Six chapters left!

I.O.N.

Enjoy!

Despite their promise to take care of the increasing bandit activity, Rose, Nataniel, and Max were swamped with duties that seemed to just appear out of nowhere.

First, Master Demarcus suddenly needed Nathaniel to go barter with a traveling caravan for the good paints that only that particular caravan sold. Marc couldn't do it because he was busy helping Master Demarcus mix new paints to finish Ali's portrait, and the old man never missed out on an opportunity to berate Nathaniel. Fortunately for the tomato child, after three days of heavy bargaining he had managed to see the paints, then another two days for haggling over amounts, and finally a day and a half acting like he hadn't even wanted those paints to begin with to get a decent price on them, Nathaniel had managed to get the elusive paints, and the grudging respect of the seller. Then it was off on some other ridiculously hard task.

The other advisors were suddenly relying on Max a lot more, constantly coming to him to ensure that their figures were right and wouldn't accidentally send the kingdom into bankruptcy or war. At first, Max had easily helped them, as it was just a matter of double-checking and correcting mistakes. Then it became a matter of them trying to foist their duties off onto Max. It hadn't taken long for Max to take up old habits from sailing to escape the official advisors so that he could get the minimal work he needed to be done. Even going so far as to hide in the trees.

Rose found herself being accosted by ladies of the court, who had suddenly decided to take her under their wings before proceeding to dress her up in the latest fashions. When it first started she was happy that they were including her and because it gave her people to talk to, Rose had always been a social person after all. But then they started commenting on how plain her everyday wear was, which started up arguments between the different ladies and Rose started actively avoiding the sound of higher voices when she walked around the palace.

All in all the three of them were being run ragged in ways they hadn't been in years (or ever), and they just never had time to deal with the bandits.

Before they had even realized, Mylene and Ivan were arriving for the wedding preparations. Not long after the happy couple Ella, Etta, the woman who had basically adopted them (Nora), Manon, Nadja, Sabrina, and Juleka all showed up and the resulting reunion lasted for two days straight (the resulting hangovers lasted another two days).

No one was really surprised ay Tom and Sabine being late. They lived the furthest away and after the disappearance of their children, not much could make them leave. a wedding being one of those exceptions.

As the band of ex-pirates prepared for the wedding, time seemed to slip by, until it three days before the wedding and all the little details were coming into place.

Around noon, as King Ali was insisting they took a break for lunch, a guard ran in frantically and said, "Your Majesty! There is a hostile force bearing down on the castle from the sea!"

"How many ships?"

"Four at the very least, with more closing in."

Before Ali could issue orders, another guard ran in, "Your Majesty! There appears to be a small army marching down on us from the east!"

All traces of humor were gone from the eleven former pirates and King as the monarch delivered orders in quick bursts. By the time the thirteen of them reached the gates they were in full pirate mode and planning different ways to divert the incoming warships when the King's personal guard showed up and began escorting him to a safe place.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?"

"We apologize Your Majesty. But seven intruders have been spotted in the castle. With these simultaneous attacks, we believe them to be assassins. You need to get to a safe place."

Before anyone could respond an unexpected but not unwelcome voice rung out, " How catastrophic for you! This certainly isn't an amewzing development! Purrhaps we should just talk it out?"

"AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Queen Bee! Don't kill him!"

As they watched Nabi chase Queen Bee who was chasing Chat Noir, Jade Turtle spoke up from the sidelines, "Don't worry. Shell chill soon enough."

The easy smile and laid back attitude brought more than one pirate to tears and Ella and Etta burst into tears when Rena Rouge showed up next to him and asked looked at the others, "So, who wants to take out some trash?"

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