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gloriousladycrusade · 2 years

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Chapter 3: Snowy trip {Chapter 2}

Chapter Text

"So what's next?" My train of thought was interrupted by my son who was looking around. "What usually happens next is I go out for a walk in the snowy forest for around half an hour. As a sort of relaxing activity I do." His eyes lit up, I know what he will ask of me.

He looks down, seemingly ashamed of something. "C-can I join you?.." His voice quieted down in the end, I placed my hand on his head. I will need more time to think about things later tonight, but for now. He looks up await due to the lack of a response I have given, I look back at him and I nod and he brightened up again.

"So do we just walk out?" I thought about it, what did I usually do while walking in the woods? I remember some things that I used to do, but I merely shook my head in response. "Not yet, I must grab a sword, just in case." He looked out into the woods

"But isn't the snow prowler going to protect us?" He was talking about the snow prowler that protected the walls. It became friendly after I spared it when it was a cub.

"It cannot protect us from everything, there's even a chance we don't encounter it while doing this stroll." It was all true, I remember not seeing it multiple times, but always seemed to pop back after a day or 2.

"Can I also get a sword?" I looked back at him and raised a brow, he was still a child, he's gotten lessons. "Please?" I don't even think there are swords for children, I would hope not. Although, there are daggers. I can only sigh, not really in a position to refuse, anything can happen so it wouldn't hurt to be too cautious.

"Fine. Remember, blades are sharper than you'd think they are. There are no swords for children, but I have a dagger." I motioned for him to follow me which he did, being very happy. He was also very eager, and I was still reluctant with the whole situation.

We walked back to my room and I slid the door open and saw a sword within my view. I always bring it whenever I leave to take a stroll. I walk over to it and strap a baldric over my shoulder to hold the sword.

I turned around to see him just wandering the room. I shrug it off, not really caring if he does look around and go to my bed dresser and grab my dagger with a leather sheath.

I turn again to see him laying down on my bed writing or drawing with the brush I left on the table at the other side on an empty scroll. I told him I got the sword and dagger and I let him keep the scroll "I never really knew what those are called" "What?"

He pointed at the dagger I held "That thing that holds swords" As we left the gate I explained what it was. "So how do I take it out again?" "You just unbutton this and you can take it out." "Can I hold it with the sheath?" I nod

I gave him the dagger and by his reaction I think he did not expect the dagger to be as heavy as it was. I looked to see we were near the gate again and he was swinging the dagger with the sheath still on. He was doing well with his form and how he held the dagger, we entered out of the gate.

I took a good long look at the scenery and decided to walk in a direction. I tapped my son on his shoulder, he was also looking at the scenery.

To most cookies this would just be a barren snowy forest, in cold and unforgiving weather. They are right, but this is the same land the people of this kingdom live in, we see it as home.

"What could be out there?" I looked down to see he was looking where I planned we would be walking. "The forest hides many creatures who call it home, be cautious when we traverse it." His expression did not change, it's as if he's deep in thought. What could he be thinking about?

"Is something the matter?" He shook his head "It's just, there's a lot of things in the forest apparently…" He's hiding something, but I shall wait for him to speak about it rather than pressing the matter now.

"I shall protect you to the best of my abilities. There will be nothing to worry about" He nods, not saying anything as we walk towards the forest. I have traversed here many times, enough for its residents to recognize me a bit. The creatures that surround us are ents and licorice cake hounds, harmless.

What I am more worried about is the yeti(s?) and snow prowlers here. We walked for some time in silence until I felt a hand hold mine, it was my son. "It's cold and the trees are looking at me…" I first wrapped him with my cape, it does not serve much use in general anyway, so it is much better now.

"Hm, those trees you say are most likely ents, as long as you stay with me you shall most likely be fine, if not I will be here to defend you." He nods looking at around 4-5 of them staring at us.

"Thank you father…Why do they not attack us?" "They usually don't attack as long as you don't cause a commotion in the forest or be aggressive." He nods again, he actually looks comfy in the cape that wraps around him. That's good, I wouldn't want him to be sick because I brought him here.

The ents that were observing us earlier ran away, not because of us. I held my son's hand firmly, that would be the worst case scenario if we were to encounter one. "...Dad?" I looked at him wiping all the powdered snow off of him. "Hold your dagger out just in case.."

He was clutching my hand harder than I was. I kept him close to me, placing a hand on his shoulder while the other was clutching his hand. We began to walk back, something was not right.

