Chapter Text
There are seldom things agreed upon across lands. Those few things include omegas deserving the best pampering, and the royalty being treated with the highest respect. Both applied to the omega princess of the End, Princess Ranboo. He took after his mothers, gorgeous, fair unblemished skin, sizable bosom accentuated with his fine dresses, he was the picture of the perfect omega.
Some people tried to agree upon the notion that omegas were meant to be married off to a nice alpha as soon as possible to start a family, but the queens of the End believed otherwise for their son, he deserved the chance to fall in love, whether it was with an alpha, another omega, or even a beta. As long as their son was happy.
Princess Ranboo lived a good life, he wasn’t opposed to being lavished with gifts and attention, the sole heir to the throne. Others might’ve scoffed at his non-opposition to being almost frivolously rich, but they could not say they wouldn’t be the same had they been in his place. Large balls were held in the great room of the End Palace, where alphas a plenty would try to court with Princess Ranboo, all to be turned away. They were too forceful, too brash, too confident in their abilities to woo a mate. If Princess Ranboo didn’t outright refuse them, the look from his mothers at the vying suitors did the trick. The End had an intimidating royalty, fitting with the almost harsh landscape, only those who were respectful and close to the family could see their gentle and more nurturing nature, both from their omegan queen, Chiara, and her alpha wife, Selene. And of course, from Princess Ranboo. He was quieter, respectful, and very polite. Always thanked servants for their service to the family, even when he did deal with the alpha suitors he was polite, covering up his flustered nature. Many easily fell in love with him. The royal family hardly went out to visit the people due to the mass amount that simply swarmed around Princess Ranboo. He was loved by the civilians, to an almost overbearing amount. So, he mostly stuck to inside the castle.
Not that Princess Ranboo minded, spending his days studying in the library, visiting the orangery to see all the flora the Enderians have gathered, even just attentively listening in on his mothers holding court was fascinating to him. Ranboo greatly enjoyed his life.
"Mother, can I learn to spar?" Princess Ranboo questioned, looking at his mother on the opposite sofa imploringly. She rarely said no when it came to Princess Ranboo learning something, Queen Chiara was a huge advocate for omegas to be well-taught and knowledgeable, Princess Ranboo especially so. But, certain things she hesitated on. Societal nature meant that omegas were supposed to be softer, weaker, it was rare for omegas to be guards or soldiers. Of course, Queen Chiara was proof that the roles could be reversed, one of the fiercest omegas known in the End, but she didn't know if she wanted her son to turn out that way. It didn't seem like him to be a fighter, he had never shown any interest in that sort of thing. “Why?”
“I read about fighting tactics, they’re really interesting. I’d like to begin to learn some things, even just the basics.” Princess Ranboo flipped through the pages of a book languidly.
Queen Selene joined her wife on the sofa across from their son’s own. “I don’t believe you should. Perhaps you could take up horseback riding? We recently got some new mares from the Overworld.”
Princess Ranboo was almost immediately won over, he had practically never seen a horse in person, save for when he was little. He thought of what it’d be like to actually ride one, and was reminded of the different ways. “Do I have to ride side-saddle? Please mom, don’t tell me you believe those myths about omegas riding astride-” There was a large purity culture surrounding omegan existence, things like riding astride were sometimes believed to ‘sully an omega’s nature’. But it was simply myths, some of which were made to control omegas further.
Queen Selene laughed. “I fell in love with your mother after seeing her ride in battle alongside burly alphas, if you want to ride, learn it however you wish. We can easily find a riding master to instruct you.”
Princess Ranboo smiled. “Thank you, I’d like that alot.”
“Is there anything else you wish? We’ll have traders going to the Nether and Overworld soon, if there’s anything particular you’d like we can put in a request.” Queen Chiara offered, always ready to please her son. Princess Ranboo shook his head. “I’m good, unless we don’t have many books on horses in the library.”
Queen Chiara pondered for a second. “We might have to check the archives, most of the books’ origin is the Overworld, I wouldn’t be surprised if they got shifted off to storage. I'll send for the bookkeeper to check."
"Thanks, mother." Princess Ranboo smiled brightly to his parents in gratitude.
“Will that be all? I have some foreign affairs meetings that I must get to.” Queen Chiara stood, flattening and straightening out her skirts. Princess Ranboo nodded. “I’m perfectly good, thanks. I'll be checking the library for the books.” Princess Ranboo curtsied to his mothers before heading back to the library.
He was lucky his family had such an extensive collection, when Ranboo takes the throne he’s certain he’s going to reach out to other realms for more books. Ranboo didn't quite understand his passion for reading, perhaps it was more of a passion for knowledge... he wasn't allowed to do a great many things because he was a princess as well as an omega, so rather he read about all the things he could. Depressing to hear, but Ranboo didn’t mind.
