It happened in a flash. As the citizens of the Verde Kingdom capital enjoyed their afternoon in relative comfort, their peace was interrupted by a storm. Not just any storm, but one they've faced all too often in these times of debauchery. As they looked upon the high walls of the capital, they saw with their own eyes a flood breaching the top.
A flood of Foresters.
Descending from the wall, Foresters landed in the streets and darted through the panicking citizens, matching their screams with mischievous laughter. Foresters swarmed the streets, dashing past affluent Pokémon and swiping their belongings off their persons.
Knights patrolling the streets immediately interfered with the flying thieves, firing upon them with their crossbows or any non-destructive moves. At the sign of danger, many Foresters fled for safety.
One knight signaled to his allies to follow after the escaping Foresters. Just as they prepared to chase, Ragger came flying out of nowhere and bodychecked a knight to the ground.
"Aha!" Ragger smashed the knight's head into the ground and flipped off his body. "Why run after those chumps when I'm offering myself up?" He slammed his fists together. "Come on, you tin heads! Give me a fight!"
"Must you be so brash about everything?" Ragger looked to his right and saw Leon fending off against two knights with his kite shield. The Aron countered their strikes and tossed his shield against their helmets, knocking them over.
Ragger laughed. "What? You don't understand the thrill of a good fight? I thought we've reached an understand—" He saw one of the knights charging him and dodged his sword swing. "Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about!" He nailed the knight with an uppercut and threw him into his allies.
Leon groaned. "You are so immature."
"And you're a pain in the ass, but you don't here me complaining twenty-four seven!" Ragger activated Thunder Punch and blocked two sword strikes. "How about a friendly wager?"
"Such as?" Leon asked after dodging a Flamethrower.
"Let's see who can take out the most guys. Loser does the winner's chores for a month."
"I am not agreeing to that, namely because you would clearly win." Leon blocked a crossbow bolt and charged his attacker, bashing them to the ground.
Ragger blocked a punch and socked another knight unconscious. "Alright, how about this, Mr. Shield Man? Let's see who ultimately has the better fighting style. Relentless brutality or stoic defensiveness. First one to drop from exhaustion loses. Think you can handle a little endurance training?"
Leon glared at the scaly dragon before sheathing his shield. "Whatever. Let's do it."
"HAHA!" Ragger lunged at a pair of knights and punched their faces, smashing their helmets in. "Get ready to lose!"
"Same to you." Leon blocked two sword strikes from a knight, then repelled them with a blast of Metal Burst from his shield.
"Where's all this fog coming from?" a knight asked, moving around cautiously as a pink haze filled the area. After getting the civilians to safety, the pink fog had suddenly rolled in and obscured everything. "Show yourselves at once, Foresters—"
A ball of white popped out of the mist and dropkicked him across the head. The knight stumbled into a wall just as an Ice Beam fired into his armor and froze his limbs in place.
"What the?!" the knight gasped. To his confusion, the ice instantly crumbled away just after freezing over his wrists.
"Oh Kenny! I told you, my Misty Terrain prevents certain things from happening. You can't freeze anyone in here." The knight looked around through the fog in confusion. "It's alright, we all make mistakes from time to time."
"Where is that voice coming—" Something took hold of the knight's armor, a psionic force, and smashed him against the wall. The blow did him in as he dropped to his knees and fell unconscious.
The fog parted, and Lillia and Kenny stepped out. Lillia carried a bag over her shoulder, one filled with all sorts of jewelry she swiped off unsuspected Pokémon in their panicked haste. A little bit of Psychic, and they were good as gone.
"Oh dear, I hope we didn't rough him up too badly," Lillia said, bending down to check the knight's pulse. "Hmm. Well, seems fine to me. Just needs a nap."
Kenny signed, "Thanks for giving me some pointers, Lillia. I want to do good on my heist exam."
Lillia smiled. "You're very welcome, Kenny. I do what I can to help an ally in need." She looked ahead, scanning through her Misty Terrain, and gasped. "Ooh! There's a library up ahead. I hope they have some new books!" She grabbed Kenny's hand and dragged him along with a spring in her step.
Wyatt and Avel sprung from building to building, scaring unsuspecting civilians to the ground as they made the steal. They swiped coins and jewels off anyone in sight, all while avoiding the desperate reaches of their victims.
"Man, this is fun!" Wyatt exclaimed. "I do feel a bit bad for these people, though."
"They'll get over it with a cup of tea and some expensive throw pillows to sob into," Avel said dryly. Wyatt sprung over a roof, and the two brothers continued their thieving spree down the next street.
A Sealeo noblewoman who fell over onto her side tried to right herself up after recovering from the brief scare. Just as she tried to move, a force lifted her off the ground and gently set her down. She turned in confusion and saw Lucient walking by.
"Terribly sorry about my friends' brash behavior, madame," Lucient said with a bow. "Please get to safety at once. I wouldn't want you or anyone else getting caught in the crossfire when the knights arrive." He tipped his hood and ran off.
The Sealeo and nearby nobles exchanged looks with each other, shrugged, then carried on with their escape.
From the vantage point of the castle roof, Matthias scanned the streets of the capital through his telescope, scowling as he pointed out the various disturbances erupting through the streets. Any knights able to get to the scene were quickly overwhelmed by the squirrely nature of the Foresters with their deceit and trickery.
He growled and closed his telescope. "Of all the days to cause chaos…" He turned and pointing to the Pidgey squire on standby. "You!"
The bird squawked and saluted the Infernape knight. "Sir!"
"Rally the knights from the barracks! Every last one of them! I don't care if it's their day off or what, we need every last drop of manpower we can muster! Go!"
"Aye, sir!" The Pidgey fluttered his wings and took off flying to the barracks.
Matthias turned away from the balcony and prepared to head back inside. He stopped after three steps and took a cursory glance over his shoulder. His stomach grumbled to him, and not out of hunger. A gut feeling, a feeling beyond his comprehension or senses, that told him something was amiss. Or rather, something was closing in on the castle.
He doubled back to the balcony and opened his telescope again. He scanned the streets several times over, looking for any notable disturbances beyond the obvious. He froze briefly when a splash of yellow and brown dashed past his vision. He tracked it down until he spotted two figures running through the street, keeping under the cover of shade.
Matthias squinted hard at the pair. One appeared to a Buneary, though he couldn't get a good read on the face. Their partner, however, was completely recognizable to Matthias, enough to make his blood boil.
