File type: Text File (.txt) [Download]
-----------------------------------------
…
Tom collected his books into his backpack, after finally finishing cleaning up. Turning off the lights, except for the one shining on the bot so the paint could dry quicker, and he made his way out of the workshop. The hallways were lit as brightly as always, but the silence beyond them made Tom uncomfortable. It was the reason he’d say as to why he would go home earlier, and not just because Mom ordered him so. School just gets very weird after dark.
Fumbling with keys that were left to him, he finally closed the door when a hand slapped his shoulder. For the next few minutes, everyone was rubbing their ears from his high-pitch scream.
“Guys, you’re back!” Tom said, panting heavily, but still happy.
“Geez, you sure you’re not part of chorus kids?” Chester asked, trying to slap away the deafness.
“Oh, actually!” Tom answered matter-of-factly, “I did try! But Mom said I wouldn’t have time for other, more prospective clubs. Apparently being a singer is only for poor people, or something. So…um…how did it go?”
He checked on each one of them, but all three were unable to hide their disappointment, as well as absolute exhaustion from the whole day. In fact, they simultaneously just gave big, loud exhale to show it off.
“Really, really bad?” Tom prodded to confirm.
“I mean,” Flora shrugged her shoulders and flailed her arms like a deflated doll, “like, I dunno if I feel like calling it a victory….
“But we did find the teacher though!” Barbie exclaimed, to Tom’s happiness.
“Great!”
“And his husband too, apparently,” Chester added. “The chariot guy was him all along. The teacher was that small, wood carver. Actually, that makes a lot of sense.” Tom stared at him with confusion, whereas everyone just nodded in agreement. He continued to explain, “Basically, we found the teachers, made them normal again and got them back safely. Unfortunately, the clown got away.” Chester sounded particularly dismayed saying the last sentence.
“We were actually in a dessert, just so you know!” Barbie added.
“…Huh.” Tom looked at Flora and then Chester, who just nodded along. “How did you get in? And get out? What was-“
“It just disappeared,” Barbie promptly said and then shrugged. Tom nodded slowly, eyes furrowed. “You know, I remember Zamarad saying something about the place really not being real. Something about it not making sense. Or maybe that it was all in our head.”
“Well, we WERE dealing with that clown!” Flora said.
Tom cocked his head back and forth. There was a bit of information to gather, but reflecting on it, a clear picture seemingly appeared to him.
“Actually, Azure said that something about it reminded him about that time we were in the labyrinth. Remember that Tom?” Chester asked.
Tom energetically nodded. “Yeah, I remember that! Oh man, that was such an awful place. You think it was illusion?”
“What did Rose say?” Barbie suddenly asked.
Flora looked at her, bewildered, then just shrugged, “I didn’t have the time.”
Barbie gave an “Awww” of dismay.
“Maybe next time…So what’s this about labyrinth?” Flora looked at the two boys.
Chester spoke first, “We got trapped in one, and later learned it was some sort of a box with a world inside it. It was kinda weird when we got out. But then, can you actually put dessert inside a box?”
Flora bit her lip and twirled a strand of her hair. She then said, “Maybe we’ll look into it later.”
Everyone nodded along. There was some form of long, exhaustive atmosphere, where no one could help but be as slow as possible, with each kid finding a reason to lean against a wall. Was it really like this coming up with a decision like an adult?
Tom shook his head and asked, “So…then the teacher is back then, right?”
“Yep!” Barbie answered. “In the hospital though. We’re not sure when he’s gonna come out.”
“Oh…how long will he be there?”
“Either two days or ten, depends,” Chester said. “I guess two, since he’s been away for a while.”
Tom nodded. “So, I guess he won’t be out before we can get into the tournament,” he said resultantly.
Chester scratched his quills. “I mean, how long do we have until that thingie all starts? Isn’t there time until the next week?”
“The preliminary is tomorrow,” Tom said. “We need a teacher to head our team. Unless we have someone supervise, we are basically out.”
“Oh…”
Tom looked down, as everyone exchanged glances. Before anyone else could say something, Tom said, “I guess I’ll have to ask Mr. Mouton.”
“WHAT!?” Chester nearly jumped at him, causing the cat to nearly run to the door. “What do you mean, him? Why? Isn’t he like vice-principal or…?”
“He said that he’ll help to personally oversee the things if the teacher won’t come back!” Tom rapidly responded.
Chester’s mouth fell open.
“You aren’t serious? Why is he of all people interested in looking after this tournament?”
“Maybe he just likes it?” Barbie commented. Flora shook her head.
“Barbie, look, we aren’t dealing with some random man here. Mr. Mouton is well known for being a stickler to the rules, and telling others how to behave. If a kid sees him, they straighten up, just so they won’t hear a lecture on manners and good behavior. He got mad at me for wearing earrings once!”
Barbie cocked her head. “I mean…I dunno, I’ve read that few people can have secret hobbies.”
“Trust me, people are never like books,” Flora said. “And he wouldn’t just decide to participate for something that has no business for him to get involved to. Something’s fishy here.”
Chester asked Tom, “What did you say?”
The cat shrugged. “I haven’t done anything yet! But I guess I have to….Since, you know.”
He scratched his own ear, and watched Chester intently. The hedgehog just sighed and passed a bit. This was clearly going to bother him more than others.
“If you guys don’t mind, I think I should get ready for tomorrow. I still have enough time, and we can arrange a meeting and stuff. I think this will help a lot, for our goal, you know?”
Chester was staring right at the orange cat, lips pursed and brows furrowed. But after a solid minute, he took quick turn away, and said, “Sure thing.”
And so Tom gave his goodbyes and left. Chester followed right after, in half-hearted manner. Flora and Barbie were the last, and thus made their way outside together.
“Man, what a day!” Flora exclaimed, stretching her arms around.
“I know…” Barbie said, creaking her neck.
As the girls reached the door, Barbie halted in place. After some careful thinking, she asked,
“Do you think they are still angry?”
“I don’t know,” Flora replied.
“Do you think Rose is disappointed that she didn’t get what she wanted?”
“I think she got some of what she needed.”
Flora began pushing the door, but Barbie pulled her back. When she raised an eyebrow at her, Barbie said,
“I think I came to a conclusion.”
“…What?”
Barbie fidgeted a bit, twirled a loose strand from her cap and then bit her lip. “Could you teach me…how to be you? For tomorrow?”
…
A night sky illuminated by the lights from below. Kage strangely enough, considered this atmosphere as his most enjoyable, right next to the total darkness. On the one hand, stars essentially worked the same way, but lights from earth were closer. Not that he would bother anyone with such trivialities. Could it be that the death of him caused spiritual awakening? He didn’t bother answering the question, since they had just arrived.
They all took solace at the tope of the library building, still unfinished since middle of the fall. Yellow tape, rough cement work, and strewn about equipment where the only proof given that there was some sort of work done. Kage would say they spent more time feasting than working. Apparently, the pay given warranted the effort given.
“I wouldn’t expect Her Highness to speak to a titled murderer,” Kage said, barely looking over his shoulder for Azure.
Azure sat down, and replied, “No, actually, as she is not the one who initiated it.”
“That very much so?” Kage, for once peeking at him.
From a far, parallel side of them, within the view of darkened fields, where the princess, and the guardian. One stood facing away from all, hiding anything that could be shown to the other. In return, the guardian was on her knee, not daring to raise her eyes above the ground level. If it weren’t happening on top of wet library building, the whole scene would look rather regal.
“Your Highness!” Zamarad spoke aloud, just to see if she could break through.
It took a minute, and Rose answered, “If you are here to ask for forgiveness…please, do not prostrate yourself anymore.”
