A/N: Here's Chapter Three of Novoselic's New Monarchy, taking place after "Tying the Knot" and correlating with the "Animals" theme. Please read and review, and enjoy!

The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Novoselic's New Monarchy!

Chapter Three: A Novoselic Engagement!

Silence passed through the empty fields outside the Novoselic capital city as Gundham Tanaka lay low in the grass, dressed in his Japanese attire.

I've gotten used to wearing the Novoselic clothes, but these feel more like a second skin, and I need to be completely at ease for my mission today.

Months had passed since he and Sonia had first strolled through the streets of Novoselic in their matching clothes, and a lot had changed. Sonia had gotten the courage to ask the stunned Ultimate Breeder to join her in courtship. He had accepted in his own, eccentric way, and their relationship had only further fueled rumors among the people and castle staff about the Princess's consort.

Sonia and Gundham had largely ignored them, happy to take their relationship slowly. Privately, their feelings had changed when they bore witness to the holy union of Makoto and Kyoko Naegi during a vacation in Japan. Though they had yet to discuss it, both of them started having dreams of a royal union of their own and starting a family. After waking up from one of his dreams, Gundham had remembered what Sonia had told him about the Golden Makango, and so made it his mission to find one and present it to his dear Princess Sonia.

Thankfully, my Ultimate Breeder talents will give me an advantage in completing this ritual of Princess Sonia's domain. Now where is that…ah, the Goddess of Fortune smiles upon Tanaka the Forbidden One!

Gundham grinned as he saw a small monkey with fine golden fur land in front of the bait that he set for the beast, eating happily as it failed to anticipate its impending capture. As quiet as a mouse, Gundham quietly crawled up behind it and wrapped his arms around it, causing it to squeal as it thrashed in his arms.

Without a single trace of panic on his face, Gundham brought one hand to stroke its fur as he soothed "Hush, calm yourself, little one. Tanaka the Forbidden One means you no harm. I require your humble assistance, so please, cease thrashing and make a pact with me."

Before long, the Golden Makango stopped thrashing as its squawks quieted down, which caused Gundham to smile as he admired the creature he had just caught.

So this is the Golden Makango…its fur is as soft as silk, and its golden sheen would make anyone want to hunt this majestic creature. No wonder Princess Sonia is concerned abut it becoming endangered. Alright, now to bring it back to the Palace and present it to Princess Sonia.

Gundham walked back to his satchel and brought out a small, padded cage.

"There you go, just stay in here for now, alright?" Gundham gently ordered as the Golden Makango crawled inside without fuss. "Thank you, little one." Gundham thanked before he closed the cage and reached into his satchel again. "Let these gentle shadows lull you to sleep." Gundham stated as he pulled out a curtain and draped it over the top of the cage, obscuring the Golden Makango from view and simultaneously lulling it to sleep.

Gundham then stood up and grabbed the cage by the handle before he slung his satchel over his opposite shoulder and began walking back to the castle, nervous sweat dripping down his face as he looked forward to his proposal to Princess Sonia Nevermind.

XXX

"Princess Sonia, the Overlord of Ice humbly requests to parley in the courtyard. -Gundham."

Gundham's text rang through Sonia's mind as she wondered What could he want to talk about? Though truthfully I wanted to talk to him too. This just saves me the trouble of mustering the courage to ask.

She looked down at the cage she carried in her hands, the Golden Makango inside obscured by a white sheet. After she and Gundham returned from watching Makoto and Kyoko's wedding, she went to work and planned the capture of her own Golden Makango.

And you weren't easy to capture, my little friend. Mother, Father…I wish you were here to give me advice on capturing one of these…and to meet the man I intend to marry… Sonia shook the thought of her deceased parents from her mind as she decided with a determined expression Enough sorrowful thoughts! It's time to present my Golden Makango and propose to Gundham!

Sonia steeled her nerves as she continued to make her way to the castle courtyard, eager to begin her engagement to the Ultimate Breeder and Overlord of Ice.

XXX

Gundham tapped his foot nervously as he kept a firm grip on the cage in his hands, waiting for Sonia to meet him in the courtyard as he stood dressed back in his Novoselic clothes.

Where is she? I sent her that text half an hour ago, and I even made sure to arrive thirteen minutes ahead of schedule. How long could it take to…

"Gundham!" Sonia called out as she ran into view, making Gundham smile as some of his anxiety liberated.

His brow soon furrowed in curiosity as he took note of the object in her hands that was obscured by the white sheet.

Could she…no, that sounds too good to be true. I am curious as to what mystical treasure she's hiding there, but it's none of my business.

"I am sorry for my severe tardiness! You must have been kept waiting forever, especially with how you have been so punctual with my culture's thirteen-minute rule. I am ashamed as a Princess of Novoselic!"