"Stormbreaker." Matthias crushed the telescope in his grip. "My rematch." He tossed the broken device aside and raced back into the castle.
Jason poked his head out around the corner street and glared at the castle walls. Melissa hung close to him, keeping her back pressed to the building. After surveying the area, Jason grabbed her hand and pulled her swiftly across the road. They jumped onto the castle walls and scaled them before jumping into the front garden.
Melissa lifted her head and scanned the garden with awe. "Amazing. I have not been here in forever, yet everything looks so similar." She sniffled a bit. "It is so beautiful."
Jason rolled his eyes. "You can reminisce later. Let's move." He ran on ahead. Melissa snapped out of her daze and hopped after him.
They swiftly moved through the garden, ducking behind hedges and statues as knights swarmed out of the castle and marched out through the gate. Only a small few remained stationed at the castle doors and gate while another few patrolled the perimeter.
Jason scanned the area and signaled Melissa to follow. They jumped and rolled between cover, dodging view of any passing knights, and circled the entirety of the garden before rounding up to the far left side of the castle.
Jason poked his head above a hedge and glared at the row of windows. "Sadie should be waiting in your room to be picked up. Do you have an exit strategy in mind?"
Melissa nodded. "I know a few places to escape to, and the staff should be hunkered down away from the top floor—" Her eyes widened. "Wait, why is the meetup point in my room?"
Jason sighed. "Sadie chose it. Something about nostalgia or whatever."
Melissa looked away and laughed awkwardly. "Oh, that…sounds about right." She shook her head and glared at the castle. "I know which window leads to my room. And you are sure Sadie is up there?"
"Hopefully not running late," he added. "You okay?"
Melissa shook her arms and shuddered. "To be honest, I am feeling a bit nervous."
He patted her shoulder and said, "Think of it as practice for your heist. I'm putting my faith in you to help extract Sadie, so don't screw anything up."
Melissa slumped her shoulders and smiled wearily. "Thank you for the confidence boost."
Once there were no knights patrolling the leftward side of the castle, the pair leaped out of hiding and bolted for the wall. They pressed their backs to it after reaching and gazed up at the perilous climb.
Melissa shuddered. "To think I was afraid of Sadie dropping me when she helped me escape." She reached into her pockets and slipped on her climbing claws. "Never saw myself doing this."
"You'll be fine," Jason assured.
"Th-Thanks." Melissa took a deep breath, then jumped onto the wall. She dug the claws into the brick, hooking into a handhold, and scaled up. It was strange how when she first learned to climb surfaces like this, she kept falling and landing on her head or rear. She never imagined then that she could scale a wall like this, especially with her overwhelming fear of falling. Living in a tree certainly helped sweep that problem under the rug.
The more she climbed, the more relaxed she felt. It got easier as she got into the groove, clawing into the stone with little to no trouble. I cannot believe the skills I picked up learning under these guys. Melissa smiled to herself. Y-Yeah. I can do this. I—
"Foresters!"
The heat drained from Melissa's face as a figure hopped out of the window above her, cladded in black armor and wielding a monstrous broadsword. The intense orange glow radiating through the helmet's grate burned in the shape of a searing glare.
"I am going to die!" Melissa screamed.
The black knight, Matthias, drove his fingers into the wall and rode down as he raised his sword high. "You will not besmirched this humble castle!"
"AAAAHHH!" If not for her hands being preoccupied with keeping her from plummeting, she would've flailed in some desperate attempt of a block.
"Harlow, close your eyes!"
Melissa clenched her eyes shut just as Matthias swung his sword down. A bolt of lightning shot up from the ground and slammed into Matthias' sword, stopping it in place. A crackling flash shot out all over and bristled Melissa's fur.
When she opened her eyes, she nearly fainted at the two swords locked together inches from her face, one pushing the monster broadsword away from her. She turned her head and saw Jason standing right next to her, and she did mean standing. Despite their vertical alignment, Jason stood on the wall's surface like any other horizontal surface. She noticed electricity crackling through his fur, especially through his feet.
"Sir Matthias," Jason addressed.
"Stormbreaker," Matthias growled. He pushed his sword down on Jason's, who tensed his muscles as he tried to fight back against the monkey's superior strength. "I've been waiting for this rematch."
Jason bared his teeth. "You insane monkey…"
Matthias turned his gaze to Melissa, who squeaked and bent her head so that her hood could obscure her face. "Harlow. The infamous little imp who has been causing trouble. Your punishment will be swift."
I know Matthias can be intense when it comes to his job, but this is a bit much! Melissa screamed internally.
Jason twisted his sword out of the deadlock and grabbed Matthias by the chest plate. "You're dealing with me first, Matthias Blackfire!" He kicked off the wall, bringing Matthias along with him.
Melissa gasped as the two plummeted straight into the ground. Matthias crashed into the pathway while Jason dove into the hedges. Before she could call out to Jason, she saw him emerge from the hedges and signal her to keep going. She was hesitant to leave him behind, but remembered he wasn't the leader of the Foresters for nothing. She knew how tough Matthias was, so she could only hope Jason played it smart when dealing with the black knight.
After nodding in understanding, Melissa turned her gaze back up the castle and continued her ascent. Please do not kill each other, or anyone else.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
Knights scrambled around the dungeon, gathering their weapons and marching toward the exit. With only one prisoner in their possession, it was best to follow in with the commands of Matthias rather than worry themselves with a docile criminal.
The knights hurried to the stairs, their metal footwear clanging and grinding against the stone floors. However, just as the leading knight reached the first step, a small flicker of blue shot from the shadows and nailed him in the neck. It pierced the armor and dealt a critical blow to the knight, who collapsed with a faint gasp.
The knights immediately raised their swords and shields, standing guard of everything direction around them. "Are we under attack?"
"Did something already break into the castle?" another knight asked.
"No, that doesn't make sense. There's no way anyone should've gotten here by now."
One of the knights bent over their fallen comrade, removed his gauntlet, and felt the neck. No blood, and a pulse could be felt. Strangely, as he rubbed his fingers over the flesh, he did feel a liquid running down into the armor. He lifted his fingers and rubbed them together as he examined the liquid.
"Is this…water?"
"A Water-Type?" one knight said as he gripped his sword. "What the hell?"
"Keep your guards up," the kneeling knight said as he slipped his gauntlet back on. "We may be dealing with a hostile threat—" Suddenly, the knight's body stiffened, a harsh gasp fleeing through his grated helmet, and collapsed over his fallen comrade.
