Reviews :

Jay Sketchin : OWLS me too. I love owls. And bats! :D

Burgie : hahaha too bad it actually does! xD

Nikki Firesong : Aw, I'm REALLY glad you think that! I strive to make everyone relatable, in some way or another, so thank you for saying that! It means a lot to me. I don't want any of my characters to be perfect, I want them each to have their draw backs that potentially are frustrating to read about haha

Snake557 : True, true. haha

Romantic sapp : Haha aw thank you! I upload once every other day :D I think sometimes I upload later in the day than other times, but who knows.


Song Listened To :

Climbing the Ginso Tree - Ori and the Blind Forest OST


*Chapter 115*

In the commotion of Berri's, Wren's and Theo's very first concert, Friday night into Saturday was full of celebration, which wound up going into the wee hours of the morning. Although the party was eventually brought back to Sugar Rush, Berri was disappointed to find that Turbo wasn't able to make it. Due to partaking in shady activity, her heart began to assure her that everyone around her was doing equally as shady things. A small bout of resentment began to form in the pit of her stomach, a weird twist of fate she was uncertain would happen towards Turbo. The whole idea of never leaving the game, and being hesitant to jump right into big gatherings had her heart doing somersaults of agitation. She knew, full well, something incredibly drastic would have to happen, in order to get Turbo to leave the game, and even then, she wasn't entirely positive of her findings.

In a gentle mosey from the palace's garage, Wren and Berri approached the palace's massive kitchen, down the long corridor. Although trying to forget any shred of her feelings for Turbo, she eyed the small arch way and area where the two first collided in an accidental exterior swap. Wren carried on with his pressing story, complete with hand gestures, though Berri sagged a little and allowed her mind to wander to just the kind of person she was, in that raw instance. So full of excitement for Academy, so brand new to the world, so hopeful and full of life, somehow she felt as if she had turned jaded. The experiences she had been through, the strife she had recently endured, and now the sticky love triangle she had saddled herself into, she lulled her eyes closed and nearly rolled them at herself. She could feel the frustration, in her heart, quickly begin to morph into a weird, insecure form of bitterness, and with such, she was wary to really let anyone in. Wren carried on, unabated, though as they neared the massive gape of an archway, that spilled into the sunny kitchen, they were noticed by Zed, Ralph and Vanellope.

"Hey, superstars," Ralph choked a laugh, he waved his hand and gave the two a kind grin, though only Wren really lit up in easy-going tenderness; Berri crossed her arms and felt a wall go up, a weird defense mechanism she had no clue why she was deploying in this instance.

"Do you want my autograph, uncle Ralph?" Wren stabbed with a wide, playful grin, and although Berri and Wren approached the hearth and massive kitchen island together, Berri's approach was walled off, something Zed silently cued to.

"Yes, absolutely, I'm you're hugest fan," Ralph beamed a cute grin and began to feel his overall's pockets with his larger hands, though he raised his eyebrows in tender sorrow and peered to Vanellope in playful scheming, "I don't have a pen..."

"Oh, stop, we helped raise these babes, you don't need their autograph, what the heck!" Vanellope barked with a laugh, everyone was all smiles, excluding Berri, who seemed to be on another level, almost a prissy air of solitude.

"Your guys' show last night was incredible," Zed assured warmly, he set down his cup of coffee and gave both Berri and Wren a warm smile, though Berri had her arms crossed, her nose nearly in the air as she looked off in mild disinterest; she wore an expensive jacket, the dazzle of diamonds around her neck, her hair was sleek and razor sharp down her back, as if she had maybe had it professionally done all over again. Zed crossed his strong arms and eyed his princess in fatherly scheming, "You enjoy yourself, Bear? You killed those guitar solos."

"I know, it was great," Berri chimed, words that typically would be paired with a humble tone and an air of softness, though she seemed sharp, agitated, and above all else, conceded. Zed furrowed his blue brows and felt the wave of frozen demeanors gloss the group, and what was shocking to him was the fact that said wave of apprehension included the ever-so-sassy Wren. Berri gingerly lofted the heavy mass of smooth, straight hair over her shoulder in a tender flick of accuracy and gingerly began to tidy the other strands that hung over her left side, a meticulous show of snooty care, "Would've been better if our sound technician had his shit together..."

