The Queen Of Water: Thank you for reviewing, glad you like the story! :)
Ghost Of Magic: Thank you for reviewing! :) Yes, poor Jaden, indeed... Especially since he didn't have it easy in the original, he's gonna suffer in here even more XD.
Kim Nanoha: Thanks for reviewing! :) Yup, there's definitely something up with Serena... Some things will definitely become clear! ;)
Brick88: Thank you for reviewing! :) Glad you liked the duel. I'm afraid I'll have to stay quiet concerning Serena's memory XD. But, yeah, you made a good point there. I've been making it clear for a while now that there might be something going on between Jaden and Serena. Honestly, it's been my plan since I started planning the story's concept, so it's great finally seeing it coming to fruition. However, to note, Serena's not even aware at this point that she might have some feelings for him... Things will get more intense in those two seasons! I'm dying to just get to them already! XD Thank you! :)
Kim Nanoha: Hello. I'm fine. Yes, it's been a while, but life's been busy. Thanks for the question nonetheless.
I know it's been a while since I've last updated, but life got in the way... I can't promise often updates, but I will try to find a way to get more of them if I get a chance.
In this chapter, things get a little... Ugly.
I only own my OC's!
Serena's POV
"I know what the thing controlling Sartorius is." Aunt Maria spoke up seriously. "You do?" I repeated in surprise. That earned me a nod from her. "You've known all this time?" Ben raised an eyebrow. She nodded once more. "Well, what is it then?" Jaden asked.
At once, my aunt's gaze turned to Ben and me.
I didn't understand why, though...
"I'm not sure whether you two remember my stories about a white hole..." She trailed off. The moment she said that, memories of Aunt's bedtime stories flashed through my mind.
"Auntie?" I looked up at my aunt. "Yes?" She smiled at me. "What do you know about space?" I asked her curiously. "Why are you suddenly interested in that, dear?" She questioned a bit confused. "Mama mentioned it yesterday… But she didn't say what it was!" I explained with a frown.
She let out a chuckle. "Space is like an area high above our heads. That's where Sun, stars, and planets are from." I looked at her wide-eyed. "Tell me more!" I then exclaimed. "You're too small to understand it. It will only be boring to you." Aunt Maria replied. "Then tell me something that's not boring." I pleaded.
"Fine, fine…" She chuckled yet again. "Let's see…" She frowned for a moment. "You know what a black hole is?" "No…" I shook my head, not understanding a thing. "It's a huge, black hole, that absorbs everything in space." "It sounds scary…" My eyes widened.
"Why is it black?" "I don't know… However, it does have its opposite." "Really?" "Si, while black hole absorbs everything, its opposite exudes energy. Its waves of light can happen to fall on Earth. That's what I heard, anyway…" She trailed off. "What's it called?" "I think it's… The white hole… That's what the story says."
I frowned. "It's not real?" "I don't know whether it's real or not, I'm just telling you what I heard about it." Aunt Maria let out a laugh and took me in her arms. She then sat on a sofa and put me on her lap. "Who told you that?" I looked up at her. "A little bird." A small smile appeared on my aunt's face.
"Tell me more!" I pleaded. "That's the only thing I know. That, and… They said that whenever the waves reached Earth, something bad happened in the world." Aunt looked at me.
"Bad?" "People would fight, and even more bad things would happen…" "But why? Light's supposed to do good things!" "Where did you get that from, little one?" She let out a chuckle. "When it's dark, you can't see anything without it!" "Clever girl…" She smiled, playing with one of my strands. "I'm confused too, but I'm telling you what I had heard. Everything bad occurred around the time those waves hit Earth."
"Wow…" I trailed off in surprise. Aunt Maria laughed and hugged me.
It seemed so long ago... Up until now, this memory was quite foggy to me... I still didn't understand where she was going with this though.
"I do." I spoke up a bit confused. "So do I." Ben added. That still didn't change the fact that I was confused, while he had a weird look on his face. It was as if he had a hunch what she was talking about.
Aster looked at the three of us back and forth. "I remember you and my dad used to talk about it." He spoke up. "You do remember then..." Aunt trailed off. "What does this have to do with anything?" I asked, wanting to get to the point.
"That's what that force is... That white hole I had told you about." She looked at me seriously. I stared at her, so did Ben. Aster, on the other hand, didn't seem to be surprised. It was as if he had already figured it out.
