A Heart of Gold A Heart of Stone (Complete)

Chapter 40

Author's note: Enjoy!

Coral stood still the world around her filled with ash, dust and darkness the heat was intense and caused waves of hot air to form on the horizon. She stared around the dark world and grimaced, she always woke up here and it was oppressive like everything would cave in if she couldn't find the way out. Taking a deep breath Coral shook her arms out.
"Well we better get moving." She hummed to herself as she began walking forward. Nothing ever changed, there were no trees. No mountains or lakes just the vast ashy land. Coral continued onwards hoping to see the small door of light she eventually found. The sound of footsteps alerted the shadows to Coral's presence, howling to each other they followed her slowly slithering their way across the dusty floor. Coral heard the howls and turned her head around seeing the shadows following her, she picked up her pace. Their chattering and howls were getting closer so she kept moving not stopping to look back but the world didn't seem to move with her.
"Leave me alone!" She screamed as they continued moving closer. Realizing there was no escape she watched as the pure darkness began to consume the world around her. The shadows finally reached her and began to work their way up her body twisting and turning consuming her whole, Coral screamed, begging, pleading for someone to help her as the shadows began to close over her eyes.
"Leave my child alone!" a voice echoed around her head as a searing white light burned her eyes. The shadows shrieked and whined as the light burst their dark forms and dragged them away from Coral's body.
"Take my hand." The voice called to her. Coral propped herself up on her elbow and reached out for the hand which pulled her up and off the ground. She blinked her eyes a few times trying to gain focus.
"You think you could turn down the light?" a soft laugh filled the space but the light decreased all the same. "Thank you."
"Anytime my sweet Coral." The pirate stared at the figure floating in front of her.
"Who are you?" She asked reaching out for the woman.
"I am your guardian but you can just call me Regan." Regan rested her hand on Coral's cheek.
"I'm here to protect you my sweet."
Coral continued to stare at the female.
"To protect me from what exactly?" She asked, Regan removed her hand and began to float away. "Hey wait!" Coral ran after Regan. "What are you protecting me from?!"
"There is a darkness that lies within you Coral." Regan said, Coral scoffed.
"I already knew that my Father tells me every day." She responded, Regan shook her head.
"No child. It has nothing to do with you being brought up a villain. A shadow is residing in you placed here by someone who wants to control your power over the elements." She explained, Coral looked at the floor her expression blank. "Do not worry so Coral." Regan placed her hand under Coral's chin and pulled her face up to look at her. "For there is a choice to make. The elements you control are nothing without darkness and light and both sit in your heart. It is up to you to decide how you will use your power and either help change the world or destroy it." Smiling down at the pirate she placed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "There is nothing more to say now you must return to the land of the living it is your time." Coral watched Regan float away.
"You're not 'just' Regan are you?"
"No I am your Mother Coral." Confusion, pain and sadness all formed on Coral's brow as she looked around the room.
"My Mother?" Regan nodded.
"Yes and I will always be here." Smiling lovingly at her daughter Regan closed her eyes focusing on her powers. A sharp gust of wind knocked Coral backwards into the abyss.
"MOTHER!" Coral's eyes snapped open as she sat bolt upright in her bed.
"Not quite." She turned her head to the voice next to her.
"Hans." She smiled breathlessly at the familiar face.
"Hey you're awake." He smiled as he gestured to all of her.
"It would seem so." She lay back down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
"Just hang on I need to tell the nurse." Hans stood up and walked towards the door intent on letting someone know the good news.
"You're wrong. I wouldn't tell you to get your act together." Hans halted in his stride and turned to face his only friend in this godforsaken place. "I would have punched you in the face."
"You heard that?" He asked rubbing his face in embarrassment causing Coral to laugh at him.
"Of course I did. It was quite funny actually... you really don't know how to talk to girls nicely do you?" She smiled playfully.
"I can talk to you just fine can't I?"
"I'm more of sister to you then I am a girl and answering a question with a question. Classy." Hans shook his head and smiled back at her.
"I'm a classy kind of guy. Now wait here while I get the nurse like I was going to do."
"Yeah well your stupidity stopped me from letting you leave without a talking to."
"Oh ha-ha you're so funny." Coral stuck her tongue out at her friend before watching him leave the room.

