Chapter Text
“Asher! Asher!” Milo exclaimed, cupping his hand to his ear. “Listen! Do you hear? That is the sound of ultimate suffering. My heart made that sound when Quinn slaughtered my mother.”
Asher paused. “It’s the person in black,” he realized. “They’re making that sound now.”
“Them? That’s them?” Sweetheart’s jaw dropped. “But, how do you know?”
“Their true love is marrying another tonight,” Milo rationalized. “So who else has the cause for ultimate suffering?”
“Then let’s go!” Sweetheart quickened their steps. “Excuse us,” they said, trying to push past the sea of people walking to and fro, completely unaware and uncaring of the horrific, agonized screams. “Pardon us,” they tried, bumping into a crotchety lion shifter. “Sorry…”
Milo said nothing, instead gesturing an open palm to Asher.
Asher shifted into his wolf form and let out a great howl.
The crowd quickly cleared a path for Milo, Sweetheart, and Asher.
“There we go,” Milo approved as the trio trotted towards the castle. “Thanks, buddy.”
**********
Lasko hastily pushed the empty wheelbarrow towards the Pit of Despair. Quinn hated it when he took too long to complete his chores, so he always made it a point to move as quickly as he could as he dodged the tree roots and shrubbery of the forest. He had the route practically memorized at this point, aware of each little bump or divot in the ground upon his path.
What Lasko hadn’t expected was for a stealth to suddenly materialize atop his wheelbarrow. “Where is the person in black?” they demanded.
Lasko screamed, letting go of the wheelbarrow. The action would’ve sent Sweetheart tumbling to the ground if they hadn’t been using graviton-energy to keep their balance.
Asher and Milo flanked either side of Lasko, the former pointing the tip of his rapier at Lasko’s throat. “Answer the question,” he suggested.
A hissed rush of air leaked out of Lasko, but he was so terrified, he couldn’t shape the sound into words.
Milo rolled his eyes. He didn’t have the time or patience to bother with this. “Ash, jog his memory, will you?”
Asher shifted into his wolf, ready to intimidate Lasko into confessing, but when the air-elemental took one look at the wolf before him, he promptly fell to the ground.
“Whoa.” Sweetheart peered over the edge of the wheelbarrow. “I didn’t know you could faint out of fear.”
Asher focused on returning to his human form as Sweetheart ensured that Lasko was merely unconscious. “I didn’t mean to scare him that much,” Asher protested.
But Milo didn’t pay attention to any of that. Instead, he had knelt down, closed his eyes, and took his beloved sword in both hands. “Ma,” he said softly. “I’ve failed you for twenty years. Twenty long years.”
When Sweetheart opened their mouth to tell Milo he’d never, not once, failed his mother for even a day, Asher extended his arm to keep them quiet. They realized with a pang of pity that Asher was right. Milo needed the chance to express himself.
“But now,” Milo continued. “Our misery can end. Somewhere, somewhere close by is the person who can help us, but I can’t find them alone. I need you, Ma.”
Sweetheart and Asher looked upon Milo, grieving along with him.
“I need you to guide my sword to track him,” Milo begged. “Please. Please, Ma. Guide my sword.” He rose to his feet, keeping his chocolate eyes closed.
Asher and Sweetheart watched with quiet reverence. Milo took a few swaying steps, first to the right, then to the left.
Was it Marie truly guiding him? Was it merely a figment of Milo’s imagination? A trick his mind had played on himself so he could rationalize that deep need for a connection every child who had lost a parent felt in one way or another? Neither stealth nor wolf knew for certain. What they did know was that Milo clearly believed Marie was aiding him in his pursuit.
Milo stumbled forward, arms outstretched like he was being pulled. His steps quickened to keep up with the force…
…until the point of his sword hit a large, oak tree.
“Wh-” He stared at the tree, shame and frustration gnawing at his gut. “No, I…” He threw an arm across his face and leaned against a large knot of the tree, content to stay there for the rest of his life as atonement for his inability to avenge his mother.
The knot pushed back into the trunk, and the doorway that revealed nothing but pitch blackness and a shoddy staircase.
Led by Milo, the trio stepped into the tree and followed the steps downwards, wondering what they might find at the bottom.