Summary: Five years have come and gone since Yuukio left his family to learn more about what he is and what he can do. There are still mysteries, as he still isn't sure what he is. But he has a better grasp of what he can do, so that's something right?
Maybe. But now that it's time to actually see his family again- from his twin and childhood friend to Hornton and his father- he finds himself unable to face them despite how much he's missed them.
So, when an opportunity the day before classes arise, one that allows him to avoid them a little longer so he can get the courage to face them again, he jumps on the chance.
However, what was supposed to be a simple task of babysitting some fellow freshmen turns into a dangerous game of 'keep away' between them and a type of monster Yuukio knows all too well.
Trial by fire results in new bonds and friendships being formed, all in preparation for the dangers to come later in the year.
Author's Notes: Here is the first part to the prologue story. Just a warning, this one is going to be shorter due to a lot not being in it because of how I've changed things story wise. Also, as a warning for those who have played the game and know better about who Grim is: This Grim is not the one you know... Mostly. This Grim is still a glutton, but he's also more accepting of his familiar role and is a crap ton more feral than canon Grim. Almost like Floyd levels of feral. You know what I mean. As for the blot stones in the game, well, I have an idea for those.
Anyways, I'll leave this here. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Disney or Twisted Wonderland
A Brief Reunion
Lilia was a nervous wreck throughout Orientation. Silver and Malleus were with him in the Mirror Chamber, and they weren't doing any better. While the only ones actually aware of their situation were the Diasomnia students and the teachers, the other house wardens and vices have clearly picked up on the unusual tension coming from the three students. Four, when Sebek stepped from his gate and was placed into Diasomnia and determinedly joined them on the side, eyes never leaving the last of the gates. One of which they were certain their missing family member was inside of.
Only the boy hadn't been in any of the gates and after the last gate vanished, they almost felt their hearts drop, and Lilia tried to feel out the youngest twin's location or feelings to determine his location or situation. And there was some annoyance and adrenaline. There had been short and weak shocks of pain that Lilia knew were only a fraction of whatever Yuukio was feeling.
Really. It was quite alarming Yuukio was clearly in a fight when he should have been in a gate. "I believe that's all for orientation." Crowley began- almost shattering the little family's hope- only for the Dark Mirror to speak up.
'There is one last student. Unfortunately, he is in a place the Black Carriage cannot access. Allow me to open a gate for him.' The Mirror said, clearly startling the Head Mage and causing a rush of whispers to fill the chamber as the gate appeared. They couldn't see or hear anything on the other side. But a few minutes later and a dire cat burst through the gate.
"You better not forget my fish!" The fire cat shouted. The cat backed away from the gate to make room for whoever was on the other side.
"What is a monster doing here?" Crowley demanded. The cat looked at him.
"I'm this student's familiar." The cat replied, head nodding in the gate's direction. "And my name is Grim! Don't forget it bird man!" The cat growled. Before Crowley could retort a rather large eel fish flew through the gate, causing the dire cat- Grim- to squeal in delight as he pounced on it and began to dig in with his sharp fangs. A few mermen freshmen back peddled away from the ravenous creature in alarm. A big surprise was when the Octavinelle house Warden and the two twins on either side of him also scurried away from the creature.
It was a minute later that a figure stepped through the gate. And Lilia's breath caught as he took in Yuukio for the first time in five years. The boy's snow-white hair had grown long, falling around his lower back. His eyes remained the same pale auroral color and his skin was just as fair as always, though he could tell the other had some scars from what he could see of the boy's neck. Yuukio was also shorter than Silver by a few inches, more reminiscent of Silver's height last year. He knows Yuukio is 17, but he doesn't look a day over 16. And it hurts, realizing how much of Yuukio's growth he has missed.
His robe was covered in rips and tears and the scent of blood was almost overwhelming for anyone with a heightened sense of smell and a predatorial disposition. Lilia could see blood running down a nasty gash in the boy's cheek. And in his hand was the... Decapitated head of a dire bear monster.
"What the underworld D.M!" The boy shouted at the mirror, startling everyone from their stupefied reverie. "Couldn't you have opened the gate before we got besieged upon by the damn bear?" The boy demanded, using a bloodied hand to push his bangs out of his face, leaving a red trail on his forehead with that same trail staining some of the white. The student looked unsettlingly predatory and savage. So much so that even some of the more predatory beast and Mer people shifted uncomfortably.
'How did you fair?' the mirror asked. It was rhetoric, of course, considering they could all see the bloody head in the boy's hand.
"I killed it." The implied 'duh' was heard by all of them as he held up the head.
'Then it was worth keeping it closed. Consider it a final test of your journey.' The mirror gave the impression of a nonchalant shrug. More shock filled the chamber as they realized not only did this mirror and student know each other personally. But that the mirror had purposefully kept the gate closed so the student would have time to defeat a dire bear.
"I'm going to break you." Yuukio said after a long minute of disbelieving silence.
'You won't break me.' the mirror said with conviction. 'You need me for those lessons of yours.'
"You mean the cryptic crap that usually involves me being led to a monster den and then having no choice but to slay it so I can survive?" Yuukio's sarcasm was thick but resigned.
'Why did you bring the bear's head?' the mirror asked instead of answering. This resulted in what Lilia is certain is an explicit curse in mermish if the gasped shock of some of the Mer students was anything to go by. In addition to Floyd Leech's delighted chuckles.
"It was habit. When one usually turns in a bounty you need the head or another piece as proof. This isn't a bounty though. It was just an ass hole that attacked me when I was getting fish for my glutton of a familiar." He replied. "Speaking of- Grim! Don't eat all of that please. I haven't eaten yet either you know."
