Chapter Text
Nimona woke the next morning and groggily put her paws over her ears to muffle the sound of a large crowd of people chatting eagerly way too close to where she slept. Why were there so many people around? Did she fall asleep up in the rafters of the inn again? She stretched her cat body and rolled over.
As yesterdays events came back to her, she opened her eyes. She found herself snuggled in a plush comforter under a large bed. Light streamed in from the window and she could hear loud chatter from the street outside. Was there some sort of event going on?
Nimona crawled out from under the bed and turned into a small monkey as she climbed up on the bed and then up onto the windowsill. Outside the gates of the manor was a gathering of at least a hundred citizens of the realm. At first she thought it was another mob to drive her away (It had been 500 years since the last one, so she was overdue), but she quickly noticed that the people gathering didn’t look angry or have any weapons. There also seemed to be members of the press outside, easily recognizable by the microphones they held in front of their face as they talked directly to the automatic hovering cameras.
Nimona bounded off the bed and turned to her typical human form. She made her way downstairs towards familiar voices coming from the living room. She entered the room to find the Ambrosius on the the phone and Ballister pacing worriedly back and forth. He was wearing his robotic arm and was already dressed in his casual tunic despite he early morning hour.
“What’s going on?” Nimona asked.
Ballister turned to her, concern clearly evident in his expression. “We’re not sure. We got up to see what was going on and Ambrosius just received a call from the security at the front gate.”
“Okay, thank you,” Ambrosius said he hung up the phone.
“What did they say?” Ballister asked.
Ambrosius’s eyes fell on Nimona, and they seemed to mirror Ballister’s concern. “Apparently, on your way here to the house someone recognized you last night. They took a video of the both of you walking up to the manor and they uploaded it to the datanet and the video went viral. The press are here to talk with you, Nimona.”
Nimona’s mouth parted in shock. “What, like an interview?” she asked. The idea of her actually sitting down for a formal interview in front of the kingdom to answer probing questions about herself was ridiculous. She would prefer a mob instead.
“Turn on the news,” Ambrosius recommended. “That will give us a better idea of what people are saying.”
Ballister grabbed the remote and turned it on, flipping to a news channel.
“Good morning, I’m Nate Knight, and if you are just joining us we are just discussing the shocking revelation that the creature, Nimona, might be alive. Nimona, previously thought to have perished in the explosion at the wall, was caught on camera yesterday by a passersby who immediately recognized the creature.”
On the screen, a shaky video played depicting her and Ballister walking down the street from the subway and turning in the direction of the Goldenloin manor. The video zoomed in on her side profile, but it was unmistakably her.
The clip ended and the reporter returned to the screen. “Is this video real? Is the creature Nimona still alive? It is believed that the creature is currently residing in the home of Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his partner Mr. Ballister Boldheart, but this has not yet been confirmed. Our reporters in the field are still waiting to hear more from the Goldenloin manor.”
Ballister had given up pacing and was instead gripping the back of the couch as he leaned forward. Ambrosius came up beside him and placed a comforting hand on the center of his back.
“Let's take a moment to revisit what we know about Nimona’s supposed death and the events of that fateful day when the disgraced Director unleashed a deadly weapon upon our citizens. The memories of that harrowing day still resonate with us all. Experts in the field of security and danger assessment have come forward and stated that Nimona’s sacrifice may have saved thousands of lives that day.
“In an interview that has since become highly debated, Mr. Boldheart spoke candidly about Nimona's existence a few days after the destruction of the wall. While we wait to hear more details about the unfolding situation, we will play part of that interview for you now.”
A new video came up on the screen of Ballister sitting inside a news station. He looked exhausted with sunken in eyes and disheveled hair. His mannerism were off and his body moved lethargically, like the joy and life had been sucked out of him. He still had a few scratches on his face, but they had mostly healed.
There was a male brown-haired reporter sitting next to him, looking at him expectantly. Nimona guessed he has just finished asking him a question.
“There have been some rumors about Nimona and I’m here to tell you all the truth about her,” Ballister said, turning from the reporter and looking directly at the camera. He sounded like a parent exhausted from telling his kid “no” for the thousandth time. “First off, she was not a monster. She was kind, and brave, and three days ago, she sacrificed herself to save thousands of lives.” He blinked a few times as if he were trying to clear the mist from his eyes. “She was also my friend,” he said softly.
