===XXX===XXX===XXX===
It is dark.
Too dark to bear.
She tried to breathe but she finds that rather hard to do.
All she could hear are whispers in her ears...
Your family is gone.
You are alone...
They are swallowed by the darkness you can't defeat...
You are useless!
Ann tried to cover her ears but all still creep in her head. As she shut her eyes, all she could imagine are images of her parents on fire, calling for her name over and over again as they asked to be saved.
She tried to reach them, but she was too late. They were swallowed by darkness. Ann cried out, mourning for them. She does not have the time to do so because as soon as her parents were gone, the image of her sisters appeared right in front of her.
There were many men, soldiers, their swords pointed at Sab and Luffia. They are not just ordinary enemy soldiers - they were the soldiers of Cresta who betrayed them. Behind the soldiers are the nobles who are laughing while staring at the three princesses in a dire situation. They were the reason why Cresta fell to the hands of Usurpers. The traitors.
"No! No! Don't hurt them!"
Ann cried out in desperation but her words fell towards deaf ears as the swords were lifted in a manner of beheading her sisters.
"Noooo!" Ann shouted for her sisters but all she had are the sad expressions from them, tears in their eyes, and a small smile as if muttering a final goodbye.
The scenes played multiple times, in different manners but the results are the same.
It all resulted in death.
And all she could do is cry out for them.
Ann does not even how long she had been crying.
"No. Stop this. NO!"
She shouted, hands covering her ears, eyes shut down as she sat on the ground, alone and curled. Little did she know that her shout reached Marco's ears.
As soon as he heard her cry, Marco started to run to where the voice came from.
Not too long, he found herself right in front of the woman he is looking for. The sight clenched his heart as he watched how she cried out. He slowly approached her, calling her.
"Ann... I am here, yoi."
Marco heard no response from her. All he heard are sobs and each tear falling from her eyes, Marco felt as if he had been stabbed as well. He kneeled beside her. Without hesitating, Marco grabbed her shoulders, straightening her.
The sight made Marco furious. She does not deserve this torture.
"Ann! Wake up! Wake up! Whatever you see is not true, yoi! You have to fight it!"
Ann is still trapped in her own negative emotion. In her dark world, all she could see are the sufferings of her loved ones, her friends, her people. All she could hear are the neverending screams for a plea of salvation. There was nothing but mocking laughter surrounding her. It was overwhelming her, drowning her in sorrows.
"Fight it!"
One shout reached her ears but it was soon gone due to the countless shouts in her own world.
"None of it is true!" That familiar voice once again reached her ears.
She began to wonder. She began to remember her situation.
Her real situation.
"Ann! Wake up, yoi! Fight it! You have to!" This voice... She heard it before.
She pondered on his words and began to think clearly. She looked at the faces in front of her. They are nothing but reflections of negativity. Sab and Luffia are with her in Raftel, so whatever is right in front of her must be illusions.
"None of you are real..." She muttered to herself and as soon as she did, the people around her started to melt into nothingness and before she could process what happened, she found herself in a familiar scenery.
She is in that mystique waterfalls. A river separating either side.
She had been here before.
Both in dreams and reality.
Ann...
She looked at the other side of the river. He is not there. Why?
She began to panic. She desperately looked around in hopes of finding him. He heart screaming in agony for him.
A feeling she had been ignoring the moment their eyes met.
Here...
She looked around. He is not on the other side.
Right here...
But where?
"I am right here." Ann looked beside her. She found the High Prince staring at her with intensity. She knew that look.
As soon as she met those eyes, her heart started to pound in joy. Tears of joy started to fall. Relief washing over her.
"No one is going to hurt you. I am right here, yoi... Come back to reality, Ann..."
She hesitated. Should she be trusting this man? What if he leads her to a trap? What if the person here is not real? What if he will end up betraying her?
Looking at him once more, his eyes are pleading for her to follow him.
"Come back to reality..." He said.
Ann nodded at him, reaching for his hand, and handing over her trust. As soon as she did, brightness washed over her.
She vaguely noticed the whispers of a voice. She vaguely felt the warm embrace of strong arms wrapped around her for comfort and shelter.
She slowly uncurled herself, eyes adjusting to the light of lamps.
