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Chapter Text

Act 1: Edward and Emily

Date: January 31, 1999.

Location: 21 Cedarwood Lane, Trolberg.

Time: Midnight.

It was late at night in the city of Trolberg. Home of the eccentric girl named Hilda. She lives with her mother, Johanna, and her pet deerfox, Twig, in Maple Leaf Avenue. As you remember fondly, Hilda is an adventurous girl who used to live within the countryside before her house was destroyed by two giants that she reunited with the help of her elf companion, Alfur. After Hilda moved to Trolberg, she made a reputation for herself as Trolberg's weirdness magnet.

She once dealt with Trevor who knocked The Great Raven out of the sky during the Bird Parade of 1996. She encountered a Vittra during her first Sparrow Scout mission. She reunited a Troll Rock with its mother. She made a deal with a Marra when she tormented her best friend, David. She befriended the hidden clan that lives outside the city's walls. She once prevented a Tide Mice infestation. She wrestled ghosts in the graveyard. She was once trapped by a House in the Woods. She fought Victoria Van Gale to free a weather spirit. She reconciled with Frida, one of her best friends, during a confrontation with the 7 Marras. Finally, she even rescued the Black Hound after befriending a Nisse beforehand.

However, our story with Hilda has ended. This time, we shift to the story of Edward White.

14 years old and a scout with a few words, Edward is recognizable with his hair covering his eyes and being a background character who always appear and disappear whenever he wants.

So, why don't we take a look into his life this time?

Now, it was late at night inside Edward's house. The boy had just tucked himself in for a good night sleep. His cap was hung on his bedpost. His school uniform was pressed and ironed by the nearby laundromat. His Sparrow Scout uniform was dry cleaned by himself using his dry cleaner that he earned from his uncle during his birthday (don't ask). Finally, his bag was filled with books, stationaries, other writing equipment, and his storybook for school tomorrow.

There was peace. Perfect peace within his humble abode.

Too peaceful actually.

You see, Edward lives alone while his parents are off to indulge themselves in their endeavors. They only returned once or twice a week. Not that Edward mind since he is used to be alone. He even uses his free time to create his own self published magazines that he never release to the public. They are a series of columns that tackles his own factual daily reports on the subjects of journalism, social commentaries, the fine dining and fancy cuisines of the city, the arts and cultures, politics, economics, and the diverse stories told by the words of the locals alike.

He called it, "The Trolberg Tales".

Although he is very lonely and has to deal with his silent house, Edward chose to be creative by engaging with local community activities and contribute to the modern day society by volunteering on his own accord.

That is until, the adoption came along.

While Edward was fast asleep, the air stirred.

Suddenly, green wisps of light manifested through the keyhole as an entity appeared and made its way to his bed. With a sinister grin, a haunting voice called out to him. Reciting the haunting words of an old fairy tale.

"My big ears? The better to hear you squirm, my little prey. My big eyes? The better to see you scream, my helpless victim. My big hands? The better to hold you and scare you, my poor soul. And my big and terrible mouth? The better to feed on your fears!"

It was a Marra. A nightmare spirit who feeds on the fear and insecurities of their prey. Nobody knows if they are a human with powers or a spirit who lives on for centuries. One thing for certain, they always get their prey... or so they thought.

When the Marra lunged at the boy to haunt him, she was shocked. The bed was empty!

The bedroom door opened as Edward mumbled how he is feeling hungry.

She floated out and there he was. Barefoot, drowsy, and half asleep, Edward walked towards the stairs so he can cook something as a midnight snack.

The Marra tilted her head and shook it. “You’re supposed to be dreaming,” she whispered.

Then, the silence was broken. Edward accidentally slipped and fell.

Before she could think, the Marra dove, catching him by the collar just as he nearly hit the stairs and tumble downwards.

The boy didn't bother to look behind him. "Thanks, Emily."

The Marra, Emily, sighed. "Anytime, Edward..."

Act 2: Midnight Snack

The kitchen at Edward's house was a pocket of warmth that brings the comfort of the hearth to mind. Without saying a word, Edward turned on the radio that played a familiar tune that he love so much.

