Zane sighed and stretched out.
"She's not healing and we need to move…I'm more then positive that the nindroids are going to find us if we do not." Zane rubbed his arms, biting his lip.
"Maybe we should leave her." Pixal said. Kai smacked the back of her head.
"We leave her, and the Overlord has the advantage." Kai said.
"We aren't leaving anyone." Cole said.
"It was only a suggestion." Pixal huffed.
"Maybe Pixal's right. I mean, she's only slowing us down and she's not healing. I doubt the Overlord can really do anything to her or with her…At least not while she's in this state." Nya said.
"See? They do hate you." Honna whispered, appearing. Cynder whimpered softly, eyes wide.
"Alright, you were…Right…Let's get out of…Here…" Cynder staggered to her feet, she didn't really have anything out. Anything that was hers, she could get later, or just teleport it to herself.
"Where…Do I…Go?" Cynder slowly crawled under the cloth of the opposite side of the tent's doors. She stood up and walked off.
"Back to that little house." Honna said.
"If…I go there…I'll be found…" Cynder coughed.
"Well, then go there, lock the doors." Honna said, and she disappeared after whispering something to Cynder.
"And kill yourself." Honna whispered in her ear.
"Okay…" Cynder didn't want to fight.
"I'm just a burden…On them…They can tell…Me all they want…That I'm not…But I am…I know it…" Cynder continued to walk on despite the pain that shocked throughout her body with each step.
"Cynder, I need to…" Zane trailed off upon noticing Cynder wasn't there.
"Guys! Cynder's gone!" Zane shouted, running out of the tent.
"Any idea where she would go?" Cole asked.
"She could have gone back to that house but she would know better because she knows we know where it is and that we could easily find her." Zane said.
"Let's check there anyways, even if she isn't there, we can hide in the cave she created. Or inside that house…But that place gives me the creeps." Cole said.
"No kidding." Kai said.
"Alright, let's pack up camp and head off." Zane nodded in agreement.
"By now they…Must have…Figured out I'm…Gone…I need to pick up…The pace…" Cynder coughed up some blood. She staggered and nearly fell over.
"Come on…You've dealt with worse…I think…" Cynder shook her head and then continued to walk, adding a little bit of magic into her walk so she could move faster.
The magic stopped after a little while, Cynder knew she was out of magical energy. She was growing tired, but needed to get to that house before the others.
"Okay! Everything is packed up. Now we need to head that house…I hope she's there and that she's okay." Zane said.
"Let's head out." Cole said.
Cynder arrived before the others, and managed to get in. She staggered up the stairs, nearly falling a couple of times. Once she had gotten into the only room with a bed, she locked the door and walked over to the bed, she sat down.
"Goodnight Cynder." Honna covered her mouth with a cloth. Cynder fainted.
"What the clans don't know is that I can still use my magic and that I can move the Dark Crown at will." Honna smirked.
"But those pesky ninjas will notice! I must make it seem like an outfit." Honna chuckled sinisterly. She changed Cynder into a fancier gown, before teleporting the Dark Crown onto her waist.
"It just looks like an outfit. Dark Crown, I command you to heal her wounds, just enough so she can fight." Honna said, the crown glowed.
Cynder lifted a bit from the magic before just dropping. The wounds were healed but just a little bit. Honna grabbed a pen and paper.
"Cynder?! Are you here?" Zane shouted, entering the house.
"Let's check up stairs." Kai said. The group went up the stairs.
"A couple doors are closed." Zane said.
"Only one has blood leading up to it." Pixal said, pointing.
"I have a feeling that's locked." Zane said.
"I am going to pick lock it. No more kicking doors in like ruffians." Pixal said, walking over to the door and pick locking it.
"Zane, Come here." Pixal said. Zane walked over, as did the others.
"What's the note say?" Kai asked as Zane walked over to Cynder. He picked up the note.
"Uh…" Zane's face turned red.
"Read it." Cole said.
"It says…"Have fun. ~Honna" I don't think Cynder did this to herself…" Zane mumbled, blushing heavily.
"She looks cute though. The dress colors suits her skin color." Pixal said.
