Edited: 11/2/14
~Using A Proofreading Software I Found-Since None Of The Beta Readers: Listed "Active" - That I Asked about events, and messed it up. So, it likely wouldn't have shown up until after this fic was suppose to end.
A/N:
Please read the other note, at the end of this chapter!
Thank you!
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Chapter #10- Survivors
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Once Ahiru was sure that Mytho, Rue and the young prince were gone, she grabbed Mytho's sword from where he'd dropped it, and headed off in the direction Fakir had gone.
She was afraid of using it. Afraid of killing another being. If she was honest with herself... She never wanted to kill ANYTHING. The sheer thought scared her. Even just the thought, made her ill.
She was happy to leave that to Mytho, Fakir and Rue. She loved all 3 dearly. But they were made, emotionally, for killing things.
She was not, and she knew that very well. Her soul, was too gentle, she supposed.
However, If Fakir was in danger, she'd kill something to save him... Even if she hated the thought. Even if, later, it shattered her weak soul.
When she finally caught up to him, she found him surrounded by monsters.
Nervously, she gulped: knowing he'd yell at her for staying.
She took a deep breath, clutching the white, swan, sword to her chest, and started towards him.
She had to hold the prince's sword, with both of her hands, due to how heavy it was, and each time she swung it at the monsters, she closed her eyes! Each swing, overwhelmed her small, dancer's body with it's still, almost birdlike bones.
The sheer weight of the sword, when in a swinging motion, sent the girl spinning, along with it, in a circle, several rotations over.
Each time she stopped, she'd stumble, she felt like her eyes were still spinning in her head.
She saw some monster bodies on the floor in front of her, so she supposed she managed to hit some... And then, finally! After she had, awkwardly, killed (then apologized to, and, said a few prayers, for) a few of the creatures, she made it to Fakir's side.
He blinked, when he felt her press her back to him... Her read head resting between his shoulder blades, as she panted for breath.
He had been worried, when he noticed her making her way to him. Why didn't she use the blasted dagger that he'd given her!?
"Where's Mytho & Rue?"
He asked, with a deep sigh, by way of greeting. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Blood covered her; no, Mytho's sword, and slid dangerously close to her delicate hands, which shook. But Fakir could not see the shaking from his angle.
She wanted to cry, when she saw the blood. She felt her lower lip trembling. So she bit it, hard. She wanted to be ill, all over the floor. So She took deep breaths, to try and calm her racing heart and raging stomach.
She wanted to curl up in a ball and ask Fakir to shield her from it all, she wanted to-
"HEY! Ahiru?"
She jumped, glancing at her lover, he looked very worried. He'd started shaking her, his back to the monsters he'd been standing off against.
The beasts were looking at each other, confused about being ignored suddenly.
She hadn't realized she had spaced-out. She gripped the hilt of the long white, swan decorated sword, tighter.
She felt a whimper escape her throat when she saw the blood had reached her hands, the swans between her, long, slender fingers, and, the cold steel of the sword, were dyed a ghoulish shade of red.
"S-sor... Sorry Fakir, I was distracted. Wha... What...?"
"I asked where Mytho, the baby and Rue were..."
"Oh,"
She breathed the word, her breathing hard, because of the minor panic that set in.
Thinking that she sounded, really, rather stupid, there; she continued on, to answer his question.
"I transported them, and the baby that remained in the room, to the palace..."
She said, he was silent a moment as he watched the pale face of this brave, but tiny, girl, that he loved so much. All of a sudden her beautiful, blue eyes, widened-in stark horror, and, she tugged his arm, trying to move him, but she wasn't fast enough.
He stumbled, and then, screamed in pain as both he, and Ahiru, were slashed with a long, jagged sword.
He caught himself before he fell.
Grabbing Ahiru, who, had dropped the sword she'd held and was now sobbing, he blocked another swing of the same jagged sword, with his own back and threw her to the floor, grabbing the dagger from her thigh in the process, he spun around to face the beast and rammed the long knife into its heart.
