Hello! My exams are over! That means I have plenty of time for story writing (no promises, we all know how much of a procrastinator I am). I thought I'd come back with a little one shot I've been working on for a while, enjoy!
A Place Where You Fit
Tick, tock, tick, tock.
Welcome to the village that works like a clock.
Tick, tock, tick, tock.
It's never quite right if it's missing a cog.
"Honestly! I might as well try and reprogram you're A.I.!" The limp figure, laid out on the work bench, had no reply to this, nor did he realise he was being spoken to. "I guess it's my fault; your head's all outta proportion with the rest of you. Still, no need to keep toppling face first into the river." I sighed half-heartedly, then slumped into my old, faithful wicker chair, gulping down another mug of tea. Ramon was a nice enough person, I guess, provided you supplied him with a fresh bunch of puzzles to obsess over every once in a while; but he was getting older now, he malfunctioned more often and kept falling over, which was a particularly bad place to be when you work on a river. It wasn't that I was tired of fixing him up, I'm not sure that could ever happen, he was just getting so damaged by all that water in his circuits that it was almost a hopeless task. "Not as much water as there is in your brain." I joked, chuckling to the empty room. My sense of humour tended to be a little dry, but that's what you get for spending 15 years in a village where you're the only flesh and blood citizen in a community of androids. I stood up, stretched, then returned to the workbench, sorting through oily spanners and screw drivers.
St Mystere: It wasn't perfect, but it was my home.
Tick, tock, clang, boom.
Here comes a mystery girl from the gloom.
Tick, tock, clang, boom.
You're all on your own when you rise from the tomb.
System unstable... Must… Shut down. That's all I knew. So much… Damage… Can't… Function… Danger… Must rest… Must die, once and for all… But this urge… This instinct, like that which had drawn me around the globe… Pulling… Whispering 'follow me… Follow me…'
No good… The damage done after spending a year underwater… Can't go on…. 'Just a little further' the voice urged, but I ignored it… None of it felt real… Is this what humans call… A dream?
Trip, stumble… Face first in the mud… No… I can't go on… I'm finished… Just let me die…
Tick, tock, click, beep.
In desperate times, strangers will meet.
Tick, tock, click, beep.
Two unbalanced problems can make one complete.
"Err, Bruno?" I awoke with a snort, comfortably sprawled on my wicker chair. Damn! Did I fall asleep during repairs again? I'm getting too old for this. I allowed myself a sort yawn, before craning my stiff neck to find out who had called me. Franco, the drawbridge operator, stood in the doorway, nervously fiddling with his fingers. Behind him, the last sun-coated clouds were drifting away from the village, leaving violet abyss in their wake. Twilight. I stretched, still reluctant to leave the chair.
"What is it, Franco?" I asked, a tad irritably. I disliked being disturbed while working, and it happened quite frequently these days; the robots were programed with the intention of caring for Flora, and after that, they were to be decommissioned. Since that had not been the case, the villagers found their lives somewhat aimless, constantly bugging me for jobs and chores. Every time, I told them to continue exactly as they had before the mistress left, but without their child to cater for and entertain, they ended up doing… Nothing… Flora's rare visits to the village seemed to be the only thing they lived for these days. This was why, after much debate with myself, I had decided, next time she came round, I would tell Flora that it was time to close the book on St Mystere: not only were the villagers miserable, but they were aging, becoming so damaged that I was up to my ears with repairs every day, and I wasn't going to be there forever to fix them… I hated having to come to that conclusion, I just hoped Flora would understand…
Franco remained anxious. "You see, Bruno… Someone's at the bridge." I raised an inquisitive eyebrow; we didn't get many visitors these days, not since word had got out that the Golden Apple had been found, and Flora always wrote ahead of arriving.
"Well? Let 'em in then!" I grunted impatiently, but Franco just shuffled oddly.
"Problem is, sir, well… It's the puzzle." He replied. "She ain't answering it." I sat silently for a moment, not pondering over the issue, just marvelling at the incompetence of my creations. I took a deep breath, rubbing my face in my hands.
"Did you give her any hints?" I asked, slowly and wearily.
"Yes, sir. All three of 'em."
"All three?" My patience was wearing thin. "For crying out loud, it's a multiple choice question!" I snapped. "How long has she been there?"
"Ur…" Franco checked his watch. "'Bout five hours."
"FIVE HOUR-…" I stopped, as spine-chilling realisation crawled into my mind. "… Franco… When you say she ain't answering… Was she saying anything at all?"
"No, Bruno." Franco said, slightly alarmed. "She said nothin'."
"And… Was she moving?"
"Only when she arrived. She were walking quite slowly, then just fell over. Been there since." I jumped from my chair, panic now taking over.
