Chapter 4: Beyond these palace walls
The next morning it was a calm day in the castle as a young women that wasn't even human as shown by her fox tipped ears and nine fox tails dressed in a purple and green kimono was reading on the throne as her familiar a odd slime with green eyes was sleeping in her nest of her hair. Her name was Queen Bella and her familiar was named Skurd.
However her reading was interrupted when Sylvano stormed through the doors slamming them open pissed as he was burnt, plucked and his cloths ripped up as he stormed passed Bella "I NEVER BEEN HUMILIATED IN MY LIFE!" He barked confusing Bella as Skurd woke up with a start "Huh? Prince Sylvano leaving so soon?" She asked confused as the swan jabbed his finger in Bellas chest "Good luck marrying that brat off!" He barked leaving revealing his tornned pants. "Well that was one day" said Skurd as Bella gave a look "Stolas" she said as she and Skurd entered the garden where a owl like demon dressed in a relaxed casual attire (AN: Think of his Apology tour outfit) was sitting on a fountain talking to a non binary robotic owl looking sinner named Night shade and a tough looking dinosaur like sinner robot named Jawbreaker as Bella walked over "Stolas we need to talk right now" she said but was tackled by a Skeldirge who pushed her down as she noticed a familiar fabric in her mouth "Oh confounded it Fuefue" she barked playing a bit of tug a war with the fire crock taking the scrap as she gave a look at the fire croc and the scrap "So this is why Prince Sylvano left, but he wasn't just burned he also looked plucked Stolas" started Bella "Oh mother Fuefue was just playing with Prince Sylvano *Plays with the Skeldirge* Isnt that Right Fuefue, you were just playing with that pompous jerky swan" started Stolas as Nightshade and Jawbreaker snickered as Bella gave a look.
"Well he was burned and chewed by Fuefue but also plucked, Nightshade, Jawbreaker" she asked "It wasn't us madam Bella" said Night shade "Honest it wasn't" said Jawbreaker as Bella gave a look and saw feathers in the bulky dino bots claws "Uh huh, and do not deny your sibling did the same because I see it in there toe claws as well and Stolas, where is your daughter?" Asked Bella as Stolas and Night shade looked away as Nightshade folded there back wings harder "Nightshade…drop her right now" said Bella as the non binary owl robot didnt want to but the glare just caused them to open and reveal a young female owl demon who had a guilty look "Heh hi grandma" she said "Octavia, did you, Nightshade, Jawbreaker and Fuefue laid waste on Sylvano yesterday?" She asked "It wasn't our fault Sylvano was a pompous jerk who wouldn't make dad happy plus he was insensitive and rude saying dilatory things about Nightshades gender and how Jawbreaker was shy to being a primitive due to being part dino…" started Octavia as Stolas gently pressed a hand on her shoulder.
"Tia, I know you and the others worry about me, but mother I am sorry but he was to self absorbed and was rude to not only Nightshade and Jawbreaker but also to me and what I liked to do" he said as Bella shared a look with Skurd and sighed "Stolas, you cant reject every suitoress and now every Suitor when you told me you were gay and preferred males" said Bella as Stolas sighed and walked away from his daughter "The law states that He/I must be married to a princess or prince by my/his next birthday" Both Bella and Stolas said in unison.
"And its in three days and I know Bella hates this law but those pompous former Aris gotta were so stubborn on it especially your late father" said Skurd as Stolas crossed his arms "The law is wrong and what Pidemon did was unethical and uncaring since he never cared once about me, or what happened to Stella after that fire and only saw Tia as the next heir *Walks to a birdcage and takes out a pidove as he gently pets it* if I do marry, I want to do it for love" he said as Bella and Skurd shared a look and sighed walking over "Its not just this law, if it was up to me I would allow you to pick out your mate on your own, but *Gently takes the pidove as she gently forehead kisses it* I must eventually return to the great tapestry like your other mother Beth *gently puts the Pidove back into the cage* I just want you to be provided for and safe, for you and Octavia" said Bella as Stolas got sad "Then please understand, I've never truly done anything on my own or made my own freinds" said Stolas "Oh then what dose that mane me and my brother and siblings?" Asked Nightshade as Fuefue growled "Except you and the Maltos and Fuefue and my precious Tia" said Stolas as Fuefue smiled resting "Oh dad" said Octavia smiling.
"Plus I never been outside the palace how can I be a ruler when you must return to the tapestry if I have not seen the populace" said Stolas "Stolas try to undersand your mother your a prince and one of the last remaining Ares goitia" said Skurd "Then maybe I dont want to be a prince or part of the Ars goitia" said Stolas as Bella slapped her forehead annoyed "Uggh Octavia heaven help you have a child adopted or not" she said as she walked back to the castle as Stolas looked down at the ground before the cooing of the piddoves caused him to walk over and open the cage letting them free as his heart wished to be free as he started to pace.
"A prince must say this, a prince must marry a total stranger its absurd!" He said annoyed as even before his adoption he had to obey his father, in fact his only freind was a imp he met so long ago in a circus but it was so long ago that he forgot his face and didnt even get his name but it was a great joy in his life…a life plucked after a circus fire killed all there.
