{FIN}Rumple and Stiltskin {Risti & Prince Craevan Evarcrest}

[Baby Pandah]

"You are right. Besides, it suits you better than monster," she said, giving an involuntary giggle at his response. His grin made her feel as if she were melting instead of breaking. The feeling still puzzled her and she tried not to show the blush upon her cheeks. The glow of her smile faded quickly at his next comment, however.

There was a beat of silence, filled only by the sound of her hooves upon the moss as she once again stepped towards him. "I don't believe that you would hurt me, Craevan," she said quietly, purposely bearing her neck towards him in a daring gesture. She had no idea what evil magic she was calling to, no idea what monster within was awakening as she did so. She could feel the darkness inside him pulling forward inside him and standing on the edge of bloodshed. If he gave in, its thirst for murder would be quenched. But there was that feeling again...trust. Everything about him should have warned her not to, but she couldn't help wanting to place her fate at his feet and to give in completely. Even though she had only just met him, she felt that his face was one she had known for an eternity.

She met his eyes with a fiery and piercing gaze, looking straight at the darkness within him and challenging it to try, and looking straight at the light in his heart and begging it to fight. "You do not have to become what you have rumored yourself to be," she said to him, her voice shaky but strong, the yellow softness of her neck still bending openly for the world to see. You do not have to become what you have rumored yourself to be, you do not have to become what you have rumored yourself to be. She clamped her eyes shut and repeated it in her mind with every beat of her heart, trusting him with every ounce of her being.  

[Regal Renegade]

He thought he felt the familiar warmth of a flush rising to his cheeks at her comment and giggle. For a moment he was reminded of the days before he bore this curse, when he was free to wander this forest without a worry or care. He thought of the young mares that would smile at him every time he walked by, giggling and calling out to him. She reminded him of the simpler times, the ones he had actually been able to enjoy. But that moment denatured and vanished in the blink of an eye as she exposed her delicate looking throat to his mercy.

It was as though someone had thrust their hooves into his ribs as hard as they possibly could. His heartbeat began to quicken and his eyes rested upon the spot on her neck where the jugular vein rested. The darkness pressed against his weak confines, threatening to break the fragile cage he had constructed for it with the greatest of ease. Black spots began blotting his vision, causing it to become hazy around the edges until the only thing he could see was the tiny bulge of a vein popping from her neck. His mouth fell partly open, exposing the extent of his fangs as he took one shaky step toward his new acquaintance. The effort it took for him to fight off the darkness was physically painful, and for a moment he thought he would lose.

Another step forward brought him so close that if he simply extended his neck he could reach her throat. His muscles strained and pulled in two different directions, unable to decide if they would move forward of if they would skitter backwards. Finally, with a gasp demonstrating the pressure he was under he squeezed his eyes shut and forced his head down. He could feel his forehead brush against her shoulder and he flinched away from the touch as though it burned. Turning away from her he shook his head. “You are wrong.” He responded, defeated.  

[Baby Pandah]

She could feel his breath upon her, could sense his pain and knew what she was putting him through. For a moment she felt a pang of guilt. For a moment it was almost too much for her to bear and she wished he would stop struggling and attack her. But these feelings were fleeting and she stood her ground. If he fought against it and succeeded it would be a good lesson for him. Upon feeling a soft touch upon her shoulder she opened her eyes and looked over at the broken stallion before her with an apologetic and meek smile. "Am I, Craevan? Am I wrong?" she asked gently while walking around him so that he was facing her again. She didn't think she was wrong. She saw something in him that most probably wouldn't. Perhaps that was why she was here.

She had never been one to judge, had never looked for the defects in others except what made her feel at home. There was a future in this forest for her and she knew it. Whether it was a dark or light future...well that was up to her, wasn't it? Fate had gotten her here and now it was her turn to make the experience something worthwhile for more than just herself.

