Here I am with chapter 11!
I apologize for the long wait again, everyone; let me explain. Unfortunately, I've lost all the free time that I had in the world. Because I've recently joined a drama club where they do plays, and I mean, not class plays. So I just finished doing a musical play called Cinderella's Glass Slipper; and I'm going to be in the next show.
So, because I was doing a lot of after school rehearsals, I haven't been getting any of my art and story projects done that I do at home. ):
But I'm happy that I've kept my promise and still continued with this story :D
Don't know if you can tell, but my creative writing may have gotten a bit rusty. I think only in the beginning of the chapter, I'm not sure. ^^;
And what's this?! 8,999 words! OH MY JESSES, MORE THEN CHAPTER 3! XD Sorry, I just had to say that. But I can't believe this; I mean I know chapter 11 was supposed to be a long chapter, but I didn't think it would have this many words!
Alright, you've waited long enough. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pandora Hearts, or The Little Mermaid story, they all belong to their rightful owners.
…
The Little Chain Chapter 11: The Character Of Love
We now begin in the middle of June, the month where summer sets in. Summer is the time of the year where the temperatures are the warmest, when the sunshine is the highest in the sky, the days are longer, and the plant's are in full bloom and more green. Summer is the most loved season out of all the other three, the one with more freedom.
While the day of the 14th continued, our two amorous teenagers, Oz and Alice, along with Lily; rode on their horses through the summered forest. The both of them were dressed in Victorian equestrian attire.
The feeling of riding on a horse amazed the little chain. It filled her with happiness and made her forget all her troubles. She felt free spirited, and whenever the horse galloped and the wind was in her face; her nostrils took in the fresh summer air. It was the most breathtaking feeling that was calming and relaxing. You are physically taller than you were before, and you have an animal that is willing to carry you where you want to go.
"Why don't we see who's the fastest! I'll race you to the edge of the forest! How 'bout it?!" Oz encouraged. Alice grinned evilly and nodded at his offer.
"Excellent choice Alice!" Oz concluded, giving her his own devilish grin. After signaling the horse to trot, he took off with a fast pace.
The prince kept switching lanes and coming across different objects to jump over, in hopes of it slowing the brunette down. But Alice still caught up with him and Lily, and before you knew it; she came in first place ahead of them.
"Ha! You're pretty difficult to beat! But that won't stop me!" Oz said, coming up to her side. He then ordered his horse to speed up more, with Alice doing the same. It was now becoming a tie as they were half way through the woods.
"We're almost there! Just to the right!" Oz said.
What the three did not know, was that a pack of carnivores were following them; staying close and silent. One of the predators was standing on top of a rocky edge, waiting for the right time to strike one of the teens. After it let the prince and his sister pass through, the animal jumped in Alice's way at the last minute.
This caused her horse to be alerted, and she loses control of the horse as she falls to the ground, and the horse gallops away.
Just as the voiceless chain was getting up, the predators, which turn out to be a pack of wolves, surrounded the brunette; growling hungrily. Alice, knowing that she couldn't fight them off without her powers, took off running. The leader of the wolves, who was the biggest, singled his pack to charge after the teen.
A little bit of the way, Oz and Lily heard the snarling and barking of the wolves, and Oz singled his horse to halt.
"Wolves?...Alice! She's in trouble!" he exclaimed, "Let's go Lily!" With that, he ordered his horse to go in the direction the wolves were heading.
Alice ran at a fast pace, coming across objects in her path, with the wolves still catching up to her.
"Dear god, give me the speed of a cheetah!" Oz preyed to the lord, as the horse ran as fast as it could to Alice.
Alice was now running up to the top of a large, mountain-like rock, the wolves still chasing her. The chain then hits her foot on a rock, causing her to fall to the ground. It was too late for her to get back on her feet as the wolves started ganging up on her. She then made the mistake of crawling back, as one of the wolves pounced on top of her.
Just then, a large rock hits the wolf in the head hard enough to release Alice. The brunette then found the prince and his sister catching up to her on his horse. The wolves then got their attention, and started charging to them.
Oz shoots one of the wolves with his bow and arrow, the wolf whimpering and falling to the ground. He does this with four more wolves, and uses his horse to stomp on top of the rest. One of the wolves gets the better of him by pouncing on him and falling off the horse. Oz then struggles under the wolf's grasp, as it growled hungrily.
Alice comes to his rescue by kicking the wolf off him with force. She then grabs a nearby large branch as Oz gets back on his feet, and gives her a confused look as she positions herself in a fighting stance pose.
"Alice, what are-?"
'Shut up and fight!' she mouthed, cutting him off.
The prince did as she said, and stood in a fight pose holding his sword, as the wolves crowded around them. The leader then ordered his pack to take them down, and the real battle began.
Oz continued slashing his sword at the wolves, while Alice used her branch to knock the wolves out as if it were a sword. Lily, on the other hand, held onto the horse as the horse protected her from the wolves charging to them.
One of the wolves seized its teeth on one of Lily's boots and pulled her off the horse. She was able to kick the wolf's grasp on her and started running. But then one of the wolves grabbed her from her summer cape and pulled her to the ground. She struggled to get away from the wolf's clutches, and screamed when another wolf was beginning to pounce on her and finish her off.
"Lily!" Oz screeched upon seeing this. He tried to come to her rescue, but the wolves kept blocking his path.
