The Blossoming Flower

"Lady Belladonna, your father requests that you prepare yourself to depart. There is no need for you to pack anything for all your arrangements have been made. You have thirty minutes."

Though this room served as her bubble prison for so many years Belladonna held no attachment to it. The only thing that held any meaning to her was a rather uniquely carved purple crystal in the shape of a blossoming flower that hung as a pendant that her mother had left for her.

A simple gift but it unfortunately was the only thing left in memory of her mother and those sun filled days that preceded the never ending night under her father's rule. Though maybe because of the faded memories of her mother as she held the necklace to her heart, Belladonna couldn't help but hope that dawn was approaching once more.

As Belladonna went through the motions to prepare herself for this journey she couldn't help but muster a small smile. With every hair in its place and a dress that flowed like the ocean while bearing embroidery that resembled an elegantly crafted painting.

With her head high, Belladonna made her way through the winding halls she had not run through since she was a child. All the while she couldn't help but suppress the urge to run through these halls for she was finally free.

The sickening thing about this whole arrangement was the fact that her father had not even bothered to show up for her departure. A small part of her was hoping maybe he finally repented somewhat and actually cared that his only daughter was leaving but at the end of the day nothing about their relationship had changed.

Though time could erase many things it only seemed to worsen the relationship between the pair. Belladonna had grown rather accustomed to hiding in the shell she had built up around her. Plain and simply she was still a wonder filled girl hiding in the body of a doll.

So caught up in thought she didn't realize until the door closed behind her that she was aboard the airship and firmly secured into a rather lavishly decorated room on the main deck right below the main captain quarters and navigation room.

Once again Belladonna had found herself locked away. This time at least there was a promise of a better future or at least the hope for it. With a deep breath she made her way to sit as the ground below rumbled slightly. It seems her journey was about to start.

Taking a seat at the little nook which served as a window seat her eyes looked at the manor she had the pleasure or displeasure of calling home. The pristine white walls and columns seemed so annoyingly perfect. The beautiful well kept sunlit garden that sounded like the manor filled her with deep pain.

The estate on the outside was so wonderful but they also hid the horrendous acts which occurred at her father's will. The beatings followed by the immediate use of healing magics to hide the scarring and keep her beautiful. However beneath her lovely petal Belladonna bared many thorns from her father's strict ideals.

However Belladonna's magic only sought to encourage her farther assault for it began to mend the wounds her father would induce in mere seconds. The problem was despite her outward appearance seeming to have mended itself, the pain and bruising under the surface remained ingrained deeply in her.

In such an environment Belladonna quickly learned what it meant to be the perfect doll for it was the only way she could find peace. However as she watched the manor slowly grow smaller and smaller the hatred only seemed to grow until she felt the gentle flowing of red liquid roll down her finger tips.

As the air caused the liquid to dry her body had already hid her actions and her arm was once again perfect minus the caked red trails which trailed downwards. With a sigh she cleaned her nails and arm with a bit of warm water before sinking into what could only be described as a trapped cloud that served as her bed.

The comfort that her bed had offered was enough to at least offer a bit of respite for the blossoming flower. The rest of the journey however was painfully dull for Belladonna never got to leave her accommodations. The only thing that offered her any solace was the floating bits of cotton that floated past her window as they traveled through the sky.

The routine of meals, handmaidens hand washing her and the various outfits presented to her quickly became routine. The difference was that all of the handmaid's aboard these vessels never looked at her with pity but only seemed focused on the task at hand. Belladonna had tried to make conversation but other than her request none of them bothered to engage with her in small gossip.

The clouds didn't even let up as the ship had clearly begun to descend. Belladonna was eventually notified of the ship's landing by a knock on her door. As she opened the door she was met by the muscular figure of the ambassador that served as the middle man between the prince and her father.

Following the ambassador's instructions she followed them out of the airship which seemed to have landed on a lake by a pier. As Belladonna took her first steps on the creaking pier a part of her couldn't help but appreciate the clean fresh air that wafted around her but her breathing quickly became labored due to the thinness of it.

Taking deep breaths and a slow pace Belladonna made her way off the pier to a weird metal contraption that began to shift upwards once she stood on it. In a matter of moments she found herself standing in a beautiful flower garden made up of a myriad of colors under the rainbow.

"Unfortunately all the flowers in this garden couldn't hold a candle to your beauty, Lady Belladonna." said a soft spoken feminine voice from behind Belladonna.