Updated: 8/6/15
Chapter 26:Test
This was undeniably the most agonizing thing she'd ever experienced. It was more excruciating than when she had been apprehended and slapped in the face, or when she'd woken up with her first hangover and a pounding headache. Her heart literally felt broken, her eyes burned, and the tears just wouldn't stop pouring.
She felt like she was going to throw up.
Liara now truly understood the full meaning of heartbreak, and honestly, it was far worse than she ever could have imagined. Things had been going so smoothly until Brook rejected her, and she couldn't help but question what went wrong. According to Nami, Robin and Merida, they had all been able to tell that Brook felt something for her. She thought so to.
Keyword being thought.
She felt humiliated and morose. Had he been leading her on the whole time? She knew Brook wasn't really like that, but if he hadn't felt the same, then why did he act so protective of her? Why was he always complimenting her and making her feel like she was truly beautiful? She knew their relationship ran far deeper than just being Nakama because she couldn't recall him acting like that towards Robin or Nami or any of their other crew mates. Maybe she was just a fool who imagined the gentle hand squeezes or how securely he would wrap his arm around her waist and gaze into her eyes. Regardless of whether he actually had feelings for her or not didn't really matter any more. He had flat out denied her and abandoned her, leaving her to grieve alone.
Never had she felt so worthless.
[Tangled-Return to Mother]
A lone figure in the shadows scrutinized her with pitying eyes as the young woman bitterly wept, unaware that she was being watched. Merida languidly emerged from the shadows, her wrinkled hands clenched into fists. She recognized that Brook was only striving to provide Liara the advantage of a happy future, but he was a fool for doing so. Clearly the two were smitten with each other, and deserved to be together.
Unfortunately, the foolish skeleton was mishandling fate, a very unwise thing to do.
Merida had meandered over to the area earlier to snoop at how things were progressing between the pair. She had been so certain that they would declare their love for each other and officially become a couple, but instead the opposite occurred. Of course, she hadn't involved herself as it was between the two of them, but she'd desired nothing more at that moment than to materialize from her hiding spot and pop Brook in the face for being so idiotic.
So many people in the world dreamed of love, and he was letting it slip through his fingers. Well, if he wasn't going to console Liara, then she would.
"Liara."
The sobbing suddenly gridlocked as her whole body stiffened up in surprise at the sudden voice. "Merida?" Liara's voice shook as she hesitantly turned her head around to get a better look at the person behind her.
Merida's eyes saddened.
The frequently cheerful young woman was blanched with swollen eyes and crimson cheeks that stranded pieces of her hair stuck to. Her lower lip trembled as more tears slid out of her eyes and down her humid, sticky face. She was a miserable mess.
Merida knelt down and benevolently swiped her thumbs across the girl's cheeks to brush away the newly fallen tears. "I know how you feel sweetheart. It hurts a lot, doesn't it," she stated, knowing without question that her friend was experiencing unforgettable pain. All Liara could do was nod before thrusting herself into the older woman's arms and letting out the last of her tears. Nothing needed to be said, so Merida rubbed the back of Liara's head the way a mother would to her child.
Eventually the shaking and crying stopped, and the brunette tiredly lifted her head up, mopping away the last of her tears and as she timidly stared at the ground. "Merida, I don't know what to do now,"she confessed as she glimpsed back up at the woman who she'd known for such a modest amount of time yet felt she could entrust her life to. "I don't know if I can continue sailing with them after tonight." She swallowed the concrete knot constructing in her throat. "I can't abandon them though; they've done so much for me and I love them all."
Merida remained reticent and only listened, but as she did so an idea came to mind. She politely grabbed Liara's hands and assisted her to her feet. "Why don't you come with me to my home? I have a story I want to tell you, and perhaps a solution to our problems as well."
Although she felt enervated from the day's occurrences, Liara decided that she simply couldn't just retreat back to the guest house and doze off. She couldn't face any of them right now, especially Brook.
She weakly nodded her head and trailed after the faeries. Liara suddenly stopped and stared at the direction Brook had ambled away. The small hope she'd possessed in him returning dissipated when the only thing she could see were shadows.
"Liara, we should go."
She briskly wiped away the newly formed tears and advanced over to Merida, who wrapped an arm around her and patted her head as they finally evacuated the area.
[+]
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They sat at the kitchen table with cups of tea and numerous lit candles decorating the center of the ligneous surface. For a few moments the two women sat in silence, basking in the candle light and repeatedly taking sips of tea until the aged faerie chose to initiate the conversation.
