#I found five grass type shinies with just two sandwiches

[likeabxrdinflight]

I turned on pokemon scarlet again because free mew event and gdi I have missed literally EVERY other mew event in my life (that includes the one that came in the pokeball plus for lgpe because I was not buying a 50 dollar accessory that worked with one game), so I am finally claiming my silly pink creature, thank you

[ghost-of-winters-past]

white silence and the fragile reality

summary: The world had been destroyed and put back together again, but not without sacrifice and while Sam and Bucky were ready to move on you were afraid of never being able to fill out the footsteps you were trying to follow.

characters: bucky, sam, reader (platonic)

warnings/synopsis: post-endgame (spoilers), pre TFATWS, slight mentions of loss/death, a little angst, one or two swear words, otherwise just best friends being there for each other, fluffy ending. This is based on the request by @superwhoflarrow123​ I had so much fun writing this and I really hope it’s anything like you imagined! (roughly 2.5k words)

The compound halls were empty, the flickering fluorescent lights made the whole place look as if it was haunted and honestly, sometimes you actually thought it was. Sometimes a shiver still ran down your spine whenever you passed Tony’s lab or Nat’s favourite red armchair in the space that once was a cosy movie room but now just felt empty. And more often than once you had to swallow down the lump in your throat that caused bittersweet tears to flood your eyes when watching their favourite mugs collect dust on the upper shelves. You still remembered the endless days and nights you spent in quiet sorrow with Natasha during the five lonely years together in these very halls. The peanut butter sandwiches you silently prepared each other every morning and the unexpected tight hugs soon became your only form of solace, afraid that the other might slip away too.

Now everything should be different. The world was saved, Thanos defeated and yet you felt like a piece of you was missing now more than ever. You realized it just a month after Tony’s funeral while standing in the fancy compound kitchen cooking chili that you were planning to take to one of the shelters that cared for those who got lost during the Blip and haven’t truly found their way back home yet. The smell reminded you of a time long gone, a time you thought you’d never want to think of ever again. You still remembered the evenings Steve’s, Bucky’s and your family spent together when all of you were just kids, heating up canned chili and playing old board games while the last of your firewood burned down in the fireplace, never daring to move too far away from it because the heating broke a long time ago and the small cramped apartment otherwise was cold and grey. You remembered being so incredibly proud and still shedding one or two tears when sending Bucky off into war, but that feeling of sadness was nothing compared to the excruciating pain you felt when under heart-wrenching sobs Steve told you that Bucky fell off the train and you thought: that was it. Life couldn’t be more painful than this. You soon had to learn that it definitely could.

You could still see the inside of the plane whenever you closed your eyes. You could still see yourself grabbing Steve’s hand while he said goodbye to Peggy that restored your belief in true love and then just holding on to each other as tightly as you could, waiting for the end. You didn’t remember the crash or the ice, just how you woke up in a strange room that was supposed to feel familiar and yet you could just feel it from the moment you awoke: nothing would be the same anymore. The world you knew was gone. Of course, you and Steve stuck together, helping each other adapt to a world that was so different from the one you once knew and finding a new purpose with The Avengers. Finding Bucky probably was the scariest and happiest day of your life and from then on you did everything in your power to hold onto that small sliver of hope that maybe everything could be okay again. Your small family finally was united again and it felt like it was a new chance for all of you. You just never thought it would end like this.

It was two months after Tony’s funeral when you could finally bring yourself to leave the compound again and try to pick up the pieces of your life. The wet grass made a squishing sound under your boots and the air smelled like fresh rain and new beginnings as you walked over to the front gate of the compound. The black shiny car parked in front of it was the first sign of normal buys life after you were alone for so long that you had to take a short moment to breathe before you pushed open the once automated gate. “Hey, you still remember us?” Sam’s familiar cheery voice called out through the rolled down driver’s window and that was the first time a small smile tucked at the corners of your mouth again.

From then on you decided to make an effort again. You wanted to heal, not only for your own sake but for theirs too. And you knew, Sam and Bucky would be right by your side. The compound started to feel a little more alive again, memories of long lost days turned from black and white to new colours whenever they were around. And they were around a lot. Finally, you were able to think about anything else than what you had lost, but then one day you saw the familiar shield leaning onto the side of the couch and Sam looked at you like one would at a lost child. “Time to move on,” he said softly and you knew he was right.

It was a sunny day, the rays of warmth caressed your face in a way nothing else could and in the air hung the smell of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers. The blue, white and red shield soared through the air like a metal frisbee, occasionally blocking out the bright sunlight from your view. The soft summer breeze carried Sams laughter over the field and it almost felt like nothing had changed at all. “Hey, Buck! I’ma throw my shield as far as I can and you go see if you can catch it, yeah?” Sam urged the brunette but only earned a scowl in response. “I’m not a fucking dog, Wilson.” You snorted and shook your head when Bucky actually started walking over the field backwards, one eye on the shield and waiting for Sam to eventually throw it. “If you catch it drinks are on me tonight!” You could hear Bucky swearing under his breath but as soon as the shield was cutting through the air he started running after it as if his life depended on it and Sam cackled next to you. Everything seemed so normal and easy, no trace left of the sadness of the last months and for the first time in what felt like ages you actually allowed yourself to think about the future again. The small smile that had played on your lips faltered as you started to realize what you were actually doing. Sam had told you about his plans just one or two weeks ago, said he had a responsibility now that he needed Bucky’s and your help with and when you agreed to work with him you hadn’t thought about it yet. But now it rolled over you like a big wave threatening to drag you underwater. “Now be a good boy and bring it back, buddy!” “Fuck you!” Bucky yelled and instead hurled the shield so high that it looked like it was cutting through the clouds. “Be right back,” you mumbled without even looking at Sam and turned around. “You okay?” you heard him ask concern lacing his words and you just waved your hand dismissively in his direction before stalking off. You ignored Sam and Bucky’s bickering behind you as you wandered in no specific direction. You didn’t know where you were going or what you were planning to do, it just suddenly had felt like an ice-cold hand was wrapping itself around your heart and you knew you needed to leave. Pictures flashed through your mind, past fights and battles and between all the mess there was one calming constant: Steve. A sob escaped your lips and you clasped your hand over your mouth, not hearing the footsteps that were trailing behind you.

“Hey.” You suddenly felt a warm, familiar hand wrapping itself around your arm and when you didn’t make a move to turn around Bucky was stepping in front of you, his grasp gentle and his baby blue eyes concerned. “Hey,” he said again, voice gone really soft when seeing the single tear rolling over your cheek that you immediately wiped away with the back of your hand and an annoyed grunt. “What’s wrong?” your best friend asked and suddenly you couldn’t hold back anymore. You didn’t care about how he would feel about you anymore. He was gone for five years but you knew him since kindergarten and you quite literally faced the end of the world together. “I can’t do it!” you burst out. “I can’t do this, okay?” you started to sob, your arms flailing around trying to make him understand what you meant with this and a soft look took over his features. “Can’t do what?” he asked gently and pulled you to sit down with him in the grass. “All of this!” you yelled, your chest heaving under the panicked weight you were trying to get off. “I’m not like you and Sam, okay? And I’m definitely nothing like Steve. I’m not the hero type!” you claimed hoarsely but Bucky just shook his head. “Why would you even think that after everything that happened? After everything you did over the last five years?” You let out a sarcastic laugh. “I was helpless, Bucky! If it would have been down to only me all of you would still be…gone.” “No. Stop doing that! Stop comparing yourself to them. You are as much of a hero as they are.” You wiped the tears from your cheeks again and shook your head. “Only because Steve was still there. I can’t do this without him,” you mumbled and Bucky just let out a little sigh before pulling you into his broad chest. It was silent for a little while. The happy chirping of the birds almost seemed as if they were mocking you.

