Welcome to a long random update: chapter 16~!
April.
Where am I?
You are asleep April.
I…I'm sleeping?
April looked around at the white expanse that surrounded her and used her hands to push herself up into a sitting position, gazing about in obvious confusion, "What's going on?" Her voice echoed all around her, as if she wasn't meant to speak here, but only within her mind. And she had, earlier, talked to someone in her mind?
You are safe here. The voice said softly, nothing can touch you.
"What happened?"
The voice was silent and then started up again, you have consumed a substance that will cause you to suffer a never-ending sleep, and you will die April.
"What?" April stood up, almost falling on her face, "What do you mean? Am I going to die?"
I will try to keep you here; I had to enter through your dreamscape.
"Dreamscape…but that was…"
A memory yes, but like the in-between that connects us all, they are a shared space.
April closed her eyes, still remembering the unpleasant memory, the one that had told the story of how she had first found a home, with the sharp eyed woman who had never loved her. She felt tears bite at her eyes and shook her head angrily. Not this time, she would be strong. No stupid memory could bring her grief; it was in the past after all. She had to force it to remain there.
"So as long as I'm here with you, I won't die?" She asked the voice.
Yes, you are safe, but understand this, I am not the timekeeper; you will not be able to stay with me for long. My power is what keeps this place and you alive, I have borrowed the timekeeper's energy, but it is not my right, and will not last.
"How soon…will I die?" April slid to the ground wearily.
April it is not for me to know, but know this. I will try my very best with all the power of my soul to keep you safe, my power is draining, but my will is strong. I will not fail you.
"Who are you?" April laid back onto the ground feeling tired all a sudden.
The voice chuckled, Have you forgotten me already?
A woman stepped out of the whiteness and approached April who had sat up, looking on in surprise.
Fila.
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"She's so cold." Cora whispered as they rushed down the steep hill, gripping tightly to Lyon's shoulders, April lying slack against her, still yet to awaken, if ever the time came.
What if we don't make it, oh no…April, Cora thought feeling tears fall again.
"Don't worry Cora, we'll make it!" Lyon yelled as he dashed downwards towards the flickering lights of the village below.
Soon trees stood tall around them and only a few dim lights could be seen through the trunks. Lyon took in a deep breath and they began moving through them, Cora ducking her head down as they raced past more low stooped branches.
They broke through the trees, Cora gasping with the sudden appearance of a home, sobbing out loud in relief. She quickly slid off the Yoshi's back and grabbed a hold of April and gently pulled her off Lyon, who in turn picked the girl up once she was off his back.
When Lyon had the girl safely in his arms, he nodded to Cora who was already moving to knock at the short wood door.
They waited and they heard a clicking noise like the door was being unlocked and then, silence.
"Please open the door." Cora pleaded, "My friend, she is sick, she needs help."
There was a pause then the door opened a crack, a toad peered out at them then the door opened all the way. Two toads ushered them in and they quickly moved inside, no one noticing the shorter toad looking around outside then quickly shutting and locking the door.
"Put her over here." The taller toad, an elder with a bit of scruffy grey hair on his chin, motioned towards a small bed where a candle was lit on the bedside table, the warm light casting thick shadows on the wall.
Lyon gently placed the girl on the bed and backed away, eyeing the toads fearfully, "Can you save her? She ingested something that is making her sleep."
"Blue sleep shroom?" The elder toad said softly, "Is this correct?"
Cora nodded, "Exactly, does this mean…so can you save her?"
He nodded back, "Well my dear, I will certainty try my best."
Relief filled her eyes and Cora wearily sank into the nearest chair, "Thank you, oh my gosh, thank you so much."
"Where did you find the shroom?" The younger toad asked peering curiously at them near the closed door.
"Not now Sean," The older toad said, "Go fetch the green glass bottle in my study, third shelve down."
Sean nodded and rushed out of the room, taking a small candle with him.
Cora felt time pass by at a flash and felt more nervous as they waited for the toad to appear with the bottle, it only took a moment but it had felt like an hour to her. She tried to preoccupy herself by gazing about the room but that could only hold her so long and soon her eyes were back on her unconscious friend.
"Help me sit her up." The toad commanded Sean who nodded and together they had her in a sitting position, head held up carefully by the younger toad.
Cora watched with Lyon as the toad slowly tilted the bottle to April's pale lips, the younger toad holding onto her cheek with a hand, carefully edging her mouth open a crack so the liquid could go down.
They did this until the bottle was empty and the elder toad sealed the bottle and sat it on the table, then turned to nod at them, "Let's just leave her here for awhile, let the potion do its job. Will you two be staying?"
