#(hot DAMN there be some characters in this jlknsdjknafsdf)

[thelastspeecher]

Part 1

Like promised, here's the second part to the Shining Armor AU thing I posted yesterday. Left y'all on a cliffhanger a bit, but don't worry, it gets resolved. Using a plot point I haven't mentioned yet on here...

Happy 2023!

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              Mr. McGucket leaned back in his chair.  He and his wife had been silent for the most part during the story, but as Stan and Angie explained how they just wanted to be together, Mrs. McGucket began to shift in her seat.

              “…and that’s it,” Angie finished.

              “Sally, I think you know what we need,” Mr. McGucket said softly.  Mrs. McGucket nodded and stood.  She left the kitchen.  Mr. McGucket raised an eyebrow at Stan and Angie.  “The two of ya have been married fer over a year now.  Why the sudden rush to want yer relationship to become recognized by the king?”

              “Well, I got betrothed to a noblewoman-” Stan started.

              “Don’t insult me, please, son.  Even here in Gumption, we heard ‘bout how Prince Stanley’s engagement to Lady Carla was broke off fer undisclosed reasons.”  Mr. McGucket clasped his hands politely.  “I’m just curious as to whether a certain kind of congratulations are in order.”  Angie smiled weakly.

              “They might be,” she said softly.  Mr. McGucket beamed.

              “I’m awful glad to hear that.  And don’t worry, Junebug, yer ma ‘n pa have it handled.”

              “How?” Stan asked.  As if on cue, Mrs. McGucket returned, holding a small box.  She sat it on the table.  Stan leaned in to inspect it.  The box was made of wood and intricately carved.  Some of the symbols along the sides of the box looked familiar to Stan, though he couldn’t put his finger on where they came from.  Mrs. McGucket opened the box and removed what was inside: a golden tiara with glittering sapphires the same color as her eyes.

              Stan’s jaw dropped.

              “Ma, why’d ya get yer crown?” Angie asked, perplexed.  “I remember that from when I was small.  It’s just a dress-up thing.”

              “No, it’s not,” Stan croaked.  Mrs. McGucket placed the tiara on the table.  Stan continued to stare at it, taking in the fine detailing of flowers and birds.  He had never been very skilled at history, but this tiara was tied to one of the few things that he had found interesting from his tutor.  “It’s the crown of the missing princess of Lirone.”

              “What?”

              “I learned about this in my history lessons.  Decades ago, the crown princess of Lirone vanished, presumed dead.  She had been behaving a bit oddly before then, but no one could tie that behavior to her going missing.  She went into the forest and never returned.  When she went missing, she was wearing her crown, which had sapphires, birds, and flowers.”  Stan waved a hand.  “Something about symbolizing water, animals, and plants.  That was when my lesson started getting boring again, so I stopped paying attention.”  Stan frowned at Mrs. McGucket.  “How come you have it?”

              “Well, it is mine,” Mrs. McGucket said softly.  Stan blinked.  “Do you recall the name of the missing princess?”

              “Sally,” Stan replied.  Mrs. McGucket nodded regally.  “No way.  There’s no way you’re the missing princess!”

              “Sally and I met one day when she snuck out to walk amongst the commonfolk,” Mr. McGucket said.  He smiled, his eyes misty with memory.  “I thought she was the prettiest person I ever did see.  And fer some reason, she was interested in speakin’ with this poor peasant boy.  We managed to continue to see each other and we fell in love.”

              “That was the odd behavior you learned about in your history lessons,” Mrs. McGucket said.  “I had to get creative to find ways to meet up with Mearl.”  At some point, her thick accent similar to her husband and daughter’s had disappeared.  Now, every word she said was crisp and carefully pronounced.

              Just like Ford.  No.  Just like a royal heir.

              “But I knew that this would not last forever,” Mrs. McGucket continued.  “So I decided to fake my death to be with the one I loved.”

              “That’s what I suggested!” Stan burst out.  Angie gently placed a hand over his.

              “Darlin’, please, quiet down,” she said softly.

              “Did it allow me to live my life in peace with my true love?” Mrs. McGucket said to Stan.  “Yes.  But was it the right move?  Honestly, I don’t know.  I feel like there may have been a way for me to stay with Mearl but also not make my friends and family grieve my apparent death.  And I know for certain that I can resolve the problem you two face without Stan faking his death.”

