Okay, okay, you're probably sick and tired of the back ground by now. We've been in the past longer than we have been in the present by now! I swear, I will try to condense the rest of it so we can get back to the other sides. Also, sorry that it's late! I also didn't draw a picture for this one so... I kinda just chose a random one I drew because why the heck not? So yeah... Hope you enjoy the chapter!

"Emile…" The pixie turned back to the sorceress, his dead mate rested in his arms. Tears were visible on his tiny cheeks. "I'm…" Talyn choked back a sob, "I'm so sorry…" 

The group had exited the cave a few minutes prior after tying up the demon to rot. It was Emile's idea. He couldn't stand the thought of having another death tonight, no matter the side. Talyn had reluctantly agreed.

Roman still hasn't spoken since the events occured. Silent tears crept down his face as he was lost in thought, gazing at the nearby pond. A fly landed on his arm, causing him to jump from the sudden contact.

Emile gazed at his fellow pixie's frozen face. A small laugh escaped his lips, causing the other's focus to land on him. They glanced at each other, unsure of what to do. Emile bent down and seemed to be speaking to the statue, "You-you idiot. Why? Why did you have to do it? Why did you have to say goodbye?" The laughing stopped and were replaced with sobs. "Why couldn't you let me take your place? Why did you have to be so wonderful? Why? Why did you have to be such an amazing mate and make my life have meaning? Why did you have to go?" 

Emile clung to the frozen figure, forever to look like they are falling. Terrence's mouth was open, unable to have gotten out his last words. A small smile rested on his face, as if he was gently reasuring that he wouldn't have it any other way. "And… and the worst part is… now I have to tell the girls…" Talyn and Roman had to strain to hear Emile whisper those words to his lost mate.

"Who are the girls?" Talyn gently asked, afraid of hurting the pixie further. Emile looked up, then squeezed his eyes shut.

"Lola and Mimi. Our… our daughters. Twins." Talyn cursed herself. She had no idea they had children! She wouldn't have asked them to come if she knew!

The fact that they had children confused Roman. He shuffled his feet and wrapped his arms around his torso, wanting to speak, but not wanting to interrupt. Emile turned to him, sensing he wanted to ask something, and nodded at him to continue. "Um.. how do you have children? I thought you were both male…"

Emile let out a quiet chuckle. "Pixies choose a flower, then bless it with their magic. They will be bonded to each other through the ritual. It is the couple's job to care for the flower until it blooms. When it blooms, a baby pixie is born. The parents' genders don't matter. It is very uncommon, but our flower produced two pixies. Two baby girls. They are about seven years old." He looked down at his mate. "My how Terrence loves… loved them. Oh my Hera, how am I supposed to tell them?" He placed his hand over his face, quietly pleading for this to be a dream.

A silence fell over the group as they mourned the loss of their friend. Eventually, Emile stood up and lowered his mate onto the soft grass. "We better get going… if we want to help Roman and get him back in time…" he flew over to Hercules and sat on the horse's mane. Roman and Talyn shared a look before following him. No one noticed, however, that Talyn swooped down, grabbed the tiny statue, and swiftly placed it in her robe pocket. 

"Emile-" Talyn tried one last time.

"Please don't… I… I can't… please…" Talyn nodded and got on the steed. 

They rode for hours, long into morning, when they reached the mouth of a large cave. Tying up Hercules to a nearby tree, they gently crept towards the entrance. Roman released a heavy breath, "What do we do now?" Talyn and Emile shared a glance, as if she was making sure he was really okay with this. When he nodded, she turned back to Roman.

"We go in."

756 Words!
Um... Banapple. Boom. My favorite word.
...yeah... I'm awkward... Anywho, thank you for sticking with this story! I hope you are enjoying it! I love you all! Thank you for all you do! Thank you for getting out of bed in the morning, thank you for eating today, thank you for being brave enough to face another day. You are all beautiful warriors and I'm so proud of every single one of you. I really do care about you. Hope you have an amazing day/night ladies, lords, and non binary royalty!

💖 Maybay4