“I miss him too, you know?” Bucky spoke again quietly and sighed again while resting his chin on the crown of your head. “You still remember him before everything went to shit?” he asked and you could almost hear the nostalgic smile on his face. You huffed. “He was a skinny idiot with a hero complex.” Bucky’s laughter rumbled through his chest and made your head vibrate a little. “I would have been caught dead before telling him but I always thought he was the bravest of us,” he said and memories of a beaten-up blonde kid with smudged bloodstains on his upper lip and raised fists filled your head. “He would have been squished like a pancake if it wasn’t for us,” he continued and a little smile tucked at the sides of your mouth. “I know what you are trying to do,” you grumbled. “Then shut up and listen.”

Bucky lifted his head from your chin and you could see him looking at you from the corner of your eyes, but you just kept staring at the line of trees surrounding the compound area. “You know what the first thing was that came to my mind after I escaped Hydra and got my memories back? How I had let you and Steve down.” Your head whipped around, mouth parting a little and a soft “Bucky,” escaping your lips. You could never imagine the pain he had to go through while being captured and even after escaping and it hurt you to know, that he felt like it was his fault. You wanted to assure him, to tell him that there was nothing he could do that would make you feel let down, but he just kept talking. “You and Steve were doing these amazing things, saving the world and shit and I was doing all this fucked up stuff. It just felt like I wasn’t worthy to be your friend anymore, y’ know?” Regardless of his words, there was a little smile lighting up his face. “I told Steve how I wasn’t worth saving because of all the pain I brought upon this world and you know what he said?” he laughed a little, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “The world has changed and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best, and sometimes the best that we can do is to start over,” he quoted and you immediately knew where it came from. “Peggy.” A smile grew on your lips as you thought of the fierce brunette that changed not only Steve’s but also your life. “Should’ve known he can’t come up with shit like that,” Bucky laughed and you snorted grinning and then wiped at your tear-stained cheeks. You knew what he was trying to tell you. He wanted you to feel comfortable with letting your past behind, to start fresh and just try your best. “You are not alone.” Bucky looked at you all serious but gentle again and this time you didn’t dodge his gaze. “I’m with you. And so is Sam. No one is expecting you to be like Steve. Honestly, no one even wants that. We want you. You are amazing and strong in your own ways and I really think we can’t do this without you. We will do this our own way and we’ll mess up, but that’s okay. We’ll be together. As a family.” Your vision was starting to get blurry again and Bucky tugged you against his chest again. “Thank you,” you croaked out, sniffling quietly, knowing you didn’t need to say more. You sat there together for a little while longer just enjoying being able to hold each other again after all that had happened and only let go of each other when you heard Sam’s fake offended voice.

“Are you really havin’ a sentimental moment without me right now? I feel so betrayed!” You chuckled and stuck out your hand to tug down Sam so he was sitting next to you, not bothering to hide the tears in your eyes from him anymore. “We promise to never have a sentimental moment without you ever again, ‘k?” you assured him and let your head rest on his shoulder. You knew that he understood what you meant. They were stuck with you know and they wouldn’t have it any other way. The sun was slowly settling, tinting the sky a golden hue and the air getting chillier so that the three of you decided to get back inside and leave the training to another day. As they were walking towards the compound Sam and Bucky were bickering, as usual, arguing about what to order for dinner and casually bumping shoulders with each other until even that degenerated and they were full-on shoving each other. You shook your head grinning as you trailed behind them, but before following them inside you turned around one last time. Your face soaking up the last warm sun rays you whispered a little promise into the evening air. “I won’t let you down.” You watched the sun disappearing behind the trees before turning back around. Sam and Bucky were standing at the terrace door watching you. “You comin’?” Sam called out and you took a deep breath. “Coming!”

[storyteller15]

Chapter Seven: Spilled Tea and Cracked Macarons

As I entered the room, the warm sunshine flows over my skin. An enormous garden spread out elegantly before me like a painting on display, as it reflected the early morning sun.

I audibly gasped, but found no words to describe the beauty. To be honest, I expected to walk into an ordinary greenhouse with concrete floors and flowers aligned in different sized pots. How wrong I was. Instead, I walk into an enchanted botanical garden. It's as if I just stepped into another world; a world where no creature has ever set foot in.

There are so many different varieties of flowers and herbs growing among the beds; bluebells, orchids, chamomile, and even daisies. I even spotted plenty of hydrangeas growing along the glass walls and around a small fountain with a Cupid standing on some kind of pedestal, shooting water out of its hand.

As I began to walk, I notice the soft warm feel of the grass beneath my feet. I find it strange that this botanical garden had no stoned paths or anything hard to walk over. Just a whole lot of grass, the paths outlined with shiny rocks that sparkled like jewels. I don't think I want to leave this place. Whatever Asgore did to this garden, seemed to have me bonded here. The more I discover, the harder it was to leave.

Off in the distance a pristine white bridge arched lazily over a big pool. Two leafy arches stood one at each end of the bridge, and glowed in an odd burgundy maroon light. I even saw water shoot out from the pool forming three arch shapes. Feeling drawn to the leafy arches, I walked over to get a closer look. As I approached the arch, I was flabbergasted. The leaves are fake! Despite how realistic they appeared, they carried that rustic scent of a craft store. Hidden among them were strands of lights; the source of their unique glow. Nonetheless, it was still a beautiful sight.

I looked down at the water, watching my reflection dissipate when a bunch of multicolored koi fishes swimming under the lily pads, scavenging for whatever food they could find. I counted them all, finding at least fifteen of them. They're pretty big for a fish their size, but then again, they eat a lot anyway. The question is, how did Asgore manage to have these colorful carps? Maybe I'll ask him in another time when I see him again.

Suddenly, something caught my view. My eyes grew wide with shock and anticipation. "No way . . !"

I quickly crossed the rest of the bridge, running towards the radiant blue roses that grew near the bed of golden flowers. Just to be sure they're not fake, I gently stroked the soft petal with my delicate fingers. I gasped, they're real! They're absolutely real! But how? I asked myself. I thought the blue roses went extinct many years ago. I only saw pink, purple, orange, white, yellow, and black roses. Never blue. How on earth did Asgore manage to grow and save such a very rare colored rose?

Suddenly, I remembered what Nanny used to tell me when I was a child, 'If you love a flower, don't pick it up'. Of course, she probably read that quote from a book or a movie, but it is a reminder that we express our love for the flowers by appreciating it. And since then, I only look at the flowers and not pick them.

"What the heck is taking that smiley trash bag so long?" A voice growled, snapping my gaze away from the blue roses.

Who? What? I looked around to see if anyone one else was here, besides me. But there was no one.

