And here’s the second chappie! I hope you remember how Aris is smarter than everyone else. To new readers: please comment or subscribe! The ages once again:

13 – Onew, Xiumin

12 – Jonghyun, Luhan

11 – Yifan

10 – Suho, Key, Yixing

9 – Baekhyun, Chen, Minho

8 – Chanyeol

7 – Kyungsoo, Taemin, Tao

6 – Kai

5 – Sehun, Aris (you)

Repost: 7/28/13

Their Little Sister

Back home in SHINee, you were cooped up in the castle’s royal study room, seated by a broad, lacquered desk, your little legs dangling over the edge of the chair, your nose stuffed in the spellbook Key recommended to you. Nearly a full week had passed since you last visited EXO Planet—but more importantly—the princes. Your dearest fiancés.

A rap on the door diverted your attention from the spellbook. You glanced up at the knock.

“You may enter,” you called out in a clear voice.

The door eased open, allowing entrance to a royal messenger. He crossed over to your desk and bowed ninety-degrees.

“Princess,” acknowledged the messenger. “There’s mail addressed to you from EXO.” He placed a stack of envelopes tied by a ribbon in front of you.

Interest piqued, you closed your spellbook and eyed the envelopes happily. “Oh, thank you so much, good sir!”

The messenger smiled because of your bright aura. “Anything for you, my princess.” He bowed again. “I’ll take my leave now.”

You nodded, excusing him. He left promptly, leaving you to your own devices. B with anticipation, you untied the ribbon and let the stack of letters slide into a scattered pile. Twelve letters total. You picked up the first one with thin, scrawly handwriting—written as neatly as possible. It was from Yifan. You tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter, reading the contents eagerly.

Dear fiancé, he wrote. A week has passed since we last saw each other, and I really miss you. In EXO, I’ve been doing the usual duties of a prince: studying, training, watching after my brothers and my sky. This week, though, I, Luhan, Yixing, Suho, and Chanyeol had taken a stroll in a nearby town. It was refreshing to see the people and businesses thriving along the streets. Everyone was happy to see us and interacted with us. They said I should eat and train more to become a bigger, stronger future king. Our people inquired us of our bills of health and of our parents—we’re all fine, of course. A merchant handed us free fruit to eat (but our guards advised us not to eat it just in case). A florist let us make bouquets to give to our mothers. Yixing was really thrilled about that and made the prettiest bouquet for Mother. Luhan kept being cooed and fawned over for his doll-like features. You could tell he didn’t like it but maintained his image diligently. Poor him, but I thought it was funny. Chanyeol insisted we buy a bunch of sweets and swear in secrecy not to tell our mothers (even the guards swore). One time during the walk, Suho wanted to help an elderly lady carry her bags and we all chipped in to help. It felt nice to be of service instead of letting others be of service to us. Now, enough about me, what about you? Are you well? Have you been studying? I hope your brothers aren’t persuading you not to marry me—or any of us—because we really love you. I guess that’s all I have to say (Tao wants me to help with his letter). Your fiancé, Yifan.

A fond smile adorned your face at the scenes Yifan described for you, imagining it in your head. Yes, Yifan would most definitely make a great king one day. The ideal kind who was selfless and responsible like his father. Folding up his letter, you set it aside for safe keeping and moved onto the next letter. This one had smooth, flowy handwriting. Luhan.

Dear Aris, he wrote. I guess Yifan told you about our little trip in town that one day. Well, I certainly have something to say about those people who kept flocking me and commenting about my looks! The only two people I accept such ‘cute’ commentary from is from you and Mother and no one else! Many girls swooned over me but I swear I only thought about you. You’re the only girl I need in my life...and Mother (but she’s a woman, not a girl). During training, I’ve increased my telekinesis concentration! I can lift objects over two tons now! Aren’t you proud of me? It’s better than Xiumin who keeps freezing stuff or Chanyeol burning whatever he wants. Anyhow, I really hope you’ll visit me—I mean us—very soon. From, your Luhan.

You let out a sweet giggle. Luhan was extremely loyal and devoted, but sounded too theatrical and overbearing. He needed to learn about humility and subtleness.

