The chilly night breeze continued to blow on outside, Zack actually shivered slightly and pressed closer onto Melissa to avoid the cold. Somehow despite the horrible situation, the cold winds just don't give a hint on sparing them tonight. Zack tried not to focus on that and he sighed, momentarily taking in the sight of the various flora around them.
At least they're in a beautiful garden. Zack smiled slightly; A garden that's completely heavenly, a garden made from a Goddess and the Guardians. Zack had never thought he'd see the day where he'd actually get the chance to sit and drink tea at such a beautiful place. His parents will be beyond marvelled to hear of this...
"Zack your tea is getting cold. Better drink it up, it's chilly tonight."
The soft, fatherly tone of Balthazar sounded and Zack snapped out of his thoughts. "Sorry, I-I'm on it." He murmured and he brought the cup up to his lips to sip the warm, pistachio green liquid. He winced slightly. He isn't really a drinker of tea not like Milo is, but out of politeness he still took the drink. What kind of person would he be to reject a drink from a Guardian? It'll be far too rude.
He continued to drink the tea until it was half empty, before settling it down to relish the feeling of his stomach having been warmed up with the liquid. Sitting across him, Milo's happily drinking his till it's empty, setting the cup down and burping slightly. He grinned meekly and shrugged. "Oops. Excuse me," He laughed nervously and shrunk in embarrassment. "Pistachio tea makes me full all the time." He flashed a delighted look at Balthazar. "This tastes pretty good by the way! Just like how mom makes it back home!"
At this, Balthazar looked amused and for the first time in a while after finding out Orton's condition, wore a small smile. "Made the tea with only the finest of pistachios and topped it with the greenest leaves. I'm so glad you liked it, my boy." He reached out to stroke Milo's head and the little one squirmed adoringly from the gesture.
Zack chuckled at the sweet moment while Melissa remained silent in her place. "Wow you two look like you've been pretty close for a while," Zack mused and then curiosity filled his mind. "I wonder. What was it like back when Milo was a baby? Could you share a little on that, your Majesty?" The mentioned boy looked surprised at this and he too looked up at Balthazar in curiosity, a little excited at the chance of getting to hear from his early childhood; Melissa remained quiet and staring into the garden.
Balthazar's eyes widened slightly and a look of paternity crossed his face as he sighed wearily. "Oh believe me Zack, I may have only spent one month with my boy but I already had quite a lot of memories with him,"
As he said this, his long sleeved arm casually wrapped around Milo and drew him closer to his side; Milo smiling lovingly in response and cuddling up to his Anacardian father. "Milo was charming, completely filled my entire heart with unimaginable levels of happiness. Right from the moment I brought him to the world with mine and the Queen's power. He was a rather mischievous little one too! Especially during that time when he…"
The eldest Guardian went on retelling his past with Milo to Zack who continued to listen on in awe. Mainly good memories ranging from the day of Milo's birth to the particular fun times where the father and baby would bond together with the rest of the Guardians. They were very happy indeed. Zack's heart crumbled at the thought of how upsetting it must have been for the family, especially Balthazar, to lose Milo… and Melissa.
He frowned slightly at remembering his friend and turned to look at her. With her silence he nearly forgot that she was even present. The girl had been listening, but at the same time, she continued to sit staring out into the garden with her chin under a folded arm on the railing.
Unlike the boys, she has yet to do so much as touch or even stir at her tea and she looked miserable, lonely even. Seeing Balthazar and Milo sharing the brief parent-child moment and reminiscing old times made her heart clench with longing; Not for Richard back at the Mortal World but rather, for Orton. The dying Guardian she had seen moments ago. Her supposed birth father.
She and Orton, they could have been like Milo and Balthazar right now... Right?
For some reason, Melissa just didn't feel that feeling of hatred for her father anymore. In fact, whether he's abandoned her or not, just seeing him in a poisoned, comatose state after saving her life, it made her tenseness towards him evaporate into despair. She couldn't explain why. She sighed quietly and she sunk back into her silence, not acknowledging the three pairs of concerned eyes that were fixated on her.
"Are you okay Melissa?" Zack asked her in a tone of concern. "You've been pretty quiet."
