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The prince looked around the quiet room, waiting for his mama. As much as he liked his beautiful tower, he rather liked being in his mama’s warm arms best. He loved her mushroom stew that filled his belly right at the start of the day. Prince also liked following his mama around the kingdom, although he did that in secret.
He was sneaky like that, no matter how many times he ended up being picked up with a sigh after falling asleep on his super secret important missions. Or how his mama never walked far away from the kingdom and its members despite how much she loved exploring. Perhaps it was strange how quickly she changed plans whenever Prince followed her around super secretly….
Anyway, moving on.
It seemed like no one was home. The red kingdom's prince chimed out one last time. “Chu, Chuuuu! Chu…?”
He guesses he was correct. Or maybe his mama was sleeping. Perhaps it was now his escape time…? Yes! How joyous, what a great idea he just had. It almost made him jingle. First step of the plan; watching. His mom had taught him the best way to escape is by watching the captor. He didn’t really have a captor though, just himself in his room with Moon Lady at his door downstairs.
The prince moved his blankets off his body as slowly as he could, limiting the amount of noise he would be making. With all the noise earlier it was probably in vain but he wished to pretend to be a secret knight. Only the bravest knights got missions and he wished to be like Lady Apo! She is very cool with her spear!
As he stepped onto the cold wooden floor, he instinctively made his bed as he thought of the next part of the plan; escape. As he left his tower, he silently jumped over Lady Apo who was slumped next to his door. It was rather difficult with her slumped over the door, but the prince managed to move the knight without too much fuss. He now had managed to enter the mainroom.
Prince needed to act accordingly to this with pizazz and whimsy and all that other cool stuff. So he obviously snuck out the front door and backflipped (Woah!!!!!) off the porch. He jingled softly as he held in his laughter, small sounds of bells entering the cold winter air.
He was already pretty well dressed for the weather, having Solunian styled clothing with its layers of fabric keeping him toasty thanks to his mama. He’d never been to Soluna before, but his mama is the princess of it so he must dress the same! It only made sense as he was part of the family! He couldn’t wait to meet his grandfather!
His mama had told him that when his grandfather was done with his playdate with another kingdom, they would be able to go to their new home. His mama told him stories of beautiful buildings filled with powerful people walking around and being really good at their own special thing.
Prince really wanted to find his special thing.
His mama would always tell him he would find it when he was ready. He didn’t like that answer but his mama was right. Mama was always right. She’s never been wrong before because she’s so smart and wise!
His mama was good at being friends with others, being kind and so generous. Lady Apo was good at protecting Prince and his mama with her spear, as well as just being a good friend. Lady Katie the Brave was good at being brave whenever he was scared of the mean blue kingdom members.
His mother was good at looking so graceful the few times he had seen her, walking carefully but with full confidence. Mister Scott was good at growing flowers, they were really pretty. Kitty was good at catching rats and fish, so he offered to teach him many times.
….Maybe Prince was just jealous at the fact everyone was good at something and he just followed his mama all day. Maybe following people was his special talent? No, he didn't want that one, it sounded boring. Plus, the frog also did that and he didn’t really like the frog. He was much too slimy and green for his taste.
The prince of the kingdoms walked up to the center of the Red Kingdom. He climbed up on the biggest rock and sat down right at the very top of it. He was bored almost immediately.
“Chuuu….” He chimed out loud. He didn’t really expect anyone to answer his call of boredom.
“Prince? What are you doing out here, your highness?” An energetic voice asked from below. The prince squeaked in surprise, holding his small crown in place as he got startled. Lady Katie seemed to have found him while on his secret mission for fun! Maybe being a part of secret missions isn’t one of his talents…
“Chu chuuhuu chu chuuhuu! Chu chuhhuu chhuuu chu.” Prince crossed his arms, boredom evident on his face. Lady Katie murmured quietly, “Oh rightttt, forgot he doesn't know common.” before she nodded very seriously and saluted. Prince hummed in agreement and gestured by moving both hands forward together and emphasizing the movement.
