Archive of Our Own

Work Text

​​I wake up, neck killing me like always. Delta is in off mode in his bed. He sleeps very lightly, surprised I didn't wake him. *Good, no one needs to get in my business.* I begin to grab my staff and get into my clothes, no armor, too heavy and loud at this time. I look around and see Epsilon's most recent gift, a pendant with a ruby inside. 'I just had it lying around, spoils of the job I guess.' He said with a smile, *so 'gracious* to me, I bet he knows it annoys the shit outta me.*​​I put the pendant on and slowly crept out of my room. No lingering Betagens, no potential plus ones.​​​​I walk past the Hub, the kitchen, and finally the Nest. I hear a soft but alert chirp. *Ugh*, I turn to see Talos, her golden brown fur brightened by the moon. It luckily hasn't begun snowing, her Nest still bare of snow.​​​​“I know you aren't dressed up for just an evening stroll." Talos signed, taking her time and being peaceful. Those eyes could pierce any soul and she uses it to draw out secrets of troubled souls, *eerie yet reassuring.*​​​​“Like it's any of your business, I have matters that need to be addressed, if you are going to be an obstacle, I won't stop,“I say, getting into an offensive stance. Talos chuckled slightly. *I can't not be there. I need to go.*​​​​Talos signed some more, her movements slow and understandable, "Alright, I won't oppose you. Just, find some allies over there."​​​​I begin to walk away, nearly not saying bye to Talos, I turned to her, "Thanks for the advice, or whatever."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

​​I reach the wall, ugh I remember this stuff, apparently the medieval age is always cool for us Oxluts. As I scour the wall, the sun begins to shine, barely making it through cracks. Several chunks of the wall sit on the ground, getting dust all over my legs. *There's zero fucking reason we haven't been invaded yet.*​​​​I get through the wall, and I notice how multiple buildings are falling apart, more than usual. The bread store, empty. I walk up to it, and hear a squeak, I look down and it's a miniature plush of a Oxlut guard. I pick it up and read the tag among the dirt and dust, "T__ian_a", *this belonged to a little Oxlut girl. What happened...*​​​​I see my old home in the distance, the corner tower high above the other buildings, I miss that tower, stretching into the sky, leaving me alone. As I walk over to it, I notice the absence of noises, the food and belongings littering the ground all around me. It’s Thursday so the kids should be going to school or atleast making some noise… I begin to get worried and start running to my old home. As I approach it, I notice the general excellency in the upkeep, I pause, something’s off. Every other building is falling apart, no-one’s here, but this, someone’s here. The door remains perfectly shiny and oiled. I open it, and the picture of me and my mother remains perfectly clean.​​​​I notice my room is still lit up, the window closed however. I decide to climb up, making as little noise as possible. The window is unlocked luckily. Once I get into my room, I look around off of the balcony, and notice the general absence of, anything. I see some stone things in the distance, but other than that, nothing other than old buildings and items all over the ground. Off way to the east I think I can see some life, but that's nearly in Isabella's region.​​​​I turn, and my room, despite being just a bad looking room, thanks mom, it’s still kept up…too well.​​​​I enter, and notice the scent, the stench more like, I freeze, she’s here. *Out of everyone in the area she has to be here?! Fuck*​​​​As I stand there, the door opens, light being cast in from a candle. The smell gets stronger, she’s here.​​​​“Mother.” I said coldly, turning to her, she looked worse for wear, her face really. Her clothing and fur remained 'perfect'.​​​​“You…you!”, I hear her footsteps get louder, she is charging me. The candle hit the floor and caught the floor on fire.​​​​I move out of way, making sure to not touch her. I use my staff to hit her back as she goes along. She grunts from the pain. She’s upset, movements suggest as much. Makes sense, her rebellious daughter has returned for very little reason.​​​​“I thought it was common courtesy to greet one another before trying to attack them.” I say, laying emphasis on courtesy. She never let me be me. Always, ‘Don’t do that. Be proper. You must be a good example.’​​*​​Well, my friends let me be myself, no need for manners.*​​​​She turns around, fury present in her face. She grabs one of my spears of the wall. She nearly drops it in her shaking rage. The fire shoots smoke into the air, *gotta be careful.*​​​​“It’s been TWO months since you abandoned us, abandoned ME! I have had nothing but embarrassment and humiliation for my failure.” She’s nearly crying, good. Serves her for what she’s done.​​​​I stand as she speaks, unmoving. Her gold fur is more like a desert sand, something’s terribly wrong. She always keeps herself tidy and nice looking, it annoyed me, now it concerns me.​​​​“Is that why your fur looks like you rolled in the ruins outside. Tore up the district looking for me?” I say, gesturing to the ruins outside. She stands there, shaking and quietly crying.​​​​“N-no, you were a thorn in my side but as thorns are, it hurts when they leave.” She stood taller, shaking quickly to knock some dust off. The gold began to slowly shine through the dust. “Your thorn was worked into my design, I made you work, as my daughter. You left, and my design was…imperfect.”​​​​Was I only an afterthought to her. Did she only focus on making herself look better? No, no, she would’ve been done with me much sooner if that was the case. I couldn’t have been just a little jewel on her crown.​​​​While I stood there, she began to shift to the opposite end of the room, I turned with her, and kept my pose.​​​​“But, with you here now,” she paused, “everything can be fixed, I can be redeemed.”, lunging at me again, I parried it and returned another blow, but my foot got close to the fire, I growled at the heat and looked at it, and as I looked back. I saw a pole flying right at my head. It hit me, and I was out.​​​​I dreamt of Victoria, Delta, Epsilon, Dad. Nightmares plague me of Delta’s death, Victoria taunting me as she kills him. Epsilon lays dead on the floor, and in the distance, Samuel. No, I can’t let that happen. I push the nightmare out of my mind and fall back asleep.​​​​Voices rouse me from my slumber later. I was hit hard enough I might've gotten a concussion.​​​​Footsteps.​​​​Opening and closing of doors.​​​​Metal clanging together loud enough to barely shake me.​​​​I fall back asleep, wasting my energy.​​​​I wake later, able to see my surroundings. I am on someone’s back, gold fur barely noticeable, Victoria​​​​The soft smell of the Gold Rose tell me I am not in my district anymore, we are in the Northwestern district.​​​​How I remembered that is beyond me at the time.​​​​I fall asleep, straining too much to remember the rose.​​​​I wake once more, eyes too heavy to open, body aching.​​​​In the distance, whispers are spoken, “My daughter is here Mary. I haven’t failed us.”​​​​“I do hope so Victoria, Catherine is greatly anticipating all of the princesses to be here.”​​​​I doze off once again, and sleep for a long time.​​

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

​​I slowly wake up, warm breath landing on my face. I slowly open my eyes and see a dark green eye staring back at me.​​​​“WHAT THE FUCK” I yell, quickly sitting up and clocking the other person in the head. Ow ow ow fuck me. I sit there holding my head. First I get knocked out and now jumpscared?​​​​Where the hell am I? The Gold Rose is only a northwestern thing. Did I seriously get dragged to Mary’s district? Why does Catherine care so much about Victoria and I so much now. As far as I know, Victoria’s just using me to make herself look good. She’s way past that point.​​​​As my head races, a hand lays on my shoulder. I jump slightly, and slowly turn my head to look at the oxlut next to me. She’s very pretty, silver fur covering her head and a slow gradient shift to white on the way down. An almost shiny silver lays in her eyes, Octavia. She stands there, slowly a slight smile.​​​​“All good? You’ve been sleeping for the last day or two and you just hit Beatrice hard.” She says, slight concern in her voice. What do you think? Weren’t you also fought and maybe even knocked out?​​​​“Y-yea, I’m good.” I simply reply, not trying to anger Octavia. I turn to Beatrice, her red orangish fur almost looking like a brick wall. Her green eyes remove any chance of blending into one though. Like there’s gonna be some stupid wall blend in challenge.​​​​I slowly look around the dimly lit room, a set of lanterns illuminating the others. Agatha, her sea blue fur looking like waves crashing down. Anne, a dark grey almost covering her except for some white along her arms and legs. And Josephine, her brown eyes matching her forest brown fur. They are all sitting somewhat formally, legs kept together and hands laid in their laps. Ugh.​​​​Anne begins to sit straighter, and starts to talk, “Hello, my name is Anne, and this is A-“​​​​Ugh. I start talking, pointing to each one as I go, “Anne, Agatha, Josephine, asleep-people-watcher-Beatrice, Octavia, and me, Sierra.” I stop at myself. The others looked very curios in that little burst of info.​​​​“How’d you know everyone’s names?” Agatha asks, curiosity very present in her voice.​​​​“Because Victoria drilled the knowledge into my head, how’d none of you know?” I ask, concern rising in my voice. *Don't tell me I go from a nightmare mother to incompetent princesses*​​​​“Well, ugh, we weren’t taught apparently. You got more of a teacher with your mom.” Beatrice says, slowly making her way to her bed while clutching her head still, wincing in pain after every few words.​​​​“First off, Victoria may be my mother but she is no mom.” I say, anger present in the word mom, “and secondly, one of the first things I learned was the royal family and the districts of the empire. You learn the queen, princess, father of the princess, location, etc, etc, etc.”​​​​“Um, we only learned the queens, and not even all of them, just the main queen and any neighbors.” Josephine says, looking at the others, almost skeptical at my response.​​​​Octavia speaks up, asserting her position, “Even I wasn’t taught that, and I’m the daughter of the Queen of the Empire.” She says, emphasis on the daughter of the empire queen part. Yes yes I know, doesn’t make you anymore special than me.​​​​“Mhm. Well, how did you all get here? I personally had the enjoyment of being knocked out by a staff, that bitch.” I saw, whispering the last bit. I’m pretty sure Octavia heard me cause she let out a slight chuckle. Glad someone appreciates my humor. I looked up to her and she smiled softly, trying to also focus on the task at hand.​​​​“Well, we already talked about this so I’ll make this fast.” Anne says quickly, almost not trying to attract attention to herself. “Uh, we all, were moreso just told to come.” She says, hands shaking as she speaks, almost like she’s not trying to anger me. Do some of them see me as a threat?​​​​Everyone shakes their head in agreement. Octavia stands next to me still, almost projecting herself as the leader. Her silver fur almost gleaming with the soft lantern glow.​​​​Beatrice shines as she realizes something, “Wait since we’re all here then we can do whatever the queens want us to do now.” She says, pure positivity on her face. We could wait until they retrieve us, or, we can get out now. Find the answers ourselves."They did always mention that we needed all the princesses..." Octavia said, the others nodded, still following Octavia. From what I knew, the other queens also closely followed Catherine. *I mean, fucking obviously.*​​​​“I have a better idea” I say, standing up, everyone turns their heads to me, some listening out of curiosity, some out of fear, “We can go out there now. I mean, if they want us, then we shouldn’t keep them waiting, should we?” I say, almost commanding them. “If we are the princesses and the heirs to the crowns of the Empire, we should show we take our own chances.” I say, giving everyone a morale boost. Everyone glances to each other, and nods. I might never want to be queen, but so far I trust these Oxluts more than the queens, *they're at least honest.*​​​​Octavia looks to me, determination in her eyes, “I hope you know what you’re doing Sierra, we trust you.” Everyone else agrees.​​​​Agatha stands to me, and cracks the largest smile I've seen, at least on a oxlut. “Yes, our queen.” She bursts out laughing as well as everyone else, including me. Octavia bumps into me and I stand them up.​​​​"Ah, don't call me a queen.", I said, half joking. Me? A queen? Hardly, I just need to make some choices for us. The queens aren't helpful in that regard, like always.​​​​We calm down, much more ready to do this. To be an empire you must work together. *Or at least, a team. Epsilon always did the leading, so I guess I've gotta step up. Hope Delta's just sitting in that train and just having a nice slow day.*​​​​We find the door, and I kick it down.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

​​We all slowly creep out, hunched over like a bunch of thieves. I can only hear the slight flow of water under us. And the loud ass door behind us. Lanterns illuminate the dark bricks around us. Some castle.​​​​“W-where do you think the queens are?” Anne sheepishly says, clinging to the wall. I look at Octavia and we both shrug at each other.​​​​“Fuck if I know, we just wander. Who’s going to stop us?” I say, moving down the hallway.​​​​“We could get trapped again, or even killed.”, Josephine says, getting quiet with that last bit. Anne doesn’t like that thought, she clings closer to the wall. *Why the fuck would they kill us?*​​​​“M-maybe we s-should just stay here.” She says, hand almost on the door. “Mhm, right here, like good princesses that follow orders.” She isn’t going to budge, no use in convincing her.​​​​I turn, annoyance present, “Well I wasn’t told what I’m supposed to do, so really I’m doing the best thing in finding my mom to get orders.” I say, much louder than before. Everyone starts shushing me, other than Octavia. She just stands there leaning on the wall.​​​​I glance at her, she isn’t like the others, not radiating that annoying princess feel. We could be good friends, if I can free her from the Empire.​​​​“Let’s sort this out now, who was told to do what?” Octavia says, standing tall and commandingly, “Other than Sierra.” She smirks at me then turns to Anne.​​​​“I-I was told to stay in this room. That’s all.” She says, almost defending herself, weird. She almost blends in into the wall.​​​​Agatha speaks up, almost dramatically, “Well I was told to make sure no one tried anything smart.” We turn towards her. Did she already turn on us. I slowly get into a defensive position.​​​​Agatha reads the situation and immediately breaks the act, “I was kidding, kidding!” She sighs, “No I was honestly told to stop anyone from doing anything the queens don’t want us to do. I was told of nothing that would fit that criteria though so I don’t know what to stop.” I sigh quickly after.​​​​Josephine talks now, “I was told to play nice with the other princesses, apparently I can be mean and overly skeptical.” She places emphasis on apparently.​​​​“That’s true, I nearly had enough of her during Old Maid yesterday.” Octavia says, “Apparently taking more than 5 seconds to pick a card is agonizingly long.”​​​​“I ONLY HAD THREE. CARDS. OCTAVIA.” Josephine yells. She marches up to Octavia. Octavia just smirks, being a head taller than Josephine.​​​​Beatrice appears in the middle, quick to break the potential fight up. “I was told to not touch anything.” She fidgets with her hands, “Especially with other princesses’ jewelry.”​​​​“Also true, I caught her messing with my earrings four times yesterday.”​​​​“And my necklace.”​​​​“She also messed with Anne’s scuuuuwhere’s Anne?” Octavia says, turning around quickly. Anne just vanished.​​​​We all look around and hear footsteps. Multiple footsteps.​​​​Octavia moves towards me, “I’d rather not meet the welcoming party.” She says, grabbing my arm to pull me away. I slowly wrestle my arm out, and look to her."If you're going to keep making quips I'm going to punch you in your throat." I said, Octavia giggled at the 'joke' of mine. She looked at me in a strange way...​​​​My thought is derailed by shouts, all very unhappy we are not sitting in the room.​​​​“Hey, princesses, stop!” “Catch them!” “Catherine will have our heads if we don’t catch them!”​​​​We run off, no way to know where we are going. I turn left, Octavia pulls me right, I go straight.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

As we run, Octavia keeps glancing at me, her fur looking more like a grey than a shiny silver.​​​​“All good Sierra?” She asks, keeping her pace in front of me. She’s in good shape, keeping up with me and talking. Must be, for being the princess under Catherine.​​​​“All good, hey,” I say, catching up to her, “did Catherine say anything about your 'mission' even if it's pointless by now.” I saw, I never remember her saying her mission.​​​​She looks at me, “It’s weird,” she says, slowing down, going to a whisper, “she said, ‘Don’t look at anything that isn’t an Oxlut, especially in the eyes.’, weird, I know.” She says, looking back to me, “Let’s stop. I can't hear them anymore.”​​"Good, sooner I would've had to bash some heads.", I look behind us for the other princesses.​​​​Nothing.​​​​I glance to Octavia. They weren’t that far ahead of us. The hallway just sits empty, no other Oxluts, no sounds. Only smell is a soft water smell.​​​​Octavia speaks up, putting on a regal dominant voice, “Agatha, Josephine, Beatrice, come back now.” She glances at me, smiling, “Always enjoy doing that." I roll my eyes at the comment.​​​​Nothing.​​*​​Great.*​​​​I walk forward, but Octavia insists of taking point. We move, slowly, listening for anything.​​​​As we move, I notice the scent of…blood? That can’t be right. I move, puzzled. Why in the world would we be in some sort of prison or deep dungeon?​​​​“Octavia do you sm-“ I bump into her, nearly falling over. I back up and look at her. If I didn’t know better, I would say she’s a stone statue.​​​​“What are you-” I begin, looking in front of her.​​​​A trail of blood stretches across the hallway. The dark red stain almost makes a black with the dark brick. It leads from a door on our right to the door at the end of the hallway, almost getting messier as it moves to the end. Or the blood is lessening as it moves from the door.​​​​The end door is slightly ajar, someone’s in there. Our mysterious blood spiller? Ugh just say killer.​​​​“Octavia?”​​​​“Yea?”​​​​“You…ready to follow the blood?”​​​​She turns her head to me, eyes slightly wide, “U-um, yea.” She glances forward, and breathes heavily, “Let’s do this Sierra.”​​​​I move in front, nearly stepping in the blood, ew. Last time I saw this much blood was when Talon slashed that Alphagen to bits.​​​​I step over, and take Octavia’s hand as she steps across, helping her over the mess.​​​​She looks at me, grins slightly, and shakes my hand, "Very funny.", I said, dropping her hand.​​​​I quickly let go and turn to the door. It has some blood around the handle, but no more. No piercing points, no dents, just some blood on the handle.​​​​I grab the metal rim and move the door slowly. Keeping to the wall. Octavia follows, staying behind me.​​​​I ever so slightly lean my head in, and immediately swing the door open with no sense of concern.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