              “Does it have something to do with Angie apparently having royal blood?” Stan asked.  Mrs. McGucket smiled.

              “It might.  Now, if you’ll excuse me.  My husband and I will accompany you back to the castle, but I’ll need to prepare for the journey.  Mearl, please show the happy couple where they will be staying, maybe give them some pocket money to go to the shops.”

              “Of course, dear,” Mr. McGucket said, kissing Mrs. McGucket on the cheek.  Mrs. McGucket placed the crown back in its box and left.  Mr. McGucket stood.  “Come with me.”  Stan and Angie stood as well.  They followed Mr. McGucket through the house, to a small but well-kept guest room.  “You two can stay here.  If you were only betrothed or courtin’, o’ course, ya wouldn’t be allowed to sleep in the same room.  But since yer married with a lil one on the way…”

              “Pa, please, not too loud.  I can’t let anyone know ‘bout, y’know.  Not yet,” Angie said nervously.  Mr. McGucket kissed her forehead.

              “Sorry, honey.  As I was sayin’, since yer wed, you can sleep in the same bed.  I’ll be back in a mo’ with some pocket money like yer ma suggested.”

              “We have our own coin,” Angie said.  “Stan’s a prince.”

              “Not in this house, he ain’t.  He’s just my son-in-law.”  Mr. McGucket looked Stan in the eyes.  “My son-in-law who should’ve asked fer my blessin’ ‘fore marryin’ my daughter.”

              “Pa!”

              “But I’ll let it slide this time, due to circumstances.”  Mr. McGucket exited the room.  Stan sat down on the guest bed.

              “So, that went way better than I expected,” he said.

              “Better than I could have dreamed,” Angie said.  She shook her head.  “I just can’t believe that the crown m’ sister ‘n I used to play with was actually part of the royal jewels of a neighborin’ kingdom.”

              “I can,” Stan said.  Angie raised an eyebrow at him.  “I mean, you’ve always been pretty as a princess.”  Angie smiled.  She walked over to Stan and kissed him.

              “Even when I was a knight, killin’ people and sweatin’ in my armor?” she asked.  Stan snorted.

              “You kidding?  Especially then.”

-----

              Stan bowed before the thrones of the king and queen.  Angie knelt on the ground beside him, shaking.

              “I’ve never been so offended,” rumbled King Filbrick.  “My finest knight, a woman?  And my own son didn’t just know, he was complicit in continuing the deception!”

              “Father-” tried Ford, who was standing at Filbrick’s side.

              “Silence.”

              “Yes, sir,” Ford mumbled.

              “Then, to make matters worse, my son broke off an important engagement to a noblewoman so that he could pursue his knight!  And marry her!” Filbrick continued.  Angie’s shaking worsened.  All Stan wanted to do was embrace her, but he knew that if he moved to comfort her, it would only enrage his father more.

              Where the hell are Angie’s parents?!  Though they had traveled back to the castle together, Mr. and Mrs. McGucket parted ways with Stan and Angie to complete preparations for the plan they still hadn’t fully clued Stan and Angie in on.

              “Count yourself lucky you are my only spare heir, Stanley,” Filbrick said.  “Otherwise, you would be banished.”

              “And what of the knight?” asked Queen Caryn.

              “Beheaded, obviously,” Filbrick said, sounding almost bored.  Angie collapsed.  Bile rose in Stan’s throat.

              Dammit!  He and Angie had discussed their backup plan, should Angie’s parents be late.  They had hoped to avoid using it, but there was no choice now.  I have to do something before they drag Angie off in chains.  Already, Stan could see movement from guards in his peripheral vision.  He straightened and looked Filbrick in the eyes.

              “Father, you can’t!” he cried out.  Filbrick clenched the arms of his throne.

              “And why not?” he growled.

              “Because Angie carries within her the one third in line for the crown,” Stan said.  Gasps sounded around the royal court.  Even Ford’s eyes widened in shock.  Filbrick’s face paled, then reddened.  He stood.

              “A peasant woman is pregnant with my grandchild?” he asked dangerously.  Before Stan could say anything, the large doors opened.  Stan turned.  Mrs. McGucket strode across the room.  Her tiara sparkled on her carefully coiffed hair.  She wore her finest dress, which, being the wife of a farmer, was not fine at all.  But with her demeanor, she elevated it, to the extent that she didn’t seem commonfolk.  She looked the royal she truly was.  Stan bowed to her as she passed.

