"Rosetta!"
"Mateo! Gabe! Naomi!"
The three meet up with their friend, Naomi nearly knocks down the girl. Both laugh, hugging each other. With Naomi playfully ruffling her hair, making it messy. All in good fun of course.
"Hey."Rosetta quips, patting down her hair. Fixing it the best she could. Smiling under the scarf that covered the lower part of her face."I'm so glad you guys came! I was wondering if you'd be able too."
"Of course we'd come!"Mateo tells her, calming himself down. Realizing how enthusiastic he had just gotten. She didn't mind and found it rather amusing.
"Enough!"Gabe blurts out."What are we going to do?"Getting down to the matter at hand."Stay in our little hideout? All day and play some games?"Looking around at the rather dated and abandoned home. That had some drawings upon the wall, games in the corner and other things showing children came in here."I want to go out and do something!"
"We could go my house?"Naomi suggests."Spend time at the port."
A good idea, Rosetta liked."And look for starfish? And maybe some seashells?!"
They look at her, seeing how eager she was about it. Pleading with them with her eyes. Looking at each other, Naomi, Gabe and Mateo knew it had been decided, once Rosetta gave that look. So, to Naomi's house, they went. Where her father greeted them all. Welcoming them. Her mother wasn't there, she was gone.
"Anyone see any starfish?"Rosetta asked, peering over the side of the pier down into the water. Seeing nothing but her own reflection and barnacles.
The others look seeing nothing either, that didn't stop their determination. Searching vigorously for them, Gabe spotted something else. Sticking his hand into the water pulls out a shell. It was empty, it was strange looking one, but he knew who would really like it. Getting up walks away from Mateo and to Rosetta. Presenting her with the shell.
"Here! Rosette!"
The girl was startled accidentally, but, calms down seeing it was just her friend and what he had in his hand."Oh! Wow!"Her eyes light up, amazed."What a pretty shell!"
"I knew you'd like it."He grins wide."You can add it to your collection."
Touched and thankful for his consideration and kindness, the girl takes the purple speckled shell, admiring it."I love the color. Thank you, Gabe."She smiles under her scarf. It was easy to tell, by her eyes. She tucks it away safely in the pouch she carried. Patting it.
"Hey!"Naomi gets everyone's attention."Look!"The friends go over to her, following her pointer finger. To the starfish upon the side of one of the boats. All of them gasp in joy upon discovering it."Found one."Naomi said rather proud.
"You did."Rosetta praises her."Thank you. If we could only...reach it."
All of them look at each other, their little minds pondering how to figure it out. It was rather far and in the water, not sure all of them knew how to swim. Still, it was in the port and was dangerous."Guess, we not going to be able too."Mateo disappointed, more so for Rosetta. He saw in her eyes.
"Sorry. Rosetta."Gabe apologizes to the girl before Mateo could.
"That's alright.."She takes out the seashell, she still had one prize."I still have this. It's better than nothing. Thank you."Putting on her smile. Gabe smiles with her. As Mateo sunk in the back.
"What next?" Naomi throws in. Looking at everyone, all of them huddled."We could-"
"You!" A guard suddenly appears, startling everyone roughly grabs hold of Rosetta. "You're coming with us!"
Yanks Rosetta away by her scarf, nearly choking her. Ignoring her struggles. "Hey! You're hurting her!"Mateo and the others go to their friend's aid, to be pushed back.
"This does not concern you, little kids." The guard shoves them back."Stay back! It's Queen Shuriki's orders!"
"She didn't do anything!"Gabe stands up in defiance, glaring at the man."Let her go! And give her back." Tries to shove the man, who pushes him back harder. Knocking him into Mateo, who falls off the side of the pier into the water.
"Mateo!"Rosetta screams for her friend, only to be silenced by the guard covering her mouth. Muffling her words.
"Quiet you!" He hisses and drags her away.
Naomi and Gabe wanted to go after their friend, but knew Mateo needed them more and help him. They were able to get him out, he was drenched from head to toe. Gabe pats him on the back to help him breathe. The poor boy coughs up the water, looking around finding half of the shell Gabe had found for her. Forgetting about what just happened, rushes to it. Tripping over his own feet scurries up to get it. Holds it in the palm of his hand.
Drops his head and clenches his hand close."...Rosetta..."
Mateo never understood, why they came and took her. Even till this very day, he still never knew. All he, Naomi and Gabe knew was that it was because of Shiruki and if it was because of her. Then it was because of her daughter too. The two of them the same side of the same coin. That day, he and the others did not hear from Rosetta since then. Every day they went to check their meeting spot, at the right time. But, she was not there waiting for them, with her large scarf or hood that concealed just a bit. It did not matter to them, why she wore that.
She was friendly and kind. She was their best friend. The sweetest girl he had ever met. Strange but kind. Her family lived in the kingdom, was all they knew. But, they knew she loved having fun and adventures. Was easily captivated by wonders of anything they presented her. Because of the occupation her family did, she did not really get the time to just have fun. So she'd have to sneak out and find it herself.
She was funny too. Always with a strange joke or story. When they all met up, her eyes always lite up with joy seeing everyone. Why did they have to take her away?
Staring at the broken shell, one of the three pieces he had. Naomi and Gabe had the others in remembrance of their friend. It was small but meant so much. He kept it nicely wrapped up in a nice piece of cloth. With in a small little wooden chest. In his workshop, Rosetta always like his magic. Even if she feared it. His magic was nice and always made her smile.
Was what she would tell him. He had brought her to his workshop once, and the two of them spent nearly hours down here. She let him talk and talk about his passion for magic. She was always a good listener.
Letting out a solemn sigh, his eyes begin to fog up, he could feel the tears forming. Filling heavily with emptiness and guilt. Stinging with anguish and frustration. He did his best to resist being swallowed up. But, he sunk and sulk deeper. He could still hear her screams as she was dragged away, while he sunk deeper under the water.
~"Mateo."~
He hears her voice, he felt her presence and jolts up. "Rosetta!" Whips his head around, his eyes filled with hope, expecting her to be standing there, smiling at him ready to hug him. Instead, it was you. His eyes drop disappointed."What do you want?" He asked pinching his brow. "It's late." Looking out the window at the night sky.
Ignoring his question, cast your eyes at the shell. "Why do you have that thing?" Mockingly. Walking over to it and picking it up. For him to snatch it away before you could. "Hey!"
"Don't touch it!" He warns you, holding it protectively. This was a new look for him and tone.
It slightly surprised you, holding your sides. Do your best to hold in your laughter. "Wow, you really almost had me scared." Wiping your eyes as if crying. "That was good. Why are you getting so moppy over a something so small? It's utterly ridiculous." Teasing with a playful sneer. "It's not even of any value."
"Well, it is to me." He defends himself and his treasure."I wouldn't expect you to understand, now, again what do you want?"
You laughed, still finding humor in this, but answer his question. " Nothing." Shrugging your shoulders. "I was just bored, saw your light on. Thought I come and see and from the looks of it, it was a waste of time." Turn around and stretch. "That name, Rosetta...what a ridiculous name." Cruelly insults them before walking out. Tossing your hair over your shoulder. Stopping at the door, feeling Mateo's glare on you. Which you did not care and coldly tell him. "Hanging onto the past is a fools game. It brings nothing but misery and weakness."
Your eyes sharply look slide back to him. Flashing darkly. To quickly be replaced with a smirk and flirtatious wink."Good night. Mateo."