Re: Incarnation

In the weeks leading up to the homecoming Magen regularly overheard that Duncan did in fact intend to win her back during homecoming. Since she was already queen of the school she would naturally be homecoming queen and as the star quarterback Duncan was set to be king since normally only the popular kids bothered to vote. During the first slow dance that was set to be a solo between the king and queen, Duncan planned to make his move.

Magen felt more anxiety now then any previous point in her life, naturally wanting to look her best she planned to wear the same midnight blue outfit she wore during her date with Duncan years ago. She even added some midnight blue tips to her hair and a hairband with a violet on it. When the day came, she went solo without a date since she and Duncan split up.

She arrived somewhat early and was one of the first in line. As she waited with her friends inside the gym that had been turned into a dancefloor, she listened to her friends talk. “Did you hear? Apparently Jon's coming to homecoming this year.” the other friend chuckled “A scarecrow in a monkey suit? This I've got to see. Odds are he's got some beat up hand-me-down rags. What a joke.” They laughed. “Why would he even bother?”

Megan didn't join them in laughing but instead watched the door as people came in. Waiting to see Jon. Her heart paced slightly with anticipation. When he finally entered, Megan almost didn't recognize him. He had his hair combed and slicked back. He wore a surprisingly nice looking suit that was a bit broader in the shoulder than he needed, giving him a more angular and stronger silhouette. If Megan didn't know better she'd think Jon sent his brother Bart in just to mess with everyone.

Megan couldn't help but say out loud. “Jon… cleans up nicely.” Her friend spat out her drink and choked a bit. “Holy shit. That's one sexy scarecrow.” Jon flicked a part of his hair out and took on a cocky smile more akin to something Bart would have on his face. He then spoke in a lower register than normal, taking on a seductive tone. “Hello ladies.” This wasn't aimed at anyone specifically. He then took on a more rigid pose like he'd normally have and his voice returned to normal. “Nope, that felt wrong.”

Megan accidentally said “Maybe I should go say hi.” Outloud and her friend said “I would go for it but I heard he swings the other way.” Megan let out a light chuckle “Nah, I had to interact with him for a group project or two when the teacher picked the groups. I know for a fact he's into women, he just… has a type I guess? He goes for personality first either way.” The music starts and people start dancing. Neither Megan or her friends are able to really move through the crowd well and Jon vanished easily into it.

Then, after a few songs, the music died down. “Alright everyone, we are now going to do the first slow dance. As is traditional, it will be a solo dance between the homecoming king and queen so let's check the results of the votes. I hear a lot more people turned out than normal this year and that makes me really happy to see such participation.” The chaperone for the event then pulls out an envelope. “We'll start with the queen.” He opens it and pulls out the paper. “Surprising no one, it's Megan Everit.” The group claps as the spotlight hits her, the group parts and opens up a spot for her and the king to slow dance.

“Now for the King.” He opens the envelope and looks at it. There's a long pause before he grabs an assistant. “You counted the votes right? Is this a joke?” The assistant shakes their head. “I counted it three times, it wasn't even close either. So if this is a joke, it's a really well done one.” The chaperone clears his throat. “The King is… Jon Doe. Somehow.” There is no clapping as the light hits Jon who just has this smug look on his face. Duncan was furious and claimed foul play. The chaperone confirmed it was legit and started the music.

Jon walked into the dancing floor and stretched out his hand for Megan. “Duncan was being a jerk and needed to be taught a lesson in democracy. Everyone agreed it would hurt the most for the least popular student to win so all the misfits banded together. Some of the popular kids even voted for me because they were sick of Duncan's crap.” His smile was more genuine then cocky now. “So Megan Everit, may I have this dance?”

Megan's heart raced as she reached out and grabbed Jon's hand. He pulled her in and started dancing with her. He was light on his feet and kept with the rhythm of the music perfectly. Another surprise talent in Jon's arsenal. He was a good dancer. “It's a shame we have nothing in common. If I helped him start a business cooking he could be at a financial position for my father to approve…” Megan shook the thought. “Jon I…”

Jon shushed her. “I didn't do this for you. I did this to spite Duncan.” Megan’s heart almost skipped a beat. “Does he… can he…” she sighs “I know that, but I'm still grateful.” The two danced in silence till the song ended and separated. She couldn't spot him again after that and when the event ended she went home.

