The Blue Rock Chapter Four The Final Order

Uncle

I was now a month older than the last time that I had been in the world of the Blue Rock and, during that time I had turned fourteen. I had, on many times, thought about that voice that I could hear and I, sometimes, thought that I could hear it, singing in my ear. 

"Oh, sleep child of freedom's fight,

And during the dark of the night,

Dream sweet dreams of the light,

Keeping you heart true and right,

And resist evil with all your might!"

Then all my dreams were about having adventures in that world with my friends… Well the ones that were alive. I had thought about my father, Nastu Aoshine, who had died in the second world war. I had thought about him a lot lately, like how did he die, who killed him and why, was there a reason? Or was it that he was simply an enemy that just so happened to be on the opposite side than his country. Either way I just wanted answers, just for my own piece of mind.

I had sometimes found myself wandering in the library, and reading books. After all, I wanted to drink in as much knowledge as I could. My mother had given up on school and resorted to homeschooling. Which was better for me and I had learnt more and I knew it. On top of that I did not need to worry about avoiding bullies or getting into a fight. I was even able to learn more by reading book after book in the library, which was the only place that I felt at most at peace.

It was during this time that I heard a knock on the door.

"I'll get it!" I shouted as I raced to the door before mother could say. "I will get it!"

When I opened the door I felt goosebumps rush throughout my body as I could not take in what I was looking at. I had to blink several times asI thought that I was seeing things. But no they were not. I was seeing what I thought. My thoughts went numb and I tried to take in what I was looking at, after all the man that was in front of me was supposed to be dead.

"Dad?" I asked, breathless and incapable of believing my eyes.

He shook his head with a sympathetic look on his face. He looked at me with his black brown eyes with a puzzled look for a moment. They softened to an apologetic look.

"I am sorry, dear child, I am afraid that I am not. Forgive me, I am Haru." He said, with a thick Japanese accent.

I frowned. As I felt something shatter inside of me. It was not my father, even though he looked identical to him, right down to his hairstyle.

"Haru?"

"I am Natsu's twin." He said.

My eyes lit up. 

I have more family alive!? 

I felt my heartbeat increase as a smile spread across my face.

"You mean that you're my uncle!?" I exclaimed as my mother came to the door.

She looked at him guarded and stern.

Oh, right. I don't want to make a fool of myself! Thank you mum.

"Haru."

"Yes, I am." He said. "It has been a long time."

She seemed to relax a little.

"Yes, too long." She said, looking away with a sorrowful look in her eyes. "Since the wedding, I believe."

He let out a nervous laugh. He looked away in slight shame. However his smile returned as he looked back at her.

"Still being formal in front of me, I see?"

"Yes. I have found it very difficult to act any other way around you." She admitted. "Why are you here?"

"Well after learning about the existence of my niece, I thought that I ought to get to know her. I also thought that it was about time you all knew about the fate of my twin."

Her eyes dropped to me. He looked at me with a slight concern.

"Would you wish for it that I tell my niece too?" He asked, respectfully.

"Yes, she is a braver child than even I thought. She has been able to handle more too."

"I am sure she is." He said, in a tone that I could not read. "She does have Aoshine blood after all."

I then outstretched my hand.

"Let me formally introduce myself. I am Aqua Aoshine."

"Haru Aoshine." He said as he shook it.

"Tell me, have you broken any hearts yet?" He asked as he walked in.

I flared up red.

What where did that come from?

"No!" I laughed, trying to appear lightheaded. "And I don't think that I ever will!"

"Do not!" Snapped mother.

"Sorry mother!" I sang.

He laughed.

"Shame, your father was breaking hearts all the time! I guess your's was the final heart." 

I shook my head in embarrassment. He looked at mother.

"And you? Found anyone?"

"No. I have not. I do not think that I will find anyone else."

He then looked down at me.

"Well, like mother, like daughter as they say." He said.

Not really, I don't think I was able to find someone.

"Is there anything about me that's- that is,  like father?" I asked, trying not to get too upset.

"Yes, I am sure. But I have yet to see that. After all, I would like to get to know you and see for myself. So would you like that?"

"Yes! Yes, I would love that!" I exclaimed as we came to the living room.

"Alright, alright, sit down, sit down!" Mother said as she waved her hand up and down.

We all did.

"So, it is Haru!" Came Aunt Blue's voice. "Still got your looks."

He looked as if he was annoyed slightly but he quickly masked it as she walked into the room. I could see that she was blushing.

"Yes, I was quite fortunate in the war. And you would find that all Aoshine are better looking than most, including Aqua I see!" He said as he smirked as he placed a hand on my head and messed it up.

I felt myself cringe slightly.

"Hey!"

"Anyway, can I get you anything?" She asked.

"Yes, green tea, if you have any?" He said.

"Yes, I have all types of tea!"

He looked at her surprised.

"She's not joking, she has tea that I never knew even existed!" I said.

"How'd you think I stay fit?!"

"What kind?" He asked me out of curiosity.

"Oolong, that's-that is my favourite, especially if you add a teaspoon full of honey!" I said.

"Th-then I will have that!" He said as his voice broke slightly.

"Tell me, am I right to think that you are a prolific tea drinker?"

"Yes, even in America I drank more tea than coffee."

"Well if you want to, maybe sometimes you can come home with me and I will introduce you to more types of tea and teach you the traditional tea making ceremony?"

I lit up and beamed at him.

"Really!? Can I mother!?"

She chuckled warmly.

"Eventually, yes."

I hugged her tightly.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I repeated.

I remembered what father had said about Japan and I loved how he described the cherry blossom tree and the mountains. He would explain them in such great detail that I could picture it all so clearly. I had always wanted to see those things for real and feel those pink petals and see those rice farms. Walk on those mountains.

Mother chuckled as I realised what she said.

"Wait, why eventually? I wanna see them now!"

Haru placed a hand on me as he pulled me off.

"That is simple. You do not know me and I have been absent for quite some time. So relax! You will have plenty of time to do that later when we are better acquainted." He explained.

"Oh that makes sense." I admired as I sat back down.

"Now if I want to get to know you. I think that I should take the lead by telling you about me." He said.

I would have protested but I closed my mouth as I realised that he was right and I did not know where I should start too.

I don't think that I should tell him about the Blue Rock. I don't think that he'll believe me if I do. He'll think that I'm crazy and I don't want that!

"Yes?"

"Urm, well why do I not start? After all, I can tell that you would have things that you would like to wait to tell. Do not worry, my story is a bit boring, I was born in America and I got into a lot of fights and that is why there are white streaks in my hair. I had no friends there not here, well none that are my own age. After all, I came across...well…"

"Aggressive." Mother chipt in. "Her teachers always had me in about that. I also noticed that because of the fact that she looked different and about the side that Japan was on back then, this made the other children hesitant to approach her in a friendly manner and her reputation did not do her any favours."

At this I looked aside and let out a long blow. 

"Yes, I can tell you that she does sound a lot like my brother and me as children." He laughed.

I felt shy by this as I could feel a smile spread across my lips.

"Yes, she was quite upset by his death. She was always closer to him than she was ever to me." She said. "Especially now."

"How come?"

"She has been very distant as of late."

"And it was because of his death that we moved here. I was about to start school but that led to nowhere so I am being homeschooled. So that is it in a nutshell." I said.

He smiled as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I guess that you do not have many friends then?"

"No, not here at least. I do, but they are all far away." I admitted.

And some of them are dead…

He looked at me with a strange look on his face.

"It is quite alright. Neither did Natsu and me. No, we were too close." 

She smiled and nodded.

"Now, Aqua, time for bed."

"But I-"

"Bed."

"Okay!" I moaned as I went to bed.

"Hey, maybe tomorrow you can show me all around this place?" He said.

My eyes lit up.

"I would love to!"

"Then get a good night's sleep."

I nodded and went to bed.

Aquioring Aqua

I woke up then next day feeling very excited. I could feel my heart and my mind only took seconds to become alert and sharp. I was going to show my uncle around the place. I liked the idea of that and I was excited to learn more about father. After all, I never had the chance to learn more about him. As a child I never even asked. Joy and adrenaline flooded my mind and heart. Nothing was going to affect this, nothing!

"I do not think you should trust that person if I were you." Came, that voice.

I frowned, taken back by what it was saying.

He's my uncle! What's not to trust?

"Just because he is your uncle does not mean that he is trustworthy. Have you not wondered why he has not commented on your age yet?"

It had me there. After all, wouldn't any normal person question my young appearance?

He's probably being polite. He'll ask me later.

"We shall see."

Also aren't you free?

