Chapter Forty

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to

Nintendo and their affiliates. I just am really grateful to its creators for giving

me such a wonderful game and media series to write about!

I also don't own anything related to Harry Potter, all that belongs to J.K. Rowling,

but thanks go to her as well because, using her wonderful work, I can expand this

story to make it more interesting.

I also don't own anything related to Naruto if you see me throw a little of that, too

Iggy knew he could be kind of weird sometimes. His brothers, especially Roy, had told him so on many occasions and even though she never said it, the looks his big sister gave him told him as much, too. Staring at his unconscious mother, studying her every feature, that probably counted as weird but he couldn't help it. He'd never seen her before and he didn't know how long she'd be in his life; he wanted to remember her forever. That's why he was trying to commit to memory her black brows, wild inky hair, and porcelain skin. She was sick, that much was obvious in more sense than one. Not even his biased mind could deny that. He knew in his heart that she was the most beautiful perfect wonderful mother in the world, but his meticulous eyes picked up on how skinny she was and how her hair was waxy and lifeless and her skin was much too sallow to be healthy. He frowned.

Sitting on the bed, he was cleaning his cloak. It was absolutely filthy by his standards but, with his magic, he got it back to its shimmering white glory. Carefully he folded it so that the green jewel clasp gleamed up at him and set the garment in his lap. Then he turned back to his mother. She was stirring.

He leaned over her eagerly, his hair brushing his cheeks, and patted hers gently. He was saddened when he could feel her bones through thin skin.

"Mom?" He whispered, not wanting to startle her.

She had long lashes, long black lashes that slowly unveiled the bold sight of her viridian eyes. She locked gazes with Iggy and her eyes widened in surprise, then she smiled grandly.

Iggy scooted back so that she had some room to sit up and she did so with great effort, but also with that big smile.

Iggy smiled, too, but had to ask, "What happened? You passed out."

"Oh, I'm fine." She assured him, hands supporting her weight behind her. "I can't ever know when they'll happen, these naps. They just sneak up on me."

Iggy stood when he saw his mother trying to do the same and helped her to her feet. He threw his cloak over his shoulder and was more cautious in doing the same with her arm. He was almost as tall as her, so he was able to help her find her footing as she slid off the bed.

"Where are we going?" Iggy asked her.

She said obviously, "To the kitchen: you must be hungry. I know I am."

Iggy grimaced but helped his mom walk down to the second floor nonetheless. She walked like a reed in the wind, wavering on her feet like she was intoxicated. He worriedly steadied her as they made their way down the stairs.

"Wait," She said, stopping at the top of them. "We've got to cut the lights on. Can't see a thing, otherwise."

Iggy watched her reach over with her long arm and flip a switch, making the hall light up. He felt foolish for wandering in the dark. Common sense said he should look for a light switch.

But there's usually no electricity in this world, he remembered. The only place he knew of that had it was the bunker Ludwig housed them in.

The fourth floor didn't really need light, what with the windows, but the other floors needed it. Iggy's mom illuminated each floor, revealing just how nasty and neglected the castle really was. There were also more piranha plants on the second floor, just silently sitting in the corners. Both walls of the hall were covered in contiguous vines, though the greenery was dried out and crumbling. He had to step over all those liquids and squishy substances he'd blindly walked in earlier as he and his mom went into the kitchen. As soon as her piano fingers flipped on the light, the rats scurried into hiding places and the plant near the door bowed and hissed as if in pain. Iggy frowned and scooted the plant's pot over to a corner where it was a bit darker, mostly to get the thing out of the way as his tall mother strode more confidently into the kitchen.

"Have a seat!" She told him, pulling a stool from somewhere and dusting it off with her bony hand.

Iggy muttered a quick cleaning spell over the wooden seat and sat atop it, resting his feet on the bars between the chair legs. He watched as his mother beamed at him and then went about waltzing to and fro, busying herself. She grabbed a dirty frying pan from the sink and then rushed over to the cupboard, her greasy curls flying. She took a carton of eggs that were bigger than his fist and most definitely spoiled and brought it and the pan over to the cluttered stove top.

"Um," Iggy spoke unsurely, frowning at his mom's erratic behavior.

She started the stove and put the frying pan on the first burner, cracking one of the enormous eggs. Its purple contents oozed from the green shell and Iggy felt his stomach turn.

