EP.160|The Trouble of Sleep

Lucifer walked in the darkness of his own mind, walking around with Ben and Zypher. “So, were you and Swan close?” Ben asked, drawing a card. “Yeah,” Lucifer blushed “you can say that.”

“He marked her.” Zypher smirked. “You marked Swan?!” Ben was shocked. “Yeah, I mean, if you saw how beautiful, smart, powerful Swan is, you would mark her too.” Lucifer’s blush deeped.

“Awe! You lllooovvveee Swan.” Ben cooed, pinching Lucifer’s cheeks. “When’d you know you wanted to mark her?” Ben asked.

“It was mid autumn.” Lucifer narrated.

Lucifer relaxed under the mid autumn sun, basking in it’s radiance. “Lucifer.” Swan’s voice caused him to open one of his eyes to see Swan standing over him in all her glory.

“What are you doing sleepy head?” Swan raised her eyebrows as Lucifer seeped into a pile of leaves and muttered “trying to sleep.”

“You so stupid.” Swan laughed, soon being pulled down by Lucifer. “Let’s just stay here in the leaves all day, Swan.” Lucifer mutter into her black hair.

Swan chuckled and slipped out of his arms, “come on, we promised would read to the kids at Sunflower Elementary.”

Lucifer groaned, he was all for doing good and reading to kids and stuff, but today he didn't want to do anything but be lazy.

Lucifer got up and sighed, walking with Swan till they got to a little school house, “remember to be nice.” Swan reminded him. “Swan, when am I not nice?” Lucifer smiled slyly.

“Yesterday when you almost kicked my bunny, the other day when you burnt a cake in my oven and blamed it on Giles. Last Tuesday when you hid Courtly’s cards in a dragon nest. Last Monday-” Swan listed, Lucifer had a deadpan look on his face which made her stop.

“It was a rhetorical question.” Swan giggled, Lucifer blushed a bit. Her laugh is so beautiful. Ever since they were little, Lucifer’s always had a crush on Swan. Telling her however, that’s a whole different story.

“Lucifer? Hello? You still there?” Swan waved in Lucifer’s face, snapping him out of his trance. “Yeah, I’m good.” Lucifer smiled innocently, trying to throw Swan off his trail.

Swan and Lucifer entered the school to see all the kids sitting in a circle on a colorful rug. “Alright kids, today we’re going to have story time with a special guest.” the teacher, Mrs. Amy, said.

Swan smiled sweetly at the kids, she nudged Lucifer and gritted “smile.” Lucifer rolled his eyes and forced a smile. “Alright, so,” Swan sat down in front of the kids “who wants to hear a story?”

She grabbed a book called Jack and the Beanstalk and began reading. Lucifer wasn’t paying attention to the story, he could honestly care less about Jack and the Beanstalk, all his focus was on Swan.

She was just so...so beautiful to him. She was different than the other girls he’s been with, Swan would read to kids, help a random stranger in need, always saw the good in people, never judge anyone without facts.

But the main reason he loved Swan was because she didn't leave him. Anybody could see that Lucifer had some arrogance and annoyance in him, he wasn’t a big people person, he had this aura that would just drive people away.

But it didn't drive her away, Swan stayed with him through thick and thin, through the good times and bad times, through the dark and the light, Swan stayed.

Lucifer smiled at her and Swan smiled back. At that very moment, Lucifer knew he wanted to be with, who he wanted to wake up next to, spend lazy Sunday’s in bed with, the one he wanted to start a family with.

And she was right in front of him.

“Awe! That’s such a sweet story.” Ben gushed, Lucifer swore he could see heart emojis in Ben’s eyes. “Gods and goddesses, how did I end up with such a weirdo brother.” Lucifer shook his head.

“Shut up,” Ben punched him playfully, “we all got that one special person we feel all mushy about.”

“And your’s is Mal,” Lucifer teased, Ben chuckled, smiling lightly “so, when did you know you wanted to be with Mal?”

“It was July 8th.” Ben replied. “You know the exact day?” Lucifer was surprised, normally boys wouldn't remember stuff like that. “Yep, I’ll never forget that day.” Ben started to recall that fateful day.

It was a cool July afternoon, Ben sat in Kingdom Management 101 listening to Snow White as she gave a lecture. “Always make it a priority to meet with your subject and walk around town at least once a week.” Snow wrote down on the board.

Since Ben was going to be king, it was mandatory he took this class, but honestly, he didn't want to be king. He didn't like the fact that he was being forced into royalty.

He never had a say in anything, it was always royalty duties this, and soon to be king stuff. Even when it came to love he didn't have a choice!

He started dating Briar when he was 12 and they've been together ever since. He wanted some choice in his life!

