Belle:
On my first trip back, after spending a week at the Wolves' Den, I came home to a surprise…
As Alice warped us over to the Golden Roses castle, I skipped and sprang onto my huge bed the minute she opened the door from her Room into my enormous sleeping quarters. Alice, in turn, made her way to the sunken couch and relaxed there, grabbing a stuffed animal that was half her size. She sat there, facing me, where I had flopped onto the bed, face-first.
"Gee, you're tired already, aren't you? It's not even noon yet…" she poked.
I gave a groggy moan and lazily dragged my head through the sheets to finally face her, "You wouldn't understand Alice… Maybe you will one day, but right now… you won't…"
Alice stared at me with a bland expression and shot back smoothly, "Oh, I think I do, sis. My room is only a few feet away from Greed's. Let's just say the sounds that come out of that room are anything but 'holy'."
"Alice! D—Don't pry!... T—That's only because… we… my Greed and I… we—"
"No need to get flustered. I'm not stupid. I know you two are fucking. Everybody knows… It's not exactly a secret."
"B—But Alice!... I…" I sighed, unable to think of anything to shroud the mind of my innocent little sister, "I feel like I'm such a bad influence to my… SWEET BABY SISTER!" I said as I jumped from my bed to her, smothering her in my bosom.
"G—Get off me, Belle! Ugh! Your breasts are in my face! A—Air! I need air!" Alice struggled. And I just kept a serene face all the while.
I finally released her, "Sorry…"
"Don't apologize if you don't mean it!" Alice teased, and I simply stuck out a tongue with eyes squinted in response.
"I'm just glad that you're happy…" she said out of nowhere, "it's all I could ask for as your little sister."
I merely stared at her with a gentle smile. Lying down now on the sunken couch, I turned slightly to my side to face her completely. My body curved, and the part of the couch I lay on took on my shape.
It was then, we heard the sound of a large wolfdog outside my quarters, followed by rustling and something big falling in the hallway, like he had lost his balance on a turn or something.
"Here he comes!" I said.
The double doors of my quarters swung open and shut instantly at the arrival of Toto, whom I've come to see.
"Hey, my big boy! Yes, yes… Mommy misses you too!" I said as he joined us on the sunken couch, knocking everything that was upright over and sitting on us as if he were a small pup.
"Speaking of happy…" Alice squeezed out as Toto sat on her like a giant pillow.
As we relaxed, we heard cheering from the outside. Alice and I looked out to the balcony behind us as we still sat in my sunken couch, then looked back to each other, furrowing our brows.
"What's that all about? There an event today or something?" Alice asked.
"Event? No? Today is the same as any other…"
"Is it though?"
Somehow pushing Toto off her, she dusted his hair off her black outfit and walked over to the wide open balcony. I curiously followed suit after her.
We both peered over the high view, and I squinted my eyes down toward the center of the Desert Kingdom, where crowds of people had all gathered. In the middle, there was a massive, rotating statue of some kind that looked like a person, but I saw it from behind just as it turned.
"Has that always been there?" Alice asked.
"No… It looks like a large statue of a person… is that the Queen?" I pondered out loud. I wouldn't be surprised. Nor did I care either way. The Queen should inspire the people…
The statue continued on its route just as I thought this and the crowd cheered even more as it faced them where they were.
There was no sound to its movement, and it moved slowly, taking its time to face our point of view. When the statue finally made a full rotation, my eyes widened in surprise—an unpleasant surprise.
"Belle, is that?—"
"By the fucking Keeper."
There in the center of the Desert Kingdom, for all to see… The body of the statue was curvy and had barely any garments carved into it aside from its stone drapes that fluttered in its forever stasis. It was barefoot and adorned in gemstone, accentuating its jewelry. It had one bare foot stepped over the other, and a hand daintily behind with the other outstretched into the sky. Its long, flowing hair looked as if it had caught the wind just before being frozen in time, forever as stone. And its face…
"This cannot be happening!?" I shouted, and my face flushed. The face of the statue… it seemed to be… Mine.
"Well, that's one way to celebrate the Valley's Princess," Alice said nonchalantly.
"There's nothing to celebrate about! Who even authorized this!? I certainly did not!" I paused for a moment, thinking. Piecing together who might have proceeded with this atrocity. And there was only one person I could think of.
