Tales Of A Lonely Moment [ Cookie Run: Kingdom ]

Recital I: Prolouge

The cold king sighed. He stood in the hall, staring at the framed image of his family on the wall. He missed his father.
The King has always been able to see ghosts. Even when he was a child. He no longer told people of it, as he was laughed at and told he was imagining things when he was young.
He turned his head to the left, footsteps of a servant echoing across the hall.
"Y-your majesty.." The young woman tried to catch her breath. "There's- someone here.. new recruit..told him.. to wait..but..didn't."
"Oh?" The kings face darkened. The servant's face lost color.
"I- I told him to wait! But he- he's in the throne room, sir." She stammered.
He struggled to hide his surprise. What kind of fool invades the throne room without royalties permission?
"Alright." He steadied his voice. The servant's eyes were riddled with fear.
He doesn't like being feared, but it's the only way anyone listens to him.
He made his way to the throne room as the servant ran back down the hall.
The doors squealed as he shoved them open. There stood the new recruit, grinning. He knelt on his knee in respect.
"Rise." The King stated when he had reached the other man. The recruit did as he was told.
Another guard stepped forwards from the doorframe.
"Sir, he was informed you would prefer if he'd waited outside and still came in. What would you like for me to do?"
"Nothing."
"But-"
"Stand down." There was an air of familiarity with this recruit. He had scars across his hands- why?
He ran his hand through his fluffy white hair and smiled at him. The King stared him down, in hopes of intimidation. The other only laughed.
"Oh please, I watched you grow up. You don't scare me." He snorted. The other guard raised an eyebrow, making eye contact with the King- or tried to.
His eyes had widened as his hands shook.
"What..do you mean?" His tone was shaky.
"I'm also not really a recruit. I just wanted to see you." He spun the sword he held in his hand. The other guard took a step forward, but the king held out his hand, signaling him to stop.
"Really now? Who are you?" He asked sternly.
He snickered.
"What, I can't visit an old friend?" He tilted his head. "Over ten years with me, and you don't recognize me?"
The king stared. The other man had blue eyes, and the white hair reminded him of-
"Gingerbrave?!" The kings eyes lit up. The other guard stared in shock. This was highly unlikely the king.
Custard Cookie The Third let out a loud laugh. It felt good to laugh again. He felt warm tears stream down his cheeks. Gingerbrave stepped forwards and embraced him. Custard froze up, lightening and wrapping his arms around his friend.
"You idiot. How have you been?" It was odd to see Gingerbrave from below him, and not above.
"Good. Ran into Chili Pepper a couple weeks ago. Robbed a store." He said nonchalantly, as if it was an everyday thing.
"You're kidding." Custard snorted.
"Nope! I actually did. She says hi, by the way. Told you to go fuck yourself for leaving, too." Another step forward from the other guard.
"Stand down." Custard said sternly. He nodded, retiring to his original placement.
"She really did say that. She also said some..other things, that I'm afraid will get me killed if I say in front of present company."
Custard burst out laughing. He wheezed, shaking his head
"Sounds like Chili Pepper alright."
"So.. have you seen anyone else?" Custard waved, and the other guard left the throne room.
"Oh, yeah!" Gringerbrave grinned. There was a glint of silver on his hand.
"Are you married..?" Custard realized it was a ring.
"Mn. No. It's a..promise ring, of sorts." He stared at the piece of metal on his hand with a dreamy look.
"Speaking of which, how is Wizard?"
Brave immediately reddened, stammering out a sentence.
"Is it- was it that obvious?"
Custard stared at him. His gaze pierced Brave, sending a feeling of nervousness down his spine.
"You're an idiot. Yes, it was that obvious." Custard rolled his eyes to the back of his head.
"He'd hit you with his stick if he was here." Brave snickered.
"It's not a stick, it's a staff." Custard made his a higher pitch, mimicking Wizard Cookie.
"What about Strawberry?" Gingerbrave looked up at Custards question.
"Oh, yeah. About Strawberry..."