So that's what that lead Guard was talking about. Luke, whoever or whatever that is, is the ultimate Soldier. But I wish I knew more. More, so I could try to do something about it. I don't like not knowing. If I don't know, I can't make a good, informed decision.

The rest of the day proceeds uneventfully. Clap sticks close to my side, never wandering far. 

Seneca and Icarus remain attached at the hip, murmuring to each other softly as their eyes flicker about, and they keep their distance from people. Their voices are quiet, leaving me wondering what it could be that they're talking about.

xxxx

The next day, I find myself standing in the crowd near the Earth Tree. Early in the morning, Guard and Soldiers roused everyone and sent them toward the Earth Tree. Now, a Guard, presumably a lead Guard, is making his way onto a raised platform with a scroll in his hand. After beginning to unroll the scroll, he barks a sharp order for everyone to be silent, and the chattering ceases immediately.

"My Sovereign, His Excellency, His Honor, His Highest of all Highnesses, King Garonda XIV has a message he wished me to deliver. It is my greatest honor that I have been bestowed this opportunity, and I will not let My Sovereign, His Excellency, His Honor, His Highest of all Highnesses, King Garonda XIV down."

Oh, no, is all I can think.

The lead Guard begins to read from the scroll.

First, it's just repeating how King Garonda XIV is the King of Ragdon, how he's the rightful King, how every wish of his must come true, and how respect for him must always be given, that any disrespect, no matter the form, is punishable by death upon sight.

But then things take a turn.

The Lead Guard adds that the rest of the speech was written by King Garonda XIV and was intended to be him addressing the people living in the White Tent Sea. Oh, no, I repeat in my head.

"It has come to my attention that large portions of the White Tent Sea remain in pieces from the horrific attacks committed by Wolf and Dove and their allies, including Phoenix, Ky, and Arcane. While I have vowed to destroy them, my current focus is on repairing the White Tent Sea. The Sea will be rebuilt bigger and better than before. No more shall there be small, cramped tents. No more shall there be tents collapsing and killing innocent people. No more shall there be hunger and tattered clothes. By the time the White Tent Sea is complete, it will be something no one has seen before."

Oh, no, is all I can think. Did that really just happen? Did the lead Guard repeat King Garonda XIV's words that he wishes to rebuild the White Tent Sea? No, no, no. This can't be good if that's true.

Murmurs fill the crowd. Some are wondering if it's really true. Some are breathing sighs of relief; the White Tent Sea and Ragdon are saved. Some are grumbling softly under their breaths about how this is just the King's latest trick, but they are few in numbers. Others are just silently thinking.

The lead Guard stands on the stage, rolling up the scroll. His face remains neutral as he scans the crowd and assesses their reaction, to report back to King Garonda XIV. Someone in the crowd surges forward, a look of fury taking over their face. After a quick motion of the lead Guard's hand, two other Guard weave through the crowd and swiftly take the person away without making a scene. I doubt many noticed what had happened.

I remain near the Earth Tree for a while after the crowd has dispersed. Shock is really the only thing I can feel. If King Garonda XIV really was going to rebuild the White Tent Sea, I don't know what's going to happen. Based on the reaction of the crowd, King Garonda XIV would probably win people over. I don't know how many.

If he succeeded in rebuilding, I could only hope people wouldn't forget what he had done and that it would be like trying to put a little bandage over a gaping wound. Too little too late. Better to just never do anything to begin with.

xxxx

As it turns out, King Garonda XIV is a man of his word. At least, when it comes to his promise for the White Tent Sea.

A week went by, then two. Guard and Soldiers brought in supplies, ranging from materials from the tents, to furniture, to food. Every day at dawn, the next delivery arrived, and it slowly became the new routine for people to flock to the Earth Tree to wait for the delivery. Children were gifted little treats and toys. Every time I heard footsteps pass by early in the morning, my heart sunk a little further.

Please come back soon, Dove and Ice. We need Wolf, we need all of you. What am I supposed to do without the legendary Wolf and Dove? I can't defeat King Garonda XIV without the rest of you. Please find Wolf and the new Midnight Wolf. Just anyone who can help defeat King Garonda XIV. Ragdonians are turning to his side. He's basically brainwashing them into thinking he's something other than a sick, twisted monster, corrupted by the power of the Amethyst Throne.

Please, just return safely. And soon. I need your help.

If only they could hear what I was thinking, I think to myself bitterly. Then they'd know just how much they need to hurry. I can only hope for the best and prepare for the worst. The worst being King Garonda XIV manages to brainwash the entire population of the White Tent Sea, except for me and Clap. Though I'd hope Wyatt and Miles knew better.

Like clockwork, the following morning I hear footsteps outside the tent early morning. I sent a silent glare toward the sounds. And then, maybe an hour or so later, I hear footsteps going the opposite direction, paired with the sounds of two children talking excitedly about their treats and toys. One of them is a little figurine of a Soldier.

Isn't that lovely? Having kids play with toys of Guard and Soldier, so when they grow up, some will become your minions and army?

Slowly but surely, King Garonda XIV's new White Tent Sea spreads across the current one, much like a disease. The old tents disappear, one by one, replaced by little homes. White remains the primary color, but this time it's accompanied by purple. It's as if King Garonda XIV is trying to turn the White Tent Sea into mini versions of his castle. The previous simple beds and chests turn into elaborate bed frames with plush mattresses and ornate dressers.

