Well, this chapter is like 6-7 days early (whoops).

I guess I'll be doing another GAMEOVER update XD. Which is fine, I am so pumped with both stories I just wish I could crank out all the chapters for you guys.

If you don't know, GAMEOVER is the new story on my page, a completely different adventure staring Adam as the main character. It has been in the works for some time now and the second chapter was posted yesterday. You don't need to read it, but if you like my stories, GAMEOVER would be a neat story to go check out :D

On with the story!

Grasping Fate

Chapter 16

"If it were easy, life would be a breeze (Author quote, I was to lazy to search up stuff)"

Seto ran off, passing Jerome just as he was walking towards the crowd. Seto wasn't paying attention so he didn't notice Jerome, however as soon as Seto ran by Jerome looked back at the boy in shock and said, "W-wait Seto! You're back!" Seto did not hear him. Instead Jerome ran towards the crowd.

"Jordan, I just saw Seto!"

"Yep, Seto just returned with Tyler and more friends." Jordan gestured to the crowd of people he was with.

"Wait more friends?" Jerome's eyes landed on a familiar Tyler, a girl with hair the color of flames, a man with a dino beanie, two unusual morvics, a man with a resemblance to a zombie, a girl with fox like features, and just a plain guy in a red and white hat.

"Ah, these three our actually my friends, it's everyone else that Seto brought," Jordan pointed to the zombie man, fox girl, and plain guy in a hat.

"Hold up, what the nether happened in 2 weeks!"

"Well...." Tyler started.

~~~~~

"Uncle Adam why were you running away from that lady?" Venir who was riding on Adam's back asked as Adam ran around the camp.

"Ran away?? What, no! They just looked so busy, I figured we shouldn't meddle," Adam defended.

"Oh, well, that flame-haired lady looked nice. I wanted to ask her name."

"Aww, little champ you're too young to be having crushes." Adam stopped running and poked Venir who giggled.

Truthfully Adam knew exactly who that woman was the moment he laid eyes on her. And if it wasn't for his messy appearance, she probably would have recognized him too.

She was Alesa, the first princess of Neim, and his betrothed. But considering he's a traitor to the kingdom he wouldn't have to marry her. They'd met several times face to face actually. Of course he wasn't wearing sunglasses and his hair was much tidier, and his clothes didn't look like shit. She was nice, not because she was just pretending to be polite to him in those meeting, he could just tell she was kind.

Adam remembered he once brought to his father's attention the discomfort in marrying her, how he felt it wasn't right. Of course his father rejected the idea and told him things like, this is for the good of the kingdom, this will help the kingdom of Neim that is falling into depravity.

A load of bull now that he thought of it, but at the time he believed he would actually be helping the kingdom. In a way, even though he was at risk of being discovered, he was glad the princess was here. That meant she had escaped Emedo's control and was carving her own destiny, and a new path for her kingdom.

"Adam, Venir!" Adam snapped back into reality and saw Jason running towards them.

"Hey Jason!" Adam felt Venir tap him on the head as a signal to be let down. Adam crouched to the ground and the young boy clambered down his shoulder.

"Venir, I told you not to bother Adam, he's busy," Jason stopped in front of them and scolded Venir.

"But--"

"No buts Venir, come here."

"Oh, don't worry, I wasn't doing anything at the moment, Venir just wanted someone to play with," Adam reassured him, "Plus, there is no harm. Venir likes me."

Jason smiled, "I know he does, but he has his siblings to play with them. Thank you Adam, I just want to be able to keep my eye on him easily. Come on Venir, let's see if we can find Ava or Glen."

Venir nodded and waved goodbye to Adam who waved back.

"Oh, Jason, I know you just came back from your brief trip into Keuta for supplies, but if you need help unpacking all that I'd be glad to help," Adam ran to catch up to Jason and walked at an even pace beside him.

"No, don't worry, Kyle is helping me out with that, I'm sure you have other things to do. Thanks for the offer though."

Adam nodded. A person tapped him on the shoulder. Adam turned and saw it was Ian, today he looked calm.

"Ian!"

"Adam, I need to speak with you for a moment."

"Sure thing."

"In private," Ian pointed his head in the direction of the woods. Adam nodded in understanding and the two of them headed quickly in that direction.

Once away from everyone Ian immediately broke the silence between them, "That was the princess, from Neim, was it not?"

Adam nodded, "Damn, Seto comes home only to bring more trouble. We cannot let anyone discover who you are, you understand that?"

"Yeah, I know. If someone did find out, that would be bad, which is why you are holding onto my amulet."

"Right, for now Adam you have to keep a low profile. Preferably keep your distance from everyone, even Seto. Seto brought the princess here so one would imagine they are friends. If you are too close to him then you'll likely be close to her, we can't let her figure you out."

Adam sighed, "I know, I know," Adam took a seat on a fallen log.

Ian glanced at Adam, Adam's face was filled with worry. Ian huffed and said, "Don't worry Adam, I'm sure there will come a time when you won't need to worry any--"

"Am I a bad person?"

Ian was stunned into silence by the sudden outburst, "Wh--I.."

"The king is my father, my own flesh and blood, yet I was too gullible and never realized the true meaning behind his cruelty. Or, maybe I did know and refused to believe it. Maybe I was running from reality all along. Maybe I've been running since my brother was killed."

"Adam, don't say--"

"I turned a blind eye to the suffering people, I fueled their hate towards my family, I've scarred the Azure name. Maybe people should know who I am, maybe I should be punished for my ignorance. I should be punished for my laziness..."

Adam looked down at the ground, "I should've done more to help people. To help my brother when he needed it, to help my mother when she was still alive. To help the people, young and old, to help Seto in his grief, to help Mitch in his suffering, to help the Ny'm princess, to help everyone here, to help you. I...I think if my father is evil, then I must be too--"

A hand was slapped across his face. Adam was stunned and silent, Ian glared down at Adam, "What idiotic ideals have been running through your head to make you think something so foolish!"

"I...Uh..." Adam couldn't find the words to speak.

"You are a fool to think any of this is your fault! You've done nothing but help people your whole life. You continue to make promises even against my words, you follow your heart, you're selfless. There has never been a time I would ever call you evil!" Ian yanked Adam to his feet and grabbed him by the shirt collar. This was starting to feel like deja vu to Adam.

"Ah! It's you!" Both Ian and Adam turned to look at the speaker of the voice.

"Fish face!" Standing before them was a familiar mudkip.

"Uh... sure, I guess? I'm actually an amphibian, but ok."

"Whoops, sorry. I don't really know your name," Adam laughed. Ian let go of Adam and sighed shaking his head.

"Oh! It's Quentin, how rude of me."

"Well Quentin, what are you doing here?"

Quentin shrugged, "Wandering around I guess, things are getting stressful back home. My sister is angry with the whole situation of the prince becoming king, and it's been harder for them to do any protesting. In a way I'm glad since there are less people getting injured, but it also leaves me without anything to do. Say, what was all that yelling about?"

"Nothing, we were just arguing," Ian said.

"I knew I smelled fish," Jerome walked in on the little group.

"Ah! You!" Quentin glared.

"Calm down, jezz. I was looking for Adam..." Jerome huffed, he looked at Adam, "Did you know Seto came back?"

"Huh, what?" Adam said, "Seto's back?"

"Idiot, I just told you that when I was yelling at you, do you not pay attention..." Ian hissed.

"Whoops, must have not clicked or something," Adam chuckled. Ian responded with shaking his head.

"Well, get this, Cal is here too. He arrived on that boat with Jay's dad, and those friends of Jordan. Seto's with him now."

"Cal?" Adam asked, he tilted his head.

"You know..., that weird younger cousin of Seto, the reason we're with the rebels."

Adam's eyes lit up, "Oh! That guy! We should go say hi! Quentin, you can follow us if you'd like!"

"Ok..." Adam ran off with Ian yelling after him.

"You idiot! Wait, that isn't a good idea!"

