I bought a new charging cord for my laptop. I can finally work on my chapters while on break at work.

Chapter 16 – Home sweet home

The travel back to dreamland felt long and agonizing. The only thing Bean was thinking about was Koga, seeing her father, and the wedding she knew that she was going to be forced into. Bean felt sick. Everything that she had hoped to have like her freedom, seeing the world, and traveling with her friends had all been taken away from her within a matter of hours. Elfo had tried to comfort Bean through the journey but of course, nothing was going to cheer her up. At some point in time through the travels, she thought Koga would pop out and save her. She pictured him appearing across from them and charging at these gang of amour-wearing goons then taking them out with ease. But that was not going to happen. Koga was long gone. Bean felt so responsible for what happened to him. Elfo kept saying that she shouldn't blame herself. But Bean couldn't help but do just that. Bean would lift her head after what seemed like forever and she would see far ahead from her…her castle, her home Dreamland. Bean would scoff and say "Well…home sweet home…" She said in a shallow tone.

Inside the castle, a tanned skin man with neatly kept black hair named Harold would walk through the double doors to the throne room. Sitting at the front of the throne room in the main chair was King Zog. His bright orange hair was the first anyone would see when they walked in. That and his bright green robe and round body along with his golden crown. Standing on the right of Zog was his royal advisor Odval, standing around 6'2 wearing a hat on his head and all grey and black. Sitting on his left was the queen of Dreamland Oona. She had black hair and bright blue skin along with her slim figure. Harold would take a deep breath and loudly say "NOW ARRIVING BACK TO DREAMLAND! THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN! PRINCESS TIABEANIE!"

The trio along with the silver armored goons would walk into the throne. King Zog would get up from his throne and walk over to his daughter. Bean had pictured how her father would look. His face twisted and wrinkled and his red hair would make him look even worse.

"IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME YOU GOT BROUGHT BACK HERE!" Zog shouts from the top of his lungs. Bean would sigh "HI daddy…I'm home…" She said in a defeated tone.

"Well firstly," Zog said in a much calmer tone. "Welcome back sweetheart! I was so worried about you!" He wraps his arms around Bean bringing her into a tight hug. Bean wouldn't return this hug at all. One of the reasons was because of her wrist being tied together. The other was because she didn't want to hug her father at all. Zog would break away from the hug and then say "Secondly, WHAT IN GODS NAME WERE YOU THINKING? RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME TO WHO KNOWS WHERE AND ABANDONING YOUR PRINCESS DUTY'S?"

"Oh Zoggy please calm down," said Oona "When I was getting married I had butterfly's in my stomach. I shouldn't have eaten so many." a fly that buzzed by with her long tongue.

"Thirdly," Zog places his angry gaze upon the silver armored goons "Which one of you low life punks is named Koga!"

Nicholas would step forward "King Zog my name is Nicholas. I am the leader of my team and we are the ones that retrieved Princess Tiabeanie from the man named Koga. He had kidnapped your daughter for himself!" He explained.

"He didn't kidnap me shut the hell up!" Bean said glaring at Nicholas. "I should grab a sword and slice your head off!"

"Damn you were quiet all the way here, where did all of this energy come from?" said Agatha

Zog turns around and glares at Odval "So what was that about hiring the best of the best?" He raised a brow at him.

Odval gulps and he begins to sweat "Well sire I-uh-I had heard so much about him from so many people I thought he would be the best pick to bring back Princess Tiabeanie," He stuttered.

"And where is this Koga guy now?" Zog asked as he turned back to Nicholas.

"Dead," Nicholas replied. "He wasn't the best at all, to be honest. I made quick work of him."

"Yeah while he was wounded!" said Elfo glaring up at Nicholas. "If he wasn't wounded you'd be speaking with god right now!"

Zog stared down at Elfo. "OH! You not only killed that kidnapper but you brought the elf too!"

