Me: Ok, I feel slightly ashamed... I went to my best friend Ashley for help making this chapter... I couldn't figure out what Ashlyn should do while everyone is drunk! To be drunk, or not to be drunk? That was the question!
Ashley: Yeah, so now, as payment, I get to be in this chapter's Useless Author's Ramblings! ^_^
Me: Yes, thank you Ashley... But about this chapter. It's not my best, but it's not my worst. It's not my shortest, it's not my longest, but it's still pretty dang long. *Clears throat and starts talking with cool action-movie-type narration voice* It will be filled with action (kinda), adventure (sorta), and completely drunk anime characters (YES!) Also, I was visiting a family member, and during the car ride to Massachusetts, I got this amazing idea that will change the whole freaking plot line! :D It has to be one of my best fanfiction ideas in my short history of my fanfiction ideas! :D Oh, and yes. You should be worried when the time comes... *evil-ish laugh* ^_^
Please review! And thank you for reading! :)
Ashley: Aren't you forgetting something?
Me: What?
Ashley: *cough* The OC *cough*
Me: Oh yeah! So, Ashley asked me to draw Ashlyn 'cause she couldn't get a clear image in her mind of what Ashlyn looked like exactly. So I drew her, and posted it on my Deviantart here: .com/#/d4h9gwp so if anyone wants to see an actual picture of her (poorly drawn but oh well) it's there. Okay, that's it! :) Wait, the link isn't working! Ugh! So, here, I'll just have it as not a link... and take out the spaces... *mumbles* why do i even bother? *mumbles* gimpgirl44 .deviantart .com/#/d4h9gwp
Ashley: Oh! Oh! I wanna say this disclaimer! PLEASE? o_O
Me: Okay...?
Ashley: We, in no way own Pandora Hearts! It belongs to Jun Mochizuki!
Me: Happy?
Ashley: Yes. Yes I am. :) ON WITH DA CHAPTAH!
Chapter 9
Drunken Antics
Must... Kill...
He... Should... Die...
Jack...Must... Die...
My thoughts were distant, my mind wiped blank except for these light words working their way through my head.
Must kill Jack...
It was all like a dream. My body seemed to be moving on its own, moving to fuffill my motive. I couldn't feel anything, I couldn't even bring up my own thoughts. I just stood up and swiftly made my way to the nearest exit. This door had brought me to a large open room; occupied by several Baskervilles, a lion chain, and my companions. It almost looked like a duel to the death. The death of Oz and Elliot that is...
Must kill Jack Bezarius...
Without a moment's hesitation, I leapt to the lion's side, a bright flaming sword of ice appearing in my hands. Though it's blue flames would normally burn someone and melt the ice, it did neither. It was like the rest of my body; I couldn't feel it at all, even my grip on its shining handle wasn't felt.
"Ashlyn!" Elliot shouted. "Get away from there!"
"Must... Kill... Jack..." I raised my sword and lunged at the duo. But, having superior knowledge of using a sword, Elliot blocked off my attack a split second before the blade slashed Oz's face. "Must kill..." I now sent a few jabs Elliot's way, only to be met with a few back, knocking me off balance.
"What the hell are you doing?" Elliot shouted. "You should be fighting that thing over there!"
"Must kill..." I moved to strike once more, but narrowly missed. Spinning around, I took another strike towards Elliot's head. This time, I barely sliced a few strands of stray hair as he dodged my attack.
As Elliot and I were dueling, I could barely see Oz out of the corner of my eye. The lion had pounced and was throwing him around everywhere. Finally, the lion took Oz in a firm grasp with its powerful jaws and threw him into the air. He looked like a rag doll: Almost completely limp.
For a second, my thoughts and worries returned.
OH MY GOD! OZ- Suddenly they were cut off with a sharp pain splitting through my skull. I clutched my head in my hands and sort of slumped down, dropping my weapon in the process. Have to kill... No, I-... Must kill... Everything went blank again. Having lost control once more, I grabbed the sword's handle, slipped behind Elliot, and started to send my blade straight into his back.
