As we entered the throne room, I got my first look at the elven king. He was a blond older man with golden eyes wearing regal clothes in varied hues of blue. Ice was nowhere to be seen but Prince was kneeling before his father. "I know what I did was wrong father but I...I felt like I had to go along to help keep them safe."
The king sighed, "I'm not mad at you, my son. I'm proud that you did what you did to protect others instead of trying to prove yourself or something equally as stupid."
"Your majesty...Flame is awake." Invent said as she gave a bow which I quickly tried to copy but wound up falling forward, just managing to catch myself before faceplanting.
"You do not need to bow, young prince." The king said.
I looked up at him in surprise as Invent asked, "You're a prince!?"
"Y-Yes but how did you know?" I asked.
The king slightly giggled, "I was present when you were born. I bet you didn't know that did you?" I shook my head no as he went quiet for a few seconds before he added, "I bet there is a lot your father has neglected to tell you...although I guess we all have secrets we have kept from our children...except for maybe Bane and Cynthia."
"Bane and Cynthia?" Prince asked, hesitatingly.
The king looked at his son as he answered, "They were my friends and allies twelve years ago." He looked down sadly before lightly shaking his head, "Anyways. You three are here to tell me why exactly you went into the tunnels that at least two of you knew where forbidden to enter due to how dangerous they had become." The king returned to his throne, motioning for us to tell him.
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"Wait! What about Ice!? What happened to Ice?" I asked, still not seeing him.
"Ice?" the king asked before he seemed to have noticed the squirrel on my shoulder, "Wait...is that...could it be...Kraken!?" He stood up in shock, still staring at Kraken. I shared a glance at Prince and Invent as we all wondered how the elven king knew Kraken.
"How do you...wait...Prince Alphonse!?" Kraken asked, her voice sounding incredulously.
King Alphonse laughed, "It's king now actually. We all have become kings and queens. It has been twelve years since you were last here...that explains it. Flareson hated him so of course he would try to avoid the rest of us." He sounded sad by that fact.
"Wait! Dad, you know Kraken?" Prince asked, confused.
Kraken answered, "Of course we know each other! We met twenty years ago."
"It's only been twelve years, Kraken." King Alphonse laughed before adding, "You've never been very good with time."
"Wait! What does my father have to do with this!?" I asked, confused.
"Flareson was one of the chosen heroes twelve years ago along with Bane and I. We were only princes with no real-world experience at the time when we met him. He was called Dragon Master although I guess you would know him as Ice now." King Alphonse spoke.
"Chosen heroes? You've never told me about that?" Prince questioned.
King Alphonse gave his son an apologetic look, "I never thought he would return so soon after our time...or get any of you involved in it especially not Flareson's son."
"Why wouldn't he get Flame involved?" Invent asked.
King Alphonse sighed before answering, "I can't answer that, Invent. Somethings are not meant to be shared by others...I'll simply say that it's a family matter."
As I wondered what exactly my father had neglected to tell me Prince asked his father, "What about me then. You've been keeping this from me!"
"No, I haven't. I may not have told you the whole truth or made it sound like it had actually happened, but I have told you about it. The stories I told you as a child all came from my time with the other kings." King Alphonse told Prince.