I do not own "Over the Garden Wall"
A New Day
Wirt watched the sun rise in horizon, the window gave him an excellent view from the couch. He had not slept a wink, he hadn't felt the need to. However, the same couldn't be said for Beatrice.
He looked towards the sleeping redhead that was latched to his arm. She had a very strong grip, even when sleeping.
Once they had returned last night, Beatrice sat Wirt on the couch and sat down beside him. She had refused to leave him, afraid he'd vanish into the night. She went as far as to latch her arm to his. It actually made him happy to know that he was wanted.
She looks so peaceful. Wirt thought as he stared at her.
As a bird, Beatrice had been...a bird, sassy and assertive, but a bird. As a human, she was gorgeous. Her red hair looked like fire on her pale skin. And her freckles were so cute.
Wait, what? Wirt wondered. Had he seriously been thinking of Beatrice that way?
"Aw, aren't you two adorable." A voice cooed from behind Wirt.
The boy turn his head, so as not to wake Beatrice, to see the matron and patron of the family. She was staring at the two with a loving gaze.
"Uh, well..." Wirt didn't know what to say.
"Beatrice, it's time to wake up." The mother called. Not loud, but her voice carried to the sleeping redhead.
Beatrice stood up groggily as she struggled to wake up. Stretching with a yawn, she turned to look at Wirt, then her parents.
"I'm up." She stated drowsily.
"Good, now go help your brothers and sisters get up." The matron kindly ordered. "We have a big day."
Beatrice gave a sigh and made to do as she was told but came to a sudden stop. She turned back to Wirt with an firm glare.
"Stay!" She ordered.
Obediently, Wirt sat onto the couch they had shared for the night. Beatrice gave him a stern look, to make sure he didn't try leaving, before going to awake her siblings.
"On a thin leash already, ay lad?" The father chuckled.
Not knowing why, Wirt lowered his head and blushed. This just caused the parents to chuckle at him.
There was a loud thumping sound from upstairs, followed by the sound of Beatrice shouting. Then came the sound of laughter and running feet, followed by more of Beatrice's shouting, no doubt the rest of the siblings were up.
In only a few minutes, the children came running downstairs with a red faced Beatrice chasing after them.
"Go and bathe." Beatrice ordered. "I drew you a bath."
"Drawing him a bath?" Beatrice's sister teased. "Why don't you just-"
Beatrice nearly tackled her sister as she ran to cover her mouth. Wirt could only tilt his head in confusion at what was happening, though he couldn't help smiling. All of the little kids reminded him of Greg.
The though of his brother removed the smile from his face, he missed his little brother more than he thought he would. He still regretted how he treated his little sibling, he wished he could take it all back.
"Wirt!" Beatrice shouted. "Bath!"
"Uh, right!" He spoke as he hastly made his way upstairs.
Beatrice turned to her family, who all had their eyes on her and a smile. She could only go red in the face, saying nothing to any of them.
"Time for your morning dirt." Their mother spoke as she ushered them all into the kitchen.
Beatrice watched as she placed a few chunks of wood into the stove. Then layered the pan with a hunk of yellow she recognized as butter. Pull out a few dozen pieces of preserved meat and eggs.
"Would you like to help?" Her mother asked as she continued working.
"I would like to." Beatrice stated. "But I can't-"
"Stand next to me?" She asked.
"Well, yeah." Beatrice stated as she moved closer. "But I can't-"
"Can't lay these pieces of meat onto the frying pan?" She asked, handing her daughter strips of bacon.
"Of course." She stated as she laid the meat onto the heating pan. "But I can't-"
"Can't crack an egg or two over another heating pan?" She asked, handing her daughter a collection.
"Yeah." She stated as she did as instructed.
"Then what can't you do?" She asked as she motioned to the food. "Because now everything is done, and nothing burned."
That's it? Beatrice thought. "...Is that all there is to cooking?"
"No, but things are only as complicate as you make them." Beatrice's mother spoke. "But a man does like a woman who can cook." The matron stated as she winked at her daughter. Beatrice went red faced as she tripped over her own words. Though she never tried to deny what her mother said. "Now come, we only need to do it a dozen more times to feed the rest of the people in the house."
