Poppy Wilson had always been hungry. Her parents recalled stories of how when she was baby, she would eat and eat and eat until her parents stopped putting food in front of her. The amount of food she always would have the largest meal out of everyone in her class.
Her favourite childhood memory was cooking cakes with her mum. The taste of sweet, slightly burned cakes melting in her mouth. The height her heart flew on those spongey clouds. To become a chief and send people's hearts flying was her hopes for her future.
Then came the brats. The people who told her she shouldn't eat as much. The toys. The TV. Avalon Incorporated. Be like double D CiCi. Food became numbers. Numbers became an addiction. The addiction fed her, but she was still hungry. So hungry that her sanity was being devoured for Poppy to keep moving.
Then one night. She couldn't remember how long ago it was. Poppy could remember being hungry. So hungry. Hungrier then she had ever been. With pain coloured eyes she saw that man with a lot of tender meat. Poppy felt her mouth water as she entered the shadows. The warm chewy flash slipped down her throat. Her heart fell down a pit of fleshy delight. She had to have more of it, more flesh, more bones, more blood. Make up for all the lost meals.
Now Poppy, if she could use that name, stood in front of the Light. It showed all her filth, her knotted hair and all the meals across her body. The dried pieces of flesh around her hands cracked like a stone when exposed to the Light. She screamed and wailed. Fear filled the black eyes. An animalistic instinct told her what to do. Rip and tear the Light. Devour the hopeful.
The voice within the flames disappeared from Emily's head as the light around her resided. She was no longer on the ground bleeding. She was standing straight upright, no wound at all. Emily was different. Different clothes, different hair, different body and a different name. She wasn't Emily Baron striker of Oak Vain secondary school girls' football team. She was Blazing Sun a noble from the dreamlands and a champion of the court of swords.
Her memories told her what the thing in front of her was. It was a Darkspawn. Someone who had fallen to the Darkness completely. Emily could feel its pain, it struck at her heart like a chisel into stone. She gritted her teeth. She wanted to help it, but they were too far gone. If she let it get away it would just hurt more people. She needed to protect Caitlin, she needed to protect Christine and Hannah, she needed to protect her Mum, Mai Baron. She needed to protect everyone.
Despite being in a different body it felt almost more natural to move, faster, stronger and more accurate. The black and red sukeban outfit she now wore felt like a second skin like she had been wearing it her whole life. Emily pulled the sword, Caliburn, from the sheath on her back. The hilt was simple and gold, but the blade itself seemed to be made of white fire.
She took a few practices swings with the blade. It felt perfect within her hands.
Emily raised her head and meet eyes the black eyes of the Darkspawn. It's snarled bearing its three rows of broken yellow teeth. Emily raised Caliburn, pointing it forward. Muscles tensed like steel. Eye locked. A second past.
They rushed forward.
The sound of bone and magic clashed. The Darkspawn swiped; Emily felt a sharp pain across the side of her face. She swung Caliburn wide. The blade sparking on the alleyway walls. The clothes of the Darkspawn erupted into white flames. The creature wailed in agony. It clawed at its own clothing, tearing its own flesh.
The Darkspawn turned away. It tried to run, its flesh burning and bleeding. It stumbled and fell. Emily's hands trembled as she charged towards the pitiful creature. Rising her sword, she plunged it into the Darkspawn's back. She could feel the flesh give way and bones break in her arms. Air whizzed out the Darkspawn, it stopped struggling, its eyes went dull and it started to burn.
Emily let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Sharp pain brought the feeling of warm blood running down her face to her attention. She sheathed Caliburn bring her left hand to her face. Her left cheek stung but luckily it didn't seem too deep.
Steadying her breath Emily had a chance to look at her new form. She felt a little taller but when she looked down her eyes widened. The memories Blazing Sun didn't tell her how her body magical identity looked just how to move it. Looking down Emily saw that her hips and chest was much larger.
The metal door slammed open. Christine came jumping out. Emily spun to see a heart-shaped pendant was hanging above Christine's blouse. She stopped before slamming into the wall. Her mouth hung open as she looked at Emily.
Emily felt a relief came over her, Christine looked like she had just found a rock to support herself. With a calmer mind, Emily gave a smile. Pain spider-webbed across her face at the movement, but she kept smiling.
Christine looked around for a moment her eyes locking on the burning corpse of the Darkspawn. Strangely it had no smell as the white flames devoured the body. Christine stumbled forwarded, her eyes darting between the darkspawn and Emily. She placed her hands-on Emily's shoulders for support as her eyes meet hers.
"You are a princess, aren't you?" Christine's voice rose high pitched as hope fuelled her heart.
Emily looked back, Christine.
"I am Blazing Sun, a champion of swords," Emily said.
"A champion? Oh, thank the queens. Wait. Where's Emily? Did the Darkspawn…"
"Well…" The memories of Blazing Sun told her what to do. Just think about her mundane form. Closing her eyes, she thought of how she looked before. A second of light burst from Emily's wrist, the light sank into her wrist, reforming as the friendship bracelet. Now clear of blood.
