"There's my son!" King Morbucks chuckled, wrapping a strong arm around Brick. The sudden weight causing him to shift in his place before regaining his balance.

The King had always been an affectionate toucher, whether it be rib breaking hugs to bruising clasps on the shoulder. It was something Brick was still getting use to and another 180 change from his life before. His family had always been more scream and fight than touch and feel.

The King squeezed his shoulder, a bright smile on his chubby rose cheeks. "You're a lucky man, Brick. My daughter is one of a kind." His words held so much pride.

Princess was the King's greatest achievement. The King and Queen had tried for many years to conceive a child. For the longest time it looked as if Grilbend would not be receiving an heir this time. Then midday in spring he heard her cries for the first time, and knew she was the most precious and important thing in his life.

"Protect her with every fiber of your being. And give her everything she needs and deserves. You'll never find another girl like her." It was obvious he was having a hard time giving her over to someone, no matter how much he liked Brick.

The King was against the wedding when Princess had first asked. Brick seemed like a nice smart young man, but he was also someone taking Princess away. His people and his land already stole most of his time, and now Brick has come along to take up most of her time.

Brick put on a smile, "Oh I know. I'm a lucky man." He took a long hard swig of ale, trying to make this night go over smoother.

After the wedding ceremony, the King had brought back a few close friends and family for a private dinner within the castle. There was a total of ten of them seated around the table, excluding the wait staff behind them. Not as many prying eyes or piercing whispers as they had during the wedding ceremony.

At the far end of the table across from Brick sat Princess. Still in her wedding gown and flowers still in her hair, the candlelight dancing on her skin from the wall behind her. Her mother seemed to be chewing off her ear while Princess picked at her plate. From the looks of it she was enjoying the dinner as much as Brick was.

A few more glasses of wine in a short stubby man burst into the room. His footsteps were heavy under a long white cloak that was three sizes too big for him. His nose pointed up and crinkled back against his face and his eyes were sunken in past his bushy dark eyebrows. His teeth were sharpened and jagged when he smiled at the king, bowing at his seat.

"Your majesty…" His voice was shaky as if he wasn't sure of what he was saying.

The King turned his attention to the bowing man and let out a cheerful belly laugh. "Ah perfect! Brick meet sir MJ, the royal mage." He gestured to the man with a steaming turkey leg.

Brick averted his eyes from the cloaked man, passing a pea between his fork on his plate.

"We'll don't just squat there my boy! Stand up! Pull up a chair and join us!" The King gestured for one of the servants to pull out a chair for the mage.

"Thank you my lord. And a congratulations to you, sorry I missed the wedding. But I'm sure you and I will be able to get much more... acquainted while we work together." MJ smiled at Brick.

"Looking forward to it…" Brick smirked, stabbing the pea on his fork. "How long have you been the royal mage, MJ?"

"Long enough to know what's right for this Kingdom my boy, and to know how to play my part without question." His threatening tone seemed to slip under the King's nose as his smile still glowed on his face.

Dinner carried on as the King began a stream of hunting stories from when he was a boy until every last dish was taken away and the guests heading to their rooms.

Brick watched as MJ slinked the opposite direction from the rest of the staff and guests. He did a quick shoulder check and dodged through a set of unguarded doors and into a dark hall. Growing up Brick knew very little about MJ and now he felt as if he knew even less. But he was determined to get answers. His eyes still glued to the door as stopped in his tracks.

Princess slide a finger across Bricks back and down his arm, drawing herself closer to him. She grabbed his hand pulling it around her shoulders and snuggled in close to him, urging him to walk towards their room.

"Hey there Handsome… Ready to celebrate our new bondage." She whispered, batting her lashes up at him. Despite the rumors Princess had never pushed for more than a few soft sweet kisses from Brick. Her mother had always spoken how special it was the night of her wedding with the person she loved the most. Princess had always wanted to experience that.

Brick chuckled pulling her in closer. "I have something I must do, but I'll meet you in the room." He nibbled her ear, and spun her away as he walked the opposite way down the hall.

She crossed her arms and pouted, not moving from her spot. Brick winked at her and calmly made his way back down the hall.

Once around the corner he raced down through the doors he last saw MJ disappear behind. He opened up to a long dark hall that looked as if it hadn't been touched in a very long time. What one would assume once was a red carpet was now a rat chewed remnants of fabric. The colour faded behind the dust and dirt that had fallen from the cracked walls around it. Tall fadded paintings of unnamed men and women turned to him as he entered. Smirking at him. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. It felt as if their eyes were on him. Not watching and judging. But waiting for the moment to strike. As if he was a long awaited snack.