​​“Why the fuck would you run off!” I say, announcing our presence. The three turn to me quickly, all being frightened.​​​​Agatha stops leaning on a table, Beatrice stops looking at everything, and Josephine stops being grumpy for half a second.​​​​“We thought you got hurt or something!” Octavia says loudly, brushing past me into the room.​​​​As Octavia ridicules them, I notice the windows, slight scratches. The room looks almost like those Human police officer interrogation rooms, more like the side with the mirror so the crook couldn’t see them. I don't know, Human media is weird.​​​​A table with documents lays next to the window. I begin to shuffle between them.​​​​Bunch of random crap. Most of it like how to play dead. Weird. A 'how to not look at major things.', a 'how to zone out.'​​​​As I turn to them, I notice the steel door and the balcony just outside the window.​​​​Unfortunately the view outside the window is pitch black, only thing is the cave next to the window. Weird ass room.​​​​“Sierra and I have been worried since you left us! Right?” Octavia says, nearly startling me with how loud she said my name. I shook off the shock and went back to the door.​​​​“Mhm.” I say, moving to the door. Steel, simple handle, no locks? A small symbol of a dove lays on the handle, Catherine.​​​​“And now, we have a mysterious blood trail that led here and we could all get killed!”​​​​I perk up, looking around. That’s right, blood trail. I find it easily this time, the red mixes poorly with the silver tiles. It leads past the others, under the table, and out the door.​​​​“Sierra! Help me out here.” Octavia calls, exasperated.​​​​“Nope, busy here." I said. Octavia sighs but soon rejoins my company.​​​​Blood leading to a mysterious cave? The blood seems to follow out of the cave instead of in. What’s in there?​​​​“Whatever is our problem, is out there.” I say, pointing out the window. Everyone moves over to me, Beatrice to the door."Are you just guessing?" Octavia said with a smirk."You could just be dead wrong and it's just a spooky tunnel." Josephine suggested, I turned to shoot a glare, but Beatrice drew my attention.​​​​“Why don’t we find out? Us princesses know enough, right?” Beatrice says, almost enthusiastically. No, stop!​​​​“Beatrice, wait!” I say, moving quickly to her.​​​​She frowns at me, then quickly leaves the room and hops the bar.​​​​I nearly miss her, my hand brushing her head fur. Octavia nearly crushes me against the bar in a panic. I groan from it and Octavia immediately helps me stand.​​​​Beatrice lands on the ground, falling over but quickly brushing herself off. She turns to us, and grins almost maniacally. “See! I’m perfectly fine.” She turns to the cave, STOP, and yells, “We are the princesses, get ready!”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

​​​​“Beatrice you fucker!” I say, in an angry whisper. “We aren’t trying to fucking die now!” I say, nearly toppling over the railing.​​​​“But if we find the mysterious thing, then we can be trusted with whatever they brought us here for.” She says almost innocently. She begins to walk to the darkness when the ground began to shake.​​​​The shaking grew until I was thrown off of my feet, landing on my back.​​​​The others make a break for the room, placing themselves behind the glass. Octavia holds the door open for me, “I’m not leaving you!” She says, nearly yelling. *I appreciate the offer but not very helpful now!*​​​​I glance to Octavia, then to Beatrice, she’s stumbling, but still moving forward. Determined, stubborn little shit.​​​​I notice one of the rocks at the roof of the cave begin to fall, and narrowly avoid a quick death. Whatever is coming is huge. The catwalk is taken out instantly, and I'm caught by Octavia.​​​​I look to Octavia, and she mouths, “Don’t look in the eyes.” She turns to the others and says the same, but I can’t hear it.​​​​No eye contact. I remember the files, play dead.​​​​I signal to Octavia, and she nods, alerting the others then propping herself against the door almost looking asleep. I can still see her gleaming silver eyes however. I laid a few feet from her 'body'.​​​​They suddenly widen, and I turn. The creature comes slithering out, a basilisk. A massive snake with pearly eyes and dozens of sharp teeth.​​​​I quickly shut my eyes closed, only hearing Beatrice scream, then get cut off like all the air in her lungs was taken out.​​​​Basilisk, giant snake with the ability to petrify their targets after establishing eye contact, only to eat them after. She’s dead. The tremors persist, but no screaming. The last thing I hear from the princess is a crunch, something to haunt me till I die.​​​​I lay there, for Valia knows how long. After a long silence with no more tremors, I slowly open my eyes, to see Catherine. She looks both rather amused and disappointed with our adventure.​​​​“Hello rebel. Glad you now see what we are trying to stop.” She says, leaning over me. She has such a towering presence no wonder the others flock to her damn side.​​​​A guard moves in behind her. Their armor blocking most of their face.​​​​Catherine turns to the guard, her shimmering silver almost shaming her lame brown.​​​​“Bring her to the Royal Hall.” She says coldly, glancing at me, "And don't let her go, she's the fiery one."​​​​The guard begins to pick me up and escort me along.​​​​As I move, I can’t forget the screams. I look behind and there's a new blood trail, all that's left of Princess Beatrice.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

As I’m pulled by the guards, the air slowly gets warmer, the bricks change to tile. I glance upwards and notice that we are in one of the long hallways of a castle. These things stretch on for like a mile, enough room to fit any queen’s specific desires.​​​​I then notice the others, Octavia, Agatha. The other princesses are also being escorted by guards, all looking like their parents died. Well it’s close enough. I think.​​​​The guard, I notice, has some bronze dotting her armor, a Mary’s Guard trait. Her eyes continue to look forward despite my near stare.​​​​I then notice a flash of red fur behind the guard, barely enough to tell it’s a oxlut . I only catch a glimpse of the ear, but I can clearly tell it’s a sort of blood red color.​​​​Now, I think, what did Victoria tell me about colors. I droop my head and focus on my numerous lessons. Victoria explained that each region had a majority in the fur colors. I recall one particular lesson,​​“Sierra! Are you listening?!” Victoria said, stamping her foot down and glaring at me. She was trying to teach the differences between Mary and Isabella’s regions.​​​​“Listening to you drag on about other regions I’ll never visit? No.” I said, not taking the time to look at her. I was ten at the time, just turned the age of adulthood for oxlut s. I was too focused on my future, outside the Kingdom.​​​​Victoria sighed, then looked out the window next to us. It was a peaceful day, the birds were chirping quietly.​​​​“I know you don’t like these lessons, and you want to be out there.” Victoria said, gesturing to the world outside. Oh, how so badly I wanted to escape. “But you’re my daughter, my princess.” Victoria added, emphasis was placed on the ‘my’ part of it.​​I look to the ground below me, regretting coming back here. I have no place here, not with Victoria here as well.​​“And if you’ll be my princess, you’ll learn whatever I teach you.” Victoria said, moving to the map again. I turned back, not trying to anger my mother any more than I already did.​​​​She gestured to the map again and began to lecture again.​​​​“Now, the southern central region, ruled by Isabella, typically has a red hue to their fur, ranging from a dark maroon to a light coral. Isabella herself has a blood red fur color, making her easily distinguishable from others.” Victoria explained, droning on and on.​​I look back up, glancing over my shoulder for the red oxlut . She is following behind us, clutching something. I can’t see what it is, but I can clearly see tears falling onto her claws, Isabella.​​​​I think of Beatrice, and slowly look forward as I remember the last few moments before her death.​​​​The rumbling earth, me falling over, the slithering of scales, the grappling terror as I hear another person get killed by a giant snake.​​​​I shudder and look forward. We slowly approach a large set of doors, some sort of hall entrance. Bronze metal adorns the door, and it slowly opens.​​​​Whatever happens, I think, this is for Beatrice.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

​​I am quickly moved to an open chair, comfy atleast, only makes up for the hasty rush the guard was put into. I notice the chairs are all very regal, as well as the table, and the walls, and the, well damn this must be the main hall. I think to myself.​​​​Mary sits at the largest chair and the end of the table, at least 5 meters from me. Victoria sits across from me, with Isabella to her left and other queens between her and Mary.​​​​An empty seat to my left, then Josephine, Agatha, and Octavia in that order between me and Mary.​​​​I look to the oxlut to Mary’s left, and it’s Anne, looking guilty as fuck. Little rat, sold us out to her mommy.​​​​I let my anger go and look at Victoria, between her glances at Mary and the others, I catch some scheming behind her eyes. Her gold is more of a gold now, must’ve worked to get her “oh so perfect image” correct, ugh, still irritates me.​​​​Mary then sits up, breaking the awkward silence, “As the princesses have discovered.” She says, disappointment present in her voice. “The region is dealing with a Basilisk problem.” I glance to Isabella and she trembles as Mary talks.​​​​I clench my fist, Beatrice didn’t deserve that. I exchange glances with Isabella as she recollects herself. I send my condolences under this awkward silence.​​​​I will avenge her I say with my eyes. I notice a single tear falling from her eye, and she breaks a slight smile.​​​​“We were going to tell you.” Mary says, turning towards us. “You didn’t give us a chance, we had to wait until we had all of you.”​​​​Catherine clears her throat, and slowly stands. Despite being pretty much a ruler of a region, her presence was enough to quell the others.​​​​“Mary, you haven’t exactly been clear with us as well.” She says coldly, looking to Mary. I can feel the icy stare from here. “You’ve hidden important clues as well.”​​​​“I only did it to prevent a panic among the queens and a hasty decision” Mary says, standing her ground.​​​​“And look what happened, your unwillingness to tell the truth got a princess killed.”​​​​“They should’ve listened to their orders Catherine.” Mary tried to impose herself as well.​​​​“You wanted all the queens here, got my hopes all up, made everyone wait for my approval like some god.” Catherine says, her voice rising. Oh no “And you can’t even tell me why it’s so important, other than it is?!” She yells.​​​​“I’m sorry, but this has been here for years, I am dealing with it my own way, it’s been my problem with my region only!” Mary announces.​​​​Victoria now stands, “Liar! Have you not seen what has happened to my region, towns are going extinct because of your ‘special problem’.” She glances at me and gestures to me, “Sierra nearly lost her one home here due to the basilisk!”​​​​No way you pull this now. I think quickly, time to get involved.​​​​“You don’t get to use that Victoria!” I blurt out, quickly standing and pushing the chair backwards. “You never treated me right! You treated me like your treasure!” I yell, staring at Victoria.​​​​She glares at me, daggers present in her eyes. She scoffs, turning and rushing out of the hall. She shoves a guard out of the way as she exits.​​​​Everyone then turns to me, and I sigh. I then sit down, correcting my seat. Octavia cheers me on silently.​​​​Catherine corrects her crown, then cracks a slight grin, “Aheh, let’s get back to the topic at hand. Mary.” She finishes coldly, sitting down slowly. Mary slowly sits as well.​​​​“Now, Mary, how long has this problem gone on for?” Catherine says, resuming her queenly demeanor.​​​​Mary looks to everyone else, then sighs. Anne rests her head slightly against her mother’s. “This has been a noticeable problem for about 15 years or so.” Mary says. “There were reports of missing peoples appearing monthly, and in one specific area.”​​​​She turns to a nearby oxlut , thinner, glasses, advisor? Mary nods, and the advisor lays a large map of the region out, all with minor markings. Mainly x’s and circles. Must be a missing person for each x, or… I shudder slightly.​​​​“Right here, just a few kilometers from my southern border, is where the reports came from. I disregarded them originally as I believed it was just people leaving for Victoria’s region.” Mary finishes, turning slightly from the map.​​​​A soft spoken voice perks up, I look and the advisor begins, “Soon however, the reports included officials chosen by the Queen. These include a head judge for example.”​​​​Catherine leans over the map, and whispers something to her personal guard. She notes something down, and we continue to study it.​​​​She lays her fingers on the map, and traces paths, roads. We watch in silence as she analyzes the map. *Stop being so cryptic, let’s find this basilisk and kill it already!*​​​​I decide to just watch, not the time to piss off another queen.​​​​She draws her finger to the group of x’s, looks to her guard, then slowly turns to Mary. Catherine's thinking, I could swear you can hear the gears turning in her head.​​​​Mary begins to glance around, trying to avoid the queen’s icy stare. Everyone can feel the legit temperature around them drop. I slowly back off the map.​​​​“Queens, stay with me. Princesses, follow Mary’s guards to your temporary rooms.” Catherine says, unwavering in her gaze.​​​​The guards look to Mary, and Mary nods lightly. What a time to be Mary I think.​​​​I am slowly escorted by the same oxlut Guard from earlier. She has a slight puzzled expression on her face. *Wondering the same thing girl.*​​

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

​​As we walk, I notice the guard eyeing me, her stance still being strong and straightforward. She can’t be much older than me, and slightly shorter than Epsilon. Her black fur contrasting her white in some places. She’s a beautiful oxlut , unfortunately she’ll spend her life as a guard. That kind of certainty of a life is what I avoided, what I avoided when I went with Epsilon.​​*Epsilon, probably making wise cracks to Ashe and the two lizards. He's always an 'interesting' one to bring along. He's endearing in it, but half the time he's damn annoying. Not as much as Styx's crusade or whatever the fuck is going with him is nowadays. Styx is more focused on “saving this timeline” or whatever. He's turning into an overprotective parent I can see it. He won't be my parent that's for sure...wait...my parents. Dad!​​​​I've been dragged across regions and I have no clue where he is. When I come back for someone who has very little role in society I get drugged and tasked with killing a basilisk. Great. I came here for that one reason and now I have no clue or way to get to him yet.​​​​Last time I saw him, he snuck into the house to practice piano with me. One of Gilsophone’s Symphonies, one of the hardest pieces I’ve played. Heh, I still remember my first melody on piano, Valia, a simple children’s lullaby, eh well, kinda simple. He taught me years ago, he said he thought his piano skills was the primary reason Victoria chose him. I still think it's cause he's one of the largest and strongest oxlut s I've seen.​​​​He's been wanting for me to get out of the Kingdom for years. Just never got a good chance to escape with me. I miss him.*​​​​“Princess, we’re reached your room.” The guard says softly, slightly nudging my arm. I look at her and she has sympathy behind those obsidian black eyes. She must've seen me think about Father. I don't need any sympathy.​​​​I turn to the door, and it looks much smaller, but still a wide double door. The bronze here is much less in quantity and looks more just like a door. Everything here looks more like regular old building, not a regal castle.​​​​I walk to the door, and turn to the guard, she hasn't turned back yet, but is still assuming the attentive position. She watches me with intent, almost like she wants something. Oh, she wants to stay with me, talk to me I guess.​​​​I could use some company, and maybe some insight on the situation. “Alright, you wanna come in?” I say.​​​​The guard stands slightly taller and hastily says, “I would like to keep an eye on you princess.” She slowly starts walking over to me, then pauses. She glances to her right and I look in that direction as well. A thicker looking oxlut comes walking towards us, absolutely covered in bronze. Oh great, Mary’s Chief Guard.​​​​I look to my accompaniment and whisper, “I'll be inside waiting." I slowly open the door, enter, and close it behind me. As I close it, I see a fiery determination in my guard’s eyes. Shouldn't be too long.​​​​I turn around and look around the expansive room behind me. A simple bed and wardrobe lays in the room, as well as a desk with some papers. I open the wadrobe and find what I was expecting, nothing. The bed also has nothing memorable about it, the sheet being a simple grey.​​​​I look at the desk and the main paper is a map, depicting each region and their castle. A simple case containing the Gold Rose, the region's main flower. I pull my gaze off the rose, and refocus on the map. Mary’s castle is positioned north of the region, unfortunately.​​​​I lean against the desk and sigh heavily. The one time I come back for here, and now I'm stuck far away from home, from my friends, from Delta. And who I came for is far away anyway, Father’s still stuck in Victoria’s region probably. Thinking I'm enjoying my freedom.​​​​I rest my head and sit there for a little bit.​​​​The last thing he said to me was to live my life, even if it meant I'd have to throw this life away. I took my chance, and now it looks like I've thrown it away.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