“Your Highness, I know that my transgression are beyond any sign of forgiveness! I have lied to you. I have hurt you! And even more so, I have failed you. While any sort of punishment is ludicrous to perform as we are like this… I cannot face this feeling of wrongdoing, and I would like to ask to resign as a spirit, where I-“
“When my father died, I stared at the drape that he placed over my bed,” Rose cut her off. Zamarad froze, too stunned to say anything. “He brought it to me since I was a babe. When I still begged for a mother’s warm embrace and sought darkness to run from the light that burned me. He gave it to me, as my first ever present, made of fine, golden silk, with an insignia of a dragon. It was beautiful, and I would sleep with it, as it shielded my eyes from any light that shone through windows.” Slowly, she turned. The princess’s hands, which were fumbling, became visible. “He told me, despite my short life, that as a queen, that I shall make history. That I will follow through the same line of kings as every had before him. And that this drape was the sign of their pride, which was handed over from one ruler to the next. I remember asking him about our ancestors, yet my father would skip such questions, and Lahpa-Pessa only found that distant lands birthed us….”
Zamarad didn’t utter a word, but watched closely, her breathing shaking. The princess had slowly showed more of herself. She could tell now that she was staring afar.
“The drapery, mayhap, was just a simple cloth he bought, and gave to me as a gift. And yet, it became the symbol, to me, the connection that our current kingdom had with the past. This pride and passion that he showed me as a king, I simply could not let him down. But I also saw his fear. And, I thought, if I can’t live my life before my death, I might as well choose to die then, unable to fulfill the wishes of my father, to prove the pride of my ancestors.
She turned more, and now her eyes were looking up.
“So, I left that drapery, and set out, to adventures. Fighting with ogres with Azure, escaping death traps with Fotia, and bonding over hunting with Taja. And of course, spending time with you, Zamarad. After I returned, and took place as the princess again, I felt invigorated. Long gone was the little girl, stuck behind the walls of the castle, longing for freedom and cursing her timed existence.
Turned a bit more, and a smile grew on her face.
“I reclaimed that drapery from my room, and began to wear it everywhere. Except in battles, where I tucked it away in a bag. I felt more and more as if I am part of my kingdom, I am part of the future that my father held for me. I have overcome the curse laid on me since birth! I will go further as a queen! I am part of the future my mother hoped I could have, in her dying breath!
She sniffed the air that she could not touch. Her eyes welled up.
“And then he died. And as his body burned away during that ceremony, I remember that I lost drapery. Not knowing when, somehow, through my grief, I lost it…only to find that it had burned. What an awful thing to do, to burn away the last remaining element of my father’s will, so casually. I…resented myself.”
Finally, she turned fully, and looked down at Zamarad. Despite the tears, she face was still, and her voice never shook. Zamarad couldn’t help but watch in awe.
“Tell me, Zamarad, tell me, was the kingdom doomed from before my father’s ‘death’?” Rose asked.
Zamarad breathed in heavily and then closed her eyes. She finally said, “The souls had already been part of him. My act has quickened the process, merely.”
“So then…I could not have saved it at all…” Rose gave out a slow, shaky breath. Soon, she covered her own face away.
Zamarad stood up instinctively, “Your Highness you..!” The guardian looked lost, unsure where to leap and how to protect her. “We just…” she said, “none of us could have done anything! It’s why Lahpa-Pessa chose to house our souls, as even we were doomed to become part of him! And it would help to stop that wretched monster, who wish to tear the world. You did all you could to save them, Your Highness! Please, don’t-”
Rose gave a chuckle, through her hands. Zamarad was taken aback, as if she were a child.
“How silly of me to think I ever had a choice, when I was merely pawn to everyone’s plan…Even now, being nearly used by the enemy, to tear apart my comrades, and nearly take life of these children…. All for his own amusement. Pitiful, is it not?” Rose gave another chuckle. Her eyes were tearing up, it was becoming plain to see.
“You couldn’t have reacted in any other manner, Your Highness,” Zamarad retorted, trying to hold herself back. Rose did not stop. And so, Zamarad continued on, “The fault is with me! I should have told you long beforehand, and prevented the pain and suffering you are feeling. Everything is thanks to me…I…I am…I am nothing more…”
Rose didn’t seem to react to her words.
And so, Zamarad shouted, “I am a traitor! A selfish waste of a being, who served only her own needs!” Zamarad finally felt tears in her eyes. “All I did was for my own gain. When I served your father, and when I betrayed it all. All of it for myself. And even now, all I cared for was a chance to redeem myself! I always thought…I could be something more, than his servant, than his side…project…”
Zamarad slowly turned away, feeling uncomfortably vulnerable.
“What do you mean?” then Rose asked, making her wince.
Zamarad took her breath in, and took power to her voice again. “I was your father’s guardian, not simply because…of my talents. He also found me…a fitting replacement. Oh…oh forgive me, Your Highness!” She dropped on her knees. “Your father sought to replace you, when the chance came for you to die, with me! Because he knew his blood ran through me! And he would reveal it to your people, to make me carry his rule! He already had it all planned out! For me, a low-life..a scum… to be same blooded…”
Zamarad lowered her head to the ground. Being as a ghost, all she wanted to do, was submerge herself further and disappear. Everything she feared came true. Everything she tried to avoid came to a cruel reality. In the end, she broke one promise that she made herself, and that was to keep her safe.
If she could only disappear.
“Zamarad…” Her hands were never felt. And yet, her voice was still near enough, positioned just right above her. “So much I had no clue…So much I had done was simply out of my control. In the end, nothing I did mattered, did it?” She said wistfully, and then chuckled again.
Zamarad shot up and would exclaim, “Your Highness, I…!”
She got stopped by a single finger. Rose gently pulled it back, revealing her sitting on the cold, wet surface, wearing a warm smile. Zamarad was stunned.
“It’s odd…but I feel levied,” Rose said. “Maybe I realize that it was never my fault, or my destiny to lead at all.”
“Your Highness?”
“I was never a princess that he wanted to begin with…no?”
Zamarad stammered for a bit. And then she stopped, looking deeply at her princess. Seeing the young lady in front of her, made suddenly shake her head, and get up. She was now higher than her princess, in the most unseemly fashion.
“Your Highness…Of all the men in court, of all the dastardly people, who cared not for the lives given, whose actions blackened their souls, you were the only one who were truly pure! Mayhap…mayhap you were not but a tool, to your father. But to me, you were the bringer of hope! You could change the world into something better! Even now, as a spirit. And one, to whom I ready to serve.”
Rose was silent at first, watching Zamarad fall on her knee. But then the former got up.
“Rise,” she commanded. Zamarad did as told. “You wish to serve my needs?”
Zamarad nodded.
“The this is my command: our kingdom has fell. We have lost the people. We have lost the pride. We have nothing left. From this point on, no longer consider me a princess.”
Zamarad stuttered, “But Your Highness-“
“Enough,” Rose raised her hand. “This whole time, I was a status symbol to you. So you protected me as one, and went to do actions that you felt befit to do for my sake. But now, I ask you as a friend…and as a sister,” she reached both her hands out for Zamarad’s. “Do not fight for me, or prostrate for my sake any longer. I am now no more high or low than you, by status that this world could never care. For we are both dead. As such, we have no other reason to follow with this charade of lies we’ve lived. We only have but a single goal, and it is to save the world of these children. This beautiful world of theirs. They need us. And that is all that I have ever cared about. And for that, I need your help.”
She squeezed the umbral hands, “Will you help me, my sister?”
Zamarad said nothing, only lunge in for a hug. As the spirits are made of nothing, but will and emotion, even something so unattainable by their bodies was felt regardless. It was a bond that they finally had realized.
“Um, pardon, but er…”
Rose turned her head. She was only let go by Zamarad a moment later, who took a defensive stance on reflex.
“May I ask, by chance, about ‘sisters,’ right?” Azure said, cocking his eyebrow.
The two women looked at one another. Rose revealed her smile, and soon enough, so did Zamarad.