Lady Katie easily knew what that meant, with how much his mama did the gesture to Lady Apo. Follow.
Lady Katie handed the prince a wooden sword, dull with no edge, and walked right next to him. The prince jingled in excitement and ran around the center of the kingdom with no rhyme or reason. The knight followed him silently, sometimes yelling out corrections with his stance or manually walking over to correct how he held his very dangerous and scary sword.
Prince liked that about Lady Katie the Brave, she always let Prince play with her whenever she visited his house. Now that he has been eating better, she had agreed to let him wield a wooden sword! While it wasn’t as strong as Lady Katie’s own weapon, he was told that he must first learn how to wield before anything. A wooden sword was simply the best he could do but he will learn and be the third best knight in all of the nation!
After some running around and a game of tag that the prince easily beat the knight to without any pity or help whatsoever because he was a big strong man, he pointed at the castle.
“You wanna go to the castle? I’m not sure, it's kinda not safe and you could get hurt. Plus, it’s currently being rebuilt so you won't be able to run around much. Sorry buddy.” Lady Katie patted down the prince’s messy hair as she rejected him. The prince pouted, upset he won't be able to find his mama that way. Maybe he could find another place to go to find her?
Oh! The Red Kingdoms flower fields! Prince held one of his hands directly under his nose as if holding a bunch of flowers to smell, then gestured once again by moving both hands forward together and repeated the movements. Flowers. Follow.
“Oh, um. Right! You wanna get flowers? Or do you wanna go to the field?” Lady Katie patiently asked, very kindly looking at the prince. The prince held out two fingers. “Hah, yeah sure. We’ll go to the flower field.” She then smirked and yelled, “Bet you can't catch me!” and jogged off.
The prince gaped at her audacity. He can't beat her? What!? He quickly ran after the knight, almost instantly passing her. The prince jingled in delight at the speed, the cold winter breeze brushing up against his cheeks as they turned from sky blue into a cobalt blue. The knight was always behind him throughout their run, always two steps behind him as a threat to take his place as first.
When they arrived at the field, they both jogged to a stop in almost perfect unison. The prince breathed heavily as the knight watched with no struggle. The prince made a gesture over and over again, using his index finger and twisting his wrist slightly inward.
“Yes, you’re first! Congratulations my prince, you managed to best me. You shall be a fine knight when you are older, younger prince.” Lady Katie nodded with full sincerity. The prince continued to gasp air into his small lungs, smaller huffs as his lungs took in oxygen much better.
Prince sat down on the flowery ground, breath turning normal once more while Lady Kaite watched over him. After his chest finally calmed the prince gestured, moving both hands forward together and exaggerating the movement to the knight. Lady Katie saluted and held her sword’s hilt on her hip as she followed after him. Prince followed to do the same with his own sword but he didn’t have a hilt. He simply just held his sword in his off hand. The knight nodded in appreciation.
The prince looked at the knight and chimed, “Chu? Chhoooouu!” while pointing at a bright red rose bush, thorns ready in case touched. Lady Katie looked at the roses carefully, gloved hands gently prodding over the top of the bush. She looked slightly confused by what he said.
Strange, he thinks that question made perfect sense!
“D-Do you… want one of the roses? Is that what you wish for, small prince?” The knight asked, turning around to face him. While he didn't say that, he did want a pretty rose. Instead of clarifying, the prince nodded.
The knight looked at the bush in thought. With gentle hands, she reached out and held a rose in her hand, slightly pulling at it but not yet actually taking it out. In her other gloved hand, lady Katie held out one of her daggers and reached into the plant. She quickly sliced the stem down the middle, her gloves protecting her from the thorns as she pulled out both hands from the bush.
