THIS IS IMPORTANT, READ IT!
Okay, so I may be deleting the other story starring Avery in it and instead move her to DNKNA because I think she has more potential there than Heart Country and I want to explore Diamond Country a little more.
What are your thoughts on this? Also, this first chapter may seem familiar because it's based off of the beginning for the other series. But don't worry, I'm an amazing writer and will make Avery soar no matter where I put her ;)
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My eyes numbly look through the large paneled window, watching muscles contort in amazing ways. The ring in the center of the gym catch most of my attention as the men wail on each other. One bounces from foot to foot and makes quick punches but the other hardly moves, a classic mistake. That's no good, man. You've got to move in this game. If you stand still doing nothing then you're going to get hurt. Footwork is everything.
The man coils back with a thickly padded gloved hand before whipping forward, aiming to knock the guy out. I instinctively shift to the left, anxiously watching as the trainee takes a punch directly to the chin. Ooh~ he's down. No doubt about it. I breathe out a soft smile, wishing more than anything to be inside training with them. The uniform under my clothes seems to constrict a little, encouraging me to go inside and do what I do best but lingering memories hold me back.
I can't go in because I'm a girl.
Jaiden gently licks my hand, urging me to continue walking the retired police canine. My brother's lucky that I'm around most of the time to take care of his police dogs. He's working on a newer pup now. A police officer, a lawyer, a karate instructor, an MMA cage fighter, and a security guard at a high end prison basically explains my older brothers in a nutshell. With our parents gone on trips with my father my brothers basically raised me.
My forehead gently thumps against the window. And I blame them for my 'unfeminine' self. I glance off to the side within the building and spy a man look over to the window in response, jumping slightly as he has to inch his head up before finally meeting my bright blue eyed gaze. I should go. I don't want to cause a scene.
I pull away from the window and give Jaiden's leash a gentle tug. The older German Sheppard happily follows along with me and stays close by my heels with his tongue lolling out of his mouth with pure bliss. Awe so cute~ too bad he's starting to go senile.
My brother's most recently retired police dog, Jett, remains tense and alert to every little thing around him as I make sure to stay between the two dogs. The Doberman Pinscher retired only a week ago because of a bullet injury which nearly killed him. He's still recovering but now it's only up to time for it to heal. I chuckle at his upraised ears as he remains alert and vigilant, his old training still sharp compared to Jaiden's.
My cheek twitches into a smile as I rub Jaiden's head, earning an eager nip from the older dog to my other hand. His teeth barely graze my skin, gently holding my hand in his jaws unless otherwise ordered to. He seems perfectly healthy now though he's near deaf in one ear because of the bullet and has a tendency to wander every now and then.
My eyes soften as I adjust my glasses, making sure not to push too hard or else I will accidentally bend the weak metal. They are a perfectly good pair of girlish looking glasses. Girls with glasses are more 'girly', right? Or, at least it's a sign that they are girly? The whipping Chicago winds tear through the city, ruffling my slowly growing hair. I reach up, readjusting the soft threads which are now, thankfully, down to my cheek. Normal girls have long hair so if I have long hair then I ... maybe I can at least act my gender.
I heavily sigh, feeling myself start to sink into another little boat of depression. I need to act more girlie. I have to. No one ... sees me as a woman so it's just so lonely. Gentle tapping against my ankle reminds me of the octopus anklet my oldest brother gave to me. The chain is genuine stainless steel and painted to look like gold with eight little octopus figurines attached to the chains. I used to love octopuses so much when I was younger. I thought that with more arms I would be able to punch better like my brother in the cage. But something cuter would be more suitable, wouldn't it? Like a bunny or something. Oh, or a lizard! No, no that's a reptile. Those aren't considered 'cute' by most people.
My eyes numbly stare over the bobbing heads of people, only seeing a person here or there who can look me straight on in the eyes. I keep my eyes down to watch where I'm going, my heart nearly jumping out of my chest as I bump into someone who's up to my shoulder in height. An embarrassed flush immediately slaps across my face as horror envelops me.
"S-S-Sorry! So sorry!" I instinctively shout, flickering my frightened eyes over the older man to make sure I didn't hurt him. What if I knocked him over by mistake? What if I hurt his arm? Dozens of guilty thoughts fly through my head as the man looks over with narrowed eyes, puzzled at first before looking up at my red face.