"Remember the story I told you earlier, you know, the one you found drawn on the walls under Cerulean Lake?"
"Yes."
Merida sighed and carefully set her cup on the table, cradling it delicately between her creased hands. "That woman in the story- that was me."
A gasp involuntarily escaped Liara's lips as her eyes widened in disbelief. "That-that was you? H-how are you still here? What happened?" Questions flooded her mind as she struggled to voice the ones she felt mattered the most. In a way, she supposed it made sense. After all, Merida always looked so sorrowful when she mentioned the Lake or the curse, and even when she had portrayed the story earlier her eyes had carried a deep sense of loss.
She felt awful for not noticing sooner.
"I was sixteen at the time. Like all the other faeries, I remained young and did my best to protect the island, which meant I was given the duty of constantly visiting the nearby village..."
Full grey eyes peeked beneath the curled bangs of golden hair, combing her surroundings fervently. Behind her, vast lavender wings protruded from the top of her back, fluttering around in anticipation.
Elona village was vehemently diligent just like every other day, with children cantering around chortling and playing as they remained oblivious to the difficult work of life. Passing neighbors greeted each other and gossiped before returning to work in their gardens or venturing in the forest to gather up food and other supplies. Just being around so much happiness was enough to make her heart swell, but nothing compared to the joy she experienced when she saw him.
"Merida!"
She beamed brightly, revealing glowing dimples that brought out the sparkles in her eyes even more. She regarded a young man who was no more than a year older as he stode towards her. Merida found him to be the handsomest man in the village. He was well built from years of working outdoors, and he had the loveliest emerald eyes she had ever seen. His hair was short and brown, with a thin layer of bangs that rested on his tanned forehead.
When he reached her he took her small hand in his. They exchanged smiles before he guided her away and into the forest, paying no mind to the watchful eyes of the villagers.
They weaved between trees and plants, hands linked as they expertly navigated through the green scenery. At last the couple came across a circular spacious area that was completely encompassed by hefty trees.
It was "their" spot, the place they had met at only weeks ago.
Once certain that they weren't being watched by any prying eyes, their hands separated and instead reached outwards to each other. Merida draped her arms around his neck and stroked his cheek as she brought his face down to hers, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. He enclosed his arms around her waist to bring her closer, deepening the kiss even more as she was nearly pulled off her feet. At last they pulled away to bring air into their lungs, but their faces remained only mere centimeters away.
"Adam, I've missed you," Merida heavily breathed out, her eyes not leaving his. He kissed her again, and although it was shorter, it was still just as sweet.
"I've missed you also, love," Adam whispered before pecking her gently on her temple. Their arms loosened around each other, but their hands rejoined, fingers intertwined. "I would like to speak with you though."
She felt her curiosity spark. He spoke so nervously, almost as if his tongue would twist itself, and she couldn't help but wonder what thoughts consumed his mind. "Of course darling. What do you wish to say?"
He focused on their linked fingers, his thumb rubbing circles on the back of her hand. With a deep breath he met her eyes. "A thought has been plaguing my mind for the past few days, and I find that I am no longer able to contain it." He squeezed her hand. "Do you love me?"
Merida's heart pounded as she felt her cheeks grow as hot as flames. Those three words had never been said between them, but then again, she'd never thought it had been necessary to voice what was so obvious.
About five weeks ago, Merida had come across the secluded area hidden amongst the forest to gather fresh water for an ill woman in the village. While a river did run nearby, she was aware that some of the villagers happened to bathe or swim in that water, and the thought alone was enough to cause her to wrinkle her nose in absolute disgust. She instead decided to trek a bit further in hopes of finding a separate water supply, which luckily, she did.
As she filled the bucket with the frigid liquid, she heeded the sound of bushes rustling behind her. Her eyes darted around anxiously, hoping that a stray animal hadn't discovered her scent. Instead, a young man burst forth between a pair of leaves, leering as he prepared to face the unfamiliar presence. His gaze softened as he ogled on the golden-haired woman in front of him, her eyes widened in surprise as she knelt on the turf with a half-filled bucket.
Upon noticing her wings, the man cleared his throat and bowed his head in apology. "Forgive me for disturbing you. I come here all the time for peace and quiet so I didn't expect to come across anybody else. I can leave if I've disturbed you."
Merida shook her head and smiled."I always appreciate company. I've only come here to get fresh water for an ill woman. I plan on leaving in a minute anyways to take this back to her."
