April, the Mother
The Mother nods at Gong-Ju’s words.
"If it were me, they’d have had my heart."
She pats her shoulder, giving Gemini a look as if to offer a seat.
Lacey may be surprised to see that, while her own presence had no detrimental effect on the oni, April’s presence seems to have aroused their attention.
Pink petals as large as Mountain Face himself, unfurl like curtains from outside the cave. As a group of oni slowly regain their senses, you notice ivy on the walls of the cave. Pink blossoms—identical to the kind Murasaki had picked earlier (which April later replanted)—sprout from the climbing ivy.
Murasaki notices a look in Matt’s eye—that violent look the other oni had when they were actively trying to murder you—but when May moves to meet you halfway, the demon is again too overwhelmed by her.
Even Murasaki feels the air is pure. There’s no stink of the oni’s beard, and the cave isn’t stuffy as it should be with such a crowd. (A woman who lived alone in a cave for so long knows best of the wonders isolation and ventilation can do to make cave-life palatable!)
The Maiden herself is pristine, clad in an outfit made of leaves, vines forming her waistband and tiara. Her feet are bare. Soft, warm moss grows wherever she steps to protect her from the cold stone floor. Her skin is immaculate. The plants that clothe her are alive, and the leafy gown is a modest ankle length.
Her eyes brighten like little suns when Murasaki mentions her mother is here.
May, the Maiden
"Oh! You are so kind! Thank you for escorting my Mother."
April steps beside Murasaki. The Maiden’s eyes tear up.
"I’m sorry I was unable to call Grammy. Once the giant let me pass under his train tunnel, I was no longer in the Massachusetts-Holes. But this place responds so well to my magic, even the local men told me my heart belongs here. Aren’t they lovely?"
Matt looks as if about to pounce.
"If we wait a bit, I believe King Richard is on his way."
April gives her daughter a hug, bringing her daughter in so much her face is practically smothered in the taller woman’s breasts.
The moment May’s eyes are shielded by the collar of her mother’s jacket, a thorned vine from the cave wall whips around Matt’s neck and yanks hard!—he is swept away! His head and body slam against the wall, separately. The oni who are up baring their fangs are quickly silenced by vines bursting through their chests. (The oni still under May’s spell are spared, at the moment.)
April, the Mother
"Oh, May," she sobs,
"I’m afraid the king won’t be coming. But it’s not your fault. I’m proud of you, but how about we go home now…"
Pink petals rise from floor to ceiling, enveloping The Mother, The Maiden and The Bombshells inside a protective dome.
May, the Maiden
The Maiden looks up at the giant flower petals in awe.
"Oh, Mum! You found my Mayflower variant. I call it the Aprilflower—it responds to your magic. I knew you still had it in you, Mum. I never stopped believing in you!"
April pulls her daughter into a smothering hug again. Spatters of blood start to appear on the dome, soaking through from the outside. Clawed hands try in vain to tear into the colossal petals. Eventually the claw shaped bumps retract. More blood.
April, the Mother
"It’s not the flower that makes my magic strong, child. It’s you. I will do anything to protect you, my dear."
May, the Maiden
"Oh, Mum!"
•
•
Dying Oni
"Mmmmph..?!"
