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twistedtummies2 · 5 months

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Super Beanfest, or Harps & Monsters - Part 1 (Commission)

My last, long-delayed commission from the February round. This is an interesting one, because of how it's going to work: once again, myself and the commissioner are going to attempt to do a multi-part comm, spread out over the course of several months/rounds of writing. The commissioner is @clouddreamer101, for a very long time, they and I have had an idea for a multi-part story for Twisted Wonderland. The story has two basic purposes: introducing their OC, Harmonia (based on the Golden Harp from "Mickey and the Beanstalk") in a proper piece of writing, and also shipping them with my big lad, Billy (based on Willie the Giant from the same cartoon). The two have been shipped together by us for a VERY long time, so it's nice to finally write a full and proper story getting that ship sailing.

Oh, there's also some stuff going on with the canon cast, for the record, with the main focus being Epel Felmier. Because why not? XD

This is the first part of the story, and I will write the other parts with the other commission rounds to come. On that note, if anyone from that next round is reading this, I will be contacting you all sometime within the coming week. In the meantime...some boring stuff...

Rating: T (for safety's sake, above all else)

Disclaimer: All characters and settings from Twisted Wonderland belong to Disney & Aniplex. Billy belongs to me, Harmonia belongs to the commissioner, and the other OCs who cameo in this section belong to either one of us or to another user from Tumblr who, for the time, shall remain anonymous.

WARNING: This section does not contain any DIRECT kinks, aside from some macro/micro elements (if you even count those), but it DOES contain implied vore and other kinky implications. Later chapters shall be more overt, for the record; the rating may go up depending on how those future chapters work out, just for consistency's sake. In any case, DON'T LIKE? DON'T READ.

You'll find chapter two here.

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“Well! It looks like success at last!” “Shhh! Not so loud!” Deuce Spade clamped his mouth shut firmly and nodded at the hiss from Jack Howl. The pair were dressed in their Gym Uniforms for Night Raven College. In Jack’s arms, he carried an unfamiliar third party member: a small young man, with shiny blonde hair, and eyes the color of golden coins. He was dressed in a rather fancy-looking suit, as golden as his eyes and hair, with buttons that resembled musical notes. Jack adjusted his grip as he held the blonde youth bridal style; the wolfman blushed at the intimate position as he began to carefully walk off, carrying the golden boy with him. Deuce took up the rear; he was holding a pair of bean blasters in his hands. “Thank you,” whispered the young man with yellow hair, in a timid little voice. Jack just grunted noncommittally. “You’re welcome,” he grumbled, then smirked. “I guess even Royal Sword students can be helpful sometimes.” The RSA member in question smiled shyly. “Come on!” Deuce called out…then, remembering he wasn’t supposed to be so loud, dropped his voice to a whisper. “Come on, Epel! What are you waiting for?” Epel Felmier had paused at the rear. He was dressed much more extravagantly than his two fellow NRC classmates: garbed in a black beret and the red-white-and-orange getup of a Farmer uniform for Beanfest. The effeminate fellow looked upwards, biting his lip thoughtfully, large aqua blue eyes narrowed. Overhead, a towering figure loomed, snoring so loudly, the entire colosseum around the four shook to its foundations. The giant leaned back against the bleachers, hands folded over the upper curve of his big, fat belly, which rose and fell like a living hill over their heads. Epel’s focus, however, wasn’t on the titan’s face, nor on his gut: it was on the (extra extra extra extra) large leather boots the colossus wore. He saw that the looped ends of the laces were dangling low and long…and the feet were close together. A sly smirk crossed Epel’s face, and he crept closer to the giant, taking hold of the laces as he moved between the ogre’s feet. “What are you doing?!” the RSA student hissed in alarm, as Deuce and Jack watched with perplexed expressions. “Making doubly sure he won’t follow us,” Epel replied, and began to try and tangle the laces together into a knot. “I’m taking no chances. Just in case the big guy-” The snoring suddenly came to a short stop. Epel froze at the sound’s stoppage. He saw Jack, Deuce, and the RSA student all turn pale as a trio of sheets. “...M-Might wake up-EEK!” Epel cried out as the feet jerked to either side, and the laces he still held pulled him clear off the ground as he held them tightly in his hand, stretching him out. The tiny Pomefiore Poison Apple looked up… …And gulped nervously as he saw a pair of cold blue eyes glaring down angrily. The giant growled, snarling, revealing his rather sharp-looking, bone-crushing teeth…and a fat hand began to reach for Epel. Felmier gulped nervously, as the shadow of those greedy fingers overcame him. “...Oh, crab-apples…”

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Three Months Earlier…

“Pick up the pace, potatoes. Unlike that mangy cat in Savanaclaw, I like to be on time.” “Oh, oui-oui, Roi du Poison! We follow in your footsteps like carefree lambs!”

Epel Felmier rolled his eyes and repressed the urge to groan, as walked behind Rook Hunt and Vil Schoenheit. They, along with the rest of Pomefiore - and, in fact, the rest of the school - had been called into the Assembly Hall at Night Raven College. The auditorium was already packed, and more and more students were still pouring in, ushered by their Housewardens and Vices into the seats. Carefully but quickly, Epel found a seat of his own. It wasn’t too long till all of his dorm members were seated; Rook and Vil took the last two seats remaining, with the former immediately to his right, and the latter just beyond, each sitting straight and tall. Vil’s expression was one of cool, detached, business-like calm, while Rook wore his usual not-so-blithe smile. Epel looked around. He frowned in confusion as he scanned the faces - and, more importantly, the heights - of all the assembled students from Pomefiore. Someone, he quickly realized, was missing. “Pssst! Hey! Hey, Vil!” he whispered. Vil’s eyes slid towards Epel ominously, his expression showing a hint of stern disdain. Epel flinched and took a breath, realizing his mistake. “Um…e-excuse me, Housewarden.” “That’s better,” smirked Vil, and turned to look at Epel fully. “What is it, Epel?” “I don’t see Billy here with us. He’s pretty hard to miss,” the lavender haired young fellow explained. “So where’d he go?” Vil shrugged. “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “The Headmage called him to his office earlier today, and I have not seen him since. This was before he announced the Assembly.” “Not to worry, Monsieur Pommette!” Rook chuckled cheerily. “I’m sure Monsieur Geant will be quite alright!” Epel frowned, turning away from the pair thoughtfully. He wasn’t necessarily WORRIED about Billy: the shapeshifting ogre could easily take care of himself in many ways. If anything, Epel envied the big lug: he was somehow able to be both extra super manly and strangely adorable at the same time, a struggle the young Felmier was still going through. A small smirk crossed Epel’s face and he chuckled. He and the giant actually had quite a bit in common…but sheer size could not be one of those similarities. He wondered how Billy would have done in Savanaclaw… Shaking his head to clear it, Epel, straightened his posture (he’d caught Vil side-eyeing him again at his hunched seating arrangement), and tried to dismiss the matter. If Billy had gone to see Crowley, then he would probably arrive when the Headmage arrived. No need to be concerned, as Rook had said. It wasn’t too much longer till all were assembled. Finally, Dire Crowley - adjusting his gloves, top hat, and Venetian mask as he entered - stepped into the center of the auditorium stage. Using a simple voice-amplifying spell in place of a microphone, he walked up to the podium and gained the attention of the student body. All idle chatter ceased as the Headmage addressed them.

“Quiet! Quiet all! Listen, everyone! Can you all see me? Can you all hear me? Good,” nodded Crowley, when he was certain all eyes were on him. “Ahem…I’m sorry to have stopped classes so abruptly, but I have some major news, and given the…rather sudden nature of this news, I felt an immediate assembly was best called for. I’m sure all of you are aware of our annual Beanfest competition here on Sage’s Island, correct?” Mumbles and murmurs of recognition came from the students. Epel cocked his head curiously, wondering where this was going. Beanfest, of course, was an important occasion at Night Raven College: every year, the student body would be split into two teams - Farmers and Monsters - in remembrance of the legend of Happy Valley. The legend told the story of a daring farmer who rescued a magical Golden Harp from the clutches of a monstrous giant. Billy’s absence was now almost comical: he was a descendant of the ogre that had matched wits with the farmer those centuries long past. The size-shifting giant was very proud of his heritage, and got VERY excited over Beanfest. Epel shivered a bit, remembering how Billy had swallowed some farmers the last Beanfest, as a means of capturing them…watching the giant belch entire people out of his gut was not exactly a pleasant sight… In any case, however, Beanfest was still a few months away. Why was the Headmage bringing it up now? “Well! You’re all in for a special treat this year!” Crowley’s voice barked, as he clapped his hands together, a rather eager smirk on his dark lips as he spoke. “For this year’s Beanfest, we’ll be collaborating with our…esteemed rivals at Royal Sword Academy, for what their headmaster and I have decided to call… Crowley paused impressively, as if to build up suspense…then threw out his arms and cheered to the high heavens. “SUPER BEANFEST!” The chirp of a lonely cricket was the only sound that answered his booming cry. Crowley’s exuberant expression quickly cooled. He lowered his arms, looking rather embarrassed. Then a single hand shot up. “Um…Headmage?” “Yes, Mr. Spade?” Epel looked towards the hand as it lowered, to see a rather befuddled Deuce tilt his own head in confusion equal to Felmier’s own. “How is ‘Super Beanfest’ different from…well…normal Beanfest, I guess?” “Ah! I’m glad you asked!” answered Crowley, who sounded rather relieved that SOMEBODY cared enough to wonder. “That’s where the collaboration comes into play: instead of a contest between our own students, against each other, Super Beanfest will be a battle between the two schools. Now, things may be a bit confusing, so do pay attention: one student from Night Raven College has been pre-selected to act as a ‘Head Monster.’ Another student at RSA has also been pre-picked to play the role of the Golden Harp.” “Wait…the harp is actually going to be a person?” an anonymous student called.