"Its name is Light Of Destruction. It is..." "Wait, wait." I interrupted her. "What you're saying is that your bedtime story was real all this time?!" I couldn't believe this was actually happening.
All this time I thought Aunt Maria was just making that white hole up, only for it to turn out to be real...
She frowned at me. "I know this must be shocking, but I'm telling you the truth. I've been in touch with Pegasus' research since its very beginning." "You were also there during that scandal?" Aster spoke up with a raised eyebrow. "What is he talking about?" Ben demanded immediately. Aunt Maria didn't respond to his question. Instead, she was staring at the professional duelist in a bit of surprise.
"You remember that? But you were just a kid back then!" She exclaimed. "Back when?" Ben demanded once more, only to be ignored. I wanted to know what both of them were referring to as much as he did...
After a few more moments of astonishment, Aunt quickly shook her head to get back to her senses and turned her attention off the silver-haired duelist. "Aster was referring to a scandal that happened about ten years ago." She spoke up. "What scandal?" I spoke up curiously.
"As soon as Pegasus published his discoveries concerning the Light Of Destruction in the newspapers, the public didn't take that well. Scientists, historians and astronomers all started complaining." She responded with a frown, as if reminiscing the past events. "In those newspapers, Pegasus insinuated that some past tragedies occurred due to the Light Of Destruction, which they dismissed immediately as nonsense."
"Why's that?" Syrus asked confused, him and Hassleberry listening in on the conversation. "Historians, in particular, didn't like that claim, because it looked like Pegasus was rejecting the history as we knew it. From their side, he was claiming something without actual proof, based only on his astronomic research. Everything they learned and knew would be irrelevant because of it." Aunt Maria responded. "All of them sent Pegasus a letter, telling him to stay out of areas for which he didn't have a bachelor degree, and told him to go back to creating cards, because they claimed that was the only thing he was good at."
"Wow..." I whispered in surprise. "But how come there was no mention of that scandal in the archives?" Ben wondered. "Pegasus didn't want it to be heard about, and instead continued his research privately." I had a feeling she knew more than that, but didn't want to say.
If she was aware of Pegasus' research since it started, then I was sure there were a lot of things she was refusing to tell us...
While it was nice to finally know the name of the thing that was controlling Sartorius, that still didn't tell us what was the card he had received that day... The situation was clearer, and yet, still confusing at the same time.
That was when someone's phone started ringing. "Yes?" Aster answered it after a few moments. "Of course, I'm coming right away." He hung up and put the phone in his pocket. "I'm sorry, but I'll have to take my leave," He nodded to all of us, but mostly Aunt Maria. He was about to leave the hospital wing, when some sort of a bad feeling washed over me.
"Aster, wait!" I exclaimed. He stopped in his tracks, his dark blue eyes looking up at me in confusion. I opened my mouth, wanting to tell him to be careful, but then closed them like a fish out of water.
That would sound like me being his babysitter, and would surely rub him the wrong way...
"What was it that you wanted to tell me?" He raised an eyebrow. "I don't want to offend you..." I trailed off uncertainly. "Tell me." He responded. "It's just that... I have a really bad feeling about the call you had just received. After what Aunt Maria had just said..." The professional duelist gave me a somewhat questioning look. "Just be careful, alright?" I quickly said.
He was looking at me for a few moments before finally giving me a nod. "Do tell me about your aunt's wellbeing if there are any changes while I'm absent." I quickly nodded. "Now I've got to go, they're waiting for me." "Okay." I responded awkwardly. The guy was then out of the room.
As soon as he was out of the room, Mrs. Fontaine ran in. As soon as she did a checkup for my ribs, she let out a sigh of relief. "Your ribs are healing nicely. Not allowing you to duel in that tournament any further was the smartest idea." She said and then gave me a painkiller.
"She'll be fine soon then?" Atticus asked. "If she continues to rest." Mrs. Fontaine nodded. Atticus, Syrus and Hassleberry smiled while Jaden grinned and Ben sighed in relief. I looked up with a small smile. "Whatever happened to your ribs?" Aunt Maria suddenly asked, giving me a confusing look.
I really didn't want to get into all of the details with her about my reckless behavior... Which was the reason why I was thankful to the door suddenly opening. As long as it was someone welcoming, actually, and not from the Society Of Light.
A small person came in. Now, I wasn't sure whether it was a boy or a girl... I couldn't see because of a white mask on the person's face. He/She was dressed in a long, dark blue jacket, orange shirt underneath it, had lilac boots, and an orange bandanna on the head. A Duel Disk was strapped to the person's left arm.