​​I hear a door slowly creak open and shut. The guard probably. I don't even turn to look at her. I just need to get out of here.​​​​“So you want to keep an eye on me? Or is it that you wanted to talk to me?“ I say quietly. The guard’s probably just wondering what I've done since my escape.​​​​Since my escape I've helped kill a god, find a tower base, free a bunch of betagens. Hmm, guess it would be a long talk huh.​​​​“The latter, princess.” a different voice says, more tense. The absence of coldness or venom out rules Catherine and Victoria respectively. Mary also has more, uncertainty in her voice.​​​​I turn, and am greeted with Elizabeth. Her cyan fur looking awfully similar to her daughter’s fur, Agatha. They are also crazily similar in height. I wonder if they switched clothing would they be almost identical.​​​​“Hello Queen Elizabeth.” I hastily say. “I thought you were someone else is all." Did my guard just dip then? I keep my face calm and my voice stern.​​​​“If you would, I would like to converse at the window.” Elizabeth says, turning towards the wide window at the end of the room.​​​​“Absolutely.” I respond, just cause I hate my Queen mom doesn't mean I can't be regal for other queens, might get me out of here if I play along well enough.​​​​As we approach the window, I notice Elizabeth keeps glancing back, almost as she's waiting for someone to barge in. I glance back but see nothing.​​​​Elizabeth then turns towards me and breathes in slowly. Hopefully not to ridicule me. She starts chuckling and then breaks into a laugh. I just stand there, confused.​​​​“Haha, Sierra, no need to be so regal now." Elizabeth says, calming down. She definitely could go as her daughter, both have that joker side. She looks much less as a queen and just as another dressed up oxlut now.​​​​“Well I'm sorry I've been taught like that." I quickly retort. Now I feel dumb. She had me think we were gonna do this professionally then just cuts the act.​​​​“I'm sorry, heh, but I had to make sure no one could here what we were talking about.” Elizabeth finishes, getting sligthly more serious. Ugh I should've seen that, she wasn't expecting anyone, just making sure no one could hear us.​​​​“Now, I have a few questions." She says, fully turning towards me, her fur looking more navy with the sun setting.​​​​“About my escape?" I suggest, looking out the window, to the wide fields nearby. Of course my room has to be on the side of Mary’s fields, too far to jump it.​​​​“Well,” Elizabeth starts, turning to look out the window and then back to me, “moreso what you escaped from. Victoria."​​​​I look at her skeptically, what does Victoria have to do with this?​​​​“Now, with your explosion at the hall and my knowledge of your history with her, you should have no trouble answering these with no concern how it'll affect her, right?" Elizabeth says, uncertainty in her voice.​​​​I quickly jump on her offer, “You mean to tell me I can diss Victoria now?!” I loudly say, forgetting Elizabeth’s point of being close to the window.​​​​“Quiet!" Elizabeth says, placing her hand over my mouth. Oh, right.​​​​“Ugh, yes. Even if it means you can ‘diss’ Victoria."​​​​“Ok, shoot." I say, leaning against the window.​​​​“So, you're 17 right?”​​​​“Yes.”​​​​“Hmm, did Victoria mention anything about Augusta?"​​​​Augusta, where have I heard that. Oh! That's right, Victoria taught me on how she was behind an assassination plot targeting Catherine. Why would Elizabeth wanna know that?​​​​“Just to tell me how she was behind an assassination plot."​​​​“Ok, ok. What has she taught you over the years.”​​​​“Oh I can answer that one, there's combat techniques, politics, information on the rulers of each kingdom, etc etc. Princess stuff to be a queen."​​​​“And you hated it and never asked for it? That's why you escaped?"​​​​“Exactly! Someone gets it." I say exasperated.​​​​Elizabeth just stares at me, then stares out the window. She's thinking about something.​​​​“Queen Elizabeth?" The guard says, standing at the door. Wow I heard nothing at all.​​​​“Hmm?” Elizabeth says, picking her head up.​​​​“Mary has requested all of the Queens to return to the hall.” The guard states, keeping her stance.​​​​“Thank you for talking to me princess.” Elizabeth says, turning to me. Time to act regally again I guess.​​​​“It's my pleasure Queen Elizabeth.” I say, bowing to her. I feel dumb right now.​​​​Elizabeth passes the guard then closes the door slowly behind her. The guard remains in the same spot.​​​​Once the door shuts, the guard takes her helmet off and sets her spear down. She looks even better without the armor.​​​​“Ugh, that armor is so annoying to wear.” she says, relieved to set some of it down. Ok what is with oxlut s and just not being totally serious 24/7.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The guard turns to me, with a surprisingly happy face. She's been wanting to talk to me all night huh.​​​​“Hi, my name is Cass. Oh, I've been waiting to meet you.” She says, nearly jumbling her words. "As soon as I saw you, I knew I had to meet you. I mean, you escaping the kingdom and being a princess?!” She says, sounding like she heard the news yesterday.​​​​Well, I wouldn't be surprised, a princess or queen hasn't been outside the Kingdom’s borders for years now. And Queens have been telling this bedtime story how two princesses falling in love, and breaking their Queens’ rules, eventually were killed and released a curse that destroyed the Kingdom. But that's all it is, a bedtime story. Something to keep princesses in line.​​​​“Yea, what of it? Want a signature?” I say, nearly annoyed already with her. Her face is just beaming, but she doesn’t fit here.​​​​“Oh nonono, I was just trying to talk to you. All the others are still shaken up by the basilisk attack it seems, I’m sorry you had to see that.” Cass explains, calming down after her outburst. As I look to her, her face has more emotion now than Catherine has exhibited ever probably, ha. Cass walks over and sits down on the bed, gesturing for me to walk over. Her metallic gear almost fits her perfectly, like she was born to be a guard.​​​​“Well, it isn’t the weirdest thing I’ve seen.” I add, sitting next to her, my gear is barely noticeable on the other hand, not shiny or noisy like Cass’s. She looks to me almost puzzled but resolves it very shortly.​​​​“Hah, well, I can say it’s the weirdest thing for me. I’ve only seen the observatory and the tunnel, never the basilisk itself.” Cass says.​​​​“You ain’t missing much, Cass, it’s just a giant snake.” I reply, tightening my jacket as we talk.​​​​“I’ve heard it has this silvery, almost glossy eyes that paralyze anything that see them.” Cass rumors, almost breaking into that stereotypical girly whisper shit I’ve seen before. Epsilon would’ve been like, “Wonder how they were able to see them then.”. She leans back almost fully expecting a similar response.​​​​“Ghostly to see.” I say. Cass doesn't say anything for a little bit. “You're the Queen's Guard to Mary right?”, I ask, trying to switch off of the awkward topic.​​​​“Yes, newest member as a matter of fact.” Cass announces, turning slightly to pose.​​​​“Well, I’ve got a few questions.”​​​​“You are technically a guest, I think…anyways sure.” Cass pauses for a second, but soon smiles and awaits my questions.​​​​“So missing persons for 15 years or so?”​​​​“Yea, it’s a wonder Mary didn’t investigate it further. The chief thinks she was just assuming they were moving to Victoria’s region suddenly.”​​​​“But why would there be missing persons cases being made? It sounds fucking fishy to me.”​​​​“I know!” Cass blurts out. “I mean, any and all family should know where they were going but they were the ones making the alerts.”​​​​“What do you think? About Mary and the Basilisk.”​​​​“Oh, there’s a lot. Mary’s been worried for some time about some insurgency to remove her from power by her own oxluts apparently.”​​​​“Like Augusta planned for Catherine?”​​​​“Like that, but the chief’s only told me that it’s some not so nice oxlut s in some powerful spots, but we haven’t been able to make a full call yet, I mean we only have a few oxluts suspected but no hard evidence.” Man, what is up with Queens and being constantly being under threat by their own subjects.​​​​“You’d think after the eviction of all other species we’d be safer.” I add, pondering the mass eviction. After the death of Augusta, it was also sorted out that she worked heavily with oxluts and members of other species, they were all executed, but Catherine wanted to ensure safety.​​​​“I know, one of Mary’s good friends was a Komodo Dragon that was removed within a few days of Augusta’s death, made Mary super panicky for a while I’ve heard, and now she’s got two problems and all the queens breathing down her neck.”​​​​“Almost makes me feel bad for someone in the same role as my mom.”​​​​“You really hate her don’t you.”​​​​“Despise, she’s made me fit this role of being a queen even though I never wanted that.”​​​​“I wish I could be a queen.”​​​​“I’d rather be a warrior and a free person than a ruler of thousands.” That can be someone else’s calling, like Talos.​​​​“Well, have you had your share of adventures out there?” Cass asks, she’s looking to me with a sense of wonder and anticipation.​​​​“Enough for a lifetime, lots of sightseeing.” I said, avoiding mentioning Delta. No need to get all gushy with her now.​​​​“Aww, I’d love to do stuff like that, explore and all.”​​​​“Make sure you’re with a good group, I got lucky with mine.”​​​​“Yea, the guards kinda keep to themselves unfortunately, makes for some lonely nights.”​​​​“I’m surprised you’re already a Queen’s Guard, you must be around my age.”​​​​“18, and it was more of a birthright, my mom was the chief before the new one, and my father was a head of the Queen’s farms.” Cass explains.​​​​“Oh wow, so who’s the new chief?”​​​​“Monica, if you ask me, a real nasty piece of work.”​​​​“We talking power-crazy and assertive?”​​​​“Yep, she’s so controlling and spends more time managing us than doing her job.”​​​​“No wonder Mary’s panicking, her own chief isn’t handling a physical problem like the basilisk.”​​​​“I know, at this point her advisor, Wendy, is having to pick up organizing all the Queen’s schedules and meetings, and now handle the basilisk problem.” Cass adds, shuffling slightly to move her armor, it clanks slightly.​​​​“You can take it off y’know, the armor, I ain’t gonna attack you.”​​​​“It’s ‘in case we get attacked’ they said, but the last attack on the Queen herself was years ago.” Cass explains, taking the armor off, simply having a thin long sleeve shirt on under, and tights. I help lift the armor off of her and set it at the foot of the bed. I glance to her, studying her physique as I sit down, her body being very slender and fit, but not damaged by conflict.​​​​She’s quite beautiful and would harbor some fans if she didn’t live here. I brush those thoughts away and refocus on the topic. “The advisor, she’s scientific?”​​​​“What do you mean?”​​​​“She’s got a lot of fuckin’ papers around that observatory, pictures, data, gives me a headache nearly.” I say, speaking a pure contradiction with Delta. He at least doesn’t drown me in it, only speaks what’s needed, wish he was here, he’d find something to use.​​​​“Oh! Yes, she’s very drawn to her work, and it’s surprising she hasn’t lost her drive and passion, she nearly burns herself out every day.”​​​​“Sounds like a lot to deal with.”​​​​“Oh you see how soft spoken and composed she was during the meeting? She’s always like that practically.”​​​​“Ok, sounds like she’s boring as hell.”​​​​Cass starts laughing, knowing I’m right. She composes shortly after, “Yea, she’s quite kept to herself, I can hardly get a word with her.”​​​​As Cass finishes the door creaks open, and Wendy pokes her head in, only looking at me as she peers in. Her glasses almost seem too big for her, and the pile of documents she carries around look foreboding. She glances at Cass but doesn’t say anything. “Princess Sierra, may I speak to you?” *Perfect fucking timing.*

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

​​Cass leans over to me, and whispers, “Might be my time to go, it was amazing meeting you.” She stands and puts the armor on, as I’m distracted by Cass, Wendy walks over to the table, “You can stay Cassandra, I’d want a guard’s opinion on this as well.”​​​​Cass still latches the armor on but leaves the rest of the gear laying on the bed. I stand and walk over to Wendy. Cass follows but remains behind me as to not be in the way. Does everyone want to talk me or something, I’m famous apparently.​​​​Wendy lays out several maps and pictures, all concerning Mary’s region and some of the borders between Mary and Victoria, most are simply towers, for some reason I haven’t been told of yet. Cass holds her head right behind my right sholder, and I can feel her brush against me, kinda uncomfy.​​​​“So, you recognize these as Queen Mary’s region and borders between your mother’s region and Queen Mary’s region?” Wendy asks, pointing to some of the towers. It’s a simple and quite easy question, so I answer rather sharply.​​​​“Yes, those are certainly the border towers. And the maps match those I’ve seen before.” I answer sophisticatedly. Gotta assume the pishposh formal language until she breaks.​​​​“And Cassandra, have you been to these?”​​​​“Less times than the towers between Queen Mary and Queen Catherine, but yes.” Cass answers, slowly nudging herself next to Wendy and me.​​​​“Good, good.” Wendy slides the pictures aside and pulls one out of a large hole. “And what of this? Either of you recognize this?” The picture shows something akin to a sinkhole, as several buildings have fallen into the pit.​​​​“No.”​​​​“No.”​​​​“Hmm, well, it doesn’t surprise me, this appeared a few weeks ago, about 5 miles from the border.” Wendy explains. “I believe this is one of the main feeding spots of the Basilisk. The pit is the secondary center of missing reports, but it is far and few at this point. Rumors have begun to spread, and a mass exodus of the southern region has begun.”​​​​“They think Mary had something to do with it? Any aggression yet?” I ask, turning the picture to me.​​​​“Only cries for action, Queen Mary hasn’t given a full explanation other than strange phenomenon, she accidentally hinted it wasn’t normal unfortunately.”​​​​“I’ve never heard anything about sinkholes, so it makes sense it isn’t normal.”​​​​“Yes, but simply the direct implication to it being unnatural is detrimental Sierra.” Wendy comments, now almost disagreeing with me, and maybe Mary too. There’s the break.​​​​“What, Mary’s scared to announce that there’s a big ‘ol snake rummaging around the ground?”​​​​“Sorry to burst your bubble Sierra, but that’s exactly it, the topic is brought up almost every supper and dismissed because Mary’s worried.” Cass explains, looking concerned now. She glances at Wendy, and corrects herself, “Queen Mary’s worried.” Wendy looks to Cass, but simply dismisses it and looks back to me.​​​​“This is the only sinkhole on the surface, the observatory’s tunnel is the second entrance to the tunnel.” Wendy says.​​​​“How did it get so many before this sinkhole then?” I ask.​​​​“We…I’m not sure, there’s no sinkholes in the first disappearance area.” Wendy answers, “The only things there are houses and the collapsed church.”​​​​“The church?”​​​​“Yes, it’s quite an old church, and it fell 15 years ago, Mary couldn’t touch it however, the locals in the area offered to renovate it themselves.”​​​​“Still collapsed?”​​​​“Yes, the locals worked on it, but due to heavily shifting policies and rules, and a growing fear of disappearances, the project was abandoned.”​​​​“I’m surprised Mary never did anything about it until the exodus. Seems a little late.”​​​​“I’ve been urging action for years, but she can become quite…” Wendy begins, looking to Cass, unsure if she should speak her annoyances with Mary. Cass nods slightly, telling her that she can speak openly here. “closeted. She will hole herself up in her room for days on end due to another batch of missing reports.” Wendy continues, her glasses magnifying her calm and blank expression. Creepy.​​​​“Anyone you know get taken?” I ask, wondering the same thing Cass is.​​​​“No fortunately, otherwise I would march Mary down there myself to fix the problem.” Wendy says coldly, exhibiting a strong rage currently frozen.​​​​“Well, what’s the current plan?” Cass asks.​​​​“Currently? Nothing, Queen Catherine’s ordered all the Queens and Princesses here to figure something out. For myself? I have a theory.”​​​​I sit on the bed, ready for the convoluted but possible plan. “Shoot.”​​​​“Alright, so have you two heard the tale of the two pri-” Wendy begins, but a loud knock on the door shocks her, making her jump. Cass strides over to her weaponry, and I stand.​​​​The knocking happens again, then it goes silent. Each time is deafeningly loud for some reason, the sound ricocheting into my bones. I make my way slowly to the door, soon grunting in frustration and rushing the door.​​​​I yank it open, and am shocked to find Octavia, accompanied by her own guard, shorter than both of us, but looks twice as mean. Octavia jumps slightly, but her face pulls into a gradual smile as she sees me. Ugh.​​​​“Yes?” I simply ask, looking between the guard and Octavia.​​​​“Oh um, Mary’s uh-”​​​​“Queen Mary has requested the presence of her advisor, guard, and Princess Sierra.” The guard announces, sliding herself into the room to regard all three of us. Wendy begins to pack her pictures away, and Cass holds her spear as she exits the room.​​​​As everyone exits, I notice the general absence of emotion on their faces, Cass now looked like any other guard, and Wendy assumed her quiet advisor face again. When everyone has exited, the guard shuts the door tightly, and trails behind the 4 of us. Not very trusting. Octavia slides over to me, and whispers to me, “Quite the audience you had hmm?”​​​​“Oh, I simply loved all the attention.” I sarcastically answered, Octavia snickered. I smile at her appreciation of my joke.​​​​“Listen, there’s some weird stuff going on here.”​​​​“You tell me, the advisor and guard has been talking a storm up about the basilisk.”​​​​“Exactly, my mom kept saying stuff to that one guard she had.”​​​​“Why in the world…”​​​​“I don’t know, she hasn’t visited me, I’ve been alone for the past hour or so.”​​​​“Get used to it.” I abruptly comment.​​​​Octavia turns to me, shocked by what I said, but soon turns back forward, and nods solemnly. Being a Queen is nothing but work, and everyone’s your servant, not your friend. Blegh, not my cup of tea.​​​​Cass paces up to me, and also whispers to me, “Hey, what’re you two talking about?”​​​​“How weird everything is…Octavia meet Cass.”​​​​“Hello.” Octavia says. Cass waves in recognition.​​​​“Hey do you know what was up with Queen Catherine? Being her daughter and all?”​​​​“Only thing I know is that she was super pissed."​​​​Wendy pushed herself next to Octavia, now making this line of 3 into 4. Ugh.​​​​“She was rather heated then.” Wendy commented, then almost instantly stared into space. As we walked, the three of us exchanged glances as Wendy pondered something. Weird. Wait, she started talking about something with princesses, and it was a tale, so is it some story?​​​​“Are you thinking of the Two Princesses?” I ask, trying to snap Wendy’s focus back to us. Wendy snaps her head back to me, and now moves directly in front of me.​​​​“You’ve heard it?! I didn’t think that tale was told anymore.”​​​​“It’s something always told isn’t it? To prevent princesses from stepping out of line?”​​​​“I haven’t heard it.” Octavia answers. I grumble, accepting that Victoria once again raised me very differently than all the others. The others look to me almost in sympathy, I hate it.​​​​“Anyways, you’ve heard the tale?”​​​​“Yea yea, two princesses fall in love, and release a beast from some ‘ancient curse’ and both die.” I quickly summarize.​​​​“Good, then you’ll know it revolves around princesses Beth and Lexi right? ‘Already rebellious princesses with their names’ or whatever the tale tells?” Wendy asks.​​​​“Yea, both didn’t like their families and ran off with the other princess.”​​​​“Perfect. Now this is interesting because, 2 centuries ago, there was a pair of princesses, Elizabeth Marigold and Alexis Lockhert, distant relatives of you Sierra and Princess Anne. Both happened to mysteriously die from a lightning strike, their corpses never to be recovered because they were destroyed in the strike.” Wendy says.​​​​Octavia leans forward, and asks, “What, you think that the princesses from the story and the two princesses two centuries ago are connected?”​​​​Wendy looks to her, and now looks beaming, she looks at us three, and explains, “I think they are the same people. The names are similar, both pairs died at the same time, no body, no finality to their lives.”​​​​“The basilisk in the story killed them though, not a lightning strike.” I comment.​​​​“My theory is-” Wendy begins, but bumps into the hall doors, she catches herself, and soon regains her composure. Cass meets up with her fellow guard again, and soon, it looks like a more…royal group. I correct my fur, and Octavia pulls her outfit to better fit.​​​​The guards go for the doors, and Wendy places herself in front of us. Wendy whispers just loudly enough for Octavia and I to hear, “We’ll talk later.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