“Correct!” Crowley crowed. “The goal of the Farmers will be to rescue the Golden Harp, as is usually the case, but this Harp will be another student instead of a simple prop. The Harp and the Head Monster will be stationed in a yet-to-be-disclosed location. Further rules about this matter will be explained in the future, but the important point to note is that the Head Monster must guard the Golden Harp, and the Harp must remain stationary inside the Head Monster’s ‘lair,’ unless accompanied by the Farmers.” “Interesting,” murmured a thoughtful voice. Epel wasn’t sure, but it sounded like the voice of Riddle Rosehearts. “So, our students will be taking the role of the Monsters to try and blockade Royal Sword’s students?” “Ah, this is where things get interesting,” said Crowley, waggling a finger and with a twinkle in his eye. “You see, my dear students…you WON’T be playing the Monsters, aside from the one Head Monster chosen. Instead, our school has been selected to play the Farmers.” “What?!” exclaimed several students at once. “We get to play the heroes saving the day?!” gasped Cater Diamond’s voice. “That’s totes cool! Ha, I’m gonna have to come up with some fun hashtags right away…!” “Please don’t,” groaned the irritated voice of Sebek Zigvolt. “When was this decided?” Vil demanded to know, his sudden call causing Epel to jump slightly in his seat. “When I lost the straw-pulling lottery to decide,” drawled Crowley, in a dry voice, with a drab look. He quickly brightened up again and went on, holding up his hands to placate the stirring students as he continued… “ANYWAY! On the date of the Event, a group of students will be selected at random to act as possible candidates for Team Captains, and the Head Monster and Golden Harp will select their respective Captains from the chosen pool. The Captains will create a general strategy at the start of the game, and lead whatever students they choose in the event: simple as that. The choice will be totally based on their decisions, and with our schools so separate, there should be no inherent bias on either side. Also, since this is the first Event of its kind - and as it has yet to be determined if there will be another like it in the future - the Headmaster of Royal Sword and I have agreed that all students will be permitted to participate. PERMITTED, but not required: if you wish to back out for any reason, you may.” “YES! THANK YOU, ZEUS!” came a voice that could only belong to Idia Shroud. Several people rolled their eyes, including Dire Crowly. “Anyway, All of Sage’s Island will be the battleground, and the teams will meet at specific ‘camps’ off the campuses on the island,” the Headmage went on, then shrugged nonchalantly. “Beyond all that, the rules are essentially the same. Farmers will take out Monsters using bean shooters, Monsters have to try and trap Farmers to keep them from getting the Golden Harp, and bits of gear and special uniforms will be scattered around the woods on the island for both teams to try and find. You all know the drill from there. So, are there any questions?” Epel immediately raised his hand. “Yes, Mr. Felmier?” Crowley pointed him out. “Excuse me, but you said you’d already picked who the Head Monster and the Golden Harp will be,” Epel commented. “So…who are they? Or is that confidential information at all?” “Not in the least,” chuckled Crowley. He seemed greatly amused as he grinned at Epel and the other students. “In fact, the Head Monster is someone you should know very well, Mr. Felmier. Someone everybody here should know! After all, even among our esteemed student body…” Crowley stepped aside from the podium, doffing his hat, as if introducing some grand circus act.

“...You could say he’s larger than life.” The instant those words left Crowley’s lips, Epel suddenly knew exactly who he meant. It all made sense. Why one certain person was missing from the Pomefiore group. Why they’d been called out of class earlier. And perhaps even why this Event had been arranged in the weird way it was. THUMP-A-THUMP-A-THUMP. Pounding footsteps seemed to rock the entire hall. Whispers and murmurs echoed through the assembly area. At the podium, a black and white tie was straightened somewhat nervously, and an indigo vest was adjusted as it clung desperately the sizeable, heaving mass of lard and muscle buried beneath the clean, constricting school uniform. Gapteeth were briefly visible as the absolutely gigantic figure at the podium - standing somewhere between seven and eight feet in height - took a breath and ran one huge, fat hand through their carrot-colored, crew-cut hair. Then, baby blue eyes sparkled as their expression became first a proud and challenging smirk…and then a beaming smile. “Hi there, Little Friends!” cheered Billy Geant, saluting everyone playfully. “I just wanna say one thing: don’t worry about when the big day comes. I promise…I won’t go easy on you.” Epel gulped. Beside him, Rook chuckled, cupping his chin as his eyes narrowed almost deviously. “Sacre bleu,” Hunt murmured. “This just got a bit more interesting…”

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Meanwhile, across the island, in the gilded halls of Royal Sword Academy, a lonely figure was walking through a seemingly empty corridor. The figure was a young man, just slightly below average height, though he seemed much smaller with the way he walked as he trudged through the palatial hallway. His slender, slim physique didn’t help much either; his thin framework bordered on the unhealthy in its leanness, making him seem even tinier than he really was. Ironically, the blue-and-white standard issue uniform of RSA he wore made him seem a little bulkier, in contrast. The young man sighed, brushing some stray strands of his blonde bangs away from his golden-hued eyes. In the corner of his left eye was a tiny birthmark; a similar beauty mark dotted his chin. He adjusted a small white hearing aid he wore in one ear, pausing in his dreary march to look upwards. As sunlight spilled through a stained glass window, it illuminated his soft, almost effete features, which gave him a somewhat androgynous appearance. “Why?” he groaned to the ceiling beyond, voice echoing slightly in the extravagant passage. “Just…just why?” “Why, you ask?” The young man let out a mousey squeak of alarm and looked around, rather startled, as a new voice seemed to croon into his ears. The voice seemed to come from nowhere, and yet everywhere. “Why is one of my favorite questions,” the voice continued to coo. “I’m also partial to ‘Who?’ and ‘Where?’ But ‘Why?’ It’s such a silly thing to ask…and that’s why I love it!” The blonde-haired boy sighed again, this time with some mild irritation. “I’m not in the mood for games right now, Che’Nya,” he grumbled, crossing his arms impatiently. “You-” PFBBBT! The young man eeped and spluttered as a tongue suddenly appeared out of thin air, blowing a raspberry into his face. He glared, huffishly, wiping the speckles of spittle from his cheeks one one sleeve as a disembodied grin, filled with sharp, pointed, pearly teeth, sliced its way inches from his face. “Spoilsport,” came a voice from the mouth, as a second pair of golden eyes popped into view a little over the grin’s crescent curve. “Come on, Harmonia! What’s biting your tail, huh?” Harmonia frowned and turned away. “Why should I tell you?” he mumbled. “You’re just going to tease me.” Che’Nya’s whole face - feline ears, purple hair, and all - appeared in thin air as he gasped with horror. “Me?! Tease someone when they’re on the brink of des-purr?” he punned, the disembodied catboy’s head circling around him. “What makes you think I’d do something like that?”

Harmonia just eyed the neko skeptically…then sighed and sat down on a nearby bench. “Just leave me alone,” he mumbled. Che’Nya’s expression faltered. He looked concerned…but only for a few seconds. The look gave way to a knowing sort of smirk, and the Cheshire Cat swirled into full view. He was dressed as he always was: in an oversized white uniform coat that hung loosely about his frame like an undone straitjacket, along with blue jeans dotted with badges and buttons. He sauntered over and sat beside Harmonia on the bench with a sort of brotherly smile. “Let me guess,” he purred. “You’re upset about Headmage Ambrose’s arrangement with NRC, aren’t you?” “I’m upset about being chosen to play the Golden Harp,” Harmonia replied, glumly. “Why?” Che’Nya asked, tilting his head curiously. “I thought you just said that was a silly question,” Harmonia retorted. “Oh, it is, but it’s also a fun one to answer,” grinned Che’Nya, and nudged him with his head, like a cat nuzzling and pawing at its master. “Come ooooon! Tell me! Tell me!” Harmonia half-heartedly pushed the Cheshire Cat back, and just grumbled, “Forget it. Go away.” “Awww, now that’s not very nice at all,” pouted Che’Nya. “Come on, lighten up! After all, you can’t very well protect Happy Valley if you aren’t happy, can ya?” “I’M NOT PROTECTING THAT PLACE!” Harmonia suddenly shouted, snapping angrily at the cat and leaping from the bench. Che’Nya jumped back, rather startled as the golden boy began to march away. “Just…I don’t want to hear anything else about Happy Valley, or Golden Harps, or…!” “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Turn down the juice!” Che’Nya exclaimed, and hurriedly moved to block Harmonia’s way. His own yellow eyes had become soulful and serious, a rare expression on the feline’s face. “Listen, I can tell when a person needs a listening ear. I’m the Cheshire Cat. I have all the answers…” He playfully tapped Harmonia’s nose, smiling anew. Harmonia squeaked and covered his snout, which made the cat grin wider. “...You just have to keep from getting confused. So go ahead. Lay it on me. If you don’t bite, I won’t.” Che’Nya’s grin made sure to show all his teeth on that last sentence. Harmonia bit his lip, squirming a bit…then sighed. “How much do you know about me?” he asked, timidly. Che’Nya shrugged and slung his arms behind his head lazily. “Nyaaa…I know a little,” he yawned. “Your family line is descended from the magic of the Golden Harp itself, and your Unique Magic comes from her power, passed down through generations, blah blah blah…guess your problem is you’re tired of being typecast?” “Something like that,” admitted Harmonia with a nod. He hugged himself and turned away. “It’s more than that, though. I’m…well…I’m scared.” “Scared?” meowed Che’Nya, raising an eyebrow. “Of what?” Harmonia looked up at him with anxiety in his eyes. “The whole reason they’re doing this Event is because of me. Well…me and one other student.” “Who?” Che’Nya asked, and then giggled. “I really do love that question. ‘Who.’ So many answers you can come up with, and most of them won’t be correct!”