Emily felt her body return to normal the burning white hair returning to a dirty blonde. A new explosion pain came over her face. Without a magical body protecting her she let out a painful wail. Christine's eyes became coated with guilt, she quickly grabbed Emily's arm and started pulling her towards the Warden Homeless Shelter.
"I am so sorry Emily. I should have got here quicker. You may not have been hurt if I was here." Christine said quickly tugging on Emily's hand. Emily felt guilt spinning within her stomach. She looked down trying to ignore the pain running through her face.
"It's ok. Are you a princess too?" Emily asked.
Christine didn't say anything back. The sounds soup boiling, a naked flame and some sobbing came from the kitchen. The pain across Emily's faces was temporally forgotten as she recognised the person crying. She pushed ahead of Christine, rushing to the kitchen.
"Emily wait!" Called Christine.
The kitchen was bathed in painfully artificial light. Three rows of counters with skins and stoves boiled more soup then Emily had seen in her life. Standing by the entrances were Hannah and Caitlin. Caitlin had her face in her hands as she cried. Hannah was holding the girl telling her that it would be ok, she stopped when she saw Emily run into the room.
Emily's heart hurt when she looked at her best friend. She hadn't meant to get hurt or scare her, but that didn't matter she had already caused her friend to cry. Hannah and Caitlin both stared at her like they were expecting to say something.
"What happened to your face?" Caitlin screeched.
"Did my brother save you?" Hannah asked almost as quickly.
"I'm ok Cat, it's fine." Emily tried to say as calmly as possible, she felt like she was going to burst into tears herself.
"Hannah, I need you to mend Emily's face," Christine said, her command presence returning. Nobody would have of known that she felt guilty for her not getting outside quick enough. She placed her hands on her hips and stared at Hannah.
Hannah paused for a moment before letting go of Caitlin.
"Alright, let me get my first aid kit." She said before heading into the back of the kitchen.
Before Emily could get a chance to breathe Caitlin had her arms around her, hugging her. Emily hugged back tightly not caring for getting blood on both of them. Emily felt Caitlin heartbeat; she closed her eyes hoping to make them match. Seconds past before one of them spoke.
"I promised I was going to be ok, didn't I?" Emily said.
Caitlin let out a coughing cry as she just squeezed Emily tightly.
"That's not the point Em. I'm just glad you are ok." Caitlin replied.
Hannah walked back into the kitchen caring a green first aid box. The symbol a curved line with a straight line coming from it. She opened it removing the cloth and clear liquid.
"Alright, girls break it up. Christine could you serve the food." Hannah asked.
"Sure thing," Christine said with a smile.
Emily and Caitlin stopped hugging as Christine went to get ready to serve food. Hannah walked up dabbing the clear liquid on to the white cloth until it turned grey. Kneeling to Emily's eye height she smiled.
"This is going to sting, a lot, but it will clean up all the wound," Hannah said.
Emily felt her heart pounding in her ears. She tried to steady her mind for the pain, but only managed to nod in response to the warning.
Hannah reached the cloth up and placed it the cuts. Instantly pain surged Emily's nervous system. The wound stung like it being prodded by hornets. Stifling a scream, she curled her hands into fists until they turned white. She felt her face get numb from pain as the seconds pasts.
Finally Hannah pulled the cloth away, it was still grey and looked like it was stiff due to the liquid drying up. Looking at it, confusion spread across Hannah's face.
"Is something wrong?" Caitlin asked.
"No, Emily's just fine. Don't worry." Hannah said putting the cloth back into the box. "Now that the wound is clean, I will patch it up. You might though want to go to the hospital if it swells up or anything."
"Ok, thanks doctor Hannah," Emily replied.
"Oh, I'm no doctor, I just know first aid." Hannah replied.
Hannah pulled out a white patch and a few strips. She places patch above the cuts and tapped it down with the strips. Emily careful poked the bandage causing her to wince from the pain. Hannah looked at the two girls.
"Alright, I have to go serve food. I will have Christine talk to both of you." Hannah said going to wash her hands.
Caitlin and Emily stood awkwardly waiting for someone to come and tell them what to do. Emily looked at Caitlin, her eyes weren't puffy as they were when she burst in. She wiped the tear stains from her check and tried to smile. The sound of shoes clacking came closer to the young girls. Christine despite the minutes she had been serveing people looked drained but with the flick of her hair and a smile, she seemed good as new.
"Do you want to go home?" She asked both girls.
Caitlin nodded as she played with her friendship bracelet looking down towards the floor. Emily nodded in agreement feeling her heart hurt more than her face. She had worried her friend and that cut deeper than any darkspawn but now she had the power to help her, help the city. Even without that power, she could still watch movies with Caitlin.
"Ok then, both of you have the day off," Christine said clapping her hands together.
