(Sorry for last week, I was busy and stressed. Here's the chapter.)

Jimmy walked down the streets of the village, skipping as he went.

People were about, waving to him as he passed. His cape was billowing behind him like he was a hero.

He was turning six today.

The cape was a gift from his sister, she said he was her hero. It was red, white, and blue. His favorite superhero's colors.

Just like he was.

He smiled, holding his fist to the sky in the superman pose (although superman, he thought, was the lamest hero. He could have been named something cooler but no, just superman) and ran down the streets, his voice echoing off the buildings. He was able to go down to the village before his friends would arrive for games at the palace. His stubby legs took his to his favorite spot in the entire kingdom; the docks.

Why does he like the docks? It's because his brother and sister would take him to lunch at a cafe that was right next to it, they would order and sit outside, people watching. They would make stories for each of them, fantasizing over anything. They would then order drinks and take them to the docks where they would sit, legs dangling off the wood above the crystal clear water.

Grian would have his arm across Jimmy's lap, assuring he wouldn't fall and Lizzie had her arm wrapped around his back, for him to rest his head on her shoulders. His siblings would idly talk about whatever was on their minds while he dozed off to the sounds of waves and his two favorite people's chatter.

"One hot chocolate and cookie, please!" He said as he put the coins onto the counter. The older woman smiled down at him.

"Good to see you, Prince Jimmy! It has been awhile since we last seen you." She said, putting the coins in the register before yelling her order to the back. Jimmy climbed onto one of the stools, struggling but managing to make it up. He sat down with a huff, tapping on the counter while he waited.

"It's my birthday today!" He announced to her. (Looking back on it, he looked so much more like a little kid in that moment.)

"Well, happy birthday to you then!" She placed the cookie down in front of him, the hot chocolate steaming next to it.

"Thank you!" He cheered, eating and drinking. She smiled again, leaving to clean off some of the tables.

He sighed, he missed these cookies. They tasted so much better than the ones in the palace. Sure, the others had all these fancy ingredients like imported chocolate and sugar but this tasted what he thought heaven would be.

An image on the TV caught his attention.

His siblings would usually ask for the cafe owners to turn the channel to something different but Jimmy wanted to see what the fuss was about.

Instead of the joyful cartoons of cats chasing mice, there were ruins and destroyed buildings.

His heart stuttered.

There were people screaming and crying on the screen. He had never seen anything so horrible. Was that... blood?

"W-what is that?" He asked the woman, pointing to the screen. She turned, the smile instantly disappearing from her face when she saw it. Her face was paled.

"This isn't appropriate, I'm going to turn it off now." She hastily wiped her hands on her apron before dashing behind the counter and grabbing the remote.

Just as she was turning off, Jimmy could see a picture of their flag and family crest burning.

"What was that?" He asked again, trying to blink away the tears.

She was silent for a moment. "The news. It's horrible but customers love to watch it." Her eyes were looking everywhere but where he sat, she had a numb look on her face.

He turned back to his cookie and drink, not knowing of he would be able to finish them anymore. He looked back at the screen, ignoring how the sweetness of the cookie suddenly changed bitter and the bile that was rising up his throat.

The mouse hit the cat with a hammer.

Even that didn't make a smile appear on his face.

---

Jimmy had his cape off, gripping it tightly as he watched the sunset over the ocean. He didn't return back to the palace. He didn't want to.

He knew he looked a mess. His hair was ruffled from where he tugged at it and his shirt wasn't neatly tucked into his trousers.

"Jimmy?" He turned, seeing Joel standing next to him. He looked so concerned, eyes worriedly looking over him. "Are you alright?" He whispered, kneeling down. Jimmy wiped his eyes with his sleeves, shaking his head. The teen held Jimmy as he started to sob, body shaking. The images on the screen wouldn't leave his mind. It was torturing him.

Joel sat back, continuing to hold Jimmy tightly. One leg was dangling over the dock, the over supporting Jimmy.

"Is this about your brother not being able to make it?" No, it wasn't what he was crying about but he did cry harder at that. His big brother was supposed to be there. He didn't even know he wasn't coming. "Hey, shh, it will be alright..." Joel whispered, patting Jimmy's back as he tried to regain his breathing.

After awhile, it was just them on the docks, Joel continuing to rock slowly.

"Your friends are missing you." He said softly. Jimmy buried his head into Joel's shoulder. If he closed his eyes, he could pretend it was his sister's shoulder.

"I know." He squeaked out.

"They said they could stay for dinner. Why don't you go see them? It might make you feel better." Joel suggested.

And Jimmy listened. He went back to the palace with Joel, holding his hand tight. His friends waved and cheered for him, but he could barely manage a smile.

Everyone eventually just left before dinner.

Jimmy ate a few bites of the soup in front of him, empty chairs surrounding him. It tasted of tomato paste and too much salt. Looking down at the tomato soup, he could imagine the children in those videos, screaming and crying as that school was burning. They all looked so different than him.

He could see the flag being raised over the torn land, people who looked exactly like him cheering at their conquest.

Pushing away the soup, he ran for the bathroom. He entered, quickly falling on his knees and throwing up everything he had eaten. He barely registered his father entering, holding him and brushing the tears off his face. His dad cried because he thought he understood why he was feeling so sick and upset. Having a brother gone for so long is taxing.

But no, he was sick because he knew what his parents had done to other people. He knew his parents had caused that death and destruction.

He got sick again, he could care less about Grian in that moment. For now, all he could think about was how they were monsters.