Chapter Text
Once upon a time, many years ago, there was a little princess, and she was very sad for her mother and father had died.
Before the despaired princess came a travelling prince clad in a white cloak as soft as an angel’s wings. He had a regal bearing, and a kind smile. The prince wrapped the princess in a rose-scented embrace and gently wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Little one who bears up alone in such deep sorrow. Even if you’re in darkness now, the ticket in your hand is just waiting to be filled in. Don’t ever let go of that strength or nobility.
“I give you this to remember this day. This ring will lead you to me one day.”
Perhaps the ring he gave was one of engagement.
This was all well and good, but so impressed she was by him that the princess vowed to become a prince herself one day.
But was that really such a good idea?
Throughout her life, Meryl Stryfe was a missus on a mission. She studied hard to maintain straight As, applied for every writing competition that reached her ears, shed blood, sweat and tears to excel in track and burnt galloons of midnight oil to earn a scholarship to Julai Academy. The school is an academic kingdom that’s as prestigious as it is competitive but she earns her place as top of her class and strives to stay there.
She works hard, lives hard and she makes sure to do it in style.
Indeed, students couldn’t help but gawk as the petite girl made her way through the compound. Her short dark hair was neatly combed under her cap, her white blazer and blue shorts ironed smooth as paper and her polished shoes echoing in brisk staccato.
“Meryl Stryfe. Do you intend to wear that unacceptable getup for this term as well?” the disciplinarian, Chuck Lee's strident voice sneered, pointer primed like a sword.
‘Not today, Satan.’ Meryl fought back a smirk, having prepared for his frankly predictable move.
Whipping out the rulebook, she opened to the section that dictated the school’s dress code.
“But no rules in the rulebook states that a girl cannot wear a boy’s uniform.” She had even kindly highlighted the sections for him. “So, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
‘Unless you make it one.’ Went unsaid but not unheard. The man looked as if he’s sucked on not one but two lemons as Meryl once again made a fool of him. Meryl 2, Chuck Lee 0.
She arrived to class on time, wherein her best friend Milly enveloped her in the first of many bone-crushing hugs for the day. She excitedly gushes about the new novels she’s been reading and Meryl is thankful that she doesn’t divulge too many details about those in the horror genre. Eventually, their homeroom teacher Roberto De Niro arrives and classes begin.
Meryl has a solid routine by now. Go to class, take neat notes with her favourite blue pen no matter how monotonous the teacher or the subject was and then compare said notes with Milly’s glitter-pen ones during recess. Milly graciously gives Meryl a treasured pudding cup and she in turn provides napkins whenever the brunette needs one.
If there’s still time to kill, they hit the basketball court. Milly’s height and strength combined with Meryl’s speed and agility makes them an unstoppable duo. Ignoring the boys who leered whenever their shirts rode up mid-dunk, Meryl gratefully accepts the towels offered by the juniors (she doesn’t mind sweating but she also wouldn’t mind not staying sweaty) and blushes under their praise.
“You really should join the team, Meryl.” Milly pouted as Meryl buttoned up her blazer.
“Sorry, Milly, but I really wouldn’t have time for the competitions. Besides, I don’t want to be a titan, I want to be a prince!” Meryl straightened her collar.
“Yes, yes, a noble prince who saves the princesses.....but what about paupers like me?!” Milly whined, clinging onto Meryl like a giant koala. “How could you forsake meeeeeee?”
“Milly!” Meryl squawked, the tinier girl somehow miraculously remaining upright. Honestly at this point, Milly’s glomps have turned her knees to steel.
“Paupers need a prince too, y’know. Besides, aren’t nobles supposed to help those below them?” Milly pointed out.
“Of course. Don’t worry, Milly, you’ll always be my best friend and first princess.” Meryl consoled, patting her hand.
Milly beamed and really, her cheerful spirit alone outshone any tiara or jewel an actual princess could own.
They return to classes, write more notes, get more homework until finally, the bell rings and students file out, eager to head home, prepare for extracurriculars or hang out with their friends.
Meryl and Milly live in separate dorms, a fact that the latter bemoans about to this day. Meryl admits it can be a little lonely too but hey, a single dorm means no messy roommate or unnecessary distractions. Still, it’s tradition for both girls to walk together until they have to separate.
This time, they decided to take a shortcut through the colonnade. Midway, Meryl paused at an unexpected sight in her peripheral.
She’s walked pass this courtyard countless times and though anyone can spot the greenhouse built there upon first glance, no one’s bothered to truly look at the beautiful glass structure. And like most beautiful things, many often forget that such beauty requires human maintenance.
