Here is the final part of episode one. I hope you enjoy. This chapter also contains some mild yuri, so if you don't like that then you might not want to read. It is pretty mild, but it'll probably get stronger in future episodes. I'll be off for a short while to work on some other things, but episode two shouldn't be more than a week away. Thanks for reading!
Rozen Maiden: Märchen
EPISODE 1
Having Your Cake
The following morning everyone awoke to a fabulous breakfast prepared by Nori. Despite this, it didn't take them long to notice the appearance of a certain rose ring upon her finger, and when questioned about it she promptly burst into tears and began babbling apologies. Jun managed to calm her down enough to get an explanation, and Nori recounted the previous night's encounter with Kirakishou to the stunned dolls.
Jun leaned back in his chair and planted a hand over his face in dismay. "Oh man, not another evil doll. This is all we need."
"I'm so sorry, Jun-kun," Nori wailed, clutching her tea. She felt terrible for being duped. Jun shook his head.
"Don't worry about it, you couldn't have known this would happen. How do we even know this doll is the real deal? She could be another fake."
"Does it matter?" said Shinku, sipping at her own tea. "Regardless, she has your sister's life in her hands. Rozen Maiden or not, she is a threat."
"What does she want?" Suiseiseki asked Nori, "I mean if she's letting you tell us all this then she must want something from us in exchange for your life. Did she say what?"
Nori nodded, still not looking up. Guilt was hanging heavily on her. "She said she wants Barasuishou."
The table was silent for a moment, until Suiseiseki blurted out a laugh. "Is that all? Well then what are we all worrying about? If she wants that crazy crystal killer I say we hand her over and count ourselves lucky. Good riddance."
"Hell yeah!" Kanaria chimed in, every bit as eager as Suiseiseki to see the back of the doll that had recently killed her. Shinku neglected to voice her view on the matter, and her expression was completely unreadable this morning. Jun however seemed uncomfortable.
"Can we really do that? I mean Rozen himself sent Barasuishou to me and asked me to look after her. If I give her away five minutes after she gets here then I'm hardly doing what he asks, am I?"
Now Shinku did speak. "I am sure Father would not wish you to sacrifice your sister's life for a mere doll," she said, her voice every bit as level and devoid of expression as her face. Jun's eyes widened in surprise.
"Mere doll? I know you guys have every reason to hate her, but that's pretty cold, Shinku."
"Is it?" Shinku asked, her tone of voice suddenly clipped, "Is the life of a human not more valuable than the life of a doll?"
Their eyes locked. Shinku's were fierce, whilst Jun's were filled with confusion. What was with her today? He broke eye contact and glanced at his sister, who seemed on the verge of tears again. Finally he turned back to Shinku and returned her fierce glare with as much strength and determination as he could muster.
"Life is life," he said simply, "It's not my place to start deciding which life is more valuable. Of course I don't want Nori to die, but a third option would be pretty nice right about now, that's all I'm saying."
"Sometimes there are no other choices," Shinku pressed on, "You must either turn left or right. There is no middle ground. Try to look for another option and you could lose everything."
"Or gain everything," Jun countered, growing more annoyed by her strange attitude. Suiseiseki rolled her eyes.
"I think what's she's trying to say, Jun, is that you can't have your cake and eat it as well. You have a simple choice to make, and the answer is equally simple. Give this Kirakishou what she wants and we can all get on with our lives without worrying about the psychopathic killer doll sleeping in the corner over there. Now is that clear enough for you, or do you need me to draw you a picture that even Kanaria can understand?"
It took a second for Kanaria to realise that she'd been insulted. "Hey! You take that back right now!"
Suiseiseki ignored her completely, which only made Kanaria even angrier. Jun meanwhile slumped in his chair and leaned his chin on his hand, feeling thoroughly ganged up on. They were right, that was what made it so annoying. That and the fact that it was a choice between two evils. On the one hand it was simple - give up Barasuishou or Nori would die. But what if in doing that he only made things worse? What if this Kirakishou teamed up with Barasuishou and started the whole Alice Game all over again? If Kirakishou really was a Rozen Maiden, then Rozen himself wouldn't step in and bring everyone back as he'd done before. He'd proven that much by refusing to revive Hinaichigo and Souseiseki - the two dolls defeated by actual Rozen Maidens.