"The trinket around her waist doesn't look right…" Zane leaned closer to get a better look.
"Zane, Honna isn't real…She couldn't have written that!" Kai said.
"Oh please. I'm not fake, idiot." Honna appeared to them.
"I have to have the Dark Crown in the room or I can't appear to those who haven't touched the crown." She cupped Cynder's face before continuing "Like Shady did."
"What did you do to her?!" Zane hissed.
"I used chloroform, she's going to be out for a while." Honna laughed, releasing Cynder's face before walking away from her nearly motionless body.
"Wait, she said the Dark Crown has to be in the room. But the only thing close to a crown is the belt like item on Cynder's waist…" Pixal stared at the Crown. Her eyes widened.
"T-That's the Dark Crown?! You put it on her!" Cried Pixal.
"I can put it on who ever I want to. By the way, when she first touched the crown, it had been calling to her. I was calling to her. I want her soul! Her magic is so strong. With her strength I'll be able to take over her body, and alter its looks to fit mine, and then I can cause some chaos in the Clan world! I'll kill each of the people there…Or kill some and make the others my slaves." Honna laughed.
"Don't you dare hurt Cynder!" Zane shouted.
"Oh please, her soul belonged to me from first touch. You do know that I can easily manipulate her. Her mind set is so easy. It's pathetic." Honna laughed sinisterly.
"So help me god, I will tear you apart!" Zane hissed. Honna laughed even harder.
"You defeat me? You forget I'm the one stealing Cynder's magic. I'm stronger than her." Honna chuckled.
"You are incorrect! I can tell you are lying. You are only able to drain her magic while she has the Dark Crown on! She is still stronger!" Pixal said, getting into a fighting position.
"Oh please, Pixie, your even weaker and pathetic than he is." Honna said.
"S…Shut up!" Cynder shouted, staggering on to her feet.
"I never asked for you to heal me, to help me. I know all you want is to possess this body and it's magic. Well too bad. I'd rather die than give it to you." Cynder hissed, trying not to cough.
"Your still in so much pain, you can't be stronger than me, not in this state." Honna laughed.
"I can't get away, from the fire that burns inside, consuming. I fight to stay alive but I can't breathe! The voices scream, the enemy takes over everything! This is the madness in me!" Cynder sang softly.
"Pft!" Honna laughed really hard.
"You underestimate what I would do..." Cynder tackled Honna, who disappeared, causing her to smash into the ground.
"Not gonna work. ~" Honna reappeared.
"Damn it…" Cynder coughed.
"Crown, undo the healing you did. It'll be easier to drain her well she's having trouble moving." Honna said.
"Are you alright?" Pixal asked, leaning down to help Cynder up. The crown worked quickly and undid the magic it had used to fix the wounds.
"I hate…Dresses…" Cynder coughed up some blood. Pixal helped Cynder onto her feet.
"We need to get that crown off you." Pixal whispered. Cynder nodded.
"Hey Honna! If you want her, you've got to go through us!" Cole shouted, taking out his sword.
"Whatever." Honna rolled her eyes.
Pixal and Cynder managed to sneak out of the room.
"I need…To get…Out of this…Stupid dress…" Cynder mumbled.
"Later, first things first. We must get that crown off of you." Pixal said, she pulled at the crown. Cynder closed her eyes and used magic to get it to release her. Pixal grabbed it and threw it. It smashed into the wall and then fell onto the stair case.
"Can you hear the voices screaming still?" Pixal asked. Cynder nodded.
"Where are…" Pixal blushed lightly before continuing "Do you know where some else you can wear is? That dress is bothering me…Something about it is strange."
"Room…Beside the bedroom…I have an extra kimono…In there…" Cynder said. Pixal helped her up and they walked inside that room.
"Can…You get changed on your own?" Pixal asked, looking away.
"What…Never seen another girl…Naked?" Chuckled Cynder, smiling softly.
"N-No!" Pixal blushed heavily.
"Relax…I can…Just teasing you." Cynder smiled.
"Oh…Where is your kimono? I will get it for you." Pixal said.
"In...There." Cynder pointed at the desk.
