Third Shard [Action]

[soheartless]

Once upon a time...

There was a prince who was locked in a tower. His kingdom had been conquered by a dark king who was known for his ravenous greed, and he sealed off the prince from his people whom he loved. Alone and desperate, the prince was overwhelmed by sorrow until a miracle appeared. A swan had come to his window, and her feathers concealed letters from the people he missed so dearly. Day after day, the swan returned, bringing him more words of hope and well wishes from his people. These letters helped to rebuild the prince's heart, and he started to have hope again. One day, the swan decided to fulfill that hope. She lent him her wings, and with them he soared to freedom. The wings wore down as he reached land, and the prince was free to lead his people again. It was only then that he realized that by giving up her wings, the swan had trapped herself in his place. She was never seen again, and with that, all of the happiness that the prince had found began to crumble away.

In fact, it is said that this prince never smiled again...

[Action]

[Today, Mytho's wandering around town has something closer resembling meaning to it. Sure, he doesn't live near enough Duck to immediately notice her absence - nor does he come across her path on a daily basis. But he's still searching for her, without stopping. He goes around various locales around the town such as the library, the bakery, the fountain and most places around the plaza. And throughout his search, he specifically looks sad. He had felt that heart shard return to him the previous night, and that emotion - the emotion of sorrow - has been weighing on him ever since.

He will often stop passerby to ask them:]

Excuse me. Have you... seen Duck?

[Or, he may instead ask.]

Do you know... where Tutu is?

[Everyone knows Duck and Tutu, right? But all along, in a way, he knows. They're both gone. He's been able to feel it, ever since he woke up. He's not sure why both Duck and Tutu are associated with his feeling... He just knows that it feels like a piece of his heart is gone.

The search is over when night falls. He sits at the edge of the fountain, wallowing in this sorrow. And wishing he had the strength to try to dance.]

Comments

[soheartless]

I don't know. I don't know how safe it is in my world.

There has been... danger.

[knightofratatosk]

Danger?

[Now Emil looks a bit uncertain too.]

What kind of danger?

[soheartless]

[There's actual fear in his voice as he speaks and hugs himself.]

The... the raven.

[And then he goes into a whisper.]

I was becoming a raven, too.

[knightofratatosk]

You were turning into a bird?

[That's... well, it's weird, but Emil isn't quite sure why it would be so dangerous, unless it was permanent or something.]

That sounds like some kind of a curse or something. ... there is some way to undo that... right?

[soheartless]

I don't know. I don't know if there's any way. Before I was here... I was different.

[He is clutching at his chest now.]

I had... more of my heart. But the blood running through my veins... It was the raven...

[knightofratatosk]

Wait, you mean you are a bird?

[This is getting very confusing. Mytho clutching at his chest like that is cause for concern, though.]

I don't think I understand any of this... I'm sorry. So... you had your heart, but you were a bird? Is that what you're trying to say?

[soheartless]

I was becoming one.

What I'm trying to say... is something like that. I know that... [Now it's his head that's bothering him, the pain of remembering.] as I gained pieces of my heart... raven's blood came with it.

I believe that it... changed me.

[knightofratatosk]

This is all so complicated...

... wait, you're saying that getting pieces of your heart back will bring raven's blood. Does that mean we shouldn't be doing that? I don't want to hurt you in the process...

[soheartless]

I don't know. I don't know what will happen...

[knightofratatosk]

I don't know what to do to help you the most.

[soheartless]

Maybe... Rue would know.

[He looks down, uncertain.]

You don't have to help me.

[knightofratatosk]

But I want to help you. I can't just leave you alone when you're like this. You shouldn't have to suffer, not if it's something that can be fixed.

[soheartless]

You have... the feeling of the devotion. [He nods at that.]

Some of you... did talk about devotion. Devotion to one's... friends.

[And he starts to move, slowly... slowly going into a dance.]

[knightofratatosk]

I don't know if I'd call it devotion, just doing... what's right...

[But he trails off as Mytho starts to dance, just sort of staring at him.]

... Mytho? What are you doing?

[soheartless]

I'm dancing. [He says as he goes through a spin. There's a deliberate slowness to his movements; it is a mournful dance.]

[knightofratatosk]

No, I mean, I can see that you're dancing, but... why? I don't understand.

[This is a very odd time to be doing that.]

[soheartless]

I understand.

I understand everything about dancing. I feel like I... prefer it.

Emil should dance...

[knightofratatosk]

Me? But I'm not a very good dancer. I'd just end up tripping over my own feet, and I don't think you want to see me do that.

[soheartless]

I don't know for sure whether or not I'd want to see you do that.

You should still dance.

[Mytho says as he twirls around the boy.]

[knightofratatosk]

Dance... um, okay, so maybe like...

[And he tries to mimic Mytho's movements, though he's nowhere near as graceful. His attempts are more fumbling than anything else.]

[soheartless]

[He at least isn't observing Emil with judgement as he lightly steps in place.]

Yes. Those are... movements.

[knightofratatosk]

They're not very good.

[But at least he's trying, so A for effort?]

[soheartless]

It doesn't matter.

[A for effort indeed. And Mytho then moves alongside Emil, gently taking his hand for a moment to try to guide though a graceful movement lunging forth.]

[knightofratatosk]

[Emil looks a bit startled at first when Mytho takes his hand, but when he realizes what the other boy is trying to do, he allows him to guide him.

... well, it's not the most graceful step ever, though it's at least a little better than his previous attempts.]

[soheartless]

[A step's a a step! And Mytho doesn't seem to mind. The slow dance is a mournful one, but dancing it together seems like a better option than just talking about sorrow. So he moves along to do a few more steps that Emil could possibly mimic.]