[Chaos Echo]

Hey remember Carline and Tuicia? They're not in this one. They'll be back in the next one though. In the meantime...

Chapter 35

________________________________________

Alone. Again. Anni sighed. Carline and Tuicia had gone off again on some adventure, leaving her in charge of the mansion once again. It was starting to get kind of annoying at this point. Granted, she wasn?t actually alone, of course. Carline still had all those servants in her employ lying around. And she was pretty sure she could find a way to keep herself entertained with them, so it mostly worked out. Still annoying, though.


She lay on her back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. What was it again that they were doing? Something about Tuicia?s parents, she thought. Or something. Her family in general. ?Bleh.? She voiced. Carline had been slacking at the whole ?mentoring? thing lately, but Tuicia was to blame for that.


?No, ?blame? was a bit harsh. Tuicia had been separated from her family for about two decades; she had every right to want to find them now. She?d never had the ?joy? of being annoyed by a family. A family of annoyances. Yeah. That?s what she had. Anni rolled a bit and grabbed her hair tie, levitating it above her simply to be doing something.


She regretted nothing still, she thought, as far as running away from home went. Why did she have to be born to the same parents as Melietti? Why did Melietti have to be so perfect? She was a sorceress too? and she was naturally talented at it to boot. Not only that, but she was intelligent, and charming. And beautiful. That probably pissed Anni off the most, aside from her happening to have magic too. She had a rich tone to her skin, as opposed to Anni?s weird shade? she was tall? she had a pretty face, though Anni herself boasted that too? a nice natural blush? slim but not overly-so build? and she was busty. So very busty. Anni lightly felt her own chest. She hadn?t exactly gotten ripped off in that regard, but couldn?t they have both been built like that?


School had been hell, since Melietti blazed a path of perfection all the way through, rocketing to the top of popularity, while Anni was expected to live up to it. It wasn?t that she was unskilled; it was just that Melietti seemed infallible, and she could never catch up with that. And her home life wasn?t better. Some people just don?t have the kind of personality Melietti has, no matter how much you try to force it on them! The pressure was far too much. That?s why she ran. She needed to prove that she could be awesome in her own way.


Anni looked over to her empty bedside table, where the flower she?d given to Cecily used to reside, and wondered briefly what she?d been up to. Since the introspection was beginning to bore her, she got up to find out just that. She stood up then, letting her hair tie drop into her hand. But as she went to do it up, she had a thought. Maybe she?d leave her hair down for a change. So, she let that go onto her bed, and left her room.


It wasn?t long before she was out back, in the mansion?s garden. Anni rarely came out here. It had little to interest her. But, on a day like today, with nothing better to do, she walked slowly through it, admiring what Cecily had done with the place. And, speaking of which, she saw the large-reared woman just then, on her knees and bent over, seemingly attending to one of the plants there. On her approach, she saw that it was that same flower.


?Hello, Cecily.?


The one she was addressing jumped, before seeing her and immediately calming. ?Oh, hello Miss Annilitia.? She said cheerily.


?Cecily,? Anni replied, ?I swear I?ve told you to just call me Anni.?


?Oh yeah? okay.? Cecily cleared her throat. ?Oh, hello Anni.? She said, with the exact same intonation. She paused a moment, but since Anni said nothing, she continued. ?Anni? your hair? you do know it?s not???


?Yes, I know. I did that on purpose.?


?Oh. It looks very nice down like that, I think.?


?You do??


?Yeah.?


There was another pause, neither of which having the small talk experience to go from there.


?Um, so, what were you doing there, then??


?Oh, I was? I was just, um?? Cecily trailed off, seemingly embarrassed.


?You were just???


?T-talking with Florice??


?Florice? Who?s Florice??


?Florice i-is? she?s the flower that you gave me a while ago? I named her Florice?? Anni said nothing for a while in response to that. ?Wh-what?s the problem??


??She?? ?Her???


?So??


?Cecily, it?s a flower.?


?She is not just a flower!? Cecily said indignantly. ?She?s what brought me and Allie together! And more than that, she?s our baby!?


?What.?


?Not like that! Like a metaphorical one!? Cecily?s voice took on a dreamy tone. ?She and I work so hard taking care of this little one right here? and it?s wonderful bonding time for the two of us? this adorable thing means the world to us??


??Cecily. It?s a flower.?


?She is a flower.? Cecily corrected. ?And she?s not just that. She talks. We talk.?


Anni raised an eyebrow. She hadn?t thought Cecily to be so? odd. ?You talk, huh?? She said, amused.


