The Night of The Necros: The Rise of The Queen

Chapter Five Part One

"Alright, I am here. Is she-" Tamaki said as a maid escorted him to where Michael and Genova were.

"Holy s**t! You got big!" Michael whispered.

"Yeah I guess." Tamaki said shrugging. "Is she ready?" He asked.

"Almost. I don't think that she will have had time to change her clothes." Genova said. "Do not stare and your man is to keep silent." He said looking at the man next to him.

"Why do you say that?" Tamaki asked.

"Lets just say that she has improved a lot and anything that you say may set her back." Genova said. Michael nodded his head.

When Arabella made it down the stairs she found the Commander and one of his men waiting for her. Her hand subconsciously covered her stomach. Tamaki looked away from her and maintained normal conversation with Genova. None the less, he could not hide the pain in his eyes at seeing that scar. The soldier with him unfortunately was caught completely off guard and ended up gawking at her. Arabella's feet halted when she felt him staring at her. She closed her eyes to avoid the look in his eyes. She squeezed her hands into fists and took a deep calming breath. When she opened them she found Michael, Genova, and the Commander glaring at him.

"Lady Arabella, if it's too much for you, I can wait for you to change." The Commander said. Arabella took a shaky breath and smiled gently at him.

"No. Like I told Genova and Michael earlier, I need to get used to things like this." She said squaring her shoulders.

Tamaki nodded his head. His heart couldn't help but squeeze when he saw how she pushed herself. Arabella took a few halting steps before her resolve all but slipped away. When she reached the bottom of the stairs her legs could barely support her. Tamaki and Genova rushed over to support her as she joined the men.

"Are you ready, Miss Arabella?" Tamaki asked.

"Yes." She said. "Thank you, Michael for the clothes and the sparing match. It was a lot of fun. It seems that I can still whip you any time I want."

"You're quite welcome." He said with a laugh. "I believe that I will want a rematch when you feel up to it as will Genova." Genova nodded.

"I will see you in a few days." He said bowing to her.

"What? You're not coming with me?" She asked looking worried.

"I cannot come with you this time but I promise that I will meet you there." Genova said. "Michael and I are going to bring men to help with the situation. Until then I promise that you can trust the Commander. He will be with you no matter what." Arabella looked sadly at Genova and her legs shook a little. Tamaki's heart twisted with pain. However, he knew that it would be a normal reaction for someone who had lost everyone she ever knew except for her only childhood friend.

"I promise that I will keep you safe." He said bowing to her. Arabella nodded her head. Michael and Genova walked them outside the estate and bade them farewell.

"So how did you get here so fast?" Arabella asked a little confused.

"Spatial jumping." He said. Arabella's eyes widened.

"I-I Can't do that." She said with a hushed voice.

"It's okay. I got you." He said scooping her up into his muscular arms. Arabella shrieked.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"The only way that I can guarantee that you will safely make it is if I carry you." He said.

"Can't I ride on your back?" She asked.

She had already taken notice of his size and knew that he was more than capable of giving her a piggy back ride. When Tamaki heard this he nearly fell over laughing. There were times that made him feel like she hadn't changed at all.

"The Commander cannot guarantee that you wont fall off. It is safer to carry you." The soldier said with an annoyed tone.

"Knock it off." Tamaki ordered. "I used to give a little girl in my village piggy back rides all the time when I was younger." He said. "However, I cannot let you ride piggy back while we spatial jump." Arabella's face fell a little.

"Oh. Well, then that's okay." She said with a small smile.

Tamaki opened a spatial portal and they jumped through it. As they raced along at mind blowing speeds Arabella giggled. It was like she was a child again. She had a feeling that she had done this before. Tamaki smiled as she laughed. He had a feeling that it had been a long time since she had done something like this. Still he noticed the attitude that his soldier had as they raced back to the village. He could tell that he was unhappy having her along.

"Oh yeah," Arabella began. "What's your name?" She asked looking up at Tamaki.

"My name?" He asked.

"Yeah." She said smiling up at him.

"I'm Tamaki." He said.

"I am sorry that I didn't ask before." She said shyly.

"It's fine. You were dealing with a lot, right?" He asked. Arabella nodded.

"What's your name?" She asked looking over his shoulder. The soldier looked up in surprise.

"Me?" He asked pointing to himself.

"Yeah." She said. "What's your name?"

"Jack." He said.

"Well, Jack, I am Arabella. It is nice to meet you. I am sorry that the both of you had to come all this way to get me." She said softly. "Still, thank you. I don't know what Genova told you but I do know that we were in a hurry to get there." She said.

"So what exactly is going on?" Tamaki asked. "He didn't say much."

"Well, it seems that the Council hired people to go undercover as refugees to Hiroki Village." She said sadly. "Because I asked the Grand Elder to let the refugees in the village is in danger."

"You did what?" The soldier asked angrily. "How were you able to even get close enough to ask her such a thing?" He demanded. Arabella flinched under his harsh tone.

"Jack!" Tamaki growled.

"No. It's okay." Arabella said. "It would be my fault if the village got attacked after all. To answer your question, I was raised by the Grand Elder since my mother died when the village was attacked." She said softly. The soldier glared at her.

