Author's note: thanks for the positive feedbacks so far… though I'll be waiting for the negative ones … anyways, I tried adding more flavor in describing the dolls… let's see how this works out.
O O O O O O O O O O
Rozen Maiden: Eternal Play
Act 4: Deep Wounds
The clashing of steel and crystal echoed all throughout the hallow auditorium that was christened by the presence of the seven dolls. The Alice Game between Shinku, Suigintou, and the rest of the dolls raged on.
O O O
Suigintou lunged towards Shinku, shielding herself with her wings through her rose storm. "DIE!!" the angel cried as she, within her sword's reach, fluttered her defense open and poised a cutting blow to the fifth doll which Shinku parried by her cane.
"Stop this Suigintou!!" Reiner Ruben cried.
"Barasuishou is right!!" raged Mercury Lampe as she relentlessly hacked away through Shinku's defense. "This is Father's will!! AND HIS WILL SHALL BE DONE!!"
'Father… Why?' Shinku thought as she focused her defense on Suigintou's attempts.
O O O
"Look out –kashira!!" Kanaria shrieked as she pounced Hinaichigo out of harm's way. She turned around to see crystal shards pierced on the ground. Another moment wasted and they would've been dead.
A doll dressed in lavender landed stealthily behind Kanaria and Hinaichigo who, after blinking her eyes from the fall, noticed a pair of boots in front of her. Kleine Beere blinked twice before trailing the boots up to the head. Barasuishou smiled at her prey menacingly as she raised her crystal blade for the finish.
"For Father" she trailed as she swung her sword.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" the dolls shrieked until they were interrupted by a sound of clashing metal. When the two opened their eyes, they saw Barasuishou's strike blocked by a huge golden shear.
"S-Souseiseki" Hinaichigo trailed.
"How long do you intend to watch?" Lapis Lazuli asked annoyingly, her gaze fixed on her adversary.
Barasuishou raised her brow and looked at this… hindrance… she leapt backwards and, while in midair, opened her palm to the three, releasing another wave of crystal shards. As the assault was about to hit, a splash of water, a growth of roots, saved all three of them from certain peril.
"You've caught my attention" said Barasuishou coolly as she eyed the newest contestant in her fray. Before landing on the floor, Rozenkristall swung flung her sword to Jade Stern who was now susceptible after using her Sui Dream. Before the blade would even hit, it was parried off easily by her twin who glared at Barasuishou angrily.
"The odds are against me" Barasuishou observed rather, loudly. "Well then…" she opened her arms, closed her eye, and radiated a purple, intense light. Seeing this as an opportunity, Souseiseki darted to her, wagering her golden shears for the blow.
"Souseiseki!! Don't!!" Suiseiseki trailed.
Rozenkristall opened her eye intensely and glaciers impaled the whole auditorium from the ground, blocking Souseiseki's path of attack, separating and encasing Suiseiseki from Kanaria and Hinaichigo, halting the clash between Shinku and Suigintou, taking the opportunity to distance themselves from one another.
Suigintou flew above the ruined auditorium and searched for any of her sisters, especially Shinku.
O O O
Souseiseki saw a black figure hovering off the devastated ground. Noticing an inclined crystal pillar beside her, Souseiseki grabbed the opportunity of pawning Suigintou by rushing at her through the pillar. As she leapt towards Mercury Lampe, she opened her shears open for the finish.
O O O
Suigintou hovered off the ground searching for her sisters. A smile formed on her lips.
O O O
Shinku traversed the crystal maze carefully as to conceal herself from Barasuishou or Suigintou. After climbing a fallen crystal pillar, she looked on her way ahead only to see Hinaichigo standing between Barasuishou and Kanaria, whose leg seemed pinned down by lumps of huge crystal shards.
O O O
"Y-You will not get her –nano" Hinaichigo declared, rather dauntingly at Barasuishou.
Rozenkristall moved towards the two, forming her crystal saber to deliver them their fate. Kleine Beere inched backwards.
"Do not mind me –kashira" Kanaria managed from her pain. She tried pulling her leg free but winced. "Hinaichigo RUN –KASHIRA!!!" Kanarienvogel cried. "D-Don't be and idiot –kashira! Save yourself!!"
