~Pip's P.O.V~
Just barely after I arrive at the village with Leopold and Tweek, I spot Stella alone crying… once again. Oh well, it's best not to leave her. Who knows what a little girl like her could get caught up in alone like that?
"Um, you two? I'm sorry, but I need to take care of something."
"What?" Leopold looks puzzled.
"It's nothing special. I'll quickly catch up, I promise."
"A-Alright then. Let's go, Leopold." Tweek says, ushering Leopold away. I wave at the two of them, when they're out of sight, my smile immediately disappears, and I walk over to Stella. She looks up at me, sobbing, and flinches. I don't blame her, I must look fairly annoyed.
"P-Pippy…"
"Your mother 'lost' you again, am I right? Come on, I'll take you hom-
I start to take her hand, but she pulls away and interrupts me. "NO! DON'T TAKE ME BACK THERE! TAKE ME WITH YOU! I WANT TO LIVE WITH YOU!" Stella bursts into tears again, making people stare at us and whisper to each other. I ignore them and grab Stella by the shoulder, trying to clam her down.
"Why? What happened? Did your mummy hit you?"
"No. She's… she's dead! She was shouting at my brothers and I… and then she clutched her chest and fell down… and my brother checked her heartbeat… and… and he said she was dead!"
"Then where are your brothers?"
"They all ran away and left me! They said they were glad mother was dead, because they hated her! They said they were going to live in the barn of a farm they work in." I scoff, face palming.
"Well then you should have gone with them."
"I wanted to, but they ran away laughing! I couldn't keep up, and now…" Stella wipes her eyes with her sleeve, sniffling.
"Look, I don't…" I stare at Stella helplessly, not knowing what to do. I suppose the only option is for me to take her to the orphanage. There's no other place where she can go. I can't tell her I'm taking here there though, or she'll think I'm abandoning her.
"Come then. I'll take you to my house."
"Pippy, where are we?" Stella asks while clutching to my sleeve, glancing around nervously.
"We're almost at my house. It's in that building." I point to the orphanage. I know she isn't able to read the letters that spell out 'ORPHANAGE'.
"Is it nice there?"
"Stella, it's an orphanage, of course it isn-
I clamp my hand over my mouth, looking at Stella, who's still processing what I said. She knows what an orphanage is, since I've heard her mother threatening to take her there several times. She shakily backs away from me.
"No… not there…"
"Stella, it's okay! A new family will come and adopt you, and-
Before I can my words even reach her, Stella turns and runs away. I mutter rude things under my breath and immediately chase her. It all happens so fast. Stella runs into the road without thinking, leaving me stranded on the pavement. I can only helplessly watch from the sidelines as the inevitable happens.
"STELLA!" I shut my eyes, not able to bear the sight of Stella being hit by a carriage. When I open them again, I see that, surprisingly, the carriage is still carrying on it's way, as if it didn't even hit someone. Stella must have been very small as not to be noticed by the driver. I run up to her collapsed body, not caring if I'm the next one to be hit by a carriage. Her head is bleeding so much that as soon as I touch it, my hand is practically dipped in blood.
I shriek at the bright red color of it, that makes this all so realistic.
~Damien's P.O.V~
"Damn, where is that stupid girl?" I growl, searching around for my newest assignment. Damn, I thought after I allowed her mother to die, I'd have the rest of the day off. Oh, how I was wrong. Turns out, her daughter in the next destined to die today.
While flying above the town and scanning the streets, I manage to make out her mangled body lying on the ground. Unfortunately, from the series of chains leading down there, I also realize Phillip is down there with her. God, I can only hope that he doesn't have any connections with her. I silently land on the ground, making sure nobody notices me, and making sure I'm not in human form. No one can see me, or else there can be trouble.
"Slow is smooth and smooth is fast, slow is smooth and smooth is fast…" I tell myself as I manage to squeeze between two men without being noticed. Ah, crap. It looks like Phillip does indeed know the girl. I cough awkwardly when he sees me, but he isn't stupid. He knows what I'm here for.
