~The Golden Warrior~

Too Soon

~XD's pov~

My eyes flutter open, and I realize that my brother is missing.

I frantically shove myself up, scanning the room for his figure.

My eyes are met with the same, bland room that I wake up to every morning. Except it wasn't morning, it was still dark, with faded light pushing through the open doors to my balcony.

Open doors..?

I never leave my doors open at night.

The sheets fall away from me as I push myself off the bed. I approach the drapes swaying in the open doorway, slowly parting them to make way for the blackened sky, tinted only by specks of light from our kingdom.

Dream was sitting on the rails of my balcony, and turned away from the edge as soon as I exited the castle.

A feeling of dread washed over me. Like how a child feels when their parent sits them down for a very important talk.

He looked at me, at my eyes, before letting out a pained sigh.

In an instant, he was in front of me, wrapping his arms around my body in a warm embrace.

Something wasn't right though...

I carefully pulled away from him, staring him dead in the eyes as I took a few steps back. Even the cold marble felt warm against my bare feet...

He sighed again, turning back to the edge, admiring the young kingdom.

It took a few minutes to build up my courage, but I eventually was able to form the question that was gnawing at me.

"Hey... um... what are you doing? It's cold out." I yawn, trying to fully wake myself up.

He doesn't even look at me, and I try to swallow an award lump in my throat before continuing.

"Come on, let's go back inside." I mumbled, half asleep now that the dread had left me, as I reached for his hand.

The shock of him pulling away woke me up a little.

"No..." He whispered.

"Why not? You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow."

"XD... I can't."

I am stupidly confused. I don't understand why he is acting like this. He never acts like this.

"You can't..?" I repeat, trying to figure out what he was talking about.

My brother looked back at me, his eyes brimming with pity.

"XD. I'm not going to be at the trial tomorrow."

"Why not? Isn't it mandated that you make an apperan-"

"XD!" He snapped.

I shrunk back a bit, ready to defend myself if he lashed out.

He immediately turned to me, his expression softening as he stepped over to gather me in a hug, mumbling his apologies, assuring me he didn't mean it.

"XD... I'm not going to be at the trial tomorrow." He repeated, running his had through my snowy hair. "Because I'm not going to stick around for the inevitable."

"What..?"

"XD, I'm leaving our kingdom. For good."

His words hit me like a brick wall, as he began to pull away from me.

I instinctively grabbed his arms as my eyes began to burn for the second time tonight.

"No. no no no no no! You can't go!" I cry, pathetically clinging to his sleeves.

"Oh? So what do you suggest?"

"We can figure something out! I swear, I can help you-"

"XD, I BETRAYED OUR KINGDOM!" Dream yelled, ripping himself away from me. "If I walk into that court room tomorrow, they would tear everything apart regardless."

"Please! Don't leave! You're the only person I have..." I pleaded, flinching at his booming voice.

"XD. They would never let us be together if I stay. This leave isn't permanent. Just until things die down."

"Please... I need you! Who am I without you?" I whimper, tears streaming down my face.

"The prince of this kingdom." He replied simply, putting no thought into his answer as he turned away.

"T-Take me with you!" I call out, practically begging him not to leave me alone.

It was a pathetic sight. I was standing out on the elegant balcony, sobbing in my night shirt. At least I have enough sense to know I'm not stable, and things won't get any better if he leaves me alone.

I hate being alone...

"No. I can't do that. If not for the kingdom, then for our sister. You have to stay here and wait for her. It wouldn't be fair to leave her alone before she emerged."

I sink to the floor as he lifts a bag that had been leaning on the rails. 

My vision had become fuzzy, so I could barely see Dream when he knelt down beside me.

"XD... I'm sorry I have to do this." He mumbled, taking one of my hands in his own, "I promise I'll come back as soon as it's safe, but for now, I have a final order for you."

He lifted my hand over my mouth as I looked at him. He seemed to be hiding any trace of negative emotion, while he gave me a reassuring smile.

"Please... Let's never speak of this again... Stay strong for me brother."

And with that, he spread his pure white wings, and vanished into the night.