===XXX===XXX===XXX===
The twins agreed to spar with each other. They need to get their bodies in shape, preparing themselves for the war that they have to face. They cannot remain here in Raftel forever. It is only a matter of time before they must return to the Human Realm.
With the Peacekeeper's permission, they can use the training grounds of Central Palace. There were a few people also training and one moment, they will pause to look at the three princesses and bow as a form of respect. The three will wave at them and smile before continuing their planned activity.
"It's been some time since we last did good sparring. Don't you think so, Sab?" Ann's smile held confidence as she found herself swinging her pipe for a good measure.
Sab smirked evilly. A rare occurrence since the smirk indicates there is an evil side inside her despite the angelic look.
"Oh, so you badly wanted to lose to me again?" She taunted at Ann.
"No. I badly wanted to see you lose." Ann grinned. They circled each other, measuring each other like a predator to prey.
Luffia is familiar with this situation. She was always the witness to their battles and keeping a count of it. She felt excited as she will be witnessing another one.
"FIGHT! FIGHT! BATTLE! BATTLE!" Luffia shouted excitedly. Her shouts also took the attention of those who are using the training grounds. They felt curious about a friendly battle between the twins, so each of them started to gather around the human princesses.
"Alright. Luffia, what is the current score?" Ann asked.
"105 Wins, 105 Losses, 200 ties."
The twins nodded at each other.
"30 minutes, warm-up. Then off we go to battle." Sab said.
"Of course."
Words spread like wildfire about the ongoing sparring battle. Whispers were carried from one creature to another until it arrived in the High Princes' ears and even to the Peacekeeper.
"The twins are battling each other right now?" Thatch exclaimed in excitement.
"We should witness it." Izou said. Marco nodded and curious about what will happen. Aside from that, he is curious to see what the twins are capable of.
So the three of them with Haruta in tow proceed to the training grounds in Central Palace. Up above, they saw a huge crowd gathered around the twins, whispering to each other and some are betting on who is going to win.
As for Kidd, he reacted quite differently.
"The human princesses are holding a battle against each other in the training grounds of the Central Palace. Others say that Princess Ann might win."
"I don't see a reason why you are telling me this." Kidd said to Killer, making the Warrior Commander suppress the desire to sigh. The High Prince is still adamant when it comes to anything related to humans.
"Aren't you curious about how humans spar?"
Kidd contemplated for a moment before silently standing up and prepared himself to fly to the Central Palace. It is mainly the curiosity that drove him to see such a spectacle. Nothing more.
As for Zoro, as soon as he heard the twins are going to hold a battle, he also felt curious towards it so he asked Yosaku and Johnny to accompany him.
The Central Palace's training grounds were full of crowd and the audience encircled around. The three princesses did not mind as they are used to it. Cresta's soldiers usually surround them, cheering them on while they spar. This crowd is nothing new to them.
They stood in front of one another, their pipes are ready as their weapons. Meanwhile, Luffia stood in the middle of the twins, staring at them innocently, feeling relaxed even though the atmosphere is somewhat tense.
"On your position!" Luffia called out in a serious tone. The twins held their weapons tighter, awaiting the signal. "Fight!"
Ann was the first one to make a move, dashing as fast as she could while swinging her pipe at her twin sister. Sab positioned herself to block the heavy strike from the right. They held the endurance test of who will back away from the first blow.
"You're slacking, sister." Ann taunted. She smartly moved her right foot to kick Sab in the ribs. The blond woman defended the low kick quite well. "It seems to me you are ready to lose."
Sab smirked a little before answering.
"I don't think so, sister." She taunted. With precision, she swung her pipe overhead and Ann docked - a move Sab has been waiting as she swiftly sent a kick to her jaw which Ann narrowly dodged making her back away. "So, you were saying?"
Ann lowly growled at Sab as she dashed again, left hand trying to make a hook which Sab dodged. Soon, the two of them exchanged heavy blows.
Witnessing this, the newly arrived High Princes nodded, appreciating their swift movements. They are great fighters for humans.
"Go, Ann! Go, Sab!" Luffia cheered while eating an apple.
"Whose side are you on?' Zoro asked. He stood beside Luffia, watching the spectacle and right beside him are Kidd and Marco.
"Both of them, of course!"
All of them kept their silence as they watched how the twins are exchanging one blow after another. Ann is slightly in advantage when it comes to brute strength but when it comes to precise battle counters. Sab is winning.
