Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Escaflowne or The Slayers. I own all else.
The Final Vision of Escaflowne
Shadow Cage
Prologue
Lost
-1,000 Years Later -
~ Alfheim ~
~ Darnia Forest, 5,000 miles from Artemis ~
The Mystic and its sister, colorless Moon shown high above Gaia, particularly upon the lush continent of Alfeim, the continent of the fair folk, elves and fairies. No where else are these races so abundant, and so dominant. They had mastered the art of dragon riding, a form of transportation and hunting, and helpful in war, when the time came.
Humans are few and far between, more or less slaves or cheap labor. It was the way of the entire continent since time began, as humans were a rare occurrence, mostly travelers who were far too curious for their own good. They were easy prey, the shipwrecked especially, and even at times when labor was needed badly, the travelers of Alfheim would venture to the human continent of Jotunheim and kidnap children and the homeless, leaving perfectly without a trace.
That was how the continent worked, the elves were of the highest prestige as a species here, the fairies having their own realms of perfect rule within their lush forests and underground lagoons. It was their perfect society.
Or it had been until the humans began to be in surplus and got to escaping and stealing dragons. The bleeding heart elves trying to protect them made things worse, and wars began within Alfheim. Fighting became a new thing, and wars were very careless, ill planned all the way. Elves had been so used to everything going their way and only their way. They didn't stop to consider that the humans felt violated and mistreated. The humans had the instincts to fight, and created unrest along with those who supported them. The kingdoms divided themselves after numerous unresolved wars.
Then it came, the flying palace that came from across the sea, bringing sixteen humans with it….with strange suits of armor and weapons. The change in war began the moment their leader stepped out into the coastal town of Finias. It was major source of fish products, jewelry, and citrus farming. Rumors spread from the moment the young man came out with a companion, a young man about the same height, but dressed in dark sweeping cloak. They were human, or seemed so. The leader was far to young in their opinion to rule over anyone. He looked barely out of his teens, unparalleled in his male beauty, but it was his eyes that scared people.
The young silver-haired man had the red eye of hellfire itself, of blood and flame. He looked quite insane no matter how his expression was, but then the other young man revealed his face. Women nearly fainted, and men became jealous, children stared, but the young man seemed amused that they were even there. His eyes were slit like a demon's, but of the purest sapphire blue they'd ever seen. Not even a true sapphire could compare to those piercing eyes and shimmering, soft looking hair. The bangs were sharp, same as his eyes, but his face almost looked like one of theirs, slender as his frame, and unnaturally angelic and beautiful.
They were called Dilandau Albatou and Hiero Vendetta, the Dragon Slayer General and his Strategos, a planner of high prestige and genius. He didn't speak initially that day they arrived, but the general did and announced they were the Dragon Slayers and had come to fight for whoever necessary, but on the general's terms.
The town of Finias said they had no need of soldiers, especially human ones. If not for the Strategos, Finias would have been burned to the ground. He quietly reasoned with the young general, and then the young blood eyed fighter asked where the wars were currently. They were answered and left, after his troops bought supplies with beautifully gold coins called gidaru. Alfheim's currency were the abundant jewels their land almost seemed to vomit in streams and fairy groves, but the glitter of the young men's supply of gold was equally stimulating.
The Strategos and a cherubic young Slayer had done the work, neither looking like soldiers, more like angels in armor. Then they left and the terrors began, for anyone that fought on the opposite side of the soldiers for hire. As long as their insane leader was fighting, it didn't matter who or what it was for. He and the Strategos were the most famous of the entire group, ones that seemed to have special powers keeping them strong and young as years passed.
Those around them grew old after a few centuries, as elves normally did, but the human men didn't. The people of Alfheim had so many names for them, devil, the blood dragons soul stealers, sorcerers, warlocks, demons, even went so far to call them the spawn of the god of darkness himself, Velnias, but no one knew why seven of them never aged. The cherubic, innocent looking one didn't age, nor did the silvery blonde haired one, nor the brunette with his stern eyes. Another who had odd Laguna blue hair that spiked up like a dragon's crown and a tress beneath it like a knight's helmet cowl. He was quite dashing as well. The final unaging human demon was not a man, but lavender-haired woman of fine beauty, and to many citizens' shock, the wife of the Strategos.