Times have changed.
…
-----------------------------------------
…
Tom collected his books into his backpack, after finally finishing cleaning up. Turning off the lights, except for the one shining on the bot so the paint could dry quicker, and he made his way out of the workshop. The hallways were lit as brightly as always, but the silence beyond them made Tom uncomfortable. It was the reason he’d say as to why he would go home earlier, and not just because Mom ordered him so. School just gets very weird after dark.
Fumbling with keys that were left to him, he finally closed the door when a hand slapped his shoulder. For the next few minutes, everyone was rubbing their ears from his high-pitch scream.
“Guys, you’re back!” Tom said, panting heavily, but still happy.
“Geez, you sure you’re not part of chorus kids?” Chester asked, trying to slap away the deafness.
“Oh, actually!” Tom answered matter-of-factly, “I did try! But Mom said I wouldn’t have time for other, more prospective clubs. Apparently being a singer is only for poor people, or something. So…um…how did it go?”
He checked on each one of them, but all three were unable to hide their disappointment, as well as absolute exhaustion from the whole day. In fact, they simultaneously just gave big, loud exhale to show it off.
“Really, really bad?” Tom prodded to confirm.
“I mean,” Flora shrugged her shoulders and flailed her arms like a deflated doll, “like, I dunno if I feel like calling it a victory….
“But we did find the teacher though!” Barbie exclaimed, to Tom’s happiness.
“Great!”
“And his husband too, apparently,” Chester added. “The chariot guy was him all along. The teacher was that small, wood carver. Actually, that makes a lot of sense.” Tom stared at him with confusion, whereas everyone just nodded in agreement. He continued to explain, “Basically, we found the teachers, made them normal again and got them back safely. Unfortunately, the clown got away.” Chester sounded particularly dismayed saying the last sentence.
“We were actually in a dessert, just so you know!” Barbie added.
“…Huh.” Tom looked at Flora and then Chester, who just nodded along. “How did you get in? And get out? What was-“
“It just disappeared,” Barbie promptly said and then shrugged. Tom nodded slowly, eyes furrowed. “You know, I remember Zamarad saying something about the place really not being real. Something about it not making sense. Or maybe that it was all in our head.”
“Well, we WERE dealing with that clown!” Flora said.
Tom cocked his head back and forth. There was a bit of information to gather, but reflecting on it, a clear picture seemingly appeared to him.
“Actually, Azure said that something about it reminded him about that time we were in the labyrinth. Remember that Tom?” Chester asked.
Tom energetically nodded. “Yeah, I remember that! Oh man, that was such an awful place. You think it was illusion?”
“What did Rose say?” Barbie suddenly asked.
Flora looked at her, bewildered, then just shrugged, “I didn’t have the time.”
Barbie gave an “Awww” of dismay.
“Maybe next time…So what’s this about labyrinth?” Flora looked at the two boys.
Chester spoke first, “We got trapped in one, and later learned it was some sort of a box with a world inside it. It was kinda weird when we got out. But then, can you actually put dessert inside a box?”
Flora bit her lip and twirled a strand of her hair. She then said, “Maybe we’ll look into it later.”
Everyone nodded along. There was some form of long, exhaustive atmosphere, where no one could help but be as slow as possible, with each kid finding a reason to lean against a wall. Was it really like this coming up with a decision like an adult?
Tom shook his head and asked, “So…then the teacher is back then, right?”
“Yep!” Barbie answered. “In the hospital though. We’re not sure when he’s gonna come out.”
“Oh…how long will he be there?”
“Either two days or ten, depends,” Chester said. “I guess two, since he’s been away for a while.”
Tom nodded. “So, I guess he won’t be out before we can get into the tournament,” he said resultantly.
Chester scratched his quills. “I mean, how long do we have until that thingie all starts? Isn’t there time until the next week?”
“The preliminary is tomorrow,” Tom said. “We need a teacher to head our team. Unless we have someone supervise, we are basically out.”
“Oh…”
Tom looked down, as everyone exchanged glances. Before anyone else could say something, Tom said, “I guess I’ll have to ask Mr. Mouton.”
“WHAT!?” Chester nearly jumped at him, causing the cat to nearly run to the door. “What do you mean, him? Why? Isn’t he like vice-principal or…?”
“He said that he’ll help to personally oversee the things if the teacher won’t come back!” Tom rapidly responded.
Chester’s mouth fell open.
“You aren’t serious? Why is he of all people interested in looking after this tournament?”
“Maybe he just likes it?” Barbie commented. Flora shook her head.
“Barbie, look, we aren’t dealing with some random man here. Mr. Mouton is well known for being a stickler to the rules, and telling others how to behave. If a kid sees him, they straighten up, just so they won’t hear a lecture on manners and good behavior. He got mad at me for wearing earrings once!”
Barbie cocked her head. “I mean…I dunno, I’ve read that few people can have secret hobbies.”
“Trust me, people are never like books,” Flora said. “And he wouldn’t just decide to participate for something that has no business for him to get involved to. Something’s fishy here.”
Chester asked Tom, “What did you say?”
The cat shrugged. “I haven’t done anything yet! But I guess I have to….Since, you know.”
He scratched his own ear, and watched Chester intently. The hedgehog just sighed and passed a bit. This was clearly going to bother him more than others.
“If you guys don’t mind, I think I should get ready for tomorrow. I still have enough time, and we can arrange a meeting and stuff. I think this will help a lot, for our goal, you know?”
Chester was staring right at the orange cat, lips pursed and brows furrowed. But after a solid minute, he took quick turn away, and said, “Sure thing.”
And so Tom gave his goodbyes and left. Chester followed right after, in half-hearted manner. Flora and Barbie were the last, and thus made their way outside together.
“Man, what a day!” Flora exclaimed, stretching her arms around.
“I know…” Barbie said, creaking her neck.
As the girls reached the door, Barbie halted in place. After some careful thinking, she asked,
“Do you think they are still angry?”
“I don’t know,” Flora replied.
“Do you think Rose is disappointed that she didn’t get what she wanted?”
“I think she got some of what she needed.”
Flora began pushing the door, but Barbie pulled her back. When she raised an eyebrow at her, Barbie said,
“I think I came to a conclusion.”
“…What?”
Barbie fidgeted a bit, twirled a loose strand from her cap and then bit her lip. “Could you teach me…how to be you? For tomorrow?”
…
A night sky illuminated by the lights from below. Kage strangely enough, considered this atmosphere as his most enjoyable, right next to the total darkness. On the one hand, stars essentially worked the same way, but lights from earth were closer. Not that he would bother anyone with such trivialities. Could it be that the death of him caused spiritual awakening? He didn’t bother answering the question, since they had just arrived.
They all took solace at the tope of the library building, still unfinished since middle of the fall. Yellow tape, rough cement work, and strewn about equipment where the only proof given that there was some sort of work done. Kage would say they spent more time feasting than working. Apparently, the pay given warranted the effort given.
“I wouldn’t expect Her Highness to speak to a titled murderer,” Kage said, barely looking over his shoulder for Azure.
Azure sat down, and replied, “No, actually, as she is not the one who initiated it.”
“That very much so?” Kage, for once peeking at him.
From a far, parallel side of them, within the view of darkened fields, where the princess, and the guardian. One stood facing away from all, hiding anything that could be shown to the other. In return, the guardian was on her knee, not daring to raise her eyes above the ground level. If it weren’t happening on top of wet library building, the whole scene would look rather regal.
“Your Highness!” Zamarad spoke aloud, just to see if she could break through.
It took a minute, and Rose answered, “If you are here to ask for forgiveness…please, do not prostrate yourself anymore.”