XxxxxX Ahiru's POV XxxxxX
He'd shoved Ahiru well; she'd rolled down the hall a ways, and, as she pushed herself into a sitting position, her left arm limp at her side, blood gushing from a deep cut between her left shoulder and her neck,
She saw him disappear under the horde of beasts. She screamed his name, as she scrambled to her shaky legs, and ran towards him.
Then, a searing pain in the back of her neck...
She then collapsed to her knees. Her breathing labored, she felt so cold. Pain in her neck and, now, her chest. Fakir managed to get through the monsters, but, he froze, paling as he looked at her. Why was he looking so horrified? At least he was ok. She thought as her hands hit the floor in front of her for support.
Why did her chest hurt?
Numbly, she looked down, oh, that was why. She had a blade protruding from between her breasts. A crimson color, spread from the blade, and dyed her white dress in its bright color. Then, she watched, as the blade was pulled out.
She screamed then, her back arching on reflex, as it was pulled from her body.
THE PAIN!
Mind numbing pain!
Then she saw, through dimming vision as Fakir dropped his sword again, he angrily threw the dagger in his other hand, it soared over her head and then he was running towards her, screaming her name.
At least she thought that he was calling her, she couldn't hear through the pounding pulse and strange roaring sound in her head.
A black swan stood behind her love, it was standing among the bodies of the monsters.
It seemed to be concerned. Ahiru blinked and, in place of the bird, that girl now stood.
Ahiru gasped, blood trailing from her lips, down her chin, as she found herself unable to take a breath properly. Then she collapsed, face first, onto the floor. She felt warm now, but only the part of her that lay on the floor, her back was so cold.
Then, she was pulled into Fakir's arms, her head resting on his knees as he seemed to shout at her, she smiled up at him and touched his cheek.
'Fakir...'
She faintly wondered why he was crying and why her hand and arm seemed to be a bright, shiny red. Then it all went dark.
'Fakir... I lo-'
XxxxxX Fakir's POV XxxxxX
The pain in his shoulder and back, that was some of the worst he'd felt. He shoved Ahiru away from him, her arm and shoulder had been slashed too, he didn't want her hurt any more than she was.
He saw her tuck her arms in and roll, she knew enough, to automatically go into a roll, when falling.
'Good girl!'
Then the monsters surrounded him. He cursed, grabbed his sword and yanked the dagger form the monster he'd just killed.
He found himself on the other side of them.
With them now between him and Ahiru. He didn't like it. Then he heard a voice from behind him. Phoebe and Leda, both came running towards him.
Leda, was holding the baby protectively in her arms.
She seemed like she was in pain, though. When they got close enough, Phoebe motioned for Leda to hide, she did, taking the first born prince with her, behind a corner.
Phoebe then came over, and he saw her swing a sword, he ducked on instinct and heard the clash of metal behind his head.
"Be observant, Fakir!"
She hissed angrily. He turned and saw her sword between him and a troll's blade. He just hadn't been paying attention.
Things were happening so fast, he couldn't focus on it all.
"Why did Leda hold the baby?"
"Because, I don't dare give her a sword. She's fighting that damn raven off, he's trying to control her mind and body."
She said and her sword screeched, throwing sparks, as she used it to shove the monster, and it's own blade, back.
"Isn't he in danger with her?"
"Probably."
She said, as he took a fighting stance beside her. Both were now cutting their way through the beasts. Things seemed to turn for them in a matter of seconds, however, a moment later, he heard Ahiru scream his name.
"Idiot, stay away."
He said, more to himself, rather than loud enough for her to hear as he fought the beasts, alongside Phoebe.
Only a few more between him and Ahiru.
He felt somewhat relieved. She hadn't come over. Then, he and Phoebe heard the baby start to scream and cry around the corner. Phoebe dropped the sword, distracted by the wailing child. Then she took her swan form, in order to dodge a swing at her, as Fakir tried to block the beast from harming her. She flapped and took to the air, flying around the corner, to check on Leda and the baby. While she was gone, Fakir managed to kill the rest of the tolls and other creatures. Then he froze, heart hammering.
