Setting
Default Location for Into The Woods
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
Noraneko is a part of 
Into The Woods.
8 Characters Here
Shiro [739] "Yes your majesty."
Ayanna Filia [738] "My name's Aya! Let's be very good friends, okay?"
Cress Winter [738] "That's not a Princess, that's my cousin!"
Ellen Winter [737] "Which me is the real me? What role do I have to play?"
Yui Sylphie [6] "There's no service here!"
Kuro Desmoro [6] "I'll bring the ka-boom!"
Leon West [3] WIP
Azrele Selvin [2] WIP
Start Character Here »
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βIf I lose it too, then we will never survive.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
Narcia listened quietly as Shi sang her song, for some reason giving Nee a nostalgic, bittersweet feeling of days gone by that they couldn't come to, of days forever lost to them, merely echoes of the past. But there was also a happy future up ahead and more memories to make. Just because the past was left in the past didn't diminish it in any way, right? It would still matter just as much as her current happiness did, didn't it? Isn't it possible to enjoy one's present while still having a fondness of the past? "You're a talented singer, Shi." Narcia said, enjoying her little tune. It was a happy song, and almost nonsensical yet she still liked hearing it all the same.
Unfortunately, it was a happiness that came with a price. How much abuse did Shi have to withstand in order to sing that well? How much pain did she suffer before she learned how to sing so nicely? That was why Nee would never ever force Shi to sing unless she wanted to. Singing would be Shiro's prerogative, she'd reclaim the ability to choose when and where to grace everyone with her melodious voice. It was, in a way, giving power to her in a place where she once had none, similar to how Nee taking control during lovemaking helped her process the trauma she went through under Semyon's control.
"It would be happier if we ate it. That's its purpose, after all." Narcia said with a smile when Shiro expressed a bit of sadness at how perfect the swirl of fairy floss was. Sure, it was incredibly nice to look at, but it was a waste to keep it as an ornament. Even if she tried preserving it, it'd eventually waste away in the end, so eating it was as good a use as any. "That'd be a great idea. A treat like this would make people happy, I think." For the wedding, definitely. It'd be a nice way to introduce a new confection for the Ashian people to enjoy.
But then topic went somewhere a little bit sadder, talking about friends long gone who couldn't live to enjoy the way the world had gone. Many good people were gone, and would never see how nice this peace was. But they'd be happy for them, and would share the happiness with them once it was time to see them again. "...Aine probably would have cried to see so many people happy." Nee said, thinking back to her old blonde friend. "It was her dream, to make a world full of smiles." There was a bit of a bitter smile on her face but then Nee rested her hand on Shiro's head. "We'll make them proud. And when it's time to see them again, we'll have no regrets." The faces were gone now, but they'd never be forgotten.
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βI don't care if I lose everything, so please.... come back...β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
After that incident, Kora slipped off into another sleep. She was excited now, because there was a way to bring back her sister. There was a way to bring her back to life and that was all that mattered. As long as she could do that, as long as she could save her sister and bring her back to her, then that was fine. It meant betrayal, it meant turning against everyone, but the lamb knew it was the only choice she could make. Now that there was a method to saving her, she couldn't just turn it down. She failed once before to be a good sister, she wouldn't fail again. Kora would fix her past mistake and show Aya this wonderful world of peace.
"Why did you kill the rabbit?" Kora asked, staring down her sister at the well. Aya was being Aya as usual, dressed in that oversized green overcoat, wearing little boots with fur and her hair in messy yet cute braids, droopy eyed and puppy faced. Kora herself was wearing a blue overcoat of the same make, with little black boots, and her hair was cut short so it wouldn't get in her face. Aya did a little twirl on the spot, grinning like a child and Kora was angry. "Because I love you, sis." aya said in a sing song voice. "Aya wanted to show her love for you!"
The younger sister narrowed her eyes, feeling rage building up inside of her. This didn't make sense. What kind of love was that, anyways? How demented was her sister? "...Always. They always loved you more. They blamed me for the rabbit, they blame me for everything you do." Aya then took her hands and held them close, beaming brightly. "Aya knows, and it's sad! Aya wanted to tell Daddy that she did it, that it was her, but Daddy didn't believe Aya and he hurt you. Aya loves her only sister, though." She did another twirl, the skirt under the overcoat billowing just a bit. "One day, Aya will show the world how wonderful her precious Kora is!"
There was one way to solve this. The well was there. Aya always stole everyone's love, acting cute and adorable in order to make everyone feel sorry for her. The younger sister only felt anger and jealousy rippling inside. Why did everyone like Aya? Why didn't anyone like her? Why was she always the one everyone hated? "What if I killed you?" Kora asked, approaching. Aya's eyes widened, if possible, and she smiled. "If it'll make Kora happy, then it's okay. I have no regrets, sis!" This was just justice, after all. This was the only way to make her life better. But then Aya said something else before Kora could do it. "But if you do kill me, make sure you have no regrets either, sis. So think carefully, okay?"
And Kora stopped in her tracks. Regrets. Would she have regretted killing her sister? Was this a mistake all along? But her life was always horrible, maybe if Aya stopped shining so brightly people would see that Kora wasn't all that bad, right? Maybe they'd start to see her for who she was. But - wasn't Aya just the one who could see her for the person she was, rather than the person they thought she was? Was there no way to just accept Aya's love? So Kora lowered her hands, staring down at her feet, and she felt Aya smile at her, even brighter.
"Don't leave me, Kora." Aya whispered, wrapping her hands around Kora's own hands. "And I won't leave you, either. Don't open your heart to anyone but me, okay? Because we're sisters, we don't need anyone else. Cress, Heron, everyone else, none of them love you like I do." Aya smiled and Kora felt that if she opened her eyes, Aya would disappear completely. "Only love me, and I'll only love you!" Kora shivered, and she knew she was crying. "...I had a horrible dream. I dreamt that you were dead, that I killed you -"
Aya nuzzled her gently and pulled her away from the well, laying beside her on the dirt. "It was just a bad dream. Aya won't leave! We have lots of memories to make, we have lots of growing up to do until I can leave." And Kora felt content. This was how it was meant to be, wasn't it?
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
"So!" Heron clapped her hands together, "What do you want to see first?" She asked, gesturing to the wide city. "We've only got a few hours to take in as much as we can." Cress debated, wondering where the garden store would be. "Seeds," Cress said and Heron suddenly blushed. "Plant seeds!" Cress said, wondering what the pervert was thinking of. Heron laughed, "Yeah, yeah. I'm just thinking," she looked around and started wheeling Cress towards a tent that advertised natural things like medicine and the like. "What are... we doing... here?" Cress asked as Heron pushed her further in, clearly with a purpose. "There's something here I want," she said, leaving Cress in front of a display for fish jerky and and going off on her own towards the back. Cress looked up, trying to peek through the shelves.
Heron was walking towards a section marked in frilly pink and Cress blushed. Could it be that Heron was looking for a love potion? Cress snickered, things like that only existed in magic books. There was no such thing as love potions in the real world, there were things that could get you in the mood, but a love potion? Even Heron must have known that something like that was impossible. So Cress waited patiently, deciding that Heron could discover on her own that if she wanted something, she would have to get it with her own power. "Done?" Cress asked and Heron gave a quick nod of her head, hiding whatever she had bought in her pocket.
"Garden store?" Cress asked and Heron grinned, "Yeah, we'll go there next." They went up a level, the weird pod sucking them up and depositing them in a place where shops lined every side of the street. "There," Cress nudged her head eagerly in the direction of the garden shop that stood like a beacon in the epicenter of the market. "I can't... wait!" Heron opened the door, wheeling her inside. There were so many shelves lined with seeds, garden tools, trowels, hoses, pre potted plants, and shovels. Cress squealed like a kid in a candy shop and thought that no doubt anyone else would have thought this to be terribly boring. "That way," Cress said, gesturing with her head in the direction of the isle she wanted to go down.
Armed with flowers, vegetables, soil, and other products, they left the store. They had the bags sent back to the palace since there was too much for just the wheelchair to hold. "That was... great!" Cress was in a great mood, her eyes burning with the intensity of the sun. "Only you would have found that fun," Heron sighed. "I have an idea!" They walked towards a costume shop and Cress had a bad feeling about this. It turns out, she was right. They spent an hour in there, Heron putting Cress in different costumes and then taking pictures with her holo phone. Cress was not having as much fun as Heron was, she didn't enjoy being put in fancy dresses and short, revealing costumes. She didn't understand how Heron was having such a good time.
Cress didn't want to spoil it though, Heron had done so much for her, Cress could at least let Heron fool around a bit, even if it was at her expense. "Just one more outfit," Heron promised, dressing Cress up like a revealing cat. "Why did... you pick... this?" Cress asked, blushing furiously as Heron nodded her head, taking a picture with her holo to remember this moment or something of the sort. "Because it suits you," Heron replied. The cat key-hole or whatever it was called, was terribly embarrassing and Cress hoped Heron would never show these pictures to anyone. "Time to go!" Heron sang, changing Cress back into her clothes. They had wasted most of their time here, it seemed, it was almost time for them to board the Agneystra.
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βYes Mistress.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
Shiro blushed when Nee called her a talented singer. "If it'll make you happy, I'll sing whenever you want." Shiro promised with a little smile, squeezing Ellis tight in her happiness. By controlling what she sang and how she sang, it made the trauma Shiro associated with it ease up. All of that training, it had worked to make Shiro's voice sound heavenly, but Shiro didn't enjoy singing because of it. Now she could take it back, make it something she loved to do again, something that Shiro could do for Nee to make her happy, to make others happy. Shiro thought that perhaps Nio was smiling down on them, enjoying the song that Shiro was singing. Aine too! She was Nee's friend, so surely she was a person who would like the song as well?
After eating the cotton candy, they were talking about living with no regrets. "We'll live for happiness and love." Shiro agreed, squeezing Nee's hand. Then there was something else that Shiro had to bring up. Shiro held up Ellis for Nee to see. "I think something is wrong with Ellis," Shiro said, "He won't eat anything. I'm worried," Shiro hugged Ellis close. Her poor puppy must be starving since he wasn't eating any of the food she offered him. Next to Nee and Nio, Ellis was Shiro's best friend, the thing that she relied on the most when she felt the anxiety creeping up on her, or when Shiro felt scared, which was a lot. Speaking of fear, a large shadow passed over them and Shiro jumped, hiding behind Nee.
What was it? Why was that shadow so scary? Shiro poked her head out from behind Nee, but it was only a woman walking some sort of large house pet. Shiro breathed a sigh of relief, it wasn't anything to fear after all. Shiro took Nee's hand again, feeling safer like this. "We still have another hour," Shiro said, looking up at the sky. There was a lot to explore too and Shiro wondered where they should go. To a technology store? A stuffed animal store? A wedding store? Maybe they could try on wedding dresses? Shiro blushed at the thought of seeing Nee in one, at the thought of wearing one too. "Um, should we-" Shiro stopped, seeing two familiar faces walking across the square.
"It's Cress and Heron!" Shiro pointed out, noticing the bright red hair and the other girl's fiery eyes. "Should we see what they're up to?" The pup inquired, wondering if they were doing something super fun. They looked like it, Cress was smiling and Heron was laughing. No doubt they weren't talking about sad things like past lives or living for those who couldn't. They looked so free, Heron pushing the wheelchair without a care in the world. Would Cress end up with Heron then? At the moment Heron seemed the most likely candidate.
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βIf I lose it too, then we will never survive.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
Whenever she wanted? Nee didn't really know when she wanted Shiro to sing. So she knelt down to Shi's level and smiled at her, tapping their foreheads together. "I only want you to sing when you want to!" She said, wanting Shiro to have control over her voice and when she wanted to use it. Happiness and love - that's what she felt for Shiro and that's what she wanted Shiro to always be able to feel. Shi was important to her, and she knew Ellis was important to Shiro, so Ellis's well being was definitely important. Ah, Nee changed so much. Months ago, she wouldn't have put this much care into how she acted. Years ago, emotional attachments meant nothing to her.
"Ellis isn't like normal dogs." Narcia explained, wanting to keep Shiro innocent and pure. "He's a special dog! He doesn't need food or water to live! Ellises only need love to feed off of!" Nee made a wide, dramatic sweeping gesture, grinning at her intended. "So as long as you love him, he'll be okay." Hopefully that would satiate Shiro so she wouldn't worry too much. The way the girl was so attached to the toy, it was both sad and cute at the same time. Shiro was way too fragile, Nee would have to do her best to protect the pup's smile, wouldn't she?
Time was winding down, and soon they'd have to return. Shiro was aware of this too, and she pointed it out. Narcia breathed in the crisp cold air that Ashia Palace simply wasn't capable of, enjoying the crispness of it in her airways. Coriandrum really was a beautiful place, wasn't it? But then Shiro pointed out two people up ahead. Cress and Heron, both seeming rather well, all things considered. "Let's go say hi." Narcia said, taking Shiro by the hand and leading her over to her sister and the scarlet knight.
"Hello, Cress, Heron." Narcia greeted them and Heron grinned cheekily at her, doing a half salute that Narina wouldn't have tolerated at all. Narcia knew better, though, she knew Heron wasn't much of a stickler for the usual formalities. "Hey yourself. Coincidence to run into ya." Narcia wondered, though. It was her influence that pushed Heron into becoming a knight in the first place, wasn't it? She inspired Heron into taking on that life, right? By making Heron promise to grow strong enough to serve her, she pushed Heron away from the role of a noblewoman and to that of a warrior instead.
So Narcia decided to bend down on one knee for her good old friend, who let out a grunt of surprise at the sudden movement. "Thank you for everything, Heron. I want you to know that I appreciate all that you've done." Heron definitely paid the price - she lost her sister, as a result of her loyalty. If Nee hadn't given her the order to only let her pass Gate Valhalla, she and Itward wouldn't have come to blows that day. Heron let out a bit of a chuckle but she knew the knight was pleased. "Geez, stand up already, it's weird having you bow to me." Heron smirked and rubbed Cress on the head as if she were a lucky lamp. "And you don't even need to ask. I'll keep Cress safe, no matter what, on my honor as a knight!"
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βI don't care if I lose everything, so please.... come back...β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
Kora was someone who didn't deserve to love. She didn't really deserve much at all, not after what she did to her sister. While it was impossible to go and change the past, it wasn't impossible to at least fix one of her mistakes. She could have Aya brought back to life. Not the one in her head, but her real, flesh and blood twin sister, with the droopy eyes and the puppy smile. The bandages were removed, and thanks to the ointment, her skin was more or less good as new now. The lamb knight gripped her sister's ID Chip carefully in her hand, making sure not to lose it. This was the key to bringing Aya back, wasn't it? She needed to keep this safe, now more than ever.
The lamb knew the others probably wouldn't forgive her for this betrayal. But hopefully they'd at least understand why she chose what she chose. Kora would forever be haunted by the past unless she could fix this and bring Aya back, to give Aya a life where she was allowed to grow up, instead of being killed by her sister and having her memories erased in her last few days as a result of the fall. "I'll save you." Kora whispered to her reflection, wishing it was Aya instead. "That's what sisters are for."
With the belt back on, fastened carefully around her waist, and the glove attached to it back on her arm, Kora was ready for a fight. She didn't want it to go this way if she could help it, but she knew she needed to be prepared. Heron was strong, way too strong, but she could overpower mostly anyone else, especially since her legs were back. Another stab of guilt - her legs were only back because of the people she was turning her back on, right? But she had to stay resolved. Once she got Aya back, then she'd explain everything.
"Kora? How are you feeling?" Corren was there, with Maven. It was almost time to board the Agneyestra now, almost time to return home. Almost time for Kora to betray everyone and ruin this happiness the others were counting on. "That was a scare, but we couldn't find them. If they attack again - there's no need to worry. We'll have you protected." Kora smiled and shook her head. "I'm fine. Don't need protecting." It wasn't technically a lie. And Kora really didn't want knights following her every move. "....Sorry for worrying you. I'm okay now." Once Aya was brought back, this betrayal would be worth it.
Maybe if she kept repeating it, she'd convince herself and steel her resolve.
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
They were wandering aimlessly, not going too far from the palace since very soon they would be returning home. Across Lake Asphodol, back to the gleaming country of Ashia Palace, a beacon in the middle of the lake. Between everything that had happened, Cress was glad to be returning home, where she would recover for the rest of the week and then hopefully be able to move on her own. To do basic things like brush her own teeth and dress herself. Never again would Cress take these things for granted, she would be appreciative of even the most mundane tasks that she would be able to complete without Heron and Kora. Not that Cress minded them, it's that she missed having independence and Heron not turning everything into some perverted game.
