Marryanne had been a good girl for too long. She hadn't pulled a prank in weeks. And she is supposed to be this orphanage's prankster queen.
There had been a case where the kids fell ill. How could she pull something when the kids she grew up with.
Then she had secretly joined Soren and Cyrus to get the cure along with Ray and Jay. So, naturally she could not pull something somewhere she was not familiar with.
Then the event where the matron told them that master Elric had perished in a fire. It was a mourning period, it would make everyone annoyed instead of making them laugh or rage.
Then when she finally had the idea of pulling a prank on Soren and was about to talk to Ray and Jay about it. He showed up changed from how he used to look. Marryanne swallowed the idea down her throat because he could see the distress in Soren's inky irises.
But now here she stands behind the wall eyeing Cyrus' personal shampoo. In her hands, a glass bottle with a pink gooey liquid swirled inside it.
She had pulled this same prank two years back. She had poured some hair dye inside Cyrus' shampoo and it turned into a beautiful shade of pastel.
Cyrus had raged, sobbed and sulked about it. That memory still brings a smile to her face.
At first she thought pulling the same prank might be boring. But the look on Cyrus' face means that it would never get old.
She was looking for a perfect chance to just slip this dye into the shampoo bottle, shake it then be done with it.
As the last person left the bathroom in a towel, she found her chance. With a grin stretched on her face, she tiptoes towards the bathroom over the threshold feeling the warm water envelope the soles of her feet.
She looked up.
There it is! Cyrus's shampoo!
But it is too high up. She began brainstorming on how to get that bottle down.
Suddenly the bottle appeared in front of her. She smiled and took the bottle–
Wait–
Who handed her this bottle?
She looked up and saw something she thought she would never get to see.
"Big brother Soren?" Marryanne gasped, "you- you turned back?"
Soren nodded, "I have." His lips were twisted into a grin.
Marryanne looked at both of the bottles in her hands. Then back at 'Soren' "you are helping me with my prank?"
Soren nodded, "is that really hard to believe?"
Marryanne deadpanned, "yes," then sighed, "you always scold me for pulling pranks. It is really unbelievable that you would want to help me pull something."
Soren's grin widened and it slightly made Marryanne tremble, "I am such a bummer then." He twirled his finger in his hair strands, "I will help you just for today."
Marryanne had never seen Soren toy with his hair like this before. He has Soren's face but his shoulders look wider than before and so is his hair which is longer.
Marryanne nodded, "alright then." Marryanne twisted the lid on the shampoo bottle and poured the pink dye inside the bottle. She gave it a firm shake. Then Soren put it where it belonged.
The pair snuck out of the washroom and hid behind the same wall Marryanne had been behind moments ago.
Marryanne waited for Cyrus to go in the bath. She expects him to rage, to sob and sulk just like how he had before the previous times she had pulled pranks on him.
She looked up at Soren, "big brother," she said as she glanced at him with big round green eyes, "when did you transform back?"
"Not long, darling."
Marryanne froze. Soren had never called her or any other orphans darling. He had used nicknames but never darling. Why would he suddenly change his tone?
She looked at him, really looked at him. In the eyes, "big brother?"
"Hmm."
"weren't your eyes blue…?"
Soren grinned, purposely showing his teeth. That sent a chill down Marryanne's spine. She trembled.
Sharp teeth flashed at her face as he spoke.
"My eyes were always violet, little girl."
Marryanne's heart dropped. She remembers Soren having blue eyes even when Soren had transformed into a monster it did not change the colour of his pupil. It was only the scalaras. And certainly human Soren did not have sharpened teeth.
"You are…" she swallowed, "... not big brother Soren…"
The grin only widened.
Marryanne was about to run away and took two-three steps before getting caught by a strong arm.
She yelped, "ahh, let go!" Her arms and legs flailed as she was stuck in-between Soren's side and his arm.
"Not so fast, little girl."
"Ahhh someone help! please!" Marryanne yelled.
"The bath is behind the orphanage's back yard. You think screaming like a banshee would get you out of my grasp." Soren chuckled, it came out sounding cruel.
Marryanne struggled against the grip. She scoffed, "w- well we are still in the orphanage." Marryanne dug her nails into his arms.
"Who even goes through the back door?" Soren mocked, "no one will know if I do something to you."
Marryanne bit back a sob, "no! Let go! Let go of me!!! Please!" she whined and groaned, "I'm too young! Too cute to die!!!"
Soren chuckled.
"Someone help!!!!" Marryanne yelled.
"Why are you both making so much noise in the back door?" Cyrus' annoyed voice came as he turned a corner. He was about to go and take a bath.