-Elsewhere
The Woodsman finally opened his eyes. He was content to stay in bed for a few more hours if given the chance, maybe even the whole day. Fortunately or unfortunately, he was stirred from comfort by something of equal pleasure. The smell of a freshly made breakfast.
If there was anything he had to complain about, it was his busted leg. It had been set properly, but that did nothing to the pain. Still, it was nothing a man about to get a hot meal couldn't endure.
Walking into the kitchen, the Woodsman was greeted by the site of his daughter making a plate of food. And what a plate it was. Filled with a hearty amount of scrambled eggs and crispy bacon.
"How did you sleep father?" Anna asked as she placed a plate in front of him.
"Amazingly daughter." He answered, content.
It was true on many levels for the man. To sleep under his own roof and in his own bed after so long, he didn't know when he last felt that comfortable. And to know that the one he cared for most was just as comfortable, safe and within reach. He felt as if he were truly at peace.
The two sat and ate in a peaceful silence, just happy to have each other's company after so long. It's amazing how being with family could almost make one forget the time they spent apart. But all sweet things must have bitterness to even it out.
"Daughter, I hate to bring this up." He began sadly. "But I need to know, and you deserve an explanation as well."
She knew what he was referring to, how could she not. He was asking about the last time they had saw each other.
"I know you told me it was dangerous, but we needed more wood." She stated, hoping he wouldn't be too upset with her. "So I went to get some and...and I ran into him. I ran into The Beast."
"I'm sorry."
"Seeing the Beast was so..." Anna struggled to find the proper words. "Overwhelming."
The Woodsman nodded, as if he understood. He didn't. What he thought his daughter was referring to as fear, was in fact admiration. While he hated The Beast, she worshiped him.
"It's okay daughter." He comforted. "Please, continue."
"I ran." She stated, almost as if she were ashamed of herself. "I ran as hard and as fast as I could. Finally, I returned home and then I...waited. I waited for you to return, but you never did."
"I apologize daughter. I would have returned to you had I known the truth! Forgive me, please!" He begged. "I went out in search of you and encountered the Beast. He told me...he told me that your soul had been put inside of his dreaded Lantern."
"The Lantern?" She asked.
"The one he carried around constantly." The Woodsman spoke. "Instead of your soul, it housed his own. That was why he needed to Edelwood, to fuel it so that he could continue his dreaded existence. He tricked me into doing his dirty work, grinding the lost souls of the woods into oil."
"Lost souls?" Anna asked. "Edelwood?"
The Woodsman hesitated in telling her, before resigning the idea of not being honest. Lies had been what separated the two of them in the first place for so long. He couldn't bare to be the one who told one that could have the same affect. So he told her the truth, the truth of his actions over the last few years. The countless nights cutting trees and grinding the into oil, where the trees that made the oil came from. Everything he could, leading up to his return.
"Now all I've done is condemn an innocent boy to the same horrid fate."
"The one the boy carried?" She urged, leaning in. "From last night?"
"Yes." The Woodsman answered.
The Lantern. She thought, her mind racing. She had a gut feeling from the night before, but now she was sure it was the Dark Lantern. For years, as long as The Beast has existed, so has the Lantern. People have wondered what the connection to the two was, now she understood.
"To save his brother...the lad lit the Dark Lantern." The Woodsman continued, regaining her attention.
"So...he's the Beast!" Anna exclaimed.
I simply thought he stole the lantern, if he's now the owner...Her mind began to trail off as she processed the new information.
"For better or worse, he has taken the task as it's bearer." The Woodsman sighed.
"I-I thought he had stolen it." Anna spoke in a hushed whisper. "But if he is now the Beast then..."
Anna stood from the table and began running out of the house. She ignored the call of her father, to overcome by the realization that she had been informed of. Anna came to a halt at the edge of her home's yard. She didn't know which way to the home of the new Beast, but she'd find it.
"Daughter!" The Woodsman called, only for it to fall on deaf ears. "Anna!"
He knew he couldn't catch, not with his busted leg.
Wirt looked at what Beatrice and her family called a bath. It was a large basin tub filled with water, warm water. It was obviously freshly heated.
Wirt was looking forward to this, more than he realized. He and Greg had been moving through the woods for days and nights, gaining all types of filth. To wash it all off was something that he had wanted to do since the first bug bite.
