Author's Note: Alright, I've decided to post this now, despite the lack of many reviews, for a reason. I just bought Fable: The Journey this morning, and have found myself severely discouraged. If Lionhead plans on doing this from now on- creating heroes instead of making them part of the Archon bloodline- I might very well stop playing. Unless they can spark my interest better than this. It feels too cartoony for my tastes, despite how much I do enjoy the whole Kinect aspect... That and I preferred free-roam to this whole set pathway situation. It's really disheartening, and I really hope that the REAL Fable IV follows the whole bloodline/storyline aspect. I do enjoy learning pieces about Theresa, but most of it is shit I already knew from research. Otherwise, I'm a really unsatisfied Fableaddict...

What are your views on it?

Review Replies: Either I didn't get ANY reviews from the last chapter, or my damn FF account is not loading them again. -.- Regardless, IT'S NOT THAT HARD TO LEAVE A SHORT REVIEW! I LEAVE REVIEWS ON EVERY STORY I READ! Be courteous people. -.-'

ONE TO THE STORY!

Chapter Twenty-One: Regaining One's Self

It had been an entire day since I had spotted that ship on the horizon, sailing delightfully towards this secret island, and now they were long out of sight. I suspected Reaver had been intelligent enough- despite how aggravating the handsome devil was, I will admit he did have some smarts to him- to anchor the vessel somewhere that was hard to see from this ridiculously flashy, ominous castle. It would keep the guards here off their backs and give them an element of surprise.

I had done my part thus far, scarfing down whatever food was passed my way. Hope had been restored and I needed to build my strength up as best as I could. It was hard last night when I had tried to devour my dinner, considering my stomach was significantly smaller than when I had arrived. Nonetheless, I finished everything off.

I had taken to exploring the elaborate closet as well, the only other place I was allowed in this castle and only because the separate room attached to mine- along with my bathroom of course!- trying to find something besides intricate dresses and massive amounts of frill. The search had come up empty, but I had found something he probably did not believe was in there...

The best way to put my discovery was A Very Sharp Pair of Scissors. They were long, a bit longer than the length of my hand and with a deadly blade. Trust me, I had sliced my finger open when fiddling with them. Considering I had not been allowed to have anything even close to a blade or a gun- even hair pins had been banned- this was a rare treasure, one any pirate in my situation would be thankful for.

I debated on altering one of my dresses to better accommodate an outfit to escape in, but decided I needed the scissors to stay as sharp as possible and it would only dull them. That, and I had not been allowed a needle so anything I created would be jagged, frayed, and utterly in the way. Nonetheless, what sort of woman would I be if I could not defend myself in a dress?

A knock sounds at the door, and before I can call an entrance- which I honestly would have told them to "shove it where the sun doesn't shine"- the aforementioned visitor pushed the heavy doors open. Who would have guessed that Roman, of all people, would finally come and visit with his captive?

"I heard you've been eating, pet," he coos, striding closer but remaining a comfortable distance. The scissors had been shoved deep in my cleavage where they could not be seen and the mere thought of them comforted me. "Finally decided to join me?"

Now, I had two options here. I could fake allegiance and sidle up to him, seducing him into bed and then slaying him, likely to end in getting chased by guards and trying to find an exit to a castle I could not navigate. I might be able to find a gun and a sword, but the monsters that might lie behind these walls could very well be able to kill me. I was nowhere near my full strength and still could not use Will, and then the likelihood of finding a gun involved made it a rather distressing idea altogether.

Or, I could be my usual rude self and pretend like he was a complete moron. This option would end in a beating, but I would at least still have my dignity. This would allow me to bide my time until the others made it closer to the castle and then hopefully I would be more capable of protecting and fighting for myself instead of relying on someone else to do it for me.

The choice was obvious.

"I wouldn't join you if Hell froze over, Jack of Blades reappeared to save the world, and Skorm personally asked me to help him into his pink frock," I scoff, rolling my eyes and immediately turning my head at the force of the harsh slap delivered. "You really do think you are the most important thing to happen to this planet, don't you? You'll pay soon, this much I promise."

"Oh thinking of running, dearest?" His voice was low, frightening almost. I wanted to be proud and keep my body from shaking, but the traitorous limbs did not acknowledge my request. I nearly growled at myself, but tossed back the emotion with a vengeance. "You realize the monsters that live on my island, no? Perhaps you should look a little more extensively at the book collection I gave you. Soon you will give up any last shred of hope and become the slave of my Armageddon."

He turned, whisking from the room in such an elegant fashion I felt bile rise in my throat. Roman made me sick in every aspect of the emotion now, and I sorely wondered why- of all people- I let himcourt me.

'You needed to prove something to yourself, remember? Remind yourself that, despite your love for Reaver, you could still be just as promiscuous as always. Perhaps you should have simply told him, "Yes, I do love you. What of it?" instead of acting like you really didn't care for him. Besides Roman was the most excitingly exotic and handsome specimen to meander by at the time. Oh, and he has a really, really big-'

I shake my head roughly at the throat, giving a small smirk nonetheless. I had not realized I had wandered over to the bookshelf during this time, running my fingers across the ancient spines and at last finding a tome that had a title that might be a bit more appropriate to finding out just what lurked on this island.

