Fizzy sat on a log, downcast. Her life had been awful. She was only three years old and already she had anxiety, paranoia, and not a friend in the world.
Not to mention nobody trusted her from the moment she was born. Her parents were nice enough, but they couldn't do anything to stop the bullies that constantly attacked her both verbally and physically. Couldn't? Or wouldn't? she often found herself thinking. But surely her parents would want her to be safe? She supposed she could just stay inside. But that was so boring! The bullies weren't even kids. There were kids that bullied her, but she stood up for herself one day and fought back, scaring them off for good. NOW their parents were ticked and kicked her and cursed at her whenever they saw her. Yep, life's awful, she thought pessimistically. But she wasn't a pessimist. She was a realist, and this was real for her, unfortunately. Suddenly she was jerked out of her thoughts as she heard a voice. “Hi!” it said cheerfully. Fizzy looked at who'd said it. He was a boy her age, with hair as black as night and eyes still a bit blue, but with hints of green coming in here and there. “Hi,” she answered in a cautious, suspicious tone. He seemed kindhearted enough, but who knew? It might be a trick to lure her into a false security. He ignored her suspicious gaze and asked, “Are you the girl who likes to fight?” Fizzy studied his question. Well, she was, but why'd he need to know? “I suppose I am. Are you asking because you want to get me in trouble?” “Heavens, no!” he exclaimed. “I like to fight too! I wanted to challenge you to a play fight! If you have the time, of course.” A mischievous gleam shown in his eyes. Fizzy smiled. She liked this boy already. “Challenge accepted!” she declared, then pounced on him like a cat. He was surprisingly strong and kicked at her, propelling her away. Of course, it hurt, but if you got hurt playing rough it was all part of the game. She shrugged it off and acted defeated, then leapt at him again from behind knocking him to the ground viciously but playfully. She laughed cheerfully as they wrestled and rolled all across the ground. Suddenly footsteps sounded, and Fizzy immediately broke away from the boy out of instinct. The owners of the footsteps did not look happy. They were two adults, a man and woman who looked strikingly like her new friend. Fizzy's heart sank. His parents! Of course! They saw us fighting and now they're going to hurt me. She was too right. The man stalked dangerously close and she scrambled backwards, whimpering. He, luckily, didn't hurt her physically, but his words stabbed her heart. "What were you doing to my son?! You've hurt him! You monster! Freak! You'd better stay away from him from now on, and if you don't, I'll personally have you removed,“ he threatened. Fizzy felt her heart crack in her chest. She finally had a friend and now she'd been chased away from him. The woman scooped the boy up in her arms and shot Fizzy a look of daggers. ”We were just playing! I promise!“ the boy protested. ”You stay away from that awful girl, Aspen. You know she's a psychopath.“ ”She's not!“ But his desperate yells faded into the distance as they walked away. Fizzy let out a frustrated, sad growl, then gave up being angry about it and stalked off to her house. She opened to door and walked in silently, not wanting to discuss her feelings. ”Why so crestfallen, dear?“ her mother, Valkyrie Nightmare, asked. ”No reason. I'm just tired," she lied, and walked to her room, then flung herself on her bed. She couldn't stop the tears that came flowing out of her eyes, so she didn't fight them. She accepted them. Gosh darn it Fizzy! she scolded herself. You could've had a friend and now he's gone and you can't see him again! The thoughts only made her cry harder. Life wasn't fair. Was anything fair? Aspen had seemed to really want to be her friend. She remembered the gleam in his greenish blue eyes; how he'd strongly fought back. How she'd impressed him with the kindness that no one else would show. Could she really never see him again?

A few hours later

It was nighttime now. Fizzy knew she was supposed to be asleep, but she just couldn't fall under the spell of slumber. A mischievous idea popped into her head. What if I go outside? Just for a bit, to make me sleepy. After a tussle of thoughts, Fizzy decided to go through with it. She slid out of her bedroom and managed to creep silently through the dark and escape outside. She gaped in surprise when she got out there. There was Aspen! Just sitting on a log! Fizzy couldn't believe her luck. She crept up to him and hug attacked him from behind. He gasped in surprise and twisted around. “It's you!” he exclaimed in astonished delight. “The one and only Fizzy,” she joked. He smiled. “Nice name,” he remarked. “But what are you doing out so late?” “I couldn't sleep. I needed to clear my head,” she replied. “You?” “Exactly the same reasons as you.” She sat down on the log next to him and let their shoulders brush. For a long silence they just sat there, enjoying each other's company. “Do you have any other friends?” Fizzy suddenly asked, wondering if he'd introduce her to them. He frowned. “Nope,” he replied. “Just you.” “In that case, I'll be your best friend ever. Forever and ever,” she vowed. He smiled again, which in turn made her smile. “So,” Fizzy began, “do you want to finish what we started?” His eyes gleamed, making her smile wider. “Of course!” Then he pounced on her, knocking them both off the log. They both tussled and laughed and rolled and play fought until finally it wore them out, leaving them with no specific winner. They panted. “I'm cold,” Fizzy said, shivering. “Me too,” Aspen agreed. He scooted closer to her and they curled up next to each other, sharing body heat. They talked for hours on end, telling stories and swapping secrets. “I know a fun game. Do you want to play?” Fizzy asked. “Sure! How do I play?” “Ok, so first, I accuse you of stealing cookies. Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?” She sang. “Aspen stole the cookie from the cookie jar!” Before she could instruct him on what to say next, he flung his arms into the air and declared, “I did steal the cookies! I did it!” Fizzy burst into laughter. "No, Aspen! You're not supposed to admit it you goof!“ He lowered his arms and looked at her. ”But I actually did do it. And I don't regret it. They were tasty.“ He licked his lips. Fizzy laughed again. ”Well, lie then!“ ”Ok, um . . . I'm tired,“ he said. ”No, lie about the cookies, silly goose! Say, ‘Who, me?’ “ He repeated in an overly dramatic tone. ”Yes you!" she recited. They played the game over and over until finally they decided they were tired, said their goodbyes, promised to see each other again the next night, and slipped into their homes.

