Fairy Blood

[MidnaPhobia]

The girl smiled and hurried after Evette as he led her out of the inside of the tree and out onto a branch. She initially hesitated before slowly walking out after him. He seemed so graceful and at ease, his every move light and purposeful. She felt like someone who was just learning to walk in comparison. The wind was not helping either. Bloom’s hair blew in front of her face and the girl struggled to keep it out of her face and balance at the same time. Bloom stood there in awe for a long time, standing in awe of the world around her.

This was the first real time she had been able to take it all. It was easy to forget whilst you were trudging through a forest that there wasn't a road nearby or a town that you’d eventually come across or a plane that would fly overhead. Whereas here... here it really hit home that this was it. This was the world, a place that seemed to go on forever and was nothing like the one she had come from. It was different. But Bloom liked it. She still wasn't sure if she felt at home here, but she liked it.

Evette’s sudden shout caused her to flinch, everything had been so quiet. But she looked to him and smiled, nodding in the silent awe she seemed stuck in, as if the beauty may be ruined if she spoke. She took a slight step forwards, still looking at him when her foot slipped off the side of the branch she had been balanced so precariously upon. Bloom’s eyes widened for a moment in shock as she began falling and a scream escaped her lips.

[Blop]

It all happened in a moment: Bloom slipping; Evette's indecision to catch her; And the rough snapping of branches and rustling of leaves as Kane charged through the foliage. His arms were a cradled net around Bloom before the sensation of falling had even had its chance at her. The trails of spiritual power bled away from Kane's eyes to reveal them fixed on Evette above. Evette was being searched, wordlessly interrogated by the golden eyes. Lucky for Evette, he was innocent. Perplexed a bit Bloom didn't simply fly to save herself, but he was innocent enough. Kane dropped from his footing, his arms still holding his precious cargo, skipping lower into the branches with quick, and smooth falling.

"Hey wait!" Evette called after them, but he was quickly covered away by trailing leaves. Kane ended their skipping through the trees at the last doorway Evette had led Bloom through. It was sure foundation for Bloom to be carefully placed back upright. Kane's interrogating eyes were now searching for any damage, but he was sure there was none. A smile turned on his lips mixed with impudence, and endearment for Bloom's tendency for trouble. It was the first time Kane showed a little proud about his ability to keep Bloom from dying. The number of times she should have been killed was more than anyone could endure normally. She had a certain allurement danger seemed to find attractive.

The sound of echoing footsteps introduced Evette into the doorway. "Wow, its really you." He said, referring to Kane excitedly. Though, his tone was still flat, as if meeting the fairy princess and her legendary guardian Templar wasn't one of the most important things in this world. "I thought maybe Bloom was lying about it all. Especially when she didn't just fly away there." Kane remained wordless. He stared at Evette vacantly before turning to Bloom.

"The Queen is hoping to meet you for breakfast. Whenever you're ready, we will go to her. Till then, try to stay out of trouble." He turned to descend down the stairs, prepared to leave Bloom with the choice of when her destiny could resume its journey.

[MidnaPhobia]

Bloom feel for only what could have been a few seconds, before she suddenly stopped. She looked up to Kane as the man cradled her in his arms and she smiled slightly at him, her heart hammering in her chest. Her eyes then looked up to Evette for a moment before he was suddenly gone and she was falling again, Kane’s arms still protectively held around her. She eventually was set down back where she had kind of started from and the girl’s eyes looked to Kane apologetically. She felt bad for getting herself in trouble again, but he seemed to be almost... proud.

Bloom smiled. She really liked his smile. Her eyes turned back to Evette as the boy caught up with them and looked to Kane in awe and she looked away slightly. He hadn’t even tried to do anything. She hadn’t realised that it was because he had thought that she would have been able to fly. All in all it was a big misunderstanding. However when Kane said that the Queen was hoping to meet her for breakfast Bloom felt her stomach knot. She looked to him as he suddenly began walking away. Bloom looked to Evette for a moment before she took off after her protector.

“Kane! Wait!” Bloom called as she ran after him, striding up beside the boy and taking his arm. “Why didn't you wait for me?” She asked, hoping he wasn't mad at her for hanging out with Evette. She felt anxious, but she wasn't sure as to whether it was because she was meeting someone so important, or because she wasn't sure how Kane was feeling at the moment. He seemed happy, which she was glad for, but at the same time there could have been many emotions hidden under the surface. “Will you be there when I have to meet the Queen?” Bloom asked hopefully.

