Chapter Text
“Do you understand what must be done, Valentine?”
A tall, pale woman faced the speaker and her companion. She was only wearing a white scrub as her only body clothing with surgeon gloves, flat white shoes, a mask, and a cute nurse’s hat to match with it. The woman, Valentine, answered without hesitation. “Of course.”
The pale girl continued. “Go to Lab 8 and destroy everything. The Doctor in charge must be removed. However, there is someone I want you to avoid fighting—“
“Mommy!”
Everyone stopped as a young girl that was slightly smaller than the speaker, Marie, ran past the duo and into Valentine’s legs. Hugging them tightly as her arms could let her. Her body quivered despite her Valentine lowered herself to the child’s height and embraced her, ignoring the audience that they had.
Rubbing her back, Valentine asked the girl. “Carol, what’s wrong?”
The girl, Carol, whimpered softly before facing her mother. “I-I-I-I-I-I saw a ghost !”
“A ghost?”
“Yes! A ghost! It had re-really skinny arms and legs! It had holes in its face and feet! I’m scared!”
Valentine pondered before wondering what could have possibly taken shape in the girl’s room that made the shadow. After five seconds, it dawned on her: a skeleton …it must have been Marie’s doing. The current Skullgirl had summoned several minions from the dead to keep an eye around The Grand Cathedral. At least until they acted on their plans. Better to be safe than sorry after all.
“Don’t be scared, Carol. Maybe it was the statue of the Trinity or one of the pretty pictures in the Church.” The mother turned to glare at the Skullgirl while consoling her child. And for a minute, Marie looked guilty before it was quickly replaced by her previous cold gaze.
Sniffles were heard before Carol slowly detached her small head from her mother’s bosom. “You…are you sure?”
Valentine’s voice continue in her soft tone. “Of course. Maybe the shadows from the moon made them look more scary than usual.”
“How do you know?”
“I was a little girl once too, y’know. As I got older, I realized that the dark wasn’t so bad.”
“I…okay.”
“You’ll understand when you’re a grown-up. Now come on, it’s past your bedtime.” And with that, Valentine lifted her four-year old in her arms securely.
Carol wiped her eyes and nestled against her mother’s neck. She blinked a few times before she saw the duo. Immediately, her eyes lit up as she lifted herself to face her mother in the eyes. “Can Big Sis Marie sleep over in my room tonight?”
Valentine almost tripped over her own feet as she tried to find the right words. “Well, um—Carol, you see—”
“It’s time for my bedtime too.” Marie answered for the mother. There was a hint of amusement in her tone as she continued. “I have some homework I need to do and your Aunt Double is helping me.”
“Awwww!” Carol pouted softly.
Marie smiled warmly. “Don’t worry we can have a sleepover tomorrow night if you want.”
Carol would have leaped with joy had she not been in her mother’s arms. “Yes! Yes! Yes! Pleeeaaaaassse Mommy?”
Desperation started to creep in Valentine. She was hoping to keep Carol away from Marie and Double’s influence. But the child’s curiosity and innocence made her want to befriend them as much as she could. Then again, Carol hadn’t seen Aunt Holly or her other Aunties since…“S-Sure. You girls can have a sleepover tomorrow night."
“Yaaaayyy!” Carol hugged her mother. Any fear she had before long forgotten at the thought of having fun with Big Sis Marie. “Thank you, Mommy!”
With that being said and done, the Mother took Carol to her room. Staying with her and even humming a lullaby. After several minutes, Carol had fallen asleep. Valentine gently waved her hand through her daughter’s hair before placing a loving kiss on her forehead. After a few minutes of silence, Valentine slowly got up and quietly exited the room.
Valentine slowly closed the door with a light click being heard. She took a deep breath and sighed tiredly as her hands waved through her hair. It had been some time since The Last Hope had fallen to Marie and Double in battle. Memories of the unforgiving, skeletal vacuum against her neck
Carol kept asking where Auntie Holly and everyone else was…and Valentine would always avoid the question with a heavy heart. Unable to even look at her daughter in the eye. Valentine felt she was running out of excuses though. Sooner or later, Carol will find out the truth about The Last Hope, Brain Drain, Double, and Marie. No doubt will Carol have a whole mess of emotions when she does.
