I do not own The Ancient Magus' Bride or any of its character. I only own my OCs. Enjoy!


He didn't mean for this to happen. All he wanted to do was go home! But even that is a challenge with those mean boys around. It wasn't like he wanted to seem weird. All he did was point out a weird black sludge thing. Then they just started laughing and calling him names again, and now he was trying to hide from them.

Can't go home... They'll beat me there! he thought as his breath got shorter and sweat covered his face. He had to keep running, or else they'll get him.

But before he could think even more on the matter at hand, he felt his body plummet. Shouting in shock, he covered his face with his arms as he tumbled down some unknown hill of sorts. He could feel grass, twigs and leaves snag his clothing and poke at his skin. He soon felt himself come to a stop, but he didn't remove his arms right away from his face. The voices of the bullies sounded fairly distant, and hopefully will stay that way for a while.

He heard footsteps come closer to him. They were light, airy. A child's footsteps like his. Although these had more grace. A girl's, maybe? He understood that quite a few people lived over in the countryside, but who would be here at this time of day? School had only just let out.

"Oh my! Are you okay?!"

So it is a girl, the boy thought at the sound of the high-pitched voice. He didn't acknowledge her presence, though. He just kept his face covered and tried not to focus on the dull pain coursing through his body.

"Hey... it's all right. Those mean boys from school aren't here anymore. But I wouldn't recommend staying here just in case. Besides, your wounds need to be tended to," the unknown girl said. "...Go away," he said after a while. "Nope! I can't leave you here while you're hurt... Please?"

After a long yet short moment of silence, and a soft breeze went by, he finally complied. He removed his arms to reveal his face that he hid with his hood. He sat up and they were eye to eye since she was bent down to be the same height.

The boy, despite the twigs stuck in his clothes and hair, seemed average. His eye almost appeared like sweet, fresh honey. His skin was a bit too pale, and his dark orange hair wasn't as shiney as it could be, yet it still reminded the girl of spices, despite most of it being hidden by the black hood of his jacket, which covered a faded blue shirt. His jeans fit him a bit big and were now stained lightly with grass and dirt. And the black and blue sneakers he had on looked like they've seen better times.

At first, he was going to yell at the girl for bugging him, but her appearance stunned him into silence.

She was... inhuman. But how? He'd seen this girl plenty of times at school, but only for brief glances since they were in different classes. But he was sure she never looked like... this.

She had the brightest red hair that she had in a braid that hung over her right shoulder, and her eyes were a marvelous bright green, practically glowing. She had pale skin, and she wore a bright red sundress under a blue jean jacket, white stockings, and dark pine green flats and a bolo tie with a blue gem on it and a black ribbon that had a small, jade rock in the shape of a metal washer on it. But it wasn't what she was wearing that made him so shocked.

It was the horns and eyes.

She definitely didn't have two small brown horns coming out of her head during school. If he could remember properly, she had brown ribbons, not horns. And her eyes, oh, those eyes, the pupils were black slits. And, to top the weirdness off, there were what seemed to be fairies flying around her with feathered wings, looking at him curiously.

"My, my, Little Rose Bud, he seems to have the sight and can see us," one of them said, having a purpleish skin tone and aqua feathers. "Hmm, you're right, he is like us," she said, although more to herself than anyone else. "He's not as sweet as you, but-" "Ariel," the girl said sternly, giving the creature a warning glare. With a small huff, the creature fell silent with a pout. The girl returned her full attention to the boy, holding out a hand to him.

"Hi! I'm Hanako Ainsworth! And you are?" she asked. The boy stayed silent before grabbing her hand and being helped up. "Doug," he said plainly, "Doug Martin." 'Nice to meet you," Hanako said, smiling brightly. "C'mon, my home's a little ways away," she said, already heading off. She looked back to see Doug in the same spot, looking unsure. "Hey, I know I look weird but its either come with me or get beaten up even more."

He followed after that.

As they walked down the gravel path, with Hanako skipping and humming with the creatures flying around her for a few moments before every one of them except the one who had spoken earlier left for the woods. "Are those fairies?" "Ariels. But they prefer being called neighbors or friends. They often help me and my parents," she said as the Ariel sat on her head between her horns. "Um, you're five like me, right?" "Yup." "But are you... human?"

Hanako stopped in her tracks for a few seconds, silent. He could feel that her cheerful aura had turned into something... dull for a moment. But it passed so quickly it might as well hadn't happened. "A good part of me is," she said, looking over her shoulder at him cheerfully. She continued skipping, and he continued stalking after her.

After what seemed like hours of walking, they came to a more secluded house with a large yard. Doug stared at it in curiosity as the little creature flew away with a wave and Hanako led him to the front door. She smiled as she opened the door and giggled as she ran in, leaving Doug to close the door.

