Standing before the two rebels was a toddler boy. He looked to be about two or three, probably closer to two, judging by the thick diaper he wore. In addition to the diaper, he had a shirt on, and a locket. His hair was thick and curly, a bright red, while he had dark gray eyes.
“Huh, I could’ve sworn…” said one rebel. He shook his head. “Whatever. I’ll continue searching for the prince. You take care of the child. Clearly, he’s a child of someone in the palace, like a maid or concubine. Take him to the workers we’ve captured and see if any of them are his mother.”
“I will do so gladly,” the other rebel said. The first rebel sprinted away. The second rebel approached the toddler. He crouched down and smiled at the toddler. “Hi, little buddy. Can you tell me your name?”
“Jas,” said the toddler. The shortened version of his name, as this toddler was what Prince Jasper had become, came without thinking. Jasper, now Jas, looked at the rebel with fear. The rebel reached for him. Jas stumbled back and landed on his diapered butt. The combination of the fall and his terror of the rebel caused his bladder to let loose with a soft hiss. Jas immediately burst into tears.
“Aw, it is okay!” the rebel said kindly. “I will take you to your mama, Jas. Come here.” The rebel reached for Jas again. Jas hurriedly touched the locket.
“Protect me,” he squeaked in his toddler voice. There was a flash of light.
When the light cleared, the rebel had become…