So I realized my mistake by updating Starting Over Again before this fic. But I'll turn it back around on the next cycle. Without further ado, the overdue, next chapter of Fairie Tales!
xoxo Lexi1989
Previously:
"Why didn't you tell her I'm the Prince?" He asked the lavender eyed girl.
"I have my reasons."
Natsume just pushed past her to get inside the house to gather his meager belongings. He opened the door to find a startled Mikan on the other side, her hand outstretched as if she were to open the door at the exact same moment. She had tearstains on her cheeks and her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. She'd been crying. He hated it when he saw girls cry. He used to comfort his younger sister Aoi, whenever she cried.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
She was about to answer him softly when she remembered that he'd lied to her and her grandfather. He saw her expression harden as she pushed past him and went out into the garden. He let out a sigh and trudged silently to the guest room where his belongings were kept.
'This is going to be a long journey.' He thought to himself.
CHAPTER 4: The Mystical Forest
They lasted an hour of walking in silence before any of them spoke. It was nearly sunrise. The dark sky was slowly being invaded by soft orange rays of the sun coming from the east. Hotaru had estimated their journey south towards the ocean could take a week or more depending on their pace. With two of her companions bearing wings on their backs though, she wouldn't risk the chance of a wandering nomad or merchant seeing them.
They were deep in the forest now, far enough from the boundaries of any of the Kingdoms but not even making one fourth of the way towards their destination. Hotaru knew they needed to rest, as none of them had slept a wink at all due to the events that transpired the previous night. She had them stop in a big grove of oak trees, choosing a large sturdy oak with several branches to settle in.
Mikan had yet to speak to Natsume at all during the trek, and the latter looked like he didn't care at all that she didn't. She was still fuming as to why he'd lied to her. And he definitely wasn't the type to apologize outright. Hotaru had Natsume stretch out on a lower inner branch while she and Mikan took different branches higher up the oak tree. None of them could be seen from down below unless one was really looking for them. Not five minutes later, all three teenagers had entered into a deep slumber, lost in their own little dream worlds.
They awoke hours later, to the rumbling of their stomachs. It was late afternoon as Mikan passed them the meager rations she was able to haphazardly procure in her haste to leave.
"At this rate, we will have to hunt for some game or fruits in the forest soon." Natsume said as they ate.
"Nobody I know has ever been this far south in the forest. Most of the travelers that come to the Kingdom use the roads. Some legends say, the forest is filled with Yokai. Though no one has ever confirmed it nor dared to find out." Mikan looked distraught at Hotaru's statement. The idea of spirits in the forest made her nervous. She'd only ever read about them.
"Guess we will find out soon enough."
The sun was still up in the sky so the group decided to linger first and wait for dusk. They climbed back up on the oak tree and sat back against the trunk. Unable to stand the silence for long, Mikan started talking to Hotaru about her powers, or lack thereof.
"Ne, Hotaru?" Mikan looked towards her best friend.
"What is it baka?" Hotaru had her eyes closed but Mikan knew she wasn't asleep.
"Since I'm a fairie, do you think I have powers?" She spread out her hands before her face and began doing a thrusting motion as if looking for a way to make her powers appear.
"You should."
"But I don't know how to use them. I don't even know what my powers are." She gave up on her actions and slumped against the tree trunk. She winced as she forgot that she had wings and it hurt when she slammed her back on the trunk.
"Ne Hotaru, do you think I can fly with these?" She was able to touch the tips of her wings with her fingers. They were soft but at the same time firm. She wondered if they were strong enough to lift her full weight.
"You will eventually. With proper training." Natsume who was lying on his branch decided to join in on the conversation.
"I wasn't talking to you." Mikan said in a huff.
"Whatever, I was only giving my opinion on the matter. I've been trained on what to expect about these powers. I can help you."
As if a switch was flipped, Mikan suddenly looked down on the teenage boy with a hopeful expression.
"For real?"
"Sure, come on Polka Dots." Natsume chuckled as he jumped off from his branch and landed with both feet on the ground with the help of his wings. He hadn't mastered the use of them yet but with all that he learned from when he was young, he had an idea of how to use his wings.
Mikan looked puzzled at his words and it took awhile before she blushed beet red and shouted at the amused looking teenage fairie on the ground.
"PERVERT!" She screamed. Since he was on the lower branch, she had inadvertently flashed her underwear pattern to him.
"Shut up baka. Do you want anyone finding us here?" Hotaru scolded her.
"Gomen Hotaru."
"Why don't you let that other idiot help you with your powers. Don't stray too far, once the sun sets, we set out again." Hotaru closed her eyes, intending to get a short nap before they had to start walking again.
Mikan jumped down from branch to branch until she reached one low enough to let her go down to the ground without hurting herself. She followed Natsume to a small clearing near the grove and there he had her stand with her arms outstretched.
"Your wings are a part of you. Don't think of them as an extension or an upgrade. Just feel them naturally. Like an arm or a leg. Take a deep breath and feel them." She closed her eyes and followed his instructions.
