Chapter Text
It was supposed to be a day of celebration. Both red and blue kingdom have chosen their new monarchs for the next two weeks. As always, the two monarchs met at the bridge. As per tradition, of course. Thus, there they stand. On opposite sides of the bridge, both siblings with crowns on their head that weigh far too heavy. Especially after what was just said.
"You can not be serious." Katie mutters, there's simply no way! He couldn't possibly have an ego that big! To declare that the war could end if she where to return to blue kingdom, especially after she spent years building her own life! Becoming someone more than just 'Noms sister' as she has been known as during her time in the blue kingdom. Being nothing more than the shadow of her older brother. Compared to him, told things along the lines of "why can't you be more like your brother? Look how well he's doing!".
Katie had every right to leave blue kingdom and make her own life. And now here he is, practically demanding she leaves all her progress behind. And for what? So that she could be invisible again? Absolutely not. She has friends here. She made her own family with kitty. Katie is happy with how things are. Why would she ever willingly come back? Key word.
willingly.
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Nom would consider himself a patient person. He understands that Katie is stubborn, he understands she might not see how much safer blue kingdom is for her. He figured if he gave her that ultimatum, she might finally wake up. But it's clear she won't. so, as any good older brother would. He's taking matters into his own hands. His kingdom may be occupied with the bounty on 4C. But surely they would aide in helping him with his plan. after all, he could simply decree it. And nobody could disagree. That's the power that comes with being king. Does he sound corrupt? Probably. But what's a kingdom without a couple problems? He's already long accepted his flaws and faults. He may as well embrace them.
"BLUE KINGDOM MEETING AT DAWN!!" the carrier pigeon drops that message to every blue kingdom member it could find. Pigeons surely are handy. If there's one thing Noms grateful for, it's absolutely got to be the genius who figured out how to train pigeons to send messages. It truly does make life easier. But that's besides the point. He needs to lay his plan out to his kingdom. Whether they agree with his decision or not, he doesn't care. Not everyone will understand how important Katie's protection is to Nom. He simply wants his little sister to be safe, and if that means he has to take her home by force than so be it. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The meeting went well enough. Nom could see their reactions (minus owain's, of course. Thanks to that lion themed helmet) and he could tell they weren't happy. But that's fine. They weren't happy about the bounty he had placed on 4C earlier that day either. What matters is whether or not they comply. All they need to do now is prepare for war. His sister, being smart as she is, is preparing her kingdom too. Though Nom knows that no matter how much the red kingdom prepares, blue will always be ahead. That's precisely why Nom cares so much that Katie comes home! (And also because she's his sister and he wants to keep her safe) Red kingdom could never protect Katie the way blue kingdom can, Nom can prove it. Nom will prove it. Four days, that should be enough for preparation. He walks the streets of the blue kingdom, watching his subjects work. He heads to the blacksmith quickly. He needs to make a bunch of armour. After all, a good knight is always prepared! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
four day later time skip because I have no ideas for the days leading up to the war 🥹✌️ -The author or something _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Katie holds bread over a fireplace to toast it. She's aware today is the day of war, but how could you possibly fight if you haven't eaten? What good is a brave knight if the brave knight is weakened by hunger? Despite her current anger at Nom, he still taught her better than that. But even if he hadn't she's still smart (and brave) enough to figure it out herself! She doesn't need him. And he needs to understand that. She's pulled out of her thoughts by the realisation her toast has fallen off the stick she held it on and fallen into the fire, turning into nothing more than charcoal. Seriously, why did she think giving her bread the marshmallow treatment was a good idea?. actually, now that she thinks about it. its war day.
as in, like. War is TODAY! okay. It's okay. She's fine, Katie is a brave knight (and queen) and she can protect her kingdom! She'll be fine. Her kingdom will be fine. Why is she even outside? Even if her and Nom were kind enough to decide a day for war rather than a secret attack, they never agreed on what time. For all she knows she could turn around and Graecie might be behind her, spear pointed at her neck ready to strike! Not that Graecie would ever do that, but Katie has a right to be paranoid given the situation!
