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Chapter 45 -
The Return of Strongbow
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“Once a lass met a lad, you're a gentle one said she.” You sang lazily, well more like said it without melody.

A loud single clap made you look over. “(____), darling! Please, with feeling, with EMOTION! This isn't boring book lesson.” The Music Teacher dramatically sighs and puckers his lips in a pout. “Again and if you get this right, you can go.”

Your eyes glance toward Attila, Vlad, and Pete and Stan. It was a bit weird seeing Royal Guards not in armor, just casual clothing. If Hook-Hand were here, that would've made things easier with music. They give you a thumbs up.

The Music Teacher sits down and beings playing the piano again. The notes danced gracefully around the room and you take a breath.

“Once a lass met a lad. You're a gentle one, said she. In my heart I'd be glad, if you loved me for me.”

Stan sniffs, wiping a tear and whispers, “My wife loves this song.”

“You say your, love is true. And I hope that it'll be.”

The piano stops. “Bravo! Finally, we will start again next time.” The Music Teacher says proudly then scoffs, “Even if you did waste an hour of practice with a lazy start.”
“Sorry, I just wasn't up to music lessons today.” You say sheepishly.

Pete and Stan walk with you in town, heading to Stan’s place to finally meet his wife. The tray in your hands held a few of Attila’s cupcakes for a gift to Stan's wife.

“Don't take this wrong you two, but it's a little weird seeing you in casual clothes since I always see you in the Guard Armor.” You giggle.

They laugh in understanding. “No one recognizes us when we're like this and it's good to get a rare occasion like this.” Stan says.

“Yeah, I mean, we love to work 24/7. But that doesn't mean we don't like these few hours off.” Pete stated.

Stan opens a door and calls out happily, “Honey! I'm home!”

Dishes crash somewhere and a tan skinned woman with dark, but long wavy hair runs and jumps into Stan's arms. “Stan!” She kisses him for…..a very long time and it was getting awkward.

Pete laughs, “Good to see you too, Melissah.”

Stan's wife, Melissah, perks up and pulls Pete in a tight hug. “Petey Boy! Oh I missed you two! It's so boring here without you two bickering.”

Her eyes move to you and her smile grew, “You must (____)!” You smiles shyly. “Don't be shy give Melissah a hug!”

You're pulled into her arms and she spins with you before kissing your forehead, “It's nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Melissah.”

“You're just the sweetest thing!” She pinches your cheek happily then puts her hands on her hips. “Stan, same dinner as always?”

“You got it, Honey.” Stan grins. The two married couple swing into the kitchen.

You rub your cheek and chuckle sheepishly, “She's…..very friendly and hyper.”

Pete laughs, “Of course, if she wasn't then she wouldn't be Melissah. It's not exactly a problem, but the hyperactivity is who she is and she is quite proud of it.”

Melissah’s face appear next to yours, “Because it makes me different!”

You yelp, jumping and she smiles. “It's not a crime to be an individual!” She pulls you and Pete into the kitchen, “Let's talk while I cook!”

On the stone counter, you watch Melissah cook while Stan dried dishes and tossed it to Pete who put them away.

Through it all, they talked like they were best friends for years. You smiled at the feeling here. You actually didn't have to worry about anything because this kind of atmosphere would make anyone feel welcomed.

“(____)! Heads up!” Stan tossed a cup and you tried to catch it, but ended up dropping it. You felt bad that the cup shattered. “I'm so sorry.”

Melissah grins, “There is nothing to be sorry about, Sweetie. You made it more beautiful!” She picks it all up.

You grew confused, “What?”

She giggles and pulls you over toward her pantry as Pete opens it. “Dear, what do you see?”

You examine all the dishes and they just all looked the same, except that there were cracks on all of them like they were broken once before. It was hard to tell especially where they were mended was glistening like it's a design.

“Uh…..I just see broken dishes.”

“Exactly! They are broken, I broke them by accident because of my hyperactivity.” She takes a bowl and smiles softly, tracing the gold cracks. “I use to feel so horrible when I'd break things by accident and everyone didn't like me because of something I couldn't control.”

You're handed the bowl and she holds your shoulders as you examine it in wonder. You realize this bowl had other broken pieces mended to it and it looked so uniquely beautiful.

“All beautiful things carry distinctions of imperfections. Breakage and mending are honest parts of the past which should not be hidden. Our wounds, imperfections, and healing are a part of history. A part of who we are.” Melissah smiles lovingly as Stan wraps his arms around her.

“Everything beautiful is damaged and all we have to is mend the pieces with Gold Moments of our lives.”

Gently, you place the bowl back on the shelf. Melissah kisses Stan's cheek and takes the broken cup, “All the beautiful things in my house are all the same, but it all has different mended cracks, so it all may look beautiful yet individually different.”

After what she had told you, you began to notice that almost everything in her home had cracks that were mended.

You hadn't expected to stay for dinner, but once you tried Melissah's food of Ratatouille, you had to stay.