It almost felt like everything was going in slow motion at this point. To put it simply: I was abruptly thrown forward by an invisible force, and crashed into the nearest wall. I winced as I felt the various strings controlling me stretch and snap under the pressure. All my thoughts suddenly flooded my mind. I could feel everything now. The pain of hitting the wall, the burning sensation left behind by Doldum's strings, and my realization of my surroundings kicked in as I fell towards the concrete floor below.
Somehow, I had swerved into a pile of boxes instead, breaking my fall. Laying there for a moment, the breath knocked right out of me, was the perfect chance to get a shaky grasp of the situation. The voices behind my barrier of boxes became clearer and clearer the more I strained to hear.
"I never expected to meet you again in a place like this Lottie." The male's voice was faint, but it sounded like an older version of Oz.
"So Jack... You know, don't you? Where Master Glen is?" 'Lottie' was apparently next to speak.
"Lottie, please don't misunderstand. I have not come forward in order to talk with you. I have come to have you withdraw from this place."
"Why so high and mighty? Has this 'hero' business gone to your head? I thought he was your friend! After that, your family gained so much status! I'm sure you were overjoyed!"
BOOM!
A loud bang and the sound of rushing wind suddenly came from the bickering voices. A bright red glow lighted my pile of boxes.
"You think I killed Glen to extend my status?" Jack voice suddenly filled with tension. "Is that what you want to say? Listen Lottie. I'm not going to say this again. You cannot match the power of B-Rabbit. So please withdraw. If I must, I will become the blade which vanquishes the reapers."
"Do as you wish!" Lottie's voice was slightly fainter now. She must be turning away. "We are only following the master's orders. No matter how many times you kill Glen, we will be sure to find him!" And with that, three pairs of footsteps faded into the room I entered by.
The wind was dying down, the light went dim, and all was silent for a few moments. I lay there, still paralyzed, pondering what just happened. Is that what Break meant during tea? Oz is the reincarnated hero?
"What just happened?" Elliot's voice sounded slightly strained, but was auditable. "Hey, where's Ashlyn?"
I decided at gather up enough strength and let a small groan escape from my lips. Hopefully it wasn't too quiet. It wouldn't be too good to be left in a pile of boxes in a cold creepy dungeon in only god knows where.
"Ashlyn?" A small amount of light came into vision as multiple boxes were pull off from on top of me. I'm saved!
Everything started to become slightly fuzzy now. The last thing I could fully make out was the trio of confused faces staring right at me.
.:Dream:.
"You did what?" Break and Sharon stared at me as I told them about my contract. Sharon looked worried, while Break looked... Ummm... Angry/sad/worried/angry/furious/annoyed/again, more fury.
"Miss Ashlyn... I don't think-" Sharon started.
"Fine. Now, your sword lessons will begin tomorrow." Break stuffed a little note he had into his coat pocket.
"S-sword lessons? Why would I need those?" I stood up from my seat, still clutching my contract mirror from beforehand.
"You'll thank me for this." And with that, he left the room.
"Ah!" I sat up with a jolt. Geez... If I knew I would pass out this much- Wait a second... I looked around. No longer was I laying paralyzed in a pile of filthy boxes, but now in my clean Reinsworth manor bedroom. "Thank the lord!" I raised my hands to the air and plopped myself back down on my pillow. "I swear I can never go into a basement ever again after what just-" Then it hit me. What just happened... What exactly did happen? Now I remember some things, but who exactly is Zwei anyways? What really went on while I was lying there during that ordeal? What- Wait. IS EVERYONE EVEN OKAY? I jumped out of my soft bed, put on some decent clothes, headed out of the room, and down the hall. If they were alright I figured they would be lounging in the tea room where they usually were. Break would be eating cake after cake, Alice would just be eating just everything, Sharon would be there sipping tea almost oblivious to all that was happening, and Oz and Gil would be doing whatever.
"Hey!" I burst through the tearoom doors, only to find everyone sitting there as usual. Well, kinda. "Oh thank god..." I took one of the chairs next to Sharon and started to prepare myself a cup of Earl Gray tea.
"And what may be the matter with you Miss Ashlyn?" Sharon inquired.
"Nothing. But, I think you should ask them that." I pointed over at Oz and Gil who were sitting on the couch with worried and aggravated expressions on their faces.