"... I-It was a small mishap they couldn't control, Bear, you were there when we discussed it," Wren urged gently, he nervously glanced to Zed, Ralph and Vanellope, as if to nearly beg for clarity here; all three elders looked stunned in soft, sad confusion.

"Not like we had twelve thousand rehearsals to get out the kinks, but... Whatever," Berri shrugged and subtly glanced down to her nails, "It was a great show. Our next one will hopefully run smoother."

Zed froze and felt the weight of the kingdom ease onto his shoulders, and as Ralph and Vanellope nervously gave Zed their curious eye contact, Zed inhaled a deep breath through his nose and felt a strange sensation rush him. Although he was aware Berri was his baby girl, and would always remain such, he was floored to find that, in Berri's navigation through adulthood, he was still needing to reign her in and keep her in line. As a young girl, she had instances where she would sass either him or Tessa, and it was quickly defused, though as Zed peered to his gorgeous daughter, Sugar Rush's princess, he began to worry. How quick this fame went right to Berri's head, the raw fact that the materials and the adoring fans just blew up her head, he felt his stomach knot at the raw idea of the kingdom, one day, sliding right onto her own shoulders. Through a raspy exhale, Zed knew he likely needed to be the one to take Berri down a peg, no matter how difficult and heart wrenching it was, for both parties; he bravely held his hands to the counter's island and pierced his dominant, fatherly gaze in Berri's direction, eager to catch her line of sight.

"Berri, can I talk to you outside for a second, please?" Zed instructed, the tone in his voice was kind and gentle, though as Berri's predicted line of sight stabbed into her father's, hooked eye contact promised that this wasn't just a little chit-chat that he was preparing for her.

Zed was shocked that Berri remained frozen, with her arms crossed, for longer than five second. She held her piercing, vivid blue gaze into Zed's, a challenge of dominance, she glowered him a threatening look of near unmitigated authority, though just like Zed assumed and was prepared for, he easily won the battle the second Berri heaved a silent, annoyed sigh and averted her eyes to the island's counter tops. With a gentle grunt, and a look that nearly seemed as if she rolled her eyes, she removed her hip from the lean on the island and began to slowly glide in Zed's direction, towards the kitchen's gaping West exit. Zed removed himself as well, gave Ralph, Vanellope and Wren a kind smile and a head bob, and in his due, polite Kingly air, he softly ushered the three a notion of tenderness.

"Excuse us," Zed's warm voice glossed, and as he approached the main, double doors that lead to the near-never ending outdoor corridor, that lead to the recreational hall and the flyer's old enclosure of trees, he kindly held the door open for Berri and was thrilled the gentle clack of her heels hesitantly began to step outside.

As if uncertain how to even begin tackling this head on, Zed nervously sagged his hands into the pockets of his zipped up jacket. Although nearly all the snow, on the palace lot, had melted, Sugar Rush's crisp, Sunday morning air still held a bit of a bite. Zed cocked an eyebrow and gently peered to his beautiful younger daughter in his left peripheral as they very slowly began to walk the sunny, outdoor corridor, all clad in high, white arches. Berri's nervous eyes held forward in aimless defeat, the stress lines on her temples were visible, though not particularly flared. She was incredibly beautiful, though Zed felt his heart ache; she didn't look like herself. Her eyes looked shroud in uncertainty, as if she was definitely hiding something, and although Zed knew it wasn't his job to go prying, he knew he needed to do something to keep his precious kin grounded. Especially kin so important to Sugar Rush's success. Through a soft sigh, Zed opened his mouth and knew to tread lightly.

"Why don't you tell me a little of what's going on, Bear?" Zed wondered, his deep, fatherly voice coat her in goodness, though she desperately shrugged any help away.

"Nothing, dad," Berri snipped, she crossed her arms in further agitation; Zed furrowed his brow and wondered how he could switch up his game without being snippy right back at her, though he was wondering if he maybe didn't have a choice.

"Did your show REALLY not go as planned? Or are you maybe holding too high of expectations on workers trying to help you out?" Zed dared quietly, though Zed was absolutely floored to see Berri shoot him a dirty look.