Once home she flopped into her bed. “I feel like a big idiot Emily.” She said to the house servant that was cleaning her room when she got home. “Are you regretting ending things with that meathead Duncan? Cause girl, he didn't deserve you. And for the hundredth time my name isn't Emily. Emily was the servant three people before me.” Megan sighed “Right, sorry. No, I'm not regretting dumping Duncan. In fact I… kinda might have a crush on someone else.”

The servant sits on a chair by the bed. “I'm guessing there's some sort of obstacle preventing you from just getting what you want and that's where the frustration is.” Megan plopped her head on the pillow a few times. “We have nothing in common, we are almost complete opposites. He is not the kind that goes for looks and let's face it, my personality isn't winning any beauty competitions like my body could.”

The servant sighed. “You find the one guy who's not gay that isn't climbing mountains to have you, it's only natural. People want what they can't have and for the first time in your life you've found a challenge. You really aren't used to having to work for things. Maybe you enjoy a challenge, or the change of pace. Either way it's probably just a passing phase. Like you said, you have nothing in common. I find you need at least some common ground with someone to form a relationship. Even just a friendship.”

Megan rolled over. “I mean… I know I'm not in love with him and it's not romantic at all. He fills a void I didn't know I had, and could do so as just a friend. But father would never approve of me spending time with… well a commoner I guess. Though he has talents that could be profitable if he was given something to start with. Maybe if I could talk daddy into giving me some start up money I could help Jon start a business.”

The servant paused for a bit. “Jon… who exactly?” Megan blushed, she didn't mean to say his name. “Jon Doe, he's a boy in my class.” She muttered. Not Emily then said “As in the younger brother of Bart Doe, son of Henry Doe?” Megan sat up. “You know him?” The servant looked Megan right in the eyes “My little sister dated Bart, and Henry works for your dad. Hundred Handed Henry, the bartender at the inn.” Megan was surprised. “Wait, you mean the guy that looks like a biker thug and doubles as a bouncer? That's… definitely an image.”

The servant nodded and made her way out of the room. Megan put on her nightclothes and went to bed. She was going to try her best to return to normal and ignore her feelings. After all, it was just a passing phase. Her desire for the first thing she couldn't have. Since the dance was a Friday she had a few days to sort herself. Everything was normal till lunch. Duncan couldn't let the humiliation go unchallenged.

“Hey scarecrow. We've got a score to settle after Friday, and without your big bro here to protect you, you're dead meat.” Mr. Ferrigno was the teacher assigned to watch over lunch that day. “Duncan, stand down. If you start something in front of everyone I'll have no choice but to bench you.” Duncan wasn't listening and he balled up his fist and pulled all the way back for a heavy and telegraphed punch to Jon's jaw. Jon didn't dodge or even flinch. There was a loud crack sound as Jon took a few steps back, reeling from the hit.

He then stood up straight and gave Duncan a death glare. Mr. Ferrigno went “Oh fu-” before Jon slugged Duncan so fast that Megan didn't even see the fist move. Duncan hit the floor like a sack of potatoes and didn't get up right away. The coach was there to help get Duncan up. “Normally I'd have to give you detention despite the fact he clearly started it, but honestly giving you both detention just sets you up for retaliation from Duncan.” He then cleared the crowd and the rest of the day was normal.

Jon didn't want to talk about it, but the next day Duncan waited till after school to come after Jon again. “You got in a lucky hit yesterday, but today I'll kick your ass and take back what's rightfully mine.” Jon looked over to Duncan. “I've not taken anything of yours.” Duncan shoved Jon. “You may not have taken her, but I lost Megan because of you.” Jon tilted his head. “First off, people aren't property. Second off, did you ever stop to think you lost her because you were an over possessive shit.”

