Shinso POV:

"Come on Eri! Hurry up, the maids will be here any minute to fix your hair." I said, leaning against the closet.

"Hold on Toshi!"

"Do you need help? Are you stuck?" I yell impatiently, throwing my hand in the air.

"Maybe.." I hear her mumble through the door.

"Come out, let me help you."

Watching Eri stomp out of the closet, I saw both of her arms sticking out of the neck hole and her head stuck underneath. Snickering, I step forwards to help her.

Pulling the dress upwards and sliding it over her arms, she sticks each arm in the right hole as I put her dress back down. Straightening her skirt out, I step back and take a better look at the dress she chose.

"Purple? Again, really?" I say, putting my hand on my hip.

"But its sparkly!" She twirled around, making her dress fluff up. "And you like purple, right?"

"I guess. Now come on lets go have the maids do your hair, alright?" I sad, taking her small hand and walking to the bathroom.

Dragging a stool over to the sink, Eri plops down onto it, facing the mirror as I go fetch a maid.

Luckily there was one waiting outside the door, so I did not have to walk far. Popping my head back into the bathroom, the maid had already begun to brush out my sister's hair.

"Eri, I going to go to my room now. The maids can take care of you from here."

Walking out, I head back to my room, assuming Denks was still fixing up his tie. He always took forever to figure out how to tie it, no matter how many times I would show him.

"Denks?" I call out, knocking on the door.

"You can come in! I'm just getting my tie on." He says.

"Well don't you look snazzy?" I compliment, sliding my hands over his shoulders and onto his tie. "Do you need some assistance?"

"Yes please." Denki sighs, dropping the tie. I quacking fold and knot it for him, kissing him on the cheek and flattening it over his chest.

"Better?"

"Much." He was dressed up in a formal suit, hair slicked back, and dress shoes on.

Although he looked really nice, I could tell he was very nervous. Who could blame him though, he was about to return to the castle where he nearly was killed.

"Babe, are you alright?" Why did I even ask, I knew he wasn't.

"No," Denki's voice wavered as he turned around with tears in his eyes. "Toshi, I'm scared."

"Thats okay, you have every right to be." I say, placing my hands on his shoulders and looking into his eyes.

"Its just-"

"I know."

"And-"

"I know."

"Toshi, I don't know if I can do this.." He breathed out, tears pooled up in his eyes. Hating to see him in pain, I bring him to me and wrap my arms around him.

"You're strong, Denks. So much stronger than you think." I whisper into his hair, rubbing his back.

"Do you really think we can pull this off? Don't you think he might recognize me?"

"We can do this babe, you don't need to worry about a thing." I hoped, just trying to find any words to comfort him. "Are you done getting ready?"

"Yeah, the tie was the last thing I needed to put on." 

"Alright, why don't we go wait in the dining room for Pops and Dad? We have to leave soon."

"Okay," He said, taking a deep breath.

~time skipppp~

"Red? You know what to do right?" Dad asked the half dragon.

"Yes." He nodded, smiling.

"Okay, never leave Eri's side, stay silent, and no smiling. You have to stay in character."

"I know!" Red chirped, overly happy to be riding in such a bumpy carriage.

We couldn't tell him where he was going, since we wouldn't know how he'd react. Which was definitely for the better, even though he would most likely know as soon as he got there.

My butt was getting sore from sitting so long in such tight fitting pants. It didn't help that my shirt was itchy.

Denks was squeezing my hand every so often, waking up on each of the bumps. After I had convinced him to get some rest to relieve some of his built up anxiety, I let him use my shoulder as a pillow.

Red and Eri were playing with two of her dolls she had brought along, and Dad and Pops sat in silence.

As our carriage continued to bump down the road, I could tell we were getting close and closer to the Todoroki Castle, as the sidewalks became more decorated and filled of people.

Our carriage finally came to a stop, and two knocks rang in our carriage.

"Your Majesties? You have arrived." A muffled voice said through the door before it opened.

A bright light flooded the carriage, and Eri was the first to step out with the help of one of the palace guards. Next to step out was Red, wearing a straight face like he was told.

Followed by Dad and Pops, I stepped out with Denki, hand in hand. For such a terrible place, the castle looked quite beautiful. Red flowers littered the gardens, as gardeners tended to the fields of trees and tall hedge bushes.

"Ah, the Yamada and Aizawa Royal Family, so nice of you to join us!" A booming voice echoed.

"King Enji Todoroki, thank you for the invite." Dad said, I turned to the side to face the brute of a king. And he was more massive than I remembered. Luckily Eri was distracting Red, so he hadn't seen the king yet as the two walked off and into the castle.

I could feel Denki tense up next to me, and taking a glance, his eyes were wide and full of fear. Giving him a squeeze of reassurance, I walk past the king and to the front doors of the castle.

"Their food is normally good." I say, trying to distract Denks from his fright.

"Y-Yeah?" He stuttered.

"Yup, especially their potatoes. They have this special drizzle they pour over them, some melted butter concoction, and I think some garlic, too. It-"

"Where." He interrupted, "Take me to the food."

Snickering at his sudden change in mood, I lead him over to the table filled with appetizers.  Locating the potato dish, I point over to them, watching as Denki dragged me quickly across the floor to get his potatoes.

I smile, knowing my distraction worked, for now at least. He filled his plate full of the potatoes, leaving no room for anything else.

"What now?" Denks asked, mouth full of potatoes.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, you doof."

"Sorry."

"There should be a table around here reserved for our family somewhere.."

"Aw! Babe!"

"What?" I ask, confused at his reaction, I had just said we had a reserved table..

"You said our family, you think of me as family?" He said, smiling as my face turned red with a fat blush.

"Oh. Uh- Well.."

"Toshi! Come on we have to sit down! Pops said that there will be and announcement soon and we can't be standing!" Eri said after coming out of nowhere and tugging on my sleeve.

"Okay, okay. Chill out dude. We were just going to the table." I groan, slightly relieved that Eri had interrupted my flustered state.

Finding our reserved table, I stare at Denki as he stuffs his face with the potatoes, forgetting all manners too, apparently.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Please take your seats!" A loud voice echoed through the dining room, silencing all conversation, and making the only sound being heard was the chairs scooting over the cold stone floors.

"Now, please stay silent to listen to a message from the king."

"Thank you all for coming to the annual Todoroki Kingdom feast." The king said, getting a round of applause. "We have gathered here today to not only celebrate the anniversary of my kingdom, but also the reunion of my lost son, Prince Shoto Todoroki has returned!"

All the blood in my face drained to my feet. If the king had Todoroki back, that must mean-

"And as for your entertainment tonight, I present you the execution of Prince Katsuki Bakugo, and his troublesome crew!"

"No.." I whispered, glancing around the table, I saw Denki with a hand at his mouth, Eri already crying, Dad and Pops were white and stone faced, and Red.. Red was shaking, terrified to the core.

"He got them.."

was i shaking while writing this chapter? yes, yes i was..

that awkward moment when you are so into your own story that you get antsy the more you write out the plot..

but as i expected, quite a few of you in the last chapters comments immediately caught the foreshadowing! congratulations, you earn a goldfish! (for legal purposes that was a joke, i am not giving anyone a goldfish)

-1424 words-

~tragedy out