Evacuation
It was September the first, nineteen thirty nine, and it was declared World War two had officially started and it changed everything for me. The first thing that I noticed was the bullying at my school had increased and that led me to getting into fights, which the teacher would break up. Then I would get detention. Shortly after the announcement father had to go to war and shortly after he left I was told to pack my bags.
"Why, why do I need to pack my bags?" I asked, angrily.
My mother had light blonde hair and stern blue eyes. Yet the way she looked at me told me that I was not going to like what I was going to hear yet I was not to argue.
"I am sending you to Britain." She replied. "I know someone there that will look after you!"
"What? Why do I need to leave New York? I love it here!" I shouted.
"No, you don't. I can tell. Those children bully you and I know that the teachers give you more detentions than any other student."
"But at least I will be with you! I love you and I don't want to lose you!"
"Because I love you, and I do not think that there would be another chance to get you on another boat. I fear that if you stay here you will end up like Little Dig!" She said.
"Who's that?"
"My older brother, who got blown up in the first war."
"Are you coming with me? Oh please mother, tell me that you are!" I cried as her face became darkened and stern.
"No, I am sorry, I have a duty to remain here and you have a duty to live. After all, I do not think that starting here will allow you to live much longer. That is why you must go." She snapped clearly harsher than she had intended.
I felt anger rise up within me as I did not understand what was going on at the time. I hated the war and all that it took from me and I hated my teachers and all the bullies that I had to fight day in and day out. I hated that from the moment that this war started strangers in the streets looked at me as if I was nothing but dirt. Then there was that one gang that I barely survived.
"Fine!" I groaned as I quickly packed the bare minimum.
Soon, after a long line, I was on the ship and soon we were off. First thing that I did was look for a place to sit that gave me a good look at my home as the place started to shrink and shrink. The last thing that I saw was the tops of the skyscrapers before it was nothing but the blue sea. I started to play with my name tag; AQUA AOSHINÉ. I looked at the other children to see if I had the only name with an alliteration.
Yup! I thought as I curled up and tucked my white streak behind my ear. It was a bit of trauma hair that I got when I was in a fight when I was five. I looked down to see my blue and black brown eyes looking back at me. I asked my mother why I had different coloured eyes. She told me that she and father had an argument about what colour eyes I should have, but they agreed that this would be the best solution and I, as a child, believed this.
I spotted people staring at me and one man looked at my name tag but then looked at my pale face and shook his head. I noticed that there were people muttering among themselves. I could see another child pointing at me as if I should be noticed, although I, at the time, did not know why. I just looked back at my reflection until I drifted off.
I woke up early in the morning and it was still dark. I was shivering and my breath became water vapour. I could see that the whole ship was dark and there was not a light on that I could see! This was perfect for me, for I could see the full moon and more stars than I had ever seen in my life. I could not even count them! I let my jaw drop and I gazed up at the tiny dots like snow glowing in the sky!
I want to go there! I want to see all those stars and fly along them!
It seemed like moments later I was being shaken awake by someone who worked on the ship. He smiled as I came round. I wiped my eyes and sleepily took my luggage and walked off the ship with a small roll of bread in my hand. Everything became a blur and soon I was sleeping on a noisy train as my saliva painted the window and the cold nursing my aching forehead as my mind organised my thoughts as it tried to adjust to the new time difference.
Soon I woke and walked to the dining car clutching my case. I looked at the prices and I finally understood why my mother had drilled the difference between dollars and dimes and pounds and pence. I opened my purse and I bought a Sunday lunch for five pounds. I then pressed my hands together.
"Dear Lord, thank you for this food and bless the hands that went into making it. In Jesus's name amen!" I said out loud and then dug in like I had never eaten anything in my life. Other than that the train trip was uneventful and soon I was sitting in a train stop with my luggage in my hands. Time then became not that important.
Soon a car drove up and parked behind me in the car park. It was a blue ford with a wooden guard painted raven blue. The door opened to reveal a woman dressed in royal blue with a pendant with a blue crystal.
What on Earth is her obsession with blue? I wondered as she climbed up the stairs and walked directly up to me.
Her blue eyes were sunken in and looked almost hidden by her blue eyeliner and eyeshadow. She smiled with blue lips which made me frown. She held out her hand to me.
"You must be Aqua, I am Berry Blue. Pleased to meet you, finally." She spoke with a southern British accent. Feeling awkward and reluctant,I shook it.
"Yeah...You too…" I muttered feeling like I just wanted to go back home and interrogate my mother to find out why she was sending me to live with such a strange person. She took my luggage and threw it in the open pace that I knew that she knew was not a boot. I then got in without question as she took her seat next to me and we buckled up. Then as soon as we had settled she drove off.
"Soon I will be rid of you blue." She muttered.
"What?" I asked, feeling an irrational sense of dread as we flew past hills and fields.
"Nothing, now I do need to warn you, we are going to go up a steep road soon." She said as she turned left and onto a bumpy single road that suddenly became flat. I soon spotted that it led to an unguarded steep road. She then turned right and started the climb. A strange, exciting panic rose in me as I looked down to see that the car tires were inches away from the edge! We drove higher and higher. Soon we were at a point where if the car nudged left, and over the edge, then I knew that we would not survive the crash! My breathing increased as I bit my lip.
Mom! What on Earth are you thinking? I will surely die if I have to brave this road every time I have to leave this woman's house! Seriously, regardless of what you say, staying in New York's safer than staying here!