A large raven stood behind Ahiru. A sword was protruding from between her breasts, she was pale, turning so white that, what freckles she had on her nose, looked like some kind of paint. She gasped for air and he saw the blood roll from her mouth. Blood was pooling around her legs, she had lost quite a lot of it. He suddenly felt cold. The raven behind Ahiru, wore Leda's dress.
He saw the raven pull the sword from Ahiru's small body, her back arched, with the action and she screamed. He dropped his sword, but tightened his grip on the dagger. He pulled his arm back, as Phoebe screamed: No! Behind him, but it was too late, he'd sent the smaller blade flying.
It hit the raven girl in the stomach, the creature screamed, backing up, and collapsed. Turning back into the Leda they'd met a short time ago. Her sword turned into a black feather.
Fakir screamed Ahiru's name, and rushed forward, then.
Watching as Ahiru, collapsed in a pool of her own blood. It splashed around her body.
He slipped in the blood, and skidded, on his knees, to her, when he reached her he pulled his lover into his arms.
"Ahiru!?"
He couldn't see very well, because he had tears in his eyes, by the time he got to her. But, she was so limp and he could see the blood gushing from the open wound in her chest. He rested her head on his knees, and tried, in vain, to stop the bleeding in her chest by applying pressure. She opened her pretty blue eyes and smiled up at him.
"Thank god, Ahiru, stay with me, baby. Please..."
He said when he saw her looking at him. But she didn't show any signs of having heard him. She gasped for air, a wet, gurgling, sound coming from her chest and throat as she tried to breath and speak.
He felt new tears roll down his face. Her lungs must have been punctured.
"Ahiru? Please..."
He begged, shaking all over, she reached up, her blood stained hand gently touching his cheek. He reached up and held that hand against his face. Leaning into her hand slightly. He knew he couldn't stop her bleeding, with his other hand, he smoothed some loose hair from her face.
"I love you, Ahiru."
He said, and watched as her eyes slid shut, her hand, going limp, slid from his face, to flop onto her chest.
A broken sob came from his chest as he held her.
Phoebe came skidding to a halt beside him. She shoved him away and started to heal Ahiru, now that the shock was gone.
He hugged himself, doubling over, and rocking. His whole body started shaking.
He didn't want to lose her. After a while, when he wasn't able to cry any more, and it had become just dry heaving sobs. He glanced up, through the tears in his eyes... He watched as Phoebe tried to heal Ahiru.
Then his sad green eyes, drifted over to Leda, still resting, not far away, the blood around her was a smaller pool. He saw her chest rising and falling. Anger bubbled up inside him.
"I'll kill the bitch!"
Fakir snapped suddenly, before Phoebe could react to that, he grabbed her sword and headed for Leda. But just as he swung the blade down at her, he found Phoebe between him and the dark princess. He stopped his swinging sword, but not before he slashed her in the right arm.
"Move."
He said, sounding deadly calm, and very cold.
"No... Fakir! You need to listen to-"
"I SAID MOVE! OR I SWEAR I'LL CUT YOU DOWN TO GET TO HER!"
He yelled, raising the sword. She didn't move.
"Go right ahead then. If you kill her, I'm as good as dead anyway."
She said, her eyes hard, but sad, as she stared him down. He froze completely.
"What does that mean?"
"Drop the sword. I'll tell you if you do."
She replied, her voice calm.
"But... She... She ki-"
"Ahiru is still alive, but if you don't back down, she won't be, I can't heal her if I'm worried about you, killing Leda."
"Why do you care...? Who are you? Besides a: dancer/killer/healer/swan-girl?"
He asked, the sword falling from his hand.
"I care... because, all 3 of you are my parents..."
She sighed and went back to Ahiru's side. He blinked, looking at Phoebe's back as she healed Ahiru, her voice soft as she spoke the words to a spell.
"Excuse me?"
He asked softly, shock and confusion, washing over him anew.
XxxxxX Leda's POV XxxxxX
Leda had found what Phoebe had told her hard to believe. But she wanted to believe it.