"Let me help you," she offered, almost insisting. She would try to help whether he wanted it or not but it would mean more if he asked, if he accepted her into his heart. She stood close to him with little fear left inside of her body. "Let me help you," she repeated into his ear in a soothing whisper.  

[Regal Renegade]

His chest heaved and the tentacles of darkness stretched and pulled within his gut, toying with him. Letting him know that it easily could have taken him and caused him to kill the mare standing before him. Squeezing his eyes shut he attempted to calm his breathing, to push the darkness back into the hole within himself from which it had come. Black hair hung messily over his forehead, making him appear even more disheveled and tormented than usual. His ears rotated back when she spoke but he could not muster an answer. “Of course you are wrong…” He wanted to say. This time the darkness had let him overpower it which usually meant nothing good. Perhaps it was attempting to lure it into it’s slimy clutches so it could strike when the most enjoyment could be had. Instead he remained silent, flinching only at the sound of her hooves gently padding upon the earth.

Why would she not run? She did not understand the full extent of his curse but, even so she should have left by now. Questions began raging within the confines of his mind but one stood out above all the others: Why did she stay? He had nothing here to offer her but sorrow and death. She was cursed as well but there was no reason for her to waste her energies on a stallion she hardly even know; forget that she was taking her life into her hooves in spite of it all. His musings were interrupted when whispered into his ear, causing a small shudder to break his train of thought.

Lifting his head ever so slightly he looked at her, studying her for a brief moment in time. Frowning he stepped away from her and shook his head more out of disbelief than disapproval. “How can you help me? I do not even know your name or who you are.”  

[Baby Pandah]

"Why is any of that important? Do you not feel it? The bond between the two of us...is there not something there?" she pleaded, feeling rather girlish and slightly insane as she said it. Perhaps she was the only one who noticed it. Perhaps she was the only one who cared, the only one caught up in the magic of fate. "If you tried...if you really tried, perhaps you would see that you know me and that I know you..." she said quietly, taking his expression for disapproval and beginning to turn away.

In all reality she knew he was right, knew that he wanted nothing to do with a silly little mare with odd visions and cracking skin. She felt childish for begging the stranger for something he could not give. For just a moment she had felt like less of a freak, but perhaps it had been too good to be true. She had been living in some odd little fairytale during the past few minutes and reality was slapping her in the face now.

If he wanted to know her, he could. If he wanted help, all he needed to do was ask. But he hadn't asked, and it didn't seem like he wanted to know her, monster or not. But why did she want to know him? She grew suspicious of destiny once again, and wondered once more why she was here if not to help him. "Tell me to go. Tell me there is nothing here...Look into my eyes and say it," she demanded, tears forming in her eyes for reasons she did not fully understand. It was such a pain to be alone in this world, so burdening sometimes to feel like the only freak on the planet. Her brown eyes burned holes in his skin, waiting for him to look at her, still unsure if she would leave if he actually told her to. Her legs had stood there so long and so rigidly locked in place that she thought she might be a part of the forest now. She half expected to look down and see roots coming out of her hooves and binding her to the mossy earth.  

[Regal Renegade]

He stood silent through her onslaught of questions, an expressionless mask plastered to his face. The heat of her passionate words and feelings settled over him and his brain became even more muddled than before. But in that moment he noticed something he hadn’t really focused on before, she was beautiful. The way her lovely brown eyes bore into him, the way her words sounded as they flew from her lips, every movement was captivating. Of course he felt a connection, of course he did. He wanted more than anything to believe in their bond, to embrace it, but the darkness within him threatened everything. If for just one moment he were to turn he would not hesitate to kill her. Anger flooded through him, anger at this unfortunate situation and what he stood to lose if he told her no.

He answered none of the questions, unable to do so without inevitably trapping himself in one way or another, but as she turned away his chest tightened. He had hurt her in a way he didn’t fully understand, it was obvious that there was more to this meeting than meets the eye. Everything stilled as he focused on the tears peeking from within her eyes. The mask melted and his brows knit together in a look of concern and confusion.

