Yo! So I finally finished Hunter x Hunter 2011, and then kinda wandered around the house in awe of how amazing it was. I adored it! So much, in fact, that I couldn't help myself from writing a fanfiction in an attempt to relive it all again! I'm seriously envious of everyone who hasn't watched it yet! I want to live through it again! Anyway, this is the prologue to the story. I'll be gone all next week, so I won't be able to update during that time, but I thought I might as well upload the prologue to see how you guys receive it. As usual, I will be leaving out the physical description of my OC so you can imagine her any way you want, or put yourself in her place. I look forward to hearing how you guys imagine her. In the last chapter, I'll list any descriptions you guys give me of her and also tell you how I myself imagine her to look like. With that said, I hope you'll enjoy this first taste of my Hunter x Hunter fanfiction. With great pride, I introduce you to Corona!
Plopping myself at the base of the tree, I huff. Why do I have to take lessons on my birthday? I never complain about the tutors, I always attend the sessions, and yet when I ask Father for a break on my birthday, he says no! Why do I gotta stay inside all day? It's nice out, if you stay in the shade. But no, it's always the same thing. 'You have to take every lesson seriously, Corona.' 'My heir can't be so irresponsible as to skip her lessons, Corona.' 'Make me proud, Corona.' What do I gotta do to make him proud? My tutors praise me all the time for being so attentive, but I've never heard a single word of pride from Father's mouth. I don't want some doll for my seventh birthday! I just want the day to myself! I want to go exploring during the day instead of night!
I cross my arms, drawing my knees to my chest. I know I have to be the perfect heir, but why can't I play like other girls my age? Other girls' fathers smile at them even when they're not in public, too.
Maybe I should go farther. If I'm too close to the house, someone might find me. Just for today...I'll do what I want just for today. Father will be mad at me, but Mother won't really care. I'll just have to promise Father I won't do it again.
"Alright!" I decide, smacking my cheeks. Then, I pull myself to my feet and choose a direction. At night, I usually go farther into the countryside for some peace and quiet. I wonder what it would be like during the day. Ah, but I really want to try going into Yorknew on my own, too! Father always has a few servants go with me when I want to go into town, but they're always so strict. Which way should I go? I need to decide before anyone finds me!
"Mistress, please calm down!"
I freeze at the voice, but it isn't directed at me. I peek around the trunk of the tree to see through the window. It's Mother and Father's room, but Father isn't anywhere in it. Instead, there's a favorite maid of my mother's and a hunched figure on the bed. The window itself is barely cracked open, but it's enough that I can hear the muffled sobs and the words of reassurance.
"She's...she's missing, though!" the figure hiccups. I forget leaving, too confused by the fact that the crying person has my mother's voice. That can't be right. Mother has never been near as strict as Father. I thought she wouldn't care if I was gone for a bit. And, I've never seen her cry, either.
"Mistress, she's a child. She's probably still in the house, just hiding. You have nothing to be worried about. Your daughter is fine."
"But Stella," Mother pleads, "I don't...I can't lose another child! I already….I can't lose Corona too!"
What? What does she mean another child? I'm an only child. I never heard anything about having a sibling, so what is she saying?
The maid pats her on the back, sitting next to her. "You shouldn't feel guilty about that, Mistress. That child would have ruined your reputation."
To my surprise, my mother whacks the maid away. "You don't understand! I know that child was a bastard! That's why I did what I did! But how could I leave my own baby in Meteor City? I'm a terrible mother! I should have kept him! I could have pretended that he was that man's child! I should have! How could I have done such a horrible thing?"
"Please, don't blame yourself," the maid begs.
"But it's all my fault! I should have at least left him to an orphanage, but...I'm a despicable person!"
I pull back to keep myself hidden behind the tree, trying to understand. I've heard about Meteor City. Father says it's a city of crooks, of criminals, of nameless. He's told me to avoid it at all costs. So why is Mother saying….she left her child there? I'm her child, aren't I? I'm right here, so what is she talking about?
"Listen, Mistress," the maid comforts her. "That child, had you kept him, would be the center of rumors and spite. If he's still alive, he's surely not going through any of that. He's not tied down by the position of heir. You freed him from that."
"But my Chrollo could already be dead! And Corona….Corona doesn't even know she has an older brother!"