The human maintenance in question was a male student. The first thing Meryl notices is his height. Oh sure, it’s easy to blow off Meryl’s opinion given her short stature that made even those of average height a tower but her best friend was Milly-5’10 ft-Thompson.
While Milly stood big like sturdy oak, this guy had the leaner build of a willow, or perhaps an insect, his movements toeing the line between graceful and uncanny. The way the light gleams off the round glasses covering his eyes leans him towards the latter, but he smiles at the blossoms he’s watering with the tenderness of a mother towards her child.
His uniform is black. Like spilled ink, like black holes, the very antithesis of every other male student’s pure white.
The flowers he’s tending to are in various shades of red, white and purples but they’re as recognizable as their caretaker.
“Hey, Milly? Who’s that?” Meryl asked.
“Oh, him? That must be Mr. Vash Saverem!” Milly replied.
“Vash Saverem.....wait, Saverem? You mean he’s related to the student chairman?” Meryl didn’t know the guy had a brother!
“Yup, they’re twins.” Identical twins?! “He’s in our class this term.” A classmate?! “Didn’t know he had a green thumb.”
“Neither did I.” Then again, until today Meryl didn’t even know he existed, period.
“Welp, I’m gonna go on ahead. I’m dying for a shower and a good cup of Ceylon tea. Bye, Meryl!” Milly waved before leaving for her dorm.
Meryl waved back and watched as Milly’s perky hightail disappeared around the corner.
Glancing back, Meryl startled as an intent gaze pinned her in place. She blinked, and was met with a wide smile and friendly wave.
She awkwardly waved back.
Vash’s smile grew wider and he wiggled his pianist fingers. He lowered his hand but didn’t turn back to the flowers. He seemed.....expectant?
Meryl weighed her options. She supposed it would be rude to ignore him. Plus, as a scholarship student the last thing she wants to do is upset the guy with close ties to someone who could kick her out.
Plus, she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t curious to know more about him.
Meryl hesitated at the threshold, taken aback at the inside of the greenhouse. The interior was more spacious than the exterior indicated but every surface was covered in a forest’s worth of pots and plants that’d make navigation an absolute nightmare for a newcomer. However, she only had eyes for one particular flower.
The geraniums.
She knows what they are like she knows the back of her hand, for it’s there that lies the ring she treasures most.
“You can come in, they don’t bite.”
Vash’s voice was- nice, is the first word that comes to mind. Friendly, polite, on the cusp of cheerful even, the kind that some either view as cute or obnoxious depending on their mood. His hair is long, a shade of blonde that shone like gold and braided in a style as pretty as it was practical. His left ear is pierced with a small hoop, another violation of the dress code he seems to get away with.
Meryl stepped inside. Behind her, the door swung shut with a ‘clang’ more akin to cold metal than glass.
“I’m Meryl Stryfe.” She carefully tiptoes arounds the pots until she’s within reasonable proximity.
“Nice to meet you. You’re one of the scholarship students, aren’t you?” Vash smiles.
“I am.” And she’s proud of that.
“Wow. Pleasure to meet you!” he beams. Setting his apple red watering can aside, he held his hand out.
Meryl grasped it firmly, knowing a firm handshake is crucial for a good first impression-
She screams as Vash’s arm falls out of its socket. Shocked, she instinctively drops it and sees that instead of flesh and tissues, the extremity was a skeletal masterpiece of porcelain and turquoise.
Vash tosses his head back and laughs so hard he bends over double.
“Need a hand?” he snorted through giggles.
“You-!” she stomps her foot. “That’s not funny!”
Vash pouted and she hates that it makes him look like a kicked dog because it makes her feel sorry for the jerk. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make a pretty young dame mad.”
“Pretty? Me? You flatterer.” Meryl waved her hand, sarcasm oozing from her words. The sunlight glints off her ring with the motion.
“Sorry if I really did upset you.” Vash said, reattaching his prosthetic. He flexes his fingers and gosh, how advanced and expensive was that thing for the articulation to look so natural?
“Apology accepted. So....did you do all this?” she gestured to the greenhouse.
“Yup, it’s my responsibility.” Vash nodded.
“Oh, like a club?” with only one member apparently.
“No. It’s my job to take care of it.” Why not hire a gardener for that? Unless Vash specifically requested for the chore? Maybe he genuinely enjoys it.
“Only you? Everyday? That’s impressive.” She hummed.
“It’s nothing, really.” Vash rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you like flowers?”
“Not.....really.” the geraniums loomed almost judgmentally in her peripheral.
“Oh.” Vash tilts his head and his lenses shift to twin suns. His tone is neutral but Meryl felt like she’s missed a step in the dark.
