Welcome!
This story will be Allen's life before the Order, from a baby to being send to the Order. Note that this backstory applies to all canonverse stories I write as Rise of the Walker has been written to work with any canonverse universe.
There is another AN at the end of the prologue, which I placed there not to spoil the content of the Prologue!
Warnings will be put in notes before the chapter when any is needed; obviously there won't be ships, but violence and abuse will be part of this story. And feels.
This prologue is short, as it serves as an intro, and so I hope to write chapter 1 in the next few days. After that, we will see how often I can update this, though I do feel I'd want to work on this often. But since this is my canon backstory for Allen, I don't want to rush it, either.
I hope you enjoy!
Rise of the Walker
Prologue
The middle of the night, in the small village, witnessed a form in a hooded coat moving with arms wrapped around a bundle kept close to the chest. Lips were thin and jaws clenched as faint warmth emitted from the small form, but gratefully, the lack of hostility and the dormant energy made the warmth lessen, reassured there was no danger.
Finally, the form stopped at the door of a small house. Nipping lips, eyes were dropped to the bundle, and one arm was adjusted to free the other, revealing the baby's face. One finger came to brush the baby's cheek, who just nuzzled into it.
Lips formed a smile, though some sadness showed.
"I swear to you, one day I'll awaken fully, and I'll remember you for who you are." Smile faltered, eyes flickering the covered left arm. A shaky breath was let out, and a kiss was pressed to the baby's forehead. "Please survive, always survive. Never stop walking."
Then the form knelt, and gently deposited the bundle of covers with the baby inside on the doorstep. A letter was deposited on the baby's chest, and the form straightened up. Brown eyes with a hint of amber stared down at the baby for a few more seconds, swallowing.
Oh, how they wished they did not have to do this. But already, they could feel their self slowly burying. Soon they would truly be as dormant as they were supposed to be, the shadow of memories they were supposed to be.
So with another shaky breath, they knocked on the door, and when they heard steps coming, they went to hide, still able to view the small house.
An ederly woman opened the door, confused before her gaze dropped and eyes widened. They saw more than heard the small gasp, and the old lady bent down to take the bundled baby in her arms, adjusting so she could open the letter and read it with one hand.
They recalled each words written in it, and could almost see it as she read each of them.
Dear lady,
I am sorry to ask this of you, but I cannot take care of this little one. I fear he would not be safe if he were to stay with me, and I cannot allow that.
I also have to admit to you: this is your grandson. I know you know he should be much older, but if you have been in touch with your daughter-and I know you are-then you know she and him has dealt with things outside of the usual understanding.
Just wait until he opens his eyes, and you know I tell the truth. And when you do, please burn this note, and never speak to anyone of who he is. He is just a baby you found. I sadly have to warn you to not even contact your daughter about him. It would be just as dangerous for her than for him and you.
I do not believe we will see each other again, but I will pray that you and him stay safe and happy. Have faith that he will one day know what to do.
Farewell
The woman's eyes were shining with unshed tears, crumpling the paper as she gazed down at the baby again. She did not need to see his eyes to know. She had not even needed the note. She had only seen him as a child a few times, and he might not be related by blood, but she would recognize anywhere the soothing feeling that seemed to come from him.
"Hello, little Allen." She smiled, feeling her chest swelling with fondness as the baby woke up, bright silver eyes looking up at her. "You are safe now, little one."
She entered her house again, closing the door, and the form in the shadow breathed a sigh of relief, smiling before they left with a stranger mix of feeling lighter, and then heavy with sadness. But no, they knew it was for the best.
They knew she would not care about the left arm, and that she would love him.
She had already noticed the red arm, and all she felt was worry for how it happened, but he looked healthy and he giggled at her, and she believed all would be fine.
Neither the mysterious person nor her could have planned this one fact.
She would pass away five years later.
To be continued…
Note: I think my hints are enough to make a safe guess of who is the mysterious person that left Allen to his grandmother, or at least, which group they are a part of. I know who it is exactly, but except confirming the person if you guess correctly, I won't say much more. This is a big part because while I don't think I'll ever need to change who it is (unless someone else work better for a specific canonverse), generally the how and why will show. In this story, how Allen deaged and how this person plays into all is not of importance, all that matters is that he did deage, and that a certain someone of a certain group was the one who made sure he was fostered
Note: There is one detail that might not always apply , which is that the old lady is Allen's grandmother. The one thing that remains canon all the time is that a certain someone gave baby Allen to an old lady, and this old lady took care of him for five years or so before passing away.