Harmonia decided to ignore that random bit of weirdness, and simply went on. “Some other student at Night Raven,” he said, gravely. “And just as I’m descended from the Golden Harp…” “...They’re descended from the Giant.” Harmonia’s eyes widened. “You…you already know?” Che’Nya smiled oh-so-innocently. “I might have overheard the two Headmages talking to each other. Just a little bit,” he winked. “Then you should know why I’m scared already!” Harmonia said, exasperatedly, and began to tremble as he hugged himself tighter, rubbing at his own shoulders, as if he were experiencing a chill. “I’m descended from the harp, THE harp! And…and he’s descended from THE giant! It’s…it’s like putting a cat and a mouse in the same room, you know it’s not gonna end well!” “Well. That depends on if you’re the cat or the mouse,” smirked Che’Nya, licking his lips in emphasis. “What if he eats me?” whimpered Harmonia, ignoring the cat completely. “Or…or wh-what if he crushes me flat? What if I get stolen a-and taken away, l-like a trophy?” Che’Nya clucked his tongue. “What if, what if, what if?” he chanted in a nasally, mocking way. “Listen, Little Harmony, that’s one question I DON’T like. What’s gonna be is gonna be! There’s no need to get so worked up about it. It’s better to just decide to stop fighting it and go with the flow!” Harmonia scoffed. “Easy for you to say, you’re not the one at risk here. If there’s one thing my family drilled into me that I actually gave any care about, it’s that you can’t trust giants,” Harmonia replied. “They’re greedy monsters. They smell bad. Th-they eat people and smash them just for fun…” “Oh, so you’ve met them all, then?” Che’Nya grinned, almost tauntingly. Harmonia went silent. “Maybe this giant will be a monster, but maybe he won’t be,” Che’Nya went on. “You say you’re tired of people judging you just for being the Harp’s descendant? Well, how do you think he’d feel?” Che’Nya smiled with surprising kindness as he leaned down to Harmonia’s level. “Besides, it’s just a GAME, Little Harmony,” he mewed. “When it’s all over, you can come back home to school.” “Yeah, if I survive,” droned Harmonia sadly. “Gods, I feel like I’m a pawn on a chessboard. No, worse: I’m a chess king.”

“Nya? How is that worse than a pawn?” “Because the King doesn’t DO anything. That piece literally just exists to be captured so somebody else can win the game. The King can’t move very far in any direction and really SHOULDN’T move. It sounds important, but it’s…useless. That’s exactly how the rules have made me out to be.” “Hmmmm…purr-haps,” conceded the cat. “But there ARE still moves the King can make to help protect itself and win the game. As for pawns, they can become queens if they reach the end of the board.” Harmonia was silent, mulling that fact over. Che’Nya chuckled. “You know…in the legend of Happy Valley, the Golden Harp wasn’t completely helpless,” the kitty-boy recalled. “If I re-mew-mber correctly, she actually HELPED the farmers defeat the giant. They couldn’t have won without her. Maybe you should stop seeing your past as a curse, and use that legacy inside of you to your advantage.” The feline giggled. “Or maybe you can just sit nice and pretty and golden-goosey, and you’ll get by without aaaany problems! That works too, don’tcha think?” Harmonia looked Che’Nya up and down, as if he was trying to decide how serious the Cheshire Cat was. “I guess that’s fair,” he said at last, then gave a small sort of smile. “Maybe you have a point. And…well…it’s all decided already, and I’m the only one who CAN’T back out. It would defeat the whole purpose if I did. Might as well just…work with what I’ve got, right?” “That’s the spirit!” cheered Che’Nya, chucking Harmonia lightly in the shoulder with one fist, then smirked wickedly. “And besides, getting eaten by a giant wouldn’t be THAT bad for you, would it now?” Harmonia turned a little paler, and a slightly hysterical, nervous little laughed left him. “HA HA HA HA, you’re funny. No. Just…just no. Please, disappear now,” he groused. Che’Nya laughed loudly.

“You got it! I’m good at that!” he sang out. “After all, it’s what Cheshire Cats do best…” As he began to swirl away, bit by bit, Che’Nya arched an eyebrow sneakily and added: “What do you think Golden Harps do best, hm?” Before Harmonia could answer, Che’Nya had vanished into the ether. He looked around, as if to make sure the cat wasn’t still watching him…then sighed softly. “I guess I’ll need to find out,” he mumbled, and walked away. He held himself a little taller, trying to boost his own self-confidence. All the same, he still felt dreadfully nervous inside.

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The day of the Super Beanfest competition came. Epel Felmier was dressed in his gym uniform, as was standard. The schools had arranged a rendezvous point, midway between the two campuses in the woods. This was where the Captains Pools would meet, and the Head Monster and Golden Harp would make their selections. Epel was the first of the Farmer Captains Pool to arrive. Not necessarily by choice, admittedly: the young farmboy (wasn’t THAT a coincidental background) had found sleep difficult, and had woken early partially as a result. He was seated upon a boulder, looking up at the early morning sky through the gaps in the trees above. The Pomefiore student breathed deeply, allowing his eyes to slide closed. The smell of the trees, and all the rustic odors of nature around him - particularly of the sweet berries and other fruits he could detect somewhere in the green woods - reminded him so much of home…but the faint scent of the sea breeze, wafting through the bushes and brambles from the beach beyond, gave it a sort of ethereal quality one could not find in Harveston. Epel had come to enjoy it here, in the forest…which gave him some confidence he sorely needed. Epel breathed out heavily; not quite a sigh, but very close. He wished he could say the Captains Pool for his school had been chosen with strategic brilliance, and that he’d been elected as an option due to practical reasons of belief in his abilities…but that wasn’t the case at all. The same method that had been used to decide which school would be the Farmers and which school would be the Monsters (minus Billy and the Golden Harp) had been used to determine the Captains. Epel had just been lucky to be chosen. This, Felmier reflected, shouldn’t have bothered him too much: if there was one thing a certain sledding match had taught him, it was that he had the makings of a leader, and he’d always been one to challenge other authorities to begin with. But truth be told…he was worried. This was different, in his mind. There was a lot more riding on something like this. If he got picked, he’d have the pressure of not just a small team of people, but an entire school, heaped upon his shoulders. And if he didn’t get picked, then it would honestly be a bit saddening; he couldn’t help but feel such a choice would mean he wasn’t perceived as fit for the role, and he was very tired of being judged so simply. Either way, he couldn’t win. “Excuse me!” came a voice. “Are you from Night Raven College?”

Epel opened his eyes, and looked to see who had spoken. His eyes widened in surprise at the rather peculiar figure he saw striding towards him: it was a young man, about the same age as himself, but standing a little bit taller. The young man had blonde hair and curious golden eyes, which looked like the yolks of two expertly-cooked eggs in a sea of milky white. The fellow youth wore a hearing aid, but this wasn’t what made him seem odd: it was the very bizarre costume he wore, which was a rather fancy, somewhat old-fashioned-looking suit colored almost entirely in sparkling, glittering gold. The buttons on the coat and vest were made to resemble musical notes, and the cuffs and the trousers remind Epel of the bars on a sheet of music. Topped off with high-heeled (but still fairly masculine-designed) shoes, the newcomer cut was certainly a spectacle to behold. Epel blinked a few times, feeling he might go blind…then awkwardly nodded. “Uh…yeah,” he greeted, slowly. “Howdy-I mean, hello. My name’s Epel. Lemme guess: you’re the Golden Harp?” The newcomer smiled shyly. His timid demeanor didn’t quite match his over-glitzy costume. “Yeah, pretty obvious, isn’t it?” he chuckled, indicating his outfit. “Can’t deny that,” Epel said, with a smile that was slightly forced. He couldn’t help but admit he felt a little surge of bitter apprehension surge inside of his heart: to say that Royal Sword Academy and Night Raven College were rivals was often putting it mildly. The two schools were arch-enemies, and many NRC students would have leapt at the chance to quite literally pounce on the newcomer just for a lark. Epel had faced a few defeats against the rival school in the past, and wasn’t particularly happy to see the leading figure of the opposing team - the one who’d be choosing a Captain from his pool - so suddenly and alone. The newcomer didn’t seem to notice. He smiled in a friendly way and held out a hand. “I’m Harmonia,” he greeted. “Harmonia A’Cappella. It’s nice to meet you.” “Mutual,” Epel lied, as he shook Harmonia’s hand. The descendant of the harp smiled a bit wider, then tilted his head. “Hold on…I think I’ve seen you somewhere before,” he murmured…then his eyes widened. “Wait a bit! Were you in the VDC Championship? The one where Neige competed?” Epel narrowed his eyes and nodded. “Yes,” he replied. “I was one of the lead performers.” He braced himself for what Harmonia would say next; he expected some show of pithy pity or perhaps even a bit of boasting…something about how he shouldn’t feel bad, because he did good, too, even though Neige and his posse were SO good… “Wow!” Harmonia laughed. “It’s such an honor to meet you! I’m so sorry, by the way, you guys were ROBBED that year. Seriously.” Epel gaped. “...Wh-what?”

