The Wooden Heart Editing

Chapter 6

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Five:

Welcome to Asza Quie

-.-.-.-.-.

Her parents loved her. Once.

They were so excited to have another baby, oh, and they were proud to find that they would have another baby girl to spoil rotten, their baby. After adopting Anna at the age of three, they never thought they would have their own baby.

However, Annabella was nervous to see how her parents would treat the new baby, having a horrible feeling that they would hate the girl when they would find out what she will be, but she hoped she was wrong and squealed with happiness at the right time.

As time passed, they had turned the spare bedroom of her childhood home into a nursery fit for a princess. They brought her pretty dresses and clothes. They were ready for the perfect daughter they were asking and praying for.

But after three years of taking care of said daughter, they noticed that Maria wasn't normal from the outside.

Yes, she was very well-behaved and well-mannered, but coming from an Irish family where if you weren't 'right', you were labeled as a demon and were treated as such. Her parents slowly lost all the love they had for her and turned ice cold towards her. They put so much pressure on little Maria to be the best and she was. But nothing was good enough for the Sawyers.

"You are a freak!" Is what she got from her mother after she won the school's talent show and when they returned home after it, also a beating from her father.

"Please daddy, I won as you wished! You are hurting me!"

But he didn't stop and, although it isn't her fault, they beat her for not going to school the next day.

She couldn't understand why they were hurting her because she was doing everything they ordered from her and she was a good girl.

She practiced for weeks with her vocal coach and her elder sister on the song: My heart will go on, just so she would please her parents, but she just disappointed them again. And no matter what she did, they would just scowl at her and lock Maria away from the world, telling her she was a demon.

She kept trying, however. Through everything she did; singing like an angel, getting outstanding grades in school, and being an amazing daughter at home:

"I am ashamed of you; why can't you be normal?" Is the response from them both each time straight A's appeared on her report cards, she thought that would make them happy, but sadly, she was wrong?

Nothing was ever good enough for them, every time she did something good or even bad, they sent her to her room without food for a week, the only meals she got was at school. Soon, she was beaten for the littlest things: if her room wasn't neat enough if she was a minute late from school or one of her lessons, and if she spoke out of turn:

Ailill always was the abuser that used his hands and Ciara was always the abuser that used words to hurt her middle child. Maria could handle the beatings with no problems, but the words cut to her core, ruining her with every word.

The only comfort she had was her sister and soon her little brother, their love was the light in her endless darkness. After every beating, Annabella would have bandaged her wounds, crying at the sight, but then she would dry her tears and brought sweets. She, Maria, and Daniel would spend the night talking about nothing, making her forget about the pain for a while.

They have gotten worse when she crept closer to the age of eighteen, telling her that she was always going to stay with them because she was only a monster that doesn't belong to the outside world, but she saw an outing and took it. She had enough:

She had to break free from their cruel hands, she loved them but Maria knew their love no longer existed, their hearts turned into ice.

Seventeen years, seventeen years of beatings and sharp words had ruined her spirit, to the point where she wasn't sure if anyone would be able to fix it, bringing it back to the state it started at. Now, she lived day to day, realizing that no one would or could want a girl with a broken smile.

Now that she entered the world of toys, Maria knew that her new family will keep her safe from their abuse. But, the memories of the abuse still will remain, lingering in the dark of her mind like monsters in the night.

Always reminding her she will never be perfect…

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

She groaned and wiggled onto her back as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes before hitting the silencer on the clock, thinking about the events that happened in the dream, no more like a nightmare. She sighed deeply and rolled on her side, trying to calm herself down.

It was happening a lot in the past weeks, and she wanted to talk to someone about it, but if she did, they would freak. She knew that the people in her life now would race to the cruel people's door and make them pay for hurting her. They loved her that much.

She sighed deeply again, smiling at the thought as she noticed her mother walking in the room with her new school uniform on her arm:

"My rose, you are awake. Let's get you dressed." Lesley smiled as she moved Maria into her chair gently.

Once the reddish blonde was sat in the chair, the older blonde started to undress her from her nightgown and dressed her in the dress-like uniform.

Once she was dressed in the dress; Lesley brushed her hair tenderly like a mother should, she loved it, to have her home once more. She smiled in the mirror, taking in the beautiful smile of her daughter's before going back to her work. Lesley had missed truly being her mother and not being able to protect the beautiful young woman from the abuse because of the damn Fates' rules. They might be royals, but the Fates' rules are laws, and breaking them meant death.

But, they can't take her away from them again, the woman will make sure of that. She nodded firmly as she worked, shutting off the dark thoughts and just focused on her daughter.