Both couldn't stop staring at the other.
He found her to be so beautiful, with her hair glowing like sunshine and her gentle eyes that emitted warmth.
She thought him to be quite handsome as she lost herself in his pools of green.
They introduced themselves, and he decided to go with her back to the village, even kindly carrying the heavy bucket for her. In just those few minutes, the two of them felt more happiness than they'd ever felt in their lives. Since then, affection had blossomed as they unknowingly met each other in the same spot everyday, looking forward to talking and getting to know the other. Eventually their first kiss took place, and the love only grew.
Now she was standing in front of him, being asked a question that she without a doubt knew the answer to. "Yes," she replied with utmost sincerity. Pleased with her response, Adam brought her fingers up to his lips and kissed them.
"Then will you come with me, away from this island?"
The question was so unexpected that Merida found herself caught completely off-guard. She bit her lip and stared down at the lush green beneath her feet. "Oh Adam, I would love to, but I'm not sure I could. I'm a faerie who is supposed to protect this place." Her wings fluttered sadly, as if trying to prove her point.
He let go of one of her hands and placed a finger below her chin to tilt her head back up. "That doesn't matter to me. I will go to Cerulean Lake and ask for a way to get us out of here. The island should still be protected, and you'll be able to come with me." He studied her face, noticing the flicker of hope across her pools of grey. "There is so much more out there, and I want you to be with me to see it. We'll have adventures, and even start a new life together, if you'll have me." He then reached into his back pocket and bent down on one knee, still holding one of Merida's hands. Her eyes widened and turned misty as tears gathered, focusing on the blue ring that rested on a gold band. It was stunningly gorgeous.
"Merida,my angel, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and sharing a life with me?" Adam lovingly looked up at her. He had crafted the ring himself, as he was a black smith and well skilled in his field of work. He had discovered the blue jewel in a cave, and the gold while digging underground for material. He wanted Merida to understand that he truly wanted to marry her. She had ensnared his heart, and he wouldn't permit anybody else that privilege.
Much to his relief, she nodded as tears freely fell down her face. They shared a joyful embrace and kiss before he slipped the ring on her finger, feeling more bliss than he believed possible.
Liara listened intently, a dreamy smile on her face. "That's so beautiful! That must have felt wonderful!"
Merida nodded, her eyes focused gloomily on her tea. "Yes, and I was very happy. Unfortunately, things didn't go according to plan, which I discovered the next day."
The rays of the early morning sun danced between the tree branches as Adam journeyed to Cerulean Lake.
It wasn't his first time visiting the vast waters.
A few years ago he'd sought the lake out to wish for his younger brother's recovery from an illness. At first he'd been afraid, as he'd had no experience with magic and didn't know whether it would harm his sibling or not. Luckily, the only thing that had taken place was a glow encasing his body, filling his innards to the brim with warmth, and just like that, his relative was cured. After that day, he would occasionally return to the lake to sit and appreciate its magnificent splendor, but that was all he could do. From the moment he was born he'd been told that only one wish could be requested in the lake, and to plead for more was selfish.
At the moment, he didn't care about the consequences, only to be able to depart with Merida as his wife. Besides, he'd been a decent person his whole life, asking for only his brother to be cured and for Merida's hand in marriage, so surely one more wish couldn't hurt, right?
He pushed past a bush as the lake finally came into view, breathing out a sigh of relief. He mentally congratulated himself on finding his way back before approaching the lake, his eyes scanning around to make sure nobody else was around. The extensive pool was the heart of the island, so he'd often seen people either making wishes,which was always fascinating to observe, or others who wanted to relax. He removed his shoes, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.
He shivered slightly as his toes sank beneath the water; it wasn't freezing, just a bit cold, but he'd get used to it. He proceeded until the floor completely vanished from beneath his feet and he was left with no choice but to swim. All he had to do was reach the center of the lake and float on his back, which he did with ease. All that was left to do now was close his eyes and wish with his whole heart for the thing he desired most.
His green eyes disappeared behind closed eyelids, mentally preparing himself for what he was going to say. At last his words were in order, and he parted his lips to speak.
"Mighty Cerulean Lake, I am Adam from the peaceful village of Elona. Although I have already asked of you a wish, I desire only one more before leaving, never to disturb your waters again. I wish for Merida and I to be able to leave this island on a sturdy boat so that we may see the world and find happiness!" He put his heart and soul into every word, his eyes only opening once the entire wish had been voiced. He looked up at the bright beryl sky, smiling as he waited for the familiar feeling of warmth to wash over him as it had before.
