I'm back, everyone (after disappearing from My Wish for, like, a month /). This chapter was so…long…and it moved really fast, I hate myself. I was inspired to write this about my character from HopeThePixii's RP forum (you all rock, if any of you read this.)
This is the story of Rose (aka Valentina Petal, her true name), an Eevee with a rather strange obsession-her dearest wish is to defy gravity. Her dream is the one thing she can hold onto throughout the pain, the torture, and the loss of the one person who had ever loved her.
Today the dream takes flight.
Chapter One
Unlimited
"Today the adventure begins…Today I leave the path they had chosen for me and instead take my own.–Chuck Gieg, White Squall
My knees were shaking as I glanced up the side of Mount Coronet. The other Eevees ignored me as they started to walk up the beaten-down path.
Had the mountain always been so…well…big?
I'd never really been afraid of the mountain-that's, of course, because it had always been so far away. Our home is not close; it's somewhere east of Celestic town, in the forest. Our pack didn't usually come up here, except for the usual journey of the Elders (the leaders of our pack) once a month and the one year Eevees.
I suppose you could say our pack of Eevees had an unusual ritual used for coming of age. All of the Eevees who had turned a year old traveled to the Mount Coronet chain, climbed up to the top, and went through the special ceremony.
So exciting…and so worrisome.
"Rose, Rose! Rose, wait up! OI! VALINTINA PETAL! WAIT!"
The familiar voice echoed off the cliff, and I smiled.
Marc.
Marc was my reason for living, my best friend in the whole world. We'd been friends since we were babies, instantly inseparable from the time we had met. He was the only one I could talk to when I was angry, the only one who could make me laugh when I was upset, the only one I could be around without being self-conscious.
I turned around, watching as my best friend rushed up to me, his face alighting like I was the most precious treasure in the world to him. "I can't believe it, Marc!" I exclaimed. "We're finally becoming official members of the pack! This is so exciting!"
"Mmhm." Marc murmured, reaching me and nuzzling his cheek against mine, his usual greeting. "Hey, Rose, we'd better not be late."
The two of us began to walk again, even though the road ahead was already deserted.
"So, someone told me for the ceremony we had to pick our evolution." Marc said, looking sideways at me. "Did you decide what you wanted to be yet?"
I shrugged, the possibilities mulling over in my mind. "Likely a Leafeon."
"Okay, now there's a surprise." Marc rolled his eyes, grinning and prodding the rose I always wore roundabout my neck. "You've loved flowers and plants practically since you were born, Rose. It's lucky your parents choose a rose for your amulet. Mine-ugh! So…unoriginal." He wore a simple blue crystal around his.
You see, when new Eevees are born in our pack, their parents choose an item for them. It's supposed to symbolize their hopes for the baby's future, like their evolution. The babies wear the amulet around their neck until they come of age, where ceremoniously it is taken off. Maybe my love of flowers had rubbed off on me that way, with a flower around mine.
Hence, Mark's nickname for me, "Rose".
"Maybe your parents are hoping you'll evolve into Glaceon." I suggested.
"Maybe." He snorted.
"Are you not nervous for this at all?" I demanded.
"Rosie, my dad is one of the Elders. I think I'm going to be fine." He assured, turning his head to look at me. "They'll say to me, 'I see who you truly are-a man on whom we can rely.' And that's how I'll begin-my future and I…" He sang softly, his voice one of the most beautiful I'd ever heard.
"You're so full of yourself." I smiled. "You're not a man yet, pup."
He bumped into me on purpose, making a face. "My destiny's been set since I was born."
"No one believes we can choose our futures anymore." I shook my head. "Destiny's not a matter of chance, it's a matter of choice; it's not a thing to be waited for, it's a thing to be achieved."
"We have unlimited possibilities, then, if that makes you feel better." He corrected himself. "Our futures can hold anything, Rose."
"Unlimited…my future is unlimited…and I've just had a vision almost like a prophecy…I know, it sounds truly crazy…and true, the vision's hazy…but I swear someday there'll be a celebration throughout the land that's all to do with me!" I stopped singing, and giggled and rubbed against Marc.
"And you say I'M full of myself?" Marc raised his eyebrows playfully.
We both knew about my love for songs, because I was frequently coming up with my own.
From his side, I happened to look down the side of the cliff.
I gasped and shrunk back. This did not escape Marc.
"Talk to me, Rose." Marc said matter-of-factly, forcing me turn my head back to him. "It will take your mind off of the height. Don't look down."
And so we talked the rest of the way.
Everyone knows it's meant to be…Falling in love, just you and me…Till the end of time…Till I'm on your mind…It'll happen…I'll just keep on dreaming, but it's cool cause we're just friends… I sang in my head, glancing at Marc.
And finally, we reached the top and joined up with the others.
The location for the ceremony was a small jagged cliff near the top, the Elders forming a rough half circle near the edge. Behind them was a square stone platform, where we would stand and recite our vows.
"Marcus Icebir?" called a cold voice immediately, which I recognized as one of the Elder's.
"I'm first. I must be special. And I'll be right back," Marc said to me. "Except," He puffed out his chest. "I'll be a man."
I laughed. What a dork. "Just go, you sorry excuse for a male."
Marc bounded forward onto the small square platform overlooking the cliff. I saw him look down once and shiver, then stare straight ahead. He was forbidden to look back at us.
"Marcus Icebir," began the Elder. "Son of Elder Marcus and Emina Icebir, are you prepared to take on the responsibilities of being a tribe member?"