Everything seemed to echo back louder, he wouldn't be surprised if MJ had heard the creek of the door or the clap of his boot on the tile. He lifted himself slowly off the floor, and floated through the hall, never letting his guard down. Slowly he made his way up the stairs following the footprints. He stopped in front of two large doors made of cracked and molded wood. Hesitantly he pushed the door open revealing MJ standing in the middle of a large cluttered room.

The walls of the room were lined with towering bookshelves filled with thick heavy novels and random artifacts from around the land. A large round table sat between two large cushioned chairs and was coated in beautifully woven spider webs and dark grey dust. More books and loose papers scattered over the table. In the middle of all the dust and clutter sat a large three eyed ram skull, it's horns dark ,thick and curled lifting the skull slightly off the table. Illuminating the room from above bounced a pale yellow ball of fire inside a dazzling crystal ball. Stubby fingerprints cleared spotted areas around the room from someone long ago.

"You could have told me who you are." Brick grumbled. MJ turned back in his seat meeting eyes with the young man. The thick dark hairs on his back spiking up from the sudden sound.

MJ rolled his eyes at the young man's attitude. "Shouldn't you be in your chambers?" He hissed, settling back down.

Brick shut the door behind him with a loud clasp of a lock. His eyes darted from the golden titled books and misplaced statue on the shelves back to the angry short man seated in front of him, who shrugged the white cloak back over his shoulders.

"Why didn't you tell me who you were." Brick grumbled, flopping down in the chair beside MJ. A large puff of dust sparkled around him from impact.

MJ chuckled to himself. "You think I got you close to the King by being a poor village Baker?" He bared his teeth and snapped his attention to the boy.

"You lied to me. To my brothers. If you were already so close, why did you even need us?" Brick locked eyes with him. He was determined to stand his ground. He stood up from his seat so he loomed over MJ. "I want answers MJ!" He howled slamming his hands down on either arm of his chair, getting in MJs face.

"Sit down. You're not any more intimidating slouched in your seat than you are standing up." He pressed his hand to Bricks forehead pushing him away in disgust and sighed. "Listen. You're my creation. And I would never do anything to jeopardize my creations credibility."

Brick study his face for a moment, looking for the ear twitch MJ succumbed to whenever he lied. But he remained still.

"If you fuck over me or my brother's because you're not telling me something…." Brick growled, his eyes burning bright.

"Don't threaten me boy!" MJ jumped up causing Brick to stumble back. Although Brick was two feet taller than MJ, at this moment he was much smaller.

"Now go back to your room before someone suspects something. You'll ruin everything by throwing your damn tantrums!"

Brick let out a low snarl and curled his fists, pausing for a moment in front of MJ, before aggressively pushing past him and storming out of the room. His heavy boots echoing behind him.

MJ flopped back down into his seat, letting out a heavy breath. With a flick of his wrist and a whisper of an incantation a heavy purple book came flying off the shelf behind him, opening up in front of his face.

"Test subject 309, looked promising at first but has since started acting aggressive. May need to be replaced again. Can't afford to start from scratch, need to start recycling." As he spoke the words appeared on the pages.

Princess wrapped her arms tightly around Brick and gave him a wet kiss. "Can't you reschedule? We only got married yesterday, I want some more time with you…" She pouted, walking her fingers up her husband's chest.

"I'll be back before you know it." He gave her a weak smile and tossed a large bag over the back of his horse. He tightened his boots and glanced around one last time looking for the King. "Although, if your father doesn't show up we may have to reschedule."

Brick wasn't necessarily looking forward to the trip, six hours with the King out in the forest alone asides from Paul the King's personal care giver. It was more of a chance to get away from Princess than anything. She was just as clingy and touchy as the King was, and Brick was looking forward to some fresh air. If everything goes smoothly the King will be quiet and hands off while they're hunting giving Brick a break from everything.

"My apologies…" A soft voice cracked interrupting them.

Brick looked up at the young man standing in front of him. Judging by his wrinkled blue button down and baggy black dress pants Brick knew he worked as one of the King's private staff. The boy was pale with curly hair that stuck to his forehead with sweat and dark circles dragged his eyes down. He was much younger than Brick but those years have not been kind to him.

The boy looked from Brick to Princess. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. A high squeek escaped before he clamped his mouth shut and cleared his throat.

"Well? Spit it out already!" Princess snapped, tapping her foot impatiently. Her eyes burning a hole through the boy.

"Your father.." His voice quivered. "Your father…"

"Yes? What about my father?" Princess snapped. Her agression a mix of worry and impatience.