Marco noticed her stirring. He looked intently at her grey eyes.
"Ann?"
Ann could clearly see those eyes looking at her like a precious gem. Those blue eyes she had seen in her dreams for more than one occasion. Those eyes gave her hope when she was in the dark.
"Marco? Are you real?" She asked. She wanted to make sure that none of this is a dream. She doesn't want to go back
"Yes, I am real, yoi."
"How do I know if you are real?" Ann's hands reached for his face, caressing it as if it was made of a precious diamond. Marco cupped the hands caressing his cheeks and their eyes met.
"You just have to believe in me, yoi."
Ann frowned whilst looking at the deepness of his blue eyes, almost drowning her with raw emotions - a notion which is strange for her.
These emotions surfaced itself and Ann might not have enough courage to admit it verbally, but mentally she acknowledged it.
Without thinking, she yanked him closer until their lips met. It was surreal. As soon as their lips met, it is as if Ann's negative emotions disappeared. All she could feel are the emotions she thought she ignored before - resurfacing as if enjoying and celebrating this moment.
Marco began to kiss back almost instantly. His hand found its way to Ann's neck, pushing her forward to deepen the kiss.
A moan escaped in her mouth that had Marco wishing this situation would have been different. If they are not in this kind of situation, this kiss would have been more than just a kiss.
Their lips parted, and as soon as they did, their eyes met. Ann saw the same intensity in those blue eyes.
This is real... She thought.
A sob escaped from her. This is real! Unable to contain her surging emotions, she launched herself towards Marco's embrace, holding onto him for dear life.
"It's alright, yoi. Everything is fine." he began to rub circles at her back, comforting her.
She slightly nodded, calming her nerves down. Marco heaved a sigh of relief as she began to calm down. He inhaled her scent - amidst the smell of blood from her wound.
As she calmed down, Marco told her that they should leave.
"What about my sisters?" she asked.
"The others are on their way of finding them, yoi. We should get back. Can you stand?"
Ann nodded firmly. She reluctantly let him go. He offered his hands at her and she willingly took it. Marco intertwined their hands as he led her towards the exit, leaving the darkness behind them.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Sab awoke feeling sore all over her body. She began feeling the aching muscles and the strained wound she obtained earlier.
She grunted as she felt the pang of pain surging from her right foot. She must have sprained it when she fell from that hole. It was such a miracle how she was alive and only obtained minor injuries.
She slowly observed her surroundings. Surprisingly, there were enough lights. Fire lamps were lit at the walls. She was lying in the middle of the cave, long hallways at either side and there were no signs of exit.
She sighed in frustration. She wondered where her sisters are? They also fell in holes. Where could they be?
Figuring her questions will not have answers, she tried to stand up but the pain in her ankle prevented her from doing so.
We have been waiting for you... The voice resonated in her mind, startling her.
It was the same voice they heard before. Why would they be waiting for them?
Sab forced herself to stand up, leaning on the walls of this cave for support. She began walking slowly.
She noticed the carvings on the wall.
She recognized most of them.
Mythical bird - Phoenix - the symbol of Ipraecia.
Wolf as the symbol of Beogia.
Dragon, the symbol of Vaelon.
The three Powerful Beasts were at the left side- all together in a form of half-circle. Right in front of them were the sigils of three Powerful creatures of Magic.
Wings of Fire symbolizes Verid.
The staff of Wisdom represents Huidel.
Sun of Hope as the sigil of Daerene.
The further Sab walks, the more the carvings represent the history of Raftel.
The great prosperity. The war and betrayals which caused the Three other kingdoms to disappear. Almost every carving represents the history of Raftel and Human Realm.
Traitorous human...
The voice echoed in Sab's mind. It was a different voice as if the voice came the depths of hell.
Greedy humans...
Another raspy voice called out to her while she was looking at the carvings of how the creatures of Raftel fell.
She tried to push the voice out of her system, but the more she did so, the more it insists on how humans caused the destruction of Raftel. She cannot help herself but feel guilty. She is a human after all and the more she looks at the carvings, the more she felt how guilty her race is.
