In this chapter, things pretty much go to hell.
*UL*
Lonnie had very vague recollection of her zengzumu. By the time her mother ran off to join the army, the woman was ancient. By the time she was born, she could no longer walk or see. She joined their ancestors three days shy of Lonnie's 6th birthday. Wheeling herself, somehow, to the garden pond. And only this is what Lonnie remembered clearly.
"Zengzumu, you shouldn't be here all alone."
"Bah. I came to watch the fireflies." She rasped.
"But...how?"
"I see just fine child. The things worth seeing." She smiled, milky eyes looking right at her great granddaughter. "The day your mother was born, I saw how special she would be. All children are precious gifts bestowed upon their families. But Mulan would grow to be a precious gift bestowed to all of China. And like any gift given, the receiver must prove themselves worthy of it. She did so much for her people and they changed for the better, inspired by the legend she created. But change is not easy little cricket. Despite pulling all our asses out of the fire, many officials wanted her stripped of her titles and executed for her crime of refusing to be a damsel in distress. She was even accused of trying to start a rebellion against the emperor. And she responded by telling them if they could catch her they could kill her but she would not go down without a fight."
"Oh! The emperor was mad at mama for helping? That's not fair!" Little Lonnie cried.
"Life...is not fair little cricket, but our emperor then was a just man, as is his son now. The only difference between a hero and a villain is who writes the story. Never judge by what you see at first glance because nothing is ever as it seems. Here. Happy birthday." Gnarled and withered hands shakily handed the small child a lacquer box.
"My birthday's not today zengzumu-"
"Well, then this is a pre-birthday present." Lonnie opened the box to see a beautiful comb, like the one her mama wore in her hair for matchmaker appointment; she looked so unhappy in that picture. It was black with a pretty jewel lotus on in too.
"This comb has been handed down through the women of our family for generations. It brings us luck and good fortune. Though it only seems to work when left behind." the elder chuckled. "Mulan left it in place of your father's draft letter. And again in place of the dowry your father's family paid for the wedding. Now, it belongs to you. Off to bed with you child. Let an old woman figure out which are stars and which are fireflies in peace." With a yawn she shooed the small girl back inside.
That would be the last time her zengzumu ever spoke to her. Or anyone. Grandfather found her the next morning where she had left her. She'd been gone for hours by sunrise. Passing away peacefully; likely falling asleep after giving her the comb never to wake. For a long time Lonnie believed that if she had pushed her buck inside, she would have lived. She later came to realize she was never supposed to do anything but what she did do.
Just as she realized her mother left the comb behind to join the army. Then again when she and her father eloped and were wanted criminals for some time after defeating the Huns. The emperor had fallen ill and his son was abroad at the time. Seeking to gain power, some government officials took advantage of this and tried to have both her parents painted as enemies of the state and killed. Emperor Lu Shao recovered just enough to pardon them of their supposed crimes and order his would be usurpers jailed. His son only returned home in time to plan a funeral.
When Lonnie asked why she did things so dangerous, her mother shrugged.
"I did what I knew in my heart to be right dear. Something I couldn't shake off. As hard as it was, with as many people telling me I was a terrible person for doing so I had to. I love my family. I am loyal to my country and her people, not who happens to be running it. Sometimes good and evil all depend on who's looking." Mulan added a cup of sugar to the mixing bowl.
Just like zengzumu said-
"Let's hurry up and get these cookies ready for they guys and gals at the base, hm? Even in times of peace an army marches on it's stomach."
After the coronation, she could feel the change in the air. That something big was coming and she would need to be strong. But that feeling became strongest just before she came back from winter break. And for that reason, she left the family heirloom in her mother's closet. In place of the sword awarded to her as command of the Chinese Army by Emperor Lu Ten.
*UL*
Now, she sat at the desk in her suite confused by the message scrawled across her chemistry notebook. She noticed it when she sat down to study for her midterm.
/The Harbinger will bleed and Death's Bane will cry. The Jaded Queen and the Melancholy Princess will fail to save the Hollowed Prince. Lightning in a Bottle will battle fate alongside the Beast King and fall. The land will plunge into eternal night unless the Black Diamond in the Rough does not shatter and the Whisper in the Dark lights the way./
What in the world? Was that her handwritting? Yeah but she didn't remember writing that. Nor would she ever write ANYTHING in red ink. It's just not done in her culture. So why-?!
CRASH!