The exchange went on, and when Sab was kicked on the ground, it startled Kidd a little as he saw a gash on her knees. They all thought she would lose since Ann is already dashing forward for another strike yet Sab proved that she will not go down easily.
"Oh, good move." Luffia said.
Sab growled loudly, almost like an animal as she countered Ann's strike with a heavy punch on the jaw sending the older twin a couple of meters back.
Ann immediately recovered and growled at her twin sister for the heavy punch.
"Nice punch!" Luffia loudly appreciated.
"Fuck, are you trying to mangle my face?!" Ann cursed out loud to Sab.
"What about you? Are you trying to break my ribs?!" She countered, also angry at her twin sister.
"You are so going to lose." Ann hissed.
"I'd like to see you try, sister!" Sab growled.
They launched heavy strikes - one after the other, shouting profanities no one thought the twins are capable of. Words coming from their mouths are nothing but insults towards the other, making the audience stare in disbelief.
"Wow, such an intense fight. They have amazing battle instincts." Thatch praised. The humans are inferior in brute strength but they still have remarkable moves worth praising about.
"Given a few more training, they will be far more efficient." Zoro said. They continued to watch the fight between the twins. Their sight sometimes fell to the youngest human princess wondering if she also has the same battle instincts as the twins.
The fight is on a stalemate.
They could never tell who will win.
Marco is amazed by seeing how Ann can fight like this. He felt proud. He wondered if Ann were granted the power of the beast, Marco could only imagine how powerful she can be.
As for Kidd, he wonders how Sab can fight like this. The growls she did during the fights made her almost like a predator launching at its prey. She calculated how to launch attacks where it is needed. Truly an instinct of a predator.
Zoro can only watch the twins and sometimes, his gaze would turn to Luffia who was fidgeting while standing, looking intensely at the twins fighting intensely at the moment. Her intense stare made Zoro think she is thinking of jumping to join the fight.
And Zoro's thoughts are right.
The twins are focused on the fight, both dashing towards the other, ready for their own strike when all of a sudden a figure from the crown dashed faster than anyone could imagine.
The twins were not able to defend against the figure and it was too late for them to notice.
Ann could vaguely register how a swift kick sent her flying.
Sab looked at what transpired but before she could fully realize the entire situation, she found herself being attacked by a pipe sending her a few meters back.
The crowd gasped at the sudden appearance of this person who dared to interrupt the outstanding match.
"Luffia! You little devil!" Ann forced herself to stand up. She glared at her youngest sister who is currently grinning, not caring about the anger coming from the eldest. Ann noticed Luffia is holding her pipe.
"LUFFIA!" Another shout resonated, and this time, it came from Sab who was glaring at her youngest sister Despite her patience, it was sent away by this unwanted intervention.
"Shishishi!" Luffia openly laughed at the angry shouts of her sister, and with a swift movement, she dashed forward to attack Ann.
Ann was slightly surprised by this and she barely defended herself but as soon as she regained her senses, she began striking back.
Luffia dodged it with swiftness and flexibility that seems impossible, but for her, it is.
Sab also began to move as she tried attacking both of her sisters.
"Don't dare forget about me!" Sab shouted as she also attacked Ann after sending a kick to luffia.
The battle became three-way. They attacked each other as if they were enemies but in the end, Luffia sent twins a few meters back and shouted: "I won!"
"You cheated!" Sab said while panting.
"Hahaha! I still won!" Luffia happily answered back.
"I can't believe you interrupted our battle!" Ann is less than angry, but she is still angry that Luffia interrupted their battle.
The twins can only sight and they decided to end this. As the twins looked around, they realized so many creatures encircled and served as an audience.
"AAH!" A shout startled all of them.
They looked at the source of the voice and they saw Chopper's shocked expression.
"What are you all doing? You just healed your injuries and you are already wearing new ones! The three of you are not allowed any strenuous activities for the next few days!" The three injured humans looked at Chopper horrified and unbelieving at the healer's words. "And that includes training and sparring!"
The three are crestfallen upon hearing Chopper's words. But true to what the healer said, the twins have new bruises.
Without any regards, Chopper dragged the three of them towards his manor to treat their injuries. Soon, the crowd dispersed as the entertainment is already over.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
It was that castle again...
