significance to Bentley, and never returned. 
When he reentered the castle, Maximilian Walters was waiting for him. 
“Majesty,” he greeted. “I apologize for troubling you now, as I’m sure you’d very much like to retire, but I have something urgent I think I need to discuss with you.” 
Bentley nodded and walked with Max into the library. The royal historian was dressed impeccably, as usual. Bentley, covered in sweat and reeking of dirt, would not have been pinned as the royal of the two. 
“What is it?” 
Max flipped a telegram from his jacket pocket. 
“An anonymous message has been sent, addressed to the office of the King. Therefore, I opened it since it was not plainly written to you. We’ve managed to track the telegram as being sent from a suburban Vulpine postal code.” 
Bentley unfolded the document and scanned it. 
To the Office of the King of Canis
Highland Castle, West Terrier, Canis
Leevey Foster had co-conspirators in the assassination of Victoria Vixen.
Some are in your Kingdom.
Beware.
Sincerely,
A friend
The paper fluttered from his hand, and landed facedown on the marbled floors. 
“Who do you think sent this?” he gasped, his breaths quickening. Max shrugged. 
“I really could not say, Majesty. I was not aware we had any friends in Vulpus.” 
“We don’t,” Bentley asserted. “Do you believe it?” 
Max rubbed his arm in thought. 
“I’m inclined to believe this is a ploy from the Vixen Queen, but at the same time I have never believed that Leevey Foster acted alone. You and I have been plain that the Vixen Queen likely ordered the assassination herself. The author of this note may be trying to lead you to that conclusion.” 
“Please,” Bentley scoffed. “All of Cartonia knows that I believe the Vixen Queen murdered Victoria. This goes further. This is clearly implying that co-conspirators are right here in Canis!” 
The thought was nauseating. It had never occurred to him. That she died by Queen Vixen’s bullet was obvious, but that she had help outside of her own nation…
“Will you investigate this claim?” Bentley asked Max. “See if there’s any merit to it. Check communications going in and out of the Kingdom in the months leading up to the assassination, and report everything back to me. Tell no one except those you absolutely trust. Scrape until you reach the bottom of the barrel.” 
Max bowed, and hastened from the library with his new mission. Bentley immediately leaned against the wall of books and struggled to catch his breath. 
“One, two, three, four,” her voice rang out, “Canis and Vulpus are at war…” 
Victoria, in her stainless white gown, pranced around the library. Bentley tried to ignore her. She stooped to read the telegram at Bentley’s feet. 
“Five, six, seven, eight,” she continued, “what do they insinuate?” 
“Stop that,” Bentley snapped. 
“Nine, ten, eleven, twelve,” Victoria sang, “who will fall as Lucifer fell?” 
She stopped dancing, and frowned at Bentley. 
“You believe the telegram, then?” 
Bentley didn’t move. 
“I cannot ignore it. I have to learn the truth of what happened to you.” 
She nodded, her ghostly aura blazing around her in elegant wisps. She visited him occasionally, especially when he needed her. Always here in the castle, never at her memorial. 
“I know, my love. But take caution to which caverns you choose to explore, for some stones are better left unturned in the darkness.”
==Production==
===Continuity and Story Arcs===
King William X of Capricon perished shortly before the fall of Capricon, leaving his son Edward to assume the crown and the tattered remains of his kingdom. Edward’s reign was short-lived at a mere ten days before Capricon surrendered.
Capricon became the first nation to surrender in the War. 
In the season 1 episode “The Blizzard Wizards,” in a flashback scene, Glaucous Oldman was mentioned as the victor of the Battle for the Jewel.
Bentley Connelly received an anonymous telegram, sent by the Vixen Queen, alleging that co-conspirators in Victoria Vixen’s assassination resided in Canis. This began an investigation into the prospect. 
Victoria Vixen appeared as a ghost again, her second such appearance since “Winter of Discontent.”
===References===
Goatmore Cottage is named after Frogmore Cottage, a royal residence in the United Kingdom. It was notably occupied by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry before they moved to America in 2020.
==Trivia==
*The title of this episode is a lyric from the Les Miserables song "Stars:" "And if you fall as Lucifer fell / you fall in flames!"
**The line was quoted by Victoria Vixen as a ghost to Bentley Connelly: "Who will fall as Lucifer fell?"
*This episode was written over the course of only two days.
*The Jewel is loosely based on the Palace of Versailles in France. 
Category:Episodes
Category:War Episodes