Ban got tired of pain, so he decided to give love a try:

"Look, you guys." "No doubt about it. It's the Necropolis," King noted quietly to himself from behind a large emerald. "Memories belonging to one of them… opened the pathway." "Do you think it was my wish to meet my mother that opened it up and carried us here?" Elizabeth asked. "Maybe it was my powerful longing for all the scraps I missed in my long and colorful life." "My mind was totally blank," the captain's finger scratched in his ear. "Mine too," Diane added. Ban just stared off into the distance, not moving until something caught his eye.

All my life…. His eyes grew as his heart started racing. My long, pointless life…. Nearby, standing on one of the emeralds was a girl; a woman. She had long-flowing light pink hair reaching down to her feet. Wearing a dress made entirely of flowers, she stood there with her back facing Ban. Her head tilted a little, just enough for Ban to see the corner of her lips. There's always been something; something I knew could never be mine. Ban's legs took on a life of their own. Everyone blinked alarmed as he dashed off towards her. Something beautiful; something perfect….. "Hold it!" King zoomed after him. "King?" "But how did he get here?" "What the hell's going on?!" "Captain, what are we supposed to do?" "I guess we'll run after him for now."

Something that could never be mine…. Ban ran faster. Still, I'm always searching; always looking for your figure to appear somewhere, anywhere. "You're not gonna escape!" King announced to Ban. Everywhere I go, even though I know you won't be there. "I won't let you get away from me again!" Ban cried. One more time…. Oh god, what I wouldn't give for just one more time. I don't care if you are dead.

I will never stop searching for your smile.

One Hundred Years Earlier, in Southern Malaga (modern-day Spain)-

Ban's P.O.V.-

I've had a shitty life so far. Nothing's ever really worked out for me; I don't know why. So, when I was old enough and had the means, I decided what the hell? I'd go try and find this legendary Fountain of Youth. I'd never been down south before and thought it might be fun. I was leaving the land of the dragons to enter the realm of the fairy folk. They occupied the jungles and tropical rainforests, growing much larger than their Britannian cousins. Ah well, I wasn't afraid of fairies. They left humans alone for the most part; how bad could their societies be? I'm sure I'll get along just fine. After all, what's the worst that could happen?

Sinensis's P.O.V.-

I was brought back to my mother's kingdom in chains. Even though I was a princess- the only princess of the Malagean fairies- they treated me like a prisoner. And I understood why. We had taken a boat from Crete to the capital; grandfather had his servants personally "escort" me back home. They kept me in chains, but they were very nice chains; allowing me to still drink my tea when I pleased. At least I still had that.

The boat docked and there was already a crowd outside. Among them was my brother, King Harlequin. He was beyond horrified to see me in cuffs. "Sis!" He rushed over, pushing his way through the crowds. "You're alive!" King didn't hesitate to wrap his arms tightly around me. "I was so scared!" "I'm sorry, brother," I said, nuzzling him back. "I didn't mean to worry you like this." "Um, excuse me, your highness?" One of the guards tapped King on the shoulder. "Forgive me but we have to get to the palace." "Alright, but only after you get those things off my sister!" "I'm sorry, sire, but I can only remove them if the king commands."

King scoffed and turned his head sideways. "Fine! Let's just get home then." My brother stayed glued to my side from then on; he held my confined hand the whole journey home. Our grandfather lived in this luxurious castle overseeing the city and out onto the horizon. It had countless servants, not to mention jewels. He was the largest landowner in the kingdom with hundreds of vassals with their own fiefs. And it would all be my brother's someday. Meanwhile, I was to be married off to some foreign lord with his own land and castle, with no regard to how I feel about the matter. That's exactly why I ran away seven years ago.

The carriage pulled by wild boars stopped and we emerged on royal soil. I was led straight to the courtroom for my hearing; what a welcome home party. Needless to say, everyone was both elated and alarmed to see me, especially like this. The last time I was at the palace, I was still a child. Now I was a woman; a young woman. Not to sound vain but I was quite stunning, being royalty and all. Plus the human blood in me enhanced my ahem, figures. Most fairies were flat-chested while… I was not. My eyes were also blue; another human figure. I caught the attention of all we passed, which was to be expected. This was my trial, after all.

Grandfather was presiding the hearing. It was the first time we'd saw each other, and he did not look happy. From the moment he entered the room, he glared at me from behind the bench. Everyone rose then sat and court was officially in session. "Princess Sinensis!" The prosecutor began. "You are charged with leaving the kingdom without permission, being educated by a human, and drinking three bouts of hemlock." This last one got the audience in a stir; I noticed King even give a little shudder. "How do you plead?" "Guilty?" I shrugged. "It's all true."

"Sinensis!" King gasped in disbelief. "How could you drink three cups of hemlock? That's lethal." "I know…." I gazed down at him, my eyes full of sadness. "Do you mind telling the court why you did so, your grace?" The prosecutor's arms crossed. "Don't play with me," I shot grandfather an irritated look. "You know why." "Because of that "master" of yours? You mean to say that you tried to kill yourself after they killed Socrates?" The prosecutor asked in a condescending tone, sounding affronted. "He's a human!" "He was my teacher!" I shot back. You do not talk to me about Socrates; I don't care who you were, that was off limits.

Grandfather frowned, clearly unamused. "You grieved so much over a man's life?" He spoke to me for the first time. "He wasn't just any man," I countered viciously. "He was my master." "He's mortal." "He raised me for seven years! It's thanks to him that I can read and write; you didn't teach me mathematics or natural science. You didn't teach me anything!" "You can read? Human languages?" King asked me surprised. "What's the point in educating you? You're a girl, and what's more, you're a king's future wife. That's all you need to know." "You're wrong," I growled. "You forget, I'm half-human. I wanted to learn about my people." "We are your people." "My father's mortal!" "Enough!"

Everyone, including me, sat down as Grandfather suddenly stood up, only to glare me down harder. "Hear me, child. You are my granddaughter; you belong to me. You escaped for seven years; you had your time. But now you will give me what is owed; you will do what you were born for." "I'm not some broodmare!" "I say you are! But if you're so insistent on keeping your freedom, I will give you a choice, granddaughter. You will either marry who provides the biggest dowry to me, or you will spend the rest of your life guarding the Fountain of Youth. That is your punishment." "So," I growled, glaring red-hot daggers at the old monarch. He hated me; I knew he saw me only as something to use, a pawn in his game.

"You're either going to sell me or keep me as a slave?" "Sister!" King was scandalized by my audacity. But Grandfather's eyes just sharpened. "That's correct, granddaughter." No one said anything after this, just kept glancing between my grandfather and me. The silence gave me time to mull over my options; my two options. Which was worse? Guarding a cup in a forest alone forever or marrying some tyrant only to bear his children through force? Put that way, definitely the former. Everyone held their breath as I took in a deep, deep breath. My eyes gently shut. "I will…. guard the Fountain of Youth."

"Fine, it's done. You will be brought to the Forest of Heavenly Rains where you spend the rest of your days. From this moment, I strip you of all personal freedom. You will live and die in those trees, Camellia Sinensis; I will make sure of it." "This is my punishment for running away and trying to kill myself after my beloved mentor was mercilessly executed?" A moment of silence in the courtroom. "Yes; yes, it is. No one disobeys me, not even you."