Something big came by earlier. I looked at my son, he seemed to have noticed it too. "I know you're cold, but can you walk a little faster with me?" He shook his head, I looked around to scan that nothing too dangerous was around us.

"That's okay, just stay next to me okay?" He nods, his hands are cold. "..What's wrong?.." There is no point of lying and trying to hide the situation. "We must be on our guard, something was here." I could see his face, he looked a bit concerned and distressed.

I squeezed his hand gently to assure him we'll be fine. We continued walking and the snow started to feel heavy as I stepped. I don't know why. The snow or wind has never gotten heavier. All the ents and cake hounds that were there were missing, they probably ran away as well.

We were getting close to the end of the forest. After a few seconds my son tugged my sleeve, I looked down to see he was struggling moving like me. "I can't walk any farther.." He was tired "That's fine, I'll just carry you to the kingdom okay?”

He nods, and I am very confused. Why would we be both struggling all of a sudden? I carried him holding him up with one arm as he held on by wrapping his arms around my neck.

I have done this walk many times, none was ever like this unless the weather has become harsher than usual. A roar ripped through the wind, a snow prowler.

My son looked up at me and I clutched my sword, ready to strike back. "Father is that the snow prowler?.." The one we know is not the snow prowler that made that cry. "Not the one we know, hold on."

The ground started to shake a bit and the snow on the surrounding trees began to fall off of the leaves. I started to run to the end of the forest, clutching both my son and my sword tightly.

I was cut off by a snow prowler, with clear intent to harm us. It tried to swipe us. I barely dodged it, I cannot fight like this. Everything felt so much heavier, it was so hard to move.

I set my son down. "Father?!" It gave an ear-shattering roar. I turned to put myself between it and my son. "You cannot fight it, you must stay away and hide!" It pounced, trying to bite me in half. I stabbed it before it could. I jumped at it as it howled in pain and tried to end it as quickly as I could. Unfortunately it got to slash at me, I saw it shaking the wound at the roof of its mouth.

It really wants to kill me now. I looked at my injury and there were 3 long slashes across my arm and chest. I charged and avoided the slashes this time and I stabbed it, piercing the sword through its head as it fell down, lying lifeless on the ground.

I fell to my knees trying to catch my breath, I held myself up using the sword as a support. As I tried to get myself back up I looked down on the snow and saw patches of jam staining the pure white snow. My wound is not the worst. I can still get back to the kingdom like this.

"Father! Help!" I whipped my head to the source of the cry and ran with this injury. I ran in the direction I heard it coming from and I am lost. "Dark Choco, where are you?!" I cried out, I didn't get a response back. I was starting to panic.

I heard shrills and immediately ran there and saw my son fighting back some scarabs and a yeti overtowering them all. I ran as fast as I could and picked him up and ran back to the clearing near the end of the forest.

Ouch, he gripped onto me very hard. "Thank you.." I nod, we need to get out of here. As we were getting out of there as soon as possible I saw he was looking at his hand and I froze for a second. His hands were stained with jam.

"Father.. You are bleeding!" It was my jam, I was slightly relieved. "I'm fine, are you hurt?" He was looking down so I couldn't see his face, but he shook his head. "I'm okay father…"

My injuries stung, and my son did not say anything the whole time. As soon as we were visible from a tower near the gate, the gate flung open and we entered.

A few watchers came by and noticed our condition. "My king we must get you and the young prince to the healers!" one of them said, i could feel my son's grip become harder, it hurt, but my main injury was worse. "...No, I'm fine, father's injured.."

He looked at me and he was crying, and I didn't notice. "Please help father…" He is a child, he was never to blame. I set him down and I looked at my injury, there weren't deep cuts. "Sir we must get you to the healers!"

They were more urgent about my injuries than I was. I crouched down to look at my son and he was crying still, avoiding my eyes. I pat his head, I forget how small he was as a child. The palm of my hand was as big as his head. "Look at me" He looked at me teary eyed "None of this is your fault, I will be fine."

He shook his head "Y-you're injured.." "The healers will fix me up, I will live." I walked to where the healers were, telling the watcher I will be fine and I can get there by myself. My son was following me there and when we did get there the healers were also very urgent about healing my wound.

I sat down and let them do their sorcery, with my son watching in the background. The healers urged me to stay here for a while, bandaging me up. I reluctantly agreed.