With practiced ease, Lady Katie cut down each side of the rose until she found none of the dangerous thorns and gently placed the pretty flower into the prince’s awaiting hands. He pointed at the rose, making a big and exaggerated gesture as he looked at the knight with a pleading expression. He wasn't sure if that was the right gesture because Lady Katie looked confused.
“Do you want more flowers?” Oh, nevermind! Maybe he is good at his mama’s secret gestures. Maybe that was his special thing? He nodded happily at the knight, content by being understood.
“Alright. You are gonna have to help me though, I can't carry all of the flowers but we also don't want them to fly away. Hmmmmm….. Maybe you could take care of the flowers? You will have to stay close to me and not run away so the flowers don't run off, okay?” The knight looked at Prince with a soft smirk forming on her face.
The prince nodded, too oblivious to realize the knight's plans of keeping him from harm. He believed every word she said, why would he run if he had to take care of the pretty flowers? It’d be best to stay near the knight so she could move onto the next rose bush while he watched over the flowers. The small prince placed his wooden sword in the grass right in between two large rocks and got ready to complete his task.
They spent the rest of the day gathering flowers and replanting any seeds they managed to collect. At some point, the knight suggested that they bring a large box of some kind once Prince’s arms were filled with flowers. He had agreed so his new job was now to take the flower Lady Katie gets and gently place it in the box.
He still needed to be closeby, some flowers took longer than others to cut because of the scary thorns. Lady Katie had explained that he couldn't help with that particular task because Lady Apo had forbidden Prince from any kind of sharp blade until he took formal training. He pouted but agreed to help place the flowers. It was just as important as a job than getting the flower, Lady Katie the Brave had said so herself!
Despite the repetitive task of the day, Prince was really tired when they finished getting the outskirt flowers that were technically a part of the forest so the field kept its beauty. All the walking had made his small legs tired but he refused to be carried back to the kingdom when they finished. Lady Katie carried the box of flowers in one hand and held his hand in the other.
They walked through the forest as night approached, the soft flow of the trees being the only sound that accompanied them on their journey home. Inside the non-existent walls of the kingdom, Prince could see both his mom and mama, with his mama pacing around while the rest of the Red Kingdom and all of the Blue Kingdom were arguing with each other right on the bridge connecting the two kingdoms.
“Aw crap. I forgot to tell Cherri-” Lady Katie started whispering to herself right before the water mage launched a huuuuuge bubble! The bubble managed to get Sir Cam but he was able to escape almost instantly. The prince gave Lady Katie a confused look as they watched over the chaos at a distance.
“Chu?”
“Yeah little man. I think it's time to get you to your mama now, come along!” Lady Katie waved him over as she started her walk closer to the bridge between the two kingdoms. Not what he said but okay, he thought. It was sad their walk in the fields had finished, but the prince knew he could go another time.
༺𓆩༒︎𓆪༻
Cherri had woken up in her bedroom, feeling as joyous as the bird when the day began to dawn. She was the new queen of the Red Kingdom and she wanted to clean the kingdom up before she had to pass down the crown to the next ruler. She had lots of work to do!
Cherri got out of bed silently, afraid of waking up her sleep deprived knight, and got ready for the day. She cleaned herself, changed out of her night clothing, and had started brushing her hair. She hadn’t heard Prince wake up quite yet, he always made a ruckus whenever he was awake. It was a bit strange as he usually woke up rather early, usually up right after the sun.
Its far too quiet.
Maybe she's just being paranoid? Yeah that's it. Cherri’s knight was standing right by his door, or at the very least fell asleep near it. She would hear the door open. Right? ….. Maybe she should go check just in case.
Cherri thought about what to make for breakfast as she started lacing herself in her corset, perhaps some mushroom stew with dandelions? She felt a strange need to check on her son but she was surely exaggerating! Nothing could have happened to her poor sweet prince with Apo by his door. Cherri opened her door and giggled as she saw her knight slumped over.
