Chapter 75
"That idiot!" The second Invisible grumbled. "Can't he see that his chance to free his soul from eternal Hell is right in front of his face?! For a sharp eyed warlord he's pretty blind."
"We might have to give him a little push, that's all," the fourth answered. "He can't ever remember feeling like this before, he doesn't even remember *what* feeling is. All he knows is that he feels different whenever he's around her, if that makes any sense."
"No, but I'll buy it anyway. Avalina's warming to him a little, we have to make sure he doesn't let this opportunity pass him by."
"Like how? Offer to be his psychiatrist? Ha! That'll end well."
"Tell, me, Sir," the third said in a deepened voice, "How are you feeling today? Perhaps you feel confused, disoriented, clueless? Well, "How-To-Be-Happy" is the guide for you! Not affiliated with "How-To-Be-Awesome" or "How-To-Be-Cray-Cray." We are not responsible for property damage that may occur in "How-To-Be-Happy" therapist sessions. Each session twenty percent off with each Rainbow Mushroom offered in exchange of actual payment. Restrictions of any type may apply, see us for details."
Chuckles came from the others, before the fourth one spoke.
"Somehow, I don't think that's going to catch on."
"Guys, back on topic!" The first one said a little irritably.
"Now, if we actually try to talk to him about this, it could destroy the slight bit of progress he's made."
"Yeah," the second said, "For some reason he really hates us."
"I really don't have a clue why," the third Invisible said. "I mean, look at us! What's not to love?"
"I'd love to look, but I can't," the fourth chuckled.
"Oh. That's why, he can't see us!"
"Guys!" The first Invisible barked. "Back on topic! Now, if we can't speak to him directly about this, then what can we do about it?"
"Go to Avalina," the second Invisible said in a matter-of-fact voice.
"No way!" The first said, horrified. "We can't ask her to tell him anything!"
"No, but what's the next best thing?" The second asked, triumph evident in its voice.
"I know, I know!" The third shouted. "Bake him a cake!"
"Great idea, but not was I was thinking of," the second chuckled. "That really *must* go on the list, though."
"What about a song?" The fourth asked.
"Exactly!" The second said happily. "I heard Avalina singing one to herself a few days ago that will be perfect for this! Let's put it where she'll find it!"
"A song?" The first asked skeptically. "You guys are nuts. That won't work."
"Wanna bet?"
"You know what, sure. What's the stakes?"
The duo whispered for a moment, before one spoke up.
"If the song doesn't work, we promise not to play a single prank for a full three days."
"Three days? That's not a prize. Two weeks."
"Five days."
"Ten days."
"One week, we refuse to go higher."
"I'll enjoy my peace and quiet."
"Not just yet. We haven't discussed your side of the deal. . . "
Avalina had time for one more song before the hour was up, and she had found the sheet music to it right on top of the piano. She wondered if the Horned King had been reading the music. . .which she didn't mind, it was his castle and his property. . .but she did notice things had been moved around a little.
Her eyes scanned the first line, and she couldn't stop a smile from working over her face. Turning on the bench, she told the Horned King, "This song is one of my all-time favorites. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do."
The Horned King nodded once, his face emotionless, although privately he wondered what it could possibly be.
The piano music was slow, but powerful. Melancholy, yet somehow resolved. All of this was gathered in an instant before the words began.
"We've heard the tales since we were young,
Heard the songs that have been sung,
About an evil spell."
'A song about a fairytale,' he thought, not unpleasantly. 'I should have guessed.'
"Someone beautiful is cursed
We feel sad through every verse
'Til a kiss and all is well!"
The Horned King arched a brow ridge faintly.
'That's exactly how every fairytale goes. Is this song implying its all a dream? This isn't like her.'
"The message that no one can see
Is clearer to someone like me. . . .
There is no curse or evil spell,
That's worse than one we give ourselves."
'These words are so true. . .I gave myself this curse,' he thought, looking down at his hands, 'When I became a monster.'
"There is no sorcerer as cruel
As the proud. . .angry fool. . ."
'I am a proud and angry fool,' he thought. 'I'm too proud to hope, too angry to try, and such a fool for even thinking someone could see past. . .everything. No one can. My sorcerer was as heartless as I have become, but she could never match my cruelty now.'
"And yet we cry, 'Life isn't fair.'
Beneath our cries the truth is there.
The power that will break the spell
We should know. . .very well. . .
Is locked. . .within. . .ourselves.
And yet we'd rather blame
And curse our Fate than change. . ."
'I alone have the power to try to hope, try and change my Fate. No one else can save me, and no one can stop me. I must make that first step before anything can happen. I have to hope first.'
"We'd run from everyone to hide
From the Pain. . . .
And all. . .the shame. . .
The story's old, we know it well.
About a wretched, evil spell
The power that will break this curse
Oh, I know, all too well. . .
Is locked. . .within. . .myself. . ."
'And only I possess the key. I alone have the power to allow someone in. Like the horse let Avalina in. I'm the only one who can give myself another chance.'
"That was beautiful," he told her, these new sensations twisting inside his chest.
'And so very true.'
The comment made her blush faintly.
"Thank you, sir."
After a moment, he drew in a breath. He had been wanting to ask this for some time, and he knew that if he didn't ask now he would change his mind again.
"Tell me," He ordered, his voice rather dark, "Do you ever feel. . .like there's a fire inside you that will not die?"