“Don’t get me wrong: Neige is a cool guy. I’m in his dorm at RSA,” said Harmonia, and rubbed the back of his head with a light laugh. “But, uh…I’m sorry, that children’s song over what YOU guys did? That’s just INSANE. You guys had so much STYLE! So much POWER in your voices! There was so much skill and so much emotion, and the song itself? That just…wow, that honestly really hit me in a good place. Right here.” Harmonia patted his chest in emphasis, giving a sympathetic smile. “You guys should have won. Not us. I’m seriously sorry the judges didn’t take your side.” Epel blinked a few times…then his smile started to become more genuine as a hint of pink colored his cheeks. “I mean…well…thank you! It honestly means a lot to hear you say that,” chuckled Epel, then smirked. “I’d expect the Golden Harp to know a thing or two about music.” Harmonia shrugged. “Well, I do, but it’s not necessarily just for those reasons. Honestly, I’m more experienced with classical stuff,” he sighed, sounding a bit disappointed as he sat down in the grass nearby. “I’d like to change that sometime. You’re so lucky, by the way.” “I am?” “Dude. You got to work with VIL. FRICKIN’. SCHOENHEIT. Do you know what I’d give to even meet him for two seconds?” gushed Harmonia, and smiled in a sentimental way, looking askance. “He and Neige…they both helped me in a time when I really needed it…” “Funny. The Housewarden never mentioned helping someone like you,” Epel remarked. “Oh, not personally. I mean…listening to their music, watching their movies. They inspired me. They made me want to-wait. Did you say HOUSEWARDEN?!” “Yes!” giggled Epel, enjoying the look of utter spellbound awe on Harmonia’s face. “He’s the leader of my dorm. That’s one of the reasons I took part in that contest.” Harmonia just stared. He was filled with admiration, his expression one of purest wonder. “Wow,” he whispered again, and laughed softly. “I’m a little jealous. You were so great onstage, too! It must have been fun.” “That’s, uh…one word for it,” Epel chuckled nervously, remembering the horrors of Vil’s Overblot behind the scenes. “I have to admit, one nice thing was that it was public: meant no one could make the mistake of thinking I’m a girl ever again, if they saw it live or on TV.” “Psh. Yeah, I can sympathize with that,” snorted Harmonia, and gestured to his own face. “I don’t get misgendered TOO often, but it’s annoying when it happens.” Epel’s smiled had become a real grin. He was quickly starting to feel he liked this RSA student. “Are you excited for the competition?” he asked. Harmonia’s smile faded, and he looked away. “Honestly, I’m…really, REALLY scared of meeting the Head Monster,” he answered, nervously, fingers fiddling around each other.

“I guess I would be, too, if I were you,” nodded Epel, then scooted closer with an assuring smile. “Billy is actually in my dorm, too, you know.” “Billy?” blinked Harmonia. “The Giant’s name is…Billy?” “Yeah, why?” “I dunno, just…I expected a giant to have a name like ‘Rothbart the Terrible’ or ‘Redjac the Ravenous,’ not just…um…Billy.” Epel snickered. “His name’s not the only thing that will surprise you,” he said with a merry twinkle in his blue eyes. “Trust me, you’ll be fine. But, uh…can I give you some advice?” “Huh? Oh, um…s-sure, what’s that?” “Whatever you do, do NOT piss him off,” Epel warned. “Keep on good terms with him, and you have nothing to fear.” Harmonia let out a very, VERY nervous laugh. “R-right, uh…ha ha ha…n-no pressure…” In his mind, the mantra of I am so dead, I am so dead, I am so dead kept repeating itself. “Well now!” a voice called out. “This is a surprise! And here we thought you were running late!” The voice was addressing Epel, who turned about, recognizing it. It was Dire Crowley, who was leading a group of NRC students - the rest of the Captains Pool - into the woodlands. The other options for potential Captains, courtesy of the random raffle, were Vil, Deuce, Jack, Riddle, Sebek, and Cater, who approached in that same order. Vil seemed mildly impressed (which, with him, could be taken as the highest form of praise), while the rest mostly seemed astonished to see Epel so far ahead of them. “Well, I wanted to be bright and early,” chuckled Epel in greeting, and helped Harmonia stand up as he went to greet his fellow classmates. “Hmph. And who is this human?” Sebek huffed, haughtily, crossing his arms and sticking his nose up, while the rest eyed the golden-garbed figure with curiosity. “This is Harmonia A’Cappella,” Epel introduced his new acquaintance. “He’s the Descendant of the Golden Harp, and he’ll be choosing one of us as the Farmer Captain. Right, Harmonia?” “R-Right,” stuttered Harmonia, and approached the group somewhat nervously. “It’s, ah…it’s nice to meet you all.” Jack and Sebek grunted, noncommittally. Each eyed the RSA student with a sort of dubious interest. It was clear that each of them was focusing on him as an opponent rather than as an ally, at the moment. The others, however, were thankfully more openly welcoming. “A pleasure, I’m sure,” Riddle greeted, politely, and held out a hand, which Harmonia shook firmly. Riddle smiled. “A decent grip there. I approve.” “Don’t think we’ll go easy on you, no matter which of us you choose,” Deuce piped up with a bold smirk. “We’re gonna save you no matter what!” Harmonia and Epel shared a look; the way Deuce said that made it sound like he was planning to punch the Harp in the face rather than rescue him. “Uh…well…thank you, I think?” Harmonia replied. “That’s such a cool costume!” Cater suddenly exclaimed. “Oh, you have GOT to let me get a picture of it! It’s so totally cammable! Can I? Please?” Harmonia, a bit overwhelmed, stammered out an agreement…and a few moments later was blinking camera flash out of his eyes as Cater snapped a hurried selfie.

“Awesome!” squealed Cater, eagerly tapping at his phone. “HashtagGonnaSaveThisLittleDude! HashtagGoingForTheGold! HashtagSuperBeanfest! Aaaand…send!” The other NRC members all rolled their eyes at Cater Diamond’s antics. By now, Harmonia had recovered, and was standing before Vil. For a moment, he just stood there, clearly unsure of what to say. Vil arched an eyebrow impatiently. “Well?” was all he said. “Speak up, golden potato. I can tell you’re busting at the seams, with the way you’re shaking.” Harmonia needed all his willpower not to immediately burst into an explosive squeal of joy. He knew that would never do. “I, um…I just wanted to say, I…I’m a REALLY big fan of yours, Mr. Schoenheit,” he said, timidly, and held out his hand. “You have absolutely no idea what an honor it is to meet you in person. Um…I-I hope you win. F-For my sake, I mean! Heh heh…yeah…” Vil blinked twice…then smiled, slightly superciliously, and returned the handshake. “It’s always a pleasure to meet a fan,” he said, honestly. “If things go well for our team, when the competition is over, perhaps you’d like an autograph?” Harmonia was astonished and delighted. His eyes sparkled like the Sun. “Oh! Oh, y-yes, sir! That…that would be AMAZING, thank you, sir!” “We’ll see then,” nodded Schoenheit, then gripped Harmonia’s hand more tightly and leaned forward, his smile somewhat sinister. “However, right now we ARE in a competition. I think it would be wise for both of us to keep our heads in the game. Don’t you?” “Ah! Oh, y-yes! Yes, that’s true! Um…thank you again, Mr. Schoenheit. Sir.” Vil chuckled softly, and released Harmonia’s hand. “You’re welcome,” he said, serenely but sincerely. Harmonia was still beaming with joy as he stepped back. While these introductions had been going on, Dire Crowley had been busy checking his pocket watch. “Well,” the Headmage of Night Raven spoke up. “The other team should be arriving shortly, as well as our Head Monster.” “Correction, Headmage Crowley!” called a somewhat creaky sort of voice. “The other team has arrived!” Harmonia and the Night Raven crew looked to see a group of students approaching from the opposite side of the woodland clearing. The expressions on all of the Night Raven students’ faces turned a bit cold as they saw the blue robes of Ambrose LXIII - headmaster of Royal Sword - and the similarly-hued gym uniforms that were worn by the students following close behind him. A few of the newcomers were familiar to the NRC students already: one was a young fellow in a green beret, who hovered over the rest of the RSA Captains Pool with a cocksure smile on his face. Sebek quickly recognized him as Matthew Satyr, who had bedeviled the NRC crew during the Scavenger’s Hunt competition. Another familiar figure was Neige LeBlanche, who waved cheerfully at Vil as he all but skipped forward. Vil responded with a cold sort of smile and a curt nod.

Others, however, were less well-known. One was a strapping youth with dark-toned skin, and long, somewhat shaggy, curly hair. A pin that resembled a sunflower was stuck into said hair, and from beneath the moppish top sprouted two curled horns and a pair of pointed animal ears. His mouth was filled with sharp teeth. His hands ended in long white gloves, which tapered at the fingertips, as if to conceal claws. These were barely visible as he crossed his arms and snorted like a buffalo; his demeanor was a perfect match to that of Howl and Zigvolt. Another had curious, pinkish skin, and brick-colored hair that was tied back into a long ponytail. He, too, had horns: they were colored sky blue, and resembled those of a Long. He had pointed ears, and carried a long, golden-tipped staff in one hand. His smile was boyish and slightly mischievous, a sort of sneaky gleam in his deep brown eyes. The other two appeared to be good friends, given how they stood very close to one another. One had a somewhat dopey, blithe sort of smile on his face, contrasted by blue-gray eyes the color of steel. His hair was a sort of honey-blonde shade, and his body was plump and soft in form. The RSA member who stood a little behind him, as if hiding shyly from the rest of the assembled people, had black hair that matched his dark eyes. His expression was somewhat dour, and a small bandage stretched across the bridge of his nose; another was visible curled around one of his fingers. Along with his gym uniform, he wore a sort of fanciful hood, which resembled the ears of a donkey. “I count six possible Captains here, Ambrose,” sniffed Crowley, somewhat snootily. “Where is your seventh? Or do you intend to volunteer yourself?” “Hardly,” chortled Ambrose, with a jolly smile. “I assure you, my seventh option IS present.” “Oh?” piped up Riddle Rosehearts. “Then where has he gone, sir?” Riddle stiffened as a familiar giggle entered his ear, and he felt a long, fluffy tail suddenly sweep across his front, curling about from somewhere behind him. “Gone?” purred a voice. “I’m not gone. Or then again, purr-haps I AM gone. Yet I’m still here! Curiouser and curiouser, wouldn’t you say?” The tail swept up, tickling Riddle’s nose and making him sneeze. As Riddle staggered in surprise, the tail vanished…then reappeared on a tree branch above everyone’s head. The body of Che’Nya soon apparated into view. Unlike all the other RSA members, he was dressed in his usual clothes, rather than a gym uniform. He was licking the back of one hand, like a cat grooming their paw…but stopped, twitching one pink-furred ear when he saw the looks everyone flashed his way. “Sorryyyyy!” he sang out, teasingly, sticking out his tongue and winking at Riddle, who gave him a flustered glare. “I could NOT resist!”