The same castle that haunted Zoro for so long. It was burned at the back of his mind, haunting him, reminding him of his lost memory. He knew for sure that this castle has something to do with his lost memory and maybe, a little hope started to blossom in Zoro's - that if he finds out about this castle, he will be able to find a better way to get his memory back.
He always had the urge to get his memory back, but his determination this time became fiercer because that particular castle is not the only one haunting him.
These past few days, the mere presence of Luffia haunts him. Feelings he buried deep down started to appear. It is exhausting as the more he starts to entertain such ideas, the more questions start to form, making him even more confused and lost.
The haunting is not only when he is awake, but also when he is asleep.
Just like tonight.
It was the same castle. As soon as Zoro was lulled to sleep, he immediately found himself in front of the huge castle - in his dragon form - flying in front of the balcony.
He willed himself to change into his human form and the mere fact that he did made him surprised. The dream is surreal, almost as if his physical form is right here. He stood in the balcony, unsure of what to do.
The light footsteps woke Zoro from his questions. As he turned his head towards the person coming towards him, he saw a beautiful woman holding a baby. For some reason, he can't see the woman's face. The woman stood a couple of meters away from Zoro. but he paid no thought to the distance. Rather, his attention was on the sleeping baby.
His mark started to heat up and as soon as it did, so as the baby's. The heat must have woken the baby as it started to wail. Her dark eyes darted toward Zoro's and she stopped crying. She smiled at Zoro like an angel that she is.
Zoro felt his breath stopped upon gazing at the baby's smile. Her hand started to point at Zoro's direction as if she wanted to get close to him. Zoro started to walk towards the baby, his eyes never left the baby's eyes as he is afraid that she might be gone the moment he blinks.
As soon as he stepped closer, the woman holding the baby stepped back.
Another step forward and the woman started to step another as well, maintaining a safe distance away from Zoro's.
"Why are you taking her away from me?!" Zoro shouted angrily at the woman holding the baby. Deep inside him, he thinks that the mere presence of the baby represents his lost memory. It frustrates him that every time he tried to get closer to it, some sort of force is keeping it away from him.
The woman shook her head and took another step away from Zoro. As soon as the baby felt that the distance is getting as far away from Zoro, she started to cry - crying for Zoro to take her.
"No! I will not allow you to take her away from me!" Zoro shouted yet the woman looked at him with sympathy but she shook her head again this time. Zoro felt hopeless.
Why is this woman trying to take her away from him? Is it possible she is also responsible for his lost memory?
"Please... " his voice is begging the woman. He sounded so helpless upon gazing at the woman's retreating form. "Don't take her away from me."
When the woman did not respond, Zoro panicked, even more, when the woman started to ignore him.
"No! What do you want from me?! You can't do this! You have no right to take away my mate!"
His shouts fell to deaf ears, the woman holding the baby never responded. Zoro is helpless while looking at the retreating form of the woman. When Zoro once again begged not to take her away from him, he saw the woman's eyes, full of worry and the last thing he remembered is the mark that he and his mate shared.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Luffia felt her whole back burning. More than she felt before. She was fast asleep, lulled in the weather of the night when all of a sudden, she felt the burning sensation. She immediately woke up and was thankful her sisters are still sleeping.
She felt hot and too warm so she sought the waters to keep the sensation away. Sweats broke out from her as she walked towards the bathroom, stripping off her sweat-soaked clothes until she is stark naked.
"Why do I feel hot?" She asked herself but she has no answer to that question, yet the burning sensation kept increasing. Luffia slowly descended to the pool of cold water, hoping it could lower the temperature she is feeling, but deep down herself, she felt that this kind of coldness will not be enough to quench the hotness as it came from the deepest part of her soul.
The bathroom contains a huge mirror at her back. As her back was reflected in the mirror, she failed to notice a huge glowing mark - similar to Zoro's, faint yet glowing, and as time passed by, the mark slowly disappeared as if it turned invisible on her back, leaving no trace at all.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Somewhere in Cresta...
"How are the troops? Are they armed?" Akainu asked with coldness in his voice. his stature and his demeanor send messages of how he rules as a tyrant. His word will always be the rules, expected to be obeyed with no remarks.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Thousands of troops are ready to invade the Dark Forest. They are waiting for your command." A soldier stated as he bowed to the usurper. Fear visible in his tone and it seems Akainu appreciated how these men feared him.