Sean made a noise of protest and stood up, "But grandpa, what about-"
The older toad narrowed his eyes at the younger, silencing him, "Don't be rude Sean, they can stay, go fetch some sheets."
The toad gave them an odd look then rushed out of the room. Cora frowned at the grandfather toad, "We don't want to burden you sir, we can camp out in the woods nearby, I'm sure we would be alright."
"No." He said quickly, "It isn't safe, I'm surprised that you all got here without any trouble."
"Trouble?" Lyon blinked, "What sort of trouble?"
There was silence which was broken when Sean returned, with an armful of sheets and a quilt, "Here, got em."
"Thank you Sean." The toad took them from him and stood up. "You two can sleep on the floor of the kitchen, it is roomier."
They followed him as he began walking, Cora sharing a questioning look with Lyon. What sort of trouble were they getting themselves into this time?
"Here we are." The toad dropped the bedding onto the floor and smiled kindly at them, "Now you may have to spread things around to get it comfortable but it should be cozy if I keep a candle lit, warms the place up."
"Thank you." Cora said, "We really appreciate it."
"Sir, if you don't mind me asking." Lyon said quickly, "What sort of trouble could we have run into?"
He paused mid turn and looked at them, a frown clear on his face, "Well, we're in the company of invaders, not in this house of course, but…"
"Invaders?" Lyon interrupted, looking confused.
The toad nodded, "A band of magikoopas arrived a week back and they have been here since, they won't allow anyone to leave their homes."
Cora frowned, "Why not? Do you know why they're here?"
He shook his head and sighed, "I'm afraid not, but the leader has promised not to harm anyone if we keep inside."
She narrowed her eyes, "I see." She looked at Lyon, "We will have to help them." He nodded in return, the toad giving them a startled look.
"I won't allow you to put yourselves in harms way." The toad said sternly, "We will be fine."
"They have no right to just march in and take over your village." Cora said, "We will try and help if we can." Of course there was a question: how would they do against magic?
Cora sighed to herself; she knew they would have to find out sooner or later. It would most likely be a long time before they could get some good sleep; she was certainty going to have a hard time enough worrying about April.
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When the candles were out, wax dripping over dry, Cora stood up, careful to not wake Lyon who was sleeping peacefully near her feet. The girl stepped over his form and started out of the kitchen.
She moved around furniture, using the moon light from the window to guide her path, and found herself in front of the bed where her friend slept.
April's head was above the covers, hair up around her ears, a content smile on her face, eyes closed. She looked peaceful and the paleness was slowly but steadily appearing to leave her face, which brought a smile to Cora's face. It was likely that April would be up in the morning, she couldn't help feeling this way, hopeful wishing or not.
Cora gently sat herself at the foot of the bed and placed a hand on her sleeping friend's.
"Wake up soon, ok?" She whispered, "I miss you."
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"I feel different." April said suddenly.
Fila looked up from where she sat nearby, skirts splayed out around her, and smiled, "That's a good thing."
"I feel, happy." April smiled. She did, it had been a developing feeling, coming to her slowly, at first she had been uncertain, but now she was sure that she was indeed feeling true happiness.
"Why is that April?" Fila smiled at her, "Is it the touch of a loved one perhaps?"
April gave her a curious look, "I think I feel someone nearby, but not you. I hope that doesn't make me sound stupid."
"No, not at all." Fila said softly, "You have great sensitivity, you can sense her."
The red head frowned, "Sense who?"
Fila just smiled, "You know, don't you April."
"….Cora?"
The woman nodded in return and April looked at her with wide eyes, "Really? How can I feel her? She isn't here!"
"She is." Fila placed a hand on her chest, "In here."
April laughed, "I'm not surprised by the random heart felt comment."
Fila gave her a surprised look but smiled, "Cora is waiting for you, and she is nearby, closer than you think. I think your reunion will be a joyous one."
"I can't wait." April lay back onto the ground and looked up at the white expanse above them, "Fila, can I ask you something why we're here, face to face."
"Spirit to spirit." Fila corrected her with a laugh, "And yes, you may."
"Why does life have to be so hard?"
There was a moment of silence and Fila spoke, "April…life holds many challenges, there is a balance of dark and light, good and evil. To have good days there must also be some bad. In the end however, everyone is reunited in light."
"My mom." April said suddenly, "Doesn't love me."
"She has different feelings, her mind runs in a way that you cannot grasp. She has her beliefs on what is right and what is wrong, and they differ from yours. She loves you in her own way."
April looked up with narrowed eyes, "When has she ever loved me?"