Some of the RSA members sniggered, while Riddle just grumbled under his breath. Cater shook his head wearily while Deuce rolled his eyes. “You all know him, clearly,” chuckled Ambrose, then gestured to the rest of the students with him. “Not to mention Mr. Satyr and Mr. LeBlanche. As for the rest, allow me to introduce Qiao Zhou, Paisley Burr, and Ivo DePrece. All that’s missing is our Head Monster,” Ambrose observed. “Then we can begin the selection. He IS on his way, isn’t he, Headmage Crowley?” “Of course!” harrumphed the Headmaster of Night Raven, and looked towards Vil. “You did tell him the time to meet us, didn’t you?” “I did,” Vil confirmed. “And Billy rarely disappoints me. Anymore.” “I g-guess that’s good to hear,” Harmonia spoke up. “So, um…in that case, how soon till he-?” He was cut off with a yelp when, suddenly, the earth beneath all their feet seemed to shake. Then it happened again…and again…and again. A sound accompanied each quake: THUMP-A-THUMP-A-THUMP! All of the NRC students smirked. They knew that sound. The RSA students, meanwhile, began to mill about in alarm: Qiao Zhou dropped into a battle-ready pose, holding his staff with a determined glare. Matthew Satyr, similarly, grabbed hold of his dueling rod, which he had brought with him. Paisley blinked and stumbled back a bit, eyes rather wide, while Neige yelped and held onto his hat, letting a startled squeak of “Jiminy Christmas…!” Only Ivo and Che’Nya seemed thoroughly unfazed: the Cheshire Cat was grooming himself and didn’t even appear to notice. Ivo, meanwhile, just gave a dull, almost bored, slow blink as he remained standing behind Paisley. Harmonia seemed the most frightened of all. He knew these were the footsteps of the giant he’d been warned of all his life: the descendant of the nightmare his family had once faced many decades ago. Already, his mind began to conjure up hideous images of what kind of horrendous beast could be approaching. He trembled, and even began to pray silently, as his heart beat quickened with every step…until, finally… CRASH! Two trees were pushed aside, and a mountainous figure stepped into view, looming over all as his shadow fell across them. Gasps of amazement came from the RSA students. Harmonia felt his heart catch in his throat, as he saw a giant pair of boots, covering feet the size of a couple of boats. His eyes trailed upwards, and he saw a truly tremendous body, covered up by the purple-and-green camouflage of a Monster uniform. Wide hips and thighs thicker than any tree trunk transitioned to a belly bigger than anything the Golden Harp had imagined. Muscles could be detected beneath the burly arms’ sheaths of blubber, and a barrel chest rested at the top of the diaphragm. Harmonia felt himself start to whimper, as he continued to look up, up, up…and into the giant’s face… …And at that point, his expression shifted, as he saw round, soft cheeks, a pair of bright, baby-blue eyes, carrot colored hair…and a happy-go-lucky gap-toothed smile. “Hello down there!” the giant called happily. “Sorry I’m late, little friends! Had trouble getting my pants on, heh…anyway, I can’t wait to play with you all! This is gonna be so much fun!” Harmonia gulped nervously. As those sweet, happy words and a surprisingly childish giggle filled the air, all he could think of was one thing. Oh, sweet Gods…he’s adorable.

“Mr. A’Cappella,” Crowley piped up, waving one hand between Harmonia and Billy respectively. “Allow me to introduce Billy Geant: Night Raven’s resident giant, and descendant of the Monster of Happy Valley. Mr. Geant? Meet Mr. A’Cappella.” Billy nodded, and smiled down at A’Cappella brightly. “Hi, Mr. A’Cappella!” he bellowed, and knelt down, holding out a single finger towards him. “Nice to meetcha! You can just call me Billy!” Harmonia froze up as that hand swept down towards him. He paused, looking Billy up and down carefully. The ogre was even larger than he had imagined, and he could practically feel gravity’s draw on his body. He glanced towards the giant’s belly, which sagged low and heavy, spilling over and across the titan’s thigh from its obesity. He shivered a bit, and then held out one comparatively puny hand, and shook the tip of Billy’s fat finger. The skin was warm. Soft. Clean. For some reason, that surprised Harmonia: with the way his family described giants, he’d imagined the the skin to be hard as stone, callused, horribly sweaty, or unpleasantly leathery in texture. He hadn’t expected it to be so…nice. “Th-the feeling’s…mutual,” he said, and smiled a tiny bit. “And, uh…just call me Harmonia, okay?” “Okay, Ammonia!” Snickers suddenly erupted from several people. Vil facepalmed. Harmonia blushed. “N-No, uh…it’s Harmonia.” “...Harmonica?” “Close! Close, um…say it with me slowly, okay? Har-mo-ni-a.” Billy nodded slowly, knitting his brow, focusing REALLY hard as he repeated: “Har-mo-ni-a…Harmonia!” “That’s it!” grinned the harp boy with a giggle. “See? You can do it if you try.” Billy blushed and giggled a bit. “Thanks, uh…H-Harmonia,” he said gratefully. Harmonia smiled wider, as he saw the big behemoth scratch the back of his huge head in embarrassment. He would have been lying if he said that he didn’t feel some trepidation, still, but…the giant didn’t SEEM ill-natured. If anything, he seemed…sweet, and even all that hugeness was starting to seem more cuddly than intensely intimidating. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

“Good morning, Housewarden!” Billy cheered, giving a respectful nod to Vil, and then a mock salute to Epel. “And hello, Epel!” “You seem excited this morning,” Epel smiled, somewhat teasingly. “Why wouldn’t I be?” Billy laughed in response. “Don’t expect us to be any less competitive, just because we’re part of the same dorm,” Vil said, warningly, crossing his arms with a smirk. “I expect you to do your best today, Billy. I shall be doing the same.” Billy smirked back. “Oh, trust me,” he said, and licked his lips none-too-subtly. “I’m not going easy on anyone. I promised you all that from the start.” “If the niceties are out of the way,” chuckled the voice of Headmage Ambrose, “I think it’s time we get this game underway. Don’t you, Headmage Crowley?” “Indeed!” boomed Dire Crowley. “So! Mr. Geant, you shall be first: who from this pool…” He tipped his hat in the direction of the RSA team. “...Will you pick for the Monster Captain?” Billy’s giant head swung around on his shoulders. It tilted slightly as he blinked his very large, baby blue eyes at the seven students from Royal Sword. Matthew and Qiao puffed out their chests with pride…then noticed each other, frowned, and tried to nudge one another aside, like a couple of schoolboys vying for attention. Paisley smiled in a dopey, dumb way and gave a little cheery wave (Billy waved back), while Ivo just blinked in a slow, drab way. As for Adam, he gave a smirk and flexed one arm, showing off the firm biceps beneath his gym suit, while Neige gave a friendly smile and a bow. Che’Nya just swirled into view on top of a nearby log. He smirked, rolled his eyes, and yawned, nonchalantly watching a butterfly go by. Billy immediately pointed a finger towards Che’Nya. “This one,” he smiled. “I want him!” Riddle blanched and sucked in air in a sound of shock, startling everyone else. Only Che’Nya and Billy seemed not to notice. The giant was beaming, and the Cheshire Cat looked astonished. “Me-ow?” he responded, pointing to himself, wide-eyed and surprised. “Yuh-huh!” Billy nodded enthusiastically, and looked toward the two headmages. “I want the pink kitty!” “Interesting choice,” murmured Ambrose, sounding intrigued. “Why would you choose Mr. Alchemivich, eh?” questioned Crowley. Billy blinked. He looked between Che’Nya and the Headmages, as if he seriously couldn’t get why they would even ask that question. His response was slow and measured, as if he were explaining to children… “Pink. Kitty. Do I need another reason?”