"It went fine, just a certain few people probably should be let go if they can't do their job right," Berri stabbed, almost as if to beg Zed to get off the topic, though she flinched in whole surprise the second Zed allowed his loving, boyish, cool-dad nature unveil a true King underneath; he skillfully halted his footwork, kept a pointed finger low in Berri's direction and almost dared to lean a few inches deeper into her gravity.

"You may be a princess but that doesn't warrant you to be a brat," Zed's fatherly voice delivered in sharp, stern sincerity, and although the words stung, it was somehow laden with an incredible amount of love, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say this rush of new fame has gone to your head, and you're just out here riding the wave, huh?"

Berri froze in a show of now genuine terror and unraveled her arms, her now sad eyes hooked tight into Zed's in childlike fear, the same exact show of uncertainty that would unfold anytime Zed had to put on the King's crown, and although Berri had previously erected a huge, thick wall around her, it all came crumpling down with Zed's authoritative tsunami, a proverbial crash of nipping an issue right at the root. In this switch up of having power to suddenly having none of it, every single one of Berri's issues came rushing her like the flood of Zed's dominance, she did absolutely everything to keep her lip from quivering and her eyes from welling with tears. Every problem secretly laid on her heart immediately rose to the surface of her skin, desperate for consolidation and eradication. Impending meltdown in progress, she bit the tip of her tongue, concealed tight between her pursed, nervous look, and warily glanced about the features on Zed's face, as if she had been in a fog and Zed's sudden pop of fatherly sternness was what snapped her out of it. The picture perfect look of his vivid blue eyes staring her down in unwavering authority, Berri sagged her shoulders and inhaled a trembling breath that caught in the back of her throat.

"I-it's a lot to swallow, dad," Berri's voice crackled, pending sorrow that was due to overflow, though much to her nervous surprise, Zed continued to hover tight before her with said stern aura that Berri was certain he'd immediately drop.

"You are far too important to the thousands of people inside Sugar Rush, far too important to the people on palace grounds," Zed sharply carried on, he lightly shook his head and held unwavering eye contact with her as his stern tone carried on in an usher of whole love, "You are one of the most important people in my whole entire life, Berri Schweetz Kalivar. If I lose you to a screaming crowd and paparazzi cameras and a guy who shows no respect for us and diamonds that you probably don't even like, then I'd consider myself a failure."

Berri froze and felt their bubble grow thick with a weird mixture of love and frustration, and it was here did Berri understand that Zed was certainly going to get to the bottom of all of her problems. Just as suspected, Zed inhaled a trembling, almost angry breath through his nose, stood back, dropped his shoulders and allowed his height to return to normal. With arms behind his back in a tall, Kingly posture, he gazed into Berri's eyes, as if to narrowly take a sneak peak inside her soul, likely one of the only beings in Arcade Berri would allow to do so. Berri braved his eye contact, though she felt unworthy of it and finally peered down to their still feet.

"Dad, I'm... I-I'm really sorry," Berri staggered sincerely, the air of snotty attitude easily wiped off of her aura, something Zed could immediately sense and was eternally grateful for; with such a clean slate revealed, so quick, Zed dropped the stern act and softened his tone.

"Come. Walk with me," Zed lovingly instructed, still clad in an authoritative show of certainty.

Zed confidently stepped out to continue down the corridor in which Berri nervously jolted to keep up. She kept her eyes down in impending, teary sorrow and twiddled her fingers in a lack of security. Her shaky gaze glossed the lovely white tiles their feet clacked down, she felt entire uncertainty wash over her, knowing full well that Zed was likely about to worm a lot of quiet, secret information out of her. Although she maybe didn't want the whole world knowing she was masking her insecurity with forced confidence and a wave of snotty attitude, due to partaking in an unfaithful, dishonest, ongoing act, she softly dragged her nervous gaze to her father and assessed just what soul would be harboring all of the skeletons in her closet. Berri's pupils sharply tightened as sunlight beamed down on Sugar Rush's King. Zed looked forward, the vividness of his cerulean blue hair reminded Berri just where she should be centered, the two incredible people she was the combination of, and with such a gentle, easy silence between the two, she felt floored to have someone like Zed for a father. A powerful, fierce, loving individual who would clearly go to the ends of Arcade for the ones he loved; she felt her stomach knot with a hard truth, hard facts that she had unfortunately been treating one of her best friends like crap, as of late, someone so detrimental to Sugar Rush's well being.

