For reasons beyond his comprehension, Kristin's office is one of Tommy's favorite places to be in the entire palace. It isn't the definitive favorite, not with a consistently warm garden and an expansive library. He wouldn't even say it was the most beautiful as he has been to both the antechamber of the ministry's offices and Shelby's apartment within the palace. It is not even the most homely location. Tommy would give that honor to Wilbur's or his parent's bedroom, honestly, maybe even Techno's if he decided to ignore the odd animal heads adorning the walls. It is because Kristin's office is awarded no exceptional title that makes Tommy puzzled why he enjoys being here so much. He reasons it is probably because the most likely places for his mother to be are her bedroom and this office, and even when she's not in either place, she will eventually return to them like a bird to a nest.

His mother's room has a lovely view. It looks right over the capital city down a well-paved road. It is too far away for Tommy to see any of the people, but it is to imagine them there when he notices colored kites wafting in the wind or hear the distant cries of their markets when the window is opened a little. Tommy thinks this is another reason why he likes the room so much. This is the closest he can get to the city at his current age and skill set. He knows he'll be able to go there eventually, but for now, he settles for sitting on the windowsill like a cat, looking across the sun-lit roads.

"Theseus?" His mother questions, looking over the back of her chair at him. She moves her body a little more when his eyes dart away from the window to her own. She moves a hand to the back of her chair, almost lifting herself out of it. She refrains, pressing her lips together in deep contemplation. She sighs, tilting her head to the side. "Are you sure that you are not taxing yourself unnecessarily? You spend so much time both in your classes and with your friend, the little duke Tubbo. I fear that taking on the responsibility of being High Lord Sam's apprentice might be... draining."

"I am not as worried as you are. I know how to plan my days accordingly. I have spoken to both High Lord Sam and Marchioness Kara about what should become of me during the days. Additionally time will be spent with Tubbo when he is finished with his apprenticeship," Tommy explains to his mother, swinging his legs over the side of the windowsill. The heel of his shoes tap against the material, creating a soft clicking noise. He folds his hands into his lap. Tommy has grown used to sitting properly. It is the expected way of the nobility in this world. Tommy finds it tedious and unnatural, but he forces himself to comply in order to fall in line with everyone else.

Kristin stands up. She remains between her chair and her desk. Her hands lightly trail along the materials on the desk. She moves a few papers and her quill to make it look a little more orderly. All the while, she wears a thoughtful expression. Although her face hardly gives anything away, her eyes shine with emotions and considerations. There is a quiet softening in her eyes as she looks at her son, "Why do you wish to learn spearmanship from High Lord Sam?"

There is a different question Kristin is trying to ask. It does not bother her that Tommy wants to learn from the diplomat from another nation or that he wants to learn spearmanship. Her real question is why Tommy wants to learn how to fight. Out of everyone in his family, Tommy has always been the most docile. He keeps his personality locked inside of himself, though he is growing comfortable enough to show parts of it to Tubbo. Everyone else he wears a mask for, and this mask includes painting himself as the image of defenselessness. He has not revealed his magic to anyone. He has not expressed interest in fighting or acquiring the means to before now. Tommy asks for very little, and what he has asked for was a teacher and a music instructor, both wants very different from what Tommy is asking for now.

"There are people I want to protect," Tommy answers softly, deciding that honesty is the best policy right now. If it were up to Tommy, he wouldn't be learning how to fight at all. But if it were up to Tommy, he would be himself every day, and he would regulate his fighting ability to his obnoxious screaming. He would glare at the people he disliked. He would open-heartedly adore the new family he has received because if it were up to Tommy, the lives of that family wouldn't be caught in the whims of fate. As it stands, Tommy is going to have to fight to make the life he wants. And perhaps that is part of who Tommy truly is: a stubborn idiot who is willing to challenge god in order to make things go his way. If that is the case, the only difference between Tommy and Theseus is what they are choosing to challenge god over.

"I want to protect you-" Tommy continues, looking into his mother's eyes with all the sincerity he can muster. He knows his argument would be better if he could tack on that extra word, but it is a petulant thing, clinging to his tongue and refusing to freefall from his lips. "Without Wilbur... without Techno... without Sneeg and... it is only you and I here."

Kristin moves away from her desk. She reaches her hand out for Tommy. He feels her warm skin caress his cheeks. She is smiling solemnly at him. The thoughtful expression returns to her eyes. Tommy knows he's confused her over the years. He knows that he is not the perfect example of a child, and he knows that she wants him to be selfish. Tommy considers his actions now as selfish. He is saving Kristin for many reasons, but the biggest one is himself. Tommy never had a good mother, not until Kristin held him and smiled at him and told him that she loved him unconditionally and actually meant it. If he can save her life, if he can keep this warmth inside his chest, he will do whatever it takes.