Marryanne blinked her eyes, "b- big brother Cyrus…" she sobbed, "brother go away!!! This is not big bro Soren!!!" She flailed,trying to shoo Cyrus away, "he is dangerous!!! Please save yourself, brother Cy!!!" Actual tears filled her eyes.
Cyrus raised an eyebrow, "what did you do to her to make her cry easily?" He looked at Voren.
Voren shrugged, "just said a few things and she started screaming like a banshee."
Marryanne struggled, "brother Cyrus save yourself !!!" Tears fell in big drops. She really thinks that Cyrus is about to heroically sacrifice himself, "That's not Soren!!!"
Cyrus sighed, "I know." He deadpanned, then looked at the squirming little girl stuck in Voren's arms, "this is Soren's older brother, Voren."
Marryanne froze and stopped squirming. She lifted her tearfilled eyes to look at Voren.
"Hello." There was cheeriness in Voren's voice as he also looked down at the little girl who was no longer struggling in his arms.
Marryanne blinked once.
Then twice.
She slowly retracted her gaze and looked at Cyrus.
She fell silent.
Then a loud "What?!?!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back at Soren and Cyrus's room. Voren, somehow had managed to hide to come back to the room without alerting the other kids.
After explaining things to Marryanne she sat by Soren–the real one, "so, that's basically it." She huffed hiding behind Soren, "you are the meaner version of brother Soren."
Soren had thought that they would announce to the orphanage that Soren had reverted back and somehow has a twin brother now in the cafeteria. Only for Voren to have an idea.
"Meaner?" Voren put his hand on his chest in mock offense, "you just don't like that you got ranked instead, little girl."
Soren sighed, "still, you shouldn't have scared her to the point of tears. Really, I have not seen this girl cry that much before." He said as Marryanne nuzzled more into Soren's back.
Voren smirked, "Soren?"
"Yes."
"Do you like pink hair on Cyrus?" Voren chuckled.
Soren was silent for a while then his eyes widened, "what did you do?"
"MARRYANNE!!!! YOU LITTLE DEMONNNNN!!!!"
Cyrus' roar shook the entire orphanage like a physical earthquake.
Marryanne was not scared. She just chuckled and hid behind.
Soren rubbed his temples.
Voren just grinned.
Furious footsteps echoed as Cyrus burst through the door, "you demon!!!" Cyrus groaned. Pastel pink curls fell on his forehead like curly ribbons, "Did you put dye in my shampoo again, you little demon."
Marryanne grinned, "you look cute in pink." She admired her work on Cyrus's head.
"Sunshine," Soren smiled, trying to defuse the situation. In the past he would have teased Cyrus and laughed with Marryanne after scolding her a little. But right now, he feels a little overwhelmed after just reverting back, "please calm down. You don't look that bad."
Cyrus huffed, "what would you know!" He grunted.
Voren bursted out laughing, "why are you complaining?" He stood up and stretched his arms, "you made Soren blush with pink hair."
Marryanne peaked at Soren's ears.
Cyrus looked at Soren.
And surely enough, Soren's ears were pink and small, subtle blush settled on his face, "maybe I am blushing." His voice sounded exhausted.
Cyrus sighed at Soren's exhausted tone, "Marryanne did not only coloured my hair," he stepped sideways as Aizen entered the room as well dressed in the clothes Cyrus had lent him. His pristine silver hair had turned into the same colour of pastel pink, "but his as well."
Aizen blinked, "I kind of like this colour."
Voren grinned, "you also look like a pink ribbon, moonlight." He admired Aizen's hair.
"He had gone in after I was done." Cyrus examined unusually calm enough for someone who was just raging. Maybe it is because Soren sounds exhausted and Cyrus does not want to make Soren more tired.
Marryanne blinked her eyes at the new person, "glad, someone likes my craft… but who are you?" Marryanne came out from behind Soren and examined the new person.
"That," Soren said, "is my soon to be brother in law."
Marryanne grinned, "is that so," she playfully approached Aizen, "you really are so pretty and you have the same eye colour as me."
Aizen chuckled, "thank you so much, little girl." He then held out his hand, "my names Aizen and you are."
She took his hand, "Marryanne." She grinned, "but everyone calls me Marry."
"Or… Demon." Cyrus muttered under his breath.
Soren sighed, "so, let's go introduce you to the other children, alright?" He stood up.
"Wait–" Voren stopped Soren.
"What is it now?" Soren crossed his arms over his chest.
Voren didn't answer Soren, rather turned to Marryanne, "hey little girl, help me for a sec."
Marryanne pouted, "why should I help you? You scared me."
Voren grinned, "I will let you in on the secret of my pranks and I have juicy gossips and stories about Soren and Cyrus from our childhood."
Marryanne's eyes light up, "Deal!!!"
Soren sighed at that interaction. This is going to be a long day…