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The kingdom was full of white and church bells. As Server looks out the window, he sighs and smiles fondly.
“Your kingdom is really excited for this, yeah?” Bee speaks up from where they sit at the vanity, trying to find a nice way to put in the clips for their short hair.
“I mean, it’s the most exciting thing since, well, the festival 3 years ago. My parents were murdered not even a month later, and we spent 2 years trying to figure out who it was,” Server replies, moving over to sit in the chair by the vanity, by his love (/p).
Bee frowns, trying to put the clip in again, but ultimately failing if his frustrated sigh has anything to do with it. “I’m sorry luv.” Xe says, turning to face Server.
“Eh, it’s alright,” Server takes the clip from Bee’s hair. “I’ll do it.” Ve says, quickly smoothing out Bee’s hair before pinning it back so that her face is visible. “There you are.” Server says with a grin.
Bee’s cheeks tint a light pink. “Shut up. And go get ready.” They shoo Server off, to his own room.
“Fine, fine. I’ll see you at the ceremony, my honey Bee.” Server gives Bee’s cheek a kiss and his hand a squeeze, before walking off to its own room.
The next hour is a whirl for the 2 individuals as they get prepared to, well, get married. It’s a diplomatic marriage mostly, but the 2 had been dating platonically for at least a year at this point. Neither one of them is wearing a dress either. Don’t get them wrong, dresses are nice and they like them. But also, suit supremacy.
Server stands nervously at the end of the aisle, fiddling with the engagement ring. Technically, Server proposed to Bee, but Bee got the ring and insisted Server had to wear it. Something about tradition in xyrs kingdom.
When Bee starts walking down the aisle, a bouquet of lilies of the valley, primrose, plumeria, and diphylleia in her hands, Server’s breathing stutters to a stop. Bee looks absolutely stunning. There are primroses braided delicately in their short hair, the clip Server put in earlier holding it back so you can see Bee’s face. There’s minimal makeup on his face, just enough to accent Bee’s ethereal looks, and the white suit looks absolutely beautiful on xyrs frame. Her elbow is hooked with Twilight, who is grinning like a mad man at Server.
(Twilight is an old friend of theirs, she used to joke all the time that she was the mother of their friends group. To be fair on them though, Twilight is a Faery, and is at least a hundred years old at this point, if not older.)
Bee’s suit accents Server’s light blue one nicely, and there are matching symbols on the pockets, a bee in a heart. It represented how Bee had Server’s heart all to themself. Which, to be fair, he did.
Twilight makes a show of handing Bee off to Server, making sure to flutter her wings as a warning to Server. He simply flips the fae off with a grin, who rolls their eyes lightheartedly before moving to sit down.
Ella waves at Server over Bee’s shoulder, while Ly waves at Bee over Server’s shoulder. The couple rolls their eyes simultaneously, before standing facing each other, glancing at the preacher.
The ceremony goes off without a hitch. When the preacher says kiss the bride, the 2 simply give each other cheek kisses. And that’s when the party starts throughout the whole kingdom.
“SERVER! BEE!” Twilight and Ella shout simultaneously as soon as the 2 have walked back down the aisle and are in the giant ballroom (because yes, they had an outside wedding). Both of their wings are fluttering happily (Twilight is a fae while Ella is a dragonborn with the fire to prove it).
“HI!” Server shouts in reply, giddy with excitement.
“DUDE, Y'ALL JUST GOT MARRIED!!!” Ly screeches, its lungs wiggling happily on its head.
“WE KNOW LY!” Bee exclaims back, seemingly just as happy, a grin stretched wide across xyrs face as xe spins in a circle.
“Guys, we got a party to start!” Oleander calls from the middle of the ballroom, the band already starting to play the music.
“You heard them, let's get this party started!” Server shouts, and it’s as if the whole kingdom cheers in agreement.
The night is spent dancing and talking. Server and Bee spend an hour or 2 just twirling around each other on the dance floor, with the rest of the time spent talking and laughing with the others. They don’t do toasts, there’s really no need to. And the food? It’s impeccable. There’s something for every species, from blood to meat to veggies to sweets. Anything and everything.
It’s about 3 hours into the party when Bee, Server, Ly, Ella, and Twilight get another chance to be alone. They sit at a table in the far back, just watching the party and talking.
“Can you imagine that we went from street urchins just trying to live to best friends, or really family, with 2 of the most important people in history. The queens of well, half the world.” Twilight asks, a flute of champagne in their hand, a fond smile on their face.
"To be honest? No." Ly replies, the first one to speak up. "I mean, we didn't even know each other. Server and Bee just saw us and went, 'yes, our friends now'."
"You guys looked cool!" Server protests.
"You were a prince with tons of power and the ability to be friends with whoever you want, and you chose us, Server. You too Bee." Ella replies without missing a beat.
