A Tale of a Baskerville

(A/N: Ah, the bliss of coming up with an idea that is story worthy. Now, let's just see if this is popular with everyone else….

In any case, for information's sake, this takes place before the party at Isla Yura's mansion, so that that whole thing hasn't happened yet. Which means that Liam (whatever you want to call him. Frankly, that's what I'm going to call him.) didn't almost die but Break is blind. (Sharon doesn't know just yet but she will probably find out.)

Now, enough with my mindless babble and let me get onto the prologue! Allonsy!)

Prologue – The thoughts of the non self-proclaimed "Reborn Hero" Oz Vessalius (or 'Mad World')

It was a soft sort of day, one usually spent outside, but not for Oz. Not today at least. Today found himself sitting, partially curled up on a window bench, overlooking a beautiful rose garden. The sight, to him, was sweet and, at the same time, sickening. He had a sort of hate towards roses, always taking the beauty out of all the other flowers around it, hiding the ones that he believed were much more beautiful. Like the Sun Flower. As droopy as it was, it was ten times more beautiful than the Rose, in Oz's personal opinion. Hell even the more "ugly" flowers were better looking than the Rose.

Oz could have gone on much the same, listing flowers he liked much better than the Rose, but his concentration was broken by a knock at the door. "Oz~! I have some tea for you." Xerxes Break practically sang, dancing into the room with a small tea set balanced on top of his head. Hat in his hands, and filled with sweet things of course, Xerxes Break started setting up the tea on the balcony. Oz stood up and stretched himself out before following the odd contractor. "Cake? Or a Pastry? Or better yet, a pastry cake?" Xerxes Break asked of Oz, who didn't answer him for a moment. "I'm not hungry Break." He muttered, hiding his slight anger behind a smile. Break faltered for a moment, before continuing. "Nonsense! We have to fatten you up!" Break said, continuing. "Or would you like Alice to know about your secret?" He said, smiling secretively. "S-Secret?" Oz said, looking taken aback slightly. Did Break know?

"Yes, secret. The secret that you…" Break said, leaning over the table and closer to Oz, continuing his sentence. "Like to wear girl's clothes." Oz slipped, using the chair on his side to stand back up. "No I don't! And you know it!" Oz said, blushing slightly in embarrassment. Break and his silly thoughts and ideas. "Then what's this picture of?" Break asked innocently, holding up a picture of younger Oz in a dress, Gil looking mortified that his master was dressed in such a way. Oz colored some more, making a grab for the picture but was unsuccessful in getting it. "Where'd you get that!" Oz questioned loudly, growling slightly, much to Break's amusement. "Ah, a certain dear Uncle." Was all he said, tucking the picture away. "For now, Oz, let us break for tea." He said, smiling cat-like.

Oz rolled his eyes but nodded, sitting down in his usual spot. "Fine, Break, but this is the last time I do so." He said, crossing his arms as the older man set up a cup of tea for the child (in his eyes. Oz was so young..*cough cough from the Authoress* Ah, yes back to the story~). "You said the same thing last time, dear Oz." He said, chuckling. "Oh. How'd I forget the sugar?" Break said, sounding down trodden. "I'll be right back." He said, frowning slightly as he briskly walked out of the room, in search of the ever elusive sugar bowl.

Meanwhile, Oz had sat back, looking confused as well. Break never forgot the sugar. Ever. Even when there was no sugar to be found elsewhere in the house, did he forget sugar. Oz stood up, and approached the railing. He might as well appraise the garden again. He still thought it ugly. If it belonged to him, he would fill it with sunflowers, and daisies and other "ugly" flowers. It certainly needed the color, instead of drab white. Even red would be better, he mused to himself, leaning against the railing as he waited for Break to return. His eyes drooped slightly as he thought to himself that there was a sun flower sitting in the middle of the garden suddenly, the roses having moved to show it. He was hallucinating, of course, but he didn't know that.