É pau, é pedra, é o fim do caminho

É um resto de toco, é um pouco sozinho

É um caco de vidro, é a vida, é o sol

É a noite, é a morte, é um laço, é o anzol

É peroba do campo, é o nó da madeira

Caingá candeia, é o matita-pereira

Taking out some eggs from the fridge, a few vegetables, and grabbing the bowl and whisk, Edward decided to cook an omelette. Of course, being half asleep, something always bound to happen.

Emily was watching while floating above until her hair touched the ceiling. The sight below her was strangely endearing and ridiculous at the same time. 

When Edward cracked the eggs, she sighs at seeing how there were shells in the mixture that she uses her powers to retrieve the shells.

"Why am I even doing this?" Emily mumbled under her breath.

Then, after helping Edward to mix the eggs, Edward went to turn on the stove which causes a giant pillar of flame to burst underneath the cast iron pan. Emily is so horrified that she quickly darted forward in a heartbeat.

She grabbed the knob and twist it with her hand as it is now in low heat.

"Again, why am I even doing this?" Emily muttered louder.

After melting the butter, Edward decided to pour the eggs in before he tried to chop some vegetables... Only to scare Emily when he took out a large cleaver.

He blinked blearily as he tried to adjust the blade onto the cutting board.

This time, Emily is fully afraid that she, upon seeing Edward's gold retriever, Cooper, imitated a bark and kicked the trashcan over.

"Cooper..." Edward sighed.

With Edward out of the way, she hurriedly cook the omelette while the music continues to hum in the background. Using her deft hands, Emily quickly cook up a storm and plated it after it finally emits a delectable aroma.

É uma cobra, é um pau, é João, é José

É um espinho na mão, é um corte no pé

São as águas de março fechando o verão

É a promessa de vida no teu coração

É pau, é pedra, é o fim do caminho

É um resto de toco, é um pouco sozinho

É um passo, é uma ponte, é um sapo, é uma rã

É um belo horizonte, é uma febre terça

São as águas de março fechando o verão

É a promessa de vida no teu coração

Once the music ends with its piano tunes, Edward finished cleaning the trashcan when he saw the omelette ready. He scratched his head. "Huh."

He simply shrugged and carried the omelette to the dining table. Too tired to speak of magic and miracles.

At this point, Emily took a deep breath and clapped her hands to her face. Groaning and blushing like the teenager she is.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?! WHY AM I HELPING YOU?" she screamed.

Edward simply sat down and ate his midnight snack. He added some kosher salt from the shaker. Then, he broke the silence.

"Because you're a nice Marra, Emily Sheridan. That's rare here in Trolberg."

The feast ends with Edward tidying up as Emily is still squirming at how she has grown to care for Edward. Despite wanting to tell Edward that she is still a Marra at heart, her brother might say otherwise.

Edward noticed this and gently tells her to calm down, "Don't think about it too much, Emily. You are still you, Emily. It doesn't matter that you are a Marra. You are still my sister."

Emily blushes again. "STOP THAT! I AM NOT YOUR SISTER... and... AGH!"

The scout shook his head as he went to drink some London Fog tea. Too bad his sleepiness returned as he nearly spilled his tea until Emily stopped him and poured it for him herself.

"See? You're nice..."

The Marra blushes again while suppressing a smile. "Shut up."

To Be Continued

Chapter Text

Act 3: The Orphanage

Timeline: November 12, 1998

Location: Little Cherry Lane, Trolberg

Trolberg rises suddenly on this particular morning. The commuters began their daily commute. The streetwalkers watched as the shopkeepers set up their shops. Even the Trolberg Safety Patrol are drinking coffee as they go.

Through the time machine of both the artistic and poetic license. Let us take a trip down memory lane.

Trolberg started as a cluster of houses and villages. Only the names of the districts and locations remained unchanged during the passage of time.

The Blackthorn District

Home of the overworked salarymen and underpaid interns who spend the rest of their days drinking some shots of Hoppel Poppel, Q. B. Coolers, and even the delectable mulled wines.

The Greensleeves Quartiers

The birthplace of modern day artists, musicians, and innovators where they work together to create medleys and melodies of hope and cynicism. Reflecting their everyday lives of being here and there.

