*bows down onto the floor* I'M REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY SORRY FOR PROCRASTINATING THIS STORY FOR SO LONG! No, I'm not dead, I was just... really really lazy! I'M SORRY! Slowly and painfully, the reviews started cracking me back into getting off my lazy butt and writing the next chapter. Thank you all, so much! And I'll try to get the next chapter in as soon as possible! Thank you so much! And stay awesome, in advance! :DDD
The next morning, Ness noticed a slight problem he forgot about.
"So, seeing as to how you're awake this early, your agenda seems filled today!" Duster said. He handed Ness a list, who read it over.
10:00 am: breakfast with parents
10:30 am: arts practice (piano & violin)
12:00 pm: sports practice (fencing today)
2:00 pm: homeschooling
6:00 pm: Eagleland history review
7:00 pm: monarchy training
8:00 pm: dinner
8:30 pm: shower & self cleanse
9:00 pm: sleep
Ness looked unpleasantly at the list. "What the heck... My agenda doesn't usually include this much stuff!"
"Well... If you consider the turn of events that happened the past few days, you didn't get to complete any of your schooling or training! Now we have to pile it all into a day! We need to get you caught up as soon as possible. So... The next few days, you'll have a full agenda as well."
Ness groaned. "Oh c'mon! Can't I, well, take this one day off? Just today? Pleaaaasseee?"
Duster raised an eyebrow. "Ness, you have something planned today, don't you?"
Ness smiled crookedly. "Was it that easy to tell?"
"Your Royal Highness, I can read you like a book. It's so easy, your book even has a 'Table of Contents' included!"
"Okay okay I get it! Enough of your figurative language! I'm starting to get lost! ...So?"
"'So?' what?" Duster asked.
"Can you... I dunno... Poke some holes into my agenda to get me a day off today?" Ness smiled and batted his eyelashes.
Duster facepalmed. "If you can give me a good reason, I might."
"I have to sneak back into town in your old clothes again to meet a boy that stole my bracelet that my dad made for me. It's made of smelted gold from a priceless vase that was past down by my ancestors. If I don't get it back and my dad finds out something is up, he'll be pissed."
Duster blinked. "Woah."
"Yeah... That was the short version for you."
Duster thought about Ness' explanation for a moment, and came to a conclusion. "Okay, fine. I'll try to poke some holes into your agenda. Just do as I say and don't argue."
"OH OUR POOR PRINCE! HE HAS BEEN OVERCOME WITH A COLD AND CANNOT MOVE!" Duster said, a bit too dramatically and with much exaggeration. "WHATEVER MAY WE DO?! BOOHOO~!"
A woman who was named Kumatora, was in the room. She was in charge of putting together the prince's agenda. Carefully, she studied the boy. "Hmmm... Those red dots look like they came from a marker. And don't they signal chicken poxs, not a cold?"
Duster gave his best poker face. Ness gave him the 'You are the most retarded person in the world' look.
"Erm, yes! That's what I meant to say! Chicken poxs! Not a cold! Oh silly me!" Duster laughed nervously.
A suspicious look came from Kumatora. "If I didn't know any better, His Royal Highness is faking this disease."
Ness and Duster sweat dropped.
"He's not faking! He's-"
"OH! ACK! MY BODY! IT'S LOSING ITS ABILITY TO MOVE! AH! I CAN SEE IT! I CAN SEE... THE LIGHT!" Ness stuck his hand into the air. "I CAN FEEL THE LIGHT TOO... IT FEELS LIKE..." He whispers the last part. "Pudding..." Then he played dead with his tongue sticking out.
Duster gestured to Ness. "See? He's not faking!" Duster went closer to his side. "I mean- NOOOOO! PRINCEEEEEE! WHO SHALL RULE EAGLELAND NOW?! WHAT ABOUT HIS BETROTHED?! SHE IS NOW INDIRECTLY AND MOST LIKELY A WIDOWWWWW! NOOOOO!"
Duster and Kumatora stared at Ness. Then, out of nowhere, Ness moved his hand to scratch his nose.
"Sorry, my nose was itchy. I can still see the light though." Ness looked at Kumatora.
"Oh gosh." Kumatora facepalmed. "Duster, just what the hell are you two planning?"
"We are planning NOTHING." Duster crossed his arms and pouted.
"How would I know?" Kumatora questioned.
"Easy, BECAUSE I SAY SO," Duster said that in such a way.
"...Hm... Okay, how about this? Since I know you two are lying, I'll strike you a deal. I'll give Ness the day off for something in return." Kumatora smirked.
"What's that?" Duster asked.
The woman turned her gaze to Duster. She smiled malevolently. "Go out with me."
Duster looked at her so surprisingly as he blushed.
"OHOHOHO~!" Ness smiled and nudged his friend. "You got it good!"
"S-Shut up Ness!" Duster snapped. Then the man looked back at Kumatora. "O-Of course I-I'll go on a date with you...!"