Out of the corner of her eye, Nimona could see Ambrosius wrap and arm around Ballister as he stared stone-faced at the the television. Nimona had to admit, she was morbidly curious about what Ballister said about her when he thought she was gone.
“Nimona was a shapeshifter,” Ballister on the screen continued, his voice becoming more determined. “And because she wasn’t human, she was judged unfairly. It might be hard for many people to accept this, but the rumors you heard are true. Nimona was the creature that Gloreth fought over a thousand years ago.”
Whispers ran through the news studio and the reporter next to him looked alarmed.
“I don’t know exactly what happened in the past,” Ballister said. “But I know my friend, and Nimona would never have attacked a helpless town. Gloreth might have seen her as a threat, but Gloreth had been wrong. We didn’t need an army of knights to protect us against her or a giant wall. We just followed Gloreth’s Will without ever questioning it.”
“Mr. Ballister,” the reporter interrupted him, clearly scandalized by Ballister’s comments as he shifted the papers in front of him awkwardly. “I need to point out that the monster was attacking our city.”
The fierce look Ballister gave the man actually caused him to lean backwards in his chair.
“She’s not a monster,” Ballister snapped, his jaw clenched tightly as he tried to restrain his emotions in front of the cameras. “And Nimona was heading towards the stature of Gloreth. She wasn’t trying to hurt anyone in town,” Ballister explained. He seemed to check himself as he took a purposeful breath before allowing his shoulders to relax. “Analysts have shown that most of the the damage to the city came from our knights attacking her.
The reporter opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but Ballister cut him off.
“If you still think that she had evil intentions, then why did she sacrifice herself to save half the city?” Ballister challenged.
“No one is debating Nimona’s heroics in the last moments of her life,” the reporter placated. “The king himself has declared Nimona a hero of the realm and has pardoned all of her past crimes. The Institute is also putting together a memorial for her in the town square. But your assertion that Gloreth had been wrong to protect her people from Nimona is quite a statement. Some may consider that heresy. Do you really believe we should be questioning the Will of Gloreth?”
Ballister didn’t say anything at first. His expression had grown dark as he looked down at the table. Suddenly, he stood up, causing papers to be knocked off the table and the reporter to jump.
“Come with me,” he demanded, his eyes locking onto the camera before he turned away in a flourish, his cape sweeping out behind him. As the cameras followed him as he walked out of the room, Nimona could see the confused looks on the faces of the people who were usually behind the camera.
He made his way to a stairwell and went up the stairs, and kept climbing up, up and up. Eventually he exited out onto the roof of the news building. He walked to the edge of the roof before he turned around to face the camera. Behind his shoulder in plain view was the newly broken wall. Behind the hole in the wall was the rest of the world.
“Why do we have that wall?” Ballister demanded, pointing at the wall behind him. “To protect us? From what? It’s been left open for days and nothing has attacked us. I say we leave it open! It was built to protect us from Nimona but she lived amongst us for hundreds of years and we never knew. She owed us nothing and had every right to hate us back, but instead she sacrificed herself for us. She sacrificed herself for a city that hated her! Gloreth built the wall to protect us from Nimona but we didn’t need protection from her.”
He stood as the sun beat down on his head, his eyes burning with determination and grief.
“And look at what we lost by following the Will of Gloreth without question.” He gestured to the trees and mountain that could only be seen through the hole in the wall. “We could have had a whole world with opportunities and resources, and instead we let our fear keeps us in this cage. When we look at everything we lost, traded away for centuries of paranoia, the truth becomes painfully clear. Gloreth was wrong”
The video ended there and the reporter, Nate Knight, returned to the screen once again.
Nimona couldn’t believe it. Ballister had called out Gloreth in front of the entire kingdom. It was a stupid move, as he could have easily been arrested for heresy, but it also made her chest feel warm. He had stood up to Gloreth and her legacy, and by doing that, he had stood up for Nimona.
