The Truth

"They're taking him!" Homeschool hissed as quietly as he could to his companion. Pom Pom nodded, cracking his knuckles and motioning there was only one thing they could do, go after them. Homeschool nodded and they both rushed to the shadows, slipping into them just before they returned to normal.

On the other side they found themselves in a vast bedroom. The floor seemed to extend the length of a ballroom, with a large canopy bed at the far end. The curtains of the bed were blues, purples, silvers, and white.

"Put her over there, Homsar. She'll be safe until we're done." Strong Sad quietly commanded his comrade. Homsar did as he was told, laying the princess on the bed with her hands over her chest. She stirred, but only to get herself more comfortable on the layers of soft quilts.

Pom Pom pulled Homeschool in behind a stack of book on a shelf, keeping silent as they watched.

"I'm not sure I can finish the process, but if I send him back to my brother perhaps things may still go as planned." Strong Sad muttered as he headed for the door, Homsar on his tail. "I still am not sure I want to continue to help the plan. This is torture for my brother, for this fairy... It just doesn't feel right."

Homsar glared darkly up the shadow prince. "Ya can't catch a ter-nip by the to-oooth!" He growled.

Strong Sad looked over his shoulder. "I know... I know."

Finally he reached the other side and opened the door. "Still..." The sorrow prince added. "... I think I'd rather go back to the days when my brothers would hang me by my toes on the ceiling, or seal me in the wash basin. At least then I wouldn't have to feel this guilt-"

"Strong Sad?" Marzipan's voice broke his concentration. He turned and looked over to the bed, as did the fairies. He was surprised to see her suddenly awake.

"Princess Marzipan..." He answered.

She slowly stood, wiping under her eyes. "Where are you taking Homestar?"

Strong Sad frowned, looking down the fairy a moment. He bit his lower lip. "I... I have to finish the process, and get the amulet to my brother. He has to finish his mission against the dragon king. Without it we can't finish fulfilling our father's dream."

"But you can't."

"We have little choice. To just give up now would be dishonoring our father. And our mother. She too wanted great things for all of us..."

"Strong Sad, you don't understand." Marzipan finally walked over, holding out her arms for him to stop. "You brother, he's... Strong Bad's gone!"

The shadow prince stopped breathing a moment, looking at the princess with widened eyes. He only just barely managed to get out a quiet, breathless whisper out. "What?"

"There was a dragon, some sort of an earth one... It attacked from below and your brother he jumped in there. He pushed me out of the way, actually. He saved me, but sacreficed himself to do so. He's dead."

Strong Sad glared at the princess. He couldn't believe what she was telling him. As quickly as he could he turns to where Homsar was, but the little time manipulator was gone. "That can't be true."

"Its why I had to cast a charm on Homestar. Your spell is driving him mad, with uncalled for love. Love for your brother."

"I know..." Strong Sad finally turned back to Marzipan. "To be honest I kinda messed up my spell. My original intentions were just to make the fairy a slave to my brother... But afterwards Homsar insisted it would work. Love is one of the strongest forces."

"We have to break both of our charms."

"Then what?" the shadow prince moaned. "Everything is ruined and my brother is..." He released a shaky breath. "I suppose I'll have to take his responsibility. I have to go defeat Trogdor."

"No!" The princess cried out, grabbing Strong Sad's shoulder. "There has to be another way! Please stop using Homestar. I've grown fond of him..."

"Fond?" He glanced her way. She nodded, biting her lip as her cheeks lit up in a light pink. "...You're in love with him?"

"I... No... But I'm starting to." She corrected in a small voice.

Slowly he shook his head. Strong Sad hadn't seen that coming, nor did he see his brother being killed by a dragon. He couldn't help berating himself for thinking he didn't need to keep an eye on Strong Bad after he had taken the fairy to Town. His eyes wandered up towards the tall ceiling. For quite a while he was quiet.

"Strong Sad?" Marzipan eventually asked in a small whisper. He returned his attention. "I was wondering... What was your brother?"

"Hm?" The sorrow prince began to walk over to the bed, putting Homestar down. "What do you mean, Marzipan?"

"Well, its just for a long time I've heard rumors. And then Bubs told me he's half dragon. But Strong Bad denied being anything other hand a half human shadow elemental. What's true?"

Strong Sad sighed, a small smile crawling on his lips. He sat, patting the spot next to him, inviting the princess to sit with him. She took a deep breath and joined him on the edge of the bed.

"They're both true." He began to explain with a strained chuckle at the back of his throat. She stared at the heavy set cloaked figure with a perplexed look.

"Strong Sad?" Reluctantly she pulled a handkerchief from inside her magic cloak. She held it out to the sorrow prince, seeing the tears cling to the bottom of his white mask. He graciously took it.

"Have you ever heard the legend of the chimera?" He finally asked, his falsetto voice in a low whisper.

"The Chimera? I think so. But that was a monster who was goat, lion, and snake, wasn't it?"

"Well, the best way to describe my brother was he was a human chimera. You see, mom was a little more than just a shadow elemental. She was gifted enchantress. And she was one of the only humanoid allies to the dragons. Years ago, when I was young boy, I went to her, upset at something my brothers did to me. She told a secret, something she hadn't told my father or brothers."

"A secret?" Homeschool mouthed the words as they watched, waiting for a chance to get at Homestar. He glanced to Pom Pom.

Pom Pom didn't care about any secret having to do with the Strong Clan. As far as he was concerned the only thing he needed from Strong Sad was a gateway home again. He watched intensely at the two.

"... To put it simple, to save her dear friend's egg from being an orphan in those dire times she fused it with her body. She had all intentions of having twins, but the egg fused with the fetus within her. My brother turned out to be an unfortunate miracle." Strong Sad lowered his cloak and scratched his head through his white hair. "Turns out my father new all along. That's why he wanted my brother to one day become the new king of the dragons. So Usa could be completely continued by the Strong Clan."

"I can't believe I fell for the rumors and lies. Strong Bad wasn't a monster, he was just a jerk." Marzipan released a tearful chuckle, which was halfway choked by a sob. "And he got himself killed for me!"

The sobbing continued, and she leaned against the shadow prince, who cautiously and reluctantly put a heavy hand on her shoulder. Swallowing his own tears he looked away.

"As soon as you compose yourself, lets break the charms."

Slowly she looked up to him, sniffling a little before smiling. "Really?"

He nodded, looking back to her. To his surprise she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him close. "Thank you!"

Homsar glared as he quietly closed the door again. To his dismay things were beginning to spiral out of his control. He shuffled quickly down the hall, formulating a new plan. He couldn't let this slip out of his grip.