Deus ex Machina
Part 1... of *shrugs*
*SD TLP scoots a chalkboard onto the stage* ahem... *bows and wips out
baton, which he points to the chalkboard*
Deus ex Machina. It is a simple phrase that means "God in the
Machine." It was often used in operas of the time of Beethoven to
explain events that couldn't be explained in any other way... example:
at the most critical part of the climax, God would descend from the
heavens (an actor on a big fluffy cloud -- *draws SD actor on cloud on
chalkboard*) and straighten everything up... then everything would
conclude happily... often, a key character would be brought back to
life, or a prized possession fixed...
Thank you. *bows* I hope you enjoy the fic! *SD TLP scoots chalkboard
off stage, curtains close, and lights dim*
When the day had begun, it had been a beautiful one. The songs of
birds filled the air and sunlight poured forth from the heavens. But
the one thing that truly made Mamoru Chiba's day was that he was able
to spend it with his beloved Usagi. He grinned in spite of himself at
the many promises that day had had to offer...
So why then was he clothed in chain mail armor, standing on the
lowlands of some Medieval countryside fending for his life against a
group of short, green pig-like creatures? Sometimes life just didn't
have a good explanation...
The events of the past month flooded back into Mamoru's head...
He had gotten out of bed at a quarter past eight, showered, and eaten
breakfast. Just the thought of being able to take Usagi picnicking on
his day off was enough to make him smile. He wanted everything to be
perfect... and, indeed, everything had begun that way. The picnic
went better than he had expected. The couple had finished eating and
he had laid down on the grass, where Usagi took his head in her lap and
began putting leaves in his hair.
Dark clouds suddenly filled the sky, enveloping the park in darkness.
The couple frantically gathered up the leftover food, when a bright
blue light shot from the clouds and absorbed the ground all around them
. The last thing Mamoru remembered was bright blue and Usagi... his
Usagi... frantically calling his name.
Mamoru felt comfortable. Light poured onto his face from a window
above the bed he was occupying. He slowly began to sit up, and pain
shot through his whole body. He winced and laid back down.
Someone bustled rather noisily towards his door. It cracked open
slightly and the kind face of an elderly woman peered in at him.
"Oh, thank goodness. I thought we may have lost you. You're very
lucky my husband found you when he did... otherwise, the wolves..."
she trailed off and looked towards the window.
"Who are you? Where am I?" inquired Mamoru.
"I am Maribel Waters, my husband farms the land that we found you on.
You are in the kingdom of Terindya," replied the kindly woman.
"You found me? How long have I been asleep?"
"Yes... you were lying in some bushes. You had some strange clothes
on, but they were torn to shreds. You've been unconcious for nearly a
week now... we'd begun to lose any hope of you reviving."
"Usagi!" Mamoru shot forward in bed and quickly regretted it. Pain
forced him to lay back down.
"You've said that name many times in your fever... is she your wife?"
Mamoru smiled slowly. "No... not yet..."
The old woman frowned. "I am sorry. Do you know where she is?"
"No... we were separated at the same time by a mysterious light."
She frowned again. "Then there may not be any chance for her unless
she was found much quicker than you were. These be sad times... It
would be difficult for a woman your age to survive in this kingdom."
Mamoru clenched his teeth. "She is alive. I know she is..."
"Oh! But here I am not being a very good nurse-maid," said the old
woman. "Let me go get you some water and hot bread. You have to get
your strength back if you are to go looking for her."
"Thank you..." replied Mamoru sincerely. "For everything..."
The old woman smiled before excusing herself from the room, only to
return several short minutes later with a mug of fresh milk and a few
slices of hot bread. She set it on the small table next to Mamoru's
bed and helped him to sit up. He winced, but was able to manage.
"Now if you'll excuse me, there's much housework to be done..." smiled
the old woman. "If you need anything, I'll be around." And then she
was gone.
Mamoru smiled at his luck. He breathed in the smell of fresh bread and
frowned. It reminded him of home... the home he may never be able to
return to. Mamoru tore ravenously into the bread. He would become
healthy again, regain his strength, and go to find Usagi. But where
was Usagi? Had she even been brought here? She could in all reality
have been dropped on the other side of the world, or in the ocean, or
even escaped the light...
But he felt she was there. He could feel her presence inside of him
somehow... she was close.
======================================================================
PART 2 of *shrugs*
Mamoru jumped for the frisbee being thrown to him. He missed it in
mid-air and greatly exaggerated his fall as he tumbled head over heels
into the green grass. Usagi giggled softly to herself at the sight of
Mamoru all twisted up in the grass.
"Mamo-chan, daijobu ka?" she called.
There was no answer.
Curiousity overwhelmed her and she walked over to her bruised boyfriend.