No wonder my mom looks so skinny; if this is how she's been eating, it's a wonder she isn't dead by now, he assessed grimly.

"You must have gotten my letters," His mother said brightly, smiling at him over her shoulder. "You brilliant boy, you got them, didn't you?"

Iggy dug into the pocket of his pants and pulled said letters out. He looked over them again, wondering if he'd missed something, then glanced up at his mom.

"There's nothing on them." He said slowly. "They were just blank pieces of paper."

He held them up for her to see and she looked at them with big, owlish eyes. Then she smiled and shook her head.

"I had it all up here," She pointed the wooden spatula she was using to stir the goopy eggs up to her head, making Iggy wince at the unsanitary action. With a shrug she brought the spoon back to the pan and said, "I guess I forgot to move it from my head to the paper."

"…That happens." Iggy tried not to gag, opting to instead get to the bottom of what was going on.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" His mother stirred the 'food' obliviously.

Iggy asked, "What are you doing here alone in this castle?"

"You've got so many questions!" His mother declared.

She dropped the spoon in the pot and strode over to him. She was so tall and thin and waifish and her gown trailed around her ankles. It was stiff and starchy with a lacy, fancy high collar tucked right under her chin. She looked like a ghost and moved like one, too. She came over to her son with a large smile and took his face in her hands. Her hands were freezing cold and Iggy was torn between disgust at someone touching him, touching his face, and warmth at being embraced by his estranged but beloved mother. He smiled difficultly.

"What a wonderful, handsome little man." She praised, kissing his forehead.

She released him and said in a happy, off-handed way, "I'm so glad you didn't turn out looking like that beast-king. I didn't want to bring a monster into this world." Turning her head and gaze she added thoughtfully, "Though it's not as if I had a choice."

Iggy was intrigued. He took his mother's hands as she bent over him and urged her to focus on him.

"Can you tell me what happened to you?" He asked, then clarified, "Where did you come from? And how did you get mixed up with my father?"

His mother stood and held her fists to her hips, making a very concentrated face. Iggy was just thinking of asking her name when she spoke again.

"I was doing research in DarkLand a very long time ago." She stated, smiling fondly. "I love to research things. Scientifical things."

Iggy's heart fluttered excitedly at this, even though his analytical mind pointed out that 'scientifical' wasn't really a word.

"Some scientists tricked me." His mother pouted at the memory. "They told me they admired my work and wanted my help in some project but they were really working for the beast king. They kidnapped me and brought me here, to his Neon castle."

Iggy watched his mother start tugging at her hair, her countenance becoming frenetic and distressed. She glanced at him with a helpless look that made him feel sad inside.

"They locked me up with the other ones and they…" She beat her clenched hand against her stomach and said, "They took something from me. Something important."

Iggy nodded, understanding what she was referring to. The other scientist, or quack, Dr. Sanus had filled him in on that part.

"They kept us in that hole for a long time." She recounted, wiping her hands on the skirt of her gown over and over. "But then the other ones started disappearing and I knew he was killing them. So I came up with a plan to get away."

"What did you do?" Iggy asked, his heart racing even though he knew she survived the situation.

His mother closed her eyes and said, "I forget. It's all jammed up in there," She pointed to her head, then started knocking her palms against both sides of it. She frowned and said, "I know the answers are in here, I just can't find them."

Iggy hopped off his stool and said, "I can help you. Here, let me see."

He didn't think twice about it, he just came over to his obliging mother and led her by the hand to his seat. After he'd ushered her to a sitting position, he put his fingertips on her temples and sent magical vectors into her mind. He'd gotten good at scouring his own mind but he'd never tried this on anyone else. He was sure to be gentle.

"Tell me if it hurts," He warned his mother.

She smiled at him benignly and her eyes fluttered shut. For a second Iggy feared she was about to pass out again, but she remained upright, breathing calmly and seeming at ease. Iggy proceeded to close his eyes as well and use his mind's eye to see into her memories. They overwhelmed him.

He saw her in her youth, hair much long and bouncier and her beauty much more evident as she was in full health. She had many memories of herself and someone named 'Trillian', another female who Iggy had the distinct impression was her best friend or cousin or both. He saw her crying by a lake, saw her lying in bed sick at age four while her parents argued over who was to blame.

