Thank You to everyone who has reviewed! I really appreciate it!
Special thanks to Nanenna and Inzuna FoxFlames! You guys rock!
Shout out to Catsafari on another stellar new chapter in the ongoing series ''The Bureau Files'' I highly suggest it!
Baron's eyes slowly opened, the light hurting his vision. He hissed in pain as he tried to move on his side.
''Don't move. You'll tear your stitching...,'' Muta grumbled.
''M-Muta?,'' Baron rasped out, his voice hoarse and throat sore. His vision cleared and he could tell Muta was sitting in a chair next to the bed, reading a newspaper.
''Yeah, Baron. It's me.''
''H-Haru...she needs-''
''-Our help. I know. The entire cat kingdom is trying.''
Baron tried to escape from his bed, his body weak and trembling as his muscles strained. His head ached and he swayed, using the bed frame for support. Muta folded his paper and set it down, bringing himself out of the chair to stop Baron.
''Oh no. You need to rest.''
''No. Haru-''
''YOU CAN'T BE ANY GOOD TO HER IF YA DIE! NOW SIT DOWN!'' Muta shoved him back onto the bed. His nerves exploded into pain, nearly causing him to scream.
''-Mph!,'' he muffled his pain as best he could. ''...H-Haru...needs m-me...please...M-...Muta...'' He struggled, the pain beginning to take away his consciousness. Why was he so weak?
''Heal up. Then we'll go after Chicky.''
''M-Muta..''
''Yeah?''
''Toto...took her.''
Horror and then a great disbelief filled Muta's eyes.
''Toto...Did this?''
''W-wasn't his choice...King...,'' Baron wheezed and coughed.
''Take it easy and get some rest. Tell us later okay.''
Baron could only nod for he was quickly slipping into unconsciousness.
He found himself back in the castle, the candle's flickering in the dim light.
Baron looked around confused before he heard a scream.
''HARU!''
Baron ran towards the red door, trusting himself to know which way it was, and as he neared the door, it swung open.
What he saw horrified him.
Dark figures held his reflection back while Haru's reflection was banging against the mirror screaming out his name. The mirror was blood red, almost completely shattered.
And there stood King Adolphmus, an elaborate great-hammer in his grasp, smiling.
''I was wondering when you'd arrive...''
''What have you done to Haru!? Why are you doing this?!''
''You little thief...It is not what I've done, but what you have. You tarnished her. I needed her doubt to save her! You took that from me, now I have to break her! All. Because. Of. YOU!''
The king raised the hammer.
Suddenly, Baron could see the exact moment they met. He could see them dancing and him carrying her up the stairs. He could see them falling. He could see the many times she came over for tea. He could see her face, happy and tired and angry and sad. He could see her.
And he couldn't let her go. He couldn't let this maniac king hurt her. He couldn't lose her. He couldn't love anyone else.
Then came the dawning realization.
It was Haru who made him feel alive again.
It was Haru who brought back his purpose.
It was Haru who he couldn't think about living without.
His reflection suddenly had a burst of energy wiping out the dark shadows that held him back.
''You will not touch her!'' The two Barons rushed toward the king, striking down with their canes. The king disapperated in a dark shadow before he was struck, his deep laughter all that was left.
The mirror Baron dropped his cane and ran to Haru's reflection.
''Hold tight Haru. Just take hold of my hand, I'm here trying to pull you through. You are strong, just take my hand.,'' The Reflection said to the girl in the mirror. He placed his hand on the glass as she did the same. Light shone out from it allowing her to break free from the mirror. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her toward him, out of the mirror, as the pink light overcame the red stain.
Baron's reflection held a shattered Haru in his arms.
''Thief...YOU ARE A THIEF!''
Black winds were blown toward them, filled with evil, anger, and hatred. It cut into Baron's flesh, making a sharp pain flare to life even as he was pushed back. Haru's reflection whimpered her body starting to shatter more.
''Hold onto me, Haru.. I won't let you go.''
''B-Baron...''
All of them fought against the waves but it was no use. They were swept away.
