Ivy stood near the corner of the arena, her anger coursing through her. In these streets, it looked like the guards were going about their ordinary business. Not for long. At least, that was what it had looked like, according to rumors. She glanced at the surrounding area, keeping all three of her fighting elements at bay.

Hairs pricked on the back of her neck. Most of the time, when she chose to fight, she didn't feel connected. Not that remorse was unknown to her; she had certainly had enough of it. Case and point with her parents. She had stolen from them, hoping to bring about something good from it. With their jewels, she could fund a revolution. But then there was something else she had to consider. Something which was more dangerous than she had realized initially. In doing so, she had cost the relationship with her parents, and that revolution had failed.

This time, she was connected to these people. Even if she didn't like it, or if she didn't notice it at first, she had become rather attached to the land. She looked over at the ocean a few feet away. She had been familiar with the river, and she had been familiar with the ocean. These features weren't unfamiliar in her old world. But in the time she had spent in this world, despite her problems with the Rathorian government, there was something she had come to appreciate about this world.

Perhaps, in all of the chaos, she had finally found a place where she belonged. Ivy didn't know what that meant, or if it was only the fact that she was able to let go of her past here. It had followed her, in some senses. In the fact that she still carried her scepter, and it was still a symbol of what she had been before she had come here.

Although, a part of her, even though she was outside, still felt some guilt over her decision. She was outside, in a world where if Queen Lavender saw her, she would likely not win this fight. And just because she had the scepter, and just because there was some power behind it, did not mean that there would be few consequences because of it. As Ivy stared at the streets, she almost felt as though she had made a huge mistake.

In slipping down to the treasurer's office, Ivy found the man inside. He worked away at cleaning something, before he saw her and sat down.

"And look who it might be," he said. He sat down and gestured at her.

"Listen," Ivy said. "Queen Lavender is here. And she is my enemy still. But I am wondering if you could summon her in here, so that we could find neutral grounds."

The treasurer narrowed his eyes. "Are you a member of Captain Val's ship?"

"Yes," Ivy said. "Listen. I have a lot going on, especially after everything that has happened so far. And, at this point, being at odds with Queen Lavender would be wrong. Especially since I have another enemy. I am wondering if I can create a truce with her."

Not once had Ivy said what her true plans were. Even if she made a truce with Queen Lavender, it didn't change the fact that she still had other plans. She still wanted to kill the woman. But it would be a lot easier for her to achieve her goals if she didn't have struggles with the prospect of running from the woman, and her fleet.

Besides. She had run from her home realm, and she wasn't about to allow herself to be chased out of another realm, regardless of the reason. As Ivy sat in the small treasurer's office, she waited around while one of the clerics went to send a message. As she drummed her fingers on the table, the treasurer returned to his work. He wrote out a document with a quill, working quickly, before using a squiggly signature to end it off. At the end, he tied it up and gave the postman the message.

The man looked at her once more, and he gave her a dangerous look. As if he had thought of something. But, as Ivy prepared herself to ask another question, he scoffed and moved away, working through something else that had been passed onto his desk.

When Queen Lavender showed up, she wore a deep maroon dress, and a cuirass made of leather. She had a black hat, and she had a cane sword which was longer than Ivy's sword from back home. Her long blond hair had been woven into one fishtail braid, tucked under her hat. Her eye liner was a deep black, highlighting her as a potential threat. Somehow, the way the woman looked caused Ivy's heart rate to increase. Ivy gave a low, deep breath, and then she extended her hand out for a handshake.

"I didn't take you as the kind to be open for a truce," Queen Lavender said. "Although since Captain Val's death, rumor has it you have ended two pirate captains?"

"Yes," Ivy said. "One was to protect a friend, and then the second time, I just killed the friend."

"Such a dangerous way to go about things," Queen Lavender sniffed. "And yet, you come to me thinking about some truce?"

"I came into this realm after ending the king in my old world," Ivy said. "I nearly took an arrow to the head for it. Had I not shifted into this world, I would have died."

"Sad," Queen Lavender said. "To think that you wouldn't have come here. After all, you have done me a service. I respected Captain Val, to a degree, even though we were foes. Even though she was a traitor. She brought people together. Since then, everything I have heard from and about that ship has been vile at best."

"I know," Ivy said. "I suppose, even though it was an easy job, I found the wrong one. Which, I suppose that's something that I should say. And that there's something to say about such a way of thinking. I shouldn't have committed half of the deeds which have been attached to my name."

"You were trying to survive," Queen Lavender said. "I told them this would happen."

"So you're not mad at me?" Ivy said. "Listen. I am not ready to call you an ally. I want to keep that scepter, since I nearly died in its acquisition. But I wanted to see if there was a chance we could gather a truce. Besides. I don't think we'll win against the new monarch, should we need to fight him."

Queen Lavender sniffed, then she turned back to Ivy, giving her a threatening gaze. As if she wanted to ask more questions. But as Ivy looked the woman in the eye, she noticed the lines of sadness in the pirate queen's face.

"So that's why you want this truce," Queen Lavender said.

"I know of a corrupt government when I see one," Ivy said. "It was enough to the point where my parents made sure I could speak Rathorian, just because of the rumors."

"About the son who died because he stole the bread," Queen Lavender said. "I am afraid not much has changed. And while local facilities still hold power, the new king has given people some type of unity. Regardless, I don't like him either. And he is definitely within my crosshairs. But what makes you think you're right to join this conflict at all?"

Ivy shook her head. She then gestured to the scepter at her side. "Because I did what I did in my old world. I had something I believed in."