Hinaichigo shook her head, locking her gaze on Barasuishou. "I… I will protect Kanaria -nano". She extended her arms forward and summoned strawberry vines towards Barasuishou. Barasuishou stopped walking.
"Futile" she breathed before she began to dart towards the two, hacking the vines that stood on her way. When she finally came close enough to deliver her finish, a bright red wisp stood on her way and flashed a blinding light. Shielding her eyes off the distraction, Barasuishou felt a sharp blow from her side, pummeling her to a crystal pillar. She hit with such impact that the pillar behind her cracked. Rozenkristall picked up her sword and supported herself with it.
"Y-You" she glared at Reiner Ruben.
O O O
Souseiseki opened her shears wide and delivered death to Suigintou who burst into a bunch of black feathers. Souseiseki immediately felt danger. She shielded herself immediately from the force of Suigintou's strike, but was caught unprepared, and was hurled back to the ground, rolling, tumbling, and crashing down a couple of crystal pillars.
Souseiseki tried to stand up from her fall but felt pain all over her. She twitched an eye as she winced in pain.
"Ohoho… You won't be able to cut me in half like what YOU DID last time Souseiseki…" Mercury Lampe sniggered as she floated before Lapis Lazuli, with her blade pointed at her.
Souseiseki eyed the shears beside her and dared to grab it, but was rewarded by a stab on her free shoulder.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" Souseiseki cried in pain.
O O O
Souseiseki's cry echoed all over the auditorium…
"Souseiseki!!" Suiseiseki shrieked. She struck the crystal walls that kept her harder. "SOUSEISEKI! SOUSEISEKI!!!" Suiseiseki glowed emerald green…
O O O
"Souseiseki!" Shinku gasped as she turned to the direction of Lapis Lazuli's cry.
"You shouldn't be distracted" shrieked Barasuishou as she lunged towards her. Shinku parried the strike but was caught off guard by a kick to the stomach, sending her crashing to a crystal pillar, separating her from her cane. Barasuishou kicked away Shinku's cane and walked towards her.
O O O
After being stabbed or cut, a doll should never felt any pain. However, the act of shoving the blade off and driving it back caused Souseiseki pain. The friction caused by Suigintou's blade on her shoulder drove her in anguish.
Suigintou eyed the shears and kicked it aside then turned her attention back at Souseiseki.
"tut, tut, tut… such bold move Souseiseki however…" she drove her sword deeper in Souseiseki's injury, cracking the ice behind her slowly. "AAAHHH" Lapis Lazuli yelped.
"… futile." Suigintou could not help but glee over her sister who sat uncomfortable in pain. Her left arm was hurt badly by her crash and her right arm was now stabbed by her sword at the shoulder joint.
"Su-" Lapis Lazuli glared at her. "Suigintou…"
"What's with that look?" Suigintou teased as she toyed her sword in Lapis Lazuli's shoulder, slowly watching Souseiseki wince. "Such an easy prey"
A distant memory of Suigntou flashed. Shinku and Souseiseki were battling one another. Suigintou watched, confused with the reason why they are fighting. Without warning, Souseiseki slashed her shears on her, splitting up her upper and lower body…
Junk…
"Souseiseki?"
Souseiseki winced as she looked at Suigintou.
"Do you remember?"
Souseiseki looked at her quizzically under her pain. "Wh-What?"
"Back then…" Suigintou began in a regretful tone.
Souseiseki raised her brow.
"When you and Shinku fought…"
Souseiseki widened her eyes in horror. "That… You still remembered that…"
Suigintou glared. "How could I not?!" she shrieked, thrusting her blade deeper in her shoulder. "You…"
Suigintou gripped her sword as she was consumed by her rage. A rage that originated from a distant memory.
"It was you who cut me back then in half back then…" Suigintou looked at Souseiseki distressed. "It was you who gave me the feeling of being junk…"
"Of course there was Shinku who… betrayed me…" Suigintou trailed as she jerked her blade backward.