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gloriousladycrusade · 2 years

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Chapter 2: Finally the magical time travel-ish {Chapter 1}

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I awoke jumping up from my bed lacking sleep as I usually have woken up, but these times I have tears in my eyes and they feel sore. I looked around to see my room, but a major thing was missing, the photo I held of my son smiling and the journal of the stories we exchanged during his last moments.

I immediately jumped up rummaging my room trying to find the most important items I own, could someone have stolen them?! I heard someone knocking on my door.

I was blinded by frustration, anger, and grief. I violently slid the door open causing a very loud thud of it hitting the wall, expecting a watcher or Caramel Arrow only to see no one until I looked down.

I saw my son, as a child, afraid, with tears brimming from his eyes, I was washed with regret and confusion.

I fell to my knees very vexed and had too many thoughts spinning in my head if I finally broke and am hallucinating. I was at the point of tearing up again, thinking the world has played some twisted joke upon me.

I was proven wrong when I felt small hands wiping the tears that were apparently falling from my face. I had apparently shed tears without me knowing again. “Father! Are you okay?!” I didn’t say anything, I just embraced my son. Hopeful it wasn't a some twisted illusion or a nightmare.

I can’t tell if I lost it or that it was a very long nightmare, I don’t care to know which one, I pray this is no trick. I let go and looked back down to see my son who is now very much alive but now a child. I don’t know when this was, was he brought back or did I really get a 2nd chance?

I realized he was looking at me worried and confused at my state. “Father, what's wrong?” I had nearly forgotten what he sounded like as a child, he sounded like any other child filled with life and determination. Right now however, he sounds really worried about me.

I did not deserve his love for me, I neglected the responsibility of a father and taught him how to survive and protect others, never did I teach him how to appreciate and love those he protected and survived for.

All that he had gotten when he left was how cold and grueling this kingdom was to him, nothing more. I spaced out again, and never really assured my situation, he was brimming in tears either still or because of my concerning actions.

“Father?” I gave a small pat on his head “I’m.. not feeling the best today, forgive me for scaring you earlier son.” He looked up with the same expression still “Did anything stress you again?”

Right, this was me being delved into my responsibility as a king. I shook my head, I was far more disturbed by other things that were worse. “No, I..” I tried to find what to say to no avail.

I merely just walk back to my bed, sliding the door back closed and sitting down on the bed checking one last time that this isn’t a hallucination or some type or cruel trick. My son followed me but did not sit next to me, instead he merely just waited in front of me.

I gestured to him that he could sit down. He does sit down next to me, I think he was quite reluctant about it. “I- please, if this isn’t real, please tell me…” I looked back at him and he was probably thinking about what to say, he was smart and mature for his age, I await his response.

After a short silence “I’m pretty sure I’m real, unless we’re both dreaming,” He lays down on bed “Did you have a nightmare father?” I really do not know, I just hope not, that would be the worst conclusion.

“I don’t know, what is the date today?” I said looking at him, he looked more worried than scared a while ago, tilting his head in confusion. “Well, it’s, ~~~~” He sits back up to look at me and points somewhere in the room “there’s also that calendar you have”

I looked at the general area he pointed to and saw a calendar, I got rid of it later on at one point forgetting I even had one. I just give a frustrated sign trying to rack my mind back together.

I can hear him rustling and moving, I was too busy thinking. What happened? How did this happen? How did I possibly get far back? I felt multiple taps on my shoulder that I subconsciously ignored to delve into thought. “Dad”

I sort of slightly jerked my head up, I haven’t heard him call me that in a long time, it was usually only father. I looked down on him to see what he had to say. “Um- I mean father,” I visibly frowned, I was frowning at myself and what caused him to just state me as father and only father.

I shook my head “No, dad or whatever you feel like calling me is okay.” He stopped being tense and nodded back in slight relief at me. “Do you want to talk about it, Dad?”

I finally realized how bad I was with emotions and everything about it, even though I wanted to, I have no idea how to. “I…really don’t know how to” He tilted his head again looking at me, “Hmm, well I can just ask questions that can help you talk about it?”

I just sighed again and nodded, not really knowing what to do after. “What’s bothering you right now?” I was very hesitant to say it, what else can I say?

“I.. you,” He looked confused and somewhat hurt “I’m bothering you?” “No! You’re not bothering me, I… something happened to you” His look of concern was back “In your dream?” I really have no idea what to say or react, how am I supposed to say my situation without sounding deranged?

