"I trust you with my kingdom Jordy please take good care of it while I'm away" Alex said, Jord smiled and Alex adjusted the bag slung across his shoulder before walking out the castle gates.
Alex sighed and looked around as he made his way to the plaza. He was going to ask Dove to join him as well as Florian so he had to get plenty of snacks.
After he finished shoving the food he bought in his bag he slipped past a couple and knocked on a door to a bakery. Dove answered his hair a mess and sleep still in his eyes, he blinked before his eyes widened in shock.
"Alex? What are you doing here? " he asked, glancing over his shoulder at the little girl who had dropped her basket in shock.
"I- sorry for the intrusion… I took you up on that idea of going on an adventure but I'd thought it's only fair if you came with" he paused, Dove stared his eyes lighting up. "If you wanted," he finished.
Dove grinned and looked back at the girl.
"Layla pack your things you'll be staying with mom and dad for a bit" he said, The girl nodded and ran to her room.
Dove gestured for Alex to come in and he did so and stood awkwardly in the main room of the bakery.
"I'll be back" he said, Alex nodded as Dove disappeared up a staircase. He looked around and spotted pictures on the wall, he walked over and looked at them.
They were pictures of Dove, his little sister and a man and woman who he assumed were his parents. Alex smiled at a picture of a younger Dove who was on the water's surface chucking a Snowball at his father.
"Those were the good years" Dove said startling Alex, Alex turned to him.
"What do you mean?" He asked, Dove frowned and shrugged.
"Parents got really bust and started being abusive so I took Little Layla and we moved here" he said, Alex frowned sadly before Dove shoved him gently.
"Come on" he said making his way out of the bakery Layla following behind him, Alex nodded and followed behind.
"You know… she doesn't have to stay with them while we're gone… " Alex spoke up, Dove raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not sure I understand… "
Alex looked towards the palace, "she can stay at the palace… Jord will take good care of her'' he replied, Dove sighed and stopped.
" I couldn't intrude like that, it would be rude"
Alex frowned "but I suggested it… " he said, Dove smiled slightly and looked at Alex.
"Alright… well take her there then" he said, Alex smiled and Dove rolled his eyes with a grin.
Dove laughed and kicked a rock as they walked through the forest, Alex chuckled to himself and stopped to pick a flower from the grass.
"This is a papillon flower" Alex said handing it to Dove, Dove eyed it with admiration before smiling.
"It's pretty," he said, raising a hand towards Alex. Alex blinked as Dove moved a part of his hair and stuck the flower behind his ear.
Alex blushed.
"So where are we heading? " Dove asked curiously looking around the flower-filled forest. Alex smiled and pointed to a village up ahead.
"The kingdom of Flora, my friend Florian's home" he said, Dove nodded.
As they walked into the village people stopped and stared at Alex, Alex shifted his bag uncomfortably as Dove scooted closer to him. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAHhvKA3qR46
“Did you do something to them?” He asked, Alex shook his head letting it hang low as he walked by. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAJYEjsTf3jI
“I dont know…i’ve never been here” he said, Dove eyed Alex before glancing back at the people holding flowers and baskets of dye or foods. They stared as if they were going to kill him, Alex’s breath hitched as he was pulled to the side, The man who pulled him to the side pulled down his mask. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAACh6rdRnC8
“Alex? What are you doing here?” he hissed, Florian. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAwZDMw2yZnM
Alex gasped and lunged at him pulling him into a hug, “thank god, what's going on? Why does everyone look like they’re going to kill me?” he asked, Florian frowned and pulled Alex farther into the alley. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAZqH98hTWqf
“Sora happened.” Florian said, Alex’s head snapped to Florian. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAQPmP2grQ7P
“Explain” 158Please respect copyright.PENANAkgJbDbYIMf
Florian glanced at Dove who looked worried and confused, Alex frowned and Florian sighed. 158Please respect copyright.PENANA3J9DAHod2y
“Well, I was letting the kingdom run on its own…because everyone was so nice to each other until some man covered in gold showed up and ruined it. He got them thinking you hurt Void…like almost killed him…? Is it true?” Florian asked, Alex blinked. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAirPHYJVKIg
“Absolutely not. I would never. Void is my friend and you of all people should know that” he snapped, Dove stayed silent and Florian smiled gently. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAM147GVJRWF
“I know. But right now is a really bad time to be coming into Flora- everyone here respects Void like a god for all the things he's done for us and his own kingdom…if people see you they’ll be plotting your death within seconds” He said. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAHXfc7F1KvQ
Alex frowned and nodded. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAKeYqz7A0Xr
“Why did you come here?” Florian asked curiously as he handed Alex and Dove cloaks. Alex pulled it on and pulled the hood up, Dove did the same.158Please respect copyright.PENANAHmV2YfMDl4
“Dove and I are going on a little expedition…of all my friends i thought you’d want to join us” he explained, Florian smiled and patted Alex on the head, Alex glared. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAb7fl9CH6Ly
“I would love too…but I need to get everyone under control, I'm starting to think letting Flora stay in Anarchy isn't the best idea right now” he replied solemnly. Alex nodded and hugged Florian, Florian grinned and ruffled his hair. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAzYESXRBiwN
Dove scowled. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAZErUuJ3JTL
“I understand, we’ll see you around” Alex said starting to walk away, Florian smiled then frowned. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAQzfn4tR4ei
“Alex.”158Please respect copyright.PENANA9n8hO6vbg9
Alex turned to him.158Please respect copyright.PENANAJfAs0bPfyq
“Watch after Sora and Void. I don't trust Sora at all. Stay safe” he said, Alex’s eyes narrowed and he nodded before rounding the alley corner and slipping silently back into the forest just as the sun went down. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAFidY79s9hE
“So…that was Florian?” Dove asked as they walked through the dark, Alex nodded. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAJQK6NVzzsr
“You two seem close” He finished, Alex shrugged and pulled his hood down. 158Please respect copyright.PENANATfbIfV1VJ3
“He helped me find the crystal in order to find you…” he said, Dove turned red and Alex stopped in his tracks, his cheeks taking on a red tint. “I-i mean the kingdom- im so sorry” he said, Dove looked away and nodded. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAHgyxR6Lmg6
Alex pulled out his flask and drank from it staring off into the distance blushing wildly. 158Please respect copyright.PENANA3X5BKka04y
158Please respect copyright.PENANAkaU6CqlQpj
They walked in silence for about an hour before a twig snapped and the leaves above him rustled, Alex froze his sword vaporizing into his hand. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAoT1Mau7Kte
“Who's there!” he called out, Dove glared up into the treetops. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAdvyvIIGoB2
Something hissed before an oversized spider lunged from the trees at them, Dove’s eyes widened and he shoved Alex to the side. The spider bit into Dove and he yelled out in pain, Alex pushed himself up off the ground and twirled the sword before stabbing the spider, it hissed and fell limp. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAdY0bhE8Fh4
Alex pushed it to the side and crouched over top of Dove who sat up slowly, “don't ever do that again.” He demanded, Dove huffed his breathing ragged, Alex shook his head and closed his eyes. Water trickled up from the ground and Alex gestured for it to go to Dove’s shoulder, Dove removed his hand showing the blood trickling down his skin followed by poison as black as the night sky. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAtKmXd29XRT
The water rushed over the wound washing away the blood and healing his shoulder. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAkERD8SjzfY
Dove’s breathing slowed and became normal as he looked into Alex’s eyes the water returned to the ground and Alex locked eyes with Dove, they stared at each other in silence before Alex shook his head and pulled Dove up off the ground. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAAwd3xOAtqj
Something near them groaned and Alex frowned “we need to get somewhere safe” He said, Dove nodded and grabbed Alex’s sword. Alex chuckled and took the sword “i think that's enough for tonight wonder boy” he purred, Dove froze and followed him in silence. 158Please respect copyright.PENANA3HebHwVIET
Alex pulled back some hanging branches of a willow nearby and glanced at Dove ``they won't see us here…” he said, Dove nodded and joined him before Alex let the branches fall back into place. 158Please respect copyright.PENANAfkRiMQYma3