"Why did I have to trust him to fetch me some food? I'm so tired of eating spaghetti! For once, I want something sweet for a change!" The voice complained, sounding as if they're close by.

I backed away slowly, trying as hard as I could to follow their voice. I know they're close by, I thought to myself. But there's nothing else here other than a bed of golden flowers with a circular patch of green grass in their center. My gaze stopped on the single flower that occupied the grass patch. It was yellow like the others, but possibly bigger than them.

"Ugh! All this waiting is starting to irritate me!" The flower shouted, making me gasp loudly enough for them to hear me, whipping their petal bordered face towards my direction. "What? Never seen a cranky, talking flower that's starving before?!"

I blinked, having a blank expression on my face. A flower. It's a talking flower. And it's speaking to me.

"No? But it sounds cool." I responded, walking towards the talking flower.

"What are you? An idiot? You’re definitely an idiot! Don’t you know better not to approach something you’ve never seen before? A little talking flower,” his face twisted into a malicious grin “could kill you right where you're standing.”

I shook my head slowly. The things a cranky flower could do when they're hungry.

"You know what they say," I sat down a few feet away from the flower. "It takes an idiot to know one. And my guess is, you're an idiot too."

The flower gaped at me as if I just insulted him. He opened his mouth, but closed it, unable to come up with a better comeback. I giggled and looked at the flower, but he turned his head away from mine to avoid my gaze. Is he mad?

"I'm Zafrina Alban. But you can call me--"

"Who cares? Idiot suits you better. You don’t listen. And you're wearing some kind of tarnished clothing." He spat out, cutting me off.

Heh. If he's going to try to agitate me, he'll have to do better than that. And I think I have an idea that'll have him soften up to me. Maybe a little.

"So, I heard that you're hungry right?"

"What are you deaf? Of course I am! Didn't you just hear me complain about how empty my stomach is at the moment?!"

"Well, I happen to have something that could be considered a snack before your meal gets here."

The flower's expression changes as if he's suddenly interested. "I'm listening."

Bingo.

"I have these sandwich cookies my mom baked me before I came here. The problem is, they're inside my room." The flower grimaced before I quickly spoke again. "However, there's a faster way to get it down here instead of going back up to go get them."

The flower made a smug expression. "What? Let me guess, you're gonna somehow make them magically appear above your hand? Pfft. You'd have to be an idiot to even try."

"Actually, yes. I am going to use magic."

"No way, you're bluffing!" He shouted, his fangs visibly bared. "No human can preform magic unless they're a--"

"A mage?" I finished his sentence for him. "Why yes, yes I am actually."

Before he could cut me off again, I laid out my palm, closing my eyes and called out to my magic by whispering a chant in an ancient language. In the background I hear the flower gasp as my magic begins to hum until I felt something appear over my hand. Slowly I felt my magic dissipate as I opened my eyes, finding Nanny's different colored macarons safely packed in a clear plastic bag, tied with a blue silky ribbon. They made it through the trip without breaking or melting. Thank goodness. In the corner of my eye, I notice the flower's eyes now twinkling with anticipation.

"Huh. You're not an ordinary idiot after all." He turned his head away to hide his flushed cheeks.

I can only smile at the flower. "Pretty much."

"So what? Are you gonna be a fatty and gobble them all up just to mock me?" His gaze pierces mine, hoping I'd say no.

"No, they're for you," His eyes twinkled. "But only if you introduce yourself."

"What? Pfft that's it? Well that's easy! Howdy! I'm Flowey, Flowey the Flower!" He beams, his voice sounded as if he's trying to force himself to be happy.

"Please to meet you, Flowey."

I pulled the ribbon, opening the bag as the sweet scent of the macarons began to make our mouths salivate. Flowey's eyes didn't leave the macarons as I pulled out a yellow one. I think yellow is supposed to be vanilla.

"Here you go," I said, holding the macaron in my outstretched palm.

Flowey looked at me like I was stupid. "As you can tell, I don't have any hands. You might as well feed it to me."

"Well I had to check in case you decide to get sassy with me for treating you like a baby." I challenged.

"Whatever, now hurry up and feed me, you idiot."

I chuckled softly and reeled my hand away from his face. "I suppose no one taught you manners?"

"I have, but I don't use them because they're a waste of time." He grumbles, slamming his head against the soft grass.

"It doesn't hurt to say it," I slowly laid my stomach over the golden flowers, not caring if my dress gets grass stains. "Even if they are a waste of time, it at least lets people know that you appreciate them."

Flowey opened his mouth again as if he wanted to insult me, but he closed it and finally gave up. "Fine . . . Can I have that thing . . . Please?"

"You're adorable," I gushed at him as he grumbles. "And these things are called macarons. They were invented in France; they're my favorite dessert to eat."

I extended my arm slowly, holding the macaron for him as he leaned forward slowly and snatched it with his mouth and chewed on it. My eyes didn't miss on how his eyes twinkled like stars after he swallows it. I couldn't help but chuckle. Despite the fact that his attitude is similar to a Tsunderplane, I can tell that he and I could manage to be friends.

"That was yummy," he crossed his arms 'leaves' looking to the side. "Can I have another? Or do I have to waste my time and use my manners again?"

"Nah, no need. Once is enough for me. Pick a color."

"Purple."

I chuckled, and dumped out the rest of the macarons over the grass, lifting the purple one up close to his mouth as before. We spent the last five minutes in silence as I continued to feed Flowey. He should smile more often, but I don't think he's the type that does. And I didn't mind that one bit. If you love a flower, don't pick it up. Even if this flower has thorns, I still look at him with appreciation.

"Why are you laying near me?" Flowey began to speak out of nowhere."Even though you have magic, don’t you think you should be afraid of me? What if I kill you when you let your guard down?"

"Now why would you do that? There's no reason for you to." I responded with my eyes closed.

There was a long silence. I opened one eye, finding him at loss for words. I chuckled and sat up, which made him flinch.

"I'm not going to hurt you. Besides, sometimes I don't like using my magic."

"What? Why?" He asks, looking puzzled.

". . . Because my magic is far too strong and dangerous. It nearly killed my next-door-neighbor's cat. And I was only twelve years old."

"Wait a sec, you weenies at that age shouldn't be that strong enough to hurt a fly. How is that possible for you--" He stops talking, his gaze leaving mine as if someone else was here.

"Flowey? What's wrong?"

"Howdy, my child," I gasped and looked over my shoulder, finding King Asgore standing over me. "I see you have met Flowey. Please do forgive him, he seems to have a bad habit of being rather rude."

"Hey, I have no soul remember? What do you expect from a flower like me?" Flowey responds in a rather irritated way.

He slowly lowered down a pot filled with dirt for Flowey to climb into, watching as his roots crawled into it. I noticed that Asgore was no longer wearing his cape and metal armor. Instead, he was wearing some kind of pink shirt in a flowery pattern with purple pants. I chuckled, he looks a bit goofy in it, but it suits him.

"Hello, Your Majesty," I stood up, sweeping the grass off my dress and curtsied. "I'm terribly sorry, I didn't mean to intrude your garden."

He lets out a chuckle, placing his large hand over my head. "You can call me Asgore, little one. Your mother and I are best friends. There's no need for you to be formal with me. And besides, anyone is welcome to the garden."