The boys panicked eyes flickered between the two before he let out a cry. "He asked me not to tell you but I believe you should go see him. He's not looking good, the doctors are unsure what had happened or what to do about it.." The boy bit his lip and avoided Princess's worried expression. The words exploding from his mouth. His shoulders slumped as if those words took all his energy from him.

"What… what do you mean? What's wrong?" Princess couldn't wrap her head around his words. Her father was fine she had seen him just this morning in the hall… Or maybe that was last night. What was the last thing she had said to him? When's the last time she had given him a hug and told him she loved him?

Her knees shook under her weight. She grasped tightly around Brick to keep herself up. Her eyes darted to Brick in hopes he knew more. No not hoping he knew more, but assuming he'd know. Blaming him even before she knew the truth. Or maybe that was his fear of getting caught talking. If she suspected anything this whole thing will come crumbling apart at his feet.

He looked away from her before she could see the truth on his face.

"He's in his room…" The young man whispered. He kept his head down as princess pushed past him, hurrying into the castle.

"Call for the royal mage. He might know something to help." Bricks voice lacked the emotional concern the others had. The young man nodded his head and turned his heels in the dirt to take off in the opposite direction. He ran towards a large glass tower just east of the castle.

Brick let out a heavy sigh pulling the bag off the horse and dropping it to the ground with a hard thud. He knew this moment was coming, MJ just made it happen so much sooner than he thought it would.

Everything seemed to be speeding past him now. Within a blink of an eye he had moved into the castle, married the princess and soon he will be crowned king as theirs begins to drift away. It was a lot on Brick. He has lived with MJ in their small cabin for ages, messing around with his brothers and doing petty crime for MJ on the side. He thought he knew him, thought he knew what their life was. But now after everything he's not sure who MJ is. Or what exactly he's after...

He tensed up from the sudden contact on his shoulder, reaching behind and grabbing whomever it was and flipping them into the dust in front of him. He looked down at the grinning idiot and groaned. Staring back up at him with familiar sparkling dark green eyes and a large goofy smile on his face was his brother Butch.

His endless dark hair was cut to the same length as Bricks and tied in a high ponytail at the top of his head. Small dimples peeked out from his cheeks everytime he showed off his up to no good smile.

His brother gave him a mischievous grin and nodded his head towards the kingdoms gates. "While they take care of this mess you wanna explore the land?" He asked hopefully. He was bored out of his mind and it showed as his eye twitched in anticipation.

Brick rolled his eyes and jerked away from his brother. "I better go be with Princess. It'll look bad on me if I'm not there to say goodbye." He paused for a moment and looked back at his brother. "Did you know who MJ was?"

Butch knitted his eyebrows together in thought and shurgged. "Some village idiot who stumbled across three more village idiots?" He questioned, rolling his head to the side and rubbing his shoulder. "Why? Did you find something out?"

Brick sighed and turned back away. "Anyways… go find something to occupy yourself before you break something out of boredom." He ordered walking the same direction Princess ran off to. "The last thing I need is you destroying my new land."

"You gotta tell me what's going on!" Butch called after him balling his fists. He was growing tired of everyone leaving him in the dark. He never knew about Brick becoming king until MJ announced they'd all be moving into the castle soon, even Boomer knew the plan before he did.

Brick was smarter than him and Boomer wasn't as strong or as smart as either but he was always MJs favorite. Butch was always tossed to the side, last pick for everything and it was getting tiresome.

With a swift kick off Butch launched himself into the air, coating the people around him in dirt and tiny stones. A large cloud of dust followed him in the air as he took off towards the forest once again. Just like him it was left alone from all the chaos around.

He'd been coming back to these woods for the past few days and every day they seemed to look different. The surrounding area was nothing but thick bushes of thorns and never ending trees making it almost impossible for anyone to enter. Even from above the forest had grown into a twist of endless branches and large leaves allowing barely any sunlight inside. The forest always seemed quiet until he truly tried to listen. The birds never seemed to sing but instead scream. From afar he could hear the slight trickle of water but the closer he got the louder it seemed to rush.

It was hiding a secret. A big one. And he wanted a taste of it so badly.

At the edge of it all stood a tall cliff side smooth from the crashing waves against it. Just beyond the wall lies a complex cave system. Somewhere along this wall had to have been an entrance. He'd watch a small group of birds flying into it and disappearing the other night. At first he thought it was from lack of sleep until that morning he saw them fly out of the stone once again.

He floated down the side of the rock, examining the surface. He continued down until he touched the salty ocean water below him. He tensed from the cool water and quickly distanced himself. He was never a fan of water. Rain, baths or even a lake he wanted nothing to do with it. Mainly because it often reminded him about how he couldn't swim.

