Back in Emon, the De Rolos were just about to arrive at the Dark Isles but something seemed to have gone wrong with the portal.

"Great, look what you did, Cass!" Percy exclaimed in annoyance. "We're going to be late to one of the biggest ceremonies in history!"

"How is this my fault?" Cassandra asked. "I'm not the one who made the portal."

"You were. . .goofing around?" Percy said, a little unsure about how to even answer the question as he groaned in frustration. "I don't know! I just don't think you're ready after all, okay?"

Cassandra stopped for a moment as she was shocked and a little hurt by what her brother had just said. "What do you mean. . .I'm not ready?"

Percy sighed as he looked at his sister with a serious look on his face. "I mean, I don't think you're ready to lead Whitestone after all." He said, honestly. "You're still coming to the Alliance and standing up there with me, but. . .I'm gonna have to rethink everything else."

Cassandra was hurt by this sudden change as tears fell from her eyes. But before anything else could be said, the portal opened up once more and and Vex could be seen on the other side.

"Sorry about that, Darling. It's been a while since Keyleth was in the new realm. So, she had trouble with the portal." She said with a nervous smile before noticing the looks on the siblings faces. "Is something wrong? What did I miss?"

"Nothing, everythings fine." Percy said seriously. "Come on, Cass. We'll talk more about this after the alliance."

Without another word, the De Rolos walked through the portal and arrived in the kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Casperans and the other royals were looking for the medieval siblings. "We're could they possibly be?" Douxie asked. "The De Rolos should be here by now."

"Calm down, Doux." Nora said calmly. "We'll find them, they probably just got lost or something. This is a big kingdom."

"The portal was supposed to send them straight here so that wouldn't happen!" Douxie said seriously as he started pacing back and forth.

While he was doing that, little things around the room formed a blue aura and started to levitate. "What are we gonna do Whitestone is probably the most important ally we've got besides Akridion-5!"

"Doux, please calm down." Hopelily said sounding concerned for her brother. "Everything is going to be okay, I'm sure of it."

"How can you be so sure?!" Douxie snapped, causing even more things to levitate in the air with his magic. "If this fails, I'm going to be the one the kingdom blames! Not you guys, me!"

"I'm their queen, do you really think I'm not going to be blamed too?!" Hopelily exclaimed. "I'm just as stressed out as you, Hisirdoux! And I'm sure Nora is too!'

"Yeah right, Nora hardly did anything." Douxie scoffed. "And the stuff she did do was easy."

"I offered to help more, but as usual, you didn't want it!" Nora explained as she started to feel angry as well but tried to keep her cool. "So don't go saying I'm the lazy one!"

Suddenly, it was silent for a moment before Douxie took a deep breath and all the previously floating objects fell to the floor.

"Look, I'm sorry I got all upset but these past few weeks of planning has been. . .hell." Douxie explained honestly. "And Light-Bulb, I did give you the easy stuff on purpose so that you wouldn't be as stressed as me and Lily."

"Oh and you think I don't feel the pressure? Because trust me, I feel it too. The pressure of being a princess, a sorceress, and little sister." Nora said with tears in her eyes. "All I wanted today was a chance to relax and hang out with those I love. Is that so much to ask?"

'Aww, poor little light.' Hopelily thought to herself. 'That is all she wanted, and Douxie and I just pushed her away.'

It was silent for a moment before Douxie just sighed and walked away, whipping tears from his eyes before they could fall.

At that same moment, Nora threw her hands up in defeat as she walked away in the opposite direction. Both of them, leaving Hopelily alone feeling horrible for her siblings.

Eventually, Douxie found himself in his room and Lavender just so happened to be standing there waiting.

"Lavender?" Douxie asked in shock, quickly changing his posture and attitude. "What are you doing here?"

"My girlfriend senses were tingling." Lavender said with a smile, which made Douxie give a small chuckle as Lavender kissed him on the cheek. "Have you found out what's going on with Whitestone?"

"No, not yet." Douxie said as he gave a dramatic sigh. Lavender realized that something else was up, and that whatever was going on was more than just the last Royal allies not showing up.

"Hey, honey. Everything okay?" She asked as she noticed the look on her boyfriend's face. "You seem a little stressed lately."