"YOU'RE TELLING ME" I shouted at the short, bewildered robot. "THAT YOU'VE BEEN TRYIN' TO GIVE A PUZZLE TO AN UNCONSIOUS PERSON FOR FIVE HOURS?!"
"Ur…" He stammered in return. "… Was that wrong?" I didn't bother answering. I hastily grabbed my coat and ran from the workshop, across the village as fast as my aching bones would carry me. I arrived at the draw bridge, and sure enough, in the dimming light, I could just see a figure, laid upon the ground. I spun the bridge mechanism into action, hopping desperately from foot to foot as it fell. We have one of two situations here, I thought to myself as I waited. Either the lass passed out from exhaustion, if so, she might be alright, or she lost consciousness due to something else. If that's the case, I may already be too late. The whirr of machinery stopped, and the bridge halted. I sprinted across and knelt beside the young lady. The poor girl was face down in the dirt. She wore a torn, mouldy dress, its original colour, whatever it was, completely washed out. Her hair, which covered her face, was a lovely dusty blonde, but had become matted into one, giant dreadlock. What on Earth has happened to her? Her arm, outstretched in what must have been a failed attempt to break her fall, lay lifeless beside me. She didn't seem to be breathing. Shakily, I reached out for her wrist: stone cold, no pulse, I was no doctor, but the lump in my throat told me that there was no saving her now. I dropped her arm, placing my hand on my mouth, my cheek, my forehead and temples. Nothing like this had ever happened to me before; I'd seen dead people, oh yes, I was the one who had cleaned Augustus up for burying, but I'd never been responsible for a death…
Responsible? The idea had just turned up in my head, but now I thought about it, yes, it was my fault; if I had worked harder on the robot's A.I.s… If Franco had known to… She might still…
But there was nothing I could do now. I'd just have to call the police, and they'd make sure she was returned to whoever had loved her. I sniffed, wiping away the glisten in my eyes that threatened to overflow. I took off my coat and rolled it up into a pillow; I'd have to leave her to get to a phone, and that seemed unfair, so I might as well make her comfortable. I put the make shift pillow beside her head, then rolled her over, so that she was facing the darkening sky, her head resting on the coat.
I froze.
I jumped away from the body, scuttling several steps back, almost falling into the river.
This was no ordinary girl. Heck, this thing weren't even human. Now that it was facing upright, it's real cause of death was revealed. Burns covered it from head to toe, skin swollen with water bulged from its body. Some limbs were twisted grotesquely, and its face; half of the face was completely missing, torn away like paper, and where flesh and bone should have been, metal and rust replaced it, surrounding a glass, aqua eye.
This was no girl; it was a robot. An android. I thought I was the only one to have built them, yet here it was, beaten and worse for wear, but proof that I wasn't the only one making artificial humans. I instinctively looked around; surely this thing's creator will be tracking it down, do I want to be there when they arrive? Then again, I observed, it looks pretty neglected. She's been alone for a long time. If someone wanted her, they'd have found her by now. I crossed my arms, the grief a distant memory. One thing was for sure: there was no way I was turning this thing into the police; just from what was revealed by the missing skin, I could tell that this was a work of art, far greater than anything I had made. Which begged the question: Who would cast out such a masterpiece? A mischievous smile crept onto my lips. There was only one way to find out.
Tick, tock, bing, bong.
Everyone has a place where they truly belong.
Tick, tock, bing, bong.
Even when you thought that place was long gone.
6 months later.
System starting. Reboot complete in 5 seconds. 4 seconds. 3. 2. 1…
My eyes opened, slowly, painful light shining into them. They adjusted quickly, and soon my surroundings were clear: a dank, grey room, every wall occupied with shelves of nails and screws, and several desks lined the perimeter with papers spilling off them. The room was mostly very dark, the light had come from a large lamp, shining down at me. I was lying on a wooden surface at the centre of the room, and to my right, the face of an old and tired looking man peered down at me.
"Ah." He sighed. "Back again, are you?" He smiled, but his demeanour was exhausted and melancholy. He rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand. "Right, let's go through these tests again: firstly, can you understand a word I'm saying?" My system ran at lightning speed, like thoughts you can barely keep up with.
Language detection program
Language: Modern English
Percentage of language known: 84.39%
I knew these words, I had spoken them before. "Y-yes." My voice croaked from under use. "I understand." The man raised his eyebrows in mild surprise.
