At the bottom of the lake was newly build mermaid buildings including one for Lola. She was asleep on her classy clam-like bed. She then woke up and stretched her arms and mermaid tail.
Lola: Ah! This is how a princess wakes up.
Then he heard knocking on her door. she swam up and opened to find goblin Lana in a scuba suit she through together.
Lana: Hey Lola! How's this new place working for you?
Lola: Oh hey Lana! It's fabulous here! Those sea mermaids really know how to build in the water. I can finally get some real beauty sleep without worrying about getting cramps that tub gave me.
Lana: Well, happy you're happy!
Lola: Thank you for that and washing up for once when visiting me.
Lana: Did what now?
Lola: Oh, I guess jumping into the water accidentally cleaned you up. No matter since that filth would not get down here. So, have you found a home for yourself?
Lana: You bet! I build a nice hut in the forest near this sweet mudhole. I'm sometimes visited by Lynn as shes running around the place and Lucy who lives in the dark cave nearby.
Lola: Sounds nice. For you that is. Not me!
Lana: Well, there is something that has been bothering me lately. I feel that of all the monsters me, Lynn and Lucy's would be the most hated.
Lola: What? Is this about the kingdom of Ivcia?
Lana: No but that doesn't help. It's just my race is usually known for raiding and stealing. Lynn's werewolves are known for attacking livestock and Lucy's vampires...well, you know.
Lola: Your races do have a history of being hostile to humans. At least more than other races.
Lana: The Princess is trying to help but there is only so much she can do. Convincing people to like us won't be easy.
Lola: Well my race didn't like humans and we convinced them...I think. So anyway, what will you guys do?
Lana: For now we will just get settled in our new homes. Afterward, we should have an idea of what to do. Anyway, I should get going. I heard rumors that new monsters are supposed to be visiting in our part of the area soon. I need a head start walking out of this lake since I can't float in this thing.
Lola: Here, let me help.
Lola then picked up Lana and swam her to the service as she was slightly stronger in the water.
Later, Lana returned to her forest. She tended to the mudhole (that meaning ruling in it) when she heard someone coming out of the deep parts of the forest. She looked up and looked around.
Lana: Anyone there? Is it you Lynn?
Then out of the shadows came out three male goblins. Lana was surprised and a bit suspicious.
Lana: What are you doing here?
Goblin 1: Hear us out! We are from that tribe you escaped from but we left them shortly after you escaped. The chieftain was really not happy with what happened and we felt it was best to leave.
Lana: Well, why come here?
Goblin 2: We...don't have anywhere else to go. You know people still see us as savages and this area seemed the safest since they let any peaceful monster in.
Lana: True. But how can I trust you after how you guys treated me?
Goblin 3: We were just following orders. We have no reason to do the same things now.
G2: I mean originally we use to treat our few females better than how the chieftain did with you.
G1: Anyway, we brought an offering to help make amends with you. We know you loved the animals there so we at least got this one.
The goblin showed her a live frog. She squeed for joy.
Lana: Awesome!
She took the frog and hugged it.
Lana: Alright. You guys can go talk with the humans in the castle and they will help you.
G1: Ummm...about that...
Lana: Scared to talk to them? Fine. I'll help you though there.
Later, Lana led the other goblins to the town. She was still not sure if she could trust them completely but with others around, she felt they would not try anything. The male goblins were surprised to see so many monsters living side by side with humans. They see orcs, fairies, driders and even zombies. They then pass the main plaza where it looked like something was happening.
G1: What's happening here?
Lana: They're getting ready for our first founding festival. My sister Luan is in charge of this.
G2: Other female goblins?
G3: I think she means other monster girls like that centaur and slime.
G2: Oh. Get my hopes up why don't ya?
G3: How many adopted sisters do you have?
Lana: Nine and one human brother. One of them I see as a possible twin even if shes a mermaid.
Then they see a human knight come towards them.
Lana: Sup, Clyde the Cautious.
Clyde: Still not sure if I like that title. So who do we have with you today?
Lana: Some stray goblins who came to me. Of course, I'm not sure if I trust them but...
G1: We gave you a frog! What more do you want from us?
Clyde: Calm down! If you want a place in this kingdom you have to go through customs. Then you can find work to contribute here. What can you goblins do?
G1: I was the handler for the animals.
G2: I rode them to battle. Mostly wolves.
G3: Scout!
Clyde: We could use some with talents like that.
Lana: But be nice to the animals. I saw what you guys did at your camp.
G2: Noted.
Lana: By the way, I was wondering why you brought a frog in particular.
G1: Back at our home, you kept going on about stuff. One of them was about a frog you called "Hops" and I thought we could get on your good side with another frog.
Lana: I said that? I don't remember another frog but that is what I would call one. That's an awesome name!
G3: Do we really need jobs?
Clyde: You need everyone to pull their weight for our peaceful kingdom. It will also help you gain trust with us.
G3: (groan) Fine!
Then Lamia Lori walked by.
Lori: Her, sir Clyde!
