Chapter Text
She was floating peacefully… quietly. There was no sound in her dream, only the soft kisses of the cool breeze against her bare arms and legs. When Anna opened her eyes, she almost thought she was in heaven because of the puffy clouds all around her. She felt the suns warm rays pressing against her back.
As she took in her surroundings, a moment later, she realized in surprise that she could see colors! There were golden hues of purple and red, puffs of blue, and small glares of green. It was as if she was within a rainbow itself!
Closing her eyes, she let out a sigh, content that her dream this time was a peaceful one.
Just as quick, she opened them in time to find her radiant surroundings become a blur all of a sudden. It was like watching one of Tatara's videos being fast forwarded. When she blinked, she found a huge slab of rock looming right in front of her.
But it wasn't just any piece of rock. No, Anna knew immediately what it was. She'd seen it many times before when she was still in the Institution being forced to become the Blue King by Mizuchi. The center of the slab had a circle carved in. Outside of the circle were rectangular-like patterns that almost looked like a maze or puzzle. There were strange symbols and writings scratched within the empty spaces left.
The Dresden Slate.
From her time when she was being 'hospitalized' in the Institution, she had heard rumors from the researchers and scientists there about its mysterious power that often manifested within various living beings. Beings such as herself—which classified some people and animals as 'Strains'. And sometimes it materialized in even more special people called 'Kings'.
Why was she dreaming of the slate?
'Anna Kushina…' A mixture of voices softly whispered in the back of her mind.
The child whipped her head side to side in an attempt to find the person who had just spoken. Then she paused and turned to face the mystical rock that had suddenly shifted itself to below her feet. Now she was standing upon it.
"You…." Anna's eyes widened in astonishment. "Did you…talk just now?"
'Anna Kushina' was all it said. She guessed that was a 'yes' to her question.
"How can you..?" She struggled to find her words but she was completely speechless. Nobody in the Institute had mentioned anything about this! Was she the first one to discover its ability to communicate?
"I am divine power." It said. Well that answered everything for her….
"How do you know my name?" Anna asked cautiously. Honami and Izumo had always taught her to no interact so carelessly with strangers. She assumed that that included mystical objects as well. And if this was a trick or someone outside was playing with her mind.. possibly another Strain even….
"I know everything." The Slate stated. "Even before Time itself began. Before the universe was created. I know everything. I was the one who granted you—and a million others—power."
"You made me a Strain?" Anna asked quietly. This thing talking telepathically in her mind was the one who destroyed her precious life? Just by giving her abnormal power?
"Yes." It whispered back. "But I did not 'destroy' your life. Destiny played its card after I did."
Anna knew that it was right in some way. She just wanted, no—needed—someone—something—to blame for all the tragedies that she was forced to suffer.
"Is this… real?" Anna muttered. Of course, her psychic power allowed her to see that it was.
"Yes." The Slate answered anyways.
"Why are you here?" Anna asked. Honestly, she was quite curious and more than suspicious as to why this powerful object that could make beings to gods was conversing with her.
The Dresden Slate didn't respond back for a while and Anna almost thought that its presence had left her until the voices echoed in her head once more. "To offer you power."
"Power?" She repeated in surprise. It wanted to give her more power? It already knew that the very power it granted her years ago was part of what caused her to have a sad childhood. She felt her cheeks puff up a little in frustration and irritation. "I have had a lot of people die… because of the power you gave to them. I am one of those who do not wish for more."
"Change history." It said slightly louder in her mind. If Anna knew any better, she would have thought that it was almost like it was trying to… tempt her.
Anna frowned in confusion. "What?"
"Do you want to change history, young one?" The Slate murmured.
The frown on her face only deepened even more. This was probably the most intense frown she had ever given. "What do you mean?"
A split second later, realization dawned upon the intelligent girl. "Are you… trying to say that I—I can bring back… Tatara and Mikoto? Is that what you mean when you say 'change history'?"
"… Yes, if that is what you want."
She tightly clutched the folds of her nightgown and nodded her head frantically. She could bring back Tatara and Mikoto! Then Homra would be complete again! Everyone would be happy and laughing just like the good old days. Izumo wouldn't have to be so sad anymore either!
"Yes!" Anna cried out desperately. It was the loudest her voice had been ever since Mikoto's death at the school's island. "Yes, give me back Mikoto and Tatara—please! I want them back. Please… bring them back to life for me. For all of Homra, please revive Tatara and Mikoto!"
Once again, the Dresden Slate remained silent for a few seconds. "I cannot bring them back to life, little one. A life that has been lost is one that cannot be found. The universal law restricts my divine power from stepping over those boundaries. It is a law that even I must respect and abide by."
"B-but…" Anna sputtered over her words. "You just told me that you could bring back Tatara and Mikoto!"
"I can." It said calmly. "There are other ways to regain a lost loved one."
"What?" Anna cried out and was about to stomp her foot angrily on the Slate but stopped. Other ways..? Understanding unfolded neatly in her mature mind. And her wine colored eyes widened into saucers. Her mouth straightened into a thin, firm line and she looked directly at the center of the rock.