Slight footsteps resonated in the cave waking Sab from her musings. She tried to heighten her senses, to look for where the footsteps originated. It came from her left. She tried to adjust her vision to the approaching creature. She had wanted to run, but her condition is preventing her from doing so and even if she tried, the creature will most likely catch up to her. She might as well save the trouble for herself.
Not too long, her vision started to clear slowly, the creature stopped right in front of her.
She wanted to berate herself for feeling disappointed upon seeing who the creature is.
"Achilles" she called out. A frown appeared in his handsome face upon looking at her situation.
"You seem to have encountered bad situations." She snorted at his comment. Bad situations can hardly describe what they went through.
Life and death is an accurate term.
"We were separated. We fell to different holes. My sisters are still missing." Her voice is almost pleading for the Wolf Lord to help her look for her sisters. She will not be leaving this cave unless she finds her sisters. It is either they are walking out alive or they will die altogether.
"Marco found your twin. Your troublesome younger sister is yet to be found. Zoro might have found her. We should go back." His voice sounds worried at her, but at the same time, Achilles feels relieved upon seeing her safe.
After hearing that the High Princes of Vaelon and Ipraecia are helping, she nods at him in agreement whilst sporting a relieved expression. At least Ann is safe. Luffia is still missing and she couldn't help but hope Zoro finds her.
"Can you walk properly?"
"I can but I might need a little help." Achilles stopped in front of her, offering her a ride. Without hesitation, she hopped onto his back. As Achilles walks towards the exit, Sab can't help but give a last sad look at the carvings.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
A small growling sound came from her stomach and all Luffia could utter is how she is too hungry to even walk. She remained seated in the middle of nowhere with only the flickering lights of the lamps serving as her sunlight.
"I wonder where they are? Could they have fallen deep?" She asked herself about her sisters' whereabouts. She had wanted to look for them but she does not know where.
You have led them here...
The voice once again resonated in her mind. Surprisingly, she is not shocked upon hearing it,
"I don't even know what you are talking about." She spoke with an annoyed tone. She hated how she stumbled upon a mysterious voice without solving its mystery.
Quiet brave... But not ready...
"Whatever. You are making me annoyed and hungry all the same. If you won't tell me something useful, make yourself shut up!"
After that, the voice indeed remained silent which she was thankful for. She remained still until a figure of a tall man stopped right in front of her, looking down at her with a glare worthy of sending shivers through anyone's spine. She is not surprised to find this man right here.
"Are you going to lead me to the exit?"
"Do I have another choice?" His tone is quite harsh as if rescuing and leading this woman outside is such a burden.
"Yes. You can leave me here but my sisters will not be happy."
Zoro snorted at her innocent small threats. Such his luck for him to find the most annoying human he met in his life, but despite finding her annoying, he is relieved to see her safe.
"Let's go. We have to keep going and we have your mess to clean!"
Luffia grinned and started following Zoro. Looking at his broad back, she titled her head in wonderment.
"I would love to have another banquet in your palace. Would you be preparing another one for us?"
"And tell me, human princess - why would I be doing that?" He slowly hissed whilst keeping his pace in walking.
"Why not? I am sure Marco will even agree to my request. I love banquets with lots of meat!" Luffia exclaimed and as soon as she did, her stomach growled in hunger. It has been hours since she last ate.
"I could deny that request and you know that." Zoro said.
"You're stingy and mean! Please, can we have another banquet?"
Zoro just sighed while he keeps walking towards the exit, ignoring her requests. Why does this woman seem to attract trouble wherever she goes?
She is nothing but trouble which made Zoro unable to leave her alone. In a sense, he thinks that he should be helping her. Even though he is not required to do so. There's just something about this woman that he can't explain.
Walking further, they saw the light coming from the exit. Lufia felt excited upon seeing the light. She ran towards it, laughing and happy to be out of constricting and dark cave.
The news of Luffia being found arrived in Ann's ears. She was relieved that her troublesome sister was found immediately. They are almost outside of the cave. As soon as she and Marco stepped out of the cave, he immediately noticed how scarcely dressed she was.
She is half-naked, only a black lacy brassiere covering her breast but it is not enough to hide anything in Marco's imagination. He forced himself to control his urge to touch her and possibly mark her as his. In order to save his sanity, he removed his purple shirt, offering it to Ann. She was about to refuse but realizing her state of clothing, she reluctantly accepted the shirt with a hint of blush in her cheeks.
