The Inventor and the Phoenix

Finding the Castle

A/n: Sorry this took so long...

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

*****

He was terrified as he traveled through the woods, Wonderbot accompanying him on his side. Not just of the dangers that might jump out at any moment from behind or on the sides, but of the danger that Cappy had unintentionally put herself in and how long she's been in it. Possibly over a day, since she hadn't come back. It didn't ease his anxiety of her safety being put in jeopardy, despite the fact that he found footprints leading him to somewhere.

It was at that point that he found himself approaching a tall castle, the one where Cappy may be trapped in right now.

"What is this place?" Rodney gasped under his breath when they stopped in front of the gate.

Cappy's horse neighed in fear, but Rodney was able to calm him down as he got off of the saddle. "Hey, hey, steady, boy! Steady..."

Wonderbot flew over the gate and opened it for Rodney from the other side. The blue-haired lad noticed a blue fabric on the ground and picked it up. Studying it closer, he glanced back up at the castle.

"Cappy..."

*****

Meanwhile...

Rodney was not the only one worried about the safety of Cappy. The castle staff couldn't keep her pleading cries out of their minds when the Princess took her to the dungeons.

"Ha, ha, couldn't keep it down, could we?" Matt complained as Nabel sat on her chair, rubbing her brows in frustration and solemnness. "Just had to invite her to stay, didn't we? Serve her tea, sit in the King's chair, pet the dog..."

"Matt, what did she expect us to do, not be hospitable?" Nabel gave him a one-sided glare.

*****

Rodney opened the door, the sound echoing through the hallway. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

His voice resonated through the area. The interior of the castle was darkened due to the lack of lighting, which made his fear even tenser than before. Curtains that were closed in front of the windows also seemed like they weren't giving any light in the area since then. The castle almost seemed as if it was abandoned.

"Cappy? Cappy? Are you there?" Rodney quietly called as he searched around the castle. No one was responding, but he didn't want to leave until he finds her.

*****

Sam looked over her shoulder one last time before ascending the stairs of the dungeon. Her hands held a tray containing some bread, fruit, and a cup of water, her arm holding a blanket with ease. With careful steps, she approached the dungeon door and tapped on the wood with her finger.

"Here. You never got a chance to eat earlier," she said, sliding the tray under the tray. "And a blanket to help the cold away." She then handed the blanket to Cappy, who started eating the instant the tray came up to her.

"Thanks," Cappy said sincerely. "But...won't your Princess be furious if she finds out?"

"She won't. Besides, if she does, I'll explain myself to her," Sam replied with kindness in her tone.

"Oh," Cappy nodded in understanding. "But then...how did you guys end up like this?"

"It's a long story," Sam answered. She soon took the try back once Cappy ate her fill. "I should take this back. I'll come by as much as I can."

"I'd appreciate that. Thanks," Cappy gave a heartwarming grin. Sam nodded, smiling back, before making her way back to the kitchen.

When she got there, she set the tray down in the sink, just as a young boy with messy brown hair and fins on his hands and feet swam in through the see-through tunnels above her. She was glad that their friends had worked on building the tunnels for her beloved to swim in for a short time being. An older woman with a huge rear end stepped in with a few dirty dishes and set them in the sink.