“Your Highness, I know that my transgression are beyond any sign of forgiveness! I have lied to you. I have hurt you! And even more so, I have failed you. While any sort of punishment is ludicrous to perform as we are like this… I cannot face this feeling of wrongdoing, and I would like to ask to resign as a spirit, where I-“
“When my father died, I stared at the drape that he placed over my bed,” Rose cut her off. Zamarad froze, too stunned to say anything. “He brought it to me since I was a babe. When I still begged for a mother’s warm embrace and sought darkness to run from the light that burned me. He gave it to me, as my first ever present, made of fine, golden silk, with an insignia of a dragon. It was beautiful, and I would sleep with it, as it shielded my eyes from any light that shone through windows.” Slowly, she turned. The princess’s hands, which were fumbling, became visible. “He told me, despite my short life, that as a queen, that I shall make history. That I will follow through the same line of kings as every had before him. And that this drape was the sign of their pride, which was handed over from one ruler to the next. I remember asking him about our ancestors, yet my father would skip such questions, and Lahpa-Pessa only found that distant lands birthed us….”
Zamarad didn’t utter a word, but watched closely, her breathing shaking. The princess had slowly showed more of herself. She could tell now that she was staring afar.
“The drapery, mayhap, was just a simple cloth he bought, and gave to me as a gift. And yet, it became the symbol, to me, the connection that our current kingdom had with the past. This pride and passion that he showed me as a king, I simply could not let him down. But I also saw his fear. And, I thought, if I can’t live my life before my death, I might as well choose to die then, unable to fulfill the wishes of my father, to prove the pride of my ancestors.
She turned more, and now her eyes were looking up.
“So, I left that drapery, and set out, to adventures. Fighting with ogres with Azure, escaping death traps with Fotia, and bonding over hunting with Taja. And of course, spending time with you, Zamarad. After I returned, and took place as the princess again, I felt invigorated. Long gone was the little girl, stuck behind the walls of the castle, longing for freedom and cursing her timed existence.
Turned a bit more, and a smile grew on her face.
“I reclaimed that drapery from my room, and began to wear it everywhere. Except in battles, where I tucked it away in a bag. I felt more and more as if I am part of my kingdom, I am part of the future that my father held for me. I have overcome the curse laid on me since birth! I will go further as a queen! I am part of the future my mother hoped I could have, in her dying breath!
She sniffed the air that she could not touch. Her eyes welled up.
“And then he died. And as his body burned away during that ceremony, I remember that I lost drapery. Not knowing when, somehow, through my grief, I lost it…only to find that it had burned. What an awful thing to do, to burn away the last remaining element of my father’s will, so casually. I…resented myself.”
Finally, she turned fully, and looked down at Zamarad. Despite the tears, she face was still, and her voice never shook. Zamarad couldn’t help but watch in awe.
“Tell me, Zamarad, tell me, was the kingdom doomed from before my father’s ‘death’?” Rose asked.
Zamarad breathed in heavily and then closed her eyes. She finally said, “The souls had already been part of him. My act has quickened the process, merely.”
“So then…I could not have saved it at all…” Rose gave out a slow, shaky breath. Soon, she covered her own face away.
Zamarad stood up instinctively, “Your Highness you..!” The guardian looked lost, unsure where to leap and how to protect her. “We just…” she said, “none of us could have done anything! It’s why Lahpa-Pessa chose to house our souls, as even we were doomed to become part of him! And it would help to stop that wretched monster, who wish to tear the world. You did all you could to save them, Your Highness! Please, don’t-”
Rose gave a chuckle, through her hands. Zamarad was taken aback, as if she were a child.
“How silly of me to think I ever had a choice, when I was merely pawn to everyone’s plan…Even now, being nearly used by the enemy, to tear apart my comrades, and nearly take life of these children…. All for his own amusement. Pitiful, is it not?” Rose gave another chuckle. Her eyes were tearing up, it was becoming plain to see.
“You couldn’t have reacted in any other manner, Your Highness,” Zamarad retorted, trying to hold herself back. Rose did not stop. And so, Zamarad continued on, “The fault is with me! I should have told you long beforehand, and prevented the pain and suffering you are feeling. Everything is thanks to me…I…I am…I am nothing more…”
Rose didn’t seem to react to her words.
And so, Zamarad shouted, “I am a traitor! A selfish waste of a being, who served only her own needs!” Zamarad finally felt tears in her eyes. “All I did was for my own gain. When I served your father, and when I betrayed it all. All of it for myself. And even now, all I cared for was a chance to redeem myself! I always thought…I could be something more, than his servant, than his side…project…”
Zamarad slowly turned away, feeling uncomfortably vulnerable.
“What do you mean?” then Rose asked, making her wince.
Zamarad took her breath in, and took power to her voice again. “I was your father’s guardian, not simply because…of my talents. He also found me…a fitting replacement. Oh…oh forgive me, Your Highness!” She dropped on her knees. “Your father sought to replace you, when the chance came for you to die, with me! Because he knew his blood ran through me! And he would reveal it to your people, to make me carry his rule! He already had it all planned out! For me, a low-life..a scum… to be same blooded…”
Zamarad lowered her head to the ground. Being as a ghost, all she wanted to do, was submerge herself further and disappear. Everything she feared came true. Everything she tried to avoid came to a cruel reality. In the end, she broke one promise that she made herself, and that was to keep her safe.
If she could only disappear.
“Zamarad…” Her hands were never felt. And yet, her voice was still near enough, positioned just right above her. “So much I had no clue…So much I had done was simply out of my control. In the end, nothing I did mattered, did it?” She said wistfully, and then chuckled again.
Zamarad shot up and would exclaim, “Your Highness, I…!”
She got stopped by a single finger. Rose gently pulled it back, revealing her sitting on the cold, wet surface, wearing a warm smile. Zamarad was stunned.
“It’s odd…but I feel levied,” Rose said. “Maybe I realize that it was never my fault, or my destiny to lead at all.”
“Your Highness?”
“I was never a princess that he wanted to begin with…no?”
Zamarad stammered for a bit. And then she stopped, looking deeply at her princess. Seeing the young lady in front of her, made suddenly shake her head, and get up. She was now higher than her princess, in the most unseemly fashion.
“Your Highness…Of all the men in court, of all the dastardly people, who cared not for the lives given, whose actions blackened their souls, you were the only one who were truly pure! Mayhap…mayhap you were not but a tool, to your father. But to me, you were the bringer of hope! You could change the world into something better! Even now, as a spirit. And one, to whom I ready to serve.”
Rose was silent at first, watching Zamarad fall on her knee. But then the former got up.
“Rise,” she commanded. Zamarad did as told. “You wish to serve my needs?”
Zamarad nodded.
“The this is my command: our kingdom has fell. We have lost the people. We have lost the pride. We have nothing left. From this point on, no longer consider me a princess.”
Zamarad stuttered, “But Your Highness-“
“Enough,” Rose raised her hand. “This whole time, I was a status symbol to you. So you protected me as one, and went to do actions that you felt befit to do for my sake. But now, I ask you as a friend…and as a sister,” she reached both her hands out for Zamarad’s. “Do not fight for me, or prostrate for my sake any longer. I am now no more high or low than you, by status that this world could never care. For we are both dead. As such, we have no other reason to follow with this charade of lies we’ve lived. We only have but a single goal, and it is to save the world of these children. This beautiful world of theirs. They need us. And that is all that I have ever cared about. And for that, I need your help.”
She squeezed the umbral hands, “Will you help me, my sister?”
Zamarad said nothing, only lunge in for a hug. As the spirits are made of nothing, but will and emotion, even something so unattainable by their bodies was felt regardless. It was a bond that they finally had realized.
“Um, pardon, but er…”
Rose turned her head. She was only let go by Zamarad a moment later, who took a defensive stance on reflex.
“May I ask, by chance, about ‘sisters,’ right?” Azure said, cocking his eyebrow.
The two women looked at one another. Rose revealed her smile, and soon enough, so did Zamarad.
Times have changed.