No warmth came, nor did the light to signify that his wish had been granted.
Wondering if perhaps his words hadn't sounded as meaningful, he called out his wish again, raising his voice so that the lake could clearly hear him.
Still nothing.
Disappointed flooded through him as he realized his wish probably wouldn't come true. So he really could only wish once.
How upsetting.
Plagued by the guilt of getting Merida's hopes up, he gradually swam back to land, trying to figure out how he would break the disappointing news to her.
Just as he began to propel himself through the water, a colossal shadow concealed his surroundings, as if night itself had taken over. Adam inspected the environment with panic, pondering what could have transpired when a spiraling column of jet black erupted from the middle of the lake. His mouth dropped open as a cry of fear escaped.
A black figure with horns and scarlet eyes hovered through the air towards the startled boy, a wide smirk donning its face.
"Foolish human," it rasped, "you greediness has ruined this island and given me the power I deserve!" It cackled and opened its mouth to reveal a dark shade of red before lunging towards Adam. As he screamed, the last thing he thought of was Merida and how they would never be able to be together.
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Merida excitedly bounded towards the village, her curls bouncing with every step. Today was the day they were to leave and start their life! How they were going to do it was beyond her, but Adam seemed to have a plan. The only thing he required of her was to show up in the village before noon so they could embark together. She'd already converse with the other faeries, who seemed to disapprove of her abandonment but supported her relationship and didn't attempt to prevent her departure.
Even faeries could fall in love, right?
She sprinted down the familiar path she'd used every day for months, jumping over fallen logs that lay on the sides just for the fun of it. She was about to see the world with the man she would soon marry.
Life had never felt more perfect!
[Mass Effect 3-I'm Sorry]
When she finally approached the village, her movement decelerated to a complete stop as her eyes widened in horror.
Before her lay not the peaceful place she was used to, but a zone of absolute chaos.
People scurried and scattered around, echoing screams and cries as waves of black swallowed up buildings. A woman with a young boy bounded towards the youthful faerie, pleading for help. Tears streamed down the boy's face as his chubby fingers reached outwards.
The faerie bolted forward and protracted her slender hands to grab onto the helpless humans in an attempt to pull them to safety. Much to her dismay, the black fog-like substance engulfed the them both before her eyes. She helplessly watched as the woman wrapped her arms securely around her sobbing child before completely disappearing, leaving not a trace of their existence.
Merida's jaw quaked in terror and angry at what she had just witnessed.
Did the other faeries even know what was happening?! Why hadn't they helped yet?!
She dashed ahead, refusing to linger around and do nothing as the people she cared for were murdered before her very eyes. Without any thought she forced her feet forward, breaking out into a run as she attempted to reach the next person who needed help.
The sound of glass shattering immediately snatched her attention to the right as a little girl with a doll clutched near her chest was yanked out of her home by her parents. Like the woman and child before though, they too vanished into the terrible darkness, leaving only a slumped doll behind.
Merida yelled in frustration as she watched more people around her disappear. She raised her fists up and unleashed a stream of magic at the monster, willing with all her might for the evil force to just evaporate. Her attacks were to of no avail though, as not even a dent had carved into the demonic creature's surface.
"Attack!", a loud high-pitched voice suddenly yelled out. Merida spun her head around and smiled with relief as the other faeries arrived, throwing their magic forward to slow the beast down. Unfortunately, they were also unable to make a mark, even with their powers combined.
She fell to her knees in disbelief as she realized that no matter what they did, there was simply no way to prevent the disaster from continuing.
"Why the Hell are you doing this?!" she screamed as she scrambled to her feet and shot off as much magic as she could, trying to neglect the fact that the screams and cries of the villagers had altogether faded. Her arms began to grow sore as she repeatedly released bursts of energy from her fingertips, but she enduring her protesting muscles and compelled herself forward.
At last, the obsidian substance shrunk, but none of the fairies cheered. How could they when the people they were supposed to protect had been lost to the darkness?
The murky being twisted itself into a narrow column in front of Merida, who prepared herself for an attack.
A gray figure originated out of the column and traipsed towards her. At first she couldn't tell who it was, but as the figure started to gain color and shape, she felt her legs quiver and collapse beneath her.