"What the—" The knights backed away, swinging their swords through the dark dungeon. "A ghost?!"
"Steady your nerves!" a knight ordered. "Do not let this shadow dweller tear your wits to shreds. We must stand strong—"
"Ooooh~. How…delightful."
The knights turned sharply at the voice as light flickered in the center of their group. Rising out from the darkness, an Inteleon draped in a black shawl and jumpsuit rose from a kneeling stance and ran her hand across the fin atop her head. She faced the knights with a sultry, yet sinister grin.
"Do you boys want a good time?" she whispered, pressing a finger to her lips. "It'll be our little secret."
The knights backed from the lizard and raised their weapons at her. "Don't move!" a knight ordered. "You're under arrest! Put your hands up now!"
Yda sighed and raised her hands. "All this fuss and you can't even offer to show a lady a good time? Disgraceful." A black membrane under her eyelids stretched over her eyes. She smirked. "Let's fix that."
Quick as a Ninjask, Yda aimed her index fingers at the knights and fired volleys of Icicle Spears at them. The knights raised their shields against the sharpened ice, standing their ground as the projectiles drilled into their wood. Yda took a deep breath and exhaled a cold Mist from her mouth, engulfing the dungeon in a veil of icy fog.
The knights waved their shields through the mist and kept their weapons raised. "Steel your nerves, men. Do not let this woman frighten—" Something sharp stabbed through his metal plating, digging into his side. "AGH!"
"Sleep, Sir Knight," Yda whispered within the mist, right up to his ear. "Sleep~." The stabbing pain pulled from his skin, and the knight collapsed to the ground.
"Where is she?!" a knight yelled, swinging his sword wildly through the fog.
"She's invisible! Quick, someone use Discharge to—" The knight was pulled into the fog before he could finish his order, followed by a pained scream.
One by one, the knights saw a long tail flickering through the mist, stabbing them in precise points of the body and passing through their armor, dealing a crippling blow that sent them sprawling onto their hands and knees. Some passed out instantly from the pain. A faint shimmer in the mist weaved through the panicking knights, ducking through their sword swings and shield bashes like an elusive phantom.
The mist soon cleared away, and a dozen knights were dropped unconscious across the floor, some twitching in pain. Once more, light shimmered over the air as Yda reappeared, walking over the unconscious knights. She ran her hand across her head fin and sighed.
"What a fine session, boys. Keep up the good work." Her tail coiled around a ring of keys attached to a knight's waist and plucked them off. She caught them on her finger and spun them around as she waltzed down the corridor. "Now, time for a prison break."
Melissa was barely on her last breath as her arms hooked over her bedroom window. With the last of her strength, she pulled herself in and slid onto the floor with an unceremonious groan. Her climbing claws slipped off her hands and clattered over the floor as she flipped onto her back.
"So…So tired…" she huffed, her chest rising and falling in quick bursts. Though the climb was challenging enough, she may have exerted more energy than necessary to escape the mad berserker that was once her trusted guardian. "So…thirsty!"
She yanked her emergency canteen off and guzzled down the life-saving water. She capped it and dropped her arms, huffing a sigh of relief. Her ears perked up, detecting the deafening clashes of the two swordsman duking it out with all their might.
"Sir Matthias never did say why he despised Jason so much," Melissa said to herself as she sat up. "His rage is as ferocious as his strength."
After finding her strength, Melissa pulled herself to her feet and dusted off her uniform. She turned around, her eyes roaming the familiar abode. A room untouched for months, once the room of a beloved princess whose disappearance shook the foundation of Verde Kingdom. She was amazed by how tidy it was. A far cry to what she expected, with dust covering the furniture and the smell of stale air. Though her sense of smell wasn't her strongest attribute, Melissa could tell the room had been cleaned several times over.
Melissa approached the canopy of bed and ran her hand across the curtains. Just as soft as she remembered, a protective shade to grant her privacy in sleep. Their softness was second only to the luxury blankets and sheets draped over the mattress. Comfortable layers that allowed her to drift soundly to sleep every night. The perfect place for a princess to soak in the opulence of royalty.
She sighed, pressed her back against the bed, and slid down to the floor. "I forgot how comfortable my sheets were." She closed her eyes and sighed. "I have been gone for a long time."
She wondered how the rest of the staff had been. She didn't know everyone personally, but she cared deeply for her nurse and chef, the only people other than Sadie she could turn to for support. She feared the torment she subjected Hilda to, someone so devoted to her charge that she could have been a second mother to the princess. Thinking about it, guilt filled deep down in Melissa's stomach as thoughts of her nurse's wails and cries echoed inside her mind.
Melissa sighed and hugged herself. "Nurse Hilda, if only I could tell you how sorry I am. I did not wish to make you miserable. If only I could tell you I am safe and sound. That I am happy." As much as she wanted to, she knew it couldn't be.
With a heavy sigh, she grabbed the bedframe and lifted herself to her feet. She pushed the thoughts aside and focused on her main task: waiting for Sadie to rendezvous for their escape, and to interrogate the Audino over her deception. She decided to use the spare time to raid her wardrobe as planned, desperate to be reunited with her old dresses.
She dragged herself to the wardrobe and pulled the doors open, smiling to see her old clothes still inside. "That old fort deserves to be graced with a little modern fashion." She reached inside and pulled a couple dresses out.
From outside, a ringing bang echoed through the window, and the floor trembled beneath her. She gasped, backing her heel onto a dress' skirt, and slipped onto the floor. The dresses flew from her hands and landed sprawled out across the floor.
Melissa pouted at the sorry state of her clothes. "I am grateful the floors are at least clean." She sighed and picked herself up. "Those two are going all out down there." She glared at her bedroom door. "What is taking Sadie so long?"
Sadie poked her head out from around the corner, gripping the pack strap wrapped over her shoulder. Her sensitive ears detected the fighting occurring beyond the castle walls, sensing that the invasion was underway. She smiled and stepped out of hiding.
"Easy peasy," she said to herself. "With all the maid staff moved down a floor, I can escape without dealing with the panic rush." She whistled and skipped down the halls.
She stopped by a window and checked outside. She saw a smoke stack rising from deep within the streets, likely from a fire or an elaborate smokescreen, and tiny dots hopping off the rooftops. She sighed and pressed her fingers against the glass with a sad smile.