…
Good night tri state area
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…
Tom collected his books into his backpack, after finally finishing cleaning up. Turning off the lights, except for the one shining on the bot so the paint could dry quicker, and he made his way out of the workshop. The hallways were lit as brightly as always, but the silence beyond them made Tom uncomfortable. It was the reason he’d say as to why he would go home earlier, and not just because Mom ordered him so. School just gets very weird after dark.
Fumbling with keys that were left to him, he finally closed the door when a hand slapped his shoulder. For the next few minutes, everyone was rubbing their ears from his high-pitch scream.
“Guys, you’re back!” Tom said, panting heavily, but still happy.
“Geez, you sure you’re not part of chorus kids?” Chester asked, trying to slap away the deafness.
“Oh, actually!” Tom answered matter-of-factly, “I did try! But Mom said I wouldn’t have time for other, more prospective clubs. Apparently being a singer is only for poor people, or something. So…um…how did it go?”
He checked on each one of them, but all three were unable to hide their disappointment, as well as absolute exhaustion from the whole day. In fact, they simultaneously just gave big, loud exhale to show it off.
“Really, really bad?” Tom prodded to confirm.
“I mean,” Flora shrugged her shoulders and flailed her arms like a deflated doll, “like, I dunno if I feel like calling it a victory….
“But we did find the teacher though!” Barbie exclaimed, to Tom’s happiness.
“Great!”
“And his husband too, apparently,” Chester added. “The chariot guy was him all along. The teacher was that small, wood carver. Actually, that makes a lot of sense.” Tom stared at him with confusion, whereas everyone just nodded in agreement. He continued to explain, “Basically, we found the teachers, made them normal again and got them back safely. Unfortunately, the clown got away.” Chester sounded particularly dismayed saying the last sentence.
“We were actually in a dessert, just so you know!” Barbie added.
“…Huh.” Tom looked at Flora and then Chester, who just nodded along. “How did you get in? And get out? What was-“
“It just disappeared,” Barbie promptly said and then shrugged. Tom nodded slowly, eyes furrowed. “You know, I remember Zamarad saying something about the place really not being real. Something about it not making sense. Or maybe that it was all in our head.”
“Well, we WERE dealing with that clown!” Flora said.
Tom cocked his head back and forth. There was a bit of information to gather, but reflecting on it, a clear picture seemingly appeared to him.
“Actually, Azure said that something about it reminded him about that time we were in the labyrinth. Remember that Tom?” Chester asked.
Tom energetically nodded. “Yeah, I remember that! Oh man, that was such an awful place. You think it was illusion?”
“What did Rose say?” Barbie suddenly asked.
Flora looked at her, bewildered, then just shrugged, “I didn’t have the time.”
Barbie gave an “Awww” of dismay.
“Maybe next time…So what’s this about labyrinth?” Flora looked at the two boys.
Chester spoke first, “We got trapped in one, and later learned it was some sort of a box with a world inside it. It was kinda weird when we got out. But then, can you actually put dessert inside a box?”
Flora bit her lip and twirled a strand of her hair. She then said, “Maybe we’ll look into it later.”
Everyone nodded along. There was some form of long, exhaustive atmosphere, where no one could help but be as slow as possible, with each kid finding a reason to lean against a wall. Was it really like this coming up with a decision like an adult?
Tom shook his head and asked, “So…then the teacher is back then, right?”
“Yep!” Barbie answered. “In the hospital though. We’re not sure when he’s gonna come out.”
“Oh…how long will he be there?”
“Either two days or ten, depends,” Chester said. “I guess two, since he’s been away for a while.”
Tom nodded. “So, I guess he won’t be out before we can get into the tournament,” he said resultantly.
Chester scratched his quills. “I mean, how long do we have until that thingie all starts? Isn’t there time until the next week?”
“The preliminary is tomorrow,” Tom said. “We need a teacher to head our team. Unless we have someone supervise, we are basically out.”
“Oh…”
Tom looked down, as everyone exchanged glances. Before anyone else could say something, Tom said, “I guess I’ll have to ask Mr. Mouton.”
“WHAT!?” Chester nearly jumped at him, causing the cat to nearly run to the door. “What do you mean, him? Why? Isn’t he like vice-principal or…?”
“He said that he’ll help to personally oversee the things if the teacher won’t come back!” Tom rapidly responded.
Chester’s mouth fell open.
“You aren’t serious? Why is he of all people interested in looking after this tournament?”
“Maybe he just likes it?” Barbie commented. Flora shook her head.
“Barbie, look, we aren’t dealing with some random man here. Mr. Mouton is well known for being a stickler to the rules, and telling others how to behave. If a kid sees him, they straighten up, just so they won’t hear a lecture on manners and good behavior. He got mad at me for wearing earrings once!”
Barbie cocked her head. “I mean…I dunno, I’ve read that few people can have secret hobbies.”
“Trust me, people are never like books,” Flora said. “And he wouldn’t just decide to participate for something that has no business for him to get involved to. Something’s fishy here.”
Chester asked Tom, “What did you say?”
The cat shrugged. “I haven’t done anything yet! But I guess I have to….Since, you know.”
He scratched his own ear, and watched Chester intently. The hedgehog just sighed and passed a bit. This was clearly going to bother him more than others.
“If you guys don’t mind, I think I should get ready for tomorrow. I still have enough time, and we can arrange a meeting and stuff. I think this will help a lot, for our goal, you know?”
Chester was staring right at the orange cat, lips pursed and brows furrowed. But after a solid minute, he took quick turn away, and said, “Sure thing.”
And so Tom gave his goodbyes and left. Chester followed right after, in half-hearted manner. Flora and Barbie were the last, and thus made their way outside together.
“Man, what a day!” Flora exclaimed, stretching her arms around.
“I know…” Barbie said, creaking her neck.
As the girls reached the door, Barbie halted in place. After some careful thinking, she asked,
“Do you think they are still angry?”
“I don’t know,” Flora replied.
“Do you think Rose is disappointed that she didn’t get what she wanted?”
“I think she got some of what she needed.”
Flora began pushing the door, but Barbie pulled her back. When she raised an eyebrow at her, Barbie said,
“I think I came to a conclusion.”
“…What?”
Barbie fidgeted a bit, twirled a loose strand from her cap and then bit her lip. “Could you teach me…how to be you? For tomorrow?”
…
A night sky illuminated by the lights from below. Kage strangely enough, considered this atmosphere as his most enjoyable, right next to the total darkness. On the one hand, stars essentially worked the same way, but lights from earth were closer. Not that he would bother anyone with such trivialities. Could it be that the death of him caused spiritual awakening? He didn’t bother answering the question, since they had just arrived.
They all took solace at the tope of the library building, still unfinished since middle of the fall. Yellow tape, rough cement work, and strewn about equipment where the only proof given that there was some sort of work done. Kage would say they spent more time feasting than working. Apparently, the pay given warranted the effort given.
“I wouldn’t expect Her Highness to speak to a titled murderer,” Kage said, barely looking over his shoulder for Azure.
Azure sat down, and replied, “No, actually, as she is not the one who initiated it.”
“That very much so?” Kage, for once peeking at him.
From a far, parallel side of them, within the view of darkened fields, where the princess, and the guardian. One stood facing away from all, hiding anything that could be shown to the other. In return, the guardian was on her knee, not daring to raise her eyes above the ground level. If it weren’t happening on top of wet library building, the whole scene would look rather regal.
“Your Highness!” Zamarad spoke aloud, just to see if she could break through.
It took a minute, and Rose answered, “If you are here to ask for forgiveness…please, do not prostrate yourself anymore.”