"It's too good." Grim replied, having consumed over half of it already. Some blood was caked along his jaws and Yuukio shook his head in defeat upon realizing he wasn't going to get any of the fish.
"Oh yeah. Here you go." Yuukio said, throwing the head he was holding at the mirror. A gate appeared suddenly, and the head disappeared inside before it could hit the magical artifact. "Now tell me where I'm going. That way I can sleep off my blood loss."
That snapped Lilia from the shock of seeing his youngest again after so long. "Yuukio!" He snarled. He hadn't meant too. Really. But five years of holding it all in had made him snap.
The boy's head turned in his direction so fast it could have caused whiplash. His eyes were wide in shock and trepidation at the tone. Shouts of fear and startlement filled the chamber as the Faye launched himself at the other before anyone could stop him.
Maybe some thought he was attacking. But most of Diasomnia and the head mage knew the truth and before Yuukio could react in any way, he found himself held in a tight, nearly suffocating embrace. Soon the other three were next to them as well.
"The nerve of you! Running away like that! At 12! Reckless, foolish child!" Lilia continued to growl, having fallen into garbled Faye speak. Which the four of them knew Yuukio understood. And terrorized anyone who didn't understand it. Except for Silver who grew up with it.
"I think you're suffocating him, Lilia." Malleus's statement finally got through Lilia's righteous parental anger. He released the boy enough for him to breathe. But he did not let go. "You had all of us worried child." Malleus continued. "But it is a relief to see you again. Smelling of blood and beast musk as you are." He added, nose scrunched up in distaste at the smell.
"I will inform grandfather! We worried about you and it wasn't okay that you followed a stranger and never told us anything!" Sebek berated harshly but with clear relief. Everyone just watched the reunion in bemusement.
Suddenly Lilia released Yuukio only for Silver to crash into the boy with such force that both went tumbling and rolling across the ground. "How could you just leave me?!" Silver growled. It was a tone no one in that school who knew the other had heard from the usually laid-back boy. As Silver glared into the face of the other, those present became very aware that the boy from the mirror and Silver were clearly twins.
"I thought it was the best option." Yuukio whined.
"How could it be the best option?" Silver retorted.
"Would any of you have let go into a crazed monster den on my own? No, you wouldn't have. I had to take certain levels of risks that none of you would allow." Yuukio scowled.
"We could have provided backup!" Silver retorted, still not letting the other up from their tangle of limbs on the ground. "Besides! Maybe you shouldn't explore you abilities or whatever if it means you get put into a magical coma that lasted almost an entire year!"
"I didn't mean to get bit by a venomous monster you know! If you have issues take it up with the Dark Mirror!"
"Why?" Silver retorted immediately. The duo had both been shouting back and forth like a game of tennis, enrapturing all who witnessed it.
"Because he's been the one guiding me in my dreams." Yuukio said, trying desperately to just get Silver's disapproval off of him.
Silence. "I'm going to break you." Lilia hissed at the mirror, prompting Crowley to take a defensive position in front of the ancient relic.
"Now. Now. I'm sure we can discuss this calmly." Crowley tried to mediate.
"No. It stole my son from me for five years!" Lilia hissed in Faye at the same time Silver said in commons. "No. It stole my twin from me for five years!"
"Enough! I chose to follow. Don't go breaking my dream guide or whatever we want to call him." Yuukio finally got his voice to be heard over the den. "Where am I going?" He asked the mirror who was definitely sulking at the implications of violence and Crowley being the one to defend it.
'You have no magic and cannot be put in one of the seven dorms as a result.' That statement got some shocked mutterings as they all remembered the dire bear head that the child definitely brought with him. The blood from its neck stump was still puddled on the floor for crying out loud. 'However, there is an old building on campus. I don't remember its original name, but they call it Ramshackle now a days. Crowley will fix it up enough that the elements won't get in.' the mirror mused.
'I'm sure you and Grim will be just fine there. I mean, you've been sleeping in caves and conquered monster dens for years now. A building in need of some repair would be a real upgrade from your usual hides.' the mask said. Then he was gone from the mirror, indicating the end of orientation.
"Alright then. Now it's the end of orientation. House wardens. Please escort your students to their dorms. Mr. Yuukio come with me and I'll take you to the infirmary to be looked over by Crewel. You are, after all, very injured." Crowley said jovially.
"Silver, go with your brother." Lilia said only for Yuukio to reject it.
"Really I'm fine. I'll see you guys later. You have duties as leaders of your dorm. And Silver needs to stay nearby you guys in case he falls asleep or something." Yuukio's insistence was both suspicious and a little hurtful, which he must have picked up on if his wince was anything to go by.
"I really am glad to see you guys again. But other than sleeping I can't really do anything to celebrate." Yuukio gave a soft smile at them. They felt his relief at being with them and his joy at the reunion. But Lilia could tell he was nervous and unsure about something.
"Yuukio. Is the promise to tell me when you're having doubts still in place?" Lilia asked softly.
"It is. But I need to work through some things myself first. Really. I'll come to you all when I know I can handle it without an emotional and mental breakdown." Yuukio promised the four Diasomnians. In truth, Yuukio was feeling a little... ashamed of himself. He knows he put them through a lot of pain and turmoil and in that moment when he saw they were so happy to have him with them again... He felt the guilt drop like a bolder in the pit of his stomach. It was going to take him a while to face that. Which he needed to do so he could rejoice in the warmth of their love without reservations.
"Very well." Lilia gave in reluctantly. The others weren't thrilled themselves. Yuukio was back, damnit! But they all needed to recover from this and work through their emotions on the matter.
"Diasomnia follow us." Malleus called to the room. And with great reluctance, they filed out. Casting several glances behind them at Yuukio who was waving a bloody hand at them with his familiar next to him washing his face.