I suddenly lowered my head, feeling crestfallen. "That's the problem . . . You see, ever since the girls knew that Nanny is my mother, they suddenly see me as a threat. As if you and Toriel will influence Asriel’s choice because of that . . ."

"Ah, I see . . . I so badly want to say, 'would you like a cup of tea?' Why don't you join me and Flowey for some, little one? Perhaps we can continue our conversation from there."

My eyes widened a bit. Tea? I didn't want to tell him that I disliked tea, they don't really have that much taste to it. However, I didn't want to be rude and decline the offer. Asgore loves his tea. So, I responded with a smile and a nod.

"That sounds lovely, Mr. Fluffybu--" I gasped putting my hands over my mouth. Oops. "I-I mean Asgore."

His cheeks flushed red through his white fur and chuckled. "It seems my reputation precedes me. Your mother and my wife still goes on about it. Now, shall we?"

"We shall," I placed my hand over his rather large fluffy arm as we walked towards a large glass circular table with four big chairs that are rather large to fit his size.

Flowey remained quiet, but still looked rather irritated. Asgore pulls a chair out for me; as I sit on it, he pushes it forward a little before he takes his seat across mine. Flowey was set over the table between us. It didn't surprise me when Asgore's tea sets looked simple. Nanny did tell me that they're not much of a royal type to have things such as fancier dishes. They like to have them plain just to stay in their comfort zone.

"Here you are little one," Asgore spoke, pushing my filled teacup towards me. "Would you like one too, Flowey?"

"No, I don't want any. I prefer those macarons instead." Flowey spoke, eyeing the rest of the uneaten macarons I had scattered over the grass.

I chuckled and used my magic to pick up the rest of the macarons and placed them next to Flowey. And just like that, he beamed and used his vine to pick them up and place them inside his mouth. I gaped at him, he lied to me?! He looked at me and made a smug expression, waiting for me to get mad, but I chuckled instead.

I turned my gaze away from Flowey, focusing on my tea. The smell of it is inviting, the liquid is in a golden honey color. The steam began to rise from my cup, now making my mouth salivate with anticipation. I don't think I've ever felt like this before when it comes to tea, I dislike them after all.

"What kind of tea is it?" I asked, looking at Asgore while Flowey continued to eat in peace.

"Golden flower. It's my favorite type of tea to drink. I'm sure you'll like this one, my child."

I responded by smiling. "Thank you."

I held my teacup by the handle, watching the steam rise from the honey colored liquid. Slowly, I tipped the cup and took a sip as I felt the warm liquid run down my throat. Oh! It turned out to be sweeter than I imagined! I take a few more bigger sips until there were no traces of liquid left inside my cup, feeling my stomach and muscles warm up and relaxed. Ah, that felt nice . . .

"This tastes so good! May I have another, please?"

He chuckled at my reaction and took the teapot to pour another serving for me. "I was right to bet with Runa that you would enjoy this one. Now I have a reason to send more of the golden flower tea back to her."

"Why? Does she not like this one?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Oh, no; she does. However, your mother doesn't like to drink tea when it's always summer in Aura Cove. She prefers to drink them in cold weathers."

I chuckled softly. I didn't know Nanny was like that. I guess that explains why she never drinks hot beverages on hot summer days. Maybe when she visits the palace in a winter season, she and I could sit down and have a cup of tea.

I drank my tea silently, looking down at it and found my reflection. Suddenly, I can see Fiona's cold glare, including the other girls that stared down at me. A threat, the king and queen's favorite, a suck up. I gasped, looking away from my tea, feeling sad. I can't stop thinking about the cold stares some of the girls gave me after what happened at the ballroom and the dining room. There's nothing to be jealous about; I can't help it.

"What ever is the matter, little one?" Asgore spoke again, suddenly snapping me back from my dark thoughts. "If you continue to hold your cup like that, it'll break and you'll injure yourself. Why, you'll even scald yourself."

I looked down and gasped. He's right, I was holding my teacup so hard, my knuckles were white. With a few deep breaths, I released it and breathed heavily.

"Is it about the behavior some of the girls were giving you?" He asked gently, picking his words carefully.

I only nodded, unable to speak.

"Wait what? So, this idiot right here is part of Asriel's Selection?" Flowey suddenly spoke, squinting at me.

Asgore shoots Flowey a warning glare before he gazes at me again. "Little one, you are only giving them the satisfaction if you they see you break down and give up. You must stay determined, my child."

I didn't respond again, only looking down at my teacup. In the corner of my eyes, I can see him trying to think. Now I feel terrible for wasting his time. I guess it's time that we end our tea session.

"Why don't you use your magic and blast them all? It's what I would do if they pick on me." Flowey chuckled darkly, making that creepy face again.

"Ah, I suppose there is only one option left to help you understand, young one." He says, ignoring Flowey's suggestion.

Before I could question what he means, Asgore suddenly brings out an empty teacup and places it in the middle of the table. I was puzzled. Is there another guest who will be joining us?

Just then, Asgore begins to pour the tea into the cup, watching as the liquid rises to the top slowly. Panic ran through my body as the tea began to overfill, noticing the rest of it spilled over the table. Flowey quickly used his vines to pick up the rest of the macarons to prevent them from getting soaked by the hot liquid. What the?!

"A-Asgore! The teacup! It's overfilling!" He didn't bother stopping as he continues to tip the teapot while the tea began to spill into the grass.

"Asgore, please! The teacup is already full! You don't need to put anymore!" My hand reached for his wrist and grabbed it, stopping him from wasting anymore tea.

Suddenly, he looks up to find my eyes meeting his soft gaze. "Ah. It seems we've ran out of tea, little one."

"W-wha? I don't understand . . . Why did you do that?"

"You see this teacup Zefie?" I looked down at the overfilled cup and nodded before he continued. "Imagine that this little teacup is your mind, and the tea is the negative opinions the girls think of you. As you can see, there is no room for anything else. Without an empty cup, you can never make more room to think clearly. You must remember to--"

"Keep an open mind . . ." We said in unison.

He chuckled softly. "That's right. Thinking too much will only complicate your life. It only creates a problem that never existed in the first place."

I blinked, leaning against the chair to let his words sink in. Maybe I have been overthinking too much about it. I nearly forgot what I wanted to accomplish in the first place. I was so stupid to even let them get to me, that I nearly forgot that their opinions about me don't matter.

"Ah, I guess I was out of focus today. Thank you, Asgore."

Asgore chuckled and reached for my shaky hand and held it in his, giving it a tight squeeze. "You know, you remind me of myself before."

"W-what? I do?" I raised an eyebrow at him. "How?"

He remained silent for a little while, before his gaze finds mine as he spoke. "When my parents passed away, I was weighed with a heavy burden to take the throne. I was your age when it happened, and your mother's parents were the only two people who I considered as my second family. And one day, I snapped; breaking furnitures, bellowing at my subjects; I couldn't take the madness of the humans waging war against us. It was just too much for me to handle at a young age . . . I wasn't ready to lead all on my own."

My breath stilled, unable to say anything. I didn't know he had to take the throne at a young age. Nanny must have seen how badly Asgore was before. Now I'm starting to wonder if Asriel too feels this way.

