Chapter One
This was not the plan. She didn't even have a plan, but this was indefinably not it. How could she let this happen so quickly? It had only been three days…
All she had to do was keep her neck covered for about a week, maybe less. And then she could pass it off as a bruise from a plant summoning. A contusion from a wayward vine. A boo-boo from bamboo. Hell, maybe it would be completely healed by then, she had always been a fast recovery.
Now her excitable attendants would not shut up. Probably ever, if her luck with them was anything to go by. They weren't arguing with each other, for once, yet Amalia would have likely preferred that at this point. Need she remind anyone that their only job right now was to prep her dress?
"My goodness! How long must she have been keeping this secret from us?"
Amalia scoffed.
"I have no idea! Imagine if it's been years! Sneaking about with a secret lover… for so long? How romantic!"
"Who do you think it is? Someone from the castle? A vigilant guard? Or maybe an exotic foreigner?
Exotic foreigner, huh? I suppose… Amalia shook her head. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about that! The last thing she needed was to give these two a hint. They entered gossip circles like bees to flowers and even the slightest chance that Yugo might hear about it was too much of a risk.
Because he probably wouldn't remember it. He was too drunk at the time.
It wasn't like she planned that either, she was pretty trashed too. She had challenged him to a drinking contest after they were already buzzed. Both were green drinkers, but she held the advantage of a larger body mass. So she remembered more.
She remembered that he was a pretty good kisser.
Amalia shook her head again. "Listen, both of you," she said with as much darkness she could muster. "If I hear about any more of this... If you decide that it's a good idea to share your little theories with anyone... I will personally sign the papers reassigning you the fertilizer yards. Understand?"
What she got in reply was a pair of half scared, half amused giggles behind fingertips. The red of her face was doing little to help intimidate them, but they seemed to follow her point and nodded in acknowledgment.
"Good. Now leave me, I can dress myself."
They left, barely containing their mirth.
Amalia groaned. This was easily the most stressful week she endured in a long time. And that was saying a lot considering the world-breaking events that coated her life. Her brother was doing his damnedest to push guilt and duty onto her, political suitors and ambassador work piled up faster than she could manage, and now she had to stop rumors from spreading! As if that ever worked.
Armand's voice echoed in her head. You must show an invested interest in other nations' cultures, for the good of Sadida.
Tuar-shit. Like getting smashed on bamboo milk gave any impression of interest that would benefit Sadida. It just made her look like an alcoholic. She was grateful that Pandiego was willing to be tight-lipped about the lack of decorum. Or, as he put it: "Giving respect to a fine display of Pandawan tolerance."
Whatever that meant.
She needed a vacation. It had been a month and a half since the last adventure, and in her books that was way too long. She would have to contact everyone as soon as possible. She could test out an idea she had with her magic also. Two birds, one stone.
But where to?
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Fortunately for the creaky wooden bird that Amalia summoned, the Sadlygrove family was visiting Yugo. It would only take one trip, which seemed to be its limit. It was about to fall apart. It glided lightly towards the ever-familiar blue embedded from its master's memories.
And shattered on impact. The carried letter falling among the broken twigs and leaves.
"Ow." Yugo rubbed his head and took note of the broken construct. "Amalia?" He looked around for his friend, but didn't see her anywhere close enough for her magic to work. Was she hiding?
"Yugo!" Percedal called. "You okay? Didjya get lost trying to serve our food?"
Eva flicked him. "Honestly, Dally. Set a good example for the baby." The baby laughed at that and hit his father as well.
Percedal gave a bright unapologetic smile in retort and looked back to Yugo, who was bringing their meals along while looking wordlessly down at the letter from the bird. "What'cha reading?"
"Amalia can apparently make carrier pigeons with her dolls now..."
"Well it's good to hear that she's taking her magic studies more seriously. She always had a decent talent for it," Evangeline said.
"Apparently she wants to go on vacation."
Evangeline sighed. "...I take it back. So where is she planning this 'vacation'?" She air-quoted and the baby did his best to mimic her gestures.