"No… NO! DON'T KILL HER!" He shouts at me. After a few seconds, I come to my senses and shake my head, taking my scissors out of my pocket. I must use special scissors to cut the string that connects a person to it's life. When I cut it, their soul is no longer attached to the world of the living. However, if a soul reaper isn't here to take the soul away, the soul becomes a ghost. That happens fairly often. And thanks to those fucking 'Authority' fairies, I'm the one who always gets blamed for it. How is it my fault if a soul reaper didn't do their work properly? A police man starts to pull Phillip away. "PLEASE, DAMIEN! PLEASE DON'T LET HER DIE!" Everyone is looking at Phillip as if he's insane, including the police man. I ignore him, but just as I'm about to allow the child to die, I see the color of her string of life. It's the whitest I've ever seen. In other words, her soul is the purest soul I've ever separated from life. I doubt even Kenneth has a pure soul such as this. As I'm pondering on what to do with such a soul, Phillip escapes from the officer and sprints towards me as fast as he can, grabbing my arm and pulling me down so low that I'm at his eye level. He looks desperate. "Damien, you are a 'Death' fairy, aren't you? I beg of you, don't kill her! Don't kill Stella! Please, do it for me!" I stare at Phillip in disbelief, unable to think of words to say back to him.
"Sh-Shut your mouth. This child is only a burden to you. Now stay out of my way and allow me to work." I shove the child away and proceed in cutting the girl's string, but I hesitate. A soul as pure as this will definitely become a positive fairy. And then an angel, no doubt. Someone like this would only benefit God. So why not let the child live longer as a useless human?
"This girl… would be the best positive fairy to ever exist. Not to mention angel. I really don't want to be around such a pure soul, so she can live… for now." I say casually, though deep down in my heart I know I'm just saying this as an excuse to get away from Phillip as soon as possible. He sighs in relief at the knowledge that the girl isn't going to die. Not yet anyway.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Don't be mistaken, child. It wasn't for you." I snap, quickly having lost my temper. I won't give this little brat the pleasure of knowing I did him such a favor.
I see Kenneth, who happens to be standing close by (most likely looking out for his human) and glare at him. "Heal the child before I change my mind." I then fly away, not wanting to look at Phillip's happy face any longer. I've decided it's too much hassle to kill him myself. I'll just need to hire an 'Assassin' fairy to do it. It's a good thing I'm acquainted with the perfect one.
~Butters' P.O.V~
Alright, I've seriously had enough. The curiosity from Phillip, no, Pip leaving for no reason is getting the better of me. Tweek doesn't seem fazed in the least from Pip leaving so unexpectedly, but I certainly am. I need to know what my fool of a step brother is doing right this minute. He's too strange to allow to wonder off alone and cause mischief. I stop walking abruptly, making a man almost crash into me.
"My goodness! What is wrong with you, boy? Stopping so suddenly like that…"
"…" I ignore his scolding of me and walk past him, not really caring about how rude I am. Tweek, looking surprised, quickly apologizes on my behalf to the baffled man and jogs after me, trying not to smash into people that are walking the streets like I just did.
"Leopold! Where are you going?"
"Sorry Tweek, but I need to know what Phillip is doing. I know he's up to something."
"What are you talking about? He was just taking Stella home." Tweek explains frantically, almost walking into a stand full of apples.
"And who is Stella?" I ask, frowning ahead. I'm starting to get lost already.
"She's a little peasant girl whose mother frequently abandons her in the streets. Phillip always takes pity on her and takes the child home, pretending he doesn't know what her mother is doing."
"That's… a fairly twisted mother."
"Yes but, now that you know what he is doing, why don't we go to the shop, hmm? Come." Tweek grabs my arm and tries to turn me around, but I stare him out.
"Why are you so desperate to take me to your shop Tweek? Is it because you want to see that fairy of yours?"
"I'm not desperate-
"Yes, you are. Look Tweek, live in denial, but while you do that, I'm going to find my step brother." With that, I leave Tweek star struck. He starts to follow me again shortly afterwards. I eventually sigh and stop walking once again. Tweek stops as well, looking at me inquiringly.
"Which way is the street that Phillip was walking away in?"
"Th-That way." Tweek points to the street on our right. "But if he's taking Stella home, then it would be this way. I know where she lives." He points to the street straight ahead of us.