Clyde waved back to her greeting but then noticed his nose bleeding and covered it.
Clyde: Dang it! Why does that keep happening when she's around?
Later that day, two of the goblins were put to work at the stables to care for the animals and animal-like monsters. G1 was with Centaur Leni using a hoof pick to clean under her hooves. She giggled a bit as it tickled her.
Leni: You are so nice at doing this. It feels like a pedicure but for my hooves.
G1: I don't know what that is. Anyway, I'm good with animals as I said to the others. I can be gentle with them, unlike others who might end up killing them.
Leni: Well, when you're done make sure to put in these.
Leni showed him some shiny horseshoes.
Leni: Aren't they fab? They will look great on me.
G1: You do know that no one will see them, right?
Then they hear some commotion and see it's G2 wrestling with Werewolf Lynn.
G2: I told you, you need a bath!
Lynn: NEVER!
Leni: Wow, your friend is tough to take on Lynn.
G1: He's dealt with worse...I think. I mean you were harsh when you escaped from our camp. I think one or two were trampled by you.
Leni: I didn't mean to! I was in a hurry! Also, your chieftain was mean to Lana. Why did you have a leader like that?
G1: I...
G1 nor any other goblin ever thought of this before.
G1: Now that you mention it, I don't know. It's just always been that way.
Lana then walked up.
Lana: Well, you could have done better. Maybe have a leader that cared about his own people. I mean I remember how your guy's complaint about him. How he hogged all the resources and sent you to suicide missions.
G1 understood what they meant and took a moment to think about it.
Then night came and Lana led the goblins to a rocky clearing near the mountains.
Lana: You sure you're fine camping here?
G1: We were from a cliffside camp so we're used to this terrain.
Lana: Well, you guys did well today. I was surprised one of you were able to bathe Lynn.
G2 had lots of scratches on his body.
G2: Was not a walk in a flower field. I can tell you that much.
G3: All I did was scout the border near Ivcia. Those guys must really hate you if you're being this cautious.
Lana: Well, you did alright for me. Maybe I shouldn't have been so hard on you.
G1: Good to hear you say that.
Lana soon left them and that night the goblins were talking with each other.
G3: (groan) That was an ordeal! Well, we learned all we needed from this land. Let's get back to the chieftain.
G2: Yeah, I'm done playing nice to these people. I think what we know now will help make a plan for the tribe to get that rowdy female back to camp and maybe raid some of the place.
But just when the two goblins were getting ready to go they notice the other one did not pack.
G3: What are you doing? We said we're leaving!
G1: Umm...I don't think I want to.
G2: What?!
G1: Well, this place and the people here are nice. Do you really want to go back to the old ways?
G2: What are you saying? You would turn your back on the tribe and your chieftain?
G1: Why is he chieftain anyway? I don't remember why and all he does is treat us like slaves and hog all the resources. Not to mention he would keep the fe...No...keep Lana and any other female to himself.
Then G2 pushed G1 down on the ground and G3 out a knife to his thought.
G3: What you just said was pure treason! Now you've become a liability and must be dealt with!
G2: Wait, do we have to kill him?
G3: He's siding with this kingdom. We can't let him tell anyone what we're planning.
G2: Well, how can we be sure no one will know about this?
?: Too late.
The goblins were jump-scared by Vampire Lucy who was right behind them. G2 and G3 tried to attack her but Lucy waved her hand channeling something that put them to sleep.
Lucy: Be lucky they will want to know what you know.
G1 then got up.
G1: When did you get here?
Lucy: Lana asked me to watch what you three did alone here.
G1: I guess she still didn't trust us fully.
Lucy: Well, not those two but you might have a chance.
The next day, G1 and Lana outside the castle meeting with Lincoln and Clyde.
Lincoln: We will find out what these jerks and their chieftain were planning.
Clyde: Lynn is going to interrogate them.
Lynn was getting her claws ready.
Lynn: If that one goblin thinks I gave him scarred just wait!
G1 felt bad that things did not turn out well for his former friends.
G1: Lana, I'm sorry for everything. You probably still don't trust me.
Lana: Actually, you proved you could be trusted. Unlike the others, you truly turned a new leaf.
Lincoln: Indeed. If one out of three can choose a better life here then who knows who we can convert next.
G1 smiled happily.
G1: Thank you! I just wish my partners could also see there is not just one way to live their lives.
Leni then came up.
Leni: I'm so glad you're staying. I need to keep my new shoes sparkling.
G1: Again, no one can see them! But one more thing, Lincoln.
Lincoln: What is it?
G1: I heard something you might need to know before we came here. It seems it's not just that neighboring human kingdom that hates you. There an alliance of monsters that hate you too.
Lincoln: What? Are you sure of that?
G1: Yeah! They offered our tribe a place with them before we left. Not sure if the chieftain joined, however. All I know is they are planning something big.
The group was worried about this. Now they know that not only humans of Ivcia would be a problem but a group of human-hating monster does too.
to be continued...?