Twisted Wonderland x Kny ~ Princess of the Sun and Moon Special Edition

Special Chapter: Swear By the Pirates' Code! pt. 4

The atmosphere is quiet outside Ramshackle. On the porch sits Rose, worry apparent on her face as she explains her noon visit to her friends. There's a silent plea for guidance as she finishes her tale.

Rose: So that's what happened.

Decue: So it wasn't Piraticus after all...

Ace: Sorry to tell you Prefect, but you got totally duped there.

Jack: I wouldn't be so sure. No one is allowed in those ships, but they invited the Prefect in.

Ace: You have to earn their trust before lying to them. You're too innocent Jack~

Jack: I stand by what I said.

The sing song tone of Ace's mockery is, this once, ignored. Rose mulls it over. She's noticed Ace has an eye for judging people, but Jack holds a fair point too, his serious and to the point perspective a good contrast. That is to say, Rose isn't sure which one is correct. Her head hangs in frustration.

Grim: That Captain of theirs seemed like a nice guy. I say we trust him!

Ace: See? All the more reason to not trust him.

Grim: HEY!

Always in a world of his own, that Grim. Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one though. Deuce puts a hand on Rose's back, rubbing small circles with an encouraging smile and Rose answers with a smile of her own. Jack would do much the same, she thinks, if he wasn't currently side-stepping the playfight that Ace and Grim have started. He gets fed up quickly, checking his sports watch.

Jack: It's getting late. I should be going back.

Ace: Such a goody-two-shoes~

Jack: Hah?

Ace: W-we should be going back too, right Deuce?

Decue: Yeah. We'll see you around Prefect.

Rose: Take care guys.

All leave as the sun finishes setting. The inside of the dorm feels even quieter now. Rose enters the kitchen and sets her phone on the counter with a playlist on. Well, dinner won't make itself!

...

..

.

Night falls quickly, the comfort of soft pillows and warm blankets doing nothing for one particular resident. Grim tosses and turns, kicking and groaning and most importantly, waking up Rose each time she feels just about to fall into the world of dreams.

Grim: Mrrmm.... Mrwa.... MrvghAH! I can't sleep! I'm not tired at all!

Rose: It's because of that nap you took.

Grim: Why didn't you wake me up, Rose! It's too noisy to sleep anyways!

Rose: I don't hear anything?

Grim: Hmp. Of course your inferior henchman ears don't pick it up. But I can hear voices and laughter from the ghosts outside!

The soft whispers in the dead of night stop for a moment. Rose tries as best as she can to hear anything but the rustling wind outside. Just as she's about to chastise Grim for ruining her sleep, she registers the faint sound of a laugh outside. Her eyes widen, as do Grim's. It doesn't sound like ghost, not the ones they know of at least. They know their laughs well enough by now. Grim burrows deeper into the sheets, trying to act if he isn't seeing Rose's determined smile.

Rose: Let's go investigate!

Not a moment is wasted as Rose shakes off the sheets, sleep forgotten for the moment. It was unlikely she'd get any with such a fidgety companion anyways. She grabs an old robe that was left in the dorm long ago, thick enough to shield her from the night's cold. Grim reluctantly follows behind her, out of the room, down the stairs and out into the garden.