They maintained their silence, waiting for the others to arrive.
"Zoro is coming with your youngest sister." Marco broke the silence by announcing the news and not long after he said it, Ann could hear a couple of footsteps near the entrance of the cave.
At that moment, Sab emerged from the cave, being carried by Achilles. Ann immediately runs to her sister to assist her.
"I fell pretty high and was lucky to only get a broken ankle. Where's Luffia?" Sab let go of Achilles since Ann is already supporting her. The blonde twin merely noticed Marco's shirtless figure only to find the missing shirt in Ann's.
"They are almost here." Ann answered and not long after she said that, a figure ran towards them emerging from the cave followed by the green-haired High Prince.
"Ann! Sab! You're all alive!" Luffia shouted with enthusiasm only to meet the angry glares from the twins.
They wouldn't be stuck in that cave if it weren't for Luffia running off to the deeper parts of the cave.
"We will deal with you later, young lady. You caused too much trouble for the day!" Sab firmly stated. She tried to hide the relief in her voice upon seeing Luffia.
"Do you realize the results of your actions? We almost died today! How many times did you think we invited Death today?" Ann slightly glared at their youngest sister.
"Hmm, let me think. Twice? One is when the creepy Spider-woman attacked us. Second would be when the Snake Woman chased us and oh- when we fell in different holes! That's three!"
"That is exactly the point! We almost died thrice! If you did no run off to somewhere unknown, this wouldn't have happened!" Ann shouted in frustration. She is losing her patience. She is deeply worried about her sisters' safety.
"Luffia, you can't just do what you want and follow whatever you feel like doing without thinking of the consequences." Sab added.
This made Luffia frown upon thinking of the reason she ran off in the first place.
"I wouldn't have run off if you two were not keeping something from me!"
This made the two silent. True, they kept their meeting with Whitebeard a secret from Luffia and this made her upset. Regardless, they still do not like how luffia put herself in danger out of mere curiosity for the voice she heard.
"Still, you should have used your head!" Ann out of frustration and embarrassment hit Luffia on her head.
"It hurts! Why are you hitting me?! This is not just my fault and can't you be a bit nicer for once?!"
"Ann..." Sab reprimanded.
"Stop spoiling her, Sab. She just does whatever she wanted without thinking of what her actions may cause!" Sab does not have an answer to Ann's reasoning, because, in all honesty, she also felt like Luffia should be told not to cause too much trouble by doing unnecessary things and put them in danger.
"Sab is a lot nicer." Luffia muttered. It was loud enough for Ann to hear.
"What - so I am a mean sister now?" Ann shouted at Luffia with exasperation. Sab was about to tell her something but Luffia answered with frown and firmness in her voice.
"At least she is scolding me properly. All you do is hit me then shout at me!"
"And tell me, how do I scold you properly?"
Their arguments went back and forth and Sab does not know how to stop it. It came to a point wherein their arguments were turning into childish name callings which made the blond twin irritated. Her wounds are aching and her broken ankle is barely making her able to stand. All she wanted to do is to get out of this place but all her sisters do is shout at each other, basically sending information to all the monsters residing in this place that they are still here.
"Ann... Luffia..." she called out in warning, but none of them heed to her call. She clenched her fist tightly, preparing herself to hit the two - and she did - a hit much stronger than what Ann did earlier.
"Can you two shut it?! Can we deal with this matter when we get out of this place?! All you do is argue with such nonsense while we are in the middle of nowhere, sporting wounds and half-naked!" Sab shouted, making the grumbling two brunettes pay attention to her.
Ann and Luffia both fell silent while looking at their blond sister, fuming with anger. They must have realized the sense in her words as they nodded.
Silence engulfed them for a moment and Sab nodded at them for understanding but she noticed how Ann and Luffia wanted to speak.
"What?"
"Uh - while all your words are true, there is something you missed." Ann said.
"What is it?" Sab asked curiously.
"You're the only one half-naked." Luffia casually pointed out.