"But it was you who assaulted me first…" she thrusted her blade back. "… who TURNED ME INTO JUNK!!!"
Suigintou's eyes glared and smiled at her manically. With a swift motion, she thrusted her blade deeply in Souseiseki's shoulder up to the hilt.
"AAAAHHHHHHH!!!"" Souseiseki yelped in pain.
Suigintou kneeled over her and caressed her cheek. Souseiseki's eyes were now distraught. Suigintou leaned over her ear and whispered something.
"Thank you Souseiseki…" A smile formed on Suigintou's lips. "Because of you I have felt that I truly am… Junk…"
Tears formed on Souseiseki's eyes. Was this repentance for what she did?
Suigintou smiled "Because of that… let me repay you…" Suigintou kissed Souseiseki's cheek before standing back up. Mercury Lampe reached for her sword that was jammed up to the hilt. She held her sword with both hands and poised sideways, her feet apart from each other.
Mercury Lampe's eyes glared as she smiled triumphantly on her pose.
"LET ME REPAY YOU IN FULL!!"
With a sudden motion she pulled her sword off Souseiseki. The force of the motion Suigintou did not only shattered the glass Lapis Lazuli leaned on, the force itself was strong enough to pull off Souseiseki's arm from her body.
Souseiseki's eyes glared blankly as her body flung away.
O O O
Barasuishou stood over Shinku and prepared her blade to smite her down.
"Farewell" Barasuishou greeted. Without notice, Barasuishou was blasted off the ground. From behind her was Hinaichigo aiding Kanaria who was now free of the rubble. Shinku stood up and hurried to her sister's aid.
"Let's go" she ordered, leaving an unmoving Barasuishou on the ground.
O O O
The pain was mind numbing for Souseiseki. It hurt so much that her eyes became blank as she tumbled lifelessly on the ground before Suigintou who breathed deeply in glee before her.
From behind Suigintou, Souseiseki noticed a figure running towards them. It was blurry but she distinguished the features of her clothing: it was green, a pretty gown in gree with white laces on its edges. This figure, from a distant memory, Souseiseki somehow knew her. She was crying, shouting something with her hands reaching towards her.
"Suiseiseki" she realized. From behind her twin there were also three other figures. One was dressed in pink, another in yellow, and the last in red.
"Hinaichigo, Kanaria, Shinku"
Lapis Lazuli suddenly felt being pulled off the ground. Up to head width with a familiar figure. She has a silky, silver-white hair that is kept under a lacy, black headband. She looked at her eyes, eyes that seeped with triumph, hatred, glee all at once. She then turned her attention back to those running towards her.
O O O
"NO!! SUIGINTOU!! NOOOOO!!!!!" Suiseiseki shrieked as tears fell freely down her cheeks. Mercury Lampe looked at her back and smiled menacingly.
O O O
(Slow Motion)
"SU-"
Shinku looked at Suigintou wide-eyed, mouth opened.
"-I-"
Suigintou turned her attention back to Lapis Lazuli and pulled her sword.
"-SEI-"
Suiseiseki's tears fell as she cried her plea. "DON'T!!!"
Suigintou thrusted her sword deeply on Souseiseki's stomach. Shinku cried with tears, Hinaichigo and Kanaria turned away as tears fell from their eyes.
"-SE-!!" Souseiseki's eyes widened then became unfocused.
Suigintou smiled evilly at the doll as she jerked her body off her sword, sending her off to her twin
"KI-----" Souseiseki gasped as she fell lifelessly.
Suiseiseki lunged to catch her twin's body.
"Souseiseki! SOUSEISEKI!!!"
O O O
Suigintou lift off the ground, feeling pleased with her little revenge, leaving poor Suiseiseki mourning for her twin.
Souseiseki's lifeless body glowed in bright blue.
"S-Souseiseki?" Suiseiseki asked as tears fell from her cheek.
Souseiseki's body began to float while it was hugged by Suiseiseki. "No!!" Suiseiseki argued. "I Won't!! I Won't let you go –desu" however, Souseiseki's body surged a force that sent Suiseiseki flying, stumbling on the ground. From Souseiseki's body ejected a bright light. A crystal floated in the center of a ring of cosmos.