So, she took the baby, when Phoebe asked her to carry him for her.
Then both girls had headed towards Rue's room. However, along the way, they spotted Fakir, fighting with the monsters that were, now, no longer under Leda's control.
"Leda, take the prince, hide around the corner-over there."
Phoebe ordered, Leda nodded and headed to the designated corner. She knelt on the floor, her back to a wall, she heard the non stop clang on swords.
She laid the baby beside her, her head had started to hurt again. She rubbed her temples with both of her hands.
She could hear him, the raven. Being so close to the smell of all of this blood & the fear that seemed to permeate the air, was adding to his strength.
'Go away!'
She screamed inside her head.
'NO!'
Was the response, and then pain overwhelmed her and she no longer had control of her body. What happened next, made her feel as if she was watching it happen to someone else, but through their eyes.
She saw herself standing up. Then her surroundings changed and she saw Ahiru in front of her, a thinning wall of monsters in front of the duck-girl. Leda saw a hand, not her own, covered in black feathers, as it turned a feather into a sword.
And Leda felt horror, as she watched her own, feathered arm, plunge the sword into Ahiru's back.
'NO!'
She screamed in her head, and she felt the joy that the raven felt. He'd moved Leda's feathered arm, he's yanked the sword from Ahiru's back, relishing her scream of pain, as he twisted it a bit, while pulling it out.
Now the duck-girl would stop getting in his way, and the black female swan wouldn't get her way. With one of the princess tutu's dead she couldn't-
Leda stopped feeling the raven's thoughts as a pain suddenly erupted from her stomach, she blinked down at it, as the sword fell from her hand.
There was a dagger in her stomach! She blinked at it, looked at Fakir and then collapsed.
'I'm so sorry, Phoebe...'
She thought as she heard Fakir calling for Ahiru, she felt like herself again.
'Aaron... I wish he was here with me...'
She thought vaguely and lost consciousness.
An hour later, outside of the castle...
The swans felt it first, a massive concentration of evil energy. They took flight from the lake that surrounded the castle.
As they few to get away, there was a massive blast from the castle and when they looked back, all that was left was a black cloud and rubble, a lot of rubble.
In the distance, they saw a massive raven like being, flying towards a mountain.
Just before the explosion of dark energy, from the castle...
In the infirmary wing of the palace, a baby appeared on a cot, a flash of light signaling his arrival... The baby was crying, swaddled in a man's blood spattered shirt, a transportation bracelet was around his tiny wrist several times, to be sure it didn't come off.
Jamison found him when he heard the wailing, a note was in the pocket, explaining who the infant was.
It was signed: ~Fakir~
2 Days After The Events At The Castle:
2 young women, one with long, wavy black hair with red highlights in it, dressed in black, even black pants. And the other, with lighter red hair, a blood stained white dress and a hole between her breasts that no longer seemed so deep, collapsed on the outskirts of a town not far from the castle. A young man and woman found them, and took them to the town's doctor.
Also, 2 days after the events at the castle...
Rue's, once sea-green, turned, reddish-brown, eyes, slowly fluttered open. She found herself in a dark room. For a moment she was confused, frightened. But she soon realized, that it was her own bed.
She sat up, feeling pain all over her body and turned the light that sat on the bedside table, on. She then blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light- looking around, she spotted a bassinet not too far away, on her side of the bed, and in the bed with her was Mytho.
A bandage around his silver/white hair and manacle like bracelets around his wrists. She froze, when she saw those.
She knew exactly what they were. They were for magic users, who were supposed to not use their magic, for one reason, or another.
She sighed, She had been hoping that everything, that had, happened to her - was a bad dream. But with him wearing a bandage, and, the magic canceling bracelets. Along with her own painful body, the weakness she felt, the fact that she was no longer pregnant...
She didn't know how they got home, but she supposed he'd explain when he woke up.
She reached over, gently brushing some fair hair, from his face, intending to lean over and kiss him.
But just as she was about to, a cry erupted from the bassinet beside her.