“Your Highness, I know that my transgression are beyond any sign of forgiveness! I have lied to you. I have hurt you! And even more so, I have failed you. While any sort of punishment is ludicrous to perform as we are like this… I cannot face this feeling of wrongdoing, and I would like to ask to resign as a spirit, where I-“
“When my father died, I stared at the drape that he placed over my bed,” Rose cut her off. Zamarad froze, too stunned to say anything. “He brought it to me since I was a babe. When I still begged for a mother’s warm embrace and sought darkness to run from the light that burned me. He gave it to me, as my first ever present, made of fine, golden silk, with an insignia of a dragon. It was beautiful, and I would sleep with it, as it shielded my eyes from any light that shone through windows.” Slowly, she turned. The princess’s hands, which were fumbling, became visible. “He told me, despite my short life, that as a queen, that I shall make history. That I will follow through the same line of kings as every had before him. And that this drape was the sign of their pride, which was handed over from one ruler to the next. I remember asking him about our ancestors, yet my father would skip such questions, and Lahpa-Pessa only found that distant lands birthed us….”
Zamarad didn’t utter a word, but watched closely, her breathing shaking. The princess had slowly showed more of herself. She could tell now that she was staring afar.
“The drapery, mayhap, was just a simple cloth he bought, and gave to me as a gift. And yet, it became the symbol, to me, the connection that our current kingdom had with the past. This pride and passion that he showed me as a king, I simply could not let him down. But I also saw his fear. And, I thought, if I can’t live my life before my death, I might as well choose to die then, unable to fulfill the wishes of my father, to prove the pride of my ancestors.
She turned more, and now her eyes were looking up.
“So, I left that drapery, and set out, to adventures. Fighting with ogres with Azure, escaping death traps with Fotia, and bonding over hunting with Taja. And of course, spending time with you, Zamarad. After I returned, and took place as the princess again, I felt invigorated. Long gone was the little girl, stuck behind the walls of the castle, longing for freedom and cursing her timed existence.
Turned a bit more, and a smile grew on her face.
“I reclaimed that drapery from my room, and began to wear it everywhere. Except in battles, where I tucked it away in a bag. I felt more and more as if I am part of my kingdom, I am part of the future that my father held for me. I have overcome the curse laid on me since birth! I will go further as a queen! I am part of the future my mother hoped I could have, in her dying breath!
She sniffed the air that she could not touch. Her eyes welled up.
“And then he died. And as his body burned away during that ceremony, I remember that I lost drapery. Not knowing when, somehow, through my grief, I lost it…only to find that it had burned. What an awful thing to do, to burn away the last remaining element of my father’s will, so casually. I…resented myself.”
Finally, she turned fully, and looked down at Zamarad. Despite the tears, she face was still, and her voice never shook. Zamarad couldn’t help but watch in awe.
“Tell me, Zamarad, tell me, was the kingdom doomed from before my father’s ‘death’?” Rose asked.
Zamarad breathed in heavily and then closed her eyes. She finally said, “The souls had already been part of him. My act has quickened the process, merely.”
“So then…I could not have saved it at all…” Rose gave out a slow, shaky breath. Soon, she covered her own face away.
Zamarad stood up instinctively, “Your Highness you..!” The guardian looked lost, unsure where to leap and how to protect her. “We just…” she said, “none of us could have done anything! It’s why Lahpa-Pessa chose to house our souls, as even we were doomed to become part of him! And it would help to stop that wretched monster, who wish to tear the world. You did all you could to save them, Your Highness! Please, don’t-”
Rose gave a chuckle, through her hands. Zamarad was taken aback, as if she were a child.
“How silly of me to think I ever had a choice, when I was merely pawn to everyone’s plan…Even now, being nearly used by the enemy, to tear apart my comrades, and nearly take life of these children…. All for his own amusement. Pitiful, is it not?” Rose gave another chuckle. Her eyes were tearing up, it was becoming plain to see.
“You couldn’t have reacted in any other manner, Your Highness,” Zamarad retorted, trying to hold herself back. Rose did not stop. And so, Zamarad continued on, “The fault is with me! I should have told you long beforehand, and prevented the pain and suffering you are feeling. Everything is thanks to me…I…I am…I am nothing more…”
Rose didn’t seem to react to her words.
And so, Zamarad shouted, “I am a traitor! A selfish waste of a being, who served only her own needs!” Zamarad finally felt tears in her eyes. “All I did was for my own gain. When I served your father, and when I betrayed it all. All of it for myself. And even now, all I cared for was a chance to redeem myself! I always thought…I could be something more, than his servant, than his side…project…”
Zamarad slowly turned away, feeling uncomfortably vulnerable.
“What do you mean?” then Rose asked, making her wince.
Zamarad took her breath in, and took power to her voice again. “I was your father’s guardian, not simply because…of my talents. He also found me…a fitting replacement. Oh…oh forgive me, Your Highness!” She dropped on her knees. “Your father sought to replace you, when the chance came for you to die, with me! Because he knew his blood ran through me! And he would reveal it to your people, to make me carry his rule! He already had it all planned out! For me, a low-life..a scum… to be same blooded…”
Zamarad lowered her head to the ground. Being as a ghost, all she wanted to do, was submerge herself further and disappear. Everything she feared came true. Everything she tried to avoid came to a cruel reality. In the end, she broke one promise that she made herself, and that was to keep her safe.
If she could only disappear.
“Zamarad…” Her hands were never felt. And yet, her voice was still near enough, positioned just right above her. “So much I had no clue…So much I had done was simply out of my control. In the end, nothing I did mattered, did it?” She said wistfully, and then chuckled again.
Zamarad shot up and would exclaim, “Your Highness, I…!”
She got stopped by a single finger. Rose gently pulled it back, revealing her sitting on the cold, wet surface, wearing a warm smile. Zamarad was stunned.
“It’s odd…but I feel levied,” Rose said. “Maybe I realize that it was never my fault, or my destiny to lead at all.”
“Your Highness?”
“I was never a princess that he wanted to begin with…no?”
Zamarad stammered for a bit. And then she stopped, looking deeply at her princess. Seeing the young lady in front of her, made suddenly shake her head, and get up. She was now higher than her princess, in the most unseemly fashion.
“Your Highness…Of all the men in court, of all the dastardly people, who cared not for the lives given, whose actions blackened their souls, you were the only one who were truly pure! Mayhap…mayhap you were not but a tool, to your father. But to me, you were the bringer of hope! You could change the world into something better! Even now, as a spirit. And one, to whom I ready to serve.”
Rose was silent at first, watching Zamarad fall on her knee. But then the former got up.
“Rise,” she commanded. Zamarad did as told. “You wish to serve my needs?”
Zamarad nodded.
“The this is my command: our kingdom has fell. We have lost the people. We have lost the pride. We have nothing left. From this point on, no longer consider me a princess.”
Zamarad stuttered, “But Your Highness-“
“Enough,” Rose raised her hand. “This whole time, I was a status symbol to you. So you protected me as one, and went to do actions that you felt befit to do for my sake. But now, I ask you as a friend…and as a sister,” she reached both her hands out for Zamarad’s. “Do not fight for me, or prostrate for my sake any longer. I am now no more high or low than you, by status that this world could never care. For we are both dead. As such, we have no other reason to follow with this charade of lies we’ve lived. We only have but a single goal, and it is to save the world of these children. This beautiful world of theirs. They need us. And that is all that I have ever cared about. And for that, I need your help.”
She squeezed the umbral hands, “Will you help me, my sister?”
Zamarad said nothing, only lunge in for a hug. As the spirits are made of nothing, but will and emotion, even something so unattainable by their bodies was felt regardless. It was a bond that they finally had realized.
“Um, pardon, but er…”
Rose turned her head. She was only let go by Zamarad a moment later, who took a defensive stance on reflex.
“May I ask, by chance, about ‘sisters,’ right?” Azure said, cocking his eyebrow.
The two women looked at one another. Rose revealed her smile, and soon enough, so did Zamarad.
Times have changed.
