Author's note: Sorry, despite the cutesy title, this chapter gets seriously dark.

The track I listened to whilst writing this was 'The Horror of Manna' which comes in when Esther goes looking for Swaine. I strongly recommend listening to the track for this chapter. It seriously adds something.

'You did it!' cried Marcassin.

'I can't believe it. We have everything for the cure!' said Esther happily.

Suddenly she noticed Marcassin had become very uncomfortable.

'What is it? What's wrong?'

'I'm afraid… I misled you Esther,' Said Marcassin guiltily

'Marcassin…' said Esther slowly and precisely 'Don't you dare tell me I just risked my life for a petal you don't even need.'

'No, no, no!' said Marcassin quickly raising his hands 'The petal is required. But there is something else that only you can procure for the cure… a piece of your heart.'

'My heart? But why? Why tell me this now?'

'Because I had to be sure that you loved him, my brother, I mean. It's just that… if I use a heart that didn't… the cure will kill him'

'It was a test' breathed Esther in realisation 'You needed the petal, but used the dangerous mission as a test of my love.'

It was too much for Esther at that point. After all the danger and all the heartbreak, this was too much to bear.

'Marcassin… WHAT THE HELL?! Couldn't you have just asked me instead of potentially sending me to my death?'

Suddenly Thadea appeared from her hiding place behind the chesterfield, alarmed at Esther's anger thinking that she might need help. Somewhere at the back of her mind Esther was glad that she made it back after all.

'But I did ask you! And you didn't give me a straight answer!' Marcassin shouted back.

In that moment, he reminded Esther so much of Swaine's stubbornness, but then he because the quiet prince again.

'Forgive me… I had to be sure. He's the only family I have left.'

A dreadful silence hung in the air as Esther counted to ten in her head to siphon off her anger and think rationally. Marcassin looked at her with pleading eyes.

'Take it' said Esther 'But… will I be broken hearted again?'

'No, I only need a little of the Love in your heart, and you have plenty to spare' said Marcassin meekly 'Just look!'

From within his jacket he pulled out a familiar looking green bottle on a string. It glowed brighter as it came closer to her heart.

'Oliver…' she breathed as she remembered her friend – how long had it been since the battle at the Ivory Tower? It seemed a lifetime ago…

'Are you ready?' said Marcassin holding his wand.

Esther nodded. With a wave of his wand Marcassin cast Take Heart. She felt a momentary pull through her chest which made her gasp a little. A glowing light flew from her heart and into the little bottle.

'Now, do you promise me that that's the last thing you needed?' she said.

'I promise' said Marcassin smiling 'I'll start on the cure immediately'

'I'll go and wait with him. It's been so long…'

'No, Esther' said Marcassin quickly, taking her arm.

'Don't worry, I'll make sure I keep my distance. I'll be okay - I just have to see him again.'

Marcassin's grip on her arm only tightened, his eyes revealed the panic inside him.

Something here isn't right…

Pulling her arm out of his grip she ran out of the room and to Swaine's room. Not noticing the absence of guards, she burst through the door only to find an empty room. The bed was perfectly made, as if ready for a new guest. She saw no sign that he had ever been there at all, the room was immaculate

Esther's heart raced. Turning to find Marcassin had run after her, she rounded on him.

'Where is he?' she demanded.

Marcassin looked terrified. His opened and closed, but no words came out. Esther's journey had hardened her and made her more determined.

'Marcassin, I have travelled to the ends of this world and risked my life for the ingredients for this cure, take me to Swaine.' She said, stepping closer to him, like a predator approaching its prey. 'Now!'

Marcassin continued to stand, seemingly unable to speak, shaking his head as tears filled his tired eyes. She shook her head in disbelief.

'No…'

What has Marcassin done? Has he gone mad too?

She flew down the halls of the Porcine Palace as she shouted his name, hoping to hear a reply. Half driven mad herself, she couldn't stop running and calling his name. She ran through every hall opening doors at random until she reached the lowest floor in the dungeons where her cries and sobs echoed on around the cold stone walls. This was the end. She had searched the entire palace.

She was ready to give up when she suddenly noticed two of the royal guards standing in front of a door.

'Swaine…' she breathed.

Without thinking she ran towards it.

'Stop!' commanded the guards with open palms held out towards her. Reaching for her harp she attacked them, knocking them to the ground, momentarily dazing them. The door had a heavy wooden bar across it and a little window with iron bars.

'Swaine!' she cried as she threw aside the heavy wooden bar and tugged at the handle.

It was locked. Seized with panic she hammered at the door with her fists and the heels of her hands.

'Swaine!' she cried as she peered through the window, desperate to see him. 'Swaine! Are you in there?'

The room was bare except a bed which looked like it had been moved to block the door. The mattress had been tossed aside and was half on its side. A wooden chair lay upside down with one of its legs missing. There was a single small barred window near the ceiling. Sat on the exposed slats of the bed frame a figure was huddled with their back to the door covered in a dark hooded cloak. The room smelt dank as if something had died in it.

The figured slowly turned to face the door and what Esther saw chilled her to the bone. Swaine looked more like a rabid animal than a human. His hair and facial hair had grown out of control, covering his face. He was emaciated as if he had not eaten in months, his ribs clearly visible. His sunken eyes were black and dull, the pupils dilated, and apart from the cloak he was completely naked. His entire body covered in purple bruises and scratches.

He slowly rose from the bed and looked at Esther. Suddenly he threw himself at the door. His hands grasped at the bars at the little window, frightening Esther who took a small step backwards.

'Come to laugh, princess?' he snorted exposing his yellowed teeth and blackened gums. 'How do you like me now?'

His tongue licked his lips as his eyes rapidly darted around the room. He shook the door which rattled against the hinges and locks. His ragged fingernails looked as if they were crusted with dried blood.

My god, did he do those scratches to himself?

'I thought I told you to never come back?' he said 'Does no one obey the wishes of Prince Gascon? Lost prince? Heir apparent? EMPEROR TO BE?'

He smiled a terrible evil smile before releasing a series of strange guttural animal-like sounds and that sounded like choked laughter and howling. Saliva dripped from the corners of his mouth he continued to shake the door.

Esther backed further away from the door. Her hand over her mouth in shock as she tried to see something that reminded her of the man she once loved in the face of the creature behind the barred window.

'Let me out… let me come out and play' he hissed, his face pressed up against the bars. 'Come… come here… come to me….'

A skeletal arm reached out through the bars, his long fingers gesturing wildly for her to come closer. He began to laugh again and the strange animalistic noises erupted from throat once more.

'Don't you want to kiss me, Esther?' he whispered 'Let me out… LET ME OUT!'

Esther somehow found herself half-falling and half-sliding down the wall behind her before vomiting. Somewhere, someone was screaming and she was dimly aware of the guards replacing the bar across the door.

Who's screaming? Why won't they stop?

Her mind was filled with endless screaming as she vaguely registered being taken back upstairs. The screaming continued unceasingly as the guards guided her back to Marcassin's chambers where he stood sadly. With a wave of his wand, she felt herself falling.

It was me... she realised. The screaming was me… Swaine is a monster…

Then her world turned black.

Author's note: Happy holidays everyone. My gift to you is this big kick in the feels and a bit of a cliffhanger as I'll be taking a step away from this story for a couple of weeks or so. Don't worry, the fluffy ending is coming! Thank you all for your continued support.