The battle was over. The once-mighty Carbonyl Lords lay in ruins, their banners torn, their names fading into obscurity. The great city of Methanal stood unchallenged, its defenders victorious. The Reformists of IUPAC had won, and the world of nomenclature would never be the same again.

  In the grand halls of the Nomenclature Council, Methanal the Visionary stood before an assembly of chemists, alchemists, and scholars. The air was heavy with the weight of history as he prepared to deliver the most important declaration of their time. Scrolls of ancient names, once revered, lay discarded in the shadows. In their place, new laws were to be inscribed—laws that would dictate the order of names for all future generations.

  “For too long,” Methanal began, his voice echoing across the chamber, “we have lived under the tyranny of inconsistency, bound by the chains of archaic traditions. But today, we cast off those chains! The Grand Decree of IUPAC shall usher in a new age of standardization, a world where every molecule is named for its true structure, not for the whims of the past!”

  The assembly erupted into cheers. The Reformists had spent years in the shadows, fighting to break free from the rule of the Common Name Loyalists. Now, with their victory secured, they set about codifying the new order.

  One by one, Methanal and the Great Nomenclature Council read aloud the laws that would govern the future:

  

  
1. 
   
     Aldehydes Shall Bear the "-al" Suffix
   
     No longer would formaldehyde and acetaldehyde reign under their archaic banners. They would now be known as methanal and ethanal, their names reflecting their structure with precision.
   
     


  
2. 
   
     Ketones Shall Bear the "-one" Suffix
   
     The defiant Ketone Dukes had fought to preserve their old names, but they had fallen like the rest. Acetone, once a bastion of common tradition, would retain its name only as a relic. The new world would call it "propanone," and all ketones would follow the same decree.
   
     The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
   
     


  
3. 
   
     Greek Letters Shall Define Substituent Positioning
   
     The Order of Greek Letters, whose scholars had fought valiantly for logic and structure, saw their vision realized. The naming of functional groups would now follow the structured order of α (alpha), β (beta), γ (gamma), and beyond, ensuring clarity for generations to come.
   
     


  
4. 
   
     Cyclic Compounds Shall Have Their Carbonyl Numbered as 1
   
     No longer would confusion reign over the numbering of cyclic ketones. From this day forward, the carbonyl carbon would always hold the esteemed position of 1, bringing order to what was once chaos.
   
     


  
5. 
   
     Aromatic Aldehydes Shall Be Named with "Carbaldehyde" If Needed
   
     The Aromatic Aristocracy, once divided, had made their choice. Benzaldehyde, the noble who had betrayed the Loyalists, now stood among the victors. His name would remain, but his brethren who required further specification would bear the title of "carbaldehyde."
   
     


  

  With the decree sealed, a new challenge arose—what was to be done with the remnants of the defeated Loyalists? Though their armies had been crushed, their ideals had not yet been completely erased. Some still clung to their old ways, refusing to acknowledge the new order.

  In the depths of the ruined citadels of the Common Name Loyalists, a few survivors gathered in secrecy. Formaldehyde the Elder had fallen, but his followers lived on. They whispered of the past, of a time when names held history rather than mere function. They vowed to one day return, to bring back the glory of their traditions.

  Some disguised themselves, blending into the new world, forced to live under false identities. No longer could they openly call themselves "Formaldehyde" or "Acetone." They adopted the names of Methanal and Propanone, but in secret, they held onto their old titles, hoping for a time when they could rise again.

  As the sun set over Methanal, the world shifted irreversibly. The Grand Decree was not merely a set of laws; it was the beginning of a new civilization, an age of standardization and order. No longer would chemistry be bound by the capricious whims of history—from this day forth, it would be a discipline of logic and clarity.

  Methanal the Visionary stood atop the highest tower, looking down at the city he had built. He knew that there would always be those who resisted change, those who longed for the past. But progress had been set into motion, and progress could not be undone.

  Thus began the Age of IUPAC, where the world of chemistry was forever changed, and the laws of naming were set in stone for generations to come.