Suffer

A week had passed, and the three stayed in the Western castle. Homestar and Marzipan mingled thoughally with the earth prince's court, and anyone who visited, including Bubs and the King of Town. And with whoever visited they together mourned the dead. Strong Bad had stayed in the shadows, mostly in his old room. He had yet revealed that he was the dragon, or that he had defeated Trogdor, not Homestar, but as long as the fairy listened to his every word he was fine with that. He had also avoiding the many memorials and funerals for those who had past, vouching for instead to pay his respect in when all others were asleep.

Late in the night at the end of the week Homestar finally came to visit his fiery advisor. The Cheat tailed the fairy prince as he knocked and let himself in.

"Man, Stwong Bad, you missed a lot of fun times, sad times and food. Humans suwe eat a lot." The fairy trilled, leaning against the door. "You'we not going to miss my co-wination, awe you?"

"No, Homestar. I'm not going to miss that." Strong Bad muttered, looking upside down at the glowing white figure and spotted critter before him. He laid across his bed, wings spread out and one knee bent. "Are you going to marry Marzipan after that?"

"Phht." Homestar stuck out his tongue. "An' hawve two co-winations with no time to west? No way man... I'll get awound to it latew."

"Meh." The Cheat added, scuttling up onto the bed and looking down at his blue haired companion. Tilting his head he questioned him.

Strong Bad sighed. "Yeah. I guess I have been different the last few days... But I've had a lot to think about, man. At least you sort of get along with Homestar.

The Cheat shrugged his little paws, explaining how easy it was to steal from the fairy. Then he commented on Marzipan, complimenting her figure with a wriggle of his eyebrow ridge.

The ex prince laughed out. "Sure, if you like that water pitcher look. I personally perfer them with skinny hair and bigger... Well." He cupped his hand in the general area of his chest.

Homestar slowly wandered over, before laying down and resting his arms and torso along Strong Bad. His earned him a quick glare.

"What the crap are you doing?"

"Stwong Bad?" Homestar asked in a distant voice.

"First off get offa me, then what?"

"You suwe this is a good idea?" the fairy asked, making no effort to sit up. Strong Bad pushed him away as he in turn sat up.

"Sure it is... Why wouldn't it be. People like you, even your grandma thought it was a good idea. She seems fond of you." Strong Bad casually answered as he continued to shove until the fairy fell off his bed completely. "And you have me and Marzi to help you. Follow my advice and you'll do fine."

"But Stwong Bad. What about you know who?"

"Hm?"

"The Displasaw!"

Strong Bad rolled his eyes. "He's gone, Homestar. You'd think by now he'd attack us, or kill us in our sleep, but here we are. But of course your chicken about that. You're still scared of my dorky brother. Sure the dump's magic has improved, but he's still a pushover."

"But-"

"Shush." Strong Bad finally clasped a hand over the fairy's mouth as he got off the floor. "Shut up and go to bed, you have a corination to worry about."

Homestar backed off, standing before reaching for the door. He glanced back over to Strong Bad, who picked up The Cheat to pet his fuzzy head, then throw him into the air and attempt to kick him on the descent. The Cheat, of course, did not like this, and promptly attacked Strong Bad's face.

With a purposeful sigh Homestar left the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Behind the doors he could hear the muffling complaints as the fiery ex prince attempted to tear his critter companion from his face.

He wished there was someone to talk to, but it was night and most everyone was sleeping. Pom Pom, Marzipan, Strong Mad, Strong Sad. Though he had no intention to talk to the last one.

"What's troubling you?" Homestar turned at the sound of a sweet sounding voice, but no one was there.

He looked around a little more before shaking his head. There was no one in the halls but him. He sighed and decided to take Strong Bad's advice and go to sleep.

Marzipan wasn't actually asleep, though she tried hard to do so. Tossing, turning, counting cotton sheep, nothing seemed to help. Finally she sat up and hugged her legs. Tomorrow was Homestar's Coronation, and he was going to have to become King one day. Memories slipped back to the conversation she had before they defeated the old dragon king. She lowered her legs to rest a hand over her stomach.

"What if-?" Her whispers sounded out of place, like someone else was asking the question. What if she wasn't compatible with Homestar.

