Brown Bess POV

A few days, weeks, passed since I left. I've been living off the small jobs I can find, saving up money, and looking for…something, even if I don't know what it is.

As I move from town to town, from city to city, I have to admit, it's quite the interesting experience. I stay low, of course, but… when I look at my reflection in the water…all I see is someone who's lost.

Still…whenever I see my comrades on a mission, I tail them a bit to see if they need help. If I hear gunfire, of course, I'll help them out, but I try to remain unseen. I don't want to distract them from their mission nor be forcibly taken back to base.

As such, there have been times when I met up with Cane on the streets, Kiseru in disguise, or Cutlery on a solo mission. If I can avoid Furusato, Ieyasu, Napoleon, Hall, and Aleksandr, I will. I avoid my teammates too, if only because I don't want to see them right now.

Cane asks if I've found what I'm looking for while he does a magic trick…and fails. He also tells me that because I destroyed that receiver, I bought the base sometime before the Empire tries another attack. I nod, then leave, telling Cane to be careful. Cane apparently thinks that I'm not cut out for stealth missions, but I prove him wrong.

Kiseru, after he takes off his disguise, asks if I've found anything yet. I shake my head, then ask about the goods he's been tracking down. He smiles and tells me about them, our future Musketeers. I wave goodbye at him before disappearing into the crowd.

Cutlery is a bit shyer. I don't mind that as we act like we don't know each other and make small talk. He encourages me, saying that whatever I find will be worth it… I thank him as I wave goodbye.


A month later…

It took me a long time but… I found something.

When I passed a pawn shop, a pocket watch caught my eye. I don't know why, but I was drawn to it.

It was gold with a moon and stars cover on it. Apparently, it used to be in possession of magic users…at least, according to what the owner said.

As for if I believe in magic… I'm a Musketeer, born from an antique gun. I'll believe anything at this point.

Paying the man twenty-five dollars, I took it to where I'm currently staying, which is an abandoned building.

I lay down in my makeshift bed and open up the pocket watch. It still works…but I see an inscription on it. I try to read it and…something starts glowing.

Engulfed by a blinding light, I cover my eyes. After I blink them open as the light faded, I see something incredible… It's…me. But not just me, two other mes!

"What…?" I ask. One of them spoke in an American accent, "Hey! It's weird to meet like this but… Hi Brown!"

"George?! But how…?" I instinctively knew it was him…my other personality. I just felt it.

"I know right?! That watch must really be magic to be able to do this!" George yells excitedly. He turns to the other version of me, "But who's that? He feels…older than us?"

The somehow older version of us smiles, "Hi…It's nice to meet you…although it is weird to see myself like this."

"You are…" my eyes widened, "The first Musketeer, aren't you? The original Brown Bess…"

He nods, "Yeah…I am."

George and I stare at him for a moment. 'He's the original huh…'

He looks at the words on the pocket watch, "It seems our soul has split into three…" he looks at us. "But since we're all the same person, it'll be confusing with names…"

"I know! Since I already have the name George, I'll call you Bess, 'kay?" George says.

Bess nods, "Then I suppose you get Brown then."

I sigh, not really minding it since it's come to this. However, "I'm tired… I'm going to sleep."

I collapse on the bed, my energy sapped.


Bess POV

I guess the magic took a lot out of him… "Then, I guess we'll go to bed too," I say as I laid down next to Brown with George following suit.


George POV

The next morning…

I wake up to see Brown still asleep… last night's summoning must've really tired him out. But, I don't see Bess anywhere… Ah! There he is!

"I bought breakfast," Bess says as he comes with a bag of bread and a jar of jam.

"Thanks, man!" I pat his back playfully before getting myself some bread and smearing apricot jam on it.

Bess smiles as he gets his own meal, making sure to leave some for Brown when he wakes up.

Speaking of Brown… I know why he left base but… I sigh. When he wakes up, I'm going to give him an earful.


Brown POV

I open my eyes and smell bread. Getting up, I see some bread with jam on it, and Bess and George patiently waiting for me to wake up.

I grab the plate and eat. After I've finished breakfast, I stare at them nervously.

"Brown…you know you're just running away at this point, right? Let's go back to base," George says.

"No!"

"Why not?" Bess asks.

"I…can't face them right now…" I say with my head lowered, "I just…"

Bess frowns, "Tell me what's on your mind… I may be able to help."

I glare, clenching my fists, "You…They want you back, not me…! After all this time, I thought I was the original…but after hearing about you…I find out that I'm just a copy, a replacement…! I feel so…betrayed… I'm afraid that if I see them now, I'll just take my anger out on them…"

Bess hugs me, leaving me frozen in place. As he wipes the tears I didn't notice I was shedding, he says, "You are you…yet also me. You aren't a copy nor my replacement. Even if you are a copy, you now have a chance to live and make this life your own…so don't waste it."

"Yeah…don't be sad Brown! You're a Knight remember! So…don't cry. If you cry, I'm going to start…crying," George says as he starts crying too.

Bess pulls him into the hug too, and we both cry together. His chin rested on my head as George and I sobbed into his shirt.

After a while and the tears stopped, we were both exhausted.

Bess then says with a determined look, "Let's go back to base…back home. I'll talk to them, OK?"

George and I nod, our eyes red from all our crying. Bess smiles, "Don't worry… You're not alone anymore…little brothers."

"Little brothers… ," I start to say but George finishes, "We'd like that."

Then, George and I both took a nap together.


Bess POV

As I looked at my two brothers sleeping together, I smile, but look towards the window, 'Don't worry…I'll make this right. I promise…'

After a few days of rest, we went back to base… To say everyone was surprised was an understatement…especially for Napoleon, Ieyasu, Furusato, Hall and Aleksandr.