I stayed quiet for a while “hopefully, it was all a dream…” He stared at me in silence, I didn’t even look him in the eyes, I just looked down. He moved to sit next to me, placing a pillow on my lap and laying his head on said pillow, and looked up at me.

“Did something happen to me?” I could only nod in defeat even though there was nothing to lose to. He was quiet for a while and again then finally spoke 3 words that have affected me more than it should have. “Did I die?”

I just froze with my mind blank, trying to process 3 simple words, he was always good at these things. He somehow always knew. Tears slowly fell down my face again landing on my son.

“In my arms, it was a clear night, the stars and the moon were the brightest I’ve ever remembered.” His expression at me didn’t change “And what happened after?” Tears fell heavier and quicker “I was in denial, I tried everything, and yet you still died. I pushed the healers too hard on something they could not do.” He sat up to hug me, latching onto my neck. I could hear him sniffling, I guess he was also crying.

I hugged him back, I was too choked up to say anything. “It’s okay dad, I’m here” His voice was broken saying it. I clung onto him alswell, I was never good with words. I said nothing other than strangled sobs. “It’s okay papa, I’m here” I couldn’t tell if those words were to comfort me or him, either way it doesn’t matter.

“I love you papa” I hugged him harder, I do not deserve those words from my kind son. “I love you too son, I love you so so much, I..I.. regretted not saying these words to you for so long I-” “It’s okay papa, I know you love me even if you don’t say it” I was too stunned to say anything and loosened my grip and sat him in front of me to look at him again. I really did not deserve this, his love and admiration. I really planned on not letting him go for a long time until there was an eventual knock on the door.

“Sir? Is everything alright?” I could hear one of the watchers say, I look at my son, he doesn't want to let go so I just carry him and open the door. “Everything’s fine, what’s the schedule today?”

The watcher diverted his attention to look at me carrying my son for a bit and eventually, albeit they sounded reluctant for some reason, gave me my schedule for today. I thanked them and set off to do them all while carrying my son still latched on my neck.

I had to set aside my emotions for now and do my duties. I saw the former watcher trainer somewhat nervously pacing through the halls looking for something or someone and then spots me, immediately making a beeline for me and bowing.

I noticed my son fell asleep in the commotion of the morning. “My king, the young prince was not present so I went-” I gave a silent ‘shh’ and pointed to my son. They were confused at first then perked up all happy and now speaking in a quieter voice.

“Ah, forgive me my king, the young prince seems to be tired, I shall schedule a different time for him to attend his training.” They gave an endearing smile, bowed again and left.

I was never eccentric to do my ‘kingly duties’, but they were necessary so I never complained or state that I loved doing it. That last part would be a blatant lie, I would be amused by some of the outlier problems that were present, but it never becomes anything more.

I give a small sigh, still carrying my son. I somehow manage to sit down in the throne/work chair and figure out how to write and sign some papers. (think of this like the tree of wishes except it was on citizen’s problems with things in the citadel, ect, and informing them to dark cacao)

I was hardly expressive to everyone, but right now I would not need to keep composure so I’m pretty sure I was very visibly inconvenienced by this. With a lot of small complaints and annoyed sighs later,

I was around halfway there, I think. Then I noticed my son waking up, giving a small yawn, he did not let go still, possibly feeling lazy.

I’m not going to stop him from doing so “Good morning” I could hear him reply a tired quiet ‘good morning’ back. “You know, I saw someone report that a cake hound stole something and they want it back”

He finally let go, I was kind of sad and relieved, he has a decently strong grip for a child. “Really? That’s so stupid. Are you sure that was a real complaint?” He was trying to find it through one of the completed neat stacks of papers I signed and or reviewed.

I moved his hand away from the papers giving him the paper, I saved it in case of this happening. “Those papers took a lot longer of my life than what you think” He was chuckling “All because of a cute little cake hound” I give an annoyed sigh “yes, and apparently the wind as well”

he was still looking through and reading the random needs, requests, and or problems that need to be fixed. “Hehe, apparently you’re in a good and bad mood at the same time today”

I nod my head, reluctantly agreeing, thinking how I never really acted like this at all back then and this would be a weird shift.

I keep writing and signing after like 5 of the papers I yawned and shut my eyes for a few seconds only to be greeted with a paper in front of my face. “Someone’s kid lost their favorite stick in the forest” I gave a groan of annoyance and was very tempted to slam my head on the table.