He slightly sneers, obviously irked about getting bumped into before gruffly walking away. I let out a relieved sigh, thankful he kept on walking without deciding to make a bigger deal out of me bumping into him. Normally people let out a few cuss words or a shove back.
Jett lets out a rather aggressive bark, nearly making my heart pop in fright as he charges after what he considered to be an attacker. The man bulks and jumps slightly, startled obviously as he quickly tries to stumble away from the dogs. No, no don't! I roughly yank back on the leash, holding Jett back from attacking as the action excited Jaiden into a barking frenzy towards a nearby light pole.
"N-No, quiet-! U-Um, ah, uh, Seien Sie still!" I frantically order, watching Jett dance on his paws, making a small tight circle before obediently standing by my heels along with Jaiden. I look up, about to apologize to the man but he is already long gone and everyone's eyes on me.
O-Oh gosh ... s-scary~! My heart races as I quickly walk on, my fingers trembling from the judgmental glares of everyone around me. Jaiden and Jett happily paw along with me, obviously excited and now looking for something else to bark at. My heart trembles as I start to feel crushing anxiety and everyone's eyes burning holes through me.
I'm too tall.
My family is scary.
I'm too aggressive.
My hobbies are weird.
I'm too self conscious.
My hair is too short.
I ... I'm just too much.
My eyes glue to the ground as I slow to a stop, letting the people pass by the tall obstacle in their way. Why couldn't I have been born shorter? Being 6 ft is a monstrosity. No guy wants a girl taller than they are, let alone someone who's grown up around five older brothers. I used to love being so tall because I can more readily reach stuff. I never found anything wrong with it until-
Jett suddenly starts madly barking, catching my attention before I jerk on the leash.
"S-Sei-,"
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP
My head snaps up, finding myself in the middle of a crosswalk and an oncoming truck screeching it's tires. My lips part with a silent scream as I put my arms up as a last defense, hearing a thunderous crash before complete silence. My eyes crack open, spying a strange boy in front of me with a large blade buried into the truck's engine that completely crushed the hood of the truck. Oh my-!
I tremble, speechless as my heart begins to race. H-How do I react in a situation like this?! I-I-I should run and scream bu-but the danger isn't here anymore. Jett starts to aggressively growl and snarl before Jaiden joins in, their hard ingrained police training taking over. N-No, don't growl! Don't growl at the scary man, you might piss him off!
"S- Seien Sie! Seien Sie!" I frantically cry, making their growls lower in pitch. I-I need to calm down because they are reacting to me getting panicked. I take a step back as the man stands up and turns around with a cheerful grin. Seeing the long broad blade in his hand makes a shiver shoots down my spine. W-What in the world ... ?
"Aren't you tired reliving this?" The brunette boy, a good foot shorter than me, asks with a frightening smile. A panicked flush slaps across my face as my legs tremble with indecision. W-What do I do? Jett lets out a bark and snarl as I pull back on the leash, holding him back due to the harness and choker around his throat.
"R-Reliving what?" I stutter as I glance to either side, spying the streets entirely clear of people and all other cars. H-How ... where did everyone go? Darn it, I knew I should have run when I had the chance! The boy's face falls into a poker face before widely grinning.
"You're dea-," he starts before he freezes in mid sentence. My heart races as my eyes flicker over him. W-What just happened? He just ... just stopped moving. I nervously gulp and take a hesitant step forward, thrown for a loop as to what just happened.
"Um ... excuse me? L-Little boy, what's wrong?" I call out, waving a hand in front of his face. He's not moving at all. The two dogs growl and dance by my sides, eagerly awaiting a command as I try to figure out what happened to the man wielding the blade. A-And the truck ... how did he break it like that with one swing? I-
"O-Oh my goodness-!" I cry in fright, dancing back as he turns into grains of sand and fade into nothing. Sharp barks ring out as their tails wag, sniffing the air for any signs of him. W-Where did he go?! My heart races as I look to either side before making a tight circle, finding the streets entirely clear of life.
"H-Hello?" I call, hearing my voice echo down the empty streets and tall buildings. This is ... freaky. No, this must be a dream. Yeah, that's it. Jaiden happily looks around with his tongue lolling out as Jett remains by my heels panting, searching for whatever is causing me distress. My wandering gaze finally settles on a small black rabbit standing on its feet, wearing a daisy tie.
