So I've had this written for almost a week, and I re-read and edited it till I practically memorized it and I think it's finally ready for the posting.
Essentially this chapter is a collaboration between myself and Greendogg. 90% of the dialogue in this story was written by her! Keep that in mind as you read :) Most of the non-dialogue is mine. We were discussing this fic and she suggested putting in some flashbacks at the same time I was thinking it, and I was feeling uninspired so she started the segment about their childhood, and I wrote the ones about their adulthood, also added a few chunks of detail into the first few. This will all make more sense when you read it. The bottom line is, this chapter is as much GD's as it is mine! :)
I actually really love this chapter, it makes me smile every time I read it. Since we had no idea about what the Vs home planet is like, we had to use our best guesses and we recalled the line in the first episode when Anna mentions that their home is similar to earth, so we sorta based it off that.
We don't own any of the characters. Except for Jay, she was created by GD. Marie is the redheaded V technician that appears in an early episode. And we know Joshua and Samuel! After writing MSD, I smile every time I see them. I love all my boys!
The song is one of my favourites, "Snow Angels" by One Less Reason. I've always wanted to put it in a fic! :D I love the last lines.
Again, I'm not writing this as Anna/Marcus romance. I'm pushing the limits of OOC as it is. I just think there's more to them than what we see on V. BUT if you happen to know of a Marcus/Anna fic, I'd be interested to read it.
Kudos if you've trooped through this long A/N. I know it's tedious but I think it's important pre-fic stuff.
read on :)
I remember back in the day
And all the memories I made with you
And the smile on your face
And everything that we've been through
"Stay close Anna, don't wander off." said Jay, a female V and Anna's caretaker.
"Sure thing," Anna replied politely. Most young visitors stayed close to their mothers or caretakers, but not Anna. As soon as she learned to walk, she was always eager to go somewhere or explore. Anna was now nine years old (in human years). Although she was at the age where her mother didn't have to care for her constantly, she still needed someone to look after her. Not to mention Diana was far too busy with her duties as Queen. Jay was one of her assistants, a young adult Visitor and knew Anna from the time she was born. Jay had long silky black hair, a tan colored complexion and brown eyes. To Anna, she was more like a friend than a nanny. Despite being under adult supervision, she still had free rein. Being out in an open field had its perks and pitfalls. One perk was that it was one of the few spots where a person could unwind without any major distractions, but there was a catch. There was an area in the field covered in tall grass, making it hard for anybody to see what was in front of them. Anna often walked through this particular patch of grass; it was one of her favorite hiding places. Many children had the same idea, adults never bothered to follow them in here. This was a place where Jay couldn't sniff her out if she tried. Hearing some rustling up ahead, Anna decided to investigate. She was so caught up in listening out for Jay she didn't watch her step and bumped into someone. A much taller someone.
"Ouch! Watch where you're going!" a deep voice growled.
"Sorry…J…" Anna rubbed her forehead and looked up. Standing in front of her was another V, a male about two years older than her.
"You're not Jay," she pointed out.
"You're not a sight for sore eyes either." The male said sarcastically.
Anna growled at him. The boy had a lot of nerve talking back to a girl like this.
"You better slow down, you almost ran me over." She warned precociously, cocking her head to the side and staring up at him in a stern imitation of her mother.
"Ha! Why?" he asked. "What are you gonna do?"
Anna continued to growl, exposing her teeth. The gleamed pearl-white, she was quite proud of them. The other V growled back and approached her. He then noticed something and stopped. Walking in a circle he stared and Anna, occasionally sniffing as he went. "You're- You're a girl!" he said, taking notice of her long hair and brown eyes.
"Of course I am! So what? Is that a problem?" Anna asked indignantly. Took him that long to figure it out?
"No, no… I just… can't bite girls, it's not right." said the boy. He stepped back and tried to look more submissive. His hair was mousy brown and his eyes were dark blue.
His sudden show of respect charmed her ever so slightly. She offered her a smile - no fangs.
"Sorry, about before." Anna replied.
"It's not your fault… really, it's ok." The boy assured her. "I'm Marcus, by the way."
"Nice to meet you. My name is Anna." Was her reply.
"Oh, uh… cool. You wanna play tag?" Marcus asked.
"Sure!" Anna answered.
"Ok, annd… you're it!" said Marcus who playfully shoved her, then ran. "Can't catch me!"