Cecily sighed. ?You obviously don?t believe me? alright, stand between me and the flower.?


?And what would that be for??


?Just do it!? She said, so Anni did exactly that. ?Okay, now put a hand behind your back.? Anni did so as well. ?Hold up some fingers at random. I don?t care.? Anni snorted. ?Seriously, you?re gonna do this?? Regardless, she did so.


?You have three up.? Cecily stated, matter-of-factly.


?Whatever, lucky guess?? Anni thought. She closed her hand, but before she announced it, ?Now none.?


Anni continued, unperturbed, picking another number.


?She can?t see it. Your streamer-things are in the way.? Cecily said, which got Anni?s notice. Even she hadn?t noticed that.


?Okay, four.? Anni made a face then, and picked a particular way to display the next one. Cecily gasped in shock.


?Anni! Don?t make gestures like that at her!? She snapped.


Anni looked back at the flower, which looked the same as always. ?So? you can really talk with it then, huh??


?Yeah?? She said, back to her normal demeanor. ?Sorry I had to do that, Anni. I?m just tired of people questioning me on it??


?Nah, it?s fine.?


Anni was silent for a bit, before her eyes traveled down to Cecily?s bottom. ?So? that huge butt of yours still working out??


?O-oh! Yes, very much, thanks.? She patted her rear. ?That size-changing thing you talked about faded a while ago, but I haven?t minded. I?ve? actually come to like my huge butt.? She said happily.


?And I?m sure Allie does too, right??


Cecily smiled further. ?Oh yes, she does.?


?So? between the two of you? when you hug, do your butts make a gravitational field??


?What??


?I mean, like, given how big they are, and then? and then combined? they?d? never mind.? Something caught Anni?s eye after that failed joke, and she was immediately on edge.

?Cecily! Stay here.? She said, motioning with her hand to stay low as well. Since the garden was, unfortunately, not entirely enclosed, sometimes things found their way in. Usually harmless animals, but whatever she?d just seen was much larger than something that could be considered harmless. And some of the servants here had been spreading rumors about something living in the forested area behind the mansion? Anni cautiously headed to where she?d seen it, keeping her hands at the ready.


Suddenly, the figure leapt out of the bush it had gotten in, seizing her by the shoulders, surprisingly her greatly. But even more surprisingly?


?You? What?re you doing h-?


She was cut off, silenced by the woman?s finger on her lips. ?They?re almost here. Shut the fuck up and hide me.?




Before long, there was a violent banging on the mansion?s front door. ?Open up!? Came the angry voice from outside. ?This is Dame Lynnley, first ranking officer of the Knights!? Allie, who was nearby at the time, went to answer the door, wondering why the name sounded familiar. She realized why when the woman barged in without waiting, that same handgun from last time at the ready. This time, though, she had a small group of Knights with her.


On seeing Allie, she pointed the gun at her, to which she reacted by throwing her hands up in the air. ?Don?t shoot me! Please!?


Lynnley lowered her weapon on hearing that. ?We?ve done this exact thing already.? She said, sounding somewhat annoyed by the repetition. This time, though, instead of Carline, Anni showed up.


?Hey,? she said, remembering her. ?Aren?t you the one who barged into our home a few months ago, threatening to shoot people over a mistaken identity??


??yes. And for that I sincerely apologize. But this case is much harder to mistake, since it?s a rather public face.?


?And who would that be??


?Praeli Macsala.?


?What for?? she asked. Praeli had already told Anni that Knights had been trailing her, but had neglected to say why in favor of swearing at her and demanding that she hide her.


Lynnley?s expression changed to one of disbelief. ?Seriously? Sometime, someone, anyone: turn on the television to the news. Share it with everyone. It?s not that hard.? She sighed and continued. ?Praeli, for reasons no one knows yet, has had a radical shift in demeanor. She broke into our base, freed one of our most dangerous convicts, and together with her killed almost three dozen of our own on the way out. We have no idea what she is planning with the woman going by ?Jade?, but we now have orders to kill either on sight.?


This news shook Anni, who sincerely hoped it was another case of mistaken identity. ?A-are you sure it was her??


?Yes, I?m sure this time.? Lynnley sounded a bit angry over the admittedly reasonable doubt. ?There aren?t a whole lot of five-foot-ten, foulmouthed, red-eyed blondes in the world.?


?Well, why are you here then??