"Are you positive?" Asked Pixal, Cynder nodded. Pixal walked over to the desk and grabbed out the kimono.
"This is very pretty." Pixal said, walking over and handing Cynder her kimono.
"You…Can you…Look away…or something?" Cynder asked. Pixal walked over to the wall and watched the door.
"It is…Not like I have not seen your body…Without clothing on…The nindroids sent…They sent-" Pixal started, nervously.
"I know…A photo of me…Naked…And cover in that…Disgusting white goop…Which might I add…Feels horrible…" Cynder said.
"I thought it was…You know…" Pixal blushed heavily.
"No…They don't actually have…That…It's artificial…It feels…Like a liquid and a solid…It's disgusting…" Cynder shuttered. She began to remove the dress. Once she had gotten the dress off she groaned in pain.
"Cynder?" Pixal turned around. Cynder was coughing up blood.
"Oh my!" Pixal bolted over to her.
"My body…It really hurts…I can't…" Cynder placed her hand over her mouth. Cynder threw up some blood, it was on the floor and not on herself.
"That is…Disgusting." Pixal said, she looked at the desk.
"One second." She walked over to it and sighed.
"You wear pants under your kimono?" Pixal gave Cynder a weird look.
"I feel…To exposed…If I don't…" Cynder mumbled.
"So you are modest?" Asked Pixal.
"That's what people…Like telling me…" Cynder leaned against the wall.
"Allow me to help you get dressed." Pixal said.
"Why are…You blushing?" Cynder asked.
"I have never seen another girl…Undressed like this…In front of me…" Pixal said, she look around in the desk and found the pants Cynder wears with her kimono.
She walked over and placed it by the kimono.
"Hey Pixie, why do we fight? I mean…Seriously…We could be such great friends…When Zane isn't around but when he is…" Cynder looked away.
"We both love him…It is as simple as that…But maybe our fights…Are getting a little out of hand…But Cynder…I don't really care for you. I only help you because Zane loves you as well." Pixal said.
"Same…Get out." Cynder said..
"What?" Pixal said.
"Get out of…This room…I want to get…Dressed alone." Cynder bitterly said.
"If you need me…I'll be outside the door." Pixal said, walking outside of the room.
"I won't need…Your help." Cynder spat, coughing. She slowly got dressed and the staggered out and into the other room. She made sure Pixal hadn't noticed her.
"Oh look! Cynder's here to watch your death!" Honna laughed.
"They can't hear or see you anymore…" Cynder coughed, hands beginning to glow.
"The Dark Crown is still in the house, I'm still visible." Honna said. The others were being held by magic, they were each against the wall and being chocked. But Zane, he was being electrocuted.
"Zane!" Cynder yelped. Zane didn't look at her.
"See? You disgust him." Laughed Honna.
"So be it." Cynder concentrated all of her energy into her magic. A pentagram appeared underneath her, it was made by magic, and it was glowing. A bright light shined. It was blinding.
"I will burn….I will burn for you. With fire and fury. Fire and fury. My heart hurts, my heart hurts for you." Cynder sang softly, before throwing up blood.
The light suddenly stopped, Honna was no longer in sight and her magic was no longer affecting the others. Everyone but Cynder, she was curled into a ball, motionless.
"Cynder?!" Zane bolted up to her. He gently pushed her over, undoing the ball in the process.
"She's not breathing!" Zane yelped.
"What?!" Kai said, quickly walking over.
"What happened?" Pixal asked, walking in.
"I noticed the Dark Crown had disappeared and I thought something had…Happened…" Pixal stared.
"Cynder?" Pixal said. No reply.
"She's not breathing…She has no pulse…" Zane whimpered, tears dripping from his cheeks.
"What?" Pixal walked over.
"She died to save us…" Zane pulled her body into a hug, crying.
"That is impossible…What happened?" Pixal asked.
"Cynder walked in, she started using her magic. A pentagram was glowing under her on the floor and suddenly there was a bright light, Honna was gone and Cynder was all bloody and matted…And she wasn't breathing…" Zane cried.
"We should…Bury her…" Pixal mumbled.
