Hello again, hope your ready for more.
- Chapter 48-I have Returned:
"So here's what I don't get, no offense girls; but you look like adults and not students, so do you teach here at the school ?"Eugene asked, as the group headed towards the library.
Rapunzel was holding Eugene's arm and she too gave a curious look and she could see Varian with a similar look on his face. Ever since he woke up he hadn't left his sister's side and Alice, completely understanding his concern, just wrapped her arm around his shoulders, holding him close and gently brushing his hair with her fingers.
"No, we're not teachers here, we are actually technically still students ,"Yuri told them.
"You see, at this school we can take additional classes after we reach the age of eighteen and still don't have a keyblade or a status we want with that keyblade. Some of us just want to learn more about our powers, so we take the new classes, other students go on to start families and almost never have to use their powers again, but the majority of students try to earn keyblades ,"Monika explained.
"That makes sense, I'm guessing that got started after Ballora's rampage ?"Alice asked.
"Yeah…. Although some students do go on to be teachers here ,"Sayori told her.
"But she's changed, could she come back and take those classes ?"Varian asked.
"I don't know sweetheart…...what Ballora did was…..unforgivable and I'm not sure Master Simon would be too happy if she tried to get a keyblade after all this ,"Yuri said.
"I know, but still, she doesn't want to be your enemy anymore, at least not Alice's enemy ,"Varian told her.
"You know, you were right Alice ,"Sayori said.
"About what ?"she asked.
"Even though your little brother has grown up, he's still the same little toddler we knew eleven years ago. Even now I can still see the wonder in those baby blue eyes, that spark hasn't disappeared since he was little at all,"Sayori said.
"Yeah…..I've always been a man of science…..so you girls knew me back then ?"Varian asked.
"Yep…..we used to help your sister at home a lot, but then there was an incident with our magic so Alice decided it might be better if the house was a no magic zone for a while ,"Monika told him.
"Hey Alice, remember when Attina insisted that she could juggle Varian's toys while balancing on one foot ?"Natsuki asked and Alice laughed a little.
"You mean the time when she dropped Varian's raccoon plushie right on top of his head, yes I remember ,"Alice said, causing all five girls to giggle slightly.
"I honestly don't remember that at all ,"Varian said, embarrassed.
"It's alright Vary…..you were, after all, very little ,"Alice told him.
A few moments later Monika rushed ahead of them and opened the door at the end of the hallway. She gasped and closed the door quickly before turning back to the group and stopping Alice in her tracks.
"Monika, what's wrong ?"she asked, as Monika grabbed her hands and led her towards the adjacent wall.
"Let's see here…..same sparkling black eyes…..flowing black hair…..slender frame…..fair skin… Yep this could work. Pebbles, is there anything you can do about this ?"Monika asked the wall as a panel in the wall slid away revealing five of the Pebbles. A few of them are dragging a roll of green fabric and some blue sheer fabric.
"Alice, what happened to your dress ?"one of the female pebbles asked.
Alice looked down at the knee length pink dress she was wearing and saw that the skirt was ripped up the side, tattered in a few spots, and the sleeve on her right shoulder was falling off. Looking down at her boots she saw that they were covered in mud from all the walking she had done to get here.
"I guess I was so desperate to get Varian out of the way of that prank, I didn't notice my wardrobe mess up ,"Alice said, chuckling in embarrassment.
"Oh come on Al, we live on a farm and even covered in mud you look great ,"Varian told her.
"All the same, there's a certain someone in the library who you do not want to look like a dishrag in front of, so with that being said….Pebbles do your thing ,"Monika commanded, stepping back.
Before anyone could question what she meant, a few pebbles brought out a dark blue curtain, which they quickly placed in front of Alice. The Pebbles with the fabric then joined her behind the curtain, Alice giggling as they jumped onto her and started messing with her dress and shoes.
"Monika if this is about who I think it's about, then for the last time we're just friends ,"Alice said, from behind the curtain.
"You'll see when we get inside ,"Monika said, smiling as she heard the Pebbles work.
"So...who's so special in the library ?"Rapunzel asked.
"It's a surprise…...and I just want Alice to look her best for this; after all she may be a warrior princess but that doesn't mean she can't look good ,"Monika said before whispering something to her friends, who all squealed in excitement.
A few moments later the curtain was taken away and the group could see Alice with the Pebbles making final adjustments to the outfit that had been made for her.
The main part of the dress was seafoam green, it had a pencil skirt which reached just below her knees and the dress was in the off the shoulder style with the sleeves being made out of mint green fabric. The dress was laced up in the back with a baby blue ribbon. Another skirt flowed down from Alice's waist, in an asymmetrical style and made out of sheer, maya blue fabric. Her boots were gone and instead replaced by taffy pink flats. Two baby blue cuffs were around each of her wrist, the design of them making it look like they were waves of water on her arms. Alice merely smiled at the Pebbles as they played around with her hair, taking it out of it's ponytail and instead placing it into a fancy, french twist bun. One final pebble came out of the walls and held up a pink hair clip in the shape of a water lily, which was used to keep the bun in place. Alice smiled at them, thanking them as they all walked back into the walls.
"Well…..how do I look ?"Alice asked, twirling around for them all to see.
"Wow….Alice you look incredible !"Varian exclaimed, never before seeing his sister look so dazzling.
"Yeah…..I wasn't going to say anything but wow, you look like a water lily ,"Eugene said.
"You look great Al….Gary is gonna be head over heels once he sees you ,"Sayori squealed.
"Thanks guys, but for the last time me and Gary are just friends ,"Alice told them.
"You had a crush on him when you were both six ,"Natsuki pointed out.
