~Special #3: Ruby's P.O.V:~
"NOW REPENT, SINNER!" The priest yells, setting the post below me on fire. I shriek and lift my legs up, hoping my dress isn't set alight at the bottom. I glower at the priest, full of hatred.
"FOR WHAT!? I'M DOING MY FUCKING JOB! I'M A TIME-TRAVELER, DUDE!" This is so stupid. These idiots actually think I'm a witch. What, a tiny little midget like me? I have the body of a seven year old for Christ's sake!
"O how this child has been strayed from the righteousness! May she go back to the place she came from!"
"YO! I CAME FROM THE FRIGGING EIGHTEENTH CENTURY!" I scream, letting my modern personality come out. "YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M LEAVING!" I grit my teeth in aggravation, and manage to rip one of the frail ropes tied around me. I'm not surprised the ropes are so crappy. This village is pretty damn poor. I quickly reach for my bag (which I take whenever I time travel) before anyone can grab me and disappear, planning to go back to the present. "Shit." I curse as I realize I'm going too fast to land decently. I speed through the sky and crash into the paved ground. I skid to a stop in front of someone. I look and see it's Leopold, who Kenny has his arm around as a sign of protection. I would've laughed at Kenny's fierce face, but I'm too pissed to laugh at anything at the moment. I stand up shakily, trying not to fall.
"What happened to you? Was the sixteenth century that bad?" Kenny asks, obviously annoyed.
"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!?'"
Everyone stares at me.
"Anyways, I'll be sure not to go to that village again. Fucking looneys…" Kenneth claps me on the head for swearing. It's so annoying how religious he is. Ha, I can't believe I used to be like that. I mean, I believe in God and all, but I'm not obsessive about it or anything.
"Why were you in the 1500s for so long? You've been there for almost twenty four hours." I stiffen and wave Kenneth away.
"No fear, Kenny. It's nothing that would concern you."
Kenny looks at me doubtfully. I ignore him, instead glowering at my dress. Some raggedy thing they put on women when they're about to be burned. They even took my favorite hair ribbons away. "Your lovely pink dress is gone. You should find a new one in your old cupboard." Kenny remarks. I snap my head up in surprise, not expecting the comment. What an asshole.
"Or maybe I shouldn't." I spit at Kenny, eyeing him. And when I say 'him', I mean the person who used to be my brother. Craig.
"Go on, you little twit. Before I force you in there and strip you myself."
"I'd rather that than go with him…" I say as quietly as I can.
"Well, don't be shy. Craig, Tweek, she's in your hands." Kenneth smiles brightly and pushes me into Tweek's arms. Craiglooks just as annoyed as I feel.
"Let us go, Leopold." Kenny says, turning to Leopold, taking his hand, and pulling him away. I shuffle uncomfortably, not wanting to be here. I eventually sigh, looking at Tweek.
"Look, it doesn't matter. Forget the damn dress. I can always go and buy another one about a year from now." I try to smile, but I'm too upset to even fake one.
"No! Don't be silly. Why waste money when you have a whole bunch of perfectly good dresses, that fit you, right in here?" I sigh again and nod, not wanting to argue. I might as well get one, since I'm freezing my ass off in this thin white piece of cloth.
"Come on, you'll catch a cold."
"Yes, but it still won't kill me. Since I've died already…" I mutter, glaring at Craig with all my might. He looks away, not wanting to be reminded of it. Too bad, because I'm not even gonna try to forget about it. That dude made sure my life ended when I was far too young, and I'm not going to forgive him.
I follow Tweek up the stairs reluctantly, but pause outside my old room. There are a lot of memories in there. I shake my head and walk in. Tweek opens the cupboard door and lets me look inside. I'm surprised Tweek's parents (and the families before that) didn't get rid of all my clothes. But here they are, as good as I left 'em. They look pretty old fashioned now, but they were the newest kind of dresses you could get in those days, so they'll have to do. I pick out a red box with a white ribbon tied around it in a bow, which has my fanciest Sunday dress. It was a birthday present from Kenny and his sister. It's sky blue, my favorite color. But unfortunately, it's pretty complicated to put on.
