Chapter 5: Nocto Arrives

Back at the Rainbow Castle, Ecks, who was now wearing his pants and boots but was shirtless, was receiving a back massage from one of the guards.

"Yeah, that's the spot." Ecks sighed happily.

Then, Grizelda came over, wearing a maid outfit and carrying a platter that had a cup with a straw in it.

"Here's your smoothie, sir." she said.

Ecks took the cup, took a sip, and did a spit take.

"I asked for strawberry, not peach!" he ranted. "Can't you do anything right?!"

"I...I'm sorry, sir." Grizelda quavered. "I'll fix it for you."

"Yes, please do." Ecks snarled. "And you can have the rest of the peach one, if you want."

"Yes, sir." Grizelda nodded. "Thank you, sir."

With that, Grizelda went back to the castle kitchen.

"I guess Zee was right about Ecks still having some good in him." she told herself. "He may be a mean boss, but at least he's not too mean."

Soon, Grizelda had made the right smoothie and brought it to Ecks.

"Now that's more like it." he smiled as he took a sip. "Good work."

Later, Grizelda was watering some plants outside when she saw four Rainbow City citizens talking to each other. Curious, she moved in closer and soon could hear what they were talking about.

"I think we should sneak into his room at night and stab him." The first one said.

"Whoa, no way." the second one interjected. "That's way too messy. I think we should smother him."

"I don't think either of those ideas are good ones." the third piped up. "We just want him out of the kingdom, not dead."

"He's right." added the fourth. "Violence won't solve anything."

"Excuse me." said Grizelda. "What are you guys talking about?"

"We're planning to revolt against that Ecks guy." replied Number One.

"Yeah, he's a big bully." added Number Two.

"He destroyed my home!" said Number Three.

"And mine!" ranted Number Four.

"And he also ruined my beautiful pink crystal palace." Grizelda chimed in. "Now it's a disgusting pitch black! Not only that, but he's making me wear this ugly outfit and bossing me around! Now I know how my Grizmos feel."

"In that case, you want to be our leader?" Number One offered.

"Count me in." Grizelda replied.

"Great." said Number Two. "We'll talk more about this tomorrow."

"Alright." Grizelda affirmed.

The next day, a black horse rode into the kingdom. Its passenger, a figure clothed in a black cloak, dismounted and walked towards the castle. When the figure entered, Ecks went over to it.

"Welcome, Lord Nocto." he greeted. "We've been expecting you."

"So you have." Nocto agreed. "Is the ceremony ready?"

"Almost." replied Ecks.

"Good." Nocto grinned. "I'm really looking forward to watching the union of you and that girl."

Ecks' eyes widened with surprise.

"What "union"?" he questioned.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten already." Nocto snarled. "You and that girl are getting married."

Ecks was shocked to the core at this news.

"What?!" he cried. "You can't be serious, Master! You told me that this was going to be a coronation, not a wedding!"

"Don't worry." Nocto reassured. "That will come later. For now, you are to carry on with the rest of our plan. Is that clear?"

Ecks sighed.

"Yes, my Master." Ecks conceded.

"Good." Nocto sneered. "I'll leave you to it then."

Meanwhile, True was still in her cell in the dungeon when Ecks suddenly arrived.

"Let me in there." he commanded the guard who was guarding the cell.

The guard nodded and unlocked the cell door. Ecks walked inside and up to True.

"What do you want?" True questioned, giving cks a look of pure scorn.

"Nocto wants you and I to marry." Ecks confessed.

True was horrified.

"I can't get married!" she protested. "I'm only eight! And you're much older than me!"

"I know, I know." Ecks groaned. "Listen, I'm not too thrilled about this either, but he's my Master, so I must obey him. So, just play along with it, alright?"

"Alright." True nodded, although reluctant. "Say, you're Ecks, aren't you?"

"That's my name, don't wear it out." Ecks replied. "How do you know my name?"

"My friend Zee told me about you." True replied. "I'm True, by the way."

"Well, True, my soon to be wife, as I said, we must do what my Master says." said Ecks.

True nodded in agreement, and Ecks then left.

"I can't believe I'm going to be married to a girl who's much younger than me!" Ecks ranted to himself. "This is really weird. Then again, as I've already told her, what Master says goes."

And as Ecks prepared himself for the ceremony, he began questioning himself about what he was doing with his life.

End of Chapter 5