Once the hair was tamed, she placed a dark blue band in it, leaving her hair, and smiled at the reflection, kissing her cheek.

The girl smiled back at her mother, then she bit her lip as she turned to her with a pleading look placed on her face.

"Momma, do you think that 'Annabella' could adopt Daniel? I miss him and I'm so afraid they would turn on him; I've been thinking about since the first week I arrived home." This brought a smile to her mother's lips, kneeling to her level:

"Don't worry, sweetie. Daddy and momma are working on it. I miss him too. I'm suing for sole custody of him. Danny will be here soon." She reassured her daughter, kissing her nose before standing up.

Maria smiled big up at the older woman, thanking her as they moved to the dining room.

They have been eating every meal together since she returned home, for her parents didn't want to miss a moment with her, and Maria loved it. To have a real family behind you is something to relish and cherish, she realized that when people sometimes don't. The blonde sighed deeply, feeling sorry for those people, but then a knock came on the door, making Maria smile once more. She knew who was at the door:

"Looks like your prince is here, my rose." Tuan sang sweetly, winking teasingly as he went to the door. Her laughter followed him close behind

"Oh, papi don't tease," Maria yelled to him, making the older woman laughed gleefully as she cleaned the table, something she did to feel like a normal mother

"Mari, your father loves to tease you, just give him that, sweetie."

Maria smiled, rolling her eyes at her as she grabbed the bag and hung her messenger bag on the back of her chair, pushing herself to when her father was waiting for her. Once she was next to him, Tuan grabbed the handlebars to push her to the castle's doors, and then he opened them.

She saw him, his famous grin was placed on his tanned face as he leaned against the wall, looking so happy to just see her. That made the blonde feel like the only girl he sees and it is a wonderful feeling. She smiled at him sweetly before hugging her father goodbye and wheeling out into the cold January air, a brown cape protecting her from the cold.

She heard Michael bidding goodbye to Tuan before running to catch up to his fast baby. After a while, she stopped in front of a sazre cherry tree, turning to him finally:

While her uniform was blue and gray for the winter classes, his was the red and white for the spring classes. He was truly a prince in the uniform, with the red jacket buttoned up against his chest and the white pants tucked into his black boots. She smiled once more, thinking again how lucky she was to have him as hers. How lucky she was that this loving, handsome young man loves her and only her.

"What are you smiling at, sweet girl?" Michael asked teasingly, taking her into his arms, earning a giggle from the cute blonde.

"You, silly guy. I was thinking how lucky I was to have a handsome man in my life."

"I am the lucky one here, baby doll." He caressed her cheek, smiling lovingly. This sparked a burning blush across her cheeks, heating them from the bitter cold.

Michael laughed softly at her expression, loving that he was the cause of such an adorable expression. In the past weeks, he learned so much more about the blonde in his arms, and the more he learns, he loves her more deeply. She was so different from Isabella, but in some ways, they were so alike like twin souls in one body.

Maria was silly and childish at times, but when it calls for it, Bella comes out and scolds her sister into becoming serious. It was weird for him to think of Bella as gone now that he knew the truth, but he knew she was an angel, watching after his princess when he can't.

Smiling at that musing, Michael tucked her hair behind her ear:

"Are you excited to start school, Maria?"

"I am, I'm curious about the many amazing things in this world. One thing is madding me the most, though."

"What is it?" Michael questioned, c*****g his head to the side.

The girl sighed deeply, moving her eyes to the sky; as if she was trying to find the words before she said the question out loud.

Once a minute passed, Maria looked back at the midnight-haired teen with a curious glint in her green eyes:

"How did my parents look so young, like…well, how my mom looked like a little girl years ago?" She asked as the curious glint grew the moment the question passed through her lips. Michael grinned widely as he placed her back into her chair, kneeling.

"Let's get going to school, Jazz and Ally are waiting. I'll explain on the way, ok sweetie?"

"Ok, Michael, thank you." She replied as he stood from the kneeling position, moving to the back of the chair and started to push them down the path leading to the gates of the school. They walked along in silence until Michael broke it with the answer Maria was waiting for a long time.

"Fairies are very powerful beings and the powers we hold coexists with what kind fairy we are born as; you will learn more about that today. Anyways, besides the powers we born with, we have some powers in common with all fairies; for an example, we can change our looks to whatever we need to. It is to help us blend in with the humans once we stop aging. Your parents did it to be with you when the Fates told them that they wouldn't step in and take you home, I believe."

"But, why couldn't they? I am their daughter; they could've been able to take me home. The Fates had no right to stop them!" Maria yelled, annoyed at the seemingly high beings.