Even something as simple as going to the toilet, Cress would have a fresh perspective. She couldn't wait to get the catheter taken out. Now that there was a bit of feeling down there it was weird and sort of heavy, although it was nice to never have to get up to pee. "I'll be... strong again... soon." Cress eyes glittered, it was clear that was longing to do things with her own two hand. To garden, to climb, all of the things Cress loved she could no longer do until she built up a proper amount of strength. Maybe Cress could do it a little bit at a time? Scale doorposts like she had as a child? The thought of that rainy day activity made her smile.
The two were still rolling when Nee called out to them, walking over with Shiro. Cress brightened upon seeing her twin that she was so different from, towing along her little pup like a favorite toy. Poor Shiro looked nearly lost in the crowd of adults. She was still a kid after all and for a moment, Cress wondered if such a thing was legal. Nee wasn't eighteen yet and the laws of this planet didn't really seem to apply considering children were marrying nobles for power and prostituting themselves in the brothels. So Shiro and Nee could be together, happily leaving Cress behind again. That was fine, even though Nee promised, her fiancee no doubt agreeing to the arrangement. Cress wanted the two of them to spend their lives happily married, not worrying about outsiders.
"Hey," Cress said with a smile, hoping to attract their attention. It seemed it worked and they came over, Nee saying hello. It was nearly time or them to leave but yet it was so nice for the four of them to meet here in the city ccenter it didn't feel the samet though, Kora was missing and Cress wouldn't feel happy until she was back with the lamb. Nee suddenly bowed for Hero and Heron ruffled Cress's hair, laughing and saying she would protect Cress. "I don't... need her... protection!" Cress stated stubbornly. No, Cress would protect herself if she needed to.
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βYes Mistress.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
"Ellis isn't... normal?" Shiro trailed off, looking down at her puppy. Did that mean there was something wrong with him? Did Narina hurt him too? Was Ellis fragile? Nee went on to explain that Ellis was special, he didn't need food or water like they did, the only thing he fed off of was love. "Then I'll give him lots of love!" Shiro said, giving Ellis a snuggle and rubbing her cheek against him. What if Nee got jealous though? Shiro couldn't neglect Nee's love either! "I'll give you lots of love too! So don't worry, okay?" Shiro would protect what was important to her, Nee and Ellis, those were her top two priorities. Other things like finding her parents and maintaining Ashia Palace were second in her book.
When Shiro pointed out Cress and Heron, Nee suggested that they go say hi. "Okay," Shiro said, holding Nee's hand. The lunch crowd had dispersed, the sea of people calming to a gentle lapping against the sand. There were a scattered few in the courtyard, two of them being the fiery hair and eyed girls that they were walking towards. Even if it was people she knew, Shiro still felt shy. She looked down as they approached, blushing for reasons beyond even her knowledge. As Nee exchanged pleasantries with them, Shiro looked up, wondering if Heron was going to win. The two looked as though they were having a grand old time, although Shiro wasn't sure if they were simply forcing themselves to be happy. Even after everything that had happened, the two of them looked refreshed. Perhaps it was from the spa day they had taken yesterday?
Suddenly Nee knelt down in the pledge pose and in instinct Shiro rushed to kneel down too, since your head should never be higher than the Queen's. Heron looked embarrassed, telling them to stand up. Shiro straightened, watching as Heron ruffled Cress's hair. Oh! It was short again! Just like the first time they had met. When Heron was taking care of Cress in her room and Shiro had been frantically running the halls, wearing the thing that Narina made her wear as punishment for losing her charge and her bladder. "I like your haircut," Shiro smiled and Cress looked pleased. "Thanks," Cress smiled, turning her head as though to let Shiro admire it from all angles. It was definitely shorter and Shiro thought that it suited her.
The large clock in the square began to ring and Cress said the words before Shiro could. "Time to... go home." The day had flown by, it was already lunch time! "I wonder how long we'll be on the ship?" Shiro mused aloud, wondering if they once they got back, she should move all of her stuff out of her room and into her intended's room. They could make that Kora's room? Since currently the knight had been sleeping with Cress and Heron every night. The four of them walked back to the palace together, where a pod was waiting to take them to the docks. Kora, Maven, and Corren were there, as well as Wren who was helping put their bags in the back of the pod.
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βIf I lose it too, then we will never survive.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
Shiro was as usual, being her amazing and adorable self, expressing the intent to love Ellis with all she had in order to keep him nourished. It was a harmless little fib, wasn't it? Though, if you thought about it, it wasn't necessarily a lie. Even if Ellis wasn't strictly 'alive', in Shiro's mind, he really was alive. In Shiro's reality, Ellis was just as real as she herself was, and he'd remain alive as long as Shiro loved him. So in a way, she wasn't lying. Ellis's presence and effect on Shi was very much a real thing, and that's what mattered most. Shi then went on to say that she'd give her lots of love too and Nee felt warm flutters in her chest. "I didn't worry, silly. I believe in you."
Honestly, it was very nice seeing Cress with short hair again, but Nee didn't really know how to comment on it. It reminded her way too much of Earth and it gave her painful stabs in her chest the more she thought about it. Cress was happy with it, definitely, and it suited her more than that long hair ever did, but still. "You look good, sister." She managed, making an evasive sort of compliment about the newly shortened hair. Heron was being her usual self, and Shi complimented the hair as well, earning a thanks from Cress.
Of course, there was someone missing. Kora should've been there with them. The trio didn't really look complete without her. But then again, with the current situation at hand, maybe excluding the lamb wasn't the worst idea in the world. Kora probably needed some time alone to adjust to being alone in her head. Narcia remembered how odd it was when Ellen just stopped replying, the strange emptiness. She didn't really have time to reflect on it, because there was a war to fight and a Cress to save, but in hindsight, it really was a change. Maybe it'd behoove everyone if she tried talking to the lamb. But, knowing Kora, she'd just refuse her.
The clock then struck and it was time for them to get to the Agneyestra. "Lead the way, Heron." Narcia said quietly, and Heron nodded, taking Cress's handles and taking the lead, weaving their way through the crowd. Eventually they arrived, and the ship was already prepared for boarding, the tube elevator connected to the ground for them to enter.There was still some extra package to be brought as well, so actual takeoff would likely still be at least ten minutes. "At full speed, the flight should be around three hours." Nee said, once they entered the main body of the Agneyestra, Heron's angel ship. Nee was already looking forward to returning to Ashia Palace.
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βI don't care if I lose everything, so please.... come back...β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
Kora, of course, knew how to pilot the Agneyestra. She was made to read all the books back in Ashia, when she was first given her rank of Lieutenant General. So the lamb already had everything set up for ease of boarding - she connected the tube elevator to the ground to transport people into the ship, as well as the rear-end elevator for the luggage they'd be bringing back. Knights were already wearing their uniforms, but it was more for formality than for actual war. Peace had been achieved, after all. And if Kora was correct, Narina wasn't planning to start another war, anyways. Her plot was something a bit more smaller scale.
Betrayal was a a weird thing. Kora was going to have to put on a happy face for everyone, but she knew she was already disqualified from their friendship. It was probably better this way, anyways. Cress.... would be better off with someone like Heron to protect her. Someone trustworthy and strong like Heron could definitely take care of her. And Nee already had Shiro, so they were happy too. The lamb was still troubled - she didn't want to have to betray everyone. She didn't want to turn against them. But if this would fix the sin of her past and bring Aya back to life - the real Aya, not the one in her head - then there was no way she'd let this opportunity slip her by.
Three hours could quickly become boring, so Kora made sure to get some newfangled Etrurian tech to make the ride not quite so boring. Once Cress and everyone else arrived on the ship and the knights were finalizing preparations for take off, Kora left the Captain's Quarters to greet them, giving them all a bit of a shy sort of smile. "Sorry for worrying you all earlier. I'm okay now." She said, walking on her own two legs. Heron sighed and pulled her into a painful noogie, grinning. "Geez, next time talk to us before you do anything dumb, okay?" Kora nodded, rubbing at the painful spot where Heron's knucles dug into her scalp.
After Heron and Kora authorized the take off and assigned Finnley to supervise and call if needed, Kora decided to test out this new tech. "It's Etrurian, so we haven't seen something like this before! But Cumin said it's something fun, and it could pass the time!" So turned it on, a screen coming up. On the screen were a few options and files and Kora parsed through them, picking one. "Um, Princess Cumin said it was called a 'Visual Story.'" It played a story on the holo screen, made in a way to make the viewer a character, able to make their own choices to change the story how they wanted. But Nee had a strange look in her eyes and she mouthed something to Cress that looked suspiciously like 'movie'.
Heron looked the most impressed once the story got to the first choice. "I choose to keep staring at this screen!" Heron declared loudly, taking the controls so no one could make a decision. Of course, the screen was showing a half naked girl with a very revealing cleavage shot and the scarlet knight was almost salivating as a result. "Oh, wait, there's an option to have se-" Then a voice, cold and authoritative. "Give me the controls." Narcia said, tension crackling behind her smile and even Heron was cowed into handing it over. Then Nee chose to kill the girl and Heron grabbed the controls back, stunned. "Why? Why would you do that?" Heron asked, sounding almost devastated and Narcia grinned coldly. "Death and tragedy makes a more interesting story, doesn't it?"
Kora, however, was thankful for the distraction. She wouldn't have to keep pretending she was okay as long as everyone was focused on the Visual Story.
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
When Nee said she looked good, Cress grinned. "It feels... lighter." Without all that hair bogging her down, keeping her head up was easier. Both physically and metaphorically. When the clock began to ring, Heron grabbed the handles of the wheelchair. Cress was a bit sad to be returning already, even though the others were clearly anxious to return to Ashia Palace. Cress wanted to stay here though and explore some more, there was a whole wide forest with animals and plants to catalog and take photos of. Cress knew she couldn't do that alone though, not in her condition. Besides, Nee wouldn't let her stay in this place, she would want Cress to be at her side, especially now. The war had just ended, it was time to rebuild both Ashia Palace and Tartaria.
The walk back was quick paced, they were a bit farther from the palace than they had originally thought and the pod to take them to the loading docks was there, waiting. Once inside, they began the short drive through the top level of the city, going to the underground space beneath the lake where the Agneystra was waiting to be boarded. The crew was doing final checks, loading the extra cargo of soil and seeds as well as other things purchased in Coriandrum. Heron rolled Cress up the ramp, where Kora was waiting to great them. She looked better, her skin at least was no longer that bright shade of pansy pink, but had returned to a normal, peach complexion. "I'm so... glad you're... okay!" Cress said upon being wheeled up to her. Sitting in a chair, even Kora was taller than her. She was developing into a woman, even Cress could see that.
Kora was going to be quite the looker in a few years and something told Cress that Heron wouldn't be able to resist. Almost instinctively Cress looked down at her own chest, which had become flat with the weight loss. Corren said it would come back, but it was more a blow to her pride than anything. Yes, Cress would never be pretty or beautiful. Those sorts of words didn't describe her boyish figure and short hair. Cress was brought out of her thoughts when Kora apologized for worrying them all earlier. Cress smiled, trying to make Kora not feel bad. "It's okay... you were... sad." She hoped that Kora was better now, able to adjust without the second voice in her head. "Maybe you... should talk... to Nee." Cress said a bit quieter than before.
Cress knew that Kora wasn't Nee's biggest fan, but Narcia had gone through the same thing with Ellie. "She had... two voices... in her head." Now there was only one, although sometimes Cress could swear she could still see her cousin in there sometimes. It was in the way Nee looked tenderly at Shiro, the love in her eyes and her pride for her inventions. They were all aspects of her cousin that Cress didn't think she would ever see again. Yet they were there, subtle reminders to Cress of who she had lost. Kora pulled something out, a gaming system of some sort from the Etrurian kingdom. Cress looked at Nee, who mouthed a single word and she smiled, nodding her head. It was a movie, but more than that, an interactive one.
They gathered around it, Heron lifted Cress up and transferred her to a chair, moving the wheelchair somewhere out of the way and putting on the breaks so that it didn't roll this way and that when the ship rocked. A three hour journey, it would be much faster than the way there which had taken nearly six hours since they had been going slowly so as no to attract attention from Tartarian war dragons. A sound from the game brought her attention. Heron had grabbed the controls, no doubt wanting to further interact with the scantily clad holo figure. Nee commanded that Heron hand over the remote and killed off the girl, which made Heron upset.
Cress giggled, she wasn't sure why, but she found this to be incredibly funny. The giggling soon turned to coughs and Cress doubled over, trying to stop the fit. "I'm okay," she said, sitting back up so that they didn't worry about her and would continue playing the virtual reality game.
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βYes Mistress.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
The ship would be taking off in ten minutes. According to Nee, the flight back would be three hours long, which gave them plenty of time to relax and do things at their leisure until they returned to Ashia Palace, where the hustle and bustle would begin. There was to be so much planning and fixing, further improving the tiers. There was also going to be a search and the thought of meeting her parents face to face made her nervous. After all this time, she would finally get to know the reason they had abandoned her that day. Shiro snuggled Elllis, standing beside Nee as Kora said that she was doing better. They were in the front of the ship, the cockpit, was what Shiro believed it was called. "It's good that everyone's together again." Shiro smiled, although secretly she was more worried about whether Kora was losing to Heron.
"I think everyone is a lot happier as a group than apart." It was true wasn't it? They all seemed so much brighter together. The trio was whole with Kora, without her there had been an awkward emptiness that Shiro noticed that Heron and Cress no doubt felt. Kora took something out of her pocket, a gaming system from Etruria. Shiro's eyes widened, it was something new she had never seen before. When Kora turned it on, the pup yelped and ran to hide behind Nee, the unexpected flash of light scaring her. It turned out to just be the game and once Shiro realized it, she calmed down, opting to hold Nee's hand instead. She heard a chuckle from some of the crewman that had no doubt saw the pup yelp and whimper.
"I think we're leaving," Shiro said, feeling the floor hum and vibrate as the engines came to life. Had the ten minutes already been up? They had went by rather quickly. While the others played the game, Shiro went to the window, pressing her hands against the glass and standing on tip toes to watch as the ship rose, up, up, leaving the tether behind. The dock inside of the lake split open, the Agneystra taking flight once more. Wren came in then, joining Shiro by the window. "I brought some things," she said and Shiro went with her back over to Nee. "Wedding magazines!" Wren showed Shiro her tablet, which had been choked full of wedding articles, planners, dresses, and other ideas.
Shiro blushed, gently taking the tablet from her. "Thank you Wren," the pup said, flicking through some of the pages. There were so many things Shiro hadn't even begun to think about. "Lunch is being set up in the other room," Wren mentioned, "it should be ready soon." Lunch was another thing Shiro hadn't thought of, she wasn't exactly hungry though. "Are you hungry Ellis?" Shiro asked, giving him a snuggle. She looked up as Nee killed off a character and Heron wailed, wondering why Nee had done such a cruel thing. "If Nee did it then it was probably a good decision!" Shiro defended, not wanting anyone to be angry at her intended.
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βIf I lose it too, then we will never survive.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
Everyone back together again. This really was their main group, wasn't it? The five of them were as close to a stable social circle as they could get. The others came and went but generally, these five were the ones she talked to the most. That wasn't to say they didn't have others outside the circle they were friends with. Heron was often seen chatting with knights Nee didn't know the names of when she wasn't with Cress, or even just being with her brother and talking about the old days. Kora and Corren as a friend - she was the one who could make him express more than the usual disinterest - and Shiro had Wren. Nee expected a closer friendship with Cumin and Riana and hopefully Una as well for herself. Cress seemed like the only exception. Did she ever talk to anyone much outside of their little group?
Kora had the Etrurian thing which honestly seemed more like an interactive movie than anything else. She wanted the story to be entertaining - but she also wanted to protect Shiro from anything lewd... which, honestly, might just be an exercise in futility, considering the things they'd already done with each other. When Shiro talked about happiness together, Nee squeezed her shoulder gently. She made sure to cuddle Shiro gently when the girl was startled by the sudden light of the Visual Story. "It's okay, it's just for fun. You're safe, Shi, promise." Nee coo'd, giving her best icey smile at the crewmen who chuckled.
While Heron and Nee squabbled over the controls, Heron wanting to save that scantily-clad girl and Nee wanting to make an interesting and tragic story, two things happened. First, Cress started coughing, and Nee took the controls back, while Heron gave Cress a pat on the shoulder, still not convinced after Cress assured everyone that she was fine. "You really wanted my attention that much?" Heron said with a lewd sort of grin. "Jealous that I was staring at that girl?" The second thing to happen was Shiro defending her, saying that it was a good decision. "Of course it was. Who wants to watch a movie of Heron romancing this girl, anyways?"