She startled, and blinked over at it.
She had only a moment to wonder what was wrong, then instinct took over and she found herself scrambling to get out of bed, she walked over to it curiously. She had never even held a baby, never SEEN one... The idea of caring for ONE frightened her beyond belief, let alone, caring for 2.
She saw both boys laying in the bassinet, she smiled, relaxing. The wailing from the younger of the twins, got much louder. She gently picked the small, black haired boy up, and, cradling him in her arms, she went back to her and Mytho's bed.
She settled herself, sitting up and started feeding him.
Still. She worried about his brother... Why wasn't he waking up with the cries of the younger baby...?
She rested her head against the wall and relaxed a bit as she held their youngest son. She felt strange doing this, but also, it felt natural. She lovingly caressed his tiny, fuzz covered head, as he gazed up at her. After a few minutes of just the contented sounds of the nursing baby...
She felt the bed shift beside her, she opened her eyes and looked to her right.
Mytho was sitting up, watching their son, as he nursed.
She flushed, as his hazel eyes drifted lazily, over to her face.
"W-what?"
She asked, feeling her face redden. He grinned at that.
"Nothing much... You're adorable when you're embarrassed..."
He said, and, before she could respond, he leaned over and kissed her deeply and lovingly. His hand trailed up to caress her face, he grinned against her lips as he nipped at her bottom lip. She gasped softly, the reaction he wanted, he slid his tongue into her mouth and groaned softly as he put all of his feelings into the kiss. He wanted her to know how much he had missed her.
She whimpered, leaning into his kiss, moaning softly in contentment, as she kissed him back.
Until finally, when her lips started to feel swollen, he broke the kiss. She sucked on his bottom lip one last time before the contact was completely gone.
"And you're also beautiful when you're doing this..."
He whispered as he pulled back, and, running a finger, lightly, over their son's cheek, as the baby eyed them, but didn't stop what he was doing.
Rue blushed again.
Then she realized something vital. He didn't know that there were suppose to be 2 babies...
"Mytho, I was carrying-"
"-Twins? I know... One was taken, kidnapped..."
He said, pulling back to his side of the bed, glancing at the bracelets on his wrists with disgust, he looked upset, she noted.
She watched as he slid his knees up under the blanket and hugged them.
She glanced at the bassinet, that held the other baby, then back at her husband.
"Mytho, you should know that-"
"-Fakir and Ahiru are trying to rescue our other son now-"
She sighed, but then her eyebrows furrowed and she frowned at him.
"Wait, you let them go off, on their own? Why didn't you-?"
"I WANTED TO HELP!"
He shouted suddenly, clenching his eyes tightly shut, to ward off the tears he felt, starting to sting his eyes. She jumped, startled, and shrank back from him as the baby started screaming.
Mytho buried his face in his arms and knees.
"I'm sorry."
He muttered, as she pulled her nightgown back into place, now that the baby had stopped nursing, then she started her attempts in shushing the crying baby, she glanced at her husband, somewhat reproachfully.
"I'm sorry as well. I should have known, that you wouldn't leave them, if you had a choice... W-what happened? I fainted after I gave birth to the second baby..."
She said as she gently rubbed and bounced the boy in her arms, not sure how to quiet him.
"I came in just as the second one was born. You had a female troll acting as a midwife?"
He asked and she nodded and shuddered, he sat up, held his arms out, and, after a moment, she gave him the screaming baby prince. He had him quieted, within a few moments, and she smiled.
"Yes, but... I would rather it have been Leda to help me through the labor, even if she hated me, she would have been better than the troll..."
He nodded at that, knowing full well that trolls were horrible. He gently gave the now quieted baby, to his still nervous and awkward wife.
"Anyway- when I got there, you had just had the second one, the first was crying on a table in the corner. She was holding the new baby by its foot and... She flung him aside. I rushed to get to him, and caught him before he could slam into the wall.
But, I had my back to the troll then... As I stood up, holding him, I was hit from behind, my vision blurred.