Little Cherry Lane

A street that houses orphans, retirees, and NEETs alike. The orphans. Longing, saddening, and heartbreakingly lonely. The retirees. Old people. Old people who have lost their purpose and spent their days being visited by the orphans. The NEETs. Sad, pitiful, and unemployed.

Ironically, this street is one of the liveliest place in Trolberg with a cheery name despite the statuses of these people.

Cathedral Corner

A magnificent tourism destination. Built by the Glassworker Family who lives by the Trolberg industrial zones where they created the best stained glasses like a kaleidoscope on the walls.

The Trolberg Library

Also known as the Witches Home. Underneath this amazing structure that houses the factual history and fictional stories of the beloved city lies the Witches Tower where witches gathered together to commune and to protect the city from the shadows. Currently run by Abigail, Henrietta, and Lucinda. The Committee of Three.

The Sunset District 

The local fashion center. Home of the appropriate comestibles and high and low trends for your palate. They have boots, shoes, heels, shirts, jackets, coats, hoodies, uniforms, dresses, skirts, gowns, tops, and whatnot.

Finally, The Town Square

The central hub of restaurants, diners, eateries, bakeries, and sweets. A children's paradise for youthful euphoria and a promise for a better day.

But for this occasion, we are heading towards the Trolberg Orphanage in Little Cherry Lane to see how Emily Sheridan, the Marra, became adopted by Edward White and his family.

On this very day, Edward's parents, John and Jane White, had decided to adopt someone so Edward won't be lonely at home.

John is a seafaring captain who always sail his vessel across the treacherous waters which earns him a fortune to send his son to school and to ensure that his family can make a living.

Jane is a busy entrepreneur who works as an IT manager at Trolberg's major transportation enterprise. She works tirelessly to create a sustainable transport in the forms of cars, motorcycles, trains, and even a newly established tram line system across the city.

The tram system. A mixed miracle on wheels. While this would definitely help in reducing carbon emissions and greenhouse footprints, the creation of its railways are only accessible in some parts of the city which doesn't seem too convoluted or practical in some cases. But to Jane, bringing a tram transport to Trolberg will help people out in the long run and it is Edward's favorite mode of travel.

Together, the parents are always away to provide for their son through land and sea. They only came home once or twice a month. Edward doesn't mind since he always have the skies to accompany him including the sun. That and he would always visit them.

Now then, it was late in the afternoon when the family came to the orphanage to look for someone to be Edward's companion.

The children eagerly greeted the White Family as they meet up with the owner.

Her name is Miranda Matthews.

She is a woman in her late 50s. Her eyes are foggy and full of wisdom that she accumulated from years of living and caring for the house of curious little spirits.

"Welcome. I am Miranda. You must be John and Jane White, I presume?" spoke the woman with a soft voice.

"Yes, we are. We would like to take a look around so we could find someone to give our son some company back home," said the patriarch.

"We are very worried about our son. He kept saying that he is alright living alone at our home and that he is capable of raising himself. Sure, we have the neighbors to look after them and we did send him to join the Sparrow Scouts to prevent him from feeling our absence too much. However, we are incredibly worried for him and as of late, he hardly talks to anyone," said the matriarch who has clear concern etched onto her face.

Miranda nodded quietly as Jane continued.

"In fact, we do start to spend more time with our son to prevent us from neglecting him completely. We even allow him to visit us at work. Unfortunately, we feared that Edward is becoming even more sheltered than before. But we cannot quit our jobs either. We were frugal once and we must afford for Edward."

"We need to give our son a sibling to help him out at home. Someone to connect with him. Someone who could bring a smile back to our son's face again. Look, we are trying to be there for Edward and we have a day off once a month. But we don't want Edward to return to an empty house. So, that's why we are here."

After a moment, nobody spoke. Then, Miranda ushered the three to come with her to the meeting room.

It was here that they are introduced to a variety of cacophonies and noises of children. All too eager to be adopted.

One is an undisputed crackerjack who knows how to be an expert in the field of vocabulary and grammars. His polysyllabic words are like something that only a dictionary can translate.