Fear is for the weak and they fear those who are strong... Which only proves Akainu's power. Only someone who has power can initiate fear. Only those who are strong can dominate and rule.
"Good. I want all the magicians trained as well. Make sure they are prepared to penetrate the defenses of the Dark Forest where the abominations reside."
"Pardon my question, Your Majesty, but what kind of creatures are we going to fight?" The question fell to deaf ears for Akainu deemed it not necessary to provide information to those who will only serve as cannon fodders.
"Gather the soldiers. I have something important to tell them right now."
Hearing those words as an answer, the soldier immediately left to obey the command of the King. It did not take too long to gather the soldiers. Akainu smiled upon seeing capable men, men who will help him wipe the power in Raftel.
He stood in front of the soldiers with his head held up high. His gaze bore to the soldiers standing straight as a rod.
"Soldiers! You might be wondering why we are preparing for war when the Cresta has fallen." The soldiers are silent but they all nodded at their king. "There is a bigger war we have to win. War against the abominations and monsters lurking in the Dark Forest. Monsters capable of wiping the entire human race and the Cresta Royal Family is the big thorn - protecting those abominations! This war is justice for humanity! We are to wipe them all and ensure the humanity is safe from their clutches!"
The soldiers agreed, cheered upon the word of justice, clanking their shields as a form of agreement as they chant: "King Akainu! King Akainu! Human Justice! Human Justice!"
Akainu felt satisfied upon the result of his words of encouragement. He felt how the soldiers are eager for blood, and all he has to do is to ensure that those blood will belong to Raftel.
"Zehahaha. Such a magnificent sight! I cannot wait for the doom of Raftel!" Akainu did not have to turn his head and verify the presence right behind him. It was Teach.
"Hmph. We still need more magicians and capable fighters."
"If it is capable fighters you wanted, there are a lot of them imprisoned in Inferno." Teach answered. His brethren and some of his companions during the war he caused are still imprisoned. He has to ensure to free them.
"How would you free them if they are in Raftel? Do you think it is easy to break through the barrier?" Akainu knew too well that Raftel's defenses are hard to break. Whitebeard and the remaining royalties ensured that it will not break so easily, lest they would have been invaded now.
"Zehahaha. As soon as we get the key from her, then breaking the barrier of Inferno will be easy."
Akainu only nodded, but doubt still lingers in his mind, regardless, they will still break Raftel and its rulers.
"We need Cresta's princesses. They must have been entrusted with the key we needed. They must be captured!" Akainu might have believed that they are dead, but he knew too well that Rouge and Roger will not be as confident if their daughters are dead.
The princesses must have been in Raftel!
"They are still alive. The men I sent to kill them were killed off. The link was severed. Zehahah. Whitebeard must have known something to protect them."
Akainu walked away from Teach, his fist formed into a lump of lava, scorching hot, blazing like his anger.
"Whitebeard, you still stand in my way, protecting the princesses! If we can't capture them, they are best to be dead! Send more men to Raftel! We have to kill them!"
Teach's grin grew wider, exposing his crooked teeth. His eyes flared with so much evil in them.
"Zehahaha. I already did."
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Ann stared at the beautiful scenery available in front. Despite staying here for weeks, the sight still keeps her mesmerized. Her eyes focused on the blue sky. Its color vaguely reminds her of someone - someone she does not want to think of yet the mere existence of him keeps crawling back to her mind.
And the kiss...
They might not have spoken of the said incident, but Ann finds her mind wandering of such feeling. A feeling she tried burying deep down her heart. She despised herself for longing in such feeling and wondering how it must feel to savor it again.
No... She shouldn't be thinking of such audacity! She has no time to get attached emotionally in this world especially to its people. There are matters she needs to be taking priorities of.
"You seemed to be deep in thoughts." A voice resonated beside her. It was Sab, also overlooking the scenery. The three of them were not allowed strenuous physical activities as per Chopper's instructions. They are forbidden to train.
"That's not always been my good point." Ann said. Like Luffia, she does not like to think too much, yet here she is pondering in deep thoughts and asking questions she does not even know if she wants answers or not.
"No, it's not but you do like to overthink once in a while." The twins shared a smile at each other. Soon, their attention was drawn by someone. Visitors. As they looked at the visitors from the balcony, they found out it was Thatch and Haruta.