The boy began to undress but when he removed his hat, his hands brushed against something. Feeling for it again, he gasped. It was unnoticeable unless you looked for it, but it was there! On the side of his head, Wirt was growing antlers!
No no no! Wirt thought in a panic. He had thought that keeping the lantern burning was the only side-effect of bearing it! Was he becoming the Beast now! Would his soul become trapped in a husk that knew nothing other than it's need for oil!? He...he couldn't let that happen!
Wirt stumbled as a wave of dizziness swept over him. The world fell away into the void leaving nothing but the cold and the dark replica. Everything took a cold and ominous tone that felt nothing like it was mere seconds before. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something that made it into the dark place, his Lantern. It illuminated the bathroom's vanity mirror, giving Wirt a look at something that was supposed to be his reflection.
The face in the mirror was a twisted, familiar mask of darkness. Though he felt as if there had been a vicious grin had there been a true face. It's eyes full of nothing but an empty white glow. Wirt lifted his head for a closer look. It was him, but at the same time it wasn't. It was like there were two people sharing one body, a normal human boy and this dark copy.
There was only Wirt and the Beast.
Like little parasitic worms, he felt the Lich work his way into his mind.
"Y-You're dead." Wirt whispered.
The reflection let out a cold laughter that gave Wirt chills.
"You burn my oil in my lantern." He stated. "You think that some part of me wouldn't be awakened?"
"I'm not afraid, I've...I've beaten you already!" Wirt declared, trying to sound brave. "I have the lantern! You can't do anything to me."
"I can do many things boy!" The Beast taunted. "And so...can you."
"...What?" Wirt was understandably confused by such a comment.
"You hold a source of tremendous power." The Beast spoke. "I could show you how to use it. I could show you many things, Wirt."
Wirt's confusion continued to grow, thought that was to be expected by such a statement. He had just, supposedly, killed the Beast a mere day ago, and now here he was. Offering to teach Wirt
"What do you want with me?" Wirt asked suspiciously.
"I need you to finish my work." The Beast spoke coolly. "You've seen a fraction of what I can do. Let me teach you, Wirt, we'll...have fun."
"I don't won't to learn a thing from you!"
"You'll come to me boy." The Beast promised. "Soon, you'll come begging for my help."
With that ominous promise, the Beast faded away with the darkness. Wirt felt he could actually sense him leaving his mind. Though, if his words were true, then the Beast would never leave, not as long as the Lantern was around.
Wirt decided to forgo the bath, he wanted out of that room as soon as possible.
Beatrice saw Wirt and noticed the light sheen of sweat on his forehead, but mistook it for bathwater. She did notice that he was obviously stressed, though she didn't know from what.
"You okay?" Beatrice asked.
"Y-Yeah." Wirt lied.
"Good." Beatrice spoke. "Then eat up, you've got a lot of work to do."
"Work?" Wirt questioned as he followed her.
By work, Beatrice meant actual work.
It turns out that a large part of the house was damaged and needed to be fixed. He felt silly for not having noticed, especially since he was partially responsible for the destroyed home. When he and Greg hand been attacked by that creature.
He was tempted to bring that up and apologize, but he couldn't. He didn't want to anger them with the truth. So he kept silent and did as instructed.
Wirt wasn't a handy person, but he could follow instructions. He was able to 'Hold this' and 'Hammer that' here and and there. It actually made him feel useful and like he was making up for the damage he caused.
Throughout the day, Wirt had felt as if he were being watched. He knew that he was never alone, not with such a big family living together, but this was different. It felt as if someone was looking at him, someone he couldn't see. He wanted to mention it to Beatrice, but felt she'd think he was being weird, maybe he was. Maybe it was a side-effect of the Lantern. He tried to put it out of his mind as best he could and focus on the work.
By the time they were done for the day the sun was setting and they weren't close to finished. Especially since it was only a few of them working, Beatrice's father and a few of the older boys. The house was more damage than he had realized and it would take time to finish. Luckily, that was something he had.
Once again, Wirt was preparing the couch that he'd be using as a bed. He had no doubt in his mind that he would just be sitting there again until sunrise.
If I'm lucky, Beatrice will-Wirt began shaking his head frantically, trying to clear his mind. He couldn't think of Beatrice like that, she had done so much for him out of kindness. And guilt, but mostly kindness. He couldn't go and make it weird for her.
