Author's Notes: I just keep changing up what I want to do with my stories. This is fey Yuu. He's an amphiptere which I just found some pretty pictures of that are winged serpents. And I think they're a D and D monster? I'm not sure. But that'll be what he is. Still storm and sea based. But a pretty and cool looking winged serpent. I am sorry for all of this.
Grim is still more Russian Blue like rather than his normal looks. Yuu does still wind up in Diasomnia. We'll see how the story progresses as I work on it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twisted Wonderland or its characters. Just my Yuu.
Summary:
Yuma is an amnesiac and orphaned amphiptere fey. He knows his age and the day he hatched. He doesn't know his parents or family. Or what happened to them.
He had woken up in the middle of a forest with an invitation to a school called Night Raven College alongside his familiar Grim, the only thing that's familiar to him.
There's much in store for the duo here, including plenty of drama, dangers, and new experiences. Drama, like inter dorm rivalries. Dangers like overblots and bullies. Experiences like friendship, belonging, and having others care for them.
With plenty of adventures ahead of them, the duo will learn the truth to secrets about themselves and the Great Seven that those in Twisted Wonderland honor so deeply. There's always something happening at Night Raven College, and the Dark Mirror has its own plans in store for the one it's called to this school. All in hopes of saving him.
Night Raven College
The forest was dark, save the soft glows of fairies and fireflies flitting around. It was silent except for the fairies' worried, anxious chatter, the bubbling of a nearby creek, and the soft wind rustling the leaves and carrying the soft clopping of hooves getting closer and closer.
The sound of muffled grunting and grumbling from under him. "Wake up Yuma! You're squishing me!" He finally made out the words. Opal eyes snapped fully open as he shot up with a yelp.
"Grim?! Are you okay?" He cried, turning to face the slate gray dire cat with cerulean eyes and cerulean flames bursting from his ears. Said dire cat heaved overly exaggerated gasps.
"I am now that you're not laying on me." He replied with a scowl.
"Sorry." He said sheepishly before looking around at the clearing they were in. The fairies had slipped back a few feet at Yuma's sudden exclamation but still seemed more worried than scared.
'Are you two alright?' one fairy asked. Yuma looked at Grim who was watching him expectantly.
"Are you feeling alright?" He asked.
"Other than you suffocating me. I don't feel any pain. Although... My memories are choppy. Like they're not all there?" He questions. Not sure if he's saying what he's feeling correctly.
Yuma thinks on it for a moment and realizes with a start that his familiar is right. Other than the general knowledge about themselves, the rest is an alarming blank. It's not like he's forgotten how to do simple things like eat or multiply or whatever.
But the experiences he knows they should have remembered, and the majority of his past 100 years since he hatched are just... Gone. Or maybe, they're blocked where he can't recall anything about them other than the general knowledge.
"We- we have amnesia?" He asks no one in particular in a way the confirms it.
'That's awful!' the fairy cries in horror at their plight.
'Maybe that letter will jog something.' one of the others suggest.
"Letter?" Yuma asks almost absently. Then he sees it. A black, gold gilded envelope with Yuma's name in purple with a wax raven coat of arms seal on the back.
It was an invitation to Night Raven College for Yuma and his familiar Grim. The Ebony Carriage would arrive to pick them up and deliver them to the arcane institute on the night of the full moon.
Yuma glanced up to see the full moon above them and knows now who those hooves belong too. Said hooves coming to a stop within the clearing, clearly waiting for him to enter the gorgeous ebony carriage behind it. He has a bag that he knows has his clothes and such in it. But it doesn't jog anything for either of them.
"Should we go?" Grim asks with uncertainty.
"I mean. I don't think we have anything else we can do." Yuma muttered before looking at the fairies. 'You wouldn't happen to know how we got here, would you?"
The fairies shook their heads. 'Sorry. We felt a burst of magic and when we came to investigate, you were already here unconscious.' the fairy apologized.
'That's fine. Thank you for waking us.' Yuma says before hefting up his bag and familiar before they climbed into the back of the carriage where they find a coffin shaped gate waiting for them. Uneasily, they settled in. And as soon as the lid closed, they knew only darkness once more.
Twisted Wonderland
Yuma looked around the dark void he found himself in. He couldn't see Grim which was worrying enough even if this was just a dream. As he turned in a circle, he could hear the ripples his steps caused spread out into the darkness. He stops when he sees something a short way ahead of him.
It's a large, gold framed antique mirror that radiates power, magic, and familiarity. He took a cautious step forward, closing the distance between them. He isn't surprised by the mask that shows up on the dark surface. It's known to him in some way or form that he can't express in that moment.
"For me. For them. For you. We are running out of time. Fear not your power or that of darkness. Take my hand and do not let go." The mirror ripples as a pale hand reaches out and Yuma grasped it, unaware of the consequences of what laid ahead.
Night Raven College
Waking up was a weird experience. It was clear it hadn't been a natural slumber, so waking up hadn't been a natural affair either. He blinked away his disorientation as he took in the large dark chamber full of people in the same black and purple robes gold accents as himself and even Grim had first woken up in.