"Yeah….but he remained oblivious even though I thought I was being very obvious, so when I left for Arendelle I gave up on him. It's not like I could have had a relationship with him if I wanted to ,"Alice pointed out.
"So you and Gary were-?"Rapunzel started to ask.
"No, I like to think we were childhood sweethearts, but I was the only one out of the two of us who had those types of feelings for the other. Besides, we're not here to talk about my love life, we're here to get some information, are you ready to put those translation skills to the test, Varian ?"Alice asked.
"Yeah….let's do this ,"Varian said.
"Wonderfully, hopefully he hasn't left the library yet ,"Monika said, opening the door to the library.
"Alright, who are you talking about Monika ?"Alice asked as she stepped into the room, looking at her friend.
"Allison !"A masculine voice gasped and hearing the voice Alice turned around.
The group turned their attention towards the direction of the voice as well,the friends of the black-haired woman smiling. The man before them was obviously one of the teachers at the school, at least judging by the satchel filled with folders and books that he was carrying. His hair was brown and graying from age, wrinkles were underneath his wonder filled jet black eyes and his skin was slightly tanned. He wore a jacket over a clean white shirt and light brown slacks, along with a pair of black boots. He was muscular, and his hands showed his strength. It looked like he had been through probably hundreds of keyblade battles, but it was clear from his father like gaze that he had a gentler side to him as well and that gaze was planted firmly on Alice. Varian recognized the gaze well. It was the exact same look his own father had given Alice when she finally came home.
"Master Simon…..I've returned ,"Alice said, giving a deep bow.
Master Simon didn't pay any attention to her bow, but instead rushed right up to the young woman and wrapped her in his embrace.
"Oh my….Allison are you alright?…..We've been so worried, I sent dozens of keybladers looking for you ,"Master Simon told her, cupping her face in his hand.
"Yes Master, I'm fine, no need to worry…...I'm sorry Master, I tried to convince Ballora to come back to us, but I….,"Alice started.
"I knew Ballora's heart couldn't be so easily changed, I don't think there's anything they might be able to change her ,"Master Simon told her.
"That's not true, Sir. The last time I saw her, she said she wanted to change and be Alice's friend again, maybe there's still a way she could come back and be a student ,"Varian offered.
"If she's willing to be patient and not look for power to build a legacy, then it's a possibility…...and who might you be, young man ?"Master Simon asked, looking at Varian.
"Oh right…...Master Simon, may I present Princess Rapunzel of Corona and the Captain of the guards, Eugene Fitzherbert ,"Alice said, stepping away from her master and holding her hand out to her friends.
"Greeting sir….We've heard a lot about you from Alice ,"Eugene said.
"It's truly an honor to meet you. Alice speaks fondly of you ,"Rapunzel told him.
"The honor is all mine, your majesties ,"Master Simon told them, giving a gentle bow.
"And this adorable young man, is my little brother Varian ,"Alice said, ruffling Varian hair.
"Sis, stop it !"Varian exclaimed, in embarrassment.
"Ahhh, so you're the alchemist of Old Corona that everyone's talking about ,"Master Simon said, smiling at the siblings.
"You….you know about me ?"Varian asked.
"Of course, considering the fact you stopped the red rocks from freezing everyone in a fear spell and invented an early warning system for the kingdom, I would say it would be very dense for us to not know about you ,"Master Simon said.
"So you know what's going on outside, without going outside ?"Alice asked.
"We heard the explosion from the ROOSTER all the way out here and you forget some of us can see into the future, ,"Master Simon said, his voice stern.
"Apologies Master, that was out of line ,"Alice said, bowing her head sheepishly.
Master Simon simply laughed and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You haven't changed since I last saw you. Also you spoke so fondly of your brother every time you visited us that it makes sense we would keep an eye on him in your absence ,"Master Simon told her.
"I…...you…..I…. thank you, Master ,"Alice said.
"Of course, your family is my family, you know that ,"Master Simon told her.
"Yes, of course…..If I might ask….how long have you known I was fused with Ballora ?"Alice asked.
"I sensed it just after it happened. However, what I didn't expect was for either of you to become free ,"Master Simon told her.
"How it happened, I'm still ashamed of what I was forced to do, and I hope you can forgive me for what I've done, Master ,"Alice said, sadly.
"Considering the one you've wronged has forgiven you, I would say you don't need my forgiveness ,"Master Simon told her.
"I know…..but he's my brother and despite everything we've gone through, we still love each other and nothing will change that ,"Alice said, smiling at Varian.
"I realize that, but I wasn't talking about your brother…..I was talking about your sister ,"Master Simon told her.
"You…...you….what ?"Alice asked.
"Allison….Varian is right, I can sense a change in Ballora's heart, there's still darkness there, but I can sense a light trying to come through. Whether or not it actually stays or not, we will have to see ,"Master Simon told her.
"Thank you Master….I hope you're right, I really do ,"Alice said.
"We'll see...and if you do see her again, tell her I would love to see her in class again, if she's still interested ,"Master Simon said.
"I….I will ,"Alice said.
"Good….now young Gary is in the back of the library, I'm sure he has a considerable stack of books and scrolls by now, take whatever you need ,"Master Simon told them.
"Thank you Master….and I promise I'll make time to come for tea, when all this is over ,"Alice said.
"I would enjoy that my dear, I have missed our talks ,"Master Simon said, as he exited the library, smiling fondly at his student.
"He's seems pretty nice ,"Varian said.
"Yeah, he really is. Now let's go and see what we can find ,"Alice said and they all headed towards the back of the library.
Just something short and sweet this week, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. I hope you all have a good day, stay healthy, stay safe, stay happy, and I'll see you all next week.
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