My head snaps to Tweek and him.
"Well what are ya waitin' for? GET OUT AND GIVE ME SOME DAMN PRIVACY!" They immediately leave, and I kick the door shut. The nerve of those two. Are they not fucking gentleman by that age? God. I rip the horrible white dress off, bend down, and open the box. I see a lovely chemise made of silk waiting for me. I put it on, and it fits perfectly. As it always did.
"Ha, in all the years I've lived as a fairy, I haven't grown the least bit. I'm the same as when I died." I say to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. I feel naked without any fucking underwear, since they weren't even thought of in those days, and I'm not wearing the damn shit they wear these days either, so I fish around my bag and find some. Good thing I buy essentials that you don't find here. I slump onto the floor in despair when I see the dress includes a corset. I've always hated them. My mother had just started making me wear them when I died. From the short time that I remember I wore them, I know they weren't pleasant. Tweek comes in, looking slightly curious.
"Are you alright? Craig says you didn't take this long to get dressed when you were human."
"Well, you can tell him to go fuck himself." I snap at Tweek, getting up and holding the corset out in front of me. "You wouldn't happen to know how to lace up a corset would you?"
"I'm sorry. I can't even lace up shoes that well. I'm a bit fidgety with my fingers."
"Fuck."
"I know! I'll ask Craig to-
I cover Tweek's mouth and hiss: "You say one word about this to him and you can expect your doom."
"One word to me about what?" Craig asks, peeping his head around the doorway. I scowl at him; Tweek smiles.
"Ruby doesn't know how to lace up a corset."
"Huh? Does she need one? If you ask me, she doesn't have much of a figure…"
"THAT'S WHY I FUCKING NEED IT, DIPSHIT!" I scream at him furiously. Wow, the first thing I've said to him in years is this. He loses his temper just as quickly as me. Craig's a Tucker after all.
"WHY THE HELL WOULD A SEVEN YEAR OLD NEED A FIGURE!? STOP ACTING LIKE AN ADULT, IT PISSES ME OFF!"
"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT WHAT PISSES YOU OFF! AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I'M TWO HUNDRED AND ELEVEN YEARS OLD!"
"HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHO YOU'RE SPEAKING TO!? YOU'RE DISRESPECTFUL TO BOTH KENNY AND I, AND I'M SICK OF IT! NOW LISTEN TO YOUR OLDER BROTHER!"
"YOU STOPPED BEING MY BROTHER THE DAY I DIED!" Craig steps back, stricken. He shuts his mouth tightly and looks away, as do I. Neither of us likes to remember the events of my death, and neither does Kenny.
"Um," We both begrudgingly look at Tweek. "Wouldn't it be best if we just got Ruby's dress on, and then you two will no longer have to speak to each other?" He nods at Tweek, and reluctantly takes a few steps towards me.
"Come on. Let's get this over with." I shake my head, backing away.
"NO! Don't touch me!" I turn around and try to run off, but I trip on the slippery wooden floor and fall flat on my face. My chemise flaps up, showing Tweek and Craig my underwear very plainly. I just had to pick the underwear that said 'ROCK ON!' on the back, didn't I? Tweek blushes. Craig immediately steps forward, pulls my underclothes down, pulls me up by the back of my collar, and turns me around to face him.
"Look, you want to get thing on, am I right?" I slowly nod. "Then either I'm doing it, or no one is. Now grow up and let's get on with it." I reach for the corset and give it to Craig quietly. He puts it around me and laces it quickly and without discussion. It doesn't even hurt like it did when I was human and he did it for me. Has this human – I look at Tweek – made him a gentler person?
"Am I not to receive a 'thank you'?" Craig asks after he's finished, offended.
"I think not. This mere corset is the least you could do to atone for what you did." I pull on my black stockings and the blue dress, with Tweek and Craigwatching silently. I look perfect, apart from my scraggly hair. It's untied for starters, which makes me feel self-conscious, and it's got dirt in it from falling onto the ground practically head-first.
"Tweek it's getting late. You need to sleep."