"Damn it, Lance…"
I stormed off, unable to relax, walking the long, drawn-out path of my exaggeratedly large room all the way to the front double door entrance of the place while Toto followed happily behind—the complete opposite of my displeasure. I opened both doors and slammed them behind me, leaving Alice in there—her face still holding that bland expression as the doors finally shut.
***
The Golden Roses castle was enormous and filled with flights of stairs and elevating platforms. As I stomped my way through the halls to get to the grand entrance of the place, I found Lance there talking with a few of the Desert's high council that he had invited over to discuss some business. The room was large and filled with a mix of beige and a strong gold secondary color. It was a magnificent place to be.
When I made it to the balcony, I was met with two flights of stairs on opposite sides that led down to the lower level, where Lance and the few members of the high council were.
The natural light that let itself in shone down on me and reflected off my rose gold sheers and jewelry, glittering my rose-colored skin as I placed my hands on the railings. I shouted to them, announcing my presence.
"Lance! A word, please." My voice, though normally sweet around my Greed, held a different tone with Lance and to others of the court.
To Lance and the others' surprise, they each looked up to the balcony where I stood, finding me looking down at them. I could see in their eyes that they were filled with awe at the mere sight of me; whether it was because they saw me as some deity, because I had made my presence scarce, or perhaps both, I didn't care either way. Quite frankly, I hated the way they esteemed me with such admiration.
"Captain Belle. What a pleasant surprise to see you after some time!" Lance said, almost as a joke. The other high council thought nothing of it and expressed their thanks, outstretched their hands to me and bowed as if I was some god to be worshipped, and that by doing so I would bless them… I rolled my eyes at it all. Mostly to him.
"I need to speak with you right now."
"We are speaking right now, Captain?" he asked with fake confusion wrapped in his tone, looking back to the council and then back to me for clarification he did not need.
"Alone," I said. My voice was stern as it echoed in the grand room, causing Lance to pause for a few short seconds. He loosed a long, audible sigh through his nostrils then, with one quick gesture, excused the high council, and they merely bowed and left without another word.
Looking back at me, who still stood at the balcony with both hands gripping the railings, he said, "There… we are now alone. Was there something you needed from me, Captain? Or perhaps you are ready to fully take on your position as the Captain of the Golden Rose Knights?" A carefully snide comment.
"I don't need any more of your disrespect, Lance." I snapped.
"Any more?"
"You know what I mean. The statue?" I paused, letting him think it through, "The Queen normally asks before taking action… which means you gave her the consent to go and do it."
Lance thought to himself a moment and then responded, "Well, Captain… you did give all us Vice Captains full control to make decisions on your behalf… Why now are you retracting a decision I was well within my rights to make?"
I bit my tongue at his words… for once, he was right… But still… why did it have to be that?
"I let you make those decisions with my thoughts in mind… You really thought I'd want an enormous monument of myself in the center of the Desert Kingdom? Do you think me that vain?"
He began to pace and threw his armor-clad hands behind him. His golden armor glinting from the sun's rays that peeked from the high ceiling windows, "Well, the people certainly appreciate it. And it was you who saved the Valley, was it not?"
A mere simple question, but with the way that he had said it, it almost felt as if he was implying that I wasn't… and he was right.
I was too lost in thought, almost spacing out. I didn't even realize I didn't respond…
"If not you, then who?" He asked again, prying now.
"It was me…" I said, finally—my voice low… I knew he wouldn't buy that halfhearted reply, but I had to say it… for my Greed's sake.
He paused for a moment, looking me up and down. "Well then, in the Valley we make monuments of our heroes. So, I believe I have done nothing wrong, Captain."
I didn't know what to say. I was conflicted with taking undeserved credit and keeping my promise to my Greed. This situation was so complicated now. I barely realized I stormed down here by pure emotion alone. How pathetic could I get…
"No. You haven't… but if anything like this is brought up, please consult with me first." I turned my back and began walking off.
From below, he sighed. From what it seemed, he too was conflicted, but in a different way. He wanted this to happen, he wanted this reaction out of me, I just did not understand why…
He then said, "So does that mean I can message you?" There was a slight hesitancy in his voice. Why was he asking me in that tone? "You turned off your comm… so even if I did want to ask, there was no way to reach you… So, in order to grant your order, I need a way to reach you… Should I not?"
