Eleutheromania: Prolgue
“Come on Orihime, we aren’t suppose to be this far north. The fey in these lands are hostile.” Tatsuki, a little brown winged sprite urged. There was a month before the Spring Equinox when all the fey of the different seasons gathered together and presented themselves to the Seelie Court in the Celestial Celebration. It was an important time when those who scattered came together once more and welcomed the birth of the new year. Unlike humans, the fey knew the true beginning of the new year began with the passing of winter.
As creatures of Spring, not only were Tatsuki and her friend expected to be there, but they would also be participating in several competitions as well as launching the season of their element. There was much work to be done. It was a time of merriment and mischief and preparation. The other elemental fey were not required to be there until the time of the new year, but the fey in the coming season had to arrive early.
“Come on, this is no time for adventures.” Tugging on her companion's arm, a healing faerie with auburn hair and translucent wings, Orihime would not budge from her spot. The faerie’s silver eyes scanned the barren dessert of Hueco Mundo with curiosity. It was a dead land where no sun rose. Solitary fey - creatures who had no clans or loyalty to the courts- came to be alone and wage war on any that were unfortunate to wander by. Hueco Mundo was considered cursed and beyond the jurisdiction of any of the courts. It was forbidden and if you were foolish enough to travel it, then you did so without any protection or promise of allies.
“But it is the fastest way to the Seelie Court.” Orihime reasoned. Groaning, Tatsuki tried to hold her friend back, but she couldn’t without using force - and she did not want to hurt her friend. If they hadn't been so late leaving their clan's migration grounds, then speed wouldn't have been a problem. As it was, they were late and expected at the Seelie Court within one days time. Traveling in the faery realm was different than traveling the human realm, but the distance was so great that the journey had been spread out to last several days.
Fluttering her wings, Orihime took off into the forbidden desert with Tatsuki hot on her heels.
“I do not understand why the land is forbidden.” The faerie commented. The sprite huffed.
“That is because you are a newly created fey. The laws are for our own safety - Orihime no!” Tatsuki interrupted herself when she saw her friend wander over to an injured creature lying in the cold sand by the border. It's black hair was short and messy and covered in dirt. It's ivory robes were torn and in the middle of it's chest, a gaping hole bled out black ichor where the heart should have been. Tatsuki could tell from it’s luminescent, white skin what sort of fey it was.
“That is an Ice Jin. We need to get out of here!” She urged, but Orihime stubbornly refused to move. The healing faery was, as most of her kind, too innocent and naive to care about the consequences of her actions.
“No, he’s obviously hurt. As a healing faerie, I can’t turn my back on him.” She argued and brought up a bright, orange healing shield over it. Tatsuki watched as matter began to form within the creatures wounds and then fashion itself into new, smooth flesh. All healing fey possessed the magical ability to mend, but Orihime was the only one who could heal by rejecting negative events that caused the injury in the first place. The Wood Sprite glanced around nervously.
“This is probably his territory. Do you know what Ice Jin do to trespassers?” She asked in distress. Ice Jin were very powerful fey and the lot in general preferred solitude over the value of their own life. They were violent and more cold hearted than their winter element. They had no love for the courts and kept well out of site from others. Their misery fueled their power - and they were very powerful. Tatsuki knew that a wood sprite and a healing faerie would be no match for the creature if it decided to attack them.
“It’s okay. He’s almost healed. Once I’m finished we can sneak away before he wakes -” Orihime’s words choked off when she was suddenly slammed onto her back. A cold, pale hand ruthlessly gripped her throat and an icy body pinned her into the sand. Looking up, Orihime came face to face with a pale creature with startling green eyes. He said nothing, but as the ice seeped out off his body and slowly began to encompass her own, Orihime knew that unless something was done, he was going to kill her.
Her healing abilities were useless in combat and in desperation, instinct took over. Her legs began to thrash about and her back arched and her hands clawed at the creature in front of her. Never in her short life had she healed someone who had wanted to kill her. Tears began to form and rivet down her cheeks as the creature's hands tightened around her neck. She was going to die.