The girl averted her gaze in response. "I'm fine Zack." She said flatly. "Just thinking over things. Nothing to be worried about," Zack didn't buy it. He reached over to touch Melissa's shoulder. "Melissa you've been like this ever since we saw Orton earlier. That and I saw how you were looking at Lord Balthazar and Milo just now,"
The girl stiffened in sensing that Zack had seen through her mask. She gave an annoyed sigh and folded her arms. "Okay fine, maybe I am thinking about him." She looked away. "But it's only because he's sick and I'm worried about him…" Her voice grew low with emptiness at the next words.
Zack felt sorry for her for he knew what she was currently thinking about. Then a part of him started to wonder about Melissa's past in Anacardia. He remembered Balthazar was in the room and he felt the urge to ask him. Maybe he knows a thing or two about how Orton was like with Melissa back when she was a baby.
"Hey, Lord Balthazar?"
The said Guardian looked at Zack as the mention of his name. "Yes, Zack?" The yellow clad Mortal boy looked reluctant for a moment and then he spoke up. "Do you remember any times from when Melissa was a baby?" He ignored Melissa's disturbed look given at his question. "You and Milo sound like you had a blast when he was a baby - I hope you don't mind but I wanna know how Melissa's like with Orton." He shrugged shyly. "That is, if you remember a thing or two."
Balthazar looked wistfully at this and he inhaled slowly. "Why I've never forgotten a single thing from when Melissa was an infant. I remember it all so clearly." He smiled sadly at the said girl who looked at him in surprise. The boys too were filled with curiosity and the trio had their ears and eyes open for Balthazar. Including Melissa, whose eyes were filled with absolute wonder. He knows her past.
"… Could you tell us more? Uncle Balthazar? I'd like to know more about Lord Orton too… And about our past together." Melissa asked much to the boys' surprise; They never thought she'd ask that herself. Balthazar too looked slightly astonished at this but then he melted into a sad yet loving smile. "Well I definitely have a lot of memories of you and Orton together. I don't quite know where to begin."
He put a hand to his chin in thought and he grinned in remembering something fond. "Hmm let's see now. It all started from the moment you were born from the Golden Pistachio. You were just the cutest and most beautiful baby we've ever seen! Orton had loved you so much that he practically refused to let me or the others have a turn in holding you until the next day. Why, even I have never been that paternally protective with Milo when he was born," He snorted in amusement and folded his arms.
"Little brothers can be a tad selfish. I actually preferred Vinnie over him when it came to his sharing things, even if it's with my baby niece." Balthazar smiled at the kids looks of awe. "But really, that is just how much fatherhood can affect someone. And it's a good thing Orton is so protective of Melissa too! Thanks to him, she hardly gets into any grave danger as long as her father is around her…" His expression slowly turned into sadness. "Until that one awful night."
At this, Melissa felt a switch click in her head. "The night when he threw me away to the Mortal World…" She slowly said in realization. She had expected the same hostility she had for Orton to sink in once again for his abandoning her. But it never came. For some reason she suddenly found it a bit off believing in such a thing. Why did he even do that? She knew there was claws that seemingly attack them in her brief flashbacks. Why?
The green clad Guardian gazed at his niece with incoming heartbreak and he had recalled that cover-up story he and the others were given when Orton came home roughed up without Melissa. He said he had been attacked by Shadow falcons. But now, Balthazar knew that is a fabricated story to cover up the even graver one. In fact, what really happened to Orton, is the exact same thing that happened to him and Milo thirteen years ago. He should have known this a long time ago and not now, when Orton is already on his deathbed...
"Uncle Balthazar,"
Melissa's pleading tone snapped Balthazar out of his pit of remorse and he met the moist, blue pools of his niece. "Uncle Balthazar, do you know why?... Why he threw me away into the Mortal World? I don't understand." Her shaky voice broke Balthazar's heart. "You said that Orton loved me from when I was born. And that he's always protecting me. But yet he got rid of me..."
She stopped and her eyes grew wide as she remembered her flashback, her voice growing to a hushed whisper. "I still remembered when he did that. I couldn't get it out of my head." Balthazar's brows rose in curiosity and he sat up. "You remember about that night?" His voice was concerned and he reached out to stroke Melissa's shoulder.