I stopped in place, my back to him. "That's fine," I said blandly, thinking nothing more of it.
As I continued to walk off, he said one last comment, "You know, Captain… things like this could be avoided if you came back and became our Captain again… It's not my place to pry into your business, but is there something so important that you dedicate your time away from your own Guild for such a thing?"
He was prying… but a yes or no question nonetheless, and I was to answer as such.
"Yes," was all I said before walking off and disappearing completely from his view, shadowed by the hall I had entered from. I didn't see his face in that moment, but I knew he was displeased with my answer.
***
A few hours had passed, and it was now early evening. Lance had finished up a few meetings that day, so he stepped outside the castle for some fresh air. The front courts of the Golden Roses castle were also the center of the Kingdom, so its courts were open to its citizens, especially with the new statue of the Valley's Princess ready to be witnessed by adorning eyes. All were welcome to admire it.
A large crowd gathered around it at this time. The statue was just revealed today, a few hours ago, but this crowd was larger than the first.
"Now what's going on over there?" he said to himself.
Walking over in full golden clad, cape drifting in the easy breeze. Even when he made it to the crowd, it was still so dense that he decided to stay outside of it on higher ground to see what all these people were crowding around.
His eyes grew wide when he saw who was at the bottom of her own statue.
Captain? he thought.
Standing there at the center, along with her enormous statue, was Belle in the flesh.
The citizens cheered. Some bowed, and some went on their knees and worshiped. Since the battle with Syemore at the Valley, and the sightings from a few citizens in the Desert Kingdom the other day with a black haired male, no one aside from her own Guild had seen her since.
The people garlanded her with their praise, whipping out their comms and recording the presence of her like she was about to make some grand speech. In a matter of seconds, she was all over social media and popping up on television screens across the Desert, then the Valley soon after.
She gleamed softly. That same stern she had with Lance and the rest of the Golden Roses was gone. Only bliss on her face as she prepared her speech for all to hear. It was as if she emanated the feeling from her heart all over her face.
"Oh, the Keeper! She's so beautiful!"
"Bless you for saving the Valley!"
"We love you, Princess!"
"Praise Princess Belle! Praise Princess Belle!"
They shouted passionately and it became deafening to her, but she remained calm all the while, becoming the embodiment of serenity. Even Lance, from where he stood, watched in pure admiration of her. Who she was right now was the leader he chose to follow. He, the 1st Vice Captain, to the second, most powerful mage in all the Valley. This, to her people, was the leader he wanted her to be… for him…
"Thank you all for your kind words and faith. Not to me, but to the Valley that holds strong to this day!" she spoke. She didn't even have to shout. Her words were heard.
"I have something important I want to address to you all…" she said, and everyone's ears perked. She had the attention of not just the people there, but the ones watching from distances through comms; the main Valley Kingdom, the Forest Kingdom—all were watching her at this very moment.
She took her time, she knew he would not approve of this—at first… but mainly for the sole purpose of keeping the reputation she worked so hard to keep. But at this time, she did not care one bit for reputation when she finally had him. All this, her rank, her title, the Golden Roses… all of it was so that he could see her. And now that he finally has…
"After today, if you still see me as I am, that is fine. If it sways your view, then it is so. I care not for the way I am seen. And it is because I have found someone who sees me for who I truly am, and he loves me in turn."
Chatter began to rise. Speculations grew. Some whispered, "I saw her with a mysterious male with black hair the other day. I had to be extra sure it was her. I had never seen her in casual clothing before. It truly was her at the Oasis! But… who was she with?"
And in Lance's mind, He? What is she…
"From here on, I want the Valley to know…" The chatter ceased, and ears listened. After today, things would no longer be the same for the both of them. Lance's eyes widened in shock at the next words that left her mouth, "I am in love with the Black Wolves Acting Captain, Greed!"
***
**Valley Kingdom**
Greed:
The five of us: Ryo, Rex, Snow, and Zeno had finally concluded our outing, and it was late at night.
The whole time as people left, they met my eyes with jeers and glowering stares. I had known I was drunk, but come on… they weren't saints either…
It wasn't until I had bumped into Zeno, who was glued to his comm, that I finally understood what all this unwanted attention was about.