Both Warrior Commanders looked up at the balcony, waving their arms at the twins, but soon they were distracted by Luffia, greeting them.
"We should see them downstairs." Sab said. Ann nodded, yet hesitant. In her mind, words continued to replay.
Words from Izou.
I am special... But why?
It is one of her questions. At the back of her mind, there is a small voice telling her she knows, but yet she refused to tolerate the idea.
An idea seems impossible - that is what she thinks.
Ann once again shook her head away from such thoughts.
"Thatch! Thatch! Can you transform? Can you do it for me?" Luffia's loud excited voice echoed in the manor.
"Hmm, I can." just as the twins arrived, Thatch transformed his arm into scaled claws of a dragon, brown scales wrapped around his arm. It took the human princesses in surprise.
"Are you like Zoro?" Luffia asked again as she looked at the arm.
"No. He is quite different. I am of Dragonoid, it means I can only transform my body to reflect a dragon's body, but I cannot grow into their size."
Luffia nodded, excitement still evident in her round eyes as she stared at Thatch. Soon, Thatch's attention was diverted to the twins. He smiled at them as if they are his friends.
"Yo!" Such informal greeting coming from a Warrior Commander, yet they do not mind it. They stayed long enough in Raftel to know some of their attitudes.
"Hello Thatch. What brings you here?" Ann asked away, direct to the point.
"Hi, Ann! We have nothing to do so we decided to pay a visit." Haruta answered with a smile.
"I want to explore more! Can you accompany us?" Luffia decided to ask. Staying in one place has never been her forte and this is a chance to get out and do something exciting.
"May we remind you that the last time you explored, it almost cost us our lives?" Sab asked in a cold tone which made Luffia silent. For now, there is no way to get out and explore other places. The only place they can visit without getting reprimanded by Chopper is the Central Palace.
"I never thought that you are good fighters. Many were impressed with how you displayed such prowess." Haruta said in an attempt to change the topic of conversation. They are walking out of the manor. Chopper is out with Robin so no one is present in the manor aside from the three human princesses.
"Sadly, it was ruined by someone." Ann glared at Luffia who grinned widely at her eldest sister.
"I was bored watching you two enjoy the fight, so I have to join. Besides, in a real battle, you might not know when the other enemy will appear to sever your head." They sometimes hate Luffia's reasoning. She provides reason right on track, straight and direct to the point.
"Quite a fight! We all loved it." Haruta exclaimed. The twins only grinned, satisfied with their words of appreciation.
"Izou would love to organize the celebration here in Central Palace. Could you believe it? We have been together for a century! Time sure flies by." Thatch's smile widens at the mention of his own mate. His eyes sparkled like a diamond and his emotions were evident how much he loves Izou.
"They used to be at each other's throat." Haruta mentioned. This took the curiosity of the three humans and their eyes asked for more information. "They used to be in denial about being mates. Izou refused to believe a brute man and a fool like Thatch is her mate."
"Oi!" A complaint left from Thatch's mouth but Haruta continued.
"They used to bicker a lot and insult each other. They never failed to amuse everyone."
"Then what brought them to admit that they are mates?" Sab asked. It is surprising there is a story behind the two of them before they are together.
"Thatch almost died and that was the start of their admittance." The three looked at Thatch who smiled with confidence yet there is an uncomfortable twitch upon the mention of his near-death experience.
"But you are alive. That's all that matters, isn't it?" Luffia smiled at Thatch, letting him know that the past is not all it matters.
"It happened more than a century ago and while I hated that incident, I am in a way thankful for it since it brought Izou and I together."
Their love for each other reminded the three human princesses of their parents' love. Their parents are a living example of what true love really means.
"Things happened for reasons. It will lead us somewhere. Your arrival here means something." Haruta said.
The three human princesses looked at Haruta. They sensed that she would like to deliver a clear message. A message that concerns the three of them.
"Means something?" Sab asked.
"Don't tell me you don't feel anything at all? Your connection towards - "
"Haruta!" Thatch's annoyed voice resonated. His eyes warning Haruta to hold her tongue. Ann frowned at this. She is curious as to what Haruta wanted to tell them. She felt it is important.
"What is it? Connection to what?" Ann asked away, but deep down her, she had suspicions of what that connection is. Some part of her is screaming for the obvious answers but her mind refused to believe it. The word is already right there, but she refuses to believe it.