"Not fully."

What do you mean by that?

"You will know when-"

'The time comes'! Yeah, I know!

"Still, be on your guard. I still do not think that I trust that uncle of yours."

I let out a hug and I soon changed into my clothes. I quickly brushed my hair as I could and was down. I made my breakfast, which was cornflakes without sugar, and sat at the table. My mother came in and smiled as I dug in.

"Good morning mother!" I sang.

"Good morning Aqua." She said as she started to fry some beacon and cracked some eggs making the place smell.

I did what I could to mask my discount for my mother's sake.

"Tell me, have you thought about what you are going to show him?"

My eyes lit up.

"Everything that I can!"

Her eyes narrowed and she pressed her lips together as she thought. Then her features relaxed.

"And does this include the blue rock?" 

I looked aside as I thought about it for a moment.

"I don't know...I think that I will… But I think that I'm afraid that he will not believe me." I admitted, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

She frowned for a moment.

"Well do as you will, however I do not think that you should. Not until I know that I can trust him. I also think that we should show him around together." She said, trying not to offend my feelings.

She felt slightly disheartened by that but not as much as I would have been, after all she was right. The Blue Rock was afamily secret and it would be better for all the family to tell. Not just me. No, that would have been selfish of me.

"Sure sounds fun."

Interestingly I suddenly felt relieved. After all, it did not occur to me, but I did feel nervous. I did not want to make a fool of myself. After all, I was slightly afraid that if I did then he would run away before I had the chance to get to know him. He was the last biological link to my father after all! I did not want him to go away, after all it was like I finally had a bit of him back. I wanted to keep him here as much as I could. I wanted to get to know him as much as I could.

She smiled as she returned to her cooking. I returned to my cereal. I was almost finished when mother sat down. I wondered when I would have breakfast like that, a full English breakfast, an adult breakfast as I had called it. Then it occurred to me that I should be an adult right now. If the blue rock never had existed, I would have been an adult! Maybe, I would have been a wife and a mother of many children. Maybe they would have been here in the mansion. Maybe we would be living somewhere else. I wondered what my children's names would have been, what the name my husband would have been.

"What is that look for?" She asked, as she stroked my hair.

"I should be an adult right now." I said bluntly. 

Then the realisation sank in. 

"I should have a job, I should have found a husband and had children, you should be a grandmother! I should know how to cook, clean! I should-"

Mother placed a hand on my cheek and looked at me in my eyes, concerned.

"I know, my sister and I have been where you are. My sister more. We had to bury our patents when we were fifteen and sixteen when we were supposed to have been thirty and thirty one." She said. "I wish you could have known them. Mother would have loved to have met you. Father would have loved time with Nastu. Oh, they would have been so close."

I nodded as my heart went out to her, I sometimes forget that mother and Aunt Blue had had adventures in the blue rock too.

"Do you think that I will meet my grandparents on my father's side too?"

"Should do! Can't keep them from you!" Haru called as came in and had plain toast and quickly munched on it.

"So are you ready?" He asked.

"Yes we are." She said as she finished her breakfast.

"'We'?"

"Yes I will be coming too. After all, me, and my sister grew up here." She said. "Which means that I can show the two of you things that even Aqua has yet to see."

I smiled mischievously. I liked the sound of that. So the whole mooring we had showed him barely half of the place and half of the places that mother showed me even I did not know existed! So by the time it came to lunch they were all looking forward to lunch. We made our way to the kitchen and as we sat down Haru stayed standing.

"How about I cook a traditional Japanese lunch?" He asked.

My eyes lit up.

"Yeah! Why not?"

"Here, I'll help!" Said mother and Aunt Blue at the same time.

He laughed.

"Sure!"

Within half an hour we had our chopsticks on the table. My stomach started to growl as I patiently waited for the meal to come. I was glad when food finally did come. We soon stuffed ourselves silly and after, we had some Oolong tea. I took a sip but I found that it was slightly bitter and added one sugar which put off the bitterness of the tea. I had to rest there for a moment. I then got to my feet and collected the pots and plates. I then followed Haru to the kitchen, which he then went on to teach me how to clean. I found myself enjoying my time with him. It was like having my father back for a moment.

"Tell me, may you take me to your favourite place?" He asked.

"Only if you tell me more about what dad was like when he was my age!" She said.

He chuckled.

"Well, what is there to say? As far as I can tell, he was a lot like you." 

"I mean what were his favourite places and things that he liked to do!" I said.

He sighed as he put the last plate away.

"Well he liked food, books and fighting. Which caused father to send him to a mixed martial arts class to teach him discipline and to channel that violent tendency to something other than school fights and gang fights." He said. "But I ended up being dragged into it too so I must admit that I did not like him for that. After all, we were joined at the hip back then. Seriously, he dragged me everywhere! On a walk up a mountain, in a tree, everywhere. He was always outgoing and I was dragged along with him."

"Did you have a library?"

"No, we were not as rich as we were back then. But we did buy our books by saving up our pocket money. They were cheaper back then." He said. "So what do you spend your pocket money on?" 

"Same."

He raised his eyebrow as I finished. I dried my hands and then gave him the towel. He dried his hands. We were soon off and we ended up in the library.

"Typical!" He said.

"No, wait." I told him as I showed him the secret room that I found, that led me to the blue rock.

"Now, there's a story behind the place that you are about to see. So, I would like for you to do all you can not to freak out." I said.

He then looked at me slightly confused but I then caught a hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth.

"I will do my best."

"Alright." I said as I opened the door.

"Stop it! Do not show him that!"

I brushed the thought aside and let go of the handle and walked in. He looked at the blue crystal, his eyes widened as he walked in slowly. Almost as if he could not believe what he was seeing and was in awe. His eyes filled with wonder and hunger.

"How?" He asked, breathlessly.

"Do not tell him! Anyone but him!"

"Well it's a long story." I admitted.

"I think we have a long time." He said.

"Good point."

"No, do not do it! I do not trust him! Do not trust him!"

"Well it started a long time ago and I don't know where to start."

"Just start where it started with you." 

"Right!" I sighed as I led him to the room that the blue rock was on. "I was evacuated here and after a game of hide and seek I came to this room. This was where I found it, a blue rock, which was alive!"

He raised his eyebrows.

"Really?" He asked, sceptical. "Prove it!"

"No, no, please no! Do not show me to him! Do not show me to him!"

"Follow me!" I said. 

As I opened the door I was about to show him the blue rock but then Aunt Blue came into the room.

"Aqua, could you come with me?" She asked.

I smiled and nodded.

"I will show you after I have done what Aunt Blue wants me to." I promised.

"Alight. I have to use the loo anyway." He said.

I nodded as I followed her.

"I think that it is time you knew how to use the washing machine." She said.

I then spotted that she looked at Uncle Haru with a hint of suspicion.

"What?" 

"Nothing."

I nodded suspiciously as I followed her to the kitchen. There she showed me what to do. Then I did it. I went through what I did verbally.

"You can go now." She said 

I smiled and ran off. I ran to Uncle Haru's room and knocked on the door. There was no reply. Thinking that he did not hear me I knocked on the door again, but again there was no answer. Thinking that he was doing his own thing I waited there for a while. Then, realising that he was not in his room I ran to my mother. 

"Hey, have you seen Uncle Haru?" I asked.

"Sure, I saw him in the gardens. He wanted to go for a walk after what you showed him. Now I am getting dinner on, tell him that we are having a Sunday lunch." She said.

I nodded as my mouth watered.

"What time will it be ready?" I asked.

"In about an hour." She replied.

I nodded as I smiled and I ran straight to the gardens. I was looking in the rose gardens but I did not find him. I ran through the maze and then I found him in the lily garden. He was by the red spider lilies as he was on the phone.

"Es ist dort." He said.

I frowned.

"Uncle Haru!" I called.

He looked back, startled. He was on one of those bulky mobile phones that I had seen on the telly vision. He put up his index finger to gesture that he will be with my after a moment.

"Ich bekomme sie." He said as he hung. "So, what did your Aunt want you for?"

"To teach me how to do the laundry. Anyway Mother told me that she has dinner on and it's going to be Sunday lunch." I said. "But that will be ready in an hour, now come on! I want to show you the rock that I promised to show you!"

He stayed where he was. He then pulled me in and put an arm around me.

"You know the gardens here are quite beautiful." He then pulled me away from the house. 

"Yeah. You could get lost in here." I admitted as I looked around.

"Could you lead me to the best view of both the gardens and the mansion?" He asked.

"Sure." I said slightly confused.