"Mamo-chan?"
No answer.
Usagi leaned in closer. Mamoru jumped towards her, causing her to jump
away startled. It took a minute before the blonde began laughing
furiously, caught in the relentless grip of Mamoru tickling her. Usagi
kicked and screamed in Mamoru's grasp, before finally hitting her head
on a small rock.
"OWW! Itai!" she screamed.
Mamoru immediately let go of Usagi, who used her newly-freed hand to
rub the bump that had begun to form on her head.
"Are you alright Usa?"
"You need to lighten up Mamo-chan. I was really worried that you had
hurt yourself..."
"Gomen ne, my dear Usagi..."
Mamoru leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the forehead.
"There. Better?"
The blonde sniffled slightly, then turned away with a quick pout.
"Maybe you'll remember next time..." She stuck out her tongue at him.
"Usa, I'm sorry..." he began.
The ground began to shake. Usagi turned to look at Mamoru
questioningly. Mamoru, too, had a puzzled look on his face. The
trembling became more violent. Mamoru reached forward to grab Usagi,
but the ground beneath her gave way and she fell into the dark abyss.
Mamoru jerked back, tears forming in his eyes. The ground was breaking
up all around him. He watched with a horrid gaze as the entire world
collapsed around him. And when it was all done, he stood on one of two
pillars of dirt that had miraculously remained untouched.
Standing on the other pillar was a solitary silhoutted figure. The
eyes glowed red, and its mouth slowly opened to reveal a sharp row of
teeth, formed in a wicked grin. The Yoma licked its lips with a forked
tongue and glared sharply at Mamoru.
And then the ground fell out from underneath him, and he joined the
same dark oblivion that had claimed his beloved Usagi.
Mamoru shot up in his bed. A cold sweat ran down his flesh. He had
dreamed the same such dreams every night since he had awakened at the
old home he now occupied. Always there was he and Usagi. Just as
always, there was the Yoma. It had the figure of a female, but was
always shrouded in darkness. Mamoru could make out no more than the
blood-red eyes and the crooked, sharp-toothed grin.
"I am sorry... I have failed you Usagi. I have failed to protect
you..." Mamoru slipped back into the unforgiving world of his
dreams...
A cock crowed in the distance as the sun lifted above the Eastern
horizon.
Mamoru stirred and sat up in bed. A soft tap came at the door, before
it opened and the old farmer peered in.
"Son." The word came easily from the farmer. Mamoru had gotten used
to hearing the title, and even liked it. It made him feel like he was
part of a family.
"We have finished the harvest," continued the farmer. "The winter
months are almost upon us and I would ask that you accompany me into
the city to trade our excess crops for supplies and seed."
Mamoru nodded happily. In the month that he had spent with the elderly
couple, Mamoru had never ventured from the property. And who knows,
maybe he would hear something about his beloved Usagi...
The city was quite a site to see. Mamoru gazed at the Bazaar lining
both sides of the main street. He witnessed a young child helping
himself to an elderly gentleman's money pouch; Mamoru tightened the
draw strings on his own. He didn't have much money with him, but what
he did have was what would see him and his adopted family through the
winter.
Word on the streets passed quickly in this setting; customers telling
merchants and merchants passing the information on to other interested
customers. The rumormill today spoke of the kingship, as it normally
did.
"Bellheaded aristocracy, always searching for an excuse to go to war,"
on merchant had told Mamoru. "If you ask me, this girl they speak of
was no more the king's daughter than that girl there..."
Mamoru inquired of another merchant what the situation at hand was.
"Yo've not 'eard? 'ole township's been shoutin' ove da 'vents fer near
a mont now. Seem da King some'ow manged to hide 'is 19-yer-old
daughta from da people. It's s'posed ta 'ave sumit ta do wit da blue
light dat 'peared goin' on a mont 'ence. Y'ask me, Oi say tis' the
work o' witches..."
'Blue light?' thought Mamoru, 'Could it have been Usagi?'
The old farmer found Mamoru lost in thought. Mamoru was startled when
his adopted father grabbed him by the shoulder. The grasp was firm and
unyielding... Mamoru wondered how such an old man could remain so
strong.
"It is time to leave my son..." said the farmer. "There is talk of war
and I don't want to leave your mother at the farmhouse alone. You
never know what type of ruffians may be about..."
The pair of travelers walked home in silence. It began to rain when
they were about halfway, which had turned into a full-blown snowstorm
by the time they arrived at the farm.
The old woman was quite well, and eater to hear of news from the city.
She hurriedly took their wet cloaks and ushered the two men towards the
fire, where she served some hot bread and tea.
The old man began of the events that he had heard that had transpired
over the last month.
