The crowd shrieked in delight as the Hero made his triumphant return to the capital. With the 37th Demon General God, or whatever, defeated the world would enter into an era of peace and prosperity, no longer under the shadow and threat of destruction and doom.

The Hero was pretty pleased with this, riding into the city astride his horse, his travel and adventure companions riding at his side. Thelyn the elf ranger, Grimrock the dwarf berserker, and Falstaff the grand mage all looked as regal and proud and sure of themselves as the Hero felt. As they entered the city, an honor guard of royal knights and solders flanked them and they began the parade march though the capital, with cheering crowds and roaring citizens shouting their praises and thanks to the Hero and his companions as confetti and streamers floated through the air. Music played, people rejoiced, there was dancing and singing in the streets. Tavern doors were thrown open, offering free drinks for the rest of the day while the grand temple bells rang clarion and bright.

Pathetic Baby-Man was a rather handsome looking youth, despite his... Less than stellar name, and now he had proven to the world that he was not the childish wimp that his father had named him to be.

"The first thing I'm going to do..." He said turning his head to face his party mates, "Is ask the king to let me re-name myself." He said, laughing brightly. The others joined him in his laughter, gay and jubilant as they rode slowly through the streets, waving to the crowd.

But there was something that bothered the Hero, as they passed a familiar, run-down, house toward the edge of the market district.

"Huh." The Hero murmured as his eyes scanned the crowd intently.

She wasn't there.

She wasn't there to see his return. And something about the lack of her presence irked him mildly.

Maybe, he thought, she'll be waiting at the palace. They would certainly let her of all people into the palace to see his return.

The party finally reached the center of the capital; the grand castle of the king of the realm stood silent and resolute among the temples and houses that surrounded it, and they made their way into the gates, past the yell and din of the excited crowd into the quieter interior of the grand palace. The palace was as ornate and gilded as the Hero remembered, the first time he visited, when the king sneered at him because of his name and sent him on his quest.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Yeah well, let's see the king's face now.

As the party dismounted their horses in the courtyard and made their way into the throne room, the king stood up and bowed deeply.

"Pathetic Baby-Man, you have my deepest apologies and gratefulness for the actions of you and your companions." The king said. "If there are any requests you have, ask them now and I will grant them within my power." The bearded royal says, holding his head low.

The Hero paused. Just as he thought to ask to have his name changed, something stuck out to him.

She wasn't here either.

The Hero's lips curled down into a frown of bewilderment, which made his compatriots all turn to look upon him as well.

"I do have a request I'd like to make." The Hero said after a beat. "But I also have a question. Where is my mother?"

The king fidgeted in the silence that followed; a strangled and heavy quiet fell over the throne room, every guard, noble, courtier, and servant going painfully still and daring not speak.

"You must not have heard the news." The king said solemnly. "Your mother fell ill while you were fighting the Demon General God's forces. I am sorry to say that she passed away while you were gone."

"..."

The Hero blinked.

"Oh." The Hero finally said, awkward and strained.

After 37 lives it didn't exactly bother him so much. His real mother, back in the world he had come from, was likely still quietly mourning her son getting hit by some random truck. But he couldn't quite feel moved on hearing that his mother in this world had passed on. To him, she was not his true, original, mother.

"That sucks." The Hero finally said...

❧

Mau's eyes snapped open, but everything was bleary. She was groggy and confused, breath coming quick and shivery as she tried to piece the dream back together in her head.

No. It wasn't a dream.

It was a memory.

A memory of one of her past lives, and it was both vivid and unforgiving.

She shifted, only to realize that she was barely able to move, held tight in the warm embrace of her slumbering mother of this life.

"Ah..." Mau breathed softly, as to not wake the woman.

There had been a time where Mau had thought that she wasn't really this woman's child. But as her sleeping mother held her close, warm, she couldn't help but curl her fingers tightly into the woman's nightdress.

"Mn..." Mau bit her lip. Something was off. Her eyes were burning.

And as though, even while asleep, her mother sensed her mounting discomfort, the woman only held Mau tighter against her body, protective of her young. She really did love Mau, with every ounce of her heart and soul.

Why was it, that only after so many reincarnations, that the Hero realized something so very important just now. Previously the Hero felt mildly ambivalent towards the women that the Hero did not view as mother. But now. Here. The Hero understood...

They were not an imposter to ninety-nine other mothers across so many other worlds.

"Mmf..." Mau whined, struggling in her Mother's grasp briefly before she buried her face against the sleeping woman.

The first sob made Mother's ear flick, twitching as she slowly roused, cracking open an eye to peer down at the kitten shivering in her arms.

"Shhh... Shhh..." Mother purred as Mau bawled into her shoulder, holding the girl tightly in her loving arms.