I guided him to the forest area and traced my own beaten track. I then started to climb up the hill. I then climbed a tree which was a short cut to the place and then walked along a thick branch and then jumped down. I waited for Uncle Haru to catch up before I walked out of the way of the bushy head of the tree. There I saw the gardens and the mansions and pointed at it.

"Wow! That is a good sight!" 

"I know!" I said with a proud grin on my face.

He put his hand on my shoulder.

"Tell me, do you like that view?" He asked in an unreadable tone.

"Yes. I do!" I said as I suddenly felt the atmosphere change. It seemed colder and darker.

"Tell me, do you want to protect that view?" He asked.

"Yes, why?"

"What would you do to protect that view?" He asked.

"Anything." I said. "Why are you asking me these things?"

"Well, there are people coming here." He said as moved his hand and put it on my other shoulder and put his arm around me. "And they will ruin that view. Then, unless given the order, they will kill your mother and Aunt."

I felt ice sink deep into my bones. I looked at him, completely horrified. My first thought was of my father, then my mother and Aunt Blue.

"Come on! We have to warn them!" I shouted as I went to pull away from him but he gripped my arm.

He shook his head slowly.

"No. I am afraid that we can not. After all, they would be here before we arrived. However, you can save them, but it must be done here." He said.

I looked at him confused as it slowly dawned on me.

"How-what must I do?"

He took out a small brown bottle, on it said Restoril.

"Take these pills and do nothing to resist." He said.

I felt a lump form in the back of my throat as it sank in. Haru may have been my uncle but he was far from my friend. I then looked at my home. I suspected that this might have been the last time that I was to see this place. My last memory of my mother was her telling me that Sunday lunch was going to be ready in an hour. My last memory of my aunt was her teaching me how to do the laundry. This was going to be the last to be that I was ever going to see my own home.

"P-promise?"

"I swear on the lives of my parents." He said. "And please do not think that you will be able to take them all on after all they all have guns."

I should have listened to that voice. I should have listened to my mum. Oh, how reality is far different than the adventures in the Blue Rock.

Goodbye mum. Goodbye Aunt Blue.

I nodded and then took them before I could think of anything else. It was in that moment that that voice was right, and the reason why he had not commented on his age was because he already knew. This was not about getting to know me or being an uncle to me. This was about capturing both me and that blue rock. Soon everything was black.

The Cult

I woke up in a room so dark that I knew if I could move it, I would not be able to see my own hand. I could feel rope around my wrists and ankles. I needed the loo too but I knew that I had no choice but to stay where I was. I knew that I would have to behave myself. Anything that I said and did would reflect on my mother and Aunt Blue. I hoped that they were alright. I hoped that they were alive and safe. I hoped that they would understand.

"I warned you about him, but you refused to listen or pay attention. You should have expected this. You should have noticed that there was something odd about that man!"

What would you expect? I thought that he was like dad! I thought that he was like dad!

"I know, I keep forgetting that you are just a child." The voice admitted trying to not sound frustrated.

And I haven't felt like a child for a long, long time. In fact I'm not even supposed to be a child!

"Yes, words can not express how sorry I am for that. However you are going to have to be brave. After all, I do not think that these people will take into account the fact that you are a child."

Yeah. I know.

I then felt vibrations around me. This told me all that I needed to know. I was in a room in a plane. Where I was going, only my uncle knew! An uncle that I knew was bad. An uncle that had only come to my home to abduct me. This told me that whatever was about to happen to me he would not lift a finger to help me out give me any form of comfort. I was alone here and there was none to help or save me. No friends this time, I was alone. 

I could feel the tears blind me and in the darkness all I could do was cry. Knowing that none would come to comfort me or dry my tears. The cold cut into my heart like a dagger made of ice. Yet what was worse was the fact that all of this came from someone wearing my father's face.

I don't remember falling asleep but I felt pain in my cheek wake me up. My puffy eyes hurt as the light hit my eyes.

"Ahh! You awake are you?" Asked Haru.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"Germany." He said, plainly. "And this is the Final Order, devoted to carrying out the Fuhrer's final order before his suicide."

At this I knew that I was in deep trouble and I could feel fear strike my heart like lightning. If this was set up by that man, then that would have meant that I should not expect anything good from this. Yet I could not help but wonder, what my place in this was.

"And that is?" I asked, trying to mask my fear with sarcasm. 

"To find out all the secrets of the famed Sky Crystal, or what you would call the Blue Rock." He said.

I tried not to give away my shock at that. I could feel my heart hammer my rib cage as I felt nausea sink in. I became aware that my wrists and ankles were free now, yet I knew that this held no consequence. No, if I ran now, then they would be able to knock me out and they would get either mum or Aunt Blue and hurt them, just to make sure that I did not do it again.

"So where do I fit into that?" I asked, trying to keep herself as calm as I could but that smile of his did nothing to help.

"Well I am glad that you asked that my dear niece." He said as he pulled me in close to him. "See, as you have noticed that your time in the Sky Crystal has changed you both biologically and psychologically. I even suspect that you might have a slight telepathic connection to it!"

"What!" I exclaimed as I tried to push him away but failed.

Is-is that true? Is that who I've been hearing all this time? Well if that's the case, then that explains quite a lot.

He let out a chuckle.

"Now, you will be subjected to many, many tests to find out all about the changes that you have been through. I hope that they will be enlightening! In fact, I want to know all the changes that you have been through and I suspect when we're all done we will know then all." He said.

I looked down. I was in a confusing mix of emotions, anger, fear, shock and dread. I also started to feel dizzy but I did what I could to mask this. I did not know how to respond to that. However what hurt me the most was the route of all this was a man whose face matched the one of that of my father. 

"Are-are they going to hurt?" I asked, by voice hollow.

"They should." He sang with a devious smirk on his face.

I could feel myself sinking.

"Will-will you do anything to stop it?"

"No."

"Wh-why?"

"Because you are the daughter of a traitor. After all, he not only married an English woman, he fought on their side! He betrayed his family and his country. That is why you are here. After all, you are his spawn. You here, here have no right and in my eyes, you are not my family." He said. "Now, time to take you to your room."

I nodded feeling both lost and very lonely. His words accompanied by his face cut deep like a rusty serrated knife. I walked on, feeling defeated. I walked by him down a blur of corridors and corners, biting my lip the whole way trying to silence my cry. I did not want to give him any amusement, like a pet owner laughing at their stupid pet. I felt like a stupid pet! 

Then he opened the door and I walked in and the door closed behind me. Inside there was a bed in front of a barred window. Next to the door was a bathroom with a set of draws in-between the bed and the bathroom. 

I walked and collapsed into the grey bed and wept like I had never before. I wept until my eyes and cheeks became sore.

After weeping I finally went to the loo. I cleaned my hands and face. I looked at the mirror, that face that looked so much like my father. 

What gave them the right for them to do this?! Why did I show him that place? Why!

Oh I know why, it's because I'm a stupid child looking for father two point oh!

I then punched the wall next to the mirror as I let out my emotional turmoil. I did it again and again until my knuckles bled. I then ran it under the cold water and covered it.

I then looked at the small bathroom. The shower was next to me with only a thin navy curtain giving me any privacy and the loo was inches from my calves. I walked out the bathroom door and looked at the room. It was the size of a small suite with dull white walls and a shelf filled with books by my bed. Underneath was a small cupboard. 

I opened it and spotted a pair of grey cotton shirts and trousers. Knowing that this was what I was supposed to put on I did. I looked up to see the books. They were all Japanese. I did not even speak Japanese!

"Do you want to?"

If it would help me.

"I cannot promise that, but reading will take your mind off things as much as it can."

I nodded. I knew that I liked the idea of that and right at this very moment, I knew that I needed it too.

So within the next few hours I was reading the books as if they were in English. It was able to get my mind off things. I had read about the history of Japan, right from the earliest of eras and I had come to realise that I was reading a history book. I was enthralled when I read about the semuri and the ninja and I was so engrossed that I did not realise the hours that had slipped by. When the door opened I jumped slightly. I looked up as I looked up at Uncle Haru as he came in. He looked at me with nothing but contempt as he put down a bowl of food.

"You know, once we are done with you, I will be charged to look after you as your guardian." He said, with an angry tone to his voice.

My lip curled.

"You sound happy." 

His lip curled too.

"Do you know how humiliating it is?" He snapped.

"Not really."

His eyes rolled.

"Is that why I have been given these?" I asked.

"Yes. After all, Japan will be your new home." He said. "And I am glad that you are able to read Japanese. I hate to admit it, my brother has taught you well." 