“Powerful words indeed from Mr. Boldheart," the reporter remarked. "That interview continues to be a hot topic, igniting intense debates among politicians and commoners alike from all sides of the political spectrum. In the wake of the unfolding events of the last few months, our city has witnessed a surge in political tensions. This is no better demonstrated then by the sudden appearance of graffiti bearing the tag 'Gloreth was Wrong' now cropping up throughout the city.”
Pausing for a moment, the reporter touched his ear. His face twitched in disappointment before he recovered, smiling brightly into the camera.
"We have our reporter on the ground stationed outside the Goldenloin manor still eagerly waiting for a comment from within. As we anticipate any updates on the Nimona situation, we have a special guest with us today. Here on video is Spokesperson Lilith Sherwood, a formidable commoner and leader of one of the fastest growing political movements: the Democratic Endeavor for Society's Progression And Inclusive Representation."
The screen spit in half with the reporter on one side, and on the other side was an older woman in her eighties. She had tan skin and straight white hair that was pulled back into a strict bun. She had a stern expression behind her small spectacles, and the wrinkles on her face only made her look more severe.
"Spokesperson Sherwood, thank you for joining us amidst these critical moments.”
“It’s good of you to have me, Mr. Knight,” she said in a calm, formal tone.
Her lack of a smile caused the reporter’s fake one to fade.
“Allow me to ask you this question. If Nimona is truly alive, what is your movement's stance on the creature? What implications do you see for your cause?"
“I’m curious of the validity of the video, but if it is indeed real, it presents a unique opportunity for us,” Lilith said without hesitation. “Nimona's firsthand knowledge of the past could shed light on Gloreth's intentions and the reasoning behind certain decrees. This knowledge would be invaluable in determining if those traditional practices still align with the needs of our modern society."
"Would I be correct in assuming you are specifically talking about Gloreth's decree that prevents commoners from holding positions of power?"
"I am. It is important critically analyze the historical context and its relevance in today's world. If there's evidence that change is warranted, we must be open to exploring new paths to progress and inclusivity."
“Do you have current evidence that suggests we should question Gloreth’s Will and ‘explore new paths’?” He put the last few words in quotation marks with his fingers.
Lilith raised an eyebrow. “Besides the fact that a woman of high noble birth, the Director of the Institution, attempted to murder thousands of people? That does not seem like a woman who should have been any type of power, and yet she had unchecked control over the knights due to her noble birth and station.”
"That’s a a fair point,” the reporter said, moving on quickly. “Your party has proposed the creation of a council of representatives to share power with the king. Can you elaborate on how this would work?"
"Certainly. The council would comprise elected officials from diverse sectors, representing both commoners and nobles. Collaborating with the king, this inclusive council would ensure a broader range of voices are heard in decision-making, leading to a more equitable and representative governance structure."
"It's an ambitious plan. However, there have been reports that King Cedric has not met with you in over a month. How do you plan to move forward with your proposal?"
Lilith pressed her lips together. "While we've encountered some scheduling challenges, we remain committed to engaging in a constructive dialogue with the king. We believe that open communication and understanding are essential to building a stronger future for our kingdom."
"Your movement has gained significant support, but it has also faced opposition from groups like Gloreth’s Guardians of Truth, who argue that your ideas will unsettle the kingdom. How do you respond to such criticism?"
"Change can be unsettling, but sometimes, it is necessary for progress," Lilith said smoothly. “We embrace the concerns of all citizens and aim to find common ground. Our vision is one of unity and positive transformation. Following Gloreth’s Will has provided us a stable kingdom for a thousand years. Now, it’s time for the People’s Will’s to lead us into our new era.”
Ballister muted the television and Nimona looked over at him and Ambrosius.
“With this kind of news coverage, they’ll be out there all day. They wont leave until they at least get some answers,” Ballister said as he glanced out the window. He let out a long sigh. “I’ll go out and talk with them for a little bit to help calm things down. You should stay here,” he told her.
Ambrosius nodded. “That’s a good idea. If they see Nimona it will be harder to get them to leave.”
Nimona crossed her arms over her chest. “Fine by me. I don't feel like getting grilled with a bunch of annoying questions. I already got enough of that last night.” She shot a glare at Ambrosius who didn’t look at her.