              “Banjolina Quinn McGucket is no peasant,” Mrs. McGucket said as she stood before the king, queen, and crown prince.  “For she is mine, and I am-”

              “Sally!” Caryn sobbed. 

              “Caryn?” Mrs. McGucket asked, blindsided.  Caryn jumped up from her throne and rushed to Mrs. McGucket, embracing her tightly.

              “I thought you dead!”

              “I know, and I am sorry,” Mrs. McGucket said softly.  “It was the only way I could think of to be with the one I loved.”  She gestured at the back of the room, where Mr. McGucket stood.  Mr. McGucket bowed, but didn’t approach.  “You should thank my daughter, as she was the one who insisted your son not do the same as I did.”

              “What?” Caryn whispered.  She turned to Stan.  “Stanley, you planned to fake your death to be with your knight?”  Stan nodded.  Caryn covered her mouth.

              “Caryn, what is this all about?” Filbrick demanded.  While his parents were distracted, Stan helped Angie to her feet.  Caryn looked at her husband.

              “Filbrick, I would know this woman anywhere.  We were the closest of friends in our youth.  She is Sally of the House of Turner, the missing Crown Princess of Lirone.”  Mrs. McGucket curtsied elegantly.

              “I bring the crown I wore the day I disappeared myself as proof.”  She smiled at Caryn.  “Though I see now it was not necessary.”

              “Lady Knight!” Filbrick barked.  Angie snapped to attention.  “You are this woman’s child?”

              “Yes, Your Majesty,” Angie replied, bowing.  “Her youngest.”

              “Then you are no peasant.”

              “No, Your Majesty.”

              “…I see.”  Filbrick sat back down on his throne.  “You are to be relieved of your duties as knight.”  Angie bowed her head.  “As a gesture of goodwill, however, I will not strip you of your knighthood.”  Angie’s head shot up in shock.  “We have been on poor terms with Lirone for decades.  If this union will allow us to finally set up trade routes with our neighbor to the south, I will gladly do all I can to speed it forward.”

              “We’re married,” Stan pointed out.  “The union’s happened already.”

              “Have you no sense of propriety, son?” Filbrick asked.  “While the secret marriage will allow your child to be born in wedlock, it will not suffice in the slightest for a royal affair.  We must begin arrangements and send word to Lirone immediately.”

              “What of Angie’s twin brother?” Ford asked.  Filbrick looked at him like he’d forgotten Ford was there.  “Is Sir Lute to be removed of his duties as knight, now that he is a prince?”

              “He may continue to be a knight here if he wishes and the Lironian royal court allows it,” Filbrick said dismissively.  He stood.  “Caryn, come with me.”  Caryn gave Mrs. McGucket one last hug before joining the king.  “Stanford, Stanley, tend to our guests’ lodgings.  And speak with our head of staff as to new accommodations for Stanley and his wife.  Their current rooms are insufficient for a wed prince and princess.”

              “Yes, sir,” Ford and Stan said, bowing.  Filbrick and Caryn left the room.  Ford, Lute, and the McGucket parents joined Stan and Angie.

              “When were ya plannin’ on tellin’ us we were royal?” Lute asked his parents.

              “Honestly, never,” Mrs. McGucket said.  “We worried it would only complicate matters.  But I suppose we found the one situation in which it solved more problems than it caused.”

              “Yes, indeed,” Ford said.  He took off his glasses, polished them with his shirt, and then put them back on.  “Stan, Angie, how long have you known about the child?”

              “A few months,” Angie mumbled.

              “And ya didn’t think to tell us?” Lute yelped.  Ford put a hand on his knight’s shoulder.

              “Lute, I’d imagine they opted to stay quiet until they knew they would keep the child,” he said solemnly.  Angie and Stan nodded.  Lute paled.

              “Oh.  I see.”  Lute cleared his throat.  “Well.  The king was correct.  My parents will need someplace to stay.  Should I take ‘em to the red guest suite?”

              “I believe that will suit them, yes,” Ford said.  “Meanwhile, I will take the happily wedded couple to speak with the head of staff so they may finally live together as husband and wife.”  Stan intertwined his fingers with Angie’s.

              “And it’s about damn time,” he rumbled.  Angie leaned her head against his shoulder.

              “Agreed.”