A long time ago, there lived a boy who wanted to see the world. After defying his mother, he ventures out to find a place where he belongs. Along his journey, he climbs to the clouds on a giant beanstalk and encounters a sleepy, friendly giant! What...
The rumble of a door, followed by heavy footsteps that shook the desk where Riddle's cage was. The human boy looked through the bars and up at Sebek's towering figure.
"Sebek! Please, listen to me! You don't have to do this! I'm begging you; let me go and you shall never see me again!"
"Fat chance, human." Sebek spat out the word "human" as though it was a bitter fruit. "Your kind took away a queen of ours, according to Master Lilia. You've caused him so much stress that he's having to take painkillers again! Queen Malenoa was one of our most influential rulers ever! She was the most perfect queen in Briarian history!"
"How would you know?" Riddle asked.
Sebek paused, then turned around. "B-Because! I admired her very much!"
"You must be very loyal to your country."
"I am indeed!" Sebek boomed proudly. Riddle covered his ears and sighed.
"Do you mind speaking quieter at least?"
Sebek scoffed, then sat down in his chair. "YOU don't tell ME what to do, you insolent creature. You will wait until the conquest of your kingdom is over and THEN you shall be released."
"Sebek, you don't understand! If your prince takes over my kingdom, EVERYONE shall die! Trey, Chen'ya, my mom... everyone I care about will die!"
"Well YOU should have thought of that before you decided to sneak your way up here and invade our castle," Sebek replied. "And my Young Master is going to avenge his mother who was killed by your kind!"
"But that was a long time ago, according to Lilia! What does that have to do with humans now?!" Riddle asked desperately. "Some of us are good, you know?"
Sebek tilted his head up haughtily. "I DOUBT THAT!"
Riddle looked down at his hands. "You know... it wouldn't be wrong to doubt that. When I was around the castle, I saw Lilia and his son and how they got along. It reminded me of how I will never have that type of relationship with my mother. She is constantly screaming at me to do work, punishing me if I break the rules... the only reason I came here in the first place was to escape her. I wanted to see the world, but she wouldn't even let me do that."
"Your mother sounds awful, which further proves my point that humans are EVIL!" Sebek thundered.
"But that's just her! I have Trey and Chen'ya too! Trey's always baking me sweets, and Chen'ya offers to play with me whenever I'm out running errands. Before I even came here, Trey said to be kind to everyone and they will like me. I-"
Riddle paused. He still had his bag. He then remembered what Trey had said to him.
Make sure to just be yourself. People will like you more when you're honest about your real feelings.
He then remembered his dream.
You are coming to our land for a reason. When you see him... please, treat him well. Fate has your meeting written in the stars.
"Where is Silver?" Riddle asked.
"Why does it matter?" Sebek questioned back.
"Because I have something I need to do with him."
~
At that moment, the door burst open. Riddle's eyes went wide from relief and joy.
"Silver!!"
"Sebek, quick! There's something coming out of the garden; I think it's more invaders!"
"WHAT?!" Sebek roared. He leapt out his chair, grabbed his sword, and ran out the door. When he was gone, Silver quickly slammed it, pushed the chair in front, and locked it. He then turned to Riddle, who looked up at him.
"Silver!" Riddle's eyes filled with tears. Silver grabbed the key from a nearby shelf and unlocked the cage. The human boy stepped outside and smiled at him. "You came back for me!"
"Of course I did."
Silver gently picked the boy up, and when he did, Riddle began to cry. Tears streamed down his face as a sense of relief washed over him. "Thank you, Silver! Thank you for the rescue! I was sure I was a goner there!"
The giant let out a gentle sigh as well, his breath smelling of tea and lavender. "Anytime, Riddle." He set the human boy down on the ground and carefully huddled over him to protect him from being seen. Riddle then realized how big their size difference was; Silver towered above him like a gigantic castle.
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"I heard what you said to Sebek," Silver whispered, his voice quiet and soothing.
"All of it?"
Silver nodded. "Even if humans harmed our people, I know not all humans are bad. Father knows it as well. If he thought you were a threat, he would have turned you in long ago."
"That's right. But now we have a bigger problem; the army is getting ready to invade my kingdom, and Sebek will be back any minute! Silver, we need to hurry and stop them!"
"But how will we do that? They will surely put me in the dungeon if they see I am with you."
Riddle looked into his dreamy, aurora eyes. "I had a dream yesterday in which someone spoke to me and said, "You are coming to this land for a reason." I think... this was the reason."
"To mend the relations between our people... you're very clever," Silver stated. "And in order to do so, You-"
"Had to befriend a Briarian, but in the process... I fell in love."
"Me too... even if we're completely different species, we connected emotionally. Maybe we can do the same for Prince Malleus."
"If we're honest about our feelings, he will respect us more... come to think of it, perhaps that's what I should have done with Mother."
Silver let out a chuckle. "I guess so... when this is over, maybe we should talk to her together."
"Ha!" Riddle laughed. "Good joke."
"I'm serious."
Riddle paused. "Oh my... well, I guess there isn't any harm in trying. And if she has anything to say, she'll have to say it to YOU, and that ALREADY would be scary."
Silver laughed and picked up the human boy and sat him down on his shoulder. His face then grew serious. "If Prince Malleus is planning to invade your world, then he'll be in the barracks with Father and the other soldiers. We need to hurry before Sebek gets back-"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"SILVER!!! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU...!!"
"Damnit! Riddle, we have to go. Now." Silver quickly unlocked the window in Sebek's study and climbed out, landing in a patch of clouds. He then locked it and turned to the right.
"Are you ready?" Silver asked. Riddle clung to his shoulder and nodded affirmatively.
"Yes. It's time I stop being so submissive; let's go save our worlds!"