"Then let's go." I leisurely walk into the center of the four way intersection of roads. Tweek immediately follows after me, almost getting hit by a horse. He clings onto my arm for safety, shaking. I sigh, since it's going to take a while before it's clear enough for us to cross again. Tweek blushes at all the people staring at us for standing here, in the middle of the road, but I couldn't care less.
"Alright, come on." I grabs Tweek's tie and pull him with me to the street across from us, finally safe on the pavement. I continue walking, not bothering to wait for Tweek, though he makes sure to keep up with me. Just as we get to the end of the street, I hear Pip shout 'STELLA!' extremely loud, and the sound of a large crash. And a lot of screaming. A crowd forms instantly, and I have to push past many people to be able to see the scene.
"Poor girl." A woman says, looking distressed.
"It was her own fault for running into the road like that, without even looking." An old man remarks, his wife agreeing with him.
"Clear away, people, clear away. Nothing to see here. Just an accident, nothing to see." I see an officer trying to wave everyone away. He isn't doing a very good job. After averting my eyes from the police man, I see a very young girl on the ground bleeding from her head very profusely. Pip is next to her, weeping. As I take a step towards them, ready to reassure Phillip, a person that makes my whole body feel cold passes me. No, not a person, a fairy. It's obvious that nobody can see him but I. Judging from the chains between him and Phillip, the fairy is Damien. The 'Death' fairy Kenneth was speaking about. He must be here to end the little girl's life. Well… at least he's handsome. Phillip is one lucky person, and I'm stuck with Kenneth.
"No… NO! DON'T KILL HER!" Phillip shouts when he sees Damien. Damien ignores him and takes a pair of scissors out of his pocket. He and Phillip have a small argument that I'm not able to hear. A police man starts to take Phillip away, but Phillip struggles. "PLEASE, DAMIEN! PLEASE DON'T LET HER DIE!" Everyone is looking at Phillip as if he's insane.
"Leopold! What are you doing here?" Kenneth asks me, coming out of nowhere. "I went looking for you, and our chains lead here. What are you up to?"
"I… I just-"
"No excuses. I want you to go with Tweek and Craig. Go, now." Kenneth pushes me away by the chest, sending me almost into Tweek, had Craig not been there to stop me.
"Come on." Craig says to both of us. "Kenny's busy."
~Kenny's P.O.V~
So I've just finished my work, and I'm looking for Leopold. I'm following the chains that connect both of us, unable to comprehend the fact that he's in the town. Who would he go with? I know Kyle is with Stan and Eric, and they should all be at Eric's house by now. Did he come here with Craig, or even by himself?
I see a crowd, and realize the chains lead towards it. Damn that Leopold. If he got into an accident, then I'll… I'll… I think Ruby calls it 'freaking out'. Yes, I'll freak out. Sure enough, he's there, looking at the accident in front of him with a dumbfounded expression. I narrow my eyes when I see Damien there with Leopold's step brother. It seems he's busy taking the life of the young girl in the accident, and that Phillip is trying to stop him. My mouth drops open when I see Damien waver and put his scissors away. I snap out of my stare and glare at Leopold.
"Leopold! What are you doing here?" I ask him harshly. "I went looking for you, and our chains lead here. What are you up to?"
"I… I just-"
"No excuses. I want you to go with Tweek and Craig. Go, now." I push him away by the chest, sending him almost straight into Tweek, had Craig not been there to stop him. Craig somehow understands that I need to do my job.
"Come on." He says to the two humans. "Kenny's busy."
I sigh in relief at Leopold's safety. I turn around to see Damien glaring at me. "Heal the girl before I change my mind." He says, before flying away. I hurry to the injured little girl. I kneel next to her and start to heal her head enough that she regains consciousness. Phillip watches me, looking afraid.
"Wh-What are you doing to her?"
"I'm healing her, so calm down. Should wake up any second…" I smile lightly when the girl opens her eyes. "There we go. All right, now to do that stupid paperwork." I take out my notebook and write down some details of the girl's needing to be healed. Right on time, Ike (who happens to be Kyle's 'brother'), a 'Blessing' fairy appears. His job is to finalize things such as me allowing people to heal, and (if he wishes) to give people blessings, obviously.
