My story starts with a guild, in a country called Fiore. A guild called Blue Pegasus.
We're a guild who loves love, and we have several rather perverted members.
Before you start thinking, like, how babies are made, that's not what I mean. Well, not entirely, at least. Our guild Master, Master Bob, is an oddball. A fat guy who loves wearing makeup and tiny cupid wings, and who is rather underdressed almost 24/7.
Some of our other members are flirty, or they may be players, or somewhere in between.
And then some others stand on the sidelines, watching all the havoc unfold. I'm one of those people, except there's one thing that sets me apart from the rest...
"Listen up, Alexandria! Look at me when I'm talking to you!" My mother snapped. Oh, by the way, my name's Alexandria. My mother is an evil witch. Her name's Karen, and while most kids brag about their awesome wizard parents, I have a hard time escaping mine. She has some... Issues, if I dare say that aloud. Sudden contact hit my cheek, and I was sent flying to the ground.
Well, there goes that streak of not being hit.
"I said LISTEN TO ME!" Karen yelled. I felt tears beginning to prick at my eyes. Crap. "How many times have I told you not to summon my spirits, damn it!"
"I... I didn't summon any of them.. Please, don't hurt me again, mom..." I begged her, rubbing my stinging cheek.
"Don't you dare give me that, young lady. You're not a wizard, and you never will be!" She said tersely, and I could tell another blow was coming. Just as she raised her hand, a golden glow appeared between us for a second before disappearing, and in it's place stood a male with orange-gold hair who wearing a suit.
I breathed a silent prayer of thanks.
By the way, I'm an unofficial member of Blue Pegasus... I'm still too young to learn magic.
"That's enough, Karen. Alex didn't summon any of us." He said firmly, grabbing her wrist before she could strike at me again.
"Don't you dare defend her, pet." Karen spat. I wanted to curl up in a corner and die.
"Come here, Alex." He looked at me with a smile. I got up and dashed over, throwing my arms around him and he wrapped an arm around me protectively.
"Thanks, Leo..." My muffled voice came from where my face was implanted on his shirt, and I allowed my tears to fall at last. Leo the Lion was here. He'd protect me.
"She's only twelve, Karen. Not to mention your only daughter. You're worse on her than you are Aries." He said calmly, though I could feel how stiff he was. Leo's words ran through my head for the hundredth time in this scenario.
'Celestial Spirits aren't allowed to physically attack our Key bearers... For us, that would be like killing your King. We get banished if we break our contract, and being in Earthland for too long... We'll eventually just disappear forever. Being here begins to drain our power over long periods of time.'
'So then who will help me?'
'Whenever you need me, I'll come. And I'm sure your dad will, too.' He grinned, and I threw my arms around him.
That was two years ago.
"You're going to regret saying that, Leo," Karen snarled, taking out her whip. "You'll pay for talking back to ME!" Leo quickly pushed me around behind him, and just as Karen raised her whip, another voice called out;
"Don't even think about it." And a face I've never been so glad to see in my life showed up. I felt Leo breath a silent sigh of relief. Hibiki ran in, grabbing the end of the whip.
"You took your dear sweet time getting here, Hibiki." Leo said. Karen's eyes dawrted beteen the two angry males, before she let out a scream of frustration and stormed out of her apartment, slamming the door behind her with force that rattled the walls.
However, she sent me one final glare over her shoulder, the message clear: you won't be so lucky next time, Alexandria.
I slowly came out from my hiding spot behind Leo, and Hibiki let out a sigh, walking over to me. He gently kneeled down and turned my head to the side so he could check my bruise.
"Are you okay?" He asked with a father's concern.
By the way, Hibiki's my dad, if you hadn't already guessed. I slowly nodded, and he pulled me into a gentle hug before standing and nodding his thanks to the spirit.
"Thanks again, Leo. I just don't know what to do," He ran a hand through my emerald hair. "I've tried everything, but she just doesn't let up." Leo shook his head.
