chronicles of a fool

on the road to Theobald's castle.

they are on two carriages. on the second carriage are Ji-Hye Moon, Garrett Mitchell, Cole Cotton, Ramiro Gutierrez, and some doctors.

Ji-Hye talks about her experience as a spy. she tells them about how terrible is the situation on the Venturae-Famis Kingdom. she felt the need to do something. she wants to end Thurstan's tyranny.

Cole looks at Ramiro. he is the only person on the carriage that he doesn't know. Cole is aware of Ramiro's previous boss. Cole is sure that Ramiro knew some of the assassins he send to the afterlife.

Garrett feels extremely uncomfortable. the last six weeks were hell to him. he only wants to find some peace. the fear of being executed for losing the princess is there. Garrett is afraid of sleeping. he keeps having nightmares in which he is executed.

Ramiro looks at the bandages on his whole body. he feels lucky to be alive. he wants to swear loyalty to the new king as soon as possible.

"so what happened to you lap dog? I didn't saw you for a long while. the old fucker gave you the order to protect his precious spoiled brat."

"first, some respect for the great king. he was a symbol for many. well about me, it is kind of a really long story, do you really want to know?"

"just tell us lap dog."

.....

Garrett's journey:

Garrett wakes up. the first thing he sees is the smoke from the fire. he stands up. he looks at the dead bodies. everything is on flames.

the castle was attacked. his king was murdered. the princess was gone. Garrett swallows saliva thinking about his unsure ending. he needs to find the princess. he hopes for a better tomorrow.

there was so much to do. so little time to start. and chaos was everywhere making it hard for him to do his job.

the first thing that Garrett did was asked around the area. he even helped some people who was affected by the "the tragedy of the crowned night," as later will be known the event that took place that night.

Garrett keep investigating around trying to find a trail of the missing princess. he knew that the kingdom may fall on pieces at any given moment, or rise strong as ever with a new head leading the future. but the safety o f the princess was his job.

.....

"stop. lap dog, is that all you did? did'ya just walked around asking questions until you found your way to the action?"

"nope you fool. let me continue with my recount of my adventures. there is much more."

Cole stays quiet for a moment. everyone else is just looking at Garrett expecting to know more about his adventures.

.....

somehow jumping two or four steps ahead, Garrett heard about a talking donkey. so he went to a swamp. in there he got caught by a human eating tree. he was rescued by a ginger girl who was going to visit her grandpa who lives on the swamp.

Garrett followed the ginger girl. it turns out that the grandpa is a werewolf and the granddaughter has been bringing strangers to his home to be eaten. and the grandma was a witch who turns kids into cookies as a hobby.

Garrett pushed both grandparents inside of a burning oven. Garrett ran away as fast as he could without looking back.

then he kept searching for the talking donkey, no. I mean the princess. Garrett kept searching for the princess. he never forgot about the princess (that statement is partly true as long as there is no evidence of the opposite.)

some not important information later, Garrett the great was running away from the law at the side of bandits. he believed that the bandit had good intentions when the bandit gave him a bag full of gold. then Garrett felt like an idiot.

later the bandit was caught. and Garrett ended up on a cage with a lion. don't ask questions about how and when. it is what it is. somehow Garrett was able to escape from the cage. but he left the cage open.

some running away from a lot of people trying to kill him later, Garrett found himself in front of a dangerous gangster who turns out to be Garrett's childhood friend. they had something to eat. they drank some beers together. they talked about the past.

the Gangster and Garrett had a lot to talk about. they remember their days of youth. they had a crush on the same girl. she is now unhappily marry with four kids.

Garrett stays for a short while with his childhood friend. Garrett was able to get some important information about the princess and Maxwell.

Garrett thanked his childhood friend. they had a last dinner together. then Garrett left in the middle of the night. he was riding a horse from dawn till dusk. then he stopped in a hotel with bad reputation. he stayed in there to rest... [hohoho just to rest of course.]

and like that he kept following the hints of Maxwell's whereabouts. he never gave up. protecting the princess was a task given by the King himself. Garrett needed to fulfill this final mission for his king.

.....

"bullshit. I call that bullshit. lap dog, do you really expect me to believe that you did your best for your boss. nah, it was to save your own skin."

"mmm Cole, is that really what you're going to question about his story. I mean from the donkey till the lion part. it all sounded like the drug trip of an addict. or the fantasies of a four years old child."

"I agree with gunpowder brains and Ramiro, my friend. your story is unbelievable."

"but Ms. Moon it's true. all of it is true."

"keep going lap dog. keep going."

.....

Garrett was on an adventure. many days had passed by now. but Garrett refused to give up when there was hope. he knew that eventually he would find the princess. there is no way that the journey was meaningless.