Yugo set the table with his friend's food and a bottle of formula for the baby. "She didn't specify. Just- and I'm quoting- 'anywhere his omniscient highness is not.'"
"Oh. So she's fighting with her brother again. That sounds fun." She rested her head on her arm as the baby tried biting his.
"So you won't go?"
"I never said that." Evangeline smiled. "The kids have been asking non-stop to go on another 'adventure'. Our trip here was supposed to be for that... but something bigger would be more... exciting. Dally and I are also getting a little restless. Travel would be nice." She paused. "We can't bring the baby though."
Yugo grew an uncannily familiar smirk. "I'm sure Dad would be willing to help with that."
"I'm sure I'll be roped into it regardless," Alibert said, appearing behind Yugo. "But didn't you just go on a trip with Amalia earlier in the week?" He scratched his chin. "Not that I don't appreciate the shipment of coconut milk we got out of it, but..."
Yugo grimaced. He didn't remember much of what happened, but he knew it was probably best left that way. He had seen the way people behaved while they were drunk, and he doubted very much that he would be in much better condition. He really didn't want to think about the possibilities.
"Well, that was a diplomatic... event," Yugo said with an entirely unconvincing smile. "This is for fun."
Evangeline took note of the 'event'. She would have to ask Amalia about it later. The baby copied her thoughtful frown to the best of his ability.
Alibert raised an eyebrow. "Well, go tell Adamai about it. I'm sure he'll want to join you."
Yugo gave a wide grin and opened a portal to the nearby field where Adamai and the kids were playing.
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"I hope you enjoy your trip, but I won't be joining you." Adamai kept his gaze towards Chibi and Grougaloragran, who were sitting in the field across from one another with their eyes closed. Meditating.
Yugo frowned.
"These two need to start their training in wakfu, and I'm the best equipped to show them how."
"They could join us, you know. You could train on the road."
Adamai turned to his brother. "Probably, but I still think it would be best for us to focus on this."
Chibi suddenly perked up, smiling. He stood and began walking toward what he thought was Adamai. And promptly fell over, disoriented by the new sense of vision.
"You're getting better." Adamai praised. "Your next goal is to make it twenty meters without falling."
Grougaloragran heard this and huffed, blowing smoke from his nostrils and forming a rictus of concentration. The grass around him had long since been burned away.
Adamai smiled at Yugo. "Knowing how much trouble we get into, these two will have to be prepared for anything."
Yugo smiled back. "Well just make sure you come along on the next adventure. It can be boring without you."
Adamai nodded and Yugo left through a portal.
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Elely and Flopin bounded through the town in search of their parents. To proclaim their boredom. Adamai wasn't letting them play with Chibi or Grougaloragran because they were training. And not the kind of training the twins could participate in. Something about it being exclusive to Eliotropes and Dragons.
This adventure wasn't doing much for them. There was no villains to fight, and no challenges to overcome. It was nice that there was no one getting hurt, but It was incredibly boring, and although Elely was the primary distributor of complaints, Flopin was in full agreement.
"Dad!" Elely shouted as she rapidly approached the restaurant. "Daddy, come fight with me!"
Percedal turned in half-surprise with a face covered with many infant-sized hand-prints of barbecue sauce. He was holding her baby brother, who was sleeping peacefully, also covered in barbecue sauce and with his hand placed on his father's face. Percedal put a finger to his mouth in a plea for quiet, and smiled fondly at his daughter.
Elely copied his smile momentarily before remembering her outrage. She puffed in irritation. He couldn't hide behind her little brother forever. Flopin appeared behind her with a raised eyebrow.
Percedal chuckled quietly. "You two are in luck." And he pointed to the roof of the inn, where Evangeline was taking aim with her bow. Seemingly at the sky.
Flopin's eyes went wide and starry. "What is she doing?" He could tell that it was difficult, even for his mother. She was the best shot he knew of and if it was taking this much of her concentration then something incredible was about to happen! His grin grew and he kept his eyes fixed on his mother's bow.
"Why's it taking her so long?" Elely grumbled.