​​Chapter 14

​​The hall shifted from grand to cold, as the awkward silence plagued the room as we walked in. There were two seats open, for the two of us. Agatha, Josephine, and Anne already sat down, as well as the six queens, which includes Victoria. I glare at her as I sit, but Octavia nudging me pulls my attention towards Mary and Catherine.

​​

​​Mary sits in the grandest chair of the table, but looks the smallest, she shrinks from the situation. Catherine, on the other hand, looks like she’s rising from Mary’s absence, like she’s taking over. Catherine’s been harping on Mary the entire time…and now she’s like taking control. She might be actively trying to get more control outside of her own region.

​​

​​Catherine stands, and cracks a smile as she begins, “Welcome back fellow Queens and Princesses, we meet again to discuss the…problem…plaguing Queen Mary.” She has a unique chill to her voice that irks me. The silvery fur is almost shining.

​​

​​“As mentioned, there is a Basilisk rummaging around. Tunnels spread from here all the way to the border between this region and Queen Victoria’s region. We’ve already lost dozens of people, and now a princess as well. My condolences to Queen Isabella. Irregardless, this has been an apparent problem for several years now as we’ve learned.” Catherine continues. She looks to Mary, who slowly but surely stands up to speak.

"It has...been a problem for quite some time. But it never got this bad." Mary said slowly.

"And you didn't think to tell our daughters of the danger. My daughter?!" Isabella said fiercely.

Catherine maintained her cool, “She didn’t think of it, and reasoned it was simply missing persons reports, or she didn’t want to deal with us and the basilisk.”

Mary didn’t respond. She sat there and Anne gave her comfort.

“And now, we are indeed down a princess, but we must strive to finding a solution to this problem.” Catherine gestured to Wendy, who approached her and held out a report.

"Mary's assistant has been most helpful with this problem. You picked a good one Mary." Catherine said slyly, almost teasing either Mary or Wendy. Octavia traded glances with me.

"Now, with the reports of many dissappearances coming from the abandoned church, I suggest we send a few of us down there to investigate. The others stay here and compile more evidence or ideas."

Alexandra pulled her sister, Elizabeth up, and announced their decision, "We'll go, your Highness. May we pick who else we would like to accompany us?"

Catherine smiled at their eagerness to delve into the church, and nodded. Her silvery fur shined in the light and now I could see how she was a great and respected Queen. *Don't mess with her and she'll be a very good asset for you, or even another supporter.*

Elizabeth spoke up, and looked to me," We'd like to bring Sierra, and your daughter Octavia along." If Victoria was here she'd be fuming, but she's off being a bitch elsewhere.

Wendy leaned over to Mary and whispered in her ear. Mary looked fearfully up to Catherine for a second, but soon hid more and nodded to Wendy. Wendy then turned to Catherine and whispered.

Catherine didn't move at all when Wendy spoke, keeping her hands on the map and her gaze still looking like she zoned out. Wendy finished speaking and corrected her glasses.

"Ugh, can they just stop whispering I swear?" I whispered to Octavia. She smirked and I immediately realized what was going on. "No, I'm whispering to counter her whispering, stop."

"Like we aren't whisperin-"

"Octavia. Sierra. Anything you'd like to add? You must be dying from anticipation or what not if you two keep whispering about Valia knows what." Catherine spoke calmly, *swear I could feel the frost from her voice.*

"N-no, nothing at all," Octavia began, I picked up for her,"We were just talking about what Wendy whispering between Queen Mary and you."

"Ah, quick and punctual, Octavia, learn from her, she speaks like a queen should." Catherine remarked. She smiled at me, "You seem promising, maybe you'll be a suitable replacement for your mother."

Wendy cleared her throat, and Catherine casted a glance at her.

"Nonetheless, the plan has now shifted to include Queen Mary's assistant, Wendy. I do hope this doesn't change things?"

"Can I also request the guardsman that accompanied me?" I asked, resuming the regal face. Catherine looked a little skeptical, but almost ran the scenario through her head.

Octavia nudged me, a sort of *Really?* action. I stomped on her foot in response.

"Very well, more hands to move more rocks. Now go."

I stood up and bowed a little. The others followed suit and soon I walked out.

Cass, Wendy, Octavia, and now Alexandra and Elizabeth surrounded me.

"For the love of-can you stop crowding me?" I blurt out, storming off, "Ugh, like lost children I swear..."

I look behind me and notice the others still trailing me, but now murmuring amongst themselves.

*Uggghhhhhh fine.*

I stop and soon they envelop me back into their little posse.

Alexandra breaks the ice first, "So Sierra, nearly Queenly hm?"

"You say that like it's a surprise a princess is ready to be Queen already."

"Well I mean, I haven't exactly trained Josephine to be a Queen yet..."

"So you're setting her up to be unexpectedly Queen if you die. Big whoop, she learns at some point."

"Sierra you're missing the point. We don't teach Josephine or Agatha how to be Queens yet because we don't expect them to be Queens soon, a sort of 'We'll get it later.' idea. Victoria's almost prepping you to be Queen very soon..." Elizabeth explained, Octavia and Alexandra looked concerned almost, like they know something I don't.

I stop and look to her, "What do you mean by that."

"S-She means nothing bad, just, it's not regular. I mean, all the more power to you for being on top of queen knowledge but-" Alexandra covered, explaining Elizabeth's comment.

"Don't care, as long as she leaves the royalty shit from me," I said, brushing my way past them all, "I'm good."

We got to the garage and got in a large SUV, meant to convey queens and lots of guards. Alexandra and Elizabeth got in front, and Octavia got in, turning to me with a smile on her face.

"After you, your highness." She joked, I reluctantly took her hand.

"If you're trying to flatter me it isn't going to work." I remarked. The others got in and soon we were on the road.

Cass took the liberty to ramble on for the whole ride, or something like that cause I dozed off. We stopped, and I felt a light tapping on my knee.

I look and Cass is tapping me with the butt of her spear. I push it away, "Tap me one more time and I snap that spear over my knee."

Alexandra joked loudly, "Grouchy princess huh?"

"Let's just do this." I said, starting to move rocks.

We moved batches after batches of rocks, making slow but sure progress. I turned some rocks over and coughed from the dust. “Damned rubble.”

Octavia leaned in, “You ok?”

“Yea, just this pile of rocks just making me cough, at least it could be a little less ugly to look at but no, grey, dark grey, light grey. We’ve got the gray spectrum for rubble here.”

Octavia chuckled a little, moving closer to me, “You say that like you’re expecting gold and marble rubble here.”

“Or bronze or whatever this region’s metal is. But nope, stupid grey rubble.”

Case overturned a rock and paused for a second. I walked over to her, “Tired already? We’ve got a whole ass church to move.”

“This was the church I went to when I was younger. Bronze and Quartzite adorned this chruch, giving a nice atmosphere for all of the Oxluts that'd come here. After service and patronage, I’d spend hours praying to Valia here.” Cass set her weapon down and knelt before the center of the church. Octavia laid her hand on Cass’s shoulder.

Octavia sat next to her while I stood off to the side. “So do you still pray that often?”

“No no, the royal guard prays on weekends, Tuesday, and Thursday.”

“Sounds exhausting.” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Oh yea? What about you grumpy?” Octavia joked, poking my side, I slapped her hand away.

“I don’t…do it as much.” I budged, slipping an answer in.

“I pray everyday cause that’s what mother says to do, pray everyday to be close to Valia in spirit so she may guide me to being a great queen.”

“Like Valia will come back in spirit to help you.” I said half joking, half serious.

“Oh c’mon Sierra, Mrs. Grumpy. Don’t rain on our parade.” Cass said.

Wendy walked over, once again jotting down notes.

“Wendy!” Cass yelled.

She looked up from her notes, almost too out of it to hold a conversation.

“How often do you pray to Valia?”

“Oh, I pray on Sundays only.”

“Really?” Octavia asked.

“Yes. The oldest reports of Valia originate in the year 50. They said that those close to Valia witnessed that she worked on days other than Sunday, then went around her kingdom, connecting with her people and the world.”

“Doing all that still seems like work.” I said skeptically.

“Maybe, but I guess if she enjoyed making the lives of her subjects better simply by being there, then she can do that on her day off.” Wendy reasoned, *guess she’s right.*

Wendy then turned to the hole behind her, "Shall we go down? Unless you all are too tired to do some *actual* research and exploration." She said, *can't tell if she's joking or serious.*

"Ready when these two are, let's stop this basilisk from destroying anything else." Cass said determined.

"Ready." I said, Octavia shook her head in agreeance.

Elizabeth and Alexandra came back in and secured our anchors, before going down first. *Leaders go first.*

"Watch your landing, looks like-blegh-a lot of bones." Alexandra called. I went down first and made sure Wendy made it down safely. Her glasses shook softly and she corrected them before gasping at the ground. I noticed there were several Oxlut bones, skulls, ribs, etc.

Cass and Octavia came down, Cass muttering "Valia protect us."

A massive tunnel laid in front of us. No extra paths.

"Hmm, maybe the basilisk came here for just food but didn't reside here. That would explain the single path." Wendy suggested.

Elizabeth held a lantern up and led the way, kicking bones out of the way as we descended. Soon the earth was illuminated just by the lantern light. The smells of decay and death flew throughout the tunnel, it was nauseating. Octavia stuck near me as we descended, *apparently I was her favorite.*

"Do you have at least a good reason to stick near me?" I asked quietly, only for Octavia to hear.

She stumbled over her words, "Oh-uh-you're the coolest princess?" she said halfassed. *Alright not telling me everything, cool.*

"Mhm sure, do you give the same halfassed answers to your mom?" I remarked.

"Nuh-uh, do you think I have a death wish?" Octavia said back, she smiled at me whilst saying it. *There's just something about the way she's looking at me.*

I couldn't endulge in the topic much longer, as Elizabeth stopped us part way through, and gestured for a flare. Octavia handed her the flare and soon a *pop* rang out. The flare shone brightly, but descended to the pits of the earth. A very shining sign of the situation. *Ugh fuck, Epsilon would love to make that pun.*

"Holy Valia..." Octavia exclaimed.

"How deep..." Alexandra said.

The flare soon hit the ground, and a set of scales slithered down there. *The basilisk is here.*

"Basilisk. There." Elizabeth said. She was stoic, but I'd be damned if she wasn't a lil worried right now. She was definitely the knight in shining armor that would save everyone if need be.

Wendy looked closer, seemingly seeing something, before some of the cliff gave way and rocks hit the bottom. Wendy fell into Alexandra, who grabbed a good hold of her and pulled her back. Wendy corrected her glasses and thanked Alexandra. The movement stopped, and soon a deep hiss shook the earth, *It knows we're here.*

"Run." I said, grabbing Wendy's arm and pulling her back to the exit. The others raced ahead of me when I tumbled from the earthquake. Loud crashes and slithering told me the basilisk was close. I stepped on a skull and as it crushed, I slipped, Wendy passed me.

"Go!" Wendy yelled. She pulled me up and soon we got to the lines. I attached and soon we got out of the whole, but as we were climbing up. The basilisk charged and broke through the chruch. I was flung onto the ground outside. Sounds of thuds and crashes rang out around me. A loud screech and hiss told me the basilisk broke above ground, and soon, slithers grew under ground. A massive crash and dust making me cough told me that the church collapsed. I kept my head down as I called out.

"All good?!" I yelled.

"Yea...thank you Valia for saving us." Cass said.

I opened my eyes and saw the entire church sunken into the ground. I shook myself off and soon helped Wendy to her feet. The others got up as well, looking safe but rattled.

"Did you think civilians saw that?", Alexandra asked.

"Definitely." Elizabeth answered.

"Are you ok Wendy?"

"More than ok, I saw a structure down there." Wendy exclaimed. She has a face of enthusiasm and excitement, *like a damn child.*

"Well? What is it?" I ask, half impatient.

"Let's get back first, and we'll *ahem* regroup with Queen Catherine." Wendy said, resuming her bland assistant face.

[Chapter]

Catherine met us in the garage as we parked the SUV, her face still bland but I could feel something was wrong.

"Hello, I've heard, across the southern part of the region, that there's been a basilisk sighting. Right where the church stood."

Elizabeth got out and explained for us, "Yes, the church housed one of its tunnels. We explored it and found a massive pit where it resided. It noticed us and chased us out of the church."

Catherine glanced around at everyone, resting her eyes on Octavia, "Is everyone safe and sound? No injuries?"

"Everyone's perfectly fine, your daughter included."

Catherine nodded softly, "Come with me, I need to discuss new matters concerning the sighting." She turned and soon we all followed her in the hallway.

"Now, people are beginning to realize what has been going on. Disappearances around the church, a massive basilisk bursts from it, they deduce that there's been a basilisk down there for years and never dealt with."

"That...can't be good...right?" Octavia asked, walking next to her mother. Catherine stood a few inches taller, closer to Epsilon's height. She shook her head.

"For Queen Mary's interests, terrible. Now she's faced with both confronting this basilisk issue, and keeping her people calm. Anything, even revolution, is possible now with this great of an injustice."

"You're going to help her right? Not just leave her to the wolves?" I asked. Catherine stopped, and turned her head slightly, "Cause I mean, this whole time you've been rather emotionless about this whole thing. I mean, we've lost a princess, a queen is now nearly in threat of revolution."

Catherine turned to me, "I do not leave my queens to fend for themselves Princess Sierra. I help them. Not like your own mother, who's been miraculously avoiding all involvement in this case since you've arrived."

"You're not meaning I have some hand in what she's doing." I said defensively. *She accuses me?!*

"At this moment, you're my best informant on her actions. Find her." Catherine ordered.

I turn away and storm off, Octavia looking to me as I walk away. *Let's just fucking find her.*

I walk through the hallways of the castle for a while, only seeing the occasional passing guard and maid.

As I pass another guard, I see them glance at me and almost walk away from me. I don't say anything, *the fuck was that for?*

I pull out my phone, and see a lot of activity on a new post: *Queen Mary announces speech on newly discovered basilisk issue.*

And a new message, *Delta*. It reads: 'Hey, hope you're doing okay. We're doing fine over here. Met two new people. But I need to speak with you and Epsilon as soon as possible.'

I text back: 'Solve your issue, then come back, give me a day and then come help me. Love you.'

'Love you too, stay safe.'

I put my phone away and look to see a pair of guards seemingly talking to themselves down the hallway, they walk into a room and it isn't shut, the door slightly closed. *Wonder what they're talking about.*

I walk to the door and softly bring my head near the entrance. I heard the two talk, both rather boring to listen to.