I hope she will understand one day. Valentine felt her eye beginning to well up. She might end up hating me but I did this all for her. Just to keep her safe and well.
Her mind would have kept going until someone let out an ahem . Valentine turned her head to see Marie and Double both standing a bit away from the the bedroom. The shapeshifting entity merely had a look of amusement on her face, even with her seemingly permanent closed eyes. Knowing how most humans act despite their facades. Even after many centuries it never ceased to amaze her how far and strong parental love can be. Marie had this look of contemplation, as if seemingly conflicted. However she quickly replaced it with a small smile as she stared at Valentine.
“ What? ”
The Skullgirl only smiled gently before answering. “Oh, nothing. It’s just that…I forget that you are a mother with the way you act a majority of the time.”
Valentine grumbled. Marie chuckled gently before she began pondering. “I’ll think of some fun activities and games we can play—”
An IV pole appeared in front of Marie, halting her mental process. Double immediately got on guard in case a fight did break out. The young teenager blinked in surprise before looking at the mother. Valentine let out a small growl. “I don’t think so, Skullgirl . I still don’t trust you around her.”
“Oh no? Even after sparing you? I do recall you seemed very regretful and frightened when I almost killed you. It wasn’t until I met Carol did I understand why.”
“Don’t mock me! She’s all I have!”
Marie’s eyes sharpened. “What about that scientist who gave up most of his humanity?”
Valentine growled as she remembered Brain Drain. “He means nothing to me.”
“Is that so? And your comrades?”
“They were my family .”
The child and the adult stared at each other for a long time. Each second was filled with thick tension that could easily be cut with a knife. And the only noise that could be heard was the howling winds outside The Grand Cathedral. Marie finally broke the silence. “You will attack Lab 8 another day.”
“H-Huh?”
“What I am saying is that I am giving you more time with your daughter. Cherish it…because when you ambush the Labs, it won’t be long before the Canopy Kingdom’s soldiers and others will come looking for us.”
“What am I? Stupid? Of course I am aware that my time with Carol is limited now thanks to you !”
“But it was also thanks to me sparing you that to see her again.”
“ Why you! ” Valentine felt rage bubble up as she reached behind her and gripped the handle of her bone saw. Ready to bring it out to teach the latest Skullgirl a lesson. Marie merely stared at her unfazed as she also mentally prepared herself to get on the defensive. In the end, Valentine dropped her hand back to her side. “No harm will come to Carol as long as I live. Understand? ”
Marie bowed her head. “Understood.”
“ Good. Now excuse me.” Valentine shoulder her way past the two. Intent on finding some unfortunate dead minion or tree to take her frustration on. She couldn’t risk leaving Carol without a mother or in Marie and Double’s care.
After the black-ops ninja-nurse left, Double soft footsteps stopped next to Marie. “You are aware that she will backstab us one day?”
“Of course…I am too familiar with how this world works.”
“…Are you also aware that the girl has Skullgirl blood?”
Marie lightly pursed her lips before answering. “Yes, I am also aware of her situation. But as long as Valentine knows that she cannot risk herself or Carol then neither of them pose a threat. Meaning that we will not harm them until otherwise noted.”
Double brought her hands up in a prayer. “Very well, as you wish. Anything else, m’lady?”
Marie shook her head, avoiding eye contact with her partner. “No, thank you Double. You are dismissed.”
Double bowed before leaving the latest Skullgirl to her own devices. Marie sighed as she quickly glanced at Carol’s room. She knew that even her time in this life was slowly ticking away. Surprisingly, Marie also cherished the time with Carol. Had it not been for Valentine’s ferocious love maybe the ninja-nurse would have let her spend more time with Carol. Or if circumstances had been different, the two would have more time together. …Almost like sisters. But alas, this world had other plans and it looks like everyone she knew was going to pay the price one way or another.
Marie started walking, her footsteps echoed and bounced all over The Grand Cathedral. “Oh well. I’ve already accepted my fate. I better start preparing for tomorrow night. It’ll be a fun night. …I wonder if that Annie show Patricia really liked is still running?"