"I remember the day your mother and I approached Ace about one day being King," Zed started with a defeated smile, he lovingly lofted his strong gaze to Berri in a teasing side-eye, "... He begged us not to hand him any more power than what we already had given him."

"... I-I can see that," Berri softened, she finally peaked a small smile, a smile that very easily mocked Zed's.

"I always told myself I wouldn't push the title of King or Queen onto any of my children... Rather untraditional, but I'm not about forcing a job on either of you two," Zed started, though he bobbed a nod and very gently lofted Berri a cute, knowing smile, "Although it's not forced... I do still have to ask the dreaded question."

"Are you asking me to be Queen, one day, dad?" Berri asked nonchalantly, she knew it was a topic of discussion, though she felt her heart begin to thud at the raw fact of it all.

"I am," Zed smiled in loving conclusion towards her, "It's nothing your mother and I will be ready to hand over, for years to come, but... Whenever that day DOES come, I need to know just who to hand that crown to. Someone worthy."

"I-I'd be honored, dad, you know I'd love that title, one day," Berri started with a nervous smile, though after what had just taken place between them, she sagged her shoulders and felt insecurity come rushing her, once more. She looked down and stumbled on her words, "I-If... You deemed me worthy, that is. I'm sure I would be, one day."

Zed furrowed his eyebrows and gently lofted his gaze to Berri in soft, smiling confusion, though as they finally eased out of the overhang of the outdoor corridor, the two squinted as the full beam of sunshine splayed across the two, as well as a whip of lovely, early springtime air. Zed inhaled a deep breath through his nose, glossed his eyes across the magnificent, gorgeous land all about them and finally dragged his eyes back to Berri's in cheeky delight as they came to a soft stop together.

"... Do YOU think you're worthy of it?" Zed inquired warmly, he held eye contact with Berri in tender curiosity, and it was here did Berri seem taken aback.

She sagged her shoulders and nervously looked down in a drawl of now defeated sorrow. Desperate to keep tears back, she looked off and was grateful the wind kissed her cheeks and dried her eyes. Gingerly, she tucked her gorgeous, long blue hair behind her ears and furrowed her eyebrows, inwardly scolding the wind for now not keeping said tears at bay. Her eyes welled with water, and though she did everything to keep her gaze away from her father in soft contemplation, Zed gently leaned in a little and cocked an eyebrow. Berri exhaled a shaky breath and softly peered to Zed in defeat, her trembling breath pressed Zed a loft of whole entire uncertainty.

"No, I... I don't," Berri whimpered, tears gently spilled down her cheeks. She shook her head and lulled her eyes closed as she continued on, "I've been a bitch to everyone, as of late, and I just... Don't think I deserve really anything, lately."

"Don't self-deprecate," Zed instructed gently, although he wanted to turn to goo and cradle his precious daughter in his arms, he remained still and stoic, though he couldn't help but reach out and gingerly wipe a tear from her cheek, "My love... You are more than worthy for that position... But if you do not want that title, I have a certain, handpicked individual who would step in and take care of it, for you."

"...Who?" Berri inquired nervously, almost feeling protective of her crown, though Zed gently gave her a knowing smirk and eased his hands into the front pockets of his dark grey jeans.

"... The man you're currently having a love affair with," Zed delivered smoothly, information he only really had inklings of, though with the way Berri's shocked eyes widened and her pale cheeks reddened, he scoffed a gentle laugh down to his feet and knew he had hit the bullseye, "I guess that's speculation, on my end, but... I wasn't crowned King for funsies."

Berri crossed her arms and now felt entirely exposed, though she almost felt relieved about it. She inhaled a deep breath, looked off and grew entirely agitated with bashful mannerisms. After a moment, Zed finally blurt a small chuckle, grappled Berri's upper arm and began to tug her into a loving hug, once and for all. Berri did all she could to not go clawing Zed's thick jacket off with the loving grapple of a hug she was desperate for, and as she buried her face into Zed's strong collar, as well as the top of his broad sternum, she shut her eyes tight and softly whispered him a girly plea of shushed cuteness.