A few more choices happened - there was some sort of conspiracy and Nee was making choices to try and get to the bottom of it, making sure to not trust anyone or befriend even the most innocent of people. In this sort of situation, you couldn't waste time building up relationships, not with unknown people gunning for your life. But every time Heron grabbed the controls, she ignored all the mystery and clues and focused on trying to get close to as many cute girls as possible.
Predictably, Heron was wailing because one of the girls betrayed her and was secretly one of the assassins, and Narcia had to take the controls and choose to fight back and kill the girl before they had a game over and needed to restart. "Why would you do that?" Heron cried, trying to grab the controls and Narcia smiled coldly. "Did you not see what just happened? If you trust any female with a pulse, you'll just get yourself killed." So Heron gripped Cress by the hand and planted a kiss right on the lips, mock-crying. "Don't betray me, Cress! You're my only hope!" Nee rolled her eyes and intertwined her fingers with Shiro's, thinking this whole thing to be ridiculous.
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βI don't care if I lose everything, so please.... come back...β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
Kora tried her best to keep the smile on, to keep anyone from suspecting that anything was wrong. Cress's smile at her being okay made Kora's insides shrivel in disgust and self hatred. She was betraying Cress's smile. But.... it wasn't like she ever had a chance with Cress in that way anyways. Kora was a murderer, she killed her own sister, she didn't deserve love at all. "I'm fine, sorry for worrying you." The lamb murmured, still poking the painful spot on her head where Heron grinded her knuckles in.
While she set up the Visual Story, Cress was talking to her about talking to Nee, telling her that it was okay because she was sad. Kora felt the pain coming back, she didn't know how to respond. Putting up a smile when you just wanted to sulk in a corner was hard, and it was some of the worst emotional pain she felt. But it'd be worth it, it'd definitely be worth it. For Aya's sake, nothing else would matter at all. She'd bring her back. She'd trust in Narina that Aya could return to the world of the living. "I'll think about it, but I'm okay." Kora said, and Nee gave a bit of a sigh and looked her way. "You don't have to lie. It's normal for friends to worry, isn't it?"
Kora felt her heart speed up uncomfortably. How did Nee in one look so easily see through it? So Kora laughed a little, wishing it didn't sound so forced in her head. "I-I'm really okay, definitely. There's more important things to worry about." Kora didn't deserve their warmth and friendship, so she withdrew from it, using the distraction of the game-movie-thing to keep attention off of her. So Kora went slightly to the side and stayed quiet, feeling pangs of jealousy stabbing her whenever Heron and Cress interacted, proving more and more that they didn't really need her in the first place.
Wren then came in, still sporting her signature blue hair, balancing plates of food like a champion. "Lunch is ready." She then turned specifically to Cress. "Just liquids for you, I'm afraid, but I added a little something so hopefully it won't taste so bland." The food - other than Cress's soupy liquid thing - was an odd blend of Ashian and Coriandrum cuisine. Ashia's salty seafood mixed with the grainy cereal-type flakes and vegetables, with an aside of some sort of Etrurian chowder. "I tried something new!" Wren said, sounding a bit excited. "Mastering all three in honor of the alliance!" The wolf was already staring at the dishes, hunger in her eyes.
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
Cress rolled her eyes when Heron made a ridiculous comment about Cress using the coughing to get her attention. "I was... not." She replied, huffing. Normally Kora would jump to her defense, or call Heron a womanizing pervert. The lamb, however, was surprisingly quiet. There really was something wrong, wasn't there? There was no time to dwell though, the game was continuing and Nee and Heron were bickering over the controls. "Honestly, you... two are... no better... than schoolchildren." Even as Cress said it though, she was smiling, glad to see that after so long, everyone was in good spirits. The memories of yesterday faded, the pain of the trauma dulling just a little bit more with every laugh.
This was how Cress would regain control, being able to smile and laugh, to stick it to the woman that put her in this position. Cress was winning back her body, her mind. Nee was doing it too, although it was in a different way than the princess. The Queen was getting her revenge by living her happiest, by turning Ashia Palace into a beacon of hope and love, rather than tyranny and desolation. No more slave labor, or slaves, people could choose what jobs they wanted to go into, there was free travel between tiers. All of this was possible because of Nee, her sister was making the world a better place and Cress couldn't be prouder. Cress had done very little in comparison. All she was really good for was getting in the way and proving to be more of a distraction than anything.
Perhaps those dreams had been right, the ones where she was the Nui who had grown up on the Untouchable Tier, in a palace that touched the sky and looked down on everyone else as a reminder of oppression. That Nui hadn't done anything of substance, she had gotten her big sister into trouble, had been looked down upon. Nothing was really different, Nee was the one who was doing all the work. All Cress could do was lay uselessly in bed as she fought to stay alive. Yes, Cress was about as useless as they came. She looked down at her lap, not feeling as though she had earned a place to sit beside them. They were on a different level, whereas Cress was still on the ground, trying to climb her way up.
Nee said something that made Cress crack a smile, she couldn't help but titter again. "Don't fall... in love... with an... imaginary girl." Nee and Heron were still fighting for the controls, Nee choosing not to trust anyone while Heron made it her goal to befriend every female that came across their way. Then one of them predictably turned against them and Nee killed her, which made the two fight even more. Heron strode over to Cress, unexpectedly kissing her right on the lips. Cress blushed, looking down at her lap so that they couldn't see it as Heron joked for her not to betray her. This was normally the part where Kora would shoo Heron away, call her an idiot or something, but again, the lamb was silent.
Wren came in, totting trays of food on silver platters. It was lunch time then? She mentioned something about liquids and Cress nodded her head, remembering how she had tried to eat pudding for breakfast and had ended up throwing it up "Thanks," Cress smiled as Heron brought her to the table by lifting up the entire chair, placing it down once more where the plates had been set. "I'll feed you Cress," Heron said, wiggling her eyebrows at a certain blonde knight with a lewd expression in her eyes. Cress didn't see it though, she was too busy thinking. "Sure," she said in reply, wondering what could be under the lid.
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βYes Mistress.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
Nee reassured Shiro, cuddling her gently and saying it was safe. "I believe you," Shiro said quietly, relieved that it was just the game and not some sort of trap being sprung onto them. When Wren came with a tablet chocked full of wedding magazines, Shiro took it, a bit nervous. She sank down to the floor beside where Nee was sitting, putting her pacifier in her mouth and Ellis on her lap so that he could look through too. Occasionally she looked up at the game, but was mostly looking through pages about flower arrangements, table settings, the best time of year, venues. Ashia Palace was sunny all year round, so a date wouldn't really be too hard to come up with. Was a month too soon? Two months? Shiro didn't know. The magazine said something about an engagement party too, which Shiro was clueless about. It also spoke of picking bridesmaids and best men. Well, since it was a royal wedding, the best men were normally knights sworn to protect their Queen. Bridesmaids could be anyone though.
There was one other question that Shiro was curious about, most of these weddings were between a man and a woman, a bride and groom. Were Shiro and Nee bride and groom? Bride and bride? Did that mean they both had bridesmaids? Or maybe a mix? There were also surely traditions that Ashia Palace had when a royal got married that Shiro knew nothing about. She made a note to herself to find out about these traditions. Shiro herself didn't have any since she was only a servant and didn't know her parents. Maybe by meeting them, Shiro would learn something that was passed down through their generations. Did she have grandparents too? A lot of sanitary citizens didn't live until old age because of the work that they did, a lot of them died from the dangers of it too.
Nee was scolding Heron and Shiro looked up, wondering what had happened. Suddenly, Heron jumped up and kissed Cress, who looked surprised. Wren came in then, announcing that lunch was ready. She said that she mastered all three nations in celebration of their winning the war. "It sounds good," Shiro stood, brushing herself off. She took Nee's hand and went over to the table, sitting next to her intended. Shiro looked at the food that Wren had set down. It all looked delicious and the smells coming from it made her stomach growl. "It smells even better," Shiro picked up her spoon, trying a bit of the chowder. There was so much food, Shiro wasn't sure she would be able to eat all of it. It was too bad Cress couldn't eat it either, since Wren's cooking was as good as the Ashian Chef's.
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βIf I lose it too, then we will never survive.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
Honestly, Heron was an idiot, but it was a comfortable sort of idiocy. The two hadn't had much time to talk lately, and considering they were both friends from a long time ago, there was no reason for them not to interact more often. While they bickered and fought over the game, over piecing together the puzzle or befriending every single female, the two were having fun. They didn't get along as children either - Heron hated her for being so primpy and cold and Nee hated Heron for having so much freedom, freedom that Nee couldn't even imagine. And now they got along as well as anyone did. "But she's killing all the cute girls!" Heron whined and Narcia stuck her tongue out in a way she never would have, months ago. "I'm trying to save us, you idiot."
Nee then was distracted by something else, something that was suddenly incredibly interesting. Shiro was flipping through a book and when Nee saw the name on the cover she suddenly blushed and fluttered and didn't know what to think. It was scary to think of their eventual wedding but it was also a good sort of scary because she was incredibly excited for it. It would officialize two very important things: first, Shiro would be given the status of a Queen alongside her, and secondly, it meant she and Shi would be legally bound together in a way an engagement could never achieve.
"Shi, we don't have to follow tradition or anything." Narcia said once the movie was paused and the food was ready. It really was interesting and symbolic how the food was a mix of the three nations - Ashia, Coriandrum, and Etruria, and when she tasted it, it really was delicious in a way she hadn't expected. "We - we can make the wedding special for us, unique. After all, it's ours, isn't it?" Tradition didn't matter as long as they could be bonded together. After all, tradition stated pretty clearly that it was a bride and a groom - Nee wanted to shatter that notion and make it so that you could love anyone you wanted!
Kora was another source of thought. The lamb was definitely hiding something. She wasn't rambunctious as usual and Nee was, honestly, getting a little concerned. There was something off with Kora, but she wanted to talk to Cress about it to confirm her suspicions. If Kora was hiding something, trying to press on her would only make her close up even more.
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βI don't care if I lose everything, so please.... come back...β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
Heron and Cress really did suit each other, didn't they? Even if it hurt, Kora had to try to make herself happy about it. Heron could make Cress happy, and Heron deserved to be happy too. There was no room for Kora there, and that was fine. As long as Cress could find happiness, Kora didn't mind. Her betrayal, in the end, wouldn't take that smile away. It wasn't anything drastic like that anyways. But the lamb already decided. She made her choice, and she closed her heart off from everyone because it was her punishment for killing Aya. She wasn't allowed to accept anyone into her heart. She'd live for Aya and Aya would live for her in return. They'd be sisters, and they'd rely on each other. Kora didn't need anyone else. That was how it was, right?
Her heart belonged to Aya and Aya's heart belonged to her. That was what twins was, right? At least for them. They were both horrible, messed up people. Aya was a manipulator and loved being loved by everyone, and Kora was a murderer, killing her precious sister with her own two hands. No one would accept someone like her. That's just how it was. The wolf scarfed the food down, staying mostly quiet. "What if I did?" Heron asked in her usual voice. "Fall in love with an imaginary girl, I mean. Would you get jealous, or something?" The scarlet knight wiggled her eyebrows and stared at Kora as if she was expecting something.
"You pervert." Kora said as she ate but there was none of her usual strength or energy behind it. Just a sullenness. Her eyes widened and then she forced a smile. [color=#30b818]"Wh-why would Cress get jealous anyways? You idiot knight." Heron seemed to pause for a moment and for a second Kora could swear she exchanged a wordless glance with Cress. Why did Heron seem worried? There was no room for her in there anymore, so why was Heron making that face?
Heron was feeding Cress now, and it brought back memories of way back then, when Kora and Heron fought over it. Maybe if she fought, it'd - no, she couldn't. Kora didn't have the right to do that, not anymore. She was a traitor now. She was working for Narina now. If they knew, they'd definitely not understand, not even if she explained that it was for Aya's sake. So the lamb decided not to fight Heron and just ate, trying to steel her heart. This was probably the last time she'd ever get to eat with everyone like this. The last time they'd all look at her as if she were a friend. Once they got to Ashia, Kora was going to be an enemy. There was no changing that, was there?
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
When Kora called Heron a pervert, her usual vim and vigor wasn't in it, as though she weren't taking this seriously. Heron and Cress exchanged a glance, they definitely noticed. Was it depression? Did losing Aya make Kora unable to feel happy? Yesterday though, Kora had promised that she would live for Aya too, but right now, she seemed more dead than alive. What was the point of living if you couldn't enjoy all life had to offer? "Kora, are... you sure... you're alright?" Cress asked after Kora called Heron an idiot. Heron picked up the spoon, feeding Cress her soup. Heron wasn't being silly either, no making noises or saying weird things as she fed Cress. The soup was good, but Cress couldn't eat a lot of it since she wasn't feeling too well. "I'm full," Cress leaned back in her chair and sighed.
Nee and Shiro were talking about the wedding. "Have you... picked any... bridesmaids?" Cress asked curiously. Cress had only been to one other wedding and it was when she had been really young. She had gotten a fist full out of the cake when no one was looking and ate it underneath the table in the dining room. She was barred from weddings after that, not that Cress really wanted to go since it meant that she had to wear a dress and let her mom brush her hair. Cress nearly groaned when she realized she was going to have to wear a dress for Nee's wedding. Hopefully the dressmaker wouldn't put together anything embarrassing like that last one. It had been far too short for Cress's liking and she had felt self conscious in it.
"That's it!" Heron stood up, grabbing Cress. "Kora, if you don't fight back, I'm going to take Cress all to myself." Cress blushed, wondering what was going on. "Heron what-" she was cut off when Heron pressed her lips against her's. "You'll have to fight me if you want to save the Princess!" Heron grabbed her lance, the weapon unfolding from her belt, aimed right at Kora. "Heron stop!" Cress yelled but Heron wasn't listening. "If you don't, I might do something perverted." Heron carried Cress in a bridal sweep, running towards the door. What had gotten into her all of a sudden? Was this her idea to try and make Kora feel like herself?
"Heron put... me down." Cress wiggled, trying to escape Heron's grasp but the knight was much stronger. "Can't do that," Heron apologized under her breath, "not if we want our friend back." Where were they even going? Heron ran up the steps, taking them two at a time. Was Kora even following them? "Kora doesn't... like me... like that." Cress said quietly and Heron sighed. "You really are clueless aren't you?" They were at the top of the stairs now, the glass turret on the angel ship that overlooked Lake Asphodel. It was large, a big enough space for a duel. "Sorry about this," Heron apologized, putting Cress in what appeared to be a large cage. What did they normally keep in here? Why did Heron even have something like this on the ship?
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βYes Mistress.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
Shiro was glad that everyone was having fun. Soon the hard work would begin again and even the crew were smiling and at ease. It was completely different from before the war, where everyone had been tense and there was a nervous energy buzzing all round. That had melted away, leaving only pleasant after taste with no casualties. The soldiers that had prayed to the lucky stars to return home, were all coming back alive. Coriandrum's knights, however, were not as lucky. They had suffered both civilian and military losses, as well as severe damage to the city. Shiro was glad that the war hadn't been on their front. Ashia Palace was such a small country that a blow like that could have been detrimental.
As they ate, Nee said that they don't have to follow traditions. Shiro blushed, smiling a little bit. "I know, we're not really traditional at all." She shook her head, looking at the bowl of chowder she had taken a few nibbles from. "But I thought it'd be nice to incorporate some of the Ashian traditions as well." She swung her legs, unable to touch the floor while she was sitting in the chair. "Like the cup exchange," Shiro pointed to the chair. The cup exchange was when the two would fill each other's cups with wine and then a ribbon would be tied around their hands and they would drink from one another's glasses.
"Or the rings," there was a tradition that the rings had to be made of gold. They couldn't have diamonds or jewels, but instead, were intricately carved and engraved on the inside. "It says that the significant other designs the ring and the other can't see it until it's done." Shiro sort of liked the idea of getting to surprise Nee with a beautiful gold ring. Shiro had been going through types of gold too, she had never known that there was more than one! There was white gold, rose gold, plain gold, shimmer gold, etc. Shiro remembered Narina's wring being something nontraditional, the band had been gold, but it had gems inlaid inside of it, which was not allowed. Shiro remembered being tasked with polishing the ring once. It had been the scariest task she had ever been given, to be entrusted with something so valuable.
Suddenly, Heron grabbed Cress, making a declaration of war against Kora. Shiro's eyes widened, would the love triangle come to an end? Would Cress pick her lover today? She looked between Kora and Heron and then Heron dashed off. Would Kora follow? Would she count this as a loss and not try to fight at all? "You should go after them," Shiro nudged, "Heron is a pervert." Shiro was only repeating what she had heard, "there's no telling what she might do."
