Do you remeber?
"ZERO!" said a female voice as a arrow whip through the air, and headed toward an injured Zero.
As Zero looked up he knew that he was unable to move out of the way in time. He shut his eyes and looked up, takeing in his last breath.
Thump..
Zero heared the arrow hit, but he felt no pain. As his thoughts began to race he heared a voice... "Ze-ro... Are, You O-kay?.." Zero opened his eyes and saw a girl in front of him. Zero looked down at her face and saw a faint smile. He smiled a bit and thought, 'She must have blocked the arrow with her sword..' The girl said, "Are you o-kay?" Zero was about to answer, 'yes', but then he saw her chest. The rough white fabric she was wearing had somthing poking through her shirt creating a tent like shape. At the tip of the tent, blood was starting to pool and spread across the fabric as it soaked it in. The girl collapsed, Zero went to his knees to catch her. As he held her, he saw the arrow that was meant for him, sticking out of her back. Zero began trying to shake her awake. He kept saying, "Hey come on... you can't do this... not for me... no..." The girl opened her eyes a little, and smiled, saying, "Your Okay... That's good..."
Zero began to tear up, and the girl asked, "What are you crying for?... Don't you like your christmas present?" Zero was confused, Christmas was month's ago. He looked over to his guitar case and remembered she gave him some new strings. He smiled through his tears, and said "No... I... I love them... I needed new strings." The girl smiled and said, "Thats good, so what's my present?" Zero fought back the tears and said, "Its a suprise..." The girl smiled and said, "Oh, Okay... I can't wait for christmas... you'll play me a song when I open the present's right?" Zero smiled as the tears ran down his cheeks, "Yeah, whatever you want." The girl smiled.
Zero began to say her name, but she was silent. He started to shake her a little and say her name. His tears fell on her cheek, as he began to yell out her name over and over "...!"
...
Zero shot up from his candy bed. He was in a cold sweat, and breathing heavily. He reached for his sunglasses and sat up. They have been there for almost two days now. Princess Bubblegum was still giving the little elf her medical examination. 'Its been a while since i had that dream', thought Zero as he stood up. He walked to the shower room, but before he could get there Princess Bubblegum bumped into him while they both were about to turn the corner. She fell backward and dropped all her medical, and research papers. Her goggles, fell down to her mouth and nose, while her hair covered her eyes.
"Oh i'm sorry are you okay? I was busy in my thoughts.. here." Said Zero as he let down his hand. Princess Bubblegum felt for Zero's hand. As she grasped his hands she said, "Thats okay I was actually coming to get you." Zero pulled her to her feet and said, "Oh? Okay, well before I go I was hoping to take a shower. Could you point me in the right way?" Princess Bubblegum pushed her hair back and said, "Yes its right down that... way!" yelled the Princess as she turned around. "Where are your clothing?" Zero scratched her head, and said, "I think peppermint butler took my shirt and shorts to wash them, and the little elf girl took my pants and vest. (and who wears only Gauntlets, and boots?)" Princess Bubblegum started to walk away, but before she did Zero tapped her on her shoulder.
She stopped and turned, holding a futuristic looking gun. Zero dodged the gun point and was standing on Princess Bubblegum's side. She looked over her shoulder and saw Zero, Holding all her papers. She dropped her arms and blushed, She turned her body and grabbed the papers. Zero walked to were she told him to go and take a shower.
As the Cold water ran down Zero's head, he stood there unmoving. Trying to get the images from his dream, out of his head. A little dinging noise rung through out the royal bathroom. Zero stopped the shower, and opened the shower curtains. The door was slightly open and some clothes were left at the door. Zero walked out of the shower and shook himself dry. He picked up the clothing, and tried them on. It was a new pair of shorts, Some new black pants, that were as soft as silk yet strong as raw hide. A new white button down shirt, with his name written on the left breast pocket. it too was soft a silk yet strong as raw hide. He was also given suspender's to hold up his pants, they were like the rest, soft but strong. Finally he was given a Sports jacket, it was a three button jacket, it was soft as silk but strong as raw hide. He put on his new socks, and placed his feet into the combat boots he wore. But he felt like he wanted somthing else.
He decided he would wear what he did as a child. Cowboy boots, With the leather soft as clouds but stong enough to step on blades. He was about to set out to make some from the nearby animals. When he heared a voice ask, "Do you like them?" the voice sounded like it was from outside the slightly open door. Zero responded with, "Yes, I havent wore a suit like this in a long time. How did you make it?" The voice said, "Well I used a new machine of mine to sew it and craft them, but we went off the designs from different books." Zero smiled and said "Well its the best suit I have ever worn."
