Well, a very special person gave me a christmas gift. She drew me two pictures, nad htey were both beautiful. I wanted to give her something in return, but I couldn't think of what. I thought and I thought, until finally this idea hit me. I am dedicating this, my longest fic to date, to my most beautiful friend.
This is for you, the Alfred to my Arthur. You're always by my side, being so sweet and friendly, putting up with my emotional bullshit as I go through my rebellious, anger-causing phase. I broke your heart, twice, and you still talk to me and stick by my side. I don't deserve it, but you don't seem to acknowledge that. Thank you, so much for always being there for me.
~~!~~
on another note, I apologize for taking so damn long to update! I lost my muse for this, but suddenly it was sparked once more the other night and I ended up writing a lot more for it. I may end up taking this in a different direction than I had originally intended, and plus my style has changed a bit, and so you may no longer enjoy this as much as you used to. Thank you all so much for putting up with me!
"Yaaar!" Captain Hook, the pirate, bellowed as he burst in on Arthur's nap, making the poor angel wake with a start. "Alright, pretty boy, it's high time ye be a-followin' me!"
"That was mean, Hook!" Uni, the Unicorn, could be heard whinnying from behind him. "You should've let me wake him up! You probably scared him to death!"
Slowly sitting up, Arthur watched the odd pair bicker for a moment before another voiced joined them.
"Alright, laddie! It's time ye be gettin' up now!" Lucky, one of the nine leprachauns, cried as he hopped atop Uni's back. "We've lots to do in little time, boy!"
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, the angel rose to his feet quietly. "How come...? Did I do something wrong...?"
A trio of faeries appeared before him. "Of course not, Arthur!" They chorused.
Tinkerbell, fluttering forward, put her hands on her hips. "We just need you for something important!"
Joining her friend, Fawn copied the pose. "You'll enjoy it, we're sure!" In unison, they began to speak. "It's time for you to get-"
Rani quickly appeared above them, jazz hands waving in the air enthusiastically as she finished their sentence, "Your wings and halo!"
After staring a moment, their words finally sank into Arthur's head. His entire face lit up with excitement. "Seriously?"
"Yes!" All his friends chorused. Fawn, Tinkerbell, and Rani quickly began tugging at his outstretched hand. "Let's go, let's go!" They cried. Arthur quickly followed, smiling from both exitement and nerves. He wondered what it would be like. Flying? He thought. Piece of cake.
"Close yer eyes, lad." Hook commanded, Arthur obliging. He was seated on Uni's back, and quickly they began to travel. He could hear the excited chatter of the others for what felt like forever in his impatience. Taking their time getting to their destination, they excitedly babbled about Arthur's coming cerimony. Finally, after what seemed much too long for Arthur's taste, they stopped.
"Can I open them now?" Arthur asked. He was met by a chorus of "not yet!"s, and obidiently held them shut. A few moments later he felt Hook lifting him, and after awhile of being suspended in air, he was slowly lowered in a sitting position to the cloudy terrain below.
"Arthur." At the sound of his name, his eyes slowly opened. His gaze fell upon a pair of pale, slim legs entwined in gladiator sandals. Eyes quickly travelling upward, he drank in the radiance of the woman before him. Her long, brown hair flowed down her back in a graceful wave, a few strands falling over her shoulders and framing her face. Her solid white, Chinese style dress danced beautifully around her curves. Her large brown eyes were filled with warmth, a smile to match playing across her lips as she looked over the boy before her. "Is it correct to say you know why you've been brought before me?" Her voice was soft, feathery, and each word was silken and flowed into the next to form her perfect question.
"Uhh..." Arthur's a complete contrast, he mentally kicked himself for the hesitation. "Y-yes, I do..." Slowly, her left hand extended toward him.
"Come, Arthur. Stand." As his right fell into her left, she delicately lifted him to his feet. He couldn't help noticing the feel of her skin as he let go; satin-soft and feather-light. Self consciously tugging at the hem of his silken attire, he felt a pale pink sweeping across his cheeks. Slowly, her fingertips brushed across each of his shoulders once, twice, thrice. As he watched, she seemed to be leaving a trail of aqua blue glitter. No sooner had she retracted her digits, the sparkling powder began to move. The particles separating, they seemed to travel down his back to his shoulder blades.
Arthur stood in awe, the glitter lazily expanding about him, until he was engulfed in a thick cloud. The sparkles swirled and danced around him, gaining speed until he grew lightheaded. As the speed increased further, he began to not only feel lightheaded, but just light. Gradually he began to lift into the air, his eyes closing and head falling back. He floated freely in the careening blue for what felt like minutes, but in reality was a mere second.