He then left. I then quickly dug into the gruel. I did not like it but it was food nevertheless. I thought about what he had said and knew that neither of us liked it that he was to raise me. I knew that he would do nothing but monitor me and never let me out of his sight for one second. I would be more like a prisoner than a member of the family. I would never go to a Japanese school or friends. I would never even be allowed to leave the house. I should hope to be treated as a pet, at best, when I get over there.

In order to distract me from my loneliness I returned to reading once I had finished my food. I felt tired and after a while fighting it I put away my book and finally fell asleep. I was woken with such a loud bang that it made me jump.

"Here." He said, giving me the bowl.

I looked at the gruel, I felt slightly nauseous so I gave it back.

"I don't want it." I said.

He nodded.

"Come." He said.

I then followed him and I then turned and entered the lift. We went in. 

"Ahh! You must be Miss Aqua Aoshine." Said a man with white hair and a white coat. 

He had cristal blue eyes and he looked quite young and he had circular rimmed glasses. This made him look striking with perfect features.

"I'm Doctor Wolfgang Anderson. We will be meeting each other every day." He said as the doors opened. "Now down here!"

I then walked into the doors opposite and I walked to the chair that looked like a dentist's chair.

"Now lie down here." He said.

I did what I was told. He then gave me a quick check up. He then cut a few locks of my hair, some of which were from my traumer hair. He then took my saliva and my blood. He then trimmed my nails and I was back in my room before I knew it.

That was fine.

"Well, same here."

The worst is yet to come isn't it?

"Most likely."

I'll just get to my book. I think that I'm going to have to read as much as I can about Japan, if that is to be my new home. I better learn as much as I can. 

"Yes, that would be a good idea. After all there is no need to torture yourself over what is to come."

Yeah, you're right.

I read until Haru brought in my next meal. He then gave me a pile of papers too.

"What are they?" I asked.

"Your blood and DNA results. And I was right, they are enlightening!" He said. "Try reading them before you sleep."

I looked at him with suspicion.

"So how was your first session?"

"Alright."

He laughed.

"Well then get a good night's sleep, because tomorrow will be a little less 'alright'?" He said as he left.

"Good talk." I said as I looked down at the papers.

DNA- Human, although altered by the Sky Crystal.

Blood- A Positive, although there are crystal cells mixed in.

Hair- Part Crystal

Nails- Same as hair

My eyes widened at what I had just read. I looked at my vanes as all the hairs stood on end.

I'm part crystal?

I stroked my vanes as I felt nothing out of the ordinary as the shock of what I had just read sank in. Was this what happened to me after all those times being in the blue rock? If so did that mean that if I went in and out of the blue rock enough times then would I be made of what that was? I wondered.

I then lay on my bed. My mind went over what I had just read. I just could not get it out of my mind! I just could not believe it! Yet if it was true then was I even human anymore?

Sleep came a long time after that. When I dreamed I dreamed about myself as a humanoid blue rock. I woke up screaming and I had to look at my hands to ensure that it was not crystal. I let out a long sigh seeing that it was not. I then looked at the results.

I might end up like that if they are right.

I then read the results and came to the conclusion that Doctor Wolfgang Anderson would come to that very conclusion. This would, most likely than not, mean that they would make me go in and out until they were proven right. This I knew that I would not like. Knowing this I would not be able to get back to sleep. I sat up and turned the light on. I read more of the book that I had been given. Mainly to get my mind off things. I had finished the book by the time Haru came in with breakfast.

"You are up early!" He said, for a moment, he was just like my father.

"After what I read in those results I had a nightmare. So I spent the rest of the night finishing this book." I admitted, yet I remembered who I was speaking to.

He gave me a mocking look.

"Oh? Did it scare you?" He cooed.

I regained my composure.

"I guess I was shaken, yes." I admitted.

He placed the bowl next to me.

"Thank you." I said as he took the empty bowls.

I eat the gruel. I was getting used to the grim food. So I was just grateful to even have food. After all, I knew that they might as well starve me, just to see how that would affect me. I was nothing but a labrat here, nothing but a thing to be observed and tested however they wish, with nothing but these books to distract me.

I took a dump and showered. 

Here goes day two! I thought sarcastically. I hope that it won't be too bad.

I was collected by Haru and I was back in the lab. I did not talk to him. I did not want to talk to him.

"Miss Aoshine, did you get a good night's sleep?" 

"Not after reading your papers." I admitted.

"It gave her nightmares!" Mocked Haru.

Doctor Wolfgang laughed.

"I'm sure." He said as he put a hand on my shoulder. "I would be too if I were you. Now get back into the chair. We will be examining your brainwaves. I would also like you to have a telepathic conversation with the Sky Cristal alright." 

I nodded.

"Will it hurt?" 

"Just slightly."

 I nodded as I sat on the chair. He put a cap with small needles on me. It slightly hurt but I knew that I had no choice but to endure it.

"Now, start in three, two, one!"

Hello?

"Aqua."

Hi.

"What do you want to talk to me about?"

Is-is Doctor Wolfgang's findings true?

"Yes."

Why did you not tell me?

"I did not know that it was important."

You didn't think that it was important? You didn't think that it was important!? Why?

"I did not know that you needed to know."

And when would you tell me? When I'm cristal like you? When I have seen everyone I know and love die? And I can't because I'm a cristal freak!

"No."

Then when were you?

"I did not think that I needed to."

Then what the hell! What the actual hell!

"I am very sorry, I was not aware that this thing would affect you."

Then you thought wrong.

"Have you got what you want?" I asked, wishing to end the conversation.

"Yes, why? What did you talk about?"

"Never you mind!" I spat as I felt tears of anger fall.

"What did you talk about?" He asked.

"I don't want to talk about it!"

Doctor Wolfgang hit me.

"What did you talk about?"

"That Blue Rock just doesn't get it!" 

"Get what?"

"It wasn't even going to tell me about the changes that I'm going through!" I snapped. "I mean, I could see mum and Aunt Blue die and I will be young because I'm a cristal freak and I would never even know why!" 

After I just broke down.

Doctor Wolfgang placed a hand on my shoulder.

"That will be all." He said. "Haru, take her to her room and comfort her." 

He pulled me as he dragged me to my room. There he curled his lip and gave me a punch in my gut. He then hit me again and I hit the wall behind me. I fell and shook, not out of fear but anger.

"Stop crying, you parasite!" He shouted.

I looked at him with defiance in my eyes. 

"I can't." 

"I said stop it! I just want you to know that the only reason I have any obligation to you is because you share my blood! And in my opinion, I think that Doctor Wolfgang has been going too easy on you but I want you to know that I will not!" He shouted.

He then slapped me.

I felt my legs back away from him.

"Stop it! Just stop it! Leave me alone!" I growled.

He smirked as he turned to the door and closed it behind him. I collapsed on the floor still crying and shaking with nothing but rage. I soon felt the loneliness sink in and I hugged my legs for comfort. I could not breathe as I was suffocated by my tears. I did not speak to Haru as he brought in the food. I did not even look at him or the food which I did not even touch.

The following day I was half dragged to the lab. I was then thrust into the chair and I was strapped to it. Then Doctor Wolfgang came in. He then had a hostile look on his face. He then took out a syringe and injected a strange liquid into my arm. I was soon falling asleep.

I saw myself in the air. I was looking at the Blue Rock but this one was bigger and I was in a bright blue sky.

"Hello."

What do you want?

"I just wanted to say sorry."

Oh?

"I have to remind myself that you are human and humans are more attached to other humans. I should have known better."

Yes, you should have.

"What do they want with you now?"

Sleep. They just put me to sleep.

"Oh."

Tell me is there anything else that I should know?

"Yes, but I think that it would be best to tell you when we are safe."

Alright.

I woke up feeling calm and refreshed.

"Did you get what you wanted?" I asked.

"Yes, yes! And I shall give you a copy of my readings tonight." He said as he turned to the both of them. "Now how about you and your uncle go to the gardens. You have both earned it!"

I closed my eyes in dread.

"What is it?"

My eyes glanced at Haru.

"Nothing. I think that it is a good idea too. The fresh air will do us some good. By the way, how did you find me and the Blue Rock anyway?" I lied as I went over to him.

"Oh, you and the Sky Crystal admit a wavelength unique to their race. To be honest we would have never picked you up if we did not detect the same readings from you. Oh and Mr Aoshine, please behave. Our boss was not happy about what you did last night." He said as he smiled and pinched my cheek. "And be a good uncle. After all, the children are the next generation."

He nodded as gave him the evils.