The girl nodded weakly. "I don't think it's the full thing taking place but... I think I still remember some of it. There were dark colored claws and there were those monsters chasing us through the rain. I don't know what's going on but it was really scary. There was lightning and everything.. And there was Orton."
Balthazar stiffened at the mention of his brother's name and he listened on as Melissa continued. "I remember seeing him. He was right there. Or at least I think that was him." She breathed shakily at the next part. "I was crying during that flashback and Orton.. At first he was holding me while running in that rain. He stopped and be was trying to comfort me. He also sang to me, and then... I couldn't remember what happened next, but that's the last I saw of him as far as I know."
The Guardian and Melissa's male friends sat in disturbed silence as they let her horrible flashback sink in. But out of the three, it was Balthazar and Milo who were the most shaken as Melissa's description of her past memory had closely resembled a certain point in their own lives.
Milo whimpered in fear and clung to his 'Papa' in his faint recalling while Balthazar desperately tried to shut away the memory back in its vault. But at a time like this, it is hard not to. Because now thanks to Melissa's explanation, his once plausible theory on how his niece was lost is affirmed to be true. No evidence needed.
With a ragged breath, Balthazar slowly shifted his chair so he's closer to Melissa and he gently pulled her into a one-sided hug. "So you remember some of it after all those years." Balthazar murmured. "I'm so sorry it had to happen to you at an age so young." His arctic eyes bore into Melissa's. "But you must understand, Melissa. Orton never meant to throw you away. He was only trying to protect you - He loves you so much, he'd never ever want you to get hurt."
Melissa averted his gaze. "And what makes you so sure about that?" She muttered. "You weren't even there when it happened."
The Guardian sighed. "That's true. I wasn't there physically." He wrapped an arm around Milo and pulled him close. "But as someone who's experienced a similar thing as the two of you, I don't need a vision of my brother getting chased by the creepers myself to know what happened. I swear by the queen, I already know and I already went through the same thing that happened to your father."
Melissa's heart swelled with dread-filled curiosity at this. Before she knew, she had lost control of her mouth and she found herself asking her uncle for more details. She had to know more. The full story. Please tell me. Her eyes said it all as they fixated on the Guardian.
It was after a moment's hesitation from the elder when she had her wish finally granted. Balthazar began to tell her the story and Melissa listened. But as he progressed, Melissa started remembering a similar yet different event altogether. Her eyes were glistening with moisture as she was plunged down in the vertex of thirteen-year old memory...
"There's no use escaping Mahlson!"
"You can't run forever!"
"I can't wait to see the look on King Block's face when we bring him the Sixth Guardian!"
The mocking voices of the creepers sounded amidst the intense rain and rustling of trees and shrubs, sending endless waves of panic through Orton as he quickened his pace. He's not going to let them catch him - Not when he's with a precious bundle on him. He hissed from the raindrops stinging his eyes but he kept running.
The dark night, cold wind and harsh rain combined completely drenched Orton from head to toe; But there was only one thing that was left dry of him and it laid clutching to his robes under Orton's large sleeves. His arms instinctively shifted to protect the treasured possession from the rain.
But unknown to him, a little face had been exposed through a small gap and it was exposed to the harsh weather. The baby girl squeaked out at the icy sensation of raindrops and it made Orton glance down at her in horror. The baby began to cry, but the man couldn't slow down right now."
Hush Melissa!" He frantically pleaded in attempt to soothe the upset infant only for another clash of lightning to crush their eardrums. The Creepers continued to cackle despite the storm and this made Orton cringe in disgust. Wherever did Block get such fiercely loyal beasts like these? These creepers just couldn't be hindered. Whoever brought these things about is a complete nutcase.
The Guardian growled and he kept running; Swiftly dodging and going through overhanging tree branches that blocked the way and he heard the branches snap back and hit the creepers, causing them to hiss in frustration as they tried to push and shove their way through the leafy blockage. Anger and frustration building up, the monsters roared and they tore at the branches with their sharp, poison dripping claws.
With the few grace seconds he's been given, Orton had managed to get farther until to his dismay, he was just meters away from the great and long border of green, a wall that separates the Anacardian realm and the Mortal World; It is the Hedge, where no Anacardian or local race has gone through in years.