"You do not need to worry about me, Theseus. It is I who should promise to protect you," Kristin whispers. Her hands still, cupping his cheeks and lifting his face to stare at her. She examines his eyes for a long moment. Tommy blinks, refusing to look away from her unwavering stare. A childish thought springs to mind as he stares into her purple eyes. Would she love him more if he had eyes like hers? Theseus was meant to. For some reason, Tommy's original eye color from the previous world has replaced Theseus' eye color. Tommy doesn't know why that happened- never thought much of it- but he wonders now if his mother would prefer him like that. Tommy almost laughs. How could he doubt his mother's unconditional love?

"True," Tommy breathes, lying through his teeth. Kristin will not be strong enough to protect herself. Her death is practically the catalyst for the imperial family's decline. "This is something I want to do. It would make me feel much better."

Kristin sighs, nearly deflating in front of him. As the tsaritsa of a vast empire, Kristin must be a symbol of strength and wisdom to her people. Tommy feels some satisfaction in being one of the people Kristin allows herself to be human around. While it does unnerve him to discover his parents are fallible, the shock is mitigated because Tommy knows from his last pair that parents are just people and people have the potential for great cruelty and mediocrity. Kristin and Philza have never reached those terms, and Tommy doubts they ever will. Even if they suddenly flipped and hated his very guts, Tommy knows in his heart that he could never resent them. He would never wish that he wasn't born as their child, all because of the kindness they've shown him thus far.

"I find it extremely troublesome to refuse you. If the High Lord Sam agrees to train you, I will give my permission for this. But Theseus, if this becomes detrimental to your health, physical or mental, I will stop it immediately," Kristin tells him, raising her finger as she gives him her conditions. Tommy feels a smile split across his face. He leans forward, arms wrapping around his mother's torso. She returns his hug without missing a beat. She even leans down to place her forehead against his hair. He can feel her soft exhales and smile against his scalp. Tommy closes his eyes, listening to her heartbeat.

He cannot say it, cannot force the words out of his mouth, but he finds his lips moving without any sound. By the way his mother's grip tightens, it seems she understood his silent declaration. 'I love you.'

–

"I..." Ranboo lets the word hang in the air between them. He stares at Theseus. After all the time they've spent together, Ranboo can see the cracks in Theseus' facade, the cracks no else is able to see. Ranboo knows that Theseus is startled even when his body and face do not show it. Ranboo knows, and he feels something ugly twist in his stomach at the thought of being the only person who does. Not even Theseus' family knew about these little slights.

"If you are going to waste your breath and my time speaking, you should at the very least finish the statement you have started," Theseus informs Ranboo, not even a glance over his shoulder at the person he is speaking to. Ranboo closes his eyes. What could he say to make Theseus look at him, really look at him? The question is as pointless as asking himself what he could do to make Theseus happy. Both of the questions are pointless. They have no answer. There is nothing Ranboo can do. He is starting to doubt there is anything anyone can do.

Ranboo's memories of his homeland are as hazy as they were when he first entered into this new realm, but Ranboo feels the closest to those memories- to his home- when he is around Theseus. Ranboo realizes now why that is. Theseus doesn't remind Ranboo of his home in the sense that Theseus is comforting or even familiar. Theseus reminds Ranboo of his home because Theseus is like the void. There is an expansive emptiness inside of Theseus that mirrors the place Ranboo was born. There are entire islands floating in that void, but it can never be filled, just as Theseus' soul can never be filled. He will always crave more. He will always try to attain some nebulous thing that will make him satisfied, but it does not exist.

Ranboo has nothing to fill that void inside of Theseus. His own emotions towards the prince are conflicted. At some moments, Ranboo feels so much pity for Theseus that it makes him sick. Other times, he finds himself adopting Tubbo's relentless anger or Niki's boundless resentment.

The greatest oddity, however, is that Ranboo is realizing he might be just as much Theseus' family as Philza, Techno, and Wilbur are. Ranboo has unintentionally gotten close with every member of this peculiar and powerful family. Theseus is like Ranboo's brother in the same way Theseus is a brother to Techno and Wilbur. Maybe that is why Ranboo cannot decide whether he loves or hates Theseus. He feels both at the same, in twisted ways and some pure. He has so many emotions that he tries to pour into Theseus, but none of them will fill the void. None of them will make Theseus stop and appreciate what he has. None of it will convince Theseus that he has a family that despite everything, do have love left inside themselves reserved for him.