"'Mythical Creatures of the World,'" I murmur aloud, flipping open the pages and beginning to stare in horror at the pictures. "You have got to be kidding me...!"

:.:-( To The Age of Ages )-:.:

Deryn's Point of View
First Persons

To say that my gloating had been insufferable since arriving to the island had been an understatement. Hale and the crew, save the industrialist, had all doubted the miracle of the Marianne in all aspects of the word. We had barely landed on the beach this morning and it was well into the evening by now. Those with us had all turned their cheeks to my smug grin, but I wore it nonetheless.

Reaver and I headed the party, his gait nonchalant and mine proud. I knew my sister was close, and even as we set up camp deep into the pine forest we had finally trekked into I became agitated at the wait. We were so close and yet so far...

We sat around the fire, various pieces of the crew in idle conversation and listening to the frightening silence that surrounded the trees. Some were wringing out their clothing- we had just broken out of a tropical rainforest into this sort of forest, which was nothing but strange at the sudden changes in climate- of the water collected earlier after eating some of the provisions we had brought ashore.

Reaver was gazing into the fire, gun in his lap and ready for anything, completely void of conversation. It was bugging me, considering the pirate turned industrialist turned pirate once more loved to hear himself speak. It made my own doubts and worries come to the surface and I realized I needed something from him to boost my courage.

"Do you feel her like I do?" I finally whisper to him. "She's close."

He does not even spare me a glance. "Yes, but I believe Your Highness should be more worried over his own tail right now. Of course you probably have not heard, but the last time I found myself camping on an unknown island, we were attacked by these furry little monsters much resembling the Balverines of Albion."

"We'll be ready in case something does happen. I've already had a group stationed in the trees and on the ground in case something happens." I fought for the right words. "What are your plans once this is all over? You aren't really one to stick around."

At last, Reaver turns his face towards me. I was startled at how aged he looked, much different than when we started this voyage. I came to wonder if it was because of Alouette's face or if he had yet to receive his years from the sacrifice to the Shadow Court. I credited it more to the second than the first, honestly. He never seemed one to worry over much.

"I will simply enjoy my prize from your sister and then I will disappear as I always do, Prince," he chuckles, giving a coy smirk that was much more like him than I had seen in days. "Perhaps you honestly believe I'll steal her away and ride into the sunset then?"

"I would highly doubt she'd enjoy anything like that. She would much prefer sailing away to pillage and probably murder unknowing sailors," I grin in return. "Merely a thought. I know she's close."

Reaver had reverted to himself again, eyes trailing back to the fire. I wished only to get into his head for a moment, only wanting to know what was on his mind. I knew he would not open up to me easily, if at all, but I simply wished to know more about this man. He was a mystery, even to my deceased grandmother- though she knew him better than most- and I loved a good mystery.

Fortunately, I did not have to delve much deeper before he spoke once more. "Alouette is a woman of a caliber even I am unaccustomed to. You would do well to remember I am merely a man, albeit an extraordinary one, young Deryn. Perhaps you believe I actually have feelings- how I detest that word- for your older sister. You would do very well to recall just whoI am."

I stand from the log I was one, brushing off my tunic and pants before turning on heel and heading towards my tent. His words should bother me, but I felt as if his words were more of a puzzle than a declaration of his loathing for my sister. Even I knew he cared for her, despite anything else he might say.

"Reaver." On a second thought, I glance over my shoulder at his bare back. Even he had removed his shirt. "You may believe yourself above loving another woman after your deceased beloved and my dead grandmother, but Sparrow spoke of resting in peace now that she had found the woman that would be the one to take care of you, the one to be yours after all the shit you've gone through. Isn't it funny that she wrote that right before her death and yet, right after meeting her granddaughter Alouette for the first time? Merely a thought after all, but how strange a coincidence it is, eh?"

I head to my tent after that, feeling much more content with myself than ever before.

:.:-( To The Age of Ages )-:.:

Reaver's Point of View
First Persons

The little bastard of a prince had tried to unsettle me with his words, but I had known a lot more about Sparrow than he thought he did. Oh, I had found out about her diary being found at long last, but never had felt the real urge to read it. It had not been meant for my eyes, after all, and even I respected the dead more than that. Or perhaps I simply respected Sparrow more than that.

Though, it is ironic that she had passed with those final words after meeting Alouette. Oh, I remembered the small child I once told stories to so many years ago, listening as only an adult could and asking questions like a truly old soul. Of course, I do not find children appealing in that sense, but knowing that shewas the one- now grown up in every aspect of the word- Sparrow entrusted to me, and likewise, was startling.

It could only be brought to question if the long deceased was on to something. She had been much wiser than she let on, after all...

Hmm...

REVIEW! Or I'll rant on and on and on about my discouragement with Fable: The Journey! I MEAN IT! You don't want to get me started! =]