She had given him the out he was looking for since he noticed her in this bedamned forest, he could make her go. He could protect her by telling her to leave here and never return, but those tears melted his resolve. Though it was a different pain, she was still in as much pain as he had been all these lonely years. They were truly kindred spirits. A deep, groaning sigh filled with frustration and defeat exited his lungs and he shook his head. “I cannot.”  

[Baby Pandah]

Crystal drops of salty tears seemed to fall in slow motion to the ground at his answer. When they hit the cursed earth, they seemed to break into a million pieces like she did. She turned away from him, feeling the hot blush of embarrassment on her face now. It was a loss of pride that fueled any further tears. She didn't approve of crying in front of others, it made her seem weak and pathetic. She had no worries about him attacking her, she only worried about his opinion of her now. She knew she shouldn't, she knew it didn't matter, but being a freak it was hard not to feel like one in such times as this.

She peeked back at him over her crumbling shoulder, sniffing one last time to end the tears. "Do you think me pathetic, Craevan?" she asked, returning her eyes forward and flipping the violet strand of hair out of her face, trying to muster up her strength again. "I do not want your pity," she added, "tell me what you desire and it will be done." She approached him again, searching his beautiful, yet pained eyes for the truth.

All of the visions, all of the foreshadowing...did it not lead here? She suddenly thought of something that was half relieving and half alarming: she hadn't had a single vision since arriving here. Perhaps it was because she was trapped in one...or perhaps this place was so similar to that of her visions that they were content with leaving her alone for now. She felt light, as if something had been lifted away from her, but it was an odd weightlessness. It felt as if it was specifically designed, it felt like a trap. Any moment now she would be gripped by the clenches of the visions, forcing her to see things that she didn't want to see. She looked at the forest suspiciously, waiting to be presented with the two paths again. But she had just chosen a path...she had just decided her fate. Perhaps it was over now. She looked back at Craevan, eyeing him up and down with equal and renewed suspicion. What is this magic? she thought to herself.

The idea of the visions returning made her uncomfortable and she wrapped her tail around herself in protection, not from him, but from herself. "I...see things," she offered in an explanation for her suspicious glances. That was all she would say on the matter, even if he asked more on the subject. Even though she wanted to tell him everything now was not the time, he knew too much about her already.  

[Regal Renegade]

He could only watch her as she cried; he could offer her no comfort for he did not wish to draw too near to her. Before the curse he would have gladly rested his neck over her’s and whispered to her that everything would be alright, but he was a different stallion now. The darkness had teased him once he was certain it would be more serious about labeling her as prey the second time around. Even so, it tore at the strings of his long dormant heart in a way he did not expect. It was not that he felt bad for her, but more that he wanted to shelter her from this pain, to be her protector. This feeling scared him more than any others.

When she turned to look at him, crumbling and hurt he felt it again and had to fight hard to smother it quickly. A hollow chuckle issued from within his chest, causing his armor to clink a little with the dryness. “You came here in search of a beast you knew little about for no apparent reason. A beast who hides himself away from others and is constantly haunted by his past, and you expect me to see you as pathetic?” Breathing out heavily he shook his head, a grin with some measure of humor to it appearing through the blood on his lips. “I do not pity you.” Looking off into the dense canopy of trees that made up his expansive shelter, he spoke as though far away. “I envy you.”

Her question brought him back and his expression once again became cold. “What I desire,” he paused, “I hardly know anymore.”

All of these long years under the misery of this curse had left him without dreams or hopes. He knew the curse would never be lifted, he often entreated the Pure One to forgive him. He hadn’t seen her in his dreams until just after he had been cursed. Similarly he knew the darkness would never give up, it would never simply rest, it would always be there, always hungry. But this mare, this lovely, strange mare before him caused him to feel as he hadn’t in a long time. He looked at her appreciatively for a moment and realized, crumbling flesh and all, that he didn’t want her to leave, he cared.

