Chapter 29: The Price of Compassion
"They'll be fine. You'll see."
Haru hung by the door, her hand resting gently against the doorframe as she watched Charon and Baron leave.
"You don't know that," she said hoarsely.
"No, but I know them." Naoko smiled wanly. "And I know they both have a cause they're fighting for."
At this point, the redhead looked meaningfully over at her adopted daughter.
For her part, Haru only reddened and looked away. "Huh, really? So you're fine about it?"
Naoko's eyebrow raised sceptically, but more at the humour she saw in the situation than anything else. "As long as you're happy."
Haru snorted. "And that's all you have to say on the matter?"
"Believe me, young lady, there's a lot more that can be said on the subject. But for now, yes, that's all. Anyway, if you overlook the species barrier..."
"And the possible fact that he might revert to Creation status," Haru put in, "and that adds a whole bucket of new barriers..."
"He's not a bad type," Naoko finished. After a moment, she added, "He cares for you."
"Thanks for the update."
"When this is all over, then we can discuss it in more detail."
"Uh-hm." Haru leant over the threshold to see Charon and Baron disappear round a corner. "Where are they planning on finding the Raven?"
From his makeshift writer's corner, Fakir spoke up. "They think he might gone to the old, half-collapsed ruin in the forest. The... um, crow brought back news of him."
"There's an old ruin in the forest?"
"Well, one floor and two walls are all that remain, so it looks more like a raised platform than anything else. The crow – Toto, I mean – said that that there was where the majority of the ravens were congregating."
Toto nodded his confirmation from his perch on the window sill.
Haru was pacing, but suddenly she picked up her head and gazed to where the two figures had gone. "I'm going."
Naoko grabbed Haru's arm; Fakir moved to do the same.
"What kind of crazy idiot are you?" her brother demanded.
"There's no way I'm going to allow you to run off and put yourself into danger again," Naoko scolded.
Haru loosened herself from both their grips. "I'm not going to stay here with no knowledge of what's going on," she replied coolly. "This is my choice to make. For all I know, they could be battling the Raven already."
"The Baron wouldn't want you to put yourself in danger," Fakir said tightly.
"I'm going to keep out the way, obviously. I'm not going to fling myself into the action; I just don't want to be sitting around, twiddling my thumbs, while they're out there fighting for us."
"I'll go with her," offered Ahiru. "I know the way."
"That does not ease my worry," Fakir said flatly. "You're as bad as each other."
Despite themselves, the two girls grinned.
Naoko sighed. "I'll go as well. But no stupid actions," she warned. "Come on, if we move now we might make it out to the castle before darkness falls."
"You're allowing them to go?" Fakir asked incredulously.
"I know that look she has; she's decided to go and nothing I say will be able to sway her. You'll be alright by yourself?" She directed the question to Haru's brother as she collected her coat and shoes.
"Hey, I've got one stone crow and one fat cat." A ghost of a smile quirked on Fakir's face. "What more could a writer wish for?"
"Well, I could do with some angel fruit cake, personally..."
"Oh, for goodness sake, Muta, this is serious," Haru sighed.
"What is the cat saying?"
The brunette waved it away. "Nothing. Come on, let's get going."
ooOoo
"So have you actually got a plan?" Charon looked uncertainly over at the large feline. He hadn't quiet become accustomed to Baron's presence just yet.
"Of course I've got a plan. I distract; you go in for the kill."
"Funnily enough, I was hoping for something a little bit more solid than that. You said you've had experience in this type of thing before... What do you do usually?"
Baron muttered something.
"Sorry, I didn't catch that."
"I said that usually I improvise."
Charon didn't look too impressed by the answer, and Baron didn't look too happy about it either.
"Usually it works," he added.
"What kind of 'experience' exactly were you talking about?" the man asked tautly.
"I'll have you know that the other day the Bureau dealt with a plot of treason. And under the exact circumstances in which I met Miss Haru, I took on a monarch with nothing but a cane and a mask."
"Show-off."
"It worked. Sort of." Baron turned his attention to testing the weight of his weapon, suddenly no longer particularly eager about the turn of the conversation. "Anyway, if we even had any idea of the circumstances we were going to be meeting the Raven under, it would make planning several degrees easier."
"Well I don't know."
"Didn't you see the Raven when he last took over the town?"
"If you must know, at the time I was one of the townsfolk that turned into a raven," Charon answered stiffly.
"How do you remember anything that happened then? Only a few people still have retained some memory of those incidents."
Charon shrugged. "I suppose the link between me and Fakir must have meant something. All I know is that I remember the events of that day. Anyway, you shared the same mind of the Raven; you should surely have some inkling of what he'll be planning."
