Matera Shariee demanded that Ludwig meet with her in the Rose Garden of the palace, for there wasn't anywhere he could go without being noticed and berated. He understood their aggression, but it did not make him feel any better at all.

He showed up early, of course. He wanted to make a good impression. He wanted to show Matera Shariee that this meeting was important to him. Early was always on time, and on time was always late. He'd taught Matera that as well, and yet, she had yet to show up. He wondered if she remembered anything that he'd taught her when she was young. He wondered if she remembered him at all.

He hadn't thought it possible before, that she might forget. He wondered what things Pythagoras had told her about him, what lies he'd filled her precious little head with. He shook those thoughts away and decided to think on the positive side. If Matera didn't remember him, then she didn't remember the bad parts about him either, and they would get to start over--if that was what she wanted.

He had been at a loss for what to wear for their encounter, but eventually decided on a wine purple himation with gold borders, fashioned by the wool Matera had weaved just for him long ago when she was just a girl. It was exceptionally well made; Euanthe had taught her well. Matera had tried to teach Ludwig the ways of the loom, but he found it much too complicated. It was somewhat like programming, the way she pressed different combinations of treadles in order to come up with a beautiful design. He wondered if she'd remember it.

She finally emerged from the building. She gave Rose Quartz a thumbs up before proceeding down the stone steps. She must've assumed Rose would go back inside, but she stayed and sat down at one of the tables on the terrace, where she'd be able to monitor them from above.

The last time he'd really seen her, Matera had been wearing a peplos and her little feet were bare but now she wore a mature long, layered cream dress that fell off the shoulder and matching gladiator sandals. He suddenly felt over exposed. He found it jarring, seeing her face again. Even though it was obvious she'd blossomed into a beautiful young lady, he could only see her as a tiny infant, squealing for some milk. It was obvious she was that tiny baby but...that beautiful stranger didn't really feel like her.

Matera Shariee wiped her clammy hands on her dress. She'd been so distracted by freaking out and worrying that she would be late that she'd actually made herself late. Rose assured her that her father would probably understand, and that he was likely just as nervous. Matera hoped she was right.

The night before, she'd dreamed that the Emperor would be annoyed that she'd demanded to see him, and that he would brush her off and pressure her to "make it quick". She'd dreamed that he'd confirm that he had wanted to get rid of her. He'd yell at her, and say that even after all this time, after everything he'd done, she was still able to find him again, like a stubborn pimple that wouldn't just go away. And then she'd dreamed that she was a pimple. He'd grabbed her between his giant fingers and squeezed until her bones snapped and her body exploded into a firework of bones and flesh.

When she'd told Rose about it, she had said that it was more of a nightmare than a dream, and that she should refrain from watching gory horror movies (Modern World inventions that she'd come to adore) before bedtime. Rose assured her she was likely overreacting. As Matera Shariee traversed the garden, she held onto Rose's words hopefully. Her stomach flipped as she approached him. It was one thing to see him through monitors, and another to see him in person. He was older now, but so was she.

"Hey." She said awkwardly.

"Hi." He replied timidly.

There was a bit of heavy silence before he said, "It's been a while."

He fidgeted with the fabric of his himation, hoping she would notice and remember it.

"Yeah..." She trailed off. Even though Ludwig had already heard her speak on TV, it was still strange hearing her voice. Her speech was accented like that of a native Clout person. When she was young, her accent had been more like his. He used to find her voice annoying, when she'd repeat his name over and over again to get his attention. Now he could only hope she loved him now as she did then.

"...Why did you abandon me?" She asked directly. Shocked, he opened and closed his mouth as he chose his words carefully. She was so straight to the point, that she reminded him of himself when he'd learned she had been kidnapped.

He sat back down on the wooden bench. "I didn't abandon you, you were taken from me."

"And? When Persephone was stolen from her, Demeter searched for her endlessly, neglecting her duties to the earth. When Eurydice was taken from him, Orpheus traveled all the way to Hades to bring her back home!--"

"Yes, indeed. In fact, he loved her so much that he'd looked back at her for fear of losing her again, despite the warnings. Then he lost her for good."