“Lady Apokunaa~” She said in normal volume. Apo flinched awake, clearly startled from her slumper. “Your highness!?” Apo stood up quickly, seemingly embarrassed by being seen sleeping from her princess.
“No fear, Lady Apo. I just wanted to check on my son, he seems to be sleeping for far too long by now. I fear he might have gotten sick from being outside for so long at the new crowning.” Cherri explained to her startled knight. Apo nodded once and opened the door to the tower for her princess.
Cherri started her walk up the spiral staircase, ignoring the nauseating feel of spinning around and around. Lady Apokuna followed after her 3 steps behind without the same problem. As Cherri reached the top of the stairs, she knocked loudly to alert her prince.
“Prince? May I enter?”
Silence.
“Prince?”
How strange…
Cherri opens the trapdoor and enters the room. He isn't on his messily made bed so he must want to play. Cherri can work with that. Apo walks to a corner and glances around the room. Cherri then starts to exaggerate her movement, tapping a finger on her chin as she looks around in pseudo-thought.
“I wonder where my sweet little prince could be. Maybe he left? Oh no! Lady Apokuna, it seems we have lost a little prince! Whatever shall we do~?” Cherri sarcastically stated. Like usual, Cherri’s knight sighs before listening to her princess’s silent request of roleplay.
“Oh no,” her knight says with a deadpan tone,” Whatever shall we do. Uh oh.” Cherri giggles as she starts moving things around the room. Surprisingly, Cherri didn't find him in his 2 usual spots. Maybe he wanted to test a new one?
Nope. She looked around the whole room and didn’t find him! Maybe he wanted to explore? Yeah! Maybe he left to go see another kingdom member! Cherri hasn't necessarily taught Prince about the dangers of walking around by himself quite yet, she trusts the members of her kingdom, as well as most of the Blue kingdom to remain civil with a child.
“Apo, I don't think he’s here-”
“The prince isn't here!?” Lady Apo cut off Cherri as she looked worried. Cherri patted Apo’s hand to calm her down. It didn't work.
“Perhaps he ran off to the center? I’ve seen him there whenever he wishes to go on a walk?” Cherri states it as a question but is already walking down the stairs. Lady Apo is quick to follow behind her princess.
He wasn't there.
“Princess Cherri?” The healing mage walks over to where both Cherri and Lady Apokuna were looking. The prince isn’t here.
“WHAT!- Oh I’m so sorry Cam!” Cherri apologises as Cam nervously smiles. “Bad timing?”
“Very. Have you seen my prince?” Cam thinks the idea over as he pushes his hair out of the way of his face. He seemingly is mulling over the thought, but Cherri’s patience wasn't rewarded as he shook his head.
“Sorry, I just got back from collecting some more wood. I haven't seen your son.” Cherri sighs as she looks right at her. She had forgotten to get Apo to eat something. Cherri sends off Apo to get some food, claiming she's hungry despite feeling sick while Cherri goes and looks around the kingdom more.
༺𓆩༒︎𓆪༻
It was nearing dawn when Cherri was at the bridge with her knight. After 7 full hours of looking through both kingdoms, Cherri and Apo hadn’t managed to find her son, despite having the Red Kingdom members be on the lookout for him. Apo had suggested looking further beyond the walls but they both knew it was hopeless.
The prince was a very small child who was able to bring himself attention instantly with his jingles. While that is good for being a young child, it's rather bad when you are a very small and edible thing lost in the woods.
Cherri didn’t want to even entertain the thought of her sweet prince being lost in the dark forest all by himself. His wings, his habit of glowing, and his magic all mixed together into a very dangerous thing when lost.
