Gwyn, Artero, Elise, Teddy, Myria, Leo, and Astrin were all transported, unknowingly on their behalf. The next thing the party knew, they were in a heavily decorated living room.
Astrin was the first to speak.
"What just happened?"
The blue-haired elf held her head. She was not the only one who was dizzy at that moment.
Artero tried to stand, but found the action extremely difficult.
"Some magic I'm not aware of."
"Oh, dearies! You are awake!" A loud and motherly woman entered the living room. "These big, handsome knights led you in here and said that I can't talk to anyone about what's happening." She leaned in close. "So, what's going on?"
"Mom…" Teddy groaned. "It's like a secret mission or something!"
"A secret mission? Oh, my goodness! You'll have to tell me all about it!"
She was extremely jubilant. The woman was as tall as Teddy; in other words, she was short. She scurried around like a mouse. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she wore an apron that read "World's Best Mom."
"This calls for my world-famous honey buns!"
She bolted into the kitchen as everyone finally started to recover from the spell's effect.
Artero braced himself to his feet.
"Teddy, what did my sister tell you?"
A look of horror appeared on his face, recalling her words.
"She b-b-b-asically said that we're going to hang out here for a while, until she comes up with a plan," he stuttered, not wanting to recall the memory any more than he had to.
Elise's head was a throbbing mess, like nails were being driven into her skull.
"That's it?"
"Well… what you didn't hear was what she'd do to me if I told anyone other than you guys."
"Teddy!" his mother shouted. "Are you some big secret agent now? This is so exciting, I may faint!" She looked scared for a second. "But I mustn't! Or the honey buns will burn!"
She ran back to the kitchen.
"Teddy… your mom is like…" Myria trailed off.
"Clingy?" Teddy asked with a tinge of annoyance in his voice.
"Like really cool, actually," Myria said.
Teddy looked embarrassed and turned red.
"Oh… yeah."
"Come on, you missed your crowning, King and Queen of the Wintumnos Dance!" Astrin threw her arms around both of them, eyebrows raising repeatedly. "Or would you rather have it that you two kissed?"
"What?!" Myria and Teddy shouted simultaneously.
Teddy's mom poked her head into the living room, her eyes filled with bewilderment.
"Did you just say my little Teddy was the Wintumnos King?!"
She ran over and picked up her son, hugged him, and flung him around with surprising strength. Everyone looked on in surprise.
"Yeah! But we have no idea how…" Astrin admitted.
His mom grabbed his cheeks.
"Because he is just the cutest and bestest boy there ever was!"
Teddy felt as though death would be preferable to having his friends see his mom treat him this way.
"Yeah, how did you win Teddy?" Elise asked. "Wasn't Anastasia trying to have Gwyn be crowned the Queen?"
Gwyn nodded.
"I had a feeling she was trying to pull something." A smile reached both of her cheeks. "Remember when all that garbage got dumped on her?"
That memory lived pleasantly in all of their minds.
"Yeah, no wonder she hates you, Gwyn," Elise said, smiling.
"Why's that?"
"Because even when she gets covered in garbage, you still manage to grab the attention away from her."
Everyone laughed heartily.
Gwyn found a seat on a well-worn couch.
"Yeah, fuck her. Honestly. Anastasia deserved that, especially since she tried to pull that on me, wearing the same dress? Like… she has issues."
When she sat on the couch, it felt as though she would fall through it. Gwyn looked at a photo on the small table beside the couch. She lifted it and noticed a much younger Teddy, with his mother and father in a family photo.
"She is terrible," Astrin admitted.
"That's putting it mildly," Leo said.
"But she did do one thing right," Myria said with an uncharacteristic enthusiasm.
Everyone turned to look at the dark-haired elf.
"I've got to hear this," Artero said with doubt in his voice.
"She brought us all together," Myria said.
Astrin dove and hugged Myria.
"Awwwwww. You're right, Myria! I knew you loved us."
"Hey, get off me! I just thought—"
Myria was suddenly in a dog pile, with all of the friends holding one another, and Myria tried to wiggle free.
"I love you guys!" Astrin said.
"Agreed," Leo seconded.
Gwyn, although she participated in the dog pile, a small part of her felt like a stranger in her own body, as if she didn't deserve this, as if this life wasn't meant for her.
What does the King of Terror know about my dad?
"I love you guys too."
"I'm going to cry!"
A voice shouted from outside the pile.
It was Teddy's mom.
"Don't cry, Mrs. Freckle," Astrin said consolingly.
"Just that bitch Anastasia bullied my Teddy relentlessly. He would come home crying and—"
"Mom!" Teddy shouted.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about, sweetie." She tussled his hair. "She is an evil person, plain and simple… with what she said about your father, I'll never forgive her."
"What did she say?" Elise asked.
"Nothing I care to repeat." A ding in the kitchen sent Teddy's mom sprinting back. "They're ready!"
She soon came out with three dozen honey buns.
"I think you made a few too many," Leo said, inspecting her baking. They were golden brown on the edges, and a thick layer of translucent sauce coated the baked goods. "They do look delicious, however."
"Speak for yourself, Brother. I may take a dozen for myself."
Astrin proceeded to take three.
"Eat up, cuties! I can always make more."
Something was oddly familiar about the bite.
Then she remembered her mother's cooking and how she'd forgotten what it tasted like.
Watching the jubilant small woman express such joy at everyone enjoying her cooking, unintentionally brought back painful memories.
Gwyn covered her mouth as she chewed. Trying to stop the tears from flowing.