"Nobody does. It's like that woman's a vessel of hurt. Celestial Spirits are becoming terrified of their keys falling into her hands, me and all the other Zodiacs are worried for Aries and Alex... I'm thinking about a rebellion of some sort. Next time for sure," He said softly, "We may not be allowed to harm Karen, but there's nothing against a protest."
Hibiki nodded thoughtfully.
"If one of you are here, then she can't summon a spirit. Although that means she won't be able to pay for food if she can't work."
"But how long can you possibly stay?" I chipped in, eager to be of use. "I can bring whoever's here food every day!" Leo once again shook his head.
"Sorry kiddo, a Celestial Spirit's magic energy charges differently than a human's. We need to be in our own realm," He said gently. I looked to the ground, feeling completely useless. "Cheer up. Think of the adventures the two of us will get to have one day." He grinned, flicking my nose.
Hibiki, being the over-protective dad that he is, had to bring up his precious daughter's safety.
"And when that day comes, which won't be for awhile I should hope, I trust Leo won't let anything so much as scratch you." He sent a warning look at the spirit, and Leo nodded like a responsible gentleman. Though as soon as Hibiki turned away, he looked down at me with a wink and I couldn't help but giggle.
"Most definitely, sir." He gave a formal bow despite my dad's back being to us.
I found it hard to imagine Leo being a player, though that's what everyone else calls him.
Whenever he's around me, he's always so goofy and fun.
It was the same way with everyone, but I knew the truth. Even if I didn't want to admit it.
"Well, I should be going back now... The others are going to want to know what's happened to me," Leo said, the golden aura returning. "Be careful, Alex." He added before he vanished with a flash, almost as an afterthought.
"Well, what to you say we get something to eat?" Hibiki asked me, though I shook my head. With Leo gone, even though my dad was still here, I started to get a little scared.
"Do you know where Eve is?" I asked. Eve was my best friend, and the only other person in the guild relatively close to my age. Him, my dad, and an Air wizard called Ren were all part of Blue Pegasus' elite group, The Trimen.
Well, them and their creepy, sparkly 'leader,' Ichiya.
Him and Master Bob always give me the willies.
"Him and Ren should be coming back from a job they took any minute now. Why?"
"No reason..." I purposely blushed in an attempt to give him the wrong impression. Almost immediately, Hibiki froze. Too easy.
"Why..? Alexandria... Don't make me tickle it out of you." He said warningly, wriggling his fingers.
"No!" I squeaked, running off, and I heard his footsteps chasing after me. I could almost feel the maniacal look on his face. Quickly, I ducked under the table, clutching my sides in attempt to stop a possible sneak attack. I looked out to see his shoes stopped right at the edge of the table, and I sucked in a breath.
"Where oh where could she have gone..." His shoes started walking around the table. I almost failed in holding back a giggle, my cheeks inflated so I looked like a pufferfish. "Maybe under HERE!" He bent down with lightning speed, quickly pulling me out from the table and attacking my sides.
I squirmed around on the ground, squealing as he mercilessly tickled me.
It was my one weakness, and he knew all the weakest points.
"I yield! I yield!" I squawked breathlessly, "There's nothing between us! I swear!" I could tell he wasn't buying it, "Honest!"
"Good, because he's too old, and you're too young for boys anyways," He said gruffly. I raised my eyebrow at him. "What?"
"Says the one who flirts with any cute girl he comes across. Said girl could be a toddler, for all you care!" I poked his ribs.
"That's different. I'm the dad, I'm allowed to flirt." He said gruffly. "You're too young for boys, Alexandria. Especially Eve."
"Aww, c'mon, it's not you you don't know or trust him." I nagged.
"He's half a year older than you!" I raised my other eyebrow, lowering my chin for extra effect as I looked at him through my batting eyelashes.
"Only half a year, daddy? Is it really that large a gap?" I asked innocently, tinted with sarcasm. He huffed.
"You're too young. That's final." He said. I sighed.
At least he took away 'he's too old.'
That's a record.