"Well then, Jun, what are you going to do?" said Shinku curtly. All eyes fell on Jun, everyone waiting for an answer. He already knew the answer he had to give them, but that didn't mean he had to like it. But then ... the best way to mess up someone's carefully laid plan was to throw a wrench into the works. Do the last thing they'd expect you to do. So ... what was the last thing anyone would expect him to do in a situation like this?
Jun stood up and walked away from the table. There was something he needed to get.
It was snowing in the N-Field when the group arrived. Everyone had come save for Kanaria, who'd been only too happy to obey Suiseiseki's instructions to stay behind and look after the house. Jun carried the unmoving form of Barasuishou in his arms, much in the same way he would carry Shinku. Barasuishou was slightly larger, but he managed just fine. Nori was by his side, afraid and still racked with guilt if the look on her face was anything to go by.
"Relax sis, this'll all be over soon," he said to reassure her. She glanced at him and smiled, though it was a half-hearted smile. He really didn't blame her, she was just trying to help out by getting the lost Rosa Mysticas back.
They stopped in the middle of an old street, snow covering the rooftops and pavements, but not lying on the road itself. Neither of the dolls recognised this particular N-Field, but Suiseiseki explained that there were countless fields besides the ones each individual doll possessed. It was pitch black, yet the street was lined with numerous old-fashioned lamps that provided enough light to see clearly with.
Jun took a moment to look down at the doll in his arms. His own feelings about her were mixed. He'd seen her coldly kill Shinku right in front of his eyes, yet he couldn't find it in himself to hate her. Her father had used her to prove himself Rozen's better, and despite the love for her he had professed, Jun had heard Enju lovingly admire Shinku during the Alice Game. Jun had watched her crumble to pieces, tears in her eyes at having failed her father. In some ways, she really was like a Rozen Maiden.
Was he doing the right thing?
"Okay! We're here!" Jun called out. It was time to get this over with. They waited, but not for long. One minute the street was empty, the next she was there. It made Jun's head hurt just thinking about it. Kirakishou strolled down the street towards the group. Rose vines curled through the cobblestones in her wake, and she came to a stop half a dozen feet away. The resemblance she bore to Barasuishou was eerie. It was as if they were twins.
"So good of you to come," she said, soft spoken, her voice inviting, alluring almost. She glanced at Shinku and Suiseiseki and smiled. "Nice to finally meet you, sisters. What's wrong? You don't look happy to see me."
"I'm just going to treat that as a rhetorical question and simply stand here glaring at you," said Suiseiseki, reeling in her anger.
"We haven't come to chat," snapped Jun, "I want you to release my sister from her covenant with you."
"Well aren't you a charming boy." Kirakishou turned her yellow eye on Jun now. She raised a hand to her mouth and giggled like a schoolgirl. "I see why she likes you so much. So much like Father. Oh well, that can wait. First give me what I want."
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Jun walked towards the creepy doll and held out Barasuishou. Kirakishou extended her arms and took her from him, handling her with great care. Jun backed away from them, whilst Kirakishou embraced Barasuishou and caressed her hair in a loving fashion.
"Finally we can be together," she said quietly, "We will become one and together we shall become Alice."
Jun gestured at Nori, signalling her to come to him. "Now it's your turn - release Nori like you promised."
Kirakishou sighed, seemingly annoyed by the interruption. She carefully laid Barasuishou down on the ground, eyeing the doll longingly as she did so. Reluctantly, she stood and turned away. "Very well. I have what I want, and I certainly don't need a medium..."
Nori held out her hand, allowing Kirakishou to take a hold of it. She was shaking. Kirakishou smiled at her. "I have frightened you, Miss Sakurada. I am sorry for that, and I am sorry for tricking you as I did," she said. Her voice sounded sweet and sincere, yet her expression was not.
Jun scoffed. "Yeah, I'll bet. Can we just get this over with? Some of us have school today."