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βIf I lose it too, then we will never survive.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
From the shared glance between Heron and Cress, Narcia knew they had something in mind for Kora. She'd defer to their judgement as to how to cheer her up - if she tried any planning of her own chances were that it'd just disrupt whatever Heron was plotting. Something definitely wasn't right, but Nee knew that Heron and Cress would be able to do it. So as she ate the delectable food, Narcia turned her attention to the love of her life, excited and nervous at the prospect of the marriage. It was definitely less stressful than trying to figure out how to solve the problem of Tartarian and Ashian civilian's mutual hatred.
"We can pick and choose what we like." Narcia said, nodding with Shiro as she scanned a passage of the book Shiro was reading. The cup exchange was one particularly romantic custom, and she liked the rings as well. "Just don't feel as if you have to be restrained to Ashian tradition, okay?" Because in a way, Narcia also wanted to incorporate some Earthen traditions as well. After all, she'd always view Sierra Nevada as home, wouldn't she? As for bridesmaids... "The three of you could suffice." Nee said quietly, gesturing to Heron, Kora, and Cress. "Only if you want to, of course."
Heron cracked into a slight grin and nodded her head - but only for a second. "Hey, wait! I want to be the Best Man!" Heron stood up dramatically and Kora shot her a somewhat sour glare. "You're a girl." She said simply, so Heron switched tacks instantaneously. "Okay, then I'll be the Best Person! I'm the Best Person of the wedding!" Sometimes, Nee wondered if Heron knew how to take anything seriously. Other times, she figured Heron's ability to make jokes out of nearly anything was a virtue, wasn't it?
When Heron grabbed Cress and ran with her, Narcia decided not to make a big fuss, instead giving Kora an aside glance, wondering what she would do. Shiro spoke, telling her to go after them, and Kora looked incredibly glum for a split second. "...Guess I should, huh..." But the way she spoke, it sounded like the lamb was incredibly reluctant to actually go. Once she followed after them, it was just the two intended's left. "Heron's going to win." Narcia said, not really sure how she felt about it. "...Well, whatever happens, I hope they all end up happy."
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βI don't care if I lose everything, so please.... come back...β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
Honestly, Kora knew Heron liked Cress that way. She wouldn't actually do anything untoward to Cress, especially not after what Semyon did. There was no reason to go after them. Didn't the lamb already surrender the right to love Cress anyways? She chose to side with Narina, so she didn't deserve to really be friends with anyone. The flight would soon be over, and that was when she'd betray everyone. That's just how it was, right? Kora.... had to commit to her goal. She couldn't let these friendships get in the way of her bringing Aya back. Narina promised, after all. But she knew Shiro and Narcia wouldn't stop bugging her about it so Kora stood up, not really wanting to go.
They were above Lake Asphodel, so there wasn't much time left. Kora had her Gravity Drive at the ready. If this was the last time she could play and chat with everyone, then it was fine, wasn't it? This was the last time she'd get to fight over Cress with Heron. After this, it'd be the end. So Kora took a deep breath, knowing to make use of this last memory with these friends. She probably wouldn't see them again after the betrayal. They wouldn't want to see her, anyways. The lamb made it up the stairs, ready for a confrontation, and Heron was there, spear at the ready, Cress in the cage.
"Don't hold back!" Heron grinned like the monster she was and Kora grit her teeth. Heron was faster than she was, stronger, and had much more experience, as well as a natural talent for fighting. There was a reason Heron was lauded as invincible, feared far and wide as the strongest warrior there was. Kora didn't stand a chance in a confrontation, she knew that. So she needed to do something else, she needed to use a different tactic. "This is a fight for the Princess's heart! So you better do your best!"
Kora took a deep shuddering breath, and lunged forward, aiming herself right at Heron's spear. If Heron didn't move or do something, Kora would be impaled by it. "Don't touch her, you pervert." The wolf growled and Heron flinched back on instinct, clearly not wanting to actually hurt her. "Geez, are you sui-" The next instant, Kora broke the cage open with her gravity drive and tapped Cress on the nose, staring defiantly at Heron. "There, I win. So stop it already."
Heron looked surprised for a moment, but then she locked the cage door shut. "Take her gravity drive." Heron said, and Kora realized this was her plan all along. She couldn't hurt or fight Cress, though, so Kora willingly surrendered the gravity drive. Now she was locked in the cage with Cress, and there was nothing she could do about it. "So, tell me. What did the Tartarian Assassin want with you, anyways? Given how long he was there, you'd be dead by now. So clearly... it was a deal or something, right? What's going on?"
Wait, how did she even know there - Corren told her, didn't he? Kora was angry, angry because once again she lost to Heron. Once again she underestimated just how clever Heron really was. So Kora stared at the ground and told the truth - about Narina, about her promise, about her betrayal, about bringing Aya - the real Aya - back to life. And then she cried because Kora knew they were all going to hate her now.
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
Nee said it so causally, that the three of them would be her bridesmaids, as though it weren't something important. Instantly, Heron elected herself best man, then, once Kora pointed out that Heron couldn't be, the knight elected herself best person. "No way!" Cress huffed, "I'm her... sister! If anything... I get... to be... the maid... of honor!" There wasn't a chance that Cress would let Heron get to be the best man at her sister's wedding. The two of them turned to Nee to choose, since she was, of coure, the one getting married. Who would Shiro choose as bridesmaids? Cress wondered. Did the pup even have any friends aside from Nee and them? Shiro was staring hard at her lap, no doubt trying to decide something or make some sort of resolve.
Then Heron grabbed her and it was up to the turret. They waited there for Kora, Cress holding her breath to see if the knight would actually come. When Kora finally arrived, she looked reluctant, as though she didn't actually want to be there or fight Heron. Was she intimidated by the knight? Or was it something else entirely? The prospect of fighting Heron was a little scary, Cress had seen the knight fight and Heron had a reputation surrounding her since she was the fastest and strongest knight that Ashia Palace had ever produced. Heron swung her spear, telling Kora not to fight back and Kora ran straight at her. Cress gasped, but Kora dodged at the last second, instead, opening up the cage. Quick as a flash, Heron pushed Kora inside and locked her in with Cress, directing Cress to take the gravity drive.
"Did you... forget?" Cress asked with a sigh. "Oh, right," Heron took the gravity drive, sitting across from the cage and telling Kora to tell them what was on her mind. Cress was not expecting Kora to say the things she did, that she was going to betray them in order to get on Narina's good side and win her trust so that she could bring Aya back. "Kora..." Cress trailed off, wishing she could move so that she could hug her friend. "She's lying." Cress said, "to you. Narina doesn't... keep her... promises. She twists... them to... suit her... needs." How could Cress better explain this? "Even if... she did... bring Aya... back. There's no... guarantee she'll... be the... same person." Heron looked angry, her fists were clenched, her teeth grinding. Cress felt more sad than anything, it was a good thing they had gotten her to confess.
"You realize you almost committed treason?" Heron hissed. "That's punishable by death." Cress expected Heron to lash out, to maybe strangle Kora, but instead, she reached through the cage and flicked Kora on the forehead. "You're lucky we stopped you, idiot." Heron shook her head and crossed her arms, sighing. Cress somehow managed to fall against Kora, the tilt of the ship no doubt pushing her. "Our trio... isn't complete... without you." Cress closed her eyes, they would be home soon. It was a good thing they had stopped Kora when they had the chance. "Yeah, you'd make Cress sad if you betrayed her!" Heron huffed indignantly, "Stupid. You think Narina would let us live if she became Queen again?" No doubt Cress, Nee, and Heron would be among the first three to die.
Unless she kept them as leverage. The thought of going back down to that floor, where the isolation chamber was, where Narina had infected Cress with this illness in the first place, it made her shiver. There's no telling what sort of torture she'd implement. She wouldn't let Nee be with Shiro either, the poor pup would probably not survive another round if Narina was truly alive. "We have.... to warn... Narcia."
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γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
Nee said that they could pick and choose whatever they liked and Shiro smiled. "Let's do something your earth family would do too!" Did Nee and Cress know any of their earthen family traditions? Shiro wished she could ask Nee's earth mom. She wanted to meet her, to thank her for taking care of Nee for that time and being a good mom to her. No doubt Nee's earth mom was better than Narina ever was. They wouldn't stick to just Ashian customs when there were so many other culture they could incorporate as well. There were a few pages just on different Ouranian weddings and the symbolism in small things. "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a penny in your shoe." Shiro read aloud. "What's a penny?" Shiro asked, "Wouldn't it be uncomfortable to walk around all day with a penny in your shoe?"
When Nee appointed Cress, Kora, and Heron as her bridesmaids, Shiro looked down at Ellis. "Ellis, will you be my maid of honor?" Shiro squeezed him, glad he said yes. "Oh Wren! Will you be a bridesmaid too?" The blue haired girl pointed to herself in question and Shiro nodded her head. "And there's one more," Shiro wondered who she should ask. "Oh! I know! Nani!" Wren came over, placing dessert in front of Shiro. "Nani would probably be honored." Wren said as Shiro took a bite out of the cookie. "Nani is the woman that found me in the incinerator." Shiro explained to the others. Cress's expression became sad, she probably didn't know the story of how Shiro was found. "Um, I was abandoned at birth." Shiro explained, "My parents put me in the incinerator, but they were off for maintenance and Nani found me."
Shiro took another bite of the cookie, watching as Kora ran after Heron and Cress. "I have faith," Shiro said, "Heron is super strong, but Kora is smart." She had a memory unlike anyone else and could no doubt recite whole medical text books. "In the end though, it's up to Cress's heart." What was that thing Cress always said? Have courage and kindness? "I think they'll end up happy." Shiro said, wondering how she would go about finding Nani. She could always use the citizen registration and track her ID chip? That wouldn't feel right, almost like a violation of privacy. No, Shiro wouldn't do it that way, she would have to find her with her own power. Nani was older, she had been one of Narina's ladies in waiting, a kind one that always smiled at Shiro and helped her with her tasks.
After Narina's death, Nani had gone in search of her family, but that was the last Shiro had heard from her. Someone was running down the steps, a knight, looking frantic. Finnley adjusted his hat, doing a quick bow. "Excuse me my queens," he said, straightening. "We've received word that the believed to be deceased Queen Narina, is alive." Shiro felt her stomach drop. Any happiness she had felt was quickly gone. Her hands shook, a squeak escaping her. No, it couldn't be. She was dead, they had all promised that she was gone. So how... how could Narina be alive? The spiral began, quickly taking off and going down, down, down. "N-no," Shiro whimpered. She was going to be punished wasn't she? Narina would come back and punish her.
"I n-need my e-eyes. P-please d-don't t-t-take them." Shiro stuttered, rocking herself. She fell out of her chair, hiding underneath the table. Ellis was still sitting on the chair, his face full of crumbs from Shiro trying to feed him cookies, just in case he wanted to try some.
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βIf I lose it too, then we will never survive.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
It was funny how quickly things could turn horrible. It started out normal, like most things did, goofing off about who would be honored at the wedding, feeling flutters about the idea of the wedding in the first place. She was happy Shi was open minded to incorporating earth traditions as an homage to her past. "A girl to toss flowers down the asile, and a boy to deliver the ring, perhaps..." She mumbled, quietly musing. "Pennies are small coins, Shi. I doubt they would be too uncomfortable." Would Heron get to be the best man (person), or would Cress be the Maid of Honor? Narcia didn't answer, deciding to keep it a mystery for now. "We'll see, won't we?" The ice girl teased light heartedly, knowing that she was definitely going to choose Cress. There was no one more suited for that role than Cress, her sister in both blood and destiny.
Then the trio went off to work out their issues, so Narcia was left with Shiro, the two having some peace and quiet to themselves again. "They'll find out something to make the three of them happy." Nee said, though she held some doubts. It all depended on if they could get Kora to open up about whatever she was hiding. Of course, there was also the matter of romance, but for the time being the major concern was having the three of them on good terms again, being able to laugh and play like before.
They were interrupted by Finnley's announcement, revealing the truth Narcia was desperately trying to ignore. Narina was still somehow alive. Narina was still out there, just like she predicted the whole time. Shiro was quickly spiraling and Nee felt her heart thrumming much more quickly. "No one will take your eyes." No, she wasn't allowed to panic. She wasn't allowed to lose her cool. Shiro was counting on her to keep her grounded. So Nee too Ellis and pulled Shiro from under the table, up to her lap on their chair, hugging the three of them together. "We'll be okay. She won't take you again."
Nee then turned to Finnley, who seemed to be awaiting orders. The chessboard was back, and it was time to play. One last game, that's how it'd be, right? This final game, of mother and daughter. "Finnley, notify the higher ranking knights immediately, but only the ones I trust." She rattled off a list of names for Finnley, and Nee knew she couldn't ever let Shiro or Cress out of her sight for the time being. Finnley went off, no doubt to inform Itward and Xion first, and Narcia hugged Shiro closer. "We'll overcome this together."
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γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
Locked in the cage, forced to listen to Heron and Cress trying to cheer her up, Kora should have felt something like relief that she was saved from her betrayal. She should have felt sadness for falling for Narina's lies so easily. She should have felt misery for once again having no hope of truly bringing Aya back to life. But instead, all she felt was an intense and deep anger, and it was all directed at Heron. Honestly, Heron was more and more, representing the fact that no matter what Kora tried, she could never truly mean something to anyone. In her childhood, Aya surpassed her in every way, and now, Heron was doing the same. Heron was a better and stronger knight, a better friend to Cress, she was smarter and could outmaneuver her in both combat and intelligence. There was nothing Kora could do that Heron couldn't.
Even now, Heron was standing above her, with that arrogant grin of hers after the flick, and the scarlet knight quickly got to business, calling Finnley and informing him that Narina was in fact, alive. Kora clenched her teeth, the resentment and envy building up. Kora always did have a horrible sense of self, always needing to be needed, to be useful to people. To be the best at something. But now, she had to come to terms with the fact that no matter what she did, she would never be able to stand out and find validation for her existence. "....Sorry." Kora said in a quiet voice once the tears were gone. "I was just being an idiot." She still wouldn't look at Cress. She didn't have the right to look at her.
A voice on Heron's phone, then. Queen Narcia was speaking, issuing her orders. "Heron, you're the best there is. I trust you to put your life to keeping Cress safe. That is your new purpose in life until Narina is gone for good. Cress is only allowed to be captured once you're dead. As long as you draw breath, you live for the purpose of protecting her." Heron smirked, her arrogant smile lighting up the room. "Tch, who do ya think I am? I won't let her out of my sight!" There was a pause on the other end. "I mean it. No mistakes, not like with Semyon. You and you alone are in charge of Cress's well being. If she gets caught again -" Then Heron smirked, canines gleaming in the light. "I'll make sure to kill myself in shame if that ever happens!"
That's right. Heron really was the best. She always would be. "That's right. She'll protect you, so it's okay." Kora muttered, scratching at the faint tanline where her gravity drive was supposed to be. Judging on the surroundings, the Agneyestra was docking in Ashia now, they were finally home, but it really didn't feel anything like home. Heron let them out then, putting Cress back in the wheelchair. "Let's go home. Cheer up, okay, you dumb lamb. We all love ya." The scarlet knight said, wheeling Cress out. The lamb balled a fist, of course Heron was going to get to be cool, too. With someone perfect like Heron, who would ever look at the self destructive lamb?
"...I'll never... be good enough." Kora whispered for only herself to hear once the others were out of earshot, then followed, still absently scratching at where the gravity drive was.
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
So that woman was back, huh? Cress shouldn't have been surprised. It was too convenient for her to simply be dead. It was too easy, too simple. Nothing was as it seamed on this planet, unlike on earth, people didn't stay dead. With the level of technological advancement, Cress wouldn't have been surprised if Narcia had killed Narina's clone, or perhaps some sort of android. Cress's hands balled into fists, she felt like a caged animal and not because Heron had put her inside of a crate. Narina was out there, she was going to put Cress back into the cage that was her body, make it so Cress couldn't fight back or resist. Cress could no longer avoid the crushing loneliness she had felt in the last few months, could no longer ignore how far behind she felt while everyone else was ahead.
"It's okay... you wanted... to bring... your sister... back." Cress was still leaning on Kora, unable to right herself. She wished she could wrap her arms around her blonde friend, she wished that she could assure Kora it would be okay, but in truth, Cress didn't know. Now that Narina was back, Cress felt like she didn't know anything. Perhaps she was safer inside of the cage than out of it. Heron was fast, as per usual, informing Finnley who ran to inform their queens. This was going to devastate them, they would have to hold off the wedding. Cress didn't realize that she was shaking, her entire body trembling at the thought of being infected again, of Narina turning her back into a helpless doll.
