Prologue
A/N: First off…this fic was originally in response to the challenge issued by one ever-amazing FenrisBlackwell on the old Vestroia site. And when I had first written it, it had sucked. -_-; Seriously…I mean, the later chappies are okay…but the first half of it…gah…so~, I decided to do a rewrite. Didn't start a whole new story or anything…just editing the chappies already in the story. So yes…thought you all should know that…
Also, I know very well that I got the dialogue for the meadow scene all wrong. But…gah, I don't exactly have many chances to rewatch the episode to nail it down for accuracy…sorry…T.T
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN BAKUGAN!!!! I felt like doing that in capitals…^.^
"Masquerade, no!"
A desperate plea, breaking through the deceptively serene breeze that continued to nudge away the glinting dust. A slender hand, trembling with grief, reaching out with the swell of hushed grass. And the half-formed boy ahead, out of her reach, the edges of what was left of his being glittering as it broke away like clouds of dust.
And the satisfied, expectant smile on his lips.
"Please stay! We still need you!"
The smile lingered sadly, such an alien, yet natural quirk on that pale, half-hidden face. Was that smile the truest expression of emotion that face had ever allowed to be shown?
This was greedy of her.
But this was greedy of him too.
"Please…" Her words were becoming thicker, softer, imploring and despondent. "I…can't do this by myself…"
A spike of joy, soon mingled with wisps of self-hatred; for that smile was slipping, the shimmering powder was faltering in the air, unmoved by the abruptly urgent wind. And then they were moving, drifting back to his remains, settling back in place.
And there he stood, complete, whole…and frowning, trembling, shaking his head, bewildered…
"Are you going to stay and help me, Masquerade?" More of her greed and carelessness. More of her disregard. But still Alice asked eagerly, hopefully…
Beseechingly.
For a moment, he didn't respond. And a stab of fear was running itself slowly through her...that he wouldn't help her. That he would refuse because of this greed and self-doubt. That if he couldn't give up on everything the way he had intended, he'd just give up through his silence…that he had lost every shred of will…
But he had finally lifted his head up, slow and drunkenly, mouth tightened in an obvious glare and voice hoarse with distance. "No. As I said, it's your destiny."
"But then why are you still here?" A useless question. One that she knew he wouldn't have the answer to; how could he know, when his heart was set on what would essentially be his death? "I thought…I thought you were going to leave…"
"I was," he murmured, not to her, but to himself. His face nodded back down to his hands, empty and yielding no answers for him. "But…I can't. Why…?"
The single word hung in the air, firm against a wind that tried to whisk it away. A word that remained, despite having no one to answer it and make it complete.
Masquerade suddenly looked back up in an anxious snap of his neck. "Alice, don't let the others know that I'm still here."
She stared back at him, confused. "What? But, why…"
"Just make them think that I'm gone, okay? Can you do that for me?"
Should she? He was about to leave…leave behind a world that he now had the capability and freedom to help, leave behind a group of kids who would eagerly throw away each and every of his wrongs in order to be his friend, and leave behind a girl still trapped in a vortex of inner chaos, helplessness and hurt, a vortex that he himself had caused and wouldn't settle down…
"Please?"
"Masquerade? Alice? What…"
It was a quick flash of a face unrecognized as the glass was moved away; of fine eyebrows and high cheekbones and smooth skin, of sharpness and canniness that he couldn't place on the round features, the large, gentle eyes, and the bare authenticity that they disappeared into.
"Alice? What's going on?"
She didn't answer him. She just stood there, swaying, black and red bands gripped tightly in her hands, sharpening and paling her knuckles. "Good bye forever…Masquerade," she whispered, sad and unsure, as the mask shattered without a sound, leaving the shards to drift away and disappear.
"Alice…" There was comfort and sympathy in his voice; enough for her, more than enough.
Afterall, wasn't this a confusing time she was going through?
"Thank you…Alice," Masquerade whispered. She could imagine that those words sounded free and light, honest. She could imagine that no trace of resentment was present within them.
But she would still know just how little he could be grateful for such a small act of mercy.
"Now go greet your friends. They've missed you."
Alice nodded once, her voice stuck in her throat. Unable to offer any empty reassurances or apologies for her dependence. She could only force herself into the real world.
In the comforting embrace of a dark room, grayed out by the pale light of a small orb hanging in midair, a pair of green eyes solemnly reopened, bright against the shadows. And a satisfied chuckle broke the silence.
A/N: There ye go. The new, hopefully better prologue. I tried a whole lot harder with it than when I had first written it…be grateful…anywho, the other parts of the prologue that I left out (the celebration of Naga's unfair defeat…) will be integrated somehow into Chappie One. Okie? Okie…