<Oreo's PoV>

We stand together in front of the door that leads down to the dungeons. I hesitate to grab the handle for a moment too long as Parasol tells me, "It's okay if you aren't ready. We can come back later."

I steel my nerves, making up my mind and pulling the door open, the damp air wafting out of the opening.

"Let's just go. If I don't do it now I won't ever be able to do it."

We wordlessly descend the long winding staircase. I feel like collapsing at any moment, but every step makes my heart beat faster and faster and faster, as adrenaline pumps through my body.

"Who... are we going to see?" Pudding Cups asks, the blanket now held in a bunch at her side.

I grimace, every reminder of her memory loss feeling like a stab in the guts.

"A shitty person. I'm glad you don't remember her because she was horrible to you especially," Parasol tells her, an edge to her voice.

"Al...right?" Pudding Cup answers back, not asking any more questions.

I stop abruptly as Parasol bumps into me and Pudding Cup into her.

Before Parasol can say anything, I put up a hand, training my ear in the direction opposite we were going. The other two follow suit as we listen closely.

The sound of shoes on stone stairs, getting louder as the shoes' wearer descends.

I frown slightly.

I was sure I had locked the door behind me. Who would it be?

I ponder the possibilities, stroking my chin.

The only other person with the key would be my father or mother. 

My mother didn't care for the dungeon, saying that "the atmosphere there puts such a damper on my mood. I'd like to avoid it whenever possible".  

The steps were too light to be from my father, who stood at 6 feet and weighed roughly 180 pounds. 

Maybe I didn't lock it? 

I feel my head go light, the mere thought of being unable to remember something crushing me.

"Hi guys!"

I focus back to reality seeing the black haired, blue eyed boy that we had seen not long ago standing on his tip toes to see everyone.

"Hey little guy," Pudding Cup answers immediately, ruffling his hair and grinning. Upon seeing my expression, she stops and her hand drops to her side.

"How did you-- How did you get here?" I ask him, confused.

He cocks his head, answering, "I saw you guys go through a door and I wanted to know what you guys were doing!"

"I thought you went to bed," Parasol tells him, seeing his energy had returned.

"I had..." He looks around before leaning in to us and whispering, "...coffee."

"Your parents are giving you coffee??" Parasol asks him, her eyebrows creased in disapproval.

"Not so loud!" he whispers urgently, as if he had just admitted to snorting crack. "I just... took some... from my dad..."

Having no questions answered, I'm about to ask him something else, until I'm interrupted by Pudding Cup laughing.

Her clear laughter, images of wind chimes reflecting the blinding sun flitting across my mind.

I can make out only a sliver of her face as she faces Police Hat, playfully pinching his cheeks, but I feel myself weaken as I just turn and continue walking.

How was it that, no matter what, Police Hat could always bring out that side of her?

I would be lying if I said I wasn't just a teensy bit...

I can feel my face heat up immediately as I cringe at myself. I curse under my breathe, embarrassed for being jealous of a ten year old.

"Slow down, your majesty," Parasol calls out.

***

"Understood, your highness."

The four guards disperse and leave the area at my command as we stare at the door containing her cell.

I breathe in and out, flapping my hands twice as if shaking my fears away. I settle my hands on the cold iron handle and, before I can doubt myself or let the fear settle back down like the snow of a snow globe, I push the door open.

The room is dark and cold, a horrible smell emitting from the walls. Moss and fungus grows at every nook and cranny, the iron bars rusted. She sits with her head bowed, staring at the floor. The floor is covered in rodent droppings and dried blood.

She looked... different.

Her white hair was long and straight, spread out on the floor. Her skin was deathly pale and her tattered clothes seemed too big for her skinny frame. 

I stare down at whoever she is, as she stares up at me, her hair almost fully concealing her face.

The only thing that didn't change was her red eyes.

But any passion that she may have had has completely left her, her eyes dull and lifeless.

I stand there, unsure of what to say as she silently scans us. Her eyes land on Pudding Cup, who stares cluelessly back at her.

"Are you here to mock me...?" she asks hoarsely, her eyes training into me.

There's no rage in her voice, only tired resignation.

"...No."

I thought I would be furious, terrified, heartbroken. But what was this feeling of pity?

"Why?" is all I can muster, feeling too exhausted to say anything else.

She blankly stares at me, opening and closing her mouth a couple times.

"Why did you kill him...?" she asks, voice cracking as she tears up, her eyes barely gleaming in the dungeon's torch light.

"I didn't--"

"I never... would have done this. If he were here. Your... your scumbag of a father," she tells me, gritting her teeth. "All because he wanted more land. Greedy bastard."

