Chapter Text
Riddle let out a weary groan and covered his eyes with his hand. The bright sunlight nearly blinded him.
He pushed himself upright, blinked several times, and found himself staring at an endless green field stretching toward a distant snow-capped mountain. A forest rustled nearby. An azure lake shimmered under the sky.
“Is this… a dream?” Riddle rose to his feet, only to immediately stumble and fall.
He glanced down at his legs and froze.
“Why am I wearing heels?!” Riddle yelled, reaching down to yank them off. “And…? My legs are longer?!” He lifted his hands. “Gloves? Where did the gloves come from? I definitely didn’t fall asleep wearing gloves…”
“In the name of the Circle of Life…” someone muttered beside him. Leona pushed himself up, rubbing his eyes. “Falena, I’m sleeping.”
He turned and stopped short when he saw Riddle.
“Who are you?” Leona asked.
“Who are you?” Riddle shot back.
“I’m Prince Leona,” Leona declared proudly. “And future heir—HEY! WHY DO YOU HAVE A CROWN?!” He jumped to his feet and pointed accusingly at Riddle.
“A… crown?” Riddle touched the object on his head, then removed it carefully.
“That belongs to me!” Leona roared, jabbing a finger at himself.
“Absolutely not.” Riddle snapped the crown back onto his head and stood tall. “This is my dream. Which makes me the king.” He planted his fists on his hips defiantly.
“Not anymore,” Leona growled, clenching his fists. “I’m the king!”
He lunged at Riddle.
Leona tried to rip the crown off, while Riddle shoved him back with all the dignity a king could muster.
They tumbled to the ground, rolling downhill, until they slammed into someone.
“Owww!” a voice wailed.
Their fight halted. They both turned.
Azul sat up, clutching his leg. “T-that hurt!”
“Look what you’ve done!” Riddle snapped at Leona.
“You’re the one who knocked us over!” Leona shot back, reaching again for the crown.
Riddle struck him between the legs.
Leona let out a howl, doubled over, and collapsed to the side.
Riddle straightened up and hurried to Azul, who was still clutching his leg.
“Sir, where does it hurt?” Riddle asked.
“Why are you calling me ‘sir’?!” Azul whimpered. “I’m only eight!”
“Eight?” Riddle blinked at him in surprise.
“Yes! I…wait… Why do I have legs?” Azul opened his wet, confused eyes.
“Sir, why are you asking such ridiculous questions?” Riddle frowned.
“I am not a sir!” Azul snapped, turning toward him. “I’m an octopus!”
Riddle stared. Azul looked nothing like an octopus. He just looked like a crying human.
“But you don’t have tentacles,” Riddle pointed out.
“What?!” Azul gasped and immediately started patting himself down. “I-I’m human?! Where’s a mirror?!”
“There’s a lake nearby,” Riddle said, pointing.
Azul struggled to stand, wobbling. Riddle grabbed his arms to steady him.
“Allow me to help you, sir,” he said.
“I’m not a sir!” Azul wailed.
Riddle led him toward the lake, supporting him every time he stumbled.
“I’m… taller?!” Azul exclaimed in disbelief.
“You seem rather surprised,” Riddle noted.
“Of course I’m surprised! I’m eight, not a hundred!”
When they finally reached the shore, Azul collapsed onto all fours and leaned over the water. His terrified reflection stared back at him.
“That… that… THAT’S NOT ME!” Azul screamed.
He ripped off his glasses and hat in panic.
“What happened to my face?!” he cried, tears spilling down his cheeks.
“Sir, calm down,” Riddle said. “You truly don’t recognize yourself?”
“I’m not a siiiiiiiiiiir!” Azul wailed and covered his face with his hands.
Riddle had no idea how to help him. His own reflection didn’t frighten him. His face was the same, only longer, older. He simply assumed that in this dream he had grown taller.
Suddenly, Leona slammed into him from the side, knocking Riddle off his feet.
Azul turned and saw the boys fighting once again over the crown.
“MY CROWN!” Leona roared.
“GET OFF!” Riddle yelled back.
Suddenly, something struck Leona on the head. He growled, whipping his head around to glare at Azul.
Azul stood frozen, clutching the cane in front of himself like a sword. His eyes were huge with fear.
He coughed. An involuntary burst of ink splattering straight into Leona’s eyes.
