Alright! I'm back! I think so anyway.
Do I have an excuse? Ahahaha! Nope!
I got a job at a Chick-Fil-A, and also, I got college, in like, two days. I'm hella busy, but at this point, when am I not? At the very least, I can make time to finish this fanfic, and I sure as hell will NOT abandon this like I did with the last one. My pride really cannot handle that.
I'm gonna be reviewing the characters again…over the months, I uh…MIGHT have forgotten some things.
Anyway, here's a princess committing petty theft.
There wasn't a single word that could describe the depression that fell upon the Mathers' mansion.
Mostly because everyone was crazy and dealt with anxiety in different ways, but that's besides the point.
Poor Rem put herself into overdrive to her job. She was diligent in her work, almost as if she was trying to distract herself with the hole in her chest. She barely even responded to Roswaal or Ram, as throughout the entire day, she was…muttering to herself. For once, Ram showed genuine concern, and yet, understanding.
Ram herself was bored. A sort of boredom that no book, no activity, could sate. That was normal, but soon enough, it showed in the fruits of her labor. Rem had to pick up from her slack, which, given her own situation, she had no complaints over. It only started to be commented on by the next meal.
"...errr…Ram?" The raven haired boy muttered as he looked at the plate with the…steamed potato. "I can't help but notice that your meals are a bit- RRMF?!"
And to shut him up, Ram silently shoved a piece of hot potato. She was driven deeper into sadness when she realized that she didn't feel the same amusement as before when Barasu panicked at the burning hot morsel in his mouth.
Beatrice didn't even leave her room anymore. The only times she ever opened the door was to swipe a defenseless Puck out of the hallway. He would only come out the next morning, asking everyone where she got the obsession to make paper figurines all over the place.
No one in the castle was dumb enough to question it.
And Emilia…
Emilia played with her meal, her fork poking at a…slightly stale piece of chicken. No doubt, it was a failed attempt at the glory of the first one. Still, her tired and weary expression showed no room for talk. Subaru couldn't even find it in himself to comfort her.
After all, she had no one to tell that she was forced to abandon her poor cat army. What sort of leader was she?
Yes…all of this because of one thing.
"I can't believe you lost the metia, Barasu."
And immediately, the aura of defeat befell most of them, except Roswaal, who looked at his guests and staff in utter confusion. Subaru was the loudest of them all, as he covered his head in his arms.
"I KNOW, I KNOW, I JUST- ARRGGGGGHHH!"
His pain was felt with the others…though for completely different reasons.
Subaru had too much on that phone to be comfortable with. Too many entries with loops. Too much information. If someone had found it, and if the curse extends that far…
He was hoping that the fact that it was a different language would save him. But in any case, he was on the verge of death. He was crawling with anxiety ever since he was forced to return home.
The feeling of euphoria was present among all the people. The carcass of the White Whale remained under the massive remains of Flugel's Tree. Such connections formed under it, and Crusch herself was satisfied with it.
As everyone had started to leave for the next mission, Subaru and Rem had ridden together. The blue haired maid had wrapped her arms around Subaru's midsection, closing her eyes contently, as she wrapped herself around his waist. She noted how light and smooth he was to the touch…she was thankful that there wasn't something too big in his pockets, or else it would have been a little uncomforta-
…
…Rem, as her mind processed something, started feeling Subaru's pants, much to his embarrassment.
"R-Rem, I'm trying to ride he-"
"Subaru-kun, where is the metia."
"..."
The silence was deafening upon the plains. Not even the footsteps of the dragon herself could cut the tension. And suddenly, Subaru yanked, cursing loudly.
"SHIT SHIT SHIT IT MUST HAVE DROPPED SOMEWHERE! I'M SORRY REM, BUT WE HAVE TO-"
"FASTER!"
…Subaru didn't dare ask why Rem seemed to be taking this more seriously than he was, especially when she forced a switch, putting him in the back as she forced herself in the front, much to Patrasche's dismay. He had a reason to worry too. And as they sped back, they diligently searched, even as daylight started to wane.
It was even harder, since the grass looked all the same. They searched desperately for the phone, only for Subaru to collapse from exhaustion. By the time they had given up, it was already well into the night.
"...Subaru-kun…"
"We have to keep…looking…" Subaru panted as he could barely stand. The fatigue from the battle had caught up with him as he worked himself tirelessly. Rem gave a grimace.
"...Subaru-kun…please, we have to get home. Surely, the rest are looking for us…"
That was a lie. At this point, they most likely have returned too, expecting Subaru to do the same. The plan to confront the Archbishop had been halted, as…more pressing matters, according to Subaru, had been found.