~He lurks out there in the unknown,
Seeking those who are far from home,
Hoping never to let you return.~
Wirt froze when he heard the words to the song, he had heard it before. This was the song of the Beast. Who would sing a song about the Beast in the dark. As far as Wirt knew, only he, the Woodsman and Beatrice knew of the monster's death. Everyone else should still be cowering at his very name. Had the Woodsman told anyone?
~Oooh Oooh you better be beware,
Oooh Oooh the beast is out there!
Oooh Oooh you better be wise,
And don't believe his lies.~
Curiosity getting the better of him, Wirt followed the song which lead him out of the house. He was sure that he could be back before Beatrice noticed him, or at least he hoped. He didn't want to suffer another of her kicks to his family jewels.
~For once your will begins to spoil,
He'll turn you to a tree of oil,
And use you in his lantern for to burn.~
Just as the song finished, Wirt found the source just behind the house near the trees. Even in the darkness Wirt could see her as clear as day, though her presence confused him. It was Anna, the Woodsman's daughter. What was she doing here, this far from home at this time of night.
"Anna?" He called.
"Where is he?" She asked coolly. "Where is the Beast?"
Wirt was taken back by both the question and by her calmness. It made him wonder how much the Woodsman had told her about him and the lantern.
"Um, he's gone." Wirt answered, uncomfortable.
"How?" She asked as she began walking towards him. "How can the terrifying Beast of the Unknown be gone, yet his Lantern still burn?"
Wirt looked at the Lantern and back to Anna, he was feeling uncomfortable with her gaze on it. He hid the item in his cape away from her sight. Not that he felt any better. Now her gaze was solely on him, and just as uncomfortable.
"Did the Woodsman tell you what happened?" Wirt asked.
"He did. He told me everything." Anna answered with a cold smile. "What did it feel like?" She asked, leaning in closely. "To literally hold life and death in the palm of your hands?"
"Stop."
"Ending it with just a breath of air."
"Stop it!"
"He was helpless before y-"
"Stop!"
This time Wirt's shout carried power, The Lantern reacted to his emotion, his desperation. The flame had glowed so brightly that it illuminated the area with an ominous glow.
Anna took a step back in awe of Wirt's display. However it only confirmed what she had just learned, and her smile doubled in size.
"...What do you want?"
"The Beast needed nothing, desired nothing. Nothing but life." She spoke. "To live he needed to burn the lost souls of the Unknown. Don't you wish to survive as well?" Wirt began to nod absentmindedly to her question, not realizing what he was doing. Of course he wanted to survive, everyone wanted to survive. But it didn't even remotely explain what she was going on about. "Allow me out into the woods of the Unknown in your name and I shall be the herald you need!" She stated eagerly. "I shall keep-No, I will make sure that the Dark Lantern, your lantern, is overflowed with the oils of Edelwood!"
Silence filled the woods after Anna finished her outburst. Wirt looked at her in horror, her fanatical gaze peering into him expectantly. He could only take a step back
"I...don't want that!" Wirt exclaimed.
"You don't!?" She asked in shock, as if she couldn't believe his answer.
"Of course not!" Wirt answered. "Why would you!?"
Wirt watched as her eyes glazed over and a large smile came to her face. She looked as if she was lost in a blissful memory,
"I saw him." She answered whistfully. "I stared upon the Beast himself. He was so...perfect. His dark majesty is what fills the night! He-"
"He was evil!" Wirt cut in.
"He was necessary evil!" Anna shouted. "A fundamental force as old as the first soul in the Unknown! He-" She stopped suddenly, looking at Wirt in realization. He wasn't the Beast. "I see." She stated, her face twisting in disdain. "I came for the being who walked as one with the darkness!" She shouted. "You're not the Beast, you're not worthy of his legacy! You're not worthy of that Lantern!"
Anna let loose a wild cry as she charge the boy. Wirt, not really thinking, lashed out with his hand, while keeping the lantern out of Anna's reach. He struck her across the stomach
Wirt couldn't believe what he had did. Not the fact that he struck a woman, though he wasn't proud of that. He was shocked at how hard and far he had managed to send her with such ease. It wasn't something a human could do.
I-I have to leave! He thought desperately. He had to get away from Anna, to get away from insanity.