"Excuse me, but I've been told to come here because you could give me some plasters." A female voice spoke up from behind the mask. The moment they heard it, Ben and Syrus froze, as if someone had spilled a bucket of cold water over them. "Oh, man." Syrus gulped. "Please, don't tell me that's..." Ben started, only to be cut off by Mrs. Fontaine saying that she had them. She quickly offered a few to the person. "Thank you!" The girl's voice replied. Mrs. Fontaine smiled before she ran out again, saying she had some sort of business to take care of.
I took that chance to observe the mysterious person.
Judging by Ben and Syrus' reaction, it was someone familiar to them... While Jaden, Atticus and Hassleberry had clueless looks on their faces. The unknown person was a girl, younger than us, that was what I could tell from her voice...
"You really don't recognize me?" The girl spoke up. I could hear some sort of amusement in her voice. "What do you think?" My cousin replied with a frown, this time sounding as if he knew exactly who that person was. The girl took the mask off her face with a cheerful smile. "BLAIR?!" Jaden's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Knew it." "Knew it." Ben and Syrus chorused with knowing looks.
"My sweet Prince!" This 'Blair' suddenly threw herself at Jaden, making him yelp in surprise. The guys, on the other hand, were staring at the sight, not knowing what to say. The moment that girl hugged Jaden out of nowhere, I could feel some sort of burning feeling in me. I felt like I could beat the shit out of anyone, even with my ribs in their terrible and tortured state.
Just who was this random 'Blair' girl to hug him like that? Was Jaden 'her sweet Prince'? Why did she even give him that... Stupid nickname?!
For some unknown yet strange reason, I was seeing red. I wanted that little girl to get her hands off my friend... But did Jaden seem to enjoy it? He certainly was taking his time in telling that child to get off him...
"Cuzo, you're all red." Ben's worried voice broke my weird train of thoughts. "Benjamin... Who's that girl?" I asked my cousin with a sickly sweet smile. "Nice to see you too, Blair." Jaden's awkward-sounding voice prevented him from telling me more. I looked up to see him staring at that child with an equally awkward and embarrassed look on his face.
"Did you know that I'm also participating in the tournament, my Sweet Prince?" She looked up at him with a smile, still hugging him. Her calling him 'her Sweet Prince' felt like another rub in the face, right in front of everyone... "No?" The guy replied with the same awkward energy.
Honestly, what was that kid expecting? Jaden couldn't look at me because I had kissed him on a cheek, and here she was hugging the life out of him?! He looked quite uncomfortable with the whole interaction...
"Don't you see you're making him uncomfortable?" I finally spoke up with a glare. The moment I said that, the girl's brown eyes turned in my direction. She looked at me and frowned. "And who might you be?" She demanded, tightening her grip on Jaden as if to tell me 'screw your words'.
"Serena, she's just a kid." Ben whispered exasperatedly in my ear. "She's holding him like a damn Happy Meal she had just got for lunch." I hissed out, not even looking at him.
I could see Syrus gaping at me, since he had quite obviously heard my words. I wasn't sure whether the others have too, but I didn't particularly care either. I've never felt that way, and it was both confusing and frightening at the same time. For some strange reason, her behavior towards Jaden was bothering me, but yet, it also felt like that anger wasn't just mine. I did see red, but it also felt exaggerated at the same time!
"Didn't you hear what I've just told you? Let the guy breathe." I replied in a forced, polite tone with a polite smile. The girl looked up at Jaden. "Jaden, who is this rude person?" She asked.
Rude person? That was rich, coming from a little brat!
"That's Serena, Ben's cousin." Jaden managed to take his right arm out of her tight hold and motioned to me. "Don't tell me you know her?" The kid looked at him somewhat incredulously. "She's my childhood friend, of course I know her." He responded while I was looking at the girl. Her eyes widened.
"Now, she's right, you are kind of strangling me... Could you please let go?" He asked kindly. She did so while looking at him and me back and forth. He then walked towards me and took my hand. "But Serena's a nice person, so I'm sure you two will get along well." He gave her my hand for us to shake with a smile.
I looked at the girl for a few moments.
Honestly, while she may not have been a bad person, her treatment towards Jaden was rubbing me up the wrong way... Still, I didn't want to disappoint Jaden and end up a jerk in front of him. Obviously, he wanted to be friends with this girl, so I was going to act nice solely for his sake. As long as she stayed out of my sight with her disgusting behavior, that was...