She shook her head and straightened into a kneeling position in the middle of her vast bed. Her hands quivered a little as she pushed them away from herself. She cupped a spot over her besheveled quilt and allowed the magic to flow. She didn't dare speak another word.

The space under her fingers began to glow a warm and inviting green light. Marzipan smiled as she felt a small piece of her very life force tingling in that light.

She didn't realize she was being watched. They were all being watched, this whole time. Homsar was just waiting for the moment he could exact his revenge on them all for standing in his way and not allowing his plans to go through. Now was his time to strike.

As she watched, entranced, the glow began to take shape. Small, tear like, a plump little pumpkin seed. It was possible, as a druid she could make a life seed. she slowly stopped herself, retaking the energy. Suddenly two hands came into view, and placed themselves over he own, breaking her concentration to retake the life force. Her eyes shot up to see across from her, Homestar.

"Homestar?"

Homestar looked up to her, his sorrow filled eyes were grey with age. His antenea were crookedly pressed against his skull. His wings were dullened and thin, curling under their own weight. Despite still having a youthful look to his skin, he was old, older than she had ever seen a fairy before. He gently hushed her, but said nothing more, looking over his shoulder with just his eyes.

"What are you-?"

Tears filled Marzipan's eyes as she saw her half made life seed be taken by the man who was, but wasn't Homestar.

"This is ouw suffewing and ouw saving. I won't know fow a vewy long time. But if I don't now, Mawzipan..." The old Homestar muttered as he breathed his life into the seed. "I lose you fowevew."

"What?" She shakily asked, for once being the one to not understand.

"Shh..." Homestar leaned in close, whispering as he pulled something from out of hi jacket. "Homsaw is watching, he'll kill you and blame Stwong Bad fow it if I don't do this... Besides I do lowve you, Pwincess... Just know that."

She closed her eyes as the older fairy pressed his lips against her own. When she finally opened them and cleared them of tears Homestar was gone. All that remained was a a small crystal pot filled with dirt, and a small sprout just barely peeking from the dark soil. Marzipan bit her lip before breaking down into gasping sobs.

Homsar finished closing the gateway just outside her window, a twisted grin contorting his usually blank face. He had set the path to his revenge. With that he disappeared.

The next morning Homestar happily stuffed a half a bowl of seedless cherries into his mouth, excited to get back to the forest. He chewed quickly, then went after an apple in another bowl.

Strong Bad quietly ate the thick chunk of meat on his own plate, ignoring the fairy and his older brother's eating habits, as they were very simular. His attention turned to Marzipan as she picked at her fruit salad. She seemed quite distracted.

"Princess?" Strong Bad finally asked, in a low quiet voice. "Somethin up?"

She looked up quickly, shaking her head. "No, why do you ask?"

"You've spent more time pushing that mush on your plate than eating." He pointed out. She quickly looked to the others at the table. It was actually only Strong Bad and The Cheat paying her any mind that she could tell. Homestar and Strong Mad were too busy devouring all before them, for thier own reasons. If Strong Sad was also paying her any attention she didn't notice. Strong Bad raised an eyebrow.

"Marzipan?"

"Well... I'm fine, just a little nervous, right?" The princess finally answered, giving a quick grin to them both. The Cheat looked suspicious, glancing towards his companion.

The ex prince shook his head. "You've lied to me before, lady. How can I believe you now?"

"Well how can I trust you?" Marzipan instantly retorted, her cheeks burning with a flare of anger. He just shrugged.

"I think I've proven I'm more than honest thus far. Its your choice and fault if you won't believe me." He grinned. "But you're changing the subject as to what's wrong with you. And so close to Homestar special hour too."

The anger flared all the more. "Strong Bad... You're a horrible person."

"I'm not debating that, Princess... So, what is it?" Strong Bad leaned in all the more, giving the woman a sharp look.

"My... Our suffering. I can't explain it though."

Homestar stood, having finished his breakfast, and turned to his whispering companions. "Awe we weady to go?"

"Sure." Strong Bad agreed with an determined grin directed at Marzipan.

"Of course, Homestar." Marzipan also said, meekly. She didn't look at any of them. "Just let me get my thinks and we'll head for the Forest of Dreams."