''I WILL TAKE WHAT WAS STOLEN
I WILL HAVE WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE!''
There stood King Adolphmus, Ruler of the Realm Without Emotion. He stood above the darkness as it poured from him, the scepter like war-hammer in his grasp, raised high. His eyes glowed red, as did the gems on the obsidian weapon and a wide, insane smile, with too many sharp teeth gleamed through the shadows over his face.
''NO!'
But it was too late. The hammer was swung with such strength and anger that the mirror broke to pieces and now lay scattered on the floor. The sound of its shatter echoed forever and was joined with the maniacal noise of joy.
The king laughed and slowly faded out of this world and into his own realm, leaving the three broken heroes.
The two reflections lay, crumpled on the ground, both had cracks in their skin and fur, their very being. They held each other in their eyes, the pain too much to bear to move.
Baron's knees hit the ground feeling the turmoil from his reflection. He had never felt so much doubt in himself, so much sorrow and fear.
But mostly he felt grief. Grief for Haru and how she deserved so much more. Grief that he would never see her again. Grief for her death.
Baron failed her. He doomed her to this. If he had been faster, stronger, better...
But he didn't. How could he have lost the one thing in his life that was worth the wait. He should have protected her.
He Failed.
''It's your fault. You know it is. Look at yourself.'' The shards on the ground reflected back at him. Silent tears streamed down his face as his eyes stared horrifically empty pain. The voice in his head started once again. He knew that voice very well. It was the first voice he heard since he entered this world. It was his artisan.
''She trusted you. She believed in you. You don't even believe in yourself! You've lived for over a century and what have you learned? There is nothing in this world worth living for. No matter what you do, you will make no difference. Haru proves that. A century! A century's worth of lessons and you've never learned. The day of the big test comes and here you are. Now you have finally learned. The price is high now. Was Haru worth the cost?''
''Haru...No...Not Haru...'' Baron lifted the glass, it slightly cut his hands bringing pain. He felt as if it was nothing more than he deserved.
''Your purpose was to help people. To save them when they could not. Foolishness! Creations, all creations, have a supposed purpose. Do you know what yours is? It's not to help them! What a fool I am and what a fool I have made! You are nothing. And what you have shown me? Less than nothing. You might have been born a creation, filled with hopes and dreams and wonders that few and life could ever know, but know!? Don't make me laugh! You were born a creation, but know you have squandered it...doomed it.''
''Just as you have doomed Haru. And you call that love? Pity is not a justifiable word to describe what I feel towards you, Baron. She has met a fate worst than death and it is all because of you.''
''Helping people. HAH! That is what you thought your purpose was? Haru should have never met you. Haru should have stayed on the path of fate, not this. Not galavanting into a world of madness that you pulled her into. Your lesson has been learned, yes? Has Haru fit the price of your ignorance? Was it worth it?''
''NO! ENOUGH!''
''IT IS NEVER ENOUGH! HAVE YOU LEARNED?''
''No...please..no..''
''HAVE YOU LEARNED?''
''baron...'' Haru's reflection called to him.
''no...no...''
''Your love for Haru has doomed her. Do not worsen her fate by making another foolish mistake by 'helping' people.''
''...Haru...I'm sorry...'' Baron said in a pained whisper.
''b-baron...she can be..saved.''
''W-what?''
''haru and I...are separated...b-but she still feels the...emotion...from...memories.''
She whimpered as more shards fell from her.
''go...go to her...still...can save...hurry..''
''She can be saved?''
''f-find her...make her..feel...again...love...give her...love..''
''No.''
''how c-can you... say that?,'' came Baron's reflection.
''I'll fail her. I've learned. I can't make a difference. If I try, more will suffer. I've been so naive all these years. What point is there left to make. If I help, she will suffer. She will die, because of me. There isn't a point to try.''
''point? she needs your help...''
''No one needs help. Its simply how things are. I should never have helped Haru.''
''you love her.'' his reflection rasped out, more shards falling.
''And?''
''and? you would let her suffer?! y-you would let this happen to her?!''