"We didn't want anyone else. We wanted people who would be our friends, not cause we're powerful and rich, but because of who we are." Bee explains.
"We've talked about this before too." Server adds, taking a sip of the whiskey in vers glass.
“It’s a baffling concept!” Twilight exclaims in defense, and then breaks out into giggles.
Slowly, the other 4 join in, until they are all hysterically laughing, everything else around them forgotten for now.
After the laughter dies down, Server is swept away to deal with something, while Bee decides to stay.
“How does it feel to be married?” Ella asks as soon as Server is gone, head tilted in genuine interest.
“It’s… nice. I mean, you think it’d be stressful right off the bat, especially since we’re both rulers of our respective kingdoms, but it’s actually nice. Yes, planning was stressful, and so will our oncoming duties as rulers, but we’ll be okay. We have each other.” Bee replies, before flashing his ring. “Forever.” She adds.
“You know, you’ll probably outlive us.” Twilight speaks out of nowhere, shocking the other 3.
“Hey! What do you mean by that!?” Ly exclaims, lighthearted, but also genuinely curious.
With every eye on her, Twilight splutters.
“I just mean, like, isn’t it proven that married people tend to live longer than unmarried people? Besides Ella, I don't think any of us are getting married soon.” Twilight explains.
“Hey! I could get married!” Ly crosses ends arms over ends chest, but is smiling too widely for them to even think end is being serious.
“Sure.” Ella drawls, a smile on their face as well.
“You all are so rude!” Bee barks out with a laugh.
“Says you!” Twilight bites out, grinning like the rest of them.
The 4 spend another 20 minutes talking, before Bee heads up to bed. Xe and Server have to head out to xyrs kingdom tomorrow, so xe needs as much sleep as possible.
They change as quickly as possible, humming a soft tune as they do. They delicately take the flowers out of their hair last, staring at them with a smile, before setting them down on the vanity softly. The clip is next, letting Bee’s short hair fall in their eyes, just a bit tough. He gives a light huff, before moving to get into bed.
Suddenly, there’s a cloth covering her mouth, smelling sweetly sick and invading her senses. He struggles as an arm wraps around behind him, and around his stomach, keeping him in place. Their fingers scratch and scrape at the hand, but it doesn’t budge.
Bee feels xyrs movement get sluggish, brain getting the same. Her thoughts start to fade, until she’s passed out, slumped in this person’s arms.
Said person grins. “Perfect…” They mutter, before starting to drag the ruler with them over to the balcony, where their ride awaits.
When Server is finally done with their duties, they head up to their room. If the party gets out of hand, Twilight, Ly, and Ella will handle it. Or prolong it. Either way, it’ll eventually be handled.
He’s surprised when Bee isn’t in the room or in bed. Ve shrugs, thinking Bee is just down on the party, and heads back down, still in vers suit cause it’s formal. When it arrives, it heads over to where Twilight, Ella, and Ly are talking to Pixel, Sky, and Cress.
“Hey guys.” Server says, suppressing a yawn.
The group turns to face them.
“Hey bitch, what are you doing down here?” Ella asks, confused just as much as everybody else.
“Have you seen Bee?” He asks, this time not having enough energy to suppress his yawn. It is tired, sue it.
“Bee went upstairs like, an hour ago? It was a bit after you left for work.” Twilight replies in confusion. “Why?”
Server’s heart stops, eyes blowing wide. Without saying anything, ve suddenly books it, heading for the stairs. He shoves past anyone in his way, tears pricking his eyes. They don’t care as their lungs protest from all the running, body feeling weak.
With gasping breaths, it shoves open the door, glancing around frantically. And that’s when they see the primroses that had been weaved through Bee’s hair earlier.
“BEE!?” He calls frantically, rushing to the bathroom area.
But xe isn’t there.
“Server, what’s happening!?” Ly exclaims from the doorway, many others behind them, including Twilight and Ella.
“Bee’s gone, I don’t-” Server starts, tears falling down vers face as ve falls to the floor.
Sobs wrack throughout their body. Ly instantly rushes forward, dropping to ends knees, and wrapping ends arms around Server. Twilight and Ella start to do damage control, getting the knights to force everyone back to the ballroom in a nonviolent way. Then they softly close the door, and head over to where the other 2 are.
Server is calmer now, Ly rubbing a hand softly on his back.
Ella is about to speak up, when they notice something. She stands, earning a confused glance from Twilight, but she ignores it. She walks over to the balcony, opening up the doors, and grabbing something on the ground.
“Hey, Server?” Ella calls, looking at the object in their hands, a look of horror on their face.
“W-What?” Server hiccups out, looking over at Ella, its mascara ruined and running down its face.
