Cimmarian's job was to distract. Weaken his Negativity, so he didn't notice Killer and Blue escaping and, more importantly, Epic's presence. Apparently, Epic used to work here in the early days, before the marks, but there was a disagreement and ultimately the spy left. It had hurt Cross. They had grown up together, so him leaving had been a major blow. It wasn't talked about for that reason, and Cross couldn't find out that Epic was back in the Moon Kingdom helping Mama escape. That's why she enacted her plan when it was Cross watching her. A simple plan, really. It was the plan: "Think Happy Thoughts." She was going to make herself sick off positivity for as long as she could. It was sure to catch everyone's attention since she didn't get sick often with her father around. So she thought of her twin sister and the fun they had as she scrubbed the floors. She thought of Lumine's reaction upon meeting Mama. She thought of her hour with Mama. And spending time with Papa, how she missed spending time with Papa. Cimmarian refocused herself before her thoughts could become negative. She threw up right after she watched Killer and Epic sneak past the hall.

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It was unusual for Nightmare to feel positivity from his daughter, and it annoyed him to no end. Was she seriously acting out now? She put herself in this position for punishment. He had thought she had accepted it with grace, as he had taught her to. There were more severe punishments than cleaning the castle halls and eating in her room. He was so stuck on her acting out that he'd forgotten a certain detail about her thinking positivity. It had been so long, after all. Then Cross teleported in, his red and white eyelights pinpricks as he carried the princess. "cimmarian!" Panic swept through Nightmare as he approached his head guard to pick up his child, who was still trying to think positively despite her condition. "get horror to the kitchen to make her something to eat and dust to the infirmary, just in case her condition worsens and i need assistance. and send error to my office. the king is out for today." Nightmare ordered as he swept through the room and to the infirmary to tend to his ill princess. Why was she doing this to herself?

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Cross finished the tasks he was given without a fault. Everyone was busy now, all but him. He supposed Nightmare trusted him to patrol the halls without much issue. He could do that. He figured that it would be a cakewalk. Except that the Beast was acting out louder than ever, and when he went to investigate, he found Killer carrying Blue. "What is going on here?!" Cross demanded coldly. Was Killer seriously betraying the king's orders after all this time? This was high treason, and the penalty was likely death! He reached for his sword when an old, familiar voice stopped him short. "we are setting things right, bruh..." His brother came out of the beasts room, his hand passively resting on its muzzle. "he don't deserve to be trapped here any longer, so please, don't turn us in." Epic asked quietly. It sent Cross' soul into turmoil. His brother or his king? He'd already abandoned Epic once, choosing to stay in the Moon Empire, and he was right... it's not like Cimmarian even knew that Blue existed. "... i'll guide you out." Cross turned ubruptly, hoping with every part of his being that Nightmare wouldn't find out.