Bounded by Chains (Orangebat)

Chapter 1: Imprisonment

"This way." I feel the barrel of a gun press between my shoulder blades. It nudges me forward and I oblige.

It's been 5 years now since my imprisonment. So many things have happened since then. So many feelings have flowed through my body. In the beginning, I only felt dispair. I couldn't even feel anger. All I could think of was how disappointed Princess Asseylum was with me. How my life had crumbled in on itself. But that had changed. For some time, I felt anger, but soon after, it returned to depression. Eventually I felt numbness along with it; an overwhelming feeling of emptiness.

"Stop zoning out. You must be prepared to declare your loyalty to Empress Asseylum," the gruff voice of a guard tells me. I recognize the voice from the prison, yet I don't know the name of it's owner.

I do nothing in response. I don't nod nor respond; I stay silent and continue moving forward. Why would it matter if a prisoner such as myself shows signs of life? No one cares that I'm released; they'd rather I stayed in that prison forever: left to rot and slowly die. I don't even care. I deserve all this treatment. I even deserve worse. Most would feel blessed to be let out this soon, but I can't bring myself to feel anything at all.

The guards lead me to a black vehicle with tinted windows. They shove me into the back seat and I let them with no complaints.

The drive is short. I halfheartedly look out the window and watch the surroundings. The greens of the grass and blues of the ocean and sky blend together and I don't bother deciphering where one ends and the other begins.

The car stops and I watch as the warden gets out of the front seat and opens my door. He grabs my chained wrists and pulls me out of the car. The old me would've gotten angry at the treatment I've been recieving, but I can't bring myself to feel that anger because I deserve all of the consequences coming to me.

I walk into the building and stare blankly at the maroon walls and mahogany floors. Here and there white arcs take place of the wall to open into another room. I don't bother trying to figure out what's in each room.

After a short walk, we reach a large set of doors. Two men in the all too familiar navy uniform wait by the entrance. They both look in my direction. I recognize them both. One, I know only by looks, but the other I know well. Harklight... As we had been close, I should be able to feel something at seeing him, but, as has been, nothing.

"Is her highness ready to see the prisoner?" one of the guards beside me questions.

Harklight nods. He and the other martian make eye contact before pushing the doors open. Light floods from the room before me to illuminate the hallways behind me. The guards escorting me grab each of my arms and half drag, half push me into the room.

Near the back of the room, people gather on the stage. I immediately recognize the golden blonde hair and bright green eyes of Asseylum Vers Allusia, a former crush of mine as well as the Empress of Vers. To her left, as expected, stands her loyal servant Eddelrittuo. On her right is her husband Emperor Klancain Cruhteo. Along the stage seems to be reporters of some sort as well as what looks like officers of the United Forces of Earth.

Once we approach the stage, Empress Asseylum descends the stairs and both the Terran and Martian guards drop into a deep bow. I remain standing for it's not my time to bow yet.

"Slaine," she says in her soft voice. "Your hair's grown so long."

At the comment, I instinctively reach to my shaggy ash blonde locks. What she's said is true; I wasn't allowed to cut my hair in prison. Once, they tried to cut my hair, but I had tried to take the scissors and end my life so they hadn't allowed it since.

While in prison, and even now, I had been very unstable. I ate as little as possible and during the beginning of my sentence, I would break down every day. I screamed and cried. I wanted to die. I wanted to escape; not from the prison, but from myself.

"Slaine...?" Empress Asseylum's question tears me away from my thoughts.

"Empress Asseylum..." My own voice sounds foreign to me. I used to speak confidently, but now I sound weak and broken. Neither of those are incorrect, just different from what I've been used to hearing. I fight my thoughts. Now is not the time. I bring my right arm forward and place it diagonally across my chest. I bow my head and kneal on one knee. "Empress Asseylum. I swear my loyalty to the Vers Empire. I will treat both Terrans and Martians as equals."

"Slaine, raise your head." I do as told and meet her gentle smile. "You are fully pardoned for your crimes; however, there are some conditions in order for this to happen."

I simply nod.

"Due to the severity of your crimes, you must be put under house arrest indefinitely." She waits for me to nod before continuing, "Through both suggestions from the UFE and careful consideration, we decided it would be best for you to stay with war hero, Inaho Kaizuka."

I narrow my eyes and anger fills my body. Inaho Kaizuka. The man I hate so very much. He had visited me several times each month my sentence, but his presence had waned sometime recently. He was only visitor I receieved and I hated it so much. Why does it have to be him? Then I realised something. I felt somehting. I had been numb for so long, but just the thought of Inaho had sparked something inside of me.

I hear the doors open behind me. I watch as Asseylum's face lights up with joy. It must be that guy. I don't understand how so many people can like him. He's just an emotionless being; almost robotic.

I refuse to look behind me. I don't want to accpet this fate. I don't want to live with him, yet I must. I deserve any torture they can think of. But he did make me feel something, so maybe it's not completely bad.

Asseylum turns her attention back to me. She gives me a sad smile and stares into my eyes. "I remember how I used to look into your eyes and think 'How beautiful.' They were so full of emotion. Happiness, sadness, relief, excitement, embarrassment. So many wonderful things. But when I look into them now, they seem so dull. Was it the war that did that? Or prison? Either case, I want to see them how they once were. I know you're still in there. Behind your sorrow is who you once were."

I try to act as if I care about what she's saying, but I don't want to hear it. It sounds so..fake and rehearsed. I can't listen to it. I can't listen to her. Once she finishes, I bow curtly.

"Thank you, Empress, for granting me this second chance. I will take your words to heart." I bow deeply once more.

"No, thank you, Slaine. I'm glad you can realise the fault in your ways."

Inwardly, I scowl at her words. I used to love her. I used to cherish every syllable that came out of her mouth. I knew it was unrequited, but I couldn't help loving her with my whole being. Yet now I can only think of the pain she's put me through by forcing me to live. She's so dead set against violence she'd rather I became a living shell rather than kill me. If I had the will to wish, I'd wish that things never became this way, but there's no point. Wishing only hurts more.

I raise. "Farewell, your majesty." With that I turn around to meet the red eye and eyepatch of my enemy, Inaho Kaizuka.

"Come, Slaine. I don't want to make dinner too late," he says with his annoying straightforward tone.

I scowl and walk past him. "If you have time to say that, then obviously you have time to spare, Orange."

"You are correct. I do have time to spare, but I'd rather not waste it on forcing you to cooperate. However, since you seem eager to go, there is no problem."

Eager's not how I'd word it. "Whatever."

With that, whether it be good or bad, I start my journey to my new life on Earth.

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So I wrote this with some stuff in mind that you'll get to see unfold! And I also wrote it because my lovely girlfriend convinced me to watch Aldnoah. It was pretty goid and this ship has potential, so I figured it would be nice to do.

I hope you liked it! Feel free to comment, vote, and/or critise!

Bye, bye!

21-6-17