An Era Coming to an End

Additional Chapter

This is an older chapter I've been saving for a while, but didn't know if I should release it.  Since I know I won't be coming back for a long time, please enjoy this small work in the meantime.

Other notes - No, it is not related to the storyline.  However, this does pour some insight on one of our characters.  So, if you don't want to read an unrelated chapter that strays away from the main idea, don't force yourself.  I only posted this for content/entertainment reasons.

"Aether!  Aether!!  Wait for me!"

A young girl, about 9 or 10, beamed as her albino hair tousled behind her.

"Today I'm going to cook something for my mom!  That way she can see how much I love her."

Aether bent down to her level in the sun soaked grass.  He ruffled her hair.  "Hello to you too."  He smiled softly, tilting his head.  "What are you making for her?"

"A pie.  Pies taste so good!'

"Ahaha~ are you sure?  Pies might be too difficult for your age you know."

"I want to show her what I'm really capable of.  She always seems so worried on stuff and she forgets I'm there.

"But, you want to make sure you don't worry her with your cooking."

The young child paused, thinking deeply.  "Hmm.. maybe it's easier to just buy her a gift." She clapped her hands together.  "Wait, but what should I buy her?"

"The thought counts more than the gift.  Maybe something simple and intricate?"

"I'll give her my pretty ribboned jar to hold sugar in~  Oh!  Hold onto it for me in the meantime so nothing happens to it!"

~

Her expression was blank, until she suddenly burst into tears.  Aether wrapped his arms around her tiny figure to comfort her.

"Hey..  Hey what happened this time..?"

"Father came back!  And he.. he.." she went mute and buried her face deeper into Aether's shirt.  "He hit us!  It hurt so much Ae, I hate it!!"

Aether froze still at her outburst.  

"And Mother wouldn't talk to me at all!  Why won't she talk to me?  Why won't she see me?  I miss her so much, I just want to be with her like we used to!..."

He gently stroked her lily white hair, hiding his bewilderedness at the whole ordeal.  

"If anything... and I mean, anything, happens..." he said slowly, "...call me right away.  I'll always be here."

She lifted her tear streaked face.  "R-Really?  Do you promise it?"  

Aether hugged her tighter to his chest.  "I promise."

For the first time in months, she felt a sense of contentedness.

But it was the last time she was ever happy.

~

"I don't want to keep living there!  I'm going to runaway from here and   never   look   back!"  She broke away from his arms and took off running in the crowded streets.

He bolted upwards.  

"++++++!  Please, come back!"

Aether ran after her, pushing and shoving past people, not even caring to check where he was going.  He had to find her, he couldn't let her run off again.