The Dark Magician Girl

  ~Several hours later

  "She is in there," I hear faintly from outside the cabin. It sounds like my father. I hear footsteps and then Ike appears in the doorway. He catches my gaze for a moment, noticing I have been crying. Then I watch his eyes pan over to Papa. Ike's eyes widen and his mouth opens.

  "Father?" Ike looks as though he has just seen him for the first time. Ike rushes over to the other side of the bed and kneels down, not taking his eyes from Papa, "I thought you were dead," Ike says, almost in a whisper, his voice almost cracking.

  Did he call him... Father?

  Before I could process what he had just said, Papa's eyes slightly open and he sees me first. "Star? Is that you?" I anxiously nod my head and grab his hand, "Yes, Papa,"

  "Papa?" I hear Ike say softly, looking up at me.

  Then Papa turns to see Ike, "Ike? My son?"

  Ike nods, "Yes, father. It is me, but is it really you? I thought I would never see you again,"

  That is when I am registering what is going on, "Wait, Ike, this is your father?"

  Ike turns to me, "I was just about to ask how do you know my father?"

  Wait, Papa is from the parallel world? Not from here? He is Ike's and Myst's father? How did he get here?

  I am broken from my thoughts as Papa sits up and is slowly standing up. He turns to face us.

  "Ike, my son, how did you get here?" Ike glances at me, then proceeds to tell his father how he met me. He told him everything, starting with how I have dark magic and was sent to his world to be freed from the danger here.

  Then continues with now we visit each other through portals created by my mother's magic spell. Papa nods in understanding.

  He looks as though he is confused and says, "Amazing, how the young girl I knew years ago, is the same girl you meet later, Ike," Papa then turns to face me, "Star, it has been ages since I last saw you,"

  "Yes it has, Papa. You stopped visiting the castle, I missed you very much," I pauses and find his wondering gaze.

  "So, Ike is your son you told me you had?"

  Papa smiles as he searches my eyes, "You have grown so much, Star, my dear," He embraces me and wipes the tears from my eyes. He turns and motions for Ike to join too, "Ike, my boy, to answer your question, I was also banished here somehow, similar to what happened to Star. I have a friend who has magic. He is not a dark magician but he messed with it anyway even though I told him not to. I ended up here and met Star's father. He became my best friend,"

  He releases me from his grip and looks me over once again, "I know you healed me, Star, my dear. I must thank you," My father rushes over to us and Papa gives him a wholehearted hug, "Chrom, my friend!"

  "Star, you healed him? Thank you!" I hear my father tell me as he approaches us. Sincerity flashes in his eyes as he smiles at me and raises his arms to embrace me. He tightens his grip on me and kisses the top of my head. Once he releases me, I turn to face Ike and he looks a little confused, but also gratified.

  "Star, thanks for healing my father," Ike does not look away from my eyes as I smile, "Surprises me you are well known with him. Everything about you is so..." Something appears in his eyes but it looks as though he conceals it away again. He searches my eyes, "You surprise me every time I look at you," He beams at me, "I thought I would never see my father again! Turns out he was here all along, spending time with you,"

  I cannot hide the way I am feeling when Ike tells me that. I feel as though my heart is going to burst from my chest, it is thumping so hard.

  Ike, you are amazing. How did you know that I was hoping you would come?

  Before I could respond, Papa had turned to us and grabs Ike in a sincere hug, "Ike, my boy. Come," Ike gives me a small smile as his father drags him away. I place my left hand slightly over my lips and chuckle a little bit as I watch the smile get bigger on Ike's face. I follow behind them, back to Ylisse Castle.

  Greil, who I call Papa, is the leader of my kingdom's mercenaries. He is the man who helped my father raise me, and turns out he's the father of the love of my life.

  Seventeen

  Ike and Papa chuckle with each other as we walk back to the castle. Every once in a while, Papa slaps Ike on the back with laughter and Ike would place his hand on the back of his head. That is when I hear Ike's laugh, the one that makes my stomach feel fuzzy inside. His deep voice makes me smile every time I hear it.

  I follow shortly behind them, next to my father, with the biggest grin on my face. My father raises his arm and puts it around me as we walk, grinning as well, "Did you forget I had healing magic, father?"