"Try and remember April." Fila told her, "Think back, you may be surprised at what you find."
She closed her eyes and sighed, "Fine, but thinking back will probably just depress me."
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"April?"
"Mmm…"
"April!"
April's eyes flashed open and she peered out from beneath her blanket. She found her foster mom, Caroline Lowen, looking down at her. The woman's hair, as usual, was stacked on her head with a clip, this one covered in plastic butterflies, "Time to get up April, it's your big day."
"Okay." The little girl sat up in bed just as her mom left the room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with a fist, legs stretching out. April yawned and tossed the blankets off her legs and got out of bed.
Her bare feet started downstairs before she realized that her mom hated her going around without slippers or shoes on and quickly went back up stairs. April slipped on her Winnie the Pooh slippers and started down again.
She entered the kitchen to the smell of pancakes, which surprised her. Mom never cooked breakfast so this was quite a change. April also noticed the yellow and white polka dotted apron wrapped tight around her Mom's waist as she took a seat at the kitchen table.
It didn't take long before she had a plate full of oddly shaped pancakes in front of her and her mom was taking a seat at the table with her own plate. Caroline looked at her daughter and gave her a small smile, "I made them for your birthday April, and I thought you would enjoy them more than cold cereal."
April stared down at the pancakes then looked at her mom, "Umm, thank you." She felt uncomfortable. This was unlike her mom, and she wasn't sure how to respond, but after a long minute picked up her fork and stabbed one of the cakes on her plate.
Her mom then grabbed the end of the fork, "Oh…drat it!"
April jumped in her seat in surprise and let go of the fork, which fell on top of one of her pancakes. She watched as her mom stood up looking flustered.
"I can't believe it! I'm such an idiot." Caroline seethed, untying her apron quickly with limber fingers, the nails snagging once on a loose string.
"What's wrong?" April dared to ask.
Her mom looked at her for a moment then glanced at her plate, "April, really?"
The girl blinked and glanced down at her plate. She then felt herself redden. Now she could see. The pancakes were…well, syrup less.
"I'll run to the store." Her mom grabbed her purse off the table and left the room in a rush, only coming back to take a long drink from her coffee cup, "Sit here and wait for me."
April sat there every so often glancing down at her plate. This was indeed an odd day so far for the girl and for some reason, she cherished it; she actually felt like part of a family, with an apron-wearing mom making her actual pancakes!
It wasn't long before her mom had returned and was sitting across from her, attempting to open the bottle of syrup with her awkwardly long nails. April watched as the seal on the bottle was almost off when her mom's nail snagged on the corner and she lost her grip on the bottle. The syrup bottle fell bottoms up and rolled off the table, thick brown sticky syrup trailing from where it had rolled.
"Damn it!" Caroline cursed and quickly moved to retrieve the bottle, when she sat up with it she hit her head under the table and hissed in pain. April just sat still, waiting for a string of curse words to leave her mom's mouth.
Fortunately her mom held herself firm and took her seat, sitting the bottle in the middle of the table. There was a moment of silence then April found herself looking at her mom, who was staring at the syrup bottle, a look of defeat on her face.
"Oh…April." Caroline sighed, "I'm such a fool."
April played with her fork, making little holes in the pancakes, trying to think of what to say, but nothing coming to mind. April was feeling uncomfortable in the sudden silence and felt herself stare at the wood tabletop.
Suddenly her mom stood up and left the room. April looked up in surprise and fear, afraid that she had somehow hurt her mom's feelings by not responding.
It was a long minute, an hour to the girl who sat at the table in silence, the lady on the syrup bottle staring at her. April made a face at the syrup bottle lady who was printed on the paper logo and turned the bottle around so it was facing away from her just as her mom reentered the room.
April was surprised to see a small box in her mom's hand that was promptly sat in front of her, "Here."
She looked at her mom who nodded and began to carefully unpeel the blue wrapping paper around the tiny box. When the paper was off she pulled off the tape keeping the box closed and the contents were revealed.
April gasped aloud in wonder and looked up at her mom's face, "This…is for me?"
"Yes April." Caroline gave her a small smile, "It was my grandmothers, I received it from my mom when I was a girl, and now it's yours."
April reached down with two fingers to pluck the ring from its bed and slipped it onto her finger. Of course it was way too big for any of her fingers and slipped off easily but seemed to fit fine on her thumb. She smiled up at her mom, "Thank you, its beautiful."
Caroline's eyes seemed to soften, "You are very welcome April."
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"That ring." April sighed, "I took it off one summer after a big fight with my mom. She refused to let me go to camp with my friends. I left it on my desk and I forgot about it."