"One month past, a blue light flooded the castle. Some say it was an
act of God, but most people believe it the work of witchcraft. The
next morning, the king announced that his 'daughter' would be receiving
the kingdom from him in one years time."
"I don't believe I've heard of the king having a daughter..." said the
old woman.
"Neither had I, nor any of the other villagers. News spread to the
king's nephew in the Southern Kingdom. He believed that he should
inherit the king's thrown and has up until recently been quite mouthy
about it. But two nights past, the girl whom the king claimed as his
daughter disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The evidence
points to the Southern Kingdom, so the king has declared war and has
called for all available young men to enlist for his 'noble cause'."
"Usagi..." whispered Mamoru to himself.
The farmer's wife looked at him with tears in her eyes. "You are going
to leave us Mamoru..." It was more a statement of fact than a question.
The next morning saw Mamoru throwing a pack over his shoulder, waving
goodbye to the older couple that had become so close to him, and
beginning down the snow-filled path...
... where he had wandered into the mess he now found himself in. A
snort from the savage creatures before him snapped his attention back
to the problem before him... Mamoru lifted his short sword threateninly.
The creatures were preparing to charge...
======================================================================
Part 3 of *golly this is going to be a long fic*
Mamoru jumped aside, just as a spear thrust itself through the air next
to him. He kicked the beast, sending it sprawling across the ground... the other creatures squealed their dismay. Another charged in at Mamoru. Mamoru stepped back, narrowly escaping the spear point as it whistled through the air and struck the snow between his spread legs. He launched his closed fist forward, striking the orc before him between the eyes. It fell back, away from Mamoru's reach, and tried to regain its balance.
Sweat had already soaked the front of Mamoru's shirt. 'Six against one
is just not fair...' thought Mamoru. 'Either I run, or I won't be
leaving this alive.'
For a moment, everything was silent. The friction in the air seemed
hot enough to melt the snow beneath their feet. Mamoru pushed his
right foot deep into the snow before leaping into the air. He grabbed
a tree branch and flipped himself onto it. He leapt to another nearby
branch. Mamoru continued in similar fashion until he had safely gone
a distance to reasonably believe that the orcs would not follow him.
He dropped down from the tree and took bearing.
No trail was in sight. Snow hadn't quite made it past the tree
branches in this part of the forest. No footprints could be found in
the dirt either. Mamoru had managed to get himself completely lost...
At that same time, a Yoma was visiting with the king of the Southern
Kingdom... It stood in the shadows, blanketed in darkness. The only
hint of its presence were the blood-red glaring eyes and the wicked
sharp-toothed grin.
"My liege..." hissed the beast, as the eyes closed briefly in a mock
bow.
"What do you want now? I've already kidnapped the girl, like you asked.
And she was right where you had said she would be as well..." spoke
the king of the Southern Kingdom.
"Of courssse she wasss," hissed the voice. "But you havvve not
filllled your partsss of the bargainsssss."
"I assure you, once the king realizes this girl he claims as his
daughter is kidnapped, he will be forced to declare war on this country,
thus ending our bargain." The king's accent was thickly English.
"Don't asssume thatss just becaussse you've done whatsss I firsst
assked thatss we are finissshed," snapped the creature. "Howeversss...
I havvve dessided to gives you sssome... inccentive."
"What mean you, creature?" The king had a worried hint to his voice.
The Yoma offered forth a clawed hand, producing a solitary seed in its
palm. "Thissss ssseedsss will givessss you your desssiressss..." A
hint of a smile appeared over the crooked teeth.
Kashue looked into the creatures eyes and found himself unable to turn
away. He was transfixed by something that was there. Kashue lost
himself in a world of blood red. An invisible link was formed between
them, and for a moment Kashue believed that he understood the creature. He found himself nodding at some unspoken order before the Youma slowly pulled back into the shadows, and Kashue collapsed onto the floor.
Mamoru had been wandering the forest for over an hour without any sign
of life. The snow had begun again... he could tell by the cold, biting
wind that now blew through the forest. Several flakes made their way
through the winding maze of leaves and branches. Mamoru pulled his
thin cloak closer around him. He had to find some sort of shelter soon,
or he would freeze to death.
He continued through the snow. It was nearly evening, and Mamoru
hadn't eaten since he had left the farmers' home two days previous.
Hunger overwhelmed him and the dry cold parched his throat. He still
stumbled forward, intent on saving his beloved Usagi...
"Usagi, I'm coming for you... I won't leave you here..."
