CH12

= Jade: Be the adult

It's been about twenty hours since Jake and and the older Strider departed. A part of me is very excited to go through with this, but a larger part of me worries for what is to come. It's strange that whatever is happening at the castle is staying there. No ransoms or even people getting suspicious over the lack of activity from the king. Whoever is causing all of this is trying to keep it away from the public eye but why though. They should know that if someone were to attack the kingdom that ours would stage our own attack. It was as if we were never considered a possible threat. Even though we were more known for being more adept fighters.

"Focus you two!" I realize that amnesiac John may not be the top notch prankster that non-amnesiac John is, but his cluelessness makes it easy for him to be distracted. And although Dave is helpful and probably a good fighter, he's the primary reason why John keeps getting distracted. I picked up the weapon I had quickly prepared for him and walk up to him. I place a long dark blue hammer into his hands, he had left this old one here after getting a new smoother one for his birthday last year.

"What is this?" John asks me.

"Going by what we know you still recognize more or less how to do things. Hopefully your body will remember how to use this. This was yours John."

"This was mine?" He swings the hammer forward a bit as he uses his left hand to slide his hand over it. His eyes light up as in recognition of the object that was a part of his forgotten past. He then hugs it as if it would disappear at any moment.

"Do you need some private time for you and your old friend?" I tease him when he closes his eyes. He pouts which causes me to burst out laughing. This is still John after all. His reactions are so childish.

"Maybe I do." He sticks his tongue at out me as the younger Strider arrives with the last of our food supplies. We plan on taking the more scenic route after all. We packed plenty to eat and drink so we don't have to purchase any for awhile. There strangely was a crate full of just apples. Obsessive much Strider?

"Are you going to cheat on me with a hammer?" He audaciously comments at John's ongoing display of affection for his hammer.

"Omigosh you two are awful!" John huffs and makes his way to our wagon. We were given the larger ride in order carry more and maybe even sleep inside of it. It was essential that we hide John as well since he was the primary target in all this. It also doesn't help that I'm well-known throughout both kingdoms due to my miraculous recovery of the old disease.

"You know you're cute when you're angry." Dave says as he slinks up to John. It's going to be difficult keeping these two in line.

=Jade: That's it. Let's go. Now.

Whats an hour head start? I order John to get into the back as I check the harness on Becquerel for the twenty fifth time. We made sure our costumes were in place. I had wrapped my hair up and covered it with a hat while John had put on a medium length blond wig. We were all dressed in seemingly basic travel clothes. We had to give the impression of traveling friends and not two royals sneaking through the woods.

"Onward boys!" I order as I take the harness and signal Becquerel to move.

=Jade: Enter the forest.

"We're on the back roads right?" I hear Dave ask from behind me.

"Yup. And if anyone asks we're on our way to visit some relatives or ours. And from now on my name is Valkin."

"Do we really need the fake names?" Dave asks.

"Code names are fun that's why! And it's an extra level of security," I huff in response.

"Can I be Wolf?" John chimes in with a childlike fervor I remember him having when he was younger. He had become more on edge since the incident with the overseas prince. It was nice hearing him in this tone again even if it was just because he's forgotten much of his life. And the promise we made. Scratch that I think I would prefer if he were to remember. John now might even be enough of a pushover to go along with the random demands of others.

"Why would you call yourself that?" I question since I would expect him to call himself Hercules or Harlequin out of fun. Then again the current John seems to lack much knowledge on certain things. Which is strange since he seems to acknowledge both his hate for cake and his love for his hammer even though he doesn't have the memories associated with those objects. Normal cases of amnesia wipe memories completely and some people even have a change in their preferences... maybe I'm just thinking too deeply into this.

"Because when we ran into one I managed to befriend it!" He happily tells me.

"You managed to befriend them? But you don't remember..."...the signal that we were taught to deal with the wolves. I shake my head. Concentrate on the mission. "Well I guess if things seem bad we can call some to help us."

"Really? We can do that?" I looked back at them to see their faces full of awe. John in particular had a giant exited smile plastered on his face.

"You already saw it happen once right?" Oh I can't wait to call some in the middle of the night just to mess with them.

= Jade: Be the exited little now blond haired amnesiatic teen in the carriage

I can't believe this is happening! So many of my questions have been answered. Just a few days I woke up not knowing who I was or if I even had somewhere to go back to or people to actually care if I was missing. But now not only do I have an identity but I have abilities that I can use to help others; those others being my own family. I clutch the long sturdy hammer in my hands and prepare myself for this journey. Hopefully I can remember more in these days before reaching the castle.

= John: Be an angry young man

I can't believe this! Those idiots! I set up the perfect plan and even bought those rare leaves in order to go through with this as quietly as possible! And what do they do?! They forget to lock the window! It's okay. All I have to do is get John back and make sure that they all drink the elixir. Then, I can carry on with my plan again.

"Your highness." I turn around to face my second-in-command. He has on a stern face and is holding two pieces of paper in his hands.

"What is it now Sollux?" I sigh as I sit down. This doesn't appear to be good news.

"Do you want the good news or the bad news first?" Well then.

"The good. I need something to go right today!" I sarcastically shout while waving my arms in the air.

"Equius's group seems to have made contact with John-"

"Did they get him?!" I abruptly cut him off. Finally!

"No. It seems that he's with company" What.

"WHAT?! But John doesn't interact with people outside the castle walls! His dad is too overprotective!"

"I guess he made some friends." Sollux shrugs. I sit back down haphazardly.

"Let me guess. They lost him AGAIN." I cross my arms already knowing the answer.

"Yep."

"Was that all?"

"No actually just a moment ago we received a letter from Kanaya too. They captured someone in connection with the people John is with now. They're bringing them here."

"This was suppose to be an inside operation! Why are so many outsiders getting involved?!"

"Sorry Your Highness. We really don't know how things got so out of hand." He sounds guilty but I can also hear the edge in his voice. He was opposed to this at first just like Kanaya and Feferi had been. But the others had agreed and supported me so here we are.

"Look just prepare for when the prisoner arrives. And make sure the King is still drinking his tea."

"Yes Kar."

...

...

So I'm sorry for disappearing for so long. I actually started writing another three stories for Homestuck. I'm also drawing a comic on my DeviantArt account for Fnaf along with other personal ones.