"Mistress! There's nothing you can do about it now! Just do your best to raise your daughter and make up for your mistake. Raise her like you wish you raised Chrollo!"
"I have been! But that man won't even look me in the eye anymore! I'm barely allowed to be in contact with my own daughter! Sometimes I feel like the only reasons he stays with me is for his reputation! I mean, after I finally gave him a legitimate heir, he ignores me!"
Confused, I hug my legs to my chest. I've never heard Mother screech like that. Why is she getting so worked up? It's true, Mother and Father aren't very close, but is it really something to be so upset about? She's never had a problem with it before, and Father hasn't really shown signs of wanting to be closer to her, either. I don't understand. Why is she so uneasy?
Shaking it off, I stand and take off for the forest. After hearing Mother freaking out like that, I don't really feel like exploring a town full of people. Although I've only entered it at night, I'm familiar with the forest. It's nice, being so isolated. I don't have to please Father when I'm here.
It really is different during the day. At night, there's lots of frogs and crickets singing, but right now it's the birds. The leaves look so new and strange, looking up from beneath them without the moonlight. And I can see all the little dips and bumps on the ground instead of fumbling to find the right place to put my foot. Mud sucks at my feet, the result of last night's rain. I wasn't able to come out last night because it was storming, and the servants would've be suspicious if I was wet when they woke me up.
I make my way to the opposite side of the small forest, searching out a somewhat dry spot under the shade of a tree. There, I use one of the roots poking out as a headrest to lay on. This...is perfect. Instead of blasting air conditioning, there's the cool breeze, and the smell of wet earth takes the place of the overwhelming, flowery perfume that fills the rooms at home. Here, I don't have to think about home. Even if Mother is right now driving herself insane, I don't have to think about it. She's not here. It's just me. I have no mother here.
I don't have a father, either. I don't have to listen to his orders, or sit up straight under his gaze, or be polite to all his guests. I can just stay silent. I can be part of the world, and at the same time, invisible. When I'm out here, I'm not a part of society. I don't exist.
As I relax, a slight glow seeps out around me. The warmth of it draws me deeper into peace, a grin spreading across my face. I have no idea why, but about a year ago I started glowing whenever I'm alone like this. It was kinda unpredictable at first, but now it happens every time I venture into the forest. I found out I can do different things with it, too. Sometimes I play a game and see how long I can keep it going. My record so far is an hour and twentysix minutes. Other times, I try to make it as big as I can. I don't do that very often, though, because the animals and insects don't like it.
Today, however, I feel like relaxing more. I force my breathing to even out, counting my heartbeats as they gradually slow. Today, I don't exist. I am invisible. None of the servants can find me, and I can be as free as a ghost.
The glow surrounding me absorbs back into my body, warming the blood as it flows through my veins. Out of all the things I can do with this glow, I like this the most. It makes me feel like no one can touch me, like I'm invincible. I am a ghost that no one knows, yet I am still here. I know all, nothing knows me. It's such a fascinating feeling.
Maybe I should take a nap. I would be kinda cool if when I wake up, I was still containing the glow. I've never tried to do it in my sleep. I know! I'll make that my new goal! I'll try to keep using whatever this glow is even when I'm not awake! Yeah, that sounds like fun!
I settle in, shifting just a bit to position myself comfortably. Concentrating on the glow, I begin to let all other thoughts drift. Except for one. There's one that doesn't really want to leave my mind, but thankfully it isn't too much of a distraction and I'm able to keep the glow inside of me. The nagging thought is as follows:
I kinda want to meet this brother of mine, Chrollo.
This takes place ten years prior to the next chapter, so the next time you see her, Corona will have become a teenager. Well? Do you guys like this idea? I've really enjoyed exploring Corona's character so far, and I think it's going to be a ton of fun to watch her evolve and develop throughout the story. What are your guys' first impressions of her? Any advice you have for this aspiring author? Anything you didn't like? Please feel free to share! I've said time and time again that I love it when you guys leave the huge, long comments, so don't hold back! You all seem to have a habit of apologizing for commenting in full paragraphs. As long as you all enjoy it, I shall do my best to keep you all entertained! Please take care of me! I look forward to getting to know you guys while I write.
Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!