"Of course, your mother, Runa, tried so hard to comfort me," Asgore continues, solemnly holding his teacup close. "But I responded by pushing her away, telling her that she was not helping. Guilt ran through me for putting up a wall against my own best friend. And so, to prevent myself from hurting anyone again, I locked myself up in my room for two weeks. I never ate, nor slept. But one day, Runa's mother, Sakura, came to me holding a tray of two cups and a teapot filled with my favorite tea to try and comfort me. Like you, I never spoke the whole time, she knew what was wrong with me and thought talking about it could help. I was far too sad and angry to even speak. Of course, Sakura was a very patient monster. And with enough time to think through, she did something that made me panic. She poured too much tea enough to overfill my teacup." I could hear his voice break as he spoke the last word.

My eyes widened. "W-what? Do you mean to say that she--?"

Asgore smiled warmly at me. "Yes, your grandmother was the one who showed me the spilled tea . . . And it seems that I have forgotten about her wisdom she has passed on to me when I . . . Had a another break down later on in the future."

I leaned against my chair again, taking it all in slowly.

"So you see, little one; this is my wisdom that I will pass on to you, as what Sakura had passed on to me. Do not overthink to create more problems that will stop you from staying determined. Stay as the young lady who smiled beautifully in the ballroom."

Without speaking, I stood up from my chair and quickly ran towards his chest, burying my face against his pink shirt. Perfect, I suddenly thought. Asgore's shirt is going to be smothered in makeup. He didn’t seem to mind though as he kindly responded by wrapping his large arms around me. He held me close like any other father would do to comfort their children. I sniffled and began to sob as he hushes me softly.

"You have been through so much, but I know that you can overcome it." He spoke gently, putting his hand over my head.

"How so?" I looked up, finding his face looking so blurry from my tears clouding my vision.

"Because, Runa raised her children to move on and not let anything hold them back. And that is why my wife and I adore your mother so much."

I smiled and wiped my tears as I heard Flowey munching in the background. "Should we be worried that he'll get a tummy ache?"

"Ah, don't worry about him, little one. His stomach doesn't work that way compared to ours."

I shook my head slowly, what an odd flower monster Flowey is.

"So, what happened after my grandmother shared her wisdom with you?" I asked, even though it was very obvious that I knew what happened.

"I was able to clear my head again. Of course I had to mend the cracks that I have done through my irrational behavior, Runa included. With your grandparents as my only guide to help me rule and understand my kingdom, I was able to lead my people with hopes and dreams to overcome the worst. Runa even introduced me to Toriel, bless her heart for having me meet the love of my life. And of course, you knew what happened after that. But still, Sakura's wisdom will always be here to guide me through my toughest and saddest moments in my immortal life. And I hope it will also help you along your journey, little one."

"It already has." I breathed, wiping away my tears.

And just like that, I was finally able to empty my teacup from anymore negative opinions they have on me. Even though Nanny was not here to give me the words I needed to dissipate my problems away, Asgore has done his job by sharing his wisdom my grandmother had. I could never ask for more. Nanny chose the best people to talk to.

With some magic to clean up the mess, and a maid to bring us a new hot fresh pot of golden flower tea, Asgore and I were able to continue to chat for awhile. In the background of our conversation, Flowey shouted in distress as his last macaron disappeared into his belly 'stem'. Luckily for him, I knew how to bake these delicious French sandwich cookies.

♕ ❀ ✩°｡⋆*:･ﾟ✧ ❀ ✩°｡⋆*:･ﾟ✧ ❀ ✩°｡⋆*:･ﾟ✧ ❀ ♕

"Oh my gosh, Zefie! Today was the best time of my life!" Colleen beamed as we were eating dinner.

"I can see that," I chuckled with my mouth full of roast beef and mashed potatoes. "How did it go?"

All day, I spent my morning and afternoon with Asgore and Flowey. I was able to help him water the flowers and plants that needed our attention. And yes, I was able to feed the koi fishes as well and watched them gather in groups to eat what was left. Boring as everyone will think, but this was the best time I've spent today.

There were times when Flowey would talk to me and ask me questions about myself, with that ass of a personality of his. In the end, he was able to call me Zefie. Well, Zefie the idiot to be exact.

"It was so magical, I can never sleep at all! We went for a quiet stroll around the palace to admire the nature and places I never thought that existed. And best of all, he told me how cute I am when I smile!" She places her hands over her mouth to muffle her squeals.

I chuckled softly and turned my gaze towards Asriel. He looks a bit exhausted, but still smiled as if nothing happened. I'll have to find someway to thank him when we're alone.

"I'm glad you're happy, Colleen. I'm happy for ya." Delilah gushes, holding her hand to give it a squeeze.

"Me too, I'm glad that you're the first person Asriel went on a date with." I said earnestly.

"You guys are the best!" Colleen beams again.

"Your Majesty," a ram butler walks in bowing before he approaches to Asgore, holding a small white box wrapped in a blue ribbon. "You have a parcel from Lady Cordelia. It is said that we must give this to you once it is delivered to the palace."

Everyone perked their heads up once they heard it was from Nanny. However, I was the only one that didn't look up. I was too hungry to even fuss about the parcel Nanny sent, perhaps it's a small thank you gift for having Asgore and Toriel look after me in her place.

"Ooh! I wonder what's inside," Colleen cranes her neck. "Your mom must have sent something to them that's considered special."

"Do you know what it is?" Delilah asks, looking at me.

"I'm not sure, I didn't talk to her ye--"

"Zefie, my child. Come forth, please." Toriel calls out to me, her voice filled with excitement.

Huh? Me? What for? I stood up slowly, feeling all the girls staring at me as I approached the end of the table where Asgore and Toriel sat. I forced myself to not give into my temptation to look at Asriel as I stopped and curtsied. Frisk waved at me, as I returned it with a smile before I spoke.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

Asgore and Toriel looked at each other, smiling before she spoke. "You have a present from your mother, my child. And she wants you to wear this everyday when you compete. She says it's a good luck charm that will remind you of home."

"Take care of it, young one. This present is considered irreplaceable." Asgore smiled, placing the small box over my hands.

I looked down at it, finding a small note with Nanny's handwriting on it that was meant for Asgore and Toriel. I shook it slowly, hearing something clatter against the box. What could it be?

"Thank you, Your Majesties. I will take great care of it." I curtsied to them and turned away to head back to my seat.

I felt my whole body chilled to the bone, feeling once again the gazes of the other girls following me as I took my seat. It took them awhile before they went back to finish their dinner. I can tell both Delilah and Colleen are trying so hard to hide their anticipation; their faces are overflowing with the hope that I would open the box now. I took a deep breath and slowly untied the blue silk ribbon, lifting the small box’s lid and gasped.

Inside was a beautiful crystal pendant that glimmered in a beautiful bluish-lavender-gold color, carved into the shape of a seashell with a small pearl hanging on top of it. Some of the girls awed in wonder as the gold chain began to glitter from the lights when I held it up to watch the crystal shine twice as bright as a diamond could have.

"That looks beautiful!" Colleen gasps, staring at my pendant.

"Is it some kind of diamond?" Delilah tilts her head, admiring the color it's beaming.

"No, it's an Aurora crystal. They only grow in a special cave back in Aura Cove, they're known to give good luck to their wearer. The pearl is the jewel from the sea, it's supposed to represent integrity, generosity, and loyalty, but they share some kind of power to keep a child safe. The white one that I have is supposed to symbolize new beginnings."