It seemed strange she was with such people, and that no one tried for her. She could have passed for an elfin royal, if not for her stunted human ears. The Strategos was highly protective of her, not in jealous manner, more like she was his reason for breathing, that she was his soul's commander. He did practically anything and everything for her, and it showed wherever they were stationed to fight. He would fight for her, buy anything, and listened more intently than most husbands did, even the good ones.
On this very night, that same couple is together, in a crystalline lake as the sister moons shine upon them as they make love in their silvery splendor.
~
Hiero stepped into shore, drying off and feeling very warm regardless of being all wet. He looked back as he pulled on his boxers, smiling at his wife of over a 1,000 years of blissful marriage. She was bare and beautiful, but she didn't need to be. She was always beautiful, his wish granted at last for happiness. He couldn't help but smile at that beautiful face, those ice blue eyes that had such power over his heart.
Hiero had never thought he'd be able to keep a love around ever, but at last he had gotten his wish, his Alessa. He put his pants and undershirt on, then his shirt as she came on shore, planting kiss on his cheek before going for her things. She hadn't beaten Dilandau yet. Alessa just didn't like being a soldier. She was only a Dragon Slayer because Hiero asked it of Dilandau, to protect her, and not make people think they were soft. That kind of talk worked well with Dilandau, it always did.
As they dressed fully, Hiero put his cloak on, and offered his arm to his armored wife. She smirked at him, but took it anyway, following him back to the Abyss. It was a long ways in the distance, but their wings always made short work of the trip. That was, when they felt no one was looking. Showing they had wings would inspire more fear and distrust, and they'd go broke in a hurry if it happened.
"So have you seen when the next war will come? I think Dilandau will go into hysterics if we don't fight soon." Alessa commented dryly. He frowned. Dilandau and Alessa still hated each other, Alessa hating Dilandau for his demeanor and poor treatment towards her. Dilandau simply hated Alessa for being around.
Hiero wished a lot Dilandau would find a woman, human or elfin, and try love out. The guy was practically a 2,000 and something virgin, who didn't care that he was one. Chesta lost his virginity nearly 1,000 years ago to cherry maiden who attended the court of one of the many kingdoms they worked for. Gatti lost his first during the Zaibach war to a Fanelian peasant, at least a century before it was burned to the ground. Migel took his time and found a young woman blacksmith half-elf, one that resembled the red-headed blind singer Avaris. Hiero frowned a bit. Migel was addicted to red-heads because of that one moment Hiero turned into Avaris. He kept trying to get Hiero either drunk or to lose bets at cards.
It sickened Hiero deeply. Migel was a perverted, conceited jerk. He'd have to find memory spell to fix the moron's brain or one day he would lose it again. Then he'd lose his lunch for a few years.
He looked to Alessa with wry smile. "I can handle Dilandau, Alessa. It's only been 100 years since the last one….and he had a lot of fun during it. He really has more will power than you give him credit for.….but, the next one I have not foreseen yet. They just come to me randomly, when it can somehow be changed. Its last minute for me, love….you know that." He told her in a smooth voice, but she smirked at him.
"Don't start trying to put the moves on me again. We just had a lovely evening in private from that fire freak, don't spoil it by making excuses for him." She said tersely. He had to frown again, but briefly.
"He's my friend, honey….and we understand one another. I'm pretty much the only thing standing between Gaia and total annihilation by flame. He's not so bad, is all I am saying. I know he can be a creep to you and most of the Dragon Slayers, but deep down, there is some good in him. Be glad for it being there." He stated, nuzzling her neck a moment, taking in her warm scent.
"And why is that?" she asked with wry smile.
"He hasn't killed you yet." He smiled. Alessa laughed at that, and it made him feel better inside.
"That's better, I love it when you laugh. So musical," he cooed playfully, kissing her cheek," And he would have if we didn't go outside to these romantic surroundings to make love….you know he has no defense against our bond in his sleep."
She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Can't he ever wait till we're done to sleep?" she droned. Hiero snickered and patted her shoulder. "We don't exactly fork over schedule of when we're about to get in the mood, you know. That sort'a kills the romance. It happens when it happens….you know that, love," he told her, then started to snicker," You remember the last time he barged in on us?"
