Awoken Bluer Than Before

I shot up urgently, feeling a cold sweat run down my back as a wave of vertigo hit me mercilessly. My heart continued to drum wildly in my chest as if I had just run a marathon in record-breaking time. It's what I'd imagine it feels like being in the position of a crash-course dummy, Body aching and mind completely scrambled.

'Just a... dream... Right?'

I felt an unsettling shudder run over my skin like thousands of ants crawling across it. After giving my arms a few shaky strokes, I tried to quell the discomfort that continued to invade my body. My gaze remained fixed on my lap, hoping the headache and dizziness would subside after I've grounded my racing thoughts.

It took a little while, seeming to have calmed down enough to get my bearings and a read on my current situation. Just as my eyes lifted and locked on my bare feet, I couldn't help but stare for a silent minute. They were tipped in a dark blue color, with my nails to match. Like they've been eaten at by frostbite for days and just now thawed out. However, my feet weren't cold, nor did they swell up like a blueberry. I could move them just fine. As I reached out towards them, I realized my fingers were in much the same way. A deep midnight blue, almost black, color stretched the length of each digit, fading as it reached past the first knuckle.

After an embarrassing 20 minutes of flexing my fingers and toes, like a toddler fresh out of the womb, I pushed past them. Finally taking in the rest of my surroundings, however, I was instantly stunned into silence.

I was currently lying on a cold, rocky bed made of jade that had been carved into a person's silhouette, almost like a coffin. It gave off a faint green glow as it hummed and resonated with what felt like some power. Crystalized roots spread out from the bottom and disappeared into the depths of the water below. Water surrounded the platform, making a perfect ring, like a target's inner circle. Within the glass-like surface were schools of exotic-looking fish that swirled and spun almost delicately not to disturb the clear image—like a mirror to another world, filled with the endless dance of colors, hypnotizing almost.

Further on was another ring of what looked to be different varieties of plants and trees. Tall trees with hanging branches reached down for the beautiful exotic flora below, almost like hands aiming to pluck them. Marble pillars that reached upwards held a large, slanted ceiling with glass panels letting in natural light streams.

Before my jaw could sink further into the watery surface below, a soft melodic voice rang from behind one of the large trees.

"Ah! You've awakened! Yay! I'll tell Her Majesty right away! She said to inform her when you wake up! Hehe"

My gaze flicked over to the area where the voice was heard, only to see nothing. Then, however, my ears could pick up the faint sound of fluttering wings like a hummingbird. It quickly disappeared before reappearing a few moments later, but it didn't stop behind the tree this time. Instead, it grew louder, almost to the point I could hear it directly in my ears. My gaze remained locked on the area the voice came from before, but nothing appeared. The noise remained, but no person or thing to accompany it until a voice called out to my right.

"Your Highness!"

My head swung quickly in the direction of the voice before seeing a small, now frightened, creature that resembled a fairy from a fantasy novel.

"AH!... Don't scare me like that! I nearly threw a bunch of dust at you. Now that would've been a sight. His Highness is running around like a cat that slipped into a wine barrel... Thinking about it now, though... Asper would love it! Hehe!"

She cheerful spoke, breaking into a fit of laughter that made her tumble in the air like she was rolling about on the floor.

"I probably shouldn't mention it; Asper might risk pissing off Her Majesty again to witness it. But listen to me when I tell you, it would be a sight to see. Hehe"

I couldn't help but blink a couple of times before my brain could register what I saw. A pair of translucent wings attached to a small female body that's no bigger than your hand's palm. They were floating effortlessly before my eyes in a short dress that seemed to be made of the petals from one of the exotic floras surrounding this place. Her hair was done up neatly in a bun with a small grapevine keeping it in place. Specks of silvery powder fluttered down from her flapping wings but disappeared before they could reach the ground.

My jaw quickly went slack and fell open as my mind swirled in confusion as to what was going on. Then, seeming to notice my lost expression, the little fairy flew closer before resting a small delicate palm on my forehead. At the same time, I shut my eyes tightly, expecting the worst. But, before I could say anything about it, the hand quickly withdrew—wings flapping at lightning speed to get as far away as possible while remaining in talking distance.

"You... You... Who are you?!? You're not His Highness! His soul isn't that color! Your... your soul has no color! Who are you?... SPEAK?!?"

Fear resonated in her voice, and the once silvery dust turned orange with specks of yellow. Her wings that once beat resolutely and effortlessly turned almost sluggish as if she were too afraid to fly correctly. My heart couldn't help but sink for fear that she'd fall, so I repositioned myself to where I faced her full-on, my hand stretched out slowly in hopes she would see I mean no harm.

"Listen, I'm just as confused as you are, but you are still hovering over the water, and I don't know if... Fairies? Right? Is that what you are?... Can even swim, so, please... Come either towards me or to the next ring where the plants and stuff are. Ok?"

My voice wavered slightly as my gaze flicked from the water's surface to the frightened flying creature that floated above it. Wary eyes remain trained on me even as the fairy dips from the air just before catching herself again and flying back.