"Do you even have the power to do that?" Emily asked.
"No, but I'll come up with something, both of you head home. You need it."
Caitlin and Emily gathered their school bags, swapped phone numbers with Christine and said goodbye to Hannah. They walked through the city of Swanford, a strange awkward shadowed the girls. Wearing a school uniform in the middle of the day caused both of them to look over their shoulder, looking out for eyes which are not there.
They stopped by a corner shop and bought sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks. They talked about school, sports and games. Emily tried not to laugh too much to stop her face from hurting. The two girls made their way to Emily's flat.
Turning the flimsy lock, they entered the flat. It was small with hallway only big enough to hold two pairs of shoes. It led into a messy joint living room-kitchen. The sound of heavy typing came from the master bedroom.
"Hey mum, I'm home." Shouted Emily.
The master bedroom door swung open. Mai Baron came ran up and squeezed her daughter. Holding her tight like she was the most precious gem within the world. Caitlin smiled at the show of affection, she backed up to give them room.
Mai Baron had black hair compared to Emily's dirty blonde and was a head taller than her daughter.
"Why are you home so early? What happened to your face?" Mai said leaning down holding Emily's face to look at the patch. Emily started to laugh, feeling the warmth from her mum sending her heart flying.
"I just got hurt, don't worry," Emily said, moving her hands from her face and giving her a hug. Mai opened her mouth to protest but allowed herself to enjoy the hug of her daughter.
"I love you, Mum," Emily said.
"I love you too," Mai replied smiling.
Caitlin looked around the flat she had seen a thousand time allowing the two to have their moment. The two stopped hugging and almost a second after Caitlin found herself in one. Mai had wrapped her arms around her.
"How are you, Caitlin?" She asked.
"I'm good Miss Baron. I got off with Emily." Caitlin replied.
"That's good." Mai, let go of Caitlin, "well I am going go back to work. Don't eat too much."
Mai smiled and went back to the master bedroom leaving the two girls standing where they walked in. Emily and Caitlin came into the living room. They sat the sofa, eat sugary food and watched 70s Japanese school delinquent movies which Emily's mum owned. Emily snuggled next to Caitlin as time moved around them, her heart did not fly or sink, hurt or pump faster but like a fireplace was just warm. Emily looked up at Caitlin, watching her eat food and smiled. She wanted this to last forever. If her powers could protect this, this feeling, this moment, she would fight every darkspawn within the world.
Rose Tower stood within the largest wizard tower of Danann Archipelago. The largest in the centre is a shining beacon of magical science, made of magical glace and bright as a small sun. The floor clinked under Rose Tower's footsteps; she could feel a hum of power within her ear. A blue glass door slid up allowing the Princess of Hearts in. The sound of clicking keyboards hit Rose Tower like a wall. The room was full of nobles in blue and white. Their regalia were clean and futuristic, long lab coats, neon VR headset and slim high-tech armour.
Inside her head, Christine let a sigh and composed herself. Her regalia clashed with everyone within Danann Archipelago, she stood out, but as a grace of hearts, she needed to stand out. She's a leader and around peers but the analytical glaze of diamonds made her nervous.
"Hey! Rose!" A voice called from inside the room.
It was Azure Flash, a Troubadour of Diamonds. She was dressed fully in slick battle armour, white with neon blue. She was one of the first nobles to contact Christine when she went through her first change. Despite only talking in the dreamlands and over online they became fast friends.
At the sight of her friend's smile, Rose Tower calmed down. Azure Flash staked towards Rose Tower leaving a blue trail behind her.
"What's up? More importantly why not just contact me on Order?" Azure Flash asked.
Rose Tower wondered what Azure Flash looked like in her normal form. Over online and in the dreamlands, it was hard to tell what anyone looked like in their mundane form. Rose Tower gave a smile.
"I need the link to the order server." Rose Tower replied.
Azure Flash stifled a laugh.
"What's funny?"
"Ah nothing, just thought that you'd missed me."
"Oh Az, I do miss you. Swanford started feeling swamped with dark spawn and I've just been really busy and a new princess just blossomed-"
"Another princess? That's great."
"No, it's not great. She's new and a Swords, she'll get herself killed."
"This is my advice with dealing with a noble of Swords. Don't try to keep them from doing that they have set their mind to. You will fail, it's better to help them rather than fighting them." Azure Flash said nonchalantly while looking at her phone.
"Thank you Az, I should get going now. I need to do a patrol." Rose Tower said she worried that the tiredness would poison her voice.
"I just sent you the link to the Order server. Just send into the new Princess. Good luck, we should hang out more, maybe watch a movie or something." Azure Flash said, her eyes full of concern.
Rose Tower gave a smile, "you say I worry too much; I'll be fine." With a thumbs up Rose Tower walked away through the glass hallways, her heels clicking on the floor. She needed to make sure that Swanford was safe. She was Grace of Hearts and she would not allow another Princess to die while she is leading them.