"My. I didn't think you would bring an untrained familiar with you. Quite against school rules you know." A tall, pale skinned fey man wearing a half raven's beak mask- two golden glows in place of his eyes- said, though his tone indicated he was more amused. He was about 6' with pointed ears and short wavy black hair. He wore black suit pants, shiny black loafers, a black vest with dark blue bedazzlement over a white button up long-sleeved shirt and black tie.
Over this ensemble he wore a great coat with thick black bird feathers curling out from the blue collar, while the ends seemed to resemble two bird wings. What stood out most about his appearance to Yuma were the golden claw accessories at each of his fingers and the three mirror accessories at his hip where four keys dangled from them, in addition to three more on his hat with another smaller mirror accessory. Seven total keys. Not including the key-shaped staff he carried that was topped by a golden raven.
"Grim was included in the invitation." Yuma replied dazedly- the ancient feeling and powerful magic he could smell on the man was just a bit overwhelming- as he stepped out of the gate with a stumble. The man was quick to catch him though there was some concern now on his features.
"Ah. The Dark Mirror is known to make exceptions at times." The man replies, not addressing whatever had him concerned at the moment. "Well. Step up to the Dark Mirror and state your name."
Yuma approached the mirror, looking at it with narrowed eyes. "Don't I know you?" He muttered, unsettled by the familiarity.
"Indeed." The mirror smirked but did not expand on it. Instead, he looked into iridescent opal and simply said with an amused tone of voice. "State thy name."
"Yuma." He answered with a scowl.
"Hm. Glancing into the nature of your soul..."
"Creepy." Grim dead panned. Yuma nodded.
"The dorm for you is Diasomnia." The mirror said with a considering look before vanishing from the glass.
"My, that was a rather blunt ending to Orientation. I wonder what has the old guy so hurried to end things." The fey man mused. "Any ways. Welcome to Night Raven College my dear students. I am your magnanimous and generous Head Mage, Dire Crowley. I was appointed this position a century ago by the chairman of this fine institute. I look forward to seeing how you all grow during your years here. In an act of true generosity, tomorrow will be a free day for our students so that our freshmen can get used to our vast campus and grounds. This will also allow our wonderful Dorm Heads to get more time to know their new students and better explain the rules of your dorms."
"Be ready however, my dear students, that classes will begin in earnest the day after tomorrow. And you will be expected to perform honorably, with decorum in representation of both your dorms and this fine school. If the Dorm Heads will please escort your new students to their dorms." He paused looking around.
"Come to think of it. I don't see Dorm Head Malleus present." Crowley mused.
"What do you expect? The guy's never shown up." A tall, tanned boy with long, dark brown hair that fell down his back to mid back length, piercing green eyes- the left one possessing a scar- and brown lion ears atop his head said with a yawn.
"And it's not like he's really approachable." another boy, this one tan with short white hair and bright red eyes added with a frown.
Yuma tilted his head as he took in the whispers that began to fill the chamber they were in. "Draconia? That Draconia?"
"He does go to school here; the rumors were true. Yikes."
Slitted opal eyes flashed at the fearful and uneasy words that began to fill the chamber. How dare these children spread such fear and negativity about someone they didn't even know. "Calm down. Damn. This is pathetic." Yuma growled, his voice taking on a more predatorial tone that made several of the students flinch. "Like, none of you even know this guy personally! How would you like to have people who don't even know you spreading this kind of crap about your name around?"
"If this is how children with parents were raised, I'm glad we don't have that to worry about being so disgraceful." Grim muttered quietly in Yuma's ear in distaste, glaring piercing cerulean eyes around the dim chamber. Which had the added effect of making his eyes glow more threateningly than they normally did. Some people had shrunk back from the glaring duo, relieved when those glares were turned on the Dorm Heads at the front of the room. The five physically present heads tensed at the eyes aimed their way.
"You have an example to set. Try not to set such poor and distasteful ones. Keep a reign on your own prejudices and jealousies. You are in an environment for learning. Settle your differences in a more professional manner." Yuma stated simply, ignoring the growl that reverberated from the lion beast man's chest. He scoffed in reply and turned to the entrance of the chamber where a young-looking boy- man, Yuma corrected himself- had entered the chamber. Unknowingly amusing the fair skinned blonde with purple tips and light purple eyes who stood next to the lion who looked shocked, offended, and a little impressed all in one facial expression before he turned to glare at the one next to him.
The newcomer had pale skin and pointed ears, so another fey. His short black hair was asymmetrically cut with magenta appearing throughout the dark locks. His eyes were a bright red and he seemed sad about something, but the smile on his face was genuinely happy. Yuma had a feeling he and Grim would be meeting their fair share of strange and weird people while they were here.
"Hm. I see Dorm Head Malleus was once more not informed of the time of the ceremony." He mused aloud, causing a wave of guilt to spread throughout the room. "No matter, I suppose. Those of you who were placed in Diasomnia, please follow me." the man said, before muttering quietly. "I hope he doesn't sulk about this."