Garrett's life is what it is thanks to the dead king. if there is a way for Garrett to pay him for everything that he did for him. it has to be by protecting the former king's children. that is the only way to pay his debt.

there where times on which Garrett felt defeated. there where times on which he felt like there was nothing left to do. but before giving up, every time he would find a hint about Maxwell's whereabouts. those hints kept him going.

the journey wasn't over. he could feel it. that soon he would find the princess. soon his final task will be over. there is a light of hope at the end of the rainbow. and like that Garrett kept fighting without turning back. without giving up at all.

one day Garrett stayed on a hotel. he felt hungry and went to the market. in there he saw Maxwell holding the princess hand. they looked like an old couple. he followed them just to make sure it was them. (he forgot to buy his food.)

Garrett's duty was to protect Alice. but when he saw her smiling at Max's side. he chose to do his job while keeping his distance from them. from a safe distance he did his job. Garrett knew that their lives were in danger.

but at that moment they had some peace. some tranquility. he felt like they needed some more time. [also Garrett was by himself.] he realized then that he didn't had anyone's help nor support. [his duty was practically pointless.]

later that night Garrett overslept. he lose their trail once more. it took him another two days to find them. by then it was a disaster and chaos everywhere. once more Garrett was useless on the middle of the conflict.

.....

"wait, let me get this right. you were searching for the princess without a plan?"

"it happens. it even happens to the best of us, don't look at me like that Ms. Moon. I am not good working under pressure. difficult times requires of fast thinkers."

everyone keeps questioning the origins of Garrett's tale. they all assume that he is lying. but no one dares to say it aloud to not hurt his feelings.

Cole may put on a Macho-man persona, but he is kind of soft deep, deep, deep inside of his rusty heart. even when he denies it, he is considerate of those he considers part of his squad/ inner circle.

Ji-Hye Moon and Ramiro don't know Garrett. but they try to be respectful towards those who are soon to be their companions. they're now part of a team.

Garrett is convince that they all accepted his tale as the truth. he smiles innocently as he avoids eye contact. as usual, there are parts of the tale that he forgot to include, or he just didn't saw as important. some details may or may not be important.

they all started to sing. they talked about the things they want to achieve. the atmosphere was peaceful. no one knew what the world had to give, nor take. this was one of few opportunities they had to find tranquility.

Cole congratulates Garrett for not giving up on finding the princess. Cole tells Garrett that others on his place may had given up mid-way. Cole admires Garrett's loyalty to the former king and his family.

the journey back to main castle is long. it will take about two weeks. they have more than enough time to get to know each other.

Cole isn't someone who smiles much. but right now he is trying to smile to not make the others feel uncomfortable. he thinks about the old times.

Garrett takes a key from his pockets. it has the shape of a pink heart. he asked by the others if that key is useful in any shape or form. Garrett just smiles and changes the conversation at a fast speed.

no one seems to care much. so they all just keep talking about different things. they are now relax because they are aware of all the things that can happen later on the road. tomorrow may be their last time together, or alive.

Garrett takes some home-baked cookies from a bag. he offers the cookies to everyone else on the carriage. the cookies are on a heart shape. again there are some questions on the air. Garrett just smiles.

Garrett has a playful way of been. he knows how to avoid questions and play dumb. there are many pieces to his travels that are left on the air. and it is better like that.

.....

on the other carriage:

Maxwell is pretending to be asleep. Alice lies down next to him. she plays with his hair and facial hair while she smiles. she talks to her brother.

"are you sure? I mean, he killed our father."

"you made a deal, you should respect it. those use to be father's words. it's about time for you to become a respectable ruler, just like father."

"you are right. he will be a great shield. it will be stupid to not take him."

"isn't him handsome, I mean there is something cute about his rough personality. and look at those big manly hands. what a great as-. I mean, as I said before. what a great shield you have indeed."

Theobald pretends to not hear the last part. the fun and childish jokes time is done. there is a lot they haven't talk about lately. there is a lot that needs to be said. now is the time to speak up.

"I know we're not on the best of terms since ever. I had been a neglectful brother. I am a cold leader. I am a terrible speaker. and I want us to overcome the past. now that our father is gone. we can only depend of us to protect the kingdom, and our brother."

"I can't overlook the fact that you're the coldest and sometimes the most cruel person that I know. but for our younger brother. and for the kingdom I will stay loyal at your side as a guide. or an adviser."

"done. let's do it. I am looking forward to our future."

Maxwell keeps pretending to be asleep. it is too late to open his eyes. he can feel the pressure of Theobald's questions waiting to be answer.

.....

somewhere on a swamp; a Gyaru looking girl who is about twenty-two years old wearing mostly red walks sighing. she sits on a sofa touching her stomach. she looks at a lady who is about sixty-four seven years old, but doesn't look older the forty.

the two of them seem to be sad. they look at the door waiting for something, or better said waiting for someone in specific. they look at their stomach with a smile.

"grandma, he said he was going to buy milk. but are there any farms nearby?"

"I ain't sure candy-cotton. don't panic if the honey-bee doesn't return to the nest, we go after him. we werewolves/witches are great at tracking people. that's how I found yar previous grand'pa."

"grandma, we agreed that the sugar stick was your future grandson-in law. he gave me the best forty minutes of my life. I can't give up on that sugar stick jet. not him."