…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…
Tom collected his books into his backpack, after finally finishing cleaning up. Turning off the lights, except for the one shining on the bot so the paint could dry quicker, and he made his way out of the workshop. The hallways were lit as brightly as always, but the silence beyond them made Tom uncomfortable. It was the reason he’d say as to why he would go home earlier, and not just because Mom ordered him so. School just gets very weird after dark.
Fumbling with keys that were left to him, he finally closed the door when a hand slapped his shoulder. For the next few minutes, everyone was rubbing their ears from his high-pitch scream.
“Guys, you’re back!” Tom said, panting heavily, but still happy.
“Geez, you sure you’re not part of chorus kids?” Chester asked, trying to slap away the deafness.
“Oh, actually!” Tom answered matter-of-factly, “I did try! But Mom said I wouldn’t have time for other, more prospective clubs. Apparently being a singer is only for poor people, or something. So…um…how did it go?”
He checked on each one of them, but all three were unable to hide their disappointment, as well as absolute exhaustion from the whole day. In fact, they simultaneously just gave big, loud exhale to show it off.
“Really, really bad?” Tom prodded to confirm.
“I mean,” Flora shrugged her shoulders and flailed her arms like a deflated doll, “like, I dunno if I feel like calling it a victory….
“But we did find the teacher though!” Barbie exclaimed, to Tom’s happiness.
“Great!”
“And his husband too, apparently,” Chester added. “The chariot guy was him all along. The teacher was that small, wood carver. Actually, that makes a lot of sense.” Tom stared at him with confusion, whereas everyone just nodded in agreement. He continued to explain, “Basically, we found the teachers, made them normal again and got them back safely. Unfortunately, the clown got away.” Chester sounded particularly dismayed saying the last sentence.
“We were actually in a dessert, just so you know!” Barbie added.
“…Huh.” Tom looked at Flora and then Chester, who just nodded along. “How did you get in? And get out? What was-“
“It just disappeared,” Barbie promptly said and then shrugged. Tom nodded slowly, eyes furrowed. “You know, I remember Zamarad saying something about the place really not being real. Something about it not making sense. Or maybe that it was all in our head.”
“Well, we WERE dealing with that clown!” Flora said.
Tom cocked his head back and forth. There was a bit of information to gather, but reflecting on it, a clear picture seemingly appeared to him.
“Actually, Azure said that something about it reminded him about that time we were in the labyrinth. Remember that Tom?” Chester asked.
Tom energetically nodded. “Yeah, I remember that! Oh man, that was such an awful place. You think it was illusion?”
“What did Rose say?” Barbie suddenly asked.
Flora looked at her, bewildered, then just shrugged, “I didn’t have the time.”
Barbie gave an “Awww” of dismay.
“Maybe next time…So what’s this about labyrinth?” Flora looked at the two boys.
Chester spoke first, “We got trapped in one, and later learned it was some sort of a box with a world inside it. It was kinda weird when we got out. But then, can you actually put dessert inside a box?”
Flora bit her lip and twirled a strand of her hair. She then said, “Maybe we’ll look into it later.”
Everyone nodded along. There was some form of long, exhaustive atmosphere, where no one could help but be as slow as possible, with each kid finding a reason to lean against a wall. Was it really like this coming up with a decision like an adult?
Tom shook his head and asked, “So…then the teacher is back then, right?”
“Yep!” Barbie answered. “In the hospital though. We’re not sure when he’s gonna come out.”
“Oh…how long will he be there?”
“Either two days or ten, depends,” Chester said. “I guess two, since he’s been away for a while.”
Tom nodded. “So, I guess he won’t be out before we can get into the tournament,” he said resultantly.
Chester scratched his quills. “I mean, how long do we have until that thingie all starts? Isn’t there time until the next week?”
“The preliminary is tomorrow,” Tom said. “We need a teacher to head our team. Unless we have someone supervise, we are basically out.”
“Oh…”
Tom looked down, as everyone exchanged glances. Before anyone else could say something, Tom said, “I guess I’ll have to ask Mr. Mouton.”
“WHAT!?” Chester nearly jumped at him, causing the cat to nearly run to the door. “What do you mean, him? Why? Isn’t he like vice-principal or…?”
“He said that he’ll help to personally oversee the things if the teacher won’t come back!” Tom rapidly responded.
Chester’s mouth fell open.
“You aren’t serious? Why is he of all people interested in looking after this tournament?”
“Maybe he just likes it?” Barbie commented. Flora shook her head.
“Barbie, look, we aren’t dealing with some random man here. Mr. Mouton is well known for being a stickler to the rules, and telling others how to behave. If a kid sees him, they straighten up, just so they won’t hear a lecture on manners and good behavior. He got mad at me for wearing earrings once!”
Barbie cocked her head. “I mean…I dunno, I’ve read that few people can have secret hobbies.”
“Trust me, people are never like books,” Flora said. “And he wouldn’t just decide to participate for something that has no business for him to get involved to. Something’s fishy here.”
Chester asked Tom, “What did you say?”
The cat shrugged. “I haven’t done anything yet! But I guess I have to….Since, you know.”
He scratched his own ear, and watched Chester intently. The hedgehog just sighed and passed a bit. This was clearly going to bother him more than others.
“If you guys don’t mind, I think I should get ready for tomorrow. I still have enough time, and we can arrange a meeting and stuff. I think this will help a lot, for our goal, you know?”
Chester was staring right at the orange cat, lips pursed and brows furrowed. But after a solid minute, he took quick turn away, and said, “Sure thing.”
And so Tom gave his goodbyes and left. Chester followed right after, in half-hearted manner. Flora and Barbie were the last, and thus made their way outside together.
“Man, what a day!” Flora exclaimed, stretching her arms around.
“I know…” Barbie said, creaking her neck.
As the girls reached the door, Barbie halted in place. After some careful thinking, she asked,
“Do you think they are still angry?”
“I don’t know,” Flora replied.
“Do you think Rose is disappointed that she didn’t get what she wanted?”
“I think she got some of what she needed.”
Flora began pushing the door, but Barbie pulled her back. When she raised an eyebrow at her, Barbie said,
“I think I came to a conclusion.”
“…What?”
Barbie fidgeted a bit, twirled a loose strand from her cap and then bit her lip. “Could you teach me…how to be you? For tomorrow?”
…
A night sky illuminated by the lights from below. Kage strangely enough, considered this atmosphere as his most enjoyable, right next to the total darkness. On the one hand, stars essentially worked the same way, but lights from earth were closer. Not that he would bother anyone with such trivialities. Could it be that the death of him caused spiritual awakening? He didn’t bother answering the question, since they had just arrived.
They all took solace at the tope of the library building, still unfinished since middle of the fall. Yellow tape, rough cement work, and strewn about equipment where the only proof given that there was some sort of work done. Kage would say they spent more time feasting than working. Apparently, the pay given warranted the effort given.
“I wouldn’t expect Her Highness to speak to a titled murderer,” Kage said, barely looking over his shoulder for Azure.
Azure sat down, and replied, “No, actually, as she is not the one who initiated it.”
“That very much so?” Kage, for once peeking at him.
From a far, parallel side of them, within the view of darkened fields, where the princess, and the guardian. One stood facing away from all, hiding anything that could be shown to the other. In return, the guardian was on her knee, not daring to raise her eyes above the ground level. If it weren’t happening on top of wet library building, the whole scene would look rather regal.
“Your Highness!” Zamarad spoke aloud, just to see if she could break through.
It took a minute, and Rose answered, “If you are here to ask for forgiveness…please, do not prostrate yourself anymore.”