She seemed to be struggling to keep her attention trained on me and her flying simultaneously. Unfortunately, a moment of hesitation caused one of her wings to flap out of beat with the other, and it was twisted painfully in her attempt to overcorrect. And just as she seemed aware of the hazardous situation, she let out a pained yelp.

"Ahh!"

My heart sunk instantly, and I could feel time slow to an almost crawl. My body burned from within and shot outwardly as I rushed to catch the falling creature. My feet touched the surface of the water but didn't sink. Instead, my eyes remained on the falling body as I ran to close the gap between us before I knew what I was doing. I stretched my hand out and let the words that felt as if they were burning a hole through my tongue, begging to be released, escape my lips:

"Floatarius!~"

Something thundered in my voice and seemed to echo within my mind repeatedly as if being chanted. As the words left my mouth, a bright blue strand flew out of my hand and stretched like a spider's web. Spreading out below her falling form and catching her just before her body could pierce the water's surface. While my mind was still in chaos, my body moved utterly of its own volition and rushed to where she was still suspended in the air. Her eyes were closed tightly, and she seemed to have curled herself into a ball. My hands shook violently as I used my index finger to push her shoulder lightly. She didn't respond. Only her body moved slightly as I tried a couple more times, hoping I'd get some reaction out of her. Anything to confirm she was ok.

"Hey... come on, this isn't funny. You were safe now. You can wake up, so... Common..."

I gently laid my right hand over her body as a bright green light emitted from my palm. I didn't know what I was doing exactly, but something within me said that this was what I needed to do. My body moved naturally, almost as if by muscle memory rather than wild guessing. I could feel her, or at least what I thought was her. A gentle pink orb that matched the color of her dress appeared in my mind's eye.

Closing my eyes in response, I followed its light as it led me to the source of her pain. The orb turned into a mirror, showing an unfamiliar flower in full bloom. It has a deep purple color at the base before fading into pink towards the end of each petal. Within its clutches was a small body that resembled the fairy I had just met. Her eyes slowly opened, and two translucent wings sprung through her back. She slowly got up and looked around confusedly before allowing her body to do what felt natural. Her wings started to flutter once more, and the smile she let out as she zoomed through the air was almost blinding.

Her joys, her heartaches, everything. I could feel them all as if she and I were one. A resounding THUMP echoed in my ears, and I instantly knew this was her heartbeat. Soon a second heartbeat could be heard, and I recognized it as my own. They both beat to their different rhythms until they merged into one melody. Flashes of her memories continued to play before my mind. Once green fields were drowned in fire, lush forests were cut down to nothing but dirt and stumps. Scenes of how she ended up here; a large castle surrounded by greenery and a gentleman with eyes the color and warmth of the sun. His hand extended in her direction while the other held a bundle of blankets where a soft laugh could be heard. Then she discovered the castles Verandah, where two rings surrounded a bed made of pure jade. Part of the second ring was covered in both standard and rare flowers. One flower, in particular, caught her eye. Its unmistakable purple base and pink petals sent a feeling of pure joy to her heart—a place she could call home.

My mind was soon kicked back into the present, where we stood above the water's surface. As the green light faded, I slowly removed my hand from over the fairy. Still, before I could completely move it away, tiny arms wrapped around my index and middle fingers. Eyes burning with tears as they overflowed and fell to the water below. Each tear causes a ripple in the once clear waters causing the life within its depths to scatter.

"Hic... Your Life... It is so sad... I'm sorry... So sorry... Sniff... You have such a gentle heart, and yet... You suffered so much... I'm sorry..."

Her words left me speechless. Soon my face couldn't help but crack into a genuine smile. She's the first to say sorry, not that I ever wanted to be pitied for my tragic life, but her words sounded more like empathy. Our pains might not have been the same, but they still bore an enormous weight on our shoulders.

"Don't cry for me... Smile instead. My life might not have been perfect. But I promised someone important to me that I'd never stay down because of it."

Her eyes shone with what looked to be understanding and unparalleled resolve.

"That person must've been amazing... I once knew someone similar. But they are long gone now. But their memories remain with me, and I know deep down we will meet again when my time comes."

Her smile could light even the darkest of places, and I couldn't help but match it, or at least try to. She released her hold on my fingers before stretching her wings and taking off into the air again. Her laughter reverberated through the space, and the flowers seemed to answer to it with a dance. Their stems shook gently as if a gust of wind brushed through them, rustling their leaves along the way. Once she had her fill with flying around in little circles of joy, she came back to float gently in front of me. Her smiling face turned oddly profound suddenly as she spoke in an almost whisper.

"I now know you aren't a bad person, so I'll help you keep this a secret. No one should know that you aren't the real Highness... Especially Her Majesty... I don't know what she'd..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a cold feminine voice that could freeze you on the spot came from behind me.

"Especially Her Majesty... What? Please, continue, Dusk."