Matera's face softened. "Okay? What's your point?"

"The situation is a little more complicated than you know, dear."

Matera Shariee plopped down on the bench beside him, while still maintaining a comfortable distance between them. "I'm listening. I've been waiting my whole life to hear your excuse."

"Um, would you be a dear and sit on the other side? My hearing is better in my right ear." He requested timidly.

"Oh, uh, sure." Matera Shariee agreed awkwardly, getting up and sitting back down. "So...did you not hear what I just said or....?"

"I heard you said you were listening, but I didn't quite get that last bit." He admitted.

"Oh." She had thought what she had said was pretty bad-ass, and it would only be weird if she repeated it. "It doesn't matter, I'm just ready to hear what you have to say."

When Matera was younger, Ludwig had told her that when he and Rosie were still together, he would always occupy the left side of a space and she would occupy the right. He'd said this was because his name started with an "L" and her name started with an "R". He'd also said they'd planned that whenever Matera Shariee came into their lives she would occupy the middle, because her name started with an "M". Matera had always loved that story, because it made her feel as if their family had been made for each other. But now she wondered if he'd started doing that because it was clever, or if it was truly because having someone on his right side was just more convenient. Matera Shariee wasn't a stranger to Ludwig's hearing loss. His hearing had been better when she was younger, but it was still easy enough to sneak up and startle him. Sometimes he'd even try to make her laugh by telling her whatever nonsense he'd thought she'd said whenever he couldn't quite understand.

"Pythagoras and Euanthe stole you from me. When I'd returned to the palace that day, you were gone. Pythagoras was there and he spoke to me, telling me that he wanted you to be the new Oracle and that I wasn't fit to lead a country or raise a daughter."

Ludwig sighed. "I didn't come after you because I had thought that Pythagoras was right. We'd hardly been married for a year when Rosie left. I did not know how to treat a lady, much less how to raise one. I thought you would be safest far away from me, so I let you go."

"That wasn't your decision to make!" Matera exclaimed, despite knowing that it was. "I was happy with you!"

He paused, a little taken aback by her sudden outburst. "...Do you remember what happened the day before you left?"

"I don't know, a lot of things happened." She shrugged.

"Well, you had wanted to address Euanthe as your μαμμία, and I....didn't take it well. I didn't want you to, because I felt as if you were moving on and forgetting about your real mother--Rosie. Back then, I still believed she would return. And when she did, I wanted everything to go back to normal. I wanted us to be a picture-perfect family, and that wouldn't happen if you didn't accept Rosie as your mother. Perhaps I had even been a little jealous that you were able to move on so easily and I was still hurting....."

"Well, I--" He took a deep breath as he became embarrassingly choked up. "...I hit you, right in your face. I was drunk, trying to drink away the pain of losing your mother, and I was angry."

He was crying now as he said, "I couldn't believe it...I could've killed you over something so stupid! I realized I had become like Bowser and....when I was growing up, I was miserable at home. I knew you would be safe far away from me, and because I loved you, I let you go."

He turned to look at her face, really taking in her features for the first time in a long time. Matera used to complain that she didn't look anything like Rosie, but she had her blue eye and her curiosity (they had a similar body type too, but he would never tell her something so inappropriate). He saw Rosie in Matera.

"Just look at you," He said, chuckling dryly, "It seems you've turned out well. It looks like I made the right choice."

"You know, I hadn't actually cared that you hit me. I pretty much forgave you the next day and forgot about it--"

He shook his head. "No, what I did was completely unacceptable. You shouldn't let anyone treat you that way, no matter who they are. I've...thought about things quite a bit since then, and I realized that you had been far smarter than I. Family is what you make it, and if you want to call Euanthe your mother, it only makes sense. After all, she's done all the work, and she likely loves you as her own."

