Finally got this chapter finished. Damn I had a bad case of writers block when I started this O.o I'm glad I had the time and inspiration to power through it :)
Momo let out a small sigh as she turned the page of the novel she had been reading. She sat at a small dark stained wood table in the library within her own castle, which was fairly large but nothing like the one in the Todoroki's castle. The library was only a single room, however it was roughly the size of five standard rooms, every wall was one large bookshelf and they were all lined with hundreds of books. On the table beside where she was sitting was Shouto's most recent letter, one that she had received this morning just before she came into the library.
Her eyes had been scanning over the words on the page of the book, but she was lost in thought and had just read the same paragraph four times in a row and still didn't know what it said. "Arrrrrrrggggh!" she grumbled as she slammed the book shut. Momo held her head as she leaned against her arm that was resting on the table.
She picked up his letter and started to read it one more time, as if it would help ease her.
Momo,
I'm sorry I haven't written you in a few days. I got drunk a few nights ago and slept all day afterwards... The next day when I finally came out of my coma, I spent the entire day devoted to making our wedding plans happen. I worked alongside my mom and a few other wedding planners for the last few days and I think we finally managed to get everything in place. My parents are going to be contacting your parents soon to go over everything and make sure it's good on both sides. My mom told me that once that's all finished, we can finally figure out when you will be returning. I'm looking forward to seeing you again, and I've been looking forward to our future together like you told me to do. I've been doing a lot better thanks to you. I love you so much, and I promise to not miss another day of writing to you.
- Shouto
A bright smile was on her face as she finished reading his letter for the third time this morning. "I wonder how long it will take for the Endeavor Kingdom to contact Mother and Father about the wedding..." she thought aloud as she scanned over the letter again.
"It'll probably be at least a day or two," she heard Aizawa say.
She turned in her chair and saw him standing behind her, close enough that had most likely read the letter over her shoulder. His presence popping up randomly had stopped surprising her a long time ago, now she comes to expect it from him. "What makes you say that?" she questioned with a slightly down turned expression.
"This is a big event for both Kingdoms. It will unite the two, you know that right?" he asked and Momo simply nodded. "The Todoroki's will most likely take a day or two to make sure that everything on their end is perfect before sending the information to King and Queen Yaoyorozu."
"I see..." Momo stood up from her seat.
She rolled the sleeves of her dark crimson linen shirt up as she walked past Aizawa. While within her own castle, Momo would normally choose wear loose fitted shirts and pants or shorts over proper dresses or skirts, she was different from all other princesses after all.
"Where are you going Princess?" Aizawa questioned as he followed behind her.
They left the library and were now headed down a long corridor. "I'm going to let my parents know that they should be expecting word from King and Queen Todoroki soon. If they can get everything on our side sorted just as the Todoroki's are, then everything should go faster when they convene," she explained.
Aizawa smirked at her forward thinking as he kept pace with her, until they reached and stopped in front of a large golden door. Momo pushed the enormous door open and entered the massive room. She walked along a long stretch of red carpet that lead directly to two thrones in which her parents sat.
The King sat on the right throne, and the Queen on the left. King Yaoyorozu wasn't a fairly large man, but he also wasn't small. He had short, neatly combed dark brown hair with his red and golden crown sitting atop his head, a pencil moustache, a short trimmed beard, and dark onyx eyes that matched Momo's. The Queen however looked as if she was a slightly older version of her daughter. Her hair was long and black, she had soft features and a similar eye shape as Momo's, except the Queen's eyes were a deep sapphire blue.
Momo looked up to her parents as she stopped before them, she gave a small but proper bow before addressing them. "Mother. Father. I have received news from Prince Todoroki. He sent me a letter saying that he has finalized plans on their end and that King and Queen Todoroki will be sending a notice for you to meet with them to fully finalize the details," she explained.
King Yaoyorozu stroked his chin, running his fingers over his short beard as he looked down from his throne at his daughter. He gave a simple nod of his head accompanied with a gentle smile. "Thank you Momo. Everything on our end has been ready for awhile though. We've been awaiting for the Todoroki's to finish everything on their side," he informed her.
I should've known... Father has wanted my marriage for a few years now, she thought as she kept constant eye contact with her father. She bowed once more, smiling as she thought about being reunited to her prince soon. "Thank you Father. Mother." She straightened back up and looked at them.
Momo turned and was about to leave when the Queen stood up. "Momo, darling," Momo stopped and focused her full attention on her mother, "come take a walk with me. I wish to discuss something with you." The Queen stepped down from her throne and set her hand on Momo's back as they walked towards the door.
Queen Yaoyorozu and Momo exited the throne room, leaving the King and Aizawa behind. "So then Eraser, this Shouto Todoroki is a good match yes? I haven't had much time to go over it all with Momo as you know, but she's seemed happy since returning from their castle," the King said to him.
Aizawa nodded his head. "Yes. Prince Todoroki is the best possible match I can think of. He accepted her right away for who she is and has shown no sign of aggression, coldness, or an attempt to change her."
