Power Beyond the Blue

Chapter 1: Princess Thief

"Would you die fighting or alive but hiding?"

Many people in the world, different countries, various languages, billion people, diverse beliefs, and different faiths. Some were fighting alone, and some people can't stand alone. Others believe in destiny while most people are gained and work hard for that one day, they see themselves successfully.

What I'm saying is everyone has a choice and can choose. Right or wrong, for you or for all, whatever they are going to believe. What they want for their future, it's all their choice.

And what about me? What my choices are? Well, my choice is 'would you die fighting or alive hiding', and I choose to hide not because I'm afraid to die, but I'm afraid to lose someone I have attached with. I'm afraid the poor people of Lahanan City might get affected, and thousands of people might die if I try to oppose.

Would you call it selfish? If I didn't choose to fight the mismanagement of the government to my city just because I value the life of the weak and poor people that leaving in my city?

Whatever you say or even though you see me selfish and cowardly. I choose to become a thief than a princess and it's my choice, and I decide to do what I believe is best for the poor people of Lahanan

I'm running out of breath but still I run faster without any care to my surroundings, it's been an hour since the trooper from the palace is chasing after me. I'm already breathless, but what the hell! The warrior's that chasing after me is still fast and immovable.

I tried various way to lost them and if my count is right there's a total of five troopers that chasing after me but there's only two warriors left. Geez, what a persistent warrior.

Well, what can I say? they are troopers from the palace and have trained ever since they're little but they're not the only ones that trained to fight. I'm trained not in the way they trained. Either way experienced is the best teacher.

I look around to find somewhere I can conceal or find a way to hide, the downtown market is messy and crowded place since this is the place where everyone is busy buying and selling products, but compared to day light this crowd is nothing since its night time where the only source of light is coming from the open shop.

I turned to my left and huddle myself to the crowded area while removing my brown hood together with my hat, I throw it somewhere and lose my hair that I tied a while ago just to disguise myself as one of the civilians for me to escape from those troopers in the most peaceful way. Well lucky for me downtown market is a crowded place so it's easy for me to hide my presence.

Why do I need to escape to those troopers? Because I'm a thief or should I say a notorious thief in Lahanan City and one of the thieves that have a bounty on their head so that warrior is dying to catch me.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" I called to the middle-aged woman carrying her son on her left arm. The boy is so thin and looks like he doesn't have enough food to eat. It's a pity that the people who needs the food can't have something to eat while the elite who gets the most of food just take for granted their privileges.

"Yes?" she answered, the tiredness is clear on the lady's face, but she warfully smiles at me, I wondered how she managed to smile like that despite the tiredness in her eyes.

I smile back to her, "can I have your pink hood in exchange for this," I ask and show her the expensive necklace that is probably a piece of jewelry I stole a while ago. Pink is not the color that I prefer to wear, but I don't care the only matter to me now is to escape those warriors. For pity's sake, it's been an hour since they start chasing after me, my foot is soaring like hell!

She looks at my hand that holding a dazzling necklace that is worth their whole life provisions, her face turns to a bit of shock at the same time hesitant. I got fine item from stealing from the city's known jewelry shop and it won't hurt to give them a bit of those so they can afford to buy food to eat,

"This gold necklace for an old hood?" the woman unbelievably asks me.

Oww... Come on do I have to repeat it twice? Geez, who wouldn't doubt If I exchange this necklace for a hood anyway?

"Yeah, I need your hood exchange for this necklace," I smilingly explain, come on just take it I don't have time for this!

The woman looks at me for a minute then she smiles at me and she gives the hood to me. In exchange for it, I give her the necklace just like I promise. I just wish that the woman with her son won't get into trouble because of that necklace.

"Thank you," the mother said as she takes the necklace,

I just smile while wearing the pink hood and walk for me to escape from those idiot's trooper, but I stop when someone calls me.

"Miss!" called by someone.

"Miss did you see someone running around with a brown hat and hood?" someone with a baritone voice asks me.

They're the trooper that chasing after me a while ago. I shook my head saying I didn't, and they've just nodded their head to me tsk... What an idiot.

I continue my walk, but I stop when the trooper calls me for a second time. Did they notice?

"Ahm... Wait, Miss!" the warrior called me, this time it's louder and make me worry for myself. They might notice that I'm that notorious thief, if that's the case then I might get caught and imprisoned.

I face them with my left eyebrow creased, " What? "I've responded to the trooper at the same time I'm getting ready in case they found out,

"Uhm... can I get your number? "The warrior shamefacedly asks me.

I've even imagined being imprisoned! But this flirt just calls my attention to ask for my number tsk... jerk

I rolled my eyes and turn my back on the trooper continue to walk, but the insistent trooper calls me for the third time. Seriously, what is it this time?

"Miss! What's your name? "The warrior shouted.