The girl took my hand, not looking very pleased either. I could tell her smile was definitely forced. Still, we both shook hands. "Serena." "Blair." Both of us exchanged our names. We then quickly let go of each other's hand. Si, it was quite obvious she was acting nice towards me only because of Jaden. I could tell, since I used to act pretty similar around people when I first got here. Acting nice for the sake of it, so they could get off my back...
"You're not joking when you say she's your childhood friend?" The girl suddenly turned to Jaden and asked him that. "Why would I joke about that?" He asked confused. She didn't say anything to his question, just staring at him in a quite strange way.
'You're not joking when you say she's your childhood friend?' Why was that even any of her concern whether he was joking or not?
All of a sudden, I didn't want to remain in here anymore. I didn't want to listen to that kid asking Jaden more stupid questions concerning me, which I was sure would continue if I stayed here.
"As enlightening as it was to meet your acquaintance, I think I'll take some fresh air." I spoke up. "Where are you going?" Jaden spoke up hastily. "Outside for a walk." I forced a smile on my face. "I can keep you company." He quickly offered, only for the girl to grab his left hand. "I don't think so, because I see Blayre is willing to catch up with you. I'll see you soon anyway." I replied, trying to ignore the way the brat was trying to grab Jaden for at least one part of his body every damn time I looked in her direction.
On second thought, scratch that. It wasn't just her stupid questioning that was bothering me. I wanted to get out so I didn't have to watch her clinging to Jaden, because it looked like she was doing that only to spite me...
"We'll keep her company." Syrus suddenly offered with Ben nodding.
I raised an eyebrow at both of them but shrugged. I didn't mind company, as long as it wasn't that girl, or Jaden at this moment.
"Why not?" Without giving a glance in Jaden or the kid's direction, I said 'bye' to Aunt Maria, Atticus and Hassleberry. I muttered a quick 'bye' to those two while walking towards the exit.
"It's good to be out of there." I ran hands through my hair in utter relief. "What was so bad in that room?" Ben spoke up with a frown.
I didn't respond, my mind tracing back to the way that 'Blayre' kid strangled the life out of Jaden by hugging him. What Jaden saw in that girl by being friendly was unknown to me... She was way too clingy, and younger than him, for crying out loud! Maybe that meant he preferred younger girls... I was older than him by a month, so obviously Blayre would be far more suitable...
Wait. What was going through my damn mind right now?! 'Stop pretending to be innocent. The way that snake wrapped its tail around its victim made you see red.' My nasty, nonsensical part of mind spoke up smugly. 'So what if she did? Jaden can take care of himself perfectly well, and he can choose whoever he wants.' I retorted. 'Then why did you leave the room?" 'Because, shut up...'
"Nothing." I responded quickly and grabbed my hair once more. "Then why are we outside?" Syrus asked the most obvious question. "Air's nice." I took hands out of my hair and let them drop beside me. I looked at the sky, trying to pretend I was here solely for the beautiful air.
"I can't believe Blair made you go out." Ben then spoke up, as if wanting to add insult to the already existing injury. "I'm not here because of Blayre." "Blair. You mispronounced her name back there." Syrus corrected me. "Her face was priceless when that happened, I'm not going to lie..." Ben let out a laugh.
Seeing I was still quiet, they looked at me for a few moments. "Why would Blair being interested in Jaden be any of your concern?" Syrus asked the 'million dollar' question.
At that moment, my attempts to keep those strong feelings bottled up inside me ended up in vain. "I have no damn idea, but I just couldn't keep looking at that girl clinging to Jaden like a damn leech!" I exclaimed in annoyance, surprising both of them. "Then she had to start asking stupid questions like 'are you joking that she's your friend', and I really felt uncomfortable." I frowned.
"But Serena, Blair's just a kid! A clingy one at that, yes, but she's young!" Ben told me in disbelief. "Doesn't give her the right to cling to him like that nonetheless." I huffed.
Both of them then exchanged glances for a moment. "Cuzo, would you happen to... Happen to have some sort of..." Ben was trying to say something, but apparently not finding the right words. "Do you like Jaden?" Syrus beat him to it with a blunt and direct question. "Could have used more tact..." Ben frowned at him. "Your tact would have taken you ages to open your mouth." The small guy fired back.
It took me a few moments to register Syrus' question. When I did, shock washed over me, with my heart beating like crazy.
