"Wings?" demanded Mimi unbelieving.
"Yes, wings," sneered Mr. L. "Great work, Sherlock!"
"Ya won't tell no-one, rih't lass?" asked O'Chunks concernedly.
"Why not?" replied Mimi.
"Do you know what the other three will think when they find out that Mr. L sprouted wings?" exclaimed Dimentio.
Mimi shook her head.
Dimentio sighed. "They'll suspect - and possibly blame - me!"
"Well, considering past events, they have good reason to," said Mr. L fairly.
Dimentio glared at the masked man. Mr. L drew in his wings around himself protectively. His wings were big enough to surround him completely, and were sprouting out of his shoulder blades. The feathers were sleek, shiny, glossy and jet-black.
"Could ya 'least fold 'em?" sighed O'Chunks.
Mr. L shook his head. "I tried, but it just hurts!"
"I expect that your human structure has prevented your wings from being able to be folded," said Dimentio smoothly.
"Thank you, Mr. Wing Genius!" snapped Mr. L. "Just get rid of them, okay?"
Mimi suddenly had a brainwave. "What about Bolt and Xena?"
"What about them?" said Mr. L suspiciously.
"They both have wings. Maybe they'll be able to help you!"
"Good idea," said Dimentio.
"We'll cover for ya," added O'Chunks.
"Let's get going, then!" exclaimed Mimi.
And so it was that Mr. L and Mimi were to be found walking in Misery Forest, dragging their feet behind them and wearily calling out the aldawolf's and crow's names.
"How long have we been walkin'?" moaned Mimi.
Mr. L raised his head up to the sky. The dappled sunlight shone through the leaves, warming all the forest animals and plants. Judging by the brightness of the light, he estimated that they had been walking for about an hour.
"About an hour," he answered bluntly.
Mimi groaned audibly, then slumped down against a stump. "Where are they?"
"Should I fly up and see?" suggested Mr. L.
"Sure."
And so, for the first time ever, Mr. L flapped his large wings. He was shocked to find out how easily he was lifted up above the ground, and suddenly wondered if this was how Dimentio felt while flying about. Did he feel the sudden exhilaration of being airborne? Did he see the world become an array of pinpoints and dots? Did he feel the steady beat of wings as he rose?
Of course not, Mr. L thought.
Well, then, how about Bolt? Xena? Did they feel how he felt as he flew? Xena had been flying for almost her entire life, so it was most likely that she didn't take much notice. And anyway, Bolt rarely flew, unless he was scouting for danger or attempting to clear his head.
Plus, this was the first time Mr. L had flown. Of course he would feel amazed. But it was the first time he had flown, and therefore the first time he realised how hard flying really was. Every feather adjusted to his movements, and even one feather out of place would render him unbalanced. Speaking of the balance, it was really hard to stay upright in the air. How did Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy manage it?
Seeing as he had been thinking about these things so deeply, Mr. L had not realised that he had risen above the treetops. Only know did he realise that one false move and he would be sent spiralling down to injury.
"See them? called Mimi's voice from the ground.
Mr. L slowly raised his head and looked all around him. Once he had determined that Bolt nor Xena was there, he replied. "Nope."
Mr. L then began his descent. He observed how harder descending was than ascending, and was glad to find the ground safely beneath his feet.
"How was it?" asked Mimi, her eyes as round as coins.
"Unnerving," admitted Mr. L.