"Have you seen Queen Mary's announcement? She's planning on giving a speech on the basilisk sighting." One said.

"Rather stupid in my opinion, I mean. It was just sighted, revealing that she knew so soon makes her case worse.", *Wow, rather fucking rude to be her own guard and just trash her.*

"She's asking to get removed from power.", one said, *Even ruder.*

"Enough! I don't need to hear more of the speech and what you two think." A new voice rang out. She was rather done with the two talking, her voice coated in edge. But I know that voice. *Victoria.*

I unsheath my spear and lightly tap it. The two guards shuffle in their armor,"What should we do?" one of them asked, a little worried.

"Shut up is what you'll do," Victoria ordered softly. She walked to the door and slowly pulled it open. I stood up and presented myself before she turned the corner, hoping to please her with looking regal, *better mood mean more answers.*

"Ah, it's you." She said, surprised.

"I haven't seen you since the discussion and just wanted to er...apologize." I said, smiling in almost an *oops* manner, *What the fuck am I doing? What the fuck am I doing? What the fuck am I-*

"Oh! Um well, it's very nice of you to apologize. Come in." Victoria said, actually surprised and smiling softly. *I haven't seen her do that in ages. Not since I learned how to fight.*

I walked in and the guards could not look more anxious. They shifted in their armor as I sat opposite of them, Victoria sitting in front of them.

"I hoped you calmed down since then. Tensions were high since I, violently, brought you here."

"I think it's better I'm here, the other princesses aren't up to the task, the only one is Octavia." I said, Victoria closed her eyes and nodded.

"That sounds about right, turns out the same can be said of the queens. Other than Catherine and Elizabeth, the others aren't good enough. Alexandra avoids conflict to achieve peace too much, Mary's too worrying, and Isabella's already gone home." Victoria said, lightly tapping on of the guard's armor and signalling for a drink,"Coffee?"

"No no, I'm good, you've always known I've hated that stuff." I said, half with attitude. Victoria avoided my eyes for a second.

"So, we're down a queen too?" I ask, waiting until Victoria took a sip of her coffee to ask. She had to swallow it quickly to answer.

"Yes, she said and I quote, 'I can't help you anymore. I need to go home and grieve with Oscar.', Oscar being her partner. It's terrible what has happened, but we can't stop, the people will tear Mary apart if we wait." Victoria said, skipping over the part where someone has to grieve over losing a child.

"I think they'll tear her apart at the speech."

"Perhaps, I personally wouldn't have done a speech so soon in correspondence with...such an event. It draws eyes to the fact that you knew the whole time." Victoria said, agreeing with what I thought.

"She should've consulted with the committe."

"With the committe thank you, that's what I was telling her. Thank Valia I raised someone that knows how to handle something like this.” Victoria said with a smile, chuckling at the start, “Now, how did the expedition go? Find it?”

I was taken aback, but recovered quickly, “Oh-uh, we did find it, and Queen Mary’s assistant said she saw a structure down there.”, *She knew?! How does she know, she wasn’t there.*

“Good good, very good. I knew you’d do well. Now scurry along, I do need to take ample time to prepare for…such a ‘fun’ speech.” She said, shooing me off.

“Bye, Mom.” I said as I was leaving. Mom looked touched but honestly, *I just wanted a normal life, no teachings, no lectures, no crazy Mom making me into someone who is supposed to like this royalty stuff, but now I don’t.*

I walked out of there smiling, *Crazy, I know.*

*Maybe we find common ground in critiquing these other queens and princesses. That’d be hilarious. We could probably do a better job than them.*

*Alright, let’s find Catherine.* I began to walk back to the grand hall, but much to my memory, I have zero fucking memory of how this place goes. I pass several guards and gardens before I realize I’ve been going in a loop, and I go to talk to a nearby maid. He’s thinly, but is very attentive, spotting me and figuring out who I was before I even said anything, “Oh hello Princess Sierra, I hope your stay here has been wonderful.”, he said with a wide smile and enthusiasm in his tone, *reminds me of Delta. So sweet.*

“How do I get to the central hall? Place is a maze to me.” I said, refraining from using profanity. He stood next to me and pointed down the hall I front of me.

“You’ll continue till you get to the pair of statues, then turn left. You’ll take a right at the fountain, then another left at the easy to miss painting on the wall. Nearly everyone misses it. The hall is on your left. You’ll be entering from the left side of the room, I’m afraid the front entrance is even more work to get to.” He said happily, pointing next to me.

I nod as he goes along, “Thanks, I wouldn’t expect to look up to figure directions out.”

He giggled softly, “Yes it’s a nice little thing burrowed into the roof. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“Yes, do you happen to know where my room is?”

“Of course, it’s not a far distance from here.”

“Perfect, I’d like you to bring a map of the castle there, marked with the Queens’ rooms, and the Princesses’ rooms. And um…bring a bowl of apples in as well, my room is rather empty.” I ask, keeping my regality intact with my tone.

“Of course, I believe you’ll be having dinner in the hall, but I’ll make sure to deliver the map and the apples. You have a good night Princess.”

“Oh, what’s your name?”

“It’s Romeo.”

“Got it, see you Romeo.”

“Have a good night.”

I walk away, and feel much, much better than I was yesterday. Made progress on the basilisk issue, maybe made peace with my Mom, and now, I’m feeling like my life’s teachings haven’t been totally wasted.

Cass and Wendy wait outside of the dining hall, expecting me. I walk up and they both look to me almost for an explanation.

“What?” I ask, opening my arms.

“How was your mother?” Wendy asked, she looked more interested than annoyed.

“Fine, might actually be friends with her again. She’s not totally fucking crazy.” I said.

“Oh. I thought you’d be all annoyed and grumpy, I mean, you don’t exactly talk about her positively.” Cass said.

“Right. But we’re all good. Why aren’t you two in there as well?”

“Queen Mary’s insisted on having a nice dinner with just the queens and princesses.” Wendy explained. She almost looked happy to have this chance to focus on the basilisk.

“Minus Beatrice and Isabella?” I ask.

“And Victoria. She refused the offer to come.”, Cass said.

“Well shit, guess I’ve gotta talk up my ‘royalty’.”, I said, bowing in front of them mockingly, “May I ask for some biscuits and tea?”, Wendy simply smiled, and Cass chuckled softly. I smiled in response.

“Go on, may I meet you in your room?” Wendy said, walking past me.

“Sure, make my room the party/basilisk kill plan room.” Cass pumped her arms up and waved by.

I shook myself free and breathed deeply, *One nice dinner. That’s all.*

I opened the door and the others turned to me. Octavia lighting up and Catherine expecting answers. I’d rather talk to the one that’s very happy to be in my company.

I sat next to Octavia, and Catherine asked across the table, “How’s your mother?”

“Good, she was focused on getting ready for the speech tomorrow.”

Catherine paused for a second, then went back to eating her salmon. She looked puzzled over something, but never said anything else.

“How’s *your* mother?” I ask Octavia, she glances up at Catherine then looks to me. She speaks in between bites of potato and carrot.

“Demanding. ‘We need to do this,’ and ‘You do this,’ and yadda yadda.”

“I’m surprised she hasn’t imposed herself as temporary queen.” I said, eating some of the center food, slabs of ham.

“It’d make this a lot easier.”

“Yea. This is very good food.”

“I know right. Mary has some great chefs.” Octavia exclaimed. She melted at another bite of ham on her plate, “Best meat on Kumilon even if it’s ‘artificial’.”

“I never understood that argument, like of course it’ll be lab grown meat. We aren’t murdering each other for meat like a bunch of feral beasts.”

“Mhm, I mean, it was I dunno, how long ago that that was happening?”

“Too close. Heh, it’d sicken poor Anne and Mary if we continued to do so.” I said, barely looking to the two. They ate their food very silently and tried to blend in with their chairs.

"I'm going to ask her about tomorrow."

"Don't you dare." Octavia ordered. I already leaned forward and looked to Mary.

"Queen Mary?"

She looked up from her food and looked at me.

"I was wondering what you were going to say tomorrow, like during the speech."

"Oh-I-uh, well-I-I was going to talk about h-how it's been a recent development and we're working on it.", she struggled to say. Anne further slinked in her seat, and I could feel Octavia doing the same.

Catherine then spoke up, "I've been assisting Queen Mary on her speech Princess. It's none of your concern since it's not your speech, is it not?"

*Don't do this* I can hear Delta telling me. "My apologies, just wondering if Queen Mary was solely writing her speech." I sat back down, ending and potential conflict.

"What in Valia's name was that?!" Octavia demanded under her breath.

"Just making it more, lively."

I felt a jab in my side and looked to see Elizabeth, "Not a good move Princess. Catherine's been on a tight wire and you do not want to be the one to let her loose."

“I just mean the tensions as tight as a corset right now.”

“I agree, so does everyone else. But the situation is enforcing the tension. After dinner, we can all go to someone’s room and destress there.”

“Make it my room, Wendy’s already there.”

“Good, I think Octavia likes being in your room anyway.” Elizabeth says, Octavia perks up slightly, but goes back to her food, *so damn attached to me, it’s like she likes me or-no.*

Being in my room, or my presence?” I ask, Elizabeth chuckled softly.

“Both.”

After dinner, I left the hall and escaped back to my room, where Wendy nearly took over the desk with all of her notes, but in the center of the room laid a table and some chairs, a bowl of apples, the map, and a little note.

‘Glad I could be of service Princess Sierra. I reside on the point on the map marked R, if you ever require my assistance again.', it was one of the royal notes and the penmanship was top notch, *A little cheesy though if I must admit, 'Where art thou Romeo?'*

"Glad to see you still in one piece." Wendy said, insinuating I was supposed to be basilisk food tonight.

"Well, I nearly was, Catherine warned me and that was all I needed." I said, undoing my dress and corset. I exhaled as I slipped out of it and into my usual attire. *It wasn't nearly as formal, but it was comfortable.*

"Last time there's been this much unrest from the people, Catherine's husband died."

"Leo?"

"Mhm. It was a real shame, I met him just as I began to serve Mary. He was a nice soul, being the humor in Catherine's life."

"And now Isabella's gone too."

"Gone, not dead. She's lost a daughter, and as Catherine, has lost family to such unrest. Her mother, killed by Elizabeth, for leading the coup, and her father, killed for delving too much into said coup."

"Terrible. Do you think another coup could happen?"

"Unlikely, each Queen had a hand in helping the sisters and Isabella bringing the coup to justice."

"What did my Mom do?"

"She gave a very vital tipoff to Augusta's position. She said she had scouts in the area."

"Mmm."

"Now come here. I would like you to see this."

I walked over, biting into an apple. Wendy's notes were all over the place, but half talked about the two princesses tale, and half talked about field research.

"What am I supposed to be looking at?"

"Well, the tale goes that the princesses met at a church on the coastside to officiate their wedding. The queens chase them there, and as the sides clash, a curse is broken and the princesses are cast to the depths and eaten by a monstrous snake."

"It was on the account of being 'dishonest, disloyal, and breaking any and all tradition known to the kingdom right?"

"Exactly, once again, it's meant to spook young princesses. Look past that..." Wendy says, showing a picture from the book and a hand drawn sketch from Wendy. The structures look just the same.

"And reality shines through..."

"The tale's basilisk and our basilisk are the same! This is huge, we now know the origin of the basilisk, it's natural hiding spot, and with this field research, we can fight it."

"Oh hell yea."

A knock on the door rang throughout the room, I went up and Elizabeth and Alexandra stood there. Octavia, Cass, Josephine, and Agatha followed in.

"Ready for a speech?"

"As long as the crowd won't revolt." Wendy half joked. I sat next to Octavia and Elizabeth.

As Wendy went along, I heard whispers between Elizabeth and Alexandra.

"And so, the way we fight the basilisk is by using light and spike cannons."

"So like...let light fall in to the den and blindly shoot spikes at the basilisk?" Josephine asked very skeptically, I heard a sharp order from Alexandra being whispered, *must be a common problem.*

"No. I've been talking closely with Mary's mechanics and scientists. We've developed these blinding balls, and these thermal detection cannons." She said, holding up a picture of both, *those are just flashbangs.* I leaned against Octavia as I was exhausted, losing focus as Wendy went on. Octavia didn't say anything but after a while Elizabeth noticed.

"Ok, we should let Sierra sleep, she's nearly passing out on Octavia." Elizabeth said, straightening me up. Octavia and Cass helped me up and got me to bed. Wendy, Alexandra, and Elizabeth talked over the plan as the others left. I immediately fell asleep as I hit the bed.

I awoke later with some shushing and whispering coming from the hallway, it was faint, but I could hear my mom.

"Now, with the plan tomorrow, it is imperative to keep Sierra alive. She's vital to the plan. If she even gets hurt, it's your head." Mom threatened. I couldn't see them but I could definitely feel the tension from here.

"Mom?" I asked, the voices shut up and I heard her again.

"I'll get her to sleep again, don't worry. Everything will be fine." She said in a hushed voice.

She walked into the room and smiled to me as I laid there, "How are you doing?"

"Tired as fuck." I replied. Victoria chuckled a little.

"You *did* have a big day. Now go back to sleep, we've got the speech to attend."

"I thought I heard..."

"It was just talk to keep you safe in case of any revolts. Everything will be fine." She said, lowering my head. I fell back asleep content.

[Chapter]

I woke up and the sun was shining through the window, giving me quite a pleasant view of my room. I got up, got dressed, and another note from the maid laid there.

'Hope you had a pleasant sleep. I wanted to alert you to the fact that the speech will be given at this point on the map, I've also overlayed directions to get there and to where all the royalty are gathering before hand.'

*Oh Romeo, if only you knew I was 'betrothed to another kind soul'.*

I got out one of my dresses, interlaced with the region's metal, silver, I fixed my hair, applied makeup, ate an apple, and was on my way.

The guards gave off very ominous tones as we passed, like they knew a revolt was coming. Some looked at me, some readyied themselves for battle almost.

Cass once again chirped up to my side as I walked. Wendy met me outside of the hall, as always.

"Like my own personal company." I said, accepting the company. Cass smiled despite the 'grim' event upcoming.

"I wish I could be by you to plan our attack on the basilisk, but my duties require I stay near Queen Mary and assist her in her speech." Wendy said, seemingly liking me the most.

"I'll be right there! I'm assigned to guard the princesses! They said my work so far on this case is great." Cass said enthusiastically, *Valia, she reminds me of Epsilon's optimism and easy goingness. Valia I miss them both...*

"I'd like it if you guarded Octavia more, I'll take my chances, gotta have some battles to keep my form right." I said, Cass agreed and decided to guard Octavia instead.

"Just, be careful, I have zero insight on how this'll go." Wendy said, walking off and passing through some of the curtains covering the balcony. I could hear the unrest and anticipation from the crowd.

"Let's go." I said, beckoning for Cass to open the door for me. I walked in and the tension was even higher than out in the halls.

I walked over to Octavia, who beamed at my sight but for a...different reason.

"How's my favorite princess?"

"Flattery will get you nowhere, flirt." I said abruptly. Octavia blushed heavily and hid her face. I smirked at the reveal.

"How long did you know?" She asked sheepishly. I leaned in and spoke in her ear.

"Dinner."

"Oh Valia..." She said exasperated. I chuckled softly and felt a hand on my shoulder, Mom.

"I hope you're well rested, today should be..."

"Fun? I know. Everyone's tied up tighter than a-"

"Cat in a bundle of yarn?" Mom finished, laughing softly at her finishing *my* line.

"So, you think it'll be tomatoes?" I ask, Mom ponders the question for a second but answered sure of it.

"Blades. I mean, imagine it, this has been going on for 15+ years." Mom explained.

"Well, at least it was you that trained me."

"A single scratch and I'll be disappointed." Mom said, sternly but soon she cracked a smile. I hugged her, *this, this is what I wanted from her.*

Elizabeth signaled me over, so once Mom was done and she walked off, I walked over to her and Agatha.

"You're not stressing?"

"No, I mean, I'm not the one giving the speech." I said.

"Right, well, make sure to watch your back. You can't believe what lengths people will go to secure their goals."

"Right, you were the one to kill Augusta, she was an esteemed queen but she's now known as an infamous traitor."

"Mhm. Valia if Isabella was here...it'd be memory lane for her." Elizabeth said. She hugged Agatha softly. Agatha blushed at the affection.

Catherine was the last one to call me over, she stood ever so uninterrupted about the panic, keeping her bland face up, "It seems your mother will join us after all. Have you two seemingly repaired your relationship?"

"Hopefully, I wish it was just how she raised me was poor."

"Everyone wishes it was just a phase." Catherine said grimly. I didn't reply.

Mary stepped out into the blinding sunlight first, and soon we all followed. Cheering, booing, people ontop of roofs, ontop of each other. Things were thrown close to us, but nothing hit yet. I sat down, and soon Octavia did next to me, Cass standing to her far side from me, I traded glances with Cass.

Mary walked up the podium and scanned the crowd, there were thousands of people here. All of them either cheering or booing. It was deafening.

Mary began her speech.

"My people, I come to you all with grave news. As much of you likely know, it has been revealed that there's been a basilisk sighting at the church to the south."