"You were raised by the Grand Elder?" He asked.

"Yes." She said frowning.

"That explains why we needed to come get you. Still that doesn't excuse you for making such a request. Even if you are a useless Vosat why would you still feel that it was wise to invite strangers into the village? What is wrong with you?" He asked.

"I felt bad for them!" Arabella yelled. "Do you know what it is like to have no home? To lose your parents because of the Council?" She asked.

"No I don't, but I do know that our people are suffering because we lost both our queen and princess. Apparently that is something that you didn't consider." He said with disgust.

"I know that I got this scar," She said placing her hand on her stomach. "The night the village was attacked." She said. "Even if I was useless I still saved the life of a boy in my village. I had no power and nearly died to save someone and the sad thing is that I don't even know who he is." She whispered. "You can criticize me all you want. You can tell me that I am useless but only I can say that even without power I put myself in the most dangerous place of all while people like you ran. People like you run and leave innocent people to die with no hope to cling to. You sit on your high horse while people like me who have been looked down on try to give others a fighting chance." She said.

Tamaki looked down at her. The sadness on her face nearly broke his heart but the thing that nearly killed him was the anger and pride on her face. Anger towards people with power leaving the powerless to suffer and pride because she knew that she would never turn her back on those people.

"So," She said. "You can mock me for being powerless. You can judge me for being different but you have proved my point."

"Which is?" Tamaki asked.

"When you look past power you can see a person's true heart. I live to help those around me no matter who they may be. Can you say the same thing, Jack? I don't keep that which was given to me to myself. I may not have power but I can use my own strength to protect those around me when they can no longer fight. I don't need to be protected because I am powerless. I am powerful because I protect those who have been hurt. That, Jack, is the meaning of true power. You can have all the power in the world but when you look down on those who have none then you, my dear, are no better than the Council. These swords are not just decoration as you have doubtlessly assumed. Neither is my bow. I am a master of both but I do not use them heedlessly. Nor do I neglect them. They are my extension. They are my will and my strength."

Jack blushed furiously under her demeaning tone. She who was without power had made him feel as if he was powerless. Could having power mean nothing in the face of true strength? What did she mean by true strength? He found himself wondering.

The rest of the trip passed quietly. There was no laughing or conversation to be had. Arabella was lost in thoughts of the past and present. While Tamaki once again pondered the life that she had. The many facets of her personality that she had shown had caught him off guard. On the other hand, Jack questioned himself as well as the Vosat. They had cut themselves off from the rest of the world in the pursuit of their own safety abandoning the people that needed them. Had they done the right thing? He wondered. He had never questioned himself or the Vosat before yet this girl who was powerless made him doubt his very self. Who was she that she could make such a request of the Grand Elder? He wondered. Why was she even allowed to leave the village. Who was she that a Vosat general accompanied her wherever she went. The questions continued to pile up inside of him until he felt anger begin to boil over in his chest.

When they arrived at the village Jack had only more questions about this young girl. Tamaki found himself at a loss for words when she climbed out of his arms and wondered away. They watched her walk away without so much as a word. When Tamaki was sure that she was gone he grabbed Jack by the hair on his head.

"Whoa! What are you doing, Commander?" He asked.

"Who the hell do you think you are that you can talk to her as you please?" Tamaki demanded.

"What do you mean? She's just-"

"Don't you f*****g say it or it will kill you here and now!" He roared. "You will never ever talk to her in such away again or you will be added to the list of people that I am going to personally hunt down and kill. If you so much as breathe the wrong way in her general direction I will kill you." He said.

Jack flinched under his harsh words. He had never seen the Commander act like this before. He knew that he should keep his mouth shut but he'd had more than enough of her and the fact that even though she was nothing special she was treated as a princess.

"What the hell does it matter to you how I talk to her? She is nothing but a powerless Vosat. She shouldn't have even been allowed to live in the village." He said. Before he could think about the consequences of his words Tamaki's fist came flying at his face. Tamaki's fist slammed into his nose. Jack howled in pain as he held his nose. Blood seeped through his fingers

"Listen here, you piece of s**t. That powerless Vosat, as you like to refer to her, is the very reason I am alive. I was that boy and she is not who you think she is. You had better watch what you say to her and how you treat her." He growled shoving him away.

"Who the hell is this b***h?" Jack muttered. Tamaki landed another hard fist into his stomach. Jack doubled over as the breath was knocked from him. His knees buckled under him.

"I don't have to tell you s**t. You will find out along with everyone else." He said walking away.

"What the hell?" Jack muttered as he tried to stand up.

Tamaki walked into a building and found a little girl waiting for him. She smiled up at him as he walked up to her. Her blonde curls bounced as he patted her on the head.

"Nostace, did you prepare a room for our guest like I asked you to?" He asked kindly.

"Yes, Lord Tamaki." She said. "That girl that arrived with you went this way." She said leading him to another room.

"What is she doing?" He wondered out loud when he saw her sitting next to a fire. In her hand was book and she had already been taken in by its pages.