"I'm so sorry Cynder…This is all my fault…" Zane cried, clutching her motionless body.
"Come on Zane…Pixal's right." Kai said.
"I know…I just…" Zane continued to cry.
"Let's give him some time alone to get out what he has to say." Cole said. Cole, Kai, Jay, Nya and Pixal left the room.
"If only I had listened to you. If I hadn't bothered you…You wouldn't have fought with Pixal. You wouldn't be dead! If only you both had told me…Then maybe I could have helped you. If I had realized when you talked to Honna that she was real then maybe you would still be here…" Zane gently set Cynder's body down before he noticed something. A curious look crossed his face.
"What's this?" Zane pulled the necklace from Cynder's kimono.
"Huh? You weren't wearing this before…" Zane was looking at the crystal before he pulled the necklace off. Cynder eyes bolted open and she bolted up, coughing up blood.
"Cynder!" Zane smiled.
"Thank you…" Cynder threw up more blood.
"What is this? What happened?" Zane asked.
"Honna…She put that on me before I…Managed to force her…Back to the Dark Crown…She will only be gone…For a little bit…She'll return soon…But not to were you guys…Can see her…She's not gonna…Risk moving the…Crown again…" Cynder continued to throw up blood.
"But what is this?" Zane asked, looking at the necklace.
"A…Death necklace…Who ever wears it…It clinically dead…" Cynder coughed.
"Let's get you some medical attention…" Zane said, helping her up.
"Break the crystal…On the necklace…" Cynder said.
"Why?" Zane asked.
"I'll…End up…Putting it on…Pixie…If you don't." Cynder said.
"Alright got it…" Zane trailed away. He smashed the crystal and threw the pieces back with the necklace.
"How are you alive?" Kai asked Cynder, who was trying to sleep.
"I wasn't…Dead…The necklace…Honna put on me…Was a death…Necklace…The crystal…Makes the person seem…clinically dead…When really…They just…Can't move…They can breathe…But the crystal makes it look like the person isn't…" Cynder coughed up some blood.
"Kai, leave her alone." Nya said.
"Fine." Kai left the room.
"I'm sorry about him Cynder." Nya said.
"I just…Want to sleep…" Cynder mumbled, closing her eyes.
"I'll talk to you later." Nya said, leaving the room.
"At least we have a new hide out." Cole said, leaning back in one of the chairs.
"Yes and it is a good thing when that light went off that the place altered to…More of a base for us. It's perfect too…No blood on the walls and no bodies hung." Zane said.
"Hey Zane, might I be able to speak with you?" Pixal asked.
"Of course." Zane got up and walked off with Pixal.
"Zane, I wish to…I…You have done something with Cynder twice now. I wish to do it again." Pixal said.
"Only if I get to warn the others, give them ear plugs and wear ear plugs myself." Zane said.
"I'm perfectly fine with…Wait warn them?" Pixal blushed.
"I'll just give them ear plugs." Zane walked off.
"Oh thank goodness." Pixal sighed.
Cynder held her ears.
"What is…With people…Forgetting about me…Such loud squeaks…" Cynder put the pillow over her head, which didn't block out any noise.
"Fuck…This!" Cynder threw the pillow onto the ground before she staggered onto her feet.
"Whatever…They can do…To me…Couldn't…be worse than…Listening to this…" Cynder concentrated her energy into opening the Gate. She pushed the door open and stepped through.
"Hey Madame Shade!" Phoebe chirped, happily.
"Hey Phoebs…Why are you…Acting so friendly?" Asked Cynder, as she started coughing.
"Why wouldn't I be? I mean you are the Clan leader!" Phoebe looked over Cynder.
"You need medical attention!" Phoebe dragged Cynder by her arm into Vail's tent.
"Madame Shade, what happened?" Vail asked.
"A lot of…Things…I got…Into a major…Fight with Pixal…" Cynder coughed.
"By the way, I remember what you did. As does Kaiami, no one else has memory of it. Kaiami…Realized that she didn't tell you about the Dark Crown…And we combined our magic and…I believe you understand." Vail smiled softly.
"Yes I do…Thank you…very much Vail…" Cynder cough up blood.