Before the wolf lunged its teeth on the little blonde; Alice kicked the wolf with such power in the head that it sent the animal to the ground unconscious. The voiceless brunette then continued to fight off more wolves.
Just then, the leader of the pack pinned her to the ground, making her grip on the branch loosen. Alice avoided the wolf's teeth, not let it touch her flesh.
Her eyes saw an arrow near her; and acting quickly, she struggled to reach out to it. After the wolf barely touched her face, she grabbed hold of the arrow, and stabbed it in the leader's heart. The wolf whimpered and fell to the ground.
As Alice got up, Oz came running towards them saying, "Thank you Alice!", and breathing heavily as he came to Lily's side. The little chain watched as Oz held onto his little sister as she began to cry in his arms.
She then began to feel an unfamiliar mood inside of her. It wasn't that strange feeling she always had towards the prince, but it was something that made her feel annoyed and disgusted at the same time.
She looked away, arms crossed, as she made an annoying pout on her face.
…..
Back at the Vessalius mansion, Oz, Alice, and Lily were enjoying their cup of tea in the sitting lounge along with Sharon, Elliot, and Leo.
There wasn't a lot of excitement filling the room as Sharon and the Nightray boys were sitting at the table with their refreshments and pastries.
Oz and Lily were sitting on the lounges couches. Alice, on the other hand, was sitting a close distant from the group table as she was eating half of the pastries that were served on the floor; eating voraciously.
The reason Oz and Lily sat alone was because due to Lily still being traumatized by the wolves. Oz wanted to soothe his sister by staying close to her for a while till her nerves calmed down.
"I think me and Lily are going to get some fresh air, we'll be back soon." Oz said, as they headed out the door. This sudden moment caused the voiceless brunette to eat more uncontrollably.
"If looks could kill, that sister of his is spoiled." Elliot said disobliging.
"Be reasonable Elliot, the poor child is devastated." Sharon said.
"Then it's a real pity to be honest." Elliot replied.
"And this is probably the first time Oz forgets about us." Leo stated.
"Hmm, true, true…" Sharon agreed, "Also on another note, why so irritated Miss Alice?" she asked suddenly. The cold hearted girl turned to her friends with pastry leftovers stuck onto her face.
'What the hell are you talking about duchess? I'm as right as rain.' Alice wrote on her chalkboard.
"Really? A woman who is a useless glutton? Oh, please." Elliot spat out.
"Elliot, I do wish for you to stay out of this." Sharon said politely, standing up. She walked towards the brunette.
"You know Miss Alice; you can come talk to me about anything on your mind that's bothering you." She offered, smiling sweetly at her.
Alice was dumbfounded at this and wrote back. 'And why should I?' she asked.
The caramel haired girl made a face that was so menacing and innocent at the same time, that it made the little chain shrink and become terrorized under her gaze. Sharon eventually won the round, and Alice finally gave in and revealed her annoyed mood.
"He neglects you?" Leo asked.
"Oz? Is that what this is all about?" Elliot asked, a little annoyed.
'No! That's not it!' Alice spat back in her writing.
She wrote down her next response, but felt the need to have someone else read it for her. She gestured to Leo and handed him the chalkboard, whixh he kindly took her request and read out loud.
"What I'm saying is that recently the prince has been kind of ignoring me. Meaning that he hasn't been paying much attention to me. Like today, when we were fighting off the wolves when I was in trouble. Me and Lily almost were goners, but instead of coming to both of our aides, he chose his sister instead. And even right now, he didn't even ask me to sit and join him with his sister! What does this all mean? Is there something wrong with me? I'm his friend right, but why does he bother with everyone else's problems and not mine?"
Both Leo and Elliot gave her confused dumbfounded expressions. "Eh…I must say, that's probably becau-"
"That was beautiful Miss Alice…" Sharon breathed softly, cutting off Elliot. Both boys turned and found Sharon having an emotional stricken feminine appearance plastered all over her features.
"Um, Sharon…?" Leo stammered.
"Alice, this is wonderful news! Do you know what this means!? It's one of the steps to becoming a woman! Your heart is aching, this is love!" Sharon squealed unbelievably. Pushing back the boys in the process.
'Love…?' Alice mouthed, questionly. The chestnut haired teenager stood in front of the brunette closely that Alice stood back a little.
"Alice, as a lady, I do tell you that what you're feeling is described as jealousy?" Sharon said softly and lovingly. Alice looked at her queerly.
'Jealousy? What's that, something edible?' she wrote on her chalkboard.
"No, no, Alice. It means when you don't want a certain someone close to another person, or if you are mad that someone has something that you don't have." Sharon explained.
'But is it something yummy?' The brunette asked next.
"Heavens no! If it was to be described, I'd say that it's bitter sweat." Sharon said.
'Yuck! Who wants to eat something that's sour?!' Alice spat back.
"No, no, Alice. It's not something to you can eat. It's a feeling that is an absolutely necessary part of romance!" Sharon informed. This only made the voiceless girl more muddled.
'Romance? What's that? Is it tasty?'
"Well it's not food either, but yes. It's very delightful, that we ladies can't even begin to describe it!" Sharon gushed happily.
"What's wrong with her?" Elliot asked annoyed.
"It seems that Miss Sharon has switched to her girly mood, ever so suddenly." Leo said, adjusting his glasses.
