Art above by the lovable Kokiriicorn on Twitter ❤

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"Your eagerness to see those young ones is surely charming."

Inward the wrecked throne room, in which flyers and jurisprudence insignias of Spade's were bearing scratches and damage, The King was sitting. You stood in front of his Majesty, your very own presence bringing bliss yet a challenging fight to bargain with King.

"They've been locked in there for almost three days. - You spoke clearly, forbidding the King to take an upper hand of holding dominion over your determination.

"Um, Miss (Y/n) is right, Dad" - Lancer, who held onto your legs, brought the confidence to speak up. "M-Maybe, we can at least visit them every now and then?"

The king hummed, his preposterous belly mouth now groaning with displeasure and gluttony - a desire to show his might and valor just to impress you. You deliberately bargained, requesting to speak with King personally, while his only Child Lancer happily followed you.

You'd demand the release of the Three Delta warriors, your voice filled with utmost respect yet power - perhaps the King was a threatening authority to reckon with, yet for you, it was a dispute. As a Grand-Guardian, your eyes sparkled with exuberance. But with anger dwelling inside you, your gaze oozed with a murderous demeanor as the competition was fierce.

And Oh, how the King adored such a look on your face, his heart throbbing hungrily.

"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear, Lightner." - The king of spades chuckled, standing up from his throne "Your little friends who caused enough crime for my people shall not be easily released. And if you beckon forth - it is a futile try."

"Susie, Kris, and Ralsei are just kids. By no means did they fight anyone or caused harassment - they have the right to be set free."

"You speak of the law as if you became accustomed to this world already, (L/n)." - the King now stood tall in front you, towering "But your pretty face has forgotten the most important rule - Lighteners are our enemies in this land. After all, it was your people who sealed us away."

"I-" - you spat right back "don't respond on behalf of my kind."

The poor boy, Lancer, who wished only reconciliation and friendship between you and his father noticed the crippling tension between you two. He wished you to be a family, thus, regaining his ebullient toothy smile, he said: "But dad! (Y/n), Susie and the rest are not so bad... If anything she's always hanging out with me and Rouxls when she can! Just, please don't lock her away too, or kill her at that - I just want to have sleepover parties with her! Could I? Please, pretty please, dad?"

"Son, it's no time for banter."

"No, Lancer, you're right." - you turned to the little spade-boy with a smile "Will your Father rather lock me away for all eternity just so I can rot in this castle without seeing my little friends ever again? Or would he rather end me so he won't have to bother about anything anymore?"

"But what about sleepover parties?" - Lancer whispered.

The king saw your dire tone directed towards him. Yet, with Lancer, you treated the boy better than any mother would treat her child - you knew your position. Hence, seeing your glare and Lancer's bickering, The King had no choice.

"Fine, whatever may please you. Lancer is allowed to visit you whenever he wants-"

"YAY! It will be the coolest and raddest sleepover ever!" - Lancer beamed with joy, running in circles around you "I will bring my MP3 just like I promised! Oh, maybe even snacks! (Y/n), what toppings do you like on sandwiches? I promise I won't let Lesser dad touch your food this time..."

"Heh, I don't mind kiddo, whatever you like."

"Oh, hold on, I must prepare my pajamas for tonight. Gotta go-"

And thus, Lancer fled into Lord knows where, leaving you and the King standing alone, bewildered. You could feel the King's' presence looming behind your back... eyeing you.

"Well, it was a pleasure talking to you Mr. King," - you awkwardly cracked a smile, pulling out finger-guns at his majesty "but I think I gotta take my leave. See ya!"

"( Y / n )"

*You stopped dead in your tracks.

The King's heavy pace could be heard step by step: "We still have time, why don't you take a walk with me?"

You looked up, seeing his dead-serious face didn't bore daggers at you, but rather softly anticipated an answer. Pulling his ebony cape aside, The king extended his robust arm, in a noble gesture of politeness, for you to link your arm with his.

