A Ripple in the Pond~ Dark Times

Zero finished training and walked slowly back to his room, he noticed Penny's door tightly shut. He really should stop in and at least check on her while she was sleeping. Cracking the door open, he saw how peaceful she slept and guilt speared his heart, I should spend more time with her. She could die any day without warning. I should spend more time with all my sisters. he thought out of guilt and creeped into her bedroom. Standing by her bedside made him realize how fraile she was really. Zero lightly touched her forehead, checking her temperature and gently pressed a kiss to her head. "Sleep well my sister. May your rest benefit you. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again, dear sister." He shut the door quietly as if nothing had ever happened and left, back to his room.

Penelope woke, feeling someone touch her and though she recognized the voice and the usual words he spoke, she couldn't open her eyes to see her brother, Zero, leave. Penny let herself stay where she was instead of using up what strength she had to chase after him and whispered, "Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again brother."

Willow found her mentor and another apprentice exactly where she figured they'd be. Tucking her fans away, she quietly approched them, "Evening." she kept her greetings brief and cold. Choosing not to force out some half hearted words. It was cold and dim down here and she figured it was fitting for someone like her to be down there in the dank space. A murderer's prison.

 

Rath continued to stand outside with his eyes closed as the wind blew past him "its time" Rath quietly said as he turned around and walked into the castle. He calmly walked threw the castle and into the dark and cold dungeons. Upon reaching his destination Rath walked into the room and up to his mentor. As a show on respect Rath went on one knee, closed his eyes, lowered his head and placed his arm across his chest "Upon your command I have come forth" Rath said to his mentor.

 

"O..Of course, sir." Leo replied immediately after his menor spoke a word of advice. "Hear that? Discreet!" He hissed back at his shadow, turning back to the front. Yes, the boy had massive potential if he could find a commonality with his shadow. When they worked together they were a force to be reckoned with, like when someone attacked his shadow-both of them working together could break the shadow hold spell of most. But when his shadow only half-heartedly participated he was quite average in magic, something that tortured him.

"The royal family? I don't. I don't have a problem with them, other than the fact that some of them are probably spoiled brats." He said with a little shrug, feeling an approving little pulse from his shadow. They got along with some things. "Why do you ask, sir?" He asked lightly, folding his arms and looking at the man in front of him. He didn't think, necessarily, that any of them looked like much. No one would really suppose what was going on with all of them, the magic and whatnot-they were so different, yet they blended in so well.

 

Penny felt her illness come back with a burning passion. Her body rejected the apple potion. Weakly throwing that up over the side of her bed, she wiped her mouth and panted as she slid out of bed. Unsteadily walking down the hall, she felt like the world was tipping to one side. Her legs carried her out of the castle. Penny had no idea where she was going, but she knew it would be someplace that would stop moving. Tripping over her nightgown she fell onto the gravel roads and cut up her palms. Without anything else in her stomach, she dry heaved on the side of the road. Her body ached and felt unusually hot. "R-Risit..." her voice came out barely a whisper, her mind was practically screaming for him to find her.

 

The girl didn't do exactly as Risit told her to do just yet. She walked over to the window and glanced out, seeing her mentor rush to a small form that laid in the road. Eva's eyes narrowed, recognizing who it was. "It's one of the princesses," Eva said quietly to everyone else. She then turned away from the window and went to go clear one of the cots off. "You," she said, gesturing to Leo, "keep your shadow in check, or else. One of the royals has ventured out of the palace. If they find out what we are, death is on our heads." Eva quickly changed the sheets on the cot, set a fluffly clean pillow, and had a blanket and quilt ready to cover the girl when she came in. 'What in the world is she doing outside of the palace anyways?'

Madison looked up at her big sister, beaming at her since she was in a good mood today. "I'm very well, how about you big sis?" Her older seemed like she had the patience for her today... at least for a bit. She might as well soak up as much attention as she possibly could.