"Oh forget the elf! I am the one and only Luci!" said Luci stepping forward but immediately glaring down at him and shouting "NO ONE CARES WHAT A CAT HAS TO SAY!" Zog would kick Luci sending him hurtling into one of the stone white pillars. "OW!" said Luci "I AM NOT CAT-Oh, whatever…I'm going to go lie down next to a window or something…" He then walked off.

"All that I care about here is this sweet little Elf!" Zog smiled down at Elfo "LOCK HIM IN A CAGE!"

As soon as that was said Zog's knight's stepped forward and placed Elfo in a small cage. "WHAT THE HELL DAD DON'T CAGE UP MY FRIEND!" She yelled at her father. Zog would glare at Bean "I'm a king! I can do whatever I want! And now that you're back honey we can get back on track with the wedding!"

Bean's heart dropped at that statement. She had almost forgotten…the marriage with the Prince of Bentwood.

"As for you silver whatever the hell your names are," Zog looked back at Nicholas. You'll be greatly rewarded for returning my daughter! Although right now our funds a-" Nicholas would then cut him off.

"No need! We're not here for gold!" said Nicholas holding up his hand. "We want something else."

Zog looked at the armored man in surprise "Oh? And what exactly do you want?"

"You see your majesty we're tired of going from town to town and taking odd jobs here and there. What we want is to become knights of dreamland!"

"Knight's eh? So be it!" said Zog "Alright now that that is all done let's get this wedding back on track!"

Once that was done Bean along with Elfo was escorted out of the throne room. Zog had pulled Odval aside and whispered to him. "Make sure to let the boy know his sister is home…" Odval nods "Right I'll inform prince Derek Sire," He replied but Zog stops him. "Not Derek Odval," Odval comes to a quick realization "Ah right. Will do sire," Odval nods and he leaves off.

Bean had taken her first bath in a while since she was gone from dreamland. It was nice despite the horrible feeling that she felt. Bunty the castle maid was helping her as she washed her back. "Oh, Beanie dear you don't know how good it is to see you!" She said happily as she scrubbed her back with the scrubbing brush.

"It's good to see you too bunty…" said Bean half-heartedly.

Once she is done Bean gets out of the tub with a towel wrapped around her body and heads to her room where Elfo and Luci were. Elfo was hung up on a rack while he sits in the cage and Luci was sitting on the edge of her bed. Elfo was looking over at Bean with a smile on her face as she was about to take off her towel. Luci grinned and looked over at Elfo and says "Hey Elfo…WHATCHA LOOKING AT?"

Bean pauses and looks over at Elfo. Elfo gulps nervously as Bean approached him "I was just admiring the towel! Y-You know it's a very nice towel!"

"Uh-huh…" Bean said as she turned the cage around so Elfo wasn't facing her. She then walks over to her wardrobe and begins to change. Bean places on her fresh pair of clothes. Once she was fully clothed Bean heard a knock on her door and a soft male voice spoke.

"Welcome home sister…"

Bean turned around. Standing at the door was a boy that was wearing an all green. This boy looked almost identical to Bean. He had freckles around his face and bright blue eyes. The only difference between the two was that the boy had shorter white hair and didn't sport the buck teeth and weak chin like Bean had. The older twin brother of Bean named Tavish would then say "I didn't expect to see you again." He said as leaned against the door frame.

"Whoa I'm seeing double…" said Luci staring at Tavish.

"What's going on? Who is that?" Elfo asked

Bean wore an expression of disinterest as she turned her attention away from Tavish to place on her boots. "I didn't think about coming home. Did you miss your precious baby sister?" She asked sarcastically

"Of course I did," Tavish said as he stepped into Bean's room without her knowing. "I was worried about you being out there on your own. You can barely take care of yourself let alone survive the outside world."

"Wow I've been back for like twenty minutes and you're already being a passive-aggressive dick," said Bean annoyed "What a warm welcome."

"My goodness, it seems as though Bunty didn't bother touching up your room at all either," Tavish said as he looked around her room seeing all of the shirts and pants that were laid around her couch, bed, and random pieces of furniture.

