The Corpse Prince

A/N: Well now, I must be quite truthful. I was worried about my last chapter for this story, and that was because I only got two reviews for it... (thank you griffin-queen-of-silver-skiesand gracefuldead56)!It's probably my fault that I didn't make it longer... but still, it kind of hurt me. But I hope everyone else likes this chapter, because I have a twist coming up for the further chapters:) But I don't want to make anyone guilty. I just wanted to say that, to tell everyone how I felt. Anyways, well, I hope you like this one, because I loved writing this chapter! -evil grin, mwahahaha:)- Please review, pretty please!

Also like to thank my consultant and great friend, griffin-queen-of-silver-skies! ;D Clap for her everybody!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the movie except my characters!

Regret is a Terrible Feeling

Vincent could only sob in front of his door as crumpled to the floor. He knew it was very childish, this act he was doing now, but he couldn't help it. He knew now he had lost Valeska. Valeska would continue being mad with him, and he would probably never e able to talk to him. Despair filled his heart at the very notion and he continued to touch the wooden door in front of him. His face was wet with his salty tears and he could only sniffle and give out a choked gasp. He-he... wouldn't be able to live on without Valeska. He had at last gotten her. She had loved him than, and it was his fault. He should have never let that woman in his room. He should have, he should have…

I have to accept what I can't change. I will have to go follow Valeska and tell herthat Iwas sorry for whatI had done... Vincent nodded at the thought and slowly, in a manner that looked as if he was sick, he trembled. Than he noticed the woman, Alaerda Herald, waiting for him with a distressed and confused manner, waiting up the stairs where his room led up across from there. Vincent couldn't help but feel anger towards her. It was all the woman's fault for this. But he knew, it was his fault all along for letting the woman enter his room.

"Are you alright, Master Crosfolt, you look terribly upset..." Ms.Herald spoke with a sympathetic smile or maybe a deepening smile, Vincent couldn't tell. But what he did know was he didn't want to talk with her. Even if it may not have been the woman's fault Valeska ran away from him, he didn't want to talk to her. Something about her creeped him out and he felt uneasy near her. He only flashed a quivering smile that looked more like a grimace as he, without a word, entered his room and slammed it, though softly.

Ms. Herald, meanwhile, only frowned deeply. Then she whispered the words, "How rude..." and left the house of the Crosfolts.

・・・・‥‥……………………‥・・・‥…………………………‥‥・・・

The Corpse Bride sat on one of the benches with a peaceful smile on her face. Her hair was dark blue and her dress had turned dark blue over the ages. Emily smiled as she saw from the mirror the one and only, Victor. The ripples of the watering mirror showed her how much Victor had grown over the years. She was happy for him, she truly was. Her eyes than flickered to Victoria, who had also grown more womanly and more daring to take new steps.

Emily smiled but it was more of a sad smile now. If she wasn't dead, she could have been like them, a grown woman like Victoria had become. Instead, she was stuck in her young form, the way she had died. But she wasn't angry. If it weren't for death, she never would have parted away from the ugly Barkis, who was now trapped inside the Dead Jail, locked away. Since the judges couldn't give a decision of trial of death for Barkis, since he was dead, they left him in jail so he would do no more harm. Emily had made sure of that.

Emily's eyes than focused up to the little baby Victoria was holding. The little baby was still small, and only about the size of a small pumpkin. Little hands stretched towards her mother, but small twinkling eyes looked straight at Victoria's direction, as if the baby knew she was looked upon. Emily grinned and her expression softened.

Victor and Victoria were now in peace, with a family to take care of. She dearly wanted to congratulate them for their baby, but she knew it was too late. She was seeing through the mirror of the past. And she wouldn't be able to see the future with this. Elder Gutknecht may be able to conjure a spell up again from his marvelous magical books, but she didn't mind now.

