Chapter Text
"Wretches! ye loved her for her wealth and hated her for her pride,
"And when she fell in feeble health, ye blessed her--that she died!
"How shall the ritual, then, be read?--the requiem how be sung
"By you--by yours, the evil eye,--by yours, the slanderous tongue
"That did to death the innocent that died, and died so young?"Lenore by Edgar Allen Poe
There used to be a field of poppies around Edgar Allen University.
The Master remembered how they grew around the campus, a beautiful red field that stood out among the green trees and the near black shades of Edgar Allen University.
Every now and then, a hummingbird or two would come in to suck into the nectar of its juice, to satisfy its thirst, but they don't come around anymore.
The fields of red from back then were now gone, covered by a stadium the world calls "Castle Evermore."
And in front of the stadium was a figure with a statue-like state, her, the Master, who towered over two little fledgelings, one who mimicked and the other, who shadowed. Two fledgelings who will soon learn the gift of flight. A gift that was given to them by their predecessors.
1210
There was a sound beep, followed by the gates opening. The Master then moved in wide strides as soon as the gates open, the little fledgelings trailing after her in a desperate haste before-
BANG
The fledgeling who shadows flinched in surprise, but soon fixed himself, setting himself in pace beside the other as that one glared. In the earlier days, the shadow would've let out a pitiful "sorry", but the Master cured him of that soon enough. He would need it if he were to become a star.
BANG
Their view soon opened up to a glass cage, filled with people in motion, rackets clacking together as they skirmished for the ball. The two fledgelings watched in awe as they watched red and black clash again and again.
BANG
A body smashed against the wall in front of the three of them, nearly startling the little ones. The raven nearly dropped to the ground, before pushing himself up and taking flight once more.
The shadow gasped in soft delight, and the Master couldn't help but stare at the little shadow.
The little shadow that grew bigger and bigger each day, as he grew more and more alike her.
She then strided towards the locker area, the fledgelings pattering behind her. As the Master reached the entry point, she twisted the handle and headed inside, not waiting to see if the fledgelings were able to make it in before the door shut.
She then continued towards a set of lockers, 01 and 02, and hearing two sets of pattering, gave her a sense of relief in a way that she didn't have to waste time, heading back to let the other one in.
"These are your lockers," The Master announced, "I should hope you know which is which," she added before walking off, her heels sharply tapping on the floor before stopping and turning back to the fledgelings, "I expect you on court in 5."
"Yes, master," The two said in enthusiasm, and the shadow's eyes, her eyes, had a light in them, glowing brightly, as if she was still here.
As if Kayleigh Day never left.
'What a shame,' The Master, Tetsuji thought. 'She would've loved to see our grand masterpiece.'
And it really was a shame.
Because Kayleigh Day was dead.
Kayleigh Day was dead, and all that left of her was a small piece of light that could never fit void that was once a star.
But that's okay.
Because the Master would fuel that light, she'd fuel that light and turn him into a star.
All for their dreams.
-Intermission-
"All for the game."
Her partner says.
Kayleigh Day stood tall in front of America's first EXY stadium, Castle Evermore. It's monotonous black with little pops of red matching the flair of Edgar Allen University and beside Kayleigh stood its Master, her partner, Tetsuji Moriyama.
"Is that right?" She responded,"I mean, you have your nephew, don't you?" she pointed out, a bit perplex about the situation. Tetsuji and Kayleigh, creators of EXY, and currently, guardians of the sons of EXY. Despite her complicated feelings about what Tetsuji was asking, she understood where she was coming from.
Fame was an addicting drug, and they were both high off of it.
Tetsuji Moriyama wanted Kayleigh Day's son to stay with her while she travels the world of EXY.
'Travelling is not good for a child.'
'He and Riko gets along very well.'
'He'd be better at EXY if he stayed.'
All very good reasons. All very convincing reasons.
But all very ineffective reasons for one reason, and one reason only.
That reason being that Kayleigh Day was a selfish, selfish woman, and even though Castle Evermore was her kingdom, she could never let herself be tied down for too long.
"Besides, I'd like to keep my son with me."
She ended the conversation. She'd die before she let anyone take her son away from her.
"Mam!" A voice, her son, Kevin, yelled out. She turned to him and softened her sharp gaze as her baby lugged his small baggage, behind him was Tetsuji's nephew, Riko, who stayed as close to her son as much as possible. The sight made her heart squeeze, the poor boys having to say goodbye once again. When the two boys reached her and Tetsuji, she bent down in front of them and patted their heads.
"Hey babai," She started, "You got everything?"
Little Kevin nodded in response and Kayleigh hummed with that, "Okay, head to the car now. You can still talk to Riko, but I need you inside the car once I'm done talking to your Auntie Tetsuji, okay?"
He boy then gave a small "okay" before walking towards the car, Riko in tow. She continued staring at them before Tetsuji popped a question, "Do you really think you should separate them?"
And that was the big question, huh?
Kayleigh knew Kevin loved Riko, had loved him ever since they were tods, but Kayleigh loved Kevin ever since she knew he existed and she never wanted to let go.
"You of all people should know the answer to that," she replied, not taking her eyes away from the boys. Beside her she could here Tetsuji audibly sigh at the response, "I do.
It's just such a shame that you have to leave so soon."