"I don't want to sleep today, Craig."
"Well tough, because you are."
"Please, Craig, no." Tweek starts to shake as Craig walks towards him. "PLEASE! NO!"
"Tweek, I'm sick of this. You'll die if you don't sleep."
"But… But-
"But what? Tell me, what prevents you from sleeping?"
"N-Nothing."
"Then go to bed. If you don't right now, I'm going to be forced to manipulate your emotions." Tweek wavers and obediently gets in bed, looking frightened.
"Now it's easy. Just close your eyes and drift off."
"That's easier said than done." Tweek says, paranoid. I notice Craig slyly take out a feather and make Tweek look at it. "I'm going to be able to sleep…" And yet… Tweek falls asleep right then. Craig face palms at the irony, but not for long. He remembers I'm here and glares.
"You look like you've been sleeping in a nest."
"HUH!?"
"Your hair. Look, there's a fucking twig in it." Craig reaches to get the miniature stick out of my hair, but I lean away furiously.
"Don't touch me." Craig scoffs and leaves the room. I follow shortly, closing the door quietly after I get out. Craig grabs my arm and starts to pull me downstairs, but I shake him off. "What the hell…?"
"I need to comb your hair, stupid. If you go out like that, then it'll be a disgrace to both of us."
"Why's that?"
"Because everyone knows you and I are related! Now shut the fuck up and sit down over there. He points to a chair in the kitchen. I half heartedly do as he says. He takes out a comb and my best hair ribbons. He must have snatched them out of my room when I wasn't looking. The sneaky bastard.
"First of all, need to get this damn twig out." Craig gently takes it out and flings it away carelessly, out of sight. I stare at him.
"Why the sudden kindness? You normally act like I don't exist."
"It's better than glowering every time I see you, isn't it?" Craig grabs a tuft of hair and starts to comb it.
"No, it isn't. The opposite of love is apathy, not hatred. It would be better to hate me than to act like I don't exist."
"Are you hinting that you want me to be closer to you?"
"Don't say such a thing. I just wanted to prove you wrong, since you're a fool. Now, back to my first question. Why the sudden kindness?"
"Is it a crime to comb my sister's hair?"
"I'm not your sister. I told you."
"How's that?" Craig asks, getting a ribbon from the table and spreading it out in his hands.
"We are no longer related by blood. And a brother would never do what you did." He ties the ribbon into a lovely pigtail. He repeats it with the other ribbon.
"Ruby…" I freeze from him saying my name for the first time in almost two centuries. "You have no idea how much I regret what happened."
"That doesn't change the fact that it did happen. Say, how did you die anyway? Did they shoot you as well?" Craig takes a while to answer.
"No… I-
Craig gets interrupted by Tweek's scream. We both jump and go to Tweek's room (Craig running, me flying) as fast as possible. What can I say? I like to fly.
"TWEEK! WHAT IS IT!? WHAT HAPPENED!?" Craig shouts, looking around the room in alarm. Tweek breathes heavily, his hand resting on his chest.
"I had the same nightmare. There was so much blood…" Craig puts his arms around him, sighing in relief.
"DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!" Craig puts his arms around him, sighing in relief. "It's the nightmares that are preventing you from sleep?"
"Y-Yes. They occur every single time I sleep."
"But…" Tweek and Craig both look at me. "That means a 'Nightmare' fairy is around here somewhere. Because it has to touch Tweek for nightmares to work. And the window is locked from the inside. So then it's still in here somewhere."
"SUCH AS OVER THERE!" Craig shrieks suddenly, grabbing Tweek's candle and throwing it hard at the said target. It barely misses the fairy that was hiding behind the door. The fairy is wearing a hood, as many nocturnal fairies do, so I can't see his face. 'Nightmare' fairies tend to be boys.
"RUBY! GRAB HIM!" Craig shouts. I hesitantly reach for the fairy as it runs out the door, but pull back my arm in fear at the last second. The 'Nightmare' fairy escapes quickly and easily. I listen to him running away outside in shame. Craig doesn't look angry, but disappointed.