She cringed a bit, chuckling softly. "He was tangled in his own pants and trying to get his sword untangled from them. He shredded them apart and was chasing us around in his boxers."
"And all we had on were the sheets….well, you did. He was chasing you around more than me." He chuckled out.
"He likes you far too much….why do I always get attacked?" she sniffed. Hiero feigned mock hurt, pouting. "Ah, give me some credit, Alessa. He has this unreasonable hate for females, probably cause he had overtaken his mother's body….and Sora made Folken torture him and the others. It's his way….and I've kept him from harming you for nearly a couple thousand years. You don't have to bite my head off over his quirks. People can change, just give him some time."
She glared at him a moment, then simply frowned. "Sometimes I wish I wouldn't have to see him for a long, long time. He just is so full of his war crap….and himself. Dilandau is incapable of changing his mind about anything. He's as static as a grain of sand."
She pulled away a bit, walking bit ahead of him, sighing. "Maybe aliens will decide Gaia is a better target for anal probes than Earth and take him away for a long time. Give me damned vacation from his constant demanding."
"Ouch….Well, if that were possible, isn't that little harsh. I mean, even Dilandau has his good point. He listens and he's a great fighter, and he's my friend. Isn't that enough….he'll change….you'll see. Can't you at least give the poor guy that much?" Hiero put to her, sighing deeply at her rather disturbing wish.
She smirk, and put one arm up, bent and point to the Mystic Moon with the other on her slender, inviting, armored hip. "I say 'Beam me up, Scotty!' Hmm?" she retorted proudly.
Hiero was about to smile when a pillar of dark light surrounded Alessa, who was frozen in surprise. "Damn, the aliens have good hearing….huh? hey wait!' she yelped, the pillar ripping her off the ground violently. Hiero stared at her moment, then saw the fear in here eyes, the pillar coming alive on the inside with black tendrils of smoke. Then she shot up like a fish being yanked up by a hook, screaming and reaching for him, her wings of soft lilac color spreading and flapping madly.
"ALESSA!!!!" he screamed spreading his six wings, two of angelic white and the ones in between of a blue dragon strong, and darted into the pillar up after her.
"HIERO! I CAN'T MOVE! HELP ME! HIEROOOOOO!!!!" she screams, her wings being torn apart as the tendrils started to hide her form, the dark top of the strange stream of dark light swirling like a black hole. He didn't care and flew harder, hard enough to make his sail bone ache, his feathers bleeding from their fleshy, down encrusted anchor. He reached out with all his might, trying to go faster, but the tendrils were against him, lashing at his body with intent to harm. He was dyed red by the time her got close enough, reaching out to graze her fingertips.
Tendrils were wrapping about her head, her icy blue eyes wide with fright and pain. "Hiero!"
"I'm coming. Alessa, don't go! I can reach you, just reach out to me, I'll get you! PLEASE!" he begged, reaching out again, but the tendrils yanked her again, both of them now deathly close to the black hole. It pulled harder on her, submerged up to her waist now, and the living blackness drinking her down like quicksand.
"Hiero….ah, I love you!" she yelled, reaching out to him. He smiled, reaching out with hope. He had her hand in his, holding it tightly. He wouldn't let her go without him, wherever the pillar led to. "Alessa….I've got you….my love." He beamed.
She smiled back, but he only saw it for a second. She vanished from his sights in flash, the pillar fading with her. His hand closed on itself, empty with air. His eyes shook a bit, the sapphire daggers they held, astonished.
"A-Alessa….?" He whispered, as if not believing he couldn't see her. He listened, maybe it was spell, she was invisible, that had to be it. No, magic was not as advanced on Gaia as it was on Terrian and Val's world. He listened anyway, but all he could hear were the mournful crooning of the dragons of Alfheim, owls hooting, and the wind blowing coldly about his bloodied wings.
He hovered there alone, all alone. His Alessa was gone, he couldn't save her….just like all the others….but this one had been his one true, his true love, and he was powerless to save her. All his power….and he'd lost her in under a minute.
Hiero gulped a moment, blinking his eyes slightly, tears running out. 'The cursed….one….never feels happiness….Alessa, my darling wife. Alessa….why did you take her away from me, Delphine! YOU DID THIS!"