?Because she?s been reported to have consorted with you people as of late, and we?ve followed her this direction. Whether or not you are aware of it, there are very good odds that she is in this mansion. So, do you wish to cooperate, or will we search this building by force??


Anni swallowed, hoping that what she?d done worked. ?I?ll cooperate. My master is out, and she?d probably much rather that than the alternative.?


?Ah, good. You?re so much more reasonable than she is.? She looked over her shoulder. ?Alright, men, fan out and find her! But do remember that this is a home, so try not to upset anything she couldn?t possibly be using!? The Knights under her command did just that without a word, and Lynnley holstered her gun, walking towards Anni. ?You, however, accompany me. I?d like to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I can?t risk you going off and planning with her, if you?re collaborating. I hope you understand.?


?Of course.?


?Right then. Shall we??


The two women walked in silence, exploring the place, Lynnley checking every feasible place someone Praeli?s size could fit, and inspecting every servant they came across. Well over an hour went by before they began to make their way back to the entrance.


?Well, I?ve found nothing. It seems Macsala even now does not trust you people to-? Lynnley stopped talking on seeing someone tall down the hallway.


?Stay here.? She murmured to Anni, before rushing down to the woman. She was in a dress, sure, but her frame was pretty similar to Praeli?s, and about the same height too?


She grabbed the woman by the shoulder and spun her to be face-to-face, her other hand on her gun. ?Wh-what?s going on?? the fearful woman cried. Lynnley kept both hands in their places, but was now noticing the differences. This woman?s hair was a light brown, and her eyes hazel. Furthermore, she was quite busty, her cleavage-bearing outfit making that obvious. Still, though, this could all be faked.


Lynnley tugged at her hair sharply once or twice, to her protests. ?Hm, not a wig, but it could be an impromptu dye?? She looked into the woman?s watering eyes, and as best as she could tell, they weren?t contacts. The only other thing was?


?Sorry about this? She said, before pulling open her dress, the woman?s breasts popping out. She let out a yelp, but Lynnley ignored it, studying the bosom for any signs of falsehood. By that point, Anni had caught up to her.


?Dame Lynnley! What the hell are you doing to her??


?This woman is highly suspect. She fits, at the very least, a profile of Macsala.?


?A profile? With those things? Are you nuts?? As she said this, Anni removed her cape, laying it over the bared chest of the blushing woman to cover her. ?Are you telling me that Praeli is the only woman in the world who?s tall with long hair? Because those are the only similarities I see.?


?So you didn?t notice her abdominals, or her arms, then?? Lynnley retorted, holding up one of the latter.


?So Jenine works out a bit, so what? Are you saying every woman has to be limp and weak unless they?re Praeli??


?You?re being awfully defensive about this.?


?Sorry I don?t like seeing people molested around me. And besides, if I was really disguising her, don?t you think I?d fix that oversight??


?I suppose??


While they spoke, Jenine rebuttoned her clothing, and continued looking embarrassed. ?Miss Knight? C-can I leave??


?Yes, sure, whatever.? Lynnley blew a puff of air. ?My apologies. I jumped the gun, there.?


?I-it?s alright?? the other woman said, before hurrying on her way.


?So???


?Yes, she doesn?t seem to be here. I?ll gather the men and we?ll go.? Before long, she?d done just that, and the group stood at the door again. Lynnley turned toward Anni one last time.


?My thanks for your cooperation,? she said, holding out her hand. Anni took and shook it.


?I hope you catch her though. Hers seems purposeful, unlike what happened with my master.?


?I?ve heard many accounts,? Lynnley said, catching a glimpse of Jenine standing on the stairs, her top now closed all the way. She decided to ignore that vision. ?And all of them agree that she was very frightened herself when it happened. We are very confused as to how to deal with her, which is why we haven?t really come calling? you?d think that after nine years, it would be clear, but??


?Yeah??


A silence hung in the air, before Lynnley spoke again. ?Regardless, we have a job to do, so that this does not happen again. The world?s gone mad these days; there?s too many people like her, but who do it on purpose. Dealing with them is part of why we exist.? She turned to leave. ?If you see her, report to us immediately.? She said, before closing the door behind her.


Almost immediately, Jenine came bounding up from around the corner. This Jenine, however, had darker hair, and blue eyes.


?Fuckin? finally. She?s gone??


?Yes, Praeli, she?s gone.?


The other Jenine came down from the stairs. ?Will that be all, Miss Annilitia??


?Yes, thanks. Sorry about the, uh, stripping there.?