"You're so lucky to have a mom like Runa to worry about you!" Colleen says with adoration.

"Yeah, I really am." I go ahead and wrapped the gold chain around my neck, hooking the small circle onto the clip and let the pendant hang above my chest.

"It suits you well," Delilah comments, nudging my shoulder.

In the corner of my eye, I found Asriel staring at me. Has he been staring at me this whole time? Nah, I doubt it. Maybe he wanted to see what Nanny gave me. it's understandable to why he was looking.

The girls that sat across me commented that my necklace looked beautiful and gorgeous. I only responded by thanking them with a smile. In the end, it was still nice to have some of the girls show their kindness towards me. However, I'm still unsure about the others that didn’t.

I clenched onto my skirt. No. No, I won't let their opinions cloud my judgement. I will not let my teacup be overfilled with negative thoughts. I am Zafrina Alban. I am my own person, and they are their own selves. I’d rather be the odd one than to look the same as everyone else.

Suddenly, I notice a small note hiding under the cotton that held my necklace. I pulled it out, unfolding the paper. Oh. It's from Bryn! Smiling like an idiot, I go ahead and read the note mentally in Bryn's voice.

 Nanny and I thought it was a good idea to send you something that will remind you of home. Knowing you, I assume you're stuck in a situation where the girls are putting you in a tight spot. Who the hell cares? They better back off and stop before Asriel eliminates them. Remember Zefie, he dislikes those type of girls. And you are not like that! Which is why we sent you this necklace. Don't worry about not wearing it in the ocean or water. Nanny used her magic to keep the gold from losing its color. And yes, it's real gold. Don't ask how she had enough money to have the jeweler crafter make your necklace, I love you.

I felt my eyes well up in tears, quickly wiping them away before anyone sees it.

In the end, some of the girls began to disappear back to their rooms after finishing their meals. I left as well, wanting to do nothing but shower and lay on my bed so I can use my iPhone that's piled with texts and missed calls. I also have to call Nanny and Bryn to thank them for giving me a lovely present.

"Heh. Come on, kid, you're making me blush."

I stopped dead on my tracks with my eyes widened. Is that Sans' voice?

"Pfft! I'm trying not to. Keep quiet before someone hears us."

Oh. Could it be? I bent down to take off my heels just so they can't hear me come by. I walk down the corridor slowly, following the hushed voices until I stopped behind a pillar. Just as I suspected, Sans talking to Frisk.

She was against the wall, with Sans leaning a bit too close to her enough for her chest to be pressed against his. They looked so peaceful and happy, it's honestly adorable.

Wait, why am I overhearing this? I thought to myself. And what am I doing spying on them? That's just plain stupid of me. Ugh, I just want to go shower! I shook my head, I can feel my sins crawling on my back. And that feels creepy.

"I'll be honest, Frisk, you looked gorgeous today. And I couldn't take my eyes off of ya." Sans chuckled darkly.

"You don't have any eyes, Sans!" Frisk giggles, lightly punches his arm before they leaned towards each other and shared a sweet passionate kiss.

I can only respond by smiling, feeling my cheeks flush pink for seeing something so adorable. I quickly ran across the hallway while I had the chance to be unseen. I ran all the way towards an unfamiliar corridor, hiding behind a pillar to catch my breath.

"Sans . . . A-and Frisk? They're together?" I said, breathing heavily.

I was feeling puzzled. Why would they be in the hallway to secretly see each other? I don't think Asgore and Toriel are the type to forbid a royal to be with a guard, they're far too kind to even try. Unless they're--

"Well hello there, Zefie." I stopped breathing, feeling my heart get smothered by my lungs.

I turned my head towards Fiona, finding her a couple feet away from me. Well, so much for avoiding trouble . . .

I straightened my posture, remaining stoic and began to walk past her. I don't have time to listen to her insult me, I'm in no mood for it at all. I hear her laugh dryly before she walked faster than me to block me from leaving the corridor.

"Hey, where are you going? Don't you know that it's not polite to leave your friend behind when they're trying to have a conversation?"

"There's nothing for us to talk about, Fiona. What you said to me yesterday, was crystal clear." I said, enduring my heart pounding painfully.

"Oh, there is something alright," A malicious smile spread across her face. "It's something about you. Ever since you announced your mother, half of us can see that you're nothing but a threat; no, the biggest threat in this competition."

This is bad. She's letting her emotions get out of control. Beads of sweat started to appear over my forehead, feeling them fall across my cheek. I opened my mouth to say something, but Fiona continued to speak again.

"So, what did you do huh? Did your mom ask the king and queen to have Mettaton pick your name in the lottery when the announcement of The Selection happened? Because if she did, then that's considered unfair of her to do such a thing."

I clenched my fist tightly. "She has done nothing! Nanny would never do such a thing! They're her best friends, she knows better than to ask them something this low and dirty. My name was picked out randomly just like everybody else."

"Oh? What's this? You don't call her 'mother?' You just call her 'Nanny?'" She lets out a haughty laugh before a wicked smile appeared across her face. "So what? Does that mean she's nothing but a maid to you? Is that it? Wow, you really are pathetic. I don't know what Asriel could possibly see in you. All I know is that you're nothing but a weak . . . Weak orphan!"

"Fiona, calm down. This won't make things better--" I gasped as my words trailed off. In the corner of my eye, I thought I just saw Papyrus standing at the end of the passageway, but at a second glance nobody was there.

"Don't you tell me to calm down, you conniving bitch!" She glares at me, taking a few steps towards me until she was a few inches away from me before she spoke again.

"You have no right to tell me what to do, and if you think your 'friends' are there to help you, well you are dead wrong. I'm pretty sure that they're talking behind your back, thinking what an arrogant spoiled brat you are, just because you're foster mom is the last creature of her kind to live. And you know what? I don’t think she deserves to be best friends with the king and queen. I mean really, what kind of a friend is she for letting her friends stay locked up under a mountain? She could have just taken seven souls and released them. Instead, she wasted her time acting as a human.”

“It's called showing ‘mercy.'” I said, my voice sounding stern. “She knows better than to spill blood, and take innocent lives just to release the monsters.”

She sneers at me, placing her hands over her hips. “Did you forget what I just told you, Zefie? In this competition, there is no such thing as friendship! And here you are now, acting so innocent and shy while the others eat off of your hand before they can see what a coward you really are. So what did you and King Asgore do in the garden huh? Did you seduce him and have him favor you so he can have Asriel choose you?"

"You are disgusting!" I snarled, staring down at her with a glare of my own. "Why would you think I’d even do such a despicable thing?! He's a married man, and my mother’s best friend for crying out loud! I look at King Asgore like a father!"

Fear ran through me, the sooner I saw Fiona raised her hand. "Someone needs to teach you a lesson on how to act like a proper lady. And knowing you, Zefie, you're far too smart to be a snitch and tell Asriel on me. So, allow me to do you a favor and help you remember where an orphan Mage like you stands."

I quickly shut my eyes, prepared to feel her hand strike my cheek, but I felt nothing.