I looked to Octavia, and we both traded a glance, *Here we go...*

"As much of you have speculated, there are rumors we've known for a long, long time, and didn't do anything about this." A glance with Mom.

"We...did not know of it." Mary said, I kept my face silent, but inside I was screaming. *WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU SAY THAT.*

Catherine herself looked rather ashamed of it. The booing turned to yells and screams. Cries of pain and anguish from losing someone to the basilisk. It was turning unbearable.

Mary tried to continue the speech throughout the cries, continuing for ages felt like. I was sweating in this sun, and Cass was leaning slightly from it.

"And so, we are to take action, we cannot let this threat tear us apart.", as Queen Mary finishes and the crowds yell, I notice Wendy approaching Mary and whisper something in her ear. Mary turns to her and shakes her head, whispering something back. I try to watch their lips, but the sound is too much for something like that. I keep my eyes on Wendy, but soon she disappears from sight, and Mary continues her reassurances for the people.

Some of the crowds turn from booing to cheering, and soon, I hear *krrk* along the walls in front of us. Mary stops for a second, then we see a figure climb over the wall, then a second, then a whole horde of Oxluts are attacking. One leapt at Mary, Catherine, Anne. Numerous attacks from the defending guards and the assailants clashed. As I stood to get off the balcony, one tackled me and scratched my arm, I punch her but as she raises her weapon, she stops for a second, and soon a spear comes sliding right through her chest, the blood hits the ground to the left of me, and the spear comes out to a now shaken Cass. She pulls me up and we run.

[Chapter]

As we are escorted off the stage in a hurry, Octavia nearly slams into me as we rush off, Cass trailing behind us, another guard runs alongside us. We are all heavily breathing, and nearly crash into each other multiple times. The shouting climbs, but once we are in the castle, it dies down as we run off. Cass repeats numerous times, "Valia protect us." it's getting annoying but not now. *Let's get safe first.*

“Is Queen Mary alright?” Octavia blurts out, worrying a lot. I exchange glances with her, and smile in a dire attempt to cheer her up, it helps barely.

“The attacker was able to stab her…but it was only one attack and she’s already rushed to an emergency room.” The guard answers sharply, constantly checking over her shoulder for any trailing assailants. I look too, but the only thing I see are the other Queens, Elizabeth and Agatha, getting everyone else inside. Sisters and Queens, what a combo. Mom grabs an attacker and snaps their neck, grabbing Josephine and bringing her along with Elizabeth.

As we reach my room, Cass nearly collapses against the wall, the armor and the sun getting to her. The guard slips Octavia the keys and gets herself under Cass. I get on the other side of her and wait for Octavia to open the door. Octavia’s panicking, her fur becoming messy and her hands shaky. She drops the keys several times.

“Octavia. Calm down, take your time, we’re safe.” I reassure, speaking softly to calm her down. I only speak like this to calm Delta down…wonder if he’s having to deal with terrorists.

Octavia breathes, and slowly gets the keys in and unlocks the door. The door is unlocked slowly, but I kick it open to swivel wildly. It slams into the wall, but we rush in and drop Cass onto the bed. The guard gets to work taking the armor off, and Octavia stands by trying to calm down more. I stand by her and place my hand on her shoulder.

“Sierra...I kn-know you said it'd go poorly but-"

"I'm sorry, you can bite my head off later."

"Y-yea for sure..." She said, she almost wanted to hug me but soon I sat her too. The guard got Cass out of her armor and soon helped Octavia. I helped the guard for a second.

"What's your name?"

"Miriam. You need to get some waters, Cass is not doing well." Miriam blurted out. I backed up and nodded in my head, turning and getting out.

I rush out to a devoid hallway now. I look left and right, and soon decide to walk away from the balcony entrance. As I walk, the silence creeps in on me, and soon I feel like I’m all alone, no one to help me. *All I need is some gang of insurrectionists...*

I stop for a second, *All this shit and still no better luck with Dad. Maybe I should ask Mom...no no, do that after the basilisk.*

I walk to an intersection and I look each way, nothing. Each path sprawls into a long corridor, paintings and statues galore, but symbolism and emotion is only good if you’re with someone. I decide to keep walking straight, and soon find myself at a large set of bronze doors. It isn’t the Hall, so this must be like a throne room or the Queen’s Chambers. I shake the door handles, and surprisingly, one of the doors inches open. I look behind me, and slowly let myself in.

As I pass through the doors, I notice the tile floors and the ever-expanding kitchen, several oxluts move about in here. All of them are focused on their culinary work, ones working on a soup, a salad, a steak made from the Kingdom’s finest synthetic meat. The stories are that we had a good relationship with a synthetic meat manufacturer from the Western Continent, but after Augusta, all relations outside of the Empire was ended. We were scarcely low on meat for the coming years, only having it on birthdays for Mom or I, or if there was a coronation, but the last coronation was Isabella shortly after Augusta’s death.

A head scientist of Catherine’s disappeared, and reappeared after the Merge, bringing along a few farm animals, much more primitive and feral than the Kumilon counterparts, which makes it ethically fine to use small thigh tissues to grow more synthetic meat. I prefer the Kumilon’s worldwide brand, but the oxlut’s version is alright.

A chef looks up and notices me, and soon is approaching me unintentionally wielding a large knife. He’s quite large for a chef, but he looks soft behind the quite massive muscles.

“May I be of assistance ma’am?” He asks softly, he looks and notices the knife, and soon sets it down to talk to me more. His clothing is perfectly white, like he cleans it after every shift, and his body is well kept, his claws barely scraping the floor, and his face looking groomed.

“Please, just call me Sierra.” I answer. I’m a few inches shorter than him; he must be around 6’2, compared to my 5’10.

“My apologies Princess Sierra!” The chef exclaims, bowing down to me abruptly.

“Please ease up.”

“I’m sorry, last time I misspoke to a royal, I was punished severely.” The chef explained. He looked relieved, and soon was more at ease with me.

“I simply need 4 glasses of icy water, Queen Mary gave a speech, and the sun was overbearing for some of the guards and I.” I said, skipping over the 'attacked by insurrectionists' bit.

“I’ll fetch that for you Sierra.” The chef said, smiling greatly and walking off to the cupboard. As he got some water, I looked around the kitchen for other oxluts. All males, makes sense, it is a side task like farming or construction. Anything political or military was normally handed to the females.

“Here you go, thanks for swinging by the kitchen, I’ll make you something special if you request it.”

“I might just take you up on that offer.” I answer back, taking the glasses. I quickly finish one and hand it back to the chef, and soon leave with the other three.

As I walk down, the clinging of the ice and the glass fills the empty silence.

I run into the intersection again, but this time, notice a oxlut down the left hallway. I watch, and notice it’s Mom, her gold fur almost shining. She waltzes down the hallway, head down, thinking about something. She notices me and rushes to me. She takes the glasses from my hands and looks me up and down, turning my arm and seeing the scratch.

"Grr, I can't believe you got hurt. I'm so sorry you got hurt." She said, hugging me.

"It's okay Mom, just a scratch. I just couldn't believe..."

"I know, I know. A Queen's worst nightmare. I need to check on Mary, you take care, alright?" She said, walking off. *Weird little encounter but alright.*

I pick the waters back up and soon get back to the room.

The doors are nearly shut now, but I can easily nudge them open. As I slide in, I notice the general mess of armor around the bed, and the two laying on the bed. Miriam is the only one slightly active and lifts her head to notice me. She climbs up quickly, and nearly tackles me for one of the glasses of water.

She rushes over to Cass, and Cass drinks the entire glass quickly. The guard then brings a glass to Octavia, then drinks herself. They all are much more active after drinking it, with Cass slowly reorganizing the armor on a nearby table. Miriam talks to her and calms her down. Octavia walks up to me, *I need to get this crush dealt with.*

"Hey, thanks for calming me down back there, it's like you've had experience." Octavia said, half with a smile.

"I have actually, you aren't the first one that's crushed on me." I said.

"Oh-uh, I'm sorry, I should've figured out if you were-"

"Chill out, just, calm down. You couldn't have known."

"Right, right." She said, she exhaled and opened her arms for a hug.

I rolled my eyes and hugged her.

"Soooo, what's their name?" She asked.

"Delta, you'll know him when you see him."

"If we get out of this."

"I'm leaving right as we kill that damned basilisk."

Octavia chuckled softly, breaking up the hug, "Best friends?"

I jokingly thought it over, but soon answered, "Sure, why not?"

I walked over to Cass and Miriam soon stepped away.

"That was my first kill. And it was that." Cass said, almost disconnected from the moment.

I hugged her, and she began to cry on my shoulder, "I-I-"

"It's okay, you did great. I've got some food, I'll contact the maid for some dinner. Just, you're safe here, you're okay." Cass tightly hugged me as I talked, nearly squeezing me to death.

"Thank you, you're a great person."

I couldn't say anything else, both literally and the fact that I grappled with that.

Later, after we've snacked for the day, Elizabeth and Alexandra come walking in. Both look fine, but they have grim expressions.

Alexandra spoke first, "How's...everyone?"

"Good, we're good. You? Your kids?"

"Good as well, Mary's resting and Anne can't sleep right now. We've told two of her top guards to stay outside of her room at all times. Valia knows what happens if someone gets in." Elizabeth said.

I hugged the two of them, "What is going on..." I said.

"The unrest of the people. Best we can do is killing the basilisk and winning the people over after. Wendy's got a plan for attack, and it happens tomorrow." Elizabeth said. If Catherine wasn't Queen of the Kingdom, it'd be Elizabeth in my opinion. I nodded and soon she was consoling Cass. Alexandra spoke with Octavia, and Miriam took her leave and checked on the others.

I sat on my bed, and prayed. *Hey Valia...don't even know if you're there, but...I hope so. Everyone's rattled up, we've got the basilisk to fight, and now...we can't even trust our people. Just please, watch over us and keep us safe.*

Elizabeth placed a hand on my shoulder, "Valia, please, watch over us."

Everyone joined in. All of us, in a circle of prayer and renewing hope.

It broke up, and the sisters left, Cass left, and soon it was just Octavia. She sat next to me.

"Don't tell me you want to sleep with me, I swear to Valia." I joked. Octavia laughed, but soon stood up and looked at me.

"In your fucking dreams." She replied, mimicking my profanity.

"That's not very queenlike."

"Guess I learned from the best." Octavia said, walking to the door, "Have a good night."

"Night." She left, and now I was left alone, but I didn't feel alone.

I fell asleep, content in my bed.

In the morning, Octavia and Cass slinked in once again. Elizabeth and Alexandra followed, both saying their kids were late risers. We all chilled on the bed and made small talk, up until Wendy came in. She walks over to me, and speaks very sharply, “You appear to have guests, Sierra.” She looks very calm and bland for yesterday’s event, her folder of papers being also unassuming. Octavia sits near me, but also doesn’t do anything.

“What, another Que-”, I begin, stopping when I notice the two non-oxluts turning the corner of the door. The rich blue fur on the wolf, paired with the teal fur and a black visor immediately told me who was here. “-WHAT THE FUCK?!” A group of four guards held the two at spearpoint and in heavy chains.

“Hey! Not nice to say in front of your ‘royal guests’.” Epsilon exclaims, moving his hand to mock royal mannerisms. Octavia chuckles, and I stifle it quickly by shooting a quick look.

“We wanted to make sure you were alright Sierra, it's been a day. We’re already back from helping Ashe and you left the night before we did.” Delta explains, not able to approach me with the chief guard holding a metal chain connecting both Epsilon and Delta.

“Ugh, let them go, they aren’t gonna try anything.” I say, walking over to Delta. The chief guard grumbles something, then unlocks the chains and walks out of the room, leaving them with the 6 of us.

I hug Delta quickly, and soon Epsilon joins in. It’s nice to see some familiar faces I can trust.

As we break out of the hug, Octavia walks up behind me and says, “That’s Delta?”, she points to Epsilon, and I start laughing. I grab her hand and point it to Delta and say, “That’s Delta.”

“Really? I’m so sorry I assumed.” Octavia apologizes, walking up to Delta and offering her hand, “Hello, my name is Octavia, daughter to Catherine.”

“Like Queen Catherine?”, Delta asks, shocked.

“Yep! She’s still alive and kicking so I’m just Princess Octavia for now. Good to meet you Delta, and you are?” She says, turning to Epsilon, he walks up to her, being even taller than that kitchen chef. His fur being messy, probably from being captured.

“Epsilon.”

“Good to meet you.”

“You too, you’re the nicest oxlut I’ve talked to today.” Epsilon jokes, smirking and looking at me. Octavia glances to me as well and starts laughing.

“Shut up.” I say.

“Haha, missed you too Sierra.” He finishes, sitting on the bed. Delta stays by my side, and everyone else crowds around us. Cass and Wendy look closely at Delta, while Elizabeth and Alexandra sit next to Epsilon.

“Ugh, yes, Delta’s a Betagen, have you never seen the betagen scouts?” I said in response to Wendy and Cass crowding poor Delta. He clung to my side after I said something.

“Oh like once or twice, but never this closely and for so long. You’re super cool.” Cass says.

“Yea most scouts are ordered to self-destruct when cornered.” Epsilon explains, breaking his conversation with the two sisters up.

Alexandra spoke softly, "I've had an...encounter with said self destruction."

Elizabeth then talked, "She sent some of her best guards out, and no one survived the blast, all of her guards that went up to them died."

"I'm so sorry to hear that." Delta said, Epsilon nodded as well.

"We're working hard to free all of the betagens from their masters, the Alphagens." Epsilon explained, *Oh please don't delve into the whole history of Styx and shit now.*

"Hmm, you'll have to teach me all about your kind some time." Wendy said, looking at Delta's visor for one last time and then walking away. She once again reclaimed the desk for herself.

"Now, what's your fucking deal, I mean I expected Epsilon the Absolute assassin, not you walk in with my partner in heavy chains."

"The Absolute?" Elizabeth questioned immediately.

"Ex-assassin, I've got the wound to prove I quit.", Epsilon defended, showing his wound from Hulong.

"Don't worry about her, she's always skeptical, or stoic, or whatever makes her such a good leader as her guards always say." Alexandra teases, jabbing her sister's side.

"Stop it Alexandra, not in front of the princesses and two of the first non-Oxlut guests in 2 decades." Elizabeth shut down, smacking her hand.

"Oh boy, hope this is the most exciting event for y'all, but, I mean, Sierra actually has friends now. And she isn't in her house." Epsilon teased, I mouthed, 'Fuck off.' to him and he grinned widely in response. *Valia he gets on my nerves. I've missed these two.*

"Something tells, well, both of us that something's up.", Delta said.

"Something rather big I'm afraid." Wendy called out, she turns to me, "Care to explain?"

"Sure. Delta come sit down." I said, bringing Delta to the bed. Elizabeth and Alexandra moved. Epsilon and Delta awaited an explanation.

"We've got two problems on our hands, nothing extreme like *that*, but still rather large. First, there's a basilisk with tunnels under the land, it's been eating people for at least 20 years, if not longer. We already have a method of attack, and location of its Den. Second, there's a revolt going on because of this basilisk. It's going on the point of Queen Mary, this region's Queen, not saying anything or seemingly doing anything years ago. During a speech she gave, we were attacked by insurrectionists."

"Oh no...are you okay?" Delta asked, coming up to me, his soft and tender voice, the way he looks at me, I couldn't ask for a better partner, I hug him.

"Soooo, is it truly a revolt of the people, or someone with an agenda?" Epsilon asked, I looked to Elizabeth and Alexandra, who then whispered among themselves.

"Because this could be planned as it was years ago, with Augusta. I've read up on it. Catherine gave a speech on improving the lifes of people visiting from outside the Kingdom, and boom, insurrectionists. She lost her husband that day.” Epsilon explained, he was onto something, and once he bites, he’s not letting go.

“Epsilon, you’re suggesting a leader behind this, but you two come waltzing in right after the speech and attack…” Elizabeth accused.

“You’re not accusing them are you?” I asked, placing myself inbetween them.

“How do we know, just because they are your friends doesn't mean anything." Elizabeth explained.

"Stop! Stop. We've been in the hands of 4+ guards our entire time before entering the kingdom and after. Talk to Queen Mary's Chief Guard, she'll explain our little trip here." Epsilon quickly defended,"Why would I suggest something like planning a revolt when I am who is immediately accused?" He asks.

Alexandra spoke for Elizabeth,"You're right, it's just, tensions are high.", they both looked just tired, ready to go home.

Delta walked up and hugged them in return, and they admittedly looked confused as all hell, but soon accepted it, hugging him back.

Epsilon looked at Wendy's notes, and flipped to the thermal spikes and the flashbangs,"You have this equipment currently?"

"Yes, we have it housed in the armory."

"Epsilon's a weapons expert, it might be useful to have him in planning this attack."

Wendy went over the possibilities, but soon nodded her head,"Very well. I'll let the other royalty know of your arrival and of your innocence for the revolts."

"Thank you." Epsilon said. He turned and thought over something.

"Sierra." Elizabeth called, standing by herself and Alexandra now. I walked over and she spoke in a whisper to only be heard by us 3.