He continued to examine the ledge until his hand nudged part of the wall down. Taking a deep breath he pushed the stone down revealing the dark musty caves inside. Slowly he made his way in, closing the wall up behind him leaving him emerged in total darkness.

A shiver ran down his spine as he continued through the tunnels. His fingertips traced every bump and wet material scattered over the cavern walls as he blindly walked deeper into the cave.

"You there!" A crackly voice called out to him. "This is my cave! Ya hear me! Mine!"

Butch snapped around scanning for the source of the voice. A dim orange light hidden mostly behind a corner caught his eye.

"Wanna fight for it?" Butch joked, his eyes twinkling.

Silence followed as the light disappeared behind the corner. Being led by his curiosity Butch quickly followed the dim light. Sweeping around corners and ducking through tight passages.

No matter how fast he moved the light was always a few steps ahead of him. For a while he was worried he was being led in a circle, but as he continued on, he didn't recognize any markings or pathways as before.

The light slipped through a crack much too small for Butch to squeeze through. He pressed his face against the cold stone peering into the space he last saw the light.

A pool of glowing purple algae filled the middle of the room, more dripping down from the pointed rocks on the ceiling. Tall and short flowers of all different neon colours grew mixed together in the patches of grass around the pond. A tall three headed white deer grazed from afar, and just beyond that was a blinding light to the exit.

"Fell for the witches tricks?" The same crackly voice chuckled behind him.

Butch turned around to meet an old frail man.

The top of the old man's head nearly reached Butchs chest. His skin was pulled and wrapped tightly around his bones. He wore a pair of baggy worn out coveralls. His nose sat three sizes too big on his face with oozing bumps along it. A few short white hairs poked out from under his straw hat.

The old man squat down in front of Butch, doodling odd shapes in the sand.

"She's the witch of the forest. The reason no one gets in. Or leaves. I've been here forever. Always getting teased by that hopeful light." He pointed a rotting stick towards the small crack.

"Why don't you just leave?" Butch asked, nodding his head towards the way he entered.

The old man cackled, tossing the stick at the wall behind Butch. "Leave? Leave! Ha ha! Funniest joke I've ever heard. You don't leave unless she lets you. You only got in because she wanted you to."

Butch puffed out his chest and jabbed his thumb at himself. "Jokes on her! I happen to be the strongest man alive. She can't keep me trapped her forever."

The old began to laugh so hard nothing but the sound of wheezing air came out. He clutched his stomach and toppled over, tears streaming out of his eyes. "You have no idea who she is. What she's capable of. Doesn't matter if you're the strongest fighter, a bubble of joy and laughter or the smartest leader. You'll rot in here. Because she wants you to."

Butch curled his lip and rolled his eyes. "And who is she exactly?"

"I am Madame Bellum." A looming woman bowed, the leaves the covered her face brushing the top of Mitch's head. "The lady of the land."

The woman stood several feet taller than the two, standing shoulder to shoulder with most of the trees in the surrounding area. At first glance the bush at the top of her head could be mistaken as hair, but with a second glance you can see the fluffed out leaves that takes it place. Rainbow coloured butterflies and ladybugs of all sizes peeked in and out of the bush. Her body was covered in smooth bark, that twisted and knotted with the flow of her form. The pixies that once flew lighting the area around them now laid at her feet, giving off a spotlight glow for her.

Mitched stared in amazement at the towering beauty in front of him. Mitch had lived here most of his life, and never had he seen or even heard of this 'lady of the land'. Nothing in this forest had compared to the beauty and grace this woman displayed. Without a second thought Mitch dropped to one and bowed his head.

Bellum laughed softly cupping Mitch's face in her hands and slowly tilting his head up. "My child, worry not about formalities. Within this land we are all equal." She gestured to the land around.

Until now Mitch hadn't noticed how rich with life the surrounding area truly was. Brightly colored birds flew from tree to tree nestling in with their unhatched eggs. Small gnomes carried pouches of berries and nuts back to their small little homes. Pixies danced wildly in the air, laughing until they fall with one another. A mother deer and her fawn napped lazily under the trees.

Mitch blushed and stood back up dusting off his knees.

"This. This is the reason we train. The reason why we're ready to protect and fight for this land." Buttercup said sternly. "Madame Bellum cannot protect us all forever. And forever is even shorter than before."

Mitch looked back to the Lady of the Land, tilting his head in question.

With a flick of her wrist Bellum created to large road stools behind both Mitch and Buttercup. "Please. Take a seat my children." It was more of an order than a request when she said it.

