Snow White with the Red Hair: The Valkyrie

The Last Goodbye

Nanami was surrounded by darkness. She spun in a circle at least three times, but the scenery didn't change like it usually did.

"Hello?" Her voice echoed like she was in an infinite abyss. Something wasn't right. "Is anyone there?"

"Over here, Nanami..."

Turning her head, the Castanic followed the voice. There, lying on the ground, were the man and the woman. Only... they were wounded and covered in blood. Eyes widened, she ran to them; kneeling by their sides.

"What... what happened to you?"

"The price for... interacting with you." The man said.

"What do you mean?"

"She's found out... and... she will not rest until she gets what she wants."

"But... I have found out who you are! You are my parents."

"And because you know that, we can no longer come in contact with you..." Her mother seemed to be gagging on her own blood.

"No... no, no, no! I cannot go on without you, I... You are all that is left who can tell me about my past. I cannot do it on my own. I do not remember."

"Of... course you can, little Nanami." Her father coughed. "You're remembering right now."

"Huh?"

"The last time you saw us, our world was on fire..."

When Nanami lifted her head, the darkness had become a village in flames. Bodies were scattered at her feet. Blood oozed into the cobblestone pathways. Surveying her surroundings a bit more, she found that the entire village was inside a cave.

"This place... I know this place. It is called Castanica." She looked down hoping that her parents would say she was correct, but their bodies were unmoving. They were dead. "No..." She whispered.

"Where are you, you little mongrel?" A new voice called in the distance. "I know you're here somewhere." She knew that voice. But from where? "The power of immortality will be mine even if I have to rip it out of you!"

"Immortality?" The Castanic placed a hand at her chest as it suddenly glowed like the sun. Viewing her clothing, she found that she was dressed in bright colors and appeared smaller. She was a little girl again.

A dark shadow loomed over her, causing her heart to pound in her eardrums.

"There you are, you little rat."

Usually the valkyrie would've stood her ground and fought, but something inside her told her to run. She turned on her heel and ran through the maze that was her village. The shadow chased after her, keen on capturing her.

There was something familiar about this chase and the figure's bitter words. And though there was this recognizable feeling to the evil being, she couldn't make a connection just yet.

Nanami jumped over fences and carts, slid between small crevices, and climbed over other obstacles with ease, but she still could not escape the darkness trailing behind her. Finally, she'd come to a dead end.

The monster, whatever it may have been, was about to capture her. It had her cornered. Throwing her arms over her head and curling up into a little ball, she screamed and shut her eyes tight. But when nothing happened, the small Castanic opened her eyes and found herself to be grown up again. She was surrounded by darkness once more, but then there was light.

Her mother and father stood above her with kind smiles in their faces.

"Mother... father..." A single tear streamed down her cheek, but her mother wiped it away with a gentle touch.

"Don't cry, my sweet little baby. Just because you can't see us anymore doesn't mean we're not there."

"Yeah." Her father agreed, kneeling down in front of her. "No matter what, we will always be right here." He pointed to her chest, where her heart lied underneath. Her mother knelt beside him, placing a warm hand on her cheek.

"Trust in yourself. Try to remember and familiarize. Try to make friends with the people you've come to know. Their bond with you might be a treasure that'll last forever."

"Stay strong, Nanami. You've grown up so much. Never forget about your morals and heart. That's where the right choice truly lies. That's also where your memories are too. Be safe." The two Castanics hugged their daughter; love and affection in their embrace.

"I see now." She thought. "You are leaving me and this is probably the last loving embrace I will ever get from you. Somehow... I am okay with that. Because all my life, I have carried a weight of despair on my own. But now, I find that I am able to conquer it, for I am not alone. I will never be truly alone. I have your love and... I have new friends. When it feels like all hope is lost, I shall look to them. For they... they are my light in the darkness." Her thoughts were cut off suddenly.

In that moment, the valkyrie's parents disappeared; fading away into golden dust. Nanami was left alone with no one to embrace. The warmth was gone. But instead of grieving, she looked up at the light that shined above her. It was like a ray of sunshine—

No...

A ray of hope. That bright light was a ray of hope. It fed her with strength and courage—the ability and mindset to push on. As she knelt there, staring up into the heavens, she completed her final thoughts.

"Go rest now, mother and father. You have done enough for me."

♡

When the Castanic had awoken, she was greeted by the morning sun. It shone so bright, even the curtains couldn't contain its rays.

Nanami kicked off her plush blankets and got out of her comfortable bed, walking over to the curtains at her balcony. She pulled them apart, not even looking away as the light entered the room. There was a new feeling in the air.

Perhaps today would be different.

She sauntered off to change her clothes when she'd caught her own reflection in the mirror. It seemed to be a ritual for her to catch a glimpse of herself every time she passed the mirror. Perhaps she was searching for an excuse to look at herself, but there, she found that she had completely changed.

Her horns were a bright white with touches of green and blue. Her hair was a lovely silver, just like her mother's, accompanied by long streaks of blue, just like her father's. And her eyes... her eyes were a bright and clear crystal blue.

She felt that she'd become a whole new person.

Nanami was no longer the girl sheltered by darkness and vengeance. The Castanic was now a vision of light and hope; a protector to those in Clarines.

Drawing a certain rune, she'd changed her clothes to the ones in her dreams where she stood in the flower field with her mother and father. It was a white and blue woven leather top with a matching skirt and work boots. For accessories, she used a blue flower and a few brass bracelets, as well as some woven wrist wraps.

"Perfect." Signs of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but she quickly removed it from her face, leaving the room.

As she crossed the courtyard, she wondered who she would run into first. The prince and his aides, as well as Shirayuki, always seemed to be dispersed amongst the castle in one way or another. It made her curious how they would react to her transformation. Would they be surprised? Happy? Upset? Disturbed? She had no way of knowing unless she talked to them herself.