Two things happened at once. The mirror directly in front of her exploded and her left hand drew her mother's sword from under the desk. The force of the blast knocked her clear across the room. Dizzy and covered in cuts, she shook her ringing head and paused a the sound of glass crunching beneath rolled into a defensive crouch and gasped. Standing beside her toppled chair, a exact copy of her holding an identical sword in her right hand.
"Stealing mother's blade? You don't deserve to wield it, just what the hell makes you worthy of it? Of the Fa or Li name for that matter?"
"I don't know where you came from but I know you aren't real." Lonnie shakily stood up and took her stance.
"Stupid girl. Such arrogance. Fitting you should die by this sword, the only way a disgrace like you could be redeemed."
The copy charged and the sound of clashing steel rang out in the room.
*UL*
Carlos felt very heavy as he slowly came back to waking. He remembered Jay offering him something to drink then...not much else. Clips and phrases of conversation that made no sense.
CRASH!
"HOLY SHIT!" That was Jay! What was going on?!
More screaming, a man and a woman. More breaking glass. Then an explosion and silence. The DeVil boy fought hard to break free of this stupor opening his eyes to see his boyfriend leaning over him, eye full of concern. This was FG's office.
"Jay? What happened? What was all that noise?!"
"Shh...it's okay. Don't worry about that now it's over." The elder boy cooed stroking then cupping his face The sensation was comforting as he gazed up his love. Wait, when did he pierce his other ear? How long was he-? "Just go back to sleep Babyboy."
Those comforting hands suddenly wrapped around his throat. Manic glee etched on Jay's face as he began to crush his windpipe. All 180 pound of the star tourney player bearing down on a fragile area of his tiny fragile body. The lack of air instantly causing spots to dance before his eyes. He couldn't inhale or exhale so his offensive powers were useless. And fuck was this painful! Carlos desperately clawed at Jay's arms to no avail.
"Relax, it'll be over soon Babyboy- OOF!" a red blur sacked Jay and started wailing on him like no tomorrow. The oxygen deprivation must have really gotten to him because though his vision was a bit blurry, he could plainly see Jay beating the shit out of...Jay?
"Don'! Fucking! Touch! Him!" Each word punctuated by a brutal punch to the other's face.
"Ahahaha! You're only delaying the inevitable Jay."The double laughed despite his bloody face. "I am the darkness inside you and you can't hold back forever. Babyboy will never be safe from anything especially us, unless he's dead. It's the only way we can ever keep him isn't it? We are a thief, objects are what we desire and that's all he is- our possession. Our beautiful little doll will look so pretty in his final sleep. Still, silent, cold-"
"SHUT UP!"
CRACK! A swift motion with both hands and the mocking double's neck snapped. The body fading away. Jay sat back on his knees huffing, trying to see anything but rage red. Turning to Carlos, his heart broke at the sight of his true love absolutely terrified of him.
"Babyboy, that thing.,.I...nothing it said is true. I swear I would never hurt you." he stammered.
/It's not nice to swear, of course it's true. You just did! Wasn't that thrilling? Killing come so easy to us and just now wasn't the first time was it Jay? We are a monster that enjoys causing pain and suffering. Watching the light die in our victim's eyes. Why would Carlos be safe with someone like us?/ the reflection in a nearby mirror shard continued to taunt him. /Isn't the fear on his face gorgeous? Imagine how beautiful those white locks will look stained red./
The cold chuckling didn't help his racing thoughts. Yes, he had killed before but that was survival. On the Isle someone would be all too eager to shank you for the stale bread in your hand or the dirty coat off your back. He didn't enjoy it, he just didn't want to roll over and die. And he'd be damned if he'd let Carlos be hurt.
/Keep telling yourself that./
*UL*
The doors to Prince Jokul's room were broken down by two guards, Alva charging in once the way was clear. The room was unnaturally dark and colder than the snowbanks outside!
"Your majesty?! Are you alright?!" She called frantically.
"Chill out, I'm fine."
"Thank the god-" The portly woman never finished her sentence. The guards just behind her stood no chance either. All three were frozen solid before they could blink. Jokul chuckled to himself as he approached her then plucked her forehead. Cracks spider webbed along the ice sculpture and the entire thing collapse into a heap of broken ice.
"I've just had an eclipse of the heart." Pushing the guard statues aside to share in Alva's fate, he calmly exited through the wrecked doors. A trail of black ice left in his wake.
*UL*
zengzumu- great grandmother
A lot of Asian cultures don't like to use red ink for anything but corrections, funeral records or just may consider it rude. Though the exact reason varies from country to country and even region to region.
Well, that escalated quickly didn't it? Mirage's plan is in motion.
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