Cherri could picture it. A small helpless body of a small child she had promised herself to protect- to love and cherish as if she had given him life. She saw as he lay on the ground, broken and mangled with limp arms. Cherri could imagine the feeling of his cold skin as she reached out, forever thinking of his little jingles of life. She was able to see as brain matter was splattered on the grassy floor-
Cherri closed her eyes and attempted to think about something else. It didn’t work well but the rush of the river below was thankfully too loud to think over. Apo stood right next to her, food she had gotten for her princess still in her hands instead of eating it for herself. Didn’t Apo know Cherri didn't have an appetite? How could Cherri eat while her prince was lost in the forest and starving!
Or dead, a small voice whispered in her ear. Cherri ignored the voice, it was being illogical. Much like herself if she was being honest. A small child being alone without food for seven hours isn't a good thing, especially a child as curious as him.
Cherri was able to see as Scott approached the bridge, a pouch of flower seeds in his hand as he carefully placed each into the premade holes and covered them up. He clearly noticed the knight and princess so he stopped his job and walked over.
“Hello Queen Cherri And Lady Apo! What are you both looking at?” Scott looked around the area, confused. Cherri glanced up for a second but looked back down.
“Have you seen my prince?” She asked suddenly. Scott looked inquisitive but shook his head. “Sorry I haven’t seen him, Queen Cherri. Have you perhaps checked your abode?"
“Yes, I have Mage Scott Springwell. May I ask something of you?” Cherri felt her eyes become visibly wet. Scott nodded, standing right on Cherri’s left while her knight stood at her right.
“Could you get your queen to speak with me? Prince’s other mother must know of his disappearance.”
“Disappearance!? Surely you jest!” Scott exclaimed.
“I wouldn't jest of such a thing, Mage. Could you get your queen or do I have to cross the bridge?” Cherri glared up at the mage, clearly not in a good mood. Scott backed up slightly, and then jogged back towards the Blue Kingdom in long strides.
“...Was that too harsh, Lady Apo?” Cherri looked back up at her knight. Apo stayed silent, pondering. “Perhaps,” Apo hesitated for a split second. Cherri noticed, she always did. “It would have been best if you didn't command Queen Eloise’s subjects like that. I imagine such a thing is frowned upon in such a place like Bannerfall and the whole split kingdom thing they have here, your highness.”
“Ah.” Cherri looked embarrassed. “Perhaps I'm not as fit to temporally rule the Red Kingdom as I thought I was…” Cherri watched from the bridge with Apo as they saw Scott enter the looming gates of the kingdom he resides in.
“Nonsence Princess! You are best to rule, you are of royal lineage!”
“Bannerfall doesn't seem to really care about lineage with their whole thing of switching monarchs so quickly.” Cherri gave her knight a tired look, pulling her dangling legs up to rest her head between where her knees hid under her dress.
“Ah, that is true… My lady is rather smart. Only someone as great as you could have known that.” Apo smirks, clearly attempting to bring her princesses' mood up. Cherri ends up smiling against her will, quickly covered by her hand.
“But of course Lady Apo! I am but a simple princess who would do no wrong ever! Some might even say I'm a gift from the Sun herself.” Cherri jests. Apo giggles, “Surely your father thought so when his eyes laid upon you when your birth was completed, your highness.” Cherri looks back down at the water below her. Cherri felt herself grow back into her shell of despair.
“...You’re not at fault, your highness.” Apo says plainly.
“You only say that because I am your princess and you are my knight. We both know I’m at fault.” Cherri watches as a loose pebble is taken with the current, her eyes trailing it as it's taken away, just like her prince.
“I am a knight, I wouldn't lie to my queen.” Apo looks slightly offended at the idea. Cherri waves her off.
“I am not a queen, Lady Apo. I am, however, responsible for him as he is my child. You aren't responsible because of the very same reasons my brave knight.” Cherri hugs her knees tight as she feels the Red Kingdom’s crown shift on her head. The crown was rather big on her, no matter how much it suited her. She much preferred her dainty Soluna princess crown gifted to her by her father. She felt as tears slowly escaped her eyes, so she hid her face in her dress.
