Reginald had been spending the last several days in the library looking into where the money for the slums had vanished had looked at the threatening letter, wondering who had written it and if the two were connected. It also made him feel uneasy, not knowing whether the sender would strike at the ball or not.

Wilfred, on the other hand, was getting preparations ready for the ball. He was overseeing the staff and helping them where he could. Reginald knew he couldn't ask him for help at present so he would be on him own.

"This all started after father's new advisor started" Reginald told himself, "he must be behind it all… possibly" he glanced over at the note he had placed besides some books, "was he the one who sent the note? If it was he then did he do it alone or is he working for someone?"

The advisor, an older gentleman with slick back dark hair dressed in regal clothing, saw Reginald as he passed the library. He walked over to him, "your highness? Is everything alright?"

"Ah… I'm, fine. May I ask what you are doing?"

"Well I'm seeing things go to plan for the ball of course"

"Of course" Reginald nodded, "so you will be busy until then? If that is the case, would you mind if I temporarily take over father's project? I am sure he would be pleased if I were to discover where the money is disappearing to"

The advisor shock his head, "not at all, I am very after all. Although may I ask why you are quick to point the finger at me?"

Reginald suddenly felt rather guilty, "I apologise for jumping to conclusions. I suppose I am just a little jumpy as of late"

"It's quite alright, your highness. Please excuse me"

Reginald nodded and watched the advisor leave him alone in the library once more. He slumped down in his chair and rubbed his temple. He let out a small sigh, "how am I suppose to achieve such a mind boggling goal?"

Scarlet was doing her rounds when she noticed Reginald in the library. She walked up to him, "Prince Reginald?"

Reginald looked up at the Captain, "yes?"

"Are you alright? Anything I can help with?" Scarlet asked with concern.

"Perhaps you could help me figure out who is stealing the funds for the slums"

"Well it was obvious that thief we caught, your highness" Scarlet replied, looking rather smug with herself, "why do you care about the slums? I don't mean no disrespect but… why?"

"I care because, much like those living within the safety of the town's walls, they too are people. They deserve the same rights as those of the middle and upper class and quite frankly I find what you say very disrespectful towards them"

"I'm sorry, your highness. I'll be on my way now. I never meant to do no harm" Scarlet bowed and left Reginald to his notes.

Lieutenant yawned as he made his way through the castle. He had been helping with preparations for the upcoming ball. He soon saw King Wilfred walking towards him. He bowed, "good morning your majesty"

"Good morning, Lieutenant. Tell me, have you by chance seen my son?" Wilfred asked.

"I think I saw his highness head towards the library"

"I see, would you mind escorting me to the library, I'd like to have a word with you"

"Of course your majesty" Lieutenant walked beside Wilfred, escorting him to the library.

"Now about our Captain"

"Scarlet? What about her?"

"How you noticed how she has been acting… strange towards you?"

Lieutenant thought about it then shock his head, "not really, to be honest I've sort of been distracted by that letter his highness received"

"Yes, that letter has gotten everyone distracted as of late. Lieutenant, can you promise me one thing. Should the letter's threat come true, no matter what happens I need you and the Captain to get my son out of here and take him some place safe. Do you understand?"

"I understand. Well, here's the library your highness"

"Thank you Lieutenant, please do not let me keep you from your duties" Wilfred watched Lieutenant disappear down the corridor. He then walked over to his son and sat beside him. He spoke to him about the upcoming ball and how he hopes it goes well for all those involved.

Reginald nodded as he listened to his father.

"Now, what were you doing my son?" Wilfred asked.

"I am attempting to discover where the funds for the slums have disappeared to" Reginald explained.

"Ah, I see" Wilfred smiled, "perhaps you should take a break and go out to see your friends"

"Reginald nodded, "perhaps a break will do me some good"

"Yes I believe it will. Go, relax and have some fun. We can go over the missing funds together after the ball" he watched his son get up and leave then turned his attention to the notes Reginald had left behind, "determined, like his mother"

Right had awoken in a good mood, he decided to head out for a few drinks at the tavern. Henry had decided to join him while Randy left to go back to town accompanied by Sven.

Right and Henry met up with Big Tong at the tavern, introducing the two to one another.

"Well hello whitey, welcome to the slums and our tavern. Can I buy you a drink?" Big Tong asked.