My grandparents, Iggy thought, trying to get a good glimpse at the pair. But his attention was jerked somewhere else.

His mother was older. Her name was Ava. She was holed up in a building filled from floor to ceiling with equipment and files and substances in boxes and jars. He felt that excitement rise when he saw her toiling away at countless experiments, he shared in her happiness as he pored over memories of her successes and failures. She practically lived at this lab, judging by the plethora of events that centered around the area.

Finally Iggy came upon the memories regarding his father. His mother was right, a group of scientists had approached her and kidnapped her, but what she left out were the ugly details of her captivity. The process of his actual 'birth' were muddled, although he got the feeling the, er, 'extraction' process was a painless one. However, her subsequent stay in the dungeons of the neon castle were downright horrific. No wonder she couldn't tell Iggy about what happened. Her mind had the entire experience blocked out from the majority of her conscious and subconscious mind. Abruptly Iggy withdrew his hands and stood quickly, trembling.

"He…tortured you…" Iggy whispered, his voice softened by grief and shock. Tears sprang to his eyes because her screams wouldn't leave his ears.

His mother opened her eyes and stared distantly beyond him. She was unresponsive. Iggy molded his palm against her cheek and she stared at him, not seeing him. A contrary tear slipped from her right eye and landed on his index fingernail. She smiled a haunting, serene smile and Iggy swallowed hard. He wished he hadn't seen that, but now that he had a fiery loathing for his father expounded within him. But then he felt a swell of pride for his mother. She'd survived, she'd escaped.

"How did you get out of there?" He asked her.

"Hm?" His mother hummed blithely.

He asked, "How did you get away from the dungeons?"

She gazed at him and said, "I forget."

He wasn't brave enough to make another foray into the depths of her mind. Not right now.

So he let that matter be and asked, "Is that why you were at the sanitarium? You were hiding?"

His mother nodded and said, "I was waiting."

"For what?"

"For the fire to come."

"I don't understand."

She pointed a finger behind him and Iggy started to cough. There were little plumes of black smoke coming from the frying pan as it and the wooden spoon were being overtaken by flames. He grabbed a soiled cloth from the sink and hurriedly dropped the pan into the tepid dishwater. Steam rose and Iggy stepped back, muttering another cleaning spell for the hand he'd touched the cloth with. He was so glad he learned that one, he never knew it'd come in handy this much.

"Oh don't do that!" His mother squawked. "That was your breakfast!"

"I'm not hungry," Iggy dismissed, turning around. "What did you mean when you said you were waiting for the fire to come?"

"The eruption." She explained simply. "From the volcano. It was due to happen in a few years."

"You stayed at the sanitarium for years?" Iggy frowned.

"I think so." She said nonchalantly. "I came here after everyone had gone and I waited for you. You're so clever, I knew you'd be clever. You found me like I knew you would."

She didn't know that, Iggy thought, she couldn't have known that. How could she have? I've never met her. For all she knew, I could have died. Would she have stayed here, waiting for me until she expired, too?

Iggy shuddered and focused on the now. He was grateful to have found his mother and came over to her. Laying his hands on her frail shoulders, he looked her in the eye.

"We've got to go now," he told her.

"Go?" She blinked, "Go where?"

"I don't know." The teenager honestly replied. "We'll find a nice place and make a home there. You and me."

His mother shook her head more wildly with each word. She insisted, "We can't go. We have to stay here."

"We can't stay here." Iggy protested. "This place is a dump. And it's not safe here."

"You've got it backwards," His mother smiled, "It's not safe out there. The beast king is out there."

"He's not gonna' hurt us." Iggy promised, his voice hardening. He rubbed his mom's shoulders and said, "I'll protect us. I've got magic, see?"

He brought his hands in front of her face and lit small green fires, making his mother's eyes go wide as she shrieked and fell of her stool. She crawled backwards on her hands even after Iggy put out the fires and stared at her son, terrified.

"I'm sorry!" Iggy cried, "I didn't mean to scare you!"

"You've got the fire in your hands!" She accused, "Just like your father! Just like the beast king!"

"No," Iggy denied. "I'm not like him, I swear!" He stepped over to her and tried to help her up, saying, "come on. Let's just—"

"Let go of me!" She screamed.