"All I can guess is that revenge will be on the agenda. That's easy enough. He'll know we're coming as well – he can probably guess our actions easily enough."
"Well, thanks for those kind words of encouragement," Charon answered flatly.
"Anytime."
They saw a break in the scattered spreading of trees, and the man put out a hand to warn Baron that they were approaching. "It's just up there ahead. There's an entrance round the back that I could use for means of surprise, but the whole front two walls are gone, so you'll be easy to spot if you continue this way."
"Well, if I'm being a distraction, lack of discretion is important." Baron acted unconcerned and moved to carry on his current direction. "You just make sure you're not spotted."
"Fine by me."
Baron let Charon go ahead to the right first before striding out to the clearing with the old russet-red building set out like a stage for them. Clinging to every surface were hoards of ravens, raising their harsh voices in a cacophony of noise. And, standing in the middle, surrounded by his minions, was the Monster Raven himself.
Haru had been right in her estimations; the Raven had altered his host's appearance to the point that it was closer to a human's height, possibly even rivalling Baron in height.
"Lookie who we have here," the creature sneered, glancing down at the slightly dishevelled form of Baron. "The puppet without strings. Come to deal with me, I suppose?"
'Keep him talking; give Charon a chance to sneak up on him...'
"Pretty much. An overgrown raven you may be, but you're still a raven when it comes down to it."
"Brave words from an overgrown cat."
Despite himself, Baron glanced to the Raven's right, wondering when Charon would appear. He turned his attentions back to the monster. "What exactly is it you want?"
"You know perfectly well what I want. Revenge."
"Isn't that just a little bit cliche?" criticised Baron. "It's not like you get anything rational out of it."
"You try being stuck in limbo for a year, and then try to be 'rational'," the Raven replied coldly.
"All you ever do is talk of hate..."
"I was written that way. It is who – what – I was made to be."
"You have a choice."
"I never had a choice."
"There is always a choice," Baron growled.
"It's not like you would understand what it is like to be controlled right from the start of your existence; to never be able to follow any path except the one set out for you." The Raven made an indistinct, disgusted noise in his throat. "If I could get my claws on Drosselmeyer, I'd tear him apart."
"I'd understand more than you expect," Baron said, although his voice had lost some of its edge. "You know I am – was – a Creation. My own feelings, my knowledge about my past were all controlled, concealed... We share that in common."
The Raven spat in his direction. "We share nothing in common. You were written to be allowed to think beyond your boundaries. You were written so that people would accept you, even with your differences. I was written to be a villain right from the start; I was written to be the Monster Raven. There is no escape from that fate."
Baron saw the shadow of Charon creep up the stairs round the back, sword raised in hand. Desperate to keep the Raven's concentration trained on him, Baron said, "We change."
"If given the chance. Puppet, I'm too set in my ways to change now. No, what I am now is what I'll always be." Suddenly a grotesque grin curved on the Raven's beak. "So you'd better tell that pathetic human hiding round the back to give up now."
There was a clattering as Charon half-slipped on hearing that his attempt had been thwarted. The ordinary ravens rose and flew at the man, sending him scattering back down the stairs. There was a thud as he slipped – entirely this time – and fell.
"Don't worry, puppet," the Raven sneered as his minions flew back, carrying Lohengrin's sword in their talons. "He's alive. Just unconscious. Pathetic creatures; did you actually think a simple distraction would work against me? You forget, puppet, that I know your mind. You like the simple, old-fashioned tricks best. Shame it makes you predictable." That monstrous smile widened; the beak curving upwards to show just how lethal it could be.
The sword was tossed carelessly to the side.
"So what now? Did you have any back-up plan or was that it?"
Baron's eyes flickered once more to where Charon had disappeared down the steps. Back-up plan? No, not really. Like he had told Charon, he had a penchant for improvisation. It was just a shame that right now no sudden sparks of inspiration hit him.
"No? Then I guess it's my move." Still that smile remained. A harsh cry rose up in the Raven's throat and all the ravens surrounding him took to the air and went for the feline.
And still the Raven was smiling.
ooOoo
"NO!"
Haru tried to move forward to do something – anything – but Ahiru and Naoko both took a hold on her arm to stop her running into the fray.
"What do you think you can do?" Naoko demanded. "You'll get yourself killed!"
"I'm not going to watch them tear Baron apart!" the brunette cried back.
"I'm sure he can handle himself," said Ahiru, but her eyes betrayed the lie.
Haru tried to move forward, but neither released her.
"They're going to kill him," she insisted. "I must do something. Ahiru," she said, appealing to the other girl, "what if it were Fakir there? Wouldn't you do something?"
The girl hesitated.
Haru saw the weakness and plunged on.