"Broken arms, broken legs, cracked skull, several cuts and bruises, a few broken ribs, and internal bleeding." I read out to Ike, before giving him the small piece of paper. He reads the contents over and nods approvingly.
"May the girl heal happily." He smiles, putting the piece of paper in a file that he must keep with him at all times. I smile sadly at Ike. It irks me that a boy that young was unfortunate enough to die at that age. And now he's stuck with work such as this every day.
The police must have called paramedics, because a few women arrive and start to take the girl away. Phillip follows without hesitation. I sigh at his lack of manners. A simple 'thank you' would've sufficed.
I stagger into the Tweak shop, exhausted. Healing, believe it or not, is surprisingly tiring. Leopold looks appalled to see me, which doesn't make things any better. It only makes me want to start crying.
"What are you doing here?" Leopold asks, not even trying to hide the volume in his voice.
"Leopold, Craig has known me since we were tiny little human babies. That means we've been friends for almost two centuries. Visiting him every day is compulsory. And as a bonus, you're here as well." I answer tiredly, not wanting to start an argument.
"Kenny, a word." Craig says quietly, gesturing to the corner of the room. I nod and follow him. Craig waits for Tweek and Leopold to leave before finally speaking.
"Kenny, I'm getting scared. Tweek hasn't slept in almost a week. And I'm not exaggerating."
"That's… that's strange."
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"Well what is it?"
"Will you give me a feather that will make him fall asleep?" I remember that time I tried to use a feather spell to make Leopold fall unconscious.
"Alright… but it'll make him fall unconscious, not fall asleep. And use it as soon as possible, or else the spell will fade away." I clap my hands together and murmur the spell, eyes tightly shut in concentration so the spell is strong enough to last a couple of hours. I open my hands, revealing a bright white feather. Craig takes it and puts it in his pocket quickly, as if trying to hide it.
"So how is Leopold? Is he still the same?"
"He seems even worse. I don't understand why he hates me so much."
"I don't think it's personal. From what I've seen, he's cold to everyone. I don't think he likes to form relationships."
"I suppose. But isn't there anything I can do to change that? I'm almost at my limit. I don't know how much longer I can take it without breaking down."
"Maybe you should ask Kyle. He knows all about that psychology crap."
"I'd rather kill us all." I shriek angrily. Asking Kyle for help is practically mental suicide. He never lets you forget. I remember I once asked him to teach me how do tie a bow because I'd never learnt how to do it as a human. He still won't shut up about it.
"You love them bows don't you?"
"So how's your bow working out for you Kenny?"
"Oh, so you're able to do them yourself now? Thank god."
"Oy! Every one, look at how nice Kenny's bow is today!"
I just wish he wouldn't make a big deal about everything…
~Special #2: Tweek's P.O.V~
I can tell that a small part of Leopold dies inside when Kenneth walks into the shop. Poor Kenneth looks so tired that he may collapse at any moment.
"What are you doing here?" I'm thankful that the shop is closed and that my parents aren't home, because Leopold said that quite loudly.
"Leopold, Craig has known me since we were tiny little human babies. That means we've been friends for almost two centuries. Visiting him every day is compulsory. And as a bonus, you're here as well."
"Kenny, a word." Craig says quietly, gesturing to the corner of the room. Kenny nods, following him. I watch them, wondering what they're going to talk about. I take Leopold's hand and lead him up the stairs. I don't think Kenneth and Craig exactly feel the need to talk about personal matters in front of the two of us, though I know Craig would tell me anything if I asked.
"Say, Tweek, how do you handle it? Being in a relationship like that with Craig?" Leopold asks me after we enter my room.
"What do you mean? It's only natural for us, what with us being chosen to be together and all…"
"Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that you've suddenly had to be so close and intimate with a completely stranger to you. Not to mention a male."
"Well, actually…" Leopold looks at me questionably. "I've known Craig for four years, even before I was to be chosen to be his human."
"What?"
"I met him when I was eight… and we became friends."
"But then weren't you surprised when you had to be in romantic relationship with him?"
"No… I…" I remember back to when I first met Craig.
Age 8:
I was young and naïve. I had absolutely no idea he was a fairy. And since I often saw him on the way to school, I one day decided to gather up my courage and say 'hello' to him. Well, it was actually much more complicated than I had anticipated.