"Really? YES!" Kumatora jumped into the air in achievement. "Okay, deal! I'll write down Ness as sick today. No one will come bother you, Your Royal Highness."
"YEAAAAH! Alright! Thanks!" Ness can't believe the whole thing worked out after all.
"Eeheheh.. Eheheh..." Duster was blushing heavily.
"C'mon Duster!" The woman wrapped her arm around his. "I've got lots of places to show you!"
"O-Okay!" Duster smiled, but then remembered to tell Ness something. "Oh, Ness! The clothes you used last time are at the same place you found it, alright?"
Ness nodded. "Kay thanks! Have fun you two~!"
Then the door was slammed shut.
"Mission... Success," Ness whispered to himself, and got out of bed. Then he decided it was time to get into action. He snuck out of his room and towards Duster's room. He went over to one of his drawers and saw the outfit he wore last time, clean and fresh. He slipped those on and remembered he lost the hat on his last trip to town. Because of that, he used the one Duster currently used, which wasn't even different. He slapped that one onto his head and headed back to his room.
When he got there, he brushed his teeth in his bathroom, ran a hand through his hair, and that was basically it. He didn't bother to cover up the bruise Claus gave him a few days ago. He figured it would match his look.
From that point, he stealthily snuck out of the castle. Taking hallways that were barren, he made it to the side exit of the castle, and circled around to avoid any guards at the front doors to the castle. Carefully, he walked up to the gatekeepers. And being as pushover and foolish as ever, they let him through. Ness smiled at the rising gate and walked through. Following after, Ness checked a watch that he usually never wears.
10:37
Just about right. Considering the factors and conditions of the trip to Town Square, he should get there just in time. With that, he carried on, walking into the town. He took a few turns and such, passing by people and some nobles. When he did so, he held the hat's bill over his head to shadow his face.
In time, he made it to Town Square without trouble. He looked around for Claus, in case he may already be there. When he couldn't find him, he decided to just put himself in plain sight. So he sat on the fountain, which was in the middle of the whole place. Groups of people rushed by, working and talking. The sounds of the common hustle and bustle of the morning.
Ness waited for 15 minutes, unsure if he had missed Claus, or he didn't come. He checked his watch again.
11:41
Worried, he got up, and looked around. There were many people, but Claus' size would easily catch the eye and be easy to find. However, he didn't find anyone Claus' size, nor any children.
That was when he heard it. Faint, but definitely audible.
"N-No! Stop it, I have somewhere to be!"
It was Claus' voice.
"Aw~ the poor boy's gonna be late~" another voice was heard. It sounded like a boy.
"Don't worry, I'm sure whoever you're meeting with can be just a little more patient..." another was heard too.
Ness looked alarmed. He started getting worried. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Claus was in trouble. So he started following the voices. He ended up walking down an alley away from Town Square, he circled around, only to be behind houses. It was like a hallway of houses, none having any space away from each other. Just side-to-side. But that wasn't the important part Ness was worried about. It was the fact that it was completely empty and quiet.
"WAIT NO! PLEASE! Don't touch that! It isn't mine!" Claus begged, yet, in a still dignified way.
"Oh~ This looks expensive~ What does it say? 'I believe in you, Ness.'," a third boy, as Ness could tell through his different sounding voice, read off.
Because of that, Ness sped up his pace and continued down the bent alley. Until he saw them. Claus was there with 3 boys. 2 has him pinned against the wall, and another had his bracelet in his hand. Of the two, one had blonde, and the other had black hair. The one who was reading off the bracelet also had black hair, but it looked more brown than black. Silently, he hid behind a stray crate.
"Wait, isn't 'Ness' the name of that snobby prince?" the blonde boy asked.
"Don't be retarded, Ian," the black haired boy insulted. "Clearly that's another boy who has the same name as the prince's. Like hell he would actually have something the prince has."
The boy who wasn't helping pin Claus down, smirked. "Well then... who is this boy, eh, Claus?" he said in a teasing way. "A friend? Who knew a person like you would ever make a friend again? Or is it..." He neared his face towards Claus'. "Your boyfriend?"
Ian and the black haired boy laughed.
"What a homo!" the black haired one accused Claus.
"Shut your mouth, Jake! Fucking asshole!" Claus cursed, then looked to the blackish-brownish haired boy. "And you're not far from one either, Fuel." He stared daggers at him.
"You know, Claus. You'd really be better off if you would just shut that little mouth of yours..." Fuel tightened his right fist, and readied a punch to Claus' face.
"Actually." Ness rose from his hiding spot. "I think you'd be better off if you shut your mouth." He shot killer eyes at Fuel and the rest of them.
Surprised, Fuel didn't get to deliver the punch to Claus. He looked over Ness. "And just what the hell do you think you're saying with your one-man army?"
The three boys laughed.
"Ness!" Claus called. He held back a smile.