He bared his fangs faintly, regretting he had even asked, but Avalina did not seem to notice.
"Why. . .yes sir. All the time."
"What is it?"
Avalina seemed confused by this question, but did as he said.
"Well, it could be hope. Or joy. Or love. It depends on the situation."
He narrowed his eyes in thought. That fire that had been burning inside him for the past several weeks. . .
"I see. And when you feel like a stone is on your chest? What does that mean?"
Avalina furrowed a brow.
"Well, that really depends on the situation, but maybe it was guilt? Or despair?"
The Horned King nodded once.
'So I have been feeling these things. They weren't tricks of the mind.'
"Why?" Avalina asked timidly.
The Horned King fixed her with his dead gaze.
"It is nothing. You are dismissed."
Disappointed, she lowered her gaze.
"Ok."
After she had gone, he pondered on his newfound feelings.
'So, I am actually feeling these things,' he thought. 'But that should be impossible. I am heartless, I should not be able to feel. And yet. . .I am. Does that mean. . .that mean there may be hope for me?'
Staring out of the window, he made his decision.
'It may be possible. The song was true, and so were her words.'
At this, he felt the fire renew inside his chest, and he glanced down at himself.
'Perhaps I do have hope.'
"I hate you," the first Invisible bit out.
"I hate you all."
"Not as much as you're going to!" The third Invisible cackled in triumph, throwing them something.
"No. You cannot be serious."
"You have no idea. You lost the bet. NOW DO IT!"
"This is stupid!"
"So was making a bet with us!" The other two cackled. "You brought this on yourself."
"There is no way. . ."
"If you don't, you know you'll rue the day you never did."
"Fine!" The first Invisible shouted, "But don't you dare expect me to do this again. EVER!"
The insane laughter from the others was all the reaction it got.
Avalina disappointedly stepped outside the music room and shut the door.
'I tried to explain to it him,' she thought, 'But I don't think I did a very good job.'
Raising her head, she realized she was hearing something from down the hall, and she turned her head to listen, right as a trolley came flying around the corner, laden with streamers and bright paper, bells and horns, making all the racket in the world. A pair of cymbals were clashing in midair above the trolley, and something was singing.
"III'M A YANKEE DOODLE DANNNNDY!
A YAAAANKEE DOODLE DO OR DIE!
A REAL LIVE NEPHEW OF MY UNCLE SAM
BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY!
I'VE GOT A YANKEE DOODLE SWEEET-HEEEAAARRRT
SHE'S MY YANKEE DOODLE JOYYYY!"
Avalina stared in shock, flattened against the door, as they clanged past, horns blowing constantly.
"YANKEE DOODLE CAME TO TOWN
JUST TO RIDE THE PONIES
I AM A YANKEE DOODLE BOY!
Next was a very long instrumental, filled with horns, cymbals, whistles and clashes, as paper continued to spew out of the trolley to go everywhere on the floor.
Avalina gasped in fright as the door gave out on her, throwing her backwards onto the floor. The Horned King's terrifying aura twisted around her as her back hit against his legs.
"So-sorry!" She squeaked in fright as she hurriedly got up. "I didn't mean. . ."
He held up a hand for silence as she backed against the wall, before he strode out of the room and into the hall, stopping dead at the scene.
"YANKEE DOODLE CAME TO TOWN
RIDING ON A PONY
STUCK A FEATHER IN HIS CAP AND CALLED IT MACARONI!
YANKEE DOODLE KEEP IT UP
YANKEE DOODLE DANDY
MIND THE MUSIC AND THE STEP AND WITH THE GIRLS BE HANDY!
Avalina and the Horned King could only stare as the trolley continued down the hall, making the ghastly racket.
"THEN THE FEATHERS ON HIS HAT
THEY LOOKED SO VERY FINE
OH I WANTED DESPERATELY
TO GET TO GIVE TO MY JEMIMA!
YANKEE DOODLE KEEP IT UP
YANKEE DOODLE DANDY
MIND THE MUSIC AND THE STEP
AND WITH THE GIRLS BE HANDY!"
The two of them could hear the racket for a very long time after the Invisibes turned the corner and the trolley disappeared from sight.
The silence was rather awkward.
"Do they always do that?" Avalina asked.
A soft sigh came from the Horned King.
"Yes. Constantly. They never seem to enjoy themselves unless they're doing something irrational."
"What was that song they were doing? It didn't make any sense."
"Nothing they do makes any sense."
Avalina grinned as an idea came to mind.
"You think I could get the sheet music for that?"
The horrorstruck look on the Horned King's face was worth every syllable.
(To the tune of Yankee Doodle)
Once there was a brand-new author
On Fanfiction-Dot-Net
She thought she'd write a sequel to
The dreaded movie "The Black Cauldron."
As the chapters kept on coming
So did all the views
She even got six followers
Who occasionally reviewed!
They showed overflowing excitement
Enthusiasm was through the roof
One even made a video
As a tribute on Youtube!
This is my little thank-you song
To all of those who read
Double-stuffed Oreos to everyone
Who actually review this thing!
L-B-G now keep it up
The story's far from over
My Plunny farm will never die
Because I'm just so awesome! *End*
That's all for today, folks! LOL The song Avalina played for the Horned King is The Curse from the movie Rigoletto. I love that movie with a passion, and that song just fit. So well! XD