Rest

Given no other choice but to wait, Strong Bad left the druid to her work. For a few minute he paced, until he remembered the tail. He pulled it from its hiding place and looked down at the tiny appendage for a second. Then with a deep breath Strong Bad went back into the room.

"I told you to stay outside, Strong Bad." Marzipan didn't even look up from work, her hands weaving an extravagant spell. The prince just watched for a moment as the twinkling of magic followed the tracings of her fingers like ink following a pen. Then he cleared his throat.

"I... Uh, I thought this might help." He walked over as the princess paused her casting and looked his way. He held out the wrapped tail. "In case you could reverse the ritual."

"Well," Marzipan was a little taken back by this gesture. She gingerly took the cloth from him. "I can't reverse it, but I can restore Homestar's fairy powers, and ease his pain with this. Thank you, I suppose."

"I guess I'll go back outside and wait till your done." Strong Bad motioned for the door as he backed towards it. "Let you get back to work."

"Wait," Marzipan reached for him, stopping him dead in his tracks. "Prince Strong Bad, will you stay and tell me what really happened?"

With a nod Strong Bad sat down on one of beds, behind her. He began to retell his plans before he met the fairy, and the friendship that sort of began to grow once he had given Homestar a chance. Then he retold how his brother kidnapped them and controlled him. She listened as she worked, keeping Homestar under silk sheets to protect him until she finished.

"I can barely believe, what you two went through. I'm sorry I was hard on you before." She finally muttered as she turned to him, many hours later. She had finally finished repairing the damage done to the fairy. He was still full human sized, but she knew from the beginning she couldn't fix that. "Perhaps while Homestar sleeps I go and get us something to eat?"

Strong Bad nodded. "I almost forgot how hungry I was getting, Thanks, Marzi."

"Stay here, I'll be right back."

Strong Bad didn't move, looking over to the fairy and sighed. "Wake up quickly, man..."

Homestar remained asleep.

***

Strong Sad stood quietly before a throne, the room darkened by his magic puppets. Sitting on the throne was the massive elder brother the sorrow prince rarely spoke a word to. His tiny, beady eyes glared murderously to the youngest Strong.

"Now, brother, I know I didn't do as planned. But he had a point when he said--" Strong Sad began, slowly, motioning with his pale hands.

"YOU FAILED ME!" The earth prince thundered. "YOU FAILED US ALL!"

"I'm not like you!" The shadow prince screamed back, but instantly pulled away, regretting it before he even finished talking.

Slowly Strong Mad rose from his mighty seat, making his way over to his brother. His knuckles cracked as he cletched them tight. Just as he was about to dispatch with his baby brother a small figure appeared out of nowhere between them, holding up his pudgy fingers at Strong Mad.

"Calico's ain't da truth, Charlie." He simply whispered.

"He's right!" Strong Sad vigorously nodded his head. "He said there's still hope for the plan to work."

"HUH?!" Strong Mad stopped, then motioned to Homsar. "HOW?!"

"Priceless ca-an't, Reggie's gotta tankle the drag-queeeeeen." Homsar had a plan.

***

Quietly prince and princess ate. Strong Bad didn't know how hungry he was until he had taken the first bite. He didn't really care for the food Marzipan brought, but at the moment food was food.

They eventually finished, and both glanced over to sleeping fairy. Just then Homestar stirred.

Strong Bad was first onto his feet, as he ran over and put his hands on the bed. "Homestar? Are you ok now?"

Homestar looked over, sleepy at first. Then he glared pulling away, before he saw his hand. "Stwong Bad? Am I a man now?"

"Kinda, yeah. I mean you're still a fairy too, Homestar." The fire prince spoke with a slight chuckle. "How are you feeling?"

At this Homestar smiled, then sighed and frowned. "It doesn't huwt anymowe. But why'cha hawve to huwt me in the fiwst place, Stwong Bad. I thought we wewe fwiends."

"He was being controlled, Homestar." Both the fairy and fire prince turned their attention the woman on Homestar's other side.

"Yeah. I tried to fight it, man. I didn't want to break my promise, but my stupid baby brother wouldn't give me that choice. He controlled me with his shadow magic...." That made Strong Bad question himself for a moment. Carefully he removed his gauntlets and inhaled sharply when he found a decorative black band, like a tattoo, around his wrist. He swallowed hard and turned from the others, holding tight around the marking. "I... Shouldn't stay any longer. He can still control me."

"Where will you go?" Marzipan couldn't help asking.

"You can't leave me, Stwo-bwo!" Homestar chirped. "I need to fowgiwve you befowe you can go!"

The fire prince was quiet for a moment, standing before the door out. He didn't dare turn, knowing very well both women and fairies were good at the 'puppy-dog eyes'. He took another sharp breath. "Well I need to finish what I started. I'm heading east."

"The forbidden zone? Alone?" Marzipan squeaked. "Are you crazy?"

"I thought I was goin to help you, Stwong Bad..." Homestar whimpered. "Defeat the dwagons, take ovew, what happened to ouw plan?"

Slamming his head against the door Strong Bad released an elongated sigh of frustration. "Homestar, I don't want you hurt or worse. As long as my brother can control me you're in danger around me."

"Then we'll all go." Marzipan walked over, grabbing Strong Bad's arm. "We'll all go together. I'll protect Homestar from you, Homestar will protect you from the dragon king, and... You'll refrain from insults?"

Homestar jumped up, ready to follow after the princess. That is until he noticed a breeze and looked down. He quickly grabbed blanket and wrapped it around his waist. "You'd betway the dwagons too, Mawzi? Just fow us?"

She nodded, glancing over to the mostly naked fairy before quickly looking away again. "Uh, yes. Well Strong Bad was going to leave you in my care, Homestar, so as far as I see you're my responsibility." She quickly released her hold on the fire prince to cover her deep pink cheeks.

Strong Bad noticed this look on the princess' face and frowned, keeping his head turned away from Homestar. "But first, get the guy something to wear. We're not leaving with the fairy-man naked as a jaybird."

"R-right. I'll go find the tailor." Strong Bad moved out of the way as Marzipan in turn went for the door. She stopped with the door opened, looking over to the prince. "Oh, there's one small detour I'd like to make on the way east."

"Sure, where?"

"Oh, I just need to pick up my magic guitar from Bubs." She said as she left.

Homestar blinked and looked over to Strong Bad, who just rolled his eyes. "Who's Bubs?"

Strong Bad just slapped a guantleted hand against his face. Bubs was the last person he wanted to ever see again.