"That's wonderful. I had my doubts when Enji came to me requesting my daughter for his son... I as well as many other Kingdoms all know how he can be... But if you vouch for this Shouto, I will trust my daughter to him without any regrets."
"Of course your majesty," Aizawa replied with a simple bow. "I trust the Prince."
The Queen and Princess walked through the corridors of the castle, past numerous massive stained glass windows. They exited the castles interior and stepped onto a balcony that over looked the town below. "What did you wish to discuss Mother?" Momo asked, looking over to her with a questioning gaze.
"As you know once this marriage goes through you will some day be the Queen of the Endeavor Kingdom," the Queen started to say while looking over the scenery below.
"Yes. I am aware..." Momo answered, following her mothers gaze over the town.
"Our Kingdom isn't as large as the others, but we've sustained peace longer than anyone. Once you marry Prince Todoroki I hope you'll keep our ideals and apply them when you become Queen."
"Why are you telling me this?"
Queen Yaoyorozu turned her head and glanced at her daughter. "You're our only child and with you to be Queen to another Kingdom, there is no heir here. When we meet with King and Queen Todoroki we will also be discussing the state of the Creation Kingdom. This marriage isn't just about you and Shouto Todoroki, it's about both our Kingdoms uniting as one."
"I was wondering why Father didn't have a Prince come here... Is this truly what you and him want? If the Creation Kingdom is to be disolved then what will happen to you?"
The Queen sighed and turned away from the scenery and focused her full attention on her daughter. "We'll find out when we meet with them," she said as she smiled to Momo.
Momo was hesitant, but returned a smile, a small forced one just as her mother was giving her.
King Enji stood alone, bent over a large round table, staring down at an enormous map that was spread across the entirety of the tabletop. His turquoise eyes scanned over it as he traced his finger along the border of the Endeavor Kingdom. "Let's see here..." he muttered to himself. "Once the Yaoyorozu girl marries Shouto we will absorb the Creation Kingdom. That will expand my rule to the western ocean," he grumbled while he traced his finger around the Creation Kingdom's border.
Enji straightened up and crossed his arms over his burly chest as his hardened gaze glared down at the map. "Such a small Kingdom with only a single child and a girl at that. If they were smart they would have had multiple successors like I had... Buying her hand in marriage for Shouto was too easy."
A malicious smile spread over his face and he began to roll up his map. "Shouto falling for her will make this go much smoother. I'll have none of his rebelliousness or arguing like I had anticipated," he grumbled. He finished rolling the map up then walked over to a large chest and placed it inside. "It won't be too much longer until my rule expands over the entire continent. I'll have control over all the natural resource outputs, the Creation Kingdom is just the first step. And thanks to Natsu and Fuyumi marrying across the sea I have influence in those Kingdoms as well, giving me leverage in the foreign lands. My Kingdom will become the most powerful in the world."
The next few days passed by slowly for both Shouto and Momo. While the two were still separated from one another by hundreds of miles, their parents had gone and met at a halfway point between the castles. The Todoroki's and Yaoyorozu's spent an entire day discussing the marriage plans and the plans for the future of the Kingdoms. It wasn't until dusk hit that they were done and both parties returned to their own castles.
Shouto sat on his windowsill, one leg hanging out and kicking back and forth against the castle bricks and his arm resting on the other as he held a book in hand reading. He glanced out across the dark sea of trees beyond the castle walls and saw an enormous carriage and several knights on horseback approach the castle. "It's about damn time," he said as he watched them enter the gate.
Shouto crawled out from the window and tossed his book on the bed as he rushed out of his room. He headed through the halls, down the staircase and met his parents as they had just entered the castle.
"Shouto, what are you still doing up?" Rei asked when she saw him. He was panting as he stared to her without answering. "Honestly sweetheart we can go over this in the morning. You didn't have to stay awake this long."
"Just tell me when she'll be coming back," Shouto quickly snapped, he was too impatient to mind any manners that he had.
Rei sighed, giving into her son's request. "At the earliest it will be three days," she replied.
"Three days..." Shouto repeated with a smile. He bowed to his mother. "Thank you."
Enji glared at his son, he had been standing by Rei's side the entire time but Shouto had not acknowledged him one bit. "She will be here in three days and your marriage will take place in one month," he growled, finally getting his son's attention. "Also, you will remain in separate rooms until your marriage night. I know you stayed in her bed with her the night before she left. It is an old tradition that you do not sleep with her until you are wed. Understand Shouto?"
Shouto returned his father's hard glare right back at him, both their eyes were cold as they locked gazes. "I understand. All we did was sleep that night. Nothing more," he replied flippantly.
Enji raised an eyebrow as he looked Shouto's face over. " You had better. I don't need this marriage to be tainted in the eyes of the people. Just stay out of her room after dark," he growled as he pushed his way past his son.
Shouto glared at his father's back as he walked away. "Sure..." he muttered.
