Tama

  The other goblins quickly fled the tent and Grok turned to me with an amused smirk. “What duz Tama needs? Duz Grok’s need fix Jiggle’s cage?”

  I shook my head, I actually didn’t know where Jiggle was. His tag was far into the Trelloark forest and moving around. Probably playing. “Tama wants to know, Do you believe Saki is the Smartest person ever?” I asked seriously.

  Grok looked at me confused for a moment before asking in return “Wut doez matter who is smartest or dumbest! We all iz smart in our ownz way!”

  I considered his words and frowned. “But Saki is the Smartest right?” I asked again. This time leaning in as I asked.

  Grok looked thoughtful for a moment before responding “Saki iz very smart, but Saki iz not smartest! Tama is strongest and smartest. Tama is power.”

  I considered his words and responded angrily “But Tama doesn’t know how to read!”

  Grok considered before saying “iz.. important?”

  I froze at that as I thought about it. I mean.. Saki said reading was important and Saki..was…

  ? I turned and blinked out of the tent. As I did, I appeared in front of Usaki who was currently having fun but making goblins run in circles as she bossed them around.

  I blinked next to her and she turned to me with a smile. “Good.. morning Tama. What brings… you here today?”

  I looked as one of the goblins tripped and Usaki instantly grew out a tail and grabbed the goblin before throwing him hard towards the arena.

  The others sped up. “Saki is the smartest right? As her clone, that means you are probably the smartest too!”

  Usaki looked at me for a moment before asking “What exactly do you mean?” Her tails swirled causing the goblins to panic and flee. She turned to me and tilted her head curiously.

  “Well, Saki says she isn’t the smartest. But that isn’t true, Saki knows everything! Saki is always right!” I explained.

  Usaki looked at me for a moment, seemingly lost in thought before asking “But do you truly believe that, or is it something you told yourself to make yourself feel better?”

  I froze and stared blankly at her. Usaki nodded to herself and said “Exactly, maybe you should stop asking if Saki is the smartest and instead ask why you need her to be.”

  I tried to speak, to say anything. But words wouldn’t come out. I wanted to blink away. But the words floated in my head on repeat. Why do you need her to be?

  Usaki shrugged and walked past me towards the arena. As she did, she began transforming into her nine tailed combat form. The crowd began to cheer.

  I turned and looked out towards Drestor in the distance.

  Why do you need her to be?

  You must never do this to another. One day, you will understand.

  Wut doez matter who is smartest or dumbest! We all iz smart in our ownz way!

  Slowly, I took a step forward. Just one. I did not blink, I did not run, I did not even walk. I just took a single step. That step felt more meaningful than anything I had ever done and I had no idea why.

  I shook my head and decided there was one other person I needed to ask. I blinked down off the hill and to the city gates. Standing outside the gates, offering cookies to people coming in, was Alissa. “Nya!” I said in greeting to her.

  “Nya!” She said back happily as she held out a cookie. Alissa had super tasty cookies! They were all black and crunchy! I happily accepted it and decided I’d ask her to. After all, someone who can make cookies this well clearly knows things!

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Saki is the smartest right?” I asked Alissa. Alissa nodded instantly and said “Nya! She is super smart! Just like my other royal advisors!”

  I paused at that and said “But.. Saki is the smartest?”

  Alissa tilted her head in confusion and nodded. “Yes! Saki is the smartest ever! Just like our other royal advisors!”

  I frowned and said “Yes, all the royal advisors are smart. But Saki is the smartest!”

  Alissa considered for a moment then shook her head. “No, if we go on who is the most smarterest, then in this city alone that Lyran fellow is definitely the smartest.

  All the amazing stuff he makes. Even if it doesn’t work right. He made me a thingy that makes cookies for me! But the cookies tasted weird. Other people seemed to like them though.

  My eye twitched for some reason and I blinked away from Alissa. I wanted to find Lyran anyway.