"Oh." He said, interested. "That's new." He grabbed a note book and pen, furiously jotting down notes. "Right, test two: Can you sit up for me, miss?" I hadn't moved for such a long time, the very idea fatigued me. I moved one arm, finding it surprisingly easy. Slowly, I lifted my body up, finally managing to get myself upright. "Very good!" the man exclaimed. "Can you lift your right arm? Great, well done." His congratulations were not patronising, in fact, he seemed more pleased with himself than with me. "Can you lift the other arm?" I did so. The man pointed at the arm with his pen. "An' what do you call that arm?" I was confused by this.
"I…" I began to mumble. "I do not believe it has a name." The man laughed, as if I had just told a joke.
"What I meant," he chuckled. "Is, if that's your right arm, what's your other arm called?"
"My… Left arm?" I replied cautiously. He nodded.
"That's right!" He beamed. "I'd say we've cracked the code with you now!" He took my hand and shook it firmly. "The name's Bruno. I've been fixing you up over the past few months. How are you feeling?"
"I feel… Amazing." It was true; my body was in perfect condition, and although I could not recall why, that gave me endless relief.
"Splendid!" Bruno grinned. "In that case, I'd love to ask you some questions. Would that be alright?" I nodded; I saw no reason not to trust him, and besides, there were things I wanted to know as well. "Excellent." He stood up, his posture lifted with pride. "I'll go and make something for us to eat and drink while we talk." He pointed to a screen, set up on the other side of the room. "There's some dresses behind there, one of them ought to fit you; why don't you get dressed while I'm gone?" I looked down at myself now, to find that I was wearing a silk night dress. Despite its expensive appearance, it was drenched in oil, bearing the odd tear. I nodded to Bruno thankfully, then pushed myself off the table top.
Of course, feeling so much better than I had expected to, it had not occurred to me that I may be somewhat weak. As soon as I put my feet on the ground, my ankles gave way, and I toppled over sideways. Bruno caught me by the arm and pulled me upright again. "Whoa, easy there!" He fretted. "Don't worry, you'll get the hang of walking soon enough." He picked me up, like a small child, and carried me to the screen. He set me down on a stool, next to a large basket of fabrics. "Think you can manage yourself from here?" He asked, concerned.
"Yes. And, thank you." He nodded humbly and disappeared from view. I rummaged through the variety of dresses; every single one was decorated from head to toe with frills, laces and bows. They were made of the finest of fabrics, and the tailoring was impeccable. They had obviously been very expensive, but there were signs of wear and tear: the odd stain, places where the stitching had been repaired, these items must have been second hand from someone rich.
I picked out a white gown with red ruffled sleeves and collar, as it was the plainest of all the clothing; I was not comfortable with the excessive decorations. I got it on without too much trouble, and it fitted well. There was a polite tap on the screen. "You alright in there?" Bruno called.
"Yes. I'm dressed now." I replied. Slowly, I slid off the stool. Bruno poked his head around the screen, watching as I balanced for a moment, then fell. Again, he caught me by the arm.
"See? you getting better already." He laughed. He held me by the arms, acting as a support, as I carefully stepped out into the workshop. He led me to a wicker chair, allowing me to sit down. He collected the stool and sat on it himself, opposite to me. Between us was a small table, holding a plate of sandwiches, two cups and a large, steaming tea pot. "Help yourself." He invited. We sat, eating and drinking tea for some time, and before long the plate emptied, leaving only crumbs and the remainder of the tea. Bruno took one last gulp, then set his cup down, looking to me eagerly "So," he started. "Tell me about yourself." I didn't answer, what was there to tell? "… Ok." He tried again. "What's your name?"
"I… I do not know…" My mind was completely blank. "The last thing I remember… is collapsing in those woods." Bruno looked somewhat startled, and disappointed.
"So… You don't know where you come from? Who made you?"
"Who made me?" I asked, bewildered. "What do you mean, made me?" Bruno sat back, astounded.
"You don't know do you?" He muttered. "You really don't know…" Then he told me everything; about how he had found me, a robot with human appearance, destroyed and alone by the river.
"You were in utter disrepair." He said, recalling the day wistfully. "I was starting to wonder if you were a lost cause, until today, that was. I had to replace a lot of your internal material, it had rusted away you see. Whoever created you was a genius, your workings are pure art. Anyway, as for your external design, I had to replace all of you skin and hair. Your eyes are the only part of your external look that didn't have to be discarded. Well, them and this." He got up, and reached for a drawer of one of the desks. He took out an item and sat back down, holding it out: it was a pendant, a small purple gem on a chain. I could not exactly say I recognised it, but every fibre in my body urged me to take it. I took the gem between my fingers, and placed it on my head, the chain circling my head like a crown and the ornament dangling on my forehead. Bruno chuckled. "Let me give you a hand." He rose, and stood behind me, taking the pendant and fastening it around my neck. "That's better!" He grinned, returning to his seat. I only smiled awkwardly in reply, fingering the ornament; the weight of the chain around my neck was unfamiliar and odd, it had been far more comfortable on my head, but I did not want to argue with Bruno, who had essentially saved my life. "Now." He started. "Is there anything else you want to know?"