She fanned her arms out, growing branches and leaves that rapidly changed as she talked, displaying the images of her story.

"Eons ago an old friend came to me. His wits at an end. He had done something no other mortal has done on their own. Created life."

Mitch scuffed. "Creating life isn't exactly all that hard." He interrupted.

Bellum laughed. "You're right my boy. But this child. This child was special. They possessed a unique ability to grow life from their fingertips as well as the ability to transfer one life force to another."

"Life magic is a rare ability to learn on its own, besides it's forbidden almost everywhere. Even here you can't mess with the circle of life." He rolled his eyes in disbelief. "A kid could never learn something so difficult."

A rough vine snaked its way through the grass, winding up the toadstool and wrapped itself around Mitch, making it impossible for him to move or speak.

"My dear boy. Please. Just listen for once in your life." The clear annoyance oozed from her words.

"My friend asked me an impossible task. To take the child's power away. And so I did. And gave it to myself. After the exchange the child grew weak. Too weak to travel back. So I homed the two until she regained her strength. During their stay, my friend had told me of the girl's sisters. The other two had also possessed immense power, too much for him to keep hidden away or teach how to properly control. So he separated them all to trusted hands. Although not all hands could be trusted."

The surrounding area grew dark. Streams of tears raced down the woman's cheeks and the ground shook slightly with ever stiffened breath she took.

"Someone closer to him than I, took his life much too soon. Greedy for the same knowledge as him. The child was to travel back with him. But his home needed him before she could go. He never returned. Worried for my friend I sent one of my own out to seek what had happened. My small flying friends return to me nightly, sharing the information of some strange beings. Beings made in a similar manner as the child. But darker. An unstoppable force is coming. It will come. It will kill thousands of innocent lives. It will rule. All we can do is struggle to survive. Poorly attempt to rebuild unharmed and beg that when death does come. It's merciful ..."

Mitch tore the vine off around his mouth and shot out of his seat. "If you think for a moment that I'm just going to stand to the side and accept what you have to say.."

Buttercup clamped a hand on his shoulder, giving him a comforting squeeze. "We're not going down without a fight Mitch. This is why we fight. Why we train and why we bind our blood to these woods."

Bellum sighed dropping her arms back to her sides and regaining her poser. As she shrugged her shoulders back sun began to peek back through the leaves and the animals crept back out of hiding.

"There's nothing you can do my children."

Mitch shook his head. "You took the girls abilities! Why can't you take the other boys powers?"

"It wasn't as simple as a flick of the wrist or a sweet kiss. The girl and myself are bound for life. Everything I feel she feels and vise versa. The act of taking her abilities almost killed the child, and myself. To do it three times over would be nearly impossible. Besides. There's something much darker invading these boys."

"You said death would come no matter what. Maybe your friend discovered a weakness to the girl. Maybe a weakness we could use to exploit the boys."

Bellum thought for a moment and shrugged, a small smile of hope tugging at her lips.

"Perhaps. If he did. If there's any information on the children he created, It would be somewhere in Grilbend. He was a royal mage there for a very long time."

Buttercup crossed her arms and shook her head. "That's a few days journey. And a dangerous one too. No one here has left this forest for eons. Who knows what the world outside is like. Last time anyone entered or left there was a world burning war."

Mitch snapped his attention back to Buttercup, his face griming. "You're the one who keeps telling me how we fight to protect. If there's anyway to protect our people out there than we have to try."

"Don't argue with me. As your cap…"

"You're one single person, Buttercup. Your word does not get to decide what happens to hundreds of people!" He snapped.

"And neither does yours!" She screamed back, digging her nails into the palm of her hands.

"We're not asking you to choose someone or force someone to travel on their own."

"I won't risk the lives of these people, Mitch! Why can't you just accept that! For once in your miserable life just listen to me!" Her voice quaked and tears threaten to spill.

"Because for once in my life I don't want it to be miserable." He said quietly. "Don't risk just anyone's lives. Let me decide. Let me do it!" He clutched his shirt, refusing to look away from Buttercup. "You trusted me enough to introduce me to Madame Bellum." He gestured to the awkward woman off to the side.

Bellum gave a small wave and turned her attention away from the bickering friends.

"Trust me to do this."

Buttercup bit her lip and shook her head. "No. Not you. You're the second strongest person here. You've known this forest inside and out since you were a child. We can't afford to lose you."

"Buttercup. Please."

"Let me think on it. I'll give you an answer in the morning." She sighed turning back away from him. She rubbed her shoulder and walked back towards the area she last saw her crew. Mitch slowly following behind, giving Madam Bellum one last goodbye.