"That's crazy." I uttered out. "Why?" "Because it can't be possible for me to like him like that! He's my best friend!" I exclaimed. "Just because he's your best friend, that doesn't mean you can't like him." My cousin argued. "Non dire sciocchezze (don't say nonsense)." I frowned. "I'm not! I just think that you're behaving quite ignorant right now..." I shook my head.
It was just stupid, I couldn't possibly like Jaden in that way...
Ben and Syrus looked at me. "We'll give you some time alone..." The former then spoke up. "Why?" I demanded. "So you can nicely think through something that's quite obvious." The latter said simply.
With those words, they were off.
With a huff, I looked at the grass under my feet. Not knowing what else to do, I sat down. The place where we went to was a bit secluded from the main building, but at a safe enough distance from the Obelisk Blue dorm. It was a good thing the place where I chose to sit was right under a tree, so sunlight wouldn't bother me.
Yet, I still didn't understand why my cousin and Syrus were so insistent about the possibility of me fancying Jaden... It was stupid, and wrong!
'And just why would that be wrong?' The nonsensical part of my mind spoke up. 'I don't know why, it just is!' The other part argued.
It really did feel like something wrong. If I happened to fancy him, it just wouldn't be right. Something in the back of my soul told me that, and that Jaden was meant for someone else... Besides, he was my friend! Friends just couldn't fancy one another!
At that moment, Pharaoh joined me and jumped in my lap. I started petting the cat in hopes of getting rid of the crazy ideas that my mind, Ben, and Syrus were behind.
'If you're so willing to believe that's not true, then why did you get upset over Blair holding him like a spider holds its prey?' 'I hate people who treat others like objects. Jaden is no one's property.' I started arguing with my mind yet again. 'Is that so? Or is it because you wish he could hold you like that all the time?' 'Sciocchezze (nonsense)!'
Loud and angry meowing interrupted my argument. Looking down at my lap, I realized it was Pharaoh complaining. How wouldn't he? I was petting the cat in such a harsh way, as if I wanted to rip apart a pillowcase...
"Sorry, Pharaoh!" I apologized and quickly put him out of my lap, right next to me.
It would be better if I didn't touch anything at the moment...
'You can't deny it. Why's it that Jaden seeing you hunched is embarrassing to you all of a sudden? Why's it that feeling his breath against your face makes you feel content?' 'Now you've really gone too far...'
Before I could give that stupid part of my mind a good lecture, bright light started shining in front of me.
I quickly covered my eyes not to get blinded. However, I was afraid that I knew what was the source of that light...
"Serena." A familiar voice spoke up. My heart started beating faster in panic. I quickly took hands off my face to see Sartorius standing right in front of me. However, this time, he looked like before he had been possessed by the Light Of Destruction. He was also transparent, which made me wonder why... It felt like it wasn't really him there...
"Sartorius, is that really you?" I questioned carefully while standing up. "Serena, you don't have much time," The man ignored my words. His purple eyes were looking at me worriedly. In fact, his whole face showed some sort of panic. "It's coming for you."
That statement sounded confusing, yet also alarming at the same time. I was afraid that I knew what that 'it' was...
"You mean, the Light Of Destruction?" I asked slowly. "Serena, it's coming for you. You need to run." Sartorius said, this time sounding urgent.
"MEOW!" Pharaoh's angry and threatening meowing nearly gave me a heart attack. "Pharaoh, what's got into you?!" I asked and quickly turned around to see what he was growling at.
If what I suspected was true...
"You need to run! NOW!" Sartorius shouted from behind me, nearly giving me another heart attack. He never shouted...
I didn't give a second thought. I started running in a random direction as fast as I could. However, with my ribs still in their terrible state, I couldn't run much without them hurting. It didn't even matter much because I suddenly felt someone's presence behind me.
Then I felt something hitting me right in the back of my head.
"I've got you now..." A familiar, yet demonic-sounding voice saying those words was the last thing I registered before completely losing my consciousness.
A cliffhanger! Well, I think you can all presume who's got Serena, and what that means... Also, Blair makes the scene! I hope you liked her introduction in my story. Her relationship with Serena will have an important part in the story. Now, whether it will be a good one, or a bad one, remains to be seen! I hope I managed to capture her character well for her introduction. I wanted to show her crush on Jaden and immaturity considering her age a bit more for the sake of the plot, but not to overdo it... Writing her first interaction with Serena and Serena's first impression of her was fun though!
Anyway, I hope you liked it, and until next time!