A sequel to my first story 'Neferpitou and the human Royal Guard.' Like with the previous fanfic, the description and title was recently deleted somehow and I can't remember what exactly I put here. Also, I'm not too fond of this one for multiple r...
After a not so restful sleep from my emotional meltdown last night, I at least get some much needed comfort in the form of waking up next to Pitou while she strokes my hair. Though, something that wasn't comfortable was the fact that we had to sleep in the rubble that was what remained of the castle.
"Pitou-chan..." I mutter when I wake up, still groggy.
She looks down to me, smiling cutely while saying "Oh, finally awake are we? Sleep well?"
"No..."
"Good! Neither did I~" she says in a playful manner.
I can't help but smirk at her antics. Honestly, I need something like that to lift my spirits after what happened yesterday. "So as long as I suffer with you, you're content?" I ask.
"Yep! Exactly. Sharp as always, Allie~" she quips.
Her saying that makes me chuckle a bit. After I have a good laugh, I look up and ask "So, what now?"
Her smile slowly fades after I ask, and she responds with "I... I don't know. King Meruem hasn't said a word since I woke up. He's just been standing there, looking out at the wasteland." she gestures over to the King, and it is just as she said, he's just standing there, he just looks like a husk, as if all life from him has disappeared.
Sighing, I sit up, mentally preparing myself for what will come next, and head over to the distant King.
"Allie...?" Pitou starts.
I don't respond, I just continue walking toward the King until I am about a meter away from him.
He glances over his shoulder at me for a moment upon my approach, but simply resumes staring off into the distance without truly acknowledging me.
"Sire, shall we make plans for a counter attack?" I ask.
He still doesn't respond, continuing to stare blankly away from me.
"Sire? Sire..."
Once more, I am met with silence from the King, still not even acknowledging my existence.
Loosing my patience, I yell at him "Meruem!"
The outburst finally gets his attention as he looks over his shoulder again, though still with an empty look.
Now with the King's attention, I remember who I'm talking to and calm down. "With all due respect sire, we need to act quickly if we are to-"
"Why bother?" Meruem finally speaks up.
"... Pardon?" I inquire, confused.
He turns around to fully face me, repeating "Why bother? The outcome is clear, the devastating loss we suffered has sealed our fate."
"Sire? W-what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I need to take responsibility for my actions, it was my failing as a king that led to the deaths of all the humans under our protection. And it is my failing as a King that started this problem in the first place. From the moment I was born, I have only led us to ruin, it is my fault that our mother is dead, and it is my fault that so many chimera ants are scattered, divided, and dying. We are retreating." he answers.
"Retreating? King Meruem, we can't just... just let the mafia and their false king get away with this..." I reply, frustrated.
"We can, and we will. I will not have any more blood be unnecessarily shed due to my failure."
"So what, you think they're just gonna leave us alone? Father despises you, do you honestly think he won't come after us again?!" I ask.
"I'm not sure, but I would rather leave, and have a possibility where you can all live, than stay to fight, and have everyone die."
I can't explain why, but despite the fact that I can't help but agree with him on this, something about it just gets under my skin, so much so that I do something I would never have expected from myself. I punched the King in the face as hard as I could.
This action causes Pitou to yell at me "Alejandro! What are you doing?!"
I don't answer, I just look at Meruem, waiting for him to retaliate, but he never does. Rather, he just looks at me without saying a word, wiping the blood from his lip.
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"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!" Pitou shouts at me again.
Once more, I don't answer her, I just look at Meruem and ask "Well, are you just going to stand there?"
"My decision is final, Alejandro." he calmly replies, irritating me even further.
"You can't be serious! After everything, you're just going to let what they did slide?! They killed our friends, they put Jovesworth, Bat, and Cheetu into a coma! They kidnapped Youpi, put you under some sort of mind control! Dare I even point out what Pouf had to do to survive and save the professor in the first place?!" I snap at him.
"That is precisely why we are retreating, so that none of that happens again." he replies, still calm as ever.
I start to throw another punch toward the King, though Pitou holds me back, saying "That's enough! What's gotten into you?"
"Let go of me Pitou! I'm gonna break every bone in his body one-by-one until he finally gets the nerve to FIGHT BACK!" I shout in anger.
Pitou struggles to hold me still as I try to break out of her grip. "What is wrong with you?" she asks. "You can't just-"
"Let him go, Neferpitou." Meruem says.
"But sire..." Pitou starts.
"He will not listen to reason, and I will not keep him here against his will." Meruem responds, looking from Pitou and then to me. "You are free to do as you please, Alejandro. I know you are going to try to fight Father and Vasilias, regardless of my orders. Rest assured, Jovesworth will be taken care of, he will still be alive when... if, you come back." He looks back to Pitou. "Release him."
I stop struggling and Pitou releases me from her grip.
"Good luck." is all the King says before he walks away, leaving me and Pitou alone.
The two of us are left standing there, silently until I feel Pitou hug me from behind. "Don't die, Allie." she says.
I wish I could say that I won't die, but even as her tears drop onto my shoulder, I can't bring myself to lie to her, I won't make a promise that I'm unsure I can keep. Eventually, she lets me go again, and I say one final think before I make my way to Yorknew "I love you, Pitou-chan. Stay safe, protect King Meruem and Professor Jovesworth." With that said, I walk away, not having the mental strength to look back, to look her in the eyes. Sorry Pitou-chan, I can't let this go. If nothing else, I have to at least try save Youpi from them, I can't live with myself if I were to let him be captured while I am safe at the King's side. I think to myself before walking to my likely death...
