Overtaking The Throne

Apples, Matter and Crushing Defeat

Chapter Nine
Apples, Matter and Crushing Defeat

After the fail from the day before, I was fine. Down my favorite spell orb, but fine nonetheless. (The crown certainly helped. I started wearing it everywhere. No clones or others seemed to mind, so it seemed like good fun.)

The averageness was not reciprocated entirely.

Herman was upset for such a long time after his defeat.

He moped in one spot outside, never bothering to get up, giving a dejected sigh every thirty six seconds exactly. We hadn't found a way to cheer him up, despite many efforts. I mean, he wouldn't eat when I offered his favorite food. It was so unlike him.

It had been maybe three hours before I got tired of his constant pity party.

No more, I say, no more!

I tossed my red hair back, and took quick strides to reach Herman's side.

Placing a hand on Herman's head, I gave quiet encouragement. "Hey buddy, it's okay. I've failed this before. It's fine. No big deal."

This advice did not help. Herman simply huffed and rolled over on his side, giving my words no thought.

This thing relies solely on pride.

I grumbled.

"Fine! Herman, you want to sit there and be miserable all day, every day? Fine! Be my guest! I'll be inside until you regain your senses!" With such great parting anger issues, I walked back into my house where the sane creatures lived. Inside, Ana was attempting to balance a cupcake on her nose, which wasn't really working with her being a wisp. All the while Di waited patiently for whatever money she was promised.

You know what?

Never mind.

The sane creatures did not live in or outside the house.

A day rolled passed.

Then another.

I was up before the sun was, along with one of my clones. Naturally, it was Di, seeing as Ana was last for everything.

"He hasn't moved?" I asked her, slipping into a dark blue coat. The days had begun to get chillier, and that meant any takeover attempts I had would have to be done in winter formal wear.

Di tried in vain to pick up an apple. "Hasn't budged." Di grew tired of failure. She growled, then went to flip over the table. No luck. She passed right through it. With such a defeated sigh, she gave up, and sat back down. (Wait, how can she sit? Is she just levitating in a sitting position? You know what? I'm done with magic physics.) "Like, not an inch."

"He's a pain."

"He's glum."

I rolled my eyes. "Herman's prideful, is what he is. He lost to that annoying Brice once, and he acts like everything in the world has been destroyed. How many times have I lost? More than once, that's for sure! Have I lost my spirit? No!"

"His reasoning for this aren't entirely his own. Herman did this for you. Well, not the pity festival, but he did try to help you overthrow Prince Brice. And if you remember, you did build up your confidence in him. Then, like, he failed. Herman failed you. Like, how do you think he feels now?" Would have been an even greater sentiment if Di stopped trying to pick up that apple.

Still, her point got across.

"You're right."

She gave a snarky smile. "Like, I know."

Ana floated down the stairs, still sleepy-eyed. "You guys are so loud. What's going on, anyway?"

"Diana is about to help poor Herman out there. Well, hopefully. If she doesn't mess up, anyway," replied Di.

A glare was shot in her direction. (By yours truly, of course.)

"Oh finally." Ana plopped down on the seat next to Di. Her eyes lit up when she noticed the water bottle in front of her. "It's about time Herman got all peppy again!" Ana casually lifted the water bottle and chugged it down entirely. None of it passed through her wispy body. She'd been practicing it seemed. To make matters worse for Di, Ana then picked up the apple, tossing it from hand to hand.

Di was dumbfounded. "What?" She screeched.

Ana gave her a laid back look. "What?"

Before that broke out into a full-fledged fight, I walked away. I marched outside to be greeted by no one. Herman barely acknowledged my presence. A patch of grass was stained purple by Herman's constantly leaking tail acid. I felt kinda bad for the dead grass.

"Hey Herman?" I hummed. "You didn't fail yourself, or me. It's not your fault. How could you have known Bricey was going to do that?" At the mention of Prince Brice's hated nickname, Herman gave a snort. "It's all okay bud. Okay?"

Herman let out whatever sound that could be considered to answer my question. (A mix between a lion roar, a squeak and a whistle. What can that even be classified as? Chaos?)

"Brice hurt my pride. And my face. It's not all okay."

Herman was right. That was not acceptable.

I threw my red hair back in annoyance. "Alright then. Get up. Let's go."

The Scorin tilted his head, completely confused.

"I need you to fly me to the castle. Brice and I need to have a little discussion today..."