"Well I'm not wasting any precious time here, let's go Leo…" Elliot said. Just as he and Leo were heading out the door, Sharon grabbed them both by the shoulders, gripping harshly.
"Pardon me gentleman. But I do think we need to bestow our Alice with our power at the moment." Sharon said innocently, giving both boys her scary smile.
The negative energy they were feeling was making them tense, and made them feel tiny. Damn those animal instincts!
'What? I don't need any help from any of you weirdoes.' Alice wrote down.
"Oh, but Miss Alice, we insist." Sharon said.
"You mean you insist." Elliot said firmly. Sharon ignored him.
"Also, I do wish for you to call me by my name. Like, try calling me 'Sister Sharon,' Alright?" She sated next.
'What the hell is wrong with duchess!? It's what I gave you.' Alice responded.
"But a lady must treat another with respect." Sharon said.
'I'm sorry but I refuse!' Alice said.
"Now, now, Alice. Please-do-as-I-say." Sharon said firmly, putting each emphasis on each word; while making that sinister yet guiltless smile of hers, but this time more nerve-racking.
By god, it felt like the girl was starring into the little chains soul, making her shrink more. Alice lost the round once again, and did what the teen girl wanted.
'S…Sis…Si…' she mouthed, stuttering. 'S…is…ter, Sister Sharon?'
Sharon couldn't help but relish an unbelievably feminine squeal, slamming her feet against the floor madly with excitement. The poor brunette had never felt more lifeless in her life.
"Gentlemen, did you hear?! I feel like I have a sister now!" Sharon exclaimed. Leo giggled.
"Don't get ahead of yourself milady. And no matter how you look at it, you're more of an aunt who coddles her-", Elliot commented.
Sharon silenced him by whacking him across the head with her paper fan. She turned back to the brunette, reaching for her hands.
"Why don't we go and learn about romance Miss Alice." She offered, swinging her arms up and down. Due to not wanting to see the Rainsworth's threatening smile, Alice let her win this time.
…..
Alice and Sharon went to the Rainsworth mansion, as Sharon said that she had a collection of documentaries on romance.
Seriously, the girl had books on every kind of romance possible.
The beige haired girl set out different kinds of romance books on the table, deciding which one fitted the voiceless girl.
"Now let's see…" Sharon started, looking through the pages of one of the books.
'Which one is that?' Alice wrote on the chalkboard.
"A fairytale romance book." Sharon answered.
Alice wrinkled her nose. 'Fairytale? Come on, I never get involved with such stories that are stupidly girly.' Alice sniffed. Sharon blinked, not expecting that.
"What's wrong with fairytales Miss Alice?" she asked.
'Everyone knows that things that happen in fairytales aren't part of life. Life will never be like that. It's just pulling the reader's eyes in to make them think that everybody has a happy ending. It doesn't work like that; it's just some gibberish girly nonsense that has no meaning in life.' Alice explained. Sharon felt a little embarrassed by this.
"Um, Miss Alice, what kind of books do you read then?" she asked. The brunette scribbled on her board.
'Adventure books, ones where it's more fun than a barrel of monkeys. But there are some with no happy endings, but the character deals with it in the end.' Her sentence said bluntly. A spark was then lilted in the Rainsworth's eyes.
"I know just the book." She put the fairytale book down, and selected a different kind.
"This book should be your cup of tea Miss Alice. It has adventure in it, but romance at the same time." She stated. "In this story, the heroine seeks out on a journey to find a new world. But along the way, she befriends a boy who very well may be her love interest." This got the voiceless teenager's attention.
'That sounds like my side of the story! What's next after that Sister Sharon?!' she exclaimed. Sharon smiled.
"Well, it says that the two continue on their heroic journey. Encountering enemies, and making friends." She said, turning the pages. "In the end, the two finally succeed their quests. And then…"
When Sharon got to the last page, she found an illustration of the couples kissing. Surprised, she shut the book immediately.
'Um…why did you stop there?' Alice asked. Heart racing, the caramel haired girl gave the brunette a stunned, panicking look.
"Oh-there's no reason Miss Alice. But, I'm afraid that scene is a bit early for you."
'What? That lip contact?' Alice inquired. Sharon put her hands on either side of her blushed face, dropping the book in the process. Alice showed no emotion.
'The prince already tried to do that to me.' She said firmly. The Rainsworth girl couldn't hold it anymore, as she screamed.
…..
Later that day, Sharon told Alice that she needed to have a word with Oz. The milady was determined to fix the prince and the brunette's situation. Sharon found her way to Oz's room, minutes after he returned.
She knocked on the door politely, and waited for a response. "You can come in." Oz answered.
She pushed the door open, and slid in. Oz was sitting on his couch, reading a book. He smiled as Sharon approached to him.
"Good evening Miss Sharon, you need something?" he asked.
"Well, are you busy Oz-kun?" she said, smiling tentatively.
"Not at all." The prince smiled.
"Well, Oz, I want to talk to you about Miss Alice." Sharon said tartly.
"Oh? What is it?" Oz said softly. Sharon tucked a lock of her caramel hair behind her ear.
"Well, lately, Alice has been feeling rather poor this past month or two. We both had a pleasant chat, and she told me that she was feeling bitter sweet, as I like to call it. She explained that you have been paying less attention to her, and focusing on other people's problems and not hers. Take for instance, about earlier today, with that whole wolf fight. I then explained to her that she was feeling rather jealous. She did not know this, along with other things related to romance, so I decided to teach her about the character of romance." She explained. Oz nodded to show his thanks and understanding.
