What Was Left Behind
Chapter 2: Max's Agreement and Monica's Dream
Well, hello peoples, um, I own nothing. . . still.
Anywho, yer probably not going to get an update this soon again. ;P
And OH GEEZ, this story is already getting whack and it's just the second chapter! o. This story actually is going to be pretty . . . intense, I guess. Just read my notes for it, and it might be a long one. ;;;;
AND THANKS GUYS FOR HELPING ME WITH NAMES! Max's last name is "Leale" and Monica's kingdom is "Lebrante." So it's not gonna be Avaran anymore. ..
Two bare, sore hands fell trembling to the wet ground. Soaked strands of crimson silk floated across her back, draping in the grass and mud as she crawled. The rain poured relentlessly down on her shivering form, both mocking and pitying her disgraceful state. In a matter of seconds she found her face buried in the soggy ground, her usual fiery eyes half-closed in a drowse. In fatigue and self-loathing her whole body shook with a violence that would not subside. ..
"PRINCESS! PRINCESS MONICA!" They had shouted, all reaching for her. Their hands grabbed at the ends of her hair, her shirt.
"Why did you leave us? Where is our King? Where have you been?"
"Have you not heard? I was away, trying to help all of you--OW!" One hung to her hair, dragging her down with his body weight.
"They say you killed him!"
"They say you went mad!"
"The rebellion--we resisted our friends--we defended you. But when they began attacking us still you did nothing!"
"Rebellion?"
"You did nothing--you just disappeared--they say you hid in the walls and watched us!"
"Watched the peasants rebel, storm through your grand palace and destroy it, along with all of your followers."
"What? Where was Eldrinn? I had told the messenger to tell him of my absence!"
"So you did leave us!" They mourned, clutching at her in a new desperation.
"I have helped save you all! My cousin should have come and--"
"He came too late, Princess."
"He received no message. But eventually he did try to find you and stop the rebellion--but you couldn't be found and the resistors were brutal."
"He could do nothing."
"Let go of me!" They dragged at her still. "I have done no wrong! I was helping to defeat Griffon, Emperor Griffon, you remember that surely?"
"But no one saw you leave the palace, no guard."
"Why must you lie to us?"
"Please, Princess--"
"Let go of me!" ..
Why did none of her messengers reach anyone? Monica lay disconsolate on the ground, still on her stomach--her muscles were still too sore to provide any use. How could everything have gone wrong?
Of course they didn't see her leave--she had an Atlamillia stone. But she entrusted people of loyalty with her plans. Why did they do nothing?
And now everyone believed she the one behind King Jasan's death, her very own father! How could they? What kind of low-life would frame her? And her kingdom of Lebrante was completely overrun and collapsed in ruins. Her family name was shamed, and worse, they had somehow found out about her unauthorized transformation as a small boy when she had tested Max. Worse and worse yet, Crest could not convince any that she gave Monica a starglass to see Max. No one had heard of Max there. She hated herself for being so unprepared and foolish.
Monica finally had enough will to roll herself onto her back. Soaked as her hair was, and seeing as how it lay intertwined between the many rivulets of mud, she could not move her head.
And then, on her way to prison, Crest had sneaked a starglass and concealed it inside the red stone upon Monica's chest. She was the only one that offered Monica any aid, and Monica loved the old woman dearly for it. That was one soul who she could still trust.
But being foolish and rash as she normally was, in her haste she had without realization of the possible consequences, appeared in the very town of Palm Brinks, and in the very form Max would recognize. She cursed herself for being so stupid. Why drag Max further in her mess?
Monica sighed, and her eyelids drooped over irises of scarlet. She was lost in sleep. ..
"You must have made some mistake!" Max attempted. "Monica's father was killed by a man named Gaspard--one in league with Emperor Griffon! And--"
"Relax, boy." A man, not looking too much older than Max himself, stepped around the three large men and approached him. His form was graced with golden robes and auburn silks. His long hair was pulled from his face in a horse-tail of rich brown. The man looked at him with serious, yet not cruel, mahogany eyes.
"My name is Eldrinn. I am cousin to Princess Monica. I, despite others' counsel, would doubt Monica would do any of which she is charged. However, no one else is willing to believe it. That is why my men and I went to retrieve her before someone less descent finds her. Once we find her we'll try and set things right. But come now, it's starting to rain. Is there anywhere we can talk?"
Max lead the men, clearly relieved, to his large house and spoke with them in the entrance.
"Maximilian, right?"
Max nodded, "Yeah. Max Leale."
"I'm very pleased to meet you, Max. If you would listen, I have a favor to ask you." When Max did not speak, the young prince continued, "If you do happen to see Monica, will you send for us immediately?"
"How will I do that?"
Eldrinn nodded, as if Max had already accepted. "Jace." He clapped his hands twice. A young boy, maybe of seven or eight years of age, crept forward.
The prince turned his eyes back to Max, "Jace will accompany you. He cannot talk, so he should not be too bothersome. He has a copy of the map we have currently. On it, he can see where we are--Jace?"
Obediently, the young boy pulled from a sac that slung around his shoulder a rolled piece of parchment. Standing by Max now, he showed him the map. On it there were tiny shards of stone, and when Max touched one, he found they were glued on intentionally. One piece glowed a bright red, the one on top of Palm Brinks. Max raised his eyes in question to Eldrinn.
Eldrinn tapped the gem in one of his earrings. "They're made from the same stone. The different shards will react with ours. Maybe you'll figure out how later; I hear you are a man of genius, are you not?"
Max smirked, "I guess so." There was a pause, "And yes, I'll look for Monica. Anything I can do to help."
"Thank you, young man. I hope we can set things right."
"Me too." He slightly bowed his head as Eldrinn turned and marched off with his men.
Max looked at the tan boy beside him. "I guess I should pack for you too, huh?"
Jace shook his head. He opened the sac's pouch completely and revealed to Max that the boy had come prepared. It was nearly filled to the brim with breads, fruits, and other foods. Jace smiled triumphantly. ..
Monica stood inside her bedroom in the Lebrante kingdom. Her long hair was pulled behind her with many ribbons. It waved lightly in the soft breeze from an opened window. Gliding over to her desk, Monica rested her hand on a picture of King Jasan, her father.
Her fingers closed around the frame's edge and she raised it to her face. But only her hand came; the picture dropped to the stone floor and its glass shattered. Monica cursed at her sudden clumsiness and bent to pick it up when she realized it wasn't her action that was to fault. Her hand, quivering now, was coated in a thick layer of dusty blue ash.
Touching it ever so slightly with the other hand, her skin fell away in the breeze, revealing bloodless bone. Gasping, she went to run from the room when the wind picked up drastically and she lost her balance. Crashing to the crude, hard floor, she tore her boots off. The bottom of her feet were becoming the same, ash-like substance. The walls disappeared around her, the sky. It was dark.
Agonizing throe took over her chest and her body convulsed.
"Look at you. Your mind is coated with rage. . . " A voice whispered.
"What?" Monica gasped, wincing at the pain. "Rage?"
"Hatred, loathing. . ."
"I don't hate anyone!"
"You hate yourself. After all, your kingdom has fallen, and who is to blame? Who failed to make preparations for your absence? Who made sure Eldrinn got the message?"
"Who are you? Who are you to tell me what I think?"
"I come only in warning." A silhouette made its presence, bending over her. A sudden light revealed its face, and it was the bitter face of a thing Monica had thought was destroyed forever. The Dark Element. ..
um ho dee dum, well that's all for now.
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