She could hear the rain. That was the first thing she registered. It was still dark all around her but she could hear the rain perfectly. It was coming down heavily, hitting branches of trees and the ground with all its might. Yet… she didn't feel it on herself. If anything, she could feel warmth. It was faint, but it was present.

She opened her eyes slowly, finding she was in a tent. It was bigger than the ones she remembered survivors used. Least, that's what it seemed like. Either way, it explained why she wasn't getting wet. As for the warmth, she noted a thermal stone had been placed near her abdomen and she had a blanket over her.

How… did I get here? Last I remember I was in a fight with…

She hissed as she remembered the battle.

Cato… That scum. He cheated. Using nightmare monsters to attack me in mass after paralyzing me with that strange power of his. If he had some dignity he would've just defeated me himself, the coward.

She lowered her head, a frown crossing her face.

But it was still a loss… I've never lost fights yet I lost this one. Maxwell would not be pleased. Thank goodness I don't have to answer to him anymore. He'd probably have my head.

She sat up, wincing a bit, feeling her injuries from the battle. Though upon examining them she noted they were bandaged and some were healed.

How…?

"Squeak!"

She jumped, looking down to the source of the sound, seeing a fawn with one eye looking up at her.

"Squeak!"

She blinked, staring at it before recognition flashed.

"... Deerclops?" She asked as the fawn nodded.

"Squeak!"

"What are you doing here? You should be terrorizing survivors."

The deerclops lowered his head, showing he had injuries on him.

"Squeak…"

She frowned at this.

"You were hurt too… And considering you're a fawn that means you were slain. You poor thing."

The deerclops sighed before going up to her, holding up his arms.

"Squeak?"

Her eyes widened a bit.

"M-Me..?"

The deerclops whimpered. She scooped him up into her arms.

"Shh… No need for tears."

"Squeak…" The deerclops huddled closer, nuzzling her.

"It's okay now. We're both safe here."

I think. I have no idea who patched us up or whom this tent belongs to. I really am not sure if I should be scared or thankful to whoever rescued us.

"Honk?"

"Rawr?"

The Grue jumped again as she noted two other creatures that made themselves present before her. She recognized them easily. It was the bearger and goose moose and just like deerclops, they were their smaller sizes.

"Good heavens what happened to you?" She asked, frowning as she noted they too had injuries. The Grue hesitated a bit before offering her free arm to them as they huddled close to her.

"Shh… Shh. It's okay."

They all kept silent, staying close to her, closing their eyes. She kept silent as well, stroking their heads gently.

"I'll keep you safe. No need to fear."

"Honk."

"Rawr."

It was silent as they kept close together, save the rain beating against the tent. Then footsteps were heard as someone entered, a cloak over them so their face couldn't be seen.

"Giants! I'm back!" They said, closing the tent flap. "And I found dragonfly-" The person stopped short as they took note the Grue was awake, their eyes wide under the hood of the cloak.

She looked at the person, her arms wrapping a bit tighter around the giants, hissing a little.

"Who are you?"

The person stood silent, frozen in place before reaching a hand up, removing their hood, revealing their face, a sad expression present on it.

"Grue, it's me."

Her hostile look faded away to one of shock. The giants in her arms squeaking happily at the sight of them.

"My King?" She asked unable to hide the shock. "I had no idea you survived."

Maxwell shrugged, making his way over to her.

"I kept as low as I could. Really didn't want attention after the whole dethroning incident. Had an injury to tend to and plans to make. Plans I gave up on because I didn't see the point in even trying. Then of course trouble decided to show his face and I had to worry about my creations going extinct. Thankfully." He showed a small dragonfly in his arm. "I was able to save all of them."

"I can only guess who was slaying all of them." Her gaze softened at the exhausted dragonfly clinging to Maxwell's arm with her claws. "Oh, the poor thing…"

"Creee…?"

Maxwell frowned, stroking dragonfly's head.

"There was blood everywhere in her nest. Lot of her eggs got left behind too. Poor thing put up her best fight but in the end…" Maxwell growled. "Cato beat her mercilessly."

The Grue growled a bit.

"He's really going all out isn't he? Slaying the giants, attacking me… He's lost whatever was left of his mind!"

"That he has." Maxwell set the dragonfly down in a small bed, tucking her in. He lowered his head, running a hand through his hair. "I should've killed him when I had the chance but I didn't and now he's doing all this… It's all my fault."

"My King, he kicked you when you were down. This is not your fault-"

"If I hadn't done what I had you wouldn't be weak! The giants wouldn't have been harmed!" Maxwell gripped at the ground a little. "I… I just don't know what I'm doing anymore…"

The Grue was shocked at this. She had seen Maxwell upset before but… this confused? Hardly ever. Regret? A rarer sight than that. She set the giants in her arms down, making her way over to him, touching his shoulder.

He froze up at the touch, looking to her with surprise in his eyes.

"My King, I've never seen you this upset… But.." She squeezed his shoulder a little. "If it makes any difference to you, I gave up my anger long ago. You weren't well."