"Sure and the name's Henry"

Right quickly got to their usual table, "oi, Henry, Big Tong, over 'ere!"

Henry and Big Tong nodded. Henry walked over to sit with Right while Big Tong got the drinks.

"Hey buddy, how's it going?" Right asked.

"I'm good, so is this where you hang out?" Henry asked, looking around.

"Aye, on most days I hang out here. I never get drunk when I'm with a good few of my mates, like Big Tong and Randy"

Big Tong came over with the drinks. "so what brings you out to the Crimson Kingdom, whitey? It can't be for the sights and sounds"

"Aye if you wanna hear Big Tong snore. His snoring could wake a sleeping giant" Right joked.

"Well that's something I didn't expect to learn… I just kinda poofed here"

"You just poofed here? Well that's something you don't see everyday" Big Tong laughed.

"Guess not"

"Guess not? You are great whitey. What a great sense of humour" Big Tong laughed.

Henry smiled, "you kind of remind me of someone I know back home. He has a buddy he likes to annoy"

"Oh? And where is home, whitey?"

"The Emerald Kingdom. I had to leave for… reasons beyond my control"

"Ahh, I understand. Well I'm glad you have come here" Big Tong smiled.

Henry nodded, "as long as things stay peaceful"

"Everything is peaceful here, for the most part. We may get into the odd fights here and there but we patch things up afterwards"

Henry nodded although he did miss his friends back home. Big Tong placed his hand on Henry's head then ruffles his hair. Henry looked up at the larger man who gave him a huge fatherly smile. Henry smiled back.

"You remind me of my son. Bright eyed and full of ideas" Big Tong tells him, "where are the rest of your crew, Right?"

"At the market" Right told him.

Big Tong nodded and went back to his drink.

Randy and Sven were in Castle Town's market square. Sven had set up a small stall to sell some of his healing ointments to try and raise money for him and his family. Randy had decided to stick around and help out, seemed better than going home. Snowy was sitting atop the stall, grooming herself and letting people pet her.

Snowy was watching Sven sell his goods when she soon spotted Reginald amongst the crowds and flew over to him, landing on his shoulders and nuzzling his cheek.

"Hello Snowy" he gently petted her then looked over to see Sven and Randy.

"Hey Regi, fancy seeing you here" Randy said.

"Hello Randy, Sven"

"Hello Reginald" Sven replied as he sold his last healing ointment, "what brings you here?"

Reginald began to help Sven and Randy clear away Sven's makeshift stall, "I came for a slight break from the little problem we are currently having"

Sven nodded and watched as Snowy flew over to his shoulder.

"No luck?" Randy asked as he picked up the table, following Sven back towards the slums.

Reginald shock his head, "still nothing although father… I mean the King will be helping me after the ball"

"Bumper" he sighed.

Reginald nodded as they made their way through town. As passed a posh couple, Sven kept his eyes down in an attempt to avoid eye contact while Randy chose to flat out ignore them. Reginald did his best to do the same but instead had to stop Sven from walking into Jock.

"Hey, it's Captain Lady" Randy said excitedly.

Jock tilted his head as he leaned down to sniff Sven. He blew air against his hair which seem to amuse the large horse. So he blew on Sven's hair again which caused him to giggle.

"The name's Scarlet, Randall"

"The name's Randy, Captain Scarlet" he snickered.

"Good afternoon Captain" Reginald said.

Scarlet frowned at Randy then turned to her Prince, "good afternoon to you too Reginald"

Reginald elbowed Randy to get him to stop snickering, "how goes your patrol?"

"Y-yeah, has it been peaceful Captain L… Scarlet?"

"Our patrol is going well, in fact it has been very peaceful" Scarlet replied.

"Say isn't Lieutenant… em… Lieutenant usually with you?" Randy stopped to think for a moment, "does anyone know his name?" he looked over at Reginald who just shrugged.

"Yes, Lieutenant is usually with me but he's gone on his own patrol and, as far as I know, no one knows his name" Scarlet replied.

"I did happen to see him earlier today with my father. I assumed he had left to find you" Reginald informed her.

Scarlet nodded, "he does speak to your father a lot. Anyhow, we have a lot still to do. Come on big boy, maybe Lieutenant is looking for us"

Reginald watched as Scarlet headed off into town. He then began to follow Sven and Randy back to the shack in the slums where they put Sven's makeshift stall and earnings away.