Flopin shushed his sister. She huffed and looked away.
Evangeline finally knocked a glowing golden arrow and after a moment, fired it toward the sky. She turned to see her children standing next to Percedal, Flopin staring in awe and Elely standing with crossed arms and an annoyed frown. As always, it warmed her heart. She jumped down from the roof to her family.
Flopin rushed over. "Mommy, can you show me how to do that, too?"
Evangeline patted her son's head. "You still need to work on your eagle eye before i can teach you any magic bow techniques."
Flopin looked disappointed, but set a furrow to his brow and a glint to his eye. He would master it before the week was done.
"Ugh, whatever! This is boring!" Elely whispered, still remembering her baby brother was sleeping. Flopin looked at her in shock and disgust.
Percedal placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry Elely, like I said; you're in luck."
Elely looked up at her father in doubt.
"What your mother shot was a recall arrow. It lets a person who touches it teleport to us." He smiled wide. "How would you kids feel about going on a real adventure?"
Just then, the baby woke up and began crying and slapping more barbecue-stained hand-prints onto Percedal's face, all while he maintained his cocky smile.
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Ruel Stroud was in a great mood. At least, for having his manhood nearly speared off. "What now?" He asked immediately after appearing in a flash of golden light. Didn't even bother to see who was around.
Evangeline deadpanned. "Her highness demands adventure."
Ruel grumbled. "As if I'm not getting that from a completely different angle already..."
"Uncle Ruel!" The twins shouted.
Ruel lit up. "Kids!"
A sly smile marked Evangeline's face. Got'em.
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"Isn't it... smaller than before?" Percedal asked.
"Well... yes," Ruel supplied. "After some... mechanical difficulties, I had to rebuild it to better accommodate some... unique environments." He tapped his fingers together in a nervous gesture. Arpagone was adamant about treasure hunting together, but he needed a break. Him deconstructing and rebuilding the machine was a convenient excuse.
"Is it gonna hold all of us?"
"Of course! Not all the seats are in, but there's plenty of breathing room..."
Elely poked her head out of the window of the vehicle. "Hey! There's only three seats! You're not gonna make me share with Flopin, are you?!" she shouted with a squeak in her voice.
"Now now, I'm sure something can be figured out..." Ruel said.
Meanwhile, Evangeline was lining up another shot with a recall arrow. This time to summon Amalia. It was much more difficult than before, with Flopin's gaze boring into the back of her skull. Although she was happy that her son wanted to learn, his questions had quickly become distracting.
"... It just lets people teleport to wherever they want!"
"Only to the point of firing, dear." Evangeline searched for Amalia with her eagle eye.
"Could you make it the opposite? Like, shoot the arrow and teleport to where it hits?"
"That would be impressive..." She almost had her aim set.
"That sounds way cooler than Yugo's portals!"
"Hm, just be sure not to brag about it too much..." Ah. There she was. Right in the courtroom.
Flopin gave a confused stare.
"You know, for when you invent it." She let loose the arrow and looked to her son with a smirk.
"You think I'll be able to do that?" Flopin bounced in place.
"I do."
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Amalia was sitting in at yet another suitor meeting, not paying any attention at all as her brother rambled off the mundane accomplishments of whoever this was. Owned seven shops that each specialized in a different type of cheese. Oh, how she swoons for that.
In fact, she was so enamored with the man that she almost missed him being nearly impaled. Because she was looking out the window. Or at her food. Or at her feet.
Yeah, she could go for a spa day sometime soon...
Well, it was really the golden light of one of Evangeline's recall arrows that grabbed her attention. She was out of her seat before anyone could react to the strange circumstances.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Prince Armand yelled. "Guards! Find the archer responsible for-" Amalia was already next to the arrow. He instantly recognized what was about to happen and placed his head in his palms, resigning himself to the consequences.
Amalia shot a wide victorious grin towards her brother. "Return."
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"It's smaller than before..."
"Yes, yes. We've been through this already." Evangeline pushed Amalia onto the reduced digging machine with admittedly more force than needed. "Just remember, this was your idea."