"We were reading an adventure romance story, but when we got to the part where the lovers…were in a deep…kiss…" she said, stuttering at the last few words. Oz could feel that something was coming. Sharon continued.
"I shut that scene quickly, but she told me that she already knew what the illustration was. Calling it "Lip Contact". However, she didn't know what that meant. I told her that it was a bit early for her, but then she told me…," she stopped for a bit. "Oz, she told me that you already tried to do that with her."
Oz dropped his book to the ground. "…What!?" was all he blurted out. Sharon then resumed again with a glare.
"Oz! You don't know how very ashamed I am at you! How dare you try to seduce a poor innocent lady like Alice! She doesn't even know what it means! And here, you tried to teach her in the wrong kind of way!" she yelled.
"Sharon, you got it all wrong! Please, if you let me explain, everything may make sense." Oz begged, backing up and holding his hands up in surrender. The girl let the blonde speak.
"When Alice was still sick, on one of the days I went to check on her. She was asleep on the couch, so I was acting like a proper gentleman by bringing her over to her bed. Then, all of sudden, with the room being very quiet, I observed her suddenly. And then I found myself leaning in for a kiss. We barely touched when she woke up. I don't know if I would call that trying because it happened so unexpectedly." he said.
Sharon relaxed upon learning the story. But that wasn't the only thing to discuss.
"Now that we sorted that out, let's move on to the next discussion," she said. "I've already spoken to Miss Alice about her feelings. And let me tell you this Oz. Alice is a person as much as any other. I don't know exactly what the story is with you two. But Oz, I want you to give Alice the attention she needs from you like everyone else. I can tell she has a close bond with you, and that she needs you. And I hate to see one of my own kind get hurt. She feels lonely without you Oz."
Oz then thought long and hard about Sharon's words. How could he be so careless?
"Your right Sharon. I shouldn't be neglecting her. What should I do to make it up?" he asked.
"Why not enjoy yourselves tomorrow. Be free spirits and walk along the earth?" Sharon said.
"Alright then, I'll go talk to Alice." Oz concluded. Sharon smiled.
…..
On that alluring summer day, the two charming teens were at the park, enjoying themselves.
Oz was wearing an untucked dress shirt with his green plaid shorts, and black boots.
Alice was wearing an undemanding green summer dress; where the top is a moss green color that fades to a sea green kind of color. It was decorated with Persian green trimming at the top and simple flowers at the bottom edges with the same color. The brunette was also wearing faded white ballet shoes.
The air was warm, as the sunlight beams were glowing on their skins. The two were just strolling down the side walk, neither of them saying a word, but just taking in the scenery. This was suddenly becoming tedious for Alice, she then got an idea; an idea that was mentioned in one of Sharon's books.
The chain then spanked the prince's upper arm, laughing, and then ran a few feet away from him.
Oz gave her a 'What was that for?' look, but he then read her face that gave him the message; a face that said 'You're it'.
Grinning wickedly, he charged after her, with her running lively through the grass.
They ran anywhere through the free open spaces where the green grass was blowing gently in the summer breeze. They didn't keep track of where they were going, as if they were the wind its self; going wherever it was delightful. The wind's song became both their chuckles and giggles.
They ended up darting through a tall field of grass, this time, Alice hiding in the turf. Oz felt all his energy drain as he landed on his knees, breathing exhaustedly.
He could then hear rustling all around him, assuming that it was Alice acting like a predator stalking its prey. She kept popping in and out every time the prince looked in every direction she came from; tapping, poking, and spitting at him each and every time.
Oz was becoming more and more irritated by it. After hearing where she would pop out next, he looked straight forward in that direction. When she did pop out, she yelped silently as she was caught red handed.
Oz glared at her, "You're…" he said sharply. "It!" he screeched, as he grabbed hold of her and the two ended up rolling down a hill; both laughing.
Their spinning then came to a halt, as Oz held onto both her arms on either side of her head, and pinned her to the ground.
"Really, Miss Alice. Did you think I couldn't beat you because you're a girl? You're dealing with someone who can't back down from this challenge." The prince told her.
Alice smirked, 'Cheeky bastard.' She mouthed, teasing.
"Well now Alice, let's see if you can seize me." He said. Oz then got off of her quickly, and sprinted towards the forest. The brunette gave him a quirky eyebrow before galloping after him…
Oz and Alice raced through the woodlands of the earth, with the light breeze swaying the trees gently. They ran like deer's as they were running with such speed, skipping over objects and such. The further the teens ran; the forest began to get darker, almost cold; as the trees were gathering around them.
Oz then stopped with alert as he came to the cliff of a lake. He was only two and a half feet high above the water, but who knows how deep the lake is!
Then, so abruptly, Alice grasped hold of the blonde; and the two plunged into the murky waters with a big splash. They drove to the surface, coughing out the moss smell liquid.
"Alice!" Oz whined, glaring at her. Alice didn't pay any heed to the blonde as she floated on her back; eyes closed and basking in the sunlight.
"Don't think this is over Alice!" Oz said, ducking her under water. She came back up and gave him a cheeky grin.
'Didn't think so!' she mouthed. She pushed him away and started splashing him with water. This only made the blonde grin bigger. He splashed her back, and they soon had a full size water battle with their hands. And ducking each other underwater…
After the two teenagers ended they're times in the lake, they resumed charging after each other. Except this time, back the way they came. It was sunset by the time they made it to the park's open fields.