"It's my sister, she can be such a pain sometimes." Douxie said honestly. "She just doesn't understand how much pressure I already feel daily."

Before Douxie continued to explain, he quickly shoved it off as he didn't want to talk about it. "You know what? Nevermind." He said seriously. "I'm fine. It's not that important."

"Douxie, be honest, what's wrong?" Lavender asked, now even more concerned. "You seem really nerv-"

Before she could finish her statement, music started to play and Douxie began to sing.

Douxie: "I'm the cold one
I'm not nervous
I'm the king one the scene
At your service
I've got riches
I've got servants
Didn't ask for the task
but I'm earnest"

Meanwhile in the ball room, Nora started to sing as if she and Douxie were singing together.

Nora: "I'm a dreamer
I'm determined
I'm alone but I won't
be discouraged
All in the past
It was nice while it lasted
A brother so frigid
No wonder we drifted
But under the surface
It really hurts and
This hole feels bigger
Than the universe is
Under the surface
I'm currently hanging by
a thread over totally deserted
Under the surface
I somehow must have earned it
Done something to deserve this
Was all he could take?
And honest mistake?
Just fake it doesn't ache
Gotta fake it till you make it's"

Percy: Pressure like a
drip, drip, drip
That'll never stop, woah
Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip
Till you just go pop! Woah
Sorry I'm your brother
Your brother's broken
Promise there's a reason
why we haven't spoken
Who am I the kid,
the king, or the pawn?
Am I a monster?"

Cassandra: "Pressure like a grip,
Grip, grip and it
won't let go, woah
Pressure like a tick, tick, tick
Till it's ready to blow, Woah
What kind of brother
leaves his sister stranded?
Not a single clue to
help him understand it
who am I if I can't
Right this wrong?
How much longer?

Douxie: "Under the surface,
I'm insecure and concerned
And I'm sure All my
blessings are curses
Under the surface, the ship
Won't resurface by urning
Just to reverse it
Under the surface,
Do I have a purpose?
Is any of this worth it?
Middle of the throes a cold
Wind blows, and you try to
Stop but know that
you're about to let it go"

Percy: "But wait, If I could
tame The beast to blame
For these frustrations would
That open doors up to"

Nora: "Love, or restoration
Of things we treasured
Just don't surrender to
Growing pressure
Keeps growing, keeps going
Cause all we know is-"

Douxie: "Pressure like a drip,
Drip, drip that'll
never stop, woah"

Cassandra: "Pressure that'll tick,
Tick, tick, till you
just go pop! Woah"

Percy: "Might of had a sister
But mind your distance"

Nora: "Keep it to yourself
That's co-existence"

Douxie & Percy: "Watch as he
crumbles and cries
but never cracks"

Cassandra & Nora: "Don't look back it's pressure like a grip,
Grip, grip, and it won't let go"

Douxie & Percy: "Woah, pressure
like a tick, tick, tick
till it's ready to blow
woah."

Percy & Cassandra: "Think about your
sister/brother
And always wonder
If today's pressure's gonna
Pull her/him under"

Douxie & Nora: "Who am I
If I can't handle the facts?"

All: "No breaks, no cracks
Don't look back
No pressure!"

Once the song was over, Douxie hugged Lavender as he cried on her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Percy had just walked in the palace and saw Hevanora just sitting by the door.

"Lady Hevanora? Is everything alright?" Percy asked sounding concerned before realizing something. "Oh no we're late aren't we?"

"I'm fine, just stressed that's all." Nora said honestly as she whipped tears away and stood up. "And yeah, you're kind of late but where's Cass?"

"She had to go cool off for a bit." Percy explained. "We had a slight argument before coming here. But I can give the speech."

"Okay, well let's get you up there shall we?" Nora said as she lead Percy to the balcony. "Hopefully, Douxie won't be too mad at you guys."

"Yeah, I sure hope not." Percy said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyway, let's get going."

With that said, the 2 of them headed towards the balcony so that Percy could give his speech.

Song is a frozen rewrite of "Surface Pressure" by YouTuber Nim Aranel

Hevanora Kyuriami and Hopelily Casperan belong to me

Lavender Rose belongs to Sugarrush7

Tales Of Arcadia belongs to Dreamworks

The Legend of Vox Machina belongs to Critical role and Prime Video

All rights reserved