"...what am I going to do, Rem?" The boy sounded so defeated, as he looked up into the dark night. "What if someone took it already? The things they could DO with that thing…"
…now that had brought a shiver down Rem's spine. That was a true worry. The light box was capable of telling the position of the White Whale. It told stories unknown to this world, music unknown to her ears, and entertainment she could never get over. Someone could use it for bad. Someone could waste the energy.
Someone could even delete her picture books. And that was an unforgivable sin to Rem. She stood up, trying to lift Subaru on her shoulder.
"...we can send someone along the way. Perhaps we can ask for Crusch-sama's assistance? Or perhaps Roswaal-sama knows something…"
…even though she didn't have much hope about it, she was trying to hold onto something. Subaru finally gave in, and allowed himself to be carried back and rode away.
A loud bang on the table had alerted everyone and brought Subaru out of his depression. Ram seemed to be seething, a rare moment of obvious emotion on her face. It was understandable…after all, that stupid light box of Barasu's had ruined the peace of silence forever.
Ram would never forgive him for that.
…even if she was the one that went snooping in the first place.
"We need to get it back. Tomorrow, we are going to Crusch-sama."
…no one wanted to argue. The prospect of having their precious light box back had already garnered full support.
"...wait, why are you all so serious about this?" …Subaru shook his head and furrowed his brows. Sure, metias were special…but all they should know is that it tells the time of the White Whale. Without knowledge, people would be hard pressed to get anything useful from it.
…and the entire table blanched, before looking away, trying to find an excuse. Rem was the first one to speak.
"I-If I may, Subaru-kun…it was a big help in searching for the White Whale!" She was grasping at the biggest straw in the bucket.
"...because it told a special time?"
"..." Rem shrunk and squeaked. She couldn't…exactly say anything without revealing too much. "...yes?"
"That isn't the point, Barasu!" Ram slammed her fist on the table, making the boy flinch in surprise. "The point it, we are going to get our- YOUR metia back! It is much too risky to have such an artifact out in the open!"
…for once, Subaru couldn't argue with that. He had information in there. Information that wasn't in a language Lugnica knew…but he didn't want to risk it.
He would never forgive himself if anyone died for his folly.
"...got it. We're going tomorrow."
A full search party had been unanimously ordered. And they were going to get allies, whether they wanted to or not.
"...thiiiis may be a bad tiiiiiiiiimmmee…" Roswaal munched on the steamed tatoes. "...but do you have seconds?"
…the little princess immediately shut the door as she closed her eyes. Anastasia had…a busy day.
After all, when the plan to attack the cult had been called off, everyone was understandably disappointed. Even she was, but she wanted to at least keep her life another day.
She had heard of why. Natsuki-kun had lost his metia, somewhere in the grass. For other's it was a stupid reason…but for a business woman such as Anastasia?
…Anastasia had a little grin on her face as she gingerly pulled out…a familiar metal box in her hands, a half eaten appa on the back.
She WAS the reason. And while she was ashamed to admit it, she was NOT ashamed to know the amazing things that could come out of this.
She's heard from Felt-chan about this metia able to CAPTURE AND STORE MOMENTS IN TIME. Then, she heard that it told the exact time the White Whale attacked. And apparently, Crusch-sama recognized it as a truth.
She was, of course, disappointed when the offer to buy the metia from Natsuki-kun was denied with anxiety from the boy…but.
She was not anyone from the Mathers' mansion. She was not the honorable Crusch-sama.
The gains ABSOLUTELY outweighed invading a little bit of privacy.
"Now…"
She looked at the black screen in confusion, seeing the reflection of her curious face in it.
"...how do I make you work?"
…
…
…it was getting very hard now.
It's been a few hours now since Anastasia had turned on the metia. Upon pressing random buttons, she found the lock screen, and went through the same process.
Swipe right. Look at many boxes.
…and fathom the sheer idiocy that the Mather's mansion has been looking at.
Of course, there were different tastes here…it was clearly not Natsuki-kun alone who had been using this. Inappropriate pictures of a couple holding hands and locking lips? How unsightful! Leave them be!
And then these moving pictures! These…admittedly hilarious moving pictures. What purpose did they serve? She had to stop herself from laughing of course, but what other purpose did they serve to entertain?
…was that all they did with this priceless tool? ENTERTAIN THEMSELVES? What a waste!
She shook her head in disappointment, going through the rest of the boxes.
…but none of them really caught her eye.
"...is…this it?"
She was excited at first when she saw so many places to store information…but she only found information that meant NOTHING to her at the moment.