Apo seemed like she wished to rebut her claim but the queen of the Blue Kingdom had arrived along with all of her subjects. Apo glanced down at Cherri, who was seemingly lost in thought so she took over the conversation.
“Hello Queen Eloise.” Apo bowed respectfully, turning around all the way and giving the other queen her seemingly undivided attention. “Could I enquire why you have brought your people with you? I mean no disrespect, I simply wonder.”
“Hello Knight Apo!” Eloise nodded, her crown looked rather out of place with her outfit being purely white. “I deemed it that a knight followed me as my mage said you were here with your queen. The rest of my people simply grew curious, is that a problem?”
Yes, Apo wanted to say. Yes, it's a problem. If a fight were to break out it would be seven versus one person. Apo clearly couldn't say that. She glanced at Owain, Graecie, and Nom with their preferred weapons out and knew that her spear couldn't do much against all three. Her spear would easily break if she went against Owain, and Graecie was a much better spear user. Nom also had much better combat experience with swords than she with her spear.
That wasn't even mentioning the mages and rouges. She’d rather not get in a fight, especially with her princess unable to fight, much less hold a sword. Apo held her tongue from saying something idiotic.
“Of course not.” She smiled at the Blue Queen. It felt rather strained then not, so Apo’s pretty sure the members of the Blue Kingdom didn’t really buy it. The three blue knights grabbed hold of their weapons, growing tense. The flower mage opened his book while the two rogues got on a nearby tree and sat in it without a worry in the world.
“My queen just simply wished to inform you of something rather dire. It would have been much preferable if there wasn't a crowd for news so personal however.” Apo pointedly looked at all the extra people on the bridge.
Nom huffed and not so quietly whispered, “As if we would trust you lot with our queen.”
“What was that, knight Nom?” Apo glared lightly. Nom blushed and turned his head away, clearly embarrassed by being caught. Apo wanted so badly to grab her spear but she knew it would cause a fight if she even looked at it right now. She breathed in deeply, allowing her fist to unclench before she punched someone.
Apo glanced at her princess, causing all the other Blue Kingdom members to do the same. Her highness was still looking down at the water, looking halfway to sleep with her eyes still puffy from crying but it seems like she had just remembered something, looking like the happiest woman and having a smile of relief. Apo quickly stepped between her princess and the Blue Kingdom members, hiding her from their gaze and quickly kneeling down to whisper in her princesses’ ear.
“Your highness? The Blue Queen has arrived.” Apo whispers. Cherri looked back up from her dress, patting the damp part of it before looking over Apo’s shoulder. Apo grabs a handkerchief and hands it over.
Cherri uses the handkerchief and quickly stands up with the help of her knight. “Blue Queen Eloise, thank you for arriving at such short notice! I apologize for not looking my best at this moment.” Cherri does a curtsy bow to the other queen.
“Thank you for not barging into my kingdom,” The Blue Queen jests, repeating Cherri’s gesture with her own curtsy, “your rogues are rather fond of doing such a thing.”
“Ah, yes. I will be sure to train them better.” Cherri jests back, allowing herself to straighten her back and shoulders to look taller. “I wish to speak with you of a concerning matter if that's alright with you?”
“Ah, but of course Queen Cherri! Whatever do you wish to tell me?” Eloise asks with a smile on her face.
Cherri glances at Apo. Apo glances at Cherri. They both look back at the Blue Queen.
“I would like to request your help to search for our prince.” Cherri spoke bluntly. Apo winces and looks away from the crowd of blue members. Whispers instantly break out until the Blue Queen raises her hand as a motion of silence.
“You lost our son…?” Eloise asks with a blank expression.