"Oh, we'll see about that," Anna replied. Before she could do anything, Jay walked up.
"There you are! I've been looking all over for you. Time to go home, you'll be later for dinner with your mother." said Jay. She saw Marcus back up, obviously suprised.
"Hello, Marcus." She greeted him.
"Hi Jay," he said.
"You know him?" Anna asked.
"Yes, he lives next door to me." Jay answered.
"I guess, that's it then." said Marcus. Jay had interrupted their game, but then again it wasn't a total loss.
"Wait a second, maybe not. Are you going to be here tomorrow?" Marcus asked.
"Uh… sure," said Anna.
"Great! I'll see you then," Marcus said cheerfully.
Anna smiled briefly.
"Anna, time to go!" Jay called from a distance.
"Coming!" Anna called back.
"Bye!" she said before running off.
Marcus watched her until she was no longer in sight.
Cousin Greg was wrong, girls aren't weird or hard to talk to at all. He pondered as he started his walk home. But he was interrupted from his thoughts.
"Got'cha!"
He was suddenly ambushed by another young V.
"Sam, get off!" Marcus growled, shoving his friend.
"Where were you?" Samuel asked.
"Yes, we thought you got lost or eaten or something." Joshua added, running up to join them.
"I didn't get lost, I was… talking to a girl." Marcus explained.
"Riiight." Joshua smirked.
"Honestly!" Marcus shot back venomously, showing a bit of fang.
"A girl, huh? So what was she like?" Samuel asked.
"She was real pretty and her name is Anna." Marcus answered.
Both Samuel and Joshua's mouths hung open.
"Anna?" they asked.
"Yeah, what's the matter? You know her or something?" Marcus replied.
"Know her? Marc, she's not just any regular girl." said Joshua.
"Why? What's so special about her?" Marcus asked.
"Don't you know? She's Queen Diana's daughter, once her mom retires, she's next in line!" Samuel explained.
"You guys are pulling my leg," said Marcus.
"It's true," Joshua replied.
"Uh-huh, sure, I'll ask Anna about it, she's coming back tomorrow." Marcus announced.
"She is?" Joshua and Samuel asked at the same time.
"Uh-huh… she's my new friend." Marcus said.
"Friend? Sure, Marcus, whatever you say," Samuel replied.
"I'm serious!" Marcus exclaimed.
"Hey, I think it's great you got a new friend. I hear Anna's nice," said Joshua kindly.
"Why don't you two come with me? We can all play out here." Marcus suggested.
"Ok, can I bring my sister and her friends?" Joshua asked.
"Sure, that'll work." Marcus answered.
"Race you home!" Samuel shouted.
"You're on!" said Joshua.
"Hey, Samuel that's not fair. You had a head start!" Marcus called out as he ran after his friends.
The three of them ran side by side, as they headed back to their neighborhood, wondering what tomorrow would bring.
And I was always scared and amazed
That someone could love me the way that you do
No matter how things change my heart ache comes in two
That particular spring day was one Anna never forgot. Over the next six years, she and Marcus got to be good friends. But one autumn afternoon, that all changed…
"Oh, I got you now." Anna said to herself. She was now fifteen years old. Her hair was still long, now it went past her shoulders. "You better run!" she yelled before jumping down from the rock she had been sitting on. Her close friend Marie, another female V her age, took off running.
"I'm gonna get ya!" Anna shrieked delightedly.
"Oh no you're not!" Marie replied. She leapt over a fallen tree, which Anna missed, causing her to trip.
Meanwhile up at the top of a hill were Marcus, Joshua and Samuel, preparing themselves for their latest 'adventure'.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Marcus asked. He was sitting in the front seat of what looked like a go cart made out of planks of wood, metal and other parts from a destroyed shuttle.
"Of course, I tested it out myself. Ready?" said Samuel.
"Well that automatically gives me complete faith that this won't explode." Marcus snorted.
"Well I'm ready," Joshua added loudly, eager to get moving.
"Annd… go!"
Joshua did as he was told and cut the rope.
"We have lift off!" Samuel announced.
Marcus had his eyes shut at first but once they started sliding down hill, he opened them.
"Wooooooo hoooo!" the trio chorused gleefully as they sped forwards.
"Ok, turn left," said Samuel.