... I am so confused. Why is there a rabbit dressed like this in the middle of a city?
"Hey, why aren't you following me? You're supposed to play along with the game." It says, hopping forward a little bit. Both dogs fixate their beady eyes on the approaching bunny. Their growls stop, not at all intimidated or taking the rabbit as a threat but find it interesting enough to look at. Jaiden trots towards it, sniffing the ground near the bunny's feet.
" ... it's talking why is it talking." I flatly state, unable to say anything else in response. I ... this, this is a dream. It has to be. How should I react to this? Would a normal girl walk or gush about how cute it is? I ... well, bunnies are cute but I lean more towards dogs or something with teeth.
"Don't speak so rudely to me." The bunny huffs before hopping up to my feet. It leans forward, pawing at my shin in a reprimanding manner.
"Hurry up. If you don't come to Diamond soon," it starts before stopping short and looking away. Without warning a large plume of black smoke suddenly appears, revealing a man with black hair and low sweeping black ears. His eyes narrow as he looks up to me, locking his mismatched eyes onto me.
... uh ...
"Hurry along, I have not the patience to be sluggish." He states, reaching around my waist and pulling me along with him. My mind falls blank as he looks back to me, staring hard into her eyes with a stern and commanding look, "Peter is not the only one who can bring a foreigner to Wonderland."
"EEEEEEKKKKKK!" I scream before impulsively whipping my fist forward and punching the bunny man thing in the throat.
"HIERRRRRR!" I shout as I turn to run, ordering the dogs to follow me so they don't attack the already injured bunny man thing. He stumbles back and grasps at his throat, eyes wide with surprise and fury. This isn't real, this isn't real! Talking b-bunnies turning into a man rabbit thing, not real, not real-! I feel the panic attack start to come on as both dogs eagerly run after me and keep pace, excited about the fun run while I'm terrified out of my mind.
"Hey, did you know?"
Home, home I need to get home-!
"Games always have rules."
I huff and puff as I use my long legs to dart through the streets, daringly taking a few sharp turns into some sketchy allies. Jett and Jaiden easily keep pace, leaping over some crates as I turn back into the street.
"It's decided from the beginning ... ,"
B-Beginning? Beginning of what? I look over my shoulder, searching for whoever was speaking. My heart stutters as I watch pieces of the buildings begin to float into the air like tiny specks, disintegrating right before my eyes. No, no why is everything disappearing?!
"You knew that, right?" The moment my foot lands I fly forward, reaching out to catch something as the rabbit man's hand catches mine and drops with me.
"Hit me again and I will place a bullet between your eyes, woman." He growls, tightening his grip painfully around my wrist as we drop down the hole. Jaiden and Jett let out sharp yelps as they drop into oblivion, vanishing out of sight and into the darkness.
"N-No, Jaiden, Jett-!" No, no don't leave me-! Terror wells up in my eyes in the form of frightened tears, letting out a gut wrenching scream. Where am I going? Where, where, why-
Why?
My eyes pop open as I feel a burst of energy from left over adrenaline shoot through my body. Without hesitation I jump up to my feet, looking around the trees and forest all around me. O-O-Oh, my goodness ... where am I? My heart pounds hard as I look all around, trying to find either of my dogs.
"J-Jaiden? Jett? H-Hierr!" I loudly command, breathing hard as I search the woods for them. Oh no my brother is going to be so depressed if anything happens to them! I start to feel sick to my stomach in worry. They may be smart dogs but they aren't cut out to be running around in the wild. The streets of Chicago yeah but not a straight up forest!
"Do not scream so loudly!" A voice orders. A frightened shiver runs up my spine as I whip around, spying the man with bunny ears. He sits up, rubbing is ears with a clearly pained and annoyed expression.
"W-Who W-W-Wha-?" I stutter. How would a normal girl react in this situation? Frightened, definitely frightened. "Who ar-are you?" I tremble, my fingers shaking. I need to go find Jaiden and Jett. They could be hurt for all I know!
"Can you speak without stuttering?" He snaps, looking aggravated as he gets to his feet and brushes himself off.
"Y-Yes?" I say, "who are you?" More like where the hell you live so my older brother can book your sorry - oops, girls don't think bad words, right?