“...Yes but he’s with my kn-”
“No she didn't!" Apo exclaims. “I lost him-”
“Apo! Ignore her, she's being ridiculous-!” Cherri pushed Apo off the bridge and into the water, knowing that Apo could easily save herself from the weak currents. “She’s wrong, I lost our son. I had put him to bed early in his tower but when I awoke he was nowhere to be found. I have looked for him since the clock struck the tenth hour of dusk. He’s with my-”
“Stop with your stupid royal fancy talk Cherri! You lost a child!? A six year old little kid!?” Nom yelled at her. Cherri wanted to defend herself, she knew what happened to her prince! The blue kingdom members simply just refused to listen.
“Now’s not the time for arguing or getting mad at her! We need to find him!” Eloise said loudly over Nom’s lecture. Gracie and Scott nodded at their queen but the other kingdom members were either too far to hear or were too close to Nom’s shouting to listen.
“Why are you yelling at her majesty, you Blue?” Sir Bek had heard all the commotion from the temporary home she made and had rushed over. She held out her sword and got Nom to back away from Cherri.
“Oooo, drama!” Sausage randomly appeared, causing Owain to swing his sword at the place where he heard the death mage’s voice. “Hey, I thought we were getting mad at Queen Cherri!”
“Stand back, Red, before my sword is the end of your fate.” Owain held his sword up to Sausage’s neck. Sausage laughed before backing away onto the other side of the bridge with a smile. “Whatever you say, big kitty!”
Cherri could feel this whole meeting spiraling. She backed away from the bridge as more of her kingdom members arrived and stood around. Apo was standing on the grass on the Red Kingdom side soaking wet from the river.
Cherri managed to leave the bridge and stood next to her knight as both of the kingdom’s mages started casting spells. Cherri watched as people started trapping each other in bubbles while knights took out weapons to start fighting each other and sighed. Eloise walked off the bridge and just stood next to Cherri while her knight ran off to stand in front of the bridge with her spear out.
“I assume the loss of our prince was an accident?” Eloise asked with a raised eyebrow. Cherri nodded, “Prince must have gotten out when we were sleeping. My other knight isn’t here with us so I assume that she’s with him. I wanted to request aid to find them both.”
“How are you so sure your knight is with our prince?” Eloise wondered, not seeing any possible ways for such a conclusion.
“I wasn't thinking clearly earlier with all my heightened emotions but it makes most sense. Lady Katie the brave is a knight who awakens rather early. She tells me she prefers to awake before the sun to see the day start. Our prince is but a small child who could soundly sleep for eight hours.” Cherri starts explaining.
“One of your knights awakening early isn't that much of a deal though?”
“Ladu Katie trains in the center. She must have seen Prince and escorted him to someplace. I trust my knight with his safety. Prince is unlikely to awaken before the Sun and Lady Katie would easily spot him wandering outside my home.” Cherri looked away from the bridge and looked at the Blue Queen directly.
“Ahh, I see. How have you deduced this?” Eloise also looked away from the loud clashing of swords and the swirls of magic to look at the other queen.
“It’s quite simple really. It just makes sense.”
“Isn’t that a saying a popular rogue says?” Eloise asks Cherri, causing Cherri to nod and say that that rogue sometimes resides in Soluna. Eloise gasps, “Truly? I am such a fan of his technical work!”
“Ah yes! Perhaps you would like to join me in conversation while we go look for Prince?” Cherri asks. “Oh I would love to, Queen Cherri!”
The Queens of the Blue and Red Kingdom wander off into the Red Kingdom forest, unnoticed by their subjects.
༺𓆩༒︎𓆪༻
They didn’t manage to find them, even as the sun began to set. Cherri and Eloise had looked through the forest when Cherri remembered how Katie told her plans of chopping down trees. They gave up for now and both hoped that the knight and the prince managed to make it back into the Red Kingdom relatively safe.
The girls walked back to the bridge and Cherri started pacing as soon as they stopped walking. She obviously knew her prince was safe, he was with a well trained future knight who knew what she was doing. But what if Cherri’s assumption was wrong? Cherri knew she was smart, a good future ruler must be if they wish to take the throne.