"Are you okay, sweetie? Is it no good?"
Teddy's mom rushed over to the young woman and put her hand on Gwyn's shoulder.
"It's really good."
She tried to stop the tears, but now all of her friends surrounded her.
"So good they make you cry," Teddy said, putting a hand on Gwyn.
"Yeah."
The fond memories faded. Something about seeing Teddy's mom reminded Gwyn of her past, and it was a poignant moment of remembrance, a reminder of her objective to get back home, no matter what it took.
"Mrs. Freckle, these are sooooo freaking good," Astrin said after finishing her third Hunny Bun.
"Oh, stop." Teddy's mom waved her hand bashfully. "And please, call me Darlene."
"Your cooking is far superior to average," Leo said.
"Thank you?"
"This is better than my servants," Artero said, grabbing another.
"We get it. You're rich," Teddy said jealously.
"Teddy!"
"Mom, it's not fair, he literally gets all the girls."
"Didn't you just win the dance?"
"Yeah, but I cheated."
"You cheated?" Everyone shouted.
"Yeah, Artero asked to have me make him the King and Elise the Queen so that she wouldn't feel bad, but I figured since I could make him the King, why not me?"
"You did what?!" Artero shouted, hoisting Teddy into the air.
"Yeah, but in my opinion, I thought the best-looking girl should've won. So, I wanted Myria to win."
The room was silent, stunned by surprise.
"But, ya know, the whole King of Terror thing happened, I regretted it immediately, you would've probably liked blasting it away all while looking cool and stuff."
"I don't know if that's true," Elise said. "Probably would've pissed himself on stage."
"I wouldn't have!" Artero shouted. "I think I would've pushed you into the path of the garbage."
Elise looked condescendingly at Artero.
"Oh, you would've?"
Before the next insult could be uttered, Teddy's mom interrupted the argument.
"Are you two married?"
Elise looked somewhat offended.
"What? No!"
"You certainly argue like you are. It reminds me of when Teddy's father was still around."
"He got eaten by a devil frog, right?" Gwyn asked.
She nodded.
"He was a great man, as a Whisperer, he was quite important, but instead of serving royalty, he usually answered requests from local villages."
"Yeah, he'd do it for free as well!" Teddy shouted.
His mom nodded.
"Yes, he would. I'd complain that the bills don't pay themselves. He'd tell me that they had nothing to give, and if he wasn't going to help them, who would?"
"Your father sounds like a great man, Teddy," Artero said.
"He was the best," Teddy said, clutching his mom's hand.
"But that means I'm on the market." She gave a coy laugh. "So if you know any hotties looking for a girl who can bake, send them my way."
"Mom!"
"What? Moms need love, too!"
Everyone, but Teddy, let out a chuckle.
They conversed for hours. Waiting for General Strangulation to return with news on the situation. Eventually, everyone went to bed in the living room, with Elise and Gwyn sharing the couch.
Early the next morning, a pounding on the door jolted them awake.
Teddy's mom excitedly walked over and opened the door. General Strangulation ducked through the door frame and greeted everyone. Rodrick was right behind her.
"Get up, everyone. We have an urgent assignment."
"An assignment!" Teddy's mom shook with excitement. "What is it?"
Strangulation looked awkward.
"Not for you, ma'am. Thank you for keeping them here."
"Oh, it was my pleasure. I have some leftover honey buns if you want any."
"N-no thanks," Strangulation said, trying to be polite.
"I'll take one!" Rodrick said.
"Of course!"
She ran to fetch him one, as if her life depended on it.
General Strangulation sighed as Rodrick eagerly took the honey bun like a large child with candy.
"As I was saying, I—"
"This is so good!" Rodrick shouted.
Strangulation turned and stared daggers at him.
"S-sorry."
She sighed even louder this time, irritation clear in her voice.
"As I was saying. The King of Terror sent a messenger last night shortly after the Dance, naturally requesting our surrender. But it also requested he meet with Gwynevere Grim specifically."
Gwyn jolted upright from the compressed couch, Elise draped over her, still sleeping.
"What's that about me?"
"The King of Terror requests your presence. Unfortunately, we have no choice."
The General wore a straight expression; it was impossible to tell what she was feeling.
"Can't we just like… send a message."
"I am not allowing a discussion of this matter. I will send two Chosen Ones for protection if things were to go south. I am specifically not allowed to attend, but I will escort you to his kingdom."
Elise rubbed her eyes, trying to fend off her fatigue.
"And why are we doing this?"
"Do not make me repeat myself." Strangulation then stepped towards the door. "The meeting is in three days. We leave today at noon. I will come for you."
The General vanished.
"Wow! That was so dramatic!" Teddy's mom was bursting with excitement. "You get to meet the King of Terror!"
Gwyn felt an anxiety begin to fester. She choked out a laugh.
"Is that supposed to be a good thing?"
"I suspect he wouldn't kill you if it were a meeting, things such as that are frowned upon and promote deceitful tactics," Leo said knowledgably. "If he were to kill you, I feel he would've already."
"Well, he has already made some attempts on her life," Artero said.
"Oh. Perhaps he has… um."
Leo didn't finish his sentence.
Elise touched Gwyn affectionately.
"Are you okay?"
Gwyn appeared as though she was staring into space. Every scenario played out in her head with what might happen. She then looked around the room. The decoration, the fireplace that hasn't been lit in who knows how long. The family portraits.
She wondered if she'd ever see her family again. This is what this meeting was about—her father.
Why? Why me? Why does the King of Terror want to talk with me?