"Greed…" he said, almost like a whisper.
"Huh? What is it, dude? You look like you've just seen a ghost!" I chuckled.
To my surprise, I saw Snow, Rex, and Ryo on their comms as well as we all stood outside the noodle house.
"I was wondering why no one paid attention to me and Snow when we were supposedly causing a scene…" Rex said.
When I finally looked at Zeno's comm, I was in utter disbelief…
"Well, there you go. You're both official." He said with a mix of tranquility and drunkenness.
"Shit… she actually went out and said it."
***
**A month later. Valley Kingdom.**
The sound of the crowd cheering was all I could hear as I stood in the shadows of the inner halls in between the Valley's colosseum. Next to me were two figures, both in Black Wolves attire. One with short yellow-orange hair and beaming blue eyes, muscular and bigger than the other, and the smaller one, slender, with black and green ombre hair and beaming emerald eyes.
As the crowds continued to sound off, the arena announcer called our name, "And finally, the last of our participants for this year's Valley Tournament is—" the silence between his words was deafening even to the crowd, "the Black Wolf Knights!"
A mixture of boos and cheers filled the colosseum, with the sheer number of the crowd, it might as well be all the same. The cheers were probably for Jo and Nash, anyway, who stood on either side of me.
"You hear that, bro? The cheers."
"I hear booing as well… but I don't care."
"No, man, I only hear cheers… that's the sound of freedom, brother."
"Never took you for the patriotic type, Nash."
"Of course I am… Freedom is what I fight for. And the whole reason I follow you and Asura to the ends of this world."
"Could you be any more cringy?" Jo sighed, responding with furrowed brows and a popsicle that she still managed to balance in her mouth without her hands.
"Nothing cringy about being proud. That's what it takes to be a man! I wouldn't expect you to understand…"
"Nor do I care to… Let's get this over with, shall we? This is enough social activity for me for the entire month… I'm hibernating after this." Jo said lazily.
"Greed's room is occupied until further notice." Nash snickered.
"He still lets me sleep there!" she hissed.
"Good to know you're front row to all the clapping."
She ground her teeth at him, but they both straightened when they heard my tongue click.
We made our way to the end of the hallway, the light at the end of it beamed toward us as we walked out from the darkness.
The bright light engulfed us, and our eyes adjusted. The sounds of the crowd were clearer and louder now as we witnessed the rest of the participants already gathered there in the center of this massive ring. The crowds were far off; all sitting at the bleachers of this magnificent colosseum. Not an empty seat in sight.
There were twenty-one participants, including us. All here to win for a chance to lead the eighth Guild of the Valley. And most importantly, to give the Valley a show.
I found Rex, Snow, Zeno, and Ryo's eyes among them as we all nodded unanimously at each other, remembering our pact. Remembering that there was a deeper purpose to this Tournament beyond just winning.
"Here we go, folks! Your Valley Kingdom participants for the Valley Tournament are all here before you! Each represents the current active Guilds in the Valley! Are you ready to see who comes out on top? Well, so am I! So, let's get this Tournament underway!"
The crowd went wild. And we each bore focused looks. This was either going to be fun or a fucking drag…
Before anything else, I looked over to Belle, who was proudly cheering us on, unashamed, proud to let everyone know, just as she had a month ago. Regardless of whether the people had accepted it or not.
I closed my eyes, snickering to myself at the thought. In my mind, with or without this Tournament, I had already won. So, I might as well allow myself some enjoyment for the battles to come; especially from these two powerhouses by my side.
"Listen, you two," I said. "Whoever of you gets the furthest—"
"Nah, pass." Nash interrupted.
"Likewise." Jo followed suit.
I turned my head slightly to show them my raised brow.
"Asura is the true and forever captain of the Black Wolves. And who better to fill his seat when he's away than you?" Nash said inspirationally.
I laughed harder than I thought I would, and still my laughter was drowned out by the cheering crowd. "No, you fucking losers. Whoever of you gets the furthest"—the cheers carried in the wind and was followed by stillness only to us—"gets to pick the Black Wolves new outfits."
Jo giggled openly. It was refreshing to hear her delight. And Nash snickered with a wry smile. But how they were right now—this was how we were going to treat this Tournament.
"So, don't let me catch you slacking off. Show these people the power of a Black Wolf Ace."