So sorry I couldn't update yesterday. I have written a new story, Prompts via My Reviewers, and that will take up some of my time. But here is chapter 10, and I hope you enjoy! Let's begin.
"Rose, it could be triggering to many people when you keep secrets. I advise that you tell us about these things, unless, of course, it is triggering." Kankri was, once again, ranting about triggers. Karkat and I ignored him.
"Where the fuck did this come from? And what, I'm the Knight of Blood? Real fucking funny Pyrope, calling the two mutants out!" he yelled.
"Stop." Everyone stopped talking and looked at the person who had interrupted us. The Signless, now standing, was looking at us through the bars with cherry red eyes. "Let me see the scroll, Karkat."
Karkat handed him the scroll, not saying a word. The same went for Kankri. The Signless's eyes scanned the paper, and we were speechless. The Disciple, Psionic, and Dolorosa gazed at the Signless, a faint smile on their lips. "I think you should listen to the Pyropes."
"What? Why the fuck should we?" Karkat asked, his former anger returning.
"If these girls are truly the heroes of Mind, then I think they are telling the truth."
"Bullshit, Terezi is a dumbass. Cackle cackle cackle, it's all she fucking does!" Karkat exclaimed, seething with rage.
"Sounds like your more concerned with your relationship issues, Mr. Vantas," the Disciple retorted. Karkat glared at her.
"Karkat listen." Karkat looked at the Signless. The Signless reached his arm through the bars and gently pet Karkats head. "You and your brother are special. The same goes for your friends. For years, I have tried to start a revolution, trying to bring peace an equality. But I have failed. Tomorrow I will die. But I will proudly sacrifice myself for my cause. Will you do the same?" Karkat didn't respond. "Please Karkat. Continue my preachings."
Karkat looked away, and muttered a barely audible, "Fine."
"Thank you. Truly." The Signless embraced Karkat through the bars.
"What about me, father?" Kankri asked.
"I knew you wouldn't refuse the chance to continue my teachings." The Signless hugged Kankri. "You know what you have to do. Good luck. I love you both." Karkat grumbled his reply, almost embarrassed, while Kankri nodded.
"Let's go. I think we should go talk to Terezi," Karkat said. We left the dungeon, and went back to Terezi's room. She was sitting on the floor, covering it chalk graffiti and dragon pictures.
She sniffed the air, and smiled. "Why hello Karkles. How are you today?"
Karkat dropped the scroll at her feet. "Explain. Now."
"I'm guessing you opened it immediately. You couldn't wait until tomorrow?"
"Do you think anyone will?" Sure enough, over the next five minutes, the other trolls arrived, all confused.
"Everybody listen up!" Latula called. Everyone quieted down. She spoke again, this time quieter. "We need to get to the court room. It's the only place we can speak in private. Now let's go." She took Mituna's hand and led everyone back to the court room. Everyone took a seat.
Before Terezi could speak, four figures came in. They were John, Dave, and the girls that I assumed were Jade and Jane. I looked closer, and saw that John was carrying Casey, whose black cloak was replaced with a blue one. "Hey rose!" John greeted. Casey waved.
"Hello John. Dave," I replied. Dave nodded in recognition. "How did you know that we would be meeting here?"
"Meenah told me. And tried to kill me," he added sheepishly. Meenah smiled, showing shark-like teeth. "It's great that most of the heroes are here. I bet we could beat Lord English now!"
"And get us all killed. How fucking stupid are you?" Karkat asked.
"Shouty is right. I think we're missing a few heroes," said Meenah.
"Wonderful. Can we move on?" No one replied to Terezi, and she continued. "We need to escape the castle. For most of us, it should be easy. But the lowbloods can't leave, and Feferi and Meenah would need to be escorted. The same goes for John and Jane. Not to mention how we don't even know where the cherubs are. Does anyone have any information?"
"I think I can help," Aradia said. "I believe Doc Scratch may have taken them. If you like, I could try to get them."