“If you hate being king so much then tell your parents you don't want the throne.” Zypher said. “It isn't that easy Zypher, since Lucifer's gone I have to take the throne.” Ben shortly explained.

“Well would you rather be king and be missable or not be king and live a happy life.” Zypher wagered. “I don't want to let down my parents.” Ben sighed.

“It's an easy price to pay for happiness, Ben.” Zypher said. Ben was snapped out of his thoughts when Mal busted through the doors, calling the entire room attention.

“Malena, care to explain while your late?” Snow grimaced, the chalk crushing in her hands.

“Well, you see, 1,” she held up one finger, “I slept in, and 2,” she held up another finger “I don't give a crap about this school.”

Snow growled and continued her lesson. Mal poked Ben “psst! Ben. Want some food?” Mal passed him a small plastic bag filled with red, mildly glowing, gummy fish.

“Are those Ruby Hot Fishes? You know we can't have those here.” Ben warned her. “I don't give a sh*t, I love these things.” Mal sucked on one of the fishes.

Ben didn't notice it, but his heart started speeding up a bit. Zypher looked at the diagram that tracked Ben's heart and smirked.

“Something wrong, Ben?” Mal raised her eyebrows. “N-Nope.” Ben turned away from her. “Hey, you wanna ditch?” Mal whispered.

“I don't know, Mal, I really need this class.” Ben’s voice was weary. “Ben, stop being such a hero and start being a villain.” Mal winked, grabbing Ben as the two sneaked out of Snow’s classroom.

They soon met up with the other VK’s at the front of the building, their clothes covered in bright neon paint blotches and crazy looking “exactly, where are we going?” Ben asked, getting into Evie’s car.

“A festival on the Villain Isles.” Carlos replied. “Should I be worried?” Ben questioned. “Nah, you should be fine, since your with us, nobody’s gonna touch you.” CJ assured him.

“And if they do, we’ll cut them.” Freddie smiled devilishly. Ben chuckled nervously “alright, let’s not hurt anyone, Freddie.”

“Awe! Not even on punch?” Hunter whined. “No! I don't want to draw attention to us, we’re not even supposed to be here, what if the school sees us?” Ben started to worry. “Classic hero.” the VK’s rolled their eyes.

“What?” Ben tilted his head in concern. “You heros always care what others think about you. Us villains, are the complete opposite,” Jasper jumped out of the car, guiding Ben into the very colorful and vibrant festival.

Everyone was wearing crazy clothes and dressed like nobody was watching or cared, it was nothing like how it was in the Hero Isles “see, we don't care! We wear these colors to express ourselves, to show we’re all different in different ways.” Jasper explained.

Ben felt like he was sticking out like a sore thumb “I don't know, I’m not like you guys…”

“Nobody said you had to be, just,” Mal held his hand, applying bright neon blue paint to them “be yourself.”

Ben smiled and grabbed the yellow and purple pain, drawing a neat circle with his finger “like this?”

Mal laughed and dipped her hands in the paint, “like this!” Mal splattered the yellow, green, and blue paint on Ben’s clothes and face. “Fun right?” Mal smiled, putting on purple paint on her clothes.

“Loads!” Ben splattered some pink paint of her face. Mal fake shocked, as though she took offense, and threw a water balloon filled with red and green paint at Ben.

Once Ben finally got the hang of the festival, Mal decided to take him to one of her favorite traditions of the festival; lantern painting.

“So, what does this festival represent anyways?” Ben asked, a lion with a crown on his lantern. “It represents a lot of things.” Operetta replied.

“Love.”

“Peace.”
“Hope.”

“Happiness.”

“Family.”

“Forgiveness.”

“Victory.”

“But most of all,” Mal looked up at the sky, millions of lanterns lighting it up like stars “freedom.”

“Why freedom?” Ben questioned. “Years before any of us were born, the Villain Isles was enslaved by the Hero Isles. Villains were forced into doing hard labor, if they got out of line or refused, they would be tortured.” Carlos began to explain.

“Back then, villains were nothing but a number, to heros, we were trash that could be stepped on and treated like nothing, we were forced to wear drab clothing because the heros believed that only the good guys get color.” CJ sighed dreadfully.

“Then, a vicious war broke out between the heroes and villains, luckily, the villain won. We finally got freedom from those stupid heros!” Mal announced, everyone started cheering.

She got up on the table “let it be known, we shall never be enslaved again! We will never,” she stomped her foot “never! Be enslaved again! We finally got our freedom and we ain’t giving it up anytime soon!”

“Mal sure knows how to get a crowd riled up.” Ben chuckled. “She’s a real people person when it comes to the villain isles. She’s like our queen, everyone here knows Mal and her accomplishments.” Freddie stated.