"Yes… Where are we?"
Then he told me about the village; he spoke of vast lakes that shone like the sun as morning came, of the deserted fairground and underground passages. He described the looming tower that used to shadow the streets below, the beautiful manor and its fabulous gardens. He told me how his friend had asked him to build the village and all its robot inhabitants, so that after he died, his daughter would not be alone.
"So… The daughter is the only other human here?" I questioned, as all the new information buzzed around my head.
"She was." Bruno replied, enjoying his storytelling. "But she left some time ago. Been adopted. This whole place was built for her, and now she's gone, well, it just ain't the same." He pointed at me. "You're wearing her hand-me-downs right now." I looked again at the dress, so this other girl was the previous owner of the clothes?
Bruno yawned, and glanced out of the window. "It'll be dark soon. Now that you're up and running again, you ought to have a proper place to sleep." He helped me to my feet "Up for a bit of a stroll?" I nodded, the food had made me feel stronger, and although I was slow and still needed Bruno's support, we successfully left the workshop and worked our way down the street. Bruno chattered encouragingly as I took step after step, getting stronger and more confident with each one.
"Exshushe me, Bruno." A short, plump old woman with brown hair and large glasses approached us. She held a pack of cards in her hand. "I wash wondering if- Oh! That'sh the girl who wash in your offish the other day!"
" 'Deed she is, Martha." Bruno said, boastingly. "Fixed her up myself. Just taking her over to Beatrice for the night."
"Oooooh Shplendid!" Martha squealed. "Perhapsh you'd like to take a look at thish puzzle before you go."
"Martha, I don't think- "
"I would love to!" I exclaimed. Martha chuckled, holding out the cards and explaining the rules.
Similar meetings occurred throughout the journey, sometimes bearing puzzles, but usually just for a quick chat and introduction; it seemed that everyone had heard about the mysterious girl Bruno had found by the river. When we eventually reached an inn, it was already dark outside. Bruno set me down on a waiting room chair, then rang the bell at the desk. "B!" He called, slamming furiously on the bell. "Where is that woman… B!"
"Alrigh'! Alrigh'! I'm coming!" A loud clatter came from the stairs, and a large woman, in a pink dressing gown and half her hair in curlers appeared. "Honestly Bruno! No patience, you have!"
"I had enough patience to build your lazy backside." Bruno snapped. I had trouble telling if this was rudeness or affection, humans are so confusing. "Look, B, this is the girl I was telling you about. I was hoping you could give her a room for the night." The lady squeaked with excitement when she saw me, going very pink from embarrassment as she pulled her dressing gown tightly across her bosom.
"Bruno! You could 'ave warned me!"
"What'd be the fun in that." He chuckled. "Besides, she don't mind, do you?" He helped me up again and handed me over to the woman. "Beatrice'll look after you for the night, I'll be back in the morning." He smiled. "Then I'll show you around, if you like."
"Oh, yes please!" I gasped. Bruno nodded happily, then left. Beatrice helped me up the stairs, talking madly about how nice it was to have a visitor, apologising for the mess that wasn't there and telling me how nice it was the have a visitor (I guessed that she did not get many). She led me to a beautiful bedroom, which smelled like fresh sheets and flowers.
"You stay 'ere, love." She cooed. "I'll get you some pyjamas." Alone in the room, I observed it from the king-sized bed; the walls were lined with shelves, holding books and ornaments galore. A dull pink hue coated the walls, decorated with tiny painted blossoms in a repeating pattern. The ceiling was white and wavy, with a crystal chandelier hanging from the centre.
Determined to see the entire village in the morning, I slid off the bed and attempted to walk on my own. I wobbled, having to place a hand on the wall for balance, but after a few minutes, I was going at a reasonable pace. Beatrice returned, and giggled at the sight of me.
"Don't overwork yourself, dear." She fussed, as she helped me out of the dress and pulled a silk night gown over my head. She pulled back the duvet and tucked me under it, smiling all the while. She kissed my forehead, and switched off the lights. "Good night, love." She whispered into the dark, closing the door behind her. I curled up under the covers, grinning madly to myself; despite my lack of memories, I did not think I had never felt as content and cherished as this.
The next morning, Beatrice took me down the road to a small restaurant. The owner, Crouton, cooked us a delicious meal of fried bread and eggs, and sat with us for a friendly conversation, entertaining me with a puzzle including measuring jugs and milk.
Soon after I had finished eating, a bell rung as someone entered the restaurant. Bruno strode in, smiling as he saw me.
