Chapter 5

The Queen stirred a cauldron of boiling green goo. When the goo had a thick consistency, she took an apple from the basket and gently dipped it in. "Listen to my soul will, curse this apple to make him ill. Seal the spell with endless sleep; give me his soul to keep." She pulled the apple out of the goo. The goo disappeared and appeared as normal. She set it in a basket. She then looked in a mirror, "Give me a look to deceive him well, fool the prince with this simple spell." The Queen's beauty melted away, she became an old haggard lady. She grabbed her basket. The prince would die.

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Lenalee was finishing breakfast with Miranda as the boys set the table.

Allen walked in and everyone grew silent and bowed to the prince.

"You don't have to do that." Allen said and sat down. "Where Komui and Krory?"

"They went out to check on something."

"When will they be back?" Allen asked.

"We don't know." Lenalee answered.

Everyone else sat down with the Prince to eat breakfast.

Allen ate slowly. "May I go out with Kanda and Lavi today?"

Everyone looked at each other, that was dangerous territory. "Why?"

"I want to help with hunting." Allen said, but truthfully he just wanted out of the cabin, there are all sorts of prisons and he was feeling like a prisoner again.

"My prince," Lenalee began. "I don't think that is a good idea for you?"

Allen looked down at his plate. "I am sorry that I asked. Forget about it."

"Just let him come with me." Kanda sighed.

Everyone looked at Kanda shocked.

"We all know that he is going to whine until he gets what he wants anyway. I figure, why not skip that step." Kanda said, defending himself.

"I resent that." Allen said.

"Go ahead." Kanda shrugged.

Lenalee smiled. "Alright. If Kanda says yes, but Lavi and I are coming with you." Lenalee said, laying down her condition.

"It's fine with me."

Kanda che'd and grabbed his sword.

####

Allen loved the fresh air. He walked through the fields, feeling the tall grass on his fingertips. He looked up at the blue sky. This is what it meant to be free.

"Hey! Moyashi! Don't stray too far!" Kanda yelled at Allen.

Allen looked over, not realizing he strayed so far away. He ran over to the group.

Deep in the woods, a shadow watched the group and disappeared.

####

Allen walked with Lenalee, Lavi, and Kanda as they hiked for miles until they came across a small doe.

Lenalee was actually a very good marksman, or markswoman. She knocked her arrow and fired, hitting her target.

The doe was small enough that Lavi and Kanda just took turns carrying her.

They returned to the cabin as the sun set and started dinner.

Allen wandered outside, while everyone else was busy. He was never missed in the hustle and bustle, he got in the way too much. That was all he ever did, get in everyone's way. Even now, his life is on the line because he is in the way of his stepmother. He walked onto the bridge that had a stream under it. The moon in the sky was full, making the water reflect it's image. It was a beautiful night.

"You know that you are not supposed to be out here."

Allen jumped and turned around.

Kanda stood there.

"You almost gave me a heart attack." Allen informed him

Kanda did not care as he joined him on the bridge.

Allen looked down at the water, looking at their reflections. "I love this feeling."

"What?" Kanda asked, the Moyashi was making absolutely no sense.

"The air, you can basically taste the freedom on it. That is what I want for my people, for my kingdom. I want everyone to wake up and feel what I am feeling right now."

Kanda looked at Allen and then at the water. "You will make a good King."

Allen was shocked to hear that from Kanda. Kanda never so much as said that he could walk normal, much less run a kingdom. Allen was also shocked as Kanda slowly started closer to him.

"Now, get your princely ass inside, or Lenalee will kill me." Kanda said, spoiling the mood.

Allen sighed and led the way inside, not believing how dramatic of a 180 that conversation turned. But at the same time, he was fine with that.

####

It was night time when Komui and Krory finally got to their destination. A golem had alerted them that someone had trespassed and were still there. They followed the tracker as their target stayed in one spot, which was odd. As they came upon their target, they readied themselves, but found that it was only a cloak and a basket full of apples.

"What is this?" Krory asked, looking the items over.

"I don't know, but whoever left these found a way off the golem grid. I can't and won't be able to track them like this." Komui said.