"Which left? Yours or mine?" Joshua asked.
"Yours! Idiot!" Samuel shouted.
Just then they side-swiped a tree and lost their bumper. But it got better; just up ahead was a dried up riverbed. Wonderful.
"Uh-oh," said Marcus.
"Agreed." said Joshua.
"Put on the brakes!" Samuel yelled.
Marcus pulled out a lever and tried to stop but it was no use. The three of them went over the riverbed and hit a rock on the other side. Marcus was flung into the air and landed on a soft patch of moss, followed by Samuel, and then Joshua who landed on both of them.
"What a RIDE!" Joshua hollered with a mighty fist-pump.
"Ow, you're hurting my tailbone." Samuel complained.
Joshua quickly got up and dusted himself off.
"Here comes trouble." Marcus suddenly pointed out.
"Comin' through!" Marie yelled, before bumping into Joshua and knocking him over. Anna did a sharp turn and kept on running with Marcus not far behind. Samuel and Joshua crashed along several steps behind him.
"Can't catch me!" Anna teased.
"Oh, we'll see about that," said Marcus, he was closing in on her but spotted something just up ahead. Anna halted immediately, he stopped beside her. Marie, Joshua, and Samuel also came to a clumsy stop, bouncing off each other - a small but powerful state-of-the-art shuttle has just touched down. As he stared, a ramp unfolded off the side and a very imposing figure emerged from within the vehicle
"Whoa!" Marie shouted.
"Yeah, woah." Marcus agreed. He knew who that was. The lone figure strode towards the group of youngsters.
"Don't stare, it's unbecoming and it causes wrinkles." she chided as she drew in close.
"S-s-sorry," he stuttered.
"It's all right, young blood." said Diana with a tense smile.
"Hello, Mother." Anna greeted in a controlled, precise tone, sounding decades older than she had minutes ago when they were playing.
"That's Diana?" hissed Samuel audiably, elbowing Joshua.
Shut up, Samuel. Marcus thought.
"Good day, chidren. I figured I would find you all here." the V Queen surveyed the scene imperiously, staring down at the group of youngsters. Her severe gaze fixed on the one standing in the middle:
"I know you're Anna's friend Marcus, but the next time you see her, she'll be fully grown and almost ready to take over as your Queen. And you no doubt, will be an excellent worker." Diana continued with a hint of a smile.
This confused Marcus terribly, but he pushed it out of his mind. Maybe he'd heard wrong.
After making small talk with the awestruck children, Dianna returned to her shuttle to engage in a conversation with her pilot. The shuttle remained parked and Anna was allowed to return to her friends to finish their game. Marcus tried not to think about what Diana had said. Anna wouldn't leave. This was pure bliss. Who could ask for more?
The small group eventually tired of running and flopped down in a patch of sweet-smelling wildflowers in the cool shade of the shuttle - it was a scorching hot day. Not to mention Samuel was fascinated to see it up close. His eyes swept every angle of the machine with fascination. Marie casually picked flowers and ripped them into little bits. Joshua took a nap and Anna occupied herself by flicking blades of grass into his open, snoring mouth. Marcus watched her do so as if it was the most hilarious thing he'd ever seen. Eventually she grew tired of pestering Joshua - he was too asleep to provide a reaction - so she lay down about a foot away from Marcus and the two stared into the sky until a call from Diana shattered their innocent peace.
"Anna, let's go!"
She did as she was told and waved to her friends before stepping onto the ramp.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Marcus inquired.
"I have to spend some time on the Mothership." Anna explained. "Five semesters, learning from the best." A wide smile lit up her face. "I'm gonna be Queen, did you forget?"
"B-b-but that's five years!" Marcus stuttered.
"I know, but it's not like we won't see each other again." Anna pointed out.
"And we'll still be friends, right?" Marcus asked.
"Right, of course! Well...good bye." said Anna.
Next thing Marcus heard were various goodbyes from Joshua, Marie and Samuel. Why did they sound so casual? She was leaving. For a long time!
"Stay in touch!" Marcus called out. He watched as Anna left with her mother. He felt rather down about her leaving. Apparently it showed.
"Hey, don't worry about it." Joshua assured him.
"You got us," Marie added.
"She was one of my best friends," Marcus confessed.
"And that's all you'll ever be, she's next in line, once she's Queen, that's it." said Samuel smugly.
