Chapter Text
Ralsei is rushing down the street of Castle Town with a smile. With that same hollow smile, he showed Kris back in the Third Sanctuary. Past Swatchlings, Rudinns and Pippins he goes with that smile, hoping that nobody notices his inner turmoil. As he walks, he looks at all the Darkners, his friends enjoying themselves. It’s a miracle that he managed to convinced all of them to come to castle town, considering that The Fun Gang didn’t show them anything but violence. In the Café a Head Hathy sits with a normal Hathy drinking tea, finally making a friend. Good for them. And there in the dojo is Tasque Manager with her Tasques managing the preparation for another party for Clover, this time with a Cake from Top Chef.
This is a place of comfort to for all Darkner, he can’t take that away with his selfish feelings. He better just goes to his room until he feels better.
“Hey Peachboy!” Lancer cheers from the Café. As the goat turns around to greet him, Lancer already manifests himself right in front of Ralsei.
“Ahhh... H-hi Lancer! Nice to see you!” he replies startled.
“Look, Look! My girldad gave me a tattoo of my bike!”
“That’s… a drawing… of a car. But-but it does look pretty.” Ralsei says. What an innocent boy Lancer is, no wonder Susie likes him so much.
“Isn’t a car just a lesser bike? That is what dad told me when I said that I want to drive with the royal carriage.” Ralsei did promise to be more honest, but can he really just correct Susie’s friend like that?
“Y-Yeah, you’re right.”
“I knew it! I should show this to Susie!”
And Lancer jumps eagerly to the next topic: “How is Susie doing anyway? Had she fun on her last adventure? Did she save the word already? That is what you are doing, right?”
Just thinking about Susie’s reaction to the prophecy almost send Ralsei over the edge. If she hadn’t reacted with this much conviction to change the prophecy, this might would have been easier to bear. But instead, she chooses to hope, believing that their tale might end another way.
But to Ralsei that idea is not an hope but a nightmare. The prophecy contains hints that warn of another path. Who will call the girl who snows? He was asked by a philosopher back in the second Sanctuary. What lies beyond the boarder of Tenna’s board? He asked himself back then. He still has no answer. How could they know what another ending would look like? How could they know that it isn’t something even worse? What if it is something even worse? What if Susie’s hope comes true just to haunt her? WHAT IF…
“Hey! You are shaking! Are you cold? Do you need a second scarf?” Lancer asks with a cheerful tone but concerned demeanour.
“Wha… N-No, I’m fine… I’ll just make me some tea later.” Ralsei says with that forced smile again while disregarding that he has never made tee for himself before. “D-Do you want some?” Why did he ask? He better leaves before he loses himself in worries again.
“No, I’m good. The butler with the fancy glasses already gave me some, and then our old magician, and then lesser dad… but thanks for the offer. Say hi to Susie for me if you meet her first. I will tell the magician to bring you some tee to refill your tee collection, ok? But now I must prepare for the birthday of my bike, Byeeee”
“Wait, I don’t need…” But Lancer has already bounced away.
Damn the Angel! He needs to leave before anyone else wants to talk.
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While making his way to his castle he once again takes in the atmosphere of Castle Town. He sees a Ambyu-Lance tending to a Virovirokun, a Rabbick sweeping dust into a pile of Ribbick. Even ✨Nubert✨ is here.
To think that everyone can live in harmony still hurts knowing that this might not last. Ralsei’s eyes get wet. Oh boy, he better hurries.
“Ohhhhhh Ex-Butleeeer, Could I Request Some More: Glass Of Acid?” Damit, Queen!
“O-oh Queen, yes of course. I’m glad to provide for my subjects” It would be selfish to deny her wish just because he can’t deal with his emotions.
“Hold On, My Face Analysis Shows That You Are Lying (Not Glad), What Keeps You From Enjoying My Pleasant Aura?” Queen replies with a laugh. DAMIT QUEEN!
“Nothing to worry about, Queen. I’m just tired from our last adventure.” Perhaps he really just needs some sleep.
“Another Reason Replace You Face With A Robot One, Peachboy. They Are 75.353% More Energie Efficient (Source: I made It Up)”
“Please not this again... I... I like my face the way it is, Queen” Ralsei replies with a blush.
“Very Well, My Fellow Non-Robotic Royal. To Aid your Sleep, Do You Wish To Rent My Totally Legally Acquired Mixtape Of ‘Chill Jailbreak Alarm To Study And Relax to’?”
“Well thank you but, I’m fine” Ralsei lies, barely able to keep up the fake smile.
“Well Then, I Wish You Good Stand-By-Mode, Roommate” Queen says as she jumps out the window.
“I really should get some rest…” He thinks to himself.
Ralsei makes his way through the courtyard, past patrolling Zappers…
“Hello prince, how…” “Thanks, I’m fine. Have a nice day” …
past Poppups… “…HAPPI…” “Yes, glad to see you too.” …
past kissing Lanino and Elnina… “Look honey, there is our….” “Have a nice day, you two!”
and past a tea holding Seam: “Ahhh… There is the prince of the Dark. Here Is your… hmmm you seem bothered by something…”
“Thank you Seam, but am doing fine, really.” Ralsei replies quickly and hurries along his way.
I’m fine, I’m fine, he repeats in his head in a desperate effort to hold up his smile a little longer.
I’m fine, I am fine, I am fine, he repeats in an effort to convince himself that everything is going to be ok.
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And just like that he arrives in his barren room.
There is no one to keep the smile up for but still he smiles. Even if it is ok to feel this way, he cannot allow himself to if he just ends up burdening others with his worry.
If he could just stay positive like he was supposed to. He was supposed to give others hope, give Kris and Susie hope. And guide them to a better future. But he failed.
It hurts to think of Susie when she saw the last panel, how hopeful she was, ignorant to how much worse it could get.
And Kris’s reaction when he shared his worries. How their breath quickened and their hands shook despite their attempt to calm him down. Never again.
Ralsei starts sobbing with his sad imitation of a smile.
He has failed to be the light he was supposed to be. He should know how to steer fate to a better future, but instead it’s just getting worse and worse and worse…
Why is he so useless? He tries his best, he really does, but he still ends up burdening others with his worry while not making anything better!
He drags himself into the corner. Perhaps after some sleep he will know what to do.
And so he lies on the hard stone floor, refusing the unneeded comfort of a bed. He feels both hot and cold as he tries to get some rest. But to no avail. His helpless mind just keeps spiralling between his fears of the future and self-loathing. But perhaps he deserves to feel his way, for being such…
Knock knock at the door.
“Little prince, I am sure you have better things to do than talking to an old shopkeeper like me, haha, but you do sound like you could use the company. May I come in?”