Cherri also knew she could be wrong at times. She was realistic too, she didn't know everything. Cherri just hopes that her assumption is correct. Cherri watched as Shandrea launched her water bubble attack, managing to capture Cam. Cam dived out of the bubble just as fast, screeching about getting his robes wet. Cherri sighed as Eloise just shook her head.
“One would think they'd have noticed our departure and return by this point.” Cherri jests. Eloise just giggles, placing her hand over her mouth to keep herself quiet.
“CHU!” The girls heard a chime and the area went silent.
Everyone turned around as they looked towards the Red Kingdom's destroyed gate and saw two figures next to each other. A knight with auburn hair walked calmly as she held a little blue boy’s hand gently and a box bursting with flowers in the other. The little boy kept on pulling the knight's hand, urging her to walk faster.
“PRINCE!” Cherri and Eloise shouted in unison, both running to the small child. Lady Katie let go of the prince’s hand and watched as the family reunited in the middle of the path.
“It seems all is well, wouldn’t you agree fellow knights?” Apo asks both Red and Blue Kingdom knights. “Seems so.” Nom agrees.
“Wait, why were we fighting?” 4C asks, scaring all the knights.
“WHAT THE HECK!” Gracie shouts, hitting 4C on the head with the blunt side of her spear.
“Kitty thinks she’ll go take a nap now.” Kitty mutters, jumping back onto a tree they had perched in since the fighting started. “Ooooo sleepover!” Mae shouts, jumping right after Kitty. They both look down at 5C and run off. “Wait, I wanna go! Come back!” 4C runs after the other two rogues as they both jump out the tree and run into the Blue Kingdom. “Weeee!”
“Idiots.” Frouge murmurs next to Sausage. Sausage just hums, mostly looking around after using so many spells.
“I think we need to enchant a leash on him, El. Think we could find something like that?” Cherri asks in jest. Eloise gives an overdramatic thoughtful look, putting a finger on her chin and tapping it. “Perhaps so, my queen.”
“Chu!?” Prince chimes.
“Ah, no my sweet prince. Me and your mother merely jest.” Cherri says, hugging her son. The prince jingles, happy to be with his parents all safe with the crate of flowers. He felt warm and loved as he felt the heat coming from the two bodies around him, pestering him with lov and kisses.
༺𓆩༒︎𓆪༻
Cherri ran off into the dark forest as soon as she had been decrowned.
Someone killed her prince.
And she didn’t even know who to ask. After all the festivities of the new crowning of the frouge, she had returned back to her home only to find a small blue limp body. He had taken it- him with her as she ran. She felt sick.
Cherri reached the flower fields and watched as all the flowers swayed in the wind. She looked down at the cold body of the boy she tried to love with her entire being. It wasn’t enough. It never really was, was it?
Cherri placed Prince down in the flowers, watching as the ground around him stained in his beautiful golden blood. Despite being covered in gold, she felt disgusted as her dress shimmered in the moonlight.
She noticed a wooden sword nearby the rocks and placed him and grabbed it. Ingrained at the bottom of it was ‘Prince of Soluna’s sword!’ and looked at it with wide eyes. He always told her that he wanted to be a knight when he grew up in his chimes. His magic intertwined with her non-existent ones whenever he spoke, allowing her to hear his voice instead of the chimes heard by non-magic wielders.
She held the practice sword slightly tighter, refusing to let herself cry once more. She couldn't, not twice in one day. Cherri wanted to be a knight now, maybe Prince would have liked that.
She looks down at the cold body, his smile still ever present even in death. Cherri held his face in her hand, uncaring of the golden blood that now adorned her.
“I will become a knight for you, my sweet prince. I swear on the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, and the Void herself to make your dream come true, even if you are not the one living it.” The mother cried as four pairs of eyes watched.
‘Do you think the human speaks true sister?’
‘Yes, my dear sister. Humans are quite amazing.’
‘Very well then. Let's see.’