"We already did~" Break piped up. "But how about you Miss Alice?" He turned to the chain sulking in the corner. Large trays of food were set before her.
"I'm the same as ever!" She stated as she gulped down another cupcake whole.
"So I see... Just a useless glutton as ever!" Emily was twitching as her small annoying voice sounded throughout the room.
BAM! CRACK!
Sharon's fan made quick powerful contact with the top of Break's head. "You will be silent, Break." The poor guy... He takes constant beatings from this girl, and he never complains. If I were him I'd- "Now Miss Alice, if anything is bothering you, you can tell me!"
Without wanting to hear any more of Sharon and Alice's conversation -as it would go very ugly, very fast. Poor Alice- I turned back to my tea, and my other thoughts. Somehow, I couldn't help but feel as something was off. Something about someone in this room is amiss, but it's probably just me right? Everyone other than Oz and Gil seem normal, and even the others are paying them no thought... I must be going insane... I lightly sipped my tea. But, as I went to swolow, I nearly choked. Ow! It almost felt like a razor wire was cutting into my flesh. My hand made its way around my throat as I searched for the cause. Nothing... Figures... I guess that proves it then. I am completely, and utterly going insane.
"Ow!" I yelped again as yet another pain show up. I brought my hand up to my head where a sharp metal object hit me in the eye. "What the heck?" Picking it up out of its landing point in my tea, I found it doesn't seem to be metal at all. But, some sort of star shaped sparkly thing...
"Beautiful!" Sharon's voice came from the corner of the room. She clutched the curtains in front of an open window. With her hair flowing in the passing breeze and the sparkly star things floating around her, I could only guess one thing: Girl mode.
"Milady?" Break was apparently hit by one of those sparkly things too.
"That's so beautiful! A maiden walks such a difficult road!" She exclaimed as she ran past Break, knocking him to the ground once more. "It must be such a heartache!"
Ok, I have no idea what Alice did to set Sharon off, but maybe I should see what's going on...
"Hey, um, Sharon?" I hesitantly tapped on her shoulder."I don't think Alice really wants too-"
"But it's love Miss Ashlyn! Haven't you ever experienced love before? It's amazingly sweet!" Now she was turning on me.
"I'm sorry, but no. I haven't. I don't wish to offend you or anything, but I think love is rather stupid. I mean, what's the point? You give your heart to someone and then they dump you. Leaving you with nothing but a broken heart and many empty tissue boxes."
"H-how could you say that?" She exclaimed. "Love is one of the most delicious and marvelous things you will ever find!"
"It's sweet?" Alice finally spoke up. Apparently, while Sharon was busy with me, Alice was able to crouch into a corner and finish the rest of her pastry puffs.
"Oh yes Miss Alice! Some might even call it bittersweet!" Sharon finally switched victims.
"Well I don't like things that are bitter..."
"But its love! Without love you-"
"I don't need help from the likes of you concerning my manservant." The chain crossed her arms. Wow... Now I feel bad for her... What is Sharon going to do?
Suddenly, for no reason I could distern, Sharon burst into tears. "T-That's right! You never called me by my name! Wait, I have an idea." Her threatening aura was making its way back around us as she crept towards Alice. "Why don't you call be big sister Sharon? Come on! Don't. Be. Shy!"
"B-Big s-sister Sharon..." Alice was shaking in her boots. Never before have I seen the great B-Rabbit so, so helpless. Thank God it isn't me!
Having succeeded, Sharon whisked away the frightened hare to look at 'Love Novels' or whatever she called them. 'Love Bibles?' 'Books of Love?' Whatever. At least they left me here in peace.
Finally... Peace and quiet... With Break still passed out on the floor and Gil and Oz silently doing nothing, it couldn't be better! Now all I need is new tea... I don't think I should drink it after it was contaminated by those 'stars'. Plus, it looks glittery now. And the last I've heard, glitter isn't edible...
I poured another cup of tea for myself, and settled back down in my chair. A tea cake and the morning paper was all I needed now. I reached over, grabbed these nessesary items, and finally began to relax...