"Yeah, well, this still beats having to deal with my brother and his-" Amalia paused. "Why are there only three seats?" She looked at Ruel.
"Bad timing, for the most part," Ruel said. "No worries. By the time we get to our first stop, I'll be able to nab some parts from an old friend of mine." He gave a cocky smile. "He owes me."
Amalia only gave a glare in response to Ruel's shaky promise.
Evangeline chuckled. "I guess you'll just have to let Yugo sit on your lap."
"W-what? What the hell Eva!" Amalia gave a quick look around for the bespoken eliotrope. She huffed and crossed her arms. "I am a princess of the Sadida Kingdom! I do not let people sit on my lap."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, 'oh'! Why not have Yugo sit on your lap?!"
"Flopin will be sitting on my lap. And Elely on Dally's." Evangeline couldn't help but grin at the indignation plastered on Amalia's face. If she wanted adventure, she was going to get an adventure. Inconveniences and all. And that started with adverse travel conditions. She buckled down and prepared to execute a carefully-crafted argument she thought of roughly an hour ago.
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Yugo hoisted the keg of bamboo milk with a rope and heaved it over his shoulder. "Are you sure I should take this with me?"
"Absolutely. You gave it to me, and this was originally a gift to you. It's not like we don't have more where that came from. You should enjoy it with your friends." Alibert scratched his chin. "Not with the kids though."
Yugo smiled at his father's precaution. "I know. I'll be careful. And I'll try to keep in touch. You sure you have everything you need for the baby? I could teleport to the general store quick and-"
He laughed. "Believe me, I have more than enough to start my own store."
Yugo nodded and summoned a portal beneath his feet. He waved farewell and disappeared.
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Yugo couldn't remember a time where his face was this hot. Or a time anyone sat on his lap, for that matter. "Um, can you explain to me again why we're sitting like this?"
"To prove a point," Amalia blistered.
"Uh huh..." Yugo looked over to Evangeline and Percedal, the former giving a good attempt not to laugh and the latter not trying at all. "Is the point proven?"
"When we get to our first stop," Evangeline said.
Yugo groaned. It was beyond embarrassing. Amalia had better be at least as uncomfortable as he was. He was sure this was all on her anyway. "And when will that be?"
"Well it's supposed to be a few hours south from here, but with the reductions... probably a campsite halfway," Ruel shouted from the front seat as he started up the engine. It hummed loud and powerful before the group felt the familiar tug of it taking off.
"So what happens when this point gets proven?" Yugo asked.
"The losers have to do everyone's chores for the week." Evangeline said.
Yugo looked up at Amalia. Or at least, as much of her as he could from this position to see red cheeks and her brow set in a determined furrow. Was she really doing this to get out of chores? He found himself smiling lightly despite himself. While he wasn't happy about it, If things stayed calm like this he could manage. Easily. And to top it off, he could avoid chores for a week, too. He tuned his gaze out the window to his right and let a refreshing wave of optimism overtake him as the landscape rolled by.
This wouldn't be too bad.
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A/N
Thanks for reading! Hope y'all are excited for season three coming out on Netflix! I've already seen it subbed, but you better believe I'm watching that motherflipper all the way through again. This story takes place after that hullabaloo, with a bit of a plot-hole that can't be filled until the next season.
This was originally going to be smut, but after about a week into writing the plot outline, I realized that this turned into a much more interesting, more wholesome story. So I toned it down a bit to make it more appropriate.
I'm still keeping this story rated M. There will be crudeness and sauciness and probably drama later down the line. Get hyped.
Also, for those few wondering about my other story, "Correlictum", I can't make any promises, but I want to at some point continue it. I've had the thing plotted out in bullet-point style for a long time, just never began writing the actual chapters. Mostly because I had just finished college and had to find a place to live and jobs to support myself. I've now done so, and I can take my free time as free time.
Anyway, I'm not a fan of these author notes. In my last story, I deleted them every time I updated a new chapter... But I think that I'll keep this one around. For posterity. I think people are used to them on this sight anyway.