~CELESTIA~
"I'm okay. I really am. I just went and checked in on Arielle. She's getting better and at least once I get a bit stronger I can help her too. No...I'm going to talk to my dad. Just for comfort, you know? Ya. Okay."
I listened closely to Cairus’ sweet voice, with Caio in the background as they alternated back and forth. I had just stepped in front of the door to Dad's office when the twins had called to check in on me while Orion and Theo were off getting lunch. I'd been given approved time off after the fourth trial, as had Finn and I decided to take advantage of the free time to see my Father.
I had no idea what Father would say but I knew something was wrong with me. I could feel it, but I had to confront my dad with how I felt in order to hopefully get some answers.
A part of me was angry, but another part was just in desperate need of his attention and love. I knew he was busy, but I just needed him to hear me out and maybe see if he could clarifying whether the dark being I’d seen in the vision was real. The reaper.
"How's Finn?" I asked, trying to hide the worry in my voice.
"He's looking a lot better than before. Magnor isn't convinced though and said he still wants to observe him for a bit," Caio answered me. There was a shuffling sound, which told me Caio had handed the phone to Cairus.
"He should be staying with Magnor for one more night. At least if he's home tomorrow we can spend the weekend all together before the last trial on Monday," Cairus suggested.
"Ya. I think that would help. I'm gonna head into Father's office now so I'll text you later," I reassured him.
"Okay, Dearest. Just don't stay there too long," Cairus stressed.
"Why?" I asked.
There was shuffling once again and Caio answered. "It's gonna rain, Cutie Pie. So try to get home before then or stay at the office until it passes."
"Okay. I'll stay away from the scary rain," I joked.
"There's our Celestia," Cairus whispered.
I smiled. "Thank you Cairus. Thank you, Caio."
"You’re welcome,” they both replied. We exchanged goodbyes and I hung up, sliding my phone into the back pocket of my gold shorts. I took a deep breath before knocking on the door and opening it slowly.
The secretary looked up from her desk, her expression telling me this wasn't going to go the way I wanted it to.
"Hello, Ms. Rainbow. Do you have an appointment to see your father?” she asked. Her monotone voice made me frown as I walked up to the brown desk to face her.
"No, but I need to talk to my father. It's important," I stressed.
The redheaded woman sighed, shaking her head. "The headmaster is busy. You'll have to make an appointment like everyone else." She didn’t even bother to look back up at me as she continued typing away on her computer.
"But this is serious and a family matter. I should be allowed to see my own dad," I insisted.
"Sorry to say, but your dad is a very important contributor to many dimensions across the galaxy and he has tons of work on his plate to focus on. He'll schedule you in the priority section, if it makes you feel better,” she mumbled.
"You said that last time and told me the wait list for the priority list was six months long. MONTHS!" I emphasized, getting impatient. "I need to see him now."
"So do a lot of people, but you don't see them walking in here like they own this place and demanding to see the headmaster. Fill out the form on the counter for the priority list and I'll put you on there. If not, please go back to class." She huffed, rolling her eyes, before returning her gaze the computer before her.
I stood there speechless, anger boiling through me. Why was everyone making this so fucking difficult? I need help. I need answers. Why am I not allowed to see my own fucking father?!
My hands clenched into fists to hide how they trembled with rage and I took a calming breath before I opened my determined eyes. Fine. She wants to play, bitch? I'll show her how savage a unicorn can get when angered.
I took another breath to calm myself, lifting my hand to my mouth and let my magic flow through me. The woman paused in her typing, turning her gaze to me. Before she could open her mouth, I blew a puff of glitter into her face. The rainbow-colored sparkles rained down on her and before she could retaliate, her eyes grew heavy.
Her head fell straight to the desk with a “plop” and I sighed, not feeling an ounce of pity. To be honest, it kinda felt good to do the deed. She was being a bitch by not letting me see my dad. That was a good reason to do what I did. I wasn't bad or anything. She just deserved it.
I walked down the hall, reaching Father's office. I knocked three times before opening the door. Father's mismatched eyes looked up from the stack of forms on his desk. When he saw me at the door, his eyes widened with confusion.