"Rosa Mystica" Shinku whispered in a mix of awe and sorrow. Kanaria and Hinaichigo merely looked at the sight.
"Rosa Mystica"
Shinku spun around to see Barasuishou standing on a crystal pillar.
Suigintou opened her hand and accepted Souseiseki's Rosa Mystica, thrusting it in her chest. Suigintou radiated a deeper magenta aura. 'This feeling!' she opened her arms as if embracing such existence. 'Its warmth' Suigintou trailed off with her thought as she flew aimlessly, enjoying the surge within her.
Suigintou opened her eyes and beheld those before her. She smiled at them, all of them as she shielded herself with her wings and jerked them open, sending a gust of black feathers, swarming over the auditorium.
The other dolls shielded their gaze from such force, with Suiseiseki protecting Souseiseki's body.
Feeling contented, Suigintou halted her attack.
"I would like to finish all of you here, however…." The turned her back against them and spread her wings. "I have pressing matters to attend to" and flew off the exit.
Shinku narrowed her eyes "Suigintou"
She then turned her gaze on to the weeping Suiseiseki then to Hinaichigo and to Kanaria. Something's not right… Shinku's eyes widened in horror. She immediately pushed herself and the dolls next to her away and spun around missing Barasuishou's crystal saber by inches, wounding her of her left arm. However, Shinku fell off balance and hit the ground. Barasuishou stood before her, poising her sword. Just then…
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Barasuishou screamed as a blast hit her from behind sending her off her feet. She pun around upon her impact…
"S-Suiseiseki…" Shinku trailed.
Jade Stern stood, emanating a brighter, emerald aura than before. She glared deeply at Barasuishou. "You…" Suiseiseki walked towards her.
Barasuishou managed on her feet. She tried to move her right arm but seemed… broken.
"All of this…" She stopped and pointed her watering can at Rozenkristall. "…ALL OF THIS IS YOUR FAULT" water gushed from the can that Barasuishou easily evaded. She evaded the water but not the vines however and found her left arm caught.
Suiseiseki extended her free arm and held it open. "If you hadn't come… Souseiseki wouldn't have died –desu" she closed her eyes and held her tears "If you hadn't come along galloping here declaring that crap Alice Game… This wouldn't have happened!!" Suiseiseki tried closing her palm, causing the plant to squeeze onto Barasuishou's shoulder. She winced in pain.
"IF YOU HADN'T COME SOUSEISEKI MIGHT STILL BE WITH US!!" Suiseiseki opened her palm and clenched it into a fist, making the plant crush Barasuishou's arm. The pain was intense for Barasuishou. Tears dropped from her eyes as she lay wasted on the ground. She breathed deeply between her shocked eyes.
"Fa-ther" Barasuishou managed between her breaths. Suiseiseki began towards her again. As she neared barasuishou however, a portal rift opened beside Barasuishou and out came Laplace.
He bowed before the dolls and looked at Barasuishou. He took off his hat and held it over Barasuishou as dust sparkled all over her. Barasuishou glowed and was sucked off by a rift behind her.
"Laplace…" Suiseiseki trailed with such hatred, hatred for letting the criminal escape.
Laplace put his hat back and bowed before them. "Forgive the intrusion my ladies, but at this point, it is irrelevant to continue the ball when the host and some of the guests have left. I suggest that you take this opportunity to narrate every scene with the one who owns you."
He bowed again and leapt on the rift.
'One who owns us?' Shinku thought. 'Jun…"
O O O
'This feeling…' Suigintou thought as she flew back in the real world. She was disturbed despite the fact that she finally had a Rosa Mystica. In the corner of her mind, something wasn't right. But what was it? What could it be? She felt warm. True after having the Mystica she felt warm… but no… the truth is, she's been feeling warm even before the Alice Game began… uneasy… 'Megu…' she thought as she sped off under the crested moon.
O O O
The sun was high in Kirakishou's N-Field making her wear a white Sunday hat as she tended to her rose garden.
Snip
Kirakishou pruned a rose.