“I think I know who took Bee.” Ella turns around, showing off the dagger in her hands.
The handle is black, the blade itself dyed a dark gray. There’s an insignia on the bottom of the blade, a four leaf clover in the middle of a diamond. There’s a bit of blood on the tip of the blade.
When the others see the blade, all of the blood drains from their faces. Server stands abruptly, rushing over, and taking the blade. Thankfully, the blood is red. Bee is part fae (not full like Twilight), so their blood is a light blue.
“How could they get here!? We had precautions, and rules and we made sure no one outside our kingdoms knew yet plus they are gone-!” Twilight starts to rant, but Server cuts them off.
“It was my fault.” Server says quietly.
All of them blink, shocked.
“What? No-” Ly starts instantly, taken aback, but Server interrupts again.
“No, no, I-” Server lets out another sob. “I told the guards that after the ceremony that they could party with their families-” Server starts to hyperventilate.
“We all decided on that together though.” Ella counters. “We all decided most of the guards could get the day off, and only those who wanted to work would be working.”
“Yeah, Ella’s right. The 5 of us, Bee included, made that decision together .” Twilight adds.
“What do we do now, though?” Server asks, breathing calming down due to Ly still rubbing circles on vers back.
“We find those motherfuckers that took Bee, and we murder them!” Ly says cheerfully.
“Business like always.” Ella adds with a sharp grin.
Planning, apparently, was not their strong suit. Specifically, infiltration planning.
Server, yes, was a fighter. They’ve fought in wars, side by side with their citizens, and they’ve had to deliver the news of their fellow soldiers being killed. But they were never one for infiltration. Ella and Ly were amazing at stealth, and both wanted to sneak in and sneak out. And Twi wanted to do the opposite, to brute force their way into the palace and kill anyone in their way.
All in all, it was… well, it wasn’t really going anywhere.
“Guys, we need to agree on something.” Server says for the umpteenth time.
It’s been 3 days since Bee was kidnapped, and none of them are even close to getting xem back, technically. Not if they can’t agree on what to do.
“How about this, when we get there, we decide on the way?” Ella speaks up.
“Wouldn’t that be counterproductive?” Ly asks, head tilted.
“Well, no. Cause depending on the base and the guard rotation, we could do a different type of infiltration.” Ella explains.
“I hate agreeing with Ella,” Twilight starts lightheartedly, “but she’s right. It would be the best idea.”
Ly nods in agreement, a smile on its face. “Yeah! Probably would work best!”
Server grins. “Suit up, people. We ride at dawn.”
It takes a day to make it to the outskirts of the kingdom, where the Clovers sit in their castle made of obsidian. If they were anyone else, it would’ve taken longer, but Ella and Twilight can fly (fae and dragon born respectively), and Ly had acquired a pet pegasus somewhere along the way of the 4 of them + Bee knowing each other. Server has wings that are retractable, a gift from his father who was an avian.
When the 4 arrive, the castle is eerily quiet. There’s no guards posted outside, nor is there any movement well, anywhere in the kingdom. Walking down the streets of the Clover village is creepy to them. There’s no one. It’s like everyone just packed up, and well… left. Leaving bits and pieces of their lives behind for whoever to stumble upon.
“This is creepy.” Twilight whispers, speaking the thought that everyone is thinking.
“We gotta find Bee, remember?” Server whispers back, tense and on edge.
The rest of the walk is spent in silence. It takes what they thought would be hours, mere minutes, to get to the door. When they get there, the door is slightly ajar.
“Okay, either we’re all insane and having a shared psychosis, or something is seriously fucking wrong here.” Ella says dryly, standing by the door.
“Something is definitely wrong,” Twilight agrees. “But we can’t just leave Bee here. She is literally Server’s platonic love of their life.”
“That wasn’t even in question bitch! I was just saying, something is wrong with Clover.” Ella barks back, on edge, the lighthearted edge that’s usually mixed in her tone gone.
“Calm down guys.” Server speaks up, drawing the other’s attention.
“Sorry…” Ella mutters, looking away sheepishly.
“It’s fine, we have to go in now though. We’ll either need to save Bee, or Bee’s kidnapper. Depends on Bee’s mood.” It replies, turning back to look at the giant, slightly ajar doors.
“I’ll go in first!” Ly volunteers, moving forward and shoving the doors open, overly cheerful.
The sound that emits from the doors is a loud screech, so loud that the 4 of them instantly go to cover their ears for as long as it lasts, but it doesn’t help.
“What the fuck!?” Twilight exclaims, angry, marching forward.
“Twilight! It’s a door!” Server exclaims as soon as Twilight starts fucking attacking the door, rushing forward and grabbing them by the shoulders.
“Yeah, but it’s so fucking loud!!” Ella seems just as angry as Twilight, if not angrier.