He was thankful for the small motion of her tail for it yanked him from this alarming train of thought. Raising a brow he began to wonder if her fear of him had finally overwhelmed her, if her looks meant that she was finally aware of the danger she was in. But when she spoke he could feel the smallest touch of relief in his chest. “Visions?” He gently prodded. This opened a door he had not expected, had he been in her visions? He dared not ask but felt as though he already knew the answer.  

[Baby Pandah]

Her eyes flicked upward to the blue of his once again, slightly alarmed and yet strangely relieved that he had guessed correctly. If she could only tell him how many times the flash of that blue had been in her visions. She wondered if he knew that her mind was often filled with the two paths and the tall trees of this wretched forest. She wondered if he knew of the danger that had confronted her at the end of the path she chose, and yet she came anyway. If he knew the potential she saw in him...She nodded meekly at his guess, feeling naked under the admittance of her curses. She shuffled her feet uncomfortably and wanted very badly to run and hide behind one of the tall, thick trees.

She half wished that she hadn't said it. It was the first time the words had escaped her lips, and it made her differences painfully official. For most of her life she had believed that if she didn't talk about it, maybe it would go away. Of course she had realized that wasn't logical, of course she had thought many times as the visions increased that it wouldn't help. It didn't. But there was something about admitting it that made her feel vulnerable, pathetic, weak, even more so than the breaking of her flesh. It was something that she didn't tell even her family, something they only guessed at or assumed was happening to her. She was more quiet about it than her mother, but she did not have vicious nightmares...yet. More than anything she did not want to become her mother, tormented by nightmares and haunted by dreams. She only hoped the visions would be merciful and she always shied away from mention of them, as if talking about them would make them angry and grotesque.

"It was not for an unknown reason that I came here, Craevan. I think you know that," she said, pausing slightly, "and I think you know me. Take a guess and I'm sure you'll know." She said it jokingly and with a hint of pain. There was no possible way for him to know her...not like she knew him, or thought she knew him. She hadn't the heart to give away more of herself to him or anyone else, therefore it was impossible to be known. Another curse she was sure she was tainted by, but one she had given herself. Even the smallest glimmer of trust she felt would not allow her to spill her entire life story upon the ground in front of him. Even though she wanted to, she was sure he was not concerned with it. For Risti, there had never been a need or desire to be known...until she had met Craevan.  

[Regal Renegade]

Shame. Anguish. Doubt. Fear. All of these emotions flashed behind tormented brown eyes and he had to stop himself from moving close to her. Again the desire to protect her from every scrap of negativity served up by the universe swelled within his chest, and again he fought hard to quash it. How could he possibly protect her from anything? He was a piece of that vast negativity and could never be anything more. Even so his body ached to be near to her, to comfort her any way he could and to tell her everything would be alright. Instead all he could do was watch as her pain grew and changed with each passing moment.

In this brief stitch of time he had begun to realize something, he was not the only one suffering. Of course he had known as much to be true, but he had never really seen it firsthand. His blue eyes thawed a little as he watched her inner struggle. He knew exactly how she felt and exactly what she was going through. But then again, he didn’t really. The only ‘vision’ he had ever had was of the pure one and he wasn’t even sure if that qualified as a true vision. Without thinking he took a hesitant step forward and another before he realized his emotions were getting the best of him. The armor on his chest clanked as his muscles froze beneath it. He could not get close to her, there was no telling what would happen if he did. Already he could hear the beating of her heart but even that rhythm saddened him and made him desire to be there for her.

He was grateful when she began to speak for it gave him something else to focus on, though her words caused his blood to freeze within his veins. He had thought of asking her if he had been in her visions and one simple statement had confirmed his fear. What had she seen? Had she seen his good side or his monstrous side? Squeezing his eyes shut he shook his head and attempted to focus on her words. “I wish, for your sake, that your visions had sent you elsewhere…” He breathed, a tone of pity and worry lacing his words. Gazing into her endlessly warm eyes he focused on the second part of her statement. How could he know her? They had only just met. He wanted more than anything to tell her that he did, to rush forward and be the one she could rely on but he just couldn’t. “I….” he paused, “I can’t…” He did not even try to restrain the despair in his voice.  