“But I do find them beautiful.” She added.
“They are, aren’t they?” Vash caressed an orange lily. “Would you like one?”
“Ah, no need!” Meryl refused. “I wouldn’t know how to take care of it.”
“Really? But you seem like a caring person.” Vash mused.
“You think so?” for some reason, that flustered her more than being called pretty.
“I know so.” Vash’s smile was sincere and-was that a tear? No, get a grip, it’s just a beauty mark.
“It’s getting late.” Meryl looked outside and sure enough, the sun was setting. How long has she been in here?
“Oh, you’re right. Sorry if I kept you.” She said.
“Thank you for keeping me company.” Vash replied.
Meryl paused before she left. Something was off here. Milly knew that Vash was related to the student chairman, it’s fair to assume the rest of the student body knew that too. But if that’s the case, why has Vash been under everyone’s radar? If there’s any elitist that should have clout, it should be Vash. Yet, looking back, Meryl has never seen anyone flock to his desk during recess or after school.
Didn’t he have any friends?
Meryl bit her lip.
It felt wrong. Nobody deserves to be alone. Nobody should leave someone to loneliness forever. It’s not the right thing to do.
“....hey Vash?” she asked.
Vash hummed in acknowledgement, having returned to watering.
“Maybe next time, you can teach me how to care for the flowers. So, I can take you up on your offer.” She said.
The drizzle of water halted. Teal eyes met blue grey and Meryl understands now why so many authors depicted their characters with blue-tinted eyes.
“I’ll hold you onto that.” He smiled.
Oh wow, okay, Meryl will admit, Vash is actually pretty beautiful, objectively speaking! Still, she’s proud that she got him to crack a smile.
“Vash!”
Meryl jumped at the rough voice and squawked as a brickhouse of a man roughly shoulders past her. He stomps through the greenhouse like a bull in a china shop, callously kicking aside smaller pots and trampling leaves that were too long or too wide.
Before she could call him out on his rude behavior, her jaw drops as he rears his hand back and backhands Vash face.
The watering can clatters to the floor, spilling what little water was left. Vash cradles his red cheek with one hand while the other is held in his attacker’s vice grip. The only silver lining is that it’s his prosthetic, so no more skin was being bruised.
Then again, he never should’ve been hurt to begin with!
“Think you can hide away from me in your little garden? If you’re gonna piss me off, at least try to do it right.”
“I’m sorry, Master Monev. I lost track of time.” Why was Vash apologizing?!
Wait, Monev- this name Meryl knew. He was the kendo club’s captain and football quarterback. Tall, muscular, athletic, he’s the textbook definition of a heartthrob jock and from what she’s seeing, the charming personality of a dumpster.
“Oh? Was this what distracted you?” Monev sneered at Meryl with the same vitriolic one gives a cockroach.
“This is the one who’s going to ask what the hell you’re doing to Vash! Who do you think you are?!” Meryl growled.
“I’ll tell you who I am. I’m the one who owns Vash. We’re just a happy pair of lovebirds.” Grinning, he snaked his arm around Vash’s waist and pulled him close. “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?” he crooned into his hair.
“Of course. I am your Bride.” Vash demurred. Meryl didn’t know which sight was more nauseating; the doll-like perfection of that tone or Monev’s casual possessiveness as if Vash was some, some trophy!
Also, master? Bride?! Were Monev and Vash in an arranged marriage or something?
“It doesn’t matter what he is to you! You can’t go around hurting people, period.” Meryl said sternly.
“Wanna bet?” Monev smirked.
And Meryl’s seen that kind of smirk before, had to survive from the ones who bore it as they tried to put her down simply because they could.
More importantly, she knew how to react to it.
Meryl ducked under Monev’s meaty fist and darted towards the watering can. She hurled it towards Monev’s face to buy her enough time to snatch up a broom.
Monev’s head reared back in surprise as she shoved the rough bristles into his face.
Meryl glared at the bigger man. Her palms were sweaty but her grip around the wooden handle was steady.
“You’re the kendo team captain, aren’t you? How about a proper duel to settle this?” she goaded.
“Why you little-!” Monev froze. Staring past the broom, his eyes fell on the pathetically puny hands clutching it.
One of which bore a very familiar ring.
“Well, damn.” He chuckled. “So, you’re the new challenger.”
“The what?” Meryl had expected him to call her many things. ‘Challenger’ wasn’t one of them.
“You want a duel, yeah? I’ll give you one in the forest’s dueling arena in 30 minutes.” Monev explained.