As soon as the realisation comes to her, she abandons the fire, and the burned bread, and runs. she needs to get inside and send a pigeon to her kingdom. Either they attack first, or they prepare and wait to be attacked. And Katie would rather be prepared, considering noms strength compared to her own. Ugh! Why does going to war against your brother have to be so difficult?
Katie sits on her throne, writing out the last sentence of the carrier pigeon message telling her kingdom to come to the throne room. Just as she sends the last pigeon out, she watches in shock as it's grabbed mid air. her head lowers to see who grabbed it and she immediately notices a big yellow feather attached to a small green hat. Kitty! What a coincidence, that pigeon happened to be the one she was sending to Kitty anyway!
"Kitty, let the pigeon go" she says gently
"oh! Right! I'm not cat anymore I shouldn't do that" Kitty mumbles before releasing the bird with an apology. Katie giggles and jumps off her throne to give kitty a brief hug, before grabbing Kitty's shoulders
"Kitty we are so cooked" Katie says. Kitty only looks at her with a head tilt and a quiet
"...what does that mean?". There's a brief pause before Katie sighs dramatically and goes
"ohh never minddd". turns around and walks back to her throne, kitty responds by running after her, jumping on her throne and using it to get to Kitty's little platform on the wall, curling up in a strangely cat-like way (atleast, the most cat-like a human can get). The two wait in the throne room for awhile, chatting idly until it starts filling up with the other kingdom members. As the last person enters, Katie begins explaining the plan to her kingdom mates. To put out simply:
"wait for them to attack first. Keep extra needed items on us just incase. Help eachother out. Drive the blue kingdom into a corner"
Of course there was more, that was just the more important things. Katie dismisses everyone. However, Kitty stays behind
"we will be safe, right?" he asks from his perch, Katie doesn't need to look at him to assure him with a voice that holds the confidence of an idiot
"of course, Kitty! The blue kingdom could never dream of beating us!" Kitty hums and replys
"I trust you, Katie" the tone of Kitty's voice makes her pause for a second. Trusting, loyal. The way a child would blindly trust their parent. It almost made Katie want to cry. To have a person trust you this much, to be so sure you would never lead them astray, Katie almost starts worrying about losing. She won't lose. For her home, for her new-found family. for Kitty. she will protect this kingdom with her life. She swears it. As both the queen, and the brave knight lady Katie the brave. Kitty jumps down from their perch. silently, of course. Katie almost doesn't notice. She only does when Kitty grabs her arm and whispers
"Katie, I heard someone" Katie whips her head towards Kitty and whispers back
"what? What do you mean?" Kitty leans in closer and responds
"they're trying to be quiet. But I have good hearing." before Katie can react, Kitty reacts quicker. Grabbing Katie's wrist and running out the castle. Due to Kitty's lack of footstep noises, the only indication of them leaving is Katie. thus, the person quickly makes themself known in order to stop Katie from leaving.
"Wait!" They call out, despite herself, Katie looks back. It's 4C. But why is he here? 4C hasn't been seen since the start of noms monarchy!
"4C? Where have you been?" She questions. Kitty had stopped running when 4C spoke.
"That's.... Difficult to answer..." 4C starts, and Katie can feel Kitty's grip on her (now hand instead of wrist) tighten. 4C notices Kitty and continues
"I'm not going to go into it. Now isn't the time, what's important is that I know about the war. And I know they are on their way"
"aren't you from their kingdom? Why are you telling us this? I know I don't understand the whole kingdoms hating eachother thing, but I'm still aware of it. So why would you tell us this?" Katie has to admit, Kitty's right. Why is 4C here warning them? Especially about a sneak attack from his own kingdom that she's sure he's loyal towards!