They sat there in silence as Matera awkwardly patted her thighs. She opened and closed her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't figure out how to articulate it.

"What?" Ludwig asked. "Does my reasoning dissatisfy you?"

She shook her head and whispered, "Wow..."

"Pardon? You must speak up, dear."

"It's just...I've been waiting to hear those words for 8 years, and now that I have, I don't really know what to do. I'd expected you to say that you just hadn't loved me anymore."

"Why, of course I loved you, and I never stopped. Soon after you left, I fell into a deep depression, mourning the loss of the only family I'd had left. I drank more heavily, and turned to prostitutes for some sort of semblance of love or intimacy."

"I'd never stopped loving you either, at least not deep down." She admitted. "Even though Pythagoras taught me to hate you, a sliver of affection had always remained. If you'd come for me, I would've gone back home with you. Though I'd doubted that would ever happen, because I thought you'd wanted to get rid of me because I didn't have real wings or real magic. You'd...always told me that Rosie abandoned both of us, so when you abandoned me after she supposedly did, I felt like it was my fault....like there was something wrong with me that drove everyone away....it hit me hard."

"Oh dear..." Ludwig muttered. "I'm sorry for making you feel that way, because it's not true. Perhaps I might've been a little disappointed, but we would've found other things to bond over, like weaving or fencing. You are more than good enough for me."

"Thank you." She cried, tears running down her freckled cheeks, "I really needed to hear that."

"I-I was wondering if...maybe we could, I don't know, hug?" Matera requested timidly.

"O-oh, of course."

From where Rose stood on the terrace, she could see through her binoculars that their hug was somewhat awkward, but they were still learning. She felt happy, but her heart ached for her a strong embrace from her own father. She had never experienced a hug quite like his.

"I can't believe you still have that old thing..." Matera said when they pulled away, pinching the clotton fabric of his himation. "It's not that good, my friend Eulalia can weave much better fabrics."

"Perhaps, but you made it with love just for me, so it's priceless." He gave a toothy grin.

Matera chuckled awkwardly before finally asking, "So....how did you get to be this way?"

"What way?"

"You know...this whole 'DID' thing."

Ludwig sighed deeply. "It's so complex. Despite all the research and communication with the others, sometimes I don't even understand it myself, so I'm not sure I'm really in a position to explain it clearly to someone else. But, you are my daughter, so I believe you deserve an explanation."

"When people are born, they do not possess an integrated personality. Instead, infants function based off a collection of states that handle different needs, such as eating, bonding to one's caregiver, exploring their new world, and things like that. Over time, these states combine into one cohesive personality. However, childhood trauma can inhibit this process. It leaves the different states unable to merge because of conflicting needs, traumatic experiences, or learned responses to trauma. One coherent sense of self cannot form, say, if someone's parents are inconsistent--loving one moment and abusive the next. In people like us who have DID, these different states essentially become our alters, and we became this way because of trauma."

"What kind of trauma?" Matera asked.

Ludwig sighed again. "A lot. I am not aware of the true extent of it, because I am apparently what professionals call an ANP, or Apparently Normal Part. I'm responsible for being the normal, grounded one that helps us get through everyday life. I don't hold onto any of the traumatic memories--at least, not the ones that were made before I manifested. I wonder if that also makes me an EP...."

"Anyways, the alter that took advantage of you is an EP, or Emotional Part, so he holds more of the system's trauma than the rest of us." He admitted reluctantly.

Matera Shariee began to feel sick again. "Why does that alter hate me?"

"I don't know, I hadn't even known he felt any sort of way about you. He's not much of a talker. He only speaks German as well, and though my German has improved from being in a German-speaking environment, I'm still a bit rusty. So I admittedly do not know him that well. We tried to ask him why he did it, but he wouldn't tell."

Matera rested her head in her hands. "I only wonder why....What have I done to him? Have we met before?"

"Perhaps you have and you just weren't aware. When we still lived together, I wasn't really working with the system so we had a lot of amnesia barriers--which means that if you did encounter him, I would not have known or remembered."