"You've changed… I remember the days you used to be so committed to things and never give up. You were brave. Even though you're wearing the same outfit, and you haven't aged a day, all I see is some coward with wings."
~Kenny's P.O.V~
I know Leopold told Tweek he hates me, but I'm not going to talk to him about it. It's better not to look like a sap and complain about everything he says. Even though it hurts my feelings. A lot.
"What is with you? You're so quiet." Leopold says as we walk up the stairs in his house.
"…"
"Oh, whatever. Look, I suppose I'll see you tomorrow." I fake smile.
"Aww, do you want me to come and tuck you in." I tease, trying to get him to smile. Leopold instead narrows his eyes and closes the door in my face. My smile disappears, replaced by a dejected frown.
"Come on, Kenneth, grow up…" I mutter to myself as my eyes start watering. I wipe them with the back of my hand, sniffing. "Don't be such a baby…"
No, I hate him. I wish he didn't exist.
I wish he didn't exist…
I wish he didn't exist…
As I get downstairs, my emotions get the better of me. I burst out crying for the first time in years. Yes, I cry every now and then for little things, but this isn't a little thing. This downright hurts.
~Butters' P.O.V~
Unlike Pip, I'm actually organized. I get up at 6.00am and pack for the stupid camping trip. In fact, by the time he finally wakes up, I'm washed, dressed, packed, and ready to damn go. Pip stares at me, rubbing his eyes.
"Where's your fairy? Kenneth, I think it was?" He asks, sounding nervous.
"How should I know?" Come to think of it, where is Kenneth? Wouldn't he come and wake me up by now? It's almost eight… and I have to be at the school by eight thirty. "I'm going to go have breakfast. You'd better be ready soon, or I'll leave without you." I leave Pip rushing to get ready and go downstairs. I take a double take when I see Kenneth sitting at the table, his head in his arms.
"What are you doing sitting there like that? Get up." Just as I'm about to push him off the chair, I realize Kenneth's asleep. I stand there and stare at him, shocked. It's strange seeing him so vulnerable. He's always so organized and alert. I didn't even know that he was this exhausted, let alone that fairies can sleep.
"Kenneth? Come on, you need to wake up now." I reach down to shake his shoulder, but his arm shoots up and grabs my wrist before I can succeed.
"I'm awake now. Just don't touch me. You shouldn't want to, since you hate me, am I right?" Kenneth says in a hard voice. I flinch, slightly taken aback. What's with all these sudden changes? First having to sleep at the kitchen table, and now he's speaking to me in the exact opposite way that he usually does.
"You heart that?"
"…" Kenneth frowns at the wall, not answering my question.
"What's wrong?"
"Leopold, I hate you." I frown, puzzled. Where'd that come from?
"As I though, it didn't affect you at all. Why? Why is that, Leopold?" Kenneth stands up, glaring. "What is wrong with you? Why aren't you affected by words like that? Do you even have a heart?"
"…" I don't answer, but instead look at ceiling knowingly. No one understands me. And from the looks of it, no one ever will.
"Leopold! Why didn't you wait for me?" Pip runs up to me, panting. I'm standing alone outside the school, a small distance away from everyone.
"Frankly, I forgot." Pip looks slightly hurt, which makes me feel guilty. "I'm sorry. I was a bit distracted, you know, past memories."
"What memories?" I consider telling Pip; until I see Kenneth (who's decided to leave me and talk to Craig) look my way, obviously eavesdropping.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Oh, then that's alright." Pip smiles reassuringly. I feel somewhat better. Now that it's come to this, I realize Pip isn't such a bad person. Maybe a coward sometimes, but overall a good person to be around. Ever since I've met him, which wasn't long ago, he's risked his own well-being for my own, even though he was scared. He was thinking about me all along.
"Pip- I mean, Phillip?"
"Yes?"
"I'm… I'm sorry for how I've treated you so far. I never listened to you. You were wrong about things, but I should have considered how you felt more. I haven't exactly been the ideal step brother."
"Well, no. Not really."
"Exactly. So I just wanted to make amends. Will you, er, be my friend?"
