When We Say Goodbye - Broken Marissonshipping

Chapter 4

"Where are we going, Daddy?" Faith asked in an excited tone, looking out the window eagerly.

"It's a surprise," Alain replied.

Another lie to his family

He had no idea where he was driving– just somewhere far away from his apartment and the pain.

"Oh," Faith said, before perking up. "I love surprises! Daddy, this week is going to be so much fun! The most fun we've ever had– maybe this will be the bestest week!"

I hope it is. Since this is our last one.

A pain took hold of his heart as this thought crossed his mind, and his hands tightened on the steering wheel as he drove towards the mountains.

"Daddy, tell me a story!" Faith asked– well, ordered– clearly not about to let a moment of this car ride fall into silence.

A small smile appeared on Alain's face, before it faded. "What kind of story, sweetie?"

"You pick," Faith replied, currently bashing her Fennekin doll against the window, as if the stuffed Pokemon were in an intense battle.

"Hmm..." Alain racked his brains, trying to find something appropriate to tell a five year old– but unfortunately most of the things on his mind didn't fit that category. He tried to turn his thoughts towards children's story, but only painful memories were brought to the surface. "Well... once upon a time there was... um, a beautiful princess..."

"Was her name Faith?" Faith asked hopefully.

"No," Alain said after a moment, the 'story' swiftly taking shape in his mind. "This princess was born before Princess Faith was ever born," Alain said softly. "This princess didn't live in a castle, she was adventurous, and she was out exploring the world when she came across a horrifying sight– a monster."

Faith let out a gasp. "Oh no! Did the monster get her? Did she run?"

"...No, this princess was really brave, and she went right up to the monster," Alain said, the image of a beautiful girl uncertainly approaching a shadowy figure on a boulder entering his mind. "But the princess... she was able to see past his horrible appearance, and she became close to the monster. And in turn, the monster became close to her. They became friends, companions, and they explored the world together."

Faith considered this. "Was the monster really a prince in disguise?"

"No sweetie, he was a monster," Alain's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "Perhaps he thought he could become a prince for the wonderful princess, because he had grown close to her. He didn't want to lose the princess, and so he did everything he could keep her close. But the monster had blinded himself, and he began to forget that no matter what he did... he would always be a monster still."

Faith frowned. "Why does he have to stay a monster, that's not fair! I feel bad for the monster, Daddy, it sounded like he really liked the princess."

"He loved her Faith, the monster loved the princess," Alain whispered.

"What happened to them?" Faith asked, and Alain's heart tightened. She was so innocent, her voice so concerned for characters she thought to be merely a fairytale, but yet unrealizing to the story he was truly presenting.

"...The monster left the princess," Alain continued after a moment. "He knew that the princess would be safer away from him, and no matter how much the princess wanted to be with the monster he knew that he had to leave. And so he left."

"She was all alone?" Faith asked, horrified.

"No," Alain said firmly. "The monster left her with a very important gift– Faith."