“Heck, we even decided to pitch in on a small castle for her but she didn't want it. She didn't want to be like the Hero Isles royalty, she just wanted to be her. She’s a different type of royalty, Ben, she’s a people Queen.” Hunter explained.

Ben looked up at Mal and smiled, something about her standing on the table and riling everyone up made Ben feel different.

His heartbeat started to quicken again, faster than it ever was before. Ben blushed when Mal blew a kiss at him. Evie smirked “you like Mal don't you?”

“Wh-What?! No! I have a perfectly good girlfriend, thank you very much.” Ben said matter of factly. “Mmhm, you soooo have the hots for Mal!” CJ teased. “No I don't! You have a crush on her!” Ben tried to shoot back.

“That’s where your wrong, I don't have a crush on Mal, I’m actually interested in someone else.” Carlos smiled, looking at CJ feeding Crackers well crackers.

“Just admit, you like Mal and you want her in every way possible.” Freddie had a smug look on her face. Ben’s blushed hardened “what?! How could you even say that! I’m saving myself for marriage!”

The VKs started bursted out laughing “did…did you hear him! Oh I can't!” Jasper started wheezing. “Saving for marriage! Oh shit! Heros are so dumb!” Operetta fell onto the floor.

“Someone please slap some sense into this kid!” Zeref laughed hysterically. Ben had a deadpan look on his face “you guys suck.”

“Come on, Ben, we’re just teasing ya.” Mal ruffled his brown locks. Ben looked up at Mal who gave him a warm but wicked smiled “her smile...it’s just so...Mal…”

“So, you got a thing for Mal now, what about Briar?” Zypher raised his eyebrows. “Briar dosen’t make my heart race like this.” Ben smiled, laughing at some joke Mal told him.

He wasn’t listening to the joke, but to him, when it came from her lips, everything was funny. Everything was great when she was beside him, there was no fear when she was with him, it was just...perfect.

As the night wore on, the VKs and Ben got drunk, however, Mal couldn't get drunk because she’s a Demonic Dragon.

“Hey~Mal, come here…” Ben slurred, patting his hand on his lap. Mal sighed, chuckling a bit, as she sat on Ben’s lap. “I was thinking,” a drunken hiccups interrupted him, “about hooking up with you.”

“Oh...I guess you changed your mind, huh? I don't blame you, we can't be together anyways.” Mal looked down sadly.

“I’m only...postponing it because I don't want it...to be a drunken hook up... when we do hook up, I want there to be rose petals on the bed, candles, all that fancy stuff.” Ben smiled goofingly.

“I wanna mark you,” he leaned in close “everywhere.”

“And you said mines was sweet.” Lucifer chuckled. “Shut up.” Ben blushed “with Mal...I feel like...I’ve met her in different lives...I don't know how to describe it.”

Lucifer looked into Ben’s eyes, such secrets were held in those hazel eyes that even Ben didn't know about. He’ll find out soon enough, Swan would hate it if I ruined the surprise.

“What are you staring at? Do I have something in my eye?” Ben rubbed his eyes, Lucifer chuckled, ruffling Ben’s hair.

“Promise me something, Ben,” Lucifer rested his hand on his shoulder “never change.”

Being 10 minutes to 1am, you wouldn't expect anybody to be up, but Milton was. He just couldn't get a wink of sleep.

When he saw how happy Giles was with Demonia early that morning, he couldn't help but be jealous, and a little happy, of his brother.

He wanted what his brother and Demonia had, pure, indefinite, love...he wanted that with Courtly. His sweet little Jester that he missed so much that words couldn't even describe it.

Courtly meant everything to him, he hated being so far away from her. All around him were happy people, who all had love, and it just made Milton’s heart hurt.

He just wanted to be with her once more, even if it was for a second, just so she could see she was okay, to see those beautiful ocean blue eyes, run his fingers through her golden locks, kiss her soft pink lips.

He looked up at the stars and sighed “Courtly...if your listening...please, send me a sign…” Milton held his breath, waiting for any reply, soon, he sighed and walked towards the door back inside but felt something behind him. 

He turned around to see it was the mirror, it wasn’t any mirror, it was the Queen’s family Magic Mirror.

He tapped on the mirror and a bright glow blinded Milton, once he uncovered his eyes, a girl stood before him.

She had silver skin with a robotic texture, violet eyes that resemble focus lenses, lilac eyebrows, blue and violet hair and markings on her face.

Including an on and off button on her forehead and markings that resemble pieces of a robot. She wore lilac lipstick and a light blue fading eyeshadow.

Her hair is black with purple and dark blue thin streaks, and it is styled in a side high ponytail with two swirls of hair knotted around the ponytail.