“I want to slam my head on the table” It was all I could say in response and he was laughing at it. “Sooooo, are you going to send watchers to find the missing stick?” I resumed scanning the papers “Only a cake hound at most, they have a better chance and more excitement finding a stick”

He chuckled at that agreeing and it was quiet for a while, I was too busy being annoyed at what I’m currently doing forgetting this unfortunate chore. “I’m glad” Well that cut through the quietness, I didn’t say anything, I just looked at my son to show that he has my attention.

“Can we have more days like this? Please?” I was hurt that he had to go through this the first time, I always cared about him. Being a stone-cold king as someone’s usual personality usually is not someone’s great view of what a good father would be, I agree.

I looked back at my son and saw him awaiting my response, I accidentally took longer to respond. “Of course, I would be glad to have more days like these.” I set down the brush I was holding on the ink pad “As long as I don’t have to carry you everytime” He was giggling “Umm dad, can I hug you?” I nod “You don’t ever need to ask okay?”

He didn’t respond, he just hugged me “thank you” I gladly hugged back giving a genuine smile I’ve had in a long time “Of course” Time passes by quickly as a watcher walks a while later and says that a party has come back.

We both sat up from the throne room finally, I hate that chair. We were walking, escorted by the same watcher. Midway I told them they could go back to their post and that we would be fine. After some time of still walking towards the gate I see my son immediately walk somewhere else towards the mini pond present near.

I followed him down to the pond and he was crouching down and looking at the pond. I don’t know what he’s looking at but I don’t really need to care. “You know we need to greet and treat the watchers’ return” I say as he looks back, he nods in response

“I just wonder how that pond didn’t freeze over yet, it’s always so cold here” I nod understanding his curiosity and looked back at that tiny pond asking the same question within my head.

We kept on walking towards the gate, everyone one born here is used to the harsh weather so the cold doesn’t bother us as much as other cookies from other lands. “Hey dad, can you carry me again?” I playfully roll my eyes at him “And break my back doing so? I think not.” He was swinging my arm back and forth

“Pleaseeeeee? You always carry that sword that’s like 10 times heavier than me on the battlefield!” I gave a small chuckle “You can walk, I can see the gate from here.” He kept swinging my arm, he was never like this, most likely because I was never like this back then. “Pleaseee?”

I raised a brow looking at him and reluctantly agreed. One thing I agree with is that he was much lighter than the grape jam sword, a sword I've gotten used to carrying, no ordinary cookie can carry it of course. I’m also quite sure back when my son was older before this chance, he would still have a hard time carrying it.

“So this is what it’s like to be tall, I want to be tall like this someday!” I knew he would be as tall as me in the future, I gave a small smile again. “I’m sure you will be when you grow up.” We get to the gate already opening revealing the group of watchers returning.

They were all fine with little injury and no casualties “Looks like they’re all fine” he was resting his chin on top of my head, he’s right, most of them look fine. “That does not mean they’re not tired” he hums in response “I’m not coming down you know” “You will come down soon for my back’s sake”

He laughs it off while we go over to the watchers “My king we found a different snow prowler along the way but we handled it and drove it away”

I nod “Was that the only note-worthy thing in the radius around the walls?” “Not really sir, the Snow Prowler was driven away, but we found a strange plant that was not recorded in the herbology records.”

A strange plant? This caught my son’s attention as well “Hello young prince” He gave a small wave “Hi” Strange, an undocumented plant unfound for so long near the walls? I tell the watcher to give their information on said plant to an informant to record it.

“Your majesty, everything has been accounted for.” I tense only slightly, and accidentally made my face immediately fall and look aggravated. I know that voice, that traitorous sea snake, Affogato.

I had forgotten that they were a long time advisor, along with Caramel Arrow being a heavily trusted watcher. I turn to see him giving the same fake expression of his traitorous two-sided face, with a smile that I now interpret differently.

A smile of trust is what I used to think it was, now it is nothing more to me but a deceptive facade. I compose myself and then nod. “Thank you Affogato, feel free to do what you want for the week.” I do not trust that leech to do and maintain my duties, they looked surprised at my decision.

“But my liege! You have a heavily crowded schedule and it would take more effort and energy for you to finish them all!” I shook my head “I will be fine..” I look back up to my son that I'm still carrying and look back at them “I will manage”

With some help hopefully and maybe even just some plain motivation from my son. "Are you sure my liege?" I just nod, I realized how power hungry he was in the future. A side of him I will note and be weary of.