Then we turned right and I spotted a gate painted blue. It had spikes like spires and in between were ones like fish hooks and above in an arch sat two blue bars and between those bars there lay the words; Fortuna Hyacinthum Sicut stellam...
"'My fate is blue, like the star fallen...'" I muttered. "What does that mean?"
"It was written on a piece of parchment that my father received along with a stone that he bought for mother. I think that I will give it to you when you are ready." She explained.
The trees revealed a mansion that looked part Gothic, mediaeval and Tudor, Elizabethan. It must have had many rooms for it was almost double the size of the trees in height and it must have had the same width as a skyscraper!
We parked up and I was about to get my bag but Miss Blue had it in her hands before I even knew that she had left the car. She then pushed down the handle, for back then we did not need to lock our houses. Not to mention I didn't think that any thieves would be so brave to try to make the trek up the road! So I knew that it must have been well guarded.
She gestured for me to go in first which I did.
"Thank you Miss Blue." I muttered as she closed the door behind me.
"Now let us break the ice. How about playing a little and why not play hide and seek?" She asked.
I looked at her and frowned.
"But I-"
"Come on, I will go first, and yes it will be quite alright if you end up in my bedroom." She said as she turned around and started counting.
Quickly I took my que and backed away and ran up the stairs and then down the hall. I turned left then right and I came to a set of double doors. I flung them open and found a desk to hide under in the library with books every colour of the rainbow! I was going to stay there but I could spot that there was a painting that stuck out further from the wall than the rest.
Overcome by curiosity I crawled to my feet and then took a look and spotted a gap behind and as soon as I pulled I spotted that it was in fact a door! I opened it further and closed it behind me and then was greeted with another library! But the book were only different shades of blue and I spotted one with the shade of blue that Miss Blue was wearing, without knowing why I pulled it and it spun round to reveal a grey room with a single door I closed the bookshelf behind me and then I sat down knowing that Miss Blue would never find me...
A Whole New World
I could not tell you just how long I hid there, I soon started to lose track of time. Even though it could have only been a dozen minutes, it felt like hours. Wondering if I was hiding too hard, I was about to come out of my hiding place and find a place that she could find me easier, until I spotted that somehow there was a darkened blue glow around me. Frowning I looked around, wondering where the glow came from until my eyes dropped to the door and spotted that it was coming from there. Curiously, the light bent in a swirly pattern like stardust in a nebular.
I spotted that there were words above the door, again in Latin;
Haeream illud devorat,
Quibus tangere …
"'Enchanted it devours, those who touch...'?" I said out loud.
Wonder what that means...I thought as the rest of my thoughts slipped away.
I took one step after another before I knew it I felt my hand grip something and my wrist twisted almost like they were moving with a will on their own. I moved past the door frame. I felt my feet rest on a metal step on a spiralling staircase. The blue light seemed to become brighter and brighter the further down the staircase I descended. I could see that the staircase was a blue metal and as my hand slid down the bannister I could feel it changing under my finger tips, soon I was not feeling metal at all, but crystal.
When I was at the bottom I was greeted with a crystal blue door that seemed to be carved like wood, even had the make up as it. The bricks were also made of the same blue crystal as the door. Then I looked in the centre of the door next to the doorknob and there was a plaque and on it was yet another message in Latin;
'Horruit fraudibus irretitus, Fugit falsa in terra …'
Before I could translate it in my head I was passed through the door.
"Aqua?!" I heard Miss Blue call somewhere in the distance.
I was about to shout but my mouth could not move and soon I was closing the door. Then the edges glowed blue and sealed itself up with the arching door frame! I was trapped and I knew it, but I felt an unnatural frightful peace as I turned around and walked down a blue crystal hall to another door with another plaque with another Latin message on it;
Manere aeternum; In stellam …
I walked past the door and found myself in a small room filled with the blue crystal where the blue light had originated from. I could see the swirls were thickening and I felt my body move closer and closer to an uneven and jagged blue rock. I felt my whole body was being pulled to the rock almost like a magnet. By this time I knew my agency over my body had long since gone.
"Aqua…" I heard Mrs Blue call somewhere further in the distance.
I wanted to cry out but my mouth, again, was unmoving as the panic broke the peace that I was feeling like a stone being thrown in still water.
HELP! I'm here! Please find me! PLEASE! What is happening? What is happening? Why can't I scream out! WHY CAN'T I-?
I could hear the beat of my heart in my ear and silenced screams choked at my throat. I could see my vision become like water. I could feel myself shaking as the swirls wrapped themselves around me and forced my shaking hand to the surface of the rock. Then the rock started growing around my hand. I tried to pull it out as the growth raced up my arm.
What is this? What is happening? I'm gonna die! I was evacuated to go to a safe place and I'm gonna die in this 'safe place'! What was mom thinking?
Soon my entire arm was in the blue rock and then it spread across my body! I could not breathe and my rapid breathing was doing nothing to help me. Soon I was wheezing and coughing as the rest of my body became cocooned in the rock and my body glowed like a spark in an electric light bulb. I had to close my eyes.
Then I felt myself falling. I could breathe. Light was blinding my closed eyes. I dared to open them again and white greeted my eyes. I looked down and found that I was in mid air and my hair was in the air. I felt a breeze greet my face as I looked at a dot in the horizon. I could see it getting bigger and bigger and soon it dawned on me; I was falling!
My jaw opened as I screamed at the top of my lungs. Then I realised that I was free to move again! I could control myself again! I then started to laugh as I realised that if I was falling then I was going to die the moment that I was to collide with the surface of where I was falling. I was now free and I was going to die!