"But I don't even care what his reasoning is anyhow--there is absolutely no excuse for what he did to you. Rapists don't need real reasons. They often hurt innocent people so they can exert power over them....it makes them feel powerful. I wish I could kill him, but I can't. Alters cannot perish, and they're all important to our functioning. Even though I hate him....I am grateful that he holds all the trauma, so that the rest of us can sleep soundly at night, because we are spared the truth of how vile and unforgiving the world can be, even to its most vulnerable inhabitants."

He turned to face her. "I want you to know that in spite of everything that has happened--and everything that will happen as the trial progresses--I love you."

Matera Shariee avoided his gaze as her eyes began to water all over again. The night before, Rose had encouraged her to try and rebuild her relationship with her father if their encounter went well. She'd said that she should try and take advantage of all the time they had left together, for Rose had wished she had done the same.

Matera was tempted, but she wasn't sure if it was truly what she wanted. This whole DID thing was really complicated. There were other people sharing a body with her dad, and she couldn't be sure who would show themselves or when. She just wasn't sure she would have the mental capacity to deal with that.

At least, not until the evil alter was locked away.

***

The following day, Kooky and Lodewijk were summoned for further discussion on Lodewijk's situation. Above all, Lodewijk considered himself to be ageless, but--if forced to choose--he would identify as a minor, because he'd never really felt like an adult, what with always being told what to do and having decisions made for him.

However, the body was still an adult, both by mortal and vampire standards. But it was strange to consider Lodewijk one, considering he hadn't had any education past primary school, and even then he didn't remember much of what he was taught. It was...a mess.

Debates were sparked by those following the trial, arguing whether immortals should be judged by what age their bodies were or what age they felt like they were. Some said if they just killed all the immortals, it wouldn't be a problem.

Fritz and Ludwig traveled back to the Koopa Castle in order to open up the boxes that Kooky had sent there. Now that they were having legal trouble, Kooky had decided they would live there for a while after the trial was over. It was probably the only place they would be able to live away from the public eye, and he would be able to work as a coroner or something. Nonetheless, they were glad for a chance to be rid of all the commotion of the trial.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes," Ludwig replied instinctively, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I only asked because I heard Lodewijk hurt Matera Shariee really badly, and now everyone's mad at us even though we didn't even do anything." Fritz explained.

Ludwig didn't really believe he didn't do anything, because that would be like saying he'd never harmed Matera Shariee, which wasn't true. He did believe Fritz had never done anything, though. He was probably the only alter who had never harmed him, at least not intentionally. The worst he'd done was buy a bunch of Monster High merchandise with his money, but to Ludwig, money was no object.

Ludwig slid aside the door to his room and flipped the light on. He was hit with a wave of nostalgia, but not exactly the good kind. The boxes were strewn about, but everything was clean, as if the servants came through everyday to do the cleaning even though no one lived in the room anymore.

"You start on that side of the room while I work over here." Ludwig said, pointing to the other side of the room before kneeling down and opening the first box.

Fritz did as he was told, opening another box filled with clothes and video games. They worked in silence, but eventually the quiet grew too awkward.

"Hey, Vicky?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think we'll ever be a real family?"

"Pardon?"

"Families on the TV never beat each other up, or at least when they do, it's not shown as if that's a normal, good thing to be doing. They hug, and laugh, and love.....I want that for our system, but it seems impossible because everyone hates each other." He confessed.

"We probably act like that because everyone in our system hates themselves--well, except for you, perhaps--and because all us alters remind ourselves of each other, we hate each other as well, if that makes sense. Nothing is impossible Friedrich, but I think it would be very difficult for us to change our old ways. The abuse has been ingrained within us, so we hurt others and don't even realize it sometimes because it's normal and okay--at least, we perceive it as such because that is how we were treated--when it is very much not. Besides, you don't seriously expect me to be buddy-buddy with people who hurt me and the people I love?"