 

Rose shook her head at Eva, indicating she was fine without anything. Hearing their mentor's question, the young girl lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. She didn't technically hate them, but she didn't feel like she liked them either. Sighing, Rose was going to give her response until she Risit say something before taking off. What the... Her thoughts were cut short when she looked out the window, seeing one of the princesses. Rose flinched slightly when she heard Eva's comment about death towards the boy with the odd shadow. That won't be good... Her gaze landed on the boy before averting back outside the window.

 

Penny weakly lifted her hand to the sky, "I didn't mean to...I just...I didn't want to be alone anymore. I didn't feel good...no one was around. I just wanted to see the stars and I...." The last of her strength drained and she fell limp in his arms. The world had stopped tilting to one side and she took comfort in Risit's strength, pressing her face into his shoulder. She didn't realize her hands were still bleeding as she curled her fingers into his cloak, "Please....don't leave me...alone...."

Willow nodded, "All we have to do is learn about them? And if they attack us? We're just supposed to...what, let them? Hmph, if I'm attacked, I'm fighting back." Her ice blue eyes flashed and she turned to the others, "I don't play well with others." Willow could feel the cold slipping into her skin and she felt like she would never be warm again.

Zero sat in his room, his mind flipping from work, studies, training, and his sisters. He tried to keep his eyes open but to be able to stand still for once after strenuous training, he felt his exhaustion catch up with him. His bed was unused and perfectly neat but he was more comfortable in his chair. "Maybe for just a minute..." he mumbled and closed his eyes. Sleep came swiftly to him, but his dreams were always the same. Since reading about history brought up the old witch trials, his dreams took a turn for the worse.

 

Helena laughed softly at Willow's remarks. She was fine going solo, but this kid seemed immature with how things worked in the world. Their enemies were probably trained to work together, so they would have little chance if they couldn't even see eye to eye. "Self defense should be allowed, but it'd be best to flee so they will not learn of your powers before we are to go on the offensive." Helena stated quietly, looking off to the side. Her eyes then looked over to the mentor and she nodded. "Understood. I will not let you down."



Our focus is always on Penny... Penny needs our love, but that is no excuse for neglect... "I am fine dear sister." Elizabeth spoke with a kind smile as she looked down on her younger sister. "Aha!" Elizabeth blurted out, stopping with a wide smile. "How would you like for today to be one where we can hang out the whole day?"

 

Upon his mentor's order Rath stood up and walked towards a nearby wall, ignoring the other two ladies near him. with his eyes closed and arms crossed Rath listened to Cael's speech. Upon hearing the name Blone he immediately looked over at Cael. Memories of the kingdom he was born in flooded his mind, but Rath merely disregarded them and continued to listen to his mentors command. Once hearing his orders Rath placed his right arm across his chest "understood" Rath said with his eyes closed

 

Without saying much, Eva went over to the bookshelf where Risit indicated and took the blue vile from the shelf. She then handed it over to him, not even looking up at him. As soon as she passed the potion over to Resit, Eva walked over to her large leather bound book that was still open and plucked the feather pen out of the ink well. Making sure that the pen was dripping with ink, she brought it towards her entry of her apple potion and scribbled under it: Complete and total failure. Eva scribbled a satisfying line under those bold words and plopped the pen back in the ink well. Other entries she had written had the same kind of words written underneath them... There were more before that, she knew. Why did she keep trying anyways? Knowing that Resit was going to ask for it, Eva walked over to the barrel of water and grabbed a wooden cup, scooping some of the fresh water into it and brought it over to Risit to give to Penelope. She kept her eyes down, not looking at him or the princess that was lying in the cot.

Madison suddenly grinned from ear to ear when her sister said those words. It was very, very rare that her siblings decided to spend any time with her. "Really? Just the two of us together?!" Oh how spoiled she felt. It was always up to her to find entertainment, or to be Penny's entertainment. But not today. Elizabeth was willing to spend time with Madison, maybe with just her. How she longed for a moment like this. It seemed like everyone was always so busy and caught up in their own world all the time.