The pain, it was mind-numbing, I could barely stay upright, barely breath... I didn't have time to retaliate. I jumped away from the troll as she slashed at me with a bloody, short sword. I ignored the wound, that it created in my thigh, and went to you.
After making sure you were still alive, I laid him on your chest, cast a cleaning spell on him and then headed to where the other baby was, the troll had also headed there.
At this point, I felt something wet rolling down the back of my neck, I reached back and realized that when she had hit me, it hadn't been with her hand.
She'd slashed me in the neck and head, that was why the short sword was covered in so much blood... As I made it over to the baby, she did as well.
I was feeling weak from the injuries, and she shoved me so hard that I went flying 20 feet into a wall. As I slid to the floor: before I passed out, I saw her grab the baby and start to leave."
He said and noticed that their baby, the younger of the twins, was now sleeping with his head pillowed on her chest. He smiled at them both.
"What happened then?"
She asked, reaching out to brush some hair that had fallen into her husband's eyes, back. Careful not to disturb the bandage around his head.
"I came to, some time later. Ahiru was in the room with you, the baby and I..."
He then told her about Phoebe, and, that when Fakir and Ahiru had gotten there the troll had taken the 1st born, this time from Phoebe's arms. And soon, she and Fakir had gone tearing after her.
He also told her that Ahiru was Princess Tutu once again, somehow, and that she'd tricked him to get him here. Rue listened carefully and when he was done talking, she slid off of the bed, baby still in her arms, and, she gently placed him in his bassinet. She looked at the older baby and then relaxed a bit, he was breathing, so he must be ok.
Then she crawled back into bed.
She then told him that their other son was in the bassinet as well. He blinked at her, relief shining in his hazel eyes, and then he hugged her back as he finally let himself cry into her neck and shoulder, hugging her tightly...
Maybe, if their baby was there, and ok, maybe Ahiru and Fakir were ok as well!
Mytho and Rue sat in the medical wing. Rue was feeding the first born, a shawl over her shoulder, chest, and the child, to hide the bare side of her chest, from the view of others.
Mytho, sat beside her, and a maid stayed in their room, watching over the other baby with a guard as well.
Jamison looked at the royal couple, and sighed. He handed Mytho the shirt. Mytho's hand shook as he reached out to take it, it was definitely Fakir's over-shirt.
There was a nasty gash in one of the shoulders of the shirt, towards the back, near the shoulder blades. Rue looked away, pain in her eyes- when she saw more slashes in the shirt, and, more blood stains.
The 3 sat there in silence, once again, the only sound coming from the baby in Rue's arms, finally she sniffled and wiped at some tears that were threatening to fall.
Mytho glanced at his wife and put an arm around her. It was highly likely that their friends were both dead. Otherwise the bracelet could have transported them and the baby as long as all 3 were touching. The royal couple felt guilty.
Rue buried her face in her husband's neck and shoulder and sobbed openly now.
The baby peaked out from under the shawl at his mother and father, Jamison reached over, and gently took the young prince from her arms. Mytho wrapped both arms around her as he rocked her, rubbing her back and just held her. Now, the only sound in the room was the sound of the princess sobbing, and, her prince trying to comfort her.
Jamison sighed and got up with the baby in his arms, Mytho glanced at him, he motioned that he was going pit the baby, with his brother, their room. Mytho nodded, and closed his eyes, resting his head against Rue's, as the healer left them to their grief...
A week and a half, went by, no word came of Fakir and Ahiru or even Phoebe.
Mytho had sent soldiers to the castle to search for them.
But when they returned, they had both his and Fakir's swords, and informed him of what they had seen there:
When they arrived, the castle was in ruins, almost completely torn apart.
Dark energy surrounded the area and they found the bodies of many dead monsters, but no sign of Lord Fakir and Lady Ahiru.
They questioned the people of several nearby towns, but aside from seeing a large, monster bird, flying away, the people had seen nothing too strange.
At this time: the healer, Jamison, removed the anti-magic bracelets from Mytho's wrists. There was no worry about him going off, half-cocked, and getting himself killed. They didn't know if they were even alive, at the current time.
