After Josh and his council deliberated for over an hour, they returned with the verdict. When they entered the hall and took their seats, the Bandito crowd stood up, along with the accused, and listened as Kai announced the verdict of Ender Mastel, and Wren Bondarenko.

They were both found guilty of war crimes, treason, and attempted murder, and were to be sentenced to death for their crimes, but it was not decided yet.

After Ender and Wren were locked away in the brothel to await their sentence, Josh came back into his tent to check on his flower, who was fast asleep in his cot, with Olene watching over him.

When the woman saw that her leader had arrived, she stood up and curtsied to him.

"M'lord."

"Please, there's no need to be formal right now." Josh told her; gently. "I know you're very helpful."

Olene smiled, and he smiled back.

"I appreciate you watching over him."

"Ender and Wren, are they guilty?"

Josh usually would follow code and not tell anyone outside of his circle of any sort of business, but after listening to her fiancé's testimony, he told her the truth.

"Yes."

Olene felt a huge amount of weight being lifted off her shoulders. It was as if Ari had freed her from the torment all over again.

It was finally over.

However, as they conversation continued, Tyler quietly awoke from his sleep and listened to what they were saying, but did not move.

"Ender and Wren will be publicly executed tomorrow night, then we will plan the final assault of Dema for good."

Tyler knew what kind of people Ender and Wren were, and he had expected himself to be thrilled to see them meet their demise.

But he wasn't.

~

The next morning, Tyler awoke and decided to spend some time with Fauna and Ilse. He hadn't seen them since he was first sworn in, so he wanted to catch up with them.

The three of them went and broke their fast, which consisted of Petruso and Dasha's homemade hashbrowns with onions and cheese, and the usual sunny side up eggs and burned bacon.

As the child ate, Fauna and Ilse noticed there was nothing off with him. He wasn't his normal cheery self, but afraid and worried.

"Tyler, dear, what's the matter?" Fauna asked.

Tyler continued to eat and didn't speak.

Ilse scooted close.

"We know something's bothering you."

"I don't want to talk about it." The flower replied. "It's something that you both won't agree with."

"Tyler, darling, you can talk to me and Ilse about anything." Fauna said. "You're in a safe environment with us."

"Of course." Ilse added. "We both love you."

Tyler trusted Fauna and Ilse. He knew that whatever he said, they would not use it against him. Unlike Rani and Shiloh, who would immediately chastise him.

So, he told them the truth.

"I know that Ender and Wren are going to be executed tonight, but I don't want them to die."

When they heard this, they were a bit taken back. They knew that Tyler was a victim to abuse, as he was while as a prisoner to Dema. Fauna and Ilse themselves were prisoners by the previous leader.

When Josh killed the leader, they expressed no emotion. They remembered when Ender and Wren were taken to the brothel to await the trial, and they had hoped that they would be punished.

The execution of Ender and Wren was the last thing they thought would be possible, but hearing Tyler's opinions made them discover the truth of their own experiences.

Death was not going to erase their trauma, and it won't to Tyler as well.

Fauna and Ilse nodded in agreement.

"We understand." Fauna said. "We both do."

"We as the first women endured pain inflicted by the leader and Ender." Ilse added. "I know for certain that killing them is not going to take away what we suffered."

Tyler was surprised that they agreed, but now, he was conflicted.

"What must I do?" He asked.

Fauna placed her hand on his shoulder.

"You need to go to Josh and tell him how you feel."

"He may agree with you." Ilse added.

The child was scared to express to Josh, who was not only his love, but his leader, that he didn't want him to put Ender and Wren to death.

But he hoped and prayed that maybe he would listen to him.

~

After sitting in the tent for a few hours; awaiting for Josh to come and see him, the man arrived. He was cheery and in a happy mood, which disturbed the poor child.

Josh came over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm so happy to see you, my love." He said. "I thought I'd come and spent some quality time with you to escape from my leader duties for a few hours."

"Kai is covering for you?" Tyler asked.

"Him and Linh both. I also have Jenna for backup."

"That's good."

Josh looked and saw that Tyler was not in a good mood, and he looked sad. He came over and sat next to him.

"Tyler, what's wrong?"

The poor child sighed.

"Josh, I want to ask you something."

"Anything, darling."

Tyler took a deep breath.

"Is it true that Ender and Wren are going to be executed?"

Josh was surprised that Tyler was questioning him on this.

"When did you find out?" He asked.

"I was listening to you talking to Olene last night. You told her that it was going to happen tonight."

Josh wasn't going to lie to the boy that he loves.

"Yes, dear. Ender and Wren are going to be executed. It's the only way to keep you safe."

"I know." Tyler replied. "But, what if I told you that I don't want it to be this way?"

Josh never thought that his sweet flower, who endured so much pain and torment, would not want to see the people that served his captors to be put to death.

"I'm doing this for you." He told him. "I don't want Dema to take you away from me."

Tyler stood up.

"Josh, I don't want you to kill them. There has to be another way."

"Well, what other way is there?"

The child turned to him.

"Banish them."

Josh was stunned.

"Banish Ender and Wren from Trench, and warn them that if they ever set foot in our lands again, they will be killed." Tyler said.

"And, why should I do that?"

Tyler leaned closer to him.

"Because, it's better to punish them with mercy than with death."

The flower had expected his love to be disappointed in his opinion, but he was not. Josh was so proud of how far Tyler had come; from a vulnerable young child, to a brave and wise flowered Bandito, full of grace and beauty.

Josh agreed.

"Alright, my darling, I will banish them."

Before he could leave to make the arrangements, Tyler stopped him as he nearly exited the tent.

"Josh?"

The man turned to him.

"Yes?"

The child took a deep breath; nervous and shaky.

