“THE NEW KING GRANTED A PARDON TO SHIREI," King Yukan recounted to his children as he read from a timeworn journal.

"Why would he do that?" Musuko, his youngest child, asked. "Wasn't he the bad guy?"

"He worked for a bad guy," the swordsman corrected him. "Remember, somebody isn't a bad person just because they made a bad choice."

"I think that's what Kadaina would have done too!" Lanya, his eldest, added. "It's not Shirei's fault his boss sucked!"

"Whatever!" the 10-year-old Musuko scoffed. "Mirikiteki was the coolest! She was a super-secret ninja!"

"Ninjas don't exist!" his older sister blurted out. "This is clearly a story Dad made up! I mean, they were fighting with wings like a bunch of bats!"

"And I could never see Mom with a bow!" Musuko chimed in as he adjusted his glasses. "She gets scared of bugs in the house sometimes!"

"Oh, I can assure you that your mother is very efficient with a weapon," Yukan chuckled.

"Yukan," Ite said from behind her husband, "it's a bit late for the kids to be up, isn't it?"

"Looks like we've been caught!" he playfully exclaimed to his children. "Retreat!" As he said that, he ducked under the covers and joined his descendants in hiding.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Mommy?" Lanya consulted her mother as she peeked her head out from under the blanket. "Have you ever met a guy named Zero? He was a robot general dude according to dad."

"Of course I have," she stated. "Everything your father read to you had indeed happened."

"No way!" Musuko debated as he rose outside of the covers. "You guys don't have any pictures or any proof!"

"Oh?" the queen of the unified countries beckoned. "Is that so? Yukan, would you grab the 'proof'?"

As Ite called for the evidence of their journey, Yukan left the room from behind the covers. He returned bearing an immense box, almost equal in size to himself. He opened the box to reveal both of the Fabled Swords and the Nukenai Bow.

"That is the Alpha Blade right there," Ite commented as she pointed to a sword with a dragon heart encased in bone chained to the bottom, "and this is its match, the Omega Blade. Here's my bow."

"WOW!" Lanya shouted in awe. "You guys actually did all of that?!"

"Yes we did," Yukan answered. "We should hang these blades up instead of letting them collect dust."

He then closed the box once more before entering a trophy room. Already in the walls was a hangar for the Nukenai Bow and two crossing spots for the Fabled Swords. The three weapons from this tale were placed in such a manner that, from the kids' room, they could still see them.

"There," Yukan heaved a sigh as he finished his work. "Now I think it's time to get to bed, you two."

"But dad!" Lanya began to complain.

"No buts," the king interrupted before directing them to their beds. Once they had been tucked in, he placed a kiss upon both of their heads. He then went to the nightstand and blew out the candle. Musuko and Lanya's room had been once more encapsulated in the darkness of night as the fiery dance of the candlelight reached a peak before dying off.

"Goodnight, you two," Ite uttered before leaving the room with Yukan. "We love you." The children slept soundly that night, free of any cares in the world.