In the Southern Kingdom, the snow had just begun to fall. It blanketed
the rooftops and streets, and nary a soul dared venture into the cold
world outside. The castle on the far Southern side of town was
bustling with activity; stableboys quickly led the royal animals into
shelter, maids closed doors and shutters, and the royal court was
waiting for the king to show for a meeting to begin. The meeting was
to discuss the recent act of war declared on them by their northern
neighbors. But where was the king?
King Kashue, nephew to the king of the Terindya kingdom, had no
intention of joining the meetings anytime soon. He walked now at a
brisk pace down a corridor on the second floor. So intent on his
purpose that the king, known for his charm, cast not a glance at any of
the maidservants who happened to smile at his direction, blushing at
his good looks.
At the end of the hall was a thick, oaken door. Kashue pulled a key
from his left pocket and placed it in the massive lock. He fidgeted
with the key for a moment, before he heard a satisfied 'click'. The
door swung open. Kashue glanced down the hallway he had just come down
before closing the door behind him. It locked with a resounding click.
Steps spiraled from the floor to the top of the one-hundred and fifty
foot ceiling.
Kashue hesitated at the base of the stairs and looked at his clenched
fist. Slowly, he opened the fist to reveal a small seed in his palm.
He looked at it curiously, as if to see anything out of place on it.
As far as he could tell, it was an ordinary seed. But the stranger had
promised that with it came anything he desired... and what he desired
most was the woman he had locked away in the castle tower...
A single torch flickered at the bottom of the stairs. Kashue unmounted
it and began his ascent.
Usagi sat bolt upright. She was in a circular, ornately decorated room.
A solitary window on the other side of the room allowed a crisp,
cold air flow into the room. Usagi pulled the blanket around her
tightly and ran to shut it, before trying once again to make sense of
her surroundings...
The room looked at first glance to be a room fit for a princess. Usagi
ran her fingers across the silken fabrics, turning them in her hands
and admiring their textures. She sensed something wrong with this room,
though...
Usagi lifted one of the tapestries from the wall, revealing a metal
pair of cuffs embedded in the thick stone blocks. What was this room
used for? And why was she now occupying it? Who had cleaned it up?
So many questions flooded through her mind. Usagi touched the pair of
handcuffs. She gasped and snapped her hand away. The cuffs were so
cold it felt like they had bitten her. A flood of memories and
feelings flowed up through her fingers and consumed her. She wanted to
cry out in agony. The screams of a thousand people collided through
her head. Frantically, Usagi clawed for something, anything to pull
her back into herself. Usagi watched as men, women, and children were
brutally whipped and beaten. She stumbled back into the bed and fell
onto it, clawing frantically at the sheets and the hay-filled mattress.
Usagi felt as if every lash were intended for her. She opened her
mouth wide to scream, but her voice just wouldn't come. And just as
soon as everything had come, it was gone.
Usagi relaxed her body. Her tears filled the large feather-filled
pillows. So caught up in the trauma she had just endured, Usagi didn't
hear the door open, nor notice the tall, handsome figure walk in.
Kashue walked over to the window and peered out of it for a moment, to
collect his thoughts and rationalize the action he was about to take. He took a deep breath and walked over to where Usagi lay in her own emotions, and put a warm hand on her back.
Usagi jolted at the touch and reeled out of his range. She fell off
the other side of the bed and clammored backwards until she was pressed
up against the wall.
"Who are you?!"
"I am Kashue, King of the Southern Kingdom. Do not worry, I won't harm
you in any way. My men rescued you from my uncle, the king of Terindya,
who is an evil man and would have taken advantage of you..." The lie
came easily and was all too-well believable.
Usagi whimpered. She didn't know what was happening anymore, but she
felt so lost without Mamoru there. If only he was with her, she knew
that she would be alright. And then she heard his voice... "Usagi,
I'm coming for you... I won't leave you here..." Usagi began to cry...
Kashue looked apologetic for a moment, before swiftly walking to a
table by the bedside. There, he emptied the contents of a pitcher into
a glass. He hesitated a minute longer before dropping the seed into
the glass. It dissolved instantly, leaving not even a trace that it
had ever entered the liquid. Kashue bit his lower lip and walked over
to Usagi.
"Here, take this... it will make you feel better." He offered her the
glass.
Usagi was too confused to think. She took the glass from him and took
a sip. It was water, but it tasted somehow sweet. Her throat felt so
dry... Usagi lifted the glass once again to her lips and drank the
entire content. She smiled and began to sway back and forth. Kashue
caught her in his hold and pulled her to him. And there in his arms,
as he held her close, she welcomed the darkness that enveloped her, and
she slept.
...and on the other side of the continent, Mamoru faltered in the snow...
his breathing came slowly... he was tired... and all he wanted to do
was sleep. He forgot about the pain shooting through his body... his
lungs, his throat, every muscle ached... And the sleep came easily...