Bean formed an angry expression on her face "Well why don't you leave me the hell alone and go to your damn room!" Bean snapped as she turned around to where Tavish was originally standing and saw that he wasn't there. Bean looks around and sees Tavish standing over where Elfo was hanging in his cage. "HEY! I didn't say you can come into my room!" She sprung to her feet.

Tavish turns Elfo around and the two of them came face to face. "So this is the Elf that father won't shut up about," He said as he examined Eflo. Elfo would smile and say "HI! I'm Elfo!" Tavish would reply sternly "I don't remember asking your name."

"And I don't remember telling you that you could step into my room!" said Bean said turning him around and glaring at him.

Tavish just scoffs "What? You don't want to talk to your brother after being gone for a while?"

"No I'm sober," Bean replied as she crossed her arms. "I would need to be drunk to even hold a conversation with you" Bean then thought about it "Even when I'm drunk I still don't want to deal with you."

"Of course, the first thing you want to bring up is drinking," Tavish said bitterly as he stared into her sister's familiar blue eyes. "From what I can see that's the only thing you're good at is being a no-good drunk,"

"And the only thing you're good at is being a selfish ass-kissing bastard who every time I do see you got brown on your nose,"

The two of them were silent for a moment. Elfo and Luci were quietly watching them as they looked back and forth between the two. Tavish takes a deep breath and exhales softly from his nostrils as he would then walk away from Bean and head to the door. "I really was worried about you sister." He said to her.

"Just get out already…" said Bean turning away from her brother. "Stop acting as if you care about me."

Tavish would sigh and he exited the room.

Bean walked over to the door and close it. Bean let out a deep sigh and walks over to her couch and sit down. She buried her face in her hands and let out a loud groan.

"Well…" Luci said hopping onto the couch. "That was entertaining."

"Who was that and why did he look just like you?" Elfo asked curiously. Bean would get up from the couch and pace around the room. "That was my stupid brother Tavish!" said Bean as she held herself in frustration and walked in a circle around the room.

Elfo looked at Bean confused "Wait I thought that little blue kid Derek was your brother."

"No Tavish is my blood-brother. He's my twin, unfortunately." She said as she just sits back down on the couch. "He thinks he's so damn smart because he reads and studies all the time while he locks himself in his room for days and hardly ANYONE ever sees him!" Bean vents. "And once he does leave he's always buttering up himself to a bunch snotty noble people to make himself look good because he wants to be King of dreamland."

"So you have daddy issues and brother issues. You just the best family in the world!" said Luci

"I sure do…" Bean agreed bleakly. She lets out another groan "UGH! AND I'M GETTING MARRIED TO THAT STUPID MERKIMER GUY! I just can't marry that guy! I just can't! I gotta…Kill him or something…"

"DO IT! DO IT DO IT DO IT!" Luci egged on.

"Bean no! That's way too much!" said Elfo "You know you're not a murderer!"

"Oh can it Elfo! What other choice does bean have?" Luci said glaring at Elfo.

"Oh my god," said Bean brushing her back. "I need to think of something. Some way I can get out of this…but what?"

Outside the hallways, Tavish was leaning against the wall rubbing his head. Tavish was groaning tiredly after his small spat with Bean. "She's never going to change…never…" He whispered to himself as he slides his back down the stone wall and sits down. Tavish could hear footsteps coming down the hallways. He ignored it thinking it was either Odval or Bunty. But to his disappointment, it was neither.

"TAVISH MY BOY! Why are you sitting on the ground for?"

Tavish's heart sunk and his gut wrenched. He recognized that voice all too well. Tavish looks up and he sees Merkimer standing over him. His brown hair, long nose, and round stomach. "Him…" Tavish said in his head. "This damn son of a-" Tavish would get to his feet "Oh Prince Merkimer! How do you do?" He said cheerfully. He bottled his emotions and forced a welcoming smile.

