A Man And His Paradise

Luna’s face was a mask of confusion. She wanted to tell him what she was doing here. But Celestia had said not to say anything about their agenda with the young Human. She slowly looked into his eyes, and finally remembered why she felt so nervous around this man.

His eyes, they were different than others. They started off as blue surrounding the iris, but the expanded into a sea of green. It was almost magical to behold. The fact also remained that those were not the eyes of the young man that had helped her sister and herself so many years ago. His eyes had changed to ones that had seen hardships, beyond that which mortals should see.

He looked into her eyes, and said it again “Why are you here, on earth.” She sighed as she looked off into the night sky. She finally looked back after a few minutes. “Tis because off what thou did so many years before.” He looked at her with what could only be described as confusion. “What did I do that caught the attention of a goddess?”

She looked back up towards the night sky, looking at the full moon. “This is not our first visit to this world. Or the first time we have met thou.” Needless to say he looked surprised at what she had said. With his eyebrows raised he said “We’ve met before? How come I don’t remember it? And what do you mean it’s not your first time on Earth?” she looked back towards him with a smile on her face.

“Twas not a long time ago, we think it may have been five years, six maybe eight...”

Luna’s Flashback

A young girl was crossing the street on a cool summer’s night walking with her sister, in this world they were known as Lucy and Chelsea. While they both had some family resemblance, their hair was completely different. Lucy’s hair was a deep blue, which resembled the night sky. And her eye colour was that of the blue sea. Chelsea’s hair looked as if it had been dyed. Her hair was a very light pink. And her eye colour closely resembled a pinkish hue.

Both girls were laughing with each other after spending time at the amusement park. Lucy was holding what the man at the stall had called ‘cotton candy’ in a wrapped up bag, while Chelsea was holding bags that contained a multitude of stuffed animals she and Lucy had won off the games at the park. The girls were walking towards the location that they needed to reach in the time they had left that day. And going to the amusement park had taken up most of the time they had left.

Lucy looked towards her sister with a concerned face “Tia should we not travel back home?” Celestia looked towards her little sister with a warm smile “In this world Lulu you will need to call me Chelsea” she said with a warm laugh “And yes. We should get back soon. It is getting rather dark.” She now had a frown on her face. Lucy turned toward her older sister with a confused look. “Sister, is something wrong?”

Chelsea looked over her shoulder, noticing a peculiar shadow in the darkness. She leaned towards her sister. “Lucy” she whispered. “We must move quickly. We are being followed.” Lucy nodded quickly and pointed towards an alley “We may be able to lose our pursuer in there.” Quickly but surely, they moved into the alleyway, not noticing the man sitting behind the dumpster.

Changed Perspectives: Roderick

Though I was awake, I did not move from my spot behind the dumpster for fear of frightening the two women. When they had safely passed I let out a sigh of relief. I just wanted to be left in peace. A shadow walked past me and I saw a third person enter the alley. This man was different. Dark cloaks, shifty eyes. He didn’t look like he was travelling with the two girls ahead of him. He looked as if he was after something. With a wild look in his eyes, I noticed his eyes. They were eyes of a criminal. He moved slowly into the alleyway. Reaching into his jacket he pulled out a knife, and moved quietly behind the two girls. I had seen many situations like these before and had ‘dissuaded’ the other party from continuing their action many a times.

This man though, he was different, I just knew it. As he approached the girls he called to them in a hoarse voice. “Where do ya think yer going girlys?” both girls stopped in their tracks to star at the man behind them. The tall girl spoke out. “My good sir, my sister and I were just heading back to our apartment to rest for the night.”

The man looked at them and chuckled. “Is that so? I thought ya were going to hand over any jewellery ya had to me?” The younger of the two girls (at least she looked to be younger) said to the man “Now why would we give thou all our possessions?” Hang on a minute that voice sounds familiar! I thought to myself. The man chuckled again and spoke in a dark voice “cause if ya don’t im’a stick ya with this here knife!” he said as he approached the two girls.

