Darkness Falls

Chapter 24

 "If you look closely, you can see the future." A gentle and deep voice echoed in the darkness as a young girl, no older then six, with dark blue hair stared into the mirror in front of her. Attempting to look into it at different angles. Frowning slightly, as she couldn't see anything other then her own reflection staring back at her.

"I can't see anything." She finally replied, disheartened.

"Of course you can." The voice encouraged the young girl, prompting her to look in his direction, revealing a large man with glasses and a slightly receding hairline. A gentle smile on his face. "When the spring comes, you will."

"The spring?" She questioned, looking inquisitively at her father. "What is spring?"

It may have seemed like an odd question for the young girl to ask, but all she had known through her short six years of life had been cold weather and endless snow. Hence the lands name, Yuki no Kuni. Her father could see her confusion and chuckled softly at it, earning himself a small pout from the girl.

"That's right, you've never experienced Spring, have you Koyuki." It was more of an observation then a question. Receiving a saddened shake of her head, answering the rhetorical question.

"Koyuki." The man smiled, catching the young girls attention. "Close your eyes."

Frowning slightly, the young Koyuki did as she was instructed and closed her eyes.

"Now, try to imagine yourself surrounded by flowers."

Her expression lightened a little as she focused her imagination to bring forth a field of flowers within in her mind. A small smile coming to her face as she had filled it with some of her favorite flowers. Orchids, tulips, and various other wild flowers she had seen in books and in some of the market stalls being sold in the nearby town.

"There now, isn't that beautiful." Her father commented, seeing on her face that she was picturing a field full of flowers. "Now, run through it as fast as you can."

Smiling, she spread her arms out as she imagined herself running through the field of flowers. She could just almost feel the petals touching her hands and tickling her legs as she ran through the field within her own imagination.

"It makes you feel all warm, and happy." Her father smiled. "Doesn't it."

"Mmm hmm." She smiled, feeling a sense of warmth around her.

"That is spring." Her father smiled, snapping her out of her imaginary run through the flower field, causing her to look to her father. "And if you never give up, if you believe the future, then spring is sure to come."

"Believe in the future, if you do, the spring will surely come." He repeated as he stood up from where he was kneeling and walked over to where she stood, placing his hands on her shoulders. "What will you do when it comes, Koyuki?"

The young Koyuki adopted a thinking pose before smiling and looking up to her father.

"I'm going to become, a princess." She smiled.

"Oh?" Her father smiled down at her. "What sort of princess?"

"Mmm, let's see." She adopted another thinking pose. "One that is strong, and kind, and most of all, fights for justice!"

This earned her a belly full of laughter from her father, causing her to smile.

"That's some dream." He laughed, ruffling her her slightly, causing her to pout and quickly work to organize her hair once more. "Well, so long as you believe in your dream, and never give up. One day, you will be that princess."