Belfort & The Jumbo Squid Crisis

(July 24th 1685)

Tane and Ponne are sleeping on their royal beds when the royal bells ring and wake them up.

Ponne: “What on earth is that sound? And why so early in the morning?”

Tane: “I think that’s the royal bell. Come on Tane, let's go and get Belfort as this um...wedding...isn’t worth our time.”

Belfort is glancing out the window for the sunrise and looks at the wedding in the distance, then Ponne and Tane come up behind him and strike.

Ponne: "Ha ha ha ha!"

Tane: "It's going to rain today Belfort, why bother looking at the sunrise Brother?"

Belfort: "What in the name of..."

The two rambunctious sisters run away laughing as Belfort looks down in confusion. His Sisters did have a habit of teasing him however - usually out of jealousy. They never liked that he was the Kings favourite.

Diane had seen everything and sighs. She walks up to Belfort and gives him a sad smile.

Belfort: "This one was about the weather. I know it rains sometimes but we're not in London...so why are they..."

Diane: "You know why Belfort. Ever since the King chose you they've been mean towards you and I don't know what to do about them."

Belfort nods as he walks out to find Lupin to talk to him for a while. Lupin is sleeping on a tree when Belfort shows up in a mood.

Belfort: "Oh that's just great, Lupin is sleeping and I..."

His Wolf friend yawns as Belfort starts to feel bad.

Lupin: "Ah...Belfort it's like just past Sunrise in the morning."

Belfort: "Sorry my Dear Lupin...I'm just in a mood. Ponne and Tane made fun of the weather, saying that it's going to...(BANG!)...rain."

The sky grows dark and rain pours down. Lupin looks at his best friend with sympathy while Belfort goes red in the face with embarrassment and anger.

Lupin: "Thanks for the warning my Dear Belfort."

Belfort: "...You've got to be kidding me, my Sisters were right, just great. Now I'll never hear..."

Before Belfort could finish his minor outburst, King Louis XIV screams in rage but it's not at Belfort.

Belfort: "Woah...Master Louie sounds mad...like very mad...what did you do!?!"

Lupin holds his paws up as he informs the angry Belfort that this wasn't him. Being best friends from Puppyhood, Belfort goes to the castle and sees Louis more furious than Belfort had ever seen him.

Belfort: "What's up with Master Louie?"

Diane: "Apparently some..."

King Louis: "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SQUID ATTACKED YOUR SHIPS!?!"

Bob: "Forgive us sire, these Jumbo Squid came out of nowhere and grabbed our nets and...(gulps)...took all of our fish."

King Louis: "...(Growls)...How big are these...Jumbo Squid?"

Bob: "About half the size of a newborn Blue Whale...about 12 Feet or so."

King Louis smashes the glass in his hand and cuts it open. Thankfully his doctor is there with a bandage and quickly repairs it.

Belfort and his family gasps in shock as they've never seen their Master/King so angry and had never seen a human bleed before. Maybe their ancestors did in the great civil war of 1648-1654 but that's beside the point.

Diane: "This is very bad...oh this is horrible. If these Squid are anything like Wolves then we are all in danger."

Belfort: "With all due respect Mother, Wolves are not evil and even you admit that. Remember when you, Ponne and Tane got sick?"

Ponne: "I think this is trauma remerging Belfort."

Belfort: "What trauma? The fact that I'm the king's favourite, the fact that you two tease me everyday, the fact that..."

Tane: "Belfort...look at Mom...(gulps)...I think you struck a nerve."

Belfort looks at his Mother and gasps in shock, Belfort shrinks at his Mother's glare mixed with tears.

Diane: "Your Father died saving me...you ungrateful..."

Belfort only sobs as his Mom stops her outburst, realising too late that she let her anger get the better of her.

Belfort: "Is...(sniffles)...that how you really feel about me?"

Ponne and Tane look at each other, they know that look. The last time Belfort looked so sad was when they mocked him about Lupin being gone before he returned.

Ponne: "Belfort...we don't hate you, my Sister and I are just jealous of you being the King's favourite, but after we mocked you about Lupin, we agreed to never make you feel that way again."

Tane: "We just decided to tease you about harmless things, like the weather or how wet or dry the ground is."

Diane: "Glad to see you two apologising to Belfort, but what about the Squid problem?"

Belfort thinks about his Dad and glares at his Mother.

Belfort: "Mom...what happened to my Dad...is that why you hate Lupin?"

Diane: "Belfort...I didn't want to tell you until your..."

Belfort: "WHAT HAPPENED!?!"

Diane backs away in shock as her Son had never been so angry before.

Before anyone could say anything to the enraged Belfort, King Louis screams in anger.

King Louis: "I DON'T CARE! EVER SINCE MY FAVOURITE DOG DIED TO THOSE WOLVES, THOSE COMPLETE ABOMINATIONS!"

Belfort doesn't hear the rest of the argument as the ringing in his ears and pounding heart doesn't allow him to think.

?????: "Belfort...BELFORT!"

Belfort snaps out of his daze and looks at his Mother with rage...rage like he never felt before. He wants to hurt her, he wants to make her feel real pain, pain that would make the loss of his Dad look like an afterthought. Yet that's not who Belfort is, he feels these emotions but never lets them hurt anyone.

Tane: "...Belfort?"

Belfort: "...Lupin is not a Monster...Louie is wrong."

Ponne steps aside as her brother walks away...with claws extended and teeth showing.

Ponne: "I've...never seen Belfort look so angry before."

Tane: "Well not the real Prosper Belfort."

Diane: "What's this about?"

The two sisters explain everything and Diane, although still filled with anger, sighs in relief.

Diane: "Well I suppose that ended well, damn same breed."

A few Hours later, King Louis orders for his man to take him and his Dogs to Greenland to find the nest and destroy it.

Belfort: "Oh that's just great, now what am I supposed to do?"

Ponne: "Hey Belfort can we talk please?"

Belfort turns around and sees a sad Ponne and Tane walking towards him.

Belfort: "I'm still very mad at Mom...and you two."

Ponne: "That's not fair Belfort, we didn't know how Dad died either."

Tane: "He must have died before April 12th 1683, no wonder why I don't remember him."

Belfort: "...(Sighs)...Okay if you two want my trust then promise me that you won't harm any Squid. That's all I ask."

Ponne: "Okay that's a reasonable deal but the only time we will harm any Squid is if they aren't reasonable or attacking us or anyone else."

Tane: "To be truthful we didn't want to harm Lupin a few weeks ago but the King made us do it. We're sorry."

Belfort sighs and agrees as King Louis XIV and his men get Belfort and his Family onto the ship to Greenland.

(To Be Continued)