"Y-You're crazy!" Wirt exclaimed as he began backing away. "Just stay away from me!"
"No! Wait!" She shouted, though she never made a moved. "Cast me away now and you'll make an enemy of me!"
"Not listening to a crazy lady!" Wirt exclaimed as he turned and began walking away as quickly as possible.
"I warned you!" She shouted.
A loud shattering noise made Wirt stop and spin around. Even in the dark of night, he could see the oil spilling onto the ground. The oil he needed to live.
"What did you..." He trailed off.
"You should have hidden it better." Anna sneered. "Hiding your life line in one place, foolish."
She just killed me. Wirt realized in horror. I'm going to die. I'm going to die!
The realization that he was out of oil mixed with the fact that she was the cause of it stirred something in the lantern bearer. Fear mixed with growing anger, it blended into something that Wirt couldn't process.
'No, you won't.' A dark voice echoed in his mind. 'There's oil right before you.'
Wirt didn't know what the was, but he understood it. Anna, she was a soul of the Unknown. All he had to do was...end her, and she'd become one of the Edelwood trees that would fuel the lantern, his lantern.
'She offered herself to you.' The dark voice whispered.
She did, he'd only be giving her what she wanted. To serve the Beast of the Unknown, to keep his lantern burning bright. And she would, she'd burn nicely in his lantern.
'Just reach for the darkness inside. Make it obey you.'
And he did.
As easily as he could wave his arm, Wirt commanded the power. The darkness of night became so much darker as Wirt practically pushed the light away. He could feel a pleasant coldness fill him from within. And the comforting warmth of his lantern by his side blended perfectly.
Anna had been in shock and awe at what she saw. It was almost as if she were in the presence of the Beast once more. She could only tremble in fear and jubilation at his return.
"You...have beautiful eyes." Anna stated, frozen in awe.
If this was it, if this was how she was going to die, the she accepted it. She would rejoice in it. To keep the Dark Lantern burning longer for her Anna closed her eyes and opened her arms, ready to embrace the end at the hands of the Beast.
"Wirt!" An angry voice called. "Where the heck are you, you-"
Wirt spun around to see Beatrice, she recoiled at the sight of what he was. He looked feral, with darkness filling the already night filled woods. She just barely noticed whoever it was obscured by the shadows of the trees.
Suddenly Wirt began to feel a little light headed. The darkness he had commanded fell away and he returned to his normal self. Whatever he had just done had drained him of his energy, and his energy came from the lantern. He had to grab onto the wall to keep himself stable, nearly collapsing there.
Beatrice was by his side before he could blink, holding on to him. She eased him to the ground so he didn't hurt himself.
Once he was down, she snatched the lantern from him. For some reason he wasn't too worried about it in her hands. He watched as she checked the flame and the amount oil inside, neither were pleased by how little filled it.
"You need to remember to keep your lantern full!" Beatrice hissed.
"Oil...gone." Wirt groaned.
Beatrice said nothing as she reached into her dress and pulled out a small bottle. She had kept it to herself in case of an emergency, it looked like it was good idea. She poured the black liquid into the lantern, bringing the flame back to it's glory. If only a little.
Wirt felt his exhaustion get pushed away and managed to stand. He felt better, but not great.
"It's better, but not full." Beatrice informed. "We'll have to get more to fill it up."
Wirt looked at her in horror of her declaration, until he remembered. She didn't know where the oil came from, what it was made from. But if he didn't tell her, if he didn't fill the lantern, he'd die.
Anna made her way through the woods as fast as she could. She was filled with self hate at her failure.
So close! She thought in frustration.
She had been so close to having the Beast of the Unknown returned to her. Even if she had been nothing but fuel for him, it would have been worth it to serve. Then that...that tramp had to show up, draw back that insignificant pretender.
...The girl. Anna thought.
Had it not been for the girl, then the Beast would have returned. She was sure of it. No doubt she'd be in the way in the future if allowed to interfere with the Beast. So for the dark one to return, Anna had to kill her.
Review-Please, they motivate me. Hoping for a solid 10 new reviews.
I'm sorry for the wait, this had been more difficult than I planned. I hope you like it, tried to make it worth the wait. Next chapter will be sooner. Plan on making the them darker, scarier.