Heron's phone began to ring. Cress closed her eyes, no doubt the news had reached her sister by now. "I'm scared," Cress admitted quietly to Kora. "I don't... think I've... ever felt... this afraid... of anything." Even though Narina's final message to them was that she had done it all in love, Cress didn't believe her. No one hurt their children in the name of love. In Cress's opinion, that woman had forfeited her right to be her birth-mother the moment she had sent Cress off to earth. Even if she had claimed it was Cress's grandmother who had done it, Cress didn't believe her. No doubt that was some sort of excuse. She wished she had heard Azel's end to the story to know whether or not what Narina had come up with was fiction.
When heron hung up the phone, she opened up the cage, scooping Cress out in a bridal carry and placing her in the wheelchair. Cress's hand slipped from Kora's, she looked back at her friend, wondering what was going through Kora's head. Heron began wheeling her out, but Cress was concerned about Kora. "Please," she whispered to her friend, "don't leave... me too." Heron was only looking ahead, no doubt confident that she could protect Cress. Even so, it was under Heron was supposed to be protecting her when Narina had come to get her from that isolation chamber, when she had put her in the garden with the artificial light, where she had intended for Cress to wither away, to become a vegetable.
"Join the garden."
A shiver ran down her spine. If she loved plants so much she should become one. Those were Narina's parting words to her long lost daughter. "I win," Cress whispered, balling the fabric of her clothing in her hands to make the shaking stop. They were at the foot of the palace now, the gleaming beacon shining up to the sky like a brilliant star in space. It was a mere shadow of what it used to stand for. No longer did it strike terror into the hearts of the people. No longer did stepping on the imperial staircase without an invitation mean death. Things had changed around here, for the better. They were not going to let Narina take that away from them. "We'll keep... doing our... best to... make Ashia... a better... place." Winning the war was just the first step.
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βYes Mistress.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
Shiro was afraid, she was so afraid. Tears streaked down her cheeks, her hands clawing at her ears, trying to block out the sounds of the interrogation room. They were coming, their footsteps pattered against the floor. A needle, they were going to take her eyes weren't they? Stick a needle and make her blind. Her heart thumped heavily in her chest, fear terrorizing her senses. Shiro was paralyzed, sitting underneath the table, trying to make herself as small as possible. "I-I n-n-need my ey-eyes." She whimpered, beside herself. The crew gave sympathetic glances their way. No one moved though, not even Finnley, who had been the one who had taken Shiro to the interrogation room in the first place. It wasn't his fault, he had just been following orders after all.
Someone reached for her, Shiro flinched away from the touch but it kept coming. Nee pulled Shiro out from underneath the table, placing the girl in her lap and putting Ellis into her hands. There was blood around her ears, where her fingers had dug into the skin to try and block out the sounds. Shiro clung to Nee, shaking, her tears soaking into Nee's nice dress. Nee would protect her, Nee would keep her safe from punishment. She promised, she promised that day, when Shiro had sullied herself, she promised that day, when she had taken her from the palace. The first time Shiro had set foot outside the palace, the first time she had seen trees and grass and a vast blue sky.
And the playground. Shiro closed her eyes, burying her face in Nee's chest. Here, in this moment, she was safe. No monsters would get her, no queen named Narina or servants who were jealous of how the queen looked at her so fondly. There was no more bullying, no more collars, no more hot tea poured on her feet if she didn't brew it right. Even so, even so, Shiro couldn't help but feel terrified. They were close to the palace again, the shadow of the Agneystra overtaking Ashia Palace. The angel ship was beginning to dock, the crew running about to prepare for their landing. Itward and Xion would be waiting for them at the steps of the palace, no doubt only having good news to report. They had suffered no losses in the war after all, no doubt families would be relieved to see their sons, daughters, husbands, and wives alive and whole.
Nee said that they would overcome this together and Shiro slowly nodded her head, unable to speak with her pacifier in her mouth. She couldn't stand, her legs were shaking too badly. When Shiro tried to rise beside Nee, her knees weakened and she fell to the floor. The pup still held onto her intended, her other hand clutching Ellis against her. Her two most important things were in her arms and yet she couldn't move. "Should I get a wheelchair?" Finnley asked quietly, "or a stroller?"
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βIf I lose it too, then we will never survive.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
Shiro was reacting far worse than Nee hoped, but not as bad as the worst case scenario, at least. The pup wouldn't survive another round of being captured, it'd break her and not even Narcia would be able to put her together. Just thinking about the pain she'd have to go through made the Ice Queen want to break something - or more specifically, someone. She wasn't allowed to feel fear. She wasn't allowed to be afraid. With Shi like this, it was all Nee could do to hug her and protect her and promise that she would be safe, that nothing bad would happen to her. No more punishments, no more pain. Shi seemed to eventually be able to nod her head. "I'll carry her. Carry on with your duties, Knight Finnley."'
Itward and Xion were waiting at the docks, of course. Heron gave her brother a curt nod and wheeled Cress into the palace, one arm on the collapsed spear, ready for a surprise attack. The scarlet knight was as tense as ever, she wouldn't allow anyone to get a surprise attack on her. "We're on high alert, Nee." Itward said curtly, and the only sign that her High General of Defense was afraid was the very slight tremble in his hand when he shook hers. "Only authorized people are allowed in. The security system will be able to tell if an assassin's cloak is used, as well. No one will get in or out of the palace." So Nee nodded, still not relaxing. "I'll trust you, Itward." She said, making sure to keep hold of her intended, feeling the weight of her locket becoming more prominent.
Once they were in, Narcia felt someone drop a cloak over both her and Shiro. It was Kora, and the lamb did not look happy at all. "Don't ask me how I know this. Just know that Shiro is her target." Kora had a strange, almost frantic look in her eyes. "Queen Nee, Narina wants to capture Shiro as leverage to force you to wage war on Etruria and Coriandrum while they're still weak and rebuilding." Narcia nodded. That made sense, didn't it? Narina would almost definitely consider her to have grown soft after loving Shi, and using Shi as a hostage would force her to harden her heart and conquer the rest of the Eastern Continent. Honestly, this was the perfect opportunity to betray Etruria and Coriandrum. They both took lots of damage from the war, while Ashia remained mostly intact.
"Thank you for the warning." Nee said, and now she knew why the lamb was so troubled during the flight. But now, she knew Kora had chosen to side with them. This, of course, meant that Kora might be in danger from betraying Narina, but realistically, Kora was a better target than Shiro or Cress. Better if Kora was in danger as a decoy for the time being. The lamb nodded. "Keep the cloak, and keep Shiro under at all times. I have a plan, so trust me, okay?" And with that, Kora exited the cloak, leaving it to Nee and Shiro. And Narcia knew that the best plan would require the two of them remaining underneath it for the time being.
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βI don't care if I lose everything, so please.... come back...β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
Cress was afraid. She was trembling, shaking and Kora knew what she had to do. She couldn't... betray them now, no matter how she felt about Heron. The lamb would never be able to overcome that arrogant knight, she'd never be able to be needed as long as Heron existed. This horrible inferiority complex, this ugly side of her, it was worse than the murderer, wasn't it? But it was true. Heron was always cool, always showing off how reliable she was. Meanwhile Kora hadn't contributed much in the war effort at all. She would never be good enough. "Don't worry, Cress." The wolf said quietly. "Heron will keep you safe." Of course, Kora was going to help in her own way, in a more out-of-sight way.
The first thing Kora did was take back her gravity drive. She then prowled through the Untouchable Tier, searching under her cloak for the right sacrifice. She finally found a girl that looked to be Shiro's age, and pulled her under the cloak, knocking her out before the girl could make a peep. Luckily she was dressed in a relatively expensive dress as well, so she wouldn't have to steal any dresses from Shiro. The next step was cornering Nee and Shiro in the palace, where she explained Narina's motives and target. She then used one of her knives to cut out Narcia's chip - the one designated to Shiro - and injected the girl's chip into her wrist.
After giving the cloak to them, Kora went to where she hid the sleeping girl's body, snapping her neck. The old warehouse was already abandoned and useless, so all the lamb had to do was light the fire and keep the chip as proof that Shiro was taken care of. So about an hour later, and a burnt up corpse, reported to be Shiro's, Kora knew she did her job. She mouthed a silent apology to Aya, because she knew this meant she wouldn't be able to bring her back. But then again, it took an idiot to trust Narina's lies, didn't it?
A voice rang out through the Untouchable Tier, stating that a curfew would be placed temporarily, due to the risk of Tartarian insurgents trying to attack now that the war was over. "Only ever travel in groups, and report anyone without an authorized chip, everyone. And never leave the house after a certain time unless you want to be seen as suspicious." And as such, Ashia Palace was going to enter a heightened state of security. Kora wondered if she repaid her debt for almost betraying Ashia Palace and the two Queens - and most importantly, Cress. Like this, all traces of Shiro would grow cold, and Heron was taking her high alert much more seriously than last time. She made the right decision... right?
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
"I'm pathetic... aren't I?" Cress asked with a gentle laugh that held not an ounce of humor in it. "After all... this and... she still... scares me." Cress breathed out, a quivering sigh. Kora had disappeared, slipping away when Cress had turned around for only a moment. There was no time to relish in the sun, they were going right into the palace. "Hello Itward," they stopped in front of the red haired Grand General. "Princess," Itward did a quick pledge, then stood upright. "No need... to be... so formal," Cress smiled. "It's just... me." Even so, Itward was still being a stiff, being curt and formal. Xion gave him a nudge and Cress noticed something between them, an exchanged look, not worry or joy... could that be? "Love!" Cress gasped aloud.
The ex-rebel leader blushed, an odd expression that Cress had never seen on Xion before. "What are you talking about?" The eye patched woman growled, "this idiot is a noble! He's exactly the type I hate!" Even as she said it though, Cress could tell it was a lie. "Itward!" Heron grabbed her older brother, rubbing her cheek against his. "When did you become such a ladies man?" Itward blushed a shade of red that matched his hair. Cress giggled, Xion was turning red too. "Hey, that's a nice haircut!" She said, trying to change the topic. Cress and Heron exchanged a glance, going along with it. It seemed that love was in the air, first Shiro and Nee, now the ex-rebellion leader and the Grand General. Who would be next on this crazy love train?
Cress felt a mysterious pang. Was this longing? Perhaps for a love of her own? Heron wheeled her inside and Nee's words echoed in her mind. Cress had Ashia's two best knights at her beck and call. Those were the exact words Nee had used. Yet, Cress couldn't help feeling as though Heron liked Kora. The two were always teasing each other, Heron was always looking for excuses to try and kiss Kora. Kora was always yelling at Heron about being a pervert, no doubt in denial about her feelings. "Heron," Cress started. "Do you... like Kora?" Heron stopped walking, the wheels of the wheelchair coming to an abrupt stop.
"You really are clueless aren't you?" Cress was confused. Heron started walking again, moving along as though nothing had happened. Clueless? What did she mean? "I'm your protector," Heron said, a sudden gleam in her eyes. "That means we'll have to take all of our baths together, in cases Narina attacks while you're in the tub." That's right, Heron could never love one person, she was a womanizing pervert. "Tch," Cress said and then she couldn't help it, she began to giggle. It felt good to laugh, a sound that was like the warble of a bird, a melodious tune that floated down the hallway. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before the giggles turned to coughs and Cress was struggling to breathe. Heron turned up the oxygen, patting Cress's back until the spell passed.
"I'm okay," Cress promised. They were at the elevator now, soon Cress would be back in her room. No doubt the blood had been cleaned up, the bed sheets changed and made neatly. The plants on her windowsill that Heron had planted would be thirsting for a drink unless someone had been attending to them, and a tray of dinner would no doubt be waiting. "Do you... think Kora... is okay?" Cress asked as the doors opened to their floor. There was heightened security, their chips passing through a scanner before they were allowed off of the elevator. Nee really was going all out, wasn't she?
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βYes Mistress.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
Nee was carrying her, holding Shiro up in her time of weakness. The girl wasn't very big or heavy, so it probably wasn't tasking at all, but Shiro still felt bad for being so useless. She loved Nee and yet, she couldn't do anything for her. Why did she love Shiro? The pup wasn't strong or super pretty, Nee could have anyone, yet she had chosen the little pup that had been beaten and scarred. Nee could have any prince, she was beautiful and smart, confident and sharp in ways that Shiro never could be. She was ice, able to withstand nearly anything that life threw her way. First her mother, now her mother again. Shiro shivered, glad that the ice wasn't directed at her.
The pup held onto Nee tightly, her head buried in Nee's chest so that no one could see her face. She didn't want them to take her eyes after all, she needed those. Even if Nee promised to protect her, it was still scary. With the technology that Ashia Palace had, anyone had the ability to change their outward appearance in the blink of an eye. Augments and dyes, body tech, and piercings. There was no telling who was who aside from the ID chips in their wrists. Two figures were waiting for them at the end of the dock. Itward spoke of the updated security, no one would be going in or out of the castle. Their home would become their prison until the threat could be neutralized. Only authorized personal would be allowed out after the curfew, which was implemented with a special message so as not to worry the people.
Shiro felt the weight of her ring on her finger, her hands curled into fists. They were stopped in their tracks, someone dropping a dark piece of cloth over them. Shiro stiffened, wondering if they had been captured already. Narina had plenty of methods, who know what citizens were truly spies? This, however, was no enemy. It was Kora, spilling Narina's plans to Narcia in order to prevent them from being put into motion. Narina was targeting Shiro and the pup began shaking again, suckling on her pacifier to calm herself down. She kept her face hidden, knowing that if Kora saw the tears she would call Shiro weak and pathetic. Why was it that the truth was the hardest to hear? The pup wished that she could be brave, but she didn't know how. She wasn't strong or fearless like the knights, she was just a dog playing at being a person.
She felt Nee's hold on her tighten. It was a relief really, to know that there was someone who would hold onto her so tightly. Nee could have taken anyone as her bride and yet, she had chosen Shiro. The pup was more than honored and she closed her eyes, relishing the scent of Nee's perfume. This wouldn't be the first time they faced Narina, but hopefully it would be the last. Shiro remembered that book detailing her torture, the one that they had stumbled upon when looking for manuals on how to control the palace. If Shiro was caught, no doubt she would face much worse. Nee was so brave, so strong. She was unflinching her resolve and handed over her wrist for Kora to cut the ID chip out without a second thought. "Nee!" Shiro squeaked, watching as glistening crimson dripped to the floor.
"I'll make it better," Shiro promised and gently took Nee's wrist, holding it up to her mouth as she remembered the special thing that children born with the sanitary illness had. Their spit had sterilizing effects. So Shiro gently licked Nee's wound, sucking on it just a tiny bit to get the blood flow to stop.
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βIf I lose it too, then we will never survive.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
Narcia knew what was to come next, of course. The chip in her wrist was the one corresponding to Shiro. so if she was correct in her guess - and often, they turned out to be true - Kora was going to fake Shiro's death. The lamb had her knife and sliced down the skin of her wrist, digging deep. The ice queen let out a low hiss - it hurt more than she expected - and the knight didn't look apologetic or anything as she fished through her wrist, finally retrieving the chip. She then put another chip in, and Nee would have to scan this one to figure out who the lamb had killed. Still, as reluctant as she was to overlook her citizens dying, if it was for Shiro's well being, it was acceptable. It still hurt, though, and red droplets trailed down to the floor. Kora then vanished and Narcia bent down to clean the blood off the floor when Shiro let out a squeak, promising to make it better.
"Okay. I'll trust you." Nee said, adjusting her position so that she could wipe the blood with her free hand, using a tissue to erase the evidence that something happened in the first place. Normally Narcia would have shrugged it off and continued walking, but she knew Shiro wanted to contribute in this new crisis. So she let Shi lick the wound, cleaning and sterilizing it. It stung a little, but Nee could withstand it. "Thanks, Shi. If it became infected and I got sick, that'd definitely make things worse." She was lucky to have Shiro here with her, at her side.
Once they made it to their room, still under the cloak, Narcia took out her phone. She needed to do something, she had to put everyone on alert. So she gave out a public service announcement for everyone on the Untouchable Tier to be on guard and never travel alone at any cost, pinning the blame of Tartarian radicals trying to get revenge for the death of their King. Of course, she kept both herself and Shiro under the cloak. The longer they could stay unnoticed, the better.
Nee then scanned through various camera screens set up throughout the Untouchable Tier, finally finding what she was looking for. Someone lit a fire in the tier, near where the Dorones Estate used to be. And just as expected, the corpse of a young girl was brought out by rescue efforts. "Shiro, from now on, you're dead to the public eye." Nee said after she bandaged her wrist back up. "That way, you;ll be safe from Narina, okay? My mother would predict us to use augments to hide your identity, so it might be best for us to live under the cloak for now." She then took Shi by the hand, taking them to the room next door where Heron and Cress hopefully were. Once the elevator door opened, Narcia pulled both of them under the cloak, updating them on everything for now, about Shiro's fake death, and their plan with the cloak. Nee then fixated her gaze clearly on Heron. "Remember. If you fail in your duty to save Cress, I will have you executed. There is no margin for failure."