?It?s fine?? She said, looking at Praeli. ?It?s a nice coincidence that we?re about the same size, Miss Macsala.?


?Yeah. Thanks for letting us use your looks.? She replied, with all the honesty in the world. Jenine nodded, smiling, and left.


?Alright, you, deflate me, will you?? Praeli said, pointing to her chest. ?These things are fuckin? ridiculous.? Anni did so, to her relief. ?Ugh? I never want to show off that much of my tits again.? Praeli said, while fiddling with her top to make it less revealing.


?I thought it looked nice??


?Course you do. You?re a fag.?


?I am NOT a fag! I just? really like breasts, is all??


?I?m really not sure how you could spin that any other way than you being a fag??


Anni fell silent, and Praeli continued buttoning her clothing shut, when she had a realization.


?Oh, I?m sorry?? She said remorsefully. ?I didn?t mean to-?


?Praeli.? Anni said, with absolute seriousness.


?What??


?Did you or did you not kill those people??


?Why the FUCK,? she yelled, ?would I do that!?? She took a deep breath. ?I don?t know who or how, but some asshole looks to be impersonating me. They?ve broken out someone who I know firsthand to be very dangerous, and who seems to have gotten moreso since then. I imagine they?re being me so that I can?t interfere, but I don?t know what they?re using her for. Regardless, I have to go and find out.?


?Praeli! You can?t do that! Have you seen those people? They?re some of the only ones allowed to use guns! I don?t care how badass you are; you can?t get through them!?


?Fucking watch me. In fact, I?m going straight to their base to find out how this happened.?


?Praeli, I know we?ve barely interacted before this, if at all, but listen to me: you are a national hero. I don?t want you going and getting yourself killed.?


?National hero? Don?t you watch the news? They want me dead. Everyone. Because of what that bastard imposter did, no one gives a fuck what I?ve done before now. Funny how fickle they are.? She looked aside. ?I?ll need to clear this up. I?m no more of use in a situation like this than I am dead, anyway.? She walked out. ?Thanks for the help, though.?


Anni watched her from the front door as she walked away. She had no emotional attachment to her personally, only catching brief glimpses of her when she and Carline had fought, but no real interaction with her. Still?


?Wait!? She said, running out to her.


?What??


?You can?t-?


?I?m fucking doing it! I don?t care what you say!?


?That?s not it! I can?t let you do this without someone helping you. You?ll get too suspicious, especially if you don?t have someone monitoring you to make sure you don?t make yourself obvious. I?m coming with.?


?No.? Praeli said bluntly. ?I?m not endangering you by bringing you along. It?s because it?s too dangerous that I go alone. If I get killed, then it?s just me, whatever. I die doing what I do best.?


?Praeli??


?No means no. That?s final.? She continued on her way after saying that.


?Alright!? Anni called, following her in step. ?Fine then. I?ll have you know I?m going to the Castle too.?


?What the hell would you need to go there for??


?Oh, I wanna investigate too. But since you won?t travel with me, I guess I?ll just need to go separately.?


?Dammit, you fucking idiot! Stay here, and let me handle this! Just because Carline killed people important to me doesn?t mean I need to fucking get one important to her killed in return!?


Anni grabbed her by the arm, and she stopped. ?Praeli. Do you really think they?re letting anyone in that place anymore? As far as they?re concerned, they can?t even trust a national hero in there. What makes you think you?ll get in like that? Do you even remember what the name of this woman is??


???


?Yeah, I thought so. And I guarantee you that Dame Lynnley will remember it, with how recent it?ll be. Don?t you think it?ll be a bit suspicious if you can?t keep your name straight? And besides, now that I think about it, I have a plan.?


?Do you really??


?Yeah, and the more I think about it, the better it seems.?


Praeli hesitated for a while.


??fine. If I tell you to get the hell out, though, you get the hell out. Understood??


?I-?


?Understood?? Praeli repeated, more firmly.


??yes.? ?Alright then. I?m going on my own after we?re done there, though. And if you try to follow me then I swear on my parents? grave I will fucking knock you unconscious and leave.? There was another silence, after which Praeli?s expression softened. ??sorry. It?s just in my nature to not want innocent people harmed. And I don?t want to know what would happen to someone willingly traveling with me now.?


?I know, I know??


?Let?s go then?? Praeli said, turning to leave.


?Wait!?


?What now??


?You know? Jenine has a much larger bust than you? and Lynnley?s seen it, so she?ll probably remember that too??


Praeli took on a blush on hearing that, realizing what it meant. ?S-son of a bitch??