“Your Highness, I know that my transgression are beyond any sign of forgiveness! I have lied to you. I have hurt you! And even more so, I have failed you. While any sort of punishment is ludicrous to perform as we are like this… I cannot face this feeling of wrongdoing, and I would like to ask to resign as a spirit, where I-“
“When my father died, I stared at the drape that he placed over my bed,” Rose cut her off. Zamarad froze, too stunned to say anything. “He brought it to me since I was a babe. When I still begged for a mother’s warm embrace and sought darkness to run from the light that burned me. He gave it to me, as my first ever present, made of fine, golden silk, with an insignia of a dragon. It was beautiful, and I would sleep with it, as it shielded my eyes from any light that shone through windows.” Slowly, she turned. The princess’s hands, which were fumbling, became visible. “He told me, despite my short life, that as a queen, that I shall make history. That I will follow through the same line of kings as every had before him. And that this drape was the sign of their pride, which was handed over from one ruler to the next. I remember asking him about our ancestors, yet my father would skip such questions, and Lahpa-Pessa only found that distant lands birthed us….”
Zamarad didn’t utter a word, but watched closely, her breathing shaking. The princess had slowly showed more of herself. She could tell now that she was staring afar.
“The drapery, mayhap, was just a simple cloth he bought, and gave to me as a gift. And yet, it became the symbol, to me, the connection that our current kingdom had with the past. This pride and passion that he showed me as a king, I simply could not let him down. But I also saw his fear. And, I thought, if I can’t live my life before my death, I might as well choose to die then, unable to fulfill the wishes of my father, to prove the pride of my ancestors.
She turned more, and now her eyes were looking up.
“So, I left that drapery, and set out, to adventures. Fighting with ogres with Azure, escaping death traps with Fotia, and bonding over hunting with Taja. And of course, spending time with you, Zamarad. After I returned, and took place as the princess again, I felt invigorated. Long gone was the little girl, stuck behind the walls of the castle, longing for freedom and cursing her timed existence.
Turned a bit more, and a smile grew on her face.
“I reclaimed that drapery from my room, and began to wear it everywhere. Except in battles, where I tucked it away in a bag. I felt more and more as if I am part of my kingdom, I am part of the future that my father held for me. I have overcome the curse laid on me since birth! I will go further as a queen! I am part of the future my mother hoped I could have, in her dying breath!
She sniffed the air that she could not touch. Her eyes welled up.
“And then he died. And as his body burned away during that ceremony, I remember that I lost drapery. Not knowing when, somehow, through my grief, I lost it…only to find that it had burned. What an awful thing to do, to burn away the last remaining element of my father’s will, so casually. I…resented myself.”
Finally, she turned fully, and looked down at Zamarad. Despite the tears, she face was still, and her voice never shook. Zamarad couldn’t help but watch in awe.
“Tell me, Zamarad, tell me, was the kingdom doomed from before my father’s ‘death’?” Rose asked.
Zamarad breathed in heavily and then closed her eyes. She finally said, “The souls had already been part of him. My act has quickened the process, merely.”
“So then…I could not have saved it at all…” Rose gave out a slow, shaky breath. Soon, she covered her own face away.
Zamarad stood up instinctively, “Your Highness you..!” The guardian looked lost, unsure where to leap and how to protect her. “We just…” she said, “none of us could have done anything! It’s why Lahpa-Pessa chose to house our souls, as even we were doomed to become part of him! And it would help to stop that wretched monster, who wish to tear the world. You did all you could to save them, Your Highness! Please, don’t-”
Rose gave a chuckle, through her hands. Zamarad was taken aback, as if she were a child.
“How silly of me to think I ever had a choice, when I was merely pawn to everyone’s plan…Even now, being nearly used by the enemy, to tear apart my comrades, and nearly take life of these children…. All for his own amusement. Pitiful, is it not?” Rose gave another chuckle. Her eyes were tearing up, it was becoming plain to see.
“You couldn’t have reacted in any other manner, Your Highness,” Zamarad retorted, trying to hold herself back. Rose did not stop. And so, Zamarad continued on, “The fault is with me! I should have told you long beforehand, and prevented the pain and suffering you are feeling. Everything is thanks to me…I…I am…I am nothing more…”
Rose didn’t seem to react to her words.
And so, Zamarad shouted, “I am a traitor! A selfish waste of a being, who served only her own needs!” Zamarad finally felt tears in her eyes. “All I did was for my own gain. When I served your father, and when I betrayed it all. All of it for myself. And even now, all I cared for was a chance to redeem myself! I always thought…I could be something more, than his servant, than his side…project…”
Zamarad slowly turned away, feeling uncomfortably vulnerable.
“What do you mean?” then Rose asked, making her wince.
Zamarad took her breath in, and took power to her voice again. “I was your father’s guardian, not simply because…of my talents. He also found me…a fitting replacement. Oh…oh forgive me, Your Highness!” She dropped on her knees. “Your father sought to replace you, when the chance came for you to die, with me! Because he knew his blood ran through me! And he would reveal it to your people, to make me carry his rule! He already had it all planned out! For me, a low-life..a scum… to be same blooded…”
Zamarad lowered her head to the ground. Being as a ghost, all she wanted to do, was submerge herself further and disappear. Everything she feared came true. Everything she tried to avoid came to a cruel reality. In the end, she broke one promise that she made herself, and that was to keep her safe.
If she could only disappear.
“Zamarad…” Her hands were never felt. And yet, her voice was still near enough, positioned just right above her. “So much I had no clue…So much I had done was simply out of my control. In the end, nothing I did mattered, did it?” She said wistfully, and then chuckled again.
Zamarad shot up and would exclaim, “Your Highness, I…!”
She got stopped by a single finger. Rose gently pulled it back, revealing her sitting on the cold, wet surface, wearing a warm smile. Zamarad was stunned.
“It’s odd…but I feel levied,” Rose said. “Maybe I realize that it was never my fault, or my destiny to lead at all.”
“Your Highness?”
“I was never a princess that he wanted to begin with…no?”
Zamarad stammered for a bit. And then she stopped, looking deeply at her princess. Seeing the young lady in front of her, made suddenly shake her head, and get up. She was now higher than her princess, in the most unseemly fashion.
“Your Highness…Of all the men in court, of all the dastardly people, who cared not for the lives given, whose actions blackened their souls, you were the only one who were truly pure! Mayhap…mayhap you were not but a tool, to your father. But to me, you were the bringer of hope! You could change the world into something better! Even now, as a spirit. And one, to whom I ready to serve.”
Rose was silent at first, watching Zamarad fall on her knee. But then the former got up.
“Rise,” she commanded. Zamarad did as told. “You wish to serve my needs?”
Zamarad nodded.
“The this is my command: our kingdom has fell. We have lost the people. We have lost the pride. We have nothing left. From this point on, no longer consider me a princess.”
Zamarad stuttered, “But Your Highness-“
“Enough,” Rose raised her hand. “This whole time, I was a status symbol to you. So you protected me as one, and went to do actions that you felt befit to do for my sake. But now, I ask you as a friend…and as a sister,” she reached both her hands out for Zamarad’s. “Do not fight for me, or prostrate for my sake any longer. I am now no more high or low than you, by status that this world could never care. For we are both dead. As such, we have no other reason to follow with this charade of lies we’ve lived. We only have but a single goal, and it is to save the world of these children. This beautiful world of theirs. They need us. And that is all that I have ever cared about. And for that, I need your help.”
She squeezed the umbral hands, “Will you help me, my sister?”
Zamarad said nothing, only lunge in for a hug. As the spirits are made of nothing, but will and emotion, even something so unattainable by their bodies was felt regardless. It was a bond that they finally had realized.
“Um, pardon, but er…”
Rose turned her head. She was only let go by Zamarad a moment later, who took a defensive stance on reflex.
“May I ask, by chance, about ‘sisters,’ right?” Azure said, cocking his eyebrow.
The two women looked at one another. Rose revealed her smile, and soon enough, so did Zamarad.
Times have changed.
…
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Any
Size 120 x 120px
Comments