"Morning, Bruno!" Crouton called, getting up and returning to the counter. "The usual?
"Yes, please." Bruno was about to walk over and join us at the table, but I stopped him.
"Bruno! Wait!" I stood up from my chair, and walked towards him, without having to hold onto anything. "Look! I can do it!" Bruno's grin broadened.
"Well done." He said quietly, but proudly. We continued to talk as he ate his breakfast, or rather, Beatrice talked, lecturing Bruno on where he must take me and who I must meet. I got the impression that Bruno wasn't listening, as he stared thoughtfully at the wall, sipping his coffee slowly. Eventually, we waved Beatrice and Crouton goodbye, and set off into the village. "Alright, forget everything B said." Bruno began. "Where do you wanna go first?"
It was a wonderful morning. The sun danced on the dew strewn ground, and although there was a slight mist, it was still warm and cosy outside. We explored the West side of the town first, where Bruno took me on a tour of a derelict fairground. He seemed somewhat embarrassed by its condition, but I found the incredible, rustic machines in capes of ivy fascinating all the same. We were then going to take a walk around the lake, but the vast body of water gave me strange chills, although I did not know why, so instead we wandered East. We talked to the citizens, who exchanged gossip and puzzles with us. Bruno brought ice cream and sat by the river to eat it. Around noon, while I was knelt beside the water, letting it flow over my hands as small fish tickled my fingertips curiously, Bruno checked his watch.
"Blimey! Is that the time?" I jumped at his voice, scaring the fish and splashing water over my dress. "I told Dahlia we'd be at the manor for lunch about now!" We walked briskly along the river, soon reaching a tall, snooty looking man. He took us across in a small rowing boat, and a large, fabulous house in a magnificent garden came into view. I gasped with excitement as we drew closer, shaking with anticipation as we stepped out onto the bank. Bruno chuckled at me. "Wait 'till you see the inside!"
Indoors was indeed very exquisite; we were shown into the reception area by a stout butler, called Matthew. Velvet drapes hung from the walls, and fine lace covered every surface, along with vases of fresh flowers. There were also paintings, the two largest of which were most noticeable; one of a round, middle aged man, and another of a young girl. I approached this painting, admiring the girl's elegant dress, her marble complexion and wise expression.
"That's the girl I was telling about yesterday." Bruno explained. "Flora's her name."
"Flora…?" The name rang a bell, not in itself, but as if it reminded me of something similar… Flora… Fl-ora… Ora… "Aurora…!" I gasped, turning to Bruno. "My name is Aurora!" Bruno looked just as confused by this sudden revelation as I felt. He was about to say something, when a shriek came from somewhere in the house.
"Claudia, darling! NO!" A white, fluffy creature tumbled down the stairs as fast as its tiny legs would carry it. "Someone catch that cat!" Both Bruno and Matthew dived after it. A mad chase began. The feline, hissing and spitting, sprang from place to place as both men tried to corner it. I watched the animal, sensing its anger as it madly scratched at the closed windows; he just wants to be outside. An idea came to me. I pulled open the front door; the cat saw its chance at freedom and made a dash for it, but as he ran past me, I scooped him up into my arms. At first he fought against my grip, but then he realised that he did not recognise me. Curiosity got the better of him, and he lay passively in my embrace. "Did someone get her? Is my sugarplum safe?" I looked up in the direction of the voice, and there, darting down the stairs, was the most beautiful woman I could imagine; her skin was perfect to the last dimple, and fine, dusty blonde hair fell around her slim face, which was crinkled with worry and fright. Her eyes settled on the cat, and she ran to me as quickly as her dainty high-heeled shoes would allow. She reached out to take her pet back, when she acknowledged me for the first time. "Oh! Hello." She smiled, gracefully. "Thank you for catching my darling Claudia, goodness knows what could have happened to her!" I could not help thinking, as I stroked Claudia's pampered fur, that he may have been better off escaping from the house, but I said nothing. Bruno coughed.
"Dahlia. May I introduce you to… Ah, Aurora, did you say it was?"
"Yes." I replied, already feeling the awkward tension in the introduction. I held Claudia out to the lady. "Urr… Your cat…" Dahlia took her thankfully. "Umm… Excuse me, but, I think he wants to go outside." Bruno and Matthew simultaneously winced. Dahlia looked at me as if I had just uttered a horrible curse word.
"He? My dear girl, Claudia is a female!" I thought better of correcting her, but the cat was definitely male. "And I… I could never expose Claudia to all the dangers out there!" She said defensively. "She could get hurt!" I glanced at the fresh scratches on Bruno's forearms, and was tempted to disagree with her.