"I missed this. Oh, how I missed this. The thrill of stealing. The rush of escape. The sensation of battle. What joyous fun I missed out on playing my part." She shook her head. "Can't wait to get back into the action." She sighed and pressed her cupped hands against her cheek. "And, of course, to see my darling beau again. My sweetie, Blitz. My shining archer of the—"
Sadie jumped from her daydream as a flash of lightning scorched across the window. She pressed her face to the glass and saw Matthias wildly swinging his broadsword at a flickering lightning bolt.
"Shit, Jason's already here?" Sadie shook her head and pulled on her pack. "Better not keep everyone waiting—"
"Oh, I think they can stand to wait a few minutes, Ms. Mailet."
The floor trembled as giant stones rose from below and blocked off Sadie's path. She looked over her shoulder with a startled gasp and met eyes with the knighted Corviknight, Ivone, accompanied by his Lucario and Alolan Golem allies. The giant crow towered over the comparatively smaller Audino, who shifted awkward on her feet and backed into the stone wall.
Ivone clicked his talons against the floor as he approached Sadie. "We were wondering if we could have a word with you."
Sadie flashed a nervous smirk. "Uh, you do know we're being invaded, right? Sounds like that needs your attention. Unless you're here for something else~. Trapping me so I have nowhere to escape? My, my, you boys are kinky for soldiers of the king's forces—"
"Enough with your prattle," Ivone spat, slamming his talons down. "You were unwise to speak so confidently out in the open."
Sadie glared. "How the hell did you even sneak up on me?"
Ivone lifted his talons and showed the fabric tied around them. "Ripped from the guestroom beds. We didn't want to risk you escaping before we caught you, so we made improvised shoes to dampen our footsteps. Perhaps not enough to escape your incredible ears, but enough when you're too busy blathering like an idiot."
Sadie's glare deepened. "You really have it out for me, don't you?"
"I never trusted you for a second."
Nathaniel stepped forward, forming an energy bone staff in his hand. "We received word that there were grounds for suspicion on you. I'd say we came to round you up at the right time. You practically confessed."
Jakke tapped his fingers together nervously. "So, uh…could you please surrender?"
Sadie stared at them for a moment, then huffed an annoyed sigh. "So stupid. I was hoping to make a clean getaway without all the drama."
"You admit it?" Ivone pressed.
She shrugged and smirked at them. "I've evaded the notice of the law for a long time. Who would've ever suspected the desperate little girl in need of work could be a thief? You guys are terrible at checking backgrounds."
Ivone hardened his glare. "You're under arrest, Ms. Mailet, for treason against the kingdom. Comply, or else."
Sadie snickered and dropped her hands to her skirt, gripping into the fabric. "No, I don't think I will. My friends are waiting for me, and I don't want to spend another minute cleaning up after your messes. But hey, why leave without giving a little something to remember me by?" She lifted her arms and the skirt with them.
Nathaniel and Jakke gasped and covered their eyes. Nathaniel shouted, "Ms. Mailet! How can you be so indecent—"
"You idiots, open your eyes!" Ivone snapped.
Sadie pulled the maid uniform from her body in one clean sweep and tossed it aside. Beneath the outfit was her true uniform: a green camouflage jacket and blue skirt, plus twin satchels dangling from her waists.
"Don't blink, boys!" Sadie exclaimed as she plunged her hands into the satchels. "Here's a kiss to remember me bye!" She whipped her arms from the bags and threw a handful of knives at the trio. As they released from her hands, they launched forward with incredible speed, wrapped in a bright purple glow.
Ivone barely raised his wings and casted Reflect, stopping the knives in their tracks. The knives clattered onto the floor, and Ivone dropped his wings in a fit of breaths.
"That power," he growled. "What did she do?"
Sadie pulled another handful of knives from her bags and posed with them. "Sorry, good knights, but there is no damsel in this castle." She winked and added, "But I'm just as beautiful."
Ivone hissed. "Get her."
Nathaniel rushed forward, spinning his Bone Rush staff, and thrusted it forward with a flurry of jabs. Sadie backed from the flurry until her back reached the stone wall cutting off her escape. She jumped over a long thrust, landed on the staff, and darted across it. She landed a knee kick to Nathaniel's helmet and knocked him back.
Jakke bent over and aimed the rock cannon on his back, sparking with electricity. "Demon Thunder Cannon!" Electricity built up between the two rocks, enveloping the rock between them. With a roar, Jakke fired the rock from his cannon, charged in a glorious aura of electricity.
Sadie dropped to the ground and covered her head, feeling the attack whiz over her. It exploded into the Stone Edge wall, blowing open a smoking hole to the other side. Seeing her chance, she sprang off her hands and dove through the hole, fleeing from the knights.
Ivone flapped his wings and took off, shooting through the stone wall. Nathaniel and Jakke picked themselves up and followed after Ivone.
Sadie pumped her legs as she raced around corners, knocking down everything to buy her some time. It did nothing to deter the armored crow pursuing her from up high. She turned and threw more empowered knives at Ivone, but the Reflect remained in effect and kept the knives from landing.
"No escape, Ms. Mailet!" Ivone stretched his wings as a rainbow light reflected off his armored body. He glowed like a prism refracting the sun, his form drowning the hall in an overpowering light.
"AH!" Sadie nearly tripped over herself as she shielded her eyes.
"Purified Luster!" Ivone dove down and swooped forward an inch from hitting the floor. His swooping momentum propelled him at the Audino at unavoidable speeds.
Sadie, seeing no way to escape, braced herself before Ivone struck her with his wing. He swept her off her feet and dragged her through the air, pushing his wing into her abdomen, before throwing her down the hall with a hard flap.
Sadie skipped off her head and crashed into a pedestal holding a bust of the king. The bust teetered over the edge before falling and smashing to pieces beside her. Sadie groaned and clutched her aching gut. She winced as the rainbow-glowing crow closed in on her.
"Don't make this difficult, Mailet!" Ivone snarled.
Sadie quickly rolled to the right and narrowly dodged Ivone as he crashed through the wall. She rolled to her feet and made a beeline down the next hall, but an Aura Sphere exploded across her back and sent her skidding on her face.
"Ow!" Sadie turned herself around and dug her fingers into the rug to stop. She gasped as Nathanial and Jakke chased her down, armed to immobilize.
"Apologies, Ms. Mailet, but this is for your own good!" Nathaniel growled. He crossed his arms and lunged forward. "Cross Chop!"
"Dazzling Gleam!" Sadie widened her eyes and emitted a blinding flash of light.