He could see that she was still tense by the way she stood and held her breath. He shook his head and walked up behind her quietly. Careful not to squish her wings between her body and his, he placed his hands on her shoulders gently.
"You're too tense Polka. Whatever your feeling, doubt, fear, let it go. Just feel your body. Feel the blood flowing through your veins. Feel the beat of your heart. Feel the wind touch your skin. And let your wings do their job." His words and his close proximity made her blush. She'd never been this close to any boy before. And his warm breath as he spoke near her ear made her shiver. Nonetheless she followed his directions and closed her eyes again.
"Stop calling me that, you pervert." She muttered.
She furrowed her brows in concentration, but when she realized what she was doing she suddenly stopped. She was trying too hard. He felt her relax her breathing and subsequently let her go. She felt him move away but paid no attention. She focused on her body, and her wings. She concentrated on the rhythmic beating of her heart, the wind blowing out her hair behind her, making her wings bend slightly. It was then that her attention was now on her wings. She thought about what Natsume said. She tried her best to not feel hesitant about her wings and to just be one with them.
Her wings fluttered and soon she was lifted a few inches off the ground. She felt the earth move away from her feet and opened her eyes slowly.
"There you go." She looked up to see Natsume hovering slightly above her. He was flying too. She gave him a smile to which he just smirked.
"Now try to move forward."
"How?" She asked him. He could sense her fear slowly creeping back by her facial expression.
"Just lean slightly forward and will your wings to move with you. Just like walking with your legs." He said as he flew slowly towards her. He took her hands in his and guided her like an adult would with a baby taking their first step.
Pretty soon, she was able to fly without guidance, but only a few inches off the ground unlike Natsume who was able to pretty much command his wings without difficulty. He made her chase him throughout the small clearing for her to get a hang of flying on her own without his guidance.
"You'll get the hang of it soon enough. That's pretty good for a beginner with no prior training at all." He lowered himself to the ground gracefully and she did the same albeit a bit awkwardly.
They could see the sun beginning to set in the west and decided it would be best to return to the grove and wake Hotaru so they could get going. They walked side by side until they reached the where the clearing ended and the grove began. She began to walk towards the treeline when he reached out a hand to stop her. She looked at him questioningly.
"Listen, Mikan…" He trailed off and felt a heat creep up his neck when he noticed she was looking at him intently.
"I - " She looked at him, waiting for what she assumed to be was his apology when suddenly he straightened up and looked around.
A misty fog had surrounded them.
'This is impossible.' She thought. A few seconds ago, there was no mist near them. It was clear as day. The sun was still shining but now she could see nothing around her. The clearing had disappeared from sight and so had the grove. The only thing she could see was Natsume who was standing next to her. On impulse she grabbed his hand and held on to it tightly. The mist was moving around them, like a cyclone keeping them in the middle.
"Don't move." Natsume said to her.
"What are you doing?" She shrieked as he let go of her hand.
"I'm going to try to disperse this mist." He looked up but there was nothing to see but the misty grey fog surrounding them. Even the sky wasn't visible. He flew up and tried to find a way out but there was none. That's when he decided to use his powers. He held out his hand and summoned a flame on his palm. Mikan watched as the flame grew bigger until it was as big as a watermelon and he threw it towards the mist only to have it bounce back.
"NATSUME!" She screamed as the teen barely dodged the flame. It didn't hit his body but it hit part of his wings which made him fall to the ground.
She ran towards the teen who was knocked out cold from the impact. And then moments later she could feel the mist closing in around them. The wind whipped her hair in all directions. She held on tightly to Natsume who was lying on the ground. There was a loud whirring in her ears and she was beginning to feel suffocated. The next thing she knew, something hit her, and then her vision slowly faded into darkness.
END OF CHAPTER 4
What do you think happened to them? Care to share your thoughts? ;)
HaCel – Yes. All the technicalities will eventually be explained. LoL. For now, I'm keeping them secret :D
newroz – Thank you! :* and thanks for the tip about the tea :D
Yla – Ruka's appearance will be soon. Stay tuned for it! ;)
Natsumemikan123 – Thank you! Hope you enjoy this chappie!
miramisa90212 – Thanks to you too! And sorry it took awhile to update. I run a story cycle (see below for the info) and I've been a bit busy in real life so I wasn't able to update each story right away.
Seiren Rindo – Hey kouhai! You can bet on that. Haha the glade is still far aways though. I'm stretching this story out as much as I can hahaha..
YoNaMe – thanks for being an avid reader and follower of my stories! It's support like this that keeps me going despite the busy schedule! Mwah! :*
And since I updated SOA before this, I will move on to "The Scam" next. But on the next cycle Fairie Tales should be updated before SOA. If you haven't seen the update to SOA I suggest you read on over and review ;)
STORY CYCLE:
The Scam – Time After Time – Secrets – Fairie Tales – Starting Over Again (updated before this on this cycle only :D)
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Ja Ne!
xoxo Lexi1989