"I'm sure he - she - would be alright." I said carefully. "I think the outdoors would be good for her." All eyes fell on Dahlia, as her face contorted with thought; I guessed that no one had tried to correct her animal care methods before.
"Well… Alright… MATTHEW!" She barked the butler's name, making him jump. "Find that old cat lead and take Claudia for a walk around the gardens!" Matthew nodded, taking the cat reproachfully and scuttled away. Although I was sure cats are supposed to roam freely, I accepted this as the best compromise for the time being. "Now, tea is upstairs." Dahlia beckoned us, and we followed her up the steps.
"Well done." Bruno muttered as we walked. "That's the first time anyone's convinced her to let that demon of a cat out of her sight!"
"You mean… No one has told her to let Claudia out before?" Bruno shook his head, checking again that Dahlia wasn't listening.
"Never had the heart to." He said, even quieter. "She was programed to have maternal instincts, in an attempt to give Flora a mother after her real one died. Can't blame her really, but Flora never truly accepted Dahlia as a parent. That got Dahlia down in the dumps, so we got her the cat to give her something to look after; problem is, she forgets it's an animal, not a baby."
We soon arrived in a living room. The walls were sun-yellow, shining in the light let in by the large windows. Between two sofas was a coffee table, bearing plates of fancy, tiny bites of food, from salmon-wrapped olives to gorgeous cupcakes. As we ate, Dahlia asked me to tell her more about myself; as I still had no memories prior to waking up the previous day, I explained everything since then: learning to walk, staying with Beatrice and all the places Bruno and I had been to that morning. I told them how I had recalled my name, but that I was still unsure of my past. Dahlia listened intently, asking the odd question and prompting me to say more, until at last I ran out of things to talk about. She then suggested that she could give me a tour of the manor, to which I eagerly agreed. She and Bruno showed me the entire house; all the bedrooms, dining rooms and even a small ballroom. Bruno excused himself to do some repairs in his workshop, so Dahlia took me around the gardens: there were sculptures, water fountains, green houses, orchids, animal pens full of hens and goats and so much more. By the time we had seen half of it, the sun was starting to set, so we made our way back to the manor, arms linked, giggling over a story Dahlia had just told me. We sat out on the garden furniture on the porch, and Ingrid, an old, kindly woman, brought us a Caesar salad for dinner. When we were finished, Ingrid asked me to pick some flowers from the front garden to decorate the manor with; I collected an armful of daffodils, and handed them to her, thanking her again for the meal. I curled back into the chair, watching the last of the sun disappear, and stars take its place as the brightest thing in the sky. I heard a hummed song from Dahlia's direction, and something furry jumped onto my lap. I hugged Claudia lightly, as my eye lids grew heavier and heavier…
The sun rose on a new day. I woke up in one of the bedrooms I had seen on my journey around the manor, only now, fresh daffodils occupied the earlier empty vase on the bedside table. Once again, someone had changed me into a silk night gown, and fresh day clothes lay on a nearby chair. I got dressed, and ventured downstairs, finding Bruno and Dahlia, talking over breakfast in the same room we had eaten lunch the day before. They stopped their discussion as I entered.
"Good morning, dear." Dahlia beamed at me. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I did. Thank you so much for the room." I replied, sitting next to her. "Good morning, Bruno."
"Morning." He returned, happily, yet with an edge of anticipation. He fiddled with his fingers nervously for a moment, the spoke again. "… Listen, Aurora, there was something we were hoping to ask you- "
"Bruno!" Dahlia snapped. "Let the girl eat something first!"
"What is it?" I asked anxiously. "Have I done something wrong?"
"Of course not." Bruno assured me. "In fact, since you got here, you've done nothing but do everything right…" He coughed. "Look… During those months when I was fixing you up, I drew some blue prints of your designs. The way you're made, you could last forever without need for repairs; sadly, that's not the case with my robots, they get damaged easily." He looked me in the eye, grinding his teeth in the short silence. "And, I was hoping - only with your permission - if I could use those blueprints to upgrade the villagers." I waited a moment, expecting him to give me a downside, before realising that was all he was asking.
"Oh, of course you can!" I agreed. "It's the least I can do, really." Bruno gave a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness for that." He grinned. "Some of the villagers wouldn't have lasted much longer without upgrading."
"There's… Something else." Dahlia cut in. Bruno looked at her, and nodded.
"Thing is." He started. "We don't really know how to go about, you know, getting your memories back… So, what are you planning to do until then?" I remained silent; I had not thought about that. I had been so caught up in the beauty of this village, that my missing memories had not bothered me.
"Because, you see." Dahlia continued. "If you have nowhere else to go, you're welcome to stay here, in the manor, for as long as you like."
