"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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPPCLz01uY
“Did you do something to them?” He asked, Alex shook his head letting it hang low as he walked by. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgqYDUHzth
“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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnOLWpkLyQ
“Alex? What are you doing here?” he hissed, Florian. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgMBt4M08l
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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvdTpnu5lj
“Sora happened.” Florian said, Alex’s head snapped to Florian. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIgu6zYsX5
“Explain” 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGXIdcdTyA
Florian glanced at Dove who looked worried and confused, Alex frowned and Florian sighed. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVeUYBMS8Q
“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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbGHa7kruZ
“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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMM3IWx98fU
“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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqDtGLk3GF
Alex frowned and nodded. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5qFnGisd5
“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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHGy9iJvz9
“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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6bYSDHrpy
“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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLtrMbOjcv
Dove scowled. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCAecSzU0D
“I understand, we’ll see you around” Alex said starting to walk away, Florian smiled then frowned. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeH6swzy3r
“Alex.”156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmBb9LLQfV
Alex turned to him.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4Dn6YIsUe
“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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YcdeTpXNo
“So…that was Florian?” Dove asked as they walked through the dark, Alex nodded. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQRPL7Tn3B
“You two seem close” He finished, Alex shrugged and pulled his hood down. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjn30stA4q
“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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTXYJswEpU
Alex pulled out his flask and drank from it staring off into the distance blushing wildly. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE6tMGRFAo
156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlW9H3IQ58
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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOFFtE1wFl
“Who's there!” he called out, Dove glared up into the treetops. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QF2YL1rdl
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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFcpZErX5F
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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVFx83wykx
The water rushed over the wound washing away the blood and healing his shoulder. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwQ03B6WqD
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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR973oHug9
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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkiWXOWXLk
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. 156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN0G4peZjA
