Marionette

By: Metamorphose

Prologue: Fate, Destiny, and Life

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Life is predictable at the best, unpredictable at the worst. Rolling with a sanguine assurance that destiny works faithfully by its side, life blows taunting kisses and gives facetious smiles to those known only as its pawns. It is cruel, rarely kind, and always inconclusive, playing no favorites and yet loving some more than others.

Simply, it is a paradox of decisions.

Described in human terms, Life exists as a calculating, beautiful woman with alluring dark eyes and long, crimson fingernails that mercilessly dig into her prey, leaving them to suffer with no uncertain amount of abandon as they struggle within her grasp. Her cold, delicate hands are deceptively strong and keep her prisoners close to her being even as they strive to free themselves, never understanding that they are not theirs to free.

Life's seductive voice drips with honey when she speaks and acid when she laughs.

But, if Life projects that dark, corrupt example of debauchery, Destiny is the obnoxious little girl with bouncing golden curls and bright blue eyes who never strays far from Life's sight, as they are a part of each other. Her angelic voice bubbles forth like the smooth sound of rushing water, a salve to those in need of assurance that their strife is not without purpose. She may join Life in knocking down those they watch over, but while Life laughs and moves on, Destiny lends a small hand and words of encouragement to the afflicted.

"You're in my way," Life seethes at Destiny, brushing past the small cherub. Her hips sway deliberately to a beat known only to her as she walks. Sitting upon what human eyes cannot see, she lifts her nails to her face and pretends to inspect them. She knows that Destiny still stands where she scraped past her, smirking in the self-satisfied way she always does when purposely irritating her opposite.

But Life determines not to fall for her taunts this time and continues critiquing her nails. Her dark eyes never miss a detail when it comes to her outward appearance. Her hand stretches flat before her. They can definitely use a bit of filing, and another coat of paint would not hurt…

Her eyes dart to Destiny and find her mimicking her motions.

"Oh, act your age!" Life cries, annoyed. "You're as old as I am!"

Destiny's jubilant laughter holds a pretentious tone as it fills the air. "I am indeed older, dear Life. You came after me."

Life scowls. So they are back to this again, are they? She flicks her fingertips and spins on what seems to be nothing to turn away from Destiny's sight. "You needed me to have any purpose."

"Perhaps," Destiny concedes, "but without me, you would never exist."

The light sound of Destiny's footsteps draws close, and Life scowls. Serenity is something that she will never be granted, especially with an annoying complement like Destiny.

"What now?" she spits, turning flashing eyes on the smaller being.

Destiny taps Life's shoulder, smiling with mischievous pleasure when the she heats with anger.

"You cannot win," Destiny whispers. "I have the whole picture. You only have pieces."

"I can win." Life's voice comes through clenched teeth.

"But Fate is on my side," Destiny drawls, circling around Life. "You're the one who chose to be stubborn."

"It's only a matter of time for you."

"Fate hates your ideas."

"Fate dotes on you."

"You would receive the same, if you would just cooperate."

"I will not."

"You'll lose."

"I am tired of your arguing!"

Life and Destiny snap to attention as the loud voice of Fate enters the room. The daunting figure of the one above them is indeterminable. Right or wrong, good or bad…all is unknown.

Fate glides toward them, giving both beings their respective glares. "In a world where nothing is everything, you two certainly can shatter a nonexistent peace!" She looks reproachfully upon the two as a mother does her miscreant children.

All beings know to respect Fate, as she is their beginning and determines their end. Her stern, crystalline eyes do not miss a minute detail, standing out starkly from her snow-white skin. Her hair falls in waves of indeterminable colors, her mouth like a pale diamond reflecting moonlight.

"Truly sorry, Fate," Destiny acquiesces.

"She started it," Life mutters.

Fate rolls her eyes and motions for them both to follow her. "Come, I have something to discuss with you." Throwing one more glare to the arguing entities, Fate turns and glides out of the room.

Life and Destiny follow, Life tripping Destiny with her foot and moving ahead as Destiny falls flat on her face. The little girl, truly much older than her appearance, lifts her face and sneers.

"I will get the last laugh."

Life turns and smiles audaciously before disappearing from Destiny's sight.

"Now," Fate says when both her underlings stand beside her, "look." Cupping her hands together like a bowl, Fate closes her eyes until a silvery spark of light shoots from her palms. She spreads her cupped hands away from each other, an image appearing before them.

"Ah," Life breathes, "my domain."

"Mine too," Destiny growls.

"Stop it." Fate throws a castigating glance at both of them. "Here they come."

The image of a woman suddenly appears. She is young, but a woman nonetheless. Her face holds a sweet innocence belied by the experience in her eyes, and her kind nature exudes the air around her.

"She looks familiar," Life mulls.

Destiny scoffs. "She should. You've already messed up her existence once before."

"Hmmm? Me?" Life laughs. "But truly, I do not remember."

Another person drifts into the image. This time it is a young man. Wild, untrusting eyes that hide certain strength observe the scene around him. He is young, yet old. Years have been hard for him.

"Ah, I do remember!" Life suddenly exclaims, but her expression turns puzzled. "I've already dealt with this one. Why are you showing him to me again?"

"I am not through with him." Fate's eyes never leave the vision before them.

"What do you want us to do?" Destiny asks.

Then, Fate turns and smiles. "I only want you to do what it is you were created to do." Matronly, she pats Destiny on the head. Then, while still looking at the child: "Life, you go first. Alone."

Life claps her hands together and cheers joyously; Destiny roars in outrage.

"What is it that you desire, Fate?" Life asks. Her countenance changes to that of her deceptive nature.

Fate stands to her full stature, knowing Life's games all too well. "They are to end up together. They are meant for each other and were created as such."

"Your wish is my command." Life bows mockingly and turns to leave.

"No!" Destiny screams. Her hands shoot forth and grasp Fate's pure robes imploringly. "Send me with her! At least send both of us, for she will mess everything up!"

"Life goes alone as for now," Fate states calmly. Her eyes never leave Life.

"It is not fair!" Destiny cries, clutching the robes tighter. "It is not fair to me or to them!"

Life smirks "Life's just not fair." With that, she is gone.

Destiny falls to the ground in a heap of white frills, her golden curls falling over her eyes. Her shoulders sag like a heavy burden rests on them. "Why, Fate? Why allow her to ruin their existence once more?"

Fate chuckles, the sound a low alto as she stoops to tilt up Destiny's stubborn chin. "I already know what she is going to do. Yes, she will mess things up, but only I know the end."

Looking up, Destiny meets Fate's gaze miserably. "Things will turn out alright?"

Fate's smile turns sly, the right corner turning up in a devious smirk. "Do we ever let Life win?"

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A/N: Wren peeks around the corner Hello everyone! I'm back again (hopefully to stay). Please take a moment to read this note. This is the new Mates. The original story is going to be deleted off of my account in the next few days. I will eventually put up a website archiving the old stories, but they are done with. For those of you who were not aware of this change, please check out my profile. Everything is explained there. The next chapter introduces InuYasha and Kagome and what happens with them, so check it out! And, as always, let me know what you think. I'm anxious to see how people take the new twist on the old story.

UPDATE INFO: Updates will be slow, just to warn you. I'm hoping to put out a new chapter at least once a month. I put up two right now to help introduce what is happening, but this is probably the only time that is going to occur. I'm thanking you ahead of time for your patience. I'm in school right now and tackling my major head on. It's a whole lot of work, and it must come first. Fanfiction is a hobby, not a life. I will trust that that is to be understood.

Much love to all! God Bless! Metamorphose