"I can not wait for us to go to Lionhardt Rudolf Wolfram. He is better at this and less softhearted." He said.

"I know however he would expect the same of you."

With that, knowing that there was nothing else to do, I took his hand.

"Come on Uncle Haru, why don't you show me your favourite place?" I asked.

He nodded and then we went to the garden in the centre of the base. He showed me the black tulips and then pointed at them.

"How beautiful!" I gasped.

"There you have seen it, now time for bed." He said.

I let out a deep breath and filled my lungs with the fresh air before I went back to my room. I ate my meal and took a shower, changed clothes and had a good night's sleep.

Uncle's Revaluation

The following morning I knew that the air had changed around me and not for the better. Especially when Haru came in earlier than usual. He was cheerily humming to himself like he was genuinely happy. He was just being like he had been given the present that he had wanted for a long time. This made me feel nervous and this turned to dread. After all, whatever made him happy would have made me anything but and the more it hurt, the better. He pulled up a chair and sat on it. He looked at me with a dark glee that told me that I was not going to enjoy what he was about to tell me. This made me want him to do anything but open his mouth.

"Well good news is that you're not going to die. Now, tell me, do you know why I hate you?" He asked, his voice filled with ice.

"Because of what my father did." I said, trying to play along. 

I knew that the sooner that I got this over with the better. Something told me that I did not want to prolong this more than it had to.

"And do you know what happens to those who did what your father did?" He asked.

I remained silent. I did not want to answer that question but I already had figured out the answer.

"Answer the question." He said, playfully.

I looked down not wanting to say it.

"Answer the question." He said sternly.

"I do not think I want to." I admitted.

"Do I have to discipline you?"

"No."

"Then answer the question." He said, calmly.

"They are killed." I said, my voice hollow.

My breath became deep and rapid. I could feel my heart pounding in my head. I knew where this was going and I was not going to like any of it. 

"Now when your father did what he did he brought shame to our family. Tell me, what do you think that meant?" He asked as a smile played on his lips.

Yet another question that I did not want to answer but yet knew the answer to.

"No." I lied.

"Well it meant that there were two ways that could be rectified. One, if my brother repented and fought on our side, and two, if a family member killed the trator." He said, with pride.

I looked at him stunned at what he had just said. I felt shaken by what he had just said. I was also shaken by what he was implying. Suddenly my mind was like it was in the eye of a storm of rage that I did not want to understand. 

"And tell me," I said in a tone that I did not like and sounded so alien to me. "Who killed my father?"

My mind went to the day that I saw my mother after the war and how I wept after finding out that he was dead. I remembered how much it had devastated her and me. How, after trying for months, we could no longer live in America. How we had to move to Great Britain. If what I had suspected was right, all of that could have been traced back to him. I could not believe we had let that devil in our home, and with open arms no doubt!

He smiled.

"With that tone in your voice I think that you already know." He said.

"Say it!" I growled.

"I did."

With that my body moved almost as if it had a life of its own and rushed to him. I punched him in the face and he was flung back and hit his head on the ground. But I was no in the right frame of mind to care. All I wanted was to make him hurt like he hurt dad, like he hurt mum and how he had done nothing but hurt me. So I dived over to him and as I went in for another punch he caught it and pushed me back. I then kicked him in the loins and then stood on his foot before he could recover and then I hit him in the temple again until he started to bleed. He then hit me in the gut but I hardly cared as I felt my tears of rage fall. My hand then was raised but he caught it and then hit me in my armpit. I screamed out of pain yet I went to kick him again but he pushed me back and I hit the bed behind me. The arm that he hit was limp and I got up. My eyes directed at him, though I could not see him through my tears and picked up the chair and threw it at him. He raised his arms to block it but it was not enough. So he was flung to the side and used this to lower himself and hit my ankles and I was soon on the ground on my limp arm. 

He then picked me up and punched me in the face. I hit the bed with a great thud. I knew that there were several bones broken but I did not care. I was not in the frame of mind to focus on the pain. I took the bed sheet and threw it at him. I then jumped onto it and hit him again and again. Then I gripped him. He kicked me off him and I landed on the bed. He then jumped on me and he drove his forearm into my throat. I wriggled as my head became light and then slowly everything slipped into black. 

When I woke up I was in my bed. I could tell by the lighting outside that I had been out for more than one day. I could feel that I had leather cuffs around my wrists. Though my body must have gotten over the worst of it, my body still hurt all over. I looked around and saw a pile of papers next to me. 

Of course it was for an experiment! I thought as my heart sank.

Haru came in as if on cue. His face still was bruised.

"You awake?" He asked as he sat on my bed beside me. "Good!"

"Go away!" I spat.

He smiled as he went to place his hand on my cheek. I tried to pull my head back as I knew that it was the hand that he killed my father with and I wanted to have nothing to do with it. However it reached my cheek nevertheless.

"Tell me, do you want to know what I am telling you with this hand?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes.

"What?" I said with a bitter tone in my voice.

"As I am sure that you have figured out, I killed your father with this hand and I can kill you just as easily." He said.

"Then why don't you? I don't wanna be here anyway." I said, feeling my tears already forming.

"Why should either of us be so selfish?" He asked.

I looked at him confused.

"What?"

"Well, you should know that Natsu would not want me to kill you and he would not want you to be killed. So it would be selfish for either of us to kill each other. So please for his sake, don't be so selfish and neither will I." He said.

I nodded.

"So would you think that he would want you to be so selfish?"

"No, he wouldn't."

"So will you be selfish if I undo these cuffs?" 

I shook my head.

"I won't."

I soon was free from my cuffs. It hurt me slightly to sit up.

"Now, read these and get a good night's sleep. After all, you will be transferred tomorrow." He said.

"Are you coming?"

"Yes." He said as he reached the door. "Good night."

"Good night." I said completely defeated.

He cleared his throat.

"Uncle Haru."

He smiled as he left me. I then read the papers. I then ate the gruel and fell back to sleep.

Lion's Den

I was woken up at an early hour by a splash of water. In the next moment Uncle Haru came and undid my cuffs. He quickly helped me to pack the books away that I was given. I then was taken with him to a helicopter and, with his help, soon in and buckled in. He seemed to be happy and was humming to himself.

Then I saw the blue rock, they packed it away in front of me. I was suddenly afraid what would happen if it put me into a trance to get me out of here, yet there was a part of me that wanted for it to do so also. I could feel my heart hammer my rib cage.

I felt Uncle Haru grip my hand. More to keep me from touching it than out of comfort. Yet knowing that and despite it all it did come to a relief to me. That way I would never find out. However that part of me that wanted to get out of here felt dismayed, this part I knew that I would have to get under control. Even still, another part of me felt disgusted that this man, who killed my father, had the nerve to touch me. Let alone touch me with the body part that he used to take my father's life.

I looked outside in order to take my mind off things. I started to feel slightly afraid of what was to come and I knew that I was going to go to a worse place. I could tell that all this would make him happy. This, I knew would hurt me and make me desperately want to end things. Though I could only imagine what they were. I knew this would most likely be the last breaths of fresh air that I would ever get for a long time. However, as Uncle Haru said, I must not be selfish, regardless of what happened.

I found myself sleeping and drifting from dream to dream like the tide. I saw faces in them, faces that I knew that I would have to save. Many of them were girls and some were boys. I could tell that one group, a boy and a girl, were twins.

My uncle woke me with a shake. I sleepily stretched and with Uncle Haru's help I was soon off the helicopter. The first thing I saw was the mountains in the distance. It was such a beautiful sight along with the trees that were strangely pale. 

"Aqua!" Snapped Uncle Haru.

I nodded and followed him.

"A-are we still in Germany?" I asked. 

"No but we are still in Europe." He said.

"Where?"

"I can't say. Doctor Leonhardt Rudolph Wolfram does not like people telling outsiders where this place is." He said, with a stern tone.

"Do you know what happens to those who do?" I asked, feeling uneasy.

"He signs their deaths." He said, as his eyes twitched slightly. "So, if you ever tell anyone about this place, try to remember that I did warn you."

I nodded.

"Haru! How are you?" Asked a tall man. He had pale skin as pale as death and long blond hair with a beard that gave him a handsome lion-like face. He had reflective crystal blue eyes that were both stunning and piercing. I felt like ice as I looked at them. I could see the shrewdness and cruelty in them too.

"Doctor Leonhardt." He muttered, with a nervous tone.

He smiled as he placed a hand on him. To her shock Uncle Haru twitched slightly as he did.

"I see that you still know your place." He said, with a smile that never touched his eyes.

He nodded.