Snip
A rift opened beside her tea table and out came Laplace carrying Barasuishou. Enju, who was sitting on one of the chairs and has been observing the whole scene after his makeshift portrayal of Rozen, leapt up and came to the aid of his doll. Laplace passed Barasuishou, who was sleeping soundly, gently to Enju. The movement however awakened Barasuishou.
"Father" she said meekly under the arms of Enju, her tears falling down again. "Father.. I am.. I am.."
"Junk?" Kirakishou said, smiling, as she pruned another rose.
snip
Enju glared at her intensely but disregarded her comment and focused on her injured daughter.
snip
"Shh…" he comforted. "Pay no heed to her. You're no junk. You're my masterpiece. My daughter" he whispered to Barasuishou who blushed at his words of comfort. "Don't worry, I'll fix up that arm of yours after we return back at our workshop"
snip
Enju then turned to Kirakishou. "We're going" he stated and moved towards the mirror. Kirakishou merely waved her arm and adjusted her hat, seemingly focused on her gardening. He then turned to Laplace and nodded. The rabbit bowed back.
O O O
Laplace neared the seventh doll "Gardening?" he chimed. "I have never seen you engage in such tasks before" he added.
Kirakishou sighed and straightened herself. She took off her hat and wiped her forehead with a handkerchief and set her hat back. "You can after all, adjust the weather" Laplace suggested. "Could this be a whim perhaps?"
Kirakishou glanced at her and smiled and tended back to the roses.
snip
"Say Laplace?" she queried.
"Madame?"
"Even with the little power I have given to Barasuishou, she seem to do her job well. Too well" she frowned as she pruned another rose.
"Betreyal?"
Kirakishou sighed. "Don't mock me Laplace. We both know you have the ability of foresight"
snip
"But still, everything turned out well" Kirakishou chimed. "I never expected for one of my sisters to be defeated though" she smiled "Onee-sama is really powerful" she mused.
snip
Kirakishou held the rose she just pruned. "So beautiful" she said.
"True but… even beauty corrupts…"
Kirakishou sighed again. "It's sad though that Barasuishou wasn't the one to acquire Souseiseki's Rosa Mystica…" she let the rose fell.
snip
"As a rose begins to bloom, its beauty slowly emerges however…" Kirakishou began.
snip
"When a rose becomes mature, we can say that she has finally reached the peak of her life"
snip
"After maturity, the rose begins to wither away and die."
snip
"A withering rose is indeed…" snip "…unsightly…" snip
"Is that the reason why you are pruning?" queried Laplace.
Kirakishou smiled.
"Is that also the reason why you love her so much?"
snip
"The other dolls have matured because of Father's love… all except me… and Onee-sama"
snap
"We are still a rose that is beginning to bloom. Father will only notice us only if we become Alice…"
snip
"Then why not go against Suigintou and become Alice yourself?" Kirakishou twitched her eye. The thought of going against Onee-sama… unforgivable… "I should kill you for such insult Laplace" she said while smiling and tending to her roses.
snip
"I do not wish to insult you milady… I was merely… curious" he bowed.
Kirakishou sighed. "During her time, Onee-sama has been the first yet she was the least loved"
snip
"Father loved Shinku more. Father loved the other dolls more."
snip
"With that I pity Onee-sama and thus, have decided to give her my Rosa Mystica if ever we meet."
snip
"But since Father never gave me a physical form, I have been damned in this world for ages, only observing Onee-sama from afar."
snip
"Despite this however, I have seen her suffering… her pains… under the hands of Shinku and the others… I could not tolerate such…"
snip
"…injustice."
"Now Onee-sama's days of suffering will end…"
snip
"… no one will stand against her, not even Shinku and her medium or the other dolls…"
snip
"… and in the end, it will be I who will be at her side when she becomes Alice. Not that puny Megu…"
a snipping sound that echoes all throughout the N-Field
"Would you care for some tea?" Kirakishou invited Laplace. As they headed on their way back, the mature roses that she pruned earlier began to wither and decay rapidly until they become dust, left to be scattered by the wind.
O O O
End of Act 4
O O O O O O O O O O
Indeed how deep the wounds of the past linger in one's heart?