Tilting her head to the side, Queen Lavender gave her another, even more skeptical look. "And what makes me think you are earnest with your truce?"

"I mean, even with the scepter, killing you would be stupid of me," Ivy said. "Which, I am not above making bad decisions. Believe me, my track record shows that. But at the same time, I suppose I went to far on my previous ship. At this point, I just want to find a stable life somewhere, regardless of where that is."

Queen Lavender glared at her. "Now, you know I sent my men out to kill you. Or to bring me back to you, so that I can kill you. Right?"

"I do," Ivy said. She gulped. She knew it was her fault, too. This woman had been rather reasonable. "Because I destroyed your stone back there. And then I have definitely run into your crew members once or twice before."

"And let me ask you something," Queen Lavender said. She pulled out a piece of paper with neatly written script on it. "Was it worth it? Was it worth it to try and fight me, and to join that other crew? Or was that a mistake as well?"

"It was a mistake," Ivy said. "I liked Captain Val. But I recognize that the others aboard the ship--as well as myself--are complicated people. And I have one thing I am interested in."

"See here's the thing," Queen Lavender said. She then pointed at the piece of paper. "I want you to read it for me, and I want you to discuss what you think it means for you. Because while the truce would benefit you, it does not benefit me at this time. At this point, I could have you killed, and you know it. Do you want that?"

"Apparently not," Ivy said. She took the letter and narrowed her eyes as she read.

Wanted: Ivy, 4k coins.

The picture of Ivy was rather detailed. It showcased a lot of her features, and while some were inaccurate, there was a point to where if anyone had seen it, and they had seen her, they would know. Plus, the mentions of her scepter would leave less doubt.

"This is for you," Queen Lavender said. "And I want you to think long and hard about why. Listen, if you wanted to negotiate, it would mean leaving the scepter with me."

"Could I keep the stone, though?" Ivy said.

"I'm not done," Queen Lavender said. "If you were aboard that ship still, and if you were a crew member, your agreements would hold weight. But you are just one person, and there are at least five hundred pirates who are under my command. And so if you think that your truce, while it is well meaning, benefits us in some grand way, I want you to think again."

Ivy curled up the piece of paper. She wanted to tear the wanted poster to shreds. Meanwhile, the treasurer looked between the two women. He gave a low sigh, as if he were frustrated. A moment later, if he wasn't careful, a fight would erupt.

"What if I offer to pay for another gemstone for you?" Ivy said. She looked Lavender in the eye. "And then what if I offered two weeks of service in your command, in exchange for the truce? Because I will be honest with you. As much as I dislike the idea, I can't outrun you if I am meant to stay here. And so all I ask for is if we make a deal. We don't even have to be friends. We can still be enemies. But I just want you to promise not to kill me."

"Is it enough to give me the base of the scepter?" Queen Lavender asked. She pointed at Ivy's holster. "That would be more than enough to pay for the cost. I can allow you to keep the stone, if that would be generous enough. But if you choose to keep the stone, that will be the only leeway I will give in the negotiations."

"Can we get it in writing, then?" Ivy said, pointing to the treasurer. "We will not try to kill each other, and we will try to stay out of each others' paths. In exchange for the base of my scepter?"

In turning to the man, Queen Lavender gave a long, cold sigh. "I suppose so."

Grabbing a piece of paper, Ivy wrote out the first draft of the truce. I will not try to kill her, so long as she attempts to not kill me. It would be a failure on her end, in a way, to sign it. After all, she still had an old oath she had made to Captain Val. But as she took it, and she gave it to Queen Lavender, Queen Lavender wrote out what she would want to say.

"I suppose you are enough of a notary," Queen Lavender said. "Would you mind helping us create an official document for this one?"

"And listen," Ivy said. She pointed to the crescent moon. "If you ever need, I fully intend to use this in a fight, should we need one."

"Here's the thing," Queen Lavender said. "We need to establish a new system, yes. But this kingdom needs a ruler. And as of right now, there are a lot of questions regarding what makes someone a leader."

"Why not you, then?" Ivy asked. "Half the kingdom here fears you."

"That may be true," Queen Lavender said. At this point, the treasurer slipped the finalized note to her. In taking the pen, Queen Lavender signed it. "But bright now, before you involve yourself in more political violence or upheaval, I want you to think. I want you to consider what effects it will have. Because back in your old realm, they have only gone as far as to tighten restrictions around common folk. The senate controls everything. And while the revolution is still around, it still takes a lot of work for that kind of thing. We didn't end the old king just because we felt like it. We ended the old king because we had no other choice. And that is the mindset I want you to have."

"Is that why you have stepped back from being an active threat?" Ivy asked.

"Yes. Now sign the paper, and give me the base of the scepter."

Ivy wrote her name on the paper. Afterward, she took her scepter out and inspected it. She glanced over at the woman. There would still be another day to kill her. Making these agreements wasn't final for her. At the end of the day, she still had a lot to consider.

In touching the stone, Ivy connected to the energy. She could not control the stone itself. But in shifting the darkness downward, she turned them into knives. Luckily, the gold slipped away easily, although there were two gouges in the crystal afterward.

Ivy handed the scepter to Lavender. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," Queen Lavender said. "I want you to also live under my rules. I will send you a copy of them. But if you are caught being defiant once more, you will have no other negotiations to make, and I will kill you."

I no longer have a death threat hanging over me. But despite everything, there's a part of me that still wants revenge on her. Even though, on some level, there's another part of me that wishes I could be aboard her ship. It's as if a part of me has begun to yearn for her, despite my better judgment.