Departing the general and his sister, Axel and Victoria had been sat inside the majestic carriage belonging to Grove, with Envy being wedged into a seat next to the stern driver. Axel had been looking out of his window with a luscious green upon his young reflection on the glass. His eyes had passionately pounced onto a blossoming field of roses, but his sight had quickly been poisoned by a thick, dark and mature set of green flowers which overarched the budding roses.

"Is something wrong?" Asked Victoria, lurking behind his shoulder with an unnerving smile and a pulsing set of curious eyes.

"Huh...no! I am fine." Axel jumped as if he had been in a hazy fantasy.

"I can see your reflection." Noted Victoria.

"What does it say?" Axel's ears twitched.

"Most of it tells me, you are in love. Mwahahaha! How sweet!" The thought warmed Victoria's heart.

"Most?" Defensively questioned Axel.

"Your eyes. They are not a match with that crumpled face of yours. Your eyes sparkle, but not comfortably." Observed Victoria.

"I'm not in love!" Axel looked at her angrily.

"Say whatever will make you happy, but don't lie!" Scorned Victoria.

"Sorry. It's only half a lie. I don't know how I feel. I feel like a war is going on inside me." Confessed Axel.

"You're so very smart, Axel. But not at the things that matter the most." Victoria chuckled. "One day, perhaps when I'm gone, you will grow up and something will awaken you." She said with a sigh.

"You're not going to leave us. After we deal with Envy, I will personally help you." Reassuringly said Axel.

"I can handle it myself. You have your commitments at Bournington to follow through with now." Said Victoria.

"No." Axel said, his eyes intertwined with hers. "I must help you. My commitments require it. You must know that I once despised you so, so very much. I envied you, your power." He boldly admitted.

"And what now?" Intrigued, Victoria asked.

"Now...? I suppose...I idolise you." Bright-eyed, Axel said.

"Or perhaps you pity me?" Chuckling, Victoria suggested.

"No, I respect you! I misjudged you completely." Exclaimed Axel.

A muffled chuckle had come from the front of the carriage, as through the covers, Envy had listened in to their conversation and closed his eyes blissfully. He held his shackled hand out to a patch of pale blue sky, which he clasped eagerly, passionately, ravishingly. This captured Grove's attention slightly as he left a single eye on the madman's actions.

"Why...?" Envy's voice croaked out.

"Edgar, what are you mumbling about?" Asked Grove.

"My passion for Eliza is long gone. Why did I ever go on this wild rampage?" Envy pondered. "Ah right, I'm a sin! I'm supposed to be evil!" He cried out.

"Edgar, you are going to be punished. No matter how much you regret your actions. I'm sorry." Said Grove.

"I don't regret my actions. I did them with reason. But now, now I lack reason." Quickly, Envy corrected him.

"No, no, you're wrong. You and Eliza were an absolutely perfect couple. How can you tell me now, you do not love her?" Grove asked.

"I guess after not seeing her for so long, I've grown to change my feelings." Said Envy.

"You can't change your feelings for her just like that. Absence makes you cherish a thing more, the longer the wait, the better." Wisely said Grove.

"Hmph. What is wrong with you? If I have no reason, I won't be a nuisance for you and everybody." Said Envy.

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"Diana and I have always been slightly jealous of you two. You guys were everything we are not. The perfect couple." Ignoring him, Grove carried on.

"Jealousy is a cruel trait to have, trust me, Grove, I know..." Edgar laughed. "It ruined my perfect life. My perfect future. My perfect legacy." He said, his words fading with sorrow.

"Who am I speaking to here?" Grove placed his sights on his former friend with concern.

"Gah! I don't know." Exhaled Envy.

"Well, whoever I am speaking to, I know they dislike their powers?" Grove gathered.

"Perhaps. But I will soon be rid of them. She will help me." Said Envy.

"She? The witch you mean?" Inquired Grove.

"No. Not her." Replied Envy.

"Right..." Grove said with suspicion. "Tell me, Edgar. How did you manage to escape Marlborough?" He asked.