On top of a hill, they were wrestling with each other, trying to see who will lose when one of them hit the ground. It was becoming a tie as they both struggled to pin one another to the earth.
They both didn't notice their footing was off and they tumbled down the hill, landing at the bottom. They laughed it off, that is, until they noticed the situation they were in.
Oz was on top of Alice, his arms hugging either side of her body. They're faces were mere inches apart. The blonde and the brunette stared at each other with stunned expressions; they could see each other in their eyes, blushing madly. Neither one of them breaks the silence that filled the atmosphere around them.
Their hearts were beating like the wings of a humming bird. Looking into each other's eyes, they were saying a thousand things without having to speak.
Alice curled her arms to attach her hands onto the prince's wrists, holding onto them for dear life.
It was the same feeling she felt towards him before, what was different was that it more intense this time; it was as if she hadn't been enduring it for so long, almost longing for it.
Was it something that belonged to that word "Love" that Sharon mentioned? She was in deep thought just thinking about it, and with being so close to the prince in this position. But she could tell that he was feeling the same way.
When the prince finally snapped out of his dazed like state, he gently broke the embrace between them. The little chain leaned forward, not wishing it to end so soon; but stopped midway as there was nothing she could do about it.
"Um...I'm…terribly sorry Alice. You're not hurt are you?" he asked nervously, rubbing his neck. She responded with only shaking her head.
"Heh…I'm glad to hear that Alice…" he said, still skittish. She walked up to him, and Oz met her gaze, blushing anxiously.
She smiled and mouthed, 'Not bad pretty boy.' And he read her lips clearly. At first he was taken aback by it, but then he smiled in response.
"Well then Miss Alice, shall we return home?" he requested, holding out his hand. Alice looked at it oddly, but upon realizing what it meant, she made her decision.
As they wrapped their hands around each others, they started walking off to their destination.
…..
Midnight eventually came to end today's date. In her dark room, Alice was curled up into a ball on the couch; grasping a pillow to her chest.
Everybody would usually be dozing off in their rooms at this hour. But as for Alice, she couldn't find any sleep; not with all the things going about in her mind. It appears that the character of love was still going about in the poor child's thoughts.
One of the things she learned was that there were different kinds of love, where you feel tender affection for someone.
There was family love where you care about someone like a brother or sister, or maybe parents. There was friend love where you care deeply about a friend.
Ok, the brunette thought, family love was what the prince felt with his sister. Friend love was what Oz, Sharon, Elliot, Leo, and Echo had. But the one Alice needed more information on was romantic love.
Sharon explained that it is where you feel very strongly attracted to a person. When you feel that way towards someone, you're willing to do anything for them when you deeply care for them. You won't let anyone else have that person close to them besides you, which is what jealousy means, Sharon said. That person is the only one in your life that you want to be with forever. And that someone will become a part of you. It was different from any other kind of love.
Alice sunk herself deeper in the pillow; she had never been this scared before to discovering new things.
If there was more than one kind of love, then which one did she feel towards Oz? She couldn't find the difference between all of the different loves. Love just means having a strong tender affection towards people. So all of those loves share the same results, just with more than one person.
But wait, Alice thought, romantic love is just with one person and no one else, that's why it stands out from the others.
Going back to trying to answer her question, she decided to do a process of elimination. She knew straight forward that it wasn't family love, because Oz didn't feel like a brother to her. And friend love, well, the prince may feel that way towards her; but she perhaps does herself too, but not all the way.
So that now leaves romantic love. Was that what Oz was to her this whole time, her first romantic love? She could not say, but if it was towards him alone…
But wait, how can that be if she didn't know him when she first saw him? Because it was also said that befriending a person comes first before making them their lover.
But then the brunette remembered what Sharon told her, saying that it was called love at first sight when you first see a stranger.
Well, she guessed there was no denying it. But still, the little chain didn't know her feelings yet, even if she knew the definition of love.
Just then, the clicking of the windows opening almost made Alice jump. She turned to find the familiar black haired man coming inside through the opening. It didn't surprise Raven to find the princess still awake at this hour.
"Am I intruding on something?" he asked. Alice shook her head. Raven got down from the window sill, and seated himself on the couch. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and then started consuming it. Alice continued clearing out her thoughts.
But a new thought crossed her mind. It was that of the witch's instruction.
'Before the final sun down sets on the end of the year. You must get Oz boy to return the same feelings you have.' The words echoed in her mind.
Unlike before, the brunette now knows full well on what she has to do. It was probably going to take an amount of time for the prince to return the same feelings to her. Although, he might be on the same scale as her.
So, Alice thought, in order to raise the scale higher; she had to keep making the first move on him. This was something in one of Sharon's books.
The brunette had asked the Rainsworth girl why she had a collection of romance books. Sharon explained that when her mother was still alive, she would tell fairytales and romantic stories to her as a child. It was like her mother new everything about the character of love.
Mother. That word then crossed Alice's mind.
If her past with her parents taught her anything, it was that they weren't able to stay long enough to teach her the definition of love. She guessed that her father didn't live long to stay with her and make the effort instead of Oswald, and her mother Lacie.
The little chain sort of wondered what her mother was like, if not any different from her. She had always heard things from other girls about their mothers, saying things like mothers having the ability to endeavor their kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness and cause peace to return to their children's hearts.