Harmonia had to bite his knuckle to keep from squealing with laughter. Qiao, Matthew, and Adam all huffed in disappointment, while Paisley, Ivo, and Neige offered congratulations to the Cheshire Cat. Every single student at Night Raven flushed with embarrassment. Several of them seemed to become very interested in their shoes, all of a sudden. Riddle’s expression still bordered on the mortified. “Yes…well…ahem!” coughed Crowley, who seemed equally flummoxed. “A very…unorthodox method, Mr. Geant. We’ll see how it serves your fellow students in the competition.” “Thank you, Headmage…I think,” chuckled Billy, scratching his pink cheek. “Now, Mr. A’Cappella,” Ambrose LXIII spoke up, stroking his white beard. “Would you be so kind as to choose your team captain from the Night Raven side?” Harmonia’s smile faded, and he turned serious. Tossing some of his golden bangs out of his similarly golden eyes, he looked towards the seven NRC members. He had to admit…this wasn’t an easy choice to make. Naturally, he had a bias towards Vil Schoenheit: a celebrity, an entrepreneur, a Housewarden…he had ample credentials. Then again, he knew that Riddle Rosehearts was a Housewarden as well; he’d seen him on television in the Magift competition. Deuce Spade, Jack Howl, and Sebek Zigvolt all seemed strong and hardy; Harmonia got the feeling none of them would be brilliant strategists, but they certainly had physical fitness on their side. And then there was Cater Diamond…who was snapping selfies of himself, winking and sticking out his tongue… …Yeah, Harmonia dismissed him immediately. But that still left six other candidates who could work out well… The golden boy’s eyes finally fell towards Epel. Small. Effeminate. Almost doe-like in appearance, with somewhat untidy lavender hair, and a light sort of voice. A smile painted Harmonia’s face, and he pointed to his choice. “I elect Epel Felmier for the Farmer Team Captain.” The other Night Raven students seemed utterly floored…except for Cater, who laughed and clapped Epel on the back with a cheer of, “WOO-HOO! HashtagCongratulations!” “M-Me?” Epel gasped, seemingly just as surprised. “Why me?” Harmonia shrugged in response, with a gentle sort of smile. “I’ve only known you for a couple of minutes, but I somehow feel the two of us are kindred spirits. Not only that, but you have strength and experiences that I’ve never gotten to enjoy. If I were to be in charge of a team, I’d hope to have a leader like you.” He extended a hand to Felmier. “I have faith that you and your friends will save me.” Epel blushed…but then a confident smile crossed his face. He shook Harmonia’s hand firmly and nodded. “You can count on me.” “I hope so,” chuckled Harmonia. “And so the choices are made!” Ambrose declared, clapping his hands together with a smile. “The game can finally commence!”

“Indeed,” nodded Crowley, and addressed both teams. “Both sides will be led to their respective main camps, where the participating students are gathered. The Head Monster will bring the Golden Harp to the Colosseum. The Captains shall be given fifteen minutes to select their aids and devise a strategy. In exactly a half hour, the hunt for the Golden Harp will begin. Myself and Headmage Ambrose will now lead our students to their headquarters.”

The two Headmages, having announced this, shook hands with each other (Crowley’s smile was extremely forced, Ambrose’s less so), and then marched off, leading their teams away. Epel cast a brief glance back at Harmonia and Billy before hastening off. Harmonia and Billy watched as the rest soon disappeared into the woods. The former gave a nod to Che’Nya, who smiled back and winked, giving a salute before swishing his tail as he swaggered off with the other RSA members. “Bye-bye, little friends!” Billy sang, waving farewell to all of the students…then looked down at Harmonia. Harmonia, in turn, looked up at the giant. They were now completely alone. Just the two of them. The Monster and the Harp. Nervous, anxious, fluttering feelings flitted about in Harmonia’s chest as he suddenly realized his vulnerable state. There were no Headmages, nor even other students, here to try and help. From this point on, his life was quite literally in the hands of the ogre. For a moment, he worried that now would be when the proverbial shoe would drop: when the titan would suddenly go from seemingly sweet and tender to showing his fangs (either literally, figuratively, or both). But instead, Billy just smiled down at him with a happy “little” look on his face, blinking his big blue eyes curiously. “So,” the giant said at last. “Are you ready to go?” “G-Go?” peeped Harmonia, backing up a step. Billy giggled and tossed his head indicatively. “To the Colosseum! That’s where you and I have to stay while I’m guarding you! Part of the game, right?” “Oh! Oh, r-right, um…s-sure, I…I’m ready to go when…when you are-EEP!” Harmonia flinched as a huge hand - larger than his whole body - suddenly swept down again, and stretched palm open before him. He looked between the fat hand and Billy’s face, as Geant smiled in a playful, exuberant way that showed the gap between his teeth. “Come on then!” Billy cheered. “It’s okay, little friend. I won’t hurt you! I’ll be super-duper careful, mega promise!” He crossed his heart with his free hand and added, “Giant’s Honor!” Harmonia nearly retorted that he didn’t know giants HAD honor…but already, he felt that would be a cruel and unjust response. He could tell saying such a thing would have hurt Billy’s feelings, and…well…somehow, he already knew that hurting Billy’s feelings wasn’t something he wanted to do. So - with the caution one might use when trying to defuse a bomb - Harmonia stepped up onto the soft, slightly springy-feeling surface of the giant’s plump palm. He sat down and braced himself as, a moment later, Billy rose back to his full height, carrying Harmonia up, up, up off the ground. The Golden Harp willed himself not to look down, as he could already feel his stomach flip from the change in air pressure and the feeling of gravity shifting beneath him. Billy smiled and cocked his head as he looked at the little one in the palm of his hand. He had to bite his lip to keep from squeeing. “Awww…you’re ADORABLE!” he cooed, unable to hold in his excitement, a blush painting his face, as he lifted his other hand, pointing one finger at Harmonia. “You’re so little, and you have such a cute little outfit…I wish I had a cool golden outfit like that! You look awesome!” Harmonia felt a little breathless as he nudged the finger away, not wanting to be poked, and barely managed to eep out a sincere but somewhat scared, “Th-thank you.” “You’re welcome!” grinned Billy, and cocked his head the other way. The action reminded Harmonia so much of a curious puppy, it was kind of hilarious. “Comfy there, little friend?” “M-More or less…” “Then let’s get moving,” Billy nodded. “Hold on tight, and don’t worry: I won’t let you go.” Under the circumstances, Harmonia felt there was a certain irony to those words…but he decided not to comment on it. Instead, he just sat quietly, as Billy began to march through the woods, his giant footsteps shaking the forest around them as he tromped in the direction of the Colosseum. The games had begun.

To Be Continued in Part Two…

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daisies-daydreams · 11 months

Note

Hi daisy as you said you do oc x canon i had been dying to find a blog like yours and here iam 😌 So I would love to request my oc Lilian I have a drawing of her on a papper but it wont look so good so I will still give a description on her by writing I hope I don't give too many detils but here she is !

I know it looks so ugly but yeah so she has stawberry pink hair and heterochromia one aqua blue eye and a lignt green eye. And fleckles She is from a skyisland that speaks a ancient language and workship a god she also has a tattoo on the rignt leg that represent the god like this

She personlity is very cute sweet/kind , naive, curious,shy loves helping people Lilian also loves giving hugs and kisses to her loved ones .But don't be fooled she can use magic her village uses magic like wayer magic telkniss magic too tho.She is pretty short she is 165cm(5,5 ft).But now to the request Lilian has just moved away from her home and family she arrives at town with her suitcase with her belongsing goes to a bar and orders a beer and some bread.But than the red hair pirates come in and sits down.She catchs shanks eyes because of her appearance and her clothes that she is wearing and he goes and sits down beside and starts to chat. By the she joins shanks crew and crew gets to know her and her bakround I hope you understand my request and no this not a love fic just friends.

⚠️But if this is too much detils decilne than.I hope I can request again some time.! Have a amazing day love❤💗!

The Found Voyager (OC!Lilian x Shanks - Platonic)

Pairing: OP!OC!Lilian x Shanks (Platonic) Category: Fluff Warnings: Swearing, Drinking Word Count: 4.2k+

A/N: Hello! Thank you very much for your request! I love the design for Lillian-she looks like a very sweet and headstrong person. I hope you enjoy the story!

Part 2

Lilian’s long, pink hair whipped in the sea breeze as she took her first step onto the rickety docks of Fairage. Her blue and green eyes sparkled as she heard the unfamiliar crunch of gravel underneath her foot. She ground the flat of her shoe against it, relishing in the fact that after all this time, she finally made it to the World Below. Lilian clutched her hand against her chest as she took a deep breath.

“Look for the shop with the silver fleur-de-lis,” she reminded herself. Her heart thumped as she took another step forward, her mind racing at the different sights and sounds around her. Children holding their mother’s hands, fishermen hollering about their fresh stock, a few dogs barking and rushing around wildly. Her eyes scanned the rows of shops and booths until they landed on a silver symbol.

"I found it!" she squealed internally. Lilian gasped when a man with messy, crimson hair bumped into her. He whipped around and rested his hand on his temple.

“My apologies, miss,” he said with an apologetic smile. Before Lilian could reply, he had already faded into the crowd. She closed her mouth and shrugged before turning to the large, wooden door. She smiled as she opened the squeaky door, a high-pitched ring echoing through the small shop.

"Be out in a second!" a croaky voice called past the rows and rows of stuffed shelves. Lilian parted her lips as she spun around, completely enraptured by the variety of knick-knacks, weapons and other bizarre items that lined the shelves. She gasped when she accidentally bumped into something rough and large. Lilian whipped around, her eyes widening when a massive, hulking man with a bandana over his head raised a brow and grunted.

"I-I'm very sorry, sir!" the young lady said as she held up her hands. A clatter rang out through the room as a curly-haired woman burst out from the back.

"I really need to clean this damn place," she sighed as she dusted off her sleeves. The older woman perked her head up when she noticed Lilian standing in front of the giant man...or more specifically, her large suitcase.

"Ah, welcome to Minerva's Menagerie! Anything Antiques and Pawn Shop ®, " she greeted while motioning towards the counter. Lilian gave the man a small smile before following Minerva. The older woman grunted as she clutched her cane and plopped herself down on a comfy stool. "So, what can I do for you today, dearie?" the shopkeeper asked.

Lilian smiled and heaved her large suitcase onto the counter. Minerva raised a brow as the young lady rummaged through the various items that was tossed around on her journey. She grinned as she triumphantly pulled out a dark, medium-sized bag. Minerva's eyes widened as Lilian pulled out several pieces of fine, sparkling jewelry. The older woman's face nearly lost all color when she saw a necklace adorned with the symbol of the Fairy Goddess.

