#tj: this all sounds like something lisa would do to her partner--

[empireofwrestlemania]

The Adventures of Gloria Lacasa - Chapter 3

“What seems to be the matter, Gloria? Not feeling well?”

Gloria, curled up on a bench with her hands on her stomach, barely glanced up at the sound of Finn’s joking voice. The swaying, rocking motion of the ship was making her nauseous, and it was taking all of her self-control not to rush to the side of the ship and throw up.

“Not one bit,” Gloria mumbled.

“Sea sickness getting to you?” asked Finn as he moved to sit down next to her, a smile on his friendly face.

“If that’s what you call it, yes,” Gloria said with a shrug.

“I can help, here,” he said, reaching into the pocket of his jacket and pulling out a small pouch. She watched quietly as he opened it, and then he pulled out a small leaf that was a pale green colour. “Put this on your tongue until it melts,” he said, holding it out to her.

Gently, Gloria took the leaf from him. She had never seen a plant that grew these leaves, but for now, Finn was the only person she could really trust. She opened her mouth and put the leaf gently on top of her tongue. It almost seemed to melt instantly, though she could still tell that it was there, resting on her tongue. The flavour was sweet, almost like the candy that Brie and Daniel brought back for her whenever they visited Empire Minora.

“Is it helping?” asked Finn, and Gloria contemplated it for a moment. Already, the nauseous feeling was starting to fade.

“Yes,” she answered him softly.

“Good!” he said with a nod. “Let us know if you need anything, right?” he asked, and Gloria gave him a quick nod.

“I will,” she said. “Thank you.”

The ship was interesting to say the least. Gloria had met only a handful of people on board so far. There were two sailors on the deck, named Tyler and Fandango, who seemed too caught up in one another to pay her much attention beyond their initial greetings. There was a bard named Carlos, whom Gloria immediately found herself taking a liking to, and up above the sails was a young man named TJ, whom Finn told her was the one that had spotted her on the beach.

“Oh, Finn?” Gloria said suddenly as the man got up and started to walk away. He turned again, facing her.

“Yes?” he asked, smiling.

“What is this?” she asked, pointing to her mouth where the leaf was resting on her tongue.

“It’s the leaf of the wrawia bud,” he replied with a shrug. “It’s known for having medicinal properties that ease nausea. It’s a sailor’s best friend, but they use it on the mainland for all sorts of things. They make a powder out of it that can be mixed into tea for stomachaches, they’ll often use it for pregnant women who aren’t feeling well, but it’s best used in its raw form the way you just had it.”

“Wow,” Gloria said softly, nodding to herself. She’d lived in the woods her whole life, but she had almost no knowledge of medicinal plants. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s quite commonplace on the mainland,” said Finn. “It grows in Empire Central, Empire Minora, the Kingdom of Gold, Flair Queendom, and probably in the Outlands. You grew up in the Wooded Kingdom, then?”

“Yes,” she said, noticing that he had moved again to come sit with her. “I was in a small village that no one really knows, and this is the first time I’ve left.”

“I know I asked earlier and you seemed afraid to answer, but where are you headed?” Finn asked, and a sigh left Gloria’s lips.

“I need to go to the Demon Kingdom to find my father,” she said finally. Beneath her cloak, her wings were fluttering anxiously. “I don’t know who he is, though…I don’t have much information at all.”

“You’re on a quest?” came a voice from in front of them. Both Finn and Gloria looked up, into the smiling face of the resident bard, Carlos Belos. In his hands he held a small instrument that he’d told her an hour or so ago was called a “Criara”. It made a sweet noise when he played it, and though he had a handful of other instruments with him, Gloria suspected it was the criara she liked best.

“Yes, I suppose I am,” Gloria said with a shrug, a smile beginning to appear on her face. There was something about this bard that just made her smile when he was around.

“If you need information, I may be able to help,” he said, sitting down on the bench on the other side of her so that she was between him and Finn. “I’ve got a way with words - I can make people talk. Maybe I can help you find your father.”

“You’d really do that?” Gloria asked in a soft voice, and Carlos gave a nod.

“Sure,” he said. “I’m a traveling bard, I don’t have much else to do. If I can help you out, then I’ve done something good with myself.”

“I’d really appreciate that,” Gloria said, smiling. Carlos certainly seemed charismatic enough to help her get the information she needed, and he had that quality - that special feeling of happiness that he seemed to instill in everyone around him. Having him around seemed like it would help her mood, especially whenever she had to taste the disappointment of someone not having information for her.

“We should visit the King first,” came Finn’s voice from the other side of her. “You’re what, twenty? He’s been ruling for ages, he should know everyone who comes and goes from the Kingdom - we’ll ask him if he knows anything about your father.”

“Is that something you’re allowed to do?” Gloria asked, her eyes growing wide. “Just show up at his house and visit the King?” Back home, no one had met the King. King Bray was reclusive, and not very hands-on. When he did interact with his people, it was usually through servants and messengers. Of course, there were also the stories Brie told about visiting her sister, who was the partner of King John, but that seemed different because Brie was family.

“We sure can,” Finn replied with a nod. “Carlos and I will take you to meet with the King. Maybe he can give you some point of reference, somewhere to start looking.”

Gloria smiled over at him. “Thank you, Finn,” she said softly. If the ship hadn’t picked her up, she’d still be walking. Her mother probably would have caught up to her by now. But this…this was much better. She had a place to start. She had a safe way to travel to the Demon Kingdom. And…she had allies. Friends, people who were going to help her find her father. She was in a better place now than she’d been yesterday.

Characters used: @lisa-likes-wrasslin

Tagging: @hardcorewwetrash @she-reigns-in-this-yard @macfizzle @xxshamelesspunk247xx @queenreignsempire @sisteradelaide @sonjashuterbugjohnson

#wwe #wwe fanfic #wwe fanfiction #fanfic #fanfiction #wrestling #wrestling fanfic #wrestling fanfiction #Empire of Wrestlemania #story #writing #Finn Balor #Carlos Belos #Tyler Breeze #Fandango #TJ Perkins #Gloria Lacasa #Demon Kingdom #Wooded Kingdom