"You've thrown yourself into so many stupid situations because your heart has told you it's the right thing to do. I know you have; Fakir has told me several times over. If it were Fakir – or even the Prince or the Princess – you wouldn't hesitate for a second. You'd already be there. Even if it were some stranger, you would still act. Why can't I be allowed to do the same?"
Ahiru dropped her gaze and released her. Now Haru turned to Naoko.
"Please..."
"You're going to get yourself killed," Naoko whispered. "I don't want to lose you."
"I don't want to lose Baron," she whispered back. "I love him. Mum..."
Naoko's gaze softened. Before she loosened her grip, she brought Haru into a tight embrace. "You'll always be my daughter, you know that?"
"And you'll always be my mum," replied Haru. "But this is something I need to do. Please understand that."
"I do."
"And please stay here – this is my decision, not yours. I don't want you getting hurt for my sake."
Before another word could be passed between them, Haru ran up the steps, only pausing to check for the pulse of Charon. He was alive.
She ran onto the stage-like floor of the building; the cries of the ravens drowning out her approach, and snatched Lohengrin's sword up.
"Call them off Baron, Raven!"
The sword was raised, poised to plunge into the Raven's heart.
The Raven turned to look to the young brunette; so small and frail, and yet wielding the deadly weapon with murder clear in those thundering eyes.
"Oh look, the young Drosselmeyer descendant is trying to take a lead. Is that allowed? Is the writer permitted to crash their own story?"
"Release Baron. Now," she growled.
"Fine." The Raven lightly looked towards his minions, which – without any apparent commandment – flew up and occupied the top of the building.
Keeping the sword trained on the monstrous Raven, Haru edged round to see the collapsed form of Baron. Despite her outward show of bravado, a shiver rippled through her. "Is he...?"
"He's alive," the Raven replied in a bored tone. "But now what are we to do? Stalemate."
"In case you hadn't realised," Haru snarled, trying to regain the boldness from before, "I'm the one holding the sword at your neck."
Why was he still smiling? Couldn't he see that he was the one whose life was on the line now?
"Yes, but the question is, could you do it? Could you take a life, however hated?"
"You deserve to die," she whispered. "I've seen your mind; I know that if our roles were reversed I'd already be a corpse."
"Yes, you know I should die. It doesn't make the deed any easier, does it?"
She hated how the blade was shaking, but she forced it to remain raised. "Give me one reason why I should spare you."
"What about for your own sake?"
Haru scoffed. "What are you talking about? You're a threat to me; you wouldn't hesitate to hurt any of us. You've already proven that, what with Charon and... Baron."
"Once I'm dead, what then? Everything returns to normal; everything returns to that fragile thing we call 'reality'." Those blood-red eyes flickered to the still form of Baron. "Even the puppet will have to return to some form of reality. You know he cannot stay as he is."
"And why should that concern me?" bluffed Haru.
"Oh, I think you know why. Falling in love with a Creation was one thing, but what if he becomes a cat entirely? Even with your particular cat-speaking abilities, you know that a relationship would never work out. You'd lose him."
"My welfare isn't the only thing at stake here," she told him hoarsely. "You think I'd be selfish enough to only think of myself?"
"I know enough about the human heart to know that despite the song and dance humans make about love, in truth it is a very selfish thing."
A bitter smile slipped onto Haru's face. "Then you've sadly mistaken humanity's greatest emotion. Love isn't 'I', it's 'we'. It's a two-way thing, and if you can't see that you'll never understand any of us."
"I understand enough to see how weak it makes you. Love. Mercy. Compassion. Where is there room for such things in this world?"
"There is still a place for such things today."
"Tell me then why there are still people starving on the streets; why people are still dying of easily curable diseases; why is poverty still at large? Humanity is cruel; only ever thinking of itself. It spares no thought for the weak. And that's why humanity has thrived; not because of compassion or mercy or even love you claim to value so highly... Humanity has thrived because it is ruthless," cawed the Raven triumphantly, revelling in his own words.
The blade shook; but this time with unbridled anger. "You're wrong."
"Am I? If mercy is so great a thing, would you still kill me?"
"You're dangerous," she hissed, but her words were faltering. "You'll kill without thinking and if I let you go then I'll have the guilt of anyone you hurt on my conscious."
"And yet you still can't bring yourself to do the deed." The Raven snorted. "Pitiful. Even when lives are at stake, you still can't bring yourself to take a life. It will be the death of you."
The sword hovered, then dropped to her side, still in hand, and Haru stumbled back. "It's better than living in hate," she whispered. How had she forgotten that belief she'd harboured not so long ago? Her eyes picked up and she looked over at the monster. "We'll find some other way to deal with you. This won't end with blood on my hands. I won't let you drag me down to your level."