"Let's head to the tavern, betcha Righty will be there" Randy suggested.

"Where else would he be?" Sven sighed.

"You have a good point, to the tavern!"

Sven sighed and followed Randy and Reginald back out into the slums.

Big Tong and Right and Henry had a few drinks together. Several drinks later, Big Tong looked up to check the time. He got up, saying he had to head home as he and his family were heading to the Emerald Kingdom for a small vacation. Henry and Right followed Big Tong out.

"Hope you enjoy your time there Big Tong" Henry said.

"Oh I'm sure me and my family will whitey. Thank you" Big Tong said.

Henry nodded, "I think they usually hold a fare around this ti-" he bumped into Right's back. Henry looked round to see Right had bumped into Randy.

"Hey Righty" Randy cheered as he picked himself off the ground, "look who we bumped into… well not literally"

"Oh hello Randy, Sven and… Reginald? What are you doing here?" Right asked.

"I needed a break from the library" Reginald replied.

"I'll say, you've been in there for days" Randy told him.

Randy and Reginald stood aside to let Right, Henry and Big Tong out of the tavern and onto the streets.

"Hello Randy, Sven and your highness. Good to see you out and about" Big Tong said.

"Quite, we just arrived to see how you were all doing" Reginald explained.

"We're doing grand. We just had a few drinks with whitey here and now I'm off home to my missus and my boys. We're heading out the the Emerald Kingdom this evening, little break from it all" Big Tong informed them.

"I see well I do hope you enjoy yourselves. Perhaps on day I may visit the kingdom myself" Reginald said.

"Yeah, take care big guy" Randy said.

"Thank you, both of you" Big Tong smiled as he ruffled Randy's hair, "stay out of trouble while I'm gone"

"No promises" Randy said.

"Have a safe trip buddy" Right said.

Big Tong waved back then headed home. Right headed back to the shack, accompanied by Sven, Randy and Reginald. Snowy still sat on Sven's shoulder although she looked like she had fallen asleep, resting against his cheek.

As soon as they got inside, Randy ran over to Archie's workstation, "what'cha been up to?" he asked, startling him slightly.

"Oh, em, I'm drawing up plans for an airship to get us out of here" Archie told him.

"Wait… your into airships?" Henry asked.

Archie nodded, "ever since I was a young lad I've always dreamt of building my very own airship. To explore the skies without a care in the world, it's always been my dream"

"And you've been doing this all on your own?" Randy asked as he looked over Archie's current blueprints.

Sven headed upstairs while Henry sat on the sofa with Right and Reginald. Archie nodded as he watched Randy look at his blueprints.

"Did you get your ideas from Clockwork's Steampunk Airship books?" Randy asked, "they were really popular back when I was a kid, dad kept telling me they were all nonsense and a waste of time for a noblemen like me"

"Hate to see what he'd think of magic" Henry said.

Well your father is an idiot, airships aren't a waste of time for anyone" Archie protested.

"Tell that to my dad, pretty sure he threw away all my old blueprints" Randy sighed.

"Oh, that's a shame. I wouldn't have minded looking at them. To be honest I have no idea who it will turn out. All I have are these blueprints but none of the materials required to build it" Archie sighed.

"Maybe one day" Randy said.

"I really hope so, Randy" Archie sighed.

Reginald looked outside and noticed it had gotten dark, "I really should head back to the castle"

Randy nodded, "yeah, I'd better head home before dad comes to tear this place apart. Later Archie"

Archie nodded, "goodbye Reginald, Randy. Safe travels home"

Right stood up as Henry said his goodbyes to them, "I'll walk you to the border"

Right quickly checked on Sven who was now fast asleep in his bed with Snowy sleeping on her perch. He then followed Randy and Reginald out and walked between then to the wall that separated the town from the slums.

"Thank you, I do hope I will get to see you tomorrow evening?" Reginald questioned.

"Aye, you will. I'll try and wear my nicest suit" Right winked at Reginald.

"Just show up, I'm sure Regi here will be happy either way" Randy told him.

Reginald felt his cheeks light up, "well… good night Right"

"Later Righty" Randy waved as he headed back into town with Reginald.

"Aye, good night Reg, Randy" Right waited until they were out of sight then turned around and headed back to the shack.