Walking among the tall bookshelves of the library, Ranboo browsed the titles for what he was looking for. Anything about horses or horseback riding, it was always interesting to see other creatures and habits from other realms. Ranboo happened across a book- How to Ride, Instructional Book for Omegas
Ranboo grabbed it and flipped through the pages quickly, though being met with disappointment. It wasn't a horseback riding book, it was just positions and instructions for the best heat experience, helpful and detailed diagrams included. How did they bend like that- Ranboo shut the book, sliding it back onto the shelf. He figured there wouldn’t be all that many books on creatures from the Overworld, he would simply have to wait.
Ranboo resignedly kept looking through the shelves, hoping there would be something. He stumbled upon ABC Animals, an illustrated book from the Overworld. It had a drawn picture of a horse on the front, and Ranboo excitedly flipped to the letter H page spread, it was filled with drawings of various horses of many different shades and patterns. Mottled grey, auburn, simply plain black- horses were fascinating. Ranboo honestly couldn’t wait to actually ride one. Luckily, he didn’t have to. An attendant came up to him from where he was looking over the pages. “Beg pardon, milady,” The attendant bowed. “There is a riding master awaiting you for your lessons.”
“Already?” Princess Ranboo was surprised at how quick his mothers worked to get an instructor for him.
“Yes, milady, the horses’ handler heard of your request to ride and offered to teach you himself.”
Princess Ranboo slipped the book back onto the shelves, overjoyed he could start learning already. "Please, lead me to the stables."
"You need to change into better riding clothes, milady, firmer fabrics. Your maids have them ready in your quarters, change and I will gladly lead you to the stables then."
Princess Ranboo was already walking out of the library, through the halls of the palace to his quarters. He pushed open the doors, his maids already waiting with more proper riding clothes. There still was a skirt and a fair corset as part of the attire, but Princess Ranboo fully felt like he could move more in it.
The attendant waited patiently outside his chambers for Princess Ranboo to reemerge. Princess Ranboo was ready, excited for the attendant to lead him to the horses. They went through the palace, outside to where the stables were. The attendant bowed with finality. “Here you are, milady, your new instructor is waiting inside.”
Princess Ranboo went into the stables, hearing the sounds of the horses softly snorting. A foreign smell hit him as he walked in, piles of thin wheat-esque things around, Princess Ranboo stepping closer to curiously inspect it, learning that whatever it was the cause of it. A voice spoke up, catching Princess Ranboo off-guard. “Never seen hay before?”
Princess Ranboo turned to see the source, meeting the eyes of an amused Piglin brute, assumedly alpha from his larger build. Princess Ranboo was a bit sheepish. “No, is that what it’s called?”
The Piglin nodded. “Yep, it’s what I feed the horses. That and a mix of grain.”
Princess Ranboo nodded in understanding. “I see. You handle the horses, I assume?”
“Yep. I’m Techno, your riding instructor as well. Come on, we have your horse ready for you.” Techno never spoke to Princess Ranboo with any notion that Ranboo was higher class, right now Princess Ranboo was simply a student. Ranboo didn’t mind. Walking through the stables to a courtyard made from cobblestone, two horses waited. The surrounding area was the empty expanse of the End, the void stretching far.
The horses stood tall, a simple brown one with white going up its legs and down its snout, and the other a plain white. Techno walked up to the brown horse, stroking its mane, turning to glance back at Ranboo. “This is Carl, my prized horse. Yours is unnamed, go for it.”
Techno had intended for Ranboo to name a horse himself, which slightly caught him off guard. “Oh, um, a good name for a horse…” Princess Ranboo approached his horse, reaching out and petting it. “It’s white like a skeleton, Skellyboo could work.”
“A play on your own name?” Techno raised an eyebrow amusedly.
Ranboo stroked Skellyboo’s mane. “Well I’ve never named a horse before, are there any specific rules or something? Yours is named Carl, I don’t think you can judge.”
Techno let out an amused snort. “Fair. Let’s actually get onto the lesson now, shall we? Start off simple- mounting.”
“You've gotta get a job man, you can’t keep living off pocket change you find on my floors.” Tubbo complained, staring down Billzo as he wiped down the counters. Billzo perked up in interest. “Are you hiring?”
“No! And if I did, I’d still make you fucking work to find one.”
“Come on, help a friend out." Billzo pleaded, he did need help when it came to finding a job. Why couldn't he continue scrounging for little bits to keep him living, sleeping in Tubbo's unused guest bedroom? He was a bit of a freeloader, so what? He helped around Tubbo's tavern every now and then, and offered to genuinely take up chores, but Tubbo refused. Billzo didn't exactly know what else to do with himself.