Realizing her words, Sab looked at their state of clothing. Ann is wearing Marco's shirt. Luffia's wearing her damaged one while she is wearing nothing but her blue brassiere. As if slowly realizing their position and situation, she started to remember how the two High Princes and Achilles are present, silently watching the three of them argue nonsense while she is dressed like this.
Watching the scenario, the High Princes can't help but feel amazed as well as confused. From the moment the three humans began arguing, they wonder if they should stop them or not.
"Here." Zoro offered his green coat to Sab which she was thankful for.
"Ride with me." Achilles told Sab, offering his back again.
Luffia looked closely at the exchange, then her eyes fell to Ann's shirt. The twins are all wearing the other High Princes' clothes whereas she is wearing her own. She looked expectantly at Zoro the white shirt he is still wearing - an action he immediately noticed.
"No." He said firmly at her.
"Aww! but I haven't asked anything!" Luffia whined.
"I know what you will ask and the answer is No." Zoro followed Achilles, leaving a disappointed Luffia. The youngest human princess looked at his back when an idea emerged from her mind. Smiling mischievously, she ran after Zoro and when she reached him, she launched herself - like a monkey clinging at his back.
"What are you doing?" An annoyed tone escaped Zoro's mouth.
"I am tired. Carry me." She demanded.
"Luffia, get off his back now!" Ann reprimanded. She felt embarrassment at Luffia's actions, clinging to Zoro as if they were the closest friends ever since birth.
"I am tired of all the running we did. I don't want to walk." She clings to Zoro even tightly, almost choking him in the process.
"And whose fault do you think this is?! If anyone needs help in walking, it won't be you but your sister!" Zoro barked with a dangerous tone. Unfortunately, Luffia is not scared of him. Instead, she laughed at his question.
"Mine. Come on Zoro! Carry me!"
The High Prince of Vaelon sighed in exasperation, giving up a fight that he knew he will never win. He placed his hand on her legs, firmly holding the annoying princess. Luffia was beyond happy holding on to Zoro as he started to walk, following Achilles and Sab.
Ann could only sigh at the scenario. It seems Luffia will always get whatever she wanted.
They all continued to walk towards the exit.
"Why did you cross this place anyway? This is a very dangerous place, even for the Raftelians, yoi." Marco asked. Although there is already a vague idea in his mind as to why they all decided to cross the gates, he still felt the need to ask such a question.
"Luffia ran off. Then we heard her scream and just followed it which is why we ended right here in this place. What is this place, anyway?" Sab answered. She was also curious as to why there is a place such as this.
"This is Purgatory. The haven for numerous monsters that are too violent to be left alone in Raftel."
"Ohh, so it is like a Dragon's nest inside a dragon's nest?" Surprisingly, it was Luffia who asked such a question.
A small chuckle escaped Marco upon hearing her comparing the Purgatory as a Dragon's nest.
"Yes, it can be, yoi. Aside from this place, there is another place where you cannot venture. It is the most dangerous place in Raftel. the Inferno. That place is separated by the Chinvat Bridge which Cerberus guards." Luffia's eyes lit up upon the mention of Cerberus.
"The two creatures who attacked you were escapees of Inferno." Zoro said while adjusting his hold of Luffia.
"So, why would you have such a place?" Ann asked out of curiosity. She thought that if there were numerous other creatures aside from those who they encountered, then it is quite hard to fathom how powerful Raftel is.
"Purgatory is a place where laws of Raftel do not apply. Chinvat Bridge is a separation between the lawless area and the actual prison of the fallen. You all must realize how dangerous this place is because almost every day, there will be countless escapees trying to flee from Inferno." Zoro said while trying to glare at Luffia.
As they stepped out of the Purgatory, she can't help but think of Kebby while hoping that he did not get injured while fighting those monsters. Maybe she will have another chance to visit this place and play with Kebby again.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
The shaking won't stop, it never did ever since Achilles left. Kidd tried everything he could to stop it, but alas, it won't.
Killer stood by the High Prince's side, watching him as he struggled to keep his instincts from going out of control. Often times, his hand transforms into claws, his eyes turned redder before it turns back to its original state. There is nothing Killer could do to help Kidd, but watch him suppress all the instincts.
Kidd curses under his breath after succeeding in suppressing his instincts for who knows how many times in the past hour. It's unbearable, but he will resist. He will not give in.
