Percival

What in the Gods names had I done?

I sank to my knees in the middle of the woods, my hands tearing through my hair as I tried to keep myself from having a complete breakdown.

"Try to stay calm, Percival," Thomas peeped up from behind me.

"How can I?" I snapped. "I just...holy shit...I just abandoned my best friend and Princess Annette...all because I was afraid."

Erica stepped forward, though she seemed hesitant to do so. "There was nothing more we could have done..."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I hissed. "How can you say those words when you know they mean nothing? We could have stayed!"

"P-Prince Vandel would have killed us," Thomas stammered.

"So what? We should have fought beside our comrade, even in the face of death, prepared to give our lives to save the princess. But instead, we ran the first chance we got." I glared at them. "Face it, we aren't knights, we're cowards. You can hate Ridley all you want, but I assure you, he would never have abandoned us. Any of us."

Erica and Thomas stared down at their feet as silence fell over our pathetic, cowering trio. The air was still, the chirp of the crickets the only thing filling it. I wanted to get lost in the night, for it to swallow me whole and make me disappear.

But then a voice cut through the silence. "Hello...is anyone there?"

I jumped to my feet. Erica and Thomas exchanged a wide-eyed glance.

My hand shot to my sword's hilt, in case this was another trap, before calling into the night, "Princess?"

Out of the darkness, like the dream that she was, stepped Annette. "Yes! Sir Percival, is that you?" 

When I saw her, my jaw practically hit the ground. I don't think I had ever been more relieved in my life. Cautiously, I crept towards her. Many horrible things haunted these woods at night: goblins, spirits, even a few shape-shifters. Who knew if this was her or some terrifyingly accurate aberration.

I nodded slowly. "Yeah, it's me. Though, the real question is...are you really the princess?"

She crossed her arms, furrowing her cute little brow. "Of course I am."

"What did I get you for your birthday last year?"

"A silver locket with a picture of your face inside which I immediately removed."

Finally, I allowed the wave of relief to sweep over me.

I bowed, as did Erica and Thomas. "Princess, what miracle has returned you to us?"

"Ridley and I escaped."

My eyes went wide. "Ridley's alive?"

Annette nodded frantically. "Yes! And we kidnapped Vandel as well."

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. My head whipped around as I scanned the darkness. "Where are they?"

Annette's shoulders sagged. "A mysterious fog appeared and we got separated. Ridley and I must have walked in different directions. I've been wandering around for hours. It was pure luck I found you."

"We should get you back to the palace where it's safe," I offered, extending my arm, but she wouldn't take it.

Shaking her head, Annette stepped back. "I won't return until we locate Ridley and Vandel."

"But Princess," Erica exclaimed, "the woods are dangerous. They could be anywhere!"

Annette glared at her. "It doesn't matter. Ridley didn't abandon me, and I refuse to abandon him—"

That's when a voice echoed from the opposite direction Annette had come from. "I CAN NOT BELIEVE I FED YOU BREAD, YOU ASSWIPE!"

"Oh my Gods," Erica gasped.

All our expressions held a certain look of disbelief. I had never heard him actually yell before, but I was sure that the voice could belong to no other than...

I took off running, racing towards the voice with Annette at my side. "Ridley?" I cried into the darkness. "Ridley, are you there?"

We burst into a clearing and, lo and behold... standing before a pile of what appeared to be extremely stylish clothes, was Ridley. My eyes stung, vision blurring with relieved tears. I didn't even care if he was angry at me.

When Ridley turned and saw me, his eyes opened wide. "Percival?"

"Ridley!"

"Percival!"

"Ridley!" I ran to him, pulling him into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry," I choked out. "I'm sorry for leaving you. I just...I was frightened, and stupid, and I'm so...so...sorry!"

He patted my back gently. "Don't worry about it. I understand. You're fresh out of training, of course you would panic when threatened by the prince of all evil himself." 

Yeah, I thought, but you're fresh out of training too, and you didn't.

When Ridley and I parted, he turned to Annette, bowing so deeply his head nearly brushed his knees. "I'm sorry, Princess. I failed you. We ran into a Bone Monster, and Vandel managed to escape."

"All that matters is that we both made it out alive...wait!" Annette's breath caught. "Did you just say Bone Monster?"

We stared at him in shock.

"You fought off a Bone Monster and lived?" I gaped. 

"Yes, but not alone." Ridley's gaze darted away. "Vandel helped."

Annette audibly gasped at that. "I'm sorry! The Evil Demon Prince of Darkness did what?"

Ridley exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's a long story. I'll tell you all about it on the way back." He glanced down at the pile of clothes resting at his feet. Then, with a wry smile, he stuffed the garmets into his bag. "I'm taking these in case he tries to come back for them. Maybe I'll burn them when I get home, just out of spite." 

As always, Ridley had done it all. Rescued the princess, escaped the Demon Palace, fought a Bone Monster. I was happy he was back. So, so happy. But I still felt a prick of jealousy deep in my chest, despite myself. 

It seemed he'd even caught the attention of the Demon Prince of Darkness.