"ARGH! DELPHINE YOU DID THIS! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!!!! ALESSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he screamed, his wings giving out with his sorrow. Hiero Vendetta's tears followed him as he plummeted endlessly to the ground below, not caring if it hurt. His heart had just been ripped out. One can live again….without their heart.
~ The Abyss ~
- Hiero's Chambers -
Dilandau walked briskly down the hall, not falter a step despite the intense sorrow in his mind. It was making his face hurt, but it couldn't be helped. Hiero's emotions were out of control and there was no way to oust a superior mentality such as his. Hiero was a natural telepathic, and with their bond, Hiero always dominated in it.
It was only in such times as these, when Hiero's emotions were very strong, that Dilandau despised being in synch with Hiero, only those times. At others it was just fine. Dilandau could never fully blame Hiero for being so strong with emotion, he was older than the whole lot of them put together.
His garnet eyes could see Val Schezar, his cousin only by birth, exiting the room, looking sorrowful himself. "Val!" Dilandau yelled, which came naturally. It annoyed him that Val simply kept the sad expression when he looked up. He felt like slapping the dragon man, but refrained from it. It might worsen his headache if Hiero heard it. "Yes, Lord Dilandau?" Val asked mournfully.
Dilandau stopped in front of him, frowning deeply. "How is he? Has he said where Slayer Demitrius is?" he asked cordially.
"He keeps saying he lost again. That Delphine will never let him be happy….He was pretty messed up when Korus and Fylin found him. He was lucky they were patrolling or he'd have lain there for days before we'd have found him. He wouldn't do anything but stare. When I came in, he was crying about Alessa and….he was…." Val explained, and started to trail off. Dilandau sneered and grabbed him by the collar. "I know what you are and I don't care. Spit it out already!" Dilandau growled. Val looked too upset to even growl back, only nodding.
"He was stabbing himself over and over again, saying he wanted to die." Val finished, and was promptly released. Dilandau sighed a bit, looking at the door. "Get Arick and Gavin to guard this door, they don't come in and no one but myself comes out, understood?" Dilandau ordered. Val nodded hesitantly, standing there sadly.
"Did I say stand and stare! Move!" Dilandau yelled. Val growled back then, but it only made Dilandau smirk. Val shrugged the creepy feeling it gave him off and ran off to get the Slayers mentioned.
After Val was out of sight, Dilandau entered the room and locked it. He looked at Hiero, who was on his bed. The bed was soaked with fresh blood, as Val had implied would be there. Hiero had no armor on, only his black undershirt and pants, no boots or armor. He was staring blankly at the ceiling. He had no weapons on him, so it meant that Val either hid them on himself or threw them right out the window. Either way, it didn't matter, daggers weren't always as effective as a good sword. Hiero was good with daggers, the best, but Dilandau felt them only needed as a last resort.
He got beside the bed and stared down at the blank expression on his friend and comrades angelic face. Val sure as hell had no telepathy or bond to Hiero as Dilandau did, so he could find out what had happened to that annoying wife of Hiero's. Dilandau didn't wait for any sort of sign that Hiero knew what he was going to do and did it, pulling his red leather gloves off and stuffing them in his belt, then placing his hand on Hiero's startling cold head.
He pushed and pulled at Hiero's scattered mind. This wasn't the first time he'd been in Hiero's mind. Over the centuries, Dilandau got to sneaking into this room to see what he could discover about his best Slayer, and friend. There was so much pain involved in Hiero's life, pain that even Dilandau could feel sorry about, not like he'd ever say it to Hiero's face. Dilandau was excellent at everything involved in combat, so he was never caught, but sometimes, Hiero would look at him with a knowing smile the next morning, as if he somehow knew. They were in synch, so it was possible, but Dilandau didn't care. He had a right to know.
He pushed again and found the events of the night, the breaking of a heart, the dark pillar that stole the life-force that was Hiero's heart, Alessa. He pulled out, hiccupping slightly from coming out too fast. He shook his head, and understood what happened, but was annoyed. How could Alessa being gone turn such a proud and powerful warrior into a numb and blank slab of jelly? He didn't understand, it sounded so stupid.
He slapped Hiero for this confusion he was wrought with, only to find that Hiero was looking at him, tears in those endless sapphire slits. Dilandau kept his face angry, a sneer on his pal lips as some silver hair blew across his bloodstone eyes. "Why?" Dilandau asked.