Fritz shook his head slowly. "No, I guess not...." He went back to unpacking boxes.

Ludwig finished unpacking the box on the desk and hoisted it onto the floor. As he wiped his hands on his pants, he noticed a small envelope sitting on his desk. It was sealed shut with a light blue wax coin. An opulent R had been stamped in to it.

Ludwig tore at the envelope, his fervor drawing Fritz's attention from across the room.

"What is it?" He asked curiously, but Ludwig didn't answer. Fritz stood on the tip toes of his Adidas in order to read the letter over Ludwig's broad shoulders:

Dear Ludwig,

I hope this letter finds you well. It's been quite a long time, hasn't it? I pondered over whether I should truly write this letter, but my therapist assured me it may do me some good to jot my feelings down in ink. I have so many things I want to say, but I'll start with this: you are an arrogant, narcissistic, insensitive, callous, jealous PRICK. You've never listened to anyone--certainly not me--for you believe you know everything and are above everyone else. There, I said it. And before you go discarding this letter (because I know you have a hard time swallowing the pills of legitimate criticism), I would like to admit that for some reason, somehow, it seems, at 37 years of age, I still have a special place in my heart reserved just for you. Now, what does that say about me?

I had never seen myself becoming anyone's Empress. I wanted to travel the galaxy and I wanted more than anything for you to join me as my copilot. I had wanted to experience life and study before settling down and starting a family. But after I'd seen how absolutely ecstatic you were when you proposed, and how happy my acceptance had made you, I felt as if I couldn't say no. And then I was attacked and you wanted to brush it off and pretend it never happened. And then we'd...copulated before I was ready and I did not enjoy it. You hurt me, and left me emotionally and physically scarred but I did not tell you. And then you'd gotten me pregnant when I did not want a child (I grew up with tons of younger brothers and sisters, I've done enough child-rearing for a LIFETIME!). All these things piled up and I began to resent you for trapping me in that situation.

I admit these are not actually your fault (except for the attack thing, that was 100% YOUR fault. You'd been extremely insensitive and dense, though the latter condition seems to plague all members of the male species). I had not been honest with you about my wants and needs, and I should not have expected you to be a mind reader.

I just never truly learned how to express my needs. Rosalina always had the other children to attend to, so I had never wanted to be a burden. In my friend group, everyone always came to me to listen to their troubles, but when I needed a listening ear, they were too busy with their own problems, and I--again--did not want to be a burden.

We were younger then. We've had time to grow and mature, and I can only wonder how things would've turned out if we'd just taken it slow in the beginning.

I miss you, Ludwig. Sometimes I find trinkets and souvenirs on other planets that remind me of you. I think about the night I left very frequently. I don't regret it, but looking back on it, I feel my departure was abrupt and a little cruel, because I never really communicated what was wrong, so you were left to wonder....

But I'm sure you've moved on by now. I'm sure the Clout women are just as fond of you as the girls were when we were in school. Either way, I realized I wouldn't want to leave this world without telling you the whole truth.

If there was perhaps...a miniscule chance that you might feel similarly....there's a miniscule chance it may be reciprocated.

I shall await your response with bated breath.

Sincerely,

Rosie

"Why are you crying? Isn't this a good thing?" Fritz asked when he'd finished reading.

"I'm glad I finally know how she felt after all these years, but I can't accept. What would she think if she saw me in this state? I'm not the young man she fell in love with. My hearing loss is now almost severe in both ears. Do you know how annoying it is being asked to repeat yourself all the time? And I can't even guarantee it would be safe for her, because I'm still sharing a body with blood-thirsty vampires! And even if Kooky promised not to attack, I'd essentially have to share her with other weird strangers and she didn't sign up for that! I didn't sign up for that!" Ludwig shouted.

"Y-you don't know. If she really loved you, she'd work to accommodate you, a-and m-maybe she could even grow to accept us--"

"It's not that simple! And I would appreciate it if you'd stay in your lane instead of telling me what to do with my life! Some things are just too complicated for you to comprehend!"