The chain had this whole image of her mother in her mind of someone who would make the evil shadows disappear and replace it with tranquil happiness, someone who would teach her all about life, and who deeply cares about her and make her yummy treats whenever she was sad. That was all she and everyone needed.
Alice suddenly continued pondering about her mother and father. Questions were popping up like; what were they like? Were they really the image of parents? Did they know I existed?
Then she asked herself, 'What is the story behind their love for each other?' Now this got her attention.
How was she to know that her parents love story wasn't any different from hers? Did Lacie love her father right away at first sight? Did her mother and father know the character of love when they met? What was their love for each other?
Deciding she needed more information on this, she decided to ask her uncle's useless valet. She tugged on his sleeve, which got his attention, and wrote down on her chalkboard.
'Raven, did you know my mother, Lacie?' Raven raised an eyebrow at the girl's sudden question.
"Err, yes, everyone in the kingdom did." He answered, taking a drag from his cigarette.
'If you do know, can you tell me the story of my parents?' she asked next.
"Since when are you suddenly interested about your parents?" he asked. Alice groaned.
'Just answer the damn question seaweed-head!' she spat back. Raven sighed and tried to remember the whole story to tell the stupid rabbit.
"Well, to be honest, I didn't think I would still remember the story behind your parents after all these years." He said, taking another drag from his tobacco.
"As far as I or anyone knows, Lacie was such a memorable woman. She loved our world so much that she also loved everyone in it. She cared about our lives and would do anything to keep it safe. It was as if she was a goddess." He began.
"As for how your mother met your father, here's how the story goes…"
It was that late winter of 1840, when the parent's came across each other. Lacie was only a mere teenager, while her brother, Oswald, was 15.
It was noon in the day, the late princess had gotten into a clash with her brother, the story unconfirmed. It started to get too personal that she fled from the kingdom, refusing to return until he apologized to her.
Lacie wondered around the Abyss realm, taking in every detail of her surroundings.
She was wearing nothing more than a strapped vintage nightdress that was six feet long. It was a bright fuchsia color, and made of that duplet nylon. A soft, heavy, and delicious wardrobe she had in mind. She had a pair of deep magenta, blue, purple earrings; the variations of watercolors make the true color appear differently each time.
She then heard the shift of rubble fall into the shallow waters. She turned her head to the noise, and then went to examine it. Of course, when she turned to the other side of the corner, it was empty. But naturally, there was an entrance in the pile of ruins.
The raven haired girl went to take a closer look inside the hole; it only took a second for her crimson eyes to adjust to find a huge thick blanket covering a human figure.
The mysterious, human-chain, teenage boy fidgeted upon her gaze. Lacie started, or tried to, move in closer on the beggar.
"Get away!" he shouted, as her pushed her back and dashed off to a different hide- out.
As one might expect, that didn't stop the princess from giving up. She followed after him to his new spot. This time the boy didn't hide but rather press against standing rubble. As soon as she caught up to him, he acted quick and pulled out a pair of vector scissors.
"Get back!" he screamed, pointing his weapon at her threateningly. The girl did not twitch from his warning, but only to be taken aback by his welcoming. This only made her move closer.
"I said get back! I mean it!" he repeated.
"But why sir?" Lacie inquired.
"Because I will have to break god's law and pass judgment upon you!" he said sharply.
This only made her smile. "Why do that? That's silly talk." She giggled.
The beggar was disconcerted by her behavior, but guessed that she was only mocking his threat. Growing, he charged after her and pinned her to the ground.
He griped her by the neck to hold her in place; it wasn't a tight enough hold to choke her to death, but it was still tight enough to keep her still. He raised the scissor till it was next to his head, with the sharp end pointing at her. She looked at it questionably.
"I've had just about enough of you! Do you really want to face death!? If so, then I will gladly do the honors! If its one thing I hate in this whole world, its people like you!" he yelled.
Her eyes roamed to his hands, and she could see that they were trembling with fear.
"Your words don't seem to match with your quiverness. It's almost as if what you're doing is a cowardly move." She said, without showing any signs of fear.
Again the boy was startled by her calm demeanor. Growling, he steadied his hand, or at least tried to, on his weapon.
"Excuse me sir, but do you even know who I am?" she asked.
"Like hell, I don't care who you are!" He answered firmly, "Now before I take away your life, give me one good reason why I shouldn't?" The princess's face grew solemn this time.
"Go on." She said in a calm, but serious tone. She waited for him to do the death blow, with her stern red eyes looking at his covered ones.
The beggar couldn't stand this damn girl. Yet even though his hatred towards her was strong and wanting to kill her was more powerful. He could not, for some unknown reason, bring himself to murder her.
The position of his hand with the weapon was still hovering in its place, now shaking more than ever. He stood there, staring at the girl who was probably ready to embrace death, still unable to make a blow. Gritting his teeth, he screamed and pushed himself off of her.
"Get out! Just go away and never come back!" he shouted. Lacie stood up.
"But why?' she asked.
"I said get out of here! I don't need you! I hate you and everyone else!" he exploded, putting poison on each word.
"Sir…" she tried to say next.
The boy pressed his body against the rubble; throwing his face in his hands, and sinking himself to the ground. "Just…please, go…" he pleaded.
Studying his sudden terrorized retreat, told the princess that the boy was nothing more than a lost cause; that was lonely, and frightened to face the last moments of his existence.