All at once it was over. The whirling blue disappeared, and Arthur was left suspended in the air.
Or so he thought.
Slowly his eyes opened to applause, and he looked down. Beneath him stood the others, and in sudden self-consciousness he tugged his robes down with a deep blush consuming his cheeks.
"Nee Arthur, come on down!" Cried Uni in excitement. After a moment of flapping in place, Arthur managed to figure out how to drop back to the ground. Wings lightly fluttering as he approached, Arthur felt a surge of pleasure as he once again stepped before the woman. Placing his hands together in front of him, he bowed. "Thank you, kind madame." Before he could right himself, she'd spoken.
"I'm not finished yet." As he looked up through his bangs at her, he could see she'd begun sprinkling more glitter atop his golden locks. Holding still a moment, he felt the glitter begin moving. Specks flew hither and thither, and Arthur noted the glitter was this time gold. After a moment it slowed to a stop, and the others applauded once more. Arthur stood upright, hand unconsciously coming to touch the object above his head. The sparkling, perfectly shaped halo floated about four inches above his hair, seeming to shine with its own light.
"And finally," Her voice soft, the woman slowly pulled the final item from within the sleeve of her robe. Hand extending toward him she continued, "I bestow upon you the final article of your initiation. Thank you, Arthur, for coming to us. You are officially one of us."
Staring in awe, Arthur reached for the object with caution, as if in fear of breaking it. Slender fingers wrapping around the middle of the handle, he slowly brought it closer to inspect. The sparkling, bright yellow star at the top seemed to glow nearly as bright as his halo.
Finally, for the first time, he took a look at his surroundings. Quickly finding and running toward the only mirror in the room, Arthur began to look his new appearance over. Turning this way and that, he closely examined the feathery wings on his back. They were a pale, white-blue that sparkled in the light, his halo standing bold and bright above his head. Striking the pose of a supermodel, he swung his hip out, hand resting delicately upon it. Leaning forward, he tipped the sparkling star of his wand toward himself and winked. After a few moments of making various, almost rediculous poses, Arthur finally stepped away from the mirror. Turning toward the woman once more, he found her smiling.
"Welcome to Britannia, Arthur." She bowed from the waist, the smile formal but sincere. "We all hope you'll enjoy your time here."
With a large grin, Arthur fluttered his wings and nodded. "Oh, I will. Thank you so very, very much my Lady!" Taking the hand that was extended to him, he was pulled into a gentle embrace.
~~!~~
On day one, he managed to get himself in the air... Only to come crashing down seconds later. A small squeal left the blonde's mouth as he plummeted to the soft clouds below. He landed with an OOMF! only to get up once more, not deterred by it at all.
On day two, he made it into the air and managed to stay up, but had much trouble navigating. He'd grow distracted as he attempted to soar, causing himself to crash into things.
By day three, he managed to learn all the basics. And that same night, he set out to learn the truth. As the bright pink sun set into the depths of the deep blue night sky, and the pair of moons rose, Arthur began his journey. He glanced around his sleeping quarters to assure himself of everyone else's slumber before slipping out the open window. He swooped into the air, his wings carrying him above the multicoloured houses and streets. He fluttered toward the green section and, once there, landed silently on his feet. He walked carefully down the streets, navigating them until he came back to that house, heart thundering as he neared it. The drapes, faded and swirled in red, seemed to forewarn him of something. He carefully slunk his way up the walk, up the steps, to the front door of his home. His hand fell on the doorknob, hesitating.
Wand in hand, he tapped it to his forehead gently and it began to glow faintly. The tip of the star finding its way into the lock, he turned it whilst murmuring to himself a small chant. The lock clicked, and he twisted the knob. Opening with the sound akin to a gunshot, the door creaked open to reveal a pitch black room. His long, slender fingers walked along the wall until they came across a switch. Flipping it, a single, naked bulb in the fixture overhead flickered on. It was barely a candlelight, and would falter every few seconds as it buzzed like a swarm of wasps. The small angel stepped gingerly into the parlor that was once his. He took note of the furniture, ragged and stained red, something of paint consistency. Arthur looked to the floor in front of his sandaled feet, finding a rectangular object. His fingers slipped around its corner, hoisting it from the floor. The cracked glass of the frame hid a familiar face, and whosever it was had their arm around him in the image. He clutched the object to his chest, a sense of yearning taking over. He slipped around the corner of the doorway, glancing briefly into the kitchen to find it in a similar, disheveled state. He sighed to himself, heading up the stairs.