  My father looks over at me for a moment, "I did not think you had enough time," He keeps looking at me, "Thank you,"

  Ylisse Castle slowly appears before us. As we are approaching, Papa turns to face me, leaving Ike to do the same. Papa slowly pulls out his axe from his side and my smile increases.

  "Let's see how much you have improved, Hun," I increase my pace behind him and swiftly draw my blade from its sheath. Papa watches it shimmer in the sunlight and grins, "Ah, you now wield your father's blade. You look so much more like a warrior now than you did those many years ago,"

  I keep grinning at him. Papa laughs at me and asks, "You remember the weapon triangle I taught yah, right?"

  I nod happily, "Yes, Papa! I do," He slightly raises his axe and nods towards my blade, "Tell me, who has the advantage here?"

  I glance down at my blade then back up to him. A sassy grin appears across my face, "Me,"

  I glance to Ike who was smiling and watching me as I speak to his father. Papa laughs, then motions me to follow him into the courtyard. I push myself up into the air and follow Papa to the center of the courtyard, where he did spar with my father those many years ago. I can see the window of my bedroom, where I would sit and watch, positioned on the highest point of that tower on the back side, facing the entrance we just entered through.

  I turn to face Papa, who is grips his axe and is turning to do the same. I slowly hover right above the ground, staying there.

  I see Ike and my father standing back, watching us. Ike has his large two-handed sword, tip against the ground, and is leaning against its hilt with a sassy look on his face. He gazes upon me. I move my gaze to my father next to him, with a proud look in his eye as he lays his eyes on me, watching my stance, probably noticing I am using what he taught me.

  Papa and I stand our ready stances and nod to each other. My eyes darken with black light as I lift my left hand, which is now surrounded by the black dark magic orb. My blade then lifts from my hand, hovering by me ready for my commands. I tilt my head down and watch Papa closely as I begin to focus on his feet positions.

  Once I feel the connection of my blade, Papa begins to cautiously move closer to me, readying his axe. As he gets close enough, he swings the axe towards me and I quickly dash to the right and swing my blade to clang against it with a loud clank. I spin my blade around, knowing it is quicker than the axe, and clank against his axe at another angle, this time I have the better angle.

  Papa draws back and tries another one of his moves, swinging the axe in another way. This is one of the moves I saw him use with my father. I jump back, the same way my father dodged the move before and swing my blade upwards in front of me, swinging my left arm in the same motion next to my blade.

  The metal clanks together once again. I quickly withdraw my blade, swing my left hand around from left to right. My blade obeys and does the same motion, forcing Papa to move his axe into another defensive maneuver. Then Papa withdraws his axe, swinging it from the bottom upwards, clanking against my blade in a way that forces me back. I slightly grunt and jump backwards, then starting a move I saw my father use with Papa before. I dash forwards and do a single motion from diagonally up to down with my left hand then thrust it forwards to indicate a jab in the center directly after. The blade obeys without hesitation and swiftly follows my hand movements. Papa expertly moves his axe to block the first swing but my quick second swi
ng clanks against the axe in a way that forces the axe to be knock from Papa's hand.

  The axe falls between us with a thud as it lands on the soft grass. I keep my gaze looking down but I slowly pull my blade back next to my side. Then I carefully stand back up from the lunging forward position I just used to complete the move.

  I raise my eyes to meet Papa's gaze. The black dark magic orb flickers and disappears from my hand and my eyes go back to their normal color as the blade slides its way back into my left hand. He is smiling at me. I smile back and once Papa begins to laugh, I slowly sheath my blade and raise my head high. Papa starts to clap a bit for me. Ike and my father join in as well, both smiling at me and nodding in approval.

  "Ho, Ho, Ho! Excellent, my dear! Magnificent display!" Papa says happily and leans down to pick up his axe to secure it back onto his side.

  "Oh, wow! Good job Star!" I spin around and see Lucina looking back at me. She has a big grin on her lips and her eyes are shiny with excitement.

  "Lucina! Thanks!" I look to see my father beaming at me as he finishes giving me his approving claps.

  "I am so proud, Star," My father tells me.

  "Thanks, father!"

  "Impressive, Star," Ike calls out as he finds my gaze on him, "I spent years trying to best father like that,"

  I hear Papa laugh out again, "You got there, my boy,"

  Papa turns to look at me, "Star had her time learning, watching me closely. Watching her father as well. We all know where her skill comes from,"

  I hear my father laugh, "Heh, heh, heh! I try my best, my friend,"

  I am so not used to all of this attention. Ike cannot stop grinning at me. I cannot possibly get any more nervous. But I cannot stop looking at him, either.

  King Eli slowly walks into the courtyard, approaching my father. My father's face lights up when Eli tells him something that I could not make out and they turn to leave the courtyard together.

  I turn to see Lucina approaching me quickly, "Where is Roy? Did he come with you?"

  As I am asking this, I see Roy entering my courtyard gates, "Oh, yes he did,"

  I laugh. Ike waits for Roy to approach and joins him walking up to us. I cannot help but look back towards Eli and my father, wondering what they are talking about.

  Eli said they have plans for me. I wonder what those are. My mother mentioned I was soon fit to be a queen. What does this all mean? I have never received that much praise from my father before. I was hoping he would have stayed out here with me.

  That is when I see Prince Roy entering the courtyard, glancing at me with a smile and catching up to his father and mine. I cannot help but watch him all the way up to them entering the castle through the doors on the far side.

  I do not have a good feeling about this.

  I feel a soft hand appear onto my shoulder and I turn to see Ike and my friends looking at me with weird expressions on their faces.

  "You alright, Star?" Ike asks me, with a slight weirdness in his voice.

  "Maybe," I manage to pipe out, almost at a whisper and sounding worried. Ike, Roy and Lucina exchange expressions as they dart their eyes between each other and mine. I avert my gaze down below theirs.

  Should I tell them my uncertainty with my father and Eli discussing something that I am unaware of? They might tell me it is nothing. But I feel something weird about it.

  Then my father re-enters the courtyard. I jerk my head back up and turn to face him. I feel another hand, a strong grip, onto my other shoulder. It is Papa. My father slowly walks closer to me, across the courtyard. As he grows near, my stomach ties itself up into knots more and more, making me more and more nervous. Once my father gets close enough to me, he holds out his hand and wants me to take it. I step forward and place my hand in his and he clasps his around mine.

  "Everyone, follow me to the front of the castle. Eliwood and I have an announcement," My stomach drops to the floor as I hear those words.

  What announcement?

  I slowly follow my father through the courtyard, through the castle main room and out into the gardens in the front. There, Eli, his son and my mother are all waiting for us. My mother finds my eyes and searches them. Her expression falls into a worried look as she notices how uncomfortable I look. My father leads me next to Prince Roy in front of him and Eli. I look at Roy and he finds my gaze.

  In front of me stands the boy who I have almost known all of my life. He is my childhood friend who I played with almost every day back at Lycia Castle.

  My father takes my hand in his left and takes Roy's hand in his other.

  No... I know what is happening now...

  "Star," I jerk my gaze away from Roy and up to my father, "I am proud to announce the plans Eliwood and myself have been planning for many years now. In order to deepen our alliance even further, we propose an arranged marriage between you, Star, and his son, Roy,"

  My stomach drops straight to the floor once again and does many flips.

  A-arranged... Marriage?  Oh, I feel faint.

  I try to stop myself from stumbling to my father's words.

  "This decision started on that day when you met them, those many years ago, when I invited them to the castle to meet you. The ceremony will begin in two days, as you have become of age since we started these plans,"

  I... I do not know what to do. I should not look disoriented. As the princess of Ylisse, it is my duty to do this. Stand tall and accept, stupid. Do not dishonor your father!

  I nod, ignoring my wishes to call out and disagree. Ignoring my emotions screaming at me through my head. I stand tall and keep my gaze on Roy's standing before me.

  "Star," I turn my gaze over to my father's looking back at me, "This will help our kingdoms grow and become prosperous. It is part of your duty as princess," I slowly nod and keep my back straight, ignoring everything disagreeing inside of me right now.

  I knew it. I tried so hard not to get attached to anyone. I failed. Ike... I am so sorry... I wish I knew what to do. I hope you will forgive me... Please save me... Why do I have to care for him so much? That is the reason why I am now in this mess! I am so stupid! I hate my emotions right now.

  I feel my emotions hide away again as they are compressed back into the back of my mind. I shove them away before they make me feel even worse than I already do.

  I avert my eyes to where he was standing just minutes ago, but he is gone.

  Eighteen

  I'm sorry, Ike, I wish I could follow you right now. Please wait for me.

  I hide my sadness in my eyes as I turn back to face Roy standing before me as my father clasps our hands together. He is giving us his blessing.

  Even if I do follow him right now, what good would it do... I still have to do this. I am the princess.

  I keep my focus on Roy's gaze, searching his eyes. These are the eyes I saw every day when I was just a little girl. I did not know any better then.

  "Please let these two lives join together under my name and live a long and happy life together," My father finishes and releases his grip, allowing his hand to drop to his side, leaving our hands raised and clasped within the other.

  "May these two finish preparing these next two days and grant them their happiness on the day of their ceremony," My father nods at us to release our hands and turns to meet eyes with Eli. "Excellent, my friend. I give them my blessings as well," Eli smiles as he turns to smile at the both of us. I force out a smile as well, looking at Roy one last time, then giving a curtsey before leaving their presence.

  I walk away normally, trying not to run or anything and then Lucina materializes next to me. She has a worried look in her eye and proceeds to give me a hug. "Star, are you alright? Did you know about this?"

  I keep looking forwards for a moment, forcing the tears back. Then I slowly turn to look into Lucina's eyes. My eyes hold no emotion in them. I feel nothing anymore. I slowly shake my head, indicating no and fall into her arms, hiding my face in her shoulder.

  "Oh, Star..
." She takes me to a place where we would not be seen by my father, Eli or Roy. The entire trek there, it took more and more to hold back my emotions. Once we arrive, to our place similar to the one I share with Ike in the other world, the tears began streaming down my face. I cannot not stop them.

  An arranged marriage? Why father?

  Lucina embraces me, allowing me to cry in peace for a few moments. She patiently and calmly waits for me to calm down.

  Once I feel calm, I shove those emotions that were just pouring out from me and conceal them away. Those emotions only make me feel worse and weaker. Lucina watches me dry my eyes and then finds my gaze.

  "Where did Ike go, Lucina?" I say between hiccups. My voice sounds emotionless. "Did you see?"

  Lucina nods, "He turned to walk out once he heard your father’s announcement and his father turned to follow him. They went into the castle. He probably wishes to speak to you, Star,"

  What should I say to him? It is what I must do. Maybe I should at least tell him I do not... I wish it was...

  Then I feel my emotions tighten up and go stone cold on me. If I am going to do this, I cannot crack. I must do what is asked of a princess and I must honor my father's wishes.

  "Okay," I tell her, my voice sounds cold. Worry flashes through Lucina's eyes as I slowly stand up, nod to her and walk away, inside my castle entrance.

  I turn when I feel a hand on my shoulder, tough and strong. It is Papa. He has a stern look in his eye as he takes a step back and reveals Ike standing there behind him. I find his gaze and search his face for a moment as he does the same. I cannot read him, he is concealing his emotions and hiding them just like me.

  That does not mean the emotions are not there...

  Papa pats my shoulder firmly, drops his hand from there and turns to walk away, returning to the outside of the castle with my father; leaving me there with Ike who is locked onto my gaze. After a moment of gazing upon me, I see his face soften just a touch and he approaches me, raising his right hand like he wishes to touch my face.

  He does care about me... He really does...

  "Star, did you know about that?" Ike keeps searching my eyes, waiting for my answer. I slowly shake my head no, ignoring the feeling that I really want to leap into his arms.

  "No, I did not," I pause for a moment, "It is not complete yet, I have not fully decided..." I say slowly, using all I had to not crack while holding back the tears.

  Even though I have concealed my emotions, looking at him...

  I shake myself from my thoughts and I see Ike's eyes change once again but I could not tell what it was as I told him this.

  We stand before the other, searching each other's eyes for another moment before Ike decides to lower his hand. So, he did not touch my face.

  "Okay, I was worried you were forced to make that decision..." Ike's eyes change back, like he just realized they were that way.

  "I was... speaking to my father just now. I asked him what he was thinking about the announcement," He pauses, then takes another step forward, closer to me. I did not move or say a word. I just keep my gaze on his eyes, never taking my eyes off of them.

  "He told me, 'Knowing Chrom, he only wishes the best for you,'. He also told me that he believes you always have a choice," That thing appears in Ike's eyes once again as he takes another step closer to me. He is just a foot away from me now. He lifts his right hand and touches my left cheek, only for a moment before bringing it back down. I want to hold his hand there with mine, but he removed it too soon. I slowly nod at him and I let a smile form on my lips. He smiles back at me and he takes me in a hug, kissing the top of my head. I feel my face burn and my stomach do flips as he tightens his grip on me. I wrap my arms around his waist.

  "Thank you," I say softly, into his shoulder. I feel his left arm slip into my hair.

  "Anything for you... Star," Ike said it so quietly, genuinely.

  He cares so much...

  Then he releases me like he just realized how long he embraced me. He steps back and I smile once more at him as he gazes upon me.

  Before I could say anything else, I feel a soft hand on my shoulder. I turn to see my soft mother's face looking down to me. I turn back to Ike as my mother says, "May I please borrow my daughter for a moment?"

  Ike nods and takes another step back. "Yes, Your Majesty," He smiles at me before I turn to follow my mother upstairs into her bedroom. She softly closes the door with a click and turns to look at me. She reaches up to push my hair behind my ears and sits down in front of me on the bed to become level with my eyes. "Oh, my dear child, I can sense so much coming from you. What is troubling you?" My mother's eyes soften even more as she looks at me, grasping my hands in hers.

  Everything mother.

  Is what I wanted to scream out, but I stay quiet. She looks as though she knew what I was feeling. She is being patient waiting for me to talk to her. She gives me one more look before continuing, "You have such strong feelings radiating from you right now. Star, you are in love,"

  In... Love?

  I tighten my grip on her hands in mine, "Mother, I do not know what that means!"

  Suddenly everything I have been holding in is about to come out all at once. I feel like the valve has burst open from all the pressure I have been forcing onto it deep inside of me.

  Worry. Sadness. Loss.

  ...Anger.

  My eyes reveal how worried I am and I cannot hide it from my mother anymore. "I don't know what to do, mother!" Tears begin escaping from my eyes and fall down my face. She looks as though she is going to let me speak before speaking again.

  "You were the one who taught me to conceal my emotions!" I pause for a moment, searching her face, "So, I do not know what these emotions mean! I have never gotten a chance to feel them..." I start to uncontrollably sob, right in front of her. My mother stands before me and takes me in her arms, rubbing my back, whispering me things like 'It will be okay'. After a moment, when there are less and less noises in between my sobs, my mother says, "Star, listen to your heart and do what you feel is right,"

  I really want to believe everything she tells me. But I hate it when she tells me that. I do not know what that means.

  Even more emotions that I have concealed away are beginning to bubble to the surface.

  Anger. Confusion. Frustration.

  My mother releases me, as if she feels I have more to say. She finds my gaze once again, watching the tears falling, looking as though she wishes she could make them stop.

  "I am afraid, mother... I am afraid to open them!" I shove the worry away from my eyes and anger replaces it.

  Suddenly, the feelings rush back into me. The day I saw Ike standing there and when that demon who took my mother from me had me in its claw-like hands. The feelings I felt at those moments, when my emotions flooded me as the thought of Ike being taken from me crossed my mind. Then it blurts out of my lips before I even knew it had...

  "The last time I did... The last time I tried, I lost control... And it took me..." I feel venom drip from my words as my voice went stone cold at the thought.

  "Those... Those strong emotions weaken me, mother!" I stare at her once again, frustration then replacing the anger in my eyes. The tears keep coming, falling even faster as I lose control over them as well. I feel my fists clench as I recall feeling those emotions. Those strong emotions that take control from you. I see my mother open her mouth slightly, as if she wishes to say something to me, but she does not. After a moment of looking at me, the softness in her eyes disappear and I can no longer read her.

  "Star," She begins, the sound of her voice low and on the brink of cracking, "If you wish to continue with the marriage ceremony..." She pauses for a short moment, like she was trying to stop herself from releasing her emotions on me, "Then I will not stop you," With that, she slowly stands up and leaves the room. She left me there, in the cold silent room with my thoughts, alone.

  Silence.

  I stand there with tears stre
aming down my face.

  "I have already decided," I begin, just to myself, "I have duties to do... And I will do them," The venom continues to drip from my words as they escape from my lips. My voice is calm and low as I unclench my fists, turn and leave the room.

  I feel dead inside... Never again...

  Nineteen