====================================================================
Part 1... of *shrugs*
*SD TLP scoots a chalkboard onto the stage* ahem... *bows and wips out
baton, which he points to the chalkboard*
Deus ex Machina. It is a simple phrase that means "God in the
Machine." It was often used in operas of the time of Beethoven to
explain events that couldn't be explained in any other way... example:
at the most critical part of the climax, God would descend from the
heavens (an actor on a big fluffy cloud -- *draws SD actor on cloud on
chalkboard*) and straighten everything up... then everything would
conclude happily... often, a key character would be brought back to
life, or a prized possession fixed...
Thank you. *bows* I hope you enjoy the fic! *SD TLP scoots chalkboard
off stage, curtains close, and lights dim*
When the day had begun, it had been a beautiful one. The songs of
birds filled the air and sunlight poured forth from the heavens. But
the one thing that truly made Mamoru Chiba's day was that he was able
to spend it with his beloved Usagi. He grinned in spite of himself at
the many promises that day had had to offer...
So why then was he clothed in chain mail armor, standing on the
lowlands of some Medieval countryside fending for his life against a
group of short, green pig-like creatures? Sometimes life just didn't
have a good explanation...
The events of the past month flooded back into Mamoru's head...
He had gotten out of bed at a quarter past eight, showered, and eaten
breakfast. Just the thought of being able to take Usagi picnicking on
his day off was enough to make him smile. He wanted everything to be
perfect... and, indeed, everything had begun that way. The picnic
went better than he had expected. The couple had finished eating and
he had laid down on the grass, where Usagi took his head in her lap and
began putting leaves in his hair.
Dark clouds suddenly filled the sky, enveloping the park in darkness.
The couple frantically gathered up the leftover food, when a bright
blue light shot from the clouds and absorbed the ground all around them
. The last thing Mamoru remembered was bright blue and Usagi... his
Usagi... frantically calling his name.
Mamoru felt comfortable. Light poured onto his face from a window
above the bed he was occupying. He slowly began to sit up, and pain
shot through his whole body. He winced and laid back down.
Someone bustled rather noisily towards his door. It cracked open
slightly and the kind face of an elderly woman peered in at him.
"Oh, thank goodness. I thought we may have lost you. You're very
lucky my husband found you when he did... otherwise, the wolves..."
she trailed off and looked towards the window.
"Who are you? Where am I?" inquired Mamoru.
"I am Maribel Waters, my husband farms the land that we found you on.
You are in the kingdom of Terindya," replied the kindly woman.
"You found me? How long have I been asleep?"
"Yes... you were lying in some bushes. You had some strange clothes
on, but they were torn to shreds. You've been unconcious for nearly a
week now... we'd begun to lose any hope of you reviving."
"Usagi!" Mamoru shot forward in bed and quickly regretted it. Pain
forced him to lay back down.
"You've said that name many times in your fever... is she your wife?"
Mamoru smiled slowly. "No... not yet..."
The old woman frowned. "I am sorry. Do you know where she is?"
"No... we were separated at the same time by a mysterious light."
She frowned again. "Then there may not be any chance for her unless
she was found much quicker than you were. These be sad times... It
would be difficult for a woman your age to survive in this kingdom."
Mamoru clenched his teeth. "She is alive. I know she is..."
"Oh! But here I am not being a very good nurse-maid," said the old
woman. "Let me go get you some water and hot bread. You have to get
your strength back if you are to go looking for her."
"Thank you..." replied Mamoru sincerely. "For everything..."
The old woman smiled before excusing herself from the room, only to
return several short minutes later with a mug of fresh milk and a few
slices of hot bread. She set it on the small table next to Mamoru's
bed and helped him to sit up. He winced, but was able to manage.
"Now if you'll excuse me, there's much housework to be done..." smiled
the old woman. "If you need anything, I'll be around." And then she
was gone.
Mamoru smiled at his luck. He breathed in the smell of fresh bread and
frowned. It reminded him of home... the home he may never be able to
return to. Mamoru tore ravenously into the bread. He would become
healthy again, regain his strength, and go to find Usagi. But where
was Usagi? Had she even been brought here? She could in all reality
have been dropped on the other side of the world, or in the ocean, or
even escaped the light...
But he felt she was there. He could feel her presence inside of him
somehow... she was close.
======================================================================
PART 2 of *shrugs*
Mamoru jumped for the frisbee being thrown to him. He missed it in
mid-air and greatly exaggerated his fall as he tumbled head over heels
into the green grass. Usagi giggled softly to herself at the sight of
Mamoru all twisted up in the grass.
"Mamo-chan, daijobu ka?" she called.
There was no answer.
Curiousity overwhelmed her and she walked over to her bruised boyfriend.