The cold breeze of air sweep past him, and he caught a whiff of smell - a smell so familiar and the primary reason why he is in this state. He panicked a little, his instincts going out of control again especially when he recognized that the smell is not the usual smell he knows. It's a smell of her blood.
'You've done well suppressing your instincts, Kidd.' It was Achilles. As Kidd looks at him, he is surprised to see taints of blood all over his furs.
"Silence!" Kidd growled. Again, his instincts are going out of control now that the smell is so close to him.
"What happened?" It was Killer who asked, although he could vaguely tell what could have happened to Achilles. That blood does not belong to him, but to the human princess.
'They entered Purgatory and came across two escapees who crossed Chinvan Bridge.' He said while his eyes are intently staring at Kidd. 'They were attacked by a Gorgon and Jorogumo.'
Kidd's powers are out of his control now. His cape slid off his shoulders when his wings are sprouted on his back. His hands have now transformed into claws, his eyes turned completely blood-red after hearing Achilles' confession.
It did not take a minute before he took off, flying towards the direction of Purgatory.
"Is it a must that you provoke him? He's been in pain from suppressing his instincts." Killer said to Achilles.
'Is it a must that he should be suppressing his instincts? What he is doing is nothing but cowardly. He must learn how to accept the fact that Sab is her mate.'
"You know how he hates humans."
'I am well aware. If you think that I have forgotten my hatred for that kind, then you are wrong. I still hate them, but not Sab and her sisters. They are innocent. They've done nothing to us. It was the other humans who caused doom to Raftel.'
Killer did not say anything after that. Looking at Achilles' eyes, he saw a deep hatred for the humans' greed that caused Raftel a tragedy in the past. The burning passion to protect Raftel is in his eyes, in his will, however, he accepted Sab as his queen despite being a human.
'We should see how that foolish and stubborn High Prince is doing.' With that, he and Killer took off, on their way to Purgatory.
Kidd is fast. His mind has nothing but deep hatred towards the Gorgon and Jorogumo. He can't think of anything but the escapees.
As soon as he arrived in Purgatory, the creatures living within felt his presence. It was overwhelming and all of them decided to stay out of his way. They had never seen the High Prince of Beogia like this before. Only once, during the Great War against the humans.
Kidd's senses brought him to the Chinvat Bridge where Cerberus is escorting the injured escapees.
As soon as Kidd saw them, his powers flared, making everyone in the vicinity in a daze. They could not withstand the overwhelming powers he is emitting.
It only took one second for him to grab the necks of the escapees. Cerberus was shocked as he did not sense Kidd at all. Regardless, he stepped aside, leaving Kidd alone while he gripped the necks of the escapees.
'Ugh, arghh... Y-Your H-Highness. M-Mercy...' The Jorogumo pleaded, fear is evident in its eyes while looking at the High Prince of Beogia.
'Y-Your H-H-Highness, s-s-spare our l-lives. P-Please...' The gorgon pleaded as well.
This is the scene that Killer and Achilles saw as soon as they stepped into Purgatory. Kidd looks like a monster, a demon released from the depths of hell and it was a sight that they never saw before.
Killer shivered while looking at his High Prince going out of control. He looks like he is not thinking at all, as if his mind was overtaken by his beastly instincts. No words came from his mouth. His hand gripped the necks tighter until there were drops of blood seeping through the hole inflicted by his claws.
The creatures struggled, pleading for mercy, but Kidd won't listen.
'Do you understand why I want Kidd to accept Sab? Should there be anything that happens to her, his instincts will go wild and this will be the result. He will no longer be the High Prince we revered and respect. He will be a demon.' Achilles said.
And Killer can agree. Because the next thing he saw was the creatures being burned by Kidd's fire, turning them into nothingness.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Chinvat Bridge - In Zoroastrianism, The Bridge of Separation from heaven and hell (Something like that)
Gorgons - In Greek mythology, there are three gorgons that were very famous. One of them is Medusa.
Jorogumo - In Japanese tales, the Jorogumo was described as a giant evil spider with the capability to transform into a beautiful woman. The monster would seduce men then trap them in her web and eat them.
AN: I hope that you liked the additional part there. :)