Stolas: Suitors talk of love but its an act nearly meant to throw me
How can some one love when in fact they dont know me' (Crosses his arms recalling how every suitor and sutriess tried to flirt and prim on him and never bothered to truly get to know him)
They want my royal treasure, when all is said and done its time for a desperate measure so I wonder
(Looks into the sky wishing to fly like the birds above as Nightshade, Jawbreaker and Octavia followed)
Why shouldn't I fly so far from here? I know the boy I might become here
Sad and confined and always locked behind these palace walls
"I dont know Prince…for someone like you the outside world maybe scary and overwhelming" said Jawbreaker "Is that a promise?" Asked Stolas slyly "I think it would do dad some good to see the real world" said Octavia "I agree I think it would do some good!" Siad Nightshade "You really think so?" Asked Stolas "believe me I never seen somebody who needed to get out more and just see the world" said Nightshade
Nightshade and Octavia: Told to show devotion every day and not second guess it
Stolas: If a new emotion comes my way
Jawbreaker and Octavia: you Surpress it
Stolas: What Would be your suggestion?
Nightshade and Jawbreaker and Octavia: Stand on your own two feet and ask why a certain question keeps repeating
Stolas: Why shouldn't I fly so far from here? I know the boy I might become here
Follow your heart or you might end up cold and callous
All: love comes to those who go and find it
If you've a dream then stand behind it
Stolas then looked at the wall as he imagine how it may look like beyond them
Stolas: Maybe there's more beyond these palace walls
What if I dared?
What if I tried?
Am I prepared for what's outside? Why shouldn't I fly so far from here?
Something awaits beyond these place walls
All: Something waits beyond these palace walls
Stolas looking at the walls as he knows what he has to do. Back with Bella and Skurd she was looking at a model of the city as she studied it "I dont see what has gotten into him, Beth wasn't this picky she just dived in with me" said Bella "Last time I check you really helped her out with issues with your in-laws" said Skurd "True" said Bella as she checked fiddled with the clock tower as a shadow covered her as she grabbed her katana in her sleeve but only saw it was Valatino and Sir Pentinius and his egg boys as she sighed "Oh Valatino my trusted adviser I am in need of your advice" said Bella as Valatino bowed "of course Mi lady it is my humble job to advise you" he said "She is freaking out because Stolas isnt taking a boyfriend not at least a husband and she is freaking out" said Skurd "I am not freaking out, I am a worried single mom" said Bella "Well you are forcing a owl demon close to 18 to get married" muttered Sir pentius as his egg boys nearly chitted on what he said but he hushed them as Bella noticed the snake sinner.
"Oh you brought Sir Pentinuous *Pulls out a snake treat* here have a snake treat" she said forcing the snake to eat it as he made a gagging face as he sputtered "Hehe, oh your majesty has a way with dumb animal like sinners dont you?" Said Valatino as Sir Pentnous glared at him for that "Maybe I can help you, but there is one thing that I need…" he said "Well sure anything within reason" said Bella as Valatino pointed to Bellas wedding ring on her neck "I need your wedding ring" he said as Bella cluched it as Skurd seemed to spike up "Are you daff sir!" Yelled Skurd "My wedding ring, I cant its what I have left of beth and I just cant" said Bella as Valetino pulled out a dark blood red gem of a skull cluched on the gem as it glowed a sinister red aimed at Bella.
"It is to find the prince a suitor…everything will be alright" he said as smoke seem to emanate from Valatino as Bellas eyes glazed over even skurd as the amulet was strong enough to control even the strongest of sinners "Everything…will be…alright" she said in a trance "Your ring?" Asked Val as Bella took the necklace off her neck as she gave it to him "Here Val, whatever you need will be fine" she started "Thank you your highness, now go and play with your toys" he said as Bella and skurd leaned over the model as Valatino and Sir pentious and his egg bois went down a hall as Sir pentious spat out the snake treat "Blech black! I sware to staan if i have to keep eating those snake treats for that fox I am gonna…" he started as Valatino pressed a button opening a way to a secret set of stairs "Patiance Sir Pentious soon I will be King instead of that soft fox fool of a sinner" said Val "and then I can make her eat the snake treats instead" he said as he and his egg bois laughed sinister as the door closed after all no one should her about the plans…
Night soon came as a cloaked figure ran across the courtyard and towards the back wall revealing to be Stolas "There has to be a way up there?" He pondered as he tried to climb up the branch of a tall tree "Dad? What are you doing?" Asked Octavia as she came out dressed in a robe with Fuefue following growing worried "Shh my little starlight I cant stay here without knowing what's out there, and if mother thinks keeping me cooped in here is the right thing…then I need to go" said Stolas "Dad let me come" she said as Stolas placed his hands on her shoulders "No its not safe if people out there learn that the near last of the Ars goitias have a heir it would be bad, let me learn and come back I promise I will take you with me" he said as Octavia wanted to protest…but instead hugged him "I'll miss you daddy" she said "As will I" he said as Fuefue helped push Stolas up as he jumped the wall as he looked back "Good bye" he whispered and was gone.
"Good luck" Said Octavia as she hugged Fuefue sad at the possibility of never seeing Stolas again…
Authors note: Poor stolas but at least he will get a chance outside the palace to see the real world.
Next chapter a chance meeting between Owl and imp as after a run in with a angery Shop owner Blitzo saves Stolas hands as the two connect in a way as Valatino puts his plans in action to find the diamond in the rogugh he needs.