"You're about to say something." Sab glared at Thatch for interfering but the Warrior Commander held his ground. His eyes revealed something - a sort of helplessness in the situation.
"It is not our place to tell you. What I can guarantee is this information will not harm you - no far from it but we do not have the right to tell you." Thatch answered, his eyes pleading the twins not to ask more. He wanted to tell them yet he shouldn't. He should let the High Princes tell them themselves.
The twins looked at each other and nodded solemnly. Silence ensured them until Luffia's voice rang to their ears.
"I know what it is." All of them looked at Luffia as she grinned at all of them. No faltering in her words and it amazes Thatch and Haruta, yet there is doubt if she really knows what it is.
"You do?" The question is full of doubt as it came from Ann. Even Sab is doubting it.
"Of course! But I am not telling..." Luffia stuck her tongue out, teasing the twin who did not appreciate it.
"Whatever. If none of you will tell us, then it must not be important." Ann finally said to them. Then she walked her way towards the Central Palace. Sab followed suit to her twin sister as Luffia chuckled to herself. She turned towards Haruta and Thatch. She flashed a smile at them before following her sisters. The two Warrior Commanders stared at the youngest human princess with confusion but said nothing.
They remained where they are, pondering on what Luffia said.
"She surprises me more times than I expected." Haruta said.
"Indeed. She's smarter than what she lets on." Thatch muttered.
"They have the right to know. I just don't understand why Marco still won't tell her."
"I told you it is not our place to tell them. We might cause more damage than we intended to. Besides, Ann still does not fully trust us."
"But she's opening up to us slowly, isn't she?" The two of them stayed where they are, still discussing, while the sisters are quite far ahead.
On their way to Central Palace, Ann feels a little uncomfortable, as if something is not right. There is something in the atmosphere that she can't explain. She looked back, seeing Thatch and Haruta discussing while looking at them - on what, she does not know but she's getting a bad feeling from this.
Then it happened.
A blur of creature got past them. Ann reacted on time, reaching for her pipe to deflect the attacker who was aiming for Luffia.
It turns out she's not the only one who felt the tension in the air as Sab also did the same to the attacker. It was a Harpy - a creature from Ipraecia.
"The Princesses!" The sudden attack of the Harpy alerted the Warrior Commanders who hurried to the scene. This only made the Harpy anxious and desperate so it launched a series of attacks towards the three of them. Ann was quick to pull the knife she has and buried it deep down the creature's stomach, halting the sharp claws directed towards Luffia.
Blood splattered on the ground and sprayed towards Ann's hands, soiling it with hues of red. It was mortifying now that she thinks about it. The blood on the ground would have been Luffia's had they not been quick to defend themselves.
The commotion alerted many creatures around and it also alerted Marco who was not far from where the scene is. He sensed that Ann was in danger and hurried towards where she is only to find the attacker on the ground with a knife on its stomach, barely alive.
There's unexplainable anger deep in Marco's soul upon looking at the creature who dared to attack his mate and her sisters. It was unforgivable - that may be the case, but he must set that aside.
"Ann, are you - " He stops right there and then before he could approach her. She stepped back upon hearing his voice and her eyes - Marco can't explain how he felt upon seeing the emotions reflected in her eyes. She was looking at him as if he's an enemy. The sliver of hope he slowly built towards her crumbled at that instance.
"Ann! Are you alright?" It was Sab who approached her. None of them is hurt which is the most important right now.
Luffia remained silent, her usual carefree demeanor is gone while looking at the barely alive creature.
"Die, humans! Y-You d-deserve to die! Y-You have no place here!" The Harpy muttered, further adding fuel to Marco's rage.
"You're about to die for the sin you committed. Attacking them is forbidden, had we not made that clear already?" Marco's voice eerily calm, his blue eyes are intensely glaring at the Harpy who is quivering in fear upon looking at the Phoenix's eyes. Eyes full of dominating power, piercing her soul. "Send this to the dungeon. We will interrogate her later." Marco commanded Thatch and Haruta who nodded while carrying the Harpy towards Ipraecia's dungeons.
As soon as the attacker was carried away, the creatures surrounding them can't help but stare at the princesses. Their stares are making Ann uncomfortable, making her feel as if one of them will step forward and try to claim the lives of her sisters - her family.
