What's this? Two updates? Two weeks in a row? I know! Surprised me too!
I.O.N.
Enjoy!
King Ali sat behind his desk thinking about the events that had transpired over the past few weeks.
First, everyone in the castle had seemingly fallen in love with his three friends overnight, almost to the point of nearly harming the three, and keeping them from doing the job he had asked of them.
Then, mere days before the wedding, pirates and bandits attempted to attack his home. A manic with an unhealthy obsession with the captain Ladybug had broken in and threatened his guests, ultimately ending with one of them losing a hand.
Finally, it appeared that Master Demarcus had spread the rumor that the guests Ali had allowed into his home were vicious pirates out for blood! With how quickly the rumor had been accepted, Ali feared that Demarcus was also behind the rush of attention his friends had been getting at first as well.
A cup being sat in front of him snapped him out of thoughts as he raised his head to find Ladybug standing in front of his desk. "I knocked."
"The door was locked."
"And."
Ali smiled as he shook his head and took a sip of the drink, "And I should have known you'd be able to pick a lock."
"That you should." Ladybug nodded with a smile of her own. Then she settled in one of the side chairs, "So what's rattling around in that kingly head of yours?"
The king sighed, "I really shouldn't be telling you."
Ladybug raised an eyebrow, "But?"
"But, I believe the man Nathaniel has been studying under is responsible for quite a few nasty rumors surrounding you and your crew members. I've been trying to think of what to do."
"What're the rumors?"
"That you are all pirates who have come to kill everyone in the castle while stealing our riches."
The pirate captain shrugged, "I mean, he's half right." Then she sighed sadly, "Normally I would offer to leave and dock somewhere else, but with Alix still recovering, and everyone getting used to the fact that we're, you know, still alive, I don't think it would be a good idea."
Her comment brought a chuckle from the king, "Yes, you still being alive is quite a shock."
"Oh, hush. Can't you just banish the guy?"
This time Ali raised an eyebrow, "I may be king but I can't just banish people without reason."
"Put him on trial or something."
"For what?"
"Conspiring against the crown."
"WHAT!?"
"You heard me."
"Captain Ladybug I cannot just accuse someone of conspiring against the crown!"
"Hmm, let's talk this out then shall we? Shortly after you assign tasks to three people that are not very well-liked within the castle, who were brought to you by the man in question, those same three people were suddenly swamped by the same ones who would have snubbed them not two days previously, effectively keeping them from doing the assigned task. Then, after you invite a group of people, whom you personally vouch for, he spreads a rumor that they are planning to murder everyone in the castle. Which, effectively, calls into doubt your judgment a ruler, just after an attack on the castle no less. If people are willing to listen to his lies against your guests, what will they be willing to listen to against you? He could use this against you at a council meeting and claim you are unfit to rule." Ladybug said, ticking off each point. "That sounds an awful lot like conspiring against the crown to me. And I would know, I've done it to plenty of other crowns."
"What would he gain from that though?" King Ali sighed, "Demarcus is nowhere in line for the throne. He's just the court painter."
"I'm not going to try and understand his reasoning. All I wanted to point out is that if you so chose, there could be a very real case against him for this."
"I can't just bring him to trial though!"
"There is a second option."
"What would that be?"
"Well, hypothetically, since most of what he's done, that doesn't call your character into question, has been done to harm, or at least hinder, members of my crew. If your guards were to say look the other way for five minutes or so, I could have him on board Tikki and under a pirates trial. Hypothetically speaking."
Ali thought for a moment before finally saying, "...No killing."
Ladybug smirked, "I would never."
So I keep adding things, and the chapter list keeps growing! I can no longer say how long this story will be!
Comment what you thought!
Hope you enjoyed!
See ya next time!