She clambered to her feet with the most dexterity he'd seen of her that day and fled from the kitchen. Iggy took chase but only got as far as the upstairs bedroom before she slammed the door in his face and yelled at him to go away.

It was a good thing he knew how to heal himself, otherwise his jaw would have never stopped hurting. While glaring ahead he rotated it, feeling no pain. He was still mad, though. He'd gotten into a fight in town earlier. No one knew because he didn't bother telling anyone. What for? He could fight his own battles, and well, too. He did the other guy worse than just a sore jaw. There was blood on his knuckles when he was through. He couldn't help it. The guy had it out for him, whoever he was. He had no clue who the guy was, but everyone knew him. He was Arid City's Champion. The only reason he could think of why the guy would lure him to an alley and round on him, talking some nonsense about a 'Jack' is that he must've been a slaver. They gave themselves away with the dirty looks they shot at him, glowering when everyone else in town smiled jubilantly at the young celebrity. He frowned, rubbing his chin.

Ever since he'd come back from King Boo's estate, the slavers had been singling him out. He supposed the smart thing to do would be to stay in the palace. That's what Eriana and Ariadne would tell him to do. But his pride wouldn't allow that. Still, these attacks were getting annoying.

Part of him wished he could've gone with MJ and Larry. He wanted to get away from all this and just chill. He wished he hadn't taken the solace of the bunker for granted. Even being in the palace with his overbearing older brother was better than this, being in a kingdom where he couldn't even walk around and clear his head without getting decked in the jaw.

I could still leave, he thought, only half-serious. He'd considered it, yes, and he'd even worked in taking Eriana with him. He figured Ariadne would be fine with her uncle looking after her. So why didn't he just go already?

He let go of his chin and let his left hand join his right as it dragged the ground on the other side of the bench. He was lying horizontally with his head in Eriana's lap and his legs straddling the stone seat. He shut his eyes and felt the girl's warm fingers running through his hair. He zoned out to that feeling, closing his eyes and concentrating on nothing. Thinking wore him out.

She was thinking, too, but on a different matter. She knew what was going on, probably knew more than the young man below her. She didn't know where he went when he disappeared from the palace, sometimes in a huff, but she knew it had something to do with the slavers.

They're after him, I know it, she thought, her fingers buried in Roy's pink locks. With her other hand she stroked his cheek and strong jaw, sighing.

I should never have opened my mouth, she lamented. This mess is all my fault.

She frowned and traced over his scowling mouth and over the bridge of his nose, then smoothed out his mauve brows with her thumbs. She leaned down and kissed the space in between them and Roy didn't even bat an eye. He was used to her behavior by now.

Oh Rex, she thought bitterly, massaging his temples until his features relaxed. She thought, he's so brave and tough, but he has no idea who he's dealing with. These slavers will destroy him if he keeps fighting them. And once they do I'll be alone again.

To the left of them Ariadne sat with her knees facing their bench. She had a book in her lap but hadn't looked at it in several minutes, not since Roy and Eriana arrived. She was in the garden first, and then they came to keep her company. She stared at the other girl and felt a harmless envy tug at her heart. She adored Eriana but at the same time longed to be like her, to be as close as they were.

I'm just glad we're friends, Ariadne smiled wistfully down at her book.

She noticed the teal of Eriana's midriff-baring top matched the teal of her necklace, the same one Roy gave her the night he'd left with his brothers.

I'm glad he came back, Ariadne thought, then bit her lip and wondered if that made her selfish. While he was here she knew Roy was in danger. She knew that something was brewing under her uncle and the people's noses and feared for the young man's safety. That didn't mean she wasn't glad he was still around. Yes, she was selfish, but only because she didn't want to be alone again.

"Excuse me, Rex."

The three youths glanced over to the doors that led to the garden where the intrusion had come from. It was Roy's retainer, sweating as usual in another of his ridiculous suits.

He dabbed at his red face and neck and said, "The King would like a word if you're not too busy."

Roy nodded and sat up slowly, stretching his torso and then standing. Eriana and Ariadne trailed after him as he walked towards the interior of the palace. His boots made as much noise as the long gold chains around Eriana's neck, the ones that hung down to her navel. She glanced at Ariadne behind his back and they shared a small smile.