"I know what I want." She whispered.
The Slate acknowledged her statement and said quietly, "What is your wish, child?"
She closed her eyes and slowly took a deep breath.
Was this all possible? If she brought back Tatara and Mikoto, would Izumo smile again? Would Yata stop bullying the others? Would Kamamoto eat more like he always used to? Would Fushimi come back even? Well, she wasn't exactly sure about that but.. it couldn't hurt to hope. Would there be more cuddles and naps with her king? Would she be able to see everyone's red again, including Mikoto's prettiness?
Yes.
If Anna could, then she would. She would prove to her clansmen that she was their strong and proud princess of the powerful red clan. She would unite Homra and with Tatara, Mikoto, and everyone else, they would continue to make many more happy memories together. Just like Tatara had always promised.
"Tell me, Slate," She muttered. "What is the cost that I must pay for my wish?"
Anna was still a young girl. But she had been granted the gift of extreme perception. Thus, she knew many things that a twelve year old girl wasn't supposed to know at her young age. She was intelligent and very clever even though her fragile appearance said otherwise. So she wasn't going to be fooled so easily either.
"You are wise, little girl." It replied back. "However, I cannot announce the cost right now. I need time to determine it later. But the time will come for me to collect the payment. And you must prepare yourself for when it does. You will know when…."
"… Okay." Her dark eyes that could see so much finally opened and she gazed at the slate waiting before her. "Then this is what I want: I wish to go back in time. Go back to before Tatara died."
"… As you wish." The Slate responded softly. Suddenly, it started to glow a bright and radiant mixture of colors of the color spectrum. "However, there is one rule that you must follow, no matter what. Whatever you do, child, do not tell anyone that you are from the future. If you do, then there will be dire consequences."
Violent chills and vibrations shook Anna's small body like a rag doll. She hugged her arms and looked around wildly for a moment before calming down and glancing back at the mysterious rock beneath her. "I want to ask something first. Why… why me?"
The Dresden Slate underneath her feet started to fade away. Before it vanished from her sight completely, she heard it whisper quietly in the recesses of her mind. "Because if it's you… then it's possible…."
Pain exploded from behind her eyes as the Slate, without warning, flared up all of a sudden. Everything was brighter than the sun and as she raised her hands up to shield her eyes, she felt her consciousness begin to quickly slip.
"What are you doing?" A deep voice asked her. It sounded so… familiar.
She opened her eyes slowly and rubbed at them before tilting her head up. There, standing before her in all of his bored glory, was her king.
"Mikoto…." She whispered as tears pricked her eyes. Before she knew what she was doing, she ran as fast as her small legs could carry her and launched herself at the red king, crying out in happiness, "Mikoto!"
"Mikoto! Mikoto! Mikoto!" She pressed her face against his warm torso, smelling his personal scent of smoke, cigarettes, and soap as her arms came up to tightly hug him.
"Ah?" He said in the same lazy voice which was laced with surprise. "What's going on?"
"You're here." Anna sighed as the tears continued racing down her cheeks like rain. "You're actually here…."
She felt him pause and place a hand on her head. "… Did something happen?"
"You—" Anna stopped. Oh, right, she couldn't say a word about anything in the future. She stepped back but just enough so she could still smell his scent. "Nothing… I just….."
Voices from downstairs interrupted her thinking. Wait, she was upstairs with Mikoto in front of her. All of this… happened before.
"What are you doing?" Mikoto asked her as she stood at the top of the stairs.
She blushed a little and a shy smile graced the princess's lips. "I… don't think I should go downstairs for a while."
The little girl left the confused king and hurried to her room so she could give her fellow clansmen privacy as they made preparations for their little princess's surprise birthday party.
That's right! This was exactly the day before her birthday—meaning tonight was Tatara's death. Tatara….
"Tatara!" Anna gasped before letting abruptly letting go of Mikoto. She turned around and ran down the stairs two at a time. As she descended, she saw Izumo at his usual place cleaning his glasses with a content grin on his face. Nearby were a group of her clansmen clustered at a table as they discussed what they were going to do for the celebration.
There was Yata, Kamamoto, Chitose, Dewa, Bando, Shohei, Fujishima, Eric, and… Tatara!
"Tatara!" Anna cried out, and felt her foot trip over the last step. The ground flew at her and she braced for impact. But it never came.
"Anna?! What's wrong? Are you okay?" A worried voice asked her. She peeked up to find Tatara holding her in his arms. His brows were furrowed in confusion and worry.
"Tatara! It's really you!" Anna sniffed and grasped the front of his long-sleeved shirt so she could bury her face in it. "You're here! You're really here….. This is real….."
"Anna?!" She heard Yata say. "W-wait, you—you didn't hear what we were saying just now, right?"
Oh, that's right. They were planning her birthday party, and she wasn't supposed to know about it. She felt her mouth tug up at the irony. "No, Yata-san, I… didn't hear anything."