As the two of them made their way out the door, Nimona looked back at the TV as the news cut to the front of the manor. She could see Ballister and Ambrosius on the television in real time. She could watch the coverage from the comfort of the couch, and say inside like Ballister suggested, but that didn’t feel right.
Nimona felt like her skin was crawling off her body. She didn’t want to be out there with humans shouting questions at her, but it also didn’t feel right to stay inside. If the crowd turned ugly, Ballister might need some back up.
She opened up a window and turned into a small pink sparrow. No one noticed as she flew out and over the manor. She landed in a tree above the crowd. The leaves hid her from view but she was close enough to hear as the press began to pelt Ballister and Ambrosius with questions.
She tried to ignore how her stomach twisted. She tried to just tell herself that this was human politics and it didn’t involve her, but that only made her feel worse. She tried to tell herself that she didn’t care what they thought of her, but after a hundred years, that lie was running thin.
She hated to admit it, but Ambrosius had been right last night. Of course she cared that people hated her. No one wanted to be hated, especially not by an entire kingdom. Unfortunately, that was how it had always been and she couldn’t imagine it changing after all this time.
But then again, Ballister proved that people could learn to see her differently. Maybe there would be a few people that would be willing to listen… maybe.
Even if there were people willing to listen, she wasn’t going to sit in front of cameras answering questions about herself and allow people to pry into her past. It wasn’t their business and she hated the idea that her words would be scrutinized by the entire kingdom. She knew humans, and no matter what she said, they would find some way to turn her words against her.
Nimona watched as a dark sinned woman with curly hair walked out in front of Ballister and shove a microphone in his face.
"Hello, Mr. Boldheart. I'm Alamzapam Davis, reporting for KTV news. We'd like to get your insights on the viral video that has surfaced, seemingly showing the creature Nimona alive. Can you comment on this astonishing development?"
“Yes, I can,” Ballister said, leaning into the mic and making eye contact with the camera. “I came out here to say that the viral video is indeed real. Nimona had been injured in the blast, but just recently she was able to recover.”
A murmur of both excitement and fear surged through the crowd.
“Where is she now?” the reporter asked. “The kingdom has many questions for her.”
“Nimona is not available for comment at the moment. I will be able to answer all relevant questions.”
“How did Nimona survive the blast?” The reporter asked. “Is she an immortal monster?”
Ballister scowled. “She’s not a monster,” he said almost on reflex and Nimona got the impression he had said that same phrase dozens of times since she had been gone. “I’m not sure how she was able to survived, I’m only grateful that she did.”
“Can you tell us what her intentions are now that she is back? Should the citizens of the realm be worried?”
“We haven’t had much time to talk about what’s going to happen next, but I can promise you she’s not here to hurt anyone.”
“How about you, Sir Goldenloin?” The reporter took the microphone and shoved it into Ambrosius’s face instead “As Gloreth’s direct descendant, how do you feel about your great ancestor’s enemy's return?”
Ambrosius quickly covered his startled expression with practiced ease. “Gloreth might have considered Nimona her enemy, but I don’t. She is not a threat to this kingdom.”
The crowded chattering grew louder and it took a moment for Nimona to realize that it hadn’t been due to Ambrosius’s comment, but instead, a golden Institute carriage that landed in the drive.
The carriage door was open by a servant, and out stepped a balding older man in an Institute uniform. Nimona didn’t recognize him, but he was obviously a high ranking court member.
"Breaking news!” The female reporter said. “We have a significant development outside the Goldenloin manor: the arrival of the Royal Counselor, Lord Geoffrey Aldric. The recently crowned king has handpicked Lord Aldric to serve as his trusted adviser.”
The royal counselor held up a scroll and behind to unroll it slowly for dramatic effect. “Here ye, here ye! I am here to deliver an invitation on behalf of our noble King Cedric.” The man cleared his throat and seemed to wait a beat, purposefully creating a dramatic pause before he began reading. “On this auspicious day, King Cedric extends his heartfelt invitation to Lady Nimona to join him at the Institute today at the stroke of noon.”
Nimona dug her talons into the tree bark to keep from falling out of the tree in surprise. Lady Nimona? Why the hell would they give her a title like that?