"U-Um… HELLO!" Craig stopped and looked at me solemnly, as if he had no idea I even existed. He looked like a walking corpse, as if he had nothing to live for.
"How can you see me? Are you a psychic or…?" He asked quietly, not seeming to really care as to what my answer was.
"No… I'm not. I'm an ordinary boy! And why wouldn't I be able to see you?"
"It doesn't matter. Explaining to a young boy such as you would be… troublesome." I was dumbfounded. There was actually one person in the world that bothered to have a conversation with me that wasn't one worded. "Oh, right. I'm in human form. Heh, I'm such a fool sometimes." Craig started to continue his way, chuckling to himself bitterly.
"Please wait!" Craig stopped, though he didn't turn to me. "Will you be my friend?" I asked him stupidly. Did I actually think he would turn around, hug me, and say 'YES! YES, WE'LL BE BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!'
"Sorry, boy. But I'm a fairy." He told me calmly, showing me his wings. I watched the sparkles open mouthed, truly impressed. As he flew away, I ran after him, trying to get a better view of him flying into the sky. I didn't process the fact that he was a seemingly dangerous creature I had been taught to stay away from since I could speak. All I knew was that I wanted to see him again tomorrow. With that in mind, I hurried off to school, hoping I wasn't going to be late.
I'm sure I shocked Craig the next day when I saw him again on the way to school. Our schedules must have synced up, because I saw him every day walking the same path as me, and it was always in the same spot that we crossed each other. Anyway, I really shocked him. He thought telling me he was a fairy scared me off, but unfortunately for him, it had the opposite effect.
"How…? Why…?" He spluttered, puzzled.
"I still want to be your friend, even though you're a fairy. So will you be?"
"No."
And that was that for our second ever conversation. It was like that for about three months. But I started to see him even more frequently, in public. I don't know, maybe he just happened to be there, or maybe he was spying on me. Either way, I always waved and spoke to him cheerfully. In other words, I looked like I was friends with nothing. People soon started to talk, and my parents immediately found out, locking me in my room. They were discussing on what to do with me. I heard them mention asylums many times, and knew they thought I was mad. Craig soon caught on to this, and decided he felt sorry for me. He told me to tell them he was my imaginary friend, so I did. Although my parents frequently belittle me for that excuse, they no longer think I need to be locked up.
After that, Craig started to at least acknowledge me, even if it was only a small nod. Over time, it got to the point where I would sometimes miss half a day of school, instead just sitting and talking with him. We were complete opposites, and he was (and still is) much older and wiser than me, but despite that, he was the easiest person to speak to that I had ever met. He actually listened and agreed with me about things no one else would.
Age 9:
After I turned nine, Craig and I's relationship stayed much the same. We spoke every day, though it wasn't like it is now. I was extremely fond of Craig, and he was a cherished friend to me, but I wasn't in love with him like I am now. I never once had a single romantic thought of him. Though our relationship was happy and perfect the way it was, about four months after I turned nine, Craig started to act strange. He avoided me over a course of about a year, and when he did speak to me, it was rushed, and he never made eye contact with me. I know now it was because he had recently realized he thought of me in a romantic way. He wanted to be my lover, not my friend.
Age 10:
On my tenth birthday, Craig had finally had enough. He planned to surprise me on my birthday by acting like he used to. He said he was sorry for how he had been, but it didn't get into any more detail than that. He didn't want to speak about it, and I didn't want to ask. I was just glad he was acting like the old Craig.
However, there was one difference in his behaviour that I managed to notice. He was much gentler and careful with me, both physically and psychologically. He chose his words wisely and never pushed me around when I was in the way like he used to. He barely even touched me.
Age 11:
I started to mature mentally when I was eleven. I was taught what love and relationships were supposed to be like, and what sexual intercourse was and all those kinds of things. I had a new insight to the world after learning these things. I remember learning from overhearing some girls speaking, that when people are nervous around the person that they feel attracted to, they 'blush'. It was supposed to be blood traveling to your face and making your cheeks red, but I'd never seen it other than when people were embarrassed about something. I'd had no clue prior to that that it had to do with romance. I started to feel suspicious of Craig feeling romantically for me around that time, since I'd caught him blushing several times with me. I didn't mind him thinking of me in that way, though I knew it wasn't natural, and as far as I was concerned, it wasn't mutual.
