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» PRINCESS OF THE APOCALYPSE, MEET THE QUEEN PT.1 «

What If...Belle Went With Ezekiel, Yumiko And Eugene? (10x14, not canon)

Silene Rotundifolia

"Do you think they'll have candy?"

All heads swivelled to Eugene at his unusual question, the confused silence filled only by the sound of hooves trotting slowly down the road.

"The new community, I mean." At the lack of answers he continued, his eyes drifting as he thought back to a better time. "I was remembering my mother, who grew up near train tracks like this."

I smiled at his fond story, briefly making eye contact with Ezekiel as we aimlessly wandered alongside each other. Well, it wasn't totally aimless.

Other than candy, Eugene had spouted nonstop facts about the woman he came to know as Stephanie. I trusted the man himself, however, I wasn't so quick to trust the others he communicated with. You never knew who was lying these days, or how terrible the cost would be when their true colours eventually presented themselves. I had no idea that Dante was a Whisperer, not until it was too late. It was a mistake I couldn't afford to make again.

"The best candy I ever had..." I started with a grin, my gaze on the road ahead as the small group looked at me. "...was when I lived at this prison, a couple years back. Michonne used to bring stale M&Ms home, and me and Carl would share them when it was the middle of the night and we were supposed to be asleep."

My grin faltered slightly at the happy memories, the loss still heavy in my heart. Not just the people I had loved, but the safety I felt behind those fences. At least, until the Governor arrived and knocked them down.

"Please tell me we aren't really on this journey to find stale M&Ms." Yumiko sighed, although I could sense the amusement tinting her words.

She was right, this mission was something we all depended dearly on. The four of us left in the hopes that we would discover even more communities now that we suffered the downfall of our own, and more people to build up our defences against the Whisperers. I already felt guilty about leaving, but coming home empty handed would make things a whole lot worse.

I was broken from my distracted thoughts as my horse startled, the nearby growls of walkers sending me jostling from side to side. Once I got a good grip on the reins I trotted hesitantly closer, noticing wild movements from inside a cage.

Two walkers were trapped behind the metal bars, reaching desperately towards a pigeon that rested comfortably a few feet away.

"Whisperers?" Yumiko feared, but the question was uncertain.

I slid off my saddle, my feet planting firmly on the ground as I took a closer look. "I don't think so. If they wanted to give us a warning, they'd probably-" I cut myself off with a shudder, thinking back to the last warning Alpha gave us. No, this definitely wasn't extreme enough to be the Whisperers.

Ezekiel narrowed his eyes as he analysed the dead clawing for him. "This means we're not alone. It seems we should investigate, just in case." He suggested, a series of nods directed back at him.

»« »« »« »«

I kicked my boots absentmindedly through the small trickle of water, following the practically dried stream into the forest to explore. Now would've been the perfect time to hunt, if not for the crashing of Eugene and his horse behind me.

"No prints by the river. No one's been around here for a while." I pointed out, the damp earth fresh and untainted. My eyes flitted in the direction my finger pointed until they met a delicate flash of red, the brightness catching my attention suddenly.