Duncan went for a punch to Jon's face for a second time, only this time he dodged and grabbed Duncan's arm to flip him and land him on the ground before leaving Duncan on the floor. After that Megan had to shout at Duncan to drop it and he actually did. Everything slowly achieved a new normal. Megan arranged for Jon to cook and bake for her birthday, with her dad paying for it. Other than that, everything continued as was. Jon didn't go to prom later in the year, and after graduation she didn't see him much again.

The odd encounter at a superstore, and that was it. After high school Jon went straight to some office job that apparently paid well enough for him to live comfortably. Megan offered to help him with some start up money for a business but he turned it down. Years passed and although she had her regrets Megan didn't go out of her way to reach out to Jon. Then, many years after they graduated, she received news that Jon had died.

She received an invite to his funeral. Though she wasn't sure why. She went anyway. His family and close friends were all that were there. When they asked if people wanted to speak, after seeing no one else was stepping up, Megan walked to the podium. “Hello, my name is Megan Everit, and I went to highschool with Jon. We were not exactly friends, in fact I treated him poorly for most of the time I knew him. Something I regret. Jon was… misunderstood by most. Most people in school thought he'd become a serial killer. Media has a bad habit of making it the quiet kid when usually it's the charismatic types whenever one actually happens.”

Megan took a breath. “Jon always showed me kindness, despite how I treated him. He knew I didn't actually hate him but was just going with social norms. He was extremely empathetic, to animals as well as humans. He kept spiders as pets because he felt a sort of kinship with them. Misunderstood like himself. I remember when we were in school he taught me about this game he liked. Creatures and Catacombs. He explained a mystery he solved and after telling me how it went and giving me a small hint I was able to figure it out. Because of that, I looked into trying to play the game.”

Megan paused again then continued. “If I was given a second chance to redo things, I would be kinder to Jon and have opened up to him. I think, if things were different. We could have been friends.” She then stepped down. The funeral continued with Jon's will being read at the end. Apparently, he had left all his Creatures and Catacombs things, including his treasured sword, to her. Simply because she solved the same puzzle he did. Though she did need the hint to do so.

Megan treasured the gift, refusing to sell it regardless of the offer. After all, she already had plenty of money and fame. She had become an actress and singer. Unfortunately, she gained a stalker who kept writing her creepy letters. Despite being told to ignore them she sent a clear refusal to the creep. He started stalking her and eventually decided that if he couldn't have her, no one could.

One day, five years after Jon's death, in the dead of night, while Megan lay sleeping in her oversized bed, the stalker broke into her home. “If we can't live together, my sweet, we can die together. Our souls intertwined in death.” He ended both their lives. As Megan felt herself floating she felt his presence. But it was pulled away from her.

Elizabeth woke in a cold sweat. The memories from her past life are still fresh in her mind. Born to the king and queen of the kingdom of Bramble. One among many in a large empire. However she wasn't the oldest and she wasn't a boy. So she was to be married off to someone for political or military gains. Once again born rich and beautiful, even more rich and perhaps even more beautiful than in her last life. Not only that, but she was born with a gift for magic.

More blessed than in her last life, but also more cursed. She was set to be married off on her fifteenth birthday to the Duke of Flowers in exchange for inventions from some artificer that lives in the city. “Are you ready Princess Elizabeth? We must leave soon if we are to make it to Flowers in time. We can only take a gate to the border of Ran, from there it's a month-long carriage ride. Rather than hire a party of low to middle rank adventurers I hired one who was recommended by a local knight I trust who fit a number of criteria I set.”

Elizabeth gave a nod. “I'll trust your judgment Emily.” The servant bowed. “It's Emma ma'am.” Elizabeth sighed. “Right, sorry. Being the closest thing I have to a friend in this world you'd think I'd remember that.” Emma stayed bowed. “It's fine, really. Let us get you ready.” With help, she put on an elegant jeweled dress and took a Yggdrasil gate to the border of Ran. There she met with a caravan. From then it would be just her, her two drivers, Emma, and the adventurer that Emma arranged for.

Emma pointed out a broad looking man in all black armor that covered his entire body. “Allow me to introduce our guide to the city of Flowers. The Black Knight of Riverside, Racknar Aradae.” The knight bowed. “Just to clarify, I've not actually been knighted.” Emma then continued “Racknar here has been praised as the Da Vinci of swordsmen, a real prodigy. He's only a few months older than you.”