Movement out of the corner of her eye made her turn her gaze to where she'd last seen Baron. He stood at the edge of the building, using the raised floor to be a support with a look Haru guessed was pride on his face.
"Did I do good, Baron?" she asked in a small voice, like a child seeking an adult's approval.
He smiled. "You did amazingly."
She smiled back, a little foolishly, but none the worse for it.
However, the moment was suddenly shattered as Baron's gaze snapped to movement behind Haru. "Haru, look out!"
Haru spun around; the sword instinctively raised, and saw the Raven coming towards her. He had a blade forged by two ravens and was aimed directly for her.
She dived to the side, only narrowly missing being skewered by the black weapon and shakily got to her feet across the room. He came at her again, and this time she couldn't duck away; she only held the sword like a barrier before her as the midnight blade struck her own and she was pushed back, with her back pressed into the walls.
The twin blades inched nearer to her skin and just as she was beginning to fear that in a moment the icy touch of the steel would stroke her neck, the Raven and his sword was pushed away. Gasping she lowered her own weapon and gingerly placed her left hand against her neck. A faint line of blood marked where the blade had nicked her.
She looked up to see what had saved her; she shouldn't have been surprised to see it was Baron. Glancing out to where she could see Naoko and Ahiru fretfully watching, she motioned for them to stay. She knew from accounts that it wasn't in Ahiru's nature to stand by and do nothing, but if she had to defend Ahiru too then it would only make it harder for her. Then she scrambled over to where Baron was picking himself off the floor; with his opponent doing likewise.
"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly. "Oh my... you're bleeding!"
"That was from the ravens," he dismissed. "Right now we have bigger problems on our hands."
Haru remembered the situation they were in and spun round on her heels to see the Raven slowly getting to his feet. Or talons. Whatever.
"I really wish Fakir would hurry up and write us some luck," Haru hissed as she bared the sword between them, standing between the Raven and Baron. She hadn't even realised she had automatically moved to defend Baron.
"I don't think it's that easy."
"This isn't that easy either," she retorted tightly. "Hurry up, Fakir..." she muttered through gritted teeth.
"I thought he said he could only write for Ahiru..."
"Well now would be a good time for him to step up a bit!"
The Raven had returned to his feet and regarded the pair hatefully. "Are you going to bicker all day?"
"Depends on my mood."
"You should just give up; you know you can never defeat me..."
"Oh yeah? In case you hadn't noticed, beaky, you're not the only one holding a sword."
"Why should I fear a little girl?"
"Let's just say this is not the right time to be getting on my bad side."
"You're all words and no action."
Haru grimaced. "Yeah, but in this crazy town with all its Drosselmeyer descendants, words tend to have more force than action does. And I seriously hope Fakir is writing your demise right now because I'm clueless."
The Raven leered. "You think that insolent excuse of a knight has any power over me? I am the nightmare of this town. I am the boogieman parents warn their children about. I am the reason people avoid the streets at night. They do not know it, but the fear is embedded instinctively into their minds. I am..."
He broke off and suddenly sank to the ground; groaning and clutching his stomach.
"You are a character in this story, just like the rest of us," Baron spoke up. "And in case you hadn't noticed, you're killing your host."
"No!" hissed the Raven. "No! This body should have more time left! How...?"
No mercy glittered in those jade eyes. "I spoke to Fakir – to the knight – before I left. I asked him to find a way to speed up the process. It seems he has found a way. I expect the unnatural change you forced on your host has caused the cells to decay faster than usual. Your own fault."
Haru laughed and tilted her head up to the sky. "I take back what I said Fakir! You're amazing; I owe you, big time!"
The Raven growled. "No, no it's not going to end like this!" He lunged for Haru; midnight sword still in his grasp, ready to bring it down.
Haru reacted to bring her own sword around and felt steel tear through feathers as, in his own unstoppable momentum, the monstrous bird impaled himself upon her blade. An unintentional scream escaped her lips as the hideous face of the Raven, with those nightmare eyes, struggled to free himself, but to no avail. The blade had struck true; the eyes eventually grew dim and a sheen faded over them. Death claimed the Monster Raven once again.
Shaking, Haru dropped the sword. The limp corpse of the mutilated bird collapsed to the ground with a muffled clatter.
"Oh... Oh... Oh my..." she whimpered. "I... I killed him... I..."
"Shush," soothed a familiar voice. "I know. It's all okay. It's all over now. The story's finished." She felt herself brought into a gentle embrace and allowed herself to be calmed. "I'm here."
A gloved hand stroked her hair, Baron still murmuring soothing words.
It was only when she had gained suitable control over her pacing heart that a few realisations struck her.
The story was finished...
She tilted her head to look straight into the eyes of Baron. To look into his face.
His human face.
ooOoo
A/N: One last, short chapter to go.