Rei sighed and walked past him as well. "Get some sleep Shouto. You'll need to be well rested for Yaoyorozu when she arrives in a few days," she cheerfully said.
Shouto's harsh eyes went soft as his mother spoke. He kindly looked to her and nodded. "Right. Good night mom."
Mandalay stood by the castle entrance, she had watched and listened to the royal's conversation. She walked up to Shouto and stood beside him. "So your highness, what will you be doing for these next few days until your princess returns?" she asked curiously.
Shouto shrugged as he stuffed his hands in his white pants pockets. "I don't know yet. For now I'm going to get some rest," he replied. "Good night Sosaki."
Mandalay watched the prince head back up the massive staircase up to his room. Only three more days until I'll get to see that happy side of him once more. That Princess sure had an impact on him, she thought as he disappeared from her sight.
Meanwhile at Castle Yaoyorozu, Momo had received the same information from her parents. "Princess you don't have to pack right now. We still have a few days before we head to the Endeavor Kingdom," Aizawa said as he stood in her doorway watching her gather her clothes and pack them into a large trunk.
Momo folded her shirts and placed them in the trunk. She went back to her enormous closet that was the size of a normal room and began to sort through her dresses. Aizawa stepped into the closet doorway and leaned against it and crossed his arms. "Princess!" he said louder, making sure she actually heard him this time.
Momo jumped and turned to face him. "What?" she questioned.
"We aren't arranged to leave for a few days. You can take your time to pack your belongings," he calmly said to her.
Momo turned back to her dresses and pulled a white and red one down, staring at it. It reminded her of Shouto. "I know," she replied while smiling warmly at the dress. "But the sooner I am ready, the sooner we can depart..." She turned back to her guard and made eye contact. "Isn't that right?"
Aizawa let out a sigh and rubbed his head. "Yes... But you need rest now. It's nearly one am Princess."
"I'm not tired," she replied as she walked out of her closet, past Aizawa and over to a different trunk. She laid the dress down with the others she had already packed. "You don't have to stay with me you know," she informed him.
"I'm staying until I know you'll get some rest."
She turned and faced him and wiped the small amount of sweat from her forehead. "Then you might as well help me out," she told him. "I can order you ya know."
Aizawa closed his eyes in defeat and sighed. "Very well."
Two days later...
The sun set behind the mountains and the street lights throughout the town flickered on. The townspeople continued about their business as usual as a local paperboy handed out the day's paper, with the headline of the royal wedding.
"Hey lemme see that!" A blond man smoking a cigarette said as he snatched the paper from the kid's hand. The man scanned over the main article, his eyes wide and his cigarette nearly falling from his lips as his mouth parted. "Oh man.. This is great!"
The blond man with a stitched scar down the middle of his forehead grasped the paper as he headed through the town, using back alleys and the dark twisted streets as he made his way to his destination. He reached a shady looking abandoned bar near the edge of town and entered through a side door.
"Yo Dabi! You read today's paper yet!" Twice shouted as he entered the room.
Dabi sat in a chair behind the bar with his feet kicked up on the counter, his hands behind his head and his eyes closed. "Haven't gotten around to yet. Why? There something interesting?" he asked as he opened one eye.
"Hell yeah there is... No.. There's not. Yes there is! You shouldn't read it! Read the fucking paper!" he shouted, arguing with himself and he threw the paper across the room, scattering it all over the floor.
Twice collapsed to the floor holding his head and rocking back and forth on his knees, muttering something incoherent to himself. "Toga go find his mask. He left it here earlier by accident," Dabi said as he stood up.
"Sure thing," the crazed blond girl replied right before she gave Twice a sympathetic look.
Dabi walked around the bar and knelt down, he spotted the main article and picked up the paper. "Well well. Looks like the royal family has a date for little Shouto's wedding," he said with cold eyes and a relaxed smile. "This what you wanted to show me?"
Toga pulled Twice's mask over his head and he instantly calmed down. "I love you Toga!" he exclaimed while hugging her tightly.
"Twice. Stay focused. Is this it?" Dabi asked again.
"Yeah!" he replied as he turned his attention to Dabi while still holding onto Toga. "They announced today that it'll be in about a month! Isn't that awesome! It fucking blows!"
Dabi scanned over the article with his bright blue eyes, smiling as he does. "Yes. That is, awesome..." He stood up and looked down at his comrades. "We've got a month to plan. Toga, how's that magic you learned coming along?"
"I've gotten a lot better at it. I only need a drop of blood to imitate someone now rather than a cup full," she replied with a large smile.
"Good. That'll be much more useful, and less messy... Twice how's the recruitment search coming along?"
"I've found a few people who are willing to help us out. Some of them even know some magic."
"Excellent. With a few more numbers on our side this should go even smoother," Dabi replied with a grin as he looked out the broken bar window that was aimed towards Castle Todoroki.
He turned back around and focused his chilling eyes on Toga and Twice. "Let's start planning our attack."
I'll be starting to write the next chapter in a few days. Hopefully it won't take me as long to get through it as this one took...
