Chapter Text
The great hall feels empty without the king’s presence. Ros sits on the throne, practicing for her new position. The regal curtains are open, letting the light shine through from the big windows. The totem, sitting at the top of the throne, shines especially brightly as the light hits its emerald eyes. Because of this, the room fills with a tint of green sunlight. Ros tears up at the sight. She feels a warmth around her, comforting her. When the reflection of the light leaves the eyes, the room feels empty again. Ros sighs, and she pushes herself off the throne.
***
The sun sets behind the castle, casting an orange light that deepens in color, fighting for its last gasp of life, until it finally dims into the cold and dark night. Clown looks ahead, and he heads towards the door, walking inside.
“Ros! Ros, my friend, where are you?”
Shuffling comes from deep inside the castle. “My G!” A cheery and warm voice calls to him, “I’ll be right there!”
“No worries.” Clown smiles to himself. “Take your time.”
Clown makes his way, slowly approaching the throne. His hand touches the arm rest, which is cold at the touch. Staring back at him, is his own face, reflected by the golden shimmer of the throne. Clown takes a deep breath, feeling a sense of calmness come over him.
Ros’s footsteps brings Clown back to reality, and he turns towards the sound.
“I fear I bring terrible news.”
Clown walks down the steps carefully. His face softens. “How so?”
Ros’s shoulders fall, and her eyes glance towards the throne. “There’s been a terrible tragedy that was bestowed upon us by surprise.”
Clown follows her eyes.
“The king was murdered.”
Clown looks at the top of the throne, at the emerald eyes looking over the hall. “How is this possible?”
“I’ve been told multiple stories. At first, I was told that it was at the hands of Baghera.”
Clown turns his head to Ros. She doesn’t seem convinced.
“It was a rumor perpetrated by the Hostile Faction.” Ros scoffs. “Although I found out that there were multiple witnesses that night. Callum is one of them, so I asked him.”
“Right.”
“He told me that Baghera took the blame for the King’s death. She covered for Pili.”
“Pili killed him?”
“Yes. The Hostile Faction threatened Callum to stay quiet, but he didn’t agree. He told me the truth.”
“I’m not surprised.” Clown glances at the throne. “So our King has been murdered.” Clown looks back at Ros. “I’m assuming it’s related with their impending deadline.”
“I think so too.” Ros turns to look at the throne. “There’s something else.”
“What else is there?”
Ros makes a fist with her hand, which she tries to hide by putting it in front of her. “I have been titled interim Queen.”
“I see.” Clown keeps his eyes on Ros. “I can’t think of anyone else more deserving.”
Ros’s shoulders tense. “I’m very honored by the trust the kingdom has placed on me. The King brought hope to all of us. I just wish I can do the same.”
“I think that you’ll do good with the power.” Clown walks beside her, and places a hand on her shoulder. “You have the ability to build strong foundations. I think you’re more than qualified for this.”
Ros smiles kindly at Clown. “Thank you.” Ros looks at the throne, focusing on the totem’s eyes. “I’ll give it my best.”
***
At the highest point of the wall, Ros looks to the ground below her, carefully counting the dimensions of the newest wall she created. The wind hits her face easily at this altitude. She can see Tubbo’s tavern from the distance, and a land filled with promise of a kingdom barely held together.
Ros places another brick down, making it the last one in line to complete the wall. She peaks over again, making sure the wall looks up to her standards. “Great!”
Ros takes out a water bucket, and she throws herself down, pouring the water before her feet touch the ground. She walks over to the left of the wall, to the open space in desperate need for enclosure so that wild mobs stay out of the castle’s inner walls. Ros reaches towards her back, and she takes out her netherite spear, that has a purple glimmer. She pounces on a zombie, and she pushes the spear into is head. The zombie turns to smoke, disintegrating before her eyes. Ros makes a final walkthrough, before she decides that the expansion is moving along to her standards, and she finally walks towards the front of the castle.
In her room, Ros opens the chest in front of her. She peaks inside, looking over the stacks of stone bricks. She shuffles them around, but she doesn’t find what she’s looking for. She closes that chest, and she opens the one next to it.
The front door opens with a loud echo that travels through the walls of the castle. Ros peaks out of the chest, and she grips on the spear that hangs on her back.