"I know it's not a lot, but Kumo told me that it's worth a lot-"

She snapped her head towards the large man.

"The shop is closed for a private appointment!" she said as she shuffled towards him.

"What?" he huffed with furrowed brows. She shooed him out with her cane before whipping her head around. "Same goes for the two of you back there! And you better put back whatever you have in your pockets!" Minerva bellowed. Lilian pursed her lips as she heard some muttering followed by clanging.

"Carefully!" the shopkeeper screeched. Two similar, dark-haired looking men tumbled out, one wearing an eyepatch and the other a scar over his chin. They scowled at Lilian before making their way out of the shop. Minerva gave a firm nod as she locked the door behind her. The woman turned back to Lilian.

"Sorry about that," she said as she clasped her hands, her demeanor shifting in the blink of an eye. Lilian gave an uncomfortable expression.

"Did I say something wrong?" she asked. Minerva cackled as she hobbled back to her stool.

"Not at all. It's just been a while since I've heard that old geezers name," she winked as she tapped her cane on the rug. Lilian's lips tightened.

"Well, he told me to come find you and give you these," she breathed as she pushed the jewelry forward. Minerva hummed and stroked her chin, her gaze shifting between the young woman.

"Tell me again...how do you know Kumo?" she asked. Lilian bit the inside of her cheek.

"Oh...friend of a friend?" she said in a high-pitched voice. Minerva pursed her lips.

"I see," she sighed before yanking down a magnifying apparatus from the ceiling. "Now, let’s see what we’ve got here,” the shopkeeper said as she pulled down a magnifying apparatus from the ceiling. The shopkeeper poked her tongue out as she took the delicate necklace into her wrinkled hands.

“Mhm, ah yes, I see,” she hummed. Minerva continued the process until she pulled the apparatus up with a high-pitched creak. She leaned forward on her palms. “I can give you five-hundred Berries for the brooches each…and five thousand for the Fairy Goddess Necklace,” she explained. Lilian’s jaw dropped.

“Five thousand?!" she yelped. Lilian slapped her hands over her mouth. “Sorry-five thousand?!” she whispered loudly. Minerva nodded with a chuckle as she placed the items behind the desk and locked them in a cabinet.

“That’s right," she hummed. Lilian swallowed.

"O-Oh, well...I don't want to take that much from you," she replied sheepishly. Minerva waved her hand.

"Ah, nonsense. I'm sure you just arrived here from Fairygod Island, right?" she asked. Lilian nodded. Minerva clanked her cane against the ground. "Then I'm more than happy to assist a fellow Islander," she beamed. Lilian smiled as the shopkeeper gathered together her cash and handed it to her in a dark, leather bag.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Minerva," Lilian replied. A loud, gurgling sound suddenly rumbled between them. The young woman's eyes widened as she clutched her stomach. Minerva chuckled.

"If you're hungry, there's a nice pub right across the street," she suggested as she crossed her arms. Lilian hummed as she closed up her suitcase.

"Thank you for the recommendation," she smiled.

“Anytime,” Minerva said. "Hope to see you again soon," she beamed. Lilian returned her grin before hauling her suitcase out the door. Her heart leapt inside her chest as she stepped into the bustling street. The sun had dipped a little past the skyline of the city as she whistled an ancient tune to herself.

She froze when a group of children rushed past her, all of them giggling and carrying colorful pinwheels in their hands. Lilian giggled to herself before she glanced up.

“'The Salty Serpent'," she read as the sign above her gently swayed in the wind. "Sounds lovely!” she chirped as she opened the door. Lilian's eyes widened when a saucer flied towards her. She squeaked and ducked her head as it grazed over her pink loops. The young woman winced as she heard it crash against a brick wall behind her.

“Sorry about the mess! And by mess, I mean this lot,” a young, blue-haired woman called from inside as she gestured to all the men. They all turned their attention to the slender woman standing in the doorway with her suitcase in hand. Lilian gave a polite curtsy before walking inside, sending her bright smile all around the room. One could hear a pin drop, the crowd completely silent as Lilian strode over to an empty stool at the bar. The bartender raised her brow at the man at the piano.

"Well, what'd you stop for?!" she exasperated. The blonde man sat up straight before going back to playing a cheery tune. The pub slowly shuffled back to life as Lilian clasped her hands together. “Haven’t seen you around here before,” the bartender said as she dried out a glass mug. Lilian nodded as she set her suitcase at her feet.

“I just got here today,” she explained with a bright smile. The blue-haired woman hummed as she slung the rag over her shoulder.

“Well, welcome to Fairage, newcomer. Name’s Emilie,” she said as she held out her hand.

“Lilian,” she replied while shaking the other woman's hand. Lilian gasped and laid a hand over her belly as it rumbled.

“You hungry?” Emilie chuckled. Lilian nodded.

“Could I just have some bread and beer please?” she asked.

“That’s all?” Emilie asked with a raised brow. The pink-haired woman nodded again. “Alright then. One bread and beer coming up,” the bartender said before padding towards the rows of bottles. She quickly returned with Lilian’s food.

“Thank you,” she said with a polite smile.

“Sure thing. If ya need anything else, just let me know,” she said. Lilian watched as Emilie busied herself with arranging some glasses. The pink-haired woman brought the mug up to her lips. She furrowed her brows as the bubbly drink washed over her taste buds. Lilian cringed a little at the acidic taste before setting the glass down.

“It’s not for everyone,” Emilie said. The young woman nodded as she took the bread into her hands. She brought it up to her lips and nibbled on it, squishing her fingers together. She happily ate her small snack as the front door suddenly swung open. Lilian jumped in her chair while Emilie rested her hands on her hips.

“Well, well-didn’t think I’d see you around here anytime soon, Shanks,” she lilted. Lilian turned to see a group of men file into the tavern. They were all different heights and sizes, each one more unique than the last. She completely forgot she was still nibbling on her bread until a familiar-looking man slid into the chair next to her. He flashed her a smile.

“Do you always eat like a hamster?” Shanks chuckled. His eyes grew as wide as dinner plates as Lilian tilted her head towards him.

"Hey...you're that woman I ran into earlier," he muttered.

“What’s a hamster?” she disregarded his statement. His jaw dropped as he chortled and slapped his thigh. His smile instantly fell when he saw her serious expression.

“Wait-you’re not joking?” he asked. Lilian shook her head.

“Sorry, I’m from…out of town,” she said while shifting her eyes back and forth. Shanks hummed as he rested his cheek on his palm.

“Really? Where’re you from then?” he asked with genuine intrigue. Lilian nearly choked on her tiny bite. She coughed a few times and cleared her throat.

“Fairygod Island. It's in the sky,” she said with a nervous smile. Shanks blinked before he burst into laughter along with the rest of his crew.

“I like this one! She has a great sense of humor!” he boomed. Lilian couldn’t help but giggle at his exuberant personality. “Emilie, please get our new friend here some beef stew. On me,” the red-haired man smiled. Lilian’s cheeks flushed.

“Y-You don’t have to do that,” Lilian said shyly. Shanks waved his hand.

“It’s no problem at all. Besides, I owe you after bumping into you earlier,” he beamed. Lilian bit the inside of her cheek as she folded her hands in her lap. “Oh and a beer for me as well,” Shanks added.

“I’ll add that to your tab that you’re definitely paying off this time...right?” Emilie asked. Shanks remained stiff as a board. “Right?” the bartender repeated.

“Sure,” he grinned and rubbed the back of his neck.

“You really suck at lying,” Emilie sighed as she shook her head. Shanks chuckled and let his hand fall back to his side.

“I know,” he replied. Emilie narrowed her eyes before she clicked her tongue.

“I’ll be back with the soup,” she said as she pointed her finger at the pirate. He held his hands up in surrender as she shuffled to the kitchen. She soon returned with a piping hot bowl of beef stew and a large mug of beer. Lilian’s eyes sparkled when she saw the hearty meal in front of her.

“Thank you, sir,” she said. Shanks nodded before taking a swig of beer.

“Just Shanks is fine,” he replied. Lilian smiled sheepishly and nodded. She brought the bread up to her lips before gently nibbling on the end, her hands pressed together. The young woman smiled happily and wiggled in her seat as the savory flavor of the soup mellowed inside her mouth. She noticed Shanks staring at her.

“Is something wrong?” she asked with genuine concern. Shanks glanced away before taking a big sip.

“Just thinking,” he said.

“About what?” she asked. Shanks stroked his chin.

“About why a refined young lady such as yourself is wandering around a town like Fairage,” the pirate answered. Lilian squeezed the spoon in her hand.

“Well…it’s a bit of a long story,” the young woman replied as she stirred her meal.

“Good thing I have time to kill, then,” he grinned. Lilian sighed.

“I wanted just to live a normal life. A life away from the pala-from my parents' expectations,” Lilian quickly corrected herself. Shanks adjusted in his seat.

“So, you’re a runaway?” he asked. Lilian nodded, her blue and green eyes growing a bit glossy. The man beside her straightened as she sniffed and wiped the tears from her freckled cheeks.

“I-I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting to get this emotional,” she laughed quietly. Shank’s brows furrowed. Lilian tilted her head up when he placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Hey, you don’t have anything to be sorry for,” he said softly. Lilian’s heart skipped a beat as she smiled.

“I just…I thought it’d be so easy to leave since I wanted it for so long…but I still miss a lot of people I left behind,” she sighed. Shanks nodded as he patted her shoulder.

“Of course,” he said with a sympathetic smile. Lilian mirrored his expression before she heard the sound of Emilie sighing.