Sighing Coral sat up and closed her eyes, trying to remember what she had dreamt about. She remembered her mother and before she could think any further a pair of arms wrapped tightly around her neck, she blinked.
"You're awake."
Coral turned her head to the side and frowned.
"We've established this Hans."
He pulled back and ruffled her head and she tilted her head to the side in confusion, he smiled.
"Don't ever change Coral." He moved off the bed and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "sorry Coral... it's not been the same without you." Coral smiled and held out her arms, rolling his eyes he leant over the bed and hugged her back tightly.
"Tell anyone this and I will murder you."
"I don't doubt that."
"Good. Now get me food!" He laughed and pulled away holding his hands up.
"Alright, alright I'm getting the nurse. Good to have you back." He closed the door behind him and Coral sighed slightly happier after the nightmare she just remembered.

Han ran down the corridor and burst open the doors to the office, the nurses eyes widened and many of the staff stared at Hans.
"She's awake!" The room was silent for a moment until an uproar of chatter began and doctors and nurses were running around the desk, finding paper work and phones and running to find Mickey and Minnie. Hans stepped to the side and a nurse walked to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, she smiled gently.
"She's going to be just fine, that's a good sign."
"Don't I know it." He thought as he nodded to the nurse she ushered him out and they both headed back to where Coral was waiting. He stopped before they entered her room,
"What is it?"
"She wanted food."
The nurse giggled airily, he rolled his eyes she opened the door.
"We'll find her something later, she's going to become very popular."
Hans sighed.
"Great..." They walked in and Coral was sat up with her eyes closed,
"Coral, how are you feeling." She opened her eyes and didn't look at the nurse she had her attention on Hans, who stayed near the back.
"Fine." She mumbled Hans gave her a look and she shook her head ever so slightly as the nurse did a routine check on her.
"Behave yourself." He mouthed to her, she raised her eyebrows and gave him a small smirk. The nurse took a step back.
"All vital signs are all up to the correct standard. She has no long term effects from the coma and she seems to be perky enough." At that moment Minnie and Mickey burst into the room.
"CORAL!"
Coral's eyes widened and the headmasters came to her, both smiling happily to the younger girl, Minnie wrapped her arms around Coral lightly and Mickey took her hand in his, Hans folded his arms and stayed silent. He didn't want to leave her but he thought it was best to stay quiet if it meant he could stay. Coral watched them all as the nurses spoke with Minnie and more doctors came in talking to Mickey, she had never been given this attention, she had never even been hugged by Hans and never had the two heads been this worried about her.
"How long have I been out?" She asked glancing around the room, they all finally looked at her, one of the nurses walked out and Minnie took Coral's hand in hers.
"Coral you do not need to worry about all that yet, it's going to be alright now."
Coral opened and closed her mouth.
"Okay... don't tell me..." She mused, they all gave her sympathetic smiles and Hans walked forward, the others watched and Coral waited, he pressed his hand against her forehead and he leant to her.
"Want me to get you anyone? Or anything?" He asked, she bit her lip and thought for a moment, Hans waited patiently. Mickey and Minnie shrugged their shoulders to the doctors who were looking on at the two in confusion.
"I would like food, as for people? Not really... I guess you'd better tell Helga and Anastasia... Vanessa... probably Dru too." He smiled he had forgotten how much she cared about her girls, he gave a slight chuckle.
"I'll find you food and get a few of them. Don't need to crowd you yet, you look still like a zombie."
Coral scowled at him and he gave her a grin,
"Yeah whatever." She said folding her arms, he walked away from her.
"I have to admit Coral you are ten times easier to look after than the others. Especially Helga."
"Helga?" Coral asked Hans nodded and opened the door,
"Yeah, I don't think I could spend another minute babysitting all of them. They're rather annoying."
"Ha! You've only just realized!" She laughed holding her stomach, Mickey and Minnie smiled it was good to see the coma patient happy. He waved at Coral before heading out, leaving Mickey and Minnie and the doctors to fuss over Coral.

Winter here!
Hope you enjoyed!
Love