Chapter Text
The sun went to sleep as it slipped under the horizon, making the sky beautiful, warm
colors of orange, red, pink, and even blue. A knight, called Sir Light, held a lantern with his sword sheathed in his blade cover at the side of his hip. It was his duty to scout the palace for tonight. However, during his scouting, he found some bright, sparkling objects in a bag, stashed away somewhere between the cracks of the stone floor. Light raised an eyebrow and knelt down on the floor before taking the bag and staring at it. These are the wizard's items, he realized. I must return them before he comes looking for them, the light yellow and blue tiger decided as he stood up straight and went to go look for his friends. He usually did things with them, anyway. They were a good help.
A white and red porcupine sat on the floors of the sparring grounds, still cooling off after fighting with a few other knights. He was reading a book, when he suddenly heard armor clanking from behind him.
Light approached him with a smile. "Greetings, my friend," he said as he stood in front of the other knight. "I have come to inform you, Sir Thistle, that I found valuable items that belong to the wizard, who came by earlier today to discuss important matters with the king. Prithee, if you could, I would like you to come with me and assist me during my quest to return these items to the wizard," quoth Light, "but we first have to ask His Majesty about it, of course, before making a decision such as that one."
The porcupine hummed in response before he slowly rose to his feet. "Very well. I will come along with you then, Sir Light, but you better not cause any issues, as you like to do. It is not an adventure. It is simply a delivery."
"Right," Light replied like he would behave, but his silenced laughter told Thistle a different story.
After herding his second friend, an orange and brown fox by the name of True, who, despite his name, was sly and a thief—True had confessed that those were his stolen items, and he faced a scolding from Light. It wasn't the first time this happened—the three friends made their way to the throne room, where they spotted the King sitting elegantly on his chair and kneeled before him.
"My Liege," spoke Sir Light, his tone holding infinite respect. "My friends and I have found the wizard's valuables stashed away somewhere between the walls," he started. He didn't dare mention how it was True who had done that. True already faced a mild scolding, and he surely didn't need another. "I have come to request your permission to return them to the fellow, and to inform you of my decision about this. This," he stated, "is what I feel is the right thing to do."
"Hmm," the King hummed, shaking his foot briefly as he thought about this. "Very well," His Majesty decided, tail flicking from behind him, "but you three must return in approximately five days. You, Light, and Sir Thistle are two of my best knights, and True is a wonderful help when it comes to spying. I do not want you three to be in absence for any longer than five days."
"Yes, your highness, as you wish," Light replied. "We will return in five days," he promised the King before marching out of the room, Thistle and True following.
"Ah," Sir Light sighed, running his hand through the blonde fur on his head like he had just done hard work and was finally relieved from it. He glanced back at his friends. "My good fellows, let us away!" he declared, making his way into the forest with the fox and the porcupine, the bag of the wizard's valuables stored in his satchel.
........
Stars spread across the sky like glitter, and the moon casted little light between the trees as the trio traveled far—they went up mountain and hills, traveled prairies and valleys, before finally settling somewhere in a wildflower field and taking the time to sleep.
By morning, the dew coated their clothes, fur, and armor (besides True, since he didn't wear armor), and birds crooned their songs as the sun finally woke up. Sir Light shook it off and brushed imaginary dust off of his armor as he stood up, his tail swaying behind him.
"Let us eat breakfast while we continue venturing, lest we squander our time..." declared the striped knight, who was already grabbing bread out of his satchel and beginning to walk away.
Thistle growled with annoyance, his quills bristling as he chided Light, "Nay, Light, but a single day has passed!" he reminded. "Take a moment to collect yourself!"
"Thistle speaks the truth," True agreed, a playful chortle accompanying his words. "Dost thou forget we posses so much time on our hands? We have several days before we need to return to the Kingdom," the orange and brown fox reminded. He turned away after a moment, his cheeks flushing with a maiden's blush from humiliation. "Besides, I do not desire to face the wizard's displeasure after my wrongdoings," he admitted.
"Perhaps you shouldn't have stolen his valuables," Thistle responded, eliciting a huff from True, but the fox was aware that the other knight was right.
"Very well, then," Sir Light replied, groaning. "We will eat breakfast and tarry briefly, but thereafter, we better get moving!" he said.
..........
Once they finished their bread and took a few sips of water, the three of them continued their merry way to the wizard's tower, passing scenic views and beautiful sights. However, upon their ooh's and ahh's at the beauty before them, a storm suddenly hit them, drenching them in rain.
"I just did my fur!" True cried out his complaints as they went beneath a tree for shelter.
