From The Prettiest Flower

Chapter 13: Back Home

     In the aftermath of Dot's restoration of the kingdom, the royals and the travelers parted ways.
"Thanks, for everything." Slappy said, bowing slightly before walking Skippy back home
"Yeah, thank you so, so much!" Skippy squealed, overjoyed to have his home back. Minerva left next, also bowing.
"It was an honor, your highnesses."
She smiled
"Hey, we couldn't have done it without you."
Yakko shook Minerva's hand, and uncharacteristically tried not to flirt with her. Minerva split from the group, leaving the royals with the mice, and the Goodfeathers. The pigeons soon left, off to join the guards for another assignment.

     Soon, it was just the royals and the prime minister. Prince Yakko walked up to Brain and asked,
"So, who exactly did you get to watch over the kingdom?"
As soon as he finished saying that, Pinky came out riding on Pharfignewton. Pinky said,
"Oh Pharfignewton! You did great watching over the kingdom while we were gone! I missed you so much!" Yakko paused.
"Wait. While we were gone, while you were gone, you left a HORSE in charge?! OF OUR KINGDOM?!" He yelled, almost forgetting that Wakko stood behind him, holding the unconscious Dot.
Brain was also taken aback.
"Your partner?! That, is who you placed in charge?"
Brain angrily climbed onto Pharfignewton, frustrated and embarrassed.
"You said someone who was trustworthy! And I can't think of anyone more trustworthy than Pharfignewton! TROZ!" Pinky said proudly.
Brain couldn't do anything but sigh, and began leading his two idiots to the stables.

    Yakko and Wakko snuck into their part of the castle, trying their best to conceal Dot from the staff. It was hard enough with everyone panicking over the vines' disappearing, but now with the princess unconscious, the last thing they wanted was MORE panic! Being shockingly quiet, the brothers slipped into Dot's bedroom. They laid her down gently on the bed, the flower still resting on her chest.
"She looks like a princess...but like, a magic princess." Wakko said, clinging onto his older brother.
The scene of Dot laying unresponsive was too familiar and too terrifying for Yakko and Wakko. For so long they worried about her, every brief moment of levity was soon followed by an even worse bout of worrying and stressing. Like the wishing star.
"Tell me the story... one last time..."
Yakko could still hear his baby sister's final wish in his head, from that fateful day in front of the star. Everything was reminding him of that moment, watching Dot die in his arms, the feeling of knowing he had failed. He had failed his sister, his brother, his parents... he couldn't protect his siblings like he promised he would. Even though everything turned out okay (better than okay once their past had finally been uncovered) he still struggled to cope with those feelings.  Now here he was again, not sure if Dot would ever wake again, feeling like he failed, he wasn't good enough...again. He felt like he didn't do enough. That he didn't research enough, that he didn't know enough.
'You could have stopped her', he thought.
'You could have told her not to touch that...thing. Now she could be dead, and it's all your fault.'
He struggled to hold back tears, trying to be strong at least for Wakko, he deserved better than this.  Wakko could read his older brother's face. He knew that he wasn't taking this well at all. To be honest, Wakko himself wasn't either. He grappled with the same feelings of inadequacy and failure. Being closer to Dot in age, he felt like he should have been more understanding, he should have been more comforting; to make her feel less alone. Maybe somehow that could have changed things. Then maybe Dot wouldn't have felt like she had to do this alone. Wakko reached out and grabbed her hand, holding it tightly.
'There isn't a wishing star to fix things now...what am I gonna do now? What can I do?' He thought.
"It...it's gonna be fine. We both know, she's tough, she'll make it."
Yakko put a hand on Wakko's shoulder.
"I know. I'm still so worried about 'er."
"Hey, you're the one always saying to never give up hope, this isn't any different."
"Yeah. Yeah, you're right."
Wakko cracked a little smile, his spirits perking up slightly.

     A little while passed, the brothers standing by their baby sister's side, hoping for her to wake up any second. Then there was a loud knocking on the door.
"Prince Yakko! Prince Yakko! May I speak to you for a moment?"
It was the insistent Page, back with a vengeance. Tired and frustrated, Yakko marched to the door and yelled,
"WE'RE BUSY. LEAVE US ALONE!!"
"O-Oh, okay...I apologize, iI'll come back later, your highnesses."
Yakko could hear the Page sigh, and walk away. Feeling just a bit guilty and regretting his words, Yakko slunk back to Dot's bedside.
"Anything?"
Wakko shook his head. Yakko sighed, sinking down to the floor. The brothers soon lost track of time, not knowing if they had been secluded for a few minutes, or hours. Their time had been punctuated with multiple visits by the Page, and a few close calls, as the Page almost caught a glimpse of Dot. Soon, there was a knock at the door.
"I swear if it's that Page again-"
"No, it's the Prime Minister."
"And Pinky! NARF!"
"We, wanted to check on the Princess." Brain said through the door, accompanied by Pinky.
Yakko picked himself up and opened the door.
"Fine. You can come in, but don't think you're off the hook for that whole 'possessing my baby sister via evil machine', thing."
Yakko swung the door, and let the mice in.
"No need to remind me, your highness." Brain said, clearly still bitter about what happened.