Oz: Crossroad of Legends

"Crap", Irving replied. "But I hang around hellholes in two countries called the Cleatian Empire and the Shiryu Alliance for jobs, so it's prob'ly my own fault. Royalty has thumbs up their asses, law enforcement is corrupt, the mobs in Shiryu are everywhere, and slavery is a thing. Nowadays, I just wander town to town, but I still send some of my money to my adoptive hometown whenever I can. It's the only place I could call home after I was rescued from slavery, so it's the least I could do, y'know?"

Location: Bowser's Room and I guess Mario's room too but that's not as important

"Hey Mario ready for today?" Starlow asked.

"Oh Yeah," Mario said. "(I can't wait to get to that tree today hopefully it works,)" Mario said staring at the Princess Peach card.

"Must be tough, huh," Starlow said to Mario. "Back in the Mushroom Kingdom it's usually much simpler," Starlow said to Mario. "Usually, Bowser is up to no good we have to do some traveling, then beat up Bowser and then everything is over," Starlow commented.

"(At least we get a chance to find out right,)" Mario replied.

"Gwaaaaaaa," Bowser yawned as he woke up. "Gwa my head, hey Mario why you gotta Stomp on my head like that," Bowser asked Mario. "Hey, Chippy make this headache go away, and maybe I shall grant you the honor of being my minion," Bowser told Chippy.

"Mario do I have to?" Chippy.... Starlow asked.

"(Unfortunately we need him for today,)" Mario said to Starlow.

"Fine," Starlow bemoaned as she used her powers to relive Bowser of his headache.

"Wise choice Chippy," Bowser told Starlow. "Now onto the dining hall, can't beat up fake Bowser's on an empty stomach," Bowser said.

"Hey dad can I come with you today, please?" Bowser Jr asked.

"Son where did you learn such dirty language from, we don't use the word please," Bowser said to his son. "Besides we already, been through this, I got enough dead weight weighing me down," Bowser told Jr. "You have to stay here with that Josh person," Bowser told his son.

"Ehhh, fine," Bowser Jr said while just shrugging.

Mario and Starlow already left the room heading towards the dining hall. Bowser, Jr, and the other two followed behind Bowser

"No," Irving replied flatly.

"...Whadya mean 'protect myself' from her?" Irving asked.

"I guess," Irving said. "Haven't had a reason to have beef with anyone else. Well, Baron wants to fight for fun, but my weapon is always lethal no matter what, so I'm tellin' him that's a bad idea.

...Hey, you're a knight, right? What're the people you serve like?"

I'm curious as how the royals of other worlds compare.

Something woke Nobunaga early. Some sixth sense drifted into his sleeping subconscious and warned him that he needed to be awake. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, careful not to wake his children, and moved to stand before the window. He parted the blinds and opened the window just a crack, allowing the morning sunlight and calm breeze to wash over him. Down below, his exceptional hearing picked up the sound of morning city traffic. Merchants haggling and shouting their wares across the street. Tavern boys beckoned the passerbys in for a fresh hot breakfast. And more sounds he wasn't familiar with. It was both so familiar and so alien at the same time. But through all the noise, there was one sound in particular that stood out above the rest. It took a minute for him to place it, but once he did, he recognized the sound immediately. It was the cry of a predator bird. An Eagle, circling over the palace.

It can't be... Can it?

"Oh...  Er.  Well.  Since I was knighted by two countries...  And it's not like becoming a queen takes away what you were before."  June scratches the back of her head.  "And I never said I was... just a knight.  I'm also a mother, gardener, stable hand, assistant trainer for new recruits, host...  'Knight' was just the most pertinent at the time.  I mean, you're not just a mercenary, right?"

June's relieved at the shift in subject.  "Surely you've got some hobbies or interests, right?  Reading, maybe?  Er... armor?  Weapon-smithing?"

"Fishing! Cards! Great! Yes." June looks thoughtful for a moment. "I wonder what kind of fish this place has. I'm sure if you asked around, you'd be able to find some fishing gear. And playing cards. I'm sure the guards would be happy to teach you some Oz card games. I bet they've got some you've never heard of. You should try to pull together a card game sometime. Or go fishing during your downtime. I'm sure you could find someone that would be glad to go with you. I mean... if we're all stuck here together, we may as well try to make nice, right? Get a degree of normalcy?"