Maxwell's eyes grew wider, his hand coming over hers.

"I… I don't understand. I've mistreated you so much over the years. Especially what I subjected you to in regards to Charlie. How… How could you not be wanting to rip my throat out? I deserve every last bit of your rage."

Confusion came to her eyes, tilting her head a bit.

"Why would I want to rip your throat out? Admittedly, I did feel anger… but I remembered the time we had before that. I remember the conversations between hunts. I remember those times when everyone in the land looked up to and respected you… and I know part of you is still that."

Maxwell stared at her, disbelief crossing his face.

"Even after all I've done… how in all this world can you look past my actions?"

The Grue looked down at the ground, falling quiet for a moment.

"Because I still care for you. I'm still loyal to my king."

Maxwell was silent, looking at her carefully, before moving her hand away from his shoulder… before bringing both his arms around her, hugging her close to him, burying his face a little in shadow hair.

The Grue froze a little stunned at this before bringing her arms around him, running her hand through his hair.

"My King…"

"Grue… Why? Why?"

She was silent, trying to find an answer to Maxwell's question… yet she found herself unsure of the answer. Being loyal to Maxwell was all she ever knew. It was her purpose since her creation. Then again… maybe that was part of it.

"... You and I are the only ones of our kind." She huddled closer. "All my life, I knew my purpose was to be by your side. Protect you, tend to the land and hunt. That's all my life has ever been. But it was all worth it to serve you. Now that that's gone… I… I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to be anymore myself. So… I… I think I understand what you're going through. I lost a fight. Something that's never happened before. I really don't know where to go from here… I…" She bit her lip. "I just don't want to be left alone."

Maxwell was quiet, tightening his arms around her. He pulled back a bit gazing into her eyes.

"Then if I may have one selfish wish… Will you continue to be by my side as… as my equal?"

Her eyes widened at this.

"Maxwell…"

"I mean that with every last word, my dear." Maxwell lowered his head. "Truth is, I planned on just being alone myself. I thought if I just spent the rest of my existence alone I would be fine. I wouldn't get hurt. Yet… I just felt empty. Nothing. Then, when I saw what Cato had done to you and the giants, I felt the need to protect. To have you all with me. Because… you're all I have left of my reign and… I… I don't think I could bear losing the last of things that meant something to me. I already lost enough. So please… please accept my offer. I… I don't want to be alone… I… I don't want to be nothing."

The Grue went quiet before she nodded, a small smile coming to her face.

"I'd love that. That would mean everything to me."

Maxwell sighed in relief, bringing her close once more.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, my king." She hugged him tightly. "Max…"

"Grue…" Maxwell stroked her hair, gazing down at her. "Hm, though I believe there are some changes to be made. You can't walk in the light like that."

"It would be the end of me."

"Then I have a solution if you will let me."

The Grue was quiet, giving a nod, gulping a bit.

"Yes." She took a deep breath. "I will."

"Very well." Maxwell moved his hands to her face, closes his eyes.

Magic surged from his hands and into her body. She let out a gasp as her form changed. Shadow becoming skin, real hair forming on her head and as a final touch, a beautiful gray and black dress with a small hat with a red feather to match appeared on her body.

"There, finished." Maxwell pulled back gently.

The Grue looked down at her new appearance, feeling energized. She smiled taking in the details on her dress and running her hand through her hair.

"Maxwell, this is incredible!"

He smiled gently.

"I wasn't sure if the spell would work but it's something I worked on a while back. It was designed to be a reverse spell for those I turned into nightmare monsters. I tweaked it a little so now I can use it on anything."

She grinned, throwing her arms around him.

"Oh darling, thank you!"

Maxwell felt his face heat up a bit.

"Y-You're welcome… and I do have an idea for a proper name if you wouldn't mind it."

"Let's hear it."

He held her close.

"Scarlet."

"Scarlet…" She smiled, resting her head on Maxwell's shoulder. "I like it."

Maxwell rested his head against hers.

"I'm so glad." He closed his eyes. "Neither of us will have to be alone anymore."

"It sounds wonderful."

"It's something… I haven't wanted in a long time. Not since Lux and Aharon died... I guess… This was something I forgot during all that time on the throne. I was so busy trying to keep the nightmare monsters in line I forgot that I had you with me. Through thick and thin you were there and I took it all for granted."

Scarlet curled up against him, sighing in content.

"I'll always be here for you, Maxwell. That's one thing that won't change. I promise."

Maxwell looked down at her. He hadn't felt this way in a long time.

To have company and enjoy it. To want others around… To feel… safe.

He held her closer, bringing his cloak around them both.

"Then I promise I'll do what I can to take care for you… and treat you better than I have in recent years. I want to make it up to you Scarlet."

Scarlet looked up at him, smiling softly.

"You already are doing that, my king. Thank you for this chance."

Maxwell smiled as well, resting his head against hers.

"Anything for you, my queen."