[Baby Pandah]

His voice dripped with regret and despair. And she didn't blame him. She had put him in an ugly place, and she knew that. "I wish for your sake I had been sent elsewhere as well..." she mumbled under her breath. She could tell she was causing him pain, and that was not her intent. She was sure that was not fate's intent either. How interesting that two connected beings could struggle so much at the same time. She felt so close to him in a way that she didn't understand, and yet so far away at the same time. She closed her eyes and hushed him gently.

"You don't have to," she said, relieving him of the pressure she had placed on his shoulders. He probably had enough troubles in his dark and cursed life, he didn't need any more. She allowed herself to let go of the idea that they were supposed to meet. She let go of the idea that he meant something in her life. Her visions had been wrong. Fate had led her here to tell her that she was not the only freak in the world, but that she was meant to walk the roads alone.

She turned to go with a reassuring smile in his direction. She had to find out who she was, she had to find out what the visions meant and what her purpose in life was. That purpose was not here as she had thought when first choosing her path. Perhaps she would go back and see where the other went. But somehow that still didn't feel right. For some reason turning and walking away felt extremely wrong, more so than daring to enter the forbidden and cursed forest had felt.

"Thank you, Craevan...I won't forget you," she whispered. And surely she wouldn't forget him. She would always wonder about the loose ends left here. She would always want answers that the poor stallion could never give her. Still, she hesitated as she turned, waiting for him to call her back. But how could he? He didn't know her name.  

[Regal Renegade]

This mare had seemingly wandered unintentionally into his forest, had not flinched away at the sight of him and had even spoken with him. It had been such a long time since anyone had spoken to him as she had, since he had let anyone speak to him at all. Two sides of himself were at war as he stood staring at the beautiful creature before him. The side that wanted nothing more than for her to leave so that she would be safe from the darkness churning within him, and a new side that wanted her to stay. That side whispered to him softly, telling him to let her in, to allow her to stay by his side. Lowering his head he clenched his teeth, feeling the sharp fangs piercing the soft flesh of his lower lip. How could he want her to stay when he could kill her so easily? How selfish of him…

He looked up when she told him he didn’t have to try and know her and all new emotions began roiling within him. Desperation. Relief. Sorrow. His belly turned to ice and his brain went to work quickly, desperately and futilely attempting to find something about her he could share. Nothing came; there was no bright path of wisdom guiding him on his way. When she turned away his heart squeezed and the air left his lungs. All at once the great desire to have her here with him erupted to the surface of all of his thoughts and feelings. Even so, he did not move as she began walking. He could say nothing to keep her here.

“I won’t forget you either.” He murmured pathetically as he watched this unusual mare who tugged so urgently at his heart leave. He was about to sink once more into the despair that had clouded his existence for so long when a bright pearl of light exploded in his brain. Something had been deposited there, something he could possibly use. As she hesitated he began walking towards her, a small amount of princely determination in each step he took. “Risti…” He called out, still unsure of what it meant or how it connected to her. He could only assume that the Pure One who had cursed him those many years ago had given him this, but why?  

[Baby Pandah]

She stopped dead in her tracks. Her fragile legs seemed to harden and she could not move. She couldn't look at him. To do so would make it too real. He had given her what she wanted, but now it seemed eerie and strange. It was all she had wanted, but now she was bound by her name, bound by his knowledge. Had he known all along? Was he simply toying with her? Why would he stoop to such levels of torment? Perhaps he was a monster after all. Part of her wanted to turn on him, to plunge her knife into the darkness that was his heart. But that was what he wanted...She blinked at herself and for a moment was afraid of what she was feeling. "Craevan..." What was she to say? She had asked him the impossible and had not considered what would happen if he obliged her request.