"Of course." I feel a wave of relief wash over me. "And, if you want, you can call me 'Pip'. I'll make a special exception for you."
"Thank you so much. I-
"RUBY~! Wow, you look so sweet! Oh, the memories!" Kenneth exclaims, picking Ruby up and spinning her around like a little child. She doesn't look amused. But I have to say, the blue dress she's wearing does look really nice on her. "You look wonderful. It's been so long since I saw you in that dress." Ruby smiles shyly, noticeably enjoying the compliments. Kenneth and I accidentally make eye contact, which makes both of our smiles disappear. Pip notices my brooding expression.
"Did you and Kenneth have a fight?"
"Not exactly a fight, per se, but some hurtful words were said. Yes, let's put it at that."
"Oh…" Pip stares at Kenneth thoughtfully for a few moments. "Well, he seems to be acting very cold to you this morning."
"So he should. Anyway, can we stop talking about this? The teacher's coming."
"Oh no…"
I now understand why Pip said 'oh no'. "Now, does anyone want to know the history of this magnificent tree?" The teacher asks, pointing to the plainest looking tree I've ever seen in my life. I highly doubt any of us would want to know about that shrub after walking up hills and through thorn bushes for about … for about seven hours now without any breaks.
"I'd like to know about it." A small boy with glasses says, raising his hand. Everyone sighs. I hear Eric mutter 'stupid fucking Dougie.' The teacher starts to drone on about the dumb old tree, making us all look up to the sky in despair. After the teacher finishes, he points to a clearing through the trees, not very far away from us.
"We camp there." We all sigh in relief at eventually setting up camp. Pip and I giggle at Eric and Stanley trying to set up a tent for the two of them.
"This is bull crap." Eric mutters, frustrated. I see Kyle shaking his head at the two of them, arms folded. Does he think he's a prince or what? I look around and see Kenneth, Ruby, and Craig together, talking. They look fairly happy.
Pip and I soon finish up. It's funny because we aren't even used to doing things such as this, and yet Stanley and Eric have barely started, even though they now have Kyle's guidance.
"Say, Leopold?"
"Yes?"
"Want to know a really nice spell?"
"I suppose. What is it?"
"How to meet your guardian angel?"
"But I don't even believe in guardian angels…"
"What?"
"I'm not that religious, Pip."
"Yes, but… haven't you learnt about them in school?"
"When I was very small. They're meant to be angels that specifically chose you to watch over, am I right?"
"Yes… well anyway, what you do is this. You calm yourself down, allow your heart to open up, and then you close your eyes and wait for thirty seconds." I stare at Pip. Does he actually think that would work?
"What's supposed to happen when I open them?"
"Your angel will be next to your right side."
"Have you ever done this?"
"Yes, but it didn't work for me. I don't think I was able to open up my heart enough."
"Mmhm. Well, I'll try it, for your sake." I sit down, relaxing myself. I do as Pip says and try to open my heart to everything around me. What I really do is I just daydream. Though I'm only daydreaming, I do feel like I'm being watched very closely, by something other than Pip. I close my eyes and count to thirty. When I open them and look to my right out of pure curiosity, I see a sight that nearly makes me have a fit. I see a blurry vision of a girl in a loose white dress. She has the most beautiful angel wings I ever could have imagined. I can't see her face that well, but I can tell she's saying something, and I know it's kind.
"Leopold? Leopold, can you see it?" I vaguely hear Pip ask.
"…Yes. She's here." I answer quietly, not breaking my gaze away from her. The spell is fairly brief. I panic when the spell starts to fade away. But before the girl completely disappears, she leans forwards and wraps her arms around me. Her warmth is the most loving thing I've ever felt in my life, and it brings tears to my eyes. This beautiful person chose someone like me to look after and love with all her heart. And no matter what, I'll love her the same. Nothing brings more comfort to my heart than that fact. Even if Kenneth leaves me like Damien is doing to Pip, I'll still have her. I think I now know that is the true purpose of a guardian angel.
"Leopold! Leopold, what's wrong!?" Pip asks me frantically, shaking my shoulder roughly.
