Disclaimer: Thank Craig Mccraken. I don't - nor will I ever - own the Powerpuff Girls.
- CHAPTER 6 -
Relationships
"Princess Blossom from Selodia wishes to see you, sir," A page announced, bending forward slightly out of respect for the young prince. Letting out an exasperated sigh, Brick quickly signed his name at the bottom of his letter and put the quill back in it's ink bottle.
Princess Blossom. Who was she again? Oh, the girl he was getting married to. The one with the dainty apricot orange braid and ridiculous bow. He was about to decline, when an idea popped up in his mind.
What if he purposely made her despise him? What if it was her that rejected their marriage, and not him? What if… he could escape?
It's risky, yes, but if it works… He shook his head. No. It will work.
"Send her in."
The page bowed again and scurried out the door to escort the princess. Brick gingerly folded the parchment and tucked it inside an envelope, certain he'll never have to send it. After locking it in his drawer, he sat back down in his chair, arms folded.
How to make a girl hate you? Hmm… the obvious answer was to be an arrogant, boastful, selfish jerk. Easy as pie. All he had to do was act like Butch. His brother was like girl repellent, no female could carry a conversation with him for more than a minute without ripping their hair out.
He was pacing back and forth when he realized he shouldn't be the one waiting, after all, she was the one who wanted to see him. Besides, if he busied himself and ignored her, it might make him seem less likable. Grabbing a book, he plopped himself down in the chair and pretended to be reading.
"Prince Brick?" Came a small voice that was accompanied by a quick knock from outside the door.
Brick smirked and drawled out in a incredibly bored and annoyed voice, "Come on in, Blossom. I don't have all day." The princess opened the door and sauntered in, her eyes sweeping the entire room. "Well? What do you think?" He said smugly, an eyebrow raised. She blinked and lowered her eyes from the magnificent designs on the ceiling to the boy sitting in front of her.
"Your book is upside down." She said blatantly, unimpressed. There was a moment of silence as Brick tried to think of an excuse. He slowly put the novel - Gulliver's Travels - down on the table.
"Printing error. I wasn't about to just throw away some book because the pages are upside down," Even as he said it, Brick knew it was rather lame. Printing error? How pathetic is that? Blossom nodded once, slowly.
"Allllright. I suppose that's reasonable. So what book is that? I simply adore reading," She tilted her head to the side, taking a few steps closer, her eyes bright. "Oh! Gulliver's Travels! I love that book! I must've read it at least a hundred times by now!" She plopped down on Brick's bed, her fingers running over the leather. He gaped at her, surprised by this sudden… forwardness. She didn't seem like the talkative type at their meeting.
He shook his head. No. She was just trying to make him like her so that little kingdom of hers would stay safe. He would not fall for her tricks. Scowling, he snatched the book out of her hands, his eyes hard. "Do. Not. Touch. My. Belongings." Brick placed the novel back on his shelf and folded his arms at the dumbfounded girl still sitting on his bed. "And get off my bed. I don't want you wrinkling the bedspread. What did you come here for? Certainly it wasn't just to ruin my day?"
She stood up indignantly, a pout on her face. "Of course not! I came here to ask for your help." He rolled his eyes and glared at her. He should've seen it coming. Now that we are supposed to get married, she thinks she can just come strolling into his castle, asking for help. Well, she can't.
"And why would I do that, Princess? Why should I involve myself in this little problem of yours, hm?" He snapped, disgusted by her imprudence. He was definitely not getting married to her. She was such a moron. She sighed and put her hand to her temples.
"Because it's your problem, too. There's a thief from Gadrea that has been going around stealing from people, including Princess Morbucks. We must capture him and prevent the antagonizing of Cador and Aleton." She said worriedly, obviously very upset about it. Brick fumbled for words, angry that she had managed to leave him feeling like an idiot two times already.
Blossom raised an suspicious eyebrow, "Did you not know? My younger sister - Bubbles - came here yesterday and said quite a lot of people are complaining about this 'Blue Shadow'. Surely some townsfolk have come to your castle asking you about it?"
He was about to retort that common folk were not allowed in the palace, but then decided against it. She might think she was special or had more power than them. She did't. At least not in his kingdom. "As a matter of fact, no. No one has come here about a robbery. Are you sure 'Blue Shadow' isn't from some other kingdom? Perhaps Aleton?" He said matter of factly, compromising. He didn't lie. At least not really.
Blossom's eye twitched. He noticed how she seemed to do that a lot. Especially when she was angry, like when she was at the meeting. What a strange habit. "Are you calling my sister a liar? She talked to him! She said he confirmed he was a Gadrean!" She exploded, jabbing a finger at him.
Brick smirked. He had found her weak spot. Her sisters. "Well, how do you know she isn't? You said she talked to him. What if they are lovers and she was merely sending you on a wild goose chase? People lie, you know? My brothers lie all the time. Maybe your sister does, too." He replied nonchalantly, cocking his head.
She shouted in frustration, and stamped her foot, "Argh! Why can't you understand! I trust her! It's a thing. But you probably wouldn't get it anyway! You are a heartless fool! And not to mention incredibly oblivious! Don't you see the point? This isn't about her, it's about the good of our kingdoms! Can't you just… cooperate?" She huffed, blowing a strand of look hair out of her face after that rant. Brick blinked. He was not expecting that.
