PHOENIX

Chapter Forty Five: Divided

Tommy and I each gathered up some resources, preparing for our new task. Tommy demanded that we don't stop until we find Nix, which I wasn't entirely opposed to, so we planned on possibly having to camp out in the woods if necessary. Our first move was asking around if anyone had seen her recently, so Tommy and I started off towards Eret/George's castle as it was the last place she was.

"You didn't see her leave at all?" I asked George, while I had sent Tommy to go look at her room and see if she took anything. I assumed George wouldn't be too pleased to see Tommy after what he did to the mushroom house.

"No, we were all busy discussing who would be king," George shook his head, his golden crown catching the sun as he spoke.

"I was wondering where she went, but every time I asked you would just shrug," Sapnap crossed his arms concernedly.

"And even after I crowned you, you never saw her come back for any of her stuff?" I tap my foot in anxiousness.

"Not at all," George frowns.

Shit. Well there goes our lead.

"I'll go run over to Alyssa's and see if her or Callahan know anything," Sapnap offers, and I nod.

"But I was also a little occupied then too, y'know with Technoblade". George adds.

"No? What do you mean?"

"Well, as soon as you left, Technoblade rushed into the throne room and tried to assassinate me".

What

The

Fuck?

"What? Are you okay? I'm so sorry, I didn't know-" I ramble, rushing forward to check him for injuries. He just laughed lightly and pushed my hands away.

"I'm fine. Technoblade only got one swipe at me before Sapnap chased him away, not that he was scared."

I wasn't there. George could've died and I wasn't there. Where was I? Fuck, I can't even remember anymore, I was probably off sulking in a corner.

It doesn't matter. I'm here to protect them all now. But I need to find Nix...

Don't worry, there's a simple solution to all of this.

I barely pay attention to Quackity entering the room behind me as I make up my mind.

"You probably shouldn't be the king anymore, right?" I reason, thinking out loud. First an assasination, then his house, this was the best way to keep him safe.

"What?" Quackity laughed in disbelief.

I turned to glare at him, but when I turned back, the happiness of only moments ago had vanished from George's expression.

"Well it's just a proposition. I mean- do you wanna be king?" I defended myself.

"George?" Quackity questions with bewildered glances back and forth between George and I.

"You don't want me to be king?"

George's voice wavered. His voice never wavered.

"Well, I mean you'd be safer if you weren't. People are trying to kill you because you're the king, but before that no one was trying to kill you. Now they're killing you for no reason".

"Maybe you should've been here to protect me".

I was so glad the porcelain mask hid my face, because George and Quackity would've seen me flinch.

"Well...I can't be here all the time," I snapped back, "And you aren't exactly staying neutral".

George had recently been a part of Quackity's side scheme called "El Rapids", which was a new country right next to New L'Manberg. Karl and Sapnap were in on it too, all of them messing around right in the heart of where conflict always takes place.