“Man, why can’t I ever keep these things alive?” she frowned as she brushed her fingers over a wilting flower. Lilian tilted her head before looking around. She flicked her free hand beneath the bar. A green glow emitted from her slender fingertips as well as the rose tattoo on her leg. Emilie gasped as the flower straightened out, its original vibrant crimson returning to its petals.

“Oh my goodness!” she yelped and nearly dropped the vase. Everyone turned to look in her direction.

“Now how did that happen?” Shanks wondered aloud as he scratched his head. Lilian shrugged.

“Who knows?” she laughed nervously. The red-haired pirate glanced her way with a pensive expression. He bit the inside of his cheek as everyone gathered around to see the miraculous flower. The Chief shifted in his seat to face her.

“I’m afraid I never got your name,” he said.

“Oh! It’s Lilian,” the young woman smiled and held out her hand. Shanks grinned as he shook her delicate hand, his calloused palm rubbing over hers.

“Pleasure to meet you, Lilian,” he grinned before lowering his hand to his side. He paused for a moment. “Sorry if I come across as rude, but you have no place to stay as of now, right?” Shanks asked. She nodded.

“Yeah, I guess I didn’t think that far ahead,” she replied sheepishly. Shanks hummed as he rubbed his chin.

“Well…what do you think of joining my crew?” he asked. Her eyes widened as time seemed to stand still. “Forgive my bluntness-it’s just…I’d hate it if you were wandering the streets with no one looking out for you,” Shanks explained. Lilian nodded as her heart swelled.

“T-Thank you,” she blushed. Shanks hummed as he scratched his stubbly jaw. He suddenly gained a serious expression.

“Lilian, I’ll be honest with you. Being a part of my crew will not be easy-in fact, it’ll be downright dangerous,” he began. Lilian leaned a bit closer, intrigue pulling her in like a lasso. “There are other pirates, Marines, and all sorts of other groups who want nothing more than our heads,” Shanks stated. She gasped.

“You’re a criminal?” Lilian murmured behind her hands. The pirate chuckled.

“Depends on who you ask,” he said. Lilian pursed her lips before Shanks cleared his throat. “Anyway, it certainly won’t be the “normal” life you were speaking of earlier, but I can tell you this: you’ll never be bored, you’ll get to see incredible sights, and you’ll have even more incredible people to lean on,” he beamed. Lilian smiled as he shifted in his chair a bit more and gazed straight into her heterochromatic eyes.

“So…what do you say?” Shanks asked with an excited grin. The young woman thought to herself for a moment and closed her eyes. She prayed to the Fairy Goddess for guidance before opening them again.

“I’ll go,” she beamed. Shanks’ smile grew even wider as he slapped his thigh.

“Fantastic! Emilie! Let’s have another round to celebrate our newest crew member: Lilian!” he called. The Red-Haired Pirates stared at the pink-haired woman in shock before they came rushing up to her.

“Are you really joining our crew?” a larger man with glasses and a striped cap asked. Lilian nodded.

“Yes sir!” she beamed. The group of men cheered. Her smile grew all the more wider as she looked over the room, her heart feeling lighter than air as she took in the sight of her new friends celebrating. She peeked over at Shanks before leaning over and pressing her lips to his stubbly cheek. He immediately tensed as his face flushed a deep red.

“Thank you,” Lilian smiled as she took his hand into hers. Shanks swallowed thickly.

“Oi Shanks! Your face is looking just as red as your hair!” a man with caramel-colored dreads pointed and laughed. Shanks clenched his jaw.

“Why is your face so red?” Lilian asked. The pirate turned back to her and coughed into his hand.

“Well, it’s just been a while since I’ve been kissed on the cheek by a pretty woman like yourself,” he explained. The tips of Lilian’s ears burned.

“Oh my goodness! I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” she flushed. Shanks tilted his head as Lilian bit her lip. “You see, where I’m from, a kiss on the cheek is how we greet friends, and holding hands is how we show that our friendship is an everlasting bond,” the young woman explained. His face slowly returned back to its normal color as he sighed.

“Understood,” he chuckled as he took a sip of his beer. The crew came up to Lilian and asked her all sorts of questions (many of which she dodged with answers provided to her by Kumo). Eventually, the rowdiness died down as they all had their share of beer. Emilie held her hand out.

“The tab,” she said with raised brows. Shanks grumbled as he pulled out a few bills and handed it over. Emilie gave a firm nod as she counted the money. The red-haired man nudged Lilian’s elbow and leaned over.

“I’d be happy to show you around your new home and help you get settled in,” he whispered. Lilian beamed as she took his hand into hers, drawing another blush from his cheeks.

“I’d love that,” she replied with a sweet smile.

+++

There was more drinking when the crew returned to the Red Force...a lot more drinking. The crewmembers sang songs and stumbled around the decks as Lilian watched with another mug in hand. Shanks wandered over to her and took a swig of sake. He sniffed and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.

"You want to try?" he asked. She vigorously shook her head. "Suit yourself," the Chief shrugged before taking another sip. He hummed as she rubbed her hands together. "Something wrong?" he asked. Lilian glanced over and bit her lip.

"Could we find a place that's a bit more private? I...I need to tell you something," she said with a shaky breath. Shanks blinked before setting his sake down.

"Sure. Follow me," he replied. He led her past the rowdy men towards his quarters. Lilian's heart thrummed in her ears as she stepped inside, the room dimly lit with candles.

"So, what did you want to tell me?" Shanks asked with a casual smile as he folded his arms. Lilian took a deep breath.

"You know how I said that I was from an island in the sky?" she asked. Shanks nodded.

"Yep," he replied. The woman sighed as she played with the red-beaded bracelet on her wrist.

"Well...what if I told you I wasn't joking?" Lilian asked. There was a short pause.

"I'm sorry...what?" the Chief asked as he lowered his arms to his sides. Lilian curled and uncurled her fists before standing up straight.

"It's true. I just arrived her today on my hippogriff," she said as she squeezed her eyes shut. Shanks blinked.

"Oooookay..." he said incredulously. Lilian sighed.

"Listen, I know it sounds crazy, but I'm telling the truth!" she said as her shoulder slumped. "Kumo told me people would think I'm crazy if I told them," she groaned.

"Who's Kumo?" Shanks asked. Lilian turned around.

"He's my bu-best friend," she said. The Chief hummed and crossed his arms.

"I see-and I don't think you sound crazy. I've always known the Sky Islands as only myths," the man explained.

"Oh," Lilian said as she glanced down at her feet. There was short pause between the two.

"Anything else I need to know about you?" he quickly changed the subject at the sign of her uncomfortable expression. Lilian hummed.

"Well...I do have some magical skills," she said in a muffled voice. Shanks leaned closer.

"What was that?" he asked. Lilian sucked in a sharp breath.

"I-I can do some magic," she said a bit louder. The red-haired man's eyes widened.

"You mean...at the Serpent today, when Emilie's plant grew back...that was you?" he asked. Lilian flushed and nodded.

"Yes! I can also perform water magic," she explained with a bright smile. Shanks raised a brow.

"Prove it," he said. Lilian blinked.

"What?" she asked. Shanks walked over to his desk and pulled out a glass flask. He set it down on his desk with a heavy clank.

"Push the cap off of this flask with your magic," he said. Lilian glanced back and forth between him and the flask before gulping.

"O-Okay. You might want to stand back though," she said. Shanks did as she said before she planted both of her feet firmly on the floor. She narrowed her eyes as she held her hand out. Her rose tattoo began to glow a light blue in tandem with her fingertips as she maintained her eye contact on the glass flask. The object shook violently before suddenly exploding. Lilian gasped as the glass shards tumbled throughout the room.

"I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!" she yelled. Shanks looked down at the mess at his feet, a few pieces of glass merely sticking to the outside of his clothes. He chuckled.

"Miss Lilian, you are full of surprises," the Chief grinned as he dusted himself off. Lilian blushed and smiled before helping him clean up the mess. She frowned when she saw a red mark across his hand.

"Your hand," she muttered. Shanks looked down and laughed.

"That's nothing, trust me," he said as he rummaged through his drawers and pulled out a small box. The Chief pulled out some bandages with his single hand.

"Here, let me," Lilian urged as she rested her hand over his. Shanks looked into her eyes and smiled softly.

"If you insist," he grinned as she sank into his chair. She pulled out the small pieces of glass before disinfecting the wound. "That tattoo on your leg...does it always glow when you use your magic?" Shanks asked. Lilian looked down at her right leg and nodded.

"Yes-it's from a pact our family made with the ancient Fairy Goddess," she elaborated. The Chief hummed as she wrapped a bandage around his hand. "She watches over all aspects of nature, whether it be the soil of the World Below or the water in the clouds," Lilian continued.

"The World Below?" Shanks asked. She paused.

"Yes...that is what this plane is called, right?" Lilian asked. Shanks chuckled and shook his head.

"Well, we call it 'Earth' down here," he said with a cheeky grin. Her cheeks burned as she closed the lid of the kit.

"Oh, I see," she said as embarrassment flooded through her.

"Hey, you didn't know. Unless you're trying to give your new Chief a hard time," he winked. She held up her hands.

"Of course not!" she squeaked. Shanks laughed.

"I'm just messing with you," he jested. Lilian gave a small laugh before yawning.

"Well, I'm feeling rather exhausted, so I think I'll turn in for the night," Lilian said. Shanks grunted.

"Sure thing," he replied. Lilian gave a small curtsy before taking a few steps. Her eyes widened when the Chief grasped her hand. She slowly turned to see his warm smile.

"I never properly told you...Welcome to the Red-Haired Pirates," he beamed. Lilian smiled as he squeezed her hand.

"Thank you for letting me join your crew, Chief Shanks," she said.

----

Thank you for reading! 💖

A/N/N: Stay tuned for Part 2!

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