Because of them, she suffered endlessly at the hands of the cruel people, stripping her of any self-worth. Because of them, she missed out on seventeen years with her real family, and the love she was searching for years.

Maria barely knew anything about Fates, but from what she heard of them, she hated them with no end in sight. They might be angels, but they have no clue how to protect their charges and they never checked on who they placed them with. It was maddened to her nave mind:

Michael sighed in annoyance as well, opening his mouth to voice his feelings about the Fates, but Alicia beat him the punch.

"You are absolutely right! They are idiots! Sweet, I will give them that, they really do care about their charges. But they got to learn how to protect them better if they place the young charges in the human world. It is an unknown place, filled with many an evil heart; they cannot just blindly place our children into homes without thoroughly checking!" Ally's voice cuts into the conversation heatedly, thinking of what her friend had to face during her seventeen-year time, coming to an end next to the other couple as she gripped angrily onto her bag.

The young couple turned to a very colorful sight against the white snow; Alicia was wearing the same dress as her best friend, only in orange and white, and Jasper was in a green and brown suit. Maria nodded her agreement, but realized something:

"Wait, I thought you two were twenty-two, aren't you guys done with school?" The blonde questioned, looking between the other couple with a blonde eyebrow raised in confusion.

The three other magical beings laughed, amused by how much this world will be strange to her after being a human for many years, this life will be magical to her.

With one more smile, Michael leaned down and kissed her cheek before continuing on the path to the beautiful chrisom gates of Asza Quie with their friends following close behind:

"Let's just say, you have a lot to learn about your new world."

-.-.-.-.-.-

Maria sat next to Alicia, talking while they waited for the teacher to come to start the first Magical History 1 class of the winter term. And, despite all the memories of the nightmare still ruling the back of her mind, the strawberry blonde would not let them win this time. She will show them she will move on from what they did to her. This was freedom and Maria will not let them have the only thing she wanted the most.

The girl smiled at what Alicia had said, but only to hide the rising fear in her heart. For, somewhere inside her, she thought that was a pretty lie her mind came up with to comfort her from reality.

Before the rushing thoughts could get to her, the door opened and a beautiful pink-haired woman walked to the desk in front of the room, shushing all conversations with one wave of her milky hand.

Maria smiled wide, forgetting the fear for a while, finally recognizing who the teacher was. Amanda Daze smiled back at her lovely niece, winking secretively before becoming the firm Miss. Daze:

"Hello, class." She stated calmly and warmly, causing the teens to stand and bow to her like a proper Japanese high school in a strange land.

"Good morning, madam Daze." The echo rung in Maria's ears, making her feel small as they sat back down.

She hoped this feeling could just go away soon, and leave her be. Maria wanted nothing more than to finally leave the past behind her and just move on because she had a new life ahead of her. She wanted to live it in peace, not to always live with the monsters of the past still lingering in the darkness, waiting for her to break and give into them. She sighed through her nose, trying to shut those thoughts away as she listened to the start of Amanda's first lecture of the term.

The blonde didn't notice that her aunt was staring at her with worried eyes:

"Good, now let me tell you about the classes you are going to take and about the school itself." Her pink hair swayed as she moved to the front of the desk, leaning back on it once she was in front of it:

"This class will teach you the history of this world and what powers you pose as whatever fairy you were born as. Next, you have Fairy Poisons 101, where you will create poisons that will help you enrich your powers in battle or in life, the homework for the two classes will coexist for the two classes are connected. Then, you have English, a human class to teach you, of course, the literary history of both our world and the human world. Next, after lunch, you will have training. Each of you has weapons that you are connected to and this will be your weapon for the battle. So, today we are going to find your weapon.

After training, the school requires you to choose an art, performing or just plain art. Fairies are very artsy by nature, and the school wants you to tap into that side of yourselves, even if you are a jock." Amanda cracked a smile, making the class laugh loudly:

"I hope you enjoy this school because, for the next six years, this will be where you will be for five days a week. Now, I want each of you to turn in this slip tomorrow. It covers what we are going to cover this year." She ordered the teens, rushing around the room.

"Yes madam."

"You can go now; we will start real classes tomorrow." She said after she finished handing out the sheets, earning a joyous cheer from the teens, excited to some extra minutes before their next class. Expect one.

Maria swallowed hard, another wave of fear washed over her body and afraid to be alone with her thoughts again. But, to keep herself too busy to think, she packed all her belongings into her bag before Amanda touched her hand, stopping her in mid-move and looked up to see her aunt staring at her with her worry growing in her eyes.

"Expect you, Maria, sweetie. We need to talk." Amanda stated, earning a relented nod from the blonde before she turned to her friend.