The flash struck Nathaniel with concussive force and sent him flying off target, crashing past Sadie. Just as she picked herself up, a shadow loomed overhead. She gasped and rolled back, narrowly dodging Jakke's Heavy Slam. The impact rippled over the floor, uplifting stone and rupturing the walls. The shockwave blew Sadie off her feet and knocked her into the air.
Nathaniel sprung to his feet and batted Sadie out of the air with Bone Rush. She slammed into the wall, and Nathaniel pinned his staff against her neck, holding her in place. "Yield, Mailet," he warned with a low growl.
Sadie wiggled helplessly as she tried to push the staff off her throat. She croaked a laugh and said, "If I w-was that easy, I'd have died a long time ago. Sadly, we must all do things we're not proud of." She huffed a sigh and muttered, "Sorry in advance, Blitz."
"Wha—" Sadie suddenly swung her legs up and kicked Nathaniel in the chin. It knocked him back some, enough for Sadie to free her neck. Nathaniel stood his ground and pressed her back against the wall. "You're not escaping—"
Sadie suddenly grabbed Nathaniel's face and kissed his cheek. Naturally, the Lucario was stunned to receive a token of affection from the treacherous thief, but only to feel a horrible fatigue overtake his body. As if he was finished with a five-day shift with no sleep, Nathaniel collapsed onto his knees and passed out on the ground.
Sadie flipped off of Nathaniel and wiped her lips. Sleeping Beauty's Kiss. Amplifying Draining Kiss with Heal Pulse to make an instant knockout attacks. Fast, too, especially when I catch people off guard.
She shot a glare at Jakke, who was shivering after seeing Nathaniel pass out. "D-Don't come near me, succubus!"
Sadie smirked and reached into her satchel. "Oh, you aren't getting that lucky, you—" Her eyes widened as a rainbow light shined from her right. She saw it coming through the window. She gasped and jumped back as Ivone came crashing through, nearly slashing her neck with his wing. "Oh, come on!"
Ivone noted the unconscious Lucario, then glared at Sadie. "You troublesome vixen." The surface of his body shimmered brightly, then he shot after her.
Sadie threw handfuls of knives at Ivone, but his shimmering aura deflected the knives and sent them scattering around. "Shit!" Sadie tried to run, but Ivone caught up and bashed his wing atop her head, smashing her face into the ground.
"Jakke! Blast her!" Ivone yelled.
"AH!" Jakke bent forward and charged up another attack. "Demon Thunder—"
"Entrainment!" Sadie popped back up and touched Ivone's chest. A blue glow flashed over his body, and his rainbow glow diminished drastically.
"Wha—" Ivone backed away, but suddenly tripped over his talons and slammed into the wall. "AGH!"
"—Cannon!" Jakke fired the electrically-charged stone.
Sadie bent back as far as she could and winced as the rock grazed over her face. She stumbled as she straightened back up and booked it away from the knights.
Ivone picked himself up and rustled his feathers. "She changed my Mirror Armor into Klutz. That woman is a devil."
"Sir?" Jakke whimpered.
"Revive Nathaniel. Once he recovers, hunt that traitor down like your life depends on it!" Ivone flapped his wings and soared through the hall. "We will not allow her to escape from the wrath of justice!"
Matthias pulled no punches as he went on a rampage after Jason. Despite wielding such a large blade, he swung it like he was fencing with a butter knife. Jason felt the wind whipping off the blade, the speed and force of the black knights slashes capable of cutting through flesh and bone with one clean slice. Matthias had no intention of taking him prisoner. He wanted a corpse.
Jason's smaller body and reflexes gave him all the time to dodge Matthias' strikes, but he knew a mistimed dodge meant death or a surprise amputation. With his fur crackling with electricity, he zipped around the castle garden to hide.
Matthias bared his teeth and howled with rage. "You won't escape justice, Stormbreaker! You won't escape my wrath!" Matthias punched the ground and sent a wave of fire pillars after the Pikachu.
Fire Pledge! Jason kicked off the ground and dodged the incoming pillars. The heat blasted into his face, and the flames singed a path through the garden. His eyes twitched at a second Fire Pledge barreling toward him. Upon touching the ground, his body electrified and vanished in a flash, dodging the flames.
Matthias gripped his sword with two hands and swung it around himself with all his might. Flames ignited around the blade. He stopped on his foot and swung at a wide arc, releasing a ring of fire around him. It incinerated the hedges and knocked over statues.
Jason zipped around as the flames closed in and leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding cremation. His fur bristled, sensing something descending upon him. With a quick twitch of his eye, he spotted and reacted to a diving sword strike from the Infernape. He blocked with his sword, defending himself from being split in two, before being spiked back into the ground. The dirt pushed up under him as he skidded all the way into a garden fountain.
Matthias landed and breathed a heavy sigh. "Stop playing with me, Stormbreaker. Are you making fun of me? You dare not unleash your full power on me?" He lifted his head and snarled. "Where's the Mortal Zeraora, Stormbreaker? Where's the beast of the Bloodless Massacre?!"
Jason pushed himself up with his sword and glared back at the snarling monkey. "Get your head out of the past, Blackfire. There's nothing from that time for any of us to reminisce over."
Matthias bared his teeth. "Even after what you did to Sir Artur, you won't answer for your crimes?"
Jason narrowed his glare. He didn't respond. He merely raised his sword as electricity crackled through his fur.
Matthias clenched his sword tighter. "Tch. You're as much a monster as you were then. An emotionless creature with no pride or love. Just another degenerate who serves his own desires for nothing."
"And what are you, Blackfire?" Jason countered. "A creature of rage and hostility?"
"I channel my anger so that I will never fail this kingdom again." Matthias bent his knees and pulled his sword. "I failed to protect the queen, and I failed to protect the princess. I will use every ounce of my being to slay those who harm the Penworths. No matter what!" With explosive force, he lunged at Jason with his sword crackling in flame.
Jason's eyes sharpened. Electricity pumped through his nerves, forcibly contracting the muscles and tightening his stance. His vision filled with sparks as every cell of his body danced with excitement. He shifted his footing and scanned his surroundings thoroughly, all in the time it took for Matthias to fly at him.
"Thunder Fairy Step!"
Matthias brought his sword down, but Jason vanished in a crack of lightning an inch before the blade cut a hair off his head. The sword barely moved a millimeter in its swing before Jason ricocheted off multiple surfaces and came back with an electrified kick across Matthias' helmet.