"Forgive me, my prince. This servant did not mean to speak," Ranboo lies, looking down. Although he has gotten better at lying, Theseus always knows when Ranboo is. He can even tell how far off Ranboo is from the truth and the severity of that truth. Ranboo feels Theseus staring at him as plainly as the cold wind brushes against the back of his neck. But like that wind, Theseus' gaze lifts away. Theseus does not care about this lie, it seems. This must be the prince's way of granting mercy. Ranboo is thankful until a thought pulls at his mind.

Just like how Ranboo can see the cracks in Theseus' facade, Theseus knows when Ranboo is lying with barely a glance. They understand each other in these profound ways. Ranboo wonders if maybe, just maybe, Theseus has conflicted feelings toward Ranboo, too. A cocktail of love and hate, tolerance and jealousy. Everyone has told Ranboo that Theseus seems to favor him, and Ranboo has seen how Theseus treats his actual family. Maybe he, too, considers Ranboo as something of a brother. That is a problem considering the way he treats his blood brothers.

–

Sam told Tommy during their unofficial training session that he only had one graduating pupil, his daughter. As Tommy is running around the garden with an earth elemental wolf-dog named Fran chasing after him, Tommy understands why so many people dropped out. His stomach rolls uncomfortably as he jumps over an obstacle Sam set up for him. As Tommy lands, his stomach drops back down. Fran easily leaps over the obstacle with the grace of a race horse. Tommy considers the unfairness of it all as he finally slides past what Sam has designated as the finish line. Tommy nearly collapses once he passes it, but Fran is quick to land in front of him. He falls against her. She remains as sturdy as stone she looks to be made of, never wavering even when he puts his entire body weight onto her back. She instead turns her head to lick the sweat off his brow with her tongue. It feels like pressing cold granite against his skin, so Tommy allows it momentarily.

"You are steadily getting faster," Sam tells Tommy, walking over to the blonde. He is wearing his own training gear even though he spends much of time instructing Tommy and watching the results. Tommy glares weakly at his teacher. He rolls off of Fran, landing on the grass beside her. He stares up at the sky. Fran settles down beside him. She stares at him with glassy eyes. Tommy weakly reaches a hand out to swipe his fingers against the smooth surface making up her body.

Tommy doesn't understand how it happened. He has been training with Sam for a few months now, and when he came down one day after studying with Kara, Sam had an earth elemental sitting at his feet. The book never mentioned Sam having an elemental after he was contracted to the Earth Elemental King. Fran was an entirely new development, and Tommy is pretty sure he had nothing to do with it. Unless it was the result of the butterfly effect, but Tommy doesn't know which action of his would cause an earth elemental to wander into the palace and for that elemental to forge a contract with Sam. Tommy didn't even know Sam wanted another elemental.

"Are you okay, Theseus? We can stop your training for the day," Sam explains, looking over Tommy's face. It took a few weeks, but Tommy was eventually able to get Sam to speak with him comfortably. In exchange, Tommy was allowed to call Sam by his name without the title. Tommy had some reservations about this close relationship, but he ultimately decided that it didn't matter. A foreign diplomat has little sway over the empire's politics. Tommy could get close to Sam without worrying about someone using it against him.

"I'm fine, Sammy-boy. Just taking a power nap. It's something Big Men do," Tommy replies with a wave of his hand. Once Tommy got comfortable, he really got comfortable. Sam has no bearing on Theseus' future. Sam has no power inside the empire. He does have respect, however, meaning he is untouchable. For these reasons, Tommy can really say whatever he wants without worrying about the consequences. He feels so relieved being able to say 'Big Man' again. He just needs to reach an age where he can start cussing again. He wouldn't dare do it around his family or the imperial court, but he would be content finally cussing Sam out for his harsh lessons. Tommy smiles to himself at the thought of it.

"Ah, I see. That makes perfect sense, Big Man," Sam responds, already having gotten into the rhythm of Tommy's odd turn of phrases. He will use them, and most of the time, he uses them correctly. Tommy still snickers every time he thinks about Sam using 'pog' to describe nearly everything Tommy did. It made Tommy cringe and ugly snort. Sam had given Tommy a wide, confused smile. Tommy was forced to culture Sam, becoming the teacher instead of the student for a short while.

"Lie down with me," Tommy asks, patting the grass beside him. Sam raises an eyebrow. He shakes his head, but he plops down on the ground beside Tommy. He stares up at the cloud rolling across the sky with Tommy. The third prince's breathing calms down as he lies there. His sweat grows thinner, but it still leaves a sticky feeling on his body. His muscles ache, a testament to his grueling training. Along with learning how to handle a spear, Sam is making Tommy build his body. After a few months at it, Tommy has a modest amount to show for his efforts. He is faster and stronger than he was before.