"W-What?"
"You're crying! Did something bad happen?" I see Kenneth, Ruby and Craig standing over me. Even though Kenneth is angry with me at the moment, it doesn't hide the concern in his eyes.
"No… no something good happened. Something really, really good happened."
After an hour of literally sitting in agony around a campfire with that crazy teacher, we're all allowed to go to sleep. Except no one is sleeping. Everyone is with their friends, chatting. The teacher is most likely passed out in his tent from all the whiskey he drank. Pip told me he can't go through on day without a bottle. It's no wonder he's so mean, he's drunk half the time.
Ruby dragged me into Tweek's tent, so I'm cramped up in here with Tweek, Craig, Ruby, and of course, Kenneth. I haven't been listening to any of the conversations so far, but something Ruby says to Kenneth catches my attention.
"Come to think of it, you always did want to be a doctor, didn't you?" She asks Kenneth.
"Um… yes. I really did want to be one."
"Well, being a 'Healing' fairy is pretty fortunate then, huh?" Ruby smiles genuinely.
"I guess… but I didn't plan on dying so young, so I didn't really have much time to…" Kenneth stops talking and looks away. Tweek and I shuffle uncomfortable at the three silent fairies.
"A-Anyways, Craig, what did you plan to be?" Tweek asks, trying to revive the happy mood.
"I hadn't decided on anything. I wasn't interested in much."
"What about you, Ruby?"
"Me? I wanted to travel! Hence my new job!" Ruby points to herself proudly.
"Wait…" Everyone looks at me. "You're allowed to choose your job?"
"Well, not really, but you're given a job that would suit you. And that you'd be happy doing. So they mostly give us jobs that are similar to the ones we would have wanted when we were alive." Ruby explains. I nod understandingly, but then remember Pip's fairy, who hasn't been mentioned.
"What about Pip's fairy? What did he want to be?"
"Damien?" Craig, Kenny, and Ruby all exchange glances. "Well… his past is a bit hard to explain. It's a long story." Craig says.
"Then explain it. I think Pip would want to know about his fairy, and I intend to tell him about this."
"Well… he certainly lived a long time ago. I think it was about 400BC when he was born? I don't know the exact dates." Craig frowns, trying to remember the details.
"He's been a fairy for that long?!"
"Not exactly. You see, Damien was part of the Roman Republic. He was part of a royal family and always strived for excellence. I think he died because some servant poisoned him. He had so much hatred in him that he was reborn as a negative fairy immediately. I think he was a 'Curse' fairy then. But he refused to do his work, since he wasn't being rewarded for it, and he was primarily executed by the elder fairy. That's one of the only ways a fairy can die. So down he dropped into hell."
"But how-
"LEMME FINISH! Ahem, Damien was made a demon the day he feel down to hell, as everyone is. Satan can't have children, he has to pick an heir, and Damien was the lucky little duck that was chosen by him. And thus, he became Satan's son. I'll be damned if he wasn't the best Devil apprentice ever, with the way he acts now. And the way he acts now is the kinder side of him. Anyway, one day Satan decided that Damien was becoming too soft, and made him come here as punishment."
"You mean he was punished by being forced to repeat his time served as a fairy?" My mouth drops open in shock.
"Yes. And by God he hates it. Though he wants to prove himself to his 'father', so he doesn't rebel like he did the first time he was a fairy. He does his work perfectly, and he loves his job because he gets to kill humans, which he isn't very fond of, since he remained a demon in hell for a damn long time."
"Is that why he wants to kill Pip? So he can die as well and then go back to hell?"
"I suppose. He hasn't really told me." Craig shrugs.
"But then why doesn't he just stop doing his job and get executed again?"
"It would hurt his pride, I suppose. Plus, he would never pass up an opportunity to hurt a human."
"I see."
After a while of listening to the three fairies (and Tweek) speaking to each other, I start to feel very nervous. Like everyone is judging me for something. Then everyone starts to talk about parents.
"Ours were really rich. I remember we lived in this big house, though not like fucking Cartman's." Craig says, shaking his head and smirking.
