6/27/14

Just got Mario Kart 8! Wow its tons of fun! :D

That aside I want to make a small note: I do believe a conversation in Path of Radiance / Radiant Dawn confirms Nephenee has 5 siblings, 2 sisters and 3 brothers and that she is the oldest of all the children.

I'd also like to add here that I would NEVER go against canon, canon is canon for a reason, however in writing this story I had some ideas and I think it would be beneficial to Nephenee and Heather if Nephenee's sister's were older than her, making her the middle child of sorts so that's what I went with.

Painful Love

"You certainly look like someone in blissful love."

Nephenee continued to brush her hair as her sister smiled next to her.

"I'm really happy for you, Nephie."

Nephenee looked at Nell and returned her smile in earnest "I never thought I could feel this way about anyone…though most of it was probably cause I never got close to people."

Nell nodded "Well. That and the helmet and armor you always wore. You went about hiding your face for so long it's no surprise no guys sought you out. Though you didn't seek any of them out either, I guess now we know why."

Nephenee shrugged "I guess…but none of that matters anymore."

"Nephenee!"

The woman stood "Yeah mom?"

"Thanks to your brothers it seems we're almost out of milk. Care to go to the cows outside and take care of it?"

"On it mom."

"Ma, comin to help with breakfast!" Nell called out; the sisters left the room ready to get to work.

Outside Nephenee approached the cows with her bucket at the ready "How are ya'll doin today? Seems one of my little brother's lost most of our milk. That ever happen to you?"

One of the cows mooed in response causing Nephenee to giggle.

"Didn't think so."

As she sat down she felt someone's eyes on her again, standing quickly she turned to see Rae and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Please don't do that…my sense makes me a lil jumpy."

As she sat back down she felt Rae's eyes boring a hole in her back, it was extremely uncomfortable.

"I've got some work to do Rae, can't talk right now….breakfast an all that. If you want you can come in and eat with us, Ma won't mind."

Hearing no response, Nephenee swallowed, she felt very nervous the sensation was almost like the one during the war that let her know a blade was nearing her back.

"Rae, I really-"

"What's wrong with you?"

Hearing this Nephenee stopped working and turned to the man behind her "What?"

"You heard me. What in the hell is wrong with you?"

Nephenee felt some deep fear begin to emerge inside of her "W-what are you t-talkin about?"

"The date you had…it was with another woman?"

Nephenee remained silent, not sure what to say as Rae continued "Nephenee…what is wrong with you?"

Feeling her arms trembling the woman turned away "That is what you were denying me for? Do you know how wrong that is?"

Nephenee swallowed nervously, as hard as she tried she couldn't find her voice.

"When did this happen? Tell me. Maybe I can still fix it."

All of a sudden her body screamed to get out of there; she found herself standing and rushing back to her home, slamming the door behind her in a cold sweat.

As she tried to slow her breathing Nell appeared "Nephie?"

The stress finally leaving, Nephenee choked and began crying as she embraced her sister.

"Is everything alright over there?" Her mother called.

"Y-yeah! Everything is fine!" Nell yelled back as she helped Nephenee to her room.

"Heather, did you have fun last night?"

Heather smiled as she brought breakfast to her mother "Yes mom. Last night was…perfect."

"I'm so happy to hear that."

Heather looked out the window, her heart still full from last night.

"She said that she loves me…"

Her mom stopped eating and looked at her "That's wonderful."

Heather saw the look in her mom's face as she turned away and sighed. Pulling up a chair she sat next to her mom.

"Nephenee. The woman I met during the war…the one I fell in love with. She told me at the end of our date yesterday that she loves me."

Her mother smiled sadly "I'm sorry."

"Nothin to apologize for ma…I just…want you to know how happy I am."

Nodding her mother continued "And I'm happy for you. Love is beautiful."

Heather smiled and thought of Nephenee, she wanted to see her again.

"Nephie…you alright?"

Nell opened the door and brought breakfast to her sister. Since they still needed milk Nell had gone out and done it for her though she didn't tell their mother that. Nephenee was in such high spirits this morning, what could have possibly broken her down so badly?

Nephenee wiped her cheeks and nodded "I'm fine…"

"Nephie…what happened?"

As she opened her mouth the things that Rae said came back to her and she fell silent. They were such hurtful vile things she couldn't bring herself to say them.

"Nephie…please I want to help you."

Looking to her breakfast, she took the orange juice and took a long drink before exhaling deeply.

"Someone…someone saw me and…Heather…"

Nell nodded "During the date? Did someone try to confront you two?"

Nephenee shook her head "I just…saw him…now…he…he…"

The former Halberd shook her head and brought her knees onto her bed, bringing them into her chest with her arms.

Nell nodded slowly "Some lowlife made my sister cry, I'm not gonna let this go."

"Nephie. No matter what that bastard said remember this: you love Heather and she loves you. That's all that matters, alright?"