"Despite your friends' innocence, they'll always be looked on as invaders. But, at this point, we don't know who we can trust."

"Let's start clearing people now then, we need to at least trust ourselves, right?"

After I called Epsilon over and got alibis cleared and people more comfortable, Wendy came back with the weapons, it was massive crates of weaponry, and Epsilon set them across the floor.

As Delta, Epsilon, and I examined the crate, Epsilon passed his hand over a special symbol, an E with gears making up the letter.

"Enigma...they've made these as well?" Epsilon asked, loud enough for Wendy to hear.

"We used to have a local inventor, weapons inventor, but after the isolation, we never saw them again." Wendy explained,"Have you seen them again?"

"No, but we've used their tech before." Delta answered, popping the case open. The cannons were really fucking big, massive spikes able to remove someone's chest, 4 support legs, a massive scope, and 4 extra spikes.

"Holy hell, this is crazy." Epsilon said, lifting the cannon with ease and turning it over. He never pointed it at anyone.

"These are supposedly hard point spikes, and explosive. Enigma loved making very unique and powerful weapons." Wendy said, trying to lift a spike.

"This'll be perfect. This basilisk will be a massive target." I said, trying to pick up another cannon, they are heavy as fuck.

Cass and the sisters tried to set up one of the cannons, but were told off by a concerned Wendy,"Not yet! Not yet."

Epsilon passed his hand by the visor and it beeped excessively, it works, thats good.

Epsilon further examined it as we all set the others back down and back against the wall. A loud ringing noise rang out throughout the castle, *must be noon.*

"Did you check in with Mary already?" I asked.

"She was calmly asleep by the time I checked in on her, Anne slepted peacefully as well."

"I wish they're doing alright, they were already stressing out with the anxiety of an attack, but now..." Cass said.

"So, the attack, was any of them identifiable?" Epsilon asked, setting the cannon back down. He looked really honestly concerned for a Kingdom he's been captured by.

"No, they all wore black clothing, but they were all Oxluts, that much I knew." Elizabeth said.

"Mmm, who was hurt in the attack?"

"Sierra, Anne, Mary, and Victoria."

"How many attackers?"

"I counted 5, one killed by Victoria herself, one by Cass, I pushed 2 off the ledge, and the last one left prematurely."

"Sierra, which one got to you?"

"The one that scratched me was killed by Cass."

"Hmm..."

"What're you thinking?" Alexandra asked.

"Now, this is purely for the sake of speculation, but we need to consider motives and gains from an attack such as that. Who stands to gain from this?"

"A Queen?" Delta asked.

"You aren't suggesting a royal planned this." Cass said.

"I mean, look at Augusta. Elizabeth, did Augusta seem like a great Queen before the coup reveal?"

"Amazing, loved her family, her people. I couldn't believe it myself." Elizabeth said.

"Now, with the people injured and those who killed an invader, I think we can all agree, and tell me if I'm wrong, that Sierra, Anne, Mary, and Victoria are safe."

"I think we all agree. It makes sense." I said, *I mean, Mom wouldn't do something like that, right?*.

"Now, we have Catherine, Octavia, Elizabeth, Alexandra, Agatha, and Josephine. Wendy as well." Epsilon considered,"Who benefits from a potential death?"

"You can't seriously be considering one of us as the planner to an attack such as that!" Octavia yelled,"Sierra, back me up here, please." She begged, looking to me.

"Epsilon, please, I can vouch for her."

"Alright, how about you two?" Epsilon said, looking at the sister queens,"Maybe...looking for more power, Mary wasn't cutting it here obviously and you thought,"

"Epsilon, no..." Delta said. Epsilon got more into it, now barking his accusation. 'Why not usurp her myself, plant one of my children here, get my hands on two corners of the Kingdom.' and then,"

"Watch your tone wolf." Elizabeth threatened, standing to face him. We all stood nearby.

",you could use your other sister who's in on the plan to take the Kingdom over, serving Catherine and her kid to the basilisk yourself." Epsilon finished, standing face to face with Elizabeth.

"Sierra. You're my assistant here. Are they reliable." Epsilon said, calling for my opinion. I stood next to them, being the judge. The silence lasted eons and I could sense knives being thrown into people's necks.

"Epsilon...they're good. They wouldn't do something like that. They killed Augusta themselves." I said, defending Elizabeth.

Epsilon then hugged Elizabeth, surprising all of us, "I knew you were safe, but...", he backed up, and looked determined, "someone planned this, and we need to find out."

"Y'know, that's completely fucking scary when you do that shit Epsilon. Don't do it ever again." I said

"You scare me wolf. I see why you were top level." Elizabeth said, she calmed down herself.

"I've always wanted to do that. I'm sorry about that, but I mean, a good hypothetical plan." Epsilon apologized.

Wendy stepped in, "Is it my turn?", she asked, ready for all hell. Epsilon looked at her, but soon broke it off.

"No, not yet, I need to collect my thoughts, now that it's not Elizabeth or Alexandra, and their kids wouldn't be able to pull that plan off to that degree..." Epsilon theorized.

"That leaves..." Delta started.

"Wendy and..." I continued, I turned to Octavia.

"Catherine." Octavia said, nearly devastated.

We spent the next few hours in a weird silence, either considering Wendy as the mastermind, or Catherine. Wendy kept to her plan, not talking at all. All attempts were met with a "Either find the mastermind or get some handcuffs on me."

I sat next to Epsilon, "It could be a random outsider. They just happened to-"

"Happened to have this plan for Mary's speech? No, there was build up, planning, someone here who has power did this." Epsilon said, keeping the options to the two, "I hate it because both are well liked, either in general, or you like them. One of them is also Octavia's mother."

"What're you gonna do?" Delta asked, he answered all of Cass's questions and tried to cheer up Octavia to no avail.

"What I always do, wing it."

"Ok, we need to do something, and can you at least trust me for this seperate basilisk issue?" Wendy questioned, Epsilon kept out of it.

"I've spoken to all the queens, and so now, we've got a team. Elizabeth, Alexandra, Octavia, and Sierra, come here." I stood up and immediately walked over, *I was chosen?! Why fucking me?*

"Now Sierra, you were *the* most requested individual, all the queens wanted you here."

"Even-"

"Even your mom. She wanted you the most." I was in disbelief, *Did she finally think I was prepared enough? All those lectures, all for me to prove myself here.*

"Wow, I mean..."

"Elizabeth, Alexandra, you two are the leaders. You are first in, last out." Wendy explained. They both nodded.

"Now, I've already prepared your satchels for traveling down into the pit. There's ropes, hooks, and flares. Any signal or something of the sort will not work. You'll also be bringing blinding balls and the thermal spike cannon, Epsilon will give you a course on using both." Wendy explained, giving a satchel to each of us. Octavia nudged my shoulder,"Better keep me close by, don't give my mother an actual reason to be the enemy."

"You're worring about too much." I reassured, she nodded, nearly crying again. She's cried nearly every time anything close to accusing her mother flew by.

Alexandra hugged her,"Be strong for Anne and Mary, do this so they can lead a safe and happy region."

As Alexandra finished, I heard a high and loud scream from the hall. Epsilon leapt up and pulled his pistol out. Elizabeth and Alexandra joined him in looking ahead.

I looked out as well, nothing near us, but soon a maid ran from the nearby hallway, she cried and ran out of the castle. Epsilon led the search ahead, keeping to the walls. We all followed behind, spears at the ready.

"Ready?" He asked, peering around the corner.

"Go!" He dashed forward, and soon, we arrived at a slightly opened door.

"This is Queen Mary's room..." I realized, the bronze was immensely shiny. Epsilon breathed heavily, and swung the door open. Nothing. It was eeriely silent. He stepped in, and scoured the room, as he looked at the bed, he dropped his gun. I walked in and gasped.

"No. No! Mary!" Elizabeth yelled, running up to the bed.

Queen Mary and Princess Anne laid there, shot through the head.

[Chapter]

As I walked into the room, I noticed the general eerieness of it all. I looked at the last corner, nothing. I looked at the bed...and there laid the late Queen Mary and Princess Anne. I dropped my gun and the others rushed in. Sierra and Delta froze in place, the others rushing to Mary's side.

"No. No! Mary!" Elizabeth yelled, leaning over her. She had tears in her eyes, all of them did. I hugged Sierra, brushing her head, Delta already was hugging her, but more the better. *And I thought I had this all bundled up nicely. It was either her assistant or Catherine, but now...who knows who did this.*

"Who co-could do such a th-thing..." Alexandra cried, holding her sister.

I walked past Octavia, and looked at Anne's wound. It was a small shot, smaller than my gun's caliber. But it was clean, scorch marks to compliment the brutality of the kills. Someone just held the gun to their head, and shot them.

*There's a murderer here.* Wendy tried to stifle a tear, but she couldn't hold it back for her queen.

I evacuated everyone out, except for Sierra, Delta, and Catherine.

Catherine was for a loss of words. She couldn't express anything, even if she was capable of it, as Sierra said.

"I-I-can't believe it." She couldn't look at the body for much longer, burying her head in her hands.

"Do you recognize this caliber? It's not matching my own firearm. It's one of the Oxlut's." I asked, looking over the body of Mary. Catherine shuffled around slightly, and looked closely. She exhaled heavily as she looked.

"That's a .30 caliber. It's specific to the armory's firearms all queens keep. But it's only accessible to a handful of people, the chief guard, the queen, the assistant." She said, looking away from the body after she figured it out.

"Any queen?" I said, slowly turning my metaphorical dagger to her. My tone getting sharper.

"Yes, in case a situation similar to this happened." Catherine said.

"Or in the case of someone planning a murder."

"But who wo-"

"The same person who planned the attack on the balcony. Someone on the inside."

"But that would mean..."

"I of course mean the handful of queens and princesses here now. Wendy is included in this but I do not want to interrogate her now." I said, now triggering the interrogation.

"Is that what this is? My supposed interrogation?"

"Not yet. I wanted to have you collect yourself before I question you. I need to talk with my friends, privately. I'll get you when you're ready." I said, dismissing Catherine.

"I think you'll be the only one to have told off a Queen." Delta said, as soon as Catherine left.

"It's much less fun than I thought it would be." I said apathetically.

I paused for a second, *Didn't Wendy mention something about two guards that were supposed to be here?*, I look to Sierra, "Get Wendy in here."

Sierra nods and walks out.

"What're you thinking?"

"Whoever is behind this, has their hands in the guard too." I said, getting close, "There were supposed to be guards here, they would've hear that close of a shot over the bells."

Delta thinks for a minute as well, and Wendy comes walking in, "Yes?"

"Weren't there supposed to be two guards here?"

"Elizabeth said there were two, and I saw them before I came back. They had black fur and-"

"And now they're gone. They would've either held the murderer here, or we would've seen them dead, or they would've told us." I said, "I'll get you later, get your kill party ready.", Sierra and Wendy leave again.

"Go get Agatha, we'll start with her."

After Agatha came walking in, she didn't dare glance at the bed.

"So, did you like Anne?"

"I-I mean, she was more skittish than I prefer bit I mean-"

"Was she also too much of a teacher's pet as well?"

"What?"

"Sierra and Octavia told me that Anne ratted them out in the catacombs below, right?"

"Ye-yes she did that, at least...I think so." Agatha said, shifting in her seat. Delta remained silent but took notes as we went along. I drank some water as she spoke.

"So, did she know something was up and she had to be silenced before she spilled?" I asked.

"Wh-what?" Agatha stumbled over her words, "N-no, she didn't see anything that would warrant this..."

"But she did see something?" I questioned.

"I-" Agatha sighed, and looked down, "She saw me with a guy I knew back home, he scaled the walls to my room. I wish she didn't see it. Mom can't know about it. B-but I wouldn't kill her over it!" Agatha revealed. I leaned back, and looked to the bed. *Even if she was that worried, she wouldn't kill for it, certainly not Mary.*

"You're free to go." I said, dismissing her, "But Agatha, don't hold the secret in forever, she'll find out and its better if you're the one to tell her." She nodded softly.

"And I thought she was supposed to be the joking one." I said, looking to Delta. *One down.*

"Well I mean, this is a murder investigation, and you're doing it in Mary's room." Delta reasoned.

Josephine was next, and she stared me down. I didn't say anything for a while, just to see what she would do. I ordered a slice of cake as well.

"Cake?" I ask, eating a slice of it. It was very good,"Compliments to the chef."

"You think I did this?" Josephine said, as the maid left.

"Not necessarily, but you're staring at me awfully suspiciously." I said, finishing the cake,"You look like you'd kill me over me offering you some cake."

"But why would I kill Anne, or Mary for any forsaken reason."

"Maybe you didn't trust Mary's method, being overly skeptical as you are."

"Oh really? And who told you that?" Josephine scoffed.

"Your mother. Alexandra is many things but she doesn't lie."

"That's ridiculous! I mean-"

"And now you call her a liar."

"I-" Josephine looked at the bodies,"-I didn't kill them. I have no reason to. No gains, tell me one reason I specifically gain from this. I don't."

"Then you're free to go." I say, Josephine storms off.

"I think she might've started yelling if I continued." I said, drinking my glass,"Water!"

A few minutes later, Victoria walked in. Two of her guards stood nearby. Both had black armor and fur, making them look like shadows.

She sat down gracefully, awaiting my questions.

"So, describe your relationship with Sierra to me." I said.

"Sierra's a very bright flame, and I'm her sort of fuel. I keep her alive and well, but I keep her from growing too big and burning everything." Victoria said.

"And without your support or 'fuel' she's supposed to slowly dwindle?"

"She's supposed to be able to get her own fuel. I'm not trying to raise an adult child. Much unlike Mary did."

"Did you kill her for Sierra's benefit? Give her a chance to rule something?"

"No, of course not. She still isn't ready, she decides that." Victoria said, she looks out the window, "Look outside."

Both Delta and I look, and we see a mother bird and small baby bird. The baby looks like it's about to be an adult, ready to leave the nest, but it doesn't yet. We watch it for a minute or so before we look back.

"I imagine us two as those two birds. Sierra is very nearly ready to leave my nest, but not yet. One day, she will. She'll leave and be her own ruler."

"And until then?"

"I'll be here for her, helping her flame grow." Victoria said, she looked happy in what's she's done so far with her.

A knock and soon Sierra popped her head in, she looked all geared up for a fight, flashbangs, armor, spikes, all the sort.

"We're leaving now, any luck?", I walked up to Sierra, Delta followed.

"Your mother has a weird way to look at your relationship, but she seems okay, I mean, what's your read?" I said. Victoria sat, just looking ahead.

"I think that she's still a little rotten, but I think my time away has made me relook her. Just, keep at it, and don't condemn anyone before I'm back." She said, smiling. I half hugged her and Delta fully hugged her.

"Go get 'em." I said. Sierra nodded and smiled, shutting the door. I sat back down and Victoria smiled at us two.

"How about us two?" I said, clearing my throat, "Surely it must be a shock what your daughter has gotten as a partner and a best friend."

Victoria scanned Delta up and down, then me. It was weird being examined such as this, but Victoria spoke with the same tone as always, "She's made a good and safe bet with you two. Delta, you're the balance to her fire, the calm with the storm. And Epsilon, you'll do anything for your friends, maybe because you did so much bad in your life." Victoria reasoned. I didn't reply for a minute.

"Did you carry any hate or vengeance against Mary for her inability to solve the basilisk problem?"

"Small pieces, I already got it out of my system before Sierra even got here. I couldn't stand to be there, so I went home. That's why Sierra found me in our house.", Victoria said,"Mary did a great disservice to her people and her fellow queens, but nothing to this degree." I nodded.

"How about her father, Samuel?"

"He was...good...for his role. I can't say much more about him."

"Sierra said-"

"Sierra said what she thought, she thought I hate him, that I despised him every time I saw her with him. I follow society's rules. Our Kingdom's rules. She'll come to accept that."

"And if she leaves here and never comes back?" I ask, ready to end the interrogation.

"She'll stay here, everyone else loves her. And maybe after the basilisk is killed, she'll be able to have you and your posse stay here. Safe from the outside world." Victoria said. "Am I free to go?"

"Yes." She left and I buried my head in my hands. I inhaled and exhaled heavily.

"She's a piece of work huh?"

"Scary, can we swear to each other to not let Sierra stay with her." Delta said, I nodded.

"Alright, time for Catherine." I said, ready for the top dog, *well top oxlut*.

Catherine walked in and sat down very graciously, but it was obvious she was on edge.

"Bring back memories?" I ask. Catherine nods softly while looking at Mary's body.

"I gave my speech at around 4, look where the sun is." Delta and I look to see the sun passing by the window, *4 o'clock sure enough.*

"I lost my husband at this time. And now today, I've lost my fellow queen and her daughter, so yes. This is a bit of a return to my past." Catherine said with a twing of sadness in her voice.

"Mary, I heard she was...difficult to work with. Was too scared to do the right things." I said, swtiching topics.

"She was indeed too scared for this debacle. I often found myself working more around her than with her."

"Would it be easier if you were in charge?"