Can I choke this trooper? he annoyed me so much to the point that I want to kill someone. But no, I'm a thief not a murderer anyway.

"I have no name!" I reply and continue my walk,

"Nice to meet you miss no name," the warrior shouted and laughs. Eh, what's funny?

I prevent turning back and choke the trooper because that can only get me into trouble. I walk and didn't look back and now I'm going to answer the warrior question.

What's my name?

I'm Westly Yuson my father is once was a King and a leader of this city, but he was killed and betrayed by the people who he trusts the most and now here I am I was once a princess but just a thief who had nothing. Well maybe that's how things are meant to happen I need to live like normal people and just leave the city management to the one who stole it from my father.

Those betrayals happen when I was 15, I don't know what exactly happened but I'm sure the family who manages Lahanan city now is the one who is responsible for it. They chase after me and tried to kill me, but I manage to escape for those people and somehow there were people helped and save me.

I know my father won't likely be happy when he sees me like this, like stealing things that weren't for me even if I can do something better than this, I choose not to do so. To hell if I'm princess I'm going to live the way I want to live!

If there's one thing, I learned in life it is "Never trust anyone other than myself." Too much trust is dangerous it can make you lose anything that you have like what happened to me.

My father's trust so much ended up being back-stabbed by greedy people and that's the last thing I want to happen to me and in my whole life I will never trust anyone like how my father did.

~MissLovesong

Chapter 2: Family

In a world full of poverty and starvation you don't have a choice but to do something against your beliefs and rules than die because of starvation.

And that's exactly what I'm doing right now, being a thief and stealing something that wasn't mine is against my rules and beliefs but then I need to do so. I have no choice but to live on my own and forgot to rely on anyone because no one would care to help. I am living in an unfair world that those so-called equality doesn't exist.

Even though things like love and hope do exist they don't stand a chance against power and money that even the most trusted person can turn their back on friends just for material things.

So, in my year of living in this kind of environment, I manage to live and get along with all of Government Mismanagement, Immorality, Different crimes, and Inhuman here in Lahanan City.

I'm leaving in the time when the gadget is (important) than books. The more important for people is money than family while in the city there were people who sleep even without eating that even the water, they drink is unsure if it's clean. A society that wasn't had equality and a government that corruption is legal.

Well, that's how the world work and that's the way of living of Lahanan City people. The poor people become poorer because of mismanagement of government and unfair treatment of each people

From the outside, Lahanan City look so prosperous that even the other city outside says that this place is the most successful country. I guess they wouldn't say those if they know that living here in Lahanan City is like living in hell or worse than that. Well, at least for the poor citizens of Lahanan

For my 21 years of existence and as I said, I get used to it. I choose to live peacefully and protect my family, I'm fine and contented with what I am now. Not in the part that I must steal and me being a thief, it's just for now I will be a thief that steals things to buy a portion of decent food for my Family. Just for now.

My father died 5 years ago and I didn't get to see my mother ever since I was born, I didn't know anything about her even my mother's name or her face. I'm an only child and the last heir of the Yuson Family.

It's Funny how I became a thief while my family is the ruler of Lahanan City way back then. Geez, those days were already at my past.

"Wow! It's smell good I'm starving "delightfully said by Anya, her voice is full of joy

"Me too! I'm hungry!" seconded by her twin sister Arnie. The excitement and happiness are evident on the children's faces that makes me smile.

I pass through the restaurant before I got home to buy them roasted chicken since I remember them request it before I leave the apartment.

Who are they? They were my family. These kids are the reason for me to live and stay at their side and protect them and one of the reasons why I didn't try to fight the mismanagement of the government to Lahanan City. They might implicate for it.

There were total of five kids living with me, and they are the ones who make me feel I'm not alone that like me they don't have a family too. Anya and Arnie are twins and both 9 years old girls. I don't know who's their parent but it's been two years since I've found them lost and crying because of hunger. Since I'm just living alone in my apartment, I decided to take them with me.

"Tsk... We all know that! It's obvious anyway. You don't have to shout! "Irritated said by Daren, unlike the twin that over joyed this boy look somehow annoyed.

He was eleven years old boy and just like the twin, I have no idea where or who's his parent is. It's just happened that the twins take him here and say that he doesn't have a house to go home so I accept him to my apartment.

"Hey, you don't have to fight because of it "Lemie reprimand, Lemie is the oldest and the responsible compared to others and she's 13 years old girl.

It's been a month since I take them here and I found Lemie together with her younger brother Calix, I found them on the downtown market. Way back then Lemie is struggling to make her brother stop crying. Luckily that time I saw them and take them with me,

For pity's sake how can be their parents leave them like that? Lemie is too young for the responsibility to her brother Calix.

