Miitopia 2: Rise of the Shadow Queen

Chapter 8: True Beauty Is...?

Woo! Finally an update! I've been super busy with school and didn't feel like writing, so I haven't been able to do anything about this story. But hey, I'm back now, so we're cool! And this chapter marks the return of probably one of the most popular Miitopia characters. Who? You'll see.
Miitopia belongs to Nintendo, enjoy! Comments are appreciated!

Janice walked around the castle, keeping her thoughts to herself and her eyes on the floor. She felt cold again, even though she had her cape wrapped around her and the castle was warm. Shivers wracked her body as she walked around, pretending to be interested in the paintings and tapestries that donned the wall. "G-Guardian...why do I feel like I've felt this way before?" she asked.

"I cannot tell you, child," the guardian replied, to Janice's annoyance. "But I would recommend investigating the painting to your left."

"Huh?" Janice turned in that direction, but only saw a painting of Charlotte. "It's just a painting."

"On the contrary, Janice, it is a secret passage. Move the painting a bit."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. We are alone, after all, and it will not do any damage."

Still a little doubtful, Janice cautiously moved the painting, and to her surprise, it revealed a hole in the wall. Leaning closer, she could hear the sound of crying...

Wait...crying? And the voice sounded familiar...

Choosing to see who it was, Janice entered the passage, with the guardian's amulet acting as a light. She took two lefts and then a right, then one more left, and she was surprised to see who was crying...

Prince of Neksdor: Horace

"I'm sorry, Mama," Horace was sniffling, holding what appeared to be a picture of Charlotte to his chest. "My dear Charlotte is queen now, and look at me...a pathetic, sniveling little prince who can't find himself a proper, beautiful wife. What am I going to do now...?"

Janice hadn't seen Horace since the Dark Lord incident, and the last time she did, he'd released a genie from his lamp in the hopes of winning Charlotte's heart. It didn't work, fortunately, but why was he here now?

She lost her balance, and she fell to the floor with a loud grunt. "Oof!"

Horace, startled, stood to his feet and turned around, flinching at the sight of her. "Y-YOU!" he shouted. "What are YOU doing here?! I—!"

"Shh!" Janice covered his mouth after getting back on her feet. "Someone's going to hear us if you scream like that!"

"And who are you to command ME, commoner?" Horace sniffed again, his tone no longer angry. "J-just leave me alone."

"I'm not doing that." Janice placed a hand on his shoulder, making him grimace. "What are you doing here, Prince Horace?"

"None of your b-business!" Horace slapped her hand away, but then he saw her chest. "My goodness, what's that?"

Janice looked at where he was pointing. "Oh. It's a long story..."

"Mine as well. You first."

"Okay..." Janice sat down beside him and began. "It's been two months since the Dark Lord was defeated, and now there's a new threat: the Shadow Queen, Kojima. She stabbed me in the heart with a sword made of darkness, and now I've been feeling pretty rough. I saw this weird vision earlier, but I don't know why. That's why we need to stop Kojima. We came to defeat her, John lost his face, we defeated the monster that had it..."

"John?"

"The noble's son. The one who married the..."

"Yes, yes, continue."