"What were your parents like, Leopold?" Ruby asks, sounding kind as possible.
"I…" I recall my parents. "I…" I remember the same memories as I did a few days ago. Memories that a small child should never have stamped forever into his mind. The nervous feeling is getting worse, and I'm starting to sweat from anxiety. I finally snap when I see the way Kenneth's looking at me. "WILL YOU STOP LOOKING AT ME IN THAT WAY!?" I shriek at a surprised Kenneth, standing up abruptly, which makes the whole tent collapse on the five of us. As I crawl out, I hear the whole camp go quiet. Pip peeks out from his tent, rubbing his eye.
"Is something wrong, Leopold?" I ignore him and stare Kenneth (who's just emerged from the fallen tent) out.
"I hate the way you've been looking at me, as if I'm some kind of demon! Stop scaring me! You're making me think I'm insane, so stop it!" I don't even know what I'm saying. Am I going mad? Kenneth is just angry at me, so why am I having a fit over nothing?
"Leopold, calm dow-
I shove Kenneth away heatedly, not wanting to hear anything he says. I don't even notice Pip come up behind me. He puts his hand on my shoulder, and I turn around and hit him in self-defence. He puts a hand to his bleeding lip, quivering, and looks at me the same way everyone else is. Well, that's what it looks like to me. I don't see the teacher and that exorcist (yes, the teacher actually hired one) come running from behind me. They grab me either side by my arms and pull me down.
"Leopold, the nice exorcist has felt some frightening things around you, so bear with us." The teacher says, trying to stop me from struggling. I scream and pull away when I see the exorcist pull out a cross. Knowing those religious fanatics, they're going to try and cleanse me or something like that. Before they manage to grab me again, I sprint into the woods. No one follows me, not even Kenneth. Not that I care. The only thing I'm concentrated on is saving myself. And the only one I know that actually loves me right now is my guardian angel.
~Kenny's P.O.V~
I watch Leopold bolt into the woods, shocked. Has he gone mad? What was with all that screaming and struggling? Has he finally snapped over something he's been keeping bottled up for a while?
Psh, I highly doubt it.
"Tweek, are you alright?" I hear Craig ask Tweek in the background.
"I'm fine, but is Leopold-
"He's taken off into the woods. There's no need to worry, he'll turn up." I say drearily, though inside I'm just about having a heart attack with worry.
"How can you say that about your own human?" Ruby accuses, busy tying a ribbon into her hair since it fell out. She finishes at looks at me directly.
"He's being a drama queen, acting like he has so many problems, but really he's just being a stubborn-
"HOW MUCH TO YOU EVEN KNOW ABOUT HIM!?" Ruby shouts, pointing at me judgmentally. "You don't even know what his past has been like? I've seen his past, just like I've seen just about everyone elses' on my travels! Are you a fucking fool? It's pretty damn obvious that he's had some psychological damage done to him when he was young! Maybe, just maybe, he's closed himself to the world like this because he's scared of being hurt by someone! Have you ever even thought that!? He's built a wall around him for protection! And just when he started to try to open up to people, you treat him like this! You've made a grave mistake, Kenneth McCormick!" Craig approaches Ruby.
"Ruby, it's not like th-
"AND YOU! GOD'S KNOWS HOW MUCH I HATE YOU! THANKS TO YOU, MY LIFE ENDED BARELY AFTER I'D STARTED LIVING! SO STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM HE! DAMMIT I'M PISSED!" Craig steps back again, looking intact. "My God, Kenny! What are you waiting for!? GO!" I realize what she means and hesitantly start to go after Leopold. "FASTER, RETARD!" Ruby yells after me, making me start flying, just to get away from her. That little girl is scary when she's angry. I think she's having some rough times with accepting Craig's mistakes, and she just wants to get her anger out. Though I know all she's said is true. That girl is smart.
I become conscious of Craig following me, but I don't acknowledge him. After an eternity of almost crashing into plants, I eventually see Leopold in a tree, with his back to me. The closer I get, the more my mouth drops open. That is one giant tree.