~~~~~

"Cal... Is that you?" Seto stopped running as he reached the shore with it's makeshift harbor. Standing by the boardwalk of the smaller ship was his cousin. Is this the person Jordan was talking about, why was he here? Seto didn't understand.

His taller, but younger cousin with darker brown hair turned to look at Seto as he approached, "So you did arrive today, good."

"What are you doing here?"

Cal ignored his question and looked around, "Where are they? My Aunt and Uncle, I need to speak with them immediately on the current situation, things are getting bad."

"Bad? Bad how?"

"Seto, just tell me where they are!" Cal demanded, he was tapping his foot impatiently looking from left to right with unease, "I can't believe they relocated here of all places. This is too dangerous," he muttered.

Seto looked down and faltered. He guessed Cal didn't know, know what happened to his parents... How would he tell them...that they were dead, dead because of him, that he was unable to save them.

"I...They're--"

"Seto~! You are back!" Seto was suddenly lifted up into a tight hug that constricted his breathing. Cal stumbled back in shock to see the one face he didn't think would be here.

"Wh-what, what are you doing--"

"Cal right, it's nice to make your acquaintance once again. I suppose this is kind of awkward..." Adam set Seto down and patted his head. He held out a hand to shake with Cal.

"You!" Cal glared, he reached for the sword at his waist but Seto stepped in between them.

"Stop!"

"What are you saying Seto, he's--"

"I know! Just listen to me--"

"This is absurd, you let him come with you, you were supposed to escape the trial with your parents and flee, but you brought him with you!" Cal hissed quietly to Seto, he kept glancing at the people that watched with curiosity but didn't but in. Then there was Jerome, and Ian, and Quentin watching.

"Just shut up and listen!" Even though Seto was still so much shorter he glared up at his cousin, the action itself quieted Cal for a moment. He'd never seen such a side from his older, but meeker cousin, "Adam saved my life. He turned his back on his home for my sake, he's on the run for my sake, Adam would never do whatever it is you think he will do. You will tell no one about his identity!"

Cal looked at Seto with wide eyes, even Jerome and Adam were stunned, Ian looked at Seto with mild surprise but still a straight face.

Seto's face trembled and tears pricked his eyes, the anger vanish quickly replaced by sadness, "Adam saved me, ok. My parents are dead, they were already killed before I even arrived... It was too late, they aren't here anymore, I'm sorry." Seto tried to wipe away the tears from his face but did a terrible job as more continued to flow down his face. Adam placed a comforting hand on the smaller man's shoulder and shushed him. Cal remained silent.

It was then Jordan walked up to them, along with Tyler, and Alesa.

"I see... I had no idea... I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I have even worse news to bring, it pertains to the reason why I'm here," Cal cast a dark look as he lowered his head and clenched his fists.

"The king of Emedo ordered the arrest of the Vesuvius family, my father has been taken away."

Well then.... To you DC readers, I'm sure many of you have been wondering about that burnt house in the story that was hinted to be Seto's uncle's house. Now you'll find out what happens exactly in the next chapter.

And to anyone that hasn't read DC, this is the first time you've heard about all this, congrats! Shit just got real. :D

I also need to announce the contest winners :I Give me more time, I'm going through a lazy slump right now. It's bad, I know, honestly writing and drawing are the only things I have motivation in... I've been kinda down lol, and don't feel like eating.

I end up forcing myself to eat even though the food makes me wanna vomit. 

Theories??????? 

I almost wrote WrittenDarkness, (whoops).

~CATtheDrawer