She turned to look at him, thinking she would see a malicious grin. She had walked into a trap of some sort. But she saw no such expression on his face. Any feelings of hatred towards him quickly melted away when her eyes met his once again. She couldn't leave now. She couldn't leave so many untied ends behind. She couldn't leave now that there were new doors opened.

(( Sorry for the short response! D: ))  

[Regal Renegade]

All of the world appeared to have lost its animation as he stood there awaiting her response to the strange word he had just spoken. The leaves no longer swayed in a gentle breeze, the sounds of animals moving about the forest vanished, and even the air seemed to have been sucked away. A look of shock and confusion distorted his countenance and every neuron in his brain fired in an attempt to puzzle out what had just occurred. He knew one thing for certain, that word had not come to him naturally and that whatever it was it held great power and meaning. When she spoke his name he took a few steps forward and stopped himself, feeling even more drawn to her now than he had before.

When their eyes met his heart began to beat rapidly in his chest and he dared to take another few steps towards her, gently closing the distance between them. Yet again the urge to touch her swept over him like a massive wave roiling the ocean and for a moment he didn’t think he would be able to stop himself. “Risti..” He repeated once more, familiarizing his tongue with the word that had meant so much to her. Once he was close enough to reach out and touch her he reined himself in, reminding himself of what he was and what he could do to her. For just a brief moment in time he had felt…normal, and though it was sweet he knew it was also very careless.

He could and would let his guard down around this mesmerizing mare, and that is what scared him most of all. The darkness painting his soul began to ooze, letting him know it felt joy and excitement at this fact. Even so, he could not help what was occurring in this instance. Extending his neck he reached out to gently brush her cheek with his nose but the sound and scent of her blood had him recoiling before he could accomplish his desire. Shaking his head he stepped backwards and forced his eyes to the ground. “You should go.” He said firmly.


{No worries! I still loved it haha! Quality over quantity right?}  

[Baby Pandah]

She leaned inward towards the embrace she expected and longed for. But he seemed to have a second thought and cancelled the action. Confused and slightly let down, she allowed her body to rest back in its normal position. He said her name again, causing such chills to descend down her body that cracks were sent rippling back upwards against the goosebumps.

Again he reached out, and she leaned so close that she could feel his energy beside her. So close, and so tormenting as he pulled away once again. She could feel her cheek chipping where he had almost rested his nose. A piece fell in place of tears as she told herself to stay strong. Why did she need to touch him so badly? To make sure he was real? It seemed as if she were in a dream, and every time he made an effort he was coming close to awakening her from a nightmare. But he imprisoned her in a vision each time he pulled away. Did he think she didn't notice? Did he take pleasure in making her heart flutter and then shatter all in one moment?

His words were even more crushing and she had to bite her lip to avoid crying or screaming at him. You should go....you should go. No matter how many times it repeated in her head it just didn't sound right. The more the words echoed in her mind the angrier she got. Do you not understand? Do you want to tear me apart? Can't you see what you've done? So many questions circled in her mind, so many things she wanted to shove out into the open. She wanted to challenge him, to demand that he give an explanation. But the uselessness of it all hit her smack in the face and she frowned sternly at him.

"Yes...I should go," she said instead, trying to hide the pain in her voice, "it was nice meeting you, Prince Craevan of Evarcrest Forest."

After a second thought, she knew it was for the best. She was playing with fire, testing the sanity of a beast. In all reality she knew she would have to leave. She couldn't stay here, she could see his struggle. It was evident the stress was tearing him apart almost as much as it was breaking her. It was time for her to leave. But this was not goodbye. She was sure he knew that. He had to. There was no way she could avoid destiny, no way she could stay away. So she would do as he commanded. She would leave, for now. It was for the best. She turned to go, but not before giving him a daring smile that said, I'll be back, don't you worry.

With a wave of her tail and one last look into those enticing blue eyes, she was gone into the darkness of the forest again.

(( Right! Hehe. ))