How very absurd!
I then saw the dot was now a big sphere and I felt my falling becoming slower and slower. Then I found myself not colliding with the ground beneath my feet but being rested on it, like a mother placing down her child.
Found myself placing my hand on, to my surprise, grass as I sat up.
Strange, I don't remember there being grass here before...
I looked down as I gazed at the grass. I had to stroke it several times, just to see if it was real.
How is this happening? No, what is happening? Where am I? I wondered as I smoothly climbed to my feet, my jaw dropping at the vastness of this new world!
"'Dorothy, we are not in Kansas any more'!"
New Friends
The sky was light baby blue with clouds that were so light blue that it almost appeared white. The grass was emerald green with red, purple, yellow and orange flowers dotted around the grass. I took a moment to explore this new world, at first my mouth was open with awe and wonder at how beautiful the place was. My mind was blown at just looking at it.
I'm in another world! I really am in another world! I can not believe that I am in another world! These words were on constant repeat in my head, just in different words and ways to say it. I was so awestruck that I could no longer feel my heart and the motions of my breath.
This did not last, though, for I soon noticed that I was alone in this world. There was nobody around me and as I walked around to see if there was anyone here. Then I became lonely in this world. After walking around for hours and hours I had not seen a single person in this world, nor did I see a single building. I wanted to talk to someone and to hear about what this world was like and to see what kind of people lived here. Maybe find out how I came to this world and then how to get back.
Suddenly as if something had taken note I spotted a tall man walk up to me from the horizon. He had pointy ears that looked like the shape of a robin's upside-down body looking up without its legs. He had long black locks that reminded me of a waterfall at night, with twin braids cutting down it. He had eyes the colour of deep blue water that screamed wisdom and intelligence. This was emphasised by his high cheekbones that demanded respect.
"Are you lost, little one?" He asked, his voice was soft but strong, thick with a British accent.
"Yes, my name is Aqua Aoshiné. I'm an evacuee from New York. I came here when I was pulled by-I don't know, but I was then forced to touch this blue rock and now I'm here. Wherever 'here' is." I explained.
He frowned as he looked away for a moment but then turned back.
"Well, that is quite a tale, my name is Elishun, an elf. I live here in Bluespring Eve. A land plagued by the evil witch sisters, Blister Lasnow and Slitpipe Lashadow. They have oppressed this kingdom for countless generations and they will continue to do so until someone is either brave, foolish or intelligent enough to defeat them. This is why I am here. I wish to gain respect in my kingdom Elra by either freeing this land of their grip or die trying." He explained with such charisma that would motivate anyone to follow him and his noble quest.
I then smiled slightly at how much he reminded me of the heroes I liked to read about in books.
"Well, can I come with you? After all, I don't know this place and you're the first person that I have met and I know that we would benefit each other's company." I asked, knowing that I did not want to be left alone in this world, especially now that I knew that there were a pair of evil witches around. After all, I feared what they would do to me if they found me, or worse if I accidentally found them!
"Alright, but I must warn you; this journey will be long and perilous. Thus if it becomes dangerous later on I would prefer it that you left. After all I could only dread to think what they would do to an innocent child like you…" He warned.
I put my feet together and raised my hand to salute him.
"I will do my best sir!" I barked like what I thought a soldier would act like. "And if there is anything I can do to help I'll not hesitate to do it Mr Elishun!"
He nodded with a look of both concern and protectiveness.
"Alright. At ease, soldier!" He said as we walked on.
We walked and walked until my ankles started to ache from the uneven ground. We then came to a small and cosy tavern that looked as if it had been built in the Tudor era with a mediaeval twist. It had a beautifully carved plank of wood that hung from a pole saying; Aoblue Patraiwa underneath the black painted single door.
"Mr Elishun, do you think that we should stay there for the night?" I asked.
He looked at the tavern, the corners of his eyes twitched as he looked down at me.
"Well, we do need to get something to eat." he said as we walked up to the single door.
I reached out my hand to open the door, when it opened and I heard laughter as something hit me and I was on the floor. I only tapped my head against the cobbles and soon I was seeing a pair of goat legs that, as I followed them up to see a human's six pack and then I slowly realised what was on my stomach. I looked at him worried that he had hurt himself. Only to be greeted with even more laughter.
"C'mon lass! Just one more-" He spoke with a deep, drunken Scottish accent.
"You've 'ad enough drinks! Now get out now!" Boomed a woman that suddenly appeared at the doorway. "'N' ge' off tha' wee lass now!"
She then kicked him off me as he then burst out laughing even more! He then looked at me as if he had just noticed me and outstretched his sweaty hand that stunk of alcohol.
"Hi! I'm Whittenni Billin! Nice to meet you wee lass!" He said as I shook his hand and passed out still shaking my hand.
Sighing I picked him up, he was quite light for his size. I looked at Elishun displaying my intention. He shook his head. I sighed out of disappointment. He then sighed displaying the fact that he had given in.
We then booked ourselves a room and I rested Whittenni on the bed as we sat at the table.
"Well, we can not predict how he will behave when he wakes so I will stay awake." He said as we ate.
I nodded understanding what he meant. After that I lay down on the floor and slept there and then. I then drifted off to dreamland.
I found myself frozen in rock as I looked around and saw people screaming for help, but before anything else happened I was quickly being shaken awake. I was glad that the faun was still asleep, for I knew that I did not want him to overhear what it was that we were talking about, for fear that he knew the witches that we were going to defeat.