Rue refused to come out of her and Mytho's rooms, she stayed in the royal suites with the babies.
He had to take care of the kingdom, otherwise, he would have shut himself in right along with her. He felt just as responsible as she did.
More-so actually, because he had given Fakir his old sword. Fakir had asked if it was cursed, Mytho now wondered if it was.
He had the sword sealed away in the treasure room.
Almost 3 weeks after the soldiers came back with the swords, and, reports of the castle's destruction.
It was now a little over a month since the events, hope arrived in the form of Phoebe and Ahiru at the castle gates.
Phoebe was barely able to hold herself up, let alone, the red head as well. Later, it was discovered that Ahiru, was in a coma.
When Phoebe and Ahiru had arrived, the dark haired girl collapsed, fainting before a startled knight. The knight then sent word to the prince.
When Mytho got the message, he made a hasty b-line for the medical wing, arriving just as Ahiru was laid on a bed, the healer asked him to leave, and examined her.
While he was unable to see Ahiru, the prince went to Phoebe's room and shook her awake. She sat up and asked if Fakir had arrived yet, When he said he hadn't. The girl looked somewhat concerned, but just thanked him and sat back. Just moments before she seemed as worried about the knight-turned-writer, as he was, but now, he watched her as she visibly relaxed.
He demanded an expiation. She just smiled and said that if Fakir was dead, they'd know. When Mytho asked her to elaborate, she refused.
He took matters into his own hands and locked the room, and (since his anti-magic bracelets were removed), used a spell to seal it from anyone outside hearing anything. Then he grabbed the girl and threw her against the wall. She gasped in pain as she slumped to the floor. She had heard that he was once a supremely kind prince. Before he lost everything and left his story.
But also, she had heard, that he grew less trusting, less pure-hearted, less kind, when he had raven's blood integrated into his own body. She knew, now, that it was true. While he was far from evil, he was no longer as pure-hearted as he had been. That being said, he chose to sacrifice some of his pure-hearted kindness and trust, in situations, where those he loved were concerned.
As he had told Fakir years ago, before he returned home with Rue. He was going to be a little selfish for a change, and protect what he loved.
And as she watched him walk towards her, she could tell that it was killing him to hurt someone, who, had done nothing OPENLY, to harm him, or those he loved. But that he would do whatever it took to get what he wanted.
As she tried to get to her feet, he grabbed her arm and yanked her off of her feet. She cried out in pain as he held her in the air by the arm.
"I don't want to hurt you, but I want answers, who are you and what kind of games are you playing, damn it!"
And he tossed her back onto her bed. She cried out again, landing on her hands and knees, she gasped for air, still not completely healed from the events at the castle. She looked at him, through a curtain of loose dark hair, hair.
He backed up, startled when she glared at him because the expression reminded him of both Fakir and Ahiru.
She sighed, closing her blue/green eyes, she sat up, pushing her hair back with both hands and glared at him again.
"I wasn't supposed to tell anyone, however, it seems I have no choice."
She said stiffly as she got settled in her bed again, laying down and covering herself up.
"Well...?"
He asked, when she remained silent, a silver eyebrow arching.
"I mentioned that I came from another story, where Ahiru, as Princess Tutu, taught me ballet?"
He nodded, leaning against a wall.
"Well,"
She continued, as she took a deep, yet shaky breath.
"It's not exactly true."
"Explain."
"I wrote myself a story. One, where I could walk through a portal, and, instead of going from one world to another... I stepped back to a certain point in time."
He blinked at her, but remained silent.
"- Anyway... As I mentioned before. I've just stepped back in time. This time, your present, is my history. Although... I have yet to have been born. I am the second daughter of Ahiru and Fakir."
He froze for a moment. Not even blinking at her.
"Excuse me?"
"They, Fakir and Ahiru, are my mother and father, so... If either one was dead, or permanently incapacitated (such as remaining locked in a coma) then I would cease to exist. My mother taught my siblings and I ballet before she died at a very young age.