"Mamo-chan?"
No answer.
Usagi leaned in closer. Mamoru jumped towards her, causing her to jump
away startled. It took a minute before the blonde began laughing
furiously, caught in the relentless grip of Mamoru tickling her. Usagi
kicked and screamed in Mamoru's grasp, before finally hitting her head
on a small rock.
"OWW! Itai!" she screamed.
Mamoru immediately let go of Usagi, who used her newly-freed hand to
rub the bump that had begun to form on her head.
"Are you alright Usa?"
"You need to lighten up Mamo-chan. I was really worried that you had
hurt yourself..."
"Gomen ne, my dear Usagi..."
Mamoru leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the forehead.
"There. Better?"
The blonde sniffled slightly, then turned away with a quick pout.
"Maybe you'll remember next time..." She stuck out her tongue at him.
"Usa, I'm sorry..." he began.
The ground began to shake. Usagi turned to look at Mamoru
questioningly. Mamoru, too, had a puzzled look on his face. The
trembling became more violent. Mamoru reached forward to grab Usagi,
but the ground beneath her gave way and she fell into the dark abyss.
Mamoru jerked back, tears forming in his eyes. The ground was breaking
up all around him. He watched with a horrid gaze as the entire world
collapsed around him. And when it was all done, he stood on one of two
pillars of dirt that had miraculously remained untouched.
Standing on the other pillar was a solitary silhoutted figure. The
eyes glowed red, and its mouth slowly opened to reveal a sharp row of
teeth, formed in a wicked grin. The Yoma licked its lips with a forked
tongue and glared sharply at Mamoru.
And then the ground fell out from underneath him, and he joined the
same dark oblivion that had claimed his beloved Usagi.
Mamoru shot up in his bed. A cold sweat ran down his flesh. He had
dreamed the same such dreams every night since he had awakened at the
old home he now occupied. Always there was he and Usagi. Just as
always, there was the Yoma. It had the figure of a female, but was
always shrouded in darkness. Mamoru could make out no more than the
blood-red eyes and the crooked, sharp-toothed grin.
"I am sorry... I have failed you Usagi. I have failed to protect
you..." Mamoru slipped back into the unforgiving world of his
dreams...
A cock crowed in the distance as the sun lifted above the Eastern
horizon.
Mamoru stirred and sat up in bed. A soft tap came at the door, before
it opened and the old farmer peered in.
"Son." The word came easily from the farmer. Mamoru had gotten used
to hearing the title, and even liked it. It made him feel like he was
part of a family.
"We have finished the harvest," continued the farmer. "The winter
months are almost upon us and I would ask that you accompany me into
the city to trade our excess crops for supplies and seed."
Mamoru nodded happily. In the month that he had spent with the elderly
couple, Mamoru had never ventured from the property. And who knows,
maybe he would hear something about his beloved Usagi...
The city was quite a site to see. Mamoru gazed at the Bazaar lining
both sides of the main street. He witnessed a young child helping
himself to an elderly gentleman's money pouch; Mamoru tightened the
draw strings on his own. He didn't have much money with him, but what
he did have was what would see him and his adopted family through the
winter.
Word on the streets passed quickly in this setting; customers telling
merchants and merchants passing the information on to other interested
customers. The rumormill today spoke of the kingship, as it normally
did.
"Bellheaded aristocracy, always searching for an excuse to go to war,"
on merchant had told Mamoru. "If you ask me, this girl they speak of
was no more the king's daughter than that girl there..."
Mamoru inquired of another merchant what the situation at hand was.
"Yo've not 'eard? 'ole township's been shoutin' ove da 'vents fer near
a mont now. Seem da King some'ow manged to hide 'is 19-yer-old
daughta from da people. It's s'posed ta 'ave sumit ta do wit da blue
light dat 'peared goin' on a mont 'ence. Y'ask me, Oi say tis' the
work o' witches..."
'Blue light?' thought Mamoru, 'Could it have been Usagi?'
The old farmer found Mamoru lost in thought. Mamoru was startled when
his adopted father grabbed him by the shoulder. The grasp was firm and
unyielding... Mamoru wondered how such an old man could remain so
strong.
"It is time to leave my son..." said the farmer. "There is talk of war
and I don't want to leave your mother at the farmhouse alone. You
never know what type of ruffians may be about..."
The pair of travelers walked home in silence. It began to rain when
they were about halfway, which had turned into a full-blown snowstorm
by the time they arrived at the farm.
The old woman was quite well, and eater to hear of news from the city.
She hurriedly took their wet cloaks and ushered the two men towards the
fire, where she served some hot bread and tea.
The old man began of the events that he had heard that had transpired
over the last month.