It isn't enough, though. Tommy has been putting up with this training consistently without complaint or begging because Tommy fears it is the one thing standing between his mother and death. He may very well be the one thing standing between his mother and the rebels.

Tommy closes his eyes. In The Ender Prince, the rebels are vaguely mentioned. They are alluded to more often than not, but there are instances when they are actually talked about. Tommy holds onto those precious details as tightly as he can. He frequently reminds himself of each one to make sure he doesn't forget anything. The rebels are a group of devout followers to Misstrixten, the goddess of death in the Antarctic Empire. Tommy doesn't remember if they have any connection with the Blood God, the other deity that holds dominion over the hearts of the empire's people. Tommy doesn't think they do, though. There is a whole separate faction of people devoted to the Blood God.

The followers of Misstrixten saw the existence of Kristin as blasphemy against their goddess. It was mainly because the people of the empire considered Kristin a mortal incarnation of the goddess due to her mysterious past and unnatural powers. Kristin's Darkling, Raven, added fuel to the fire because among Misstrixten's prized creatures were ravens. The followers could not stand to see the tsaritsa treated with the same reverence as the goddess, especially since the church and the imperial are usually kept intertwined but ultimately separate.

The rebels planned their attack for a long time. They had a light mage among their ranks who they trained and may have even done rituals to enhance the mage's power. When the light mage reached their peak, the rebels attacked the imperial palace. They had found an underground entrance long forgotten by the people of the modern era. Philza, Techno, and Wilbur, along with their powerful elementals, were far from the palace. It was also on this night that Captain Jordan Sparklez had been away from the palace because of a private mission given to him by the tsar. The other knights were formidable, but the light mage- a rare existence no one could account for- was able to pass through their ranks. The light mage put the tsaritsa in critical condition. Kristin was found dead.

The rebels were rounded up and sent to the dungeons. Through the use of healing potions and divine artifacts, they were tortured for a very long time. The light mage was the only one to escape. They were never heard from again. Ranboo didn't even meet the light mage on his long journey. The light mage simply vanished after completing the one mission they were designed to accomplish.

Theseus admitted somberly once that the light mage had red eyes...

Tommy doesn't know anyone with red eyes other than the second prince. Techno cannot be a light mage, not when he was blessed by the Blood God. Even if he was, he would never kill Kristin. Techno and Kristin were close, probably closer than anyone else in The Ender Prince. When Tommy was reading the book, he thought it was because of their shared Nether genetics. Tommy isn't so sure about that theory now, but the point remains that Techno would never hurt their mother.

Someone else must be behind the attack. Tommy doesn't know who.

Tommy shudders. He's forgetting something, he notices. His mind helpfully supplies him with a name that he must have read. Lady Pearl of House of Helianthia in Kinoko. As the child of sunflowers, she was a light mage. She did not, however, have red eyes. She had sky blue eyes, warmer than Philza and Tommy's eyes but no less bright and distinct. Tommy wonders why he thought about her, or why that name reminds him of something else.

—

"Lady Pearl!" Ranboo squeaks. He falls into a messy bow.

"Rise, little one." Ranboo startles, lifting back up as if someone has pulled him. He finds himself staring at... Pearl? She looks the same. She sounds the same. But something is very distinctly different about her. The way she is carrying herself is different, and she's using an inflection she's never used before. Ranboo had thought her incapable of sounding this... dignified. Out of all the noble houses in Kinoko, Pearl and her family were hard workers. They were elegant in a lot of ways, but they never clung to the manners of their fellow houses. This was strange...

"You are more perceptive than most give you credit for," Pearl admits, inclining her head towards him. Her brown hair shifts as she moves, and the sun catches on the golden strands lost in the beautiful tresses. "But you need not ponder. This matter has little to do with you. While you might feel the ramifications, it will be nothing more than a gentle wave lapping at your feet."

Pearl takes a step forward, moving as gracefully as the wind. Ranboo swallows thickly, a surge of fear rising throughout his body without him knowing the origin. Pearl has never seemed dangerous before now. While her light powers are refined, they are not exceptionally powerful. She has a fair amount of muscle mass due to her work in the fields of her noble house, but Ranboo is able to teleport away if he needs to. Right now, however, he feels like no matter where he teleports to... Pearl will be waiting for him, and she will destroy him.

"It is people you do not know who will drown," Pearl finishes, something final in her words. The sunlight moves across her body. It covers her in shade. From the darkness, Ranboo finds a flicker of something in her eyes. There is a ring of gold at the edges of her pupil.

Once Ranboo notices, darkness consumes his vision, and he finds himself unconscious.