She wears a short tube dress, with technological patterns and dark blue fabric in the sides of the dress.

The neck cut is around the shoulders, where a thin, but long, sheer fabric cape falls, with circles and circuit patterns.

She wears a big body piece around her waist, consisting of a belt with a big silver buckle and falling crystals, in silver. She also wears a big satellite and crystal headpiece, in blue, securing her ponytail.

Her shoes are translucent, with crystals in the heel and a gap between the bottom of the shoe and her feet. They are icy blue.

“What the hell…” Milton was speechless. “Are you Milton?” she asked, examining him. “Yeah? Who are you?” Milton’s hand started forming into that of a wolf claw.

She placed her hand on his, canceling out his magi “I’m Eddie Eedee, or more commonly known as,” she teleported back into the mirror, turning into an opera mask “the spirit of the magic mirror.” her voice was deep and echoey.

“Wait, I thought the spirit was a man?” Milton questioned, Eddie teleported back out and groaned “are all men here in this world so sexist? Sure, because the spirit was a man in the movies, it has to be one now right? NO!” Eddie scolded.

Milton sweatdropped “okay then…” Eddie laughed “I’m his daughter, sorry, this is my first job and I’m super excited!” Eddie bounced up and down like a little schoolgirl.

“I can tell…” Milton rolled his eyes, “what do you mean by “job”?”

“Cour...Court...what’s her name...Country? Cindy? Canada?” it was on the tip of her tongue. 

“Courtly?!” Milton gripped her shoulders tightly, Eddie nodded “what did she say? Is she okay?!”

“Yeah...well no, she’s Araden so she’s not really fine fine but she’s okay. She wanted me to give you this message.” Eddie’s eyes started glowing, acting sorta like a projector that displayed a hologram of Courtly.

“Is this thing on? Hello? Okay I think it’s on.” Courtly stepped back, she wasn't looking well, her golden locks were in a messy bun, her eyes still blue but the light in them was fading, her clothing was ripped and torn.

“Um...gods and goddesses, what do I say...I miss you, a lot, Milton.” Courtly chuckled, “you know, it’s a bit weird, usually I’m the one saving people, like I did back in the four kingdoms.”

She wasn’t wrong, back at the Four Kingdoms, Courtly, Lucifer, Milton, Giles, and Demonia would always save anybody in need, but after Swan’s death...the group began drifting apart.

“I know after Swan’s death everything changed, especially with Lucifer. I didn't want that to happen to us, but eventually, it did. We were good for a while, me, you, Giles, Demonia, but then...you and your brother had a falling out.” Courtly’s eyes saddened.

Milton sighed, he sent Demonia to the Demonic Islands to deliver a message to the demon king, it wasn’t a nice message, after that, they never saw Demonia ever again.

When he told Giles, he was pissed, very pissed, the two got into a fight and it didn't end well. 

Courtly and Giles ended up joining Arcana to be teachers. Milton joined Araden in his hunt for the gail, but later left after the fight at Ben’s wedding.

“I didn't want to leave the day you and Giles fought, or the day Ben’s wedding, but I had too...this universe, it has a really sick and twisted way of keeping us apart,” Courtly shook her head, “at least we had that one day at the wedding, it was so amazing.”

Milton wouldn't describe it as "amazing", to him it was magical. He couldn't stop thinking about that night, they way her she looked when he pounded into her made Milton want to keep going.

Every night when he went to sleep, Milton saw her beautiful face, that face she made that day made him stirred in bed and get all riled up.

“I never wanted that day to end, I just wanted to stay in your arms, warm as summer...it’s so cold without you Milton, I know it sounds desperate but,” a blush appeared on her face, Milton smiled, she was so cute when she’s nervous “I need your warmth, Milton.”

Milton smirked slyly, he wanted -- no needed -- her, badly, very badly.

“I don't know how long it’ll take till you’ll get this video, but I love you Milton, so much, I hope you don't forget that.” and just like that, the video disappeared, leaving Milton with only the memory of his Jester.

~A/N~

I haven't updated in 6 days! Yikes 😬. My computer has been on the frizt lately so there's that.

Plus I had writers block and started writing random words till I got an idea of what to do.

Then I had to help my aunt move stuff into her new office and now my back hurts 😫

Anyway! Luckily, I have a fun idea for the reveal of Swan, it's gonna be good. Like your gonna be so surprised when u find out who Swan is.

Also quick shout out to thebookwormlevy he/she/whatever they go by writes a GALE fanfic called Iron and Ink and it's really good.

Their writing style is like amazing! It's so wordy. U guys have to check it out!

Stay Sweet,
Sugar_And_Spice125 💕