[Blop]

"Of course I will," Kane answered sincerely. She seemed anxious, and Kane was giving her reason to be. He had been trying to hide it beneath his demeanor, but Bloom saw through him too well. Though he was proud about his ability to protect Bloom physically, he was sad he could not protect her from her destiny. Her appointment with the queen meant the end of many things for Bloom. It would be end of childhood, and as such, it would be the end of any chances for times like the one Evette had giver her. Kane could not protect the young girl from becoming the great fairy princess the world needed her to be.

Hesitant silence kept him before he knew he had to ask, "are you ready?" He had stopped along the stairs. It was Bloom's choice to continue the descent. He would not be the one to pull her down. That was the duty of the world. It wasn't his place to tell her about her future, and he was glad to not be. The queen had all the answers. The queen had truth to Bloom's reality, and with the queen Bloom would have to choose the end of her youth and the beginning of her destiny. Kane would be there to see the passing, but could offer nothing more than his physical powers.

[MidnaPhobia]

Bloom looked down slightly as Kane paused and she thought over the question seriously. “Things... are going to change now. Aren’t they?” She asked softly, looking up for a moment and taking a hesitant step backwards. “Kane I... I don’t want things to change.” She said softly. She could sense his own apprehension, which only made her own worse. “I mean... I didn't want things to change before, but then I met you and... everything was okay, right? But... last time... I was still me. Wasn't I? This time... I’m going to change.” She could just tell, which was why she was so nervous.

Bloom shook her head again. She had changed, yes, but up until this point she had still been able to be herself, to walk off in the middle of sunrise and giggle and play silly little games. Dream. “What if... I don’t want to?” Bloom asked eventually. “What if... I go and meet this Queen but I still want to be me? No one... is going to make me do something I don’t want to are they?” She looked to Kane, her eyes asking the silent question. You won’t let them. Will you, Kane? Bloom stood there for a few moments, shifting on her feet uncomfortably.

[Blop]

Regression meant the end of everything. The world needed her foot forward, and on the stairs she stepped back. Evette was still standing at the top. A soft breeze passed through and shuffled his blonde hair. Nothing kept him from turning his head to enjoy it. He may have been above it all, higher than they and their problems, farthest from any responsibility, but he could not be so high if it weren't for the steps below his.

"Bloom there is nothing to fear," Kane began with a comforting voice. The difference in step brought their eyes level. His golden irises met hers with baring sincerity. "I will always be by you, protecting you. But there are some things you need to know, things you need to understand, and things you need to do simply because of who you are. I won't say you won't change. Destiny has its way about changing people. But I can promise that destiny always changes us for the better." He reached to grab her hand, but did not take it. Bloom had to be the one to squeeze. Bloom had to be the one to step forward again, even if that meant stepping down and being the one at the bottom of the stairs.

[MidnaPhobia]

Bloom stared for a long time into Kane’s golden eyes. Her own drifted back to Evette, standing there carefree and unburdened. Eventually she turned to look back to Kane, her eyes a little sad despite her small smile. When Kane reached out Bloom’s hand instantly reached out, out of instinct to hold his however stopped at the last moment, as if she hadn’t fully realised what she had been about to do until the very last second and she paused. Again her eyes drifted to Evette, but only for a moment before she turned back to Kane and reached out, taking his hand firmly.

She followed Kane further down the stairs. They didn't even encounter anyone along the way, which she found odd, not considering that maybe it had been done intentionally. It felt as if the world was doing its best to ensure nothing interrupted her destiny further. There had been enough distractions; Darius, King Ormond, Evette, even Kane to some extent. Now it felt as if something were gently ushering her along from behind, even though Kane was in front of her, telling her that this was where she needed to go and that she should get there now and stop stalling the future. Her future.

[Blop]

The grand hall doors were pulled inward. The sounds of creaking wood echoed in the large room. The great size and lighting of the room made it hard to believe it resided in a tree. It was obvious there was something magical at work as the sun was finding its way in to fill the room with its natural glow. The floor was of course wood, but had been polished and stained with intricate design. Pillars broke up the flat walls but were clearly for aesthetics only as they grew from the same wood as the walls they supported. The room had the look of being carved by the work of people, but it wasn't. Everything had grown exactly as it was.

There was a table in the middle that ran the length of the hall. It was cherry red wooden color that was much more different than the light brown wood color of everything else. Its legs rooted right into the floor. The tree had grown this table in this room for what seemed to be the most specific purpose. And upon the table was a large assortment of fruits and vegetables and pastries and foods that were never before seen and could hardly be classified. Though one thing was for certain, it all looked delectable.