One is a timid toddler who had just turned 5 years old yesterday. He thought that he was being interviewed for his school. Orphans do need education through public institutions funded by the orphanage.

One is a convoluted accounting expert who done the taxes of the orphanage despite his weird method of counting the digits using mind maps.

One is a silent girl who instantly rejected the family because she doesn't like it when someone is quieter than her.

One is an adventurous girl who bears a lot of resemblance to Hilda, her idol.

Finally, one is a cheery boy who haunted the halls of the orphanage for 10 years and is now a 15 year old high schooler. Sadly, he has a disorder that prevented him from not being too talkative.

During one of the interviews, Edward chose to take a leave for the washroom which is located on the first floor. However, he was instead attracted to a smell of turpentine that is ferociously foul coming from the basement.

Curiosity got the best of him as he went downstairs where he opened the door leading to a dark, underground room where the only source of light that penetrated the darkness came from the glow of the sunlight that came from the little window.

Before his very eyes, he saw a wonderful masterpiece. Right there, on the wall, was a fresco of a modern art unlike he had ever seen. Though he was startled at the materials used for the art because most of them were labelled in special containers that lined the shelves.

Powdered chalk. Crushed charcoal bits. Powdered Conté. Turpentine. Graphites. Adhesive pigments. Cohesive pastels. Plaster, cement, concrete, and mortar mix. Grounded coffee beans. Finally, encaustic resins for the binding agent.

"Strange..." he muttered.

"You're not supposed to be here," answered a voice.

Turning around, he found himself standing face to face with a teenage girl who towers before him. She has soft brown hair that reaches her back and covering her right eye. She wore a beige hoodie, a black skirt, a pair of stockings, and a pair of comfort boots. On her hands were some new painting equipment, a bucket of fresh liquid white, and a container that reads, "Grounded Chicory".

"Who are you? And what do you want from me?" said the teenager with a voice that is unkind and unfriendly.

"I'm just following the scent of turpentine."

"No, you weren't."

"Yes, I am."

"No, you weren't."

"Yes, I am."

"No, you weren't."

Edward sighed. "We can keep doing this all day long, but I can assure you that I am not here to ruin this fresco nor do I have any intention to sell it. I don't even understand the meaning nor what it stands for."

The teenage girl grumbled with quiet anger. "Then, you have no taste."

"I guess you are right. But if I may be bold to ask you this, what is the meaning of this painting?" Edward asked politely.

"...Longing."

Act 4: The Meeting

Edward could've left when he met Emily Sheridan for the first time, but he didn't. Something about her seems to draw him in. Pun not intended.

When Edward sat down by a chair while Emily went to work, he observed her with mild interest and full focus as she picked up the brushes and painted the details.

Emily is both bothered and bemused by his presence like a thorn on her foot that would not leave.

However, she is quite accepting that Edward said nothing while watching her creating a masterpiece on the reinforced cement wall.

"Are you not going up yet, kid? I am not here to entertain a child in seeing my art," she grumbled.

"Not really, I just felt comfortable down here. That's all," he said.

"You are a strange one."

As Emily continued to work on her project, Edward looked around the room and spotted a hidden corner where he found a small mattress, a crate with a small family picture, a Soprano Guitar resting by a chair, and among other things.

A stack of papers and a book was placed precariously by a small nightstand. Edward picked up the book with gentle hands.

"Old Folktales of Trolberg," it read.

Opening the book, Edward saw many bookmarks and underlined sentences of different colors. Only one story was highlighted in the colors of red.

"The Harpy Hare by Edvard Gynt"

The written tale was a sad one. It tells about a family of three that lives centuries ago during the early days of Trolberg before it was even found.

The father was a merchant who would always set sail across the world to sell his trinkets and would return in Christmas to give his wife and daughter his acquired fortune.

The mother was an artist who loves to paint, draw, and create magnificent sculptures to be sold to any travelers for sustenance and nourishments.

As for their daughter, she was an ill girl but she was full of life and wishes to see the world. Unfortunately, her mother refused to let her leave their wooden mansion that was built painstakingly by her relatives to protect the little girl from the world.

The mother was not wrong because trolls, giants, nisse, goblins, black hounds, witches, and many other oddities roamed the countryside and they are not very welcoming to humans.