Sir Thistle bristled, baring his teeth as his small tail lashed behind him and his ears flattened on his head. "Another set back?" he hissed with irritation.
"Now, now," Light said with a laugh. "We are having fun, are we not?" he asked rhetorically, giving the two of them a nudge with his armored elbow. "Do not allow the rain to anger your spirits, good sirs. It's only water," the blonde and blue knight reminded.
"Hmph," True grunted, his tail swaying as he followed Light and Thistle, who were, albeit struggling, making their way through the storm and continuing to move. Sir Light was determined to allow nothing to bring him down. When he had a goal, he was set to it. He would allow nothing to get in his way.
When the rain cleared and their dripping wet fur finally began to dry, a large, intimidating Shadow suddenly covered the rays of the sun, shadowing, what seemed like, the entire world. Light froze and cocked an eyebrow. "What the—"
"Dragon!" Thistle cried, cutting Light off and the white and red porcupine drawed his two swords and his grip on the hilt of them tightened.
Sir Light's ears perked up and he gasped upon seeing the dragon's foot nearly crushing True, who he quickly pushed out of the way.
"You're alright?" he asked, and the fox nodded. Light looked back up at the dragon with a scowl.
"I am Rift," the dragon roared, "the most villainous dragon in my Kingdom that goes by the name of Cruor! Who dares to cross my land?!"
"Your land?!" Light shouted back, staring up at the dragon and drawing his sword. He laughed mockingly at Rift. "No way you control this land! It is far too beautiful to be ruled by someone as dastardly and wretched as you!"
"By the Gods! You say something like that to me?! Do you know not of who I am?"
"Rift?" the striped knight replied, poking the dragon's leg with the blade of his sword. "Nay, I have never heard such a name," he finally answered, his blade cutting the dragon's foot.
"Aghhh!!" yelled Rift, his leg recoiling with pain as he lifted himself in the air with his wings. "You hold no respect!" he accused, shooting a fireball at Light shortly after his words. The knight quickly dodged it, and the fireball hit the ground with a trembling shake that shook the whole country.
"I do have respect," Sir Light defended himself, "but not for the likes of you!" Light growled as he threw his sword into the dragon's wing, the blade cutting the skin, and disabling Rift's ability to fly. The red and black dragon fell to the ground with a grunt and a growl before Light, True, and Thistle quickly began attacking him.
"Stop it at once!" Rift demanded. "I command you!!" the dragon roared continuously as he was painfully defeated by the trio. Eventually, he decided to flee, shaking the three of them off of his body. "I will be back, but next time, on my terms!" Rift declared as he quickly scampered away.
Sir Thistle snarled at the dragon. "That is what you get for attacking the nobles of Lychnis!" he hissed.
Light belly laughed. "Enough!" he finally managed to say between laughs. "We have defeated the brute. Allow us to continue pursuing our goal," quoth the tiger. "We will deal with Rift later."
"Very well," Thistle agreed, a sigh leaving his nose as the trio began to move along again.
......
It took them hours, but eventually, they reached their destination. True sighed out of both relief and regret.
"We are here," the fox pointed out, his ears folding on his head.
Light stepped beside him and put a gauntleted hand on his shoulder. "Do the right thing," he pressured, giving True a grin. "You know what you did was wrong. It is important to own up to your actions, you know," he lectured briefly. He took the bag holding the wizard's belongings out of hid satchel and shoved it to True's chest.
True groaned, taking the bag from Sir Light's hands and knocking on the door.
The wizard slowly opened his door, his long, white beard dragging on the floor. The white hair was a stark contrast to the jet black fur on the cat. "Nobles from the Kingdom of Lychnis," the wizard started, "what is it that you need?"
True averted his gaze, biting his lower lip. His tail tucked between his legs as he gave the wizard the bag. "I believe these trinkets are thines," the fox started. "I beg forgiveness for robbing you of your valuables. Temptation did sway me, yet I know my deeds were unjust. Please. I give you my deepest apologies."
The wizard smiled at True, taking the bag back at patting his head. "I knew it was you when I noticed they went missing. And I knew you would do the right thing," he said warmly as he stepped back and dipped his head at the fox. "I do forgive you, and I give you many thanks for returning my belongings," the black cat stated, earning a nod from the fox. Suddenly, the wizard stepped aside. "Come in, nobles. You look like you could use a break," he said.
"Yes, we could! Gramercy, gramercy!" cried Sir Light with a smirk as he stepped inside the wizard's tower and made himself comfortable, with the others following.
The three were offered tea, and Light talked all about their adventure to the wizard as they sat on the couch.