"So, where are we going?" I asked as Elishun pulled out a map.
We had a warm mug of tea each, which we used to keep the map flat.
"Yaminox Forest, where Blister lives in a cottage." He explained.
"And how will we know which is her cottage?"
"Because, it's the only cottage in that hell hole, and it is located in the whitest part of the forest." Whittenni muttered as he stirred.
"And how do you know that?" I asked suspiciously.
"Wait, did you say your name was Whittenni Billin?" Elishun asked.
"Oh, was I that drunk eh?" He muttered, rubbing his head. "After all, after drinking as much as I have, you get used to the alcohol."
"As in the Whittenni Billin, silent h double t, n and l?"
"Aye, but I don't know what you've heard of me laddy but I'm not that knight any more! Not after what they did to me 'n' my family!" He exclaimed. "Those Witch Sisters killed 'em 'n' left me for dead! And for what? Just 'cause I was the only one who almost killed them on my king's orders? I honestly wouldn't believe it ifI hadn't lived it."
He bowed his head as tears fell down his cheeks as he made a noise like a high-pitched hiccup. Wiping his seemingly never-ending tears he looked to the side of the bed. I then took out my handkerchief and handed it to him. He nodded his thanks and continued to wipe away his tears. We waited until he had finished crying then we continued our conversion.
"So, what will our plan be?" I asked.
"We've got to burn it down to the ground."
"But that is cowardly and I am no coward!" Elishun exclaimed.
"No, young lad, there's a difference between being cowardly 'n' being a plain idiot. Believe me, you won't stand a chance using that old code without a good plan." He explained.
"Right, I get the point, but I still feel as if I should fight her!" Elishun shouted.
"I know, but you can't kill this one. After all, she has the Witchslayer blade and she has cast a spell so that only children can enter that forest." He explained. "Believe me laddy, I've tried! Why'd you think that I'm here!"
"So, what you are saying is that the only one who can go to kill this witch is-"
"Me." I said, with determination in my eyes. "I must be the one to go."
"No, this is just far too dangerous for a girl your age!" He said.
"I'm going, don't worry, I promise that you'll kill the next one." I said as we checked out and left the hotel.
We followed Whittenni for a while until we were facing a white forest that seemed to have any and all colour removed from it. It almost hurt my eyes looking at it.
"Now, what you need to do is."
"Go in, get the sword and kill the witch." I said as I stepped into the forest.
I walked and walked until I came to a white cottage that was coated in vines and leaves and spray painted white. I looked in the window to see if the witch was there. I let out a sigh as I crouched in front of the door and took out the pin on my hair and picked at the lock. When that was done I looked around and seeing that the witch was not there I slipped into the cottage and I spotted the sword immediately. It was the only thing in the room that was not white, in fact it was blue! A blue crystal sword with Witch Slayer down the side.
I walked up to the sword and picked it up. Holding it in my hands I could feel that it was made of the same type of stone that the rock that had brought me here. I found myself falling into a trance as the light reflected heat onto my face. I then stroked it to see if it was as smooth as what I was seeing. I found myself smiling knowing that I had the sword and at how easy it was to get it.
"Well, well well, if it isn't a little lovely girl!" Said a croaky voice behind me.
Screaming as I jumped I accidentally dug the sword into her and she too was screaming and then burst into flames in front of my very eyes. Soon everything returned to its normal colour and when I returned I spotted a cat by my ankle.
"Hello." It said as it looked up.
My eyes widened.
"You can talk?" I exclaimed.
"Yes, I can, but I am not a cat if that is what you are thinking. I am a king that was tricked by the Witch Sisters and I can not return to my human form until they are both dead. Thank you for killing her." He explained.
The Second Witch
After I had explained everything, Whittenni knelt down and wept with shame in his eyes as he bowed down to King Yaminox.
"I-I am so sorry that t-t-this has happened to you, Y-Your majesty!" He cried as his tears started to feed the grass underneath his cheeks.
King Yaminox pressed his paw against his shin. He looked up at him with an understanding look in his stern eyes.
"Whittenni Billin, Sir Whittenni Billin, the fault is mine, for if I had not sent you, knowing full well that you were far too inexperienced to see the mission through, then none of this would have ever happened." He explained with a tone of shame. "If there is anyone that is required to give an apology it is me. So, I am sorry for what those witches did and I deserve every moment of what has happened to me. I also deserve your hate and anything but your forgiveness. So do not blame yourself for what is done, ever!"
I looked at him completely shocked and in awe of what I had just seen.
"Hold on, you're a knight?" I asked, completely stunned.
He looked at me and looked aside. He let out a long sigh.
"I was."
"But you still are!" Said King Yaminox whacking him with his paws.
"Well, speaking of which, we still have one more to kill." Elishun muttered.
Taking that as our cue, we moved on looking at Elishun's map. I looked down at it for a moment then I looked up at the group.
"So, where are we going next?" I asked, strong to enjoy myself however not wanting to show it.
"Scarour Blaque Hill." He replied as we moved on and we walked on and on.
We walked to a hill that had black grass and trees. It became so black that I wondered whether or not I was even walking on something. All I could see was the outline of the trees and I used the stars that were present beyond the tree head to give us all a sign of where we were walking. Then the atmosphere became darker and darker until everything seemed to be night.
When we finally came to the castle I could tell that, somehow, it was made of black glass. Its main entrance was high and seemed to be made of just the tall double doors, joined by the draping wings that seemed to be held up by the twin towers that followed like a pair of bat wings.
