warnings: AU, unoriginal storyline, medieval setting(ish), human names
the new series i'm starting (finally), main characters being hk + taiwan, with the other asians as well.
"A son!"
"A daughter!"
"No…"
"It's both?"
"Both?"
"Twins!"
"A curse, such a curse!"
"Our poor king and queen…"
"Kill one!"
"The girl!"
"The younger!"
"Get rid of them both!"
"Leave them be."
"Perhaps it's for the better."
"I wouldn't count on it."
—
"Hear, hear!"
"A declaration?"
"Our majesties of our radiant Kingdom of Gold would like their humble subjects to know that the queen has given birth to a healthy female child. Both are in well-to-do condition and request there be celebration for the new beloved child of our majesties."
"A girl!"
"How wonderful!"
"Congratulations to our king and queen!"
—
"One?"
"There's only one."
"A daughter, so I hear."
"What foolish oaf started the rumor of twins?"
"What a curse that would be."
—
A man paces before the king and queen, his long dark hair pulled into a low ponytail. All three are dressed in elegant attire in shades of gold, red, and black. The room itself is fabulously decorated and elaborate, also in those same shades. Silk tapestries are drawn on the massive window, floor to ceiling, leaving a few dim candles as the only source of light.
The queen sits in a massive bed, cradling one child in her arms, her face looking pale and tired, and her brunette hair unruly and cascading down her shoulders. The king, also the brother of this pacing man, sits at the foot of his wife's bed, cradling another child. Both newborn children are as quiet as can be, and both parents look more tired than happy.
"Your majesties, with all due respect, what are you thinking?" The long-haired man questions urgently, genuinely confused.
"What ever do you mean, Yao?" The king replied, chuckling at his brother's urgent tone.
"Announcing to the public that you had one child? You're certainly not planning to dispose of the other, are you?" This man, Yao, gestures to the male child the king is holding.
"While both our magicians and priests say it would be wise to dispose of both, we don't wish to listen to them." The queen interrupts coldly. She had honestly never liked those men in long robes that claimed there were supernatural forces in the world. They simply annoyed her.
"When the time comes, they will be put to use accordingly. Until then, you are to continue with life and not question our decisions." The king says with a smirk.
Yao frowns, displeased with the way his brother is making his niece and nephew sound like objects to be used, not children. He sighs when he remembers his own little girl, back in his wing of the castle. Yao hopes she will never have to deal with such responsibilities or hardships as his niece and nephew will have to deal with. He finally stops pacing and stands straight; addressing his brother respectfully, though he can catch a glint of malice in those dark eyes.
"Yes, your majesty."
—
"Xiang, Xiang, look, look~"
A small brunette girl skips to where her brother is sitting and places a crown of flowers on his head. She giggles happily, beaming at him in accomplishment. He gently touches the gift upon his head, and thanks her.
"Oh, thank you."
He returns her smile though more subtly, as he isn't well-suited to showing his emotions. She gathers the remaining flowers in her hands and throws them in the air, producing a flurry of yellow flowers and petals. Giggling happily, she runs around in them, getting them in her hair and clothes.
In her excitement, the small girl doesn't notice a ditch in the dirt. When her foot lands in it, she stumbles and lets out a yelp. Before she can fall however, her brother is there, catching her and helping her upright. Even at the young age of 6, he is quick and smart, while she is clumsy and silly.
"Ah, thank you, Xiang. I didn't watch where I was stepping…"
He smiles at her and brushes her off, but his eyes look stern. He scolds her, but his voice is soft.
"Be more careful, Mei. Look."
The brown-eyed boy points to the rose bushes behind him.
"If you had fallen, you would have fallen into that."
Her eyes widen when she catches sight of the thorns.
"But I didn't, because you saved me!" she chirps. With this, she hugs him. He strokes her hair in return.
Off in the distance, the two hear someone calling for them, but neither pay any mind to it.
"What happens if I'm not around to save you?" he questions solemnly. She frowns and pulls away to stare at him, genuinely looking as if about to cry.
The calling becomes more urgent, but still the two pay no attention.
"I won't let that happen… you always have to be around, to protect me! You can't ever leave me!"
Tears begin falling from her eyes at this point. He pulls her close again, comforting her. Such a crybaby, she always has been.
Both can hear footsteps now, and the calling clearer.
"Shh, shh. I won't ever leave you, and I'll always protect you, okay?"
Their tutor and mother come into view. Their tutor looks more tired than anything; their mother, annoyed. She pulls the children apart from each other and takes a firm grip on Mei's arm, beginning to pull her away.
"M-Mother, what are you doing? What's going on?" the small girl asks worriedly. She extends her free arm towards her brother, the look in her eyes afraid. Her brother moves to assist her, but their tutor plants a grip on his arm, and he is unable.
"Say goodbye to your brother for a while daughter, we have things to teach you and he is not involved." Their mother says coldly. Mei begins to cry.
To both the twins' surprise, Xiang begins to cry as well. Both have their free arms extended towards another, both are being restrained, and both are growing further and further apart.
But mostly, both have a sense of foreboding.
Before his sister is lost in his sight, Xiang hears her yell something to him, and he barely understands her.
"Do you promise?"
He hears the echo of skin hitting skin.
His mother had slapped his sister. He bites his lip so hard he tastes blood; his tears flow more than ever before, and he struggles to reply.
"Yes."
But his sister is already out of sight, and he falls to the ground, crying in defeat.
Gosh, finally, eh? I'm slow, I'm sorry. orz Every time I tried writing it out, it came out all bad. :(
Anyways, here it is, the series I was talking about doing. ^^
As always, reviews/ratings/comments/etc. are always appreciated and read!