"Can we eat now? "Calix asking me with his puppy and glimmering eye,

Yeah... How can their parent leave this cute baby boy?

Calix is 6 years old boy with a thin body and he's often quiet and sweet.

"Of course! I buy this food to eat " I said and mess with he's hair.

"Yey!" excitedly shouted by the twins.

"Hey, that's not fair! I want it too!" Daren complained to the twins that get the two-leg part of the roasted chicken while the twin just sticks their tongue out to Daren, this tree is always like this when it comes to food,

It's been a long time since I see this joy and excitement from Anya and Arnie. The last time is when I bring a slice of pork way back home. It wasn't surprising if they act like that since hapless people like us is rarely taste or get to eat a lump of meat nowadays.

From what I know the supply of food here in Lahanan city wasn't enough and most of the time the elite family is the one who got most of the those supply and most of our food supply are monopolized by government.

"You can have it all just give the chicken leg to me and Arnie," said Anya but Arnie seem to disagree with her sister,

"Hey! That's unfair they can have all, while ours is only a leg part?" pouted by Arnie staring into the chicken,

"Arnie, Anya, Daren! We already have food to eat enough with the fight okay," as usual Lemie is the one who stops this tree from fighting.

"Tsk... " Daren sits down throwing a glare at the twin and starts to eat his food, while Lemie is helping her brother Calix that is eating silently, the twins still talking about stuff I don't understand

I get up from sitting, it's been one hour since I got home and escaped from those warriors Tsk... idiot's warrior.

My rest is enough I need to meet someone on the rooftop.

Lemie look at me asking " don't you want to eat " she asked,

I smile " I need to go somewhere just set aside a chicken part for me,"

She turned his head and look at the clock on the wall, " It's already 9 at night where are you going?" asked Lemie

Again, I smiled "Don't worry I'm just going to the roof top," I assured him, and she just smiled nodding at me.

"Hey! After you guys' finish eating get clean and sleep already. " I reminded them,

"Hai! Hai! "Respond by the twins, that enjoying their food while Daren just nod,

I close the door as I got out of the apartment, my apartment is just good for one person that I ever wondered to myself how we manage to fit inside of it together with these kids. Well, what would it be? I'm just a thief and I only got the money for an inconvenient way.

Geez, how many times do I have to address myself as a thief?

Anyway, this is the life I choose so I get used to it, if I have my reasons to be what I am now, and that reason is those kids. I won't mind stealing things, get involved in trouble, and escape from those stupid warriors! That wasn't just for myself but for them anyway.

If the parent of this poor kids left them, then let me take the responsibility to protect and take care of them so they won't feel alone as well as to how I felt when my father died. I surely never going to do the same thing that their family deed to them and that was already my promise to myself. To do anything to protect them at all causes.

~MissLovesong

Chapter 3: Inhuman

The moonlit night is peaceful and silent, however when the day comes and the sun rise above the city it will become a boisterous day as usual, that's how life goes in this city. Here I am comfortable seating and watching over the entire city, it might look like a paradise from afar and from where I am standing, but the Lahanan City is far from the word paradise.

It's late at night that only the tall building and the light coming from the enormous billboard that displaying a product's commercial is the only source of light that makes the city bright.

My eyes are fix to the other side of the city, from afar, I see a flickering light as if the source of light from that place is about to run out of energy. Compared to the other side of Lahanan City that part is suffering from a low source of electricity and the most affected by poverty and starvation. The poorest among place in this city, that part of Lahanan City called the 5th District and ruled by Moran Family.

I wonder how could the local people in the 5th district live like that?

I know for sure that they slept without eating because as the last district of Lahanan City, the government barely send a relief good for them. Even the water they consume is unsure if it contaminated and they also have unstable electricity

The only thing that the 5th district has is mining and the Lahanan city's only source of charcoals and minerals such as iron. Back when my father was still the ruler of this city, he divides this land into districts but the only existent out of those many districts is five. 1st district was also called the capital of Lahanan and the center core of this city. It's fully civilized part of this city and many of the things use is an exceptional quality of technology in every aspect such as transportation and computer program.

While 2nd district is the marketing place where all merchants and local businesspeople do their marketing. Coming from its name 2nd district is second of the most profitable place in Lahanan city since most of the essential food has been monopolized by Hidalgo Family which was the elite who take charge in 2nd district.

Despite the prosperity of the two districts the three-remaining place in Lahanan isn't as civilized and well-off as the two. In this pit of Lahanan city's prosperity there's this remaining district that suffer from starvation and poverty while the first two get more power and money.

Compared to the 5th and 4th district the 3rd district is not as poor and left off since it had enough food source. The 3rd district is where I am living my life right now, it's been 3 years since when I start my life here as a thief. It's the best choice for me since this place is a lot easier to live in for me. This place has its loose security and technology.