How was a princess like her supposed to capitalize over moving pictures? She had no idea how to put sound in a box. She had no idea how to make something that captures time. She didn't even know how to make something that emanated a bright light such as…
…this…chat-board thing. Why was it so damn bright? She had to turn it off for a few minutes to get her sight back!
In her frustration, she tried with a couple more boxes…before she groaned and threw the fragile metia onto her bed. No use. It was…definitely interesting, but nothing to help her out in any way.
…and then she saw a new box. A box on the third swipe…it looked like a blue ball. With patches of green.
"...huh? What's this…?" She muttered to herself as she pressed it…
…and the ball had enlarged, to the point it covered the entire screen. Her eyes widened in interest, before she tried to swipe.
…the ball rotated with those movements. She swiped in different directions, and the ball followed. A…night sky was in the background, with countless stars. She was looking at it for a bit, before she shook her head.
It was definitely pretty…but not much she can do with it, huh? Still, she tried to experiment more, using two fingers this time.
…her interest increased when the ball got bigger, and she saw…things on the ball. Her interest grew into curiosity when the green patches on the ball…revealed themselves to be vegetation. And even more when the vegetation gave way to…
…towered structures. There was a CIVILIZATION here.
And when she zoomed in more, to see what kind of towers…she was enthralled.
It was more than a civilization.
It was the FUTURE.
Her eyes sparkled, almost in childlike wonder as she saw the massive towers touching the skies, endless lights with colorful pictures, amazing streets with metal boxes on wheels going everywhere.
There was no doubt that this had something to do with Natsuki-kun. Was this where he came from? This…
…this is what Lugnica should be. She could already see it. The people, in their smiling expressions, walking along the brick streets, extravagant markets and a bustling business.
And the towers…the mark of absolute success. Challenging the heavens as they reach up to the gods themselves.
Scraping the sky with mankind's knowledge. Ah yes. 'Skyscrapers'. That's what she'll call them. And everyone will know that she's the one that made the term, when she, as the selected Royal Candidate, turns Lugnica into what it was always meant to be.
The future is so bright now. She could see it now! The advancements, the joy, the intellect, the MONEY THAT WOULD LINE HER POCKETS DEAR GODS-
She cleared her throat, and wiped the drool from her mouth, and continued searching.
This metia was probably the most valuable thing in the world. As much as she admired Natsuki-kun for his actions…
…he was a MASSIVE idiot to ever lose this thing in the first place. Oh well. Her's now.
My brain trembles. Mostly from all the caffeine I've been drinking.
…oh how his mind trembled…
…mostly his eye. In annoyance, as Betelguese stared into the distance.
He had already gotten news that the boy had destroyed the white whale, and had awaited to meet him. He had been preparing so much! He had been waiting for TOO LONG to feel the love of the witch!
And he dismisses this?! Was he MOCKING him?! Was he, the Archbishop of Sloth, not worth it?!
"...ahahaha…ahahahahaha! AHAHAHA! I SEE! I SEE I SEE I SEE!" Betelguese cackled almost maniacally as he almost ripped into his head, his eyes bulging out as he stared into the sky, as if asking the witch for answers. "IT IS A MERE TEST OF PATIENCE! THE BELIEVER OF LOVE WANTS TO TEST ME FOR MY LOYALTY! AHAHAHAHAHAH!"
It was almost insulting. He dedicated himself to the witch and her revival, and he DARES to spit in his face and NOT COME?
No. Absolutely not. He would NOT allow this!
"Subaru Natsuki…" The archbishop almost seethed, before cracking his head back in place, walking back into the cave. "...you truly are slothful."
But even in the depths of insanity, the thought bugged him. Wouldn't HE be the slothful one, just by waiting for a boy that didn't show up?
Ahahaha…ahahahahaha!
"My brain trembles…" He reached up into the sky, the forces he's been calling upon unresponsive. "Oh dear…please forgive the slothfulness that has led me astray, to not further our cause and repay your love!" He laughed in a craze, as if he's found something out.
"That's it! LOVE! WE SHALL REPAY LOVE WITH LOVE! AHAHAHAHAHA!"
That's the plan now. If the boy didn't come to him…then he would go to the boy.
After all, love between those under the witch, would mean a timely visit, right?
"Now…now, now, now, now, now…" He looked around frantically, as if searching the depths of his mind.
"Wait for me, believer of love."
No, I don't have an excuse. I'm tired, but reading my fanfic made me want more.
So, here's a gift! I shall now do the next chapter. I'll totally do the homework at some point :3
…also, Google Earth is awesome. I love Google Earth.