What? I opened my eyes slowly and gasped. I watched in horror as Asriel restrained Fiona's hand from hitting me. Her face suddenly went pale, no traces of blood existing. My body felt so weak that I slowly fell to my knees, panting as my heart pounded loudly. A wave of lightheadedness overtook me.

"I was going to go upstairs to call it a day until Papyrus came up to me in panic stating that he saw something happening between the two of you." He spoke, his voice deep with pure anger. "I told him that maybe it's nothing terrible but came anyway to soothe his fears. And this is what I find: Miss Taylor gravely insulting not only my family, but Miss Alban’s, too."

Fiona's lips started to quiver, watching as beads of sweat suddenly forming over her forehead. "Y-Your Majesty, I-I didn't mean any of that! I swear--"

"So, you didn't mean it when you said Miss Alban is a coward for being herself? Or when you said that Lady Cordelia doesn't deserve to be my parents’ best friend for leaving them behind? And when you asked if she seduced my father, just to have him tell me to choose her?" He asks, cutting her off from saying anything.

I swallowed hard, looking away from them to remain calm. My magic was dangerously thrumming under my skin as I try to breathe slowly to make them disappear, listening as Asriel continued to speak.

"You know, I was going to give you a chance to redeem yourself when I saw that you're one of the girls that stared down at Miss Alban, but Miss Darwin suggested that I give you a chance to see what kind of person you are under those insecurities. So, I agreed with her. People do deserve second chances. Yet, after hearing you say awful things to Miss Alban, I now see what kind of a person you truly are. Your jealousy is considered unattractive and unappealing to me. And if you truly knew me so well, Miss Taylor, you would have known to bite your tongue down and keep your jealousy to yourself. What you said about Miss Alban and my father is truly disgusting of you."

"W-wait! Please, Prince Asriel--"

"You've said enough, The damages you have inflicted to Miss Alban are unacceptable. I cannot allow to you to remain within my home if you're going to continue harassing the rest of the girls in secret. You’ve disrespected Lady Cordelia, my family, and Miss Alban. Thus, you have disrespected me the most."

In the corner of my eye, Asriel turns his head to beckon the nearest guard to come, releasing Fiona’s wrist. I squeezed my eyes shut, blocking away what he was ordering the guard to do. Keep it together, I begged myself.

In the background, I hear Fiona calling for Asriel as she began to cry loudly. Dammit, keep it together. Her cries began to echo among the corridors, hearing heavy footsteps from the guard's heavy armor.

"Zefie? Are you okay?" I gasped, opening my eyes instantly, finding Asriel knelt before me. "Did she hurt you?"

I shook my head vigorously. "I'm alright, just shocked."

Asriel lets out a loud heavy breath. "Can you get up?"

"Yes."

I slowly get up, regaining my posture before facing him again. His gentle gaze was on me again, smiling softly at me. Oh no, please don't look at me like that . . . My heart was thumping loudly in such a fast pace that my head, too, began to pound just as hard. I need to go now before things possibly get worse.

“Zefie? Are sure you're okay? I can take--” he reaches for me, but I backed away.

"I'm sorry Asriel, I have to go," I quickly ran past him, pretending that I didn't hear him calling for me to come back.

This is too much. This was far too much drama for me to witness! I ran around the corner, rapidly pressing the elevator button to go up. Hurry up!

"Zefie, wait!" I gasped, hearing his footsteps coming towards the elevator.

This is taking too long! I frantically call out to my magic, chanting a spell as a bright pink light surrounded my entire body. I could feel an odd pressure surround and cave in on me. And in a flash, I found myself in my room again.

My body won't let me cry, I've used up too many tears today. Since Barbara and Lesley are nowhere to be seen, I didn't bother waiting for their return. Once again, I use my magic to remove my dress and undergarments. Quickly, I entered the shower, closing the glass door shut and began to wash away the traces of sweat and the mixed up emotions I have experienced today.

After getting cleaned and dressed into my comfortable pajamas, I immediately collapsed onto my bed, feeling far too lazy and weak to pull the sheets over me.

If I could define my mood right now, it would be an under-mixed macaron. I was too fluffy, that I cracked after coming out of the oven. Stay calm, Zefie, I said to myself. Stay determined.

And just like that, my eyelids felt heavy as sleep began to take me into a warm comfortable dream.

[readbookywooks]