"I'm home," she called as she gestured for Doug to follow. They walked down a small hall, stopping at one doorway. "Hey, Silver! Look, I brought a friend," she cheered, revealing Doug to a woman dressed in pink. Silver looked at him and gave a small smile, nodding hello before returning to working on dinner. Hanako giggled as she led him into the living room. "Mommy, James, look! Meet my new friend Doug!"

His attention went to the woman on the couch who was reading a leather-bound book, who looked up with a soft smile. He gaped at her look. She wore a simple elbow-length sleeved tan sweater with a jean skirt and white stocking, and her short, bright red hair was up in a ponytail, showing her green eyes that she had passed down to her daughter and a large green rock hanging from her neck, resting above a still-forming baby bump. She would've seemed greatly normal had it not been for her right arm being black.

"Hello, Doug. It's nice to meet you," she said, as if she wasn't the mother of a girl with horns and had a black arm herself. "My name's Chise Ainsworth, but you can call me Chise if you'd like," she said. "Uhh… thanks," was all Doug managed to say.

"Hana!"

Doug's attention fell on a boy who looked barely three years old, who ran up to Hanako with a big hug. He seemed normal at first as well. He had platinum blonde hair that was messy, sure, but that was normal compared to his family that Doug has currently met. He wore a simple blue shirt and kaki shorts and pale skin. But when he opened his eyes and looked towards Doug, his own oddity was revealed. His irises were black, and his pupil was scarlet red with a white center.

"Hi," he said cheerfully, not a hint of shyness. "Oh, and this is Ruth," Hanako said, gesturing with her head to a large black dog with red eyes as it walked up to Doug. It sniffed him for a second, then moved to face Chise. "He has the sight, too," Ruth said. Doug was shocked that the dog could speak, but then again he just met a girl with horns and creatures flying around her. Chise closed her book and walked up to Doug, curiosity in her eyes.

"You're right. But he's not a Sleigh Beggy like me and Hanako, so that's good," she said, pushing Doug's hood back to get a better look. "Mommy, he's hurt because some mean boys were chasing him around. Can you help him?" Hanako asked once James went to play with Ruth. "Sure, sweetie. Doug, take a seat on the couch while I prepare something," Chise instructed as she walked to a small desk in the corner. "Don't worry. Mommy and Daddy's medicine is the best!" Hana said as she moved to climb Ruth, who went human. Doug jumped but quickly settled into it, starting to get oddly used to this.

A few minutes later, Chise was dabbing some sort of liquid onto his wounds, trying to be very gentle. Hanako had took to hugging a sort of salamander creature with James lying on dog Ruth, all watching Chise work on Doug.

"Aaaand… done," she said, smiling as she wiped the last one dry. "Thanks," Doug said, giving a small smile before looking around. "Who are you people?" "We're mages, silly," Hanako stated, like it was obvious. "Yup. And you could be one, too, if you'd like," Chise said with a smile.

Doug looked at her quiziclay. An hour or so ago his life had been filled with bullies. Now he had mages, people with horns, neighbor-people-things, and dogs that turned humans. Or the other way around. Now this weird woman was asking if he wanted to be one.

"Chise? Is Hanako home yet?"

"Daddy!" Hanako yelled, smiling and running past Doug. Doug turned around to see who the man of this strange house was, only to freeze. He was hoping his jaw hadn't fallen to the floor, since his body went completely numb.

A tall, broad man with a skull with horns for a head and scarlet lights for eyes stood just in front of a door, lifting a giggling Hanako into the air before letting her rest on his right arm. Nuzzling her head affectionatly, the large being brought his attention on Doug, who froze.

"And who might this be?" the creature asked, his mouth opening slightly. "This is my new friend, Doug! I brought him here because these meanies hurt him," Hanako said, smiling proudly. "You didn't use magic, did you?" the creature asked, his tone slightly warning. "Nope! And, he's got the sight, too, Daddy!"

Doug stood there uncomfortably, unsure of what to do as a toddler and a giant creature discussed him.

"Pleaes, please, please can he be my learning partner, Daddy?" The girl begged bouncing on her father's arm. As Doug heard Chise giggle in the background, he watched as the boneheaded creature went into what he assumed to be contemplation. Then, he called his name.

"My name is Elias Ainsworth, Doug. It seems you are a part of a dying society and my daughter has taken a liking to you," he voiced, his daughter smiling as she buried herself into his cloaks, excited as her father extended a gloved hand to him.

"If you wish, you can learn along side my daughter in her studies of magic. It will be difficult, but I bet you could handle it. Do you accept?"

Doug looked at the hand that extended out to him. He was confused yet aware at the same time, if that be possible. He seemed to understand things very well for a child his age. And curious, too.

To this day, he doesn't know the complete reason why he shook that gloved hand. Maybe it was the sense of warmth and comfort the strange household gave him that his house hadn't had in a while. Or maybe it was that red haired, green-eyed girl with horns that seemed to brighten up the space around her with just her presence that pulled him to do so.

All he knew now was that he didn't regret it in the slightest.