“Hey, Ros!” A taunt echoes in the hall. “Where are you?”
Ros sighs, looking down.
“Hey Rooooos. Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Ros looks up at the ceiling, closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath. She grits her teeth together. “Yes, I’ll be right there!”
Ros hurries out of her room, and towards the great hall. The curtains are closed, blocking the daylight from the room. It leaves a dark aura on the hall that looks favorable with the sunlight. Tommy steps away from a window, sword in hand.
Ros maintains her smile. “Hello! Did you guys need something?”
Tommy looks to his left, towards the frog that’s standing by the door. His smile is wicked, taunting.
Tommy looks back at Ros. “Just wanted to see how the Kingdom of Fools is holding up without their Fool.”
Harry laughs on command, and Tommy snickers in return.
Ros loses the glimmer in her eyes, but her smile withstands. “Good! Yeah, we’re obviously sad from the death of our King, but we’re maintaining our spirits.”
Tommy’s eyebrows furrow. “Sounds like you don’t miss him much.”
Ros walks over to the window, and she grabs the curtain.
Tommy moves his sword right next to her hand, blocking her from lifting it. “Let’s talk.”
Ros takes a deep breath. She moves away from the curtain slowly, keeping her eyes on Tommy.
Harry walks closer to both of them, moving to Tommy’s side. “You know, Foolish did us a favor that day.” Harry reaches towards his back, and he pulls out a spear, similar to Ros, but the quality of the stone and the handle looks weaker. Not to mention that the material is different, far less lethal than netherite. “That doesn’t mean his corruption is obsolete now.”
“Corruption?” Ros glares at Harry. “Our King was anything but corrupt. He cared for his people.” She moves closer to him. “In fact, he saved your Faction by sacrificing his life. So for you to even insinuate otherwise—”
Tommy holds out his sword in front of Ros, blocking her from moving closer to Harry. “He self proclaimed himself as a monarch from the first day on this server. In fact, Pangi mentioned how he’d tax his citizens.”
“Pangi betrayed the Kingdom!”
“Maybe so.” Harry moves towards Ros.
Tommy moves the sword forward, forcing Ros to step back.
“That doesn’t mean he’s wrong.” Harry, now in front of Ros, stabs the wall beside her face with the spear on his hand. “After all, didn’t your Kingdom self appoint you to a higher position? From my understanding, it wasn’t done very democratically.”
Ros doesn’t flinch. “The Kingdom entrusted me with that title. I am honored.”
Harry pushes the spear deeper, making the wall crumble. “I’m sure that you are. Honestly, I think they’ve done it out of pity. I mean, it was a way to make you feel better as the weakest link of their faction.”
The image of Harry’s skull having a dent just as profound as the one he made on the wall brings a smile to Ros’s face. It was a shame that Aimsey wouldn’t approve of it.
Harry’s eyes widen. He breaks eye contact with Ros. He laughs nervously to hide his affliction, and he pulls the spear from the wall. “I’m just saying. Don’t flatter yourself too much.”
Tommy lowers his sword, freeing Ros from the wall. “If you think the server will bow to your Kingdom’s orders, you better think again.”
The two men walk towards the castle wall. Harry right out, but Tommy lingers at the last second. “See you later, your highness.”
Ros watches as Tommy finally leaves, without bothering to close the door. She waits for a couple of minutes, before slowly approaching it, and closing it behind them.
There’s a pain in Ros’s chest that lingers even after the two are long gone. She hates the fact that she let them get that close to her. More importantly, that Harry damaged the castle, and she just let him. The moment Tommy opened his mouth, tarnishing the King’s name, she wanted nothing more than to push her spear into his trachea. But a Queen has to keep her composure. She has to show that she’s unshakable, even more than a King. To give them the satisfaction of her anger, would have hurt her far worse. Besides, Aimsey believes that conflicts shouldn't be resolved with violence. On the other hand, Clown would have used it. This new tittle challenges Ros. Can she raise above the hurdles of other factions, protecting the very people that appointed her to the position, or would she embarrass them? Foolish always made them proud. Ros would rather die than to destroy the hope and union that the Old King nourished to his subjects.
Ros wants to rise above, and show everyone that she can do this. More importantly, she wants to make Foolish proud.