"Immensely, but I didn't kill them. I have the authoritive power to usurp her myself, why make all of this fuss and risk Octavia's and my own future?"

"Maybe to get Octavia a chance of being Queen. A sub-in turned into a permanent role."

"Octavia isn't sure enough of herself yet."

"And here I heard you didn't show too much emotion. Maybe you were masking it."

"To hide a murder? Catherine says. She's tired of all of this, I can tell.

"Maybe. Where did you go during the attack on the balcony. You weren't with your own daughter, no one saw you."

"I was sitting on the right side of the balcony. The door we used to enter the balcony was on our right. An attacker brushed by me and pushed me towards it, but..." Catherine stopped for a second,"They almost seemed to look right at me, then didn't attack..."

"Like they saw you and didn't attack at a good chance?" I ask, I look at Delta.

"It was perfect, their spear nearly hit my chest..." Catherine said, her mind now thinking. *But if she wasn't a target, and she was willing to admit it. It's not her.*

I stand for a hug, and despite Catherine's reluctance, she stands and we hug, "I'm sorry you have to relive this. Your daughter will atleast come back home safe. I'm sure of it.", Catherine says quietly, "Find who did this."

Wendy was the last one. She looked at the two guards that stood outside the door, and thought for a second. She brushed it off and came in.

"Scanning for ways to get out?" I ask, already accusing her. She shook her head. Her glasses reflected with the late afternoon sun.

"No, no, they just looked similar to the guards that were supposed to be standing here for Mary. Black fur as well." I look at the guards, and the spears are dotted with bronze, Sierra said these guards would have bronze on their armor and weaponry. *These are Mary's guards.*

"Did they let you in because they know you? They were in on this plan?" I ask, lifting my glass of water.

"No, no. I-" Wendy stopped as I raised the glass to my mouth, "Stop! Stop." I stopped and looked at her, then the glass. It was now blurry as the sun hit it.

"Someone tried to poison you. That's basilisk venom." Wendy said, half thinking now. I set it down, *I've had a drink for the princesses, so not them.*

"It would shut down all of your bodily systems, leaving you a petrified corpse. I-"

"Who else knows this?" I said, now standing, it's out of two now, "I looked away for two individuals who would've had their chance to spike my drink, Victoria and Catherine."

Wendy's face dropped, she knew.

"It's"

[Chapter]

As we dropped into the hole, Octavia seemingly calmed down, I don't know if it was me holding her hand or what, but she was ready now.

"Let's do this! Then we can all work with Epsilon to find the killer." Octavia said, we agreed.

As we descended, the bones weren't a grim warning, but a good reason, a reason to kill this fucking thing. It's killed Valia knows how many people, and we're here now to kill it. *Let's do this.*

We kept walking and walking, and my signal goes out,"We're alone now, just lost signal." The dimness of the tunnel didn't help either. Elizabeth popped a flare to help us walk. I huffed as we walked, carrying the massive spike cannon. There were 2 for the 4 of us, but still it was heavy. *How the fuck did Epsilon carry one easily by himself?!*

We arrived at the cliff again, and this time, we used the scope of the cannon to locate the basilisk. Earthquakes under our feet told us it was near, "Remember, don't fire. We have the surprise." Elizabeth reminded. As we looked through the scope, I saw it, it rummaged around the old church for some reason, almost like guarding it. The cannon hummed slightly as it had the basilisk in its sights, begging to fire. We set it down and latched ourselves to the rope. Elizabeth first. She didn't look back as she slid down. Alexandra next, Octavia, then me. We sent the cannons down in between pairs. I leaned back, saw the last glimmer of light, and leapt off. Total darkness enveloped me until I was caught by Elizabeth and Octavia. Alexandra already held a cannon, albeit barely.

"Alright, we get its attention first, then we blind it. Then we get flares up and then we fire." Elizabeth said. I primed a flashbang and picked up my half of the cannon.

We slowly but surely walked, using the cannons scope and the earthquakes to time our movements. Wendy mentioned it struck anything moving, so as long as we moved when it was away from us. It took a while, but soon we were 20 feet within its pattern. Elizabeth looked to us and we nodded. A flashbang was rolled out...the basilisk ran right to it. We blocked our eyes and a ringing noise rang out, it was unbearable, but soon I heard the screams of the blinded basilisk. I lifted the cannon with Octavia and waited for the vibration. *Screams, nothing, screams, nothing, vibrating, GO!* I yanked on the heavy trigger and the cannon sent both of us to the ground. I opened my eyes to look at the ground and get myself up, but soon Elizabeth threw up a flashbang. I covered my eyes and more high pitched noise. I opened my eyes and the basilisk swirled and curled on top of itself, a chunk of its jaw missing and its ribcage now exposed. Its eyes were closed. I sat the cannon up and primed another shot, but the basilisk looked and barreled it’s way to Elizabeth and Alexandra, they couldn’t tell…

I lifted the cannon and loaded another shot. I luckily already had it lined up, Octavia must’ve jumped into the cannon because it rocked into me but soon fired. A massive thud threw me to the ground. I opened my eyes and spotted the basilisk on the ground as well, blood all over the ground. Elizabeth threw a flare over and I watched as they lifted their cannon but the basilisk rushed towards them, and they had to dodge out of the way of it. The cannon wasn’t so lucky, being scooped up by the basilisk. It hit me and sent the cannon and I flying. I hit the ground and a spike rolled its way to me. The basilisk saw me with the last cannon, and made its approach. The earthquakes and hisses grew louder and louder. I got up, loaded the spike in.

I lifted the cannon on top of my shoulder and held the flare gun. I shot the flare at its eyes, blinding it. While it was blinded, I saw the other cannon in its mouth. And being able to see made this the perfect shot. I pulled the trigger.

It flew in and the metal clanked together, but soon the entire head blew up. I was lucky to not get covered in basilisk brains, *might be acidic or some shit I don’t know.*

I flopped down on the ground and breathes heavily. It was silent down here, peaceful almost. I heard some footsteps and soon I saw the three of em over me.

"Wakey wakey sleepy." Octavia joked, nudging my arm.

"You're lucky I'm not up to nudge you back alright?" I said, Octavia chuckled.

"Yea yea, c'mon." Octavia held a hand out and I pulled myself up.

I brushed myself off and looked at the body. The head was completely gone, the tail twitched as it laid there, absolutely disgusting but I'll take that over a well and alive basilisk.

"Let's go look at the ruins while we're here." Elizabeth said, picking up a side of the cannon while Alexandra got the other half.

The ground was smooth from years and years of the basilisk rummaging around it, but no bones at all.

We got to the church and it looked like it just fell apart from age, not a basilisk.

I peered inside, and where a pastor would talk, sat a pedastal and two skeletons, Oxlut skeletons.

"Is that..."

"The two princesses." I walked over to the pedastal and read the writing:

*Our names are Elizabeth Marigold and Alexis Lockhert. We loved each other as much as the sun warms up the earth. We are each other's flames and warmth throughout the cold winters. Our Queen's sought it best to end our 'rebellion' to their norms by running us up to this church, and devising a plan to permanently seperate us, by death. Their great betrayal to their own daughters broke a vow set in place decades ago, releasing the basilisk, our curse that would doom our lives. It circled this church for days on end. We write this message on our last breaths, to whoever reachs this spot, we are a grim reminder of the relationship required between queen and princess. Love each other, or die by thy own blades.*

"Spooky, but I mean, it's tragic." I said, looking to the skeletons, they held each other in their arms, *till death do them part.*

"The tale was real." Octavia remarked.

"Let's go, we can forward these news to Wendy, she'll have a ball over this writing." Elizabeth said, ready to face the problem at the castle. We all agreed, and soon we were back on our way.

[Chapter]

As we approached, several guards ran by, all holding their spears. Elizabeth and Alexandra looked to each other.

"They must've found the killer. Now, we do this calmly, no matter the killer." Elizabeth ordered, "Anything rash can spoil things over more."

Octavia nodded slowly, and I grabbed her hand, "Don't worry, no more lives have to be lost." She smiled and cleared her throat.

"Let's end this." She said, getting out and shutting the door.

I got out and as I looked in, I remembered where we were. All the guards ran to the left then the right, to the balcony.

We all followed and soon we saw Delta, Agatha, Josephine, but no Catherine, Epsilon, Mom, or Wendy.

I ran up to Delta, "What's going on?" He couldn't say anything, tears on his visor. I slowly edged my way up, Octavia right behind me.

I saw Epsilon and Wendy, Epsilon holding a gun on the killer. I turned the corner and saw Catherine first, her hands empty and she faced the killer. *No...no...* I walked in, and there she stood.

Mom held my Dad at knife point.

“D-dad? Mom…what are you doing?” I ask, placing myself in front of the others. Mom looked panicked, flustered. Her hands shook as she held the knife, but then she saw me.

“There you are. I hate that you have to see me like this.” She said, steadying herself, her tone more venomous than the entire time I’ve been here.

“What are you doing?! Why are you hurting Dad?!” I ask, stepping closer. She backed up to match me.

“Because I need to show you your true purpose, your father has tainted you, diverted you from your true calling. Your friends did well keeping you alive, but they intend to draw you away from the Kingdom, from me.” She said.

“You were trying to just keep me here?” I ask, broken slightly,

that’s why she became so lovey dovey with me?!

“Not exactly, but together we can fix things, just promise you’ll stay here with me.” Victoria says, unearning her “Mom” title. I relaxed slightly, and looked to Dad, the knife slightly cutting his neck, blood trickled down the knife.

“Let Dad go, please.” I said, tears now hitting my eyes. The others breathed heavily behind me, but this was between my parents and I.

“Listen to our daughter Victoria, we can be happy, together.” Dad tried to choke out, not wrestling with Victoria,

he doesn’t want any more blood spilled, just a happy end to this.

“Zip it, you are going to work her against me, all of you are!” Victoria yelled, waving the knife in front of her. Time froze and I wished I leapt for Dad and got Victoria away while he wasn’t being threatened right there, but I couldn’t. I wanted so badly to have a mom…

“Mom…I’ll stay, just let Dad go. I’ll follow what you say.” I said, budging. I could tell Delta was wishing I didn’t say that, but what else could I do?

I couldn’t lose Dad.

Victoria looked to Dad, then to Catherine and Epsilon. She looked to Dad, and let him go. She sheathed her knife, but Dad didn’t run to me.

She sighed and grabbed Dad, snapping his neck in an instant. My world shattered as Dad hit the ground, gone.

“VICTORIA! No!” Catherine yelled. I just looked to Dad, his eyes dead. He didn’t deserve this…tears fell from my face as Epsilon grabbed my shoulder. I looked to him and he had a face of pure sorrow for me, and he hugged me.

“Catherine, back down.” Epsilon said over my head, he looked to me, “Do you want to handle this?” He asked, half ready to tear Victoria in half for me. I looked to her, and her face was fully pulled into anger and hate. I nodded, and grabbed Catherine’s spear.

“Sierra…it never could’ve worked, you are too lively for my plans.” Victoria argued, her back to the balcony. Her fur roughened up from the chase she must’ve had, her facade of pretty and just queen dead.

“What damn plans?! You ruined my life!” I yelled, holding back tears. I slashed at her and hit her in the chest, leaving a scratch. Victoria growled, but soon looked behind me and her face dropped,

There’s no way she’s making it past everyone, if she somehow makes it past me.

“The plans I set in motion with Augusta years ago.” Victoria said, and I heard Catherine gasp.

“Y-you…”

“Yes, I had a hand in the murder of your husband, and in Augusta’s murder. I murdered Anne and Mary. The royalty nowadays are weak, you couldn’t survive in this world even if we all stood together. Catherine, you didn’t expand our kingdom even if we had the perfect chances to!”

“Domination and conquest isn’t right!” Catherine yelled.

“Neither is murder of royalty! How could you?!” I said.

“Mary was a disappointment, my plan was to remove her and place you in. Your teachings would’ve served the people well, I taught you from birth.” She said, I exhaled heavily,

that’s why she taught me like that…that’s why I knew so much. She wanted to use me to control more than just her region.

“I was just your tool wasn’t I?” I accused.

“A rather disruptive one. I rather wished I never had you in the first place.” Victoria retorted, shattering my heart, I choked out a tear but soon I settled for a fight,

That’s it.

“AND YOU WERE NEVER A TRUE QUEEN!” I said, launching into a fight. I thrusted my spear several times, and Victoria just dodged and blocked.

I kept going, my hate and anger exploding into my attacks, knocking her back more and more. She slashed my arm but I got her side. She gasped for air as she grabbed her side, holding her knife shakily up.

She hit the balcony and grunted from the pain, being distracted. I thrusted at her and hit her neck, my blade impaling her. She choked out a few more words but soon fell limp, hitting the ground. I dropped the spear and fell to my knees, breathing heavily.

My dad laid next to me, and I picked his head up, holding it into my chest, my emotions overpowering me. I cried for eons felt like, until Delta and Epsilon crouched down and hugged me, I fell into their arms and thanked Valia for giving me them, I couldn’t ask for better.

Epilogue

The night was quiet, Delta and Epsilon consoled me for the rest of the day. Cass, Octavia, Wendy, and the others all took turns talking to me, but Catherine made the call to crown a new queen, two of them. They decided to let me sleep and we’ll talk tomorrow.
 
Delta laid in bed with me, his voice sweet and tender, “I’m still so sorry for what’s happened…”
 
I kissed him on the forehead, “You came, I couldn’t ask for more. I love you.” Delta blushed slightly at it and cuddled me.
 
“I love you too.” He said back smiling.
 
“And Epsilon?” I said, calling for him. He stood up and walked over, his face just caring for me.
 
“Is everything alright?”
 
“I’m glad you came, really glad.” I said smiling, glad I had him here for Delta and I.
 
“Oh-um…thanks, I’m glad I helped.” He said, not having his usual joking demeanor. He leaned over and hugged the both of us.
 
Sleep was nice, but…I couldn’t see my parents in my dreams anymore, they’re gone…forever.
 
The next morning, Catherine explained that Octavia will be the new queen of Mary’s region, trusting her with this because of her help in the basilisk ordeal. Octavia was very pleased and I was happy for her. Her coronation paired with the basilisk and insurrectionist problems took a few hours, but the people were very accepting.
 
Catherine then turned to me, calling me up. The crowd was overwhelming, but Catherine smiled to me. 
 
“We were planning on converting Victoria’s region into an open region, we can try being open again. And…I wanted to ask if you wanted to be queen of it. You have all the right to say no, but…”
 
“I’ll do it. Victoria was evil but she did well in teaching me, and it’s time for some change.” I said, determined. Catherine smiled, and stepped away from the pedestal. I walked up, and I talked for a long time. Couldn’t remember half of it, but the cheers were enough to appease me. I was happy with this crown.
 
After the speech, people crowded me, but soon it was just Epsilon, Delta, Cass, Wendy, and Octavia.
 
“We’ve got some stuff going on back home, are you ready to go?” Epsilon said.
 
“Yea, Catherine can work with Isabella while I’m gone.” I said, hugging the other oxluts. 
 
“Catherine can also govern my section too!” Octavia said cheerfully.
 
“What?” I asked, the others nodded.
 
“We want to go with you, and we’ve talked to Catherine, she’s allowing us to be with you.” Wendy said, smiling ear to ear.
 
Cass hugged me, barely holding her excitement.
 
We all cheered and said our goodbyes to the queens, ready to go.
 
We all got in Epsilon’s car, and for the first time, the other 3 saw the landbridge for the first time, the closeness of the water. A water dragon leapt over the bridge as we drove, almost knowing how life changing this was.
 
We got back, and Styx greeted us first. 
 
“Well now, we’re on good terms with the oxluts now?” He said, his metal on flesh intriguing Wendy and Cass.
 
“Great terms, I’m a queen now.”
 
“Oh wow, that’s amazing. Something tells me Victoria didn’t give it up happily.” Styx said, and he must’ve seen into my damn soul cause he hugged me, “Sorry for whatever happened.”
 
“How’d you know something bad happened?” Cass asked, looking at his visor.
 
“I just know, Epsilon gets it.” He said, nudging Epsilon. 
 
“Where’s Hyperion? I know he was getting shifty with Icarus and all that.” Epsilon asked, walking off with Styx. 
 
“There they go, a lot of different things go on here.” I say, noticing some new people, a fish? And an electric looking dragon. The fish noticed me and walked up to me.
 
“Oh my gosh you must be Sierra! Delta talks so much about you.” She said, Delta blushed heavily. The dragon walked over.
 
“Sorry, she’s a very enthusiatic person. I’m Deaevidra.”
 
“Sierra.”
 
“I’m Seridae! Oh you guys are soooo cool!” Seridae exclaimed, looking at the four of us, Cass returned the enthusiasm and they talked for a little bit.
 
Styx lugged out a metalgen and Epsilon looked over it, Wendy got curious and looked at it. It was destroyed, it’s head cleanly ripped off of it’s jaw.
 
“What is this?” Wendy asked.
 
“A metalgen, synthetic warriors.” 
 
“Looks weak for a warrior.” Octavia joked.
 
“Well, it faced me.” Styx said.
 
End