"It would be best if I escort you back to Chopper's manor for you to take a rest. I know this is not a pleasant experience. This will be taken care of." Marco's voice is sincere, full of worry while he stares at Ann.
"I don't think that is necessary, Your Highness." Ann's voice turned colder than ever, piercing Marco's heart. He could withstand physical pain, but not the way she looks at him. Her eyes reflect nothing but distrust, a coldness that can freeze Marco's heart, shattering it to pieces. It was unbearable.
"Ann..." He tried to call out but stopped when he looked at her eyes again. This time, it reflected those that have been betrayed - as if Marco betrayed her trust, the sliver of trust she gave, shattered into the dust.
Sensing the tension, Sab decided to step up.
"We apologize for what happened. We will be on our way now." She said before leaving with her sisters, leaving Marco along with the creatures around.
When they are no longer around to hear Marco and the others, the High Prince decided to speak.
"She is my mate. No one and I meant this. No one can harm her and if any of you decides to do that, prepare for your deaths!" His anger is flaring, blue flames flickering from his body. When the creatures all bowed before him, shivering in fear, he left.
There was no need to ask who he was referring to. It was obvious. It's none other than Ann.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Ann's mind is a mess. She can't describe what she's feeling right now after almost killing the Harpy. No, she does not regret it. If it means to save her sisters' life, she will do it a thousand times over if needed.
Far from regret, she feels sad, betrayed, hateful, everything is a mess inside her. She does not know what to feel upon seeing the Ipraecian's sigil on the Harpy's necklace, symbolizing that she came from Ipraecia.
She can't believe that it happened like that. All her doubts are coming back again. What if that had been planned? What if they are just toying with them?
Aside from those doubts, there's this feeling of deep sadness - guilt upon seeing the blood of the creature soaking her hands in hues of red. It was as if her existence, her race is what drove these creatures to do what they did.
"Ann..." Sab called out. "Are you mad at Marco?"
Is she? Ann doesn't know. Her lack of response made Sab sigh.
"He's not the one to blame for what happened."
"I don't know anymore." She answered her sister before taking a seat at the nearby rock in the backyard of the manor. "Everything is wrong, Sab. Everything."
Sab can agree on that. Nothing has been right since they came here. What they caused is nothing but trouble. Before Sab could form a response, they heard someone called for Ann. It was Chopper who hurried home as soon as he heard what happened.
"Ann!" The twins looked at Chopper who approached them along with someone Ann does not want to see. "Marco wants to talk to you."
Sab can feel her sister tensing upon seeing the man and even though she wants to be with her sister as her support, she must let her deal with this.
Nodding to Ann, Sab left along with Chopper to leave the two of them alone.
"Is there anything I can do with you, High Prince Marco?" The formality in her voice hurts. Marco does not like this, he does not want her to feel guarded against him.
"Ann, you have my apologies for what happened. Anyone who dares to harm you will face nothing but death." His sincerity is making Ann feel worse. She was reminded with the Harpy she stabbed a few hours ago.
"Thank you. If there's nothing else you'd like to tell me, I wish to take a rest, Your Highness."
"Alright, if that is what you wish, yoi. Before you go, there is something I would like to ask of you."
"What is it?"
"What happened in the cave - "
"What happened there is nothing. It is not worth talking about." The words came from her felt like acid. She felt as if she swallowed a rock, but she has to say it.
You are being unfair to him... Another voice of reason was at the back of her mind reminding her of her selfishness.
Marco looked at her, feeling sad and disappointed at what she said, yet his eyes remained determined and firm.
"You might think it is not worth it, but it is for me, yoi." Ann was shocked when Marco said that. "I will not force you regarding the matter, but know this Ann: I don't give up easily."
"I d-don't know what you are talking about." A lie, she knows, and apparently, Marco is also aware of it.
"You do, my Princess. Yet you chose not to believe it, yoi."
His Princess...
Just hearing it is painful for Ann. Seeing the pained expression in her face, Marco's instincts kicked in, stepping forward to reach for her. This made her step back.
"You know, I will never do anything to hurt you. Never."
"But I am hurting now. Looking at you hurts." She said and this stabbed Marco's heart.
"Is there anything I can do to make you trust me?"
Ann is not sure how to answer that. Is there a way? She is not sure. She can't think at all.
"Good night, Your Highness." She uttered before leaving him alone, choosing to run.
As she walks away, Marco feels as if his world is crumbling down.