"I will meet you in the classroom after we are done here."

Alicia looked at her friend's smile for a moment more, before nodding and heading out of the room, leaving the women to talk.

When the rest of the teens soundly emptied the classroom, the older woman took her seat and frowned over the desk at her niece.

"Are you alright, sweetie? You look worried about something."

"I'm fine, auntie. Just nervous about starting at a new school." She lied, replying to her question with a smile placed to her lips. But the witch wasn't fooled and her frown grew deeper:

"You're lying to me."

Maria sighed deeply, moving to the window on the other side of the small room and let the winter sun shine upon her bare skin. Should she tell her the truth? And risk her going into the human world and getting hurt by them? It might stop the dreams from ruling her life once and for all, but Maria worried very much about what would happen if Michael would have found out. She took a deep breath to steel herself, finally turning to Amanda again with a crestfallen expression placed onto her facial features.

"Do you want the truth, aunt Mandy? Here it is, I have been having nightmares of my past. Memories of my harmers and the pain they caused me. Believe me, I tried to forget all about the past, but the moment I think I am alright, the monsters come back to haunt me. I wish that they would just leave me be, but they won't! I didn't want to worry you guys with this, so I didn't tell anyone, but it's getting so hard to hide this and the pain. I need to let go of the pain! Auntie, it hurts so much to see them hurting me and him…almost touching me with his disgusting hands! Almost…"

By the end of the speech, Maria was looking out of the big window once more with tears in the corners of her eyes, one hand over her mouth to keep in her cries. Oh god, the words stung like a torn stuck into her side hard. However, she felt free for the first time in weeks.

Silence came over them, almost crushing the blonde in its wake. Amanda didn't know what to say to this confession. Her blue eyes bore into her back like a ray, wanting to rip them from limb to limb for hurting her niece! But she knew her blonde niece wouldn't want that, so she sighed deeply and she went to her, turning her into a huge hug.

Placing a hand on her cheek, she returned her confession with some advice and a loving smile:

"Maria, sweetie, you are not the past or the things they did to you. You are a charming, strong, beautiful young woman because of them, I know that sounds odd but it's the truth. The past forms us into who we are meant to be, even if it is a painful thing to remember. You cannot keep pushing us away, you need us as much as we need you." She paused and moved to her desk, leaning on her hands with her eyes facing her:

"You need to tell your friends to be completely free, Maria, I am not saying that you should tell your parents, I know how they will react if you did so. But, your friends need to know. They probably sense that something is wrong with you, I know Michael senses it. You need to tell your friends, sweetie, to be free from the past, am I clear?"

"Yes madam, but what if he—"

"He deserves to know, sweetie, he loves you very much and he deserves to know you, in every way, no matter how much it is painful to do so. Michael can protect you from the monsters in the darkness of your heart. He can heal the scars the past gave you. Tell him, he won't do anything you don't want him to do, you know that." She smiled at her as the sun shining through the window on her pink hair, her eyes held truth and Maria knew there's no arguing with her.

So, she nodded slowly as she grabbed her messenger bag and swung it over the back before she wheeled out of the room, feeling hope for the first time in weeks. Maybe she'll be alright now.

She smiled once more over her shoulder before she exited the room.

"Thank you, auntie."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.

The next few classes flew by in a blur, the teachers just introduced themselves to the class and told the teens what they will go over in the year. But, Maria couldn't focus on anything else than trying to soften the news of her past so her friends and boyfriend don't freak out too badly. But the blonde knew that wasn't possible, they were all too protective of her and they would do anything to make her safe:

Now, Maria and Alicia chattered about little things as they made their way to the table where the boys were laughing as they arm-wrestled. The girls shook their heads at the boyish arm wrestling match before they moved the corner and brought their food. Maria figured she would tell them after lunch, that way they all have time to be normal and calm for a while more.

After a while of silence, Maria cleared her throat loudly, looking from the empty tray of food to her friends with a grim expression placed on her lovely features. The other three beings stopped what they were doing as soon as they saw the expression, their own faces twisted into an expression of worry:

"What's wrong, baby doll?" Michael questioned, moving his hand on hers reassuringly.

She closed her eyes, sighing and squeezing the hand holding hers for strength. She didn't want to ruin the day with her horrible past, didn't want to relive the pain that comes along with it, but she knew Aunt Amanda was right. They needed to know to be closer to her, to be able to understand how truly broken she was. And she needed to tell them to finally move on from it, to finally let go of all the monsters inside her:

"I'm ready to tell you about my past, guys, but I can't promise you that you will like it."

"We understand, doll." The raven-haired teen promised her, his eyes moving around the table, earning eager nods from the other two.

