Scream, plummet, crash.
A set of dainty extremeties came up, gingerly rubbing at throbbing temples through golden hair. Cautiously sitting up, piercing green eyes examined their vast, sparkling, but empty surroundings.
"Where am I...?" Was wondered aloud. Seated on a cushiony surface, seemingly made of air, a fragile blonde gazed around in confusion. "Why am I here...?" Feeble hands coming to rest on porcelain knees, said blonde noted his previous attire had been replaced by silken robes.
Poof, giggle, swoosh.
Within seconds a small, sparkling creature fluttered at close range to the emerald eyes, seemingly smiling. Falling back in surprise, the frail boy gasped quietly. "W-who...? What...?"
"I'm your friend and guardian!" The plump green quadruped lowered, its weight less than a feather as it came to nest in the sleek, satin-clad lap of the startled youth. "Flying Mint Bunny!"
"...Where am I?" His voice small, brittle, the cherub attempted a few fruitful queries. "Who... Am I? Why am I here...?"
"Your name is Arthur. Arthur Angel. You're in a better place now... You went through a lot of pain to get here, Arthur." The rabbit blinked up at him, its dainty wings fluttering slightly.
The small male blinked at it, confused. "...What kind of pain, Mint Bunny?" He couldn't recall any pain.
"In time, you'll remember. Right now, you need to heal. That's what it's all about, at the start." Arthur's fingers danced over the soft fur of its back as it spoke.
"...Heal?" Arthur's repetition was more of a question. "Hey, how am I an angel if I have no wings, or halo?"
"Oops!" Flying Mint Bunny tittered, rising on its little legs once more. "My mistake~ You'll receive them in awhile!"
"Alright, but how long will that be?" Arthur was excited by the prospect of flying. "Do I get a wand, too?"
"Follow me!" that she- he- it was off, soaring effortlessly in the general direction it had come from. The young boy stood on wobbly, slightly sore legs, trailing behind the floating dot far ahead of him. As he continued to follow, something amazing happened.
Flash. Fade. Change.
As if by some sort of magic, a world opened up before the small blonde. Crooked rows of bright blue houses, all completely different in every way except colour, lined both sides of a grassy green street. The sky was painted reds and pinks, oranges and yellows, blues and purples as the sun set. Two moons shone full and bright; at a second glance, it appeared one was a forest green, the other a navy blue. Arthur felt a sudden, strange pang of familiarity at the colours. As he continued down the street, he noted small sounds from within the houses; a comedy show on the tele of one, children laughing from the back yard of another. Familiar scents floated through the air, ranging from apple pies and burgers to aftershave and cologne. Arthur couldn't help feeling as though someone he once knew was at his side. Shrugging it off with a small smile, he focused on the layout of the new world he'd been dropped into.
Mint Bunny led Arthur through multiple streets and avenues, each twisting and turning around a maze of blue houses until he grew dizzy. Finally, after nearly losing his guide, he could see in the distance the floating green ball once more and hurried toward it.
At the end of the street, Mint Bunny was waiting for Arthur to try to catch up. Once it deemed the other close enough, Mint Bunny zipped around another corner with a giggle. Arthur followed with haste, finding a shift in scenery as he did.
The next neighbourhood's colours were inverted; a blue street and green houses. Each house was neatly placed, sized, and physically identical in every way right down to the freshly clipped grass. The only difference between each was the shade of green. Many a house was dark inside, drapes drawn and lights off. Even the few lit houses appeared dark and uninviting; all was silent.
Arthur didn't like the feeling of this street at all; it felt cold and unwelcoming. It seemed to swallow his previously uplifted mood. As he continued to follow his tour guide through the precisely placed houses, he noted they were green, but splattered with red and blue as well. Arthur was confused; why would anyone want their house to be three different colours?
After what seemed to be hours of wandering, they passed a rather strange house. Arthur stopped and stared, wondering just what he was looking at and who on earth would want to live there.