“The king wishes to parlay with Lady Nimona and her personal attendants. May this invitation be met with sincerity and a genuine desire for a harmonious dialogue. The court eagerly anticipate her arrival on this Gloreth-blessed day.” The adviser stopped reading the scroll and pulled out a small envelope with a golden seal. “King Cedric presents Lady Nimona with a formal invitation, signed and sealed by his hand. To whom shall I entrust this invitation so that it may reach Lady Nimona?"
Nimona immediately saw through what the king was doing. If he just wanted to invite her to the Institution, he could have just delivered the invitation in the mail. Instead, he made a big show with pomp and circumstance by having a well-known royal adviser come to deliver it out loud in a place where there was already a crowd of people gathered.
Ballister gave Ambrosius and uneasy look before he walked forward toward where the man was standing next to the carriage.
Nimona flew closer, wanting to be able to hear if there were words exchanged between the men. The trees were thinner by the street, and she had to settle in a smaller tree with fewer leaves.
The movement caught Ballister’s attention, and he glanced up to see her settling on a branch behind a leaf. Nimona hoped he hadn't been able to get a good look at her bird form in the shade of the tree.
He pressed his lips together unhappily and gave her a quick warning look before turning his attention back to the man.
Yep, he definitely knew it was her.
“I’ll give it to Nimona,” he told the royal adviser.
The man, who had been smiling brightly while he made his announcement, now wore a tight, forced smile as he eyed Ballister appraisingly. “Make sure that it knows that this is not an invitation, but a formal summons,” he hissed out between his teeth. “If it refuses to attend, this action will be seen as an act of treason.”
“She’s not a citizen of the realm,” Ballister said in a low voice. “You can’t be a traitor if you’re not officially part of the Kingdom.”
“Semantics. The king will not see it that way. Make sure that it does attend, or more drastic measures will be taken.”
Ballister frowned as he snatched the letter form the man’s grip.
“I’ll give her the letter,” Ballister said gruffly. Nimona could tell he wanted to say more, but Ballister seemed to think better of it and held back.
The man grunted and headed back to the carriage. The servant opened the door for him as he climbed inside.
Ballister stiffly turned around and made his way back to the manor. The crowd of people shouted questions at him and the reporter shoved a microphone in his face, but he just kept walking.
“We are no longer open for comments,” Ambrosius said quickly as he followed Ballister “Please vacate the property promptly. We will schedule a formal interview in the future.” Somehow Ambrosius found a way to sound polite even when he was telling people to get lost.
Nimona took off into the sky, high enough that it would be impossible for anyone to recognize her. She swooped around the house and entered the same window she left.
Nimona returned to her girl form before before Ballister and his Ambrosius entered the house again.
Ambrosius closed and locked the door and Ballister let out tired sigh.
“Well that happened,” Ambrosius said.
“Why would the King invite me to the Institute?” Nimona asked incredulously as she approached the two men.
“I guess he wants to talk to you,” Ambrosius said with a shrug.
“What do you think he wants to talk about?” Ballister asked Ambrosius, his eyebrows knitting together with worry.
“I’m not sure,” Ambrosius said, glancing at Nimona. “The king declared her a hero so I doubt he wants to hurt her.”
Nimona scoffed. “Like he could if he tried.”
“Do you know anything about the king’s intentions?” Ballister asked. “Anything you’ve heard?”
Ambrosius rubbed his chin. “I honestly don’t know my cousin that well. Arthur and I always got along, even though I was a lot younger than him. But his youngest brother Cedric, I never spent much time with him.”
“Seriously? This king is your cousin?” Nimona asked in disbelief.
“Second cousin,” Ambrosius corrected. “The crown was supposed to go to Arthur, Cedric’s older brother. However, after the death of his mother, the late queen, he did not handle the loss well. The rumors say that he went mad with grief. He’s currently in the asylum getting treatment and he voluntarily abdicated the crown so it could be passed to his younger brother, Cedric.”
Ballister looked down at the envelope in his hand.
“I guess this is for you,” he said, handing it over to Nimona. She glanced down at the envelope to see ‘To Lady Nimona’ written on it in fancy script.
Nimona took a step backwards. “I don’t get invited to the Institute. I break in whenever I want,” Nimona insisted.
“A royal invitation is not normally optional,” Ambrosius warned.