"I am prepared with joy." Marc was reciting the vows we'd learned when we were little.
"To bear the tribe's burden and share in a tribe's defeat?"
"I am prepared to carry the burden until it is light and be the one who changes the tribe, defeated, to triumphant." Marc continued in a slightly bored voice.
"To put others before yourself and submit to the tribe's needs?"
"I am prepared to be completely selfless even unto death."
"Oh, new member of the tribe, what will be your evolution?"
I watched him tense up, and even though he couldn't see me, I nodded encouragingly. "I wish to be a Glaceon, sir." He said, relaxing.
A light breeze blew through the cliff, and after that, I couldn't concentrate on the rest of Marc's ceremony, but on the delicious wind ruffling through my fur…Mmm…
The crowd around me began to cheer, and I started, looking up. One of the other elders had taken off Marc's crystal amulet and held it in his mouth. As custom, the elder threw it off the mountain, and the cheering intensified.
Grinning, Marc bounded back through the crowd towards me.
"So, how do you feel?" I whispered, smirking.
"Actually…if you want to know the truth…more…manly, now that the necklace is off." He confessed, embarrassed.
I giggled again.
More and more Eevees were called, the crowd around us still occasionally cheering.
Finally, my name was called. I was the second-to-last person. "Valentina Petal." Summoned the cold voice of the Elder.
"Your turn." Marc reminded, elbowing me.
I flashed another smile at Marc and pushed my way to the front to stand on the platform. It was simply made of rock, but dangerously close to the edge, looking down at a height that would have made non-acrophobics want to faint. I mistakenly, like Marc, glanced down.
I flinched. However, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the terrifying elevation.
But…
Slowly I felt the fear ebbing away, replaced by a different emotion: joy. The height was exhilarating, the air with an edge of daring. My muscles ached to throw myself off, to feel that rush, the unknown.
"Valentina Petal," The cold voice interrupted my thoughts. "Daughter of William and Larissa Petal, sister to Rubylin Petal (passed), are you prepared to take on the responsibilities of being a tribe member?"
"I am prepared with joy." I mumbled, distracted.
"To bear the tribe's burden and share in a tribe's defeat?"
"I am prepared to carry the burden until it is light and be the one who changes the tribe, defeated, to triumphant."
"To put others before yourself and submit to the tribe's needs?"
"I am prepared to be completely selfless even unto death."
"Oh, new member of the tribe, what will be your evolution?"
I knew, in that moment, I could never evolve. Never. It would take away my chance, my chance to be in the air, flying in that dream I would want for the rest of my life. After all, one cannot consent to creep when one feels the impulse to soar.
"Umm…uh…" I muttered, wondering how to phrase it. "I wish not to evolve, sir?"
There were horrified gasps behind me.
"Excuse me?" The Elder with the cold voice asked incredulously. "WHAT do you wish?"
"I wish not to evolve, sir." I turned to face him, shrugging. "I…I wish to, well…fly."
"Flying is fantasy, foolish female."
"But that doesn't matter. I can't change the way I am…" I argued, paling at his glare.
"Those are the words of a child." The Elder said, fury in his eyes. "A child is not to be a member of our pack. I…apologize, but I refuse to accept you. Maybe you should quit your childish fancies and face reality, idiotic girl. Maybe you can become a pack member next year, despite the freakishness you have shown today. This is not natural. And now you may step down. Maria Shadowieve."
"What?" I asked in disbelief. "What? I'm…not one of you?"
"I said, you may step down."
"You can't do this to me!" I shrieked. "You can't!"
"I just did, foolish girl. Step down."
"But-!" I screamed.
"Just come, Valentina." Squeaked a frightened voice from the others.
Fuming and fighting back tears, I walked back to the group, keeping my head down. They separated for me, so I could reach the back. I stood by Marc's side and faced the front, but I could tell he was still staring at me.
Finally, I met his shocked eyes.
"What brought that on?" He choked out.
"I don't know…" I said tearfully, pushing up against his side. "That guy should seriously take some classes."
"No, Valentina, not that." He shook his head. "Listen…I'm not allowed to be your friend anymore. I'm an adult and you're a child; we can't be with each other. Don't worry about me, I have some other guy friends, and besides, it's time we went our separate ways, right? Chase our destinies?"
My heart thudded to a stop.
He wasn't even calling me Rose anymore.
"Marc, you can't do this to me too."
"I'm sorry, Valentina."
"Marc, no-!" I shouted as everyone gave a final cheer, parted around us and started heading back down the beaten path.
"Goodbye." Marc said with an air of finality, walking ahead.
"No, Marc, wait, please-!" I screeched, but I'd gone so numb that the power to control myself had left me. I knew I couldn't live without him, he couldn't leave me-
Something struck me on the shoulder.
It took me a moment to realize it was another Eevee, who must have been at least three times my size, looking down, cruelly amused.
"I would apologize, but I'm above apologizing to freaks."
Two other Eevee flocked to the giant's side.
"Freak." One snickered as they continued down the mountain as well.
Marc, farther away, paused.
My heart was filled with joy, and I knew an enormous smile was brimming on my face. He really did need me, he didn't mean it after all-
"Hurry up, guys, we'll be late for supper." Marc said coolly, joining up with them.
My face fell.
They were his friends…?
I held back my tears. Not now, in front of them.
I couldn't believe it.
In a single day, I had been changed from respected, happy and loved…to being disgraced, depressed and hated even by him. My best friend.
I suppose that's life.
A constant friend is a thing very rare and hard to find.
H/P