Hiero blinked a moment. "Why do I feel this way?" Dilandau nodded, still angry. Hiero angered him further by looking back to the ceiling, chuckling much like Folken did, dead and cold. "You've never loved anyone in your whole life, you can't begin to understand why I feel this pain. As strong and powerful as you are, you can't understand what it feels like to lose your heart…." Hiero said, stroking at his childhood scar that ran across his cheek.
Instinctively, Dilandau rubbed his own scar, his on the opposite cheek to Hiero's. It was where their blood mingled, the blood of the last pure Draconians, the last Fanelians. Dilandau always refused either parents' lineage, but Fanelia had shown him more amusement in being a constant target of enemy attacks for Escaflowne and his Alseides. He did miss his mother Celena Schezar, but he was Albatou, the lost son. He would stay that way, having things to hold onto made you weak. Like it was making his best ally weak.
Dilandau did consider Hiero his one true friend, the only one that he could talk to and trust to be honest and not cower. It was better than the new Dragon Slayers who did everything like trained dogs. Chesta, Gatti, Val, and Migel all obeyed to the letter, but let out a little of their opinions when they could, getting slapped for it. He would always be stronger than them, he would always be their leader, even if Val was a dragon. Hiero made sure Val never tried anything against Dilandau. Hiero was not a weakness to him, but he was acting it now.
"What good is a heart if it always hurts….? Hearts are for the weak. Mine will remain in love with my one true, war." Dilandau stated with a proud smirk
Hiero snickered bit, faintly. "I'm flattered." Dilandau growled, the smirk faltering at Hiero's joke, but it was joke at least. Hiero was still there.
"Don't get cute with me." Dilandau snarled and slapped him hard. Hiero just shut his eyes, allowing it, then took his bare hand, holding it tight. Dilandau blinked a moment, and waited.
"Sorry….I know what you mean, honestly. But Alessa was my love….and someday, Dilandau, you will know how I feel. I will never love again….Alessa is my all, my everything, my goddess of life and death. She's out there, somewhere….just because I can't sense her here or on the Mystic Moon doesn't mean she's dead."
Dilandau sniffed. "She could be….you have to consider that…."
Hiero nodded sitting up, still soaked in his own blood, but free of injury. He looked at Dilandau then, a soft smile on his equally pale lips. "I know she's alive….and I will never betray our love. Even if I must wait a billion lifetimes….I will stay faithful. I will find my wife….I will regain my heart Dilandau," he said quietly, now getting off the bed to stand before his friend and lord," And I only ask one thing of you."
"And that is, if I choose to do so?" Dilandau smirked darkly.
Hiero matched it, though tears still flowed. Hiero hugged him tightly, as they did once a few times in the past to show their appreciation for one another, to show they were friends, family. It was true in certain ways. Val and Hiero were his cousins, only partially because Folken Fanel raped his mother, the sister of Val's father, the late playboy Allen Schezar. His mother hadn't married Fanel, thank the gods, but it was by blood, and that was close enough. He embraced his cousin back, eyeing him strangely before Hiero stepped back.
"When the time comes….spread your wings and dive for the flames. Then you will understand." Hiero said simply, then was standing at attention, quiet and emotionless.
Dilandau nodded, puzzled, but Hiero's words normally made sense eventually. "Fine then….you….will be on sick leave in your room until you are ready to become my Strategos again. Is there anything else you require in the meantime before I get back to more important matters?" Dilandau as cold as possible, maintaining his authority. Hiero did not smile or chuckle, only nodded.
"May I change rooms? This one holds too many memories….for me." Hiero stated simply.
Dilandau nodded sternly. "Fine then, do it on your own. That is all, Strategos Vendetta. When you have visions, of any kind, you will keep me informed, that is an order." Dilandau stated crisply, then walked out of the room, leaving Hiero to himself. If he'd walked out a little slower, he might have heard his friend utter something most softly, said with what was left of the immortal youth's heart.
"I just did." Hiero said, smiling gently at his friend's back.
To Be Continued….
Teaser: The new Dragon Slayers, a new war, and to kidnap a princess with an idiot is doomed to failure. My apologies to all who had to wait for this to be put back up.