The food sat untouched and waiting as did the three guests sitting at the table. One was at the table's head, farthest from the door Bloom and Kane had entered from. It was a beautiful female with a shining, yet thin and modest, silver crown upon her head. She was obviously the one and only Queen Fae. Her face and skin was pure white and smooth as cream. Like an untouched wax candle, it hadn't a spot of imperfection upon it. Green eyes flashed out of the opaque white mask with brilliant color. They were two shining stones in the nothingness around them. Brown silken hair flowed evenly from the the top of her head and behind her back. It appeared to be far darker than it was as the pale white skin it rose from embellished its color. In the same ways, her red lips and elegant blue, silver dress popped with vibrancy. Behind her were a pair of large translucent wings that were almost outshone by the colors about her body. The wings were about the size of the queen herself and shimmered slightly in the light. The queen's eyes shined brightly with color, and her lips were a red that seemed to smile on its own, but her expression never changed from an authoritative neutral flatness. She appeared neither happy nor sad, but instead, in charge.

To the left of the queen was a skinny bald man with a large white beard that reached to his chest. He seemed happy before having even seen Kane or Bloom, but upon their arrival smiled even greater. Nothing but a white tunic covered his body, and from the leather like quality of his tanned skin, it appeared that nothing else ever had. On the queen's right, across from the skinny man was a tall, large man clad head to toe in golden armor. He looked sternly forward as if his attention was on focused deeply on something internal. The squared jaw and masculine face put on an emotion of intensity and looked as if it could never be turned off. Though he was sitting, he still looked ready to fight an army of thirty men.

Kane led Bloom in through the double doors as they swung open. For a moment he was taken aback and took a double take at the man in golden armor. It was someone he recognized but not someone he had expected to see, but before he could say anything, his duty was a greeting to the queen. Approaching the table side and the golden man, Kane lowered to one knee and bowed his head, while gently tugging on Bloom's hand to follow him.

"Queen Fae, an honor as always." Kane said before standing straight again. The queen acknowledged him with a nod but had her focus on Bloom. Her green eyes were traveling up and down Bloom. They searched her, but gave back no opinion. They remained unbiased and unemotional.

"Please, Kane and Bloom, sit. Eat." Queen Fae ordered with a gentle invitational wave of her hand. Her voice was an angelic soft tone that also gave off total neutrality. "Bloom, it is a pleasure to meet you. This is master Miyatzu, the great monk of this land." The queen looked toward the skinny bald man to her left who dropped an apple to raise a happy waving palm at Bloom.

"So great to finally meet you Bloom! I have been waiting a very long while for you!" Miyatzu's voice was pleasant, cheerful, and vibrant. A very different sound from what one would expect from his elderly appearance.

"And, Kane as you know, this is Templar Rok." The queen acknowledged the man to her right in the same way.

The hulking man put an armor clad fist to his heart and with a deep commanding voice said, "it is a pleasure, lady Bloom."

"Yes, Rok good to see you again. It's been a long time. If I may, why are you here?" Kane questioned the larger Templar sitting beside him.

The queen answered for him, "You will know in time, Kane. But first, Bloom, there is much to tell. I hope by now you know who you are; the fairy princess. You have been born along a line of reincarnation that has taken place since the dawn of this world. You and your lineage have been the life givers of this world, and without you we would all be doomed to a horrible evil. You have been the only force to stop that evil and up until your last lifetime, it had yet to ever succeed. But it has succeeded. It found weakness in the Templar Darius and your last death was a terrible mistake and failure." Her voice no longer remained monotone and unyielding, it cursed true despise and hatred at the murderer Darius. Monk Miyatzu was overcome with sadness and drooped his head low as if the death of Rose had just happened. Kane was visibly uneasy: pursed lips, a tight grip, and the halt to his eating.

The queen continued, regaining her neutral composure, "you were born in the other world by accident. The cause is still unknown, but the absence of your power caused great turmoil in this world. Evil has gained much ground and has consumed much of the land. Terrifying beasts roam in parts that has never seen such horrors. Rivers have dried up or become poisoned. And outlying towns and cities have become lost to us. We can only assume they have been destroyed. Bloom you have the power to heal this world. Monk Miyatzu will train you. And when you are ready, Templar Rok will escort you across the land so that you may save us."

