Without You, The Beginning of Magic {Magical AU}

Chapter 14: House ( Part 1)

I woke up as I felt a cool breeze. I looked up as Gengi was holding me and I was holding Art. I looked down to see Sylvar looking disheartened and crying as everyone was quiet, I just leaned against Gengi as I began singing loudly. They looked at me as I began crying as I sang as Gengi started singing with me as the other began crying at me about to break. I looked down and stopped singing as we landed. I saw Lial on his communicator as he watched us get off. I looked at him then down as I turned and cuddled Gengi as Art began snoring. I was silent as Gengi took us to the bathroom. I laid Art on Mikeal's bed for Minori and Mikeal to watch as Gengi helped me clean up and change before I helped Art clean up and change into something more comfortable. I took him upstairs and laid him down next to me as I began singing him a lullaby as Gengi laid between us and continued to warm me and him up with his magic.

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I took a sharp inhale and shot up as I saw Artarius was gone. I stumbled off my bed and fell down the ladder, but relaxed as I saw him eating breakfast with Minori and Mikeal. I smiled softly as he asked, "Are you ok Iris Onee-chan?" I giggled as I got up and sat next to him, "Of course I am." I stroked his head, "Did you sleep ok?" He smiled and nodded, "Yup!" I jerked as he asked, "I couldn't find mommy." I closed my eyes, "... Mommy... Wanted me to spend time with you, so she... Left. Don't worry though... Mommy loves you very much..." He looked down, "I want to see her, but..." He smiled as he ate, "I haven't seen Iris onee-chan in years! I'm ok with being with you too!"

I kissed the top of his head, "... I'm going somewhere real fast, only ten minutes... Stay here, ok?" He nodded, so I stood up and left the carriage with only my nightgown. Gengi ran and went in front of me in his large feral form before I nodded, but I froze as I heard Sylvar, "H-Hey... Lial has something to say... To everyone..." I shook and gripped Gengi, "... I'll be back in ten minutes... I need you to wait then..." He nodded, "I'll let him know..." Gengi hopped off about a hundred yards deep until he let me down. He took out a coat and slipped it on me before holding me to his chest and covering me in the blanket.

I shook and began crying, but it soon turned into uncontrollable wailing sobs that soon turned into yelling out all my frustrations. No words in particular, just anything to take out the pent up emotions I was unsure what to do with. This went on for not ten minutes, but thirty of wailing, sobbing, and screaming.

I breathed heavily, shakily, and hoarsely as I coughed softly and whispered roughly, "I want... To go home... I want to see Uncle Shanks... I want to see Nami and Nojiko..." I sniffled, "I want to see Law... I want to see Ace and Sabo and Zoro... I want... To go home..." He whispered, "... Alright." He began carrying me back. I was nodding off as I saw their heart shattered expressions, but I just ended up falling asleep again.

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I took a sharp inhale as I looked up to see Gengi in his large feral form wrapped around me. I slowly got up and turned around as I nuzzled him. He curled around me more as we just laid there for a while before I managed to force myself up. I shakily climbed my way down to see Art playing games with Minori as I felt the cart driving. I felt a hug from Art, so I smiled and nuzzled him as I picked him up and walked him to his spot, "Whatcha playing?" He held out his hand, "It's a game called Match or Go." I smiled softly, "Can I play?" He smiled, "Yeah!"

Minori got up and switched with Mikeal, so he could make me something to eat as I played with Art. I changed into normal clothes before I ended up snacking and eating the whole day as they switched out and played with Art and I, but when dinner came it was time to face Sylvar. I took a deep breath and held Art's hand as he jumped out and ran into the snow.

I smiled softly as he ran up to Kytrose, who began playing with him as Minori joined them. Gengi rested on my head as I walked up to Sylvar who was setting up camp with Fiara. "Syl..." He turned around as I asked, "Can we talk for a moment?" He nodded and motioned that he would follow, so I walked him into a small opening that was away from the group, but still in sight.

I plopped in the snow and stared at the setting sky, so he sat next to me. He looked at me as I smiled sadly, "You know Syl... I'll be honest with you..." My voice cracked, "I wish... I could hate you... I want to hate you... You killed my mom... I want to despise you... My mom's gone now..." I cried softly as I covered my eyes with the back of my hands and Gengi nuzzled my chest, "I want to... I want to hate, but... I just can't... Everything we've been through together... I know why you did it... I know it hurt you when you did it... So... I can't hate you... I have all these feelings... With nowhere to go... I have no one to hate. I have no one to blame..."

I looked up at the sky, "So that only leaves a void of anger, devastation, and grief... I want to scream... I want to cry, but that won't change anything... It will only make me feel worse..." My voice cracked as I sobbed softly, "What do I do?... I'm only seventeen years old... I should be having night overs or tea parties... I should be going to festivals and spending time with my family... I came here to grow strong... Strong enough to handle anything... Not by myself, but in general. However..." I looked at his heart shattered expression, "I can't... Take it anymore... If I have to deal with any more pain or heartache... I'll break..."

He cleared his throat trying not to cry, "... If you ever do want someone to blame... If you ever need to cry or scream... If you ever need to spar or hit... If you ever want an outlet... I'll be that for you. You're strong because everyone else wouldn't have been able to do the things you do. You are strong because despite everything, you're still hanging on. Even if it's by a thread. Iris, you have people around you who will make your string a rope. One that can pull you up again. Gengi, Mikeal, Minori, Lial, Kytrose, and I... We'll help you up again. So that way you can meet your precious people again... We'll support you so you can be who you want to be."

I slowly sat up as Gengi nuzzled my hand. I sniffled as I looked down and pet Gengi, "... Syl, I will forgive you because I know... It would've been more painful for her to live and for Art and Uncle Shanks to see her like that... I know it would break her to kill me and that's why she was so relieved... I'll forgive you, but Syl... I'll never forget... That you're the one who killed her..."

He looked down, "... Thank you and... I will take responsibility... No matter what form that is." I got up and began walking, "... Let's go eat... I'm hungry..." He nodded, "Of course." I felt a little lighter after talking with Syl, but my body remained heavy and sore. Like I could still fall, but every time I felt my legs giving out Mikeal and Minori caught me.