"Really?!" I gasped with disbelief, excitement and happiness. The idea that I could stay in this paradise, it was more that I could ever have hoped for. I did not know where I really belonged, but I knew deep down that St. Mystere was better than any home had ever had before. I flung my arms around Dahlia's bewildered figure, feeling tears of joy welling up in my eyes. "Thank you." I whispered. "I want to stay here forever…"
Tick, tock, chime, ring.
We all get a chance at a new beginning.
2 months later.
I sat at my dressing table, in front of the oblong, ornate mirror. I watched my reflection brush her hair over and over again, although it was already smooth and glossy. I put the brush down, and reached for a perfume bottle, but my hand shook so much that I knocked it over. I sighed; I had already applied the scent, but I wanted to make sure everything was perfect, I had to make a good impression today. I pulled out all the slight creases in my dress, listening intently as I did; there was still a murmur of voices downstairs. Goosebumps prickled my skin. I rubbed my temples, breathing deeply; this was it. This was the day that the wonderful life I had led for the past two months could be taken away from me. This was the day Flora Reinhold had come to visit.
She did not know about me yet, Bruno had thought it best to tell her in person, to avoid her feeling as if she had been replaced. He had assured me many times that she would not mind me being here, but that did not stop the intense fear I had that she would be angry, and would force me out of the village. I loved St. Mystere, and the thought that I would leave…
But that will not happen, I reminded myself. Bruno is down there right now explaining the situation to Flora, and any minute now-
A knock at the door. I turned, fear coursing through me. "C-come in." I stammered. The door opened, and Dahlia stepped in, smiling at me.
"Are you alright, dear?" Her expression changed to one of concern when she saw my pale face.
"Yes, Mama." I replied, shortly. She nodded, sympathetically.
"Well, we're ready for you." I gulped as she spoke.
"Right… And… Flora?"
"She completely understands." Dahlia told me. "And she's very excited to meet you." Relief flooded me from head to toe. It's alright, I can stay! "Are you ready, sweetheart?"
"Yes, Mama." I stood up and joined her. Just as we were about to leave the room, she stopped me. She picked a daffodil from a vase, and tucked it behind my ear.
"There, now you're ready." I smiled at her, linked her arm with mine, and we walked together to the living room, anticipation growing with each step. We turned into the room, and instantly I saw her; the fair brunette hair and rosy cheeks that I had seen in countless photos and paintings throughout the manor, although she was much older than she was in any of them. In fact, far from the chubby cheeked child I had seen on the fairground posters, this girl appeared to be in her mid-teens. She saw me, and jumped from her seat on the sofa, looking at me with large, admiring black eyes, her face the very picture of the welcoming and delight I had been met with when I first encountered the villagers. I smiled back, all worries and uncertainties forgotten.
"A-Aurora!?" Someone called my name. It was a boy, sat beside Flora, dressed entirely in blue. He looked up at me, his tanned face wide eyed and shocked.
Click. Like a switch had been pressed.
"… Luke!" He ran to me, past the confused onlookers, and wrapped his arms around my waist. I hugged him tightly, and it all came flooding back: The Azran, my mission, the legacy, the Professor and Luke and Emmy and Sycamore and how they had betrayed us but helped save the world and TargentandtheeggsandtheBostoinus…
Then everything went black.
I regained consciousness, laying face up on a soft surface.
"Give her air!"
"Aurora! Darling! Can you hear me?"
"I can't believe it! Professor, how is it possible?"
"I'm not sure Luke, but I think she is waking up."
I opened my eyes. Someone had placed me on the sofa. Five faces looked down at me, all tense with alarm and worry. I sat up, pressing my hand to my aching head.
"Aurora!" Bruno helped me upright, rubbing my back soothingly. "What happened? Did you over heat? Is something wrong?"
"My memories…" I uttered to the now silent audience. I looked up, and sure enough, there they were; the top hatted gentleman and the boy in the blue cap, who had taken such good care of me, even when I had been such a danger to them. "Professor… Luke… How could I have forgotten?" Professor Layton smiled wisely at me.
"Don't worry about it, my dear." He said, tipping his hat. "All that matters to us is that you are alive. We could not have wished for a greater miracle."
"You don't mean…" Dahlia gaped. "… You can't possibly know each other…?" So the three of us, the Professor, Luke and I, explained: my back story, how we met, our adventure and my apparent death (Bruno confirmed that my condition when he had found me matched the description perfectly). Bruno, Flora and Dahlia listened carefully, awestruck, and when we finished, they did not seem to know what to say. Flora was the first to break the silence.