"Celestia? What are you doing here?" he asked, sounding a little stunned, but his expression quickly shifted from confused to worried. I closed the door quietly and walked up to his desk. He put his pen down, focusing his attention on me.
"Your secretary has declined my requests over and over again whenever I want to see you," I revealed.
Father frowned. "Well, she's just following protocol, sweetie. She's used to people from across the dimensions dropping by and wanting a word with me,” he defended.
I didn't like how he was making an excuse for her, making the little bubble of anger inside me grow. "But I'm not other people. I'm family. What if Mom came to visit? I bet you wouldn't tell her to write her name on the six month priority list," I snapped.
Father sighed, pinching his nose for a moment before opening his tired eyes and meeting my hard gaze. "Celestia what's wrong, and how were you able to get in here anyway?"
"Everything is wrong, and I sprinkled some sleepy dust on your secretary who was a complete bitch to me," I exclaimed.
He surprisingly smiled but then shook his head in dismay. "You can't go sprinkling sleep dust on someone just because you don't get your way. That stuff is powerful."
"Oh. Like I, Miss Unicorn Shifter, with NO knowledge of her kind and no resources to figure out what the fuck I can do would know that. I'll make sure I sprinkle half the dose next time I have to see you and she rolls her eyes at me again," I huffed.
"Celestia." Father frowned at my response.
"Something is going on. Something really bad. I can feel it," I disclosed.
"Maybe you just need some rest after your recent trial, sweetie," Father suggested, relaxing back in his seat and running a hand through his long hair.
"The trials are only a part of it, Dad. Something bad is going to happen. I can actually feel it. I haven’t felt normal since coming here. Magnor, Miona, Othello, they all have done multiple tests on me and have found nothing. Now I have a sneaking suspicion they actually have seen something, but one minute it's there, and the next it's gone again. Am I tainted or not? I need you to check or send me to someone who can determine that!" I stressed.
"Your results don't come in until Monday evening, Celestia. If there was something urgent, the analysts would have called me earlier to tell me. The trials are just wearing you down, which is to be expected. You're not tainted." He brushed off my concerns.
"You haven't even checked? Can't you use your magic like how Magnor or Miona do? Even Othello has taken a moment to respond to my request. Why don't you seem more worried about this? If your child says something is wrong, the least you can do is show a little more concern!" I shouted. Why doesn't he get it? Why does he think this is nothing?
"Because I'm busy, Celestia. We're dealing with Forsaken outbreaks in other dimensions, more Forsaken attacks and now I'm dealing with students accidentally leaving the grounds and finding themselves on the other side of the barrier where they are at risk of being killed by Forsaken or possibly kidnapped. I don't have time to waste."
"So, me coming to you, telling you I feel like shit is a waste of time?" I asked, my voice cracked as tears formed in my eyes. He doesn't care.
"No, sweetie. Ugh, I'm not good at this like Magnor. He should be back sometime in the next hour or so. Why don't you go ask him to do another scan on you? I really can't spend anymore time on this." He gave me a sympathetic look, which made me clench my visits and bite my lip in frustration.
"Then I wanna talk to mom! She'd at least listen to me. She'd understand and try to help me. Let me talk to her," I demanded.
He grimaced and looked away. "You can't talk to her right now,” he mumbled.
"Why not?! You were able to talk to her to get my graduation gift. I know for a fact she's in on the whole headmaster thing and doesn’t believe that gatekeeper lie!" I shouted.
"We're...it's complicated, Celestia. I won't call her."
"Why not?! What's complicated about talking to your wife?!" I insisted.
"We are just dealing with some stuff, Celestia. She has her beliefs and I have mine,” he whispered.
I blinked, my mind already thinking the worst. "Are you two going to divorce?"
"No...we just need a break to do our own things. She's busy with her job, like I am with mine,” he stated, sadness in his eyes. I could tell he still loved her, but with his current attitude, it didn’t seem like he was going to fight for that love.
"You're not even trying?! You can't even make time for your daughter who feels like shit. What do you think about how Mom feels, who's supposed to be your partner in crime till death do you part?!" I snapped.
"Celestia. ENOUGH!" he shouted back. I glared at him as my body practically trembled in anger. His anger-filled eyes seemed to notice how upset I was, because they softened before he sighed.