He ruffled my hair. "C'mon, it's getting late, and if you don't want something, let's head back to the apartment." He specified, and I realized we hadn't left my mom's place yet. A shiver went down my spine, and I jumped up, bolting for the door.
"Race you back!" I shouted over my shoulder. I heard him chuckle to himself and he started chasing after me.
"Don't get too far ahead!" He called up to me as there was more distance put between us. "And head straight home!"
"I will!" I shouted, "SLOWPOKE!"
I finally slowed down next to an alleyway, leaning against the cold stone building so I could catch my breath. I'd been sprinting high-speed for several minutes, and my lungs burned. Without thinking, I looked down the alley.
"Creepy place... It would be perfect for an ambush..." I muttered to myself, an idea forming in my head as I eyed the barrels and boxes stored in the shadows. Dad would have to come this way if he hoped to catch up to me... I grinned evilly, straightening up, about to head in and set up my ambush, when a pair of hands grabbed my shoulders and threw me to the ground. I let out a high-pitched scream that was quickly cut off by a leather strap being firmly knotted around my mouth.
"Be quiet and I'll make your end quick." A cold voice said. I looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of my captor when a small shimmer appeared on the wall.
I closed my eyes, praying he didn't have what I thought he did.
"Or, I may just slice apart your limbs, one by one and I won't let you die until I'm done. Depends on how well you behave. My client will be pleased... You're a beautiful little lady. A shame to let such a nice body go to waste, don't you think?" He threatened. I shook my head, trying to yell for help when something sharp and cold touched my neck and I froze.
"Quiet and still, wench, and I'll make this merciful. Your choice." He chuckled. We were interrupted when a pair of footsteps echoed off the walls, and I heard a voice call out.
"I swear, Ren! I heard a scream down here somewhere!"
A second voice and footsteps, a lot heavier then the first.
"Eve, honestly! Your hearing things. It's a full moon tonight, people are attacked when the moons at it's smallest point. Minimal possible witnesses, you know?" I breathed a silent prayer of thanks. Eve and Ren were back, and they had heard me.
"Damn, I was hoping to draw this one out longer. Sorry, princess, but I gotta take my leave." My attacker growled.
Quickly, he slashed his dagger, cutting diagonally across my left eye and through the leather strap.
I screamed in pain and fear, my vision being clouded in red.
Curling up in a small ball on the ground, I panicked when I saw the pool of blood that had already formed. I felt the crimson liquid making my clothes heavier by the second, and it only served to further my panic.
I heard a gasp, and Eve's voice called out; "Ren, go find Hibiki! Quickly!" Followed by thudding footsteps and a body skidding down next to me. Familiar hands cradled me, entirely oblivious to the blood.
"Alex, what happened?!" Eve asked, moving my hands.
"I-I can't see..." I whimpered, and Eve gently cooed in my ear.
"It's gonna be fine. I promise." He said, rocking me back and forth on the ground.
"Eve... I'm scared.." I said, my good eye wanting to cry but even if it did, I couldn't tell.
My head was starting to feel dizzy.
"I know. You're going to be okay. Ren's gone to find your dad and a medic," He cooed, all the while rocking me back and forth in his arms. "You're going to be fine."
"No, I'm not... You know it..." I bantered stubbornly, my vision starting to go black.
"Just hang in there, Alex. Please..." I could hear the desperation in his voice. My Eve being desperate with a girl? Heck, I must be a lot worse then I thought.
"Alex!" I heard my dad's voice from somewhere around me, and somewhere far off the sounds of an emergency Magic-mobile.
I can't imagine what any of The Trimen thought when they saw me.
To be honest, I don't really want to know.
The three of them and my moms spirits are the highlights of my life, the only downside being I couldn't go with them on jobs or to the Celestial Spirit world.
The last thing I remember before my world going from red to black was two worried faces looking down at me.
A/N: I'm going through and revising and proofreading everything. Cause my writing was pretty bad when these were first uploaded, and I REALLY want to get back into this.
So, hope y'all enjoyed this new-and-improved prologue! n.n
