100 Fic Challenge: Rainbow
Prompt Number: 18
Author: selvanic
Series: Pandora Hearts
Word Count: 588
Characters/Pairings: Alice
Rating: G
Summary: She'd known this world be different; she just hadn't known it would be beautiful.
The Abyss was dark. It had never been any other way. She'd been there for as long as he could remember, and it had always been like this. The only light that ever pierced the never ending shadows was the occasional crack, through which only weaker Chains could escape. Or so it seemed. She'd given up on trying to get through those rifts. She'd given up on most contractors; they all died too quickly. And she got blamed for it.
She'd all but given up on getting out until Oz had turned up. He'd changed everything. He was her key, her way out, and he...felt different. He was what she'd been waiting for.
When she'd gotten out, however, it was more of a shock than she'd been ready for. All of those people, all of the sights and scents, all of the noise... But most of all, the light. It was dazzling. It was blinding. That first dawn, after the clown had finished his speech...It had been all she could do to stare. Standing there with Oz, watching the sun spill over the city, chasing away shadows she was otherwise used to seeing, she hadn't thought she'd seen anything so beautiful.
But there was more to see. There was more this world had to offer her. And she'd found her favorite on an outing she'd been sure was just a waste of time.
She wanted to find her memories. She wanted to get on with things. She wanted to do the stupid jobs the clown had set out for them so they could make some actual progress. But her servant's servant had insisted they take a break. He'd packed up all of their food, told her she wasn't allowed to eat until they got to some place outside of the city, and had hauled them out by foot. It had been a ridiculous walk, and they'd wound up on top of a hill overlooking the city they'd left behind.
It was a stunning view, sure. She couldn't deny that. Oz had gotten excited about it, pointing out this or that building, checking with his valet to make sure he was identifying things correctly, and something about his enthusiasm was contagious. Even seaweed head seemed happier than usual, smiling around that stinking cigarette. But she didn't think it was that great...She still thought it was a waste of time, even if the food was delicious.
And then it had happened. A quick shower passed overhead, through which all three of them had taken shelter under the tree at the top of the hill, leaving the ground and air damp. She'd been sure that would be the reason they'd go back to work. But as the sun rejoined them, as its brilliance filled the sky all over again, something magical happened.
It was like when a rift had formed in the Abyss. Something seemed to split the sky. But instead of a single piercing tear of light, long ribbons of color stretched out overhead. They arched far out of reach, spanning the entirety of the sky, and staining the blue with shades she'd never seen before.
Alice just stood and stared, gaping at the bands of color, at the way the sunlight hit them and the rain still clinging to the grass. She vaguely noticed Oz standing next to her, seaweed head taking up his post next to him. She didn't know how long they stood there, but she'd never found a better reason to be free of the Abyss.
Author: selvanic
Series: Pandora Hearts
Word Count: 588
Characters/Pairings: Alice
Rating: G
Summary: She'd known this world be different; she just hadn't known it would be beautiful.
The Abyss was dark. It had never been any other way. She'd been there for as long as he could remember, and it had always been like this. The only light that ever pierced the never ending shadows was the occasional crack, through which only weaker Chains could escape. Or so it seemed. She'd given up on trying to get through those rifts. She'd given up on most contractors; they all died too quickly. And she got blamed for it.
She'd all but given up on getting out until Oz had turned up. He'd changed everything. He was her key, her way out, and he...felt different. He was what she'd been waiting for.
When she'd gotten out, however, it was more of a shock than she'd been ready for. All of those people, all of the sights and scents, all of the noise... But most of all, the light. It was dazzling. It was blinding. That first dawn, after the clown had finished his speech...It had been all she could do to stare. Standing there with Oz, watching the sun spill over the city, chasing away shadows she was otherwise used to seeing, she hadn't thought she'd seen anything so beautiful.
But there was more to see. There was more this world had to offer her. And she'd found her favorite on an outing she'd been sure was just a waste of time.
She wanted to find her memories. She wanted to get on with things. She wanted to do the stupid jobs the clown had set out for them so they could make some actual progress. But her servant's servant had insisted they take a break. He'd packed up all of their food, told her she wasn't allowed to eat until they got to some place outside of the city, and had hauled them out by foot. It had been a ridiculous walk, and they'd wound up on top of a hill overlooking the city they'd left behind.
It was a stunning view, sure. She couldn't deny that. Oz had gotten excited about it, pointing out this or that building, checking with his valet to make sure he was identifying things correctly, and something about his enthusiasm was contagious. Even seaweed head seemed happier than usual, smiling around that stinking cigarette. But she didn't think it was that great...She still thought it was a waste of time, even if the food was delicious.
And then it had happened. A quick shower passed overhead, through which all three of them had taken shelter under the tree at the top of the hill, leaving the ground and air damp. She'd been sure that would be the reason they'd go back to work. But as the sun rejoined them, as its brilliance filled the sky all over again, something magical happened.
It was like when a rift had formed in the Abyss. Something seemed to split the sky. But instead of a single piercing tear of light, long ribbons of color stretched out overhead. They arched far out of reach, spanning the entirety of the sky, and staining the blue with shades she'd never seen before.
Alice just stood and stared, gaping at the bands of color, at the way the sunlight hit them and the rain still clinging to the grass. She vaguely noticed Oz standing next to her, seaweed head taking up his post next to him. She didn't know how long they stood there, but she'd never found a better reason to be free of the Abyss.