Ly is still cheerful, giddy even, spinning and looking around the entrance of the palace.
Server is confused. “What the fuck is wrong with you 3!?” Ve exclaims, causing all 3 of them to freeze, and turn to look at Server. “You don’t attack doors, they are inanimate objects! And Ly, you shouldn’t be happy to spin around in dust! Especially since you’re an axolotl hybrid!” Server’s hands are on their hips. “I need you all to take a minute to calm down, and then tell me what the hell is happening!”
It ends up taking 5 minutes for the anger to leave Ella and Twilight, and an extra 2 for Ly’s cheerfulness and giddiness to wear off. Once it does, they all look around in shock.
“What the fuck just happened to us?” Ella asks, looking at the door.
“It’s the magic of the palace.” A new voice speaks up, making them all spin around to see someone new.
“And who are you?” Twilight asks, instantly on edge.
“Ah, apologies,” they start. “I’m Charlie, the admittedly forced caretaker of this place. He/him. Who may you four be?” He introduces himself.
“I’m Server, he/they/it/ve, and these are my friends, Ly, Ella, and Twilight. It/end and she/they respectively.” Server introduces the group.
“To be frank, it’s not nice to meet you. What are you four doing in a place like this?” He asks.
“Someone here has my spouse.” Server explains.
“And we’re here to get xem back.” Ly adds.
Charlie scoffs. “No one has been here in ages, besides the king.”
“And why is that?” Twilight asks in reply.
“You see, the king is well, insane,” Charlie starts. “He drove everyone out of the once great kingdom. He was looking for power. And all he got in response was nothing. So now he sits in this castle, waiting for something that will never come.”
“Then why did he take Bee?” Server asks. “We have his dagger,” they take it out, throwing it at Charlie’s feet. “It has the king's insignia. He has my spouse.”
Charlie blinks. “That’s… impossible.” he leans down, grabbing the knife, and inspecting it. “I… didn’t feel him leave. I always feel him leave.” Charlie starts to glow, harsh light coming off of him in waves.
“Charlie, calm down!” Ly exclaims, averting its eyes.
The rest are doing the same, trying to protect their sight.
Charlie seems to realize he is hurting them, for he calms down. The light fades, and it’s just them and the torches on the wall left.
“Sorry.” He apologizes.
“It’s alright. You’re upset. Can you lead us to your king, please?” Server speaks up after a moment of all of them blinking the blindness out of their eyes.
“Yeah of course.” Charlie starts to float away, and the group of four follow closely.
It takes about 5 minutes for them to come across the first signs of life. There are broken pieces of shit scattered everywhere, clothes strewn around, big things knocked over. All in all, it’s concerning.
“Here we are.” Charlie says, before throwing open the big doors in front of them.
What they see is… amusing, to say the least.
“Where am I!?” Bee exclaims, foot stepping down hard on a dude’s shoulder, a dagger almost identical to the one the group has pointed at his throat.
“Bee!” Server exclaims almost instantly, everything else forgotten when he sees his partner.
Bee pulls back a bit, head snapping to where Server is. Instantly a smile spreads across xyrs face. She drops the dagger, rushing over to Server and jumping into vers arms.
“Luv!" They exclaim happily, pulling back to cup Server's face. "I missed you." She says with a smile.
"You're okay?" Server asks in reply, needing to make sure.
"Perfect. I beat his ass, see!" Bee gestures proudly to his win.
The king is tied up and on the ground. He has a few bruises her and there. And he's crying.
"They're a monster!" He exclaims, struggling to free his hands.
Bee just shrugs. "You took me on my wedding night. I have the right to reciprocate your 'kindness'," xe puts quotation marks around the last word.
"I need power!" He exclaims, struggling harder.
Charlie sighs. "I'll take care of him. You can go home." He tells them.
"Thank you Charlie." Ly says kindly, giving a little bow.
"Anytime." He replies, before turning towards the king with a sigh.
Server grabs Bee's hand, and the group starts to head home.
"Ya know, that was easier than I thought it would be." Twilight says as soon as they get outside of the palace, stretching as the group walks.
"Cause I did all the work." Bee replies with a lighthearted eye roll.
Ella scoffs. "You could've left something for us to do."
"I didn't know when y'all were gonna get here!" Bee protests.
"Besides, Bee is a badass. We can't stifle that." Server adds with a cheeky grin.
"Get a room already." Ly jokes with an eye roll.
"No <3."
"How the fuck did you just say a heart out loud!" Twilight screeches.
"It just be like that sometimes." Ella says solemnly with a small giggle.
"Let's go home." Server says with a grin.
"I'd follow you anywhere." Bee replies, offering vers hand to Server.
"Anywhere?" Xe reiterates.
" Anywhere ."