"What do you think he wants to talk about?" Eriana asked Roy when they'd gotten inside the slightly cooler palace.

Roy just shrugged and rubbed his eyes. Honestly he didn't expect this because, since he came back, the king had been keeping his distance from him. Roy thought this might be because of all the trouble he'd caused and thought that the king was finally giving up on him. He followed his retainer and ended up at the royal's study. Said man was standing in the doorway waiting for him. He smiled at the young people, which confused Roy even more.

"Rex!" He greeted, nodding at the other two.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Roy asked dully.

The king nodded and said, "In private. My apologies, girls."

Eriana looked disappointed but as Roy glanced back at her and Ariadne she forced a smile.

"We'll wait for you in your room." She said, taking Ariadne's hand.

The blonde's insides fluttered and she smiled to herself as she went along with the older girl towards that location. Roy watched them go down the hall before facing the king once more.

"Come in, come in." King Reginald coaxed, waving his hand.

Roy walked in and was about to sit on the ugly camel chair but the king grabbed his elbow and pointed to the thin doors that led to the patio area. Roy frowned but followed the king outside and watched the man shut the doors behind them.

"What's going on?" The teenager asked.

King Reginald said, "I don't want anyone overhearing us."

Roy nodded and waited for him to get down to what he wanted to talk about but the king just stared at him. A few seconds of this was fine, but when over a minute of this went on Roy got uncomfortable.

"Um." He muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

He glanced to the side where the doors were and then back at the king. He didn't know that King Reginald was staring so hard at him for so long because he was contemplating his next actions. He shook his head and smiled sadly at Roy.

"Forgive me, Rex," He murmured, "I know we haven't spoken in a while."

"Are you mad at me or something?" Roy asked, then said, "I mean, I ain't saying nothing if you are. I understand."

"I'm not angry with you, Rex." King Reginald's eyes were twinkling. He put his hand on the boy's shoulder and said earnestly, "If I never said it before, I care very much for you Rex, you're like a son to me."

Roy said dubiously, "Um…okay…"

"The Elders don't like this." King Reginald frowned, moving his hand so that he could cross his arms at his chest. "They think I'm too lenient with you. That's why I was avoiding you, but it was all for naught. Still they whisper in the halls. They think I should've had you banished or executed for killing Jack and here I welcomed you back with open arms. At least in their eyes."

"They wanna' kill me now?" Roy blurted. "They should be gettin' off their old asses and doin' something about the slavers who are still out there, not fucking whining about the one that got what was coming to him."

King Reginald lifted a brow and said delicately, "I don't think I'd put it that way but you're right. Something has to be done about these slavers. You're the only one brave enough to try to change things, and since I'm behind you, I've fallen out of favor with the Elders."

"Who cares?" Roy remarked bluntly.

"I care, Rex."

"What for?"

"Politics." King Reginald answered. "You'll have to understand that these things do matter."

"Why does it matter what they think?" Roy persisted. "You're the one who's king."

"True, but their power surpasses my own." King Reginald reminded him with a pointed little nod.

Roy shook his head and felt his body heat up, a sign that his rage was building. He didn't understand it; he was trying to do the right thing and help people, why was he getting death threats from the government that was supposed to want to do the same? It was so backwards.

King Reginald leaned on the black railing the fenced the patio area off from the sandy ground outside. He smiled affectionately at the young man and sighed.

"It really is inspiring," He stated. "Your love for Eriana."

Roy flushed and sputtered, "My what?"

The king repeated, "Your love for the girl. That's what drove you to slay that man, wasn't it?"

"What do you mean, love?" Roy was red now and it wasn't because he was mad.

I mean, she's cute and all but I ain't in love with her. I ain't in love with nobody, he told himself.

King Reginald was convinced of otherwise, though, and said, "I see the way she shadows your every move. It's endearing how you never let her out of your sight."

"That's not…that doesn't mean," Roy fumbled for an alternate reason and came up with, "I just want to protect her."

"How noble." King Reginald praised. "Anyway, I've launched an investigation, as I vowed, and already some arrests have been made."

What does it matter: the bastards are part of the police force! They can just bail each other out, Roy wanted to shout in frustration, but he held his tongue because he could see the king was trying to do something to help.