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βI don't care if I lose everything, so please.... come back...β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
As expected, Kora was accosted and blindfolded and taken to somewhere she didn't know It was clearly still in Ashia Palace but there was no way to tell where it was at all. The lamb felt disoriented but she was prepared. She'd either be able to trick Narina or die here, wouldn't she? And exactly to her estimations, someone approached her in this dark room, footsteps coming closer, removing the bonds and blindfolds. Narina was there, the person Kora really didn't want to see again. And in her hand was a familiar chip. Aya's ID chip was right there in her grip.
"Have you completed the mission?" Narina asked and Kora nodded. This was her one chance to trick Narina into believing she was on her side. She couldn't mess this up. "I recorded her dying screams for us to use against Narcia." Kora said with a cold grin, playing the role of the traitor all too well. She played it on her phone, to Narina's shrug. "It'll suffice, though I would have preferred having her alive. A dog needs to learn her place, you know." A dog, huh? Kora didn't like thinking of Shiro that way, but she played along. "She was weak. I couldn't control myself, you know." A wide grin appeared on the wolf's face. "I just can't stop killing." Narina leaned closer then, but still not touching. "Stay that way, Kohrya. You're more useful when you're willing to kill."
So then the topic went to Aya and the chip. "Chips aren't just for ID purposes. They also serve to map out the neural network of the owner's brain. So, theoretically, I could create an AI with Ayanna's brain information and implant it into an android body." Kora's eyes widened. So it wasn't a lie, then? There really was a way to bring Aya back somehow, even if it wasn't in the biological body she deserved. That lead to more questions, though, and one particular was one pressing down her back. How, exactly, was Narina still alive? They killed her, and the mortician even had her dressed and prepared for the burial. Unless she really was dead, and this Narina was just - no, but didn't Cress say once that Narina didn't have a chip? Not to mention, who would really benefit from bringing her back? The world was better with her gone.
But Kora knew not to ask. It'd only make her look more suspicious. She needed to gain Narina's trust, because otherwise, Narina would go to other methods to ensure her cooperation. Now that the former Queen held Aya's chip, she could bring her back only to torture and torment her. "I have another mission for you. Once you succeed, you can have your sister back, dear Kohrya." And so she told Kora her plot and the wolf nodded, because she knew she had no other choice but to pretend she was on Narina's team. The wolf smirked, the wild gleam in her eyes. "This one'll be fun."
Because this one involved eliminating Heron from the game, once and for all.
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
The longer Kora stayed away, the worse Cress got. She didn't like having Kora away, what if her mother had gotten her hands on her? What if she was torturing Kora? Taking her legs away again? What if Kora had betrayed them in the end anyways? "Cress, your heartbeat is erratic." Heron said, looking at the monitor. "Just dizzy... that's all." Cress lied with a smile, taking in a shuddering breath. "She'll be fine," Heron squeezed her shoulder. Cress looked at the ground, all she could do was trust that Kora knew what she was doing. They had arrived at the room, Heron threw open the doors, doing a security check before wheeling Cress inside. Heron opened up the curtains to allow some natural light into the room, the golden hour sending its warm room across the space.
Their bags were already in the room, no doubt dropped off by Wren. There was a note left to let Cress know that her gardening tools were being put somewhere else so as not to drag dirt into the castle. Cress was fine with that, as long as she would get to use it. Tomorrow Cress would be even stronger and by the end of the week, she wouldn't have to rely on an oxygen tank. There would be no more coughing when she giggled, or trying to catch her breath when she spoke. Corren said she'd probably still need the wheelchair for a bit and that she shouldn't walk too much in the beginning. She was still weaning off of the pain medicine too, which was what made her head so spiny.
They hadn't been in the room for three minutes when the door opened and shut and they were drawn underneath the invisibility cloak. "Nee you're... wrist!" Cress said in alarm, seeing the make shift bandage on it. Shiro was trembling, no doubt the pup had suffered quite a fright in discovering that Narina was still alive. Nee explained that they had faked Shiro's death in order to keep her safe. "Narina is... going to... expect you... to be... distraught." Cress said seriously. "You need... to make... a public... show of... mourning." They would all have to. A fake funeral was in order and even if it wasn't real, Cress felt a pang of sadness. "The ring." Cress said, "You should... put it... on your... locket for... now."
It would be a sign of desperation, that Nee really had lost Shiro and it was the only way to keep the pup close to her heart. When Nee said that failure for Heron meant death, the knight didn't miss a beat. "I won't fail!" She said, placing a hand against her heart. "I swear on my honor as Ashia's Fang!" Cress took a breath. "Nee you... don't have... to be... so harsh." The thought of losing Heron was unbearable and Cress wasn't sure why. All she received from the knight was grief and perversion and yet, Cress couldn't stand waking up without her by her side. Kora and Heron, they were both so special to her. The thought of either one no longer being with her physically hurt. This silly thing called hope, it was so fickle and fleeting. Yet Cress still felt it.
She hoped that there would be a better tomorrow, she hoped that they would make it out of this round of Narina's chess match alive. "Nee I... want to... help." She couldn't just sit here and do nothing, not while everyone was fighting their hardest against the enemy! "Please let... me do... something!" Cress couldn't be useless anymore, she was done with being protected, Cress wanted to be the one protecting!
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βYes Mistress.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
Shiro had torn off one of the more decorative aspects of the draping on her dress and used it as a make shift bandage to wrap Nee's wrist. The praise felt nice, being praised by Nee always made Shiro feel so happy. Even in a situation like this, Shiro was able to feel warm with Nee's presence. Love really was an amazing thing. Even though Shiro was shaking and scared, she held herself together long enough for Nee to pull her into the elevator. Once in there, Shiro put her pacifier back in her mouth, feeling chills run down her spine. Even underneath the cloak, Shiro had a vague sense that they were being watched. She held Nee's hand, careful not to touch the make shift bandage. Shiro looked up, spotting a camera in the corner. The camera couldn't see them, not with their stealth technology.
Shiro also knew that Nee inherited her genius technological gift from Narina. Which meant that anything Narcia made, Narina no doubt could counter. The thought made Shiro shake again and she gave Ellis a squeeze, knowing that she had to be strong. It was so very hard to keep the threads together, one tiny tug and the pup would unravel again. Nee said that from now on, Shiro was dead to the public eye. Did that mean Shiro was trapped in the castle again? Would she never get to go outside and see the sun? It wouldn't be forever, Shiro didn't think so, probably just until Narina was defeated. They had brought her down once, surely Nee had a plan? "Dead," Shiro said quietly. She gripped Ellis tighter, the word feeling heavy in her chest. Nee wouldn't send her away, right?
Shiro wasn't certain what being dead entailed. She knew one thing though, the shroud of the invisibility cloak, it was far too heavy. Shiro didn't want to stay under it, she felt lonely and scared at the thought of not being seen. "I don't want to be dead." Shiro whimpered, knowing that there was no way around this. Kora had gone to "kill" her and until Narina was really dead, Shiro would be fake dead. They had reached Cress's room and went in, taking the two under the cloak. Shiro stayed quiet as Nee explained everything to Cress and Heron, that Kora had faked Shiro's death and that they were to play along. Cress brought up a few good points and Shiro shook her head, clutching the ring against her protectively. "No," the pup whimpered, "Nee gave this to me, it's special."
"I don't think Shiro will be able to survive under the cloak." Heron said honestly and Shiro felt relief that someone understood. "What about that room?" Heron asked, "the one you made into a playground? Kill the surveillance, keep up a special sight for yourself and put Shiro in there until it's safe. The interrogation room is the last place Narina would look." The playground, the special safe place Nee had made for her as a birthday present. "Can I?" Shiro asked, tugging slightly on Nee's dress. "Can I stay in there instead?" No one had to know Shiro was in there but Nee and Cress and Heron. They could send one of the maids in with food disguised as cleaning supplies. It wouldn't look suspicious if Nee went in to check on her either. "Or you can put her in your closet, that way no one has to know she's there." Shiro was fine with that too, then she could still be close to Nee and they could still take their baths together.
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βIt's time to break the umbilical cord. I don't need you anymore.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
With her newly bandaged arm a la Shiro, they were hidden with Cress and Heron under the cloak. They were in Cress's room now, and everyone was up to speed. It was time to make a strategy, to figure out their next move. Kora was still unaccounted for and Narcia had a feeling she knew where the wayward lamb was. "It doesn't hurt. It's fine." Narcia said, waving off her wrist. It was a necessary step anyways, since she was the one who had Shiro's chip. Then Cress spoke, bringing up a very good point. But Shiro looked like she was clinging to the ring, and Nee knew what the ring represented. It was a promise of happier days, a promise that everything will work out. If she took the ring from her, then Shiro wouldn't have that promise anymore.
"No, I'll say that it's reassuring for a memento of our betrothal to be interred in the ground with her." Narcia said in an incredibly nonchalant voice, internally reeling at the idea of Shiro actually dying. Giving a public speech on the matter was going to be difficult, but Nee would do it. "The locket being a gift for her already counts as her being close to my heart, does it not?" Nee gave a sad sort of smile, touching it gently, wishing she had a picture of Shiro in already. She squeezed her intended's hand, reassuring her silently that she'd get to keep the ring.
Narcia breathed a slight breath, shaking her head. "It's not harsh. Cress, if either you or Shiro are captured, we're all dead regardless. That's the worst case scenario." She forced a weak grin. "Because I value you both above my own life, I'd sacrifice anything to keep you safe." Her voice went quieter, even if everyone could hear her. "I don't regret saving you from Semyon." Cress said that she wanted to help, that she didn't want to be useless, so Nee paused to think. What could Cress help with that wouldn't put her in danger?
And then it hit her. "Cress, do you mind if I assign you as... sort of, a manager for the knights?" Nee quickly explained what it'd entail. Cress's job would be to oversee both Itward and Heron's movements as a central sort of figure, keeping tabs on each knight based on their chips - including Kora - and making sure their supplies and weapons and armor were always in top order. She'd also handle promotions and demotions and screening the list of new recruits, as well as a slew of other duties. "Heron and Itward will advise you, of course, so you won't feel overwhelmed. I just thought, given your close friendship to Heron and Kora, that this job would suit you more than it would me." It also meant Cress had the power to declare war whenever she wanted, but Nee had a feeling Cress wouldn't abuse that.
Finally, they needed to figure out something for Shiro, and Nee thought she had just the idea. "Shiro and I will both move to the playground. I can say that I've retreated there in order to mourn and remember Shiro, if anyone asks. It also will explain food, and keep Shiro in my sights." The ice queen paused for a moment. "It's also the least likely place for anyone to look." There was one problem, though, and she turned to Cress to adress it. "...We'll be farther apart, sister, so I won't be able to respond quickly if you're ever in danger. So never part from Heron, even in the bathroom. You two should create a password that only you two know, in case there's an imposter like before. If Heron ever fails the password check, scream. My phone is tapped into security so it'll notify me and the knights of your position if you ever scream."
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βI hate you. I hate myself, I can't stand it anymore. Please look at me, please look at me!β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
You'd think Kora would be used to being overshadowed like this after so many years of being ignored in favor of someone else. In her childhood, it was Aya. Everyone always loved Aya the most and hated her. Once Aya was tragically killed by her own hands, then she wasn't even safe in her own body, a fake Aya was created to protect her and suppress her. Later, even with her new friends, Kora knew that everyone preferred the sweet and loving Aya over a brute like her. And now that Aya was gone, Heron was there to prove that it's not just Aya. Kora would always have someone better than her, more useful than her, and she would always be the one kicked to the side. It was a just price for what she did, wasn't it?
But now Narina was talking, saying things about how she was useful and needed. Narina was there, the only person to really look at her for who she was, instead of who they wanted her to be. "You're perfect for this plan, Kohrya." Narina said in that silky voice, bringing chills down Kora's spine. "Once Narcia is forced to conquer Etruria and Coriandrum and Ashia unites the Eastern Continent, you'll be hailed as a hero. People will notice you, and they'll love you. You'll overcome everyone in your way." And Kora wanted to cry because she never really had something like this before.
"Heron's really strong, Queen Narina." The wolf said quietly, accidentally allowing some of her envy and hatred bleed through. "...She's always been stronger. Better. Cress will... definitely love her more..." Narina then gave her a hug from behind and Kora wasn't sure how she felt about it. It was far too cold to be comforting. "You'll defeat Heron and become something far more than she ever could. I believe in you, Kohrya." Her words, her breath, it was tickling the lamb's ears. "As for Nui, she'll fall for you. She'll be another reward, alongside your sister."
That didn't really count as love, though, did it? But it was interesting. "...So she won't be killed?" Narina seemed to smile from behind her, that chilly laugh echoing in the darkened room. "I don't plan on taking the throne. Narcia is the Queen now. She just needs to learn to let go of love and take this opportunity. Etruria and Coriandrum will eventually recover from the Tartarian war, and she'll lose her chance for Ashian domination. My daughter's still too weak." So Kora's guess was correct after all. This was Narina's plan. She needed to get out and warn - but - it'd be fine, right? She could kill Heron, claim it was an accident, that'd be okay, wouldn't it? "Nui isn't a threat. With Heron dead, she'll be too busy mourning to be able to convince Narcia to stop going to war."
Kora knew she shouldn't believe Narina's words, but the way Narina made her feel, valuing her for who she was, trusting her and accepting her, the wolf couldn't help but wonder....
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
Cress nodded her head, it made sense. Shiro didn't look like she wanted to give Nee the ring, the poor pup looked like a human treat in a sea full of sharks. Nee didn't seem like she wanted to take it back, saying that the locket was enough. Still, they would all have to act as though Shiro was truly dead during the funeral. Ashia lost a queen before they could gain one. "What about... when she... comes back?" Cress asked. "Once this... is dealt... with, the... people will... be very... confused." Heron was the one who spoke up then. Cress rather forgot that the knight had a skill aside from brute strength and taking advantage of women. "What if instead of death, you can say that she's been critically injured and not likely to survive. That way, the people won't be confused, Narina will still count it as a win, and you won't need to waste expenses on a fake funeral."
Cress still thought that saying that if Heron failed, she would be executed was incredibly harsh. "We don't... know that... for certain." Cress said with a shake of her head, "Narina might... be plotting... to keep... us alive." They were her daughters after all and even though Narina severely abused Shiro, she also seemed fond of the pup. Nee said something else and Cress felt her heart stop. She didn't regret saving her from Semyon? Even after all this time, even after what Semyon had done to her body. Cress made a strange sort of sound, perhaps a whimper and a squeak. She didn't know what else to say. It was sweet, it was probably the bravest thing anyone had ever done for her and it connected the sisters in a way that no one else would ever be able to understand.
Cress's eyes widened as Nee asked her to be the knight's manager. She felt her heart skip a beat, something that Nee no doubt saw on the monitor. This was it! This was Cress's chance! "I'll do... it!" Cress said eagerly. Finally, she would be of some substance. Cress would no longer be a useless, she would get to do something, feel important. Even if it was something as complicated sounding as managing the knights, Cress was willing to do it if it meant she wouldn't feel like she wasn't needed, that she was just a distraction from the true goal. Plus it would mean she would get to be in charge of Heron, even though Cress was technically in charge of her already as Princess, Heron didn't seem to ever listen. "Alright boss," Heron winked, giving a salute. "Your wish is my command."
Cress wouldn't abuse this power, she knew that this was an important title. Nee went on to explain that she would move into the playground with Shiro as a way to mourn her. That made sense, Cress had heard that Nee had made the space nice to take away the bad memory that remained. Cress didn't know what happened in that room, but she knew it was something awful, something that had broken the pup. Nee said something else though, that they would be further apart. "It's only... temporary." Cress assured her, "I'll be... fine with... Heron." At the mention of having Heron go to the bathroom with her, Cress blushed. Heron wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, no doubt looking forward to when the week was over and Cress would no longer have the catheter.
"I'll scream... if anything... happens." Cress said with a short nod. The room had been reinforced, Cress noticed that to put things down the laundry shoot you now needed a finger scan. That was how the Tartarian soldiers had gotten her before, by sending her body down there.
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βYes Mistress.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
Shiro was relieved that she wouldn't have to give Nee the ring back. The engagement banner was a sign of better times, of the happiness that the two of them would eventually have. The thought of dying, even if it wasn't real, was near unbearable. As they spoke about the details, Shiro knelt down to sit on the floor. She held onto Ellis, leaning her head against Nee and suckling quietly on her pacifier. This entire ordeal was very stressful, knowing that she was Narina's target, that no doubt she would punish Shiro for being a bad lady in waiting, for falling in love with her charge. Shiro took the crown off of her head, wondering if she really deserved to wear such a thing. She wasn't any good as a lady in waiting, she was no better as a queen.