I rolled my shoulders as I felt an uncomfortable churning in my stomach. I could hear my mind screaming at me to get out of there, but I knew that I must be brave. I could feel my heart racing until I could hear it in my ears, but I had to go on. My father bravely went to war so must I. I had to put my fear out of my mind as I walked on.
Then the doors opened and soon I started to feel cold and nauseous. For some reason I could feel someone watching me as I felt a tingling sensation like needles all over my body. I could feel all my hairs standing on my end as I started to feel a mild headache. Suddenly, I was breathing rapidly however I could not place as to why.
Yet there was only one curious sensation that I felt along with this nauseating fear. I also felt an excitement that I just could not understand.
"Aqua, are you alright?" King Yaminox asked as I stole myself and nodded.
"Yes."
I ran on after them.
When we were at the doors we then heard a piercing scream that was so high pitched and hideous that it chased away my body heat and beat my ears with invisible fists. When the scream stopped the doors were open.
"What the heck was that?" I asked.
"Lashadow." Whittenni growled as his eyes looked past them and in the castle.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the foolish little faun that tried to kill me!" I heard a blood freezing cold voice behind me.
Quickly we turned around to see a tall thin woman whose flesh was the colour paler than a fresh sheet of paper. Her coal coloured eyes were filled with ice and something else that I could never place. Her hair was like liquid darkness as it trailed on the floor behind her like a cape. Her dress seemed to be made of darkness as it shone blue in whatever light there was here.
"How are you? You know, after what happened to your family?" She asked, her voice was like a knife.
Whittenni ran at her but was forced back as he hit something in the doorway. He looked at him and laughed as her eyes rested on the Witchslayer and then, I could feel myself freeze as she looked at me. I could not help myself but gulp. Suddenly getting the feeling like a kitten in front of a starving lion.
She knows! I don't believe it! She knows that I was the one who killed her sister! What is she going to do to me? What will she do? Never mind that! What won't she do to me? Oh help me, oh someone, help me!
I could feel myself shaking as her smile changed to that one of unsettling warmth. I felt myself breaking as she raised her skeleton-like hand and pointed at me. I felt a scream choking my throat.
"I will only allow her to enter and nobody else will be permitted to enter this castle." She demanded.
I let out the scream of terror as my fears were confirmed.
"How cowardly!"
"How dare you!"
"N-n-no, i-i-it's alright." I mumbled as my voice gave away my emotions.
I could feel my nausea overcome me as I trembled, but my determination forced me on until I was passed the doors and inside the castle. Soon I was looking at her as she smiled. She reached out her hand and tucked my hair behind my ear and cupped my cheek in her cold hand as the corner of my eye caught the sight of her black vanes, as if darkness was running through them rather than blood.
"Hello, it's alright." She said as she stroked my cheek with her thumb.
Suddenly I felt something in my heart, I felt myself calming. Suddenly I stopped seeing her as a nightmare, and more like a mother. A mother I had always wanted. I wanted to be her daughter from now on, I also wanted to call her mother.
"Shh, shh!" She pulled me into her embrace. "It's alright, it's alright."
"Hey, how about this, why don't you stay here with me? I will show you all over this place and then we can be mother and daughter?" She asked.
I felt myself frowning.
"Will you remove King Yaminox's curse?" I asked.
This took her back as a frown appeared. She pulled me back as my fear came back and the cold nausea sat on the back of my throat as her eyes met mine. I could feel herself burying into my mind filling my soul with an overwhelming sense of helplessness and dread. Yet I felt like she suddenly was not looking at me but into my very soul.
"So, is that what you want? You want me to free the cat?" She asked in her mock motherly voice making me feel like I have asked for the wrong thing, and for a moment I thought that I had but I knew that I had to stand my ground. I had to keep my eyes on her and my determination fixed in them.
"Yes, and then you can do to me whatever you wish." I said as I bowed my head, already knowing that they had no chance against her and I was already lost.
She looked at him for a moment and then back at me. She raised her hand to my chin and raised it forcing my eyes to look at hers. I could feel myself trembling. Her eyes gave me a look of false concern.
'Ohh...You know I can not do that, for as long as he remains in that form I still control this land. Thus eliminating the chance of rebellion." Her words were like ice to my ear.
I tried to step back but her grip was too tight. Her laugh was upsetting as I knew that she was never going to let me go. She was going to take her vengeance on me and there was nothing that I could do to stop it. I could see the other hand draw close to my face. Fearing what she was going to do I closed my eyes but then I felt her snow-like finger stroking it. I dared to open my eyes until I could feel part of myself relax for a moment but when that moment came. Slap! I found myself falling down the stairs drawing blood inside my mouth.
I spat it out as I knelt up and before I could get up I felt the witches foot on my back as my arms and legs became weaker and weaker until they could not stop myself from falling back on my stomach. I could feel my energy fading from me until I forced myself sidewards and soon my energy returned as she hit her knee. I used my legs to propel myself to get my body off the floor but I hit my back on the wall. I could feel my nausea increase as my trembling increased as I could feel something cold and wet on my cheeks. I could feel my breath become more and more rapid.
"Aqua!" Elishun shouted. I looked over at him. My eyes were both screaming for help but I feared that if I spoke then I would let out the puke that threatened my throat.
"How could you attack a child you coward!" King Yaminox.
"Leave her alone!"