"How have you been?" Vail asked.
"It…has been…Interesting…But I haven't…Been doing well…" Cynder said.
"Do explain." Vail said.
"Alright…" Cynder nodded.
"I'm glad I wore ear plugs…You are very loud." Zane said.
"I know. My apologize." Pixal mumbled.
"I should really go see how Cynder is doing." Zane said.
"Alright, but after that I wish to speak with you." Pixal winked.
"Maybe." Zane got dressed and walked off.
"Cynder? How are you feeling?" Zane asked as he entered the room.
"Cynder?" He repeated, and then he noticed the Gate.
"Oh no…" Zane bolted through the Gate, which disappeared behind him, to his surprise.
"Hi Zane!" Phoebe suddenly was in front of him, nearly giving him a heart attack.
"Hello…Phoebe…" Zane placed his hand over his chest as he tried to regulate his breathing.
"Where is Cynder?! Do not tell me you have killed her for being back to early!" Zane said, bitterly.
"Being…Back early? Are you feeling alright?" Asked Phoebe.
"I'm fine. Wait…You don't remember she was on trial?" Zane was flustered.
"On trial for what?" Phoebe asked.
"Never mind. Where is Cynder?" Zane looked around.
"Vail's tent but-" Zane ran off before Phoebe could finish.
Cynder was on her feet, feeling a lot better. Vail was having her stretch out, move around to see how the stitches would hold, how well she could move, and how much she could move before feeling pain or coughing.
Cynder was bouncing about, singing along to the music her bracelet was playing.
"You certainly are energetic. You must be feeling better." Vail smiled. Cynder paid Vail no attention as she danced around, enjoying herself.
"Cynder?" Zane had just walked in.
"Hey Zane!" Cynder smiled, bouncing up to him.
"What's going on here?" Zane confusedly said.
"Well Phoebe brought me to Vail who patched me." Cynder smiled.
"But how come-" Zane began; Cynder kissed him to shut him up.
"That was Vail and Kaiami's doing! For Kaiami didn't teach me about the Dark Crown…I learned about it from Honna…" Cynder rubbed the back of her neck. She smiled and ran off.
"Cynder!" Zane bolted after her.
"Come back if you start coughing or feeling pain!" Shouted Vail.
"I will!" Cynder shouted back as she bolted from her Clan's territory.
"Cynder get back here!" Zane shouted, running after her.
"Have fun!" Phoebe shouted at them, waving.
Cynder slowed down, smiling and laughing. She was way ahead of Zane, so she climbed up a tree and prepared to ambush him.
Zane was panting as he walked underneath the tree Cynder was in. She quietly climbed down the tree and tackled him. They tumbled a little bit but Cynder was the one on top.
"I might as well be named Juliet because I'm such a Romeo." Cynder had a devious look in her eyes as she smirked. Before Zane could say something Cynder kissed him.
"What's going on with you?" Zane asked, pushing Cynder away.
"Honna was right, wasn't she? I disgust you…Don't I?" Cynder whimpered softly.
"No! I just wish to know why you are acting like this!" Zane yelped.
"It's been a month since I could move around like this! Well a month and two weeks, twelve hours, fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds and counting…To be specific." Cynder smiled.
"What medicine did Vail give you?" Zane asked.
"The normal stuff for wounds like this!" Cynder smiled.
"Then why are you acting so strange?" Zane watched the way Cynder twitched every two minutes.
"Because for the first time I can be a spaz like I am!" Cynder bounced onto her feet and smiled, throwing her hair sassily over her shoulder as she walked away.
Cynder looked back at him, she was acting sassy.
"This is new…" Zane got up, his curiosity growing. Cynder bolted off, noticing a low hanging tree branch; she slowed her pace and leaped into the tree. Only to fall down and land on Zane.
"Get off of me!" Zane said, aggravated.
"Sorry!" Cynder quickly got up and helped Zane up. Zane rolled his eyes.
"Can you please let me go home? I hate this place." Zane said.
"Alright." Cynder nodded, trying not to show how sad that made her. She opened the Gate and pushed open the door.