Fritz was too stunned to speak. He felt something rise up in his throat, but he pushed it back down. He didn't want to cry in front of Ludwig. He was already basically calling him a baby, and crying would only prove his point.

"Okay," He said quietly before going back to unpacking boxes, "S-sorry I said anything."

***

"Do you...ever feel like a burden?"

"Of course I do, all the time....I don't think you're a burden, Friedke."

"You're only saying that because you have to."

Lodewijk didn't say anything, even though it was a lie. He knew deep down that people weren't required to say anything nice about anyone, not even family, but he didn't expect Fritz to know that.

"I'm saying that because it's true. You're, like, the least problematic alter we have. Ludwig may be mad now, but he'll cool off and eventually learn that life isn't fair and people can't always get what they want, especially when they're part of a system."

"Well maybe we could have what we want if some people didn't go about ruining things for everyone else."

"Some people?"

"Yeah, like the people who attack other people's girlfriends and their daughters!" Fritz exclaimed.

"....Fritz, are you mad at me?"

"Of course I am!" Fritz exploded, catching Lodewijk off guard. "How could you do such a thing? I can expect deplorable actions from Kooky, but I thought you were better than this!"

Lodewijk didn't really know what to say to that, so he didn't say anything. He couldn't really see himself as better than anything. But he'd agreed that what he had done was deplorable. He'd always told himself he would never be caught dead hurting other people the way he'd been hurt, but here they were. He would've thought twice about enacting revenge if he knew the consequences would have been so dire. He hadn't known his actions would hurt the others as well.

Fritz sighed. "I shouldn't yell at you, it's not very nice...even though what you did wasn't very nice either. What's done is done and there's nothing anyone can really do about it. Don't get me wrong, I'm still furious, but...I'm also upset because they're taking you away, and with you gone, I'll have no one to talk to."

"You'll have Ludwig."

"Well, yeah but Ludwig's too old and stiff and grumpy."

Lodewijk laughed. "He's our youngest system member."

"Chronologically, yes," Fritz agreed, "But emotionally, he's the oldest."

"Yeah, that's true...."

The two sat in silence for a little bit, listening to Nena's "Vollmond" on Fritz's radio he'd brought out to the forest in the inner world. They were supposed to be spending the day together before Lodewijk was taken away for who knew how long. Fritz had asked him if there had been anything in particular he wanted to do that day, but he didn't really have an answer. He really wanted them to have their first kiss, but he didn't want to pressure Fritz into doing something he didn't really wanna do just because he was worried he'd never see his friend again. Besides, the proposition was a little inappropriate considering the circumstances. So Fritz decided they'd just do what they did everyday: whatever they felt like doing.

"I think what you did is very bad...but, I don't know, I can't really bring myself to hate you."

"You aren't really capable of hating anyone." Lodewijk replied.

"Sure I am! I hate racists, and bigots, and homophobes--"

"It's cool, you don't have to prove anything. It's actually one of the things I like about you. And your smile. Your smile is contagious." He admitted. Fritz beamed despite himself. Lodewijk considered it a win.

"Instead of thinking of depressing things we can't change, how about we brainstorm fun things we can do when I get back? You go first." Lodewijk prompted.

Fritz hummed thoughtfully. "I wanna go to a farm."

"A farm?"

"Yeah. Don't you think it would be nice, riding out to the countryside? And maybe we'd get to see cute calves and tiny baby pigs. Maybe I'd even get to pet one! Maybe we'd get to see a pretty pony!"

Lodewijk laughed. "You've got this all thought out pretty well, don't you?"

Fritz shrugged. "Yeah, I guess...what would you want to do?"

"Whatever you wanna do is alright with me." He replied, similarly to how he always did when Fritz asked his opinion on something.

Lodewijk stood and wiped his hands on his blue jeans. "The trial officially starts tomorrow so I should probably go get some rest. We've got a long day ahead of us."