And, the reason for her death is why I came back here. It has also aided in creating the short life spans of my siblings and I.
On top of that, when she died, my father was so heartbroken he closed himself off emotionally from us... Gradually, I watched him die bit by bit, as the years went on.
Then finally, when I was 8, my father vanished. After searching a long time, he was pronounced dead, It was likely that he killed himself, having lost the will to go on without my mo-"
"Wait..."
She looked at him and stopped talking.
"Your telling me, that you're Fakir and Ahiru's daughter?"
'It makes sense, all of the similarities make sense, now...'
He thought, as she nodded.
"You have your father's ability, to write living stories?"
She nodded once again.
"All of my siblings do."
She calmly said. He frowned thoughtfully.
"He and your mother died when?"
She frowned and sighed, she looked at her hands.
"In my time, my mother, when I was 5, my father, just after I turned 8."
"How could Ahiru have taught you such advanced ballet moves, then?"
She looked at him from under her bangs, she bit her lip.
"My sister, was 8 when my mother died, she had been teaching her since she was 2... She continued teaching me."
She sighed and looked away. He could tell she was telling the truth, he could see it was painful for her.
"Why did you come back then, what can you do to stop these events?"
She let her eyes slide back to him. He could see the pain in them.
"I wanted to fix the reason for her death. In my time, she died about 16 years ago. I am currently 24... And I-"
"So, what is the cause for Ahiru's death? What shortens your mother's life span?"
"She, My mother... She had only half a soul.
As a duck, the soul overflowed from her body. It was far too big for her small frame. However, As a human, it took its toll on her body. It wasn't known, though, until she started bearing children.
She started becoming week, she got ill easily. Was tired, and soon, her children were also affected.
They didn't know the cause, until after my brother was born when I was 2 and a half years old. She got sick after she had my brother, Leonteus."
He frowned.
"But, what did having half a soul in her body, do, to all of you...? And, why, exactly, did she only have half a soul, anyway?"
He asked, looking confused. She sighed. Glancing at her hands, then she looked at him.
"It's a long story. It starts before you originally left the story of the prince and the raven..."
She warned, quietly. He shrugged slightly.
"I'm here, start wherever you like."
He invited, he noted that she looked tired... She bit her lip, and, finally, she nodded.
"Ok..."
.
To Be Continued...
.
A/N's:
The reason that I started writing: I didn't say much about it, if at all before, because I didn't want people reading, out of sympathy.
Due to events that happened when I was 7-10, I was diagnosed with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) at the age of 8. Along with that, I was left afraid of people. I have tried for MANY years to do therapy, but, I haven't gotten much help.
I am now 29(at the time of writing this) and, quite honestly, I am sick of being afraid. I have been afraid for so very long, that it's more of an instinct. So, I thought, that if I wrote, which is connected to one of the causes of the PTSD, and did song covers (Anime songs) on youtube (connected to another reason for the PTSD), that, perhaps, I could start to work my way out of it (though, I am having trouble mixing the vocals & the music, so, I have yet to actually post the covers).
That being said, I am not seeking sympathy. I am telling my readers this, because one reason this has taken so long, is because I became afraid of posting the chapter. I feared what you would think. I second guessed myself and redid this SO many times.
At the moment, I'm not so afraid, as I was. So I am posting it. Because waiting isn't fair to you.
I also don't want you to hold back your thoughts about the story. I want you to (nicely please), tell me what you think and review, please.
Necessary Disclaimers Section:
Copyright/Ownership- The anime and manga of "Princess Tutu" are copyrighted properties of the mangaka/Authors: Mizuo Shinonome (Shinonome Mizuo),
Ikuko Ito (Ito Ikuko), Junichi Sato (Sato Junichi),
Also the anime and manga are copyrighted by those involved with the making of the anime and the publishing of the manga.
I claim no ownership. I just love the anime and the manga (The anime was better in my opinion though).
I came up with this idea after re-watching the anime for the 6th time.
~*~Windeen~*~
~*~Windy~*~