She twisted her head towards them as if she had just noticed that they were still here. I knew that this was my chance. I rolled on my feet and ran up at her but she outstretched her hand and raised it and soon I was in the air. I looked at her as I realised that she was smiling and I soon realised what she was about to do. I looked up at my friends, my heart was beating so fast that it threatened a heart attack. I looked around myself looking for something to use as a weapon to stop her from raising my higher. Soon I found what I was looking for and I took out my gas mask and threw it at her. When it hit her I was flat on the floor again.
I wiped the blood from my nose as I got to my knees and charged at her as I took out my teddy and hit her with it. Then I landed a punch on her perfect face but this did nothing to phase her; she just pushed on my knuckles and gripped me by the throat. I felt the pressure of my teeth clench as she raised me. I could hardly breathe as my feet kicked in a vain attempt to get her off me. As my eyes looked at the witch I could see her smile at my distress. I looked up at my new friends who were hitting the magic forcefield preventing them from helping me.
I could feel the tears in my eyes and my vision was getting more and more dark. Then I felt the pressure release from my throat and my head banged against the ground. I looked back at my friends as the witch knelt behind me and pulled me up. She held me up and forced me to look at them by gripping my chin. I struggled against her but she was just too strong.
"Shh, shh!" Her voice came next to my right ear.
I soon could feel her stroking my arm.
"Now, now, do not be so eager to escape my grip. You brought this all upon yourself. Now look at them, see how they help you in vain. Let me tell you one thing, I will hurt them. Yes, I will even let you see what I am going to do, but you can do nothing to help them, no."
"Please don't please! Leave them alone, just leave them alone!" I cried.
Elishun frowned as he had a pained look in his eyes. For a moment I thought that the witch was doing something to him but as he closed his eyes and bit his bottom lip. He let out a deep breath as he took out the Witchslayer and threw it and it passed through the forcefield. It spun in the air as it landed in front of my feet. I looked up knowing what he was getting at.
I was about to use my feet to get it but Slitpipe pulled me back.
"Ohh noo!" She sang as she picked me up and she pulled me back as she backed away from my only hope.
I could feel my tears staining across my chest as my hands reached out as if I could get it magically into the palms of my hands. I could hear the creams as I sobbed. It was also mixed in with the witches laughter
She's enjoying this?
I felt a ripple of anger rise in me and soon I had stopped crying. Now I was infuriated and I started to kick and scream. I do not know how but in my anger I found myself digging my teeth deep into the witch's hand and finally drew blood! When she screamed she let me go and I ran to the sword and picked it up. Soon, in my rage, I ran at her. I could feel something in me snap as I dragged the blade in front of me and it was in the witch before I could stop myself. Then with a scream she combusted and there was nothing left of her but ash which I spat on.
I let out a scream of horror when I came to my senses. Soon I was trembling and then what I did sank in. I had killed, not just one but two witches!
Bring it on world war two! I thought. Now I did that, I knew that I could fight in that war. I would be able to fight with my father Natsu! I could do it!
Just imagine that in the papers! A 12 year old half Japanese American wins World War Two!
Soon I was laughing as the thought came to me. Then as the colour turned from black to green and the castle blue I passed out. I was told that my smile was still on my face long after I closed my eyes.
Out Of The Rock
I woke up in a soft bed that felt like being encased by fur and warmth. I looked up at the roof of the bed and I noticed the pillows felt like they were not even there. My head felt like it was being suspended in a comfortable position that helped keep my neck and head from getting stiff. As my eyes rolled I could see that the quilt was made of a soft and warm royal blue fur and the royal blue pillows were silk.
Smiling and wanting to see more of where I was, I slid my hands beside me and sat up. My head and eyes turned drinking in the landscape of the room. The high five walls were painted a shade of pale blue that made it look white with blue flowers weaving in and out turquoise vines. Each wall was split by ink blue pillars. With lapis lazuli and sapphire decorating them, making them look black.
What a beautiful room!
I felt like I should not even be here nor should I be obscuring the perfection of the blue room. Slipping my legs out I slightly jumped looking at the delicate light cotton nightgown with a silk underlayer to hide my body. The sleeves puffed out and with a blue ribbon ended the oblong shape and my elbow with a fanned out cuff. As I left the comfort of the bed I stroked it several times to affirm that what I was wearing was real! It felt so light on me and nothing like what I was wearing when I got here.
Ha, mother would love a dress like this. I wonder if I can get a dress in her size before I leave? OH!
This was when it dawned on me that all this time I had not thought about my mother once since I met my friends! Then there was the fact that there was a war going on outside this place. I needed to put my new found fighting skills to the test and take part in that!
But what if they don't accept you? A part of my mind, questioned.
I have slain two witches! How could they not accept me? Another argued. This caused my eyebrow to be raised for my childish mind. After all, that seemed to be a good reason and by that time I had not been told that a girl could not go to war back then so it never dawned on me that I would neither be accepted nor believed.
When I reached the window I spotted my friends in a circle talking to a man with a strong but slender frame with hair and eyes the colour of the deep blue sea. Had I been my mother's age at the time I would have thought that he was handsome, or if I was a roil of old I would have had my daughter marry him! However as a child on the cusp of womanhood that had not yet started her transformation, I just thought that he looked cat-like.
Where's King Yaminox? And who is that man? I wondered as I spotted that he had just noticed that I was awake.
He looked up at me with a kind smile. Almost like he was relieved by something. This revealed his perl coloured teeth that seemed to glow in his mouth. He turned back to my friends and placed a hand on their shoulders and spoke to them, but because I was so high up I could not hear what it was that he said. They laughed as they followed him into the castle that I was in.