Gundham chuckled and assured her "Fear not, Princess, my dark magic training has taught me the art of patience quite well. Besides, if you were late, I trust that you had a good reason to break your own domain's pact."

Though a frown of shame still crossed her face, Sonia nodded and began "Yes, I…oh, Gundham, what do you have there?"

Suddenly nervous, Gundham looked down to the cage in his hands and stammered "Oh…just a li…little off…offering for you, my Pr…Princess…"

Light shone in her eyes as Sonia beamed, causing Gundham to blush and smile before she exclaimed "You got me a present?! What a coincidence; I was late getting a present for you!"

"You…you got me a pr…present?!" Could it be… Gundham pondered before he shook his head and denied No, don't get your hopes up, Tanaka! It's probably just a new souvenir she found at a gift shop!

Gundham smiled as he thought back to the many times Sonia had dragged him to a new gift shop that had been rebuilt and bought him a new souvenir from each one.

My closet is absolutely cluttered with the trinkets of Sonia's home domain… Gundham thought as he reflected on how he couldn't bare to part with any of Sonia's gifts before he shook the thought from his head. "So…how do you wish to proceed with this unexpected exchange?" He asked as he looked down at his cage.

"Hmm…" Sonia pondered before her eyes widened and she exclaimed "Oh, I know! Why don't we take our respective sheets off at once! That way it's totally fair; an equivalent exchange!"

…She's been watching Fullmetal Alchemist again… Gundham thought as he sweatdropped before he smiled and agreed "Very well, that is acceptable."

Sonia beamed and giggled giddily before they both reached for their respective cages and yanked the sheets off like bandages. They dropped the sheets, which caused them to flutter to the ground as the couple laid shocked stares at each other's drowsy Golden Makangos.

"You caught a Golden Makango too?!"

Wait…then she really…? Swallowing the thought for the time being, Gundham blushed and confirmed "Y…yes…that is the required ritual for a …royal union…is it not?"

Sonia gasped before a beaming grin stretched from ear to ear, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks as she exclaimed "Oh Gundham! You remembered my country's marriage requirement! And not only that, you went out of your way to follow my culture to the letter so you could propose to me?!"

"Y…yes…that's exactly what I did…"

"Oh Gundham…" Sonia sniffled before she looked down at her own Golden Makango and admitted "I wanted to do the same for you…I thought that since I had to be the one to ask you out, that I'd have to be the one to propose to you as well. I am sorry that I did not believe in your courage, Gundham!"

Feeling the last of his nerves evaporate, Gundham smiled and placed his cage on the ground, chuckling as he approached Sonia and cradled her cheeks in his palms.

"My dearest Princess…if you did not believe in my courage, that is my fault and my fault alone for not exuding it often enough in the art of romantic initiative." Gundham assured her before he pressed his lips to her own in a loving kiss.

Sonia's eyes widened before they closed as she melted into the kiss, moaning as she dropped her own cage. The Golden Makango's squawks as the cage fell with a light clang failed to pierce her ears as she cradled Gundham's cheeks in her own feminine palms, the Novoselic Princess pressing her lips against his own with equal passion.

At last they parted, their cheeks painted in rosy red blushes as they smiled lovingly at each other and Gundham asked "So…will you accept my request to join with you in your country's royal union?"

"Yes…yes I will…" Sonia nodded, before she added on "But let's not rush the wedding, alright? We've never had a foreign King before, so it probably wouldn't hurt to give the people a couple years to get used to the idea."

Gundham nodded "I understand, Princess. Merely the knowledge that you've accepted my request is treasure enough for now. Let us enjoy our happiness before worrying about planning a wedding or coronation."

Sonia nodded gratefully before she gestured at the grass. Gundham nodded and quickly gathered their respective cages before he walked back to Sonia and placed them at their feet. He then wrapped his arms around the blushing Princess's waist and lowered them into a sitting position, Sonia tucked cutely on his lap as she leaned backwards into his chest and her flowing hair tickled his neck.

Gundham smiled as he skillfully reached over and unlocked their respective cages, permitting the Golden Makangos to eagerly jump out and hop away, scaling the faraway trees until they disappeared from view.

"Hey, Gundham?"

"Hm?"

"…When we do get married, I think we should both keep our last names. I am the last of the Nevermind monarchy, and I want it to stay that way. But as for our children…I want them to take the name Tanaka. Novoselic was reborn the day you accompanied me back to my home country, so I would like the dynasty to be reborn with you. I want you to be coronated as King Tanaka."

"Prin…Sonia…" Gundham nodded solemnly and agreed "If that is what you wish, then I will agree to it."

"Thank you, Gundham…" Sonia replied lovingly as she leaned back into his warm embrace, his gentle darkness comforting her as she daydreamed of her future with King Tanaka.