Seeing through the future to see the big Valeska may have satisfied her curiousity, but it wouldn't have done no good to her. She would only feel sadness. Besides, she had a friend now. Who was stuck in the dirt just like her. Someone named… what was his name? Ahh... it was Vittorio, yes that was it. Maybe, perhaps, she'll go visit him?

"Thank you, Elder Gutknecht, you've been a greatful help," Emily spoke and smiled at the Elder, who hadn't changed as much as her. Elder Gutknecht smiled gently, but he had a sympathetic look on his face. Emily passed the mirror to the Elder's bony hand and he took it. He looked to the mirror and to Emily and a worried flicker crossed his face. "I am sorry this is the only help I can offer you, dear Emily."

Emil only shook her head in disagreement to these words and smiled, though it was slowly weakening. "You have done enough for me, Elder Gutknecht. Thank you."

Elder Gutknecht nodded and Emily left the tower, walking down the steps slowly. Her worn out wedding dress followed her, floating in the air along with the thin veil on her face. The wreath of flowers on her head had rotted away with age, but somehow it still held its magnifisence.

Emily heard a dog bark and she saw Scraps waiting for her, his coller around him moving around as the dog itself sat up and wagged his tail. She smile as she got down the last flight of steps and picked up Scraps, scratching the bony part sticking out of the back of Scrap's neck. "Good Boy!" she spoke to the bone dog and Scraps barked happily. She leaned forward and let the dog run around on the floor again. She than looked up at the sky and at the softening clouds of the Land of the Dead.

"Come on, Scraps, let's go meet Prince Vittorio."

・・・・‥‥……………………‥・・・‥…………………………‥‥・・・

"Strange... he doesn't seem to be here anymore. Do you think someone set him free like Victor had, Scraps? I hope someone had, he had suffered as much as I…" Emily was caught in midsentence at the sound that erupted near the tree she used to meet Vittorio. Or rather, his voice.

He had been trapped on the dirt right below the tree, which continued to shower dead leaves on the ground. Snow was coating on the branches of the tree. It was quite old, but Emily knew what tree it was. It was the oak tree that she had been killed. But she hadn't known anything about the Prince after she had let Victor go. Emily moved forward towards the tree and she touched the bark, feeling the roughness of it. She caught a falling leaf and held it in her palm, before opening it. It had scrunched up in her grip a bit, but it still held. She apologized to the leaf and the leaf seemed to nodd in approval, than travelling away with the wind, far from Emily's hand.

Scraps suddenly barked beneath her feet and Emily jumped, suprised at the sound. The sound that had erupted near her, which she now realized was from the Ball & Socket, had made Scraps all excited and he ran circling Emily's feet, around and around.

"Scraps, please, stop, you're making me dizzy!" Emily spoke as she picked up the running dog in her grasp and gently stroking his bony skull. Scraps breathed in an out, wagging his tail.

"What do you think is happening at the pub? New arrival, maybe?" Emily said curiously and she looked at Scraps, as if expecting an answer from the dog. He only barked in reply and Emily continued down a rather steep slope heading towards the Ball & Socket. She passed through the shops and buildings, and through the fountain of dead, that showered water down and up again.

Her legs led her through the door of the pub and she expected to see either Bonejangles singing with his blaring music, exciting the crowd. Or new arrival.

New arrival was what she guessed as she saw a crowd of excited gasps escaped through the dead crowd. She set Scraps on the floor, who zigzagged through the crowd's feet. Feeling rather envious with the little trick Scraps had did to get through, Emily pushed through, apoloigizing every now and then when she either kicked someone's head or someone's foot, knocking some hands or bones off at the same time. But the crowd let her through and the ones who knew her looked up with a rather excited look that only mystified what was in the circle of the crowd. Shouts echoed through the pub as Emily at last met whatever new arrival had come, only to gasp in a mixture of horror and… familiarity.

A/N: Sorry! Cliffie there, lol O.O;; But I hope you loved it, cause I LOVED writing it:D Please review!