"Oh~ so this is Ness? The boy you fuck every night?" Fuel laughed. He then approached Ness dangerously. Compared to him, Ness was a bit shorter. Even so, the prince still stood his ground, furrowing his eyebrows. He could feel Fuel looking him over. "Hm, not bad, Claus. He's not a bad looker." The boy clenched his fists, and Ness could see him grimace. "But I can change that."
"NO! FUEL STOP IT! Lay a finger on him and I swear to god I will fucking slit your neck!" Claus warned, trying to free himself. But no avail, Jake and Ian held him back.
"Wow, Claus, so protective... of him..." Fuel, held his head down in jealousy of Ness. Then slowly, he rose it up. He cracked his neck, and stared at Ness. At first, he looked very angry, but then that expression turned into a smile... an evil one. "Ah, I remember the time you'd used to care about me like that..."
Claus looked bothered for a moment. He bit his lip momentarily, then proceeded to speak. "BASTARD! Ju- Just fuck off already and leave him alone! He isn't even my friend!"
Ness' eyes widened at Claus. Claus avoided eye contact.
"He's just some dude off the streets. I couldn't care less about him." Claus grinded his teeth.
"If you couldn't care less about him, then I guess you wouldn't mind if I did, this!" Fuel, threw a fist at Ness.
Claus gasped. "NO-"
Crack!
...
Silence filled the air. Claus had closed his eyes when the punch came at Ness. When he opened them, he was surprised to find that Ness wasn't hurt. It turns out Ness blocked the punch by catching Fuel's fist in his right hand. From there, Ness took his other hand, and threw Fuel to the ground. He hit the floor with a smash. In the time being, the prince snatched his bracelet back and dropped it in his pocket.
"FUEL!" Jake and Ian called in worry, releasing Claus to go comfort their friend. Claus rubbed his hurt arm with his hand. The grip they had on him was really tight. When Jake and Ian saw the injury Ness caused to Fuel, they got up on their own feet, and dashed at Ness for another fight.
However, before they could attempt at hurting Ness, he took off his cap. When the two boys saw his face completely, their mouths gaped open. Ness gave them a little sarcastic smile.
"OH SHIT!" Jake cursed.
"W-WHA?!" Ian froze.
Fuel finally got up, and looked at Ness also. When he did, he looked more than surprised. "You... you're..."
"Prince Ness. Now if you two won't mind... please keep your hands to yourself. I don't think those dirty ones are allowed to touch royalty, anyways."
The two backed up all the way to Fuel. Fear struck them in big waves. They didn't even have the breath to talk.
"Now that our introductions have come to a conclusion, I'd like to take a moment to correct all of you. Yes, I am the prince. No, Claus isn't a homo. No, I am not his boyfriend. And yes, Claus is my new friend no matter how much he denies it."
"W-We're sorry! Your Royal Highness! Please don't kill us! We didn't know!" Jake pleaded. Ian nodded in agreement, but Fuel said nothing.
"...Bow." Ness scowled. The three of the boys looked confused. So did Claus.
"What...?"
"You heard me. Bow in the face of your future king."
…Slowly and painfully... Jake and Ian got on their knees. Fuel was last to give into bowing.
"Thank you. Now... GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY SIGHT!" Ness stomped his foot, and scared away the boys. They ran out of the alley and out of their sight. But Fuel said something before he went away.
"I will get you back! I swear it!" Fuel vowed. Then he left and they didn't see him again. Claus went over to Ness, who was still looking at where the three boys ran. When Ness finally put his attention on Claus, the orange haired one looked away.
"Ah... U-Um..." Claus rubbed the back of his head.
"Did you really mean it when you said I wasn't your friend?" Ness asked.
Claus took a deep breath in. "Yes..."
"Hm. I see." Ness gave him a disappointed look. Then he changed, and smiled at Claus. "Well, you're my friend, Claus! If I'm not a friend to you, so be it. But you'll be a friend to me. Yes? Alright!" Ness started walking off in a direction to reach Town Square again.
"Wait, wha? AH! Wait dude! Where ya going?" Claus caught up to him.
"I'm starving, let's go eat somewhere, I'm buying."
"Yeah but, you- er..." Claus broke out into a tiny laugh as a smile embraced his face. He put an arm around Ness. "You really are a stupid guy, aren't you, Princey?"
"Still have room for insults right after I saved you, eh?" Ness smiled.
"You know I always do~" Claus sang. "Oh, and you forgot something." He slapped on the hat Ness took off. Then he patted him on the head.
"Whoops, almost forgot!" Ness laughed nervously. "Would've been a disaster if I had shown up in front of people like this!"
"Yeah, it would've... Hey, wait. You showed those 3 guys your identity! Won't they rat you out or something?"
"The prince? Going around town? Happened to be hanging around a commoner? Highly unlikely that anyone would believe that."
"Oh, phew..." Claus looked relieved.
"Why? Do you care about me~?"
Claus scoffed. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Princey. I need someone to take me out to eat, is all." He grinned. They both chuckled at that, and continued around Town Square.