 

Elizabeth nodded happily. It was nice to see Madison so happy for a change and for it not to look fake in the slightest. "Yes. We can play games and such; whatever you want to do." She spoke with a wide grin and ended her setence with a slight chuckle. Today should be a fun day.

 

Penny looked to Eva and felt the need to stand up and talk to her like the princess she was, but her body wouldn't move, "Eva...I'm sorry..." Her heart hurt with guilt. Obviously Risit was busy and she'd selfishly interrupted that. She moved her brown eyes from Risit and Eva to the two strangers standing off to the side, "Who...are they?" her small voice trembled in fear of the strangers and a burst of energy came to her, "I'm sorry Risit, really I am! I'm such a selfish person, I don't deserve to be cured!" tears rolled down her pale cheeks.

Willow flinched at her mistake, "Forgive me. You're right, we should be careful and we will." Her icy eyes glittered with determination, what she craved now was her master's approval. After this, she'd push herself past her limits to prove she was in control of her magic for his approval. Willow's mind went through the essentials they'd have to bring. "Well, when do we leave?"

Zero woke in a better mood. Maybe Penny had been right to make him sleep. His mind when to Elizabeth and how he'd brushed her off. Wandering down the halls, his head wasn't full with studies or duties for once. He spotted Elizabeth and Madison, "Hello girls. I see you're at least happy this morning. What might be the source of such enjoyment this night?" It was almost surprising to himself. That was the most he'd said in one meeting of both sisters.

 

Eva didn't say nothing to Penelope for she was already talking to Risit. She turned to the others and walked over to them. "It's a busy night," she said lowly to them so Penelope wouldn't hear her. "Come back tomorrow and maybe we'll start. Depends how many interruptions we get." Eva had a feeling this one wasn't going to be the last one... She walked over to the door and waited by it for the others to come over. It was a cold night, and she didn't want to let in a draft. She didn't want Penelope to get more sick so she had to make more potions that were a failure every time.

Madison turned to see her big brother and didn't have the chance to tell her sister what she wanted to do. She smiled slightly, closing her eyes and being cute. "Elizabeth promised to play with me, so we're deciding what to do right now."

OOC: Made a new family member. We need more boys. >>

BIC:

A mist was settling over the valley around the castle and the villages. It made it hard for anyone to see what was coming their way... A horse was limping, making its way slowly to the castle where its home was. Sitting on top, hunched over in an awkward, sat a young man. He had an arrow sticking out of his shoulder, blood soaked through the clothing and stained the armor. The boy was fading in and out of consciousness, barely aware of the pain or the seriousness of it. He went to go about his father's business, checking on the villagers in the outskirts of the kingdom. If only he knew what was waiting for him. He barely heard the people when they saw him and rushed to his aid. Everything was just fading into black...

 

Penny watched Risit and Eva, her light brown gaze drifting over the others as she closed her eyes, "Zero...I suppose I could rest....for just a bit..." she drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

Zero shifted from foot to foot and nodded to his sisters, "Alright then. I'll see you all at dinner alright?" he called over his shoulder. Motion, that's what ran through his mind, he wanted motion. Something in him told him to move and he moved. The further he walked away from his sisters he could hear the peasants' cries. Zero hadn't heard if his brother had come home lately, in fact, he hadn't known where he was all day. His father was keeping things secretive again. Hurrying toward the frantic cries, Zero spotted his brother, his wound made Zero concerned. "Brother? What's happened here? Get him down from there, quickly, would someone call for a doctor!"

 

Helena nodded and headed outside without another word. She figured that if it was day she could leave right away since Willow would catch up soon enough. If it were night then she guessed they would end up leaving around the same time anyway so she might as well go with her. (...What time is it anyway? XD)


Elizabeth heard all of the commotion outside and looked down to her little sister. "Sorry, but we really should see what's happening." She spoke with an apologitic tone; just as Madison was the center of her attention something was going on. No problems, I'll make sure that the rest of today or tomorrow is as good as I can make it.