Chapter 3

Death of a Mage

In another community on the same planet, a very young girl was collecting the medicine needed for someone she loved very much. It may have been the only hope for saving this mage, for she had gone to war with an opposing community and had a cold poison spell cast on her. Since then, she had fallen ill, with her condition worsening each day, and she solely relied on this young girl– her only child –to look after her.

Although very young, the mage's daughter was clever and an exceptionally responsible worker. If asked to do any task, she was sure to stay on top of it. And in this case, she was quick to fetch the medicine and a cup of tea for her bedridden mother.

"Here Mum; with a little extra ginger in it, just like you asked." said the girl.

"Thank you, Zan Partizanne." her mother responded, unable to look at her.

"Is it alright if I leave you?" her daughter, Zan Partizanne, asked.

"I'm not so sure, sweetheart." moaned Zan Partizanne's mother.

This was not this answer she was hoping to hear. "What do you mean, Mum?"

Her mum looked down at her from the bed. "Zanny…" she began, "could you please…come up here for…a moment?"

Zanny obediently climbed onto her mum's bed. She then realized how unhealthy her mum was; her face was pale green, and her eyes were sagging with dark lines under them. Zan grew worried, but couldn't say anything.

"Zan…I know this may be…difficult to hear, but…I don't know…how much longer…we'll be…together." Zan's mum stated, slow and weak.

Zan quivered, her hands growing clammy. "No…you can't mean…"

"I'm afraid so, dear." her mum responded. "At this rate…my life won't last…much longer."

Zan couldn't believe this. "But…what will I do without you?" she whimpered.

Her mum sighed. "You might…have to live…with Aunt Orchid."

Zan's eyes began to tear up. "Mum…there has to be…some way to help. I'll do anything!"

"I'm sorry, darling." said her mum. "If only we could…somehow coexist with…the Galaxy Wizards…this wouldn't have happened. There's nothing…you can do for…me now."

Zan hugged her mum's hand, and then felt even more upset; her hand felt like it was dunked in an ice bath for several minutes. Unable to hold in any more emotion, she placed her head on her mum's chest and cried to her heart's content. She just couldn't bear the thought of losing her mum this way…yet there was nothing she could do.

"Mum…I'll going to miss you so much if I lose you!" Zan sobbed.

Zan's mum ran her ice-cold hand through her daughter's yellow hair, hoping to calm her. "I know you will, Zanny. Why shouldn't you? But I'm telling you…everything will be alright."

Zan lifted her head off her mum's chest, still crying a bit. "Aunt Orchid can take care of me?"

Her mum nodded. "And remember…even if you can't see me…I'll always be there for you. I promise."

"But Mum…if I can't see you…how can I ever become a brave mage like you?"

"For that…you will have to follow your heart." her mum answered. "It knows the answer to everything."

Zan nodded, and her mum gave her a kiss on the forehead. She stayed there and watched her mum before falling asleep in her bed shortly after.

Sadly, that was the last time she ever spoke to this brave mage…

Her mother lay lifeless early the next morning.

Zan Partizanne, devastated, spent the next two days packing up what she could take with her, crying every few hours in the process. She would be moving to her Aunt Orchid's home when given the chance. It would be dangerous out there; the Galaxy Wizards, who absolutely despised her race and vice versa, could've been hiding anywhere in her village. But she would have to travel alone; she had no siblings, older or younger, and now both of her parents were dead. The best option in her mind was to travel in broad daylight when every mage was up and she could see the wizards.

Thankfully for Zan, many of the villagers knew her because of how famous her mum was as a warrior. And because of this, several volunteered to walk her to her aunt's home. Zan thanked them very much for this before helping herself into the home.

She almost called out to let her aunt know she had arrived, but something stopped her; she remembered that her aunt recently had a baby. Calling out would likely make the baby upset and get her into trouble. So instead, she set her things down by the front door and went to find her aunt, who she found in her room.

Orchid was a light-skinned Galaxy Mage with short lilac hair and teal eyes. She was the sister of Zan's father, who Zan never met. She often wore a pink flower in her hair, spoke with a unique accent, and was an expert tutor in archery.

Aunt Orchid turned to find her niece standing at her room's doorway. "Why, hello Zan Partizanne!" she exclaimed cheerfully, which was strange, because she looked as if she had just been crying.

Zan ran over to her aunt and gave her a hug, which she needed, as she was still upset about her mum's death. "I'm so sorry, dear, about your mother." she heard her aunt say. Her aunt bringing up her mum's death made her start crying a bit again.

"You have everything that you need, dear?" Aunt Orchid asked Zan.

"Yes Auntie." Zan answered. "I spent two full days packing up."

"Very, very good dear! Now, is there anything I can do for you?"

Zan giggled a bit. "I could honestly ask you the same thing!"

Aunt Orchid was slightly shocked by this. "What do you mean, dear?"

"Well, the thing is…I'm rather used to doing things around the house…do you have anything of which I can possibly take responsibility?"

Orchid puzzled a moment. "…Perhaps there is something you can do…in the long term…"

"What exactly do you mean by 'long term'?" Zan questioned, not knowing the meaning.

"Well, Zan Partizanne…I think I have a bit of a surprise for you, then." Aunt Orchid replied. "Do you mind coming with me, dear?"

Without hesitating, Zan followed her aunt to another room with a small crib. Zan looked over the side and saw two tiny Galaxy mages with skin as pink as roses, both fast asleep. One had curly red hair while the other had fluffy blue hair. Both were the cutest things Zan had ever seen.

"Zan," began Aunt Orchid, "I would like you to meet my twin daughters, Flamberge and Francisca."

Zan looked up at her aunt in shock. "Twin daughters? You mean…I have two little cousins now?"

"Yes dear." her aunt replied. "And I would appreciate if you can help me take care of them. But please note: never separate the two. They've always been bonded."

Zan felt so much joy on the inside. "I would be delighted!" she told Aunt Orchid. Having two adorable cousins to take care of…what an exciting task this would be for her!

"Very well then, Zan." said Orchid. "But along with this, I am also going to teach you to be a strong warrior, just like your mother…when you're older, of course. Now seems a bit too soon for you to learn to fight off those Galaxy Wizards."

"Yes, I most certainly will, Aunt Orchid." Zan told her with determination.

"Be quiet; you'll wake the twins!" Aunt Orchid hushed her.

"Oh, right…sorry." Zan whispered.

A/N: I know…this was sad, right? I honestly cried a bit when writing it.

Anyway, I know that the generals were referred to as "sisters" during Hyness' second phase, but from what I've researched, this could be referring to them as nuns. Because Francisca and Flamberge seem to have a strong relationship, I thought I should make them twins. As for Zan…well, let's say that I wanted to take a bit of a unique approach.

I know that I've published this story only six days ago, but I've decided that I'm putting it on hiatus until I finish my other two Kirby stories. I may update this sometime in between, though. Jambuhbye!