Summary: The relationship between Allen Walker and the Millennium Earl goes much deeper than anyone knows. Much deeper than what Allen, himself, believes.
"Papa, can you sing me a song before bed?" A small voice called into the darkness of his room. A chuckle was heard at the bedside of the 3-year-old boy lying in the bed.
"Which song?" The small boy pondered, his lower lip sticking out as he thought.
"Whichever you want to sing!" the little boy finally decided, grinning broadly.
"Very well."
In the background, music began to play, matching the song that the man was going to sing.
I've been dreaming for so long,
to find a meaning to understand.
The secret of life,
why am I here to try again?
Will I always, will you always
see the truth when it stares you in the face?
Will I ever, will I never free myself
by breaking these chains?
The young boy yawned, the song putting him to sleep.
I've been living for so long,
many seasons have passed me by.
I've seen kingdoms through ages
rise and fall, I've seen it all.
I've seen the horror, I've seen the wonders
happening just in front of my eyes.
Will I ever, will I never free myself by making it right?
A sudden crash resounded through the mansion where the two lived and the music was turned off. The man stood up from where he was sitting, completely alert, all traces of laziness gone and went to go see what had happened.
"Daddy? What's going on?" the small boy whispered, starting to move out of his comfy bed.