Chapter Text
4c had done a lot today and was very proud of himself on how productive he was. He was doing a lot for blue kingdom to repay them for such a warm welcome. After the bounty that had been placed on his head and running nonstop with Nom, he felt that he could finally settle down here in the Blue Kingdom. Sure, maybe some of the residents didn’t like him very much, but he had hoped to make it up to them with all the projects he got done. Surely it would be enough… just a few more projects..
“4c!”
A voice called him from his thoughts from the lake nearby.
“Hi Shan!” He waved to the water mage as she swam closer to shore.
“What are you doing? I haven’t seen you in hours.” She asked curiously. It had been a few hours since the last monarch meeting. He was honestly surprised anyone noticed him gone since he had gone invisible and snuck out before the meeting was over.
“Oh, you know. Just, making sure Blue Kingdom has everything it needs.” He grinned. He ended up telling Shandrea about all the projects he’s done in the few hours he had. He was proud of his work and even more proud when Shandrea’s focus was completely mesmerized by what he had done. It was one thing to pat himself on the back, but it was another to have someone else sparkled when he talked about his projects. Shandrea was focused on every word that 4c spoke. A few moments and she had softly dragged herself out of the water to rest her hand on her crossed arms, looking up at 4c as he sat down to talk some more.
He hadn’t noticed when the events of today had caught up to him and his wording was starting to fade into the calm breeze. His eyes drooped slowly as the words less of excitement had started tumbling out of his mouth. A yawn escaped his lips, causing his slime to jiggle slightly, but he ignored it.
***
Shandrea had noticed this, but she didn’t comment on it. It was kind of cute to see 4c finally calm down after all the projects he had told her. She never realized just how much the little slime could do in just a few short hours. She knew humans, elves, and other creatures needed rest, but had wondered about 4c’s sleep schedule for some time now. She had never seen the slime rest even once. Always causing mischief and planning pranks on the neighboring kingdom.
She watched as 4c’s words started coming out as more mumbles as he slowly drifted to sleep. His head hunched over and his knees up to his chest. Deciding it would be best to leave the slime to sleep, Shandrea stayed nearby in case he needed protection. Resting her head near his knees as to not disturb him and accidently falling asleep herself in the process.
***
Nom and Katie were being very, very, very loud. The siblings had been messing with each other all afternoon before Katie was taken back to her kingdom. Nom loved his siblings very much and barely had time to spend with Katie. So, it felt nice to finally have some time to spend with her.
“Hi, Scott!” He yelled at the elf who had stood outside the main gates to Blue Kingdom. The elf quickly turned around to hold a finger to his lips as he whisper yelled, “Shhh!”
Well, that was an interesting welcome. Scott quickly grabbed him by the wrist as he dragged him inside the Blue Kingdom.
“What?” He whisper yelled back.
Scott simply pointed to the back of a certain blue slime rouge and the long hair of a water mage. Nom was thoroughly confused. Was he supposed to sneak up on them and scare him? Was that Scott’s plan?
“Aren’t they cute?” He whispered.
The two walked over to the other side to see the sleeping faces of the two Blue members. Nom smiled at the scene. He had seen 4c sleep before, but he had never felt safe enough to sleep in front of others. Seeing his brother out in the open and fast asleep made Nom feel content that 4c finally felt safe in Blue Kingdom. Especially after everything that had happened in the past.
Nom was forced from his thoughts when Scott thought it would be a good idea to join the sleeping duo in the grass. The elf looked to Nom with a soft expression. Nom had a feeling he was waiting for him and slowly approached the group so his armor wouldn’t make too much noise. 4c was far from a heavy sleeper, but wasn’t too much of a light one either. Nom slowly made himself comfortable on his brother’s side, feeling his best friend rest against his knees, and his glasses gently sliding to his nose.
After a fun day with his sister, it only felt right to rest with his brother.
***
Greacie, Mae, and El were having so much fun. They had just finished testing their abilities in the arena before heading home.
As Greacie entered Blue Kingdom first her eyes were immediately set on the obviously sleep group a few yards beside the gates. She slapped a hand over her mouth to stop the inevitable gasp escape her lips. The other two ladies noticed this and immediately perked up and followed her line of sight before doing the same. Mae was trying her best to keep her giggles to herself as she ran over to the group. Her rouge abilities helped her footsteps be silent as she rushed over. Once confirming all four members were asleep, she waved the other two to join her, already having decided to join in this cuddle party as well.
Mae situated herself next to 4c. She could tell the small purple bags under his eyes were slightly heavy with purple slime. She wondered to herself how it worked before deciding it wasn’t worth trying to figure 4c out to begin with. She rested her cheek to 4c hood with no remorse for how the slime mumbled softly in his sleep at the movement.
Greacie slowly joined her friend as she made sure her armor didn’t cause too much noise. Hugging Mae’s side as she knelt in the grass. She had slept outside before but this felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity to rest with all the members of Blue Kingdom.
El had focused her magic to let herself gracefully float down behind the slime rouge, joining her friends in the pile. She looked to see Greacie, eyes closed, with her hand on top of the small slimes hood as she rested. She may not have interacted with 4c, the slime always hopping once place to another, and her having been busy wither her new monarch role, but she had always seen him as part of the family. The small family of blue kingdom members she called her friends.
***
Owain huffed as he walked the empty streets of Blue Kingdom. The usually chaotic kingdom seemed more like a barren town without its residents. Even his monarch was missing. Owain took his job as the monarch’s knight very seriously. If something had happened to her, he would never forgive himself.
He had searched everywhere. There had been new builds popping up that he had noticed. He marveled the structures. It was definitely an upgrade compared to the older builds the kingdom once had.
He had checked the final spot, the “well, well, well” as Nom had called it, before deciding to check Red Kingdom. He had made it to the gates before his eyes caught on the armor of the resident, Blue Kingdom knights. He walked up without caring how his armor clanked slightly once he saw his Monarch.
He froze a few steps behind before he heard the soft snores, and purring sounds of the Blue kingdom residents. It seemed everyone was here in one, big cuddle session.
He sighed as he took the last few steps. The sound of his armor perked one of the members.
“Rest… no wake anyo-“ The words of his monarch spoke in her deep sleep. Owain knew an order when he heard one, but was surprised at the order he was given. Rest? Owain knew he wouldn’t rest, but he could at least keep watch over the sleeping group. He stood as he faced the gates, as if someone were planning on coming in. He didn’t know. Maybe there was someone coming. It would be his luck that the entire kingdom had fallen asleep when the Red Kingdom had decided to strike.
His armor seemed to have made a little too much noise when the resend slime rogue started to stir. Having been set in the middle would wake everyone up, and his order was not to wake anyone so.. He slowly sat down so his armor would settle. He slowly reached out a hand and patted the slime’s head gently. He was never good at physical contact and he may have shown some indifferent emotions towards him, but he never really hated 4c. He was just a wild card, a fun wild card, but still. He was a bundle of energy that Owain couldn’t control. Still, Owain swore to protect all of Blue Kingdom with his life, and that included 4c. Maybe one day, they could be… acquaintances.
For now, Owain sat with his arms crossed as he stared at the open gates. He would watch over the Blue Kingdom citizens and his monarch while they rested.