The two girls now looked fearful at the man before them. I groaned as I looked at my bottle, standing up while taking a swig of the little in the bottle. I gripped the empty bottle before looking at the man. He had his back turned from me. Not a wise choice. I calmly walked up behind him before raising the glass bottle. I paused for a second. Before I tapped the man on the shoulder, and started to bring the bottle down.

The man turned around and was able to get out the words “what tha?” before the glass bottle fell on his head. The man collapsed in a heap. I stood over him, waiting. A groan was heard from the man on the ground. Nodding, confirming that he was still alive. I walked over to the two girls.

Coughing into my hand I said “sorry about that didn’t know if he was up to any good or not.”

The taller of the two, who I presumed was the older one spoke out first “It is no problem sir, we were about to call for help, but with you here that doesn’t seem to be a problem anymore.”

I smiled warmly at them before replying “you know this area isn’t safe at night. I might suggest that you would allow me to let you stay the night at my place?”

The smaller of the two girls spoke out in an angry tone “And how do we know that thou is any better than the man behind you?”

“Hush now Lucy.” The taller of the two one said “This man just saved us.” I smiled back at both of the girls before replying

“While your concern is misplaced it is admirable. I would be suspicious too if a man that knocked out a guy about to attack you, offered you a place to stay for the night, free of charge.”

The smaller dark haired one known as Lucy looked at the pink haired one and said with a triumphant smile before saying “See Chelsea, this one even agrees with me!”

Again I coughed into my hand catching both of their attention again. “If you would allow me to introduce myself” I said with a bow “Roderick Hallerway at your service”

The one known as Chelsea looked at me with a warm smile before saying “My name is Chelsea.” while pointing at herself “And this is my sister, Lucy.” She pointed at the younger of the two who had her arms folded and a frown on her face. She looked away with a “humph!” I chuckled slightly at that.

Hearing a noise behind me, I turned around. It seemed that the man who had threatened the two girls before was getting up again. He staggered a bit before grabbing his knife again pointing it at me. “Alright boy.” He said before cracking his knuckles and wiping away some blood from his mouth. “Im’a cut ya up good!” He then proceeded to charge at me in a way that had many opening in his sides and front.

Dodging his first attack by moving to the left of him, this gained a gasp from behind me from how quick I was to move. I clenched my fist and struck out at a blur. Needless to say the man tried to dodge, but wasn’t fast enough to dodge me. My fist connected with his face. My left hand a blur as it reached forward and grabbed his knife from his hand, discarding it to the side.

I then spun around him, grabbed his collar and threw him at the wall. Bouncing off it I grabbed him again before throat slamming him into the ground. I stood slowly looking down at the man. I moved my hand towards his throat and placed two fingers on it. In response I felt his steady pulse; nodding to myself I stood up and dusted myself off.

The two girls were staring at me, and then at the man on the ground. Catching their drift I raised my hands up in a peace offering before saying, “I’m not like him, I saw you all enter the alley and thought you could use some help.”

The oldest one that had pink hair locked my gaze with hers. Before saying “Although I am not fond of violence,” she then smiled at me “I suppose I should thank you for helping my sister and I.”

I smiled again and swiped at a bit of dust on my shoulder “It’s no problem. I can’t say that anyone else would have done the same.” I chuckled at my own expense “I suppose I’m just too different for this world” I shook my head slowly.

The taller one looked at me with a raised eyebrow. I smiled at her and coughed into my hand. I looked towards Lucy and smiled sadly. I said to her in a calm voice. “You know, you two look familiar to me, but I can’t place where I have seen you before....”

They both looked confused and shocked by what I had said. I sighed and said “Never mind, let us head to my apartment before more of these twats show up.” I then started walking towards the mouth of the alley, before stopping and looking over my shoulder with a smile saying “Well? Are you coming?” They looked towards me, Chelsea asked me with a smile on her face “where are we going to?”

I smiled even broader than before while saying “You two look like tourists. So you can hang with me and stay out of the streets for a night or two, or stay here to get attacked again, your choice.”The two girls looked to each other before nodding. They followed me out of the alleyway, a skip in their step and a smile on their faces. As I continued leading them to my place I thought to myself.

Now what am I going to do with you two?