Kirakishou blinked and, still holding Nori's shaking hand, turned her attention to Shinku. "My, what an impertinent servant," she said, her voice a perfect imitation of Shinku's. She giggled and said, in her normal voice; "As you wish."
She kissed the ring on Nori's finger, which vanished in a flash of blinding white light. Nori pulled away from her the second it was gone, holding her hand up for inspection. Jun and the dolls stepped in front of her as Kirakishou backed away, smiling with evident good cheer. "And now we are done," she said, "Please give my regards to Kanaria, and-" she stopped, her eye suddenly widening in shock. Something sharp was pressed against her back. She peered over her shoulder and saw, much to her amazement, Barasuishou. The Enju doll was standing behind her holding a crystal sword.
"And now we are done," Barasuishou said. She thrust her sword forwards, intending to impale the seventh doll. Kirakishou vanished in the blink of an eye, reappearing several feet away and looking very taken aback. She raised a finger to her mouth, as if thinking.
"They wound her up," she said, apparently to no-one but herself, "They weren't supposed to do that. I never anticipated..." She turned her head in Jun's direction, her eye narrowing, her expression sly. "Clever boy."
Shinku and Suiseiseki took a step towards her, their own weapons at the ready. Jun's ring glowed as it sent waves of power to the two dolls, and Barasuishou pointed the tip of her sword at Kirakishou. It seemed as if she was outnumbered, yet she didn't seem overly concerned. Shinku thrashed the air with her cane.
"Now - return Souseiseki and Hinaichigo's Rosa Mysticas at once!"
Kirakishou blinked. "Rosa ... Mysticas?" She giggled again. "Oh dear, you believed Miss Sakurada when she told you that I had them. Too bad. I lied."
"Where are they?" Suiseiseki demanded hotly, aiming her watering can directly at the seventh doll. Kirakishou smirked.
"If Rosa Mystica you seek, then follow the white rabbit." She regarded Barasuishou, her expression softening momentarily. "My dear Barasuishou, will you come with me? I do love you so."
Everyone present was startled to hear her words, though Barasuishou displayed no emotion. She tightened the grip on her crystal sword. "You wish to use me as a vessel so that you may become Alice. I will not help you."
"Oh, but you will," Kirakishou grinned like a shark, "Willingly or not, I shall have you. Until then, accept a parting gift from me."
The street lamps glowed fiercely bright, so much so that everyone was forced to shield their eyes from the sudden glare. Before anyone could act, Kirakishou was standing before Barasuishou. She reached out and tore the doll's eyepatch away. Then she leaned forwards and kissed her. The lights dimmed, and as everyone recovered the use of their eyesight they soon realised that the seventh Rozen Maiden doll was nowhere to be found. Barasuishou blinked both her eyes. Slowly, she reached up and brushed the tip of a finger against her lips, blushing.
Jun: And so ends the first episode of Rozen Maiden: Märchen. I hope you enjoyed it.
Suiseiseki: Wait ... that's it? We haven't even had any theme music! This is terrible!
Kanaria: Did someone say music?
Suiseiseki: No! Go away, you!
Kanaria: Aww, no one likes Kana, do they?
Jun: Well, maybe if you did something useful once in a while.
Kanaria: Is ... is Kana not useful?
Suiseiseki: If you have to ask...
Kanaria: Fine then! Next time, on Rozen Maiden: Märchen - BaraBara gets all emotional, which is all we need. And of course, Shinku continues to sulk.
Shinku: I am not sulking!
Jun: You kinda are Shin-Oww! What did you hit me for?
Shinku: You haven't made me any tea yet. Go and make a pot now.
Jun: Like hell! Oww! Stop hitting me you evil doll!
Suiseiseki: No, no, no! You're doing it all wrong! You're supposed to say, 'Next time, on Rozen Maiden: Märchen,' and then follow it up with a catchy phrase. You know, like we had with the first two seasons.
Kanaria: A catchy phrase? But we don't have one of those!
Suiseiseki: Well then think of one! You're supposed to be the brainiest of the Rozen Maiden, aren't you? Oh forget it, we've ruined the entire segment now. Just cut it already.