"When you find it again, will you wear it?" Fila asked, "I'm sure that is what your mom would want."
"Yeah." April gave Fila a small smile, "I will. Fila…thank you."
Fila just shook her head, "I did nothing April, the memory was always inside you."
"Thank you anyways." April laughed.
Fila smiled, eyes sparkling, "You are very welcome April."
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Cora's eyes flashed open and she blinked in the sudden light streaming in from the window. She was confused at first at the sudden arrival of daylight and only lifted her head up, but when hard knocking rocked the door, she sat up quickly.
"Open up!" A cold voice commanded from the other side of the door.
Cora sat up off the bed, realizing that she had fallen asleep next to April, who had yet to awaken, and slid off of it slowly.
The older toad rushed into the room looking frightened, his eyes widened when he looked at her, "Hide!" He hissed under his breath sharply, "Quickly! Take your friend!"
She quickly looked down at April and threw the blankets off the bed; she then struggled to pick up her friend. Cora heard footsteps behind her and suddenly Lyon was by her side, hurriedly trying to pick up April.
Soon they were in the other room, Lyon quickly placing April onto the bed behind them, and closing the door. The two waited in the room silently, in the darkness, listening for voices in the other room.
"What do you think they want?" Cora whispered suddenly when the door leading into the room they were in was quickly thrown open, blinding the two in the sudden light. She cried out in surprise and fell backwards onto the bed, next to her friend's still body, Lyon making growly noises in his throat as he faced the intruders.
The light that poured in from the door way was enough to reveal the figure that stepped into the room, a soft light emitting from the wand gripped in his hand.
The magikoopa smirked at them, arrogance clear on his face, "I thought I heard movement inside, and it would seem that our toad friend has kindly opened his home to strangers."
Three more entered the room; a limp toad between them, that they knew was Sean, probably trying to defend his grandfather. He of course had no power over the creatures, and Cora had no idea what a Yoshi and wings could do to fight them, but they had to try.
The koopa smiled widely at them again, "Oh but these strangers are familiar faces, well at least one." He looked at Cora who glared.
"What do you mean?" Lyon growled.
The magikoopa just gave him an amused glance, "Lord Bowser has been tracing the girl, and you are a recent companion I take it?"
The Yoshi stepped protectively in front of her, "Leave Cora and April alone. They have done nothing wrong."
He ignored the Yoshi. "We had hoped you would have found the stone by now, but it seems we must take control of this ourselves."
Cora stood up. "Wait! How did he find out about it? About us?"
"You expected a private chat with her majesty toadstool? Well, you should know that Bowser always has his eyes on this princess, he has eyes in many places." He grinned at her. "I have to admit, I'm very curious about this little trinket King Koopa is after. What sort of power it holds…"
"Well, you won't get anything from us." Lyon snapped, taking a step forward.
Cora cried out in surprise as a koopa behind the lead magikoopa aimed his wand their way, sending out a blast of energy towards Lyon. The Yoshi quickly stepped aside, towards Cora, and leaped forward, tongue lashing out towards the head magikoopa.
The koopa vanished suddenly and Cora stepped back as he appeared in front of her, facing the Yoshi who had turned quickly when he heard the whishing noise as the magikoopa reappeared.
Lyon ran forward and proceeded to attack him again, but a blast of magic at his back made him cry out in pain. Cora gasped as he fell forward onto the ground.
"Lyon!" Cora quickly pushed past the magikoopa and crouched by her friend, gingerly touching the burn marks on his shoulders.
The Yoshi gasped in pain as one of his attackers grabbed a hold of his arm, roughly pulling him up. Cora backed off, her heart racing. She was uncertain what to do, there had to be something! What though! How could she-
"Cora!" Lyon yelled suddenly, eyes flashing open to look at her, full of pain that brought tears to her eyes, "Run!"
She took a step backward again, back against the wall, the frame of a picture digging sharply into her shoulder, but too numb to notice. All eyes were on her; one of the magikoopas was already at the bedside, reaching for April.
The leader looked her way, a triumphant look on his face that sickened Cora, "There is no use resisting, you are outnumbered girl. There's nothing you can do."
Is there nothing? Cora watched as he approached, feeling defeated.
"Cora!" Lyon yelled again, before being hit hard across the face.
She felt something then, a sort of fierce energy. It was at that time she knew exactly what she had to do.
Cora stepped forward and the other occupants of the room cried out in surprise as wings appeared at her back, spread out in their full glory. She took this moment of surprise as her chance and ran forward, the head magikoopa knocked aside as she raced by, powerful wings pushed out at all sides.