"Oh no, not Anna, she'll never change." Marcus replied.
"I hope you're right," said Marie.
The four of them then started to walk home, a new dismal feeling hanging in the atmosphere. From the looks of things; life was changing even now. Winter felt a bit colder already.
And I wonder if you'll ever feel the same
And I wonder if you would be coming 'round again
'Cause you made me run
When I couldn't walk
And you helped me sing
When I couldn't talk
You gave me so much more with you
You had nothing left
When I was dying, you become my breath
Much to Marcus' shock and disappointment, Anna did change. The first noticeable thing was that she, Marcus and all their friends were no longer playful young Vs but mature fully grown adults.
He remembered the moment she stepped into the same room as him, for the first time in 5 years. He hadn't seen her, not even a picture of her since the day her shuttle left the field. The first thing he noticed was her hair. It was so different, so short, so mature. It looked good, he finally decided. Very grown-up. Her face was different too. It had lost its innocent sparkle, which had been replaced by a glossy display of supreme confidence.
Likewise, Anna remembered the day she saw Marcus for the first time in 5 years. She'd smiled because he hadn't changed a bit. He was bigger and stronger of course, but that was all.
Although it took some getting used to, they managed maintained their old friendship. It was different now - most noticeably, they laughed less. Marcus wasn't suprised, since now Anna was on the verge of complete control over everything they knew. Of course she was going to be more serious. Of course he shouldn't have expected everything to go back to the way it was.
Anna knew it too. Childhood had been wonderful, everything a childhood should be. But that's precisely what it was - childhood. It wasn't supposed to last. But that didn't stop her from asking herself, often;
Where does the time go?
Sometimes she missed the old days, the youthful bliss she shared with her companions, all the days they'd spent living for the moment. The future had been the farthest thing possible from their minds. It would be so simple to just return everything and everyone to the way they used to be.
But such thoughts did not slow the passing of time, and her whimsical wishes soon became lost in the past as she became increasingly aware of her own sheer power and the influence she would someday have. At least, that's what she was told. Right now she was invisible in her mother's shadow.
For most of her life, she had been content to sit by and learn from her greatest role model. But that feeling of comfort had been chiselled away by years of intensive training and had worn so thin that nowadays she couldn't glance at Diana without tasting the raw power that was awaiting her. The urge to control grew stronger by the day.
Until the day came when her ambition overpowered her sensibilities.
Want to say Farewell
But you always live so deep in me
And this love I feel no words could ever say
She'd known what she wanted. Always had. Never a doubt in her mind.
Her mother didn't understand her. Never had. She had nothing but doubt for her daughter's intentions.
Diana was an obstacle, no way around it. So she had to be removed from Anna's path to her one true destiny. It was that simple, so Anna made a plan and carried it out.
Suddenly Diana was done, and everything fell to her daughter.
The thought was terrible and incredible at the same time. The premature Queen of the Vs felt a shiver of anticipation as she paced down the corridoor of a ship that suddenly belonged to her. Or was it panic she felt? The two felt so closely interwoven she couldn't quite decipher the line that divided.
By now, word had gotten around the ship that a new leader had stepped up. Everywhere she looked, her subordinates were staring her down with searching eyes, judging her, trying to comprehend what was happening.
One pair of eyes specifically caught her attention. She caught them briefly, then averted her gaze and walked on by.
So when she eventually wandered to the uppermost level of the ship to stare pensively out into space, he was the very last one she'd expect to follow her. He caught her off-guard when he stepped up behind her, she had to hand it to him.
Marcus didn't waste time with pleasantries, he knew very well she didn't care for them.
"What did you do?" He almost sounded exasperated.
She raked her hand through her hair -it was longer then- and whipped around to face him.
"You couldn't possibly understand." she retorted, voice aching with exhaustion and patience already wearing thin.
He inclined his head and regarded her with a half-curious half-amused expression, which she found refreshingly out of place.
"Enlighten me?"
A silence hung for a minute or two. They could hear the faraway hum of the engine room.
"My mother won't be holding us back anymore." she declared with an air of finality. He didn't need details. The reality sunk in at last. But it had been her decision, she alone was responsible for this and whatever happened next.
"Us?"
"Of course. Everything I have worked for is to benefit our race." she shot back, almost defensively. "Or did you think I'm seeking to empower myself alone?"