"I'm... Not part of the kingdom anymore. Let's just say that. I was.. exiled" before either Katie or Kitty could answer, Kitty turns around and nudges Katie. There, at the gate. Noms approaching.... Alone? Why is the king of the blue kingdom, the one who proposed the war, approaching the red kingdom alone? Something's up. The moment 4C notices him. He runs. Well, that's weird. But Katie has bigger things to worry about. If Nom is approaching alone, it's likely his kingdom members are approaching from different sides. Despite Kitty's attempt to stop her, she begins approaching Nom too. The two of them reaching the gate itself. Kitty having followed Katie, steps close to her protectively.
"Nom" Katie greets. It's not rude, but it's not kind either.
"Katie" he responds. There's an akward silence for a bit neither of them daring to speak first. Eventually, Kitty does.
"Why are you here, goat?" She asks, a little ruder than Katie but still not entirely there.
"I'm here to give you another chance, Katie." Katie tenses. She knows what's about to be asked
"join the blue kingdom, come back to your family. Or I will start this war right now"
"absolutely not. Nom, this is just desperate at this point. I've already told you no. I've made a life in the red kingdom and I plan to stay here. Go start your war. But don't think I'm going to cower just because you want to play brave."
"I thought you would say that" Nom says calmly. And before Katie knows it she's being pushed out of the way, thrown to the ground by kitty. For a moment, Katie wonders if she was betrayed. But then she looks at Kitty, and realises Owain is right there, and was about to strike Katie
"Katie!" Kitty yells, Panicked. Katie has never seen Kitty so panicked, besides when she gets soggy. Katie stands up, drawing her sword. it's this point where she remembers something. her pocket sand! She reaches in her pocket and grabs a handful of sand. Flicking it in Owains eyes. Most of it hits around the helmet, but a small amount does get to him, blinding him. Katie takes the chance to run. Make some distance. Before she's grabbed
"Katie, you know you I won't let you get away that easily." Nom says, almost offended at the idea that Katie would underestimate him in that way. Did he not teach her right?
"What are you doing, Nom!?" Katie yells, out of all the dirty tricks for her brother to play, grabbing her? Has he no shame? He was the one who taught her that tricks like that have no room for the battlefield. So why is HE of all people doing it?
"AGH!" there's a scream by Nom, and drops his hold on Katie. She turns around out of concern, only to see an arrow embedded in his shoulder
"oh my gods!" she reacts, stepping back. her eyes dart to see who did it, and she sees Kitty holding a bow. She could never be mad at Kitty. Even if she just shot her brother, this is a war and Noms on the other side! Regardless on if he's her brother she's bound to fight him anyway. And plus, she knows Kitty. Surely Kitty did it for a reason!
"Dammit!" Nom grits out. Yikes, that REALLY has to hurt. Surely one of the blue kingdoms mages have a healing spell? Right? Katie doesn't WANT Nom to be hurt. But in a war you can't pick or choose who gets hurt and who doesn't, nor can you choose who hurts who. Healing mage... Cam.. Cam! Cams a healing mage! Oh, wheres cam? Oh who is she kidding! Noms the enemy. Regardless of her authority surely Cam wouldn't help. Oh.. what to do? What to do? Katie finds herself genuinely panicking. Sure, he may be the enemy. But he's her brother! She has to help him, she should help him! Before she knows it, she's by noms side, examining the wound. Oh dear. It looks deep. Perhaps she should- her thought is cut off as she suddenly blacks out. No, she didn't just black out. She got knocked out _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ "KATIE!!" kitty screams, running over to her, before Kitty's also grabbed. of course, Kitty's struggling. Why wouldn't she?, though. No matter how hard she tries. She can't seem to stop Katie getting dragged away. Surely the other kingdom members will? Where even is the other kingdom members? "NO!" he's screams. He struggles, desperately. Trying to break free. He doesn't even bother trying to see who's holding him. Right now, all he can think about is how he's been here before. Not as a human, but as a cat. When his knight was killed, when the wizard was tugging him away from his home. The way the lead felt so restrictive, so suffocating. Before he knows it, he's knocked out too. Perhaps they didn't like his struggling, as if he cares.