"See you later." Cynder mumbled, not facing Zane as tears dripped from her cheeks. Zane walked through the Gate. Cynder closed it behind him.
"He's mad with me; I should have known I disgusted him. I've got an idea, I can't please him…I know that, not with how I act. But I know a spell that should help. I need Vail's help." Cynder bolted off, still upset.
"Man she's acting odd. I wonder what happened to her…She shouldn't be acting like that. That is not the Cynder I know and love…" Zane mumbled.
"I wonder if when she was hurt something changed or snapped…I wonder if she heard me talking with Kai and Jay…I hope not…Despite what I said…I love her the way she is." Zane looked at his feet as he continued to walk.
~Flash Back~
"So Zane, if you could change something about…Cynder, what would you change?" Jay asked.
Nya had been helping Cynder to walk outside for her room was getting too stuffy for her. They had both heard the question and were eavesdropping.
"Well I supposed if I were to change anything I would change the fact of how she's so…Aggressive. I would rather her be sassy than so bitter." Zane said.
"What else?" Kai asked.
"Now in days, she's been acting so lust full…I miss the old days were she used to just show her love with a kiss or a tackle hug or something like that." Zane sighed.
"So you miss the old days?" Jay said.
"Yes I do, back then I was not being tugged every which way by two females." Zane said.
"Well then just choose one and then you'll probably never have to deal with the other one tugging on you again." Kai said, not caring about breaking someone's heart.
"It is not as simple as that Kai. I sincerely love the both of them, each have great attributes that I love." Zane said.
"Okay, then if you could change something about Pixal then what would change?" Asked Jay.
"I supposed I wouldn't change anything." Zane paused to think.
Cynder gasped shocked.
"Can…We go…Back to my room…?" Cynder whispered.
"Ya." Nya helped Cynder back to her room. Once Nya left, Cynder stared out the window as she started crying.
"If I ever…Get better…I swear I will alter myself…To your likings…" Cynder coughed up a lot of blood.
"I take that back. I guess I would change how her voice sounds, and how her moans sound…God my ears are still ringing! And how ruff she feels." Zane said.
"We knew you would say that!" Kai smiled.
"Pixal and Cynder aren't perfect, but I still love both of them with all of my heart." Zane said.
~The Present~
Zane sighed as he walked into his room. To see Cynder sitting with her head down.
"Cynder?" Zane confusedly said.
"Yes, Master?" Cynder looked up at him, smiling.
"M-Master?" Zane yelped.
"I'm not your Master!" Zane started to tremble.
"Yes you are! You're Master Zane!" Cynder smiled.
"Or do you not like me? Because I swear I'd die if you hated me!" Cynder whined.
"No! I don't hate you! And I still like you a lot, just why are you calling me Master?!" Zane yelped, frightened by her odd behavior.
"Well you are my Master; I'll do whatever you want me to! I'll even behave however you want me too!" Cynder smiled again.
"C-Can you just act like normal Cynder?" Zane cautiously said, wondering if this was some sort of test.
"Nope! Because you really didn't like how I acted before! So now I'll act anyway but that way!" Cynder got up and hugged him.
"B-But…I loved you the way you were…" Zane whispered to himself, tears in his eyes as he realized that this was far from a test.
"Zane, what is going on?!" Pixal demanded. Cynder was sitting in Zane's lap.
"I'm not sure of that myself…" Zane mumbled, giving Pixal the 'Please help me' look.
"Cynder! Go away! I need to talk with Zane alone!" Pixal said, noticing the look.
"But he doesn't want me to leave! Right Master?" Cynder looked at Zane, with puppy dog eyes.
"I-If it's really important then Pixal and I need to talk about it! I will be right back! Get off of me please." Zane requested.
"Yes Master! I'll go do something else!" Cynder bolted off.
"Thank you. She has been very clingy and has been smothering me. It is getting annoying…And yet I am still terrified of her." Zane mumbled.
Author's note:
Suggestions for who Zane ends up with are still open.
The songs I used were "Fire and Fury and "Madness in me" both by Skillet
Another reference to Supernatural. (The last chapter had one as well.)