"Work in another realm, they kill for other species among their people. Better diversity, less wars between everything. I think the End is hiring around the palace, you'd get to spend your time in a palace. It'd be great!" Tubbo encouraged. Billzo felt slightly hurt. "You want to get rid of me? Send me to another realm?"
Tubbo sighed. "That's not what I meant, it was just a job opportunity. We'd still be close friends."
"Still hang out sometimes?"
"Of course, I can't miss my Billzo charm for too long."
Billzo smiled. "It's like an addiction, you gotta get your fix every now and then." Tubbo laughed, nodding. "Totally. But first get a job and then we can figure that stuff out."
Going to a new realm was scary. And fascinating. Having to go through important buildings, signing his name off on many documents to verify his change in realm, and eventually stepping through the void-like portal, it was a strenuous process to get to the End. The End itself was a barren, desolate, and dark place, save for the kingdom the path from the portal led to, large blackstone walls securing everyone inside. The towns were bustling with people from all over the realms, but mostly Enderians. Small differences in culture Billzo noticed as he went through town were things like how few places offered water, he knew about the Enderians aversion to it, and the doorways were taller than normal, it was common for Enderians to be tall, regardless if they were an omega, alpha, beta. They were a quirky little species, that was for sure.
Billzo made his way towards the imposing palace, spotting where more commoner-looking people passed through a side door. That was where he’d hopefully find a job.
A tool basket was harshly placed on the wooden table before Billzo, the head servant impassively staring him down. “You’ll go room to room to clean the fireplaces. Try to avoid the royalty when you go to clean, servants are not seen, heard, or perceived, unless we are specifically called upon. Only then is your presence known, but very shortly."
Billzo nodded, committing the information to memory. Tubbo advised him to listen carefully and do everything just as he was instructed, living in another realm, much less working in a royal court, could get dangerous if the people were more volatile with their punishments.
"You're an alpha, right?" The head servant scanned Billzo's face carefully. Billzo nodded again. He didn't want to speak out of turn, Billzo was practically paranoid of messing up right in the beginning.
"Do you have a mate?"
Billzo shook his head. Romance wasn't a big thing for him, he didn't like spending his time looking for a mate. It just wasn't a priority and he was okay with that, even if most alphas his age wanted to find a nice omega to settle down with.
The head servant made a small noise of acknowledgement. "When you're on your rut you are to stay in the alpha servant quarters, if you are found anywhere else in the palace you will be dismissed of your job, if you are found with someone else in the palace and it is believed to be forced, you will be executed. Do I make myself clear?"
Billzo nodded quickly. He would be extremely careful, how embarrassing it would be to be fired because of your stupid rut?
"I've seen dozens of alphas come and go, some in less than a week of service, so don't think you're special. Take these words to heart and live by them, you're not above others because you're an alpha. You're still a measly servant who can be easily replaced."
Others would call the head servant a bitch, but their rules were completely reasonable. Some alphas did believe they were superior purely because they were an alpha, and that could easily make them a threat to the royal family that they served.
"An additional thing, Princess Ranboo frequents the library, it may be impossible to tend the fires without him being present, you keep your head down and don't call attention to yourself. Allow the princess to do as he pleases." The head servant was stern with this additional rule. The head servant gestured for Billzo to stand. "Have you any experience with cleaning fireplaces?"
Billzo shook his head again. "I can learn easily, though."
"Come, we'll quickly go to the library. Princess Ranboo is currently out with his riding lessons, so there's no possible situation occurring while you learn."
Walking through the servants halls, secret passageways through the palace that makes it rarer for the nobility to see the servants, Billzo took everything in. He tried his best to commit it to memory, he'd have to learn how to navigate the place on his own. Unfortunately, the halls looked identical, you most likely had to simply count the turns and hope for the best when you exit.
Billzo followed the head servant dutifully, eventually exiting into the library. It was something Billzo had never seen the likes of before, a huge room with shelves of books up to the high ceiling, Enderians obviously enjoyed their collection. The head servant snapped their fingers, drawing Billzo’s attention to the fireplace. One would question why you would have a fireplace near such flammable objects, surely that was a danger, but it wasn’t exactly something Billzo could question. This was his job, he’d accept his tasks without question.
Billzo knelt next to the fireplace, the head servant pointing out certain things in his tool basket. “You scrape away the old ashes, there’s usually charcoal nearby for you to refill and then place more firewood. Easy enough?”
Billzo nodded as he worked, sitting back on his heels as he finished, looking to the head servant for approval. They nodded, gesturing for Billzo to get up. “Now you’ll simply learn where the royal family is and make your schedule around theirs to minimize interactions. It’s an easier job than most, don’t screw it up.”
Billzo held his tool basket, taking in every word. This would be his life now, the faster he got the hang of it the better. He’d have to write a letter to Tubbo sometime and tell him the news, he’d surely be proud of Billzo.