This house was completely set apart from the others in every way. It was such a dark green it was almost black, but you'd have to look hard to see the actual colour. The home was nigh entirely splattered in deep red paint, weatherbeaten, and overgrown by plants. Taking a closer look, Arthur could see there were swirls of blue in the red. The windows were shattered, the door splintering with wear. Sunbleached drapes fluttered listlessly in a light breeze. Arthur felt he almost... recognized...? the abode.
Mint Bunny continued down the street, taking no notice to the angel's absence. After a moment's hesitation, Arthur tiptoed up to a window and peered inside. He recognized some of the furniture, thickly coated in dust and red paint. Blinking once, twice, thrice, Arthur slowly realised where he was.
"...My house...!" Arthur gaped in shock. What happened to my house...? Why is it in this neighbourhood? Where's my mum? All these questions and more flew in a chaotic cyclone through his mind as his knees began to shake. Why is there red paint all over my things? Who vandalized my home? His eyes pricked with tears as he clung to the windowsill. Shards of glass cut into his palms, making him recoil. Just barely able to tear his eyes away from the ruins of his once beautiful home, Arthur gazed at his palms in confusion. Even with his skin cut, no blood revealed itself. ...I really am dead... He thought. The tears in his eyes worsening at the prospect, Arthur turned from the window and ran toward the front door.
Finally realising his absence, Mint Bunny gasped. Hurriedly retracing his steps, the little rabbit quickly made his way back to Arthur. Eyes widening as he saw what Arthur was doing, he soared closer. "Arthur, don't!" Mint Bunny cried, flying as fast as his little wings could carry him toward the trembling cherub. "You can't go in there...!"
Pausing with his hand on the knob, Arthur turned to Mint Bunny. "And why not? Tis my home, isn't it?" His voice bitter and confused, the angel's eyes nearly overflowed with tears as he spoke. Fluttering over, Mint Bunny took the hem of his toga in its teeth and tugged. It continued to tug until Arthur reluctantly began to follow. Down the gravel path to the sidewalk, down the sidewalk to the next house over, and so on, Mint Bunny guided Arthur further and further away from the house. As the tears slowly slid down his satin cheeks, Arthur just continued to plague the little rabbit with questions.
"Why can't I go in there? Why can't I go in my own house? What did I do wrong? Why can't I go clean up the paint? Why do I have to leave my own home? Why can't I just step inside? Please? I have to know what happened...!"
Mint Bunny answered none. After successfully tugging Arthur back into the blue maze of houses, it released its grip on his garb. Arthur sank to his knees in despair, confused and sniffling. Flitting to Arthur's eye level, Mint Bunny placed a paw over Arthur's mouth. "Shhh. Arthur, it's alright. It's alright. It'll all be okay. But only if you stay far away from that house. There isn't anything wrong."
"Th-then," Arthur hiccuped. "Why c-can't I g-go into my o-own ho-use?" Trying to wipe the tears away, he continued to sniffle pitifully.
"Because it's scary, is all. See how you're crying?" Arthur nodded slowly, and Mint Bunny rubbeed its nose against Arthur's comfortingly. "It's because you got scared. Scary things are bad, right?" Arthur nodded again. "Then why face scary things when there isn't a need?" Arthur shrugged gently. Nuzzling Arthur's cheek, the small animal was wrapped in a gentle hug. "Do you promise not to go there now?"
With another sniffle, Arthur slowly nodded. "I... P-promise I... Won't go there..."
woohoo, short chapter is short! /shot
sorry this took so long and is so short... I hit a majour road block in writing this, plus some family sh*t that went down, but I promise the next few chapters will come more quickly! 15-17 are nigh finished, and I've got big plans for the next arc of the piece.
I have a question for you guys that will decide the future of the next arc, though.
Which should I go with?
Blood
Swords
or
Roses?
please cast your votes, this is vurry important!