The Voice said, "Thank you, Anyway we should head down to the lab, I've got somthing to show you." Zero smiled and walked out the door, to see Princess Bubblegum leaning against the wall. He already knew it was her, He loved the way her hair smelt, just like bubblegum. On their way down she used yet another secret entrance. Which sent her and Zero slideing into her underground Lab. When they landed, Zero was amazed that, all the lab was filled with beakers, vials, potions, and smoking containers. She told him to follow her to the exam room.
When they got there it was a dark room with a window on the wall where the little elf was lying on a table. Her (uhhem!) areas were covered with operation towels. He looked at how his clothes were piled on a counter near the little elf. Zero then asked, "So what did you need to show me?" Princess Bubblegum turned around and set down a X-ray. Zero picked it up and looked at it, And asked, "What's up?" Princess Bubblegum turned and asked, "Notice anything stange with the Vocal Chords?" Zero looked at the X-ray again. "No?" said Zero as he continued to look at it. Princess Bubblegum said, "They aren't there..." Zero set down the X-ray and said, "Oh..."
"I dont think they were removed, I think she was born without them." Said Princess Bubblegum, as she picked up the X-ray and began to examin it. Zero walked to the window and asked, "Can you help her?" Princess Bubblegum set down the X-ray, and said, "Of course I can!" She began to go to work on some machine. Zero looked out the window down to the Elf, and thought, 'Hmm... I thought she was quiet.' After a while Princess Bubblegum finished with her creation. She presented it with glee. To Zero it looked like some metal half mask. I would cover the mouth, nose, and cheeks. It would fit around like head phones. She said it would let her speak normally.
So Zero and her went down to the examining room, and tried to wake her up. She was under some med's and seditives. Princess Bubblegum finally activated some kind of machine that would inject her with a serum to wake her up. As the machine wirred and hissed, It stuck the needle in her neck. After pulling away from the little elf, the machine went into the wall. The little elfs heart rate went up, and her eyes opened. She sprung on her feet grabbing a needle and running to a corner.
"Hold... Her eyesight will need to adjust, the drugs have the sideeffect to make you have blurry vision." Said Princess Bubblegum as she stepped back and pushing back Zero. Zero however moved the princess's hand and walked closer to the little elf. He held out his hands and said, "Hey it's me... Zero... Do you remember?" The little elf nodded yes. Zero then said, "Did... Did you have a bad dream?" The little elf lowered her weapon and started to tear up. Zero opened his arms. The little elfs vision started to clear as she saw Zero. She ran towards the Gentle giant and hugged him while tears ran from her face. Zero Patted her head and said, "Its okay, I've been there."
After a while the little elf was feeling better and stopped crying. Princess Bubblegum walked over and appologized for dugging her. She didn't realize that she would have a bad dream. "But to make ammends I've brought you a present. :D" said the princess in a sing song voice. The little elf looked at the machine and gently put it on. Princess Bubblegum went to tinker with the machine and turn it on. When she was done she stepped back and said, "Go ahead and try to talk." The little elf girl was nearvous and looked around.
"what do you want me to say?" She sounded like she was an automated voice teller. The princess said, "Oh dear." Zero then interupted and said, "Don't... I like it, It sounds cool." He was trying to make the little elf feel better. The little elf looked happy and hopped on Zero to give him a hug. Zero blushed a little, not because he was nearvous about touching the elf. No it was because she still only wearing the operation towels.
Zero patted her head and said, "Okay, lets get you dressed." The little elf sat up, and looked at her body. She looked up and said, "What do you mean?" Zero lifted the little elf and brought her to the table and set her down. "Lets just make sure you stay covered up. Eh?" Said Zero as he picked up the vest and pants. He used the scissors to make the pants shoter, and the surgical sewing needle to sew up the pants and make them fit better. He also made the vest more fitting and comfortable.
When Zero turned to show off the clothes he noticed somthing in the back pocket of his old pants. When the elf grabbed the vest first he used his now free hand to grab what was in the pocket. It was the bottles with the water from the river of forgetfulness. The little elf reached for the pants and he put away the bottles in his new jacket. He handed the pants to the little elf, as she was putting them on he buttoned up the pocket where he kept the bottles.
When the little elf was finished she looked at her self in the mirror. After a while she said, "I love them... do you have any skull caps?" Zero was confused, and looked at the Princess. The princess raised her shoulders, and said, "Umm. I could go check." As the princess left, the little elf turned to Zero. Zero smiled softly to his new partner. The elf said, "So, whats your name?"
