I do not own Chaotic nor anything related to it. It belongs to TCDigital.

-[]-[]-[]-

The Crown Prince

-[]-[]-[]-

Time 14:

I already have some impression of what Prince Iflar looked like from his card in the game. Seeing a card image is very different from the real thing, though.

Prince Iflar almost looks albino. His thin muscular body is covered in stark white scales, he has six, maybe more long horns crowning his head, and his narrow eyes are pale blue. His claws, however, are a grayish-blue, and holy crap, I'd never noticed before on the card that Prince Iflar had hair. Long, dark brown hair! On a Mipedian!

Iflar is wearing a sort of blue metal armor with golden trim and studded with sapphires. It looks more ceremonial than practical, but as the prince walks by I can see nicks and cracks in it. This armor has definitely been worn into battle.

Iflar steals a few glances at the crowd as he walks. He doesn't look surprised by the Humans who have come to see him, and soon I see why. Following the prince is a procession of creatures, and a few of them are Humans. Everyone looks beat up and exhausted, and many of the Humans are thin, like they had little to eat for a long time. Their faces are all bright, though, as if coming here was the best thing to happen to them ever. Which, well, might actually be the case.

Oh, crap, the Mipedians are bowing. I bow as well.

"Iflar!" a joyful voice booms from the palace gates. King Theb-sarr strides out of the palace with a wide grin and arms spread wide.

Prince Iflar's pace quickens, and the two royal Mipedians collide and embrace. "Hello, Father," Iflar's rough voice greets.

Theb-sarr sounds like he's choking back tears. "It's so good to finally see you again."

Iflar releases his hold on his father and drops to one knee. "Father, I beg your forgiveness for being away longer than expected. Forty days ago my team stumbled across a crude settlement during our return here."

Theb-sarr glances at the Humans in the group Iflar had brought. "I take it these Humans you brought with you are the people of that settlement?"

"What?" a growling voice shouts from the palace. Prince Mudeenu appears through the palace doors. "Please don't tell me more Humans are being brought to Al Mipedim!"

Iflar presses his lips together, closes his eyes, and takes in and lets out a deep breath. "Yes, Mudeenu. I have brought these Humans with me. They would have died out in the desert if we hadn't come along."

Prince Mudeenu storms up to the other two royals. "Oh, and instead of leaving then to their own devices, which you should have done, you decided to herd the pests to the capitol city?" Mudeenu glares at the Humans that Iflar took with him. "We have enough of that trash as it is, Brother."

I hear murmurs spread through the gathered crowd. Prince Iflar raises his lips and bares his teeth before leaning forward and pushing his muzzle into Mudeenu's face. "I'd expect you of all creatures to recognize how powerful a force a helping hand can be. I will do what I deem is right to do." Iflar leans further forward, forcing Mudeenu to take a step back. Iflar laces his voice with vemon as he growls, "Do you understand, Cousin?"

Mudeenu's eyes widen, and he opens his mouth to speak. Theb-sarr steps forward and places his hands on Mudeenu and Iflar's chests. "Both of you, stop it," he says as he pushes them apart. "The time for discussion will come later." He places his hands on Iflar's shoulders. "What's important is that you are finally with us again, even if it is a month later than planned."

Theb-sarr turns to the crowd. "Tonight is a glorious night, my people! When the sun drops below the horizon tomorrow, the palace grounds will be ready for a grand celebration, and everyone may attend!" He grabs Iflar's hand and raises it to the sky. "To Iflar!"

"To Iflar!" I shout, along with just about every Mipedian in attendance.

The crown prince bashfully nods to the crowd. "My thanks for your... energetic welcome, though I fear my ears may need to recover from your cheers."

The crowd laughs, and Iflar and Theb-sarr turn to the palace and walk inside, with Mudeenu following them in a huff.

-[]-[]-[]-

After the excitement about Iflar's return dies down, everyone's focus turns to the Humans that had accompanied him. There were many questions, such as how they had survived on their own and whether the journey had been hard. I, however, am looking for one Mipedian in particular. Maliph and Malvadine will be guarding the prince, so...

"Ah, Michael," Shasta exclaims when he sees me. "Imagine that! Prince Iflar arriving with a village of Humans! Sett really should have been here to see this."

I step next to Shasta and lower my voice. "How long exactly is Sett's sentence?"

Shasta grits his teeth. "With my refusal to press charges and Sett's record of service, it should only be a day, but he told me he refuses to leave."

"Are we allowed to visit?" I ask.

Shasta slowly nods. "I think employees are allowed to visit the inmates. It will have to wait until the morning, though."

I nod. "I'm going to convince Sett that punishing himself isn't going to help. Besides, he needs to welcome the prince back."

Shasta grits his teeth again. "Good luck. You know as well as I do that it's nearly impossible to change his mind."

I shake my head. "Shasta, Sett's not just punishing himself about what happened yesterday."

Shasta hangs his head. "I know..." He straightens up again. "Well, then there's something I can give you. It should help you convince Sett to give himself another chance."

-[]-[]-[]-

Up next: The Twelfth Time

-[]-[]-[]-

Like I said before, Chaotic belongs to TCDigital.

If you like the story, please follow and leave a review!