They were being moved into the playground. A round bed had been placed inside, big enough for the two of them. A canopy had been set up over it, one that could have stealth mode turned on should it prove they needed it. There was a bathroom in the space too, Nee had, had the foresight to have one built when the playground was being made. It had a bathtub that looked lie a little pond, with dishes shaped like a lily pad that held a pink soap flower. Once they were inside and the door was closed, Shiro took off her low heeled shoes, wiggling her toes in the artificial grass. "It's soft." She wiggled took her fancy socks off too, placing them inside of the shoes so that she wouldn't lose them.
Shiro fell to the ground, feeling overwhelmed once more by everything that had happened. She curled up into a ball, shaking and crying again. The pup squeezed Ellis tight, closing her eyes to try and make the spell pass, to be brave so that Nee didn't worry about her. Nee was probably scared too, Narina was a very scary woman. So Shiro gathered her strength, crawling over to where Nee was and nudging Nee's legs gently with her head, falling by her feet. There was no strength left in her tiny body, Shiro felt weak and cold and scared. Her eyes closed, the pup fighting to stay awake. "Nee," Shiro whispered. "I-I l-love you," Shiro's eyes fluttered shut again. Her pacifier fell from her mouth and she whimpered once more before falling asleep, spiraling down, down, down into nightmares.
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βIt's time to break the umbilical cord. I don't need you anymore.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
Narcia shook her head. She didn't really consider how the public would consider it, but she didn't necessarily care, either. If needed, she could inform them why she lied after all was said and done, but the top priority was Shiro and Cress's safety. They wouldn't be able to easily fake Cress's death, so having her in control of the knights would be the best way to keep her safe. Conversely, for Shiro, having her seen as dead would be the best way to keep the trail off of her. "I don't care what the-" But then Heron interrupted her, bringing up another possibility. Nee thought it over. It'd probably be good not to lose the people's trust, after all. So, reluctantly, Narcia conceded. "Fine. I'll have the news spread of Shiro's intensive burns and subsequent coma."
It was with a heavy breath when Nee admitted some of her innermost thoughts. "...I'd rather all of us die than Narina taking even a single one of us." She spoke quietly, some of her inner fears showing through the usual ice she employed to protect the soft core inside. She shuffled uncomfortable, feeling guilty about this weakness. "So if there's no way out, please die to spare yourself the torture. Death is a mercy compared to the things my mother is capable of." She knew she had to be strong, but it was getting harder to maintain her peerless shield of ice.
Once that was done, Narcia gave both Heron and Cress hugs, whispering something into Cress's ear. "You know more than anyone that Kora's probably struggling. You should be able to locate her on the Knight Chip Network." She whispered, only for Cress to hear. And with that, it was time to head to the playground with Shiro. Nee hugged Shiro and gave her a light peck on the cheek before getting to work, sending messages to both Princess (since she hadn't finished her coronation yet), and Queen Riana to prepare for trouble in the near future. Narina was aiming for them, and wanted her to declare war. She wanted her allies to be prepared for that eventuality as soon as they could, to be strong enough to defeat Ashian militaries if the worst did come to pass.
"I love you, Shi." Narcia whispered in response to Shiro's own quiet admission. She was done warning the other queens, so Narcia went over to the bed, crawling beside her intended, cradling her in a hug, even if she had fallen asleep. Nee tucked her under the blanket and tied the pacifier around the ribbon. The girl really had been scared out of her mind. Narcia wouldn't let her be taken from her again. Even if it came to it, she'd sooner kill Shiro than let Narina take her. "I'll... keep you safe." The Ice Queen muttered, clenching her teeth to try and stop her hands from shaking. "No matter the cost..."
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βI hate you. I hate myself, I can't stand it anymore. Please look at me, please look at me!β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
Queen Narina was definitely saying things and Kora was having a harder time being able to resist the words she was saying. "...No one's... ever cared about me." Kora found herself unable to keep her hidden demons safe, and Narina was somehow able to draw them out and talk to her in ways no one ever really did before. "You're an irreplaceable ally, Korhya." Narina assured her, still giving her that cold hug from behind. "No one but you can do this job for me." Killing Heron once and for all was going to be incredibly difficult, yet it was also fitting. It'd be symbolic, wouldn't it? Be killing Heron, Kora would be overcoming the fact that she was always outdone by someone. By killing Heron, she could prove to the world that she was worth something.
"No one looks at me." The wolf whispered and she couldn't help herself, she was shivering and she didn't know why. As each moment passed, her heart was opening more and more for Narina to enter and whisper those overly sweet words. "Even my friends, they..." Narina nodded, and Kora could sense a smile from the woman hugging her from behind. "They never appreciated you for who you were. They just wanted Ayanna, isn't that right?" Kora nodded. That's exactly it. Either they wanted Ayanna, or they cast both of her aside in the first place. No one needed Kora. They never did, even in the very beginning.
The lamb felt herself wanting to cry because her worst fears were coming true. "They just.... used me. Made me into a knight. Withheld my legs. As long as I'm useful they don't... care at all." Kora felt weak in the knees and she wasn't sure she'd be able to walk at all. "I'm not good for anyone." She felt like a broken rejected doll, tossed into the trash heap, forgotten and replaced with newer, better models. And then she felt even more resentment growing inside of her. "...When Aya was... dying, the Untouchables and Towers couldn't care less. Aya was just Rubble trash. Just a girl whose death didn't matter to anyone in the world." It was true, wasn't it? Even with Daddy, he refused to mourn Aya. He refused to accept that Aya was dead.
"It's a tragedy, isn't it?" Narina's voice was silky and smooth and Kora knew she was being strung around like a doll. "You have the power to fix this rotten world, Kora. I'll guide you. You'll find happiness. You deserve it, after all you've suffered." So when Kora was taken back out - blindfolded so she still didn't know where Narina's base was - the lamb stared bleakly at Ashia Palace, wondering whose side she was even on anymore.
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
Yes, Cress knew better than anyone the horrors that which Narina had performed. Even to her own children, that woman had never been kind. She was ice, an impenetrable statue that froze over everything it touched. "We won't," Cress smiled. "You won... once. You'll... do it... again." Cress felt breathless, there was a lot of talking to do and still more. Heron placed a hand on her shoulder, no doubt warning Cress that her vitals were awry. Cress hadn't been apart of the final battle, she had been injured, recovering from death, only to be back on the narrow walk that was the tightrope between the living and dead. Cress had been close to passing a couple of times, but thanks to Corren's quick thinking, she had survived. She wasn't going to let anyone do those things to her again.
An image of Itward, that day, flashed in her mind. Even with her purity restored, it was still something of a nightmare. Even if Cress had moved on, she still had flashbacks, the lingering anxiety whenever he was near. He was better, he wasn't doing those sorts of things anymore, making Nio proud, no doubt. Still, Cress couldn't help but shake when he was close to her. Cress wasn't sure if he noticed either, she would be happier if he didn't. There was no reason to make him feel guilty about what he had been forced to do. Narina had that effect on people, she turned them into monsters with a simple pull of strings, lacing them into her webs so tightly that they no longer wished to think freely. She had seen it again and again, no doubt those were the methods she was imploring to bring in new, naive recruits.
Nee bent over to hug her, Cress embraced her warmth, closing her eyes. "I'll find... Kora." Cress promised. Her hands tightened again as she and Heron were relieved of the stealth cloak. It was time to find Kora, Cress had to work fast. "Where has... our friend gone?" Heron showed her how to use the knight ID system. Every knight was required to have a special chip, one similar to that of the nobility. Cress was having trouble finding her, the system, while easy to use, wasn't locating Kora anywhere. "Wait a... second." Cress directed Heron to tap something, suddenly Kora's chip was right in front of the palace. "I don't... like this." Cress admitted, feeling her heart flutter for reasons unknown. "Did she... betray us?"
"I'm sure she wouldn't, we already explained to her that the dead stayed dead. Unless you're a Seraphim apparently," that was a shot at her. Cress grinned, sticking her tongue out at Heron even though there was a bit of sadness in her voice. Nio stayed dead. "Let's go... greet her." Heron moved Cress back into her wheelchair, the two of them going to the palace steps to meet Kora and find out what sort of motives she had. They wouldn't step outside of the property of the Ashian Palace, that would be far too dangerous. Cress trusted Heron though, the redhead could be over extravagant, but she was nothing if not sincere. The two girls had a deep concern for their friend, one that connected them far more than just friendship.
"Kora!" Cress called, seeing her. Cress breathed a sigh of relief, her oxygen was running low, they'd have to change the tank soon. Heron reduced the trickle just a bit to make it last and Cress's head was already spinning. They were standing atop the staircase that led into the palace. "I was... so worried! I'm glad... you're okay!" Cress winced, hoping that no one saw it. There was a throbbing at her temples, no doubt from over doing it. She would probably fall asleep before dinner, but that was alright, Cress wasn't really hungry anyways.
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βYes Mistress.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
"Sit," Nee said, holding up a treat. Shiro walked in a circle, sitting on her hindquarters. The puppy looked up, anticipating the treat. "Good girl," Nee scritched behind her ears and Shiro mewled happily, munching on the cookie. The bell on her collar rang with every step, letting anyone know that Shiro was near by; better hide your slippers! "No!" Shiro said happily, running around Nee's legs. "No! No! No!" She was happy though, the puppy looking a lot healthier than she had when she was living in a box. She had gained some weight, no longer were her ribs so prominent. She was growing a little bit too, long blonde hair covering what the doggy diaper didn't. "Narcia," Queen Narina knocked on the door. Shiro whimpered, hiding behind Nee's legs. "It's time for your lessons."
"I was just about to take Shiro for a walk," Nee pouted. "Walk!" Shiro echoed, hearing her favorite word. "I'll take her, you go on, there's important things to learn if you're to be queen one day." Nee knelt down, giving Shiro an ear scritch behind the augments. Shiro purred, rubbing her cheek against Nee. "Silly girl, you're not a cat." She said lovingly, then took her leave. It was just Shiro and Narina now and the Queen was approaching, leash in hand. "Come now Shiro, we have places to be as well." Shiro grasped her favorite toy between her teeth, following the tug of the leash. Ellis went where she went of course, she couldn't leave without her trusty side kick!
"This way Shiro," Narina said, her heels clicking with a fast pace across the tiled floor. Shiro was struggling to keep up, even on all fours. "Walk?" Shiro asked, knowing that this wasn't the way. She was confused, were they going a new route? Nee did that sometimes. "We're not going on a walk you pesky mutt," Narina said, opening up the door to the sick bay. Shiro froze, the familiar smell of antiseptic making her feel queasy. "Oh good, right on time." The doctor rose from his chair, adjusting his glasses. Shiro whimpered, backing up into the door. "Come now Shiro, this is for Nee." She lifted the pup up, plopping her down on an empty bed. "You want to stay cute and small don't you? No one likes a full grown dog." Cute and small? Was that what she was? Shiro yipped upon hearing Nee's name and they seemed to take that as a yes.
The doctor took something out from a drawer, growing close to her. Shiro backed up, tripping on blankets. He placed the muzzle over her mouth, looping it behind her ears and drawing it shut. "No!" Shiro yelled, this time in panic. She was restrained, her leash tied to the bed. The girl writhed, trying to escape, but it was too late. "Stay cute and small Shiro," Narina stroked her hair as the doctor worked, needles puncturing her spine, immobilizing her. He placed some sort of brace around her, attaching it to her collar. Shiro whimpered, trying to get it off, but it wasn't working. "A good doggy takes her shots without a sound." There were more needles, they went in various joints, injecting various colored liquids into each. It was hours of excruciating pain before Shiro was released.
"There," Narina stroked her spine and Shiro whimpered as bandages were placed over the large scar. "Good girl Shiro, Nee will be very happy." She removed the muzzle and Shiro licked her fingers, grateful that it was finally gone. She grasped Ellis in her teeth, limping behind Narina as the woman practically dragged the girl back to Nee's room. She opened up the door, leading Shiro to her doggy bed before unhooking the leash. "You were a very good girl today, I'll be back tomorrow." Shiro whimpered, she grasped the blanket, pulling it over herself and waiting for Nee to return. When the doors finally revealed her mistress, Shiro leaped to her feet, mewling in pain. She limped over to Nee, collapsing at her feet. "Shiro!" Nee looked at the bandages in alarm. "Shiro, what did she do to you?"
"No," Shiro whimpered, tears blossoming in her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. "N-no." Nee hugged her, fingers brushing the bandages. Shiro whimpered again and Nee apologized. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it won't happen again okay? Tomorrow you'll come with me. I won't let her hurt you again."
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βIt's time to break the umbilical cord. I don't need you anymore.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
"I got your message."
Queen Riana was talking to her, calling her almost immediately upon receiving the message to stay on guard. Riana seemed more or less doing well, though she didn't look particularly happy either. "I'll focus on military efforts for now, then. We are trusted allies, after all." Nee wasn't really comfortable with how easy and carelessly the word 'ally' was tossed around these days. Anyone could end up a traitor if you weren't careful. "Be careful. Anything can happen." Nee wanted, if possible, to maintain the equilibrium of the three main nations. Frelia was a wreck, and Tartaria wasn't faring any better. Honestly, if she wanted, Nee really could plan a full scale conquest of the Eastern Continent. But she was going to rule differently. She wasn't going to use violence if she could help it.
The topic went to Una Malachite, the last member of Tartaria's ruling family. Nee had already gone over Xion's reports of the Tartarian situation, and things weren't doing all that well. "Queen Riana, the sooner Una wakes, the better. The noble houses in Tartaria are acting up. They want Tartaria to remain sovereign, and they want their princess back from what is considered 'political detainment.'" Riana looked a bit troubled, and shook her head. "I'm sorry. Una isn't showing signs of waking. She's stabilized for now, but she still isn't waking up. Moreover, isn't it more important to cure her illness before trying to wake her up?" Honestly, up until now, Narcia thought the two were one and the same. She paused, not knowing exactly how to respond. "Apparently she was in horrible unending pain, so Semyon had her put in a chemically induced coma. The goal right now is to solve that pain and make her healthy, first and foremost."
"Fine." The ice girl murmured. She needed Tartaria tamed as fast as possible, and having Una's health guaranteed would definitely help make that a reality. "But don't take too long. We don't have the luxury of time, after all." Riana nodded, and then shut off the call, allowing Narcia to continue working on her speech on Shiro's condition. Shiro would be thought of publically as having suffered horrible burns as well as being comatose from the assassination attempt. The girl was still asleep on the bed and Nee could only hope she was having pleasant dreams. Nee sighed, the speech was proving to be more difficult than she previously thought. That was when her phone rang, and this time it was Cumin.
Cumin gave her an even smile, seeming tired out despite being a princess. "Is there anything you need?" Cumin asked, looking friendly and Nee remembered what was in the oath of citizenship in Etruria. You had to vow to always speak the truth and never ever speak anything but the truth. It was a law all Etrurians held to, and apparently it was a good policy for keeping people satisfied with their lives in general. "I'm willing to help in whatever way we can spare, Queen Narcia." More than Riana, Nee knew Cumin was going to be a much more reliable ally moving forward. "Just make sure you're ready for war at any time. I know you want to focus on rebuilding, but outfitting your military matters most, Cumin."
The Etrurian Princess nodded at those words. "That was already my priority." She explained, with a dry sort of smile. "Of course there will be instability after a long war. It would be silly to not have a working military, wouldn't you agree?" Narcia knew Ashia lacked numbers and size - but they made up for it with sheer skill. Itward, Heron, and now Cress. Hopefully Coriandrum and Etruria would be able to defeat them if Narina really did take control again.
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βI hate you. I hate myself, I can't stand it anymore. Please look at me, please look at me!β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
Kora had a dark expression on her face as she stood outside the main stairwell to the palace. As a knight, she was more or less allowed to go wherever she pleased, but for some reason, she felt as if she were forbidden from entering, as if she didn't have the privilege anymore. Honestly, the wolf wasn't sure where she stood. She wasn't on Narina's side... right? There was no way she could support Narina and her ideals. She couldn't betray Cress, she couldn't betray Shiro. But ... it's true that they never really made her feel welcome. They never truly... looked at her for who she was. Narina said that, didn't she?
Narina promised many things, and all of them seemed like they could be miracles. Before she could think more, though, Cress and Heron came down, the scarlet knight wheeling the princess. Cress was being Cress as usual and Kora felt a tug in her chest. She wasn't allowed to love, especially not after the first betrayal. "C'mere, will ya? We've got lots to discuss." Heron was there, with that arrogant grin on her face, that smile that trusted her way too much. "Okay. Sorry for worrying you." The wolf knight said and walked closer. That was when Heron's expression suddenly changed from inviting to suspicious.