“The forest behind the school? The one nobody’s allowed into?” she figured they would’ve just used the kendo practice space which was designed for well, duels.
Monev chuckled and- she hated how he looked at her with the smugness of someone who knows something she didn’t and is aware of said ignorance.
“You’ve got 29 minutes left to back out.” He taunted.
Monev sauntered out of the greenhouse with his Bride, knocking over one more flower in his departure.
Vash tried not to wince at the unnecessary loss. Ah, he had planned on repotting that snapdragon.......
Do you know? Do you know? Did you hear the news?
There’ll be another duel today in the Eden behind the school!
Oh, sweet angel! Sweet angel, who fights to protect the weak and helpless.....
But, be careful, sweet angel.
There are gardens in Eden.
Do you know what they are?
Do you know? Do you know? Do you know what they are?
29 minutes later, night accompanies Meryl’s arrival to the forest. She’s armed with nothing but sheer guts and the bat Milly had insisted she keeps upon learning that she’d be alone in her dorm. At the time, she thought her friend had been a worry wart. Come tomorrow, she’s treating her to a mille feuille.
Being Julai Academy, of course the place wasn’t sealed away behind the wire fence most plebeians used. Instead, it was a gate made of a material that’s smooth as marble yet hard as stone.
Engraved upon the looming doors were geraniums, as if someone had magnified her ring and stamped it onto the slabs. In between were three vertical lines, with the middle one being longer than the sides. Drawn in the center of it was a perfect circle with two short horizontal lines at the side.
It looked so simplistic compared to the geraniums, so out of place.
But alas, she wasn’t here to critique the architecture.
She grunted as the doors refused to budge. She knew it, she needed some kind of key. Did Monev have it? Would she have to request for access? She’s rather eat a raw lemon than ask him for anything-
“Cold!” Meryl yelped as the aforementioned sensation shot through her fingertips.
Then water started gushing out of cleverly hidden faucets. The streams of liquid flowed like fabric and the doors grind, unfurling into trumpets atop the entrance in preparation to herald an arrival.
Defied laws of physics aside, she supposed it’s an invitation.
She enters and gazes up at an impossibly long set of stairs that spiraled up into what seems like infinity. If she stares any longer, her neck’s definitely gonna cramp.
Grip tightening around the bat, she starts her climb. Each step builds a pressure in her eardrums, akin to that of an airplane taking off. She feels lightheaded and the urge to pop her ears is almost maddening yet impossibly, when she reaches the top, she’s barely out of breath.
Good thing too because what she sees takes it all away.
She’s high up, really high up. So high that the only grounds in sight are the arena and the clouds. Hovering above the sky to loftily stare down on her was some kinda of...ship? Castle? Ark? It shimmers like a mirage with an ethereal glow that shone down on the arena with the intensity of a sun. It was making Meryl sweat more than the stair ascent. Whenever she tries to focus on a single area, her head spins.
So she opts to do what she does best: look ahead and focus on what’s in front of her.
What’s in front of her is no less confusing.
Vash stands in the center of the platform clad in an elaborate red dress. It’s a beautiful creation of fabric so silky, it flutters like butterfly wings, petal layers cascading down his long legs. A circlet secures a translucent veil around his hair, forming an angelic halo.
He looks like a princess straight out of a fairy tale. No, like a bride.
“She came.” Monev tried not to laugh at the barbaric weapon the pipsqueak brought with her.
“What is all this?” Meryl gestured to their vast surroundings and Vash’s getup. “I came here for a fight, not a roleplay!”
A roleplay? A play? Is she shitting with him? He checked her hand again to confirm she had the right ring.
“And how is that there? I couldn’t see it from outside.” She knew rules were gonna be broken today, school rules, not reality-defining rules.
“Oh, that. It’s just a mirage of sorts. Think of it as a trick of the light.” Monev replied nonchalantly, clearly desensitized to its presence.
“A mirage.....” it’s an eerily vivid one.
“I’m surprised a nobody outside the student council has the Geranium Seal.” He said.
“Geranium seal?” she echoed.
He showed her his hand. Glinting atop his knuckle was an exact copy of the ring Meryl’s prince bestowed upon her.
‘How does he have that?’ did Monev know the prince too? Impossible, how could he give a boon to someone so cruel!
“Vash! Prepare us!” Monev barked at him.
Vash stepped forward with a geranium in each hand, one purple, one white. Approaching Monev, he placed the former in his breast pocket. Turning to Meryl, he repeated the action.
“Vash, what are you doing here?” Meryl whispered.
“It’s the Geranium Bride’s place to be here, so here I am.” He replied.