"Ah, is that so?" Yata sighed in relief.
"Y-yeah!" Kamamoto spoke up. "We were just, uh, talking about what we're cooking for dinner! Nothing special, nothing special at all!"
"Idiot!" She heard Yata hit Kamamoto in the head.
Tatara pulled back from Anna so he could get a good look at her. When he noticed the wet cheeks, and red, teary eyes, he clicked his tongue and gently wiped the remains of her tears away with his hand. "Anna, what's wrong? Did something happen?"
"That's what I asked her…."
Before she could speak, she felt a powerful presence join them in the room. Everyone bowed respectfully and shouted, "Good morning, King!"
She rubbed her eyes and tilted her head up to find Mikoto towering over her with a bored expression on his face. But she knew by the look in his eyes that he was concerned with her.
"It's nothing." She murmured and stepped back to try and compose herself. It was useless though, she couldn't calm down. Anyone who knew her could tell from how she fidgeted with her Lolita dress that the girl was upset over something.
"If it's nothing, then why are you acting as if you haven't seen me or Tatara for over a century?" The king grunted.
Because you died….
"Anna," Tatara said gingerly as he grasped her hand and led her to the table where her clansmen smiled welcomingly at her. "If something is bothering you, then it's okay to tell us. We're family—we take care of each other no matter what. Right guys?"
"Yeah!" The other men yelled in agreement.
"This is Homra. If you've got a problem, then it's everyone's problem…. You don't have to bottle up your feelings anymore." Mikoto softly muttered to her before turning to Izumo for breakfast.
Anna took a deep breath and stole a glance at each of her clansmen.
"You see, I'm… I'm from the—" Wait. No, she couldn't say it. She couldn't say that she was from the future.
However, there is one rule that you must follow, no matter what. Whatever you do, child, do not tell anyone that are from the future. If you do, then will be dire consequences.
She didn't know what those consequences were, but instincts told her that it was going to be a fate worse than death itself.
So instead, she pulled a small smile and looked back up at Tatara. Her fingers trembled but she wasn't sure why. "I'm just… happy. Tomorrow, I'm turning thirteen—ah, I mean, eleven years old."
"Right!" Chitose laughed. "You're a step closer to becoming a fine young lady. A few more years from now and you can marry—ouch!"
Yata and Dewa had whacked his head again.
"Actually…" Anna paused and tugged on Tatara's sleeve. "There's something that I really want for my birthday, no matter what. If I can have it, then I won't ask for anything more ever again, I promise."
"You're such an honest girl, Anna." Bando praised her with a shake of his head.
"It's fine, it's fine! Anna is a good girl who rarely asks for anything." Tatara rubbed the child's head soothingly as he smiled at her. "Whatever it is, we of Homra will do everything in our power to make it happen!"
The princess peered up at the carefree man holding her in his lap. Everyone listened in as she whispered her wish quietly, "I want to spend time together with everyone—with Tatara and Mikoto. With all of Homra, I want to create many more happy memories in the future for us to cherish."
Mikoto glanced at her for a second before turning back to eat his breakfast as everyone stared at her in surprise.
"… Is that what Anna wants?" Izumo asked from behind his counter. He wasn't the only person with a bewildered expression on his face. "That's… pretty simple."
"Yes." She nodded furiously. "That's what I want."
"Are you sure you don't want a bag of snacks and candy?" Kamamoto asked while munching on his bag of chips.
"I don't think that's the ideal birthday gift, Kamamoto-san…" Dewa said.
"I can find a kitty for you." Fujishima offered.
Izumo waved a dishcloth at him. "No! No more strays, you hear?!"
"Pendant…." Eric muttered.
Shohei raised a brow at him. "Are you into jewelry or something?"
"I want to be together with everyone." Anna repeated softly.
"Well, if that is the wish of our princess," Tatara lightly kissed the back of her hand. "Then so be it. Though, I think that's what we do every day, right everybody?"
They enthusiastically pumped their fists up in the air with a "yeah!"
After making sure that the she was all right ad that she wasn't hurt, they went back to their business—which meant pretending that they were just doing their everyday stuff when in reality they were secretly continuing their plans for her surprise birthday party.
Mikoto finished eating and passed by her slowly, doing his own evaluation to determine whether or not she was truly fine. Then he went to the couch and laid down for a quick nap. It was just Anna and Tatara at the table now.
"But Anna," Tatara observed her closely. She only grasped his sleeve tighter and placed her head on his shoulder. "Are you sure you're okay? Somehow… you seem… different?"
"Mikoto's here. Tatara's here. And Izumo is happy." Anna sighed and closed her eyes. It worked. The Slate truly did grant her wish. "Everyone's here… Really, I couldn't be any happier."
"Ah, is that so?" Tatara smiled at the child in his arms. He brought her to the sofa next to their King and laid her down with him. Wrapping themselves with his blanket, Tatara made sure that the girl was safe and warm with him as they snuggled closer together.