"YOU ARE A WOLF IN RABBIT'S CLOTHING!" And I spoke too soon...
Sharon had dashed in and was chasing Oz all around the room. Sadly, just like Break, he was no match for the superior Paper Fan of Doom (my new name for it), and was sprawled on the floor in a matter of seconds. Though her opponent was beaten down, Sharon still kept at it; this time, with two fans! Poor guy... I thought as I watched the event take place.
"Milady! A kiss is required to form a contract!" Awwwww! Break's still alive? I thought Sharon finally got him for good... The idiot -he truly is. He just interfeered with a Sharon beat down!- clown pulled the raged Reinsworth off of Oz.
"O-Oh! I'm so sorry Master Oz! I-I didn't know!"
"I thought Alice was the rabbit..." I mumbled as I took another sip of Earl Gray tea.
"O-Oz k-k-kissed?" Well, Gil looks even worse than before! Ha, at least something good came out of this! I started taking mental pictures. If only I had an actual camera... I would have to sic a hundred cats on him to even get the slightest resemblance of his expression at this moment! Darn...
I happily continued to sip my tea as the frightened Nightray backed up. His face had gone completely pale, and it looked like he would collapse any second now.
I finally burst out laughing. This is too much! I take in the scene even more. This couldn't be any more perfect!
I. Was. Wrong.
A low rumbling noise caught my attention. The slight sound of sqeaking cart wheels accompanied it as the sounds came closer to the room.
Only one thing came to mind.
Oscar.
"Hello everyone!~" Oscar burst into the room, spirits high and a carefree smile plastered on his face.
"Oh! If it isn't the man accused of stealing female uniforms for student dorms~" Break waved his long sleeve at the room's newest occupant. "What a pervert!"
"How could you say that Xerxes?" I spotted a tint of maliciousness gleaming in Oscar's eyes as he gave Break the 'death glare'.
"What scum!" Emily piped up.
"And you brought punch?" Sharon inquired, as she and the rest of us stared at what was placed on the carts. Many glasses were set out, filled to the brim with purple liquid.
"Yes! Even though we didn't find out who Ada was in love with, I thought we'd celebrate that everyone got out safely!" Oscar picked up the nearest glass and proposed a toast.
Everyone reached for a beverage. But, just as I reached mine, I smelled something odd. Taking another whiff of the air, I pinpointed the source of the disgusting scent. Of course, it just had to be my drink. I brought the glass closer to my face. Smells familiar... After one last smell, I finally figured it out.
"Hey, this isn't punch! It's- HMPH!" Oscar had taken his arm and held it around my mouth.
"Now, everyone! Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"You guys are IDIOTS!" I facepalmed. I mean, who wouldn't when your comrades are sprawled out in front of you, probably full of alcohol double the legal limit? I'm not even sure how they could handle it! Can't even two times over the limit KILL YOU?
I sighed as I looked around. Oz had just come back to his senses after his fourth drink, and is now talking to Oscar. Who, when drunk, seems to be a little ditsy. He was all 'happy', and pouring more wine for his underage nephew.
"Hey! Um Oscar?" I walked up to them and grabbed Oz's half full glass. "I don't care if Oz is actually twenty five! Technically, he didn't spend a long time in the abyss, so he still counts as being underage!"
"Oh lighten up!" Oscar grabbed me around the neck into an embrace. "We're here to have fun!~"
"Could you please let go of me?" I managed to choke out.
"Oh, sorry." His firm grip lighted as I struggled free. Gasping for air, I looked back at the Bezarius duke.
"Maybe you should lighten you intake there..." Oscar had now grabbed yet another glass of booze and downed it in no time. "Seriously, if you pass out, Alice would probably draw on your face... And do you seriously want a hangover?" But of course, my words fell on deaf ears. Oscar just sat there chuckling. "And what's so funny?"
God, I wish I hadn't turned around. Alice was stripping. In front of everyone. Out in the open.
"Alice! Please don't!" Oz was standing in front of her, desperately trying to make her stop. "Alice!"
Pop.
And there goes the remaining button from Alice's blouse. It flew high in the air and landed right on Oscar's drink -Thankfully, (kinda) Oscar was staring at the scene before him and paid no more heed to his beverage.- Now, Alice was standing in from of Oz, half naked. Alice's back was towards me, so all I could see was Oz's expression.