Nephenee swallowed "I know…I know that…but…it's so different…I put on a brave face for Heather...but I'm not like her…the things…the things he said…I don't think…I don't think I could stand next to Heather if someone else…said those things to us…"

Nell sat next to her sister and embraced her "You have me as well. No matter who tries to come between you two remember that your sister supports you…anyone who speaks to you in a foul way will answer to me. Though from what you told me about Heather, she wouldn't leave anything for me to punish."

Nephenee smiled as Nell continued "I'm certain it'd help you out if you talked to mom about this…I'm certain she'd support you."

Walking outside, Heather stretched, tossing her knife into the air and smiling "Time to make some money."

Saying goodbye to her mother again she began walking out of Ohma. Her steps were full of strength and happiness; nothing could foul her mood right now.

"Except maybe you."

Turning she threw her knife, pinning a sleeve to a tree.

As she approached the man she recognized him as the one who was asking Nephenee out on a date the other day.

"Well well, too little too late, how ya doin?"

Pulling the knife out she smiled at him before turning and leaving.

"Ask her out again, I dare ya."

"Is your name Heather?"

"Yeah, what's it to ya?"

The man approached her and examined her closely "Buddy, eyes up here and five paces back, I've given ya enough warnings."

"If you don't mind Heather I'd like to take you out on a date."

Heather wasn't sure if what she heard was correct "Woah, I've never met you before, you've never met me before and you're askin me out on a date? Points for guts buddy but the answer is a hard no and don't bother asking again it isn't changing."

Spinning her knife she resumed walking away "Why? One random date won't hurt in the long run, right?"

"I'm in a relationship already so yeah, one random date would definitely hurt. Now buddy, do me a favor and leave me alone."

Rae watched in silence as Heather walked away, though initially a little peeved once the woman got far enough away from him her blissful mood returned and she practically skipped into town.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Mom…I have a girlfriend."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Mom…please say something."

"Mom, Nephie's been so afraid to tell you but she needs your support now more than ever."

Sighing Nephenee and Nell's mother Ora looked to the family portrait then to Nephenee.

"You're so dutiful with your siblings Nephenee. I imagined you as the perfect wife of all my children and raising the perfect family."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you ma…I didn't…I didn't plan for this to happen…it just…did…"

Nephenee's mother continued to watch her; as soon as Nephenee and Nell joined her at the table she knew something was wrong. As much as Nephenee tried to hide it and Nell tried to distract from it, Nephenee's eyes were red and puffy and there were stray tear stains.

"Nephenee…you are my daughter…seeing you so broken right now…it pains me to my very core."

"Mom?"

"What happened this morning?"

Nephenee looked to Nell who nodded.

The knife came to a halt, the man walked away, pouch full of gold still attached to his belt.

Heather turned, sulking away before sitting down in a frustrated huff. Every time she came close to snatching some gold, she couldn't follow through.

This was the fifth time and she finally admitted to herself "Nephenee's pureness has corrupted me."

With a grin she sheathed her knife "And I'm alright with that."

"Heather."

Turning she saw Rae sit next to her and groaned "Listen, buddy."

"It's Rae."

"Yeah, listen, buddy, I don't know what part of no, I'm in a relationship you didn't understand before but-"

Without warning Rae leaned in and tried to kiss her, furious Heather unsheathed her knife and struck him in the face with the hilt before standing.

"Disgusting dog! What's the matter with you!? Have you not been listening to anything that I say!?"

"I'm trying to help you!"

"What? I'm sorry, say that again. What part of trying to kiss a woman you've never met before who despises you and is in a relationship is helpful? C'mon buddy I can't WAIT to hear this."

"You're sick."

Recognizing his tone of voice, Heather's face darkened, bringing her knife up to his throat she leaned in close.

"Stop right there…if any more bullshit pours out of your mouth I'm going to rip your throat out."

Rae fell silent as Heather pressed the knife against his throat and leaned even closer to his ear.

"I'm going to leave now…and fair warning, I was a part of the Dawn Army…if you dare come at me again with that disgusting point of view…you'll have no gods to pray to, no one to ask for an end to the pain I will inflict."

With a quick flick of her wrist she cut through his cheek and marched away.

"Nephenee…I'm so sorry that happened to you."

Nephenee smiled as Ora embraced her "So you're…okay with this?"

"It wasn't my first desire…but I've noticed you seem much livelier than before and definitely happier since returning from the war. I assume she had a lot to do with it."

Nephenee nodded as Ora sighed "Then its fine…I love seeing you so happy."

"Thanks mom."

"Same rules apply though; don't let this Heather take advantage of you alright? Separate beds."

Nephenee recalled the night in Tanas Manse and swallowed "Y-yes mom."

A knock at the door Nell opened it; Nephenee heard a very familiar voice "Wow…definitely her sister."

"I assume you're Heather."

The two appeared and Nephenee felt the warmth return as Heather's gaze fixated on her.

Any lingering anger and disgust on Heather's mind vanished as Nephenee walked towards her and embraced her.

"I had a really bad start today…"

Heather smiled as she hugged her back "So did I."