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"You must excuse my son, he's a bit eccentric."

'You're just bitter and apathetic.' - you wished to say, but alas, your deeming politeness prohibited you: "He's an innocent cinnamon roll."

The two of you strolled through the upper hallways of Card Castle, the chilling air lapping at your goose-bumped skin, though the King took it upon himself to ascertain your warmth with his arms around you.

"He couldn't stop talking about you ever since your arrival." - The king held that audacity to be calm with you, presenting you his corrupted kingdom with pride. "Speaking of which, how was the fall?"

"Which fall?"

"When you fell into our world."

"Oh, that fall. My bad, you mixed me up with a different one." - you scoffed "I'd say a 4 out of 10. It seems climbing up is even easier."

"I'd like seeing you doing that." - and then failing only to claw back to his embrace.

"Okay. I'll make sure you'll get the front seats when I and preteens leave this prison."

"Why thank you for considering it, pumpkin."

It's funny how you two spoke through morose smiles, making passing Darkeners guess that His Majesty and you were having heartwarming conversations. When in truth, you spoke through gritted teeth, the sparking rivalry igniting the fire of warfare.

The King's grip tightened around your smaller form, your antagonizing words rolling off of your soft lips like spears from heaven. You certainly looked marvelous with him walking, your arms locked in his. And That (fav-color) hairband suited you.

"I see that your healing is going smooth and unperturbed."

"It's going well," - for the first time, you flashed the king a cheerful smile, though it wasn't for him.

*But for Jevil.

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Yesterday was something you wouldn't forget. When you proverbed these words, those cursed words of validity about your identity - you expected the Jester to finally take his leave, relinquish you for good. But you never saw that.

"It's YOU! It's YOU!" - he would cry with felicity "After all these years! I believed in an illusionary dimension beyond our own, relying on that odd man's tales of DETERMINATION and GENOCIDE... Yet here you are, here you are, the guardian angel who erased all souls with ease! I thought you were a mere lie, a mere myth!"

After the joy or sorrow has passed you reset to the middle ground, content, neither high nor low. "J-Jevil, I'm a murderer... how can you be so happy-"

"Happy? My dear, my love, I'm finally alive - I'm free! Don't you see? Fate brought us together at long, long last!"

The Clown twirled and jumped, receiving the only thing he ever longed for: the truth. His riches were in no money or home but in veracity. He apprehended of the world beyond his, and a certain scientist may have taught him a little more about this abstruse world that got erased beyond our level of existence. He told Jevil of the person who ended that world - he told him about you.

And what does Jevil do when he meets that legend face to face? What does he do when he discovers who you are?

*He wept from joy, falling to your embrace, crying.

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"Lightener?" - the King called for you, seeing your soft smile trailed to a distant gaze. You were too quiet, yet surprisingly peaceful.

"Oh, I apologize..."

"Down here in the world of Darkeners you're all alone." The King continues, leading you into the upper stairs. "But I have an offer for you."

You followed the King, unknown to the next view awaiting you - "Excuse me, where we going-"

*The Fountain shone majestically from the rooftop.

"(Y/n), you're a Grand-Guardian of your kind, but I'm a ruler for my people. We both have different goals - but we may overcome our... differences."

There's that static again, that crackling in the air that always occurs whenever the two of you got within a foot of each other. Even when the wind howled in your ears, and the fountain illuminated in front of you - the King's words could be heard perfectly.

"I grant you, as the first Lightner, a position in my castle. You'll get more than just medication and service, you have everything that you desire... under my supervisor of course. But that doesn't exclude the fact that you're staying close to my radar and no outside help may free you or those younglings into the outside fields."

You stared wide-eyed at him, seeing him crouch to your level and take hold of your smaller palms.

"My dear, I believe our cooperation may lead to a brighter future. As a Darkner and a Lightner... a friendship may blossom between us."

"...And if I refuse?"

"Then you'll know nihilism."