Kane snapped a look at Rok, and back to Queen Fae. About to protest, he stopped himself before he made the terrible mistake of snipping at the Queen. With a bit more composure he asked his burning question, "Queen Fae, when you say Rok will be escorting Bloom, what will I be doing?"

"You will return to the other Templars, your services will no longer be required."

"Excuse me!" Kane snapped. Queen Fae looked displeased, but other wise unaffected. However, a quiet stare down from her did put a tense silence between them. Kane nodded quietly and grimaced at his plate.

"Do you have any questions Bloom?" Queen Fae asked.

[MidnaPhobia]

Bloom followed Kane into the dining room and took a good long look around her environment, so much so that she hadn't even realised she'd stopped walking whilst her escort had continued on. She took a few quick steps, looking very clumsy and undignified as she did so but managed to catch up to Kane. He knelt before the queen and Bloom gave her a look before she felt the man's tug and she knelt too, however her eyes stayed glued to the beautiful woman before her, almost against her will. The queen didn't seem to mind though, as her eyes continually scanned up and down Bloom, judging her.

Eventually when the girl stood and sat beside Kane at the table, however her face remained similar to that of the queen's in terms of opinion of the other female. She wasn't too sure of her just yet. When Miyatzu was introduced, however she gave him a soft smile in return to his enthusiasm, it was rather catchy. "IT's nice to meet you too." She greeted, her tone sounding sincere and not like those fake ones people tended to put on so as not to offend. She then turned to look at Rok, flinching slightly as his fist beat against his chest.

The queen's story, however, was all news to her. Bloom turned to look at Kane, even as his eyes dropped to the table, a kind of accusing look, demanding an answer for why he hadn't told her this before. She knew the fairy part, the princess part, but none of the rest. Why had he kept so much from her? However the look quickly changed to shock as she mentioned that Rok would be escorting her from now on. Her own outburst quelled only by Kane's own as he stood, clearly upset by this.

When attention was brought back to her she nodded slightly, though was still looking at Kane before she shook her head and turned to look at the Queen. "I do um... your grace." She said, sounding awkward and ugly compared to the angelic being before her. "However none of them for you, no offence intended. You explained the situation perfectly to me. If I may though, is there a chance that I could make a request?" This seemed to cause the very slightest look of interest from the queen, her eyebrow arching ever so slightly before she nodded in consent.

"I um..." Bloom then looked to Rok, a hulking man whom certainly seemed capable of guarding her, on his intimidation factor alone. "I want Kane to accompany me in my mission... umm... quest-y-thingy." She mentally smacked herself in the head for that, but the request seemed to have gotten some very interesting responses in looks alone. "Kane... has done an amazing job so far, I've come to trust him greatly and I feel that it is that trust and... bond..." She had been kind of hesitant about using that word.

"That means he can do such a good job. If you think otherwise, that Kane's abilities are unsatisfactory, then perhaps Rok could accompany they both of us? I heard that it was done in the past..." She then turned to look at Rok, whom she was probably insulting with all of this. "I do not mean to offend, sir, I really don't. I am not trying to question your ability as a Templar or as a guard, I am merely saying that I would feel more comfortable with Kane nearby. My entire world had been turned inside out with this whole ordeal. Kane has been there for me, helping me keep... sane, as well as safe. I kind of feel like I still need that..." She trailed off, looking to the queen for an answer.

[Blop]

A heavy breath raised in the Queen's chest while her eyes remained fixated on Bloom. Fae was a mother that knew better. A stern face looked at Bloom and wanted to say; 'no, you are wrong. Listen to me, and heed my warning.' But in fact, Queen Fae had no authority over Bloom. She desperately wanted to deny Bloom, her eyes begged for it, but she could not command the fairy princess. However, Bloom did not know this, and the Queen had a way with persuasion.

She began with an authoritative tone. "Lady Bloom, you must understand. The Templar Kane is not a good fit for you. We appreciate his efforts bringing you this far, but now things must become serious. The entire world depends on our success. We cannot incur unnecessary risk for your personal comfort."

Privy to the Queen's motives, Kane decided to speak up. "Unnecessary risk? What unnecessary risks are you speaking of?"

"Kane," Queen Fae's eyes darted to him. Unlike Bloom, Fae did have authority over Kane and she was sure to enforce it. Her tone was sharp. As if all she needed to do was say his name, Fae let the pause silence the room and remind Kane of his place before she finished off an answer to quiet him. "You know full well what kind of dangers a Templar may bring to his ward."