Chapter Text
This is bullshit. Honestly, Beatrix is fairly certain she'd rather be in the tunnels again. This is just... It's cold and damp, and she spends her night afraid of some imaginary scrappers in the forest. Rationally, she knows there aren't any. She knows the fairies disposed of them and that nobody even knows where she is. That doesn't stop her to jump awake every time she hears a noise.
On top of that her food is running low, which means she will have to risk going out of the forest again to steal something. This sucks. She is hungry and pissed, and all of this is beneath her. She is one of the most powerful fairies she's ever met. She was raised with the idea that she was important, a tool to be wielded, that she had a purpose.
Beatrix walks to the stream of water near her camp. The woman she sees the reflection in the water couldn't be more purposeless. She is alone, useless and directionless. She doesn't even know what the point is anymore. She knows depression, she knows that it doesn't matter how much she loathes people, that she needs to talk to someone. Her brain can't be trusted to stay too long by itself. She knows she just needs a little more time. She'll find a reason, a purpose again. Always move forward, don't show weakness. She laughs bitterly, there is nobody around to see it. Well, that's not true. She can see it, and she just looks pathetic.
So she cleans herself up. She tries really hard not to think about the fact that this is all her fault. About the fact that she made so many poor decisions that she could have course corrected at any point and just... didn't. About the fact that if she could do everything all over again, she doesn't know if she would have the strength to choose any differently. This thought stings the most. This is the thought she tries the hardest not to think.
Once clean and ready to be seen in a city without looking like the saddest person who ever lived, Beatrix starts fixing up her camp. She stops on the newspaper clippings she keeps dry. The tittles read "Tensions in the Solarian kingdoms", "Alfea about to lose the support of the Crown", "Neutral zone privileges have been installed, Queen's authority no longer recognized", "The Princess stays at Alfea" and the last one "Sources say the Solarian Princess hasn't been seen in days".
Beatrix looks at that particular clipping for a long time. She has been staring at it for days now. Going to the city is good, she'll be able to see if there are any news. Maybe Stella needed a break, maybe she's just been hiding in her room for a few days. The entire situation has to be taking a toll on her so it wouldn't be surprising. Yes, nothing bad happened to her, she just needed some me time, and the newspapers Beatrix is going to find today are not going to say anything other than that. Please, be okay.
Beatrix grabs her backpack and gives a last quick glance around her camp. She hates it but she hates leaving it even more. She never know if it is still going to be there when she comes back or if she is going to have to start all over again. She doesn't think she could. Wait... Something is wrong. Someone is there. "Show yourself willingly" she says out loud, "you will not enjoy what happens if I have to find you myself".
Nothing happens. She doesn't know if they found her or if her paranoia finally caught up with her. At this point, she doesn't even know the one that she'd like more. At least if they find her, it'd be over.
Then the air seems to shimmer a bit and Beatrix knows. She knows what she is going to see before she sees it. There, a little ways away from the camp, is Stella.
They both stare at each other for the longest time. Beatrix half expecting Solarian guards to just appear as well, and Stella just waiting for something. "How long have you been here?" Beatrix ends up asking once she remembers how to use her vocal cords.
"Not long" Stella says. Beatrix doesn't believe her.
"How did you find me?"
Stella shrugs. "It wasn't really hard. I told a friend where to look. There were only two places I figured you'd go. Either back to the cabin you grew up with Andreas, or here. Now, how did I find your exact camp?" she says, exaggerating the word camp like she doesn't think it deserves to be called that. "You really are not as discreet as you seem to believe. The family that owns this land noticed you a while back. They just didn't have the heart to kick out a young woman that was not causing problems".
"That is nice of them" Beatrix simply says.
"It is".
They go back to staring at each other. "What do you want, Stella? Why are you here?" a growingly frustrated Beatrix asks.
Stella shakes her head. "I am not quite sure, to be honest. I was so angry..." she scoffs, sadly. "I told Terra I needed to find you to kick your ass... But now that I see you... I'm not sure I am angry anymore".
Beatrix tenses up. She can't do that, not right now. They did that dance before and she can't go through this again. "Yes" she says slowly, in a way that hopefully seems quite bored, "We already established that I have that effect on you". That is a low blow and she knows it, but given by how Stella immediately grits her teeth, it is an efficient one. She finally starts walking. "If you're not going to kick my ass, I suggest you go back to your castle, princess. Don't think about selling me out. I am going to go look for some supplies and then I will be gone, so don't bother coming back here".
Stella walks until she cuts Beatrix's path. There are getting too close now. Not close enough. Beatrix knows that if she takes just a few more steps, she could be close enough to smell Stella. No. Move forward, don't show weakness. "I am not forgiving you" Stella corrects. "But I am not interested in hurting you either, and this? This is just sad" she says pointing at the camp.
"You're not interested in leaving me alone either, apparently" she spits. "What is this, Stella? Is stalking your go to? I left you! You and I are over and yet you still managed to follow me all the way to another realm!" Stella takes a step back like she has been punched and Beatrix wants to take it back. She wants to say she's sorry, that she didn't mean it but she doesn't because she can't.
Taking another step back, Stella is no longer on Beatrix's path. "I know where your sisters are" she says. She isn't looking at Beatrix when she talks. "That's what I am doing here. Yes, I was angry at you but I still made you a promise, and I intend to keep it. Our relationship have nothing to do with it". Her voice is too quiet, Beatrix hates it. Stella still doesn't look at her. The blonde girl puts her arms around herself and finally looks up. "I am going to get you there, and once I know you're safe, you will never see me again. Deal?"
It is Beatrix's turn to look away. Not trusting her voice, she just nods.
"Great" Stella says bitterly. "Now, take any junk you want to bring, we're leaving".
Beatrix wants to counter. She wants to say it isn't junk but of course it is. "Where are they then?" she asks instead. "I should have known Sebastian would lie about their whereabouts".
"He didn't lie" Stella admits. "Your sisters grew up in that house. From what I gathered there was some sort of incident a few years ago. And your sisters have been on the run from something ever since."
"From what?"
Stella shrugs. "I don't know, but I figure we're probably going to find out".
"You still haven't answer my question, about where they are" Beatrix points out.
"No, I haven't" Stella says, coolly. "I don't trust you to stay put once you know, and I have no desire of chasing you down. So, I lead and you follow".
I don't trust you resonates in Beatrix's ears. "Oh careful, princess, this might hurt my feelings" she mocks with a toothy grin.
Stella sighs. "We really don't have to talk".