Elizabeth groaned. “Really Emma.” She sighed. “Let me see his guild file.” Emma hands her the file she herself looked over before picking Racknar. “Hmm… a beast-kin? Not exactly common in the Empire. Explains why you hide your face. Racial tension can be a problem.”

Elizabeth started getting into the carriage. “I am Princess Elizabeth Bramble, you will under no circumstances shorten my first name. In fact, only address me as Princess. Understood?” Racknar closed the door for her once she was in. “Princess, in this case I am a sell-sword. You give me some coins and I'll call you whatever you want.” Elizabeth then asked “How should I address you then, since you are not officially a knight?”

Racknar made a strange sound before he responded. “Lady, you can call me whatever you like. Just don't call me late for dinner.” The response got a chuckle from Emma. Elizabeth simply rolled her eyes. “Let us get moving then Racknar.” The carriage started moving with Racknar walking alongside it. Emma and Elizabeth were inside with both drivers in coach.

After a while Racknar got into the carriage to take a break, with Emma moving to sit on one of the horses for a bit even though the carriage had room for four. “I can't believe Emma pulled a stunt like this.” Racknar tilted his head. “Stunt like what?” Elizabeth sighed. “She's the closest thing I have to a best friend and she wants me to… have a chance at real romance before I'm wed to a man I've never met.”

Racknar chuckled “And she has no issues trying to set you up with someone who's not human?” Elizabeth shook her head “she may have even aimed for it. Less risk of having proof of an affair you see.” Racknar nodded. “Well you are lovely looking, but I'm not exactly one to have random flings. I'd rather find a forever person who I click with. Looks aren't everything.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yeah, I know. Truly I do. What Emma doesn't know is I have known love. Kinda. I was in love, once. Sort of. It's hard to explain.” Racknar waved his hand in a circle. “I've got nothing but time Princess. Why not try?” Elizabeth sighed again. “This isn't my first life. I… am a reborn. Though I don't talk about it much.”

Racknar nodded. “You had someone special in your last life then?” Elizabeth looked away from Racknar. “He was my opposite in every way and we didn't actually date. I wouldn't say I loved him but he filled a void in my life I didn't know I had. If things had been different… Honestly I don't think he would have gotten anything out of a relationship with me. Even if it had only been platonic. We had nothing in common but he had a way of getting me to open up and be myself. A freedom I am denied in this life too.”

Racknar sat there in silence for a moment. Elizabeth looked at him and asked “What, nothing to say?” He then said: “Sorry, I was a bit distracted. It's just… That shade of yellow makes you look jaundiced.” Elizabeth pulled back in shock. “Excuse me?!” Racknar then reiterated “That shade of yellow. It makes your skin look sickly.” Elizabeth looked at the yellow dress that was chosen for her. “Damn, yeah. I should have remembered that. Yellow wasn't my color in my last life either.”

Racknar chuckled. “Wear more blue, a darker shade would be best.” Elizabeth eyed Racknar for a moment. “Tell me Racknar, have you ever heard of a non-human Reborn before?” Racknar seemed a bit confused by the sudden change of pace but responded anyway. “Of course Princess, because I am one.” Elizabeth put her hand on her chin. “There's no way… is there? It was the one thing I asked for if given a second life after all.”

Elizabeth then asked “Are you familiar with the four fragments of Excalibur?” Racknar again was a bit confused by the seemingly random questions. “Yeah. One sword was split into two. One dark one light. When they clashed both broke and were remade into two swords each. Ending in four swords. It's said that if you collect all four and solve a message the original will reform.”

Elizabeth nodded “All four fragments are held by the Kingdom of Bramble. I assume you're familiar with the message.” Racknar nodded. “I’m more than familiar, Princess.” Elizabeth let out a sigh “Last question. Do you know the answer to the message?” Racknar stared at her for a moment. Then, after a long pause, simply nodded. Elizabeth smiled a big smile. “So do I, Sir Doe.”