"Yes, thanks to you, I do." He said, almost with a guarded tone to his voice.

He then chuckled as he looked down at me.

"I see that this must be your young niece. I heard that her ageing stopped when she was in the Sky Crystal, but I still never expected her to still be a child." He said as he looked at me with a deep interest. 

"Yes." He said as he pushed me closer to him. "Introduce yourself."

I nodded.

"Aqua Aoshine." I said.

He then held out a strong and well toned hand that was cleaned and well manicured.

"I am Doctor Leonhardt Rudolph Wolfram. I hope to get to know you and your Sky Crystal very well." He said.

Suddenly my gut felt uneasy as I shook his hand.

"I see that you're just like your uncle. By the way, I hope that you are as good a specimen as he is!" He said.

I narrowed my eyes and ignored my instincts telling me otherwise.

"And what do you mean by that?" I asked. 

He laughed.

"You know she is very much like you Haru!" He chuckled. "I mean you are at the heart of all this and, right now, all I care about is the fact that you are the pinnacle of health, and I have a lot to read."

He showed me the suitcase that held my file.

"Come on Aqua." He said and knowing that I had no choice, I followed him and we entered the door and he closed the door behind us. 

I looked up at Uncle Haru.

"Are-are you afraid of him?" I whispered.

"Yes, and you should too. If not now, then you will do." He said, yet he spoke out of experience.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?" I asked.

"I will!" He said as we turned a corner and walked into the lift.

We walked in and as we descended I started to feel dizzy, like my brian was vibrating. I leaned against the back to cover it. My vision started to move and my head felt strange. It felt like I was merry fighting to stay sober. My brain started to feel heavy. My vision started to blur.

"W-what're you doing to the blue rock?" I asked, my speech slurred as my head started to hurt badly.

My uncle smirked.

"They're scanning it. Also they're taking samples of it." He said. "It seems that it's having an effect on you."

 I tried to look up at him but my head felt too heavy so I could not raise my head.

"Oh, what? Did you think that we would start the next day?" Doctor Leonhardt Wolfram asked.

"I d-n't know…" I said as I started to breathe in and out. Trying to get as much air in my lungs as I could. I tried to focus my vision and lock onto something or someone.

He then pushed me against the back of the lift. He forced me to look at him. Helpless but let him see me like this state and gloat.

"L-leave me…" I only managed to whisper as I passed out.

I woke up in a room with black walls. I was in a grey bed with a thin grey sheet with a grey pillow. Beside me was a small shelf with my books on. There was a small bathroom, much smaller than the other room.

I tried to get up but I could not. I could not even feel my body. I felt like a vegetable and what was worse, I knew that they were watching me. I soon felt a very painful headache. Almost like my brain was being blown up and trying to burst out of my skull. I tried to scream and shout for them to stop but I could not even open my mouth. Then my body seized up as I felt pain all over. It felt like I was being electrocuted and stabbed with needles throughout my inner and outer body.

This must be what they are doing to the rock. I deduced.

I could not do a thing as I waited for the pain to pass. I could only imagine that Uncle Haru was enjoying all of this. Yet I could do nothing, not even scream out in pain. Never in my life did I want my mum more!

I heard the door open. I knew that it was Uncle Haru. He then sat down.

"Sit up." He said.

I tried but I could not.

"I said sit up." He said sternly and hit me.

I could not even grunt.

"Can you sit up?" He asked.

I tried to shake my head but I could not even do that!

"Interesting…" He muttered to himself as he closed my eyes. "Anyway, I came to tell you even though they are experimenting on the Sky Crystal today. It will be your turn tomorrow" 

He then left and I could do nothing but slide off to sleep.

Experimentation

I woke up in my bed. My pounding head spun slightly. I had felt like I had something ripped out of me. I felt hollow and my heartbeat felt light.vI tried to see but I was in nothing but darkness. That was when I felt something thick and made of cotton around my eyes and temples, covering my ears.

Blindfold...I thought sleepily. 

I tried to move but I could not. 

Cuffs…

I waited painfully aware that I was completely helpless. I felt frustrated and scared at the fact I was at their mercy and there was not a thing that I could do about it. It felt like I was no longer human, then again, half of me was not. In fact I suddenly felt afraid that by the end of this I would no longer be human.

To distract me from this, I tried to hear what was going on so I kept my breathing quiet and steady. Even though it did calm me. All I could hear was mumbles and mutterings but I could not make out a word like there was something blocking my ears. Yet I could not feel anything in or around my ears.

Must be a side effect of whatever they did to the Blue Rock yesterday… that is if it was yesterday. How long has it been since I was at home? I wondered as it dawned upon me that I might have been there longer and I would not have even known it!

I felt someone stroke the bend of my arm with their index. I twitched as it was cold as ice. I could feel that, by the thickness of the finger, it was that of a man. It then pulled away. This told me that someone else was in the room with me. I felt my heart race as I knew that this was not a good sign.

"She's awake!" Doctor Leonheardts Wolfram's voice came.

"Then let's get this over with." Came another.

I suddenly felt a nipping pain in my wrist as something cold forced itself into it. I knew what it was that was my arm. This told me that they were putting something inside my body. Then it was pulled out, seemingly a moment after. I then went numb as the blindfold and the cuffs came off. I then looked at a new face. Who told me his name but, to this day, I can remember neither his face or name. All I remember was the jet black hair and blue eyes. All of which were nothing but a blur. I was soon put into a strange state of mind and I became obedient and submissive. I was, in this moment, his puppet and I knew it. Uet the most frightful thing of all was that in that moment I did not mind.

Everything about the next three hours became nothing but a foggy blur that I could do anything but recall. Only that it seemed in the next moment I was back in my cell and I hurt all over. Without any knowledge of why my body hurt so much. I sat on the floor and nursed my fuzzy head. I barely registered it when Uncle Haru came in

"Well that was alright." He said.

"W-what h-happened?" I asked slightly muffled, like it was miles away from me. In fact, all that I was seemed miles from me and I could not find a way to get back to me.

He placed the food in front of me.

"You were hypnotised." He said.

"W-what did I do?" I asked. "W-what did they make me do?"

"Lots of things." He said with a sly smile.

I looked at him worried.

"Don't worry, it wasn't anything too undignified." 

I nodded slowly. I reached down and picked up my food. I ate it as fast as I could yet it felt slower than I knew it should. It seemed like everything was going too slow, my body, my mind, even my own thoughts. It was like half of myself was still in Dreamland.

"Are you going to do it again?" I asked as my voice choked.

"Yes." 

I would have asked for help if I did not know any better. I was not going to get any warmth in this ice cold place.

"I'm going to have a nap after this." 

"Then get your rest."

"I will."

"Good. You will have the rest of the day off." 

"Good. I don't like that guy. What was his name?" 

"It doesn't matter." 

"No, I guess not." I said I finished. I then climbed into bed and closed my eyes.

I was soon dreaming of the Blue Rock again.

"Wake up! Aqua Aoshine, wake up!"

What? I don't understand!

"You are never going to get out of here. Not any time soon. They are going to have you go through more things before they will let you go anywhere. They might even chop you up or cut you open!"

But what's the point? There's so many soldiers and guards! 

"Is that the same girl that fought those witches and warlocks?"

But they did not have guns!

"Good point, however, they had magic. So what may I ask is the difference?"

There's a great difference! This is the real world and I don't have any power in this world!

I woke up some time later and I read the books that I was given. While I was reading my head hurt and for some reason I found it difficult to read. I then put it away and then looked at the door. I saw the keyhole. I wondered if it was possible for me to pick it. Only to realise that I did not know how nor did I even have any tools to do so even if I did know how to pick it!

I then went to have a shower. It was cold but I did not mind. In fact I liked the fact that it was. It helped me cool down and I felt a lot less claustrophobic and refreshed. My mind became clearer too. So when I got out I felt miles better than I had in days. I then got some new clothes which were black cotton. I then found reading better too. By the time it was time to go to sleep I had finished the book. When I woke the next day, I was feeling quite refreshed and my mind was as clear as water.

I then saw that doctor come in. He then gave me a puzzle box.

"I want you to get into this." He said, sitting down on the chair.

I nodded avoiding his eyes. I looked at it and then I felt that needle in my arm. I looked at it and its angles.

"It's a puzzle box!"

"Yes, and if you are a clever girl, you will be able to get into it." He said.