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In an empty bedroom which became a secret domain to a running Jester on the loose, silence dwelt in. Jevil sat in your room, awaiting your arrival obediently. And out of sheer boredom, this cheeky hooligan allowed himself to idle away the time by playing cards: more specifically - build constructions out of cards.

Now your whole room wasn't just covered in triangular towers, but rather an entire metropolis assembled by Jevil. It was a thriving city, with massive constructions made with patience and conservation of The jolly joker. He was proud of it!

Until you stormed into your room, closing the door so violently that everything fell instantly.

"My- My Metropolis...!"

You ignored him, huffing and puffing like a boiling kettle of hot water. You mumbled something under your breath, cursing everything and everyone who stayed loyal to that corrupted rascal of a King. Thus, dwelt up with your frustration, you imprudently fell face to your bed, completely done with this indiscreet day.

"(Y/n)?"

You stayed silent.

"You're back! Took you long, my Lightner."

Once more, you didn't respond.

"(Y/n)!"

You mumbled something under the duvet.

"Eh?"

Jevil levitated above, his hands holding his cheeks as he watched you lay somewhat lifelessly on the bed. He pursed his lips, carefully sitting beside you. For a solid minute, he Inspected you like a curious cat, until the decision to pull you to face him graced his genius mind.

And so you laid, irritated beyond registration while Jevil slowly shifted on top of you, his head sending a shadow over you: "Hey."

"Screw that king! And screw everything!" - You began rambling with a frown "You will know nihilism, he said. We will be enemies if you'll refuse, he said. I'LL SHOW HIM REVENGER, all right."

"Tsk, tsk - again with that Fat Spade?"

You nodded aggressively, completely disregarding the fact how Jevil found a comfortable spot being somewhat on top of you, fiddling with your hair.

The jolly little Joker pondered, thinking of charming ways to persuade you to escape with him, to leave this castle behind like two lovers on the run - but he knew he was only mocking himself with his fantasies. Engaging you in a freshly new activity to erase that scowl out of your ethereal features seemed to be a challenge, so Jevil decided to go bold:

"Let's just run, run away."

You raised an eyebrow.

"You're scooped up here, locked and imprisoned. When was the last time you were outside of this nefarious castle" - the jester laughed.

"Won't you look at that... the tables have turned. First, you were locked, and I had to help you go free - now I'm the one imprisoned."

"Ah Ah Ah," - Jevil shook his finger "I'm always free, free! Don't you see, we're the only one who has a common sense of this world revolving us."

"I'm so peeved right now. I need an adult."

"... But, Y-you're an adult. I am an adult?" - a jingle belled from the jester hat when Jevil tilted his head "I'll give you this, dear, maybe I'll stay at guard for tonight and keep an eye of the guards' actions. To see when the hallways are busy, to learn their schedules. And when the moment is ripe, and no guards are present - I'll hijack you."

"Actually that would be wonderful, Jevil. You can teleport and stay hidden, right? you can watch out for when the castle isn't flooded with guards, find the perfect moment, then we can quietly plan our next phase of escape!"

"And then we may say BYE BYE!"

*KNOCK KNOCK

Jevil groaned, displeased to hear someone trying bargaining into your bedroom. Due to his criminal records, he knew he'll be shooed out of sight if someone was to enter: "w h o ?"

But you shushed the clown, signaling him to adequately take cover. Once you reached the door, you were met with none other than Lancer. In a cute blue pajama. Looking up at you, with a small blue tongue of his sticking out. "...My dad said it's okay if I stayed late with you."

"Is that a kid there-"

You boggled at the cute child, trying to cover the door as if pushing someone: "Lancer! My sweet baby boy - I almost forgot about the sleepover party that we arranged."

"Heh, it's okay! I made us some sandwiches as snacks." - he chimed, showing proudly the silver tray containing various totteringly-organized sandwiches with miscellaneous ingredients "I wasn't sure what kind of toppings you liked, so made several different ones... practically from everything that I could find from the fridge."

"let me see, see - I forgot the King had a son..."