Again the king waxed sober and said, "I don't know what will happen to me, Rex. I've really stuck my neck out for you and your crusade. I just want you to know I don't blame you for what might befall me."

Roy didn't like where this was going.

King Reginald reached into his pocket, pulling out a watch. It was a gold one with a big face that was clasped shut. Roy groaned inside. He was so tired of the mundane gifts of trinkets and baubles that just took up space in his closet and dresser.

"I want you to have this." King Reginald said solemnly. "It's imperative that you keep this with you and…reflect on it in private. You'll do that, won't you Rex?"

He gave Roy a very intense stare. It was like he was trying to tell the boy something, something of grave importance. Something he couldn't exactly say out loud. He hoped desperately that the boy would understand, that he would give some sign in his reply that he got the 'message'.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever."

Daisy and I were packing our stuff for our impending trip but I could tell the meeting was still bothering her. It was something about the way she was jamming down her clothes into her suitcase with that pissed expression on her face.

That beautiful, pissed expression that kind of makes me want to kiss her if I didn't think I'd get cursed out.

"Do you wanna' talk about it?" I suggested, using the calmest and most non-patronizing tone I could.

Daisy just asked, "Talk about what?"

"What happened earlier."

"There's nothing to talk about." She snapped, not looking at me.

I rolled my eyes and walked around the bed over to her. She was moving back and forth from the pile of plain clothes to her small black suitcase. It was more of a big purse, really. Daisy was serious about not bringing too much stuff. I intercepted one of her trips and gently took her by the hands, making her drop her folded shirt on the floor. She bent to pick it up but I stopped her.

"Hey, come on," I told her. "Just talk to me."

She gave me an exasperated look and I shot her the same one but she was a stubborn little thing and her will won out over mine. She tried to get her arms free but I held fast without hurting her and pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her waist. She put her hands on my chest but didn't resist.

"Alright," I murmured. "If you won't talk, I will."

Daisy waited curiously.

So TALK, I prompted myself, but I couldn't, not immediately. I'd made a mistake putting my hands on her because now her backside was right near my fingertips and did we really have to talk? Couldn't we just…

I bent my head down and kissed Daisy and she was just as bad as me because she started responding instantly. One hand of hers gripped the front of my shirt and the other came up to the side of my face where she palmed my cheek and tangled her fingers in my hair.

"I thought you were gonna' talk," Daisy whispered, her lips arcing up in a smirk.

"I was," I told her. "I was just gonna' say that lady was way outta' line…mentioning your father like that."

Daisy looked hurt, then angry. I'd set her off again. She drew apart from me and flopped down onto the bed. Up at me she looked and shook her head.

"You're absolutely right," She groused, "The old bag. Who is she to judge what my father did? He wasn't perfect but he wasn't a coward, either!" Daisy frowned and said, "I know he shouldn't have left, but if he hadn't who knows if I'd be here? And if I wasn't, would we still have a chance at defeating Bowser?"

"Let's not even consider what-ifs," I advised, sitting beside her. "We've already got enough on our plates."

Daisy nodded and said, "It doesn't even matter. Everybody's not gonna' like me and I understand that."

"Yeah. You got your way in the end," I reminded her.

She smirked and said impishly, "I did, didn't I?"

"You always do, Princess." I teased her and pulled her hair. "But you don't think this is all happening kinda' fast?"

"Not you, too." Daisy moaned. "The whole point of moving fast is to prevent stuff like that slaughter from happening again; you remember that, right? The town where he was last sighted?"

"Yeah, I remember." I responded with a cringe.

Daisy said, "The longer we wait around, the more time he has to go torturing and murdering people."

"No offense," I said carefully, "But that's not really something you can help. You have to make sure you're fully prepared before you just jump out there, Daisy."

"Fully prepared?" Daisy challenged, crossing her arms. "Are you implying I won't be up to par in ten days?"

"I'd be impressed if you are." I admitted.

"The get ready to be impressed, Commander." She responded flippantly. She grew subdued. "You're right, though. I've got my work cut out for me."

"I feel bad for you."

"What are you doing today, Commander?"

"Same thing I do every day," I replied. "Training the troops."

Daisy asked me seriously, "Do you think they're ready for this?"

"They've got to be." I answered, "We all have to be."