  I blinked into the air and blinked around for a bit. I made a point to avoid Saki as I didn’t want to face her right now. Try as I might, I could not find Lyran anywhere!

  Finally, I landed in front of the guild hall and walked inside. “Nya! Where is Lyran!” I cried out, causing everyone in the room to turn and look at me.

  “Oh, Princess Tamaneko!” A voice spoke up from across the room. It was that one girl who wanted to do training in a bedroom with her clothes off.

  Some people were weird. “Lyran took Royal Advisor Saki to go handle something important. They left in a hurry!”

  I instantly turned and noticed Saki heading towards the gate, at least that’s where her tag showed she was going. The north gate? What was so important there? Alissa was there giving her cookies, and while cookies were important. Saki wouldn’t see it that way.. would she?

  I blinked to the roof and over to the gate, stopping at a building near the gate and looking down at Saki and Lyran. They were walking together, holding hands for some reason.

  Saki had her illusion thingy up and under it she was red faced and kept stuttering.

  I considered what to do. I could go down there and confront them. But I didn’t want to talk to Saki right now.

  I looked at the gate and Alissa. An idea began to form and I smiled. I quickly blinked down, grabbed Alissa and blinked back up to the top of the building.

  Alissa looked confused and held out another cookie. I happily accepted and looked as they continued to approach the gate. Good, they didn’t notice me.

  I put my fingers in my mouth and whistled. Jiggles tag in the Trelloark began to move towards the village. He was slow, but he was quick enough that it wouldn’t matter. I stood and pointed at Saki and watched as a symbol appeared above her head.

  Good, Jiggle would target her. Then I would swoop in and grab Lyran while Saki and Aunt Talia dealt with Jiggle. But just to be safe, I needed to make sure this happened outside the city. Aunt Talia made it clear, Jiggle was not allowed in the city.

  Jiggle burst from the trees and made a beeline towards Saki. They noticed him and Lyran pushed Saki behind him.

  He pulled something out of his bag and right as Jiggle got close, Whatever Lyran had pulled out glowed, and Jiggle was suddenly back in the Trelloark, like deep in it.

  I stared in stunned silence as Jiggle did not get Saki. Saki pushed Lyran and began snapping at him for some reason. Lyran seemed to be apologizing. Saki looked really upset and I didn’t understand why?

  I was horrified at what Lyran had done. I didn’t understand. Jiggle seemed fine, but he had just been… moved? Really fast?

  At that moment I felt rage. So much anger… Why? Saki was the smartest, why couldn’t anyone see that? Why was I the only one who could see Saki as the smartest!

  Why do you need her to be?

  I shook my head, leaned over and grabbed the ledge. It crumbled to dust in my hands from me squeezing too hard. I winced and stepped back. Saki wouldn’t have made that mistake.

  “You know Tama, as royalty, it's important to rely on our advisors. But at the end of the day, we must make decisions ourselves. Trusting Saki to do everything for you is kind of selfish don’t you think?”

  I turned sharply and glared at Alissa, who offered me another black cookie. I took it grudgingly, they were really good cookies.

  “Nya, Tama does handle important stuff! She helps Saki by fighting enemies and protecting people!” I replied defensively. My tail lashed angrily as I glanced back towards Saki and Lyran. Saki had stopped berating him and the two seemed to be hugging?

  “Maybe, but you are going to be Queen, and all that entails. Think of how important cookie making is! The kingdom would have fallen to ruin if I didn’t know how to make these baked goods!”

  Her response made me wince. Alissa was right, It was important to know important things. Like cooking. She did make really good cookies, and it was easy to see how they shaped the realm.

  “But.. but Tama doesn’t..” I tried to say, but the words wouldn’t come and I fell to my knees. I looked down and saw I was shaking. Ninja’s didn’t shake! I forced myself to calm by taking deep breaths as Alissa asked a simple question.

  Chapter 121: Do Better