"Oz..." Alice's word surprised him and he jumped about a foot in the air. Alice slowly lifted her fingers into a peace sign. "V! V STRIKES THROUGH THE LOSER!" Her fingers practically poked his eyes out. She then proceeded to place her hands on her hips and laugh in victory as Oz screamed in pain and continuously rolled on the floor.
I sighed as I turned back to where Oscar was sitting. "You know-" He was gone. I didn't even notice him leave! I mean, how could you not notice a large drunk guy leave a room? Especially a ditzy one...
"WHO'RE YOU CALLING A SHEWEED HEAD?" I jumped as Gilbert's slurred speech filled the room. Not really wanting to see what happened this time; I slowly turned myself around, bracing myself for the drunkard that is Gilbert. He was leaning on a small end table, with a blurred face of anger towards a flower vase.
"Gil never could hold his liquor!~" Oscar popped up by a nearby couch where everyone was seated, except Alice and Gil. So that's where he went! I thought as I walked towards the others.
"Oh~" Break plopped himself down on the couch's armrest. "An angry drunk~" His comment was supported by an annoying squeak from Emily: 'How uncivilized!~'
I just stared at the hatter. Something's off about him right now... I took a closer look. He demeanor, stature, slur of speech, ditzyness (okay, maybe he's always slightly ditzy) were all qualities of a drunkard. Yet, it was almost as something was off... I took one last look at his face, and realized what was so different about him.
"Hey Break-" My sentence was cut off by the pained yells of Oz.
"OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW!" Alice and Gil were about to rip him in half.
"My manshervant!"
"My Mashter!"
"HELP ME!"
"Hey!" I called out, "Oz is not a play toy! Put him down or else you won't have a master or, uh, manservant!" I didn't dare do anything more than that, they wanted to fight over Oz, but what if I got pulled in? I personally like having two arms... But we have to stop them right? Oz likes his arms too, I bet...
I stood there thinking for a moment, looking over at my companions on the couch when it hit me. "Hey Sharon? Can you call Eques out for a moment? I have an idea." I leaned down and told her the simple command she should give Eques. She gave a slight nod, and two seconds later, Gil and Alice were falling down separate black holes, and a dark unicorn was standing behind the couch with Oscar.
Sharon looked up at me, and this time I nodded back. She then swept off the couch with a slight flourish, and approached Oz. Everyone just stared with amusement as she tapped her foot down on the ground, revealing her ankle.
I almost burst out laughing when Oz's face got all red, and you could practically seeing his heart thump out of his chest.
Three minutes after our whole ordeal, and everyone's practically passed out. Sharon was snoring away on the couch, Alice laying face down on the floor, and Oscar was curled up with a few empty bottles of liquor. His face was decorated with marker in various lines and colors. I warned him, didn't I?
Having nothing more to do, I saw Break leaning out on the balcony, so I joined him.
"Hey, why aren't you drunk?" I strode up to him, and sat on the railing. "I mean, you had, like, fifteen whole bottles! I'm just surprised you're not dead."
"Oh? The brat found me out already?" He quirked an eyebrow. "Well, let me ask you something. How did you know it was liquor in the first place?"
"Can't you even smell that stuff? It's nasty! When Anna and I lived out on the streets, you can bet there are a bunch of guys, or bumbling idiots I should say, swaying out of the pubs. You could smell their dang breath a mile away! Plus they always left half drunk bottles around."
"Oh~" His signature creeper smile spread across his face once again. "You know, you are a very observant girl~"
"And? Your point?"
He just smiled as he pointed behind himself to the balcony's glass doors. "Looks like we have a visitor."
I yawned as Oz entered. "Listen Break, I'm tired. So I'm gonna go to bed. See ya in the morning!" I stretched and reached the glass doors, but right before I could leave I heard them say this:
"You can drop the drunk act Break, I know you're not really drunk."
"Heh, you're just as observant as Miss Ashlyn. How'd you find out?"
"Well, it's not like I wasn't eaves dropping."
"You're such an uncute brat."