He didn't notice when a sort of small "crick" sounded, followed by another and another. By this time, he had fallen asleep. It was only when he felt rushing air upon his face and through his hair that he woke, letting loose a terrified scream. The scream resounded in his own ears, even as he thumped heavily to the ground upon a cushion of roses; even as his blood stained the roses a dark red; even as no one seemed to notice his scream. He wasn't found right away. It was a stroke of luck, really, that Alice had happened to be looking for Oz at that moment, and had walked out onto the immaculate balcony, eying the tea table. So clean, was the tea table…

Alice had walked forward, shrugging to herself as she went to look at the Rose Garden. Maybe she would find him later-

But it was not fated that way. She looked down, only to find her contractor seemingly dead, blood red flowers around and under him. She screamed, for Break, for Gilbert, for anyone, gripping the railing hard. How did she not sense…? Gilbert should have at least. Or she should have disappeared back into Abyss. Confusion etched onto her face, she waited for someone to come. She couldn't take her eyes off of the scene below her. It was…horrific, in a way. The roses, once white, cushioned Oz's body, as if cradling him. Some of the vines/stems had wrapped themselves around his hands and legs, and his head. It was an odd sort of picture, as if they wanted to protect Oz, though from what, she didn't know.

Break, Gilbert, and Liam barged into the room moments later, just as confused as Alice. She had stayed on the balcony, so the three headed to her. "What in god's name-" Liam said, unhappy about being dragged away from his paperwork before he registered the scene before him. He covered his mouth, eyes wide. "We-We need to get him out of there." Gilbert said for him, eyes wide as well but staying calm (for once). Break nodded in agreement, ushering Alice out of the room. He couldn't see what had happened, but he knew that something was wrong, possibly with Oz. He had just been preparing their usual afternoon tea as well….

Liam took a deep breath, calming himself. "Raven. Go to Oscar and tell him what has happened. I will gather other Pandora members to help me get Oz out of there." He said, voice shaky. Something felt…wrong with the scene. Terribly wrong. "No, Liam, let me-"

"Go!"

Gilbert seemed taken back. "Or do you want to hurt your master further?" Liam said, calming his voice down. He hadn't meant to snap at Raven. "Fine." He said, before taking off. Liam knew too well that Raven would only hamper the efforts to get Oz out of the roses, so he set him to a task that would keep him occupied. Oscar would know what to do with him. Oscar always knew…

Alice, though, couldn't be placated by Break's excuses that Oz was only playing a joke on them and that he would be ok. Instead, she had snuck away from the man, and went back to Liam, stating that she wanted to help. Liam looked at her and knew, almost instantly, that she wouldn't give up so easily. Giving up wasn't in her nature. So, he accepted her help, the help of the teary-eyed B-Rabbit.

Maybe his sense of wrongfulness was wrong in and of itself….

To be continued…

Pandora Postscript! *Pandora chibi's parade around, wearing their usual getups, except Oz, who has roses wrapped around him* Thank you! *they all say, some grinning, others looking nervous*

:O *excited* I can't believe I wrote so much. Three whole pages of just a prologue. So, what did you guys think? I won't demand reviews, but they would be much appreciated. *dance* How do you guys think I am doing so far with the characters? I tried to stay as in character as I could, but I don't know how well I did with Liam and Raven when they find Oz. *makes a face* But this authoress is trying, so don't give up on me. *pose*

This will be posted on both Fanfiction and Deviant art, so I will post both my names on here. Fanfiction is Ranyo Malight and Deviant art is Mitsuos-twin-sister. :D Message me if you have questions (or leave a review/comment) and I will get to you, I promise.

Reviewers get cookies btw. ;D

Sorry about Break interfering by the way. He wanted to make his opinions known... *goes off, and screams can be heard in the background*

Chibi Gil, looking nervous: Sorry about Ranyo-chan! And remember we don't own Pandora Hearts, just this story.

Chibi Oz: Yeah! And don't forget to review! *big, cute, grin*