"I'm doing well thank you! I was trying to get a hold of you for a long time while I was staying in dreamland. But you are a hard person to get a hold of!" said Merkimer.

"That's because I didn't want to talk to you or see you-you piece of-" Tavish would say internally. But on the outside, he would say "Oh my apologies Prince Merkimer I-I tend to stay in my room when and study. It helps me clear my mind," He brushed his white hair aside.

"Ah yes! You are the very smart man that you are! Dreamland will be in good hands once you're on the throne!"

"Oh thank you so much prince Merkimer! You flatter me!" Tavish said with a blush.

"It'll be wonderful! Two future Kings of their kingdoms with great power! And of course Princess Tiabeanie at my side!"

Tavish winces at this. A vein pops on his head as Merkimer mentioned Bean. "Oh…yes…Of course…." He said slowly.

"Speaking of which I heard she's returned! Would you mind taking me to her!" Merkimer asked in a jolly tone.

"I'm sorry Merkimer. My sister is awfully tired…" Tavish's tone had deepened a bit. "You're going anywhere near her…you fat basta-" But on the outside. "Please let her rest my friend…"

"Ah of course!" Merkimer nods "Instead let us spend some time together! Join me for a chat between two best friends and a drink!"

"Oh no…No…no…" Tavish said on the inside. But on the out "Of course Merkimer! But you know I don't drink!" He said with a nervous chuckle. "I hate alcohol you stupid bastard I've brought this up so many times before. DO YOU NOT LISTEN?"

"Hahaha of course I forgot with your slim deminer you probably couldn't handle a man's drink!"

"Haha…" said Tavish

And so Tavish and Merkimer would head to the dining room where the two would sit at the table. Once the waitress poured Merkimer his drink and Tavish, his cup of water. Through the first thirty minutes or so Merkimer was just going on and on about himself. Tavish could've sworn he heard him tell the same story about slaying some creature or whatever it was. Tavish wasn't paying attention to have of it. But he did however hear what Merkimer said about Bean. "You know Tavish Tiabeanie is one feisty woman. I've had time to think about it over the week and I do think she is the right woman for me! After she killed my brother I fell in love with her right away! The way she talks and goes about her life. She's a woman who I know would give me a good time in bed! Oh, I could imagine the skills she has in pleasing men-" Suddenly the sound of glass shattering was heard. Merkimer looked over at Tavish's glass cup. It was in pieces on the table. Some of the pieces were stuck in the palm of Tavish's hand and some blood was trickling onto the table. Tavish was giving Merkimer a cold dead stare that would send chills down anyone's spine. But of course, Merkimer didn't notice this.

"Oh dear, Tavish your hand!" Merkimer said worriedly.

"It's fine…" said Tavish. His tone was full of anger. "Blood is nothing to me."

"Oh, but we must get this cleaned up! You don't want glass stuck in your ski-"

"I don't care about that," Tavish said as he knocks the shards of glass off his hand. Once he did that…the blood was gone and there was no cut. This had confused Merkimer for a moment…wasn't there a cut? He thought. "Merkimer…I have an idea. Why don't I host you a bachelor party?"

"Oh?" Merkimer's interest peaked. He had forgotten about the disappearing cut.

"Yes…it can be out on sea…" Tavish said, sounding as though he was unhinged. "Allow me to do all the planning…"

"Excellent idea Tavish! Oh but what about Tiabeanie? Do you think she would be ok with something like that?" Merkimer asked.

"Don't worry about my sister. I'll talk to her about it," said Tavish

"Well in that case! I'm all aboard the idea my dear friend!" said Merkimer happily.

"Good," said Tavish as he grabbed himself a new glass and poured the water in it. "To friendship…" he holds up his glass.

"To friendship!" said Merkimer happily as he held up his as well.

The two of them would drink. All that was going on in Tavish's head wasn't about the "Friendship" That Merkimer thought he had with Tavish. Oh no…It was something much darker.