"One month past, a blue light flooded the castle. Some say it was an
act of God, but most people believe it the work of witchcraft. The
next morning, the king announced that his 'daughter' would be receiving
the kingdom from him in one years time."
"I don't believe I've heard of the king having a daughter..." said the
old woman.
"Neither had I, nor any of the other villagers. News spread to the
king's nephew in the Southern Kingdom. He believed that he should
inherit the king's thrown and has up until recently been quite mouthy
about it. But two nights past, the girl whom the king claimed as his
daughter disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The evidence
points to the Southern Kingdom, so the king has declared war and has
called for all available young men to enlist for his 'noble cause'."
"Usagi..." whispered Mamoru to himself.
The farmer's wife looked at him with tears in her eyes. "You are going
to leave us Mamoru..." It was more a statement of fact than a question.
The next morning saw Mamoru throwing a pack over his shoulder, waving
goodbye to the older couple that had become so close to him, and
beginning down the snow-filled path...
... where he had wandered into the mess he now found himself in. A
snort from the savage creatures before him snapped his attention back
to the problem before him... Mamoru lifted his short sword threateninly.
The creatures were preparing to charge...
======================================================================
Part 3 of *golly this is going to be a long fic*
Mamoru jumped aside, just as a spear thrust itself through the air next
to him. He kicked the beast, sending it sprawling across the ground... the other creatures squealed their dismay. Another charged in at Mamoru. Mamoru stepped back, narrowly escaping the spear point as it whistled through the air and struck the snow between his spread legs. He launched his closed fist forward, striking the orc before him between the eyes. It fell back, away from Mamoru's reach, and tried to regain its balance.
Sweat had already soaked the front of Mamoru's shirt. 'Six against one
is just not fair...' thought Mamoru. 'Either I run, or I won't be
leaving this alive.'
For a moment, everything was silent. The friction in the air seemed
hot enough to melt the snow beneath their feet. Mamoru pushed his
right foot deep into the snow before leaping into the air. He grabbed
a tree branch and flipped himself onto it. He leapt to another nearby
branch. Mamoru continued in similar fashion until he had safely gone
a distance to reasonably believe that the orcs would not follow him.
He dropped down from the tree and took bearing.
No trail was in sight. Snow hadn't quite made it past the tree
branches in this part of the forest. No footprints could be found in
the dirt either. Mamoru had managed to get himself completely lost...
At that same time, a Yoma was visiting with the king of the Southern
Kingdom... It stood in the shadows, blanketed in darkness. The only
hint of its presence were the blood-red glaring eyes and the wicked
sharp-toothed grin.
"My liege..." hissed the beast, as the eyes closed briefly in a mock
bow.
"What do you want now? I've already kidnapped the girl, like you asked.
And she was right where you had said she would be as well..." spoke
the king of the Southern Kingdom.
"Of courssse she wasss," hissed the voice. "But you havvve not
filllled your partsss of the bargainsssss."
"I assure you, once the king realizes this girl he claims as his
daughter is kidnapped, he will be forced to declare war on this country,
thus ending our bargain." The king's accent was thickly English.
"Don't asssume thatss just becaussse you've done whatsss I firsst
assked thatss we are finissshed," snapped the creature. "Howeversss...
I havvve dessided to gives you sssome... inccentive."
"What mean you, creature?" The king had a worried hint to his voice.
The Yoma offered forth a clawed hand, producing a solitary seed in its
palm. "Thissss ssseedsss will givessss you your desssiressss..." A
hint of a smile appeared over the crooked teeth.
Kashue looked into the creatures eyes and found himself unable to turn
away. He was transfixed by something that was there. Kashue lost
himself in a world of blood red. An invisible link was formed between
them, and for a moment Kashue believed that he understood the creature. He found himself nodding at some unspoken order before the Youma slowly pulled back into the shadows, and Kashue collapsed onto the floor.
Mamoru had been wandering the forest for over an hour without any sign
of life. The snow had begun again... he could tell by the cold, biting
wind that now blew through the forest. Several flakes made their way
through the winding maze of leaves and branches. Mamoru pulled his
thin cloak closer around him. He had to find some sort of shelter soon,
or he would freeze to death.
He continued through the snow. It was nearly evening, and Mamoru
hadn't eaten since he had left the farmers' home two days previous.
Hunger overwhelmed him and the dry cold parched his throat. He still
stumbled forward, intent on saving his beloved Usagi...
"Usagi, I'm coming for you... I won't leave you here..."