"Hello, my love," Adam smirked, acid dripping off of his voice. His eyes, those beautiful orbs of green she had loved so much, were now burgundy and power-hungry.
"You-you're not Adam!" Merida cried out with a sob, tears pouring down her face. Her lower lip trembled as the creature in front of her laughed, showing absolutely no remorse for its actions.
"Ah, but I am! Did you know that I had already made a wish long ago? Turns out you really can't make more than one!" He analyzed Merida's shocked face in amusement. "Of course, I don't know why you would care. After all, you only wanted to get married and get off this stupid island, right?"
"That's not true! I love you and would have never let you make that second wish if I'd known!"
"Don't lie to me! You're a cowardly fairy who will always be weak," he sneered. More tears fell from her hurt-filled eyes. "Besides, I've got so many pure hearts now that my power is nearly at maximum capacity!" He triumphantly grinned and extended his hand, a white heart floated above his palm. "Only one more soul to go and I'll be ready to erase this island and all you damn faeries from existence! After all, you were the ones who locked me away, so now is the time for my revenge! No more wishes!" He leaned down and patted Merida's wet cheek. "See you later, sweetheart!" And with that, he and the rest of the darkness disappeared.
[+]
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Night began to fall.
She lay in the spot she and Adam had spent time at every evening for a month, the very spot he'd proposed to her the previous night. The hurt she felt was so great that it felt like her heart was literally being ripped in half. She couldn't take it anymore.
Earlier her best friend Emma had come to check on her, only to end up holding the heart-broken fairy as Merida let out whatever tears she had left. While stroking Merida's back, Emma explained that her and the other faeries were going to use whatever magic they had left to put a protecting spell over the island to prevent any more harm to come to their home, as well as sealing the evil force in a place it wouldn't be able to escape from. Unfortunately, this meant they would shrink, but at least they would be able to keep living to continue watching over the island. Merida came up with her own plan, and told Emma she would go through with it no matter what. Knowing how hurt her friend was, and how her mind couldn't be changed, Emma supported her decision.
And now, Merida was going to go through with her idea. She stared at the empty bottle on the ground before she closed her eyes, reached behind her, and yanked her wings out.
Liara had begun crying as she finished listening to Merida's story, understanding the pain all-too-well, but not being able to imagine how much worse it must have been for the fairy.
Merida gave a small smile as she reached across the table and squeezed Liara's hand. "Do not weep for me dear. I have been waiting for you to come along this whole time, for I know that while it was Adam's body I saw, the heart and soul in him was not his. He would have never done such terrible things, and so, I have an idea, but whether you go with it or not is up to you."
Feeling as if she had nothing to lose, Liara hastily wiped away her tears and nodded, her eyes determined. "Please tell me. I'm listening."
[+]
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[D.N. Angel OST-Fate]
They traveled through an ample tunnel, where curtains of green leaves dangled from the ceiling like curtains. A bottle full of purple liquid mixed with silver sparkles swished around in Merida's hands with each step they took down the lengthy passage. After a few minutes of walking, they arrived in a spacious room filled with flowers and empty bottles.
Liara felt herself starting to tremble as Merida faced her and held out the bottle. "Are you sure?"
The young woman took a deep breath and nodded before reaching out and carefully taking the vial, which was far heavier than she'd anticipated. She removed the cap and examined the foreign substance with increasing anxiety. Merida placed a hand on her arm
"Remember, you must be back within 24 hours or...well, you know what will happen." Liara confirmed that she understood with another nod. "It's okay to be scared, but understand that I will explain what happened to the others, and I will also protect you from here." Her expression grew pensive. "If you succeed, then you will have saved us all."
Liara gave the bottle one last look before hesitantly raising it to her lips. "Please, just tell Brook I love him and I'm sorry."
"I promise." The faerie pulled her hand away and stood back with a cheerless smile. "I will place your sword by you. Good luck."
Her heart pounding, the brunette closed her eyes and tilted her head back. The liquid easily slid down her throat, and almost immediately, it took over her body.
The bottle slipped out of her fingers and hit the smooth stone ground, resulting in shattered glass. Liara collapsed on the ground as she felt her entire body grow stiff. She felt cold as the world turned hazy around her. Her heartbeat slowed down, and her breathing grew shallow. A small smile graced her lips for a second at how weightless she suddenly felt, almost like when she and Brook had danced in the air earlier.
"Brook," she whispered before her eyes closed, a single tear sliding down her pale cheek. Her chest stopped rising.
The next morning, she didn't wake up.
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