I soon was greeted by the man after I had changed into a suit of blue amour. I found myself smiling shyly and I nodded my apology to Elishun for being the one who killed the witches. He nodded and shrugged half-heartedly as if it was nothing but water under the bridge. At his forgiveness I felt a little more at ease.
"So, urm...Who are you?" I asked, turning to the only one that I seemed to not know.
He gave me a cheeky cat-like smile.
"Do you not recognise me in this form Aqua Aoshine?" He asked.
That was when it dawned on me and, with slight embarrassment, suddenly I understood the situation.
"Congratulations! Oh and please forgive my foolishness, Your Majesty!" I bowed as I apologised.
He smiled light-heartedly as he embraced me.
"No, it is I who must apologise, for if I had not been cursed then you would not have had to face those awful witches in the first place! So do not apologise for that my lady." He said in my ear and pulled away. "Speaking of which, I would like for you to come and follow me. By the way, you do not suffer with stage fright do you?"
What does he mean by that?
"Does it matter? He is the king so remember your manners!" I heard my mother's voice say in my head.
"No, sir." I replied as we walked down a long corridor.
I could hear a static noise in my ear as we walked down the noise became louder and louder.
"So, after the celebrations, what would you like to do after?" He asked me.
"I would like to go home." I replied as I thought about Miss Blue and how worried she would have been over the past couple of days.
He looked down at me as he paused for a moment. His eyes became narrow.
"I do not see why that can not be arranged." He replied as we came to a door where the noise was loudest.
One of the maid servants opened the door for us. I soon realised that the sound was not caused by static, but it was in fact cries from the whole kingdom, with people as far as the eye could see. No wonder King Yaminox wanted to know whether or not I had stage fright, for if I did, those watched would become less and less appealing!
"Now, I want you two to line up over there and kneel." He said as we walked and knelt where he pointed, wondering what was going on and what was going to happen.
Why would he ask us to be here?
Then I saw it, the long silver blue blade as long as the man's body and with a lapis-lazuli hilt that looked as if it had been moulded in place.
He walked up to Elishun and raised the blade and rested the blunt side on his left shoulder.
"Elishun of Bluespring Eve, I knight you Elishun Wisehand, for you have shown wisdom on your quest and you were able to sacrifice your chance to kill both witches of the land of Graygin to aid the one who ended up slaying them." He said as he drew a bridge over his head.
He then turned to me and walked with grace as he rested his blade on my shoulder.
"Aqua Aoshine of New York, I knight you Aqua Shockreaper for you are a dangerous thing when you are shocked or scared even witches stand little chance against you." He as he gestured for us to rise.
We obeyed. He then turned to the kingdom and they cried out.
"All hail Wisehand! All hail Shockreaper!"
Now, how can you leave here? It is wonderful and these people...They might need you!
No, the witches are dead, thus I have no reason to stay here, plus mom needs me too! And there is not a war here, no...I must return home and fight in the war over there. I have a duty to use the skills that I have now, to help end the war!
So, it would be best to leave as soon as possible. If you stay here and join in with the celebration then the chances that you will leave will decrease. After all, I know that you will get attached here.
Knowing my thoughts were speaking the truth, I turned to King Yaminox.
"Your Majesty, I think I would like to go home now." I said as he looked at me with a relaxed expression and nodded.
When the crowd had finished their chants he went over to the hand maiden and whispered something in her ear. She looked up at him and nodded. She turned and ran off. She seemed to be gone for only a moment until she came back with a scroll the colour between brown and cream with a faded Persian blue ribbon keeping it boned. Meanwhile another brought a table to me and the scroll was placed upon it. King Yaminox nodded and I reached out my hands and took hold of it and opened it up.
To the visitor of the World of the Rock,
because of your services to the World
you have been granted freedom from
the World of the Rock.
You have chosen to leave the World of the
Rock for whatever reason and have exercised
this reward. This is why this scroll exists.
However, you can only go home if you sign this
contract. Which means that by leaving you are
promising to return when the World of the Rock
is in trouble.
Having looked at the scroll I smiled. It was a good price to pay, and one that I would have not minded coming back. Nor did I want to let my new friends die when I would have been able to save them. I have always believed that keeping your friends safe was always a responsibility of friendship, regardless of if they like it or not.
I looked up and nodded agreeing with the contract. He then nodded at the handmaiden that brought the scroll and gave me a long blue feather quill that I could tell was plucked from a pen. I took hold of the feather and wrote my name down on the paper. I then handed it over to the King Yaminox.
Then I started to feel myself being violently pulled up. Soon I was flying higher and higher at what I could only describe as light speed. In my eyes the land became smaller and smaller until it became a speck of dust. Then my back crashed through something and splinters of blue rock surrounded me.
My legs gave way as a cocoon of the blue rock smashed around me. My head banged against the floor and as my vision faded to black I could see another of those Latin quotes that was above the door and I said it aloud.
"Tempus fluit, De Dum veneris. 'Time flows on, From when you come' I wonder what that means?" I muttered as my eyes closed and I found myself in a world of dreams.
Going Home
When I woke I felt something under my arm, as my eyes looked at it I spotted that it was the blue rock. Frowning slightly I sat up and slowly found myself on my feet. My mind was calm and clear like a pool of clear water in a forest without wind, and even though I was cold I had no motivation to warm myself.