The fire monkey flew across the scorched garden, crashing through burnt hedges, and slammed into the castle wall. He instantly rose to his feet, glowering with an undying fury. Jason, in contrast, raised his sword defensively and stared Matthias down with a cool expression.
"You know nothing of my pain, Blackfire," Jason said with a low growl.
Matthias snorted flames and gripped his sword. "And you know nothing of my devotion to the Penworth name."
Matthias made the first move, dragging his sword through the ground as he charged the Pikachu. Flames erupted from the long crevice. With a harrowing roar, he stopped on his heel and whipped his sword from the ground, releasing a volley of streaking fireballs.
"Scorching Rain!"
Jason activated his Thunder Fairy Step again, zipping through the fireballs as they exploded across the ground. Though he couldn't see the flames due to his immense speed, he felt the heat licking his skin like he was trapped in a stove. He sped through the garden, bouncing off any surface he connected with, and reappeared behind Matthias.
Feeling his fur stand on end, Matthias whipped around and blocked Jason's strike. Fire danced around them, wrapped in coils of electricity. Jason tried to stand his ground, but Matthias' superior strength threw the Pikachu off his feet and sent him flying across the garden.
"Direct Incineration!" Matthias gripped his sword in both hands, raised it high, and slammed it into the ground. The ground rupture in front of him, spreading toward Jason as pillars of flame jettisoned from the earth.
Jason picked himself up just as the ground split open underneath him. His body flickered with electricity just as fire exploded from below, incinerating everything in front of Matthias to ash. The flames rose high, shooting above the castle wall, and burned its mark through everything. Not even the castle wall could withstand the heat of his attack, melting into molten slag.
Matthias relaxed his muscles and exhaled steam through his steam. His body twitched from the overexertion of the attack. The combination of Blast Burn and Fire Pledge rendered his body immobile and searing from pain.
"Sir Artur died five years after facing the Mortal Zeraora. A result of the complications from his injuries." Matthias huffed and heaved his sword up, resting it on his shoulder. "The people may not see it, but I know you were the monster who scarred him. You were the monster." He looked over his shoulder and scowled. "And yet you act without a shred of remorse."
Jason had avoided the blast, but barely. He stood behind the armored Infernape, still raring with vigor, but with burns through his uniform and fur. Regardless, he raised his sword to Matthias and maintained his unbreaking stoicism. "I have nothing to say to you."
Matthias scoffed. "You could've killed me a hundred times over before I had the chance to raise my sword. Enough of your mockery."
"I will not take a life," Jason stated firmly.
Matthias stomped his foot down and gripped his sword tightly. "I hold no such obligation. If you refuse to face trial like a man, then I will conduct your execution here and now. In the name of my father, Artur Blackfire!"
A dark energy radiated around Matthias' sword. With a scream, Matthias' body engulfed in blazing blue flame, expanding outward from his body and radiating an intense heat around him. Jason backed away, covering his face and squinting against the unbearable heat wave.
Matthias Blackfire, Jason thought with a grimace. His resolve. His tenacity. His loyalty to the crown. Regardless of his reasons, this man is the single most terrifying force of nature I've ever crossed blades with.
The flames surrounding Matthias coiled and fused into his blade, mixing with the dark energy radiating from its edge. His roar echoed through the garden and beyond the castle walls. Its sheer force of power and fury could tremble the mightiest soul into a brief state of retreat. Mattias swung his sword and released a wave of flames in front of himself.
Jason easily dodged the flames with a brief flicker, then raised his sword to the black knight. "The namesake of the Blackfire clan finally reveals itself."
Matthias stomped his foot down and raised his sword in return, displaying its transformation. A blade completely wrapped in midnight black flames, mixed with wisps of blue that coiled down the length of the weapon. Jason could feel the devastating power burning, even from such far proximity of the weapon itself.
Matthias breathed a steam-filled sigh and glared at his nemesis with a newfound, frightening calm. "Blackfire Soul Blade."
Theobald relaxed in his cot, arms behind his head, and listened in on the fighting echoing from outside the castle. It sounded like a war was breaking out, or panic was spreading through the capital like a plague. As expected, the Foresters were carrying out their extraction mission for Sadie, leaving him with ample time to flee his jailcell. He already had his manuscript and writing supplies packed away in a knapsack gifted to him by Yda.
He sighed and smiled up at the ceiling. "I'm almost going to miss this little hovel of mine. Aside from the oppressive atmosphere, who can pass up free food and shelter?"
"You of all people would prefer to stretch their legs, Theobald."
The Nidoking sat up and smiled as Yda stepped rounded the corner and approached his cell, spinning a ring of keys on her finger. He chuckled to himself and said, "Timely as usual, my dear. I thought I heard some mischief taking place earlier. What kept you?"
"Had to take care of a few other knights who heard the commotion." Yda picked through the keys. "Tough fellows, but nothing more than a measly distraction."
"I expected nothing less from you."
Yda shook her head. "Best to leave soon, though. Dear Sadie wasn't as keen about our little deal with the Foresters. Ratted me out to keep that investigative Snivy off her trail."
"Sadie's up to her own mischief, I see?"
Yda chuckled. "She caused a mess in one of the halls to divert all the maids' attention from the princess' chambers. Though, at this very minute, she should be experiencing her own delays."
Theobald sighed and shook his head. "You can never trust that Audino for anything. Let there be no hard feelings, of course. She's a good kid."
"I will put out a prayer that she isn't captured in your place." Yda smiled and held up the key to Theobald's cell. "Ah, here we—"
"Freeze!"
Yda stiffened and looked over her shoulder. Stepping out from around the corner, Luna brandished her sword and pointed it threateningly at the Inteleon. Her face twisted with a furious scowl as she shuffled cautiously toward the cell. Neither Theobald nor Yda were concerned with her arrival, though Theobald was admittedly surprised.
"Ms. Freia," Theobald greeted. "Charmed to see you again. How was your trip—"
"Silence," Luna hissed. "Both of you, hands up."
Theobald smiled. "Miss, I am already in a cell—"
"Did I stutter? I said hands up!" she snapped, grinding her teeth together.
Yda placed the keys on her waist and faced the Snivy with an amused smile. "Is that any way to treat your elders? I thought you would know better."
Luna scoffed. "I'm not falling for your old woman shtick again."
"A shtick?" The lizard sighed and ran her hand across her head. "Dear me, what a thing to say. I am hurt."
Luna tightened her grip. "I can't believe I let you trick me. All that flattery and praise just to let my guard down. Playing a feeble old woman just to break into the castle. All the lies and deceit."