"User, please don't tell anyone, dad," Berri's voice shook, though Zed eased a harder chuckle as his strong, fatherly arms came tight about Berri's shoulders.

"Ohhh, my sweet girl," Zed grumbled as he firmly held the back of her head and pushed a firm smooch into the side of her scalp. He heaved a hot sigh on the top of her head and kept his voice low, as his face was directly above her ear, "You're so silly, running off with a man that wants nothing more than to buy his way into your heart."

"I-It's... Not like that," Berri stumbled on her words as the two gently pulled away, though Zed gave her a stern look and almost firmly tapped a few of the cold diamonds around her neck.

"My babe, Turbo makes a VERY good amount of money doing what he does," Zed blurt a chuckle and gestured to the diamonds on Berri's neck, "Maybe he'd spoil you if you guys were actually an item, but... Methinks that money can't buy you love. Turbo's not stupid... He knows, full well, that money isn't the way into your heart."

"Who says he's trying to worm his way into my heart?" Berri grew defensive, she desperately tried to keep up the facade, the game of smoke and mirrors, though she knew it was hopeless against the King of literally everything.

"HE says, I'll have you know," Zed blurt a hard laugh and shook his head, and although he was wary to give out Turbo's business, he softened his voice for assurance, narrowed his gaze and gave Berri a sweet smile, "That man asked my permission to court you, given the right circumstances."

"...H-He DID?" Berri staggered in now whole, blushing surprise as she held her hand to her sternum, though she flinched as her fingers tapped the cold diamonds around her neck. She frowned and hesitated, she felt terrible for taking Turbo's guitar pick necklace off and now wondered if she could get away with wearing that on stage, instead, without Gunner being aware.

"Whatever you two have going on, I'm positive it's made that man's life," Zed shook his head and chuckled as he tucked his hands into his jean pockets a little tighter, "Usually I get up in arms about any guy that fancies my daughters, but... I've done life with that man. I've seen the intense amount of goodness in his heart."

"... Did you give him your blessing, dad?" Berri wondered in bashful stun, even still, she shook her head and felt her heart just swell with further love, guilt, desire, agitation, all of the above.

"I'd be an idiot not to, my babe," Zed eased carefully, he gave Berri a sweet, knowing smile and shook his head, "I told him given your consent, he has the King's blessing."

"That's... Huge, dad," Berri stated sorrowfully, he looked down to her hands and heaved a trembling sigh, "Guess... It was stupid of me to say yes to Gunner."

"Meh, I wouldn't say stupid, you're just having fun, life is very exciting for you right now... You're still young, you got swept into something awesome," Zed shrugged, he looked off and smiled in endearing understanding, "I get it... Everything's a whirlwind and you have an electric dude right in the palm of your hands... On top of that, Turbo is a hermit who refuses to leave the User-damned game. I get why you made your choice."

"Thanks, dad, it... Wasn't easy," Berri sighed, feeling glad that at least her actions were maybe justified, here, though she gave Zed a worried look as he continued on in soft caution.

"It's clear you have good insight," Zed pressed softly, though he side-eyed Berri in challenge and narrowed his gaze, "Though, you should really think about sharpening your foresight. If you genuinely want to be Queen, one day, you need to set yourself up for success, here and now."

Berri raised her eyebrows in thwarted surprise and held her breath. She was well aware her father had no clue about her's and Turbo's little inside joke, though somehow the words laid over her heart like a hot poker. Berri softened and felt as if the pressure was on, her stress marks were angrier than ever, she felt her heart do a giddy shake of confusion, and as Zed's eyes peered harder into hers, she felt as if she knew exactly what she had to do, no matter how devastating it'd be to Gunner, no matter what it'd do to the band, she held her breath and wondered if and when she should even begin thinking about taking her chances.

"You know you're loved Arcade wide, but..." Zed shrugged and gave her a soft, conclusory smirk of understanding, "Your feet will always lead you to where you're needed. The journey there isn't a path that anyone can mark for you... No one but yourself."