Maria took a deep breath, opening her eyes again, and she slowly revealed her past. All the horrible things she went through as a child came to the forefront of her mind, but the warm feeling of Michael's arms around her gave the blonde the comfort to unburdened herself from all the pain:

Michael shook with anger as she finished, but he didn't let it show, she didn't need to deal with his anger too when she's fighting tears. But Michael wanted to scream and hit something, after hearing about what her male tormentor almost did to her drove him insane! Almost scarring her to even him, scarring her to love forever. For if her 'father' could that to her, what could a lover do?

Why her?! She is the sweetest thing to walk the worlds!

Michael held his little fairy close and rocked her gently as the tears came over her to keep his anger in check. The ravenette is never letting go now for sure, he is protecting her from all the danger in the worlds.

"Oh, my god, Maria…we have to punish them! It is only right!" Alicia yelled, slamming a balled fist down, growling loudly.

"I agree with her, darling! They need to be punished. Mike and I could go—"

"No Jasper! You are not to go there, am I clear?! I'm safe, and now that I told you, I'm going to be free from that life. I want to forget about that and focus on this life. Because it's the only thing worth this pain getting to, I'm going to become my true self and they won't stop me. So, I don't want to need to worry that you are going to get hurt or worse, getting yourselves thrown in jail!"

Maria angrily cut the blonde off, grabbing her tray and moving to the trash before she exited the large room, not noticing the brown-eyed girl staring at her as her friends hurried after her:

"Mari, we're sorry. We know you want to forget, but we cannot just let this go, especially after hearing that man touched you like that." Alicia explained bitterly, gagging at that, as they moved down the crowded halls to their lockers, wanting the blonde girl to understand where they were coming from.

Maria rolled her eyes, knowing that she was going to say that. They are acting just as I expected, she mused sadly as she turned to them, crossing her arms across her chest.

"I know that, but I'm begging you to not to go. Please, guys, the past is in the past, it's gone now and I'm safe from them. I want this life to be about us, and about what I'm going to become. You guys are totally sweet to worry about me, I'll admit that. But it's not needed, not for this. We have so many other things to worry about. I'll be ok now and I'm not going back there, so please, guys, drop this and focus your anger on the real target here, the rat king. He is the biggest threat to me, not the tormentors from my past." Maria stated firmly, turning from her friends to her locker, putting all her books into it to keep her calm.

They stared at her, blinking fast, surprised to hear her be as firm and serious as herself. But, they knew that their cute friend was right. They shouldn't be concerned with those lowly beings when a much more dangerous threat is out for her. So, Michael sighed deeply as he turned her around and held her tightly while he gave into her again. Fighting against her was useless, he found.

"Okay, love, we won't go, but you need to promise us something. You will fight like hell if you should be taken by him without us to protect you." Michael ordered her firm, the fiery passion in his chest to protect and comfort her was so strong that he crushed her to his chest, burying his face in her hair:

"I promise, Michael." Maria whispered so lowly that it was barely audible.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Ok Maria, I want you to breathe slowly and keep your eyes shut. Let the weapon come to you." Drossymeier, gentle like always with her, soothed her as she sat in the middle of the training field:

She was the first to go in this strange otherworldly ceremony of getting her bonded dasa*. She was sitting there, relaxed and focused on the reactions in her body, however, after moments of waiting, her patience was warring thin. Maria was about to give up when….

She sensed the power coming right in her, warming her from the inside….

She didn't think about how she did, she didn't have time. She dodged the first attack by rolling into the giant dirt patch, falling out of her chair. She aimed an arrow at the training machine and shot, stopping another rock from harming her.

She smiled proudly and quickly sat up in the dirt, looking at her uncle/teacher as her classmates' cheers rung in her. The elder grinned brightly, coming over to lift her in her chair:

"Very good, Maria! You are an archer, that's a very powerful thing to be, you are truly meant for great things. Now, Michael, you are next, son."

Maria smiled at him as they switched places, her smile wished him good luck. He grinned and stood where she once sat.

As her friends found their dasas, Maria thought about the day and what had happened.

Maybe it was fate that she was placed into her aunt, so she could talk some sense into her. And now, she could be free from the monsters of her past and she could focus on the rat king, saving her people from him was the most important thing to her now. And nothing or no one will stop her now, she will fight with everything in her heart.

She nodded firmly, lifting her eyes to the sky, feeling the fire burning in her heart. It was ready to become even stronger and eat the king alive…

-.-.-.-.-

*Dasa=A fairy's destined weapon which mirrors her/his strength. For an example, say if you become an archer, this means that you're the strongest.