“S-sorry…” Azul croaked.
“That’s it!” Leona snarled, wiping the ink off. “You’re dead too!”
Azul panicked and smacked him again with the cane.
“D-don’t touch me!” he squealed.
Leona yanked the cane out of his hands and tossed it aside.
“J-just so you know…” Azul stammered, raising his fists in a shaky stance. “I-I studied… k-karate!”
Leona let out a low, amused chuckle and stepped forward. Only for someone to slam into him from behind.
“Stop attacking everyone!” Jamil shouted, pinning Leona down. “Where’s Kalim?! What did you do with him?!”
Riddle pushed himself upright and saw Jamil restraining Leona.
“That’s right!” Azul cheered with sudden enthusiasm. “Hit him! Destroy him!”
“Where is Kalim?!” Jamil repeated through clenched teeth.
“Y-yes!” Azul echoed shrilly. “Where’s Kalim?!”
“I don’t know anyone named Kalim!” Leona barked. “That red-haired brat stole my crown!”
“I stole nothing!” Riddle snapped. “It was with me! This is my dream!”
“Liar! I’m Prince Leona! That crown belongs to me!”
“And that gives you the right to beat people?!” Jamil demanded. “Where is Kalim?!”
“I don’t know! I don’t know! Why did you attack me?!”
“Because you look like a kidnapper!”
“I’m Leona Kingscholar!” Leona roared. “Younger brother of Falena Kingscholar! We are heirs to the throne of the Sunset Savanna!”
Jamil’s hold loosened. He released him and stood.
“Kingscholar?!” he startled.
“What are you doing?!” Azul protested. “He attacked us!”
“This is Leona Kingscholar,” Jamil said. “You’ve heard of him, haven’t you?”
“Yes,” Riddle answered.
“No,” Azul huffed.
“Whoever he is, this is my dream,” Riddle declared firmly.
“Dream?” Azul repeated. “T-that can’t be right! Why would this be a dream?!”
“Because I grew in it. But I’m actually eight years old.”
“You’re eight too?! But you’re shorter than me!”
“So what?” Riddle folded his arms with offended pride.
Leona stood up and held out his hand toward Riddle.
“The crown.”
Riddle clenched his fists in irritation.
“If this is my dream, then I challenge you to a duel. The winner keeps the crown.”
“Fine,” Leona said, folding his arms. “And what exactly is this duel?”
“Well… um… I…”
Riddle glanced around helplessly.
“I know,” Leona said with a triumphant grin. “Whoever is taller and stronger wins. I’m taller, therefore I’m stronger. The crown!”
“That’s not fair!” Azul protested.
With a sorrowful expression, Riddle removed the crown and handed it to Leona.
“My apologies,” he sighed. “It seems that even in a dream, I can’t be king.”
Leona snatched the crown and set it proudly upon his head.
“And now - kneel,” he commanded.
Riddle obeyed, dropping to his knees. Azul and Jamil exchanged bewildered looks.
“What?” Jamil asked. “I don’t serve you.”
“I-I’m from the sea,” Azul stammered. “Oh no! I need to go home!”
He bolted toward the lake and immediately tripped.
“Hey!” Vil exclaimed, sitting up with indignation. “Watch where you’re going! Some of us are sleeping!”
With aristocratic precision, he dusted off his hands and rose.
Leona and Jamil gasped.
“I can’t believe it,” Jamil breathed. “Eric Venue?!”
“Daddy?” Vil looked around, confused. “Daddy, they are bullying me!”
“I tripped on you!” Azul snapped.
“Daddy?” Vil stood, planting his hands on his hips with royal displeasure. “Daaaaadyyyy!”
“Dude, I don’t think that’s Eric Venue,” Leona muttered to Jamil.
“I noticed. But he looks like him,” Jamil whispered back.
“Daaaadyyy!” Vil declared and swept toward the forest as if he owned it.
“Does Eric Venue have kids?” Jamil asked.
“Yeah, one boy,” Leona replied. “But he’s nine. Hey, you!” he called out.
Vil turned with great offense.
“First of all, my name is not ‘hey, you.’ I am Vil.”
“How old are you?” Leona asked.
“Nine. And you?”
“Eleven,” Leona answered.
“Eleven?!” all the boys exclaimed.
“You’re twenty!” Jamil shouted.