He remained silent for an additional moment.
"I never doubted you." he replied gently, stepping up so he was standing beside her. She didn't know what suprised her more, his words or how close he was standing.
"That makes one." she murmured. Admitting the truth was painfully hard. "I've seen how others are looking at this situation, at me. Just because they have to follow me doesn't mean they want to. The way they worshipped my mother disgusts me."
He exhaled slowly, pondering her statement.
"Just know that wherever you go from here, I'll be right behind you." he said.
She would never have told him, but that brought her such immense relief that he might as well have given her the universe.
"Thank you, Marcus." she replied with a curt nod, maintaining her cool facade.
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, then went back to staring into space alongside her, traces of a smile on his features.
For the first time since she'd grown up, Anna was glad someone was standing so close to her.
Want to say Farewell
But I always find you underneath
And I could never
I could never
I could never let you go that way
Being Queen was everything she'd ever imagined. She knew perfectly well she was living on a power high, but it only made her stronger. No one doubted her anymore, or questioned her motives. Project Earth was her whole life, she devoted every second to strategizing the future, gathering information, making plans. All the while drawing confidence from the devotion she recieved.
Marcus remained by her side as promised, manifesting all of the loyalty and none of the youthfulness she used to admire in him, once upon a time. Now he was a hardened, impassive version of the boy she'd befriended mere decades ago. Joshua, Samuel, and Marie had aged likewise. Everyone had.
She was proud of them. They'd gotten their priorities straight, abandoned traits that distracted them from lining up a straight shot at the future. They no longer existed as friends to her, she had no use for such things, what she needed was a competent group of staff, and a trustworthy Second-in-Command . Marcus' role in her life shifted effortlessly into the latter, and decades later they both wondered if they'd ever actually been friends. Everything had changed so much, sometimes they both secretly wondered if their childhood friendship had actually been real...maybe it was just a dream.
But Anna couldn't deny it. Every time she washed Bliss over her people, she herself went back to her early days. The feeling or perpetual ease she'd once known became what the Vs felt every time they were Blissed.
She occasionally wondered if they could even smell the wildflowers.
And I wonder if you'll ever feel the same
And I wonder if you would be coming 'round again
Cause you made me run
When I couldn't walk
And you helped me sing
When I couldn't talk
You gave me so much more with you
You had nothing left
When I was dying you become my breath
Anna recalled the chilly morning when her powerful Mothership glided to a stop over New York City, the minutes leading up to her first broadcast to the humans. She'd been more nervous than she cared to admit, it was ridiculously embarrassing.
Marcus found her in her study, pacing back and forth while staring numbly out the massive windows. She drew breath to tell him to get out, she didn't want anyone to see her like that.
But he spoke first, and there was a note of quiet anticipation in his voice.
"This is what you've worked for all your life. We made it. Congratulations." he spoke in a formal manner but despite that she was instantly transported to back through the years to the split second when she first bumped into him, and she even felt a trace of the old insecurity.
"We haven't made it yet. Things could go wrong. I...don't know...if..." She suppressed a nervous shiver as she turned to face him.
Marcus stepped in front of her so they were face to face, mere inches apart - closer than they'd been in years. He dead-eyed her, and she knew she wasn't the only one reliving the warm day in the field back home.
"Anna. You were born for this."
She didn't know if he realized it, but that made all the difference in the world. It was those words that allowed her to shed the last of her doubts, and she put on her mask of complete and utter control, confidence, and charisma. The face that the humans would become familliar with.
And the mask didn't come off until the night when a single gunshot reverberated off the skyscrapers and she watched powerlessly as her once best friend fell to the ground.
I remember back in the day
All the memories we made
And the life that you changed
And the look on your face
When I threw it away
But I still love you today
Sometimes so much I won't say it
If you've made it this far, please leave a comment? I welcome constructive criticism, but flames will be shot right back at you, as per my policy.
C'maawwn, MSD is 1 away from 40 reviews (I'm so proud!) I know you're out there ;) I don't like to beg but reviews definitley mean the world to me!
This will be a 3 shot. Part 3 is almost done but I'll still need a bunch of days to obsessively re-read it and make changes. Within the week for sure.
I'm off to love me some James Franco on the Oscars. Have a great night and hope your Monday doesn't suck too much :)
RXP