In the Southern Kingdom, the snow had just begun to fall. It blanketed
the rooftops and streets, and nary a soul dared venture into the cold
world outside. The castle on the far Southern side of town was
bustling with activity; stableboys quickly led the royal animals into
shelter, maids closed doors and shutters, and the royal court was
waiting for the king to show for a meeting to begin. The meeting was
to discuss the recent act of war declared on them by their northern
neighbors. But where was the king?
King Kashue, nephew to the king of the Terindya kingdom, had no
intention of joining the meetings anytime soon. He walked now at a
brisk pace down a corridor on the second floor. So intent on his
purpose that the king, known for his charm, cast not a glance at any of
the maidservants who happened to smile at his direction, blushing at
his good looks.
At the end of the hall was a thick, oaken door. Kashue pulled a key
from his left pocket and placed it in the massive lock. He fidgeted
with the key for a moment, before he heard a satisfied 'click'. The
door swung open. Kashue glanced down the hallway he had just come down
before closing the door behind him. It locked with a resounding click.
Steps spiraled from the floor to the top of the one-hundred and fifty
foot ceiling.
Kashue hesitated at the base of the stairs and looked at his clenched
fist. Slowly, he opened the fist to reveal a small seed in his palm.
He looked at it curiously, as if to see anything out of place on it.
As far as he could tell, it was an ordinary seed. But the stranger had
promised that with it came anything he desired... and what he desired
most was the woman he had locked away in the castle tower...
A single torch flickered at the bottom of the stairs. Kashue unmounted
it and began his ascent.
Usagi sat bolt upright. She was in a circular, ornately decorated room.
A solitary window on the other side of the room allowed a crisp,
cold air flow into the room. Usagi pulled the blanket around her
tightly and ran to shut it, before trying once again to make sense of
her surroundings...
The room looked at first glance to be a room fit for a princess. Usagi
ran her fingers across the silken fabrics, turning them in her hands
and admiring their textures. She sensed something wrong with this room,
though...
Usagi lifted one of the tapestries from the wall, revealing a metal
pair of cuffs embedded in the thick stone blocks. What was this room
used for? And why was she now occupying it? Who had cleaned it up?
So many questions flooded through her mind. Usagi touched the pair of
handcuffs. She gasped and snapped her hand away. The cuffs were so
cold it felt like they had bitten her. A flood of memories and
feelings flowed up through her fingers and consumed her. She wanted to
cry out in agony. The screams of a thousand people collided through
her head. Frantically, Usagi clawed for something, anything to pull
her back into herself. Usagi watched as men, women, and children were
brutally whipped and beaten. She stumbled back into the bed and fell
onto it, clawing frantically at the sheets and the hay-filled mattress.
Usagi felt as if every lash were intended for her. She opened her
mouth wide to scream, but her voice just wouldn't come. And just as
soon as everything had come, it was gone.
Usagi relaxed her body. Her tears filled the large feather-filled
pillows. So caught up in the trauma she had just endured, Usagi didn't
hear the door open, nor notice the tall, handsome figure walk in.
Kashue walked over to the window and peered out of it for a moment, to
collect his thoughts and rationalize the action he was about to take. He took a deep breath and walked over to where Usagi lay in her own emotions, and put a warm hand on her back.
Usagi jolted at the touch and reeled out of his range. She fell off
the other side of the bed and clammored backwards until she was pressed
up against the wall.
"Who are you?!"
"I am Kashue, King of the Southern Kingdom. Do not worry, I won't harm
you in any way. My men rescued you from my uncle, the king of Terindya,
who is an evil man and would have taken advantage of you..." The lie
came easily and was all too-well believable.
Usagi whimpered. She didn't know what was happening anymore, but she
felt so lost without Mamoru there. If only he was with her, she knew
that she would be alright. And then she heard his voice... "Usagi,
I'm coming for you... I won't leave you here..." Usagi began to cry...
Kashue looked apologetic for a moment, before swiftly walking to a
table by the bedside. There, he emptied the contents of a pitcher into
a glass. He hesitated a minute longer before dropping the seed into
the glass. It dissolved instantly, leaving not even a trace that it
had ever entered the liquid. Kashue bit his lower lip and walked over
to Usagi.
"Here, take this... it will make you feel better." He offered her the
glass.
Usagi was too confused to think. She took the glass from him and took
a sip. It was water, but it tasted somehow sweet. Her throat felt so
dry... Usagi lifted the glass once again to her lips and drank the
entire content. She smiled and began to sway back and forth. Kashue
caught her in his hold and pulled her to him. And there in his arms,
as he held her close, she welcomed the darkness that enveloped her, and
she slept.
...and on the other side of the continent, Mamoru faltered in the snow...
his breathing came slowly... he was tired... and all he wanted to do
was sleep. He forgot about the pain shooting through his body... his
lungs, his throat, every muscle ached... And the sleep came easily...
====================================================================