Zero said, "Well it used to be Isaiah james Gardner, But since the war, I am known as Zero. but feel free to call me whatever you want. Whats your name?" The little elf thought for a little bit and said, "I am known as A-1_IC-3. It was my code before I perished, from the experiments." Zero looked kinda confused, "Uhh... Well let's see... A. L. I. C. E... yeah your new name will be Alice." said Zero as he tossed Alice's silver hair.
Alice's eyes sparkeled. "Umm, Zero how old are you?" asked Alice. Zero smiled and said, "technechly I'm over a thousand years old." Alice started to jump up and down. Zero watched in confusion, "Uhh.. whats up?" asked Zero. Alice happily responded with, "Yay!, I have finallly found some one older than me!" Zero said, "Why how old are you?" Alice stopped jumping and said, "I am around a one hundred year's old." Zero smirked and said, "Oh yeah cause you died like ninety years ago." Alice shook her head and said, "No, I died when I was about a hundred years old. "
Zero's jaw dropped and he looked at Alice jump and bouce around. "Oh, I found one!" said the Princess as she walked in. Zero looked at her and walked to her side. "Is she really over a hundred years old?" asked Zero quietly. The Princess turned and quietly said, "Yes, her race, had very active healing cells, and their ageing process was greatly reduced. Thats why she looks like a sixteen year old. That and I think she was a little on the short side, even for her people." Zero looked at her and said, "So even for short people, she was short?" The princess nodded yes. Zero Smiled and said, "So she's the runt? Just like me. Sort of." The princess looked at Zero and asked, "How old were you when you froze?" Zero thought for a minute, "Umm eight teen?"
The princess looked in awe. "Your only eight-teen? you look like your in your late twenties!" Zero scratched his head and looked at the princess. "Really? Intresting... I always assumed i looked normal. Hmm Mabye its my clothes." Said Zero as he walked away. He went to Alice and said, "You ready?" Alice looked up and said, "Yes." Zero smiled, and turned to the door. "Wait! where are you going?" asked the Princess as she rushed to the two. Zero turned and said, "Were going to go prepare... For Battle." Alice nodded and they continued out the door, through yet another secret door way.
As soon as they got out of the secret door way. Zero saw the bright light of the candy castle hurt his eyes. He walked towards his room. Alice followed behind, trying to step in the foot steps of Zero. When they came to his room Zero noticed there was a new gift on his bed. He went to reach for it. It was a pair of Cowboy boots. 'Princess Bubblegum?' he thought. He saw a note attached to the inside.
It Read, "Dear Zero, Its me Marcilene. I wanted to thank you for the save when I was burning, and for not killing me. Here's what I got you, its a pair of demon boots. Their not magical or nothing but, thier freaking comfy. Anyway, you weren't here so I dropped them off. So use them to kick some serious butt... Oh and, I would have gotten you somthing cooler but, I saw those boots, you were wearing and they looked super worn out. Marcilene"
Zero smiled and tried the boots on, they fit perfectly, like a glove. Urr boot. He stood and saw the Alice trying to lift his guitar case However she couldn't lift it high enough to notice. She was almost out of breath. Zero smiled and looked over to the counter, He hatched an idea. He walked over to the counter top and picked up his gauntlets of strength. He asked Alice to come on over and he said, "Here, this oughtta level the playing field a bit." as he placed the gauntlets of strength on her hands. She triend them one and looked at both. She looked at Zero and said, "Zero, Thank you. For everything."
Zero Smiled and said, "Don't mention it. Well We better be heading out." Alice nodded in agreement. As the y made they way down to the candy kingdom foryer. Princess Bubblegum was down their waiting. She had a pack of food and other survival supplies. Alice wanted to wear it, so Zero let her. He carried his Guitar case and a single sack. "Princess Bubblegum I want you to do me a favor." Princess Bubblegum looked at him and was about to ask what, when Zero said, "When you see Marcilene, say thanks. Oh and Befor I go I wanted to say, Thanks for everything. " Princess Bubblegum smiled and said, "Will do, and when you come back you can tell us of your adventure." Zero smirked and turned to see Alice ready to go. Zero held his head high, as him and Alice both left the candy castle.
On thier way put the gate after walking through the candy kingdom, Zero looked at Alice and said, "Well This is it. Our journey will begin. Are you sure you want to come?" Alice looked at Zero, then at her feet, she stopped and looked at the Sky. As the clouds passed by she inhaled deeply, and said, "Do you remember, when I first met you? When I walked out of my Coffin? My first thought of you was that you were some odd humanoid creature, but then I saw your devotion, your drive. It inspired me. Not only will I never give up. I won't let this second chance go to waste. After all it was your first and most precious gift to me. I will follow you to the end's of the earth... Do you Remember?" asked Alice when she turned to Zero.
"Of Course. How could I forget." Smiled Zero.
To be Continued...