"There you are! What are you doing all the way up here?" I ask Leopold, hovering a few feet behind him. He ignores me. I frown and fly to his side, so I can see his face. He has his eyes clenched shut, as if he's scared of something. "Leopold? Look at me!" Leopold shakes his head fearfully. "Are you afraid of me?" He gives me a small nod, which makes my heart sink. I notice the presence of an 'Authority' fairy approach Craig and I, and turn around. He's no doubt here to punish us because we haven't been doing our work today.
"Kenneth McCormick, Craig Tucker, you have both not been doing either of your jobs today."
"Yes, yes, we know, just give us the damn punishment." Craig says, irritated.
"The elder has proposed a new system of punishment, first used on Damien not long ago. You are to remain in your human forms, no flying, no invisibility, for one whole day. Twenty four hours, no negotiations."
"What, are you going to force us?" Craig laughs.
"Yes." The fairy grabs my wrist in a flash and clamps a golden bangle around it. My wings disappear and I luckily land on the end of the large branch that I've been hovering above. Before he can escape, Craig gets a bangle as well, except he's not so lucky. He goes hurtling down towards the ground. "Pheeeeeew~ bshhh!" I whistle as I watch him go down. Thank God he's a fairy, because if he fell form this height when he was human, he'd be dead in an instant. I look down, smiling when he gets up and curses.
I remember Leopold.
"We need to go, Leopold. You'll get sick if you stay up here tonight. Not to mention you need to sleep."
"No… I'm staying here."
"Why? Can you not get down? Come on, I'll help you. I'm not angry anymore, it's alright."
"No, I don't need help. Just… I just need to think."
"About what to feel like right now?" Leopold finally looks at me. "You don't need to force yourself to act a certain way. Just act on your true feelings."
"…"
"Ruby told me that you don't like to get close to people because you're afraid of being harmed. Is that true?"
"…" Leopold nods briefly. I sigh, not sure what to say. I don't want to apologise for my actions today because I had my reasons, but then again Leopold has his reasons for his actions as well.
"You know, I did that as well when I was human. I once liked this girl, and I told her very personal things, but it turned out she didn't like me at all, that she was just having her fun. Stupid of me, correct?" I smile sheepishly. Leopold doesn't say anything. "I know, I was an idiot then. And then, she started to tell everyone what I said, about my past, about my family, about my feelings, everything. People would repeat what I said in front of me. I ignored them, and pretended to always smile because I didn't want people to think I was rude or mean. Though when people started to try to make closer friends with me, I'd slyly push them away. I'd avoid them, and, if it came down to it, I'd downright ignore them. The only ones I was close to at the time were Craig, Ruby, and my sis-
I stop talking and look away. Leopold seems to notice my not wanting to talk about the topic.
"Your sister?" He asks, finishing the sentence for me. I nod, laughing sadly. Karen is the last person I'd ever want to talk about. "What happened to her? She cannot still be alive."
"No… no she died a long time ago." I close my eyes an exhale. I tend to cry when I think about my sister, and I wouldn't be able to live it down if I did it in front of Leopold.
"Did she die before you?"
"I would prefer not to talk about it. Anyway, the bottom line is, you don't have to worry about me trying to get close to you. I'll let you do it at your own pace. Even if it takes until you're as old as eighty."
"But won't that hurt your feelings greatly?"
"It will, but I've decided I care about your feelings more than my own. So, Leopold, just try your best to let me into your heart, and be a special person in your life."
"I'll try. And Kenneth?"
"Yes?"
"I… I don't hate you. What I said yesterday, it was the first lie I've ever told in my life." And that's that. The most relieved I've ever felt in all my years. I know Leopold doesn't truly hate me. There's nothing else to really say, except to know about each other. And that's what we do. We just talk like regular people do when they're trying to make friends. For a long time.
…
"Um, how do we get down?" Leopold asks after a while of pointless chatting. The realization dawns on both of us that neither of us knows how to climb down a tree. Wonderful, we're most likely going to be stuck up here until I'm able to fly again. Which is about twenty two hours now.