The tale spoke how one night, the little girl snuck out of her bedroom where she encountered girls of her age where they turned out to be Marras. Humans with powers that are otherworldly and magical. They promised her to grant their powers to heal her of her illness. The cost is that she will have to travel with them to spread their influences to everyone across the land. The First Marras were said to be outsiders, outcasts, and overprotected children who wishes to be free from their parents who believes that they cannot be anything but little hares who must be buried underground, caged, and safe from the world.

The girl chose to come with them.

To their horror, however, when the girl's mother learned about their arrangement, the woman felt that they are trying to poison her daughter and uses her awakened hidden powers to trap them into paintings to prevent them from leaving.

Forever preserved as she puts it.

When the father returned, he was horrified at what his wife had done and tried to warn the others about her imprisonment of the children. Tragically, the man was cursed into a statue to prevent him from telling the world about her actions.

As time passes, the woman prolonged her longevity by stealing more children to be preserved in her paintings and turning strangers into statues until the mansion sustain itself with her powers.

Before long, the woman was deformed and turned to an abomination akin to a harpy.

So, to summarise it, the harpy is the woman and the hare are the children. The tale tells how an overprotective love can be twisted with fear. The more people tried to protect their loved ones, the more they rebel. In fact, the more they wish to bury things, the more it will try to dig itself out on its own.

"Such a twisted tale..." Edward muttered.

Placing the book down, Edward then take a look at the stack of papers. They're music sheets. For the guitar.

There are even lyrics too.

Edward studied it and found himself entranced by the song. So, clearing his throat, he decided to sing it just to humor himself.

"Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha..." he began.

The first 8 lines are like children laughing, except they're much more condensed and softer.

"Harpy hare, where have you buried all your children... Tell me, so I say. Hmmmmm... Harpy hare, where have you buried all your children... Tell me, so I say. Hmmmmm..."

Suddenly a voice joined him.

"All the arrows that you've stolen / Split in half, now bum and broken / Like your heart that was so eager to be hid..."

It was Emily.

Together, they decided to sing the song she composed.

"You can't keep them all caged / They will fight and run away / Mother, tell me, so I say..."

"La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la," Edward added which earned him a small smile from Emily.

"Harpy hare, where have you buried all your children... Tell me, so I say. Hmmmmm... Harpy hare, where have you buried all your children... Tell me, so I say. Hmmmmm..."

Then, in perfect unison, the two sang with Emily playing her guitar.

"Forest walls and starry ceilings / Barren curtains that you're weaving / Like the stories that you keep inside your head / She can't keep them all safe / They will die and be afraid / Mother, tell me, so I say (mother, tell me, so I say)."

Soon, the song echoed throughout the orphanage where many gathered by the basement to see the human connection between the two.

"Harpy hare, where have you buried all your children... Tell me, so I say. Hmmmmm... Harpy hare, where have you buried all your children... Tell me, so I say. Hmmmmm... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha... Ha, ha, ha..." sang the two.

"Harpy hare, where have you buried all your children... Tell me, so I say. Hmmmmm... Harpy hare, where have you buried all your children... Tell me, so I say..." Emily recited.

"Tell me, so I say!" shouted Edward which earned him a grin from Emily, who played the guitar faster.

Before long, the two of them end the song with an added verse.

"She can't keep them all caged..." Edward whispered.

"They'll be far and fly away..." Emily muttered softly.

"Mother, tell me you will stay..."

"We'll be far and fly away..."

Once the song ended, everyone clapped and praised the two. The only exception is John and Jane, who smiled knowingly.

"We'll take her..."

Miranda smiled. "Granted..."

After an hour of arrangements, Emily soon found herself at Edward's family car with her new family as everyone waved goodbye to the oldest in the orphanage. Being 16 years old, Emily was initially set to be relocated to a different accommodation as per the norms of the Trolberg age of minority.

Thankfully, her meeting and interaction with Edward prevented that. Now, she has a new roof to sleep in and a new life to run.

With Edward by her side.

Little did Edward know that the family had adopted something far more extraordinary for their ordinary life.

A Marra.