His boots clanked with the floor as his legs drugged him out of the room, the young prince was going to be a king soon, and his parents wanted to make sure he wouldn't have trouble, forcing him to meet with the other 3 kingdoms's princes, all future kings.

His red eyes glistened as the sun was curtained by clouds, a small smile creeped its way up, seeing the bubbly builder and the calmer redstoner's rivalry was amusing.

"Hey Dave" Clay smiled as he came up, they didn't dare use formality when together as a 4, since it wasn't needed.

Dave smiled under his mouth mask,  "hey" the other 2 looked at him, smiling, one brighter than the other.

"Dave!" Charles went to hug him, as he did with everyone, but Dave stepped to the side, causing Charles to run right into a tree.

Steffen started laughing, Clay giggled. "It's not funny!" Charles pouted, bursting into laughter himself.

Times like these, were favourited.

Once they calmed down, they decided to explore the forest, having been told they weren't allowed to go in it when they were younger.

"Are you sure it's a good idea?" The shorter of the 3 questioned, voice laced with worry as he hid behind the creeper hybrid, who only laughed. "positive" Charles was curious yes, but his dad had always told him how bad the monsters were.

Charles looked into his father's eyes, sighing. "Why?" He asked. Finally. "The monsters will gobble you up whole. You should never go in. They have no mercy on people like us" Charles's eyes widened in fear, nodding frantically.

"It'll be fun, trust me" Dave said, Charles nodded as clay decided to walk alongside Dave.

"You good?" He asked, Dave nodded, cocking an eyebrow at the sudden question.  "Why?" Clay sighed. "You've just been.. quiet" he looked at Dave, who sighed and kept quiet. Clay, knowing Dave wasn't one to talk to about his feelings, left it be, for now.

"Steffennnn" Charles dragged the n longer than needed, Steffen rolled his eyes at the prince's childish antics, but looked down at him. "What?" Charles smirked, his eyes widened, realising what the shorter boy wanted.

"No"

Charles gave him puppy eyes, and Steffen just couldn't resist. He sighed softly, a warm smile piercing his lips as he got down, giving Charles a piggy back ride.

"I can feel tall like you guys!" Charles pouted, still not accepting his short height, causing Steffen to stifle a laugh.

Dave and Steffen suddenly stopped, Dave turning to face the others. "You heard that right?" Dave asked, Steffen nodded, Clay and Charles giving eachother looks.

"Someone's here.." Steffen whispered. "Or something..." Dave added.

Dave looked to his right suddenly, then shot a glare at the other 3, telling them to run.

"What about you?" Clay asked hurriedly. Dave smiled at him, "I'll be fine" he reassured. "Now GO" Clay ran off, making sure the other 2 were behind him, which, to his luck, they were.

Their feet trudged against the wet mud, not daring to look back.

The rumours were true. The monsters existed.

Had they gotten Dave? They sure hope not. They couldn't go back without him, everyone would ask where he was, and hell, his kingdom would blame it on the 3.

"We have to hide!" Clay whispered, pulling the 2 into a bush.

"Shit. This is bad" Steffen was on the lookout, making sure nothing followed them.

"We're going to die" Charles kept repeating, tears trying to pile out of his eyes, Clay looked at the boy. "No, we're not. I'm sure he's fine, and if he's not. I'm sure we can save him" Clay said confidently, though inside, he wasn't sure. Charles smiled slightly, nodding.

Dave backed up, grabbing his sword and holding it in front of him.

The monster roared, saliva dripping onto his pink hair.

The tall beast looked down, reading to chomp on the boy.

Dave thought fast, jumping away and slashing its leg, giving him a chance to run.

Oh how he wished he'd told atleast one to stay.

He quickly climbed a tree, the monster underneath him, trying to get to him.

He jumped. Falling onto its back, its head and tailed wailed back and forth, trying it's best to get Dave off him, before finally crashing its back to the bark of a tree.

Dave grunted, hitting the tree, but he stabbed the beast anyway, the wound not that bad.

"Shit" he ran, the loud thumps of the massive beast trailing behind him. "You're going to make me fight you.. aren't you?" He said aloud, as if speaking to the beast and not himself.

The pig hybrid stopped, turning around, facing the beast.

"Two can play at this game" he smirked, his mask covering it.

He grabbed another sword, and darted towards the beast, cutting a bit of its leg.

The beast kicked him, causing him to fly in he air, then falling to the ground.

Dave growled, pulling himself to his feet.

Swords in both hands.

He was determined. He had to win, if not for them, for his kingdom.

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Words: 856

This would've been longer, but i decided to end it here!

Holy shit this is longest chapter I've ever written.

Anyway, this is basically a "before they're all kings and a little bit of context for future chapters" okay?

Uh, questions? Feel free to add em

Uh yeah, I guess goodbye then? :D cya next chapter, which will be written rn or later, just know this book may be heavily updated.