194 She Snapped -Part 2

Christian returned to the room, crest-fallen, and looking pale as a ghost.

"Oh deary dear! Perhaps Robin just needs a bit of time alone, eh? Don't take it to heart, lad." Ayva sighed as she brought away her tray.

"So, what happened?" Chelsea asked.

"I should have realized it. I should have seen it coming. In the end, I can only blame myself." He sighed. "He already told me before that he likes someone."

"What!? Who!!?" Jasmine asked, alert.

Christian looked at Jasmine pointedly. "He said the person he likes is in love with someone else. So it's a one-sided thing."

"Chelsea, is it?" Jasmine asked.

"What Christian said was accurate, but if so, then that's really strange." Chelsea replied. She didn't recall seeing any rivals in Oracle's visions. Had Robin lied to throw him off?

"He doesn't like talking about it, but he told me that he'd rather be alone than marry the wrong person." Christian said. He then added. "But...what if that new companion is the right person for him to marry?"

"That idiot!" Jasmine growled, rushing out the door after Robin.

Chelsea looked at Christian with an odd expression playing at the corners of her mouth. "You two...are quite the pair. Both of you are such airheads." She sighed.

Liam nodded in agreement.

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"Robin!" Jasmine finally found Robin moping about in Ayva's garden.

"Hey, what's this I hear about a one-sided love?" Jasmine asked. "Do you really like someone back in your world?"

"The only person back there that I cherish is my older brother." Robin replied blandly.

"What!? Is it a case of the rumored sibling lovers?" Jasmine muttered to herself, shocked.

At that, Robin, who had been hiding her head in her arms, popped up immediately. "Not in a million years! Just where did you even get that unhealthy idea!?" Robin scolded.

"That's because Christian-" Jasmine began.

"Christian? Just what crazed assumptions did he tell you?" Robin snorted.

"He said that you are in a one-sided love with someone." Jasmine replied.

"I am." Robin replied, feeling her heart clench.

"He says the person that you like loves someone else." Jasmine continued.

"Ain't that the truth of it." Robin sighed.

"He also said that..." Jasmine paused. "That you said you'd rather stay single than marry the wrong person."

"And? What's wrong with that?" Robin asked.

"Huh?" Jasmine asked.

Jasmine sunk into her own thoughts, hearing Robin's opinion. It seemed to resonate with her, and open her up to an option that had been obscured by Auntie Em's badgering.

"Yeah! Why do I have to marry?" Jasmine agreed. "If I can't find anyone good enough for me, then I can choose to abstain entirely!"

"You say that, but aren't you supposed to find your other half on our journey?" Robin wryly pointed out.

"Wait, that's not what I wanted to-" Jasmine was going to continue, but was interrupted.

"Robiiiin!" A blur barreled into an unprepared hero.

"Ooof! Gerard? Where have you been?" Robin asked, holding Gerard away from her body. Come to think of it, Gerard hadn't been present at the meeting, earlier.

"I went to go check on Elise, because she didn't show up for a long time!" Gerard told her.

"Eh? is she all right?" Robin asked.

"She's fine. Say, when did you wake up? Was it just after I left? Weren't you supposed to wake up tomorrow? Have you eaten yet?" Gerard let loose his gattling question barrage.

"'I don't know' to all the others. And yes, to that last question." Robin answered. "And, no, I'm not going to make food right now."

"Che!" Gerard clicked his tongue. Jasmine held her tongue, but looked pointedly at Robin. She would get an answer later on about who Robin had a crush on.

"So, what happened to fairy Elise?" Robin asked.

"Ah, that's right! Elise-"

"How about I answer that question, hmm?" Gerard was interrupted by a beautiful green fairy, who looked like she could be Elise's older sister.

"Oh? Who might you be?" Jasmine asked.

"Hello Elise." Robin greeted with a smile. "I'm glad to see you're all right."

"What?" Jasmine's brain blanked.

"Boooh! You ruined the surprise!" Elise pouted. "Aren't I more beautiful now?" She asked, fluttering her wings.

"Yes. Much more beautiful. But thank goodness, the inside is still Elise." Robin joked.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean!?" Elise pouted at Robin.

"A cool, collected beauty like yourself wouldn't begrudge me for not believing my eyes, would you?" Robin said, tickling Elise's fancy.

"That's right. A cool, collected beauty like myself is far too mature to be annoyed at you for not believing your eyes. I have changed so much that even that flying marshmallow won't be able to tell it's me." Elise preened, as she fluttered off to find Skye.

"See you later, then!" Gerard waved goodbye, and followed after Elise to see how the others reacted to her new appearance.

Jasmine then opened her mouth, but was cut down by Robin's pre-emptive words.

"I know what you want to find out. But, please, don't ask. I'll be leaving this world anyways. There's no need for them to consider me as anything more than a good friend." Robin sighed.

"But, Robin...can't you trust me? I've kept your secret this whole time. Can't you confide in me?" Jasmine asked.

"...Right now, I can't even determine if I'll still be me after a time has passed." Robin said. "I am already spinning all the cogs in my brain just trying to survive. please understand, Jasmine, now is not the time for girl talk."

"If not now, then when?" Jasmine huffed.

"If I get possessed, then it doesn't matter anymore what I think. What I'll do will be horrifying. And I will most likely be targeting you first." Robin warned. "You need to think up ways to make sure I can't harm anyone, in the case where I can't make it."

"You know what I think, Robin?" Jasmine said in exasperation. "I think the maiden's heart refers to you! I think deep down, you're still denying that you have feelings for that person. And I think the only person holding you back is you."

"Not everyone is going to like the hero, Jasmine." Robin growled. "Deal with it."

"Have you even told him?..." Jasmine asked, then scoffed. "Have you even told him?...You haven't told him, have you?"

"Jasmine-" Robin warned.

"I'm just trying to open your eyes a bit. Because, if it's someone I know, then I can help you out-"

"JASMINE!...Enough!" Robin raised her voice. Jasmine fell into a stunned silence. Robin, realizing she had lost her temper, sighed.

"Please...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled. I don't need a matchmaker, and I don't need your help in this matter. What I need right now is a teammate who can help me solve my more pressing issues, okay?"

Jasmine shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so pushy. You're right. This talk can wait until later."

"If an opportune time can't be found," Robin offered, "You can ask me before I leave."

"Promise?" Jasmine asked, holding out her hand.

"Promise." Robin grasped Jasmine's hand and shook it.

"All right! Time to go defeat that Trader guy once and for all!" Jasmine changed subjects, tactfully.

Robin laughed. "Once and for all!" She agreed.

At the edge of the garden, Ayva tactfully retreated back down the hallway. It seemed like the Aunt Ayva chat wasn't necessary anymore.

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Elise was chasing Skye around the room, all signs of the cool and collected fairy Primadonna dissipated into air by Skye's playful prods.

"Jasmine's been gone an awfully long time...you don't think-." Christian began,but was interrupted by the door slamming open. Robin and Jasmine entered the scene.

"Oh? You don't think what, Christian?" Robin aimed her devilishly angelic smile of danger at him. "You don't think that I wouldn't know that you were talking about me behind my back?"

Christian bearing the full brunt of Robin's smile, found himself speechless.