"She helped me escape. And now I have to help her." Said Envy.

"I see. A deal was made." Grove noted. "Time will tell if you made a good decision." He said.

The two of them had set their eyes on the daunting Greenhouse which they had arrived at. Both Axel and Victoria had carried Envy through the refreshing warmth of air that trailed the skies, towards the dungeons - his place of refuge to sit in despair. Grove had remained in the gardens of the Greenhouse, where he had tended to his carriage. Once done with their task, Axel and Victoria had joined the living room, a place which had gathered all members of the house that were awake. They had all been anxious in thought. Especially, Lux had settled his fine eyes on the emergence of blistering winds that were coming through the rays of clouds outside. He had turned to greet the returning guests, but his hairs startled upwards at the crackling cough that came down from the clouds. Thunder. It had silenced the room, only for a second, as they all soon returned to their hopeful plans of journeying back to their homes. Axel had joined Alsop, and Victoria had longed for her lover - finding him and clasping his hands. Lux had wandered back towards the window, where he soon found company in the aura of Maxwell, now a little relieved of his tiresome power usage. And with him, little Elsa had been hugging him tight to the leg whilst he carefully played with her soft hair.

"Mr Buchanan, will you be returning to Bournington with us?" Maxwell asked.

"Something tells me not to go there right now." Lux said, his words coinciding with a cluster of lightning bolts.

"I see. The weather is becoming quite bad, no?" Maxwell asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Yes, it is. Let's hope for a safe journey." Wished Lux.

"Would it not be wiser to travel another day?" Maxwell had concern conceive his face.

"No. I fear something has happened. We all must leave today." Lux said with worrisome eyes.

"What has happened? Why are you not going to come with us?" Maxwell fearfully asked, his stance uneven.

"You must go find out what has happened. And for me, I am an unnecessary luxury for you to carry around." Lux said, half sarcastically, half energetically.

"I will not doubt your worries." Maxwell briefly said.

His attention had become more relaxed at the sound of the others gathering near them.

"How will Envy be dealt with?" Thomas had asked, his arm around Victoria.

"He will go to Bournington." Axel had quickly chimed in. "The general has given us the all-clear. He is staying at Greenwich Palace, leaving me in charge." He said.

"Then I shall go to Astrea with Victoria. We have some business to attend to. If that's fine with the general?" Asked Thomas.

"I'm not too sure if Alsop and myself will be enough to manage a whole city." Axel hesitantly said.

"Nonsense, you two will be fine! You have the likes of Fred and Chadwick back there." Assured Thomas.

"Perhaps that will be enough. Annette will be there too." Said Axel.

"Let's not forget Captain Magnolia as well." Alsop added.

"Have I been forgotten?" Maxwell laughingly asked.

"No!" Thomas exclaimed. "Well, yes. I have a task for you. A task that will drag you away from Bournington." He confessed.

"A task? I doubt I can accept if my hands are busy with this little lady here." Maxwell had his thoughts rightfully on Elsa.

"You can bring her along with you if you would like." Victoria suggested.

"What I would like, is to find the young girl's mother." Maxwell sternly said.

"My mother?" Elsa softly thought.

"Your journey may help you find her." Thomas reassuringly said.

"How so?" Intrigued, Maxwell asked.

"This task is concerned with someone who will likely know the young girl's mother." Thomas had carefully crafted his words.

"I see. Where will we have to go?" Asked Maxwell.

"I must speak to you in private soon. But you will need some weaponry." Said Thomas.

"I can lend you the location of the best blacksmith there is." Victoria added.

"Second best. Unless your friend is the legendary Doom Forger!" Alsop leapt with correction.

"No, Alsop! He isn't real..." Axel tried to calm his friend down.

"Spot on, Alsop. It is the 'Doom Forger'. You must meet them, Maxwell." Victoria said, leaving both Alsop and Axel rather stunned.

"I must think then..." Maxwell said, his eyes on the sky. "If I need weaponry, Elsa will surely be in danger." He added in thought.