My hand reached out and opened the door. As I passed through the door I could tell that there was something different in the atmosphere. I could not place my finger on it as I reached the end of the corridor and when I passed through that door, the room that was made of the blue rock seemed to now be normal rock. When I looked back that is when my mind put together the pieces, it had not become normal rock, they were always normal rock and somehow, this rock under my arm had changed them into the same material as it was!
How very interesting! I thought.
My legs moved up the spiral metal staircase and opened the door at the top. I travelled down the next corridor and then found myself back in the library still with the rock under my arm. I could tell time had passed, and that it was twilight. I frowned as I looked outside the nearest window.
How long have I been inside this rock? I wondered as I opened the door.
"Miss Blue!" I called as I looked for her in the library but she was not there. So I opened the door of the library and called again but none came.
It's alright, this place is big so she might not have heard me. Maybe I should go and look for her. I then ran to the other side and shouted for her again and this time heard a creek.
I turned to see her. Her brunette hair had grey streaks and several shallow wrinkles around her eyes.
"Aqua? Is that you?" She asked as she slipped on her silk night robe over her thin cotton nightgown.
"Yes, Miss Blue, I am so sorry that I have been gone for a few days."
"'A few days'? No Aqua, you have been gone for a whole five years! The war officially ended last month!" She exclaimed.
"What!" I exclaimed as she let that sink in.
Her eyes dropped and there was a look of recognition in her eyes. She nodded slightly as if she did not need an explanation. She knew exactly what had happened. Now I wanted an explanation and my eyes demanded it.
"The blue rock...You've been inside it." She said in a matter of fact tone.
I nodded not knowing that it was not a question back then. Her eyes looked aside and nodded in response.
"No wonder you have aged so little…"
"What do you mean?" I demanded to know.
"Time, it's slower inside there. I went in there once with my sister and we were only gone for three weeks and when we got out, fifteen years had passed! No more no less. It drove our parents and older brother mad after we had told them, but I had agreed to go back and she moved as far away from that rock as possible." She explained.
My eyes dropped and nodded.
"Oh...I'm sorry...Here I honestly could not tell you why I still have it…" I apologised as I held it out to her.
She cowered from it slightly and her face became pale and her hand went out. She shook her head and gestured for me to draw it back.
"No...It is yours now."
That was when she returned to her room and got ready for the day ahead. I was directed to the dining room by Alphonse Stian, the butler and told to wait for Miss Blue to come. When she did I told her everything that happened to me during my time in the rock. When I mentioned my thoughts about fighting by my father's side during the war she burst out laughing.
"I cannot say whether fighting two witches could ever compare to fighting with guns and bombs!" She laughed, lightheartedly.
I waited until she had finished until I continued and finished my story. When she did she smiled as if feeling a bitter taste of nostalgia. She looked aside.
When we were finished eating we were in a new blue car.
"It's the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Freccia d'Oro, or the Golden Arrow." She replied. "They're in this year."
"It looks beautiful!"
"Thank you!"
Nodding politely, I opened the door and we were off. When the gates opened we came to the road, which had a metal guard now and it was an actual road! Double as a matter of fact! Now I could appreciate the view without having a heart attack! And more, there were houses! I could feel myself smile as we descended. But my shock was yet to come for when we travelled to the train station, it was not a run down skeleton of a place but, it was a big place with several shops and a car park!
My mouth was open as we entered. How did they build this in five years? Never mind that! When did they build all those hoses back there?! Wow! I can not believe so much can change in such a small amount of years!
When I walked onto the train it was still the same train, but there was a smell to it, a smell that I was accustomed to but one I liked. I walked to a car and sat down and slept the whole trip. I then found myself on the ship with an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. I looked down at the blue rock. Was it that or was it the fact that I was different somehow...I could not quite tell back then, but I think that my intuition knew what I was about to find out.
I then could see my mother standing alone, her eyes were sad and scarlet and her cheeks were red. She had a forced smile on her face but her lipstick was almost non-existent as if she had hardly touched her lips. Her eyeliner was all askew almost if it was applied with shaky hands. I knew something was up just looking at her.
Where's dad? I thought that after the war was over the men were supposed to come home safe and sound. Then everything would go back to normal. I wondered as I ran and joined her.
"Aqua? How come you've not aged a day?" She asked, her voice thick with forced happiness. I shrugged as she gave me a questioning look in her eyes.
"Never mind that! Where's dad?" I asked, excitedly. I wanted to tell him the adventures I had inside of the world of the rock. I could not wait to tell him about how I was able to take down not one but two witches.
She suddenly became sheepish and her head turned to her left where father would usually be. At that moment, I knew what had happened. I knew that there was only one reason that he would not have come home. After all, he loved me and my mother so much that there was only one thing that would keep us apart. However I was not ready to admit to it. My heart gripped to only a thread the strength of a strand of hair and, deep down, I knew it.
"Home."
"Then why can't he be here?" I asked.
She looked down and shook her head.
"Th-that is not wh-what I-I-I…" She stuttered as a single tear broke from her eye then another one cased after another soon her chin wrinkled and she drove me into a deep embrace as she trembled.
This snapped the stand that I held onto. I could feel the tears forming, going that this was a joke.
"No! Dad no!" I cried as I too joined in with the tears. "Not dad! NO! WHY? WHY DID HE HAVE TO DIE!?"
Soon the pair of our knees collided with the ground below as we were locked in each other's arms both sobbing with our mouths in the shape of beaks. Being incapable of doing anything other than fighting against the tears in order to breathe.
No comments:
Post a Comment