The Time Guardian felt his heart sink with utter back would be far too risky, and Orton is too is getting completely strained of energy. His legs hurt from running. His body still ached from using flight.
The victorious shrieks from his pursuers rang from behind and Orton stiffened at seeing the dark creatures running right for him. His heart raced wildly in his chest and he immediately looked at the small bundle in his arms. What will become of his daughter if they catch her?
He didn't want to know. And he needs to keep his baby safe from that. Shifting the baby to his other arm, an amber glow ignited from Orton's hand as he started to create a cushioned, pistachio shell half large enough to contain a baby. He just couldn't bear to have his daughter suffer at the hands of his friend-turned-enemy.
He reluctantly placed Melissa in the shell.
At this, the baby started to cry and reach out for her father, just when he was about to create the upper half of the shell to cover her. Orton quickly shushed her and his wet but warm hand stroked Melissa's cheek as he softly smiled down at the little thing. The baby squeaked and giggled at the man towering her.
"Daddy!" She called out. Her little arms reached out for him and Orton gasped, tears forming at his eyes and he trembled, his hand flying to his mouth.
He continued to softly gaze at Melissa with sincere love inbetween tears, he momentarily forgot the rain that pattered on. "You don't deserve this happening to you one bit, my little flower…" He forced a sad smile on his face and he sniffled. "I... I understand, if you won't forgive me for this for the years to come. But at least, I hope you try to remember. Remember that daddy loves you... And he will always protect you."
Melissa looked at her father with confusion, her soft blue eyes bore into Orton's gray ones. Before she could make a sound, the man started to brush her cheek with his thumb and he began to sing to her in a hushed whisper.
The little girl shifted about in the shell, comfortable and content with her father's lullaby. Orton lowered himself more so he could plant a small kiss on his daughter's forehead for the last time, before he raised back up and swept over her with a hand; Creating the upper half of the shell.
Realizing that it's suddenly grown darker, Melissa looked up to find her father gone. Instead, all she saw was a beige ceiling. From beyond that hard cover, Orton was silently weeping with his hand resting over the shell containing his little girl. He didn't want to do this one bit. But he had to. He had to send her away to safety in the Mortal World where she wouldn't have to worry about any Shadows or allied monsters trying to take her away. There, she will be a lot safer.
The little girl continued to shift and cry, but Orton was already on his feet and charging an amber colored beam in his outstretched hand, aiming for Melissa's direction. The beam had managed to shoot out of Orton's hand and collide into the shell containing Melissa, sending her rocketing through the leafy barrier.
The last thing the baby had ever seen and heard from her father is blood spraying out and it was followed by a pain filled shriek; Her former pursuers gave out their own too not long after. For they were being burnt to dust by the Hedge's magic. The baby Melissa never saw them or her birth father again for the next thirteen years to come...
Melissa continued to sit in rigid silence as she inhaled and exhaled slowly but shakily. In her brief period of being frozen in time, she had started to remember everything. She remembered Orton shielding her from the rain. His act of putting her in the cradle. His gentle whispers and hushed singing. And... There was his scream of pain from when one of the creepers clawed him hard.
Every single detail of her time with Orton, Melissa remembered it all. The devotion in his eyes, the endless protection he'd provide. The warmth of his arms and the endless love and care that Orton as a father could provide. He had given her everything, and he still continued to give that until now; In the form of pushing her away and taking the blow of Block's poisonous razors. Twice.
"He didn't abandon me..." Something in Melissa started to swell. "He didn't throw me away in purpose, he was trying to protect me!" An internal bubble had burst at that exclamation and great remorse coursed through Melissa like a wave crashing a sandcastle. The tears started to stream down the sides of her face and Melissa broke down in anguished sobs.
His instinct to comfort his niece taking over, Balthazar carefully pulled the upset girl close to him and he let the girl cry into his chest. Not one ounce of her sheer remorse and heartbreak was missed by Balthazar's heart and he is crumbling inside. He didn't know her full story, but seeing Melissa crying like this for Orton already tore him enough.
Zack and Milo too weren't spared from the emotion but Milo, who had already been crying from hearing his father's story, did not hesitate to let his feelings show and he was hugging Melissa from the side; All the while trying to comfort her with consoling words. As they did that, their remaining friend stood watching in saddened silence.