I nodded again and looked at it closer. I then spotted a circular nobb. I then turned it one way but seeing that it did not work I turned it the other way. It then rose up and I heard a click. I then pulled it up and looked round it. I spotted a small tube sticking out. I then pulled it and then twisted it. I then heard another click and I then let go. This locked the work in place. I then pulled at the lid. Seeing that it was not opening I then spotted a latch I then pushed it in and the lid opened up. I looked in and spotted a pendant with a small shard of the Blue Rock inside. I took it out and looked at it, completely entranced by its beauty. I then looked up at the rest of them. 

"Have it." He said.

"Thank you!" I exclaimed, my eyes lighting up.

They chuckled as I put it on.

"Looks good on you." Uncle Haru said. "Mother would love to see you with that on. You know, you look so much like her."

I nodded as I smiled.

"Right, now all we need to do is perform an experiment on you." He said as he brought in a chair.

I looked at it as suddenly I felt afraid as I approached. I did not want to have anything to reflect on mum and Aunt Blue. So I sat in it and I was strapped into it. I knew that this was going to hurt but I had no choice and I knew it. Then he pushed a button and that was when I felt an electric shock run throughout my body. I screamed out in pain. Then it ended. I thought that that was it but then came wave after wave of pain. I screamed and screamed as I started to cry. Then I started to weep.

"Help! Help!" I shouted as I knew that none would. 

I moved and shook, trying to get free. I hit my head again and again. Then the chair started to rock. Then it stopped. I curled over as I panted again and again. My mind felt scattered as tears streamed down my cheeks. I could feel my body twitching and I could not stop it.

He then twisted the knob and then flicked the switch and pressed the button. I then felt a pain worse than the shock before and longer. I felt my heartbeat increase. My body became hotter and hotter as it did. My arms and legs pulled and pulled trying to get out of it, but the metal cuffs held me firmly in place.

"Help! Help! Help!" I shouted. "Stop it! Please, stop it! Please stop!"

 I soon wept as it finally stopped.

"Please don't do that again!" I wept. 

My heart sank as the knob was turned yet again and flicked a switch. 

"No, no! Please no! Don't! I'm begging you! No, no!"

I then was forced to endure more powerful shock and it lasted longer and soon all I could do was just scream and be blinded by my tears. By the end of it I was twitching uncontrollably. I knew that they were not finished.

"Increase the voltage." Doctor Leonheardt Wolfram.

"But it we do-"

"Increase the voltage." He repeated.

Then it came and the world became black. I woke up, still twitching. I saw Uncle Haru looking at me.

"B-bet you're happy now."

"That last shock should have killed you."

"I don't care."

"Not even the least?"

"No, just leave me alone."

"Why?"

"Because you don't care! That thing doesn't! Neither do your friends! All of you! None of you care and all that you do care about is that rock!" I shouted as I wept.

He then placed a hand on my head.

"Do you remember our conversation?"

"I don't care! I just want to go home! I just wanna go to mum and my aunt! They're the only ones that care for me!"

He smiled.

"You're right. They are." He said.

"Then leave me alone!" I shouted. "And I hate how much you look like dad! I never wanna see your face ever again!"

He signed and then hit me in the cheek. I looked back in anger. I just did not care anymore. I wasn't going to get out of here and I knew it. All his words were only designed to dangle the hope of being out of here in front of me, just to keep me going and stopping me from ending this myself. At that moment I was having none of it. He then hit me again.

"Do you think that I like this face?! I share the face of a traitor! It's shameful to have!" He shouted.

"So?"

"Oh you spoiled child! You just don't get it. I'm certain that, in a few years time, you will learn." He snapped.

"I don't get it? You're the one who doesn't get it! I won't be getting out of here! You really think that they'll let me go? No, I'm never getting out of here! They're gonna chop me up into little tiny bits! That's how I'm gonna get out of here! And-and I'll never-never see the w-world outside. I'll- I'll never see mum! I'll never s-see Aunt Blue ever again!" I shouted breaking down into weeping.

At this he went quiet. All that was audible was the sound of my weeping. He did nothing. He said nothing. He did not need to. His eyes spoke for him as he left. I was left alone. In this nightmare, I was alone. Helpless, hopeless and alone. Exhaustion got the better of me.

A Friendly Rescue

It was about three or four blurred weeks of blackouts and things that I still can not remember and pain. I had completely had it with all of this. All I wanted was to get out of here and have this place as well as everything be all over. I wanted these monsters in human form to be long gone and forgotten, like whatever happened in those moments that were. I wanted it so much that I could think about nothing more. I would have given anything to anyone! I was just that desperate.

By this time I felt nothing but a thing that none cares for, like everything that I was had been hollowed out and as each day seemed to slip further and further away. All of my memories of mum, dad and my aunt were haizy and became difficult to remember. It was so bad that I had started to wonder if those memories were real or if they were a manifestation of my dreams. A world that I had created to protect myself from all the horrors of this place. I felt like everyday they were taking piece by piece of me and I was slipping away. I wondered if by the end of the year I would still be me or just a living drone. A shell of what I used to be.

Uncle Haru visited me a fair few times, less each time and less I talked to him and him to me. I was starting to not even register him.

"What day is it?"

"Tuesday."

"How long have I been here?"

"A month."

"Really...Seems longer."

"Does it?"

Then he would leave. This would be, usually, how our conversation went. Then, later on this day he came back later. He had a strange look on his face. He looked at me as if he was gloating, but there was something else in his look. If I did not know any better, I would have thought that it was shame however it seemed more like anger.

"What did you do?" He asked.

"What...do...you...mean?" I muttered.

"There are people coming out of the rock. Doctor Leonheardt Wolfram said that they seemed to be extensions of the Sky Crystal. So, what did you do?"

I frowned.

"I don't know. I don't know anything! I don't-" I felt my tears starting to form in my eyes.

I rushed to him and grabbed him by his collar.

"Please! Tell me are roses real? Are those gardens real? Did I really live in New York! Did this white hair come from fights or did they come from all these experiments? Mum, dad are they real? Are you really my uncle?"

He grabbed my wrists and pushed me off him and back onto the bed.

"Yes! Of course they are! You would not be here if they were not!"

I would have responded. Then I heard gunfire, however in my strange sense of mind it did not affect me. Then he slapped me hard. My head hit the pillows.

"What did you do?" 

He grabbed me and pulled me up.

"What did you do, traitor's spawn!"

He pushed me to the floor. As I hit the ground I snapped back in reality.

"I don't know! What's that gunfire for?"

"Those people! They're firing at them. Now, tell me, what did you do?"

"I don't know! I'll ask the Blue Rock if that's what you want!"

What did you do?

"What, I know that I have to get you out of here. After all, I know that I can not lose you!"

"The Blue Rock is doing this." I said before I realised it.

His eyes widened.

"You-you mean that thing-"

"Is alive." I said as I touched my pendent. "Has independent thought and will."

"What are you getting at?"

"It wants to protect me."

I felt my eyes widened as my mind started to process what I had just realised.

You care about me! You actually care about me?

I could feel tears starting to form as I repeated the words in my head.

"And?" My uncle said, bringing me back into reality.

"And I don't know if it will stop at anything to do it."

He then looked out of the cell. The gunfire had stopped.

"What?" I asked as I walked to where he was and walked out with the guards gone.

I was then about to run but Uncle Haru gripped my shoulder. I looked back, knowing that this was my only chance I hit him in the loin. He let go and ran to where I knew the Blue Rock was. I did not know how, but I knew where to go. Hearing Uncle Haru behind me, I jumped up and punched the air vent gird up and it came loose and I was soon in the air vents. I was about to move on.

"No. Stay, wait where you are and wait for that man to run past you."

But what if he doesn't? What if he finds me?

"He will not. He will think that you will be running to the nearest exit point."

So I stayed where I was and waited for him to run by.

"Now count to thirty. It will help you."

"One, two…"

"In your head fool!"

Child! I corrected it.

"Just do it!'

I did just as he said. I quickly moved on. I went as fast as I could. I knew that I would have to turn left, but then I heard something in the air vents with me. So I stopped and listened out for where it was coming from. Then it came closer and closer. I started to shake and my mind went over who it could be. Then I sighed as he saw that it was only a mouse. It looked at me as I let out a light silent giggle.

Then I felt a hand on my mouth, I thought for a moment that it was Uncle Haru but then I twisted and I was looking at Doctor Leonhardt Wolfram. He then pressed my wrists against the floor of the vent. He had a smile that I did not like.

"You know, when I first heard of you I never expected that you would be so beautiful." He said as he stroked my cheek. "Maybe if I were to go into that rock of yours and wait for you to grow up you would make for such a great wife material."

"No I won't and if I was to marry then it will not be to a pig like you!"