You continued to read the letters thoroughly and diligently. Xiumin talked about a soccer game between him and Luhan versus Baekhyun and Chanyeol. He and Luhan won victoriously, but in overall summarization, he just bragged about his ‘awesome’ soccer skills. Lay described how he’s been tending to the royal gardens and been practicing his healing powers. He wished he could show you the flowers he’s been growing that his mother complimented him about. Suho commented about EXO’s glorious weather and wanted to see what it was like in SHINee. He ended his letter by saying to stay well and visit soon. Chanyeol babbled about his adventures and how he wanted you there with him. His letter ended in a sour note when he mentioned the stomach ache he'd gotten from eating too many sweets he bought from the stroll. Baekhyun complained about Xiumin and Luhan being overly snobby and self-righteous from their soccer game and asked for you to console him. Chen said his brothers were idiotic and wild and wished you were there to calm them down, but sheepishly admitted it was just an excuse for you to come over.

By the time it got down to read the last four letters, the handwriting became messy and lopsided. Tao confessed he’d broken some vases and a table when practicing his with his wushu staff and time control powers. Kyungsoo wished you could have tasted the pastries he whipped up for his mother. Kai really missed you and promised that one day he’ll be capable enough to teleport to you and ‘save’ you from your ‘attention-hogging’ brothers. Sehun wanted to play again and share sweets with you, drawing cute faces all over his letter hoping to amuse you.

Done with reading all the letters, you were motivated to reply. You grabbed some blank sheets of parchment and an ink pen. Your brothers found you like that, cooped up in the study room, absorbed in writing.

“Eh?” Onew crossed over to the desk and plopped onto the seat adjacent to you. “What are you writing, Little Sister?”

Without glancing up, you simply replied, “I’m writing back to the EXO princes.”

Jonghyun huffed. “You should just ignore those brats.”

“But Father says it’s not nice to ignore someone reaching out for you,” you reasoned.

Jonghyun looked at you earnestly, round eyes begging for an honest answer. “So if I was reaching out to you NOT to marry one of those EXO scoundrels, would you listen to me?”

“Of course not,” was your blatant reply, “you’re my brother. I’m supposed to ignore you.”

Those words stabbed him in the chest and Jonghyun curled up into a depressed ball on the floor, a gray cloud looming over him. Key consoled his older brother while Minho shook his head at Jonghyun’s ridiculous-in-denial-moping. Onew laughed, but Taemin frowned cutely. The youngest prince hovered by your seat, planting himself there. He disliked the fact that you were communicating with those attention-stealing EXO princes. (Odd how Kai basically said the same thing in his letter.)

“Aris, do you like dem?” he prodded. “Like all of dem?”

You tilted your head. “Yes...I like them. As friends—if that’s what you’re asking.”

He let out a low whine. “I don’t like it. They will take you away from me!” He suddenly grabbed at your sleeve, eyes glistening as they formed tears. You stared at him, stunned at his outburst.

The other SHINee princes regarded the youngest prince with sad eyes, understanding the boy’s plight.

Softening, you reached out to hug Taemin before he bawled. He clung to you tighter, burying his teary face in the crook of your neck, sniffling mournfully when he hadn’t lost anything...yet.

“I’m not leaving, not really,” you placated him. “It’s true I might move away, but never from your hearts—or mine.” You pulled away from coddling Taemin to meet the despondent gazes of your brothers. “Brothers, I’m still young—we all are—and we shouldn’t worry about what will happen in the far future because we’re not sure what will happen.”

“They’re trying to take away our only sister from us,” Minho whispered, shoulders slumped in a defeated posture. “We wouldn’t let that happen for the world.”

“I’ll eventually move out one day, right?” you reasoned. “I’m a princess and not the heir. So, it’s only natural that I’d get married or move out to pursue my own profession.”

“I like the second idea more than the first,” mumbled Key, not looking at you.

You sighed. “Brothers,” you pleaded softly, “please, let’s not worry about this now. Come on, I’m still here, aren’t I? I’ll always be your little sister—just as you five dummies are my brothers.”

Slight smiles tipped their lips at your attempted humor.

Jonghyun sprang up from his brooding ball on the floor. “Yeah! That’s right! We will forever be siblings! And nothing can break us apart! Not even the universe itself!”

“Yes,” agreed the other four and you smiled brightly, glad that they cheered up.

“Group hug!” Onew exulted and the six of you squished together into a snug circle, embracing tightly with all your might. You relished being suffocated by warmth and love and care. You closed your eyes and enjoyed the moment, tucking it away in your mind to treasure it forever.

That’s right. I’ll always be your little sister—even when I’m no longer around.

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