Present:
About two weeks ago, I started to feel something different for Craig than I usually did. I started to do that 'blushing' thing when I said something stupid in front of him, or when he stood really close to me. I kept wanting him to hold me and kiss me. Every thought I had was mainly of him. I was so confused. Why was I acting like this? About four days ago, which happened to be the day Craig got my name as his human, I finally told him about it.
"Craig… I've been wanting to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"I think… I think I'm falling for you. Or I already have."
"Huh? Where did that come from? There's no way. Unless… holy crap, it is today! I'm going to be late! Tweek, I'm sorry for leaving like this, but there's something really important I need to attend. If what I think is happening, then it'll make sense about your sudden feelings."
Craig came back about an hour later, looking the happiest I've ever seen him. He explained to me what was happening, and why I was feeling the way I was feeling.
"Tweek, your mine! All mine!" He exclaimed happily. "We can be together without worrying!" I smiled at his own smile, which I had seen very seldom. I took my watch without hesitation and looked at it. Apart from Craig, I considered it the most precious thing in the world to me. It still is.
~Butters' P.O.V~
I wave a hand in front of Tweek's face to stop him from zoning out. He must be having a major flashback if he's been quiet for this long. "Hello? Anyone there?" I ask.
"Oh! What? I'm sorry, I was thinking."
"I can see that." An awkward silence forms between us.
"I bet you didn't know this, but when Craig and Ruby were human… they used to live in this house. It was theirs."
"Really? Heh, small world."
"Indeed."
"Tweek, how do you cope being with Craig so easily?" I ask suddenly.
"What do you mean? I'm attracted to him naturally." Tweek smiles softly.
"But don't you think it's weird…you two both being boys?" Tweek looks stunned.
"No. I don't. So then you don't feel anything for Kenny?" I shake my head, frowning.
"No, I hate him. I wish he didn't exist."
"But how could you-
"Butters, let's go." Kenny comes up from behind me and starts pulling me away. Did he hear me?
As we get outside, with Craig and Tweek seeing us to the door, something traveling through the air (very fast) falls to the ground loudly and skids to a stop in front of me. Kenneth has his arm around me like yesterday with Kyle, at the ready with intent to kill. Ruby shakily stands up, looking extremely angry. Kenneth relaxes when he recognizes her, but not for long.
"What happened to you? Was the sixteenth century that bad?"
"Yes, it was that bad. Some child had seen me time travel earlier this year over there, so of course in her eyes, it looked like I disappeared into thin air. So as soon as I stepped foot in that damn village, everyone started shouting 'it's her, it's the witch'. Before I knew it, they'd put me in this white dress, undone my hair, and tied me to a post. Then they set it on fire, shouting 'repent, repent' and I'm like 'FOR WHAT!?'"
Kenneth, Craig, Tweek and I stare at her.
"Anyways, I'll be sure not to go to that village again. Fucking looneys…" Kenny claps Ruby on the head, for swearing I would presume.
"Why were you in the 1500s for so long? You've been there for almost twenty four hours."
"No fear, Kenny. It's nothing that would concern you."
Kenneth looks at Ruby doubtfully. She ignores him and frowns over her raggedy white dress that was most likely put on her to be burned in. "Your lovely pink dress is gone. You should find a new one in your old cupboard. Right inside here." Kenneth remarks, pointing inside Tweek's house. Ruby's head snaps up, obviously not expecting the observation.
"Or maybe I shouldn't." She spits at Kenneth, eyeing Craig heatedly.
"Go on, you little twit. Before I force you in there and strip you myself."
"I'd rather that than go with him…" Ruby says in a barely audible voice.
"Well, don't be shy. Craig, Tweek, she's in your hands." Kenneth smiles brightly and pushes Ruby into Tweek's arms. Craig fumes, obviously not wanting Ruby around.
"Let us go, Leopold." Kenneth says, turning to me. Before I can answer, he takes my hand and pulls me away. I can't help but look at Ruby's unusually uncomfortable face. She looks equivalent to a small child starting their first day of school.