Yda smiled. "For what it's worth, I never lied about my praise. You should be honored to have risen to the status of a knight. A novelty in most kingdoms for a woman to take the role, but an earned status regardless."
Luna deepened her glare, shifting closer toward them. "I was right. There was something suspicious about Sadie. You said it yourself. She's a Forester."
Yda bowed her head and laughed. "Well, I didn't put it that way exactly, but I suppose there's no use stringing along the ordeal, especially with Ms. Mailet about to be extracted from the castle."
"So, that's what this whole raid's for. One huge distraction to help her escape." She glared at Theobald and added, "She was the mole the whole time, not you. You were just an accomplice."
Theobald closed his eyes and nodded. "Guilty as charged."
"It makes so much sense. Sadie got close to the princess to weasel out information for the Foresters. Of course no one would've suspected the maids of wrongdoing. Who would expect the cleaning staff to do anything treacherous against the kingdom?" Luna lowered her sword and looked away. "Sadie's a low life Forester who duped everyone, and you played along to give her an easy out."
Theobald nodded. "A negotiation with an old acquaintance. I believe you know him as the Fairy Knight. I already had business as the princess' tutor, so it was no trouble for me."
"Were you in anyway responsible for Princess Penworth's kidnapping?"
Theobald shrugged. "Who could say but I? I came here on a job, simple as that."
Luna growled and said, "Somehow, I doubt that. What's the real reason you came to this kingdom? I want the truth, Theobald Dencourt!"
Yda laughed. "I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but you're in no position to negotiate. I'll be taking my friend with me, with or without you conscious. It's your choice."
Luna looked between the two, studying their unbreakable resolve, and lowered her glare. "Not even if I have information that could plunge the entire region into chaos? I bet you two wouldn't want that."
Yda waved her off. "Your little investigation game has run its course, Ms. Freia. I suggest you stand down before—"
"I know Harlow is the missing princess!"
Theobald and Yda's eyes widened in horror, subconsciously taking a step back from the Snivy. Luna, though stoic in her expression, felt a spark of pride swell in her chest from their brief moment of weakness. A simple reaction that confirmed two suspicions of hers.
"Your faces say it all," Luna explained. "First, that I was right in my assumption after confronting Harlow myself. There was something so strange and foreign about her mannerisms, almost like a performance, but I couldn't disregard my bias. Never would anyone have expected the demure Princess Penworth to act like a crazed lunatic."
Yda glared. "You little…"
"And second, with that confirmed, you two know what would happen if that information was leaked. War would break out across Virdis, and you want to avoid that. I don't know what you're after, but I know you're not here to start a regional crisis."
Theobald crossed his arms. "Young lady, are you threatening to divulge that information if we don't agree to your interrogation? You wouldn't dare."
Luna slammed her sword against cell bars, cutting into the metal and ringing out through the hall. "Try me."
The two spies exchanged looks with each other, subtle twitches in their faces indicating something of a silent conversation. Luna refused to take her eyes off them. The second one of them made any move for retaliation, she won't hesitate to make the first and last strike.
She nearly recoiled in shock as Yda broke into laughter and raised her hands. "You really don't understand anything that's going on, do you?"
Luna shook off her shock and growled. "I want the truth! Who is the Crownless King? What do you want? Why are you in this kingdom?"
Theobald frowned and leaned against the bars. "Ms. Freia. There are some mysteries not worth exploring. Just when you think you've reached the deepest ends of the ocean, the floor will break away and swallow you in the stomach of the beast. Quit while you're ahead."
"Why?"
Yda smirked. "We're not your enemy, kid, and we're not here on malicious business. Well, assuming you aren't with the king."
"With…the king?" Luna lowered her sword and glared with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Would you give your life for King Penworth, even knowing the dark history of his rise to power?"
Luna's eyes widened. "Dark history?"
Yda nodded, then frowned with a serious glare. "The ten kingdoms were formed because of a bloody war that divided this peaceful land. Don't you find it strange? Strange that ten kingdoms planned an invasion on the same day to take the same land? It was horrible. So much was lost in the aftermath, and so many lives were lost with the division of land. Peace without war is a fantasy. No kingdom started out kind, and very few these days are run with the best intentions. Some people want those corrupted kingdoms to prosper, and dangerous others want to return to two hundred years ago."
Theobald nodded. "I came to this kingdom to investigate Roscoe, and the link between the ten kingdoms. Roscoe Fletcher is not the man he claims, and he harbors a secret he'd sooner carry to his grave than expose forevermore. I've acquired all I need to know, and now I know what happened."
"W-What?" Luna thrusted her sword, snarling. "WHAT?!"
Theobald shook his head and stepped away from the bars. "Who are you, Luna Freia?"
"Huh?"
"Do you serve the king, or do you serve your ideals? Answer me, would you still lay down your life to protect King Penworth even knowing his greatest secret?"
"I…I…" Luna's grip wavered. Her sword tipped down and touched the stone floor. "I don't…"
Yda sighed and dropped her hands. "I've played along enough." She extended her tail, revealing the hidden blade tucked within. "Sorry, kid, but I can't risk you flapping your lips about the princess. We've got enough on our plate dealing with that old dinosaur. We don't need someone else threatening to start a war if they don't have their way."
Luna's eyes widened. "Wait, who are you—" Instinct kicked in as her legs moved on their own, pushing her out of the path of Yda's serpent-like tail. She winced at the pointy dagger tipped at the end.
Yda cracked her knuckles and formed water blades over her hands. "I promise, I'll make this as quick and painless as possible. En Garde!"
It was a typically mundane day out in Marshland Village, or as mundane as it could get with the recent drama that brewed up nearly two weeks ago. The incident remained fresh in everyone's minds, a common subject of drama between the housewives and tavern patrons, rumors as to why the king himself graced their humble village with his elaborate ruse.
Regardless, work went on as normal, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity in their rundown village. No business was drumming with more vigor and heat as Keith Tibia's soup and noodle stall.
"Put your backs into it, brats!" Keith barked as Charlie and Sandygast maneuvered ingredient crates into the backroom. "If you can flee with my wares in five seconds, you can carry in a few dozen crates!"
"Aye, Mr. Tibia!" the kids chanted.