The meals served by the Earth Tree go from simple ones to fancy dishes, most of which I do not know the names of. Guard and Soldiers arrange a long line of tables and set up table cloths topped with flowers and candles. A fancy buffet. At the start, porcelain plates are stacked neatly, kept straight piles by amethyst bars. When people arrive in the morning, the food is already arranged, sitting in blinding white ceramic dishes. Behind each one, a Guard stands patiently, face neutral. Their usual leather attire had been replaced with white and purple clothing.

The only thing I can keep thinking is, what the hell is happening? Why is King Garonda XIV doing this? What caused him to do this, to brainwash people into thinking he's good while creating Luke, whoever or whatever that is. How could someone do that?

And how could people fall for that, my subconscious adds, though I know it's on King Garonda XIV for instating what he's done.

Each day slowly ticks by, and each one seems to just bleed into the next. Losing track of time becomes as easy as breathing. King Garonda XIV's White Tent Sea has replaced half of the previous one, spreading further and further with each passing day. Old tents are torn down one by one, and the parts are taken away, never to be seen again. So nothing remains of the previous White Tent Sea; everything that exists is what King Garonda XIV wants, it's all his.

Seneca and Icarus stop by the tent Clap and I share just as I return from helping build more tents. Clap is laying on her back on the bed, pawing at a feather she had found earlier. She pushes it up into the air and then watches it slowly drift down before sending it back up. She repeats it over and over, blue eyes captivated by the slow, graceful movements of the feather. 

"O-oh, hi. Hi, S-Seneca!" Clap jumps when I nose my way into the tent, and she leaps to the ground when she sees Seneca enter, in human form, closely followed by Icarus, whose feathers whisper across the ground. The tent is crowded by the four of us, and Clap and Seneca sit on the bed to make more room.

"Do you guys need help with anything?"

"Yeah, I'm confused." Seneca crosses her arms across her chest. The pink gem hanging around her neck on a black chain glints in the light slipping through the flaps of the tent.

"On what?"

"So this King... what's his name again?"

"King Garonda XIV."

"Yeah, that guy. So he's evil, right? And there's a prophecy where some people are gonna rise and stuff and kill him. And now he's brainwashing, like, the entire population of people on this version of Ragdon. So why isn't he dead yet? Why not just walk up to his castle and then boom no more King What's-His-Face."

"It's not that easy. His castle is a fortress, crawling with Guard and Soldiers. However many Guard and Soldiers you've seen here, that's just a fraction of the Guard and Soldiers he had patrolling his castle at any given time. And Luke? Whatever that is, I do not want to know."

"Are you sure he's not just try'na intimidate you?"

"I don't believe he is. King Garonda XIV knows Wolf and Dove are gaining strength and followers now that Arcane is dead, Wolf survived shifting to her wolf form and gaining her powers, and rumors are spreading about the new Midnight Wolf. That's why he started on whatever this Luke project is and has started rebuilding the White Tent Sea how he wanted it. He doesn't want people continuing to see him as the enemy. He wants their anger to be on Wolf and Dove."

"What are you waiting for then?" Seneca asks.

"Huh?"

"Why not just go over to King Garonda XIV's castle then? Are you just gonna let him walk all over you? Let him brainwash everyone in the White Tent Sea? Let him turn one of your best allies against you? Never doubt the power of an angry public."

"Did you hear what I just said? We can't go over to King Garonda XIV's castle. Not without Wolf, Dove, and the rest of the group."

"Sure you can. Just walk over to his castle and break through the door."

I sigh. "What are you two doing here again, Seneca and Icarus?"

"From what I understand, Seneca and I are basically the equivalent of Wolf and Dove in your version of Ragdon," Icarus starts, shifting his weight on his feet. His talons carve neat scores in the ground. "About a month ago... has it been a month? I think it's been longer than that. Maybe a month and a half? Regardless, something happened. About two dozen people just showed up in our version of Ragdon. Just appearing, there one second after not being there the one before.

"We had no idea what had happened and none of the people would talk. They couldn't; they didn't know how they had arrived in our version of Ragdon. So we delegated a huge portion of our resources to figure out what had happened. How they figured out where they had come from. Eventually, we realized the people had come from another version of Ragdon, another dimension of ours."

"A-Arcane," Clap exclaims, jumping to her feet and startling Seneca, who curses.

"Arcane?" Seneca frowns as she echoes the name, curling her lip.

"Are there Midnight Wolves in your dimension?"

"No. Icarus and I are the only ones who have magical abilities. Can anyone other than Wolf and Dove wield magic?"

"I-I-I can break th-the s-s-speed of sound!" Clap's blue eyes glow with excitement.

"Any others?" Icarus asks.

"Yes. A slew of them, actually. King Garonda XIV can shift into a dragon and wield the power of the Amethyst Throne. Midnight Wolves have immense power. Ky can create illusions and summon the Blood Demon. His brother, Phoenix, can control fire. Clap's father controls ice. Those are just a few."

"Huh, that's a lot," Icarus murmurs. There's an unknown emotion in his voice that I cannot quite decipher.

"That's a nightmare just waiting to happen," Seneca snorts.

Thanks for reading this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! Please vote if you did. And comment your thoughts- I'd love to hear what you think!

Is Brook correct on her assumptions about King Garonda XIV's intentions with the new White Tent Sea?

What's going to happen now that King Garonda XIV and his Guard and Soldiers are rebuilding the White Tent Sea?

Why does Icarus have an unknown emotion in his voice? Why does Seneca say having many magic-users in Brook's dimension of Ragdon is a nightmare?

And when will Dove and the others return? Brook thinks things are getting more urgent...

I hope you are doing well!

-Werewolf14-