Second Best- An Empires S2 Applyfic

-The Beginning Is What Makes The Story-

Melody hummed quietly to herself, trying incredibly hard to ignore whatever her younger sister Val was doing next to her.

However the sound of objects clattering to the floor and a string of curses from the girl with brown/black hair managed to drag her gaze away from the law book (a book which she studied periodically). "What on earth are you doing, Valerie?" The blonde haired girl asked with a sigh that was somewhat affectionate.

The items that the goblin hybrid had dropped appeared to be a mixture of a bunch of their father's deputy badges and TNT.

"First of all- stop calling me Valerie. Then I'll stop calling you Mel. Secondly, I was going to go visit the Underground Mar- the Greatbridge." Val corrected herself with an awkward smile at her sister.

"And why would you need TNT and deputy badges to visit the Greatbridge?" Melody asked skeptically, one eyebrow raised.

"Well- I-" Val let out another quiet string of curses under her breath and Melody smiled wryly.

"First of all, you better be careful that Papa doesn't catch you using language like that. Secondly, I'm not bothered if it breaks the law, I'm just trying to figure out how I'd cover for you." The cow hybrid added with a smile.

The girl with dyed hair stared at her suspiciously. "Rrrrreally?" She asked in an odd voice, elongating the 'r' sound.

"Rrrrreally." Melody said with a sigh.

"Okay, fine. You know the Underground Market that Kay's dad runs? Under the bridge that one of Bennett and Ashley's dads built? The Greatbridge? Well... Raina from Stratos has already set up a stall there and she promised she'd help me set one up as well so pretty please do not tell Papa. I don't think Dad would care but- you know Papa- he's the Sheriff- he doesn't even know the Market exists-" Val broke off with an awkward smile.

Melody got to her feet with a sigh, glancing around the cavern to make sure nobody was nearby before smiling wryly. "That's not nearly as bad as what I was thinking. I'll help you bring the stuff over if you want, and find more stuff to stock it with- but half the profits are mine. Deal?"

The younger goblin hybrid paused thoughtfully before nodding. "Deal."

——

"Missy- what on Earth are you-" Missy cut off her brother, covering the boy's mouth with her hand.

"Shush. She'll hear us. She'll be alarmed by the fact that your ugly face is here." The blonde added jokingly.

"I mean, I think Rose would be more alarmed by the fact that you're watching her, stalker-style, but-" Ivon cut himself off with a pained yelp as Missy elbowed him sharply between the ribs.

"Look, I'm just- trying to figure out what to say! She's pretty, I don't want to blow my chances with a technical princess. Shame that she's a princess-witch thing though- Rose would make a fabulous pirate." Missy added thoughtfully before clearing her throat and rearranging her face into a smile. "Wish me luck!"

"Good luck, I guess. I'm gonna go see if I can steal anything from her moms." Ivon said with a shrug, walking away as Missy strode towards the lovely girl known as Annabeth Rose.

"Princess!" The pirate called, grinning as the dark-haired girl turned away from her conversation with her mother, a woman with the same dark hair as Rose. "And Katherine of Glimmergrove. Lovely to meet you." Missy added grandly.

Rose smiled slightly. "Missy!" She glanced back at Katherine. "Oh, yeah, Mom- this is the girl I told you about!" She added with a laugh that was slightly too high-pitched.

"I see. I am Katherine of Glimmergrove, lovely of you to get my full title right. And you are?" Katherine added with a warm smile.

"Missy Graceffa, at your service, Queen Katherine." The pirate said with a grin. The woman wrinkled her nose, clearly trying not to make a face.

"Oh... Graceffa. Well, that explains your attitude toward my daughter. Might you be the daughter of a certain Pirate Joe?" Katherine added.

"The one and only. Do you mind if I steal your daughter for a moment?" The black haired woman nodded with a sigh.

"Have fun, you two. Oh, and Annabeth?" Rose winced slightly, smiling awkwardly and nodding.

"I know, Mother. I'll be back by midday. Promise." Rose added with a smile before turning to Missy and tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear as the two walked away. "Where were you thinking of going?"

"Well, I was thinking we could go out the water for a bit! I'm... a lot better at steering a boat now. I won't capsize it and get you wet." Missy smiled wryly. "Again."

——

Charlie exchanged a glance with Olivia, sighing as she counted down. "Three... two... one-" Olivia dropped the match and pulled Charlie behind a tree with a yelp as the TNT blew up. She peeked out past the tree to check if it was safe before grinning at her brother. "See, wasn't that fun?"

"Oh, yeah, setting off TNT in the forest near Sanctuary the second we arrive for a visit. Wonderful. Real fun." The cat hybrid said sarcastically, earning himself a shove from his sister.

"Oh, shush, you. Now come on, let's go into Sanctuary and pretend like we didn't just nearly set the forest on fire to see if TNT reacted differently in the jungle." Olivia said brightly.

"I think you and I may have different definitions of the word 'we'." Charlie said with a slight sigh.

When they reached the village, the boy skidded to a halt as he spotted someone chattering excitedly in Spanish to a toucan resting on his shoulder. "Who's... that?" The human boy had messy light brown hair, baby blue eyes and a small smile on his face.

"That would be Sol Myth. The next 'Protector of Sanctuary'." Olivia added dramatically, before glancing at her twin with a mildly suspicious expression. "Why?"

"Oh- no reason."

First chapter woo :)

Also I will need help with the plot so if you have any ideas lmk in PMs :)