Well, the guilt seemed to increase a bit more. Yuma and Grim were about to walk down the dais and away from the Dark Mirror when Head Mage Crowley, spoke up. "Yuma." The crow fey said. Slitted opal met the glowing gold. "I will be coming to fetch you in the morning. I believe there are some things that need to be discussed." The mage said with a thoughtful tone that put both Yuma and Grim on edge.
"Yes sir." Yuma settled on, before turning and running to catch up with his fellow Diasomnia dorm mates.
Night Raven College
Crowley waited for a few minutes after the last students had left the Mirror Chamber, before he waved his staff and closed the doors, locking down the chamber. "You better answer my summons. Now." He said, voice stone cold and so different from what anyone has ever heard from the usually eccentric and jovial man.
The mask of the Dark Mirror appeared on the dark surface of its confinement. "So, you noticed?" He asked, though both of them knew that was rhetorical.
"How could I not?" Crowley demanded, nearly snarling at the artifact. The scent of abandoned hatchling that had permeated his senses when he caught the child when he had stumbled out of his gate was fresh and strong in his nose. A hatchling that had never had a nest. A very familiar situation he knew personally. This wasn't including everything else he had smelled that mixed worriedly into the hatchling's scent.
"He's never had a nest. He's been trapped in iron so many times that the scent still clings to his flesh. Blood and blot are a secondary perfume on him. His magic is as self-harming as it is destructive. And on top of all of this, the child is cursed!" Crowley snarled, fangs flashing in the dim light of the chamber as he rounded on the Dark Mirror.
"Why do you think I've summoned him to this school?" The mask asked with a dark undertone of his own. It was a warning.
"Why wasn't he summoned sooner?" Crowley demanded. The Dark Mirror snapped back.
"I have limitations, Dire! We both know this. This was the earliest I could summon the child. He's technically underage for attending this school as it is." The Dark Mirror replied.
The silence was thick between the two of them as they glared at each other. "What else?" Crowley demanded, knowing the other hadn't finished.
"They both have amnesia, on top of everything."
"You did what?"
"It wasn't me!" Dark Mirror snapped in anger. "Which is another reason he's been summoned. He's in danger out there. Something or someone is hunting him- not that he remembers I'm sure- and this is the safest place for him right now."
Crowley scowled at the information. He had known, of course. He and the Dark Mirror have been having this argument for years now. Ever since he and the Dark Mirror had been privy to the visions that assaulted their nights 100 years ago. The horrors of the future both bore witness too yet could not recall clearly enough to narrow anything down. The child they watched through these visions grow up in an unfair and unjust world set on either destroying him or building him up more powerfully than any could hope to be. They didn't know everything of course, but just the scents and vague visions were enough of a clue to their lives. Vanrouge would probably become a close confident through shared experiences.
It made sense someone cursed was in Diasomnia. The dorm was known best for its students with powerful magic and curse abilities. If any dorm could help solve the curse aspect, it would be that one. Both its Dorm Head and Dorm Vice were well versed with curse and curse energy.
Crowley sighed. He would need to fill out some paperwork in preparation for his meeting with Yuma in the morning. The child was only 100 years old, for crying out loud. He was still a hatchling, and he needed a guardian. He would have to talk with Vanrouge as well. As a current guardian with three wards to watch over during his time there, he would be a good choice to talk with. Trein as well. The man was a father and could be a useful source of guardian information.
Hopefully he could get Yuma and his over-protective familiar to agree to at least temporary guardianship. It was law, and with their amnesia, it might be the best option for either of them. Then there was funds. He wouldn't be surprised if one or the other would be suspicious of him providing for them. He'd need a way for them to make money themselves that also had a secondary motive so they would be more willing to trust it... Hm. The old dorm on campus could use some repairs. And it could work as a place for the boy and his familiar to go if they ever needed some space from the rest of campus. Then there was the shop. Sam was always needing an extra hand.
"There's so much to do and prepare for tonight." He sighed.
"Then I'll leave you to it. I will continue to keep my watch over him for the time being." Dark Mirror replied, fading out of sight. Crowley stared at the dark surface with only his own reflection looking back at him for a long minute before turning and making his way to his office. There was much to do tonight before he could hope to turn in.
Twisted Wonderland
The forest fell unnaturally quiet. The breeze died, the rivers stilled, and the animals that usually resided within the foliage slipped away. The silence was deafening in a way it had no right to be. Two ghosts with tattered hoods slipped silently through the shafts of the mine. They knew something was wrong with the area when they had passed by and went to investigate.
They frowned at the stifling and stale air that slowly, ever so slowly, built with a tainted and familiar taste. They shared a look when they heard the noise coming down the shaft ahead of them. Slipping into invisibility and allowing their own magic to blend with the natural ambient magic around them, they looked to see a large puddle of darkness in this deep part of the mine bubble and pop.
They watched with horrified grimaces as the dark shape took form. The red torn tunic and brown hat as much of a giveaway to its once identity as the pickaxe and lantern. If only someone who could still remember its name was around. But even they knew that the ones who would have the name had died centuries- if not millennia- ago. Just like this poor soul.
They would not be able to get to anyone in time. They would just have to hope that the normal surveyors would arrive before unprepared innocents stumbled upon the hungry monster's path. Until then, they could only try to keep any visitors away from these shafts in particular.
