~ Mimus polyglottos ~

There he stood, basking in the sunlight in front of tall stain glass windows. The white light shone through the glass and left small rainbows on the red and gold carpet. Between windows were large stone pillars decorated with simple patters and family  portraits. People walked by him, greeting him with a bow of their head.

Outside, women in long dresses scurried to their small huts as people walked around the large market.

A large group of men walked by and from what he could see, they had stopped in front of his castle's gates. He frowned, keeping an eye on them as the Goldenrods situated at the gate let them in. He counted in his head the amount of seconds it would take for his assistant to tell him he had guests.

It took eight.

"Lord Oleander, you have guests." The taller man turned and faced the said boy. He was short with a brown mop of hair that sat atop of his head. Today, he was wearing a black and purple cape with black slacks and top. Compared to Oleander, he was dressed quite casually.

Oleander straightened up, putting his one hand in the other. His slicked back hair and red coat not only showed wealth, but power. He was a tall man with ripping muscles and with his sharp tongue he was someone everyone feared.

Oleander was good with words, not only that but he was good at everything. He mastered techniques from his father and was able to throw him off of his own thrown. Oleander was so powerful he built his own nation from the ground up. Some would even call him a genius.

"Yes.. I could see them from the window. What business do they have that's so important that they must enter my castle without permission?"

"I-I'm sorry my Lord-" the boy quickly bowed, then looked back up at the man shyly.

"My Lord, they are here to discuss the things that have been happening in Rhododendron.. They're waiting in your office."

"I will see them at once." He ordered before turning his back to the boy and walking away.

He walked down the wide hallway and passed a multitude of doors. Each Goldenrod nodded his head as he walked by, till he stoped at a large carved door. A large tiger stood fiercely, baring its teeth as if it was a warning to others about what was behind the door.

Oleander pushed open the door and was greeted by a group of men in his office. Standing there, the smell of smoke wavering off of the men penetrated his nostrils, causing him to frown. The men stayed silent as Oleander walked by and took a seat at his desk. He briefly looked through the papers that were placed on his desk before clearing his throat.

"What has caused such a ruckus..May I ask?"

The burly man from before looked up at the tall man in front of him, feeling once again powerless. His blue dotted yellow jacket seemed to choke him even more as he tried to collect himself.

"There was a fire.. Just a couple of townspeople had caused it, but don't worry, we took care of them-"

Oleander slammed his fists down on the table, glaring at the men in front of him. He grabbed onto the papers that were placed on his desk and tossed them aside, causing them to fly across the room. The men sat back, looking at Oleander in shock. The fat man coughed nervously into his handkerchief.

"Now you listen." Oleander leaned forward, pointing a finger at them. "You either tell me everything, or i'll have your bodies hanging in front of the castle."

The burly man looked at his comrades.

"A couple of days ago, a man, rumoured to be the Ruler of Viscaria came into town. No one knows why, but he brought something with him-"

"What? What did he bring?"

"No one knows.. But whatever it is, it's bringing Nightshade back to life- That's what has been causing chaos! He's been staying with this kid named Phlox. He's the towns mechanic, a nobody."

Oleander looked down at the man, taking everything in. The Ruler of Viscaria had left his own land? But for what? Oleander had to find him to figure it out.

"Boy! Come in here." he called out and his small assistant walked in, looking rather alarmed at the state of Oleander office.

"I want the Goldenrods in Rhododendron to find Delphinium. I want them to bring him to me, alive."

The boy nodded his head before excusing himself from the room.

Oleander looked back at the men and with a swift hand he ushered them out of the room too.

▲▼▲

Phlox had made it back safely.

Everyone had looked at him weirdly as he stormed passed them, rushing to the kitchen, only to pull out a bottle of liquor from the fridge. Delphinium let him drink the first few, but when the fourth was pulled out, he set a large hand on Phlox's back. The shorter man stopped, and with a sigh he placed the bottle back.

On his way back home he had stopped at a small stream, one of the only living things left in Nightshade. The water trickled down the slippery rocks and echoed softly into the crisp air. Phlox felt as if each drop of water cleansed him of his past, of his regrets.

When he got up from his spot all of his pain came rushing back just like the water, causing him to fall to his knees.

Delphinium pulled him out of his dreadful thoughts, "We have a long journey ahead of us, do not stray from our goal, my friend."

At the mention of being called a mere ‘friend’, Phlox seemed to have started to pull himself together. Having a Ruler call him a friend was an honour. Phlox straightened himself up and shut the fridge door, then slowly turned to face the Ruler.

"Pardon my actions.. I clearly wasn't thinking." Phlox shook his head before continuing, "I spoke with an old friend of mine.. She has agreed to help us leave."

Delphinium dropped the hand from the others' shoulder and nodded his head, urging him to continue. He noticed the emotions swirling in Phlox's eyes and the way he looked around frantically.  Finally, Phlox finished,

"She said to meet once the clock strikes ten.. That gives us 4 hours."

"You should rest.."

Phlox chuckled at that, then walked passed him and out the door, leaving Delphinium in the kitchen.

Mallow and Laburnum left soon after Phlox, placing themselves on the roof of the house, leaving Delphinium inside.They sat beside each other, both their gazes on the moon high in the sky. The light illuminated the trees and neighbouring houses, but also one another. Mallow fiddled with the sharp arrow-like weapon hanging on the inside of the cloth the pair wore. The sharp metal was engraved with slight grooves along the edges and was attached to a long string; all being hid under the cloak, making for a great surprise. Laburnum turned to the other and slowly lifted an arm, wrapping it around Mallow's shoulders, pulling the smaller one down onto Laburnum's clothed lap. Not a word was uttered during the affectionate embrace. After being separated into crates for months, they have truly missed one another’s presence.

They were greatly thankful towards Delphinium, and swore to protect him with their lives at all costs.

For as long as they could remember, it has only been both of them. They grew up not like normal children. They had to rely on one another for food and protection.

Trust was something that people had to earn, but it comes a time where trust is the closest thing to hope one can ever get. Although Mallow and Laburnum have not said a word, deep down, they were glad to have met the people that surround them now, even under such circumstances.

The pair watched Phlox through the small window in the garage. From what they could see, he has been pacing around for a while. He would pick things up from a pile on the floor or on his desk, look at them, then dispose of them. Finally, he found what he was looking for and went back to work.

Hours later, Phlox was back on the couch. The house was filled once again with quiet breathing and tossing and turning.

The odd pair were now laying down on the sandpaper roof, gazing up at the bright sky. Mallow's head on Laburnum's chest. Soon enough they too had also fallen asleep.