"W-With your permission, I-I would like to be the one to banish Ender and Wren."

Hearing this request, Josh was troubled. He feared for Tyler's safety, and he knew what Ender was capable of if he left him alone with that monster.

However, he wanted to give his sweet flower the opportunity to express is anger and rage towards the man responsible for nearly destroying his life again.

"I'll allow it, but I want you to bring Jenna with you."

Tyler agreed, and it was arranged.

~

As the sun disappeared into the sky, and the moon shined over Trench, everything had quieted down. Inside the locked up brothel, Ender stood and awaited for the guards to take him to the gallows, where he was expected to be hanged.

However, instead of the usual two guards, a little boy appeared before him. He was dressed in his camouflage jacket, and wore a flower crown around his curls.

Ender recognized the child as Tyler Joseph, the flowered human who was Josh's true love.

Then, in the midst of the shadows, Jenna stood behind him, with her hand around her sword. She wore a black hood around her head.

The wicked man held his own, and smiled to the child; spitefully.

"Tyler, it's good to see you, my dear."

Ender then looked to Jenna, and grinned to her.

"And, you too, Jenna."

"Save your tongue, Ender." Jenna replied; harshly. "I didn't come for you."

The wicked man nodded.

"Very well."

He looked back to the sweet child.

"My dear Tyler, when we heard about the ambush, Wren and I feared the worst. You have no idea how happy I am, to see you unharmed."

"Unharmed?" Tyler said. "Did you know about Dema?"

The child already knew that Ender's master worked for Dema, but he needed to really know.

"Because if you didn't know, you're an idiot, but if you did know, then you're my enemy."

Ender was stunned.

"Your enemy?"

Tyler stepped closer.

"Would you like to know about what happened, when Master Nico brought me into his chambers, on the night I was taken?"

The child then went into detail about what happened to him that night.

"No, he didn't hurt my face, the face of Tyler Joseph, the flower who bloomed. But, the rest of me? He did what he liked with the rest of me. As long as I showed obedience to him, he wouldn't inflict any torture that would've resulted with the end of my life."

He looked to the wicked man.

"What do you think he did?"

Ender began to stutter.

"I-I can't begin to contemplate-"

"What do you think he did to me?" Tyler asked.

When Ender didn't speak, Jenna stood closer; her hand ready to draw her sword.

"Tyler asked you a question, Ender." She said. "You better answer."

Ender didn't know what to say, so he guessed.

"He beat you?"

"Yes, the master very much enjoyed that." Tyler replied. "What else do you think he did?"

"Tyler, please-"

"What else?"

Ender felt trapped. He knew what was going to happen if he didn't fess up, so he did.

"Did he...touch you?"

That was the answer Tyler wanted to hear.

"Oh, maybe you did know about Dema all along, just like your former master, who is now ashes, thanks to my lord and beloved, Josh."

"Tyler, I didn't know." Ender said; lying underneath his teeth.

"I thought you knew everyone's secrets."

"Wren and I, we made a mistake, a horrible mistake. Our master underestimated the enemy."

The child looked down to himself.

"The only things he did, a child like me isn't supposed to talk about those things, but I imagine brothels talk about them all the time."

Then, he looked back at the man.

"Did you speak of those things to Wren?"

Ender was silent.

"I can still feel it." Tyler said. "I don't mean it in my tender and innocent heart, it still pains me, so I can still feel it in my flower body standing here right now."

The wicked man got closer and began to plead for forgiveness.

"Tyler, my sweet flower child, I am so sorry."

The flower grew angry.

"You and Wren were part of a clan who promised to protect me, and you both broke your oaths!"

"We promised to protect you, and we will." Ender said. "You must believe me that I tell you, that I will."

Tyler wasn't having any of his bullshit.

"I don't believe you or Wren anymore. I don't need you anymore, and you can't protect me. You won't be able to protect yourself if I tell Jenna to cut you down."

The child began to consider killing him.

"Why shouldn't I?" He asked.

Ender didn't think a child like Tyler was capable of coldly killing him, but he continued to plead.

"You want me to beg for my life, for the life of my wife, and our baby?"

Tyler stood silent and did not move.

Again, the wicked man pleaded.

"If that's what you want, I will." He said. "Whatever you ask that is in power, I will do, to atone for my sins."

The child's eyes grew cold with fury.

"If I want you to die here and now..."

"Then, I will die."

Tyler really wanted to exact revenge on the man responsible for the pain and suffering that he inflicted upon his people, and for his role in the suffering that he endured while locked up in Dema.

But, like he told Josh, death was not going to erase his trauma.

"You guys freed me from the monsters who tried to hurt me, then you tried to kill my beloved and bring me back to the same monsters who tried to hurt me."

The child's angry voice grew.

"Take off your coat, your bandana, and your yellow stripes. I never want to see you again."

Ender was surprised. First, he thought that he was going to die, and now he was being let go. He looked at the boy, and wanted to tell him he was making a mistake, but he took advantage of his mercy but lying to him once more.

"I would do anything to undo what's been done to you. I know I can't."

Tyler stood firm, like a true Bandito, and gave the order.

"In the name of Joshua of Dun, leader of the Banditos of Trench, you are banished from this land. If you ever set foot here again, I will personally give Jenna the order to kill you."

Ender nodded, and started to walk past Tyler, but before he could leave, he turned back to him.

"Would you allow me to say one more thing before I go?"

Tyler allowed it.

Ender approached the child and looked to him; pressing his hand upon his cheek.

"I may not regret hurting our people, but I would never hurt you. I promise."

The wicked man pressed a gentle kiss upon his cheek, then walked out of the brothel, and was never seen again.

Tyler stood in the shadows of the brothel, and closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.

He was finally free.