“That’s why he calls you his bride?” what kind of pet name was that?
The geranium was pinned in place, giving Meryl a whiff of citrus and fruity accents with a hint of spice and roses. She didn’t tear up, she couldn’t, she’s not a child anymore and there’s no prince here to kiss away her tears this time.
“If your geranium is knocked off your chest, you lose the duel.” Vash explained.
Okay, good to know it’s not a battle to the death. Destroying a flower is a small price to pay compared to drawing blood.
“Good luck.” Vash bid.
Scowling, Monev stormed over and slapped Vash for his insolence. In front of his face, no less!
“What was that for?!” Meryl glared, kneeling down to help Vash up.
“For stepping out of line. I’m his Engaged. His love, his luck, all of it belongs to me.” Monev said lowly.
“Forgive me, Master Monev.” Vash lowered his head, standing up.
“Why are you letting him get away with treating you like this?” Meryl hissed.
“Because I’m the Geranium Bride, and he is my Engaged.” Vash intoned.
This went beyond your classic boyfriend-girlfriend spat. A voice in the back of Meryl’s brain was screaming at her to leave now. This arena, this duel, the gaze of whatever it was watching from above.
But-
If she does, Monev wins.
The only way for evil to triumph is when good people do nothing.
And a prince never does nothing.
“I don’t know what craziness is going on here, but that won’t stop me from beating him.” She declared.
Vash watched Meryl take her place opposite of Monev. It’s like watching a tiny kitten square up to a full-grown bear.
Time to provide the bear his claws.
Clasping his hands together as if in prayer, his flesh alights into a canvas of bioluminescent markings and the incantation poured from his lips as easily as a tilted watering can.
“Power of millions that sleeps within me. Heed your master and come forth!”
Meryl vainly tried to shield her eyes from the supernova that burst forth. Squinting, she watched as Vash tilted into Monev’s arm in a parody of a dip, spine arching as a sword handle sprouted from his chest.
Grasping the handle, Monev draws a blade. The blade gleamed, sharp, deadly and clean of any blood or gore despite being yanked out a human body.
“Grant me the power to revolutionize tomorrow!” Monev bellowed, head and sword held high.
Wolfwood blinked as the bells rang. Spitting out the sucker he’s finished minutes ago, he muttered a half-hearted prayer to the poor fool that’s decided to challenge Monev.
‘Another trick of the light?’ Meryl had no time to find out as Monev lunged forward.
She quickly blocked the first of a barrage of attacks. Each one carried enough force to tremor from her fingernails to her shoulders. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to focus. Rollo was strong, he was the kendo team’s captain for a valid reason, but his patterns were predictable when he clearly underestimates her.
Monev couldn’t help but laugh as the little mouse tried to stay on her own two feet. He’s literally keeping one hand tied behind his back while both of hers must be aching already.
“You’re not half-bad, for a girl.” He taunted while their weapons were locked. “But....”
Meryl grunted as Monev batted her aside. Pushing herself up, her stomach dropped as she stared at the remaining half of her bat, the top half having been sliced through cleanly.
“Wait a minute.” She paled. “That’s a real sword?!” oh god, oh god, was he actually trying to kill her?!
“It’s the Angel Arm. Did you really think a toy like that stood a chance?” Monev scoffed.
He casually twirled the Angel Arm, relishing in the easy power within his hands. “You really don’t know a thing, do you?”
“I know this duel isn’t over yet!” Meryl gritted out.
Monev laughed. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. Don’t worry, princess, I’ll make this quick.” Toying with prey too long spoils the meat after all.
“You’re wrong.” Meryl’s muscles tensed in preparation. She had one shot at this.
“It’s prince to you!” she roared before charging forward like a bullet.
‘Idiot!’ Monev wasn’t afraid, he wasn’t. But neither was his opponent and wasn’t that terrifying?
Vash watched with bated breath as both duelists charged towards each other. No tangible force could’ve dissuaded Meryl’s path and Monev was done holding back.
At the last second Meryl ducked into a roll losing her cap and a few strands of hair in the process. Without a target, Monev’s momentum took him off balance. He reflexively turned around to keep her within his sight-
Leaving his geranium vulnerable to the wooden projectile thrown his way.
The purple petals had scattered to the winds by the time Monev regained his stance. No, no, no, this can’t be happening!
Except his breast pocket was empty while Meryl’s geranium remained whole.
“Vash.....” the blonde smiled and for once, the expression sent a shudder down his spine.
“Cheer up....Monev.”
The Angel Arm vanishes, leaving naught but a downy black feather behind and even that too was snatched away, just like his geranium and his Bride.