Over the course of about two weeks

Soon enough, Fizzy and Aspen were so close and inseparable that no one could keep them apart, no matter what they threatened. They laughed and played and talked all day, every day, regardless of what anyone else thought. They were also remarkably and dangerously mischievous, playing pranks constantly. These pranks ranged from putting frogs in the adults' drinks to using explosives to make it seem like the village was under attack. For the first time in their lives, they were happy. Well, that was an understatement. They were ecstatic, euphoric. Until one fateful night.

The fateful night

Fizzy sighed. She couldn't sleep again. And she knew if she snuck outside Aspen wouldn't be waiting for her out there, since they could talk during the daytime now. Frustrated, she squeezed her eyes shut. Why is it so hard to sleep? Suddenly, there were gentle footfalls outside her room. She opened her eyes and popped up her head. Probably just my parents. Nothing to worry about, she reassured herself. No harm in checking just to make sure, though. She slid out of her room and caught a glance of a dark shape disappearing into her parents' room. Two shapes, actually. A jolt of alarm shot through Fizzy like lightning, making her tremble. She forced it down. Stop being a paranoid scaredy-cat, she scolded herself. It'll be fine. She took a breath and crept into the room, following the shapes courageously. Well, little did she know, she was going to wish she'd been a coward after this. She could just make out the forms of two men, and somehow she recognized the most trusted men in the village. Why weren't they asleep? Why were they in her house? And how did they get in her house in the first place unnoticed? Probably boring grown up stuff. They've just come to talk, I'm sure, she tried to convince herself. But if it was going to be so boring, why did it feel so ominous? And if they'd just come to talk, why not in the daytime? (BLOOD WARNING AHEAD!!! STOP READING NOW IF YOU'RE SQUEAMISH!!!!) She gaped as she realized her parents were asleep. There was no chance the men had just come to talk. Fizzy's eyes widened and horror jolted through her entire body as they raised weapons and quickly killed her father before she could react. Her mother woke up and opened her mouth to scream, but didn't have time before she too, was quickly assassinated. Blood splattered on the walls, and Fizzy suddenly didn't feel safe in her own home. She was in the midst of a murder scene. She let out a piercing shriek before she could stop herself, and the men turned to her with twin sinister glares. They stalked towards her, weapons raised and eyes glittering. In the fiercest voice she could muster, she growled. “Stay away, or you're going to get hurt.” The bigger one, Wasp, let out a dry laugh. “It's you who's going to get hurt.” The slightly smaller one, Hornet, raised his axe and prepared to bring it down on Fizzy. Instinctively, she struck out as hard as she could with her leg and hit Hornet's knee. She heard a sickening crack! and Hornet dropped to the ground, growling in pain. She must've shattered his knee. Wasp picked Fizzy up and went outside, Hornet limping behind him. Wasp yelled, “HELP! There's been a murder!” With that one phrase, people came flooding out of their houses. “Tell me what happened,” the chief demanded. “I can tell you what happened!” Fizzy yelled. “They killed my parents! Wasp and Hornet!” The chief glared at her. He was one of the people who really didn't trust her. Why? She'd never done anything significantly awful enough to be mistrusted. "I didn't ask you, pipsqueak,“ he snarled. Then he looked up at Wasp. ”What really happened?“ Wasp lowered his head, fake tears rolling down his face. Fizzy scoffed but was ignored. ”It's Valkyrie and Drake Nightmare,“ he sobbed artificially. ”They've been killed. And what's worse, their own daughter, Fizzy Nightmare, was the murderer. When we witnessed it, she screamed as if we were in the wrong and shattered Hornet's kneecap. Such a faker.“ ”Excuse me?! You're the ones who-“ she was cut off as the chief ordered, ”Have her beheaded this instant! Put her on the execution table!“ Fizzy squeaked in fear as she was laid on a table and an axe was held over her neck, ready to slice off her head. This was the end! She looked at Lance, the leader of the kids who had bullied her. She was shocked as she realized horror was glimmering in his eyes. She flitted her gaze to Aspen. He looked mortified. He was petrified in fear. ”Any last words?“ the chief asked menacingly. ”As a matter of fact, yes! I have quite a mouthful to say to you!“ she growled. ”For one, you really think a three year old would kill her own parents? They're the murderers and you're enough of an idiot to believe them! And another thing, I-" she was cut off as a piercing shriek flooded the air, drowning out her angry curses. Well, what curses were in a three year old's mind. Fizzy looked and saw Aspen on his knees, screaming. Everyone was distracted. He was saving her life! Silently, she slid off the table and bolted away to the forest, as far away from the village as she could get. She didn't know what a serious decision that was. It saved her life, but she'd have to remain in the forest for possibly the rest of her life. Separated from all forms of society, away from all people, without any company. No company, that was, until nine years later . . . . (Backstory over! Continuing her story on a separate topic, but there's a serious romance warning not above PG or anything but y'know just a heads up)