She lowers her head, composing herself.

She stays silent for a while, before starting up again.

"Our hometown. Destroyed for the land. "Great economic benefits for the country". We held peaceful protests. Peacefully...!"

She looks up fully, her face stricken with grief.

"He would never... He never did... hurt anybody. And to prove a point, your father--" 

She gags, burying her face into her lap.

"If you came home. And saw the only person you... ever loved. In your own... god damn home... hanged."

She looks up again, eyes wide and enraged.

"'The Mass Suicide of Astropix', my ass. It wasn't suicide. It wasn't suicide. We were going to be married in a week, we were happy! We were happy!!" she tells me, her voice raising, as she staggers up.

I feel my lips dry, hearing a familiar name.

Astropix.

I had heard it from the maids about 5 years ago, who reluctantly gave me the information after my constant begging.

A historical event where the citizens of Astropix protested against the country's plans of demolishing their town by committing mass suicide. The victims were all people involved in the protests who resisted the plans. A year or two later, the country continued with their plans for that land, meeting little to no resistance.

'Oh, young prince, don't look like that. The citizens were promised almost triple the compensation. The could live comfortably the rest of their lives without working a single day. Consider how irrational they were! It isn't so hard to just move, tsk tsk.'

"It was a sacred land to us," she whispers. "But how could anyone protest after that...? Nobody knows about it, because everyone involved was killed. Anyone who spoke up about it 'disappeared'. Anyone passionate enough killed themselves out of shame, for not being able to protect our home."

She glares at me, not a hint of remorse in her eyes.

"I don't care if you didn't do anything. I don't care if you were only 10 when this happened. The means justify the ends. If I have to kill you to bring the country to the ground, I would do it a thousand times over. I can only hope that someone will execute my plan better than I."

I feel my vision swirl, as I stumble back slightly.

"Your dad has done horrible, shitty things for his country at the expense of other people," she taunts me, her eyes gleaming as she notices a chink in the armor, feeding fuel to the fire. "You should ask h--"

"That's enough."

Pudding Cup stands between us, staring down at her.

Her face darkens immediately, the gleam in here eyes fading as fast as it had come.

"You," she spits out. "How are you alive?"

"I have literally never seen you in my life, but no wonder the prince didn't want to see you, annoying ass bitch."

We gape at her, taken aback by her choice of words. She crouches down to her level, completely unamused.

"'The means justify the ends'? I'm sorry for whatever happened to you, but seriously? Look, if my father passed in a similar manner, I would be livid. But going after a kid? Low fucking blow. Association doesn't guarantee causation. No normal person thinks the first course of action is to go after an innocent teen boy and, I don't know WHAT you did, but you obviously traumatized him beyond hell itself. He's a fucking person, madam!! Not a stepping stone for your plans for overthrowing the country or whatever! Do that without hurting people just for existing!"

"Fuck is wrong with you," she spits, kicking the floor.

"Still the prince's dog, I see," Watermelon whispers, voice shaking with rage.

Just before she responds, I grab her arm. She turns to look at me as I shake my head. It didn't feel right to do this when my father had done... whatever he had done.

I approach whoever she was, looking her in the eyes.

"Everything you did has made my life a living hell. I won't spare you, or beg for your life. What you did. I'll let justice handle that. But. I promise you. The moment I become king, I will make sure the people of Astropix get their home back, one way or another."

She stares at me emotionlessly before laughing dryly and spitting at me.

"You go ahead," she tells me, eyes creased. I would think she were smiling if her lips weren't twisted into a snarl. "Let's see what you can do."

She suddenly rushes forwards, her hands slamming against the iron bars. I lose my balance and stumble back as she slides down and leans forward, her head peaking ever so slightly through the rough bars.

"With your naivety and vulnerability to magic, I give you a year, tops, to survive being king," she hisses at me, barely audible. "Stupid, inadequate, weak Oreo."

I sit still, as I marinate in her words.

I know she was right. I had trained so much my entire life to inherit the throne but all it took was a simple love potion for me to almost ruin the entire country. 

I wasn't even King yet.

What had I ever done for the sake of my country? What could I ever do if I couldn't do anything right? I'm not smart, or strong, or strategic, or anything.

Nothing stood out about me.

My vision blurs, tears pricking my eyes. I feel even more pathetic, desperately trying to suck the tears back into my eyes.

How could I ever rule such a huge country, being who I am?

Becoming painfully aware of the three pairs of eyes trained on the back of my head, I get up, stabilizing my voice as much as possible.

"I'm sorry you won't be there to see it."