"Is that her?" She asked.

"Yes. That's her." He said softly. "You should get to sleep. After all, you are a child and you need your rest."

"But what about her?" She asked.

"Don't worry. I will show her to her room." He said kindly. She glanced at him dubiously.

"Okay but there will be no funny business." She said looking at him like a mother would her son.

"What do you know about funny business?" He asked letting out a loud laugh.

Arabella jumped when she heard the laugh. She didn't know that anyone else would be in there and had begun reading without any thought to her surroundings. She blushed and put the book away. When she was there earlier she had been delighted to find a library stocked full of books. So when they arrived she had wanted to read to clear her head of the unpleasant memories that had been brought up.

"I am so sorry. I should have asked before I came in here and started reading." She said softly as she bowed her head .

"It's fine." Tamaki said softly.

"I hope that I didn't disturb you."

"You were reading how could you disturb anyone?" He asked shaking his head. "It is us that should apologize to you. Nostace, this is Lady Arabella." He said making introductions.

"Hello. I do apologize for pulling your father away from you so late at night." She said to the little girl.

Nostace and Tamaki looked at each other and began to laugh. Arabella c****d her head to the side. She wasn't sure that she had said anything funny. When the two saw how puzzled she was they laughed even harder.

"I am not that big oaf's kid." Nostace said laughing.

"Indeed. This little smart aleck is my ward. When her parent's died I took her in." Tamaki said ruffling her hair. Nostace pushed his hand away. "I didn't want her to be alone. She is the best healer in our village." Tamaki said smiling down at her.

"I see. It must be hard without your parents." Arabella said. The little girl nodded.

"I have good days and bad days just like everyone else but thanks to Lord Tamaki I have something of a normal life. If normal is being a ten year old girl that goes on missions." She said shrugging.

"True it's not normal to go on missions at your age." Arabella said. "But you get to help people, so I think that it's worth it."

"That's the best part of it." Nostace said nodding. "But I wish I was like the Commander sometimes. He's strong and kind. He helps people regardless of who they are. I wish that I had that kind of power but at least I can help in my own way." She said.

"You're right. It is great to be able to help people like that." Arabella said. She suddenly felt bad about what she had said to Jack.

"What kind of powers do you have?" Nostace asked. Arabella looked away. Tamaki's eyes widened in shock. The last thing he wanted was for Arabella to feel like she didn't belong again.

"I don't have any." She said softly.

"I see. Then I guess that makes you a truly special Vosat." Nostace said. Tamaki's eyes widened in surprise.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Well, unless you are born with great power your life is pretty much decided for you. But since you don't have any you get to decided for yourself exactly what it is that you want to do with your life. I think it's great to be able to choose exactly who you want to be." She said with admiration. "I also think that you must be strong and really brave since you don't have any power but you're out here just like us helping people. Plus not having power can allow you to see into the heart of a person without any prejudices."

"I never really saw it that way." Arabella said smiling softly at the little girl. "Thank you, Nostace."

"You're welcome. Well, I am off to bed as instructed. Lord Tamaki will show you to your room." She said skipping off to bed.

When they were alone Tamaki cleared his throat nervously. He didn't expect to be so nervous when they were alone. Tamaki's hands fidgeted at his sides as he wondered what to say. He had rarely been at a loss for words before.

"I think that I might owe you an apology." She said clearing her throat. "Those things that I said earlier. They were rude and I should have thought before I said them." She said looking down in embarrassment.

"I don't think that I am owed an apology." He said frankly. "You were absolutely right. There are Vosat like Jack that think that they are better than others because of their power. It was nice to actually hear someone say what I have been thinking for a while now."

"What?" Arabella asked looking up.

"No one should be looked down upon because they lack power. And you were also right about being powerless not making you weak." He said. "People like Jack need to be taken down a peg or two. No, it is I that owes you an apology instead." He said.

"Why?" She asked tilting her head to the side.

"Because he is my subordinate and as a result it is I that am directly responsible for the things that he says and does and it reflects on my ability as a leader." He said bowing to her.

"No. I think that you are wrong. Sure the things that he does might reflect back on you. However, to say that his way of thinking and how he talks to others reflects on you is wrong." She said shaking her head. "So please lift your head. I can tell that you do not hold the same views he has on power. So I cannot hold you responsible for the things he has said. Just as I am responsible for my rude behavior he is responsible for his callous attitude." She said smiling gently at him.

"Thank you, Lady Arabella." Tamaki said. "You are truly kind."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Most Vosat would have preferred that the refugees fend for themselves. I know that there have even been some protest over it. Still, from what I can see you have chosen to take pity on them and have accepted responsibility for their actions. Not many people would do that, not even people in leadership positions. Which is sad because that is the kind of leader the Vosat need." He said as he sat down.

"I see. I think that you are correct. The Vosat need a leader who is both powerful and kind." She said nodding her head. "Still, it would seem that finding someone like that will be next to impossible. It's a shame we no longer have a queen. I believe that she would have been that kind of leader." Arabella said wistfully.

"I think that one day our queen will be returned to us." Tamaki said as he smiled softly at her.