'Oh, I know about that. My father told me all about that when we used to take the thargas to be mated. When a man and a woman —' 'About the universe is what I meant,' said Albert hurriedly. 'I mean, have you ever thought about it?' 'I know the Disc is carried through space on the backs of four elephants that stand on the shell of Great A'Tuin,' said Mort. 'That's just part of it. I meant the whole universe of time and space and life and death and day and night and everything.' 'Can't say I've ever given it much thought,' said Mort. 'Ah. You ought. The point is, the nodes are part of it. They stop death from getting out of control, see. Not him, not Death. Just death itself. Like, uh —' Albert struggled for words – 'like, death should come exactly at the end of life, see, and not before or after, and the nodes have to be worked out so that the key figures . . . you're not taking this in, are you?' 'Sorry.' 'They've got to be worked out,' said Albert flatly, 'and then the correct lives have got to be got. The hourglasses, you call them. The actual Duty is the easy job.' 'Can you do it?' 'No. Can you?' 'No!' Albert sucked reflectively at his peppermint. That's the whole world in the gyppo, then,' he said. 'Look, I can't see why you're so worried. I expect he's just got held up somewhere,' said Mort, but it sounded feeble even to him. It wasn't as though people buttonholed Death to tell him another story, or clapped him on the back and said things like 'You've got time for a quick half in there, my old mate, no need to rush off home' or invited him to make up a skittles team and come out for a Klatchian take-away afterwards, or . . . It struck Mort with sudden, terrible poignancy that Death must be the loneliest creature in the universe. In the great party of Creation, he was always in the kitchen. 'I'm sure I don't know what's come over the master lately,' mumbled Albert. 'Out of the chair, my girl. Let's have a look at these nodes.' They opened the ledger. They looked at it for a long time. Then Mort said, 'What do all those symbols mean?' 'Sodomy non sapiens,' said Albert under his breath. 'What does that mean?' 'Means I'm buggered if I know.' That was wizard talk, wasn't it?' said Mort. 'You shut up about wizard talk. I don't know anything about wizard talk. You apply your brain to this here.' Mort looked down again at the tracery of lines. It was as if a spider had spun a web on the page, stopping at every junction to make notes. Mort stared until his eyes hurt, waiting for some spark of inspiration. None volunteered. 'Any luck?' 'It's all Klatchian to me,' said Mort. 'I don't even know whether it should be read upside down or sideways.' 'Spiralling from the centre outwards,' sniffed Ysabell from her seat in the corner. Their heads collided as they both peered at the centre of the page. They stared at her. She shrugged. 'Father taught me how to read the node chart,' she said, 'when I used to do my sewing in here. He used to read bits out.' 'You can help?' said Mort. 'No,' said Ysabell. She blew her nose. 'What do you mean, no?' growled Albert. This is too important for any flighty —' 'I mean,' said Ysabell, in razor tones, 'that I can do them and you can help.' The Ankh-Morpork Guild of Merchants has taken to hiring large gangs of men with ears like fists and fists like large bags of walnuts whose job it is to re-educate those misguided people who publicly fail to recognise the many attractive points of their fine city. For example the philosopher Catroaster was found floating face downward in the river within hours of uttering the famous line, 'When a man is tired of Ankh-Morpork, he is tired of ankle-deep slurry.' Therefore it is prudent to dwell on one – of the very many, of course – on one of the things that makes Ankh-Morpork renowned among the great cities of the multiverse. This is its food. The trade routes of half the Disc pass through the city or down its rather sluggish river. More than half the tribes and races of the Disc have representatives dwelling within its sprawling acres. In Ankh-Morpork the cuisines of the world collide: on the menu are one thousand types of vegetable, fifteen hundred cheeses, two thousand spices, three hundred types of meat, two hundred fowl, five hundred different kinds of fish, one hundred variations on the theme of pasta, seventy eggs of one kind or another, fifty insects, thirty molluscs, twenty assorted snakes and other reptiles, and something pale brown and warty known as the Klatchian migratory bog truffle. Its eating establishments range from the opulent, where the portions are tiny but the plates are silver, to the secretive, where some of the Disc's more exotic inhabitants are rumoured to eat anything they can get down their throat best out of three. Harga's House of Ribs down by the docks is probably not numbered among the city's leading eateries, catering as it does for the type of beefy clientele that prefers quantity and breaks up the tables if it doesn't get it. They don't go in for the fancy or exotic, but stick to conventional food like flightless bird embryos, minced organs in intestine skins, slices of hog flesh and burnt ground grass seeds dipped in animal fats; or, as it is known in their patois, egg, soss and bacon and a fried slice. It was the kind of eating house that didn't need a menu. You just looked at Harga's vest. Still, he had to admit, this new cook seemed to be the business. Harga, an expansive advert for his own high carbohydrate merchandise, beamed at a room full of satisfied customers. And a fast worker, too! In fact, disconcertingly fast. He rapped on the hatch. 'Double egg, chips, beans, and a trollburger, hold the onions,' he rasped. RIGHT. The hatch slid up a few seconds later and two plates were pushed through. Harga shook his head in gratified amazement. It had been like that all evening. The eggs were bright and shiny, the beans glistened like rubies, and the chips were the crisp golden brown of sunburned bodies on expensive beaches. Harga's last cook had turned out chips like little paper bags full of pus. Harga looked around the steamy cafe. No-one was watching him. He was going to get to the bottom of this. He rapped on the hatch again. 'Alligator sandwich,' he said. 'And make it sna —' The hatch shot up. After a few seconds to pluck up enough courage, Harga peered under the top slice of the long sarny in front of him. He wasn't saying that it was alligator, and he wasn't saying it wasn't. He knuckled the hatch again. 'Okay,' he said, I'm not complaining, I just want to know how you did it so fast.' TIME IS NOT IMPORTANT. 'You say?' RIGHT. Harga decided not to argue. 'Well, you're doing a damn fine job in there, boy,' he said. WHAT is IT CALLED WHEN YOU FEEL WARM AND CONTENT AND WISH THINGS WOULD STAY THAT WAY? 'I guess you'd call it happiness,' said Harga. Inside the tiny, cramped kitchen, strata'd with the grease of decades, Death spun and whirled, chopping, slicing and flying. His skillet flashed through the fetid steam. He'd opened the door to the cold night air, and a dozen neighbourhood cats had strolled in, attracted by the bowls of milk and meat – some of Harga's best, if he'd known – that had been strategically placed around the floor. Occassionally Death would pause in his work and scratch one of them behind the ears. 'Happiness,' he said, and puzzled at the sound of his own voice. Cutwell, the wizard and Royal Recogniser by appointment, pulled himself up the last of the tower steps and leaned against the wall, waiting for his heart to stop thumping. Actually it wasn't particularly high, this tower, just high for Sto Lat. In general design and outline it looked the standard sort of tower for imprisoning princesses in; it was mainly used to store old furniture. However, it offered unsurpassed views of the city and the Sto plain, which is to say, you could see an awful lot of cabbages. Cutwell made it as far as the crumbling crenel-lations atop the wall and looked out at the morning haze. It was, maybe, a little hazier than usual. If he tried hard he could imagine a flicker in the sky. If he really strained his imagination he could hear a buzzing out over the cabbage fields, a sound like someone frying locusts. He shivered. At a time like this his hands automatically patted his pockets, and found nothing but half a bag of jelly babies, melted into a sticky mass, and an apple core. Neither offered much consolation. What Cutwell wanted was what any normal wizard wanted at a time like this, which was a smoke. He'd have killed for a cigar, and would have gone as far as a flesh wound for a squashed dog-end. He pulled himself together. Resolution was good for the moral fibre; the only trouble was the fibre didn't appreciate the sacrifices he was making for it. They said that a truly great wizard should be permanently under tension. You could have used Cutwell for a bowstring. He turned his back on the brassica-ed landscape and made his way back down the winding steps to the main part of the palace. Still, he told himself, the campaign appeared to be working. The population didn't seem to be resisting the fact that there was going to be a coronation, although they weren't exactly clear about who was going to be crowned. There was going to be bunting in the streets and Cutwell had arranged for the town square's main fountain to run, if not with wine, then at least with an acceptable beer made from broccoli. There was going to be folk dancing, at sword point if necessary. There would be races for children. There would be an ox roast. The royal coach had been regilded and Cutwell was optimistic that people could be persuaded to notice it as it went by. The High Priest at the Temple of Blind Io was going to be a problem. Cutwell had marked him down as a dear old soul whose expertise with the knife was so unreliable that half of the sacrifices got tired of waiting and wandered away. The last time he'd tried to sacrifice a goat it had time to give birth to twins before he could focus, and then the courage of motherhood had resulted in it chasing the entire priesthood out of the temple. The chances of him succeeding in putting the crown on the right person even in normal circumstances were only average, Cutwell had calculated; he'd have to stand alongside the old boy and try tactfully to guide his shaking hands. Still, even that wasn't the big problem. The big problem was much bigger than that. The big problem had been sprung on him by the Chancellor after breakfast. 'Fireworks?' Cutwell had said. 'That's the sort of thing you wizard fellows are supposed to be good at, isn't it?' said the Chancellor, as crusty as a week-old loaf. 'Flashes and bangs and whatnot. I remember a wizard when I was a lad —' 'I'm afraid I don't know anything about fireworks,' said Cutwell, in tones designed to convey that he cherished this ignorance. 'Lots of rockets,' the Chancellor reminisced happily. 'Ankhian candles. Thunderflashes. And thingies that you can hold in your hand. It's not a proper coronation without fireworks.' 'Yes, but, you see —' 'Good man,' said the Chancellor briskly, 'knew we could rely on you. Plenty of rockets, you understand, and to finish with there must be a set-piece, mind you, something really breathtaking like a portrait of – of —' his eyes glazed over in a way that was becoming depressingly familiar to Cut-well. 'The Princess Keli,' he said wearily. 'Ah. Yes. Her,' said the Chancellor. 'A portrait of – who you said – in fireworks. Of course, it's probably all pretty simple stuff to you wizards, but the people like it. Nothing like a good blowout and a blowup and a bit of balcony waving to keep the loyalty muscles in tip-top shape, that's what I always say. See to it. Rockets. With runes on.'