Her appearance was cold and idle, but her red eyes showed emotion. Lacie then proceeded to move towards the beggar, the movement of her feet making ripples in the waters. As soon as she was standing before him, she began to introduce herself.
"Why sir, if you continue to live in this condition, you're sure to get an illness." The mysterious stranger looked at her bewilderedly, startled upon noticing her closeness to him.
Her smiling at him while showing off her black hair and red eyes made him more nervous.
"My name is Lacie.", she said, "What's yours?"
"Like I will ever tell you what my name is." The beggar said sternly.
"But that's what your suppose to do when you greet someone." She stated.
"Yeah, well I don't greet. I just doze off and mind my own business from others." He said firmly. The princess frowned.
"Well." She paused. She laid her knees down till their heights were leveled. "If you're not going to give me your name. Then the least you can do is show yourself."
Lacie then began to remove his hood, but he grabbed either side of her wrists' before she could pull it down. "Please don't." he begged.
Both his arms were beat up and covered in bruises, something Lacie had not noticed before.
"Why? Do you have the face of a beast?" she asked.
"No…But." He stammered.
"Look, I assure you that there is nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, isn't everyone suppose to look different?" she said. The boy was speechless.
"Now please let me have a look at you. I promise not to laugh." She said. The beggar didn't say anything as he released his hold on her.
She finally let the hood fall from his head, revealing his long unkempt white hair that reached midway past his shoulders.
Of course, the boy still didn't want his face to be shown as he bent his head, and let the locks drape down.
Needless to say, Lacie was smart enough to know that he couldn't get away with that. She placed her hand under his chin and tilted his head up.
His face, however, was still shielded by his long white locks. Using her free hand, she brushed them away, revealing his bare features; although, his eyes were shut due to nervousness. It only took him a second for him to relax as he reopened his eyes.
They were a beautiful mesmerizing shade of violet; they stood out like vibrant flowers in the moon. Lacie couldn't help but admire them enchantingly.
A tint of pink covered the beggar's cheeks as he looked away upon her gaze. "Could you please not be this close towards me?" He appealed.
Giggling, the princess stood back a little from him like he requested. "Again, my name is Lacie. May I please have your name?" she requested.
The teenage boy was still unsure to give away his name to her. But seeing her innocent nature, he guessed that she was no threat to him. After a bit of silence, he finally had the courage to give her his answer.
"I'm…Levi…just Levi." He said.
"Levi." She repeated, "My, what a masculine name!"
For the rest of the day till the time of the sun would set, Lacie stayed with Levi, rambling on about her situation. You may think that the teenage boy would be listening to her stories; well, due to still being unclear about her strange actions towards him, Levi wasn't the least bit interested in what the princess was saying.
"So you see Levi, I've run away from home. And I won't return until my brother apologizes." Lacie concluded. She looked to her side to find the mysterious boy looking elsewhere.
"Hey, weren't you listening to me Levi?" she demanded.
"Did you really think I'd care about the condition you're in? How very moronic of you." He blurted out simply. The raven haired princess first blinked at this, then made on annoyed expression.
"Why would you ever say such a thing Levi?! I know your just dying to ask me a bunch of questions!" she exclaimed, while grabbing him by his covers.
"For example, you must be wondering why I'm still in my sleep wear. Why is that?" she said, showing her night dress. As a matter of fact, Levi was wondering about that.
"It's because dressing out wasn't on my mind, and fleeing from home came so suddenly!" she said, "But it's actually a good thing because I'm feeling rather tired."
Lacie then began to pull some of the boys comforter away. "Make room for this lady!" she demanded, as she plopped inside the sheets, as she felt the warmth of body heat raiding off. Levi became alarmed.
"Ahh…I feel warmer already." Lacie said happily.
"Get away! What the hell is wrong with you!?" Levi yelled. Her eyes then lilted up.
"What's this? Did you just ask me a question? Well now, are you finally interested in me Levi?" she said.
He nervously looked into her blood red eyes, as they were pulling him in. He suddenly felt weak in the knees.
"You're not frightened of the princess are you?" she asked. The boy didn't answer as he began to descend to the ground.
"What…? Levi…? Levi!" she called out, as she shook his numb body.
Many long hours later, Lacie had returned to Levi with food and some supplies. The princess assumed that the boy lost consciousness due to hunger.
After the two ate together, Lacie asked if she could accessorize his hair. Levi answered her by saying that he didn't care about his looks any more.
So the princess happily proceeded to braid and pull his hair back into a ponytail. But letting a small section of his bangs to drape over his face, reaching half way down his face; while another section of hair was brought forward and tied in a long braid which rested over his left shoulder. Lacie then trimmed his ponytail, bangs, and the extra hair that was not braided.
She was also kind enough to bandage his injured arms.
During this, she began to ask about his life and the situation he was in. Levi tells the tale of how he was born into a wealthy family, whom which he suffered a lowliness complex too. And even though he had a purpose in his family, he was reluctant to exhibit this because the rest of his family was better than him. Lacie asked him if he hated his family, and he answered yes, but that he also hated everyone else around him. And now he'd become a misfit and realized that he really never had anything in the first place.
The princess's face was cold and idle again, as she hits Levi across the face with the scissors making a small gash on his cheek. Lacie then says that she found his twisted pain look interesting. She then kissed the wound without question, making the boy blush madly with confusion. She also found this enthusiastic. Lacie then told Levi that what he told her was a lie.