“No wait!” Tatsuki screamed, but the ice fey ignored her. Orihime felt her vision beginning to blacken.
“She saved your life!” The wood sprite continued and miraculously, the creature’s grip on Orihime loosened enough for her to draw breath. Orihime felt an onslaught of emotional relief and confusion. Overwhelmed, she began to cry. Losing interest, the Ice Jin moved slightly away from the faery.
Turning, the creature pinned Tatsuki with his toxic green gaze and regarded her coolly.
“She’s a healing faerie. If not for her you'd be lying dead in the sand.” She explained. The creature listened attentively and then after a moment of conetemplation, he removed himself completely from his attack. Tatsuki moved to help her friend stand.
“Orihime, are you alright!?” She asked in concern. Orihime was still a new faery, not even one hundred years yet, and she had been placed in Tatsuki care and protection by the elders of their clan. At first it had seemed an annoying chore. The healing faery seemed to be nothing but trouble with her clutzy nature and overbearing smiles. In time though, Tatsuki's heart changed and she warmed up to her charge and learned to call her friend. If something were to ever happen to Orihime, the Wood Sprite would never forgive herself.
The auburn faerie in question winced when she heard Tatsuki's question. The ice from the creature had seeped deep into her bones. Her fingers and lips were black and her heart had slowed down exponentially. If she had been a human, she would have been dead.
“I think so.” She whispered, a hand going to her neck. The ice Jin’s grip was strong. No doubt she would have a bruise there later. Tatsuki shot a hateful look at the ice fey and Orihime hurried to reassure her friend before the Wood Sprite lost her temper and tried to confront the creature.
“It’s nothing that I can’t heal.” She croaked out, her voice now hoarse from her throats abuse. Turning away from her friend, she smiled at the Ice Jin. He stared back at her emotionlessly. His eyes were a deep, forest green. It reminded Orihime of the richest colors in spring - of life itself.
“I’m glad that I was able to heal you.” Nodding her head, the faery gestured to the desert around them.
“I’m sorry for the confusion. We did not know that we were intruding on your home.” She apologized. Tatsuki muttered something under her breath, but the faerie ignored her friend in hopes of appeasing the ice fey before them. She wasn't sorry for healing the creature, but she was wary of putting her's and Tatsuki's lives in danger. Orihime thoughts of the elders in their clan and strove to sound diplomatic and wise.
“It’s just that we are trying to return to the Seelie home ourselves. Now that spring has begun, it is important that we return to as soon as possible. Traveling through the desert is the fastest way.” She had meant to come across sounding cautious and patient, but her excitement combined with the strain of her icy injuries got the better of her and for the most part, the faery just sounded hyper and stressed. Her long winded explanation seemed to irritate the creature so Orihime was surprised when he actually spoke.
“Then it would be in everyone’s interest if you two moved on.” He told her and moved out of their path. Orihime stared dumbfounded, surprised that the Ice Jin could actually speak. Tatsuki had to squeeze her hand to get her to repsond and Orihime realized that the creature was giving them permission to travel through his lands undaunted.
“Oh thank you very much, Mister Ice Jin.” She gushed. Bowing quickly, the faerie took hold of Tatsuki’s hand made to move past the ice fey.
“Ulquiorra.” The creature corrected. His voice was smooth and cool sounding. Pausing, Orihime turned to look at the creature questioningly. Bring up his hand, he tucked a strand of the faerie’s bright hair behind her ear.
“My name is a Ulquiorra.” He explained. His touch sent shivers wracking through Orihime’s body. Power and magic flowed out from his finger tips and into her body. Tatsuki cried out in confusion but just as she tried to intercept his magical exchange with her friend, a bright green light engulfed him and both faery and sprite were forced to shield their eyes. When the light finally faded, they opened their eyes only to find that Ulquiorra had disappeared, leaving no trace that he had actually been there to begin with. Even more astounding was the fact that all of Orihime’s injuries that he had inflicted on her were gone.
“He’s a magician?”
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