Due to Fred being a Prince and all, the four had scored free lodging at the local in. But since Fred was so nice, and discovered a couple of small bags of coins amongst his clothes, he decided to pay anyway.
“Yeah, we’re so much cooler than you,” Taylor agreed. “I think you should hand over that crown to me.”
“No, me,” Isaac replied.
“No way! Me!” Zac objected.
“Oh shut up. You brought it on yourselves.”
“You shut up!”
“Really Zac, you have the worst temper. Look, the gatekeeper told you that by walking through the gate, you show the world who you really are. You’re the fighter Zac - I think we’re all well convinced of that by now. Taylor is the archer. Isaac is the wizard. And Fred is the prince. I believe you’ll find that as you all explore your own abilities, you’ll have a lot more fun than if you were someone else. Like, duh.”
“Y’know, I think that’s the longest speech we’ve heard you make,” Isaac commented.
Silence.
“Typical.”
“Why does she insist on showing up all the time anyway?” asked Taylor.
But before he got a reply, there was a knock on the door.
“Yo - oh wow it’s true what they say,” she said.
“What do who say? Who are you?”
“I’m Moria. And in an alternate universe I’m also your wife.”
“Really?” Taylor’s eyes lit up as he sidled over to her. “Is that so?”
“Don’t get any ideas buddy,” Moira replied. “You’re nothing like my Taylor.”
“But we’re both Taylor. How can I be nothing like him?”
“Hey, I seem to remember you got switched with another Taylor from an alternate universe. Who was a girl,” Moira snickered.
“How could you know about that? You weren’t even there.”
Moira was about to reply when someone else appeared in the room. A very pale girl with black clothes.
“Suicida. What the hell - if you’ll excuse the pun - are you doing here?”
“None of your business, you, you, interferer!”
“Oh, go blow it out your ear.”
“I take it you ladies have met before - and don’t get along,” Isaac commented.
“Shut up,” Moira and Suicida said.
They stared at each other in horror.
“We didn’t just do that, did we?”
“I sure hope not.”
“I think you did,” Zac replied cheekily.
“How’d you like a black eye?” asked Moira.
“I dare you to try,” he replied, drawing his sword.
“Wuss. You’d dare attack a defenseless girl?”
“All fair in love and war. Besides, you threatened me.”
“Y’know the Zac I know is so… chivalrous,” then Moira laughed as if she had a private joke.
Suicida rolled her eyes then turned to Taylor.
“I don’t suppose you’d consider killing yourself?”
“I’ll get your brother again,” Moira threatened.
“This isn’t even your Taylor!”
“Old habits die hard.”
“Loser,” was Sucida’s last word before she disappeared.
“Ooh, you look so sexy in that crown Fred,” Moira said. “Or should I say, Your Majesty?”
“Thanks,” he replied, blushing.
“And so polite too. If I weren’t already married…” she laughed. “Anyway, I’d better get back. Everyone’s coming over for dinner, and I still have a million things to do. Later.”
Moira handed Fred a white envelope and departed from the room.