The Fallen Stars

Chapter 20 Ainsley

"When were you going to tell me you were the villain?" I ask heartbrokenly.
She took a breath, a hint of sadness in her face.
"Seeing as I thought you'd leave me if you knew... never." She answers sadly.
I take a breath and a step.
"Well, seeing as I'm the protector of Isla Nunca Más... this definitely puts me in an awkward position." I say, breaking the act at the end with a chuckle.
Delja smiles at my silly break of character. She's wearing a beautiful light blue long skirt and a long white sleeve shirt.
The children sighed in annoyance, and their hero turned into a huge disaster.

I really tried. It was just too hilarious to me.
Watching the "soldiers," which is the kids standing around us acting all serious, expecting me to stop Delja the evil queen... it was too cute.

"Shall I try again?" I ask, as Maymay threw her adorable pout with squirrel cheeks and green eyes and long light brown hair.
She's wearing a green dress.

"Yes!" Everyone yells at me.

"Alright then." I clear my throat.
I pull out my wooden sword.
"Nice sword." Delja comments.
"Nice neck." I comment back.
I put the sword against her neck.
"Yes, I know I have a nice neck, but can you please remove your weapon from me." She says sarcasticly, pushing the sword away from her.
And I break character again.
"Ainsley!" Delja is the one who's annoyed this time.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I think I'll have to give my role to someone else.... ah! Johnny! You can take over." I hand my sword to a dark skinned boy with blue eyes and a big smile.
"The evil queen sends her daughter to fend in her honor.... Maymay." She calls. Maymay walks towards Delja, who is standing on a rock. And then Delja kisses Maymay's forehead.
Delja leaves the children and hugs me tightly.

"Now I know I can never open a theater with you." She whispers into my ear with a giggle.
"What do you mean? I'm a fantastic actor!" I say dramaticly.
She giggles more.
"You just keep on telling yourself that... maybe it will become the truth someday." She teases.
I kiss her cheek.
We walk towards our spot in the forest, and we can still hear and see the Forset Village, but in front of us is a small beach, we walk until we are under our place. I look down at Delja. She smiles at me.
I hold her tightly, and we start to fly slowly towards the branch where we always sit. And I make her comfortable.

And all of a sudden, our happy bubble popped.
I hold her close, but I don't look at her. I just watch my dangling feet.

"Oh, Ainsley... what's wrong?" She asks, worry across her face.
I pull her closer and kiss her forehead. She smells of salt water... my favorite smell.
"Four days ago, my sister fainted on a bloody pirate... two days ago, she woke up.
Now she'll have to spend two weeks and three days... with people who will kill her, if she says or does something wrong. And I can't do anything... anything at all!" I explain out of breath.
She puts her hand on my cheek.

"Hey, everything is going to be alright... Damião promised he wouldn't hurt her." She assures.
We stay quiet for a moment.
"You know, you and Damião want the same thing for her." She says out of nowhere.
I look at her with a frown.
"What the bloody hell do you mean?" I ask, confused.
She sighs.
"You both want to show her parts of her new home... you showed your part, the part he can't show to her... but he's helping to show his part.
She needs to have her own choice here, Ainsley. Otherwise, it'll be just the same as in the other world." She explians, patiently and gently.

"But I don't want her to become a pirate." I say to her.
"Your mother was a Captain Hook's daughter... she was a pirate!"
"She changed her ways." I stated.
"That might be true, but.... once a pirate, always a pirate. You can't ignore your past, Ainsley. It is what makes us who we are." She says sadly.
And that left me speechless.