"...You're too tense, Kora." Heron said, pushing Cress slightly to the side and pulling out her spear in one smooth motion. The wolf winced, of course it wasn't going to be this easy. "You really did betray us then, didn't you?" There was a reason Heron was the strongest - and not just in terms of brute strength. The wolf knight frowned, but then hardened her heart. She was going to finally overcome Heron. She was going to prove that she was better than Heron ever could be. "You're always so smart. So strong. You do everything right." The wolf knight got in an attack stance, ready. "You even have Cress's heart. She'll never love me the way she loves you." If negativity was visible, it'd be clear as day on the wolf knight.
Kora let out a wild, maniacal grin, looking less like a human and more like a wild beast, a human giving into her ugliest and darkest desires. "I'll kill you. I'll prove that I'm better. Then maybe people will look at me." So she attacked, and to her surprise, she landed a hit on Heron, cutting at her with some of her knife bullets from the launcher on her arm. Heron's stance was weaker now, with a slightly injured ankle. "Tch, damnit." Heron steadied her grip, narrowing her eyes. "Fighting to the death, huh? Fine, I'll play along. Looks like I gotta get serious this time!"
And so the two fought, but now that Heron was no longer holding back, the scarlet knight kept winning and gaining the advantage and proving that she was unbeatable. But Kora couldn't just give up. She couldn't simply let it go like this. Kora wasn't going to lose. "I'll kill you..." She stood up again after another spear attack, bleeding profusely from her side, blood dripping down onto the pearl ground. "I'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll kill you!" Heron whipped her hair behind her, looking peerless and flawless as usual. "Sorry, Cress. Tried to knock her out. Looks like I'm gonna... have to go for the kill."
Wow, what a joke. Even now, Heron was just going easy on her, huh? She was just holding back the whole time. She wasn't taking this seriously at all. So Kora knew for sure. Just by fighting, she couldn't win. But there was still one way she could claim victory. There was still one last strategy. She pressed a button on her gravity drive, a new function installed by Narina. This time, she'd win. "If I can't.... beat you, then I'l.... I won't... lose. Not to you. I'll never lose to you again." Five seconds. Kora lunged at Heron. Four seconds. Heron grabbed her spear. Three seconds. Heron kicked out and knocked Kora back. Two seconds. Heron slashed off Kora's arm at the wrist and grabs the gravity drive. One second. Heron throws it as far as it can go.
The ensuing explosion had two effects. One, Kora collapsed onto her knees from the blood loss, her vitals dropping rapidly. Two, even though Heron threw it, she didn't have enough time to get it safely far enough, so she covered Cress with her body out of instinct, shrapnel striking her, breaking the skin. But the worst of it wasn't the minor cuts and lacerations, but rather the shards of metal now sticking into both of her eyes, blinding the redhaired knight. To make it worse, the sound of the explosion blew out Heron's eardrums, stealing away her hearing as well. That was when Itward and Finnley and other knights finally arrived on scene, Itward cradling his sister and demanding what happened, asking why his sister was broken, and Xion calmly saying that they might have to execute Kora for treason once and for all.
"Cress? Kora?" The scarlet knight let out a half laugh. "I.... are you... both okay? Cress, where are you? Did I... protect you? Are you unhurt?" She stuck a hand out blindly, not noticing Itward holding her like a child, terrified of losing another sister. "It hurts. Cress, I can't. I can't. Where... where are you? Please answer me. Don't leave me like this..."
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βLet your soul take you where you long to be.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #CD5C5C β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #C5E3BFγ
|| Flaws || Bastille ||
Kora was there, looking like she was half asleep, dazed. What was wrong? "Come on... no need... to be... a stranger." Cress smiled, warm, inviting. Kora was her friend after all, it was only natural to be happy to see her. Cress felt relieved, she felt whole again with Kora by her side. The knight was walking up the steps now but Heron tensed. She pushed Cress slightly off to the side, locking the wheelchair. "Heron?" Cress asked in confusion. She didn't see the expression on Kora's face, the intent and resolve to kill. "No Kora... is our... friend! She... wouldn't betray... us. Right?" Cress looked desperately, searching for the girl she knew. The one that blushed when Heron called her cute, the one that didn't like sweets. "You're wrong... Heron! Take... it back!"
Kora didn't try to convince them, she wasted no energy to quell the confusion, instead, speaking of something else. Cress blushed, shaking her head even though it hurt, even though she was running out of oxygen. "That's not... true!" No one was listening to her though. The two knights stared each other down, a battle to the death between competitors, rivals in more ways than one. Was it true? Did Heron have her heart? No, Cress couldn't love, not after... that. She was impure, even with the seal put on again. Used, that's what Cress was. Like a broken child's toy, discarded to the side. Cress could never be a princess, she couldn't even be human.
Heron had her lance, Kora had a grin. The two were stark opposites, one blonde, one with fiery red hair, both with a resolve. One to protect, the other to kill. "Stop it!" Cress screamed, black dots dancing her vision. "Both of... you! Stop... this insanity!" Instead, Kora spoke words of jealousy. So Narina had gotten to her after all. "It's not... true!" Cress tried to tell her, coughing. "Kora I-" she stopped, the oxygen tank was running on fumes. "I will... always look... at you." Then they lunged, a conversation that went unheard aside from the blows striking one another. "Stop it!" Cress screamed, "Please, stop!" She was panting, her lungs not wanting to pump in oxygen on their own.
Kora was hissing words of hate, spewing them towards Heron who deflected with her own words. "She's brainwashed you," Heron tried to reason with Kora. "You can't listen to what that woman tells you!" Kora wasn't listening, the girl was beside herself in a jealous rage, using her gravity drive and the knife launcher to strike Heron again and again, drawing blood. Heron deflected most of them, but there were still so many knives that came out of nowhere, striking the knight and making her grit her teeth. Heron let her hair down, making a pun so bad, that even midst battle, Cress had to groan at the ridiculousness of it. That's right, Cress had forgotten that Heron didn't take anything seriously, except maybe military strategy.
Kora tapped something on her wrist. "Gravity drive," Cress drew in a breath, hoping she wasn't seeing what she thought. Why would Kora betray them like this? She had friends who would support her every step of the way and yet, it wasn't enough. Even though she now controlled the knights, Cress was still weak. "I'm sorry... I can't... be strong... for you." Her shoulders shook, hands balling into fists. Cress would pass out soon, her lungs burned and yet, the princess endured, knowing that this was the pain her friends were feeling. Wait a second! There was one thing she could do! She looked at the tablet on her lap, able to get her hands to steady enough to move them the few inches she needed to alert Corren and Itward.
It was too late, Kora was declaring that she would never lose, her gravity drive buzzing in a strange way. Cress's eyes widened, it was something like being in slow motion, your terror and sadness all coming up at the same time, watching as Heron threw the gravity drive, as she ran, shielding Cress with her own body, sending the wheelchair flying over. The blast sent Cress down to the stairs, to the first platform. Itward came running out with Xion hot on his heels. "Princess!" Xion ran down the steps, lifting Cress easily. "Air," Cress choked, feeling as though her lungs were being squished. Xion put in a call, not two minutes later, Corren arrived with an oxygen tank. "Heron!" Cress screamed, seeing the knight. Xion put Cress down beside her, the knight laying in a pile of rubble.
Even with black dots dancing in her vision, Cress managed to somehow hold onto Heron. "I'm here.... I'm here... Don't worry." Cress tried to soothe, only realizing in horror that Heron couldn't hear her either. "I'm safe... you saved... me... you did... it." Tears ran down her face, leaving a path in their wake. Corren came down, more knight streamed in, surrounding Kora. Xion was speaking of execution, of an act of treason. "No!" Cress yelled. "Narina is... controlling her!" She tried to explain. "Like with... Itward." That had to be it, Cress wouldn't believe anything else. Corren came then, working on getting Heron stable. "Thankfully, with our technology, these injuries will heal in no time." As for Kora on the other hand...
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βYes Mistress.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ: #FFAEB9 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #63D1F4γ
|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||
"Walk?" Shiro asked, bouncing around on all fours. She winced, her elbow giving out and hitting the ground. Shiro whimpered, she hadn't been as coordinated as before, no Shiro was much more clumsy now. The pup still seemed happy though, barking at her princess, wriggling whenever Nee pet her. Her tail waggled when Nee scritched her behind the ears. "Yeah, we can go on a walk." Nee said, taking her leash. The door opened, Narina was back. "Narcia, Corren has been waiting for you." The Queen said, dressed in finery as per usual. She had one of her ladies in waiting with her, holding a tablet with all of the day's information. "I'm taking Shiro with me to my lessons," Narcia said, standing strong. Narina sighed and shook her head. "That's no good Narcia," Narina gave her a love tap on the nose. "Your little dog will only be a distraction."
"No she won't! I promise!" Narina sighed, smiling adoringly at her daughter. "I can never say no to you. Fine then, take Shiro to your lessons. However, if I hear from Corren that she proved to be a distraction, Shiro will be staying with me during your lessons tomorrow." Narcia nodded her head. Shiro chased her tail, biting it, then yelping when she realized that it hurt. "Come on, Shiro, we're going for a walk." Shiro perked up instantly, "Walk!" She ran to grab Ellis from her doggy bed, grasping him in her mouth. Nee hooked the leash on her collar, grabbing something from the closet and walking to the classroom where Corren was. "I brought her," Nee smiled. "Walk?" Shiro asked, sitting down on her hindquarters. "Sorry Shiro, I tricked you a little bit."
"Corren, from today on, please help me to teach Shiro to be a human." Corren evaluated the pup, poking her ears, feeling her tail. He gave her a few ear scritches and Shiro mewled happily. "It won't be easy," Corren admitted, seeing as how the pup refused to wear clothing. "But I hate to see children get so abused." He lifted one of Shiro's hands, seeing the bandages wrapped around it. "What did she do?" Corren inquired, looking deep into Shiro's eyes. Shiro licked his face, then spun in a circle, wondering if there were treats to be had. "I brought these," Nee went into her bag, taking out a basket full of treats and a dress. Shiro bound right over to her, seeing the basket and wriggled, her tail waggling. "Not yet," Nee said, stroking Shiro's head. "Soon though, I promise."
Corren clapped his hands together, "Operation Turn the Puppy into a Human has commenced!" The first task was trying to get Shiro into the dress. The pup didn't want to wear it, she squirmed and mewled, running away to hide underneath the table. "Maybe we should house train her first," Corren murmured. So Nee took one of the treats and led Shiro over to the toilet, closing the door because this was a girl thing. "Okay Shiro, this is how you use it." Nee took Shiro's front paws-er-hands and made Shiro stand on her legs. Shiro didn't like it, she whimpered, the pain from the needle piercing her spine. "It's okay," Nee assured her, showing Shiro how to use the toilet. Shiro didn't understand though, so Nee took off the belt with the doggy diaper and sat Shiro on it, trying to coax her into going.
It turns out that this was a sign from her brain that she had to use the potty. Shiro blinked her eyes open, feeling something warm. She squeaked, standing upright and bolting towards the bathroom. It had only been a little sprinkle that came out, her panties were already wet though from when Finnley had announced that Narina was alive. She really was a dog wasn't she? Not able to do even the most human task of holding her bladder.
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βIt's time to break the umbilical cord. I don't need you anymore.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||
The chess board was moving, changing, and even now, things were quickly growing from bad to worse. Xion was there, giving her a run down of the events that had just now come to pass. Xion informed her of what happened to the knights, of Kora and Heron's fight, Heron in the medical bay being treated for her wounds, Kora having her wrist bandaged up and being detained in a cell. "She's volatile." Xion said simply, shaking her head. "She's too vulnerable. It was easy for Narina to prey on her weaknesses and create this disaster." The one-eyed woman gave her a level stare, and Nee knew what she was implying. "An execution, you mean?" Xion nodded, a curt frown on her face.
Honestly, Nee didn't really want to do it, but she knew the risks of keeping Kora alive. The citizens wouldn't stand for this, they wouldn't allow a knight to turn against her princess and get off without punishment. Even though Narcia tried to do damage control and reducing the amount of publicity this event had, there was no stopping the news stations from giving their own interpretations, and it all focused on one person. Kora, the culprit, siding with the Tartarian rebels, committing treason against the crown. And already citizens were starting to petition for her death. Narcia let out a pained sigh. "I won't authorize it. If you think it's the best solution, then you'll have to convince Cress."
That was when Shiro woke up from her slumber, letting out a squeak and dashing for the bathroom. Xion took her leave of them and Nee glanced back at her intended. The playground was created specifically for Shiro, after all, built with everything Shiro would need in order to survive this next game of chess. A cool, artificial breeze spread out through the room, and the windows showed images of sunshine and brightness. "Shi? Are you okay?" Nee called, then she saw it, a tiny stain of wetness where Shiro was sleeping. Nee then understood. "Shi, it's okay. Accidents happen, and you suffered a bad shock."
In normal circumstances, Nee would have fallen to her anxiety as well. But it was odd - instead of panicking and freaking out that her mother was alive, Nee's mind was as clear as ever. She was focused on the task, and - instead of urgency or terror - she only really felt a faint numbness. It was almost like a detachment from the rest of the world, from her own emotions. It was better than crying hysterically, unable to do anything. Nee knew like this was the best, since she'd be able to make strategies without her emotions getting in the way. With the sheets changed and replaced, Nee followed Shiro into the bathroom, giving her a kiss and a hug. "I'll always love you."
Cress probably wasn't doing well either. For all Nee knew, her sister was blaming herself for this disaster. So after hugging Shiro and assuring her that their love was eternal, she knew it'd behoove her to go visit Cress and check up on her. "Do you want to visit Cress with me?" Narcia asked, already bundling up the assassin's cloak in her arms. If Shi wanted to, she'd have to travel under the cloak to protect her secret. If not, Shiro would be locked in the room and be allowed to play on the playground - the door would only open with Narcia's retina scan and voice. No one else had the authority to open the door. Whatever the case, Narcia went to go check on her sister, with or without Shiro.
"Cress. How are you feeling?" Narcia asked upon finding her sister. Her voice was soft, gentle, lacking the usual coldness that usually came with her tongue. "I won't forgive mother for this. She'll pay for what she did." She embraced Cress tenderly, wanting to comfort her and ease her pain. "What happened is not your fault." That was when one of the knights - Finnley, was it? - approached, looking fearful. "Princess, Queen, you need to come quick. Itward, he's-" Itward? What was happening? Nee put her hand tenderly on Cress's, giving her a reassuring squeeze. They were going to have to find out, then, wouldn't they?
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βI hate you. I hate myself, I can't stand it anymore. Please look at me, please look at me!β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#30b818 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #d1ca00γ
|| Crystal || Of Monsters and Men ||
Kora was always good at handling pain. She could fight past it, ignore it, focus on something else entirely. But when her hand was cut off, the spear's blade shearing through the bone, Kora couldn't do anything but let out a weak gasp, then collapsed onto her knees, buckling over and clutching her new stump with her good arm, a tiny squeak escaping her voice. Did she beat Heron? Did she win? Was she going to die? Why wouldn't Heron just let her die? Why did Heron have to cut her hand off and save her? Kora fully intended to die in the explosion, she was prepared for it and yet...
When she awoke in a dark cell, Kora's questions were answered by Itward. Heron survived and would be fixed. Cress was alive. And Kora was by all rights deserving of death after what she did. Kora agreed, she wanted to die. If Heron wanted her to live, then the wolf knight - if she still counted - would put herself to death in return. She'd oppose Heron forever. "I do want to die." The knight said with a grin, still wincing at her stump, finding it feeling wrong on every level. Itward didn't look happy at all. "You should die, but you won't. Cress will spare you." Wait, Cress didn't have that authority, though. Unless she was given a position of power instead of just being a princess...
Itward then entered the cell and he was shaking all over, looking frantic. "Knowing Cress, you won't even get punished for your treason." Then Kora had an idea. A very, very interesting idea. "We're one and the same, aren't we? We both listened to Narina, we both let her into our heads and let her control our souls. So if I deserve death, you do too, don't you?" The scion of the Cherubim family grimaced and then lunged at her, gripping her by the collar of her jacket. "Shut up. You - you almost took my sister from me, so shut up, you traitor-" Kora grinned weakly, happily goading him on, provoking him again. "But wasn't it you who killed Nio?"
That was when the beating started. The punching, even the first one took all the strength from her body, the wind out of her chest. And she let out a broken half laugh, sounding like a marionette, as Itward beat her over and over again, giving into his rage and self hatred, the same self hate Kora understood all too well. She was already beaten into unconsciousness by the time Finnley heard the noises and ran to get help. Yet despite being thrown about the room, there was an almost peaceful smile on the girl's face.