“What?” Leona blinked in confusion, then sprinted toward the lake.
When he caught sight of his reflection, he actually jumped.
“I’m… grown-up?” he breathed.
Vil appeared beside him, took one dramatic look into the water, and gasped theatrically.
“Oh, my gods! I’m so beautiful!”
Leona stared at him in disbelief.
“I look like the Fairest Queen,” Vil giggled, clearly delighted with himself.
Jamil’s reflection surfaced beside theirs.
“What…?!” Jamil recoiled. “Why do I look like that?! What happened to me?! That’s not me!”
“I’m gorgeous,” Vil continued admiring himself.
“I don’t care about you! Why do I look like this?!” Jamil shouted. “I’m eight!”
“Same,” Riddle muttered. “But for some reason we grew up.”
“I didn’t grow up!” Azul stood abruptly. “I turned into a human! I want to go home!”
He rushed toward the lake, tripped again, and yelped, “Not again!”
“Here’s some advice: watch where you’re stepping.”
“O-o-o-ow…” someone groaned.
Idia sat up beside Azul.
“What is it this time, Dad…?” he murmured, rubbing his eyes before turning toward the group.
He froze.
“Uh… hi? Are you… new STYX employees?” Idia asked uncertainly.
“What’s STYX?” Leona asked.
“Wait…” Idia stood, panic rising in his voice. “This isn’t my room! Who are you?! Where’s Ortho?! Where are Mom and Dad?!”
“Easy, easy,” Jamil raised his hands. “We don’t know where we are. How old are you?”
“N-nine,” Idia answered.
“Look at your reflection in the lake,” Jamil said, pointing.
Idia ran to the water, saw himself, and screamed.
“What kind of nightmare is this?! Why am I grown up?!”
“Cool, right?” Leona grinned.
“No, it’s not cool!” Idia wailed. “I won’t be able to play video games anymore! They’ll make me work! I don’t want to be grown up!” He covered his face and burst into tears.
Riddle and Vil rolled their eyes.
“There aren’t any real grown ups here,” Leona said. “We’re all kids. Kind of. And I’m the oldest. And I’m the king. Which means I command you not to work!” He beamed proudly.
“R-really?” Idia peeked through his fingers.
“Of course,” Leona smiled. “You can do whatever you want.”
“But then… who’s going to run STYX? And look after the phantoms?”
“Let the boring grown ups deal with that.”
“Leona, you can’t treat your position so carelessly,” Riddle scolded. “If you’re a king, you must act responsibly.”
“Ha!” Leona barked a laugh. “And who told you that?”
“He’s right, Your Highness,” Jamil added. “A king must be responsible.”
Leona growled, folding his arms.
“You’re all so boring! I’m the oldest here! I’m the king! You don’t get to tell me what to do! Got it?!”
The boys hiccupped in fear.
“Can I be a queen?” Vil asked.
“Ew. You’re a guy,” Leona replied.
Vil gasped as if he’d been slapped.
“What a brute!” he declared. “I’ll tell Daddy everything!”
A rustling sound broke the air.
The boys turned toward Azul and saw him crawling toward the lake.
“Why are you crawling?” Riddle asked.
“Because I keep falling,” Azul replied miserably. “Just let me get into the water!”
At last he reached the shore and plunged in.
The boys rushed after him, only to watch bubbles rise around Azul’s body. When the bubbles vanished, he had transformed into an mermaid.
“Whoa,” Leona breathed. “He’s a Mer.”
“Of the octopus variety,” Riddle noted, squinting.
Azul’s head popped out of the water, eyes wide with panic.
“I can’t find the way home!” he trembled. “I… I..”
He stared at his hands in shock, then at his tentacles below.
“My tentacles… they’re longer?” Azul gasped. “Did I grow too?”
“Everyone grew,” Jamil said. “Come on, get out of there.”
“I-I can’t,” Azul stammered. “I’ve never gotten out onto land before.”
“Dude, you were literally on land two minutes ago,” Leona said. “Just get out!”
“H-how am I supposed to do that?”
“Easy. Put your foot on the ground and climb out.”
Azul blinked in confusion at his tentacles.
“He doesn’t have feet,” Jamil whispered to Leona.
“Then what does he have?” Leona muttered back. “Tentacles are basically feet. You can move with them.”