"That's… Amazing!" She breathed, delightedly. "But, how did you survive the Azran Sanctuary? Everyone was sure you had died…"
"I… Do not know…" I closed my eyes, reaching back to the night I had wondered in the forest, pulled to St. Mystere by… Something. I gasped. "The Azran knew that, once I had completed my mission, there would be no place for me in this new world." I explained. "But they were wrong; there was a place I could go, where they needed me just as much as I needed them!" I looked at Bruno and Dahlia. "The Light of the Azran brought me here, to give me a chance… A chance to be human." Dahlia looked at me, her shocked scowl dissolving into a smile. However, the beginnings of tears were shining in her eyes.
"I… I'm so grateful that they did." She said, shakily. "I'm so very glad that they allowed us to meet. Of course, I'm happy that you have your memories back, but…" She could not hold it in any longer. Her shoulders shook, and the tears ran down her cheeks. We were all thunderstruck; Dahlia never cried. "If this… Changes things… If you choose to leave us, I'll love you all the same." She held her face in her hands, sobbing. The sight of her so upset distressed me greatly; she thought it was happening again, that I would want to leave with the Professor and Luke as Flora had done.
"Mama…" I stood up and hugged her tightly. "Why would I ever want to leave? This village is so perfect, and I love everyone here, I could never grow tired of it." I look up at her, smiling. "I'm glad to have my memories back, I'm glad to have met the Professor and Luke again, but that's all. I'm happier here than I ever have been before, I know that now, so if anything, getting my memories means that I know that there is no better place on Earth than here." Dahlia held me close, her sobs subsiding. She let go, holding me at arm's length, looking at me as if I was the most precious thing in the world. I turned to the Professor and Luke, who beamed at me approvingly. Flora, however, was staring shyly at the carpet, unsure how to react to the situation. I stepped towards her.
"Flora…" She looked up and me, bashful and nervous. I sighed, still timid in her presence. "Thank you, for letting me stay here… I know that this village was built for you, and what it must mean to you. I understand if you dislike me being here, in your place, as it were, but I swear on the Azran, as long as I am functioning, I will take care of this place for you, and cherish it as you would." Flora tilted her head, somewhat bewildered by what I had just said.
"… 'Dislike you being here'?" She repeated, quizzically. "You… You don't understand, do you?" It was my turn to be confused. What did she mean 'I don't understand'? "Without me here, St. Mystere couldn't work properly." She continued. "No one was happy, and, well, Bruno was just telling me that he nearly had to shut all the villagers down." I turned to Bruno, who looked away, sheepishly; he had told me that the villagers had been getting damaged, but never that he was considering shutting them down all together. "But then you came along." I turned back to Flora. "The villagers, they want - no, need - somebody to take care of. Without you, St. Mystere, well…" Without warning, Flora burst into tears. She took both of my hands in her own, squeezing them. "This village is my childhood, very thing I loved while growing up, and I almost lost it!" She cried. "But all these people, all those memories, they can live on, forever, through you! Because of you, I can come back here whenever I like, and nothing will have changed! I-I can never thank you enough!" She threw her arms around me, both laughing and crying at once. I was taken aback, for a moment, but I hugged her back. It seemed that we both thought we were in each other's debt.
I watched Ramon paddle the Professor, Luke and Flora away from the manor. I waved from the living room window, and the two children waved back.
"Goodbye Aurora!" Luke called, almost falling out of the boat as her stood up to shout out to me. "We'll be back soon!" I laughed, watching as Flora helped him regain his balance. I stayed there, even when they had disappeared into the mass of buildings. The sound of a piano began to play nearby, as Dahlia started her daily music practice. I like to watch as she plays, so I left the window, pushing my hair behind my ears. As I did, my fingers caught on the daffodil Dahlia had placed there earlier. I took it, and after some thought, placed it on a framed photograph of Flora in her infant years. I then followed the music to the drawing room, and sat on the piano stool with Dahlia, resting my head on her shoulder. The unmistakably heavy footsteps of Bruno approached, and he sat in a nearby chair, humming to the song. I felt Claudia rub against my ankles, purring contently. I stayed silent, enjoying every bit of this perfect moment.
Tick, tock, chime, ring.
Everything to a place, every place to a thing.
Ta-da! The idea for this came a while back and I've finally had the time to writing it (Aurora need a home, St. Mystere needed a girl, it was too perfect to ignore! (plus Aurora deserved a better ending than she got)). Let me know if you enjoyed this and I might do more of these little one shots!
Also, update on The Hall of Dreams: I will continue it, but I did a stupid thing and reread all of The Third Heir and The Hall of Dreams, and decided I hated the way I wrote them, so I'm going to edit both stories and repost them. All this means is it will take a little longer, but by this point I doubt anyone cares. Thanks for reading! Moomin, out!