The girl tucked in her wings and raced through the doorway, she quickly moved for the door, leaving her bag in the kitchen…there was no time for that now. She had her enemies stunned by her sudden transformation and now it was time to leave before it was too late.
I will come back for you. She thought full of pain at her choice, I promise. Cora burst through the door way just as a blast of magic raced by her cheek. Quickly, she spread out her wings, the brown tips disappearing into the darkness that reached in from all sides, and began running. She felt the wind catch under her, feet lifting off the ground gracefully and soon she was air born, the air racing by her, cold moonlight brushing through her as she took to the sky. She heard shouting below as she flew and glanced down. Lights were appearing in all the windows below her and she quickly pushed herself higher.
Cora flew in a straight path across the night sky, moving upwards with every wing stroke, the homes below her tiny but bright. The girl brushed back some hair that was in her eyes and gazed down below her. She wasn't sure of a plan yet but maybe it was best that she hide somewhere until she figured something out.
Suddenly she heard a whistling of wind behind her and glanced back, her eyes widening in surprise. The magikoopas were now broom borne and racing her way, at least ten of them. She quickly pushed herself forward her heart beating fast in her chest, gasping aloud as she flew.
There was a strange noise, but familiar and she quickly leaned to the side mid flight as a blast of magic raced by her, the little shapes within the spell spinning and disappearing into the night as they went. She heard more being cast and quickly tried to evade them, almost screaming in frustration as a blast of wind beat against her wings.
No! Not now! She thought. I have to get away! For Lyon and April! I'm the only one who can save them now.
The girl frantically dived down, gasping in shock at the cold air that hit her face, chills racking her body. Cora then flapped upwards again at the sound of magic and watched the colors race below her feet, barely missing their target.
She began flying again, this time flowing with the wind at her back, pushing her forward. Cora reached into her pocket for Fila's gem. She held it up to her face as she flew her grip tight on it, knowing all hope would be lost if she dropped it.
"Fila!" Cora started just as she noticed a flash of light out of the corner of her eye. She was too late to react as a blast of magic hit the shoulder of her right wing. She faltered in flight, flying at an angle then righted herself, feeling shaky with the realization that she had been hit. There was no pain but a tingling sensation was racing through the wing where it had been hit.
She pocketed the gem and continued flying, desperately trying to get ahead of her pursuers, but their brooms were just as fast as her wings, and she was getting nowhere.
Cora then tried a surprise tactic again and folded in her wings, suddenly dropping fast out of the sky. She was almost hit by broom tips as she fell below, the koopas quickly stopping their mounts as the girl fell below them. She was facing upwards as she fell, wind whipping hard against her body, watching as one after another they began to race down after her.
She spun mid-fall and found the ground rushing up to meet her and quickly pulled open her wings again, almost hitting a thick branch with her body, as she veered through the forest she had suddenly found herself in. She flew quickly through the trees hoping to lose them in the cover of the forest, knowing full well they pursued her still, unrelenting.
Cora lowered herself down with each wing beat, the ground coming closer to her feet, and soon she dropped down, her foot slipping underneath her sudden landing, falling onto the ground and rolling down a hill. She gasped as she rolled over broken branches, a stone in the ground tearing the end of her blouse.
Wings dissipating in a flash of light, the girl came to a stop beside a thick tree, looking upwards, mouth open, taking in a deep lungful of air, darkness all around her, only a few moon beams escaping from the thick canopies of the forest.
She heard the sounds of flight nearby and held her breath, unmoving, eyes staring up above her. After awhile the sounds disappeared all together and she was alone in the darkness.
Cora moved slightly in a fetal position, facing the tree, feeling pain everywhere, especially in her heart.
I could have done something, she thought, anything. Cora felt tears fill her eyes and drop down her face as she lay there. Why am I so weak?
The girl stayed there for awhile, shoulders shuddering slightly as she cried, before feeling herself slip away into a deep sleep, fully embracing the darkness that pulled her out of the world and into a kinder place.
Wow o.O 4849 words not counting this author note…that was a lot of typing. I had the huge urge to give you all a nice long chapter. ^^ You're welcome haha.
Thanks for reading! Reviews are loved dearly like cheesy pizza! Or possibly something else yummy XD pizza just popped into my head because I just ate that recently o.o Anyways…
Thanks again! I really hope this was an enjoyable read; I tried to make it as awesome as possible. A long chapter was needed, I was going to submit a short one but said the heck with it and this was published.
By the way, if anyone sees any grammar issues (I don't have a beta for this so I'm sure they're there) let me know. I want this to be as well written as possible.
See you laters! :3