"Celestia. I can't deal with this right now. There are too many things going on. Stop worrying about unnecessary things. The trials have been rough on you and your behavior is an expected result to that. Go rest and be with your teammates,” he encouraged.
"Teammates?" I whispered, tears pooling in my eyes. Father looked away, doing his best to ignore my tears that began to roll down my cheeks.
"Yes. Those boys. They can cheer you up,” he suggested.
"They aren't my teammates, Father," I snarled, narrowing my eyes at him.
He was silent for a few seconds before he answered. "Well, they surely can't all be dating you."
"They are actually," I declared. He lifted his gaze to meet my blank stare, the tears still flowing down my flushed cheeks.
"Celestia, I won't appro-"
"You won't approve of what? Me dating six men? Oh, so now I need your approval? My father who can't take a moment to talk to me. My father, who said he'd try to make this work but has ignored every single call your secretary has made to tell you that your daughter was here to see you. I tell you I may be tainted and have felt like shit for seven weeks and you brush me off and tell me to go be checked by Magnor, who at this point, has been a better father than you!"
"Cele-"
"NO! Don't you fucking ‘Celestia’ me. Do you know how shitty the last four weeks have been?! I've been a part of four trials, Father! FOUR! When everyone else has done a maximum of two. Why is that?" I questioned. I'd heard Magnor and Othello talking about it when I was pretending to sleep during my recovery in his office. I was the first to be in all trials so far and Magnor was worried I'd also be chosen for the final one, which wasn't recommended for my mental health.
"The Council helps decide who enters these trials. If they want to test you, they can. I have no say."
"You're THE HEADMASTER?! How can you have no say?!"
"Celestia Rainbow! STOP!" Father snapped, slamming his hands on the desk and rose up. "I get you’re stressed and may be going through a rebellious stage after everything, but this isn't the time."
I was silent, thoughts flowing through my mind as my body felt suddenly cold. "I guess you'd have time if I was dead right?" I whispered. He froze and I noticed him bite his lip in frustration, but he remained silent.
"The men I love are all suffering because I'm not better. They try to act like everything is okay, but it's not and they know it too. They are doing all this research behind my back to try to figure out what's wrong with me. My familiar, who I've had for fifteen years got hurt and still is at risk of dying. The side of me who's done nothing but protect me and fought multiple times in my stead will one day disappear and I won't even fucking remember her when it happens. Now my father, who’s supposed to care when his one and only child comes to beg for help, states I'm being rebellious and is wasting his time. My mom is far away...and I can't even talk...to her...because you guys are on bad terms and may get a damn divorce...and Magnor's not even here...so tell me. Where does that leave me?"
He was silent, blinking his eyes and a tear dropped to the desk. Lightning flashed and thunder rang through the sky.
"Celestia...I'll...work something out, just not today. Go home before the storm starts. I'll talk with my secretary and make some time after the trial on Monday. Get some rest." He dismissed me, sitting back down behind his desk and began reviewing the next stack of papers.
I nodded, knowing there was no point trying. I turned around, heading to the door. "If something ever happens to me...please don't cry. It would be a waste of tears," I whispered in a toneless voice before I walked out the door, closing it behind me.
Just a waste of time. Rebellious stage. Father and Mother aren't talking. No one cares that I feel cold and hollow. No one cares that I may be tainted and could become a Forsaken? No one cares about my pain.
The thoughts repeated over and over again while my legs took me outside without conscious thought. My brain was scattered with dark thoughts as I walked down the path to go back home. I walked for a long while before I realized I should have been home ten minutes ago. I lifted my head to see I was in a forest. When did I leave the school? Silly me.
But my feet stayed where they were. I didn't want to go back. Why return to a place that didn't care about you? I was just a tool in their game of “Become a Huntress.” My own father didn't care that I was hurting. If my father didn't care...would the guys abandon me too?
My tired eyes lowered to the necklace on my neck, the heart-shaped jewel seemed to twinkle at my attention. I lifted it up to admire its beauty. Finn had made it with his awesome pixie skills and everyone had inputted a bit of their own magic.