His Anacardian friends certainly had a lot to go through from their youth and finding that out had really filled Zack with astonishment. Now he knew the real reason behind his friends' ending up in the Mortal World and he couldn't feel more sad for them and the Guardians; Especially Melissa.
His heart now filled with dread as he remembered Orton. While it's a good thing Melissa's no longer thinking negatively of him, her father is still comatose after being poisoned. What will happen to Melissa if he dies?
Zack gasped at this and he shook his head firmly, disgusted at himself for thinking such a thing. Of course he's going to live. He loves Melissa too much to just leave her! He tried to assure himself and he sighed, wearily watching the Anacardian family grieve before him. It took a while, but eventually, Melissa had reduced to hiccup-like sobs and she and Balthazar had managed to stand up.
The elder continued to rub the girl's back as she pressed on against his waist, silently crying still. "Your father is a strong man.. As long as you are for him, he will pull through…" Balthazar internally choked at this but he bit his tongue back from saying any counters. He had to be strong for his niece, for the family's sake. The muffled voice of Melissa entered his ears and he listened on to what she had to say. His heart sank with reminded pain but he managed to give Melissa a nod. Then he began to reach out to the boys.
"I'm going to take Melissa to see her father," The Guardian quietly said. "She might take a while, so I suggest you two go to bed first," The boys gave nods of understanding and Balthazar wore a small smile. His eyes then settled on Milo who whimpered quietly as Balthazar tenderly wiped the dampness out of his cheeks.
After that, the elder knelt down to Milo's level and the two touched foreheads. "You will never be torn away from me again, Milo." Whispered the Guardian. "I love you so much.. Thank you for understanding your Papa, for everything."
Milo didn't say anything. Instead, he reached out to hold Balthazar's hand to his cheek with a loving gaze and the two hugged each other once again; Before they parted ways. Soon, both Guardian uncle and niece are on their way to Orton's room while Zack and Milo headed for Vinnie's, hoping they could at least catch some sleep as Balthazar had instructed…
Unfortunately at times like this, going to sleep is easier said than done.
Zack continued to sit on the comfy chair in Vinnie's room with his arms folded while Milo was on the bed. His knees drawn up and below his chin and his arms holding them as he rocked back and forth. The poor boy couldn't stop crying after earlier though this time, he was doing it in the form of silent tears.
The sight alone made Zack want to shed a few tears as well - Although his are more controlled and they only came out brimming at his eyes before he would hastily blink and rub them away. He breathed slowly in gaining composure, his soft dark eyes settling on Milo.
"You must be pretty close to the Guardians in your early life, huh?" He complimented, causing Milo to look at him in little confusion. "Lord Balthazar's made it very clear that he loves you as his son. That and you kinda started crying after overhearing Lord Orton's condition,"
Milo averted his gaze and shrugged. "Well I did have a couple good memories of my time with him as a baby. Now that I think about it, uncle Orton's pretty nice. He's shown me a lot of cool stuff and even treats me well like Papa did." He reached up to rub his head. "And also, to be honest, I kinda remembered some bad memories with my dad as well upon hearing my uncle's condition."
"Memories with Lord Balthazar?" Zack piped up with a risen brow.
Milo's eyes grew wide and he shook his head quickly. "Oh no, not Papa! I mean, my other dad, Martin Murphy. The one who took me in with mom and my sister Sara when I was a baby." His voice grew softer with the sensation of missing someone. Zack was immediately drawn in by the name and he went closer to Milo.
"I think mom's told me about Martin once." Zack tilted his head as he spoke. "He's the one with the severe illness in his lungs, right? The former village safety inspector of Swamp Hamlet?"
Milo nodded affirmatively and he looked sad. "He was the greatest dad yet. He often looked out for me whenever he could, even though he's really sick." The younger boy felt the wet nose of Diogee gently nuzzling him and he pulled the dog close, resting his cheek against the cream fur with brown eyes full of memory. "I couldn't forget that day when he came back with his sickness grown worser. I was so young, dad was dying, and the Healers couldn't do anything to help him. Even the Hiranos can't help him with the surgery they did…"
He screwed his eyes tightly and Diogee whimpered and licked his owner's cheek; Zack kept rubbing Milo's back in consolation as he continued. "It was terrible Zack.. Dad looked so thin. And when I was allowed to see him, he was already telling me to do good and that he'll always be with me even if I can't see him and all that stuff,"
He inhaled deeply and then he melted into a relieved smile. "But at least he got better in the end. But on the bright side, he's a lot stronger now than he was when I was a kid and we spent so much time together after he got better. Dad was just like he used to be - You should have seen how good he plays during the kickball games!"
