~Max~

We were waiting outside the throne room, so I decided to give a briefing.

"Okay, Crusaders," I began. "I know this is our first gig... and I know that some of you are rather doubtful towards the idea that we can pull this off... but we can do this. We've been training hard for our chance and this is it."

"Uh... Max?"

"Not now Claire. Back to what I was saying. It doesn't matter if anyone here thinks lowly of us, because we will overcome these expectations and rise way up there in those expectations later, because we are Crusaders!"

"Max?"

"Let me finish my pep talk, Maddie. Now listen, all we have to do is follow orders and protect one princess. Look at it that way, and everything should come naturally, because that's just how we-"

"How YOU do it, Max," Maddie interrupted. "And someone has been standing behind you for a while now."

"Heh heh... whoops."

"The princess is ready for you," the messenger said. We entered the throne room and I instantly knew where to find the princess... she was literally at the end of the red carpet, sitting on her throne.

We approached and kneeled down. That's how a knight would bow to his princess.

"Never in my life have I seen such peculiarly-dressed, non-color-cordinated, personality-varying people in my entire life," the princess exclaimed. "Rise."

The three of us got up and just stood there.

"So I'm entrusting my life to three incompetent-seeming beings..." She then looked at Claire. "Musketeers don't allow women, but I don't see why you would want to be anything close because of that look of worry on your face." She shook her head and turned to me. "Oh great, there's an impulsive man on the crew. I hope you won't be causing me any problems." I smiled at her, almost at the verge of chuckling nervously. She's testing our will here, isn't she? "Now this one," she began, looking at Maddie, "might hold some promise. I can tell you like to do things by the book. At least I know one of you three can actually get something done."

She then looked at al three of us.

"Quite the unusual trio, I'm sure. I'm Serenity. And you three?"

"We're The Crusaders," I introduced. "I go by Max."

"My name's Maddie."

"..." I gave Claire a slight nudge. "I'm Claire..."

Serenity gave Claire a look... I don't know exactly what it was.

"Pity you stand out so much from the others..." She then went back to talking to all three of us. "You might as well get a look around the palace while I get your shifts set up."

We nodded... at least, Maddie and I did. I nudged Claire as Serenity left.

"You okay?" I whispered.

"I'm going to sharpen our spare swords at the Armory."

She left in quite a hurry.

"She brought our spare swords?" Maddie nodded.

"Max, I don't think she's okay..."

"We'll see, Maddie. We'll see."

Serenity is clever, trying to get them to shift into their own personality even slightly when they're trying to act like soldiers...

Claire doesn't seem to be okay...

Max and his pep talks though...

Well, I suppose this is the end of this chapter.

Bye!