“It was so much fun having you here, (____)! Stop by anytime!” Melissah waves after giving her husband a long kiss again. You wave back and give a thumbs up in reply.

“See you two on guard duty.” You say and give Pete and Stan a hug, then start to head to your room.

Down the hall, you go around the corner so you could pass the commoner room to the stairs, but you stop Eugene and a dark skin toned guy.

“All I'm asking is for a little help getting my own. Please.” The guy pleads to Eugene crosses his arms. “Come on, Buddy.”

Eugene sighs and answers reluctantly, “Fine. I guess it is a victimless crime.”

“They don't come less victimful.” The guy friendly grins.

“Fine! I'll help you, BUT you have to promise not a word to anyone, especially Cassandra.” Eugene begins to walk off and the guy looks happy. “And honestly, put those back.”

You raise a brow as the guy dumps out a pile of expensive things that lay around the castle. He turns around and screams seeing you.

“Wow. You scared me there.” He laugh a bit. “How long were you there?”

“Please try not to cause too much trouble and make you don't let Eugene get into a very bad situation because he is trying not to steal.” You smile and hold out your hand, “My name is (____). And you are?”

He blinks at you and grins, shaking your hand, “Lance Strongbow.”

“Thief nickname, I won't ask what your real name is until you are ready.” You cross your arms.

“Why thank you for being considerate.” He bows.

You chuckles, “You're a really nice guy, Lance, but…..” You glare, “If you somehow mess up the trust and love between Eugene and Rapunzel. I will tell the King what you did.”

Lance chuckles, “Cute. What are you going to tell him? That Eugene and his best friend are just having fun to make up for old times.”

“I'll tell him you took advantage Eugene's loyalty to steal from someone very rich and that you trying to steal things from the castle.”

Lance panics, “Okay, okay. Just please don't tell anyone, especially Eugene.”

You smirk, “I won't tell anyone, especially Eugene. Now, if YOU tell anyone about THIS conversations…...let's say I'll do a lot more.” You go past him to head to your room, “Later, Arnwaldo Schnitz.”

Lance stood there frozen and very terrified, “Be Careful, Lance. All you have to do is be careful.”

You stare up at the ceiling of your bed, the curtains that hung over it. You had no idea what you were saying to Lance. He was a good guy, but he seemed a little distrusting and still into the stealing business.

Before you knew it, you fell asleep after just thinking away.

“Ouch!” Lance burns his hand on a match.

Eugene shushes him and they head to Rapunzel’s room. Lance whispers before Eugene could open the door, “This is the Princess's room, right?”

“Yes.”

Lance secretly pulls out a small map that's behind the one he used before then grins. He quickly sneaks away to the stairs, following the map to where the King's Vault is.

Eugene goes into Rapunzel's room, placing the candle on the desk near Rapunzel's bed. He turns around to barely whisper, “Alright- Lance? Lance!” He groans and hears squeaky footsteps on the stairs.

Eugene quietly runs out, not noticing the burning candle wax dripping onto Pascal’s tail and poor Pascal screeches as Rapunzel wakes up.

Lance counts his footsteps while following the map and opens a door, not bothering to look up as he feel excited to find the treasure location.

“Lance!” Eugene whispers a shout by the opened door, “What are you doing?! Get out of here! You're supposed to be helping me get that ring back from Rapunzel!”

Lance turns to him, grinning excitedly and whispers, “Eugene, I'm checking out what's in the King's Vault, no worries.”

“King's Vault? Arnwaldo! This is a bedroom, (____)’s bedroom to be specific!”

Lance freezes and finally looks around before his eyes land on your sleeping figure. He squeaks, “I think I've been duped by the one who gave me the map.”

“Just get out of there!” Eugene pulls Lance out of your room, closing the door and they scream as Cass and Rapunzel come around the corner.

A loud bang from a pan wakes you up halfway and you hear fighting on the other side of your door. You shrug when there's no more noise and go back to sleep.

The next morning, you shift and move your hand to lay on the palm when something rustles near your head. You rub your eyes to get rid of the blear and pick up the paper.

“I humbly apologize for coming into your room last night and I honestly didn't do anything, so please don't tell the King or Eugene. - Arnwaldo.”

You look at the back of the paper and see a drawing attempt of Lance’s face in a sad frown with the words, I'm Sorry.

You try to hold back a laugh, but let it out and shake your head, “That's what all that fighting was about. Wherever you are Lance, I forgive you for now.”

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Out near the orphanage, Lance drops the bag of treasure he stole last night with Eugene and left a note to say it's a donation. He felt proud of himself, picking a golden cup that fell from his vest and puts it back in the pocket.

The rustling of a certain map had Lance take it out and he huffs, “Nobody's gonna make a fool of me again.” He rips it up in pieces and tosses it, happily making his way to find a job.

The pieces lay there on the road, until they're picked up into a bare hand. The figure crumbles the pieces tightly in their hand and clench their teeth angrily.