The door, about a few square feet of floor, and the air in the hall Iggy had to clean so that he could stake out by his mother's bedroom. He'd been there for about an hour but he stayed, figuring a.) he had no other pressing engagements to get to and b.) he hoped that, being his mother, she wouldn't stay mad at him forever.

He rested against the door with his cloak on now, given his newly cleaned little space, and leaned his chin on his knees.

I haven't known her very long but I already love her, Iggy thought, and I want her to love me, too.

Iggy caught himself as the door suddenly inched backwards and he nearly fell with it. Turning his head he saw his mother's pale, wary face peeking through the crack. He smiled at her and she blinked as if surprised, then resumed her slightly frightened expression.

"You're still here?"

"Yes." Iggy replied.

He took the route of remaining calm and keeping his voice very low and soothing. He didn't want to drive her away again.

As if aware of this his mother said, "You scared me."

"I'm sorry."

"I thought you were trying to kidnap me."

"I wouldn't dare."

Ava stared into her son's eyes, so like her own. She opened the door a bit wider but didn't move any closer.

"You're…you're not like your father, are you?" She asked tentatively.

Iggy shook his head and said, "Not at all."

"Of course not!" a breathy laugh burst from his mother's thin lips and though her mouth was smiling her eyes were anxious. She wrung her hands and smiled uneasily down at him.

Iggy didn't know what to do to set her at ease so he just remained silent. That seemed to be helping because she opened the door a little more and knelt to his height.

"Of course you're not, of course you're not," She repeated, reaching shaking hands forward to hold his face.

Iggy let her and hoped she couldn't hear his heart pounding. He gave her a small smile and hers grew larger and more genuine. She kissed his forehead.

"Of course you're not, you sweet, sweet boy." She confirmed for herself, making her son blush self-consciously. She asked, "What's your name, my darling boy?"

"Ignatius." He responded, leaving off his surname so as not to trigger a negative response in his mom.

"How lovely!" His mother patted his head. "Who raised you?"

"My older brother." Iggy answered numbly.

"Oh!" His mother exclaimed, delighted. "That was good of him."

"Yeah."

Iggy was getting a hollow feeling inside at the mention of Ludwig.

"I wanted to raise you." Ava said softly, growing sad all of a sudden. "I wanted to find you, and take you with me, a-and raise you…" Her voice faltered and her words devolved into sharp gasps and hiccupping breaths.

Iggy felt tears prick at his eyes and urged her, "Please don't cry, it's okay. We found each other now and that's what counts."

A sunny smile lit up his mother's face and she nodded, swinging the door open. Iggy rose with much restraint and went over to hug her lightly, though he'd wanted to just plow right into her and squeeze her waist with all his strength. She didn't hug him back but she tilted her head affectionately and patted the top of his head with a little hum.

"Will you stay, Ignatius?"

Iggy looked up at his mom and delayed his initial response. He was going to say no but he didn't want her to fly off into a panic again. Also, what was the real reason he couldn't stay?

Besides the fact that this place is unsafe, unclean, and practically falling apart, he listed in his head.

But…he had his magic. What better way to strengthen his skills than to take the challenge of getting this place in order again? If he put his mind to it, he could not only clean up and make it inhabitable, but he might even be able to fashion a haven for the two of them, a place where he could invent things as much as he wanted.

It's abandoned so we'll have our privacy, Iggy grew open to the idea. And I could get some food and stuff from the other places I've been.

"I'll stay," Iggy said aloud, cementing his decision.

Someone's gotta' make sure my mom eats right. If I try hard enough, I may be able to help restore her health and…maybe her mind?

"You won't make me leave?" His mother timidly asked.

Iggy shook his head and said, "You don't have to go anywhere. We're staying here. Things are going to be better for you, too."

His mom gave him that smile he was beginning to associate with total vapidity.

I've got to find a way to help her, he thought, but first; there's something I have to do.

He took his mother's hands and told her clearly, "I have to leave now, but I won't be gone long."

"You'll come back, won't you?" She worriedly asked.

Iggy nodded and said, "I will. I promise I will."

For your sake, he added.

A/N: Thanks for reading, please don't hesitate to tell me what you think so far and all that, yadda yadda yadda :)

I thank you again for your patience and until next time...

~DymondGold~