“What are they going to do to me? If they come after me, I’ll kick their ass. If they brand me a traitor or a monster for not following their rules, well, been there, done that.”
“It seems like the king just wants to talk,” Ambrosius said. “Don’t you want to try getting along with the Institution? With the new pressure form the public, they might even be willing to apologize if it means moving forward.”
Nimona crossed her arms. “I wouldn’t accept an apology even if they were offering. And come on man, the Institute apologize for anything? Where have you been? They would rather nuke their own city before admitting that they’re wrong.”
“Okay, that’s true…” Ambrosius admitted. “But you still can’t ignore an official invitation. If you do, the Institute can use that against you.” Ambrosius looked over as Ballister. “Can’t you talk some sense into her?”
Nimona gritted her teeth and glared at Ambrosius stubbornly, purposefully not looking at Ballister.
Ballister placed a hand on her shoulder. “She’s right Ambrosius, she doesn’t have to go to the Institute if she doesn’t want to.”
Relief flooded her chest she suddenly felt lighter, as if she had turned into a bird and done several loops in the sky. She wouldn’t have gone if Ballister tried to force her, but it still felt nice to know he was on her side.
“I’m concerned about the message the king is trying to send to the rest of the kingdom,” Ballister continued. “They made the invitation very public. The king is trying to force her hand and I’m worried about what he really wants.”
“Of course he is, it’s all a political game,” Ambrosius said, throwing up his hands in frustration. “But don’t think not going means you aren’t playing. Refusing the invitation is also a political statement.”
Nimona groaned. Humans were going to try and drag her into their political nonsense one way or another. Maybe she and Ballister could disappear for a few years and let the political tension die down. He had once suggested they go over the wall together; was that still a possibility?
Deep down she knew that chance had already come and gone. However, maybe she could at least drag him over the wall for a few hours to get away from all this.
Ballister’s phone began to ring and he glanced down at it.
“It’s Lilith,” he said.
“That old woman on the news?” Nimona asked.
Ballister took the call, pacing around the room as he talked.
“Ballister and I have been working closely with Spokesperson Sherwood,” Ambrosius tried to explain to her, but Nimona didn’t respond and he fell silent.
“I’ll ask her,” Ballister said after a few minutes. “Call you back later.” He hung up the phone and turned to both of them.
“Lilith has an idea of how to turn this invitation into an advantage,” Ballister said. He opened the invitation, reading through it carefully. “It says you can bring personal attendants with you to the meeting, but it doesn’t define who they are. You saw Spokesperson Lilith Sherwood on the news? She’s the leader of The Democratic- of D.E.S.P.A.I.R., and she’s been trying to get an audience with the king for a while. The king has agreed to meet with her to talk about the new changes she is proposing in detail, but he hasn’t given a date or time and hasn’t been responding to her messages. If we use your invitation with the king, we can invite Lilith to go with us as one of your personal attendants. Once she’s in an audience with the king, I know she can strong-arm him into a meeting.”
Nimona blinked in surprise. “You want to trick the king into having a forced meeting with her?”
“I know you don’t want to go to the Institute and meet with the king. I wouldn’t either if I were you. And you probably don’t care much about D.E.S.P.A.I.R., but if you’re willing to do this, it would help me.” His expression grew serious, and he seemed to be trying to convey something important through his eyes. “But whatever decision you make, we will support it.” He looked over at Ambrosius who shifted uneasily, but didn’t say anything to contradict him. “I’m serious, Lilith can find another way to meet with the king if you don’t want to go.”
Lilith might have been a commoner, but to Nimona in this moment, she was no better than a politician trying to take advantage of an opportunity. Nimona wanted to say no. She didn’t want deal with a spoiled king and frustrating court politics, but Ballister was asking for her help. Was she his sidekick, or not?
Nimona sighed. “You really believe in this D.E.S.P.A.I.R. group, don’t you?”
“I do. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only group trying to make the right kind of change.”
“And you really think Lilith can bully the king into a meeting?”
Ballister grinned. “I have no doubt.”
Nimona frowned and rolled her eyes. “Fine boss, but only because you asked me to, not because the Institute wants me to.”
Ballister smiled gratefully. “Thank you.”