Keith turned back to his stove and stirred a pot of stew. He still wasn't sure how, but his original little apprentice, Charlie, managed to convince his street urchin friends to pay off their massive debts to him by working for him, doing small tasks like cleaning the stall, fixing and touching up the exterior, and picking up fresh shipments of ingredients. Keith was almost against it until their Skwovet leader suggested a new service for the stall: delivery! The Electrike would make her rounds around the village, write down any orders on her patrol route, and report back in for Keith to cook up. The Skwovet and Gible would then take the prepared bowls to addresses and collect the money from there.
Anything that encouraged productivity was okay in Keith's book.
Speaking of, he heard crunching snow and peeked out from the tiny kitchen. The Electrike jumped onto a stool and clipped a new slip of paper onto the overhanging string. "We got three more orders, boss!"
"Aye, good job, lass."
Electrike smiled with a wag of her tail, then looked off to the side. "Oh good, the boys are back, too."
Skwovet hopped over the stall and dropped the money into the deposit box. "Deliveries made, boss!" Gible hopped onto the stool beside Electrike.
Keith rubbed his hands over his arpon and nodded. "I must admit, brats, you're doing a fine job. After we get the next batch of deliveries out, you can take a break."
They smiled and bowed their heads. "Thank you, boss!"
Keith crossed his arms and chuckled to himself. Nice kids. If they keep this up, they might deserve a little reward. Might. He shook his head and went back to cooking.
Just as he grabbed the ladle to stir the pot, a horn sounded down the street. A trumpeting anthem, grandiose in its tone, that serenaded the streets of the little village. He and the kids stepped out of the stall just as villagers exited their homes or dropped what they were doing, all sharing in the curious nature of this announcement.
A crowd gathered through the road as something pulled up through the village entrance. A collective gasp sounded from the villagers as the fanciful carriage rolled through the snow, joined by the sides by a crew of knights riding atop their steeds. The coat of arms decorated on the front and sides of the carriage instantly identified the vehicle's occupant to the stunned crowd.
"Wha…What is this?" Keith gasped.
Charlie and his friends glanced at each other, sharing a confused look. Charlie pulled on Keith's apron and asked, "Mr. Tibia, what's going on? Who's carriage is that?"
Keith narrowed his eyes. "That's…the king's carriage."
"The king?" Charlie blinked, then stared at the carriage in awe. "Mr. Fletcher?"
The carriage stopped before the crowd, blowing snow through the wind. A knight stepped off his Rapidash steed and approached the carriage. As he grabbed the door handle, he turned to the crowd and announced, "Presenting His Majesty, the esteemed ruler of the Verde Kingdom! King Roscoe Penworth!"
The knight opened the carriage and stepped aside. He and the rest of the knights knelt down and bowed to the carriage as Roscoe stepped out. The snow crunched under his feet, and he exhaled a thick breath that blew across the wind. He was dressed in a thick coat and trousers with a red cloak draped over his body. His signature crown sat atop his head.
The villagers had no words as Roscoe approached them, his gaze hidden in shadow. A few villagers held each other, fearing the worst. A visit from His Majesty to their dilapidated village never meant well. What did he seek making his presence known to them, and not in the guise of a vagabond?
Roscoe stopped in front of the villagers and lifted his gaze. His eyes studied their nervous faces, briefly skimming through the dozens of faces. He narrowed his sights on the Golduck bartender, who instantly tensed up under the royal's stare.
"You," Roscoe hissed. He nodded his head, ordering the Golduck to step out.
The duck gulped and moved out from the crowd. He wrung his apron between his hands, cowering under the king's gaze. "Y-Yes, Your Majesty? How may I assist you?"
Roscoe glanced to the side, spotting the burnt down tavern. "Your place of business. You were the victim of an unfortunate accident by that rowdy bounty hunter and those despicable Foresters." The bartender gasped as Roscoe dropped to one knee and bowed his head. "My humblest apologies."
"Y-Your Majesty!" Golduck yelped. "N-No, do not bow for me, please—"
Roscoe snapped his fingers, ordering the knights to his carriage. The villagers gasped as the knights produced a small chest and hauled it over to the king. They dropped it down, and Roscoe lifted the lid. Golduck recoiled in shock as the large quantity of gold bits stashed inside, glimmering off the sun's rays.
"This should be enough to cover the damages." Roscoe produced an envelope from his cloak and handed it to the petrified duck. "A construction team will arrive here in three days. Hand them this letter, and they shall commence with the repairs. There is some extra in the chest for any additional renovations."
"I…I…I…" The bartender was frozen stiff, staring into space with the letter clutched tight between his fingers, his claws threatening to puncture the paper.
Roscoe didn't wait for a reply. He stood up and marched through the crowd. The villagers immediately parted for him. His gaze locked onto a bewildered Keith while the kids hid behind him out of worry. Only Charlie stayed in the open, staring up at Roscoe in awe.
Roscoe stopped and loomed over the peg-legged Mankey. "Keith Tibia."
He gulped, swaying nervously on his peglegs. "Oh…greetings, Your Majesty."
Roscoe rustled inside his cloak and produced a small sack of coins. "A little something to renovate your shop." He bent down, grabbed Keith's hand, and placed the bag down.
"I…thank you, Your Majesty." Keith clutched the coins close. "I am at a loss for words. You graced our humble village for this?"
Roscoe closed his eyes. "Not entirely. I just…needed to repay a debt of my own."
"Huh?"
"Never mind. I am not here for you, though." He stood up and looked down at Charlie, who tensed up. "I'm here for him."
"Charlie?!" Keith and the kids gasped.
The little Clobbopus looked around as if there was another Charlie present before pointing at himself. "Me?"
Roscoe nodded. "Yes. Yes, you." He bowed his head and sighed. "You are a good kid, Charlie. Someone with your heart is…hard to come by. You lack judgment, admittedly, but you have a righteous kindness that Virdis needs. It is a rare quality that I…sadly took for granted. Virdis could use more of that kind of upbeat attitude."
Charlie blinked. "Huh?"
Roscoe knelt down and continued, "I came to this village for one sole reason, my boy. I came here to find something our kingdom needs. I searched only for the worthiest, someone who can handle the challenge of responsibility, and someone who can help this kingdom prosper." He closed his eyes and sighed. "I am asking for a lot. I will understand if you decline my request. Do not feel pressured into saying yes."
"H-Huh?" Charlie stepped back. "What is happening?"
Roscoe shook his head and extended his hand to the confused octopus. In that moment, the next nine words to leave the king's lips would be scarred into the villagers' minds to be retold generation after generation. Nine words to be carried out through the Verde Kingdom's history books.
"Become my heir. Become the prince of Verde Kingdom."