His tiny hostage [G/T]

I - The Day It All Changed

"YOU MERE HUMANS. I HAVE TAKEN YOUR PRINCESS HOSTAGE. IF YOU WISH FOR HER BACK, GIVE ME PART OF THE VALLEY," roared Otis, his voice reverberating through the valley like thunder. His enormous hand clutched the princess, her fragile form barely registering in his grip.

"THE PRINCESS! WHICH ONE? TELL ME IT'S NOT PASSION!" A voice from the crowd pleaded desperately.

"Like I know, be for real," Otis retorted, his tone dripping with disdain. He spun around, his colossal frame casting a long shadow as he walked away. The princess, limp and unconscious in his hand, was little more than an object to him. He trudged through the dense forest, his mind indifferent to the cries behind him.

Otis was infamous in the region, known as the Stone Prince and the Grim Goliath. Titles and epithets meant nothing to him; he valued only a handful of individuals, and this princess was certainly not one of them. His castle loomed ahead, its imposing walls adorned with grim decorations that reflected his dark reputation. He handed the princess to one of his most trusted lieutenants with a curt instruction.

"Take it to a cell and make sure there's no trouble," he commanded, his voice a low growl. They nodded and carried the princess away. Night had fallen, and the castle settled into its usual eerie calm. Otis, unbothered by the day's events, climbed into his enormous bed and fell into a deep, untroubled sleep, unaware of the turmoil that awaited him the next day.

Bluebelle stirred, her body aching as she slowly regained consciousness. Where am I? Panic surged through her as she took in her unfamiliar surroundings. Her hair was in a messy bun, and the absence of her beloved plushies, especially her angel bear Dancer, made her heart sink. She had fallen asleep with Dancer, but now, everything from her room was gone.

Instead, she found herself in a cold, dank cell. The realization hit her hard—she was in a giant's prison. Her pulse quickened as she examined the cell bars. To her relief, the spaces between them were wide enough for her to slip through. These giants must not be as clever as they seem, she thought, hope flickering within her.

With cautious steps, she slid through the bars and ventured into the unknown. She passed by a room, feeling a cool breeze, and slipped under the door. The room was dimly lit by a curtain that shrouded it in perpetual twilight. Bluebelle's heart pounded as she looked around for an escape route.

She spotted a desk leg by the window and began to climb, her limbs trembling with exertion. Reaching the top, she was momentarily elated. But a noise made her freeze. Turning, she found herself staring into a pair of large, yellow eyes peering over crossed arms. The giant's presence was overwhelming, and terror gripped her.

"What's this now?" the giant rumbled, lifting her effortlessly to eye level. Bluebelle's fear paralyzed her, and she barely registered the giant's probing fingers.

"BOYS, GET IN HERE!" The giant's booming voice was deafening. Three young giants entered, their features distinct yet similar. The eldest had black hair and yellow eyes, the middle one had purple hair and blue eyes, and the youngest, pale with light purple hair, had light blue eyes.

"I CLEARLY INSTRUCTED YOU TO PUT THE PRISONER IN ITS CELL," the giant thundered.

"WE DID, BIG BROTHER," the boys protested in unison.

"Which cell, Koa?" the giant asked, exasperation evident in his tone.

"A giant's cell," Koa admitted, confusion in his eyes.

"SERIOUSLY?" The giant pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. He gently placed Bluebelle into Koa's smaller hand. "Take care of it," he instructed, turning away in frustration. The boys took off running.

Around ten minutes later

"Koa, you killed her with all the running," Ezra accused, worry creasing his young face.

"No, I didn't," Koa retorted defensively.

"It's true, isn't it, Luca?" Ezra turned to the youngest. Luca nodded, concern written all over his pale features.

Bluebelle's eyes fluttered open. "LUCA, YOU WOKE HER UP. YOU'RE MAGICAL," Koa exclaimed, awe in his voice. Bluebelle found herself being inspected closely by the three boys, their expressions a mix of curiosity and admiration.

"She's so pretty," Koa murmured, his eyes wide with wonder.

"STOP HOGGING HER AND LET ME SEE," Ezra demanded, grabbing her and holding her up to his yellow eyes.

"SHE IS BEAUTIFUL. LOOK, LUCA." Bluebelle was passed to Luca, who cupped her gently, his touch soft and reverent. He smiled, rubbing her head gently with his thumb.

"LET'S SHOW HER THE CASTLE," Koa suggested excitedly. The boys nodded in agreement and ran through the castle, Luca carrying Bluebelle carefully. They showed her various rooms at a dizzying pace, their excitement infectious. Bluebelle's initial fear began to fade, replaced by curiosity and a strange sense of belonging. Maybe it's not so bad here, she thought, deciding to see how things played out.

Eventually, a loud thump interrupted their tour. "KOA, ARE YOU OKAY?" Ezra spun around to see Koa on the floor, clutching his scraped knee. Bluebelle rushed over, climbing up Koa's knee to inspect the damage.

"It's just a scratch, Prince Koa. Don't cry," she soothed, smiling up at him. The boys stared at her in amazement, small blushes appearing on their cheeks.

"AWWW. YOU'RE SO CUTE," Koa exclaimed, scooping her up and spinning her around. "Let's go to our room," he said, grabbing Luca's hand and running down the corridors. They reached a massive room filled with toys, where they played until darkness fell.

Otis woke with a start. It was pitch black in his brothers' room, and the ropes around his arms and legs were easy to remove. As he stood up, he was surprised to see Luca snuggled up with the human prisoner. Luca had always wanted an older sister, but no human could substitute that role. About to pluck her away, he hesitated, noticing Luca's contented smile. Otis rubbed Luca's head and left them to sleep, deciding not to disrupt his brother's happiness. For now, it didn't matter to him.