At this, both boys were smiling for the first time in their period of grief. Zack especially was happy at the fact that Milo didn't have to lose his adoptive Mortal father to sickness. And speaking of sickness… Something suddenly popped up in Zack's mind and he looked at Milo in wonder. "You said that your dad got better," Milo nodded in reply. "How did that happen?" The boy blinked in surprise at Zack's question, and then he gasped in seeing where Zack was heading for.
"I used my magic on him," Milo whispered as he looked down at his hands. "I didn't know I had this ability until I met Melissa and I was able to heal a cut on her hand along with a scrape on my leg. And I didn't even realize what was happening when dad held me on his chest as a kid. I just started glowing in this pink light and after that, dad just started breathing again," His brown eyes filled with nostalgia. "He was okay and back on his feet. And all because I healed him..."
His voice drawled at the end of that sentence until for a brief moment, he and Zack were staring at each other with looks of realization.
"That's it..." Zack muttered in feeling something come to mind. Milo let out a 'huh?' and was about to question Zack. But before he knew, his friendsuddenly grinned and he stood up, snapping his fingers as he did. "Why didn't we think of this before?! Lord Orton can be saved after all!"
Milo looked shocked. "He can?" He scratched his head. "But how? You heard what that winged man said earlier. Uncle Orton's poison is incurable..." He pointed out the last sentence in a quiet tone.
Zack frowned at this but he wasn't quite finished yet. "Well he's right over there, Milo. They can't cure Lord Orton," His dark eyes filled with hope and he smiled at Milo. "But they didn't know about your healing ability right? If they weren't able to cure him themselves, then maybe you can! You can save Lord Orton with your magic!"
Milo blinked in surprise as he let the words sink in. Part of him felt that Zack is right in a way. He's used his magic to save and repair many lives and plenty of destruction. Maybe he can help his uncle. He frowned and another throught charged this down and Milo suddenly felt a twinge of doubt upon realizing one detail. Orton is an Anacardian Guardian, a very different person from the Mortals he's used to heal.
"I don't know if I can do this Zack," Milo murmured and he pulled Diogee closer. Zack's face fell and he looked at Milo in concern. "Uncle Orton's illness isn't like my dad's or the ones of other people I've healed... What if my magic's too weak and I can't save him? This is one of the great Guardians I'm about to use my magic on, Zack! We don't know what will happen," The boy averted his gaze and Zack looked saddened.
"Okay, so neither of us are sure that this is genuinely going to work," Zack's expression faltered a bit at this and then it grew determined. He placed a hand on Milo's shoulder. "But isn't it a good thing that we aren't? We don't know if the results will be bad, but we also don't know if the results will be good! Either one of them could happen but we don't know exactly which!"
His dark eyes locked with Milo's and his expression softened. "Lord Orton is dying in that room as we speak and he really needs your help. And you saw how upset Melissa is while she's crying for him earlier." His hands gently held Milo's. "So you have to try. Try to help your uncle, Milo. Do it for Melissa, the Guardians and ourselves,"
Zack's encouraging words worked in igniting a flame in Milo's heart and that flame grew bigger as it represented the growing desire to heal his uncle. "I'm not gonna let Orton die while Melissa's around," Milo sounded firm and determined.
Zack felt his heart swell with gladness for he had managed to talk Milo through. "That's the spirit buddy," Milo smiled hopefully and Zack glanced at the door, frowning. "But I think we're gonna have to wait till Melissa comes back or something,"
The two stared at the door and Milo managed to catch what Zack meant. If he was going to heal his uncle, he's going to have to wait until Orton's room is unguarded and until Melissa is back here with them. Hopefully it wouldn't take much longer. The boys sat in overwhelmed silence as they waited for the good time to carry out their plan.