You gaped at the boy once your attention from whatever was in behind the door was abandoned: "And you mastered all of that yourself! Aw, that's so thoughtful of you! Look at you being a responsible chef... comparing to that Shakespearean-disaster Rouxls."

Finally, the passage to your spacious warm bedroom was accessed to Lancer once you stepped out to open the door wide open. He gladly jogged in, placing the tray of sandwiches on a bed stand before hopping on your bouncy bed with a giggle

There was seemingly no one else in the room. Though Lancer thought it was odd for you to leave the lights on behind the closed door of your bathroom.

"I can't imagine how bored can it be here, Miss (Y/n). What do you do here all day? I mean, you have no books, toys or anything of your own much."

"Yeah..." you pretended like you didn't hear the shuffling in the bathroom "It does get boring sometimes. But hey, at least I get to hang with you and Kaard once in a while."

"I know right! It's like, we're practically neighbors since you live in the castle with us! Now we can have daily sleepovers if we want! I'm so happy my dad liked you-"

A loud clatter of objects was emitted from the bathroom, causing you both to tense up with surprise. You instantly paled.

"What was that?" - Lancer questioned.

"Uh, I'll check it out very quick, heh," - you backed slowly towards the bathroom door "probably something fell over."

"Oh, okay..." - Lancer mumbled as he stayed sitting on your bed while seeing you disappear in behind the bathroom door. "I'm just gonna stay here... I guess."

Inside, a certain golly jolly of a mischievous yet bored Jester was, in fact, causing a commotion by knocking your stuff indolently, as if inspecting them yet interestingly causing a mess. He did it on purpose, displeasure evident in his frown.

He saw you enter, furiously slamming the door behind you, you hurled towards him: "(Y/n), it's not fair, not fair! Why can't I join the sleepov-"

With all might and force, Jevil was pinned to the shut door, your hand covering his mouth to finally stop his squabble. It seems the word 'furious' wasn't enough to describe your current temper: "I'm this close to turning you into dust. Could you just stay still for five minutes!?"

"Mmmf-" Jevil awkwardly struggled and shambled under your grip, his eyes shut tight, while your hands made sure he was caged under you. "That's the King's son - you do realize if he sees you, he'll bust you out to his father faster than you can say the word "chaos", Jevil!"

Your words were a mixture of enraged shouts and anguished whispered fused into one voice. You dearly hoped that the Jester in your arms was heeding your warning, but little did you know, that with your cold murmurs in his ears that sent shivers to his spine - it was hard to concentrate behind the meaning of your words. And certainly not when you pressed your body to his like that.

"Didn't you just said that you'd stay out and watch for guardsmen? What good will come if Lancer sees you here and-"

You cut your wrangles short, feeling something slither at your thigh. You turned to inspect with wide eyes, only to see a familiar purple tail wrap at you, while Jevil marginally arched his back, your hand still covering his lips like a fondled caress.

"Jevil, what-" - Thereafter, a slick substance was felt in your palm.

*you realized that Jevil licked your hand.

Lancer sat on your bed, hearing all the loud screeches from you and the sound of water running from what he guessed, you opening the water-tap. A series of muffled shuffles followed by various whispers could be hardly distinguished, but Lancer could only wonder what was going on.

Several minutes passed, on you stepped out of the outlandish bathroom that was oddly empty and normal "Hey, (Y/n) is everything alright there?"

"Sorry, Lancer, it seems I caused a small mess in the bathroom. My bad, but it's all good now."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep," - you smiled casually.

"Well, if you say so... I'll pretend I didn't hear anything." - Lancer stuck his iconic tongue in an attempt to visualize his ineptitude "But we can start our SLEEPOVER NIGHT! Initiate PARTY MODE!"

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Art above by the lovable Kokiriicorn on Twitter ❤

Here's some of the wonderful art that some of you submitted as well:

NazhiahSins39, PacifistRalsei, marceypix, Ihanakax, inksans201x (clay figure)