I tried to knee him in the loins but my legs were in the wrong position. So I thrust my head forward and hit him in his mouth. He pulled away and I slid back as fast as I could. He then caught my ankle and pulled me back. Then his hand was thrust around my neck. I went to punch him but he caught my fist. He then pulled me up to him he then threw it back and I hit the back of my head. He then let go and he hit me in the cheek. I then was, finally able to hit him in the loins this time. I then slid down hoping that I could get away from him as he could not turn likeI could in this place, but he was able to trap me in between his knees. I then raised my hand and punched his loins and he let go. I took hold of the ankles to thrust me forward to get further away from him. I spotted a latch and I kicked down. 

I coughed again and again, yet I knew that I could not stay here. So I broke out into a run and I ran as fast as I could. I then turned the corner but then I caught a glimpse of Uncle Haru so I backed away and, as I was hit by something and hit the floor. I got back up and tried to run more but then Doctor Leonhardt Wolfram kicked me and I was back on the floor and he kicked me again and again. Soon blood was coming out of my mouth. That was when I heard gunfire and he fell on me. I took him off me and I felt sick.

"Come on, we need to get you out of here."

"King Yaminox!"

Suddenly the world got brighter. I felt like I could finally go home, where I could be safe. This filled my heart with hope and happiness that I had not felt in a long time. Suddenly I felt my heartbeat with joy. I held his hand as I ran so that I would never get separated from him. I knew that if that happened I would lose my chance to get out of here. I was soon out of the base and I was on a helicopter with the Blue Rock beside me. King Yaminox took off and I was free.

The Truth Of The Rock

"I am guessing that you have a fair amount of questions." King Yaminox said, with a determined look in his eyes.

I remembered all the questions that I had ever since day one. I remembered all the times that he would tell me that he would answer all of them when the time was right. I knew that now was the right time, however I knew that, right now, I was not ready for them. After all, I was not fully in the right state of mind to receive anything that King Yaminox has to say. No, I had had a very draining couple of weeks, if it was a couple of weeks. After all, to this day I can not recall how long that I spent under Doctor Leonhardt Wolfram's thumb.

"Yes I do." I admitted, as I started to spread out.

"But I-" I yawned. "Need to get some sleep."

"Yes do, when you wake I have a lot to tell you. It would be better if you had a clear mind for me to tell you." He said, almost with a guarded tone to his voice.

I thought I heard something behind me, but that must have been my sluggish mind playing tricks on me. After all, it had been for the whole time that I had been there. I had my sense of time distorted, my mind played around with and had been put through torturesom experements. 

So, wanting to get my head clear and at peace, I went into a deep and peaceful sleep. I did not know how long that I slept for but when I woke up, for a moment I was afraid that I was still in my cell, but then I saw the sky. My mind was clear and peaceful, like clear and still water. I breathed in the fresh air. I felt a rush of relief spread throughout my body as I knew that I would never have to go through that ever again.

"I'm free." I muttered. 

Then it dawned on me. 

"I'm free, I'm really free!"

I started to laugh and a single tear ran down my cheek.

"Aqua, we need to talk now." Said King Yaminox, in a tone that was almost dread, like whatever it was he was about to tell me, he had been dreading for a long time but he could not put it off anymore.

"Yes, but right now, I just want to enjoy my freedom." I said, wanting to prolong this moment of freedom and enjoying the moment as long as I could.

"Maybe later, but right now I have to tell you the truth. Let me start by going back over five hundred years ago. My people were at war with another breed of our kind. I was sent on a mission that-"

"Wait, 'your people' what do you mean by that?" I asked.

"I think that I should say that I am not King Yaminox, not really, and the others are not who they said they are either. See, we are different sides of the same creature, the creature that you call the Blue Rock."

I frowned trying to make sense of what he was saying and what that implied.

"Wait, does that mean that the others, the ones that died-"

He let out a long and deep breath. With a slight sorrow in his eyes.

"Will never return. Those parts of myself are gone forever." He said.

My face dropped.

So I won't be seeing them again.

"Continue." I said, wanting to distract myself from what I had come to realise.

"I was sent on a mission but something went wrong. I crashed here. Then, when I was in a weakened state, a witch put a spell on me. A curse that would cause me to lure children into my form and I would make a world that would make them stay there forever." He said. "Well until you came along and broke most of it. Well apart from the remnants anyway." 

"Wait, what?" 

Magic is real? As in, actually real? I thought that that was all part of some sort of placebo effect or something. But what King Yaminox is saying is that it wasn't! Then that means that all of this might have had something to do with that! After all, mum and Aunt Blue had been in the Blue Rock and they didn't go through what I've been through.

"Yes and yes, I did try to make you stay there too but you were the first to not only get out on multiple occasions, but, aside from the remnants, free me from my spell."

"And what about-"

"Yes, your mother and her brother and sister were strong, but they were never able to kill those witches and warlocks, who were manifestations of that witch's spell." 

Well I did have plenty of experience in fighting at the time. I thought as I played with my trama hair.

"So I freed you from your curse?"

"Yes."

"And when-you weren't planning on telling me, were you?"

"No."

"Alien…I can tell…"

I looked ahead and was suddenly hungry. He pulled out a case and gave it to me. I opened and saw a ham and chicken sandwich, a blueberry muffin, an apple and a can of something I had never seen before. I bit into the sandwich to discover that there was cress in there. I dug into it and ate the muffin and pulled away to see that there was chocolate filling in the centre. I ate it as tears streamed down my cheeks. I had forgotten just how good they tasted. Then, by the time I bit into the apple, I was weeping. I then opened the can and took a sip only to taste that there was alcohol in the can. I pulled it out and spotted that it had beer on it.

"Are you alright?"

"It's beer, I'm too young for this!" I exclaimed.

"Oh."

"Tell me, what is your name?"

"Stellam, Stellam Caeruleam." 

'Stellam Caeruleam', I like that name. 

"I hate it. I always have."

Don't! I think it sounds cool. It's kind of pretty, like a fairy's name.

I then felt something cold pressing against my temple. I frowned as I turned my head. I then spotted that I was looking into the eyes of my Uncle Haru.

"Stellum Caeruleam was it?"

"Yes."

"Then turn this helicopter around and fly us to Japan!"

"Why?"

"Tell me, do your kind come in red?"

Stellum turned pale and turned. He nodded with fire in his eyes.

"What, no! What is going on! We're almost free! Please!"

Uncle Haru hit me in the temple.

"Quiet! This is between me and Stellum Caeruleam."

"What!?"

"Inanis Rubrum Stella." He said sharply.

"Who?"

"You know something, Stellum Caeruleam?"

"Yes. I do."

"Then who is it?"

His eyes darkened.

"My enemy."

"What?"

"He must have been why my mission failed! He must have been why I crashed to this planet! He must be the reason why I ended up cursed in the first place!"

"In the war?"

"Yes."

I turned my attention to Uncle Haru. Wondering what was going on and why he was insisting on going to Japan. After all, he could not have been serious about having me live there with him. After all, I knew that he could not stand that sight of me.

"The Fuhrer had a son."

"And?"

"He is trapped in there."

"So is that why all of this happened?"

"Yes, you didn't think it was all about you?"

I let out a huff.

Of course there was an ulterior motive.

"You should have said!"

"What difference would that  have done?"

I looked at Stellum and then forward. I thought about England and home and mum and aunt. My mind went over all the memories and freedom that I had there. As I thought about it I realised that was where I was the most happy. Even though I knew that I wanted to go back and see them again, just to confirm that they existed, I knew myself better than that. 

"Depends. Tell me, is he like his father?"

"No, but Doctor Leonhardt Wolfram wanted to make him. We wanted him to be his own person."

"Do you think that he can be different? That he can be good?"

"Yes, in fact he would despise what his father had done even more than I despise what your father had done. He loves life and values it."

"Would it be better for him to come out of that Red Rock?"

"If he was to come out in the right care, yes?"

"And would you be 'the right care'?"

"Yes, why else would I subject myself to all of this humiliation?"

I closed my eyes. I knew in my heart that I had already made up my mind and that this would have been my only opportunity to see mum and aunt again. So I let them go in my mind. When I opened them again I felt a rush of determination. I knew that whatever lay ahead, even if I was not ready for it, it was something that I had to do.

"Then all the difference."

"What?"

"It would have made all the difference. You can drop the gun. You don't need it."

"Why?" He asked, suspiciously.

"Because I'm going to help you get him out of there. After I think we ought to take him back to mine. He will be safer there."

He nodded with a guarded expression.

"So you're coming willingly?"

"Yes. So to Japan?"

"To Japan."