I signed, as I look at the city that my father used to ruled but now it's all gone and ruined by selfish people who only care for money and power. My thought was interrupt when someone tap me on my shoulder,

"Hey what's up?" a voice of a man asks,

I turned my head and a guy who has a relieve smile on his face welcome me,

"Hey!" I replied, he's a friend of mine.

His William from Verano family, General Verano is the traitor who killed my father and the same family who ruled the entire city as the father of William, but this guy in front of me is different from his elite family. I know for sure he's a good man, I mean it doesn't mean his parent killed my father that I should hate William since there's nothing to hate about him.

We both despise the government and the same as I am, there's nothing he can do to change the mismanagement, despite being a Verano's child he is nothing but an illegitimate one.

He seated beside me and look at the bright light of the city, "someone call for me so I didn't get to help you out and escape," he explained, he helps me steal from that jewelry shop a while ago since It's totally impossible for me to successfully stole some jewelry without knowing the building structure,

"It's fine I manage to escape anyway," I replied before the rooftop became silent for a moment,

He sighs, "are you fine with this life?" William suddenly asks, it wasn't the first time that this guy ask this question and my answer is always been the same "I'm fine as long as I have the kids"

I guess, I doubted if Am I fine with this life, it's been 6 years since this city become living hell for the Lahanan city citizens. Those 6 years has been full of despair and become the most miserable days for every living thing's inside the Lahanan.

Am I fine being a thief?

Geez, it's been a long time that I've been hiding unable to do anything against this shitty government. But then keep saying how I hate the inhuman and mismanagement of the government, even so, I can't do a single thing to make it all stop. I'm the only hope of the people in this city since I'm the last bloodline of Yuson family,

Maybe it's because I must protect the weak people and prevent the city from complete destruction, since the one that will suffer the most is the poor people if ever the city government is in chaos or maybe I don't have the courage to fight the government because of my own fear and for my own selfish reason.

"I don't know, "I cynically replied to William's question,

"Right now, I honestly doubting myself," I said still looking at nowhere

William just smiles at me, "sorry, I didn't mean to stress you by asking that question. Just choose the things you think are the best and safe for everyone"

"Yeah, your probably right I shouldn't stress my mind with it," I agree still overthinking things that might happen if I choose not to fight the government. The inhuman might become worse than what happen to William,

William is a one-of-a-kind man even though he uses to experience lots of difficulty because of his own parent, he remains as dutiful son.

Even if his own father sent him to a science laboratory to use him as a specimen for an inhuman experiment and laboratory activity. Everything is legal even if that's inhuman since William become an unwanted or illegitimate child, a person such as him don't have the freedom to decide for themselves especially that William is an illegitimate child from known family or elite person.

What make it more inhuman for William is he once become a specimen in the laboratory. They treated William as if he's an animal and made him into one, that mad scientist tries to mutate a dog cell into Williams body as well as placing some organs of a dog to him like what the hell!

I don't have any Idea as to how those mad scientists do that thing but curse them! To replace human ear with a dog ear and place a dog's tail on William! For pity's sake that was illegal but the government still let that disgusting experiment happen.

Even if William experiences those hardship and inhuman, he chooses to be a good man.

"Anyway, who called you? You left me escaping from those warriors." I tried changing the topic before I decide to bomb the whole capital,

"My father assigned me to manage some event that will occur tomorrow night," he replied,

My forehead automatically creases and asks, "what kind of event was that?"

"An event where they announce the new city project, "William answered with a worried expression on his face, that project must be something that didn't do any good things to Lahanan City.

"Project?" I repeated, asking what project is the government planning to launch. I'm hundred percent sure that project was made only for elite families.

Yeah, they launch and brag another useless project every year and none of those unworthy projects benefit the poor citizens.

"I don't know what project it might be, it's too confidential and the people who will attend tomorrow night has the chance to know what kind of project it may be," He disappointedly shrugged his shoulder, He's bothered and worried so much about the event.

"That's probably one of the most worthless projects of the government," I sarcastically remarked and tap William's shoulder,

"Let's just wish the projects is not being inhuman and evil as what the Lahanan government is," I added,

"Yeah, I hope that project doesn't do any harm to the Citizens of Lahanan City," he nods his head and agree,

"Anyway, I need to go, I just passed by to check if you got home safe." William stands from where he's seating and walk towards the door,

He was halfway out when he stopped and face me, "um... Westly, whether you choose to fight the government or choose not to, I know for sure that you are not the type of person who only think and care for herself and I trust whatever you choose I'm sure that it's for everyone's sake

I just smile back at him, I'm glad that someone trust me especially that person is William.

I stare at his back as he leaves the rooftop until I was the only one left here in this place.

I signed, now the government and the elite are starting a new project and it wasn't surprising if that project is another series of inhuman and cruelty.

~MissLovesong