"Great! Now we need to plan an escape. I think we should be able to get out at the execution tomorrow. It's the only time we would all be free. I know that Rose, John, Jade, Jane, Feferi, and Meenah won't be available. Neither will Eridan, Cronus, Gamzee, or Kurloz. I'm almost certain the Condesce will want Karkat, Kankri, Sollux, Mituna, Nepeta, Kanaya, Meulin, and Porrim there. That leaves a few of us to get the cherubs and get the fuck out of here," Terezi explained.
"Damara and I could find the cherubs," Aradia offered.
"I could prepare our steeds for escape," said Equius.
"Wait. Who can unlock the prisoners?" Everyone looked at me. "Spades Slick was the man who brought me here. He was supposed to take me to the White Queen's castle, but I got him to bring me here instead because I promised to release his friends."
"Rose, I understand that you wish to uphold your promise. However, it would be better if we defeated the Condesce and Lord English. Then they would be released," said Kanaya, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"No. We should help them escape." Karkat looked at me. "I think it's the right thing to do. But how the fuck are we going to get the keys?"
"I could help with that," Jane said. "I have a gift that might help."
"Lil' Seb?" Dave asked. Jane nodded. "Yeah. Cool."
"Now we just need the full plan," said Terezi.
Over the next half hour, we planned our escape. It seemed like a fool-proof plan, but I had a sneaking suspicion that something was going to go wrong. It always seems to. After we planned tomorrow, John grabbed my hand and led me to his room. I was having a hard time covering the blush spreading across my face.
When we got to his room, he locked the door and exhaled loudly. "I swear, some of them are so annoying."
"You didn't have to spend the entire day with them," I pointed out.
He shrugged, then stood in front of me, tilting his head just to look at me. "Why is it that one of us is either too big or too small?"
"It is certainly a question that will be asked through the ages," I said with a smile.
"So true. So, do you believe you're the right Rose yet?" John asked.
"I still don't believe yet. But it's just a dream, right?"
John didn't answer, and instead muttered, "So you still think it's a dream."
We stood in awkward silence for a few more moments. "So they captured Casey."
"Yeah," John replied. "Dirk got Jake out of there though. There's still some hope." He paused. "Get it? Because Jake is the Page of Hope. Ha!"
I rolled my eyes. "Nice one, Egbert. What will I do with you?"
"Hold me and love me forever?"
"That could be manageable." We laughed. It felt nice. Like we weren't two people contributing to the fate of this dream world Underland, or we weren't committing treason. Like I couldn't be killed if someone found out my name, and I wasn't going into a battle when the time came. It was like being a child again.
Childhood. The thought spurred a memory. A dull memory, but still a memory. John, Dave, Jade and I were kids. Jade didn't have dog ears, and Dave was wearing black glasses. We were playing some sort of game, lost in the innocence of childhood. It felt real, too real to be a dream.
"Rose? Are you okay?" John asked, concern written all over his face.
"I'm fine. But did Dave ever wear black glasses. And did Jade not have dog ears?" I asked.
The faintest of smiles reached John's lips. "Yeah. I got Dave those glasses. He doesn't wear them because Lord English took over, and Jade only got dog ears a few years back. When her dog, Beq, merged with her to protect her is when she got dog ears. Why do you ask?"
I wasn't about to tell John about my vision. I trusted him, I really did. He was certainly close to me, but something kept me from telling him. "Just a vision. Don't worry." His smile evaporated.
"Oh. Alright. Well, I guess we should go to bed then. We have to be wide awake tomorrow if we want this to work."
"Right. Good night John." What followed was one of the most awkward hugs in history. That aside, I'm certain it left us both blushing.
I left the room as quick as possible. Before I closed the door, I heard him mutter, "Good night, Rose." Which only intensified the shade of red covering my face.
Shipping! Haha, yeah, its a good thing. Leave a review telling me if you liked it or not. Also, I don't know what story I want to write next. Here are the choices.
-Rose Through The Looking Glass (sequel to this story)
-Professor Layton and Homestuck crossover
-Appledash fanfiction
-Sdurb (a story about my six OC's playing their version of sburb)
Tell me, because I don't know which one I should write.
Alright, I'm out.