''I already did.''
''no. no you-you didn't.''
''Yes. I did. Because of my foolishness I let the outcome become worse than it would have been if I had done nothing.''
''that is..a lie and you know it.''
''Do I? Tell me reflection, do I think it's a lie?''
''...no..''
''And so my belief has not changed. I do not have a purpose. Everything I am, is a lie.''
''You're wrong.''
''No?''
''You think.Y- you only think it's a lie. You don't believe it's a lie.''
''And how can that be?''
''Because after all the years we've been through. All the wars we've seen. Every person we have helped the outcome of their lives has been turned for the better. You think you are done with Haru, but your belief knows better. Listen to your heart you pompous self-righteous bag of flesh, fur, and hormones. Haru needs you and you need her.,'' his reflection said defiantly standing to face his other half. A few cracks in the fabric of the reflections being mended and he straightened.
''I've learned.''
''Learned?''
''After all those wars. After all those years. After all those people that I have 'helped' by bringing them into a world filled with nightmares and horrors that they would never have known in the first place if I had left them? How could I possibly believe that their lives have become better? Look at what I've done to them?! I never should have met Haru! If I hadn't met her, she would have never found that shard! She would have never been through all this pain. Haru needs someone better and I do not deserve her. Not after what I've done. I never should have interfered with her fate.''
''And who...who are you to decide her fate?''
''I did not decide her fate. I tried to keep her away from her path. I only succeeded in making it worse.''
''Who says that is her fate? That she is to become an emotionless husk of her former self!?''
''Her destiny was chosen by itself. What else could fight against what she wants if it wasn't supposed to happen that way from the very start. And what if it turns out for the better, because she did as she was meant to.''
''...''
''Fate has decided. There is no second chances this time. No turning back. And the same can be said for everyone we've helped. The same can be said for me.''
''That is a big pile of pig's shit.,'' his reflection spat out. Baron, not expecting to hear himself swear, said nothing.
''This idea of fate deciding itself is the most foolish, selfish, arrogant, thing I have ever heard of. The idea of not having a purpose?! The idea of not helping people!? I thought I had heard all of it, but no! You have surprised me once again!'' The reflection glared at the creation.
''You are a creation. Your purpose exceeds far beyond helping people. Your purpose is to make mistakes. Your bloody purpose is to live! You do not just give up on that. You do not let things happen. You take a stand! You say no! You say this is who I am and who I am supposed to be! You have the purpose to do what's right even when everyone else runs away! And you, a man who won't fight for he wants, what he believes in! You deserve what you get.''
''I...I can't...,'' Baron said weakly.
''You can close your eyes to the things you don't want to see, but you can't EVER close your heart to the things you don't want to feel!''
''You love her. And love is a promise you cannot break. You need to find her.''
Baron felt a purpose return to him. His belief grew stronger and he knew that Haru couldn't pay this price. His reflection inhaled and more fallen pieces returned to him.
''I will help Haru. What about her reflection?''
''I can keep her safe for a few hours. You must find Haru and bring her back.''
''baron...''
''Yes?''
''g-good answer.'' Haru's reflection smiled at him. He attempted to smile back and managed to do so weakly.
How could one action, so simple as smiling be so...dead.
Baron returned to the living world.
He woke up with Muta standing over him, shaking him awake.
''Baron!? Are you alright!?''
''Yes...We need to find Haru...She's in danger.'' He got up out of bed. His limbs felt dreadfully heavy as he moved in something that felt more akin to syrup, not air. The simple action of standing made him feel exhausted, but he knew that he had energy.
''Are you okay?''
Although his wounds were nearly healed there was something wrong with him. Something broken.
''The king...He broke the mirror..''
Muta's eyes widened.
''We can find Haru now. We found Toto.''
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Teaser: ''I...I...I CANNOT DISOBEY!''/ ''She's in the castle. Around the higher up floors./ ''...I don't...feel.'' Haru said blankly. / ''Guards! Guards there is a danger in this room. Commoners who hold emotion!''/