"I'm leaving. Help if you want," She announced, spinning around, her dress flaring a bit. "or don't. It doesn't matter either way. Good bye Prince Brick." He shrugged and gestured to the door. "Ugh! You are insufferable!" Blossom flung open the door and marched out, her head held high.
Brick snorted and turned back around in his chair.
"Girls."
Travis Storme glared at every passing person as he leaned against the cold, wet wall. He shouldn't have made the deal. Yes, it helped his family greatly, but it was no fun just hanging around the shop everyday, doing absolutely nothing. He sighed and stepped a bit into the light, the sneer still etched onto his pale, stony face. He took his favorite knife out of his belt and started tossing it into the air.
He had been working in the Storme Blacksmith shop since he was a young boy of four years old and literally grew up playing with sharp objects. His narrowed eyes followed two girls about his age come out of the shoe shop across the street. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Pretty girls.
He brought out another two knives - the first one he ever made and the one his father gave him - and started juggling all three of them. The one with long chestnut hair caught the motion from the corner if her eye and she whispered something to her friend. Girl Number Two turned her head toward him and immediately brightened. They sauntered over, giggling.
"You're quite talented," Chestnut Hair Girl said, smiling sweetly at him. He"I used to be a squire. The knight taught me many things, but in the end, fighting was not the life for me." Travis lied smoothly, catching all three knives in one hand and slipping them into his belt. The other girl nodded and whispered something into her friend's ear, clearly impressed. Girl Number One cocked her head.
"Say, you look quite familiar. Have we met before?"
He pretended to think for a while, his anxiety and fear hidden by his cheerful mask and replied, "No. I don't think so. What's your name? Perhaps it'll remind me." Her lip curled and she seemed unsure whether she should tell him or not. But Travis wasn't offended in any way. Gadrea was a rather… strange kingdom, and legends say that many people have been reported missing after supposedly telling a mysterious man their surname.
"Alice." She replied after apparently a lot of thinking, "This is Tracy. She's my sister." The girl beside her waved shyly.
Alice…Tracy….
The two names echoed in his mind, reminding him of something, something important, but was just out of reach.
Alice…Tracy….
Araceli.
His eyes widened. Araceli Carleton. He had forgotten all about her. His jaw hung open in shock, and in fear. He had told him to go check on her. He had told him to check on her? What was he thinking? He couldn't let him check on her! She was from Selodia for crying out loud!
He would kill her.
Travis was so dead. If Hood found out the girl was dead, the girl that was supposedly an important figure in the kingdom of Selodia, he would get kicked out of the Night Owls. He couldn't let that happen.
Not bothering to put on a mask or lift his hood, Travis dashed off toward the woods without a second glance back. He gritted his teeth as the wind whipped through his hair, ignoring the pounding in his head and the heaviness of his feet. He could not lose his place in the group. He had worked far too hard for it.
When he arrived at the spring, he could tell that something was definitely off. First of all, her horse was there, but she wasn't. And second, the grass was dotted with spots of blood. He killed her. That idiotic, arrogant, fool! What did he do?
"Come back to remind me how Gadrea is so much more superior than Selodia, eh? Someone spat from behind him, their voice full of spite. He whipped around and saw her perched atop a boulder, glaring down at him.
"You're not dead?" He mumbled in disbelief, eyes wide. "But I was sure he would've killed you…"
Araceli hopped down, "Who would've killed me? Did you send someone after me, you insufferable beast? I'll have you know no one can defeat me!" She jabbed a finger at him, her face twisted into a mocking sneer.
He blinked, his expression momentarily blank, taking in the fact that he had not done a single thing to her. Except insult her kingdom apparently. Travis shook his head and leaned in close to get a better look at the gash on her face.
"What happened to you? Did you get in a fight? You know girls like you should do that, it could be dangerous." He said, awed by how despite the length and depth of the cut, she did not seem fazed. Besides, he had to repair any damage the other boy had caused.
Araceli huffed and turned away, "Don't tell me what to do. And what do you care anyway? I thought you liked the idea of poor, innocent people getting hurt. At least that's what you said two days ago." She rubbed her shoulder, wincing a bit at the memory.
Travis rolled his eyes. He should've never made the deal with him. He was a sick person that apparently's only joy in life was causing and feeling pain. He was a creature from the deepest pits of hell. Next time Travis saw him, he would break off their agreement.
"Listen, I'm sorry about whatever moronic, offending thing I said to you earlier, I'm going through some tough times and… I couldn't help but lash out at you. I'm really sorry. Forgive me?" He sighed, putting on a fake pout and reaching a hand out to her. "Please?"
She frowned, obviously not wanting to let him off so easily, but in the end relented. Only after socking him in the face first, though. "Fine. But," Travis groaned dramatically and rolled his eyes again playfully. "only if you buy me a drink. Know any good places in Gadrea? I think it's okay for me to go there now that Princess Blossom is getting married to your prince."
"Alright." He started turing around back towards his kingdom, then decided against it and walked back to Araceli's horse. "On second thought, I don't want to walk. Mind if I ride your horse with you?"
"If you can hang on."
Feels like forever since I last updated. But maybe it's just me. Whatever. Next chapter should be uploaded in two more weeks. Sorry I can't make finish before New Year. Or can I? You'll just have to wait and see... ;)