The two teens then began roaming around and surviving the Abyss realm. Lacie explains to Levi that forbearing himself sternly to living wasn't going to be enough for him. As the princess helped Levi open up, the cold hearted boy smiles for the first time in a long time; due to the girls beautiful eyes, personality, and her never-ending singing voice during their time together.
A month and a half later, the two get attacked by some chain-creatures while roaming through a junkyard. Levi is injured during the fight, which causes Lacie to snap and summon her chain powers. Slaughtering all the monsters for hurting Levi.
Lacie knew that she couldn't use her powers because the search party would be able to trace her.
Once they were all dead, the raven haired princess sung and danced in the rain of blood while Levi watched in amazement.
The search party from the palace then appeared before them. One of them told Lacie that her brother told them to extend his deepest apologies to her so that she would return. Hearing this made the princess happy once again. Levi calls to her, and Lacie turns to him smiling.
"She tells him that this is where they part their ways. Levi explains that if they ever meet again, they will be together once more. The princess was pleased by this that she gives him one of her earrings as a reminder. Before she leaves, she tells him to never forget the royal family named Baskerville." Raven said.
Five years later, an anniversary was held in the palace, where seventeen year old Lacie would attend. When she and Oswald arrived at the celebration, a random man came rushing towards them and embraced Lacie unexpectedly.
He had long white hair that reached down to his torso, how it was styled looked very familiar to her. He wore a white dress shirt and a white ascot under a purple vest, which he wore under an overcoat that had black trim and was adorned with gold buttons. Over top of this, he wore a blue shawl lined with fringe that was wrapped around his torso, wearing dark colored pants and black boots to complete his outfit.
The princess was startled when the man explained that he'd finally came back to her after five long years. A guard knocked the man out and asked if they knew this man. Lacie then starts to remember as she sees one of her earrings on the man's ear, realizing that it was Levi from five years ago.
She then said that she, in fact, does know him. They take Levi into custody, while Lacie searches for the other earring. She finds it and goes to the throne room where the king is interrogating Levi.
She and Levi explain how they met, and the king lets him go. Levi and Lacie end up talking in the gardens, catching up on the five years that passed. The two then began spending time together, and end up falling in love with one another.
"And the day they returned each other's feelings went like this…" Raven said.
The two chain people were in the gardens during nighttime, sitting on a bench, cuddling each other to stay warm.
"Lacie..." Levi called.
"Yes my Levi?" Lace responded.
"You know your father is very ill and close to death right?" he asked.
"I'm afraid so, why" she asked.
"Because the day will soon come when you, or your brother, will become the leader of the kingdom." Levi explained.
"Yes?" Lacie responded.
"And I was just thinking that he will make you the ruler before your brother. Because he sees that you are close to becoming one." He said.
"Oh? Is that so?" Lacie said, her tone of voice hinting of what was coming.
"And well, I thought that you couldn't do all that by yourself. So you would need a king to be by your side." Levi started.
"Levi…"
"Please let me finish Lacie." He told her. He then got up and kneeled to her, holding her hands.
"Every moment I've spent with you, is a new happiest moment of my life. Lacie, I want to spend every day in this dimension with you. I ask, if you would let me be your king." He concluded.
Lacie was very stunned by his words, that she was speechless. She got up and walked a little from him, her back turned to him, as she stared into the dark sky. Levi waited patiently for her answer.
"Levi, you know that this is a big risk your taking." She said.
"Yes." He answered.
"Well then, do you vow to love me as long as we both shall live?" she asked, as if she were the priest.
"Of course." He answered simply.
"Do you vow to stay with me forever?" she asked next.
"Forever is not long enough my beloved." He said. She then turned to him, smiling while her eyes were dancing with adoration. Levi had the same results. She then walks up to him.
"I will." She simply answered. The two of them then embraced each other desperately.
"This is wonderful Lacie; I promise you won't regret this!" Levi exclaimed.
"I know my beloved." She said. They looked into each other's eyes once more, before they brought one another's lips together, kissing passionately.
"And the rest is them having you and your sisters." Raven finished. He looked to see the B-rabbit already in deep slumber. This somehow made him smile.
He carried her to her bed, and tucked her in neatly. "You're vain princess, you know that." He said, while brushing her hair. Raven then went to his sleeping spot, and drifted off into slumber.
But Alice wasn't as hopeless as he thought. Now she didn't understand how her parent's story could solve hers; but there were two things that it taught her.
Her mother's side of the story wasn't so much different from hers. Because she found her father before he found her. It may not have been love at first sight, but they were destined to be together; and that's what she feels for Oz.
And the other thing that the brunette learned; was that of the lip contact, and the word kiss, mean the exact same thing…
…
Ending already? Darn ):
Okay, so that leaves us with only six chapters left. Will those chapters see daylight? The world may never know…
Anyways, I don't know how much time I'll have to writing the next chapter. But it's been planned out. Also, don't expect chapters to come out every once a month, because of the next play I'll be in.
And guys I believe joining a club is good for me because I really need to get out and have a life outside my home. But I still want to continue with my art and creative writing skills as always. It'll probably be a handful, but I think I can manage it :)
So Alice knows what a kiss is? What else will the brunette learn? :Cheeky Grin:
Until then; TTFN, ta ta for now!