"I am the black rabbit, Sidney Black, and Prime Minister of Diamond Castle." He callously says before glancing into the woods and studying the spot. The moment his eyes are off of me I take off into the woods, using my long legs to my advantage. I need to get away from him. My heart stutters as he lunges to my right with an angry frown.
"I am beginning to think you wish for your legs to be shot off." He threatens.
"G-Get away from me-!" I cry, feeling my face heating up with fright. Who is he and why is he following me?!
"Enough running!" He snaps as he hops in front of me. I lean back in an attempt to get away from him but he whips forward with his hand reaching for my neck. My eyes flash before dipping down and to his legs. I grit my teeth as my muscles strain, picking the surprisingly light man right off his feet before throwing him right other my shoulder. The man's arms shoot out and catch himself before he rolls back, glaring at me and reaching into his jacket. I freeze, my heart stuttering with horror.
"I-I'M SO SORRY!" I nearly shout, covering my mouth from the accidental throw. I-I hadn't meant to hurt him, I swear-!
"Apologies will not get you far with me," he bluntly states before I reach forward, cupping his jaws in my hands and frantically look him over.
"Is your neck alright? I'm so, sorry! So ... so, sorry." I breathe, feeling tears well up in my eyes. I don't mean to hurt anyone. I'm not a monster, h-he startled me and I panicked and-!
"Enough of your pathetic tears. Crying for your life won't get you anywhere." He sourly snaps.
"B-B-But I could have hurt you. I-I didn't mean it, I promise-!" I bite it off at the end. His eyes narrow before reaching forward, flicking my forehead harder than I expected. "Ow!" I whine, leaning back and clasping the injury.
"I am not so fragile that I will break over something of that sort." He scolds before slipping a hand into his pocket. He blinks, looking troubled before patting all of his pockets. "T-The Potion of Hearts, where is it?!" He demands, standing up to his feet as he tries to find it.
"P-Potion of Hearts?" I ask. I've never heard the term 'potion' used before besides in video games.
"That rotten Nightmare, he must have something to do with this." He angrily grumbles. He snatches my wrist, dragging me along with him into the woods. Wait, wait let go-! "Come with me. I need to be a proper escort and give you the potion."
"W-Wait, I need to find my dogs Jaiden and Jett first." I say, looking around before shouting, "Hierr!" I intently listen to the forest around me, unable to hear them tromping through the bushes after me. Wait, shouldn't I be more concerned with where he's trying to take me?
"Forget those mongrels. I have more important matters to attend to and they will not wait." He haughtily huffs, making my heart jerk. W-What? So, because it's inconvenient to him I can't go and get my dogs?
"B-But they are my brother's!" I say, frantic. I feel ... insulted. How would a regular girl react to this?
"Come along, woman. It is more important that you get the Potion of Hearts." He says, tightening his grip on my wrist.
"N-No, let go of me-!" I shout, not wanting to hurt him. Please, please let go so I don't have to hurt you!
"Behave, Avery. I will not stand for mockery of my will to fetch you-," he starts before I tightly grip his wrist in return and step in towards him. His eyes flash before my elbow whips around and clocks him in the side of the head. I tightly wrap my arm around the back of his neck before driving my knee up right into his gut as hard as I can. I can't stay here. I need to go and find my dogs.
He lets out a pained grunt and lets go of my wrist, trying to pull his head back from the poor excuse of a muay thai clinch. My other arm whips around and aims for his head but his arm shoots up and knocks my arm off course. He crouches down before grabbing my legs and lifting me right off the ground and over his shoulder.
"I said let go!" I scream, glaring at the back of his head as his ear twitches.
"That is enough you, wretch. I have matters to attend to - AH!" He cries in pain as I grab his ear and crush it in my fist. I will not go down without fighting to my last breath. His knees buckle because of the searing pain, dropping to the ground as he clutched his ear. I roll off and onto my legs before taking off into the woods.
"S-So sorry-!" I cry, biting back tears at having to really hurt the man. Who knows, I could have broken something. B-But I need to find my dogs.
That is my first priority.
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So there you have it, another OC, Avery Fernandes and 6'2. I decided to place her in Diamond Country because I feel she has more potential there than Heart Country. I am debating on whether or not to delete the other story and move components of that story into this one, with adjustments of course. I feel I rushed into the other story too quickly without thinking of a plot, and here in Diamond I have more of a plot in mind. 10 REVIEWS and your opinions for the next chapter~