"You're gonna need a re-boost soon," I whispered to myself, knowing the crystal couldn't understand my words. Magnor said most of the others’ powers were gone from the necklace at this point, and only Finn's remained since he created the necklace.
"Silly. They don't need to re-boost you. The dreams were less painful than how I feel now," I whispered.
A drop of water hit the surface of the jewel. I blinked, slowly looking up at the sky which was filled with grey clouds. A flash of lightning went off before a loud wave of thunder boomed overhead. Suddenly, rain began to fall on me, drop after drop, till I was completely drenched. I didn't move, not thinking there was any point.
As I stood there, my body trembled from the cold and my lips began to chatter away. I slowly smiled and laughed to myself. "Doesn't this remind me of that fateful day back then? Who would have thought I'd be all alone now? Father didn't care. Arielle could die. Sia would disappear, and it wouldn't be long till the guys abandoned me too. Did I really think I could live happily?" I whispered, sobs vibrating through me as the tears began to roll down my wet cheeks.
"You can be happy."
I slowly turned my head to see a tall man. He wore some type of uniform with a long black cloak, and his long black hair fell perfectly down past his shoulders. His white eyes were familiar, but they showed kindness, which I could see even without his irises being present. He had a small smile on his soft face.
I let go of the pendant, allowing it to fall back to its place on my chest, right above my breasts. I turned to face him. "I can?"
"Yes, my Queen. You certainly can. You don't need those people to be happy. I'll value how powerful and beautiful you are. I'll make sure you feel better and get the help you need. I'll love you no matter what. You're my queen after all,” he whispered.
"Queen...I'm a queen?" I asked.
He nodded. "Yes. You're my queen, Celestia. I never abandon what's mine." He held his his hand out to me.
My legs moved on their own, step by step, getting closer to the man whose cloak seemed to be made of its own essence, as darkness began to pool from it to the ground like sludge. I didn't care, my eyes focused instead on his hand, which looked so warm compared to the chill and pain I felt both from the inside and outside.
"Cel...estia...Mis...tress?! Cel...estia!"
A voice kept going in and out of my mind, the sheer panic in its tone made me pause as I tried to figure out who it was. The man lifted his other hand, his arms spread out to hug me.
"Join me, my Queen. Let us seek happiness and show those who ignored us what we can accomplish,” he whispered.
I silenced the desperate voice in my mind. This man was real. He wanted to help me. I didn't need any more fake words or excuses. I just wanted to be loved. I wanted happiness. I wanted to get better.
I was only two steps away when my wrists burned, causing me to flinch. "Ow." I whimpered, lifting my wrist. I saw bright glowing marks that were a mix of lavender and gold.
I hissed when my neck grew hot and I noticed the lingering marking from Theo was glowing a red so bright I could see it from the angle I was at. The man in front of me tried to grab me, but the necklace on my neck began to glow a bright green, growing hotter and hotter until it felt like it was burning my skin.
I fell to my knees, trying to figure out what was going on as the necklace began to shine so brightly; the man hissed in agony. Darkness seemed to surround me like a globe trying to attach itself to me but was hitting a green barrier that bubbled me in. I looked down at the heart shaped necklace, but gasped when I saw it wasn't there anymore.
In its place was a marking, right on my chest. The image looked like a girl kneeling on the ground, in the same position I was currently in. She had short hair and wings that shot out from her back, but looked like they were fading away. A little halo floated above her head and tiny pixies and vines seemed to wrap around her in comfort. She looked sad, but I felt that the nature around her would comfort her broken heart. Was that how I looked like now? Broken?
"CELESTIA!"
I lifted my head to the sound, but couldn't see anything through the darkness which continued to hammer at the bubble around me, trying to break the shield. The man hissed and I turned my head back to where he stood, his white eyes filled with anger. "I'll return, my Queen. Be ready for me."
With that, he vanished into the darkness and I was back in the forest, the green bubble still protectively around me. I turned my left to see a breathless Finn, tears in his eyes while he stood in the pouring rain which left his clothes soaked.
"Fi...nn. Finn?" I repeated, blinking back tears. I turned my body so I could face him and noticed how scared he looked. Was he afraid of something? Of someone? Why did he look like his world would end at this moment?
I thought the pain in my heart was enough, but seeing Finn's agonized expression hurt more and I couldn't take it. My Finn didn't deserve to be so sad.
I lifted my arms up and whispered, "Lucky Charms...you want a hug?" My lip trembled as I held back my own sobs.
He bit his bottom lip while his shoulders shook. He took a step forward, then another, until he stood before me. The green bubble slowly vanished, having finished what it was supposed to accomplish. Finn fell to his knees before embracing me.
His arms tightened around me, and his head dug deep into my shoulder. I returned the hug, my hands pressing against his broad back and my sobs muffled by his drenched shirt.
"Finn!" I cried, realizing how much I needed one of my guys. How much I missed each of them and how badly I'd missed Finn the last couple of days.
"Dammit, Cutie Pie. You're gonna kill me," he whispered, sobbing into my shoulder.
"I'm sorry." I realized I must have done something wrong for him to be crying so hard. We cried in each other's embrace while the rain poured on us both. I leaned back to look into his sad green eyes.
"Finn...no one wants to help me," I confessed with a sob. "Father...I asked him to help me. Something bad is happening, but he's too busy. I can't talk to Mom...and Arielle...I miss Arielle and Magnor...and all of you. I just want someone to help me. I want to be normal again and be happy. I want to be a happy unicorn...but Father doesn't care." I whimpered.
Finn placed his hands on my cheeks. "We'll help you. Team Misfit...your loyal boyfriends will help you. We're searching really hard. We just haven't found the right information yet. We love you, Celestia. We won't ever abandon you. Arielle's going to be okay and Magnor..." Finn trailed off, looking over his shoulder. I followed his gaze, my eyes growing wide at what I saw.
There was Magnor, with sad eyes, standing there as I stared at him, just like sixteen years ago. His silver eyes stared at me, holding sadness instead of their usual wisdom. He glanced at Finn and I and frowned at our drenched appearance.
Magnor began to make his way towards us. Finn helped me up before taking a step back, giving me space to confront Magnor.
When he stood before me, I opened my mouth to pour out my agony. "I asked Father for help...but he cast me away. I didn't ask...I begged. He and Mom are having issues and I can't talk to her. I tried to tell him that there's something wrong, and he won't listen. There's something wrong with me, Magnor. Deep inside me somewhere, there's something there. I don't know if I'm tainted or something, but I feel horrible. The world around us is crying and yet no one is answering its pleas, just like how Dad won't listen to mine. I need help. I want to solve this, but I don't know how!" I confessed.
I clenched my fists and looked up to him. "Will you help me? The guys will help, but we need someone higher up to direct us where to go. I need to find out who I am, Magnor. I need to find what I can do to help this world that seems to be dying. I want to heal the dark part inside me, but I can't do that alone. Please...help me?" I begged, lowering my head to stare down at my feet.
At this point, I was okay if he rejected me just like Father had. Magnor was just as busy. I wasn't his child or responsibility. I was just his student and eventually became someone he cared dearly for. If he said no, I'd find another way. With my men, we'd figure this out.
A hand gently patted my head and I looked into his tear-filled gaze as he continued to stroke my wet hair comfortingly. The rain beat on both of us as we stared into each other's eyes. He gave me a small smile and spoke. "I'll always help you, Celestia. All you have to do is ask." He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into an embrace.
I held him tightly as I cried, feeling exactly like the nine-year girl, back in the forest, accepting her fate to no longer exist. Instead, this time I felt loved.
I was loved by so many, yet for a moment I lost sight of it, thinking I'd find happiness elsewhere. I was blinded by my pain and thought I could take the easy way out. Thinking if I disappeared, no one would mourn me.
But I was wrong. A man who didn't need to raise me held me in his arms and the tears that fell down his cheeks were because of me. If I disappeared, I knew he'd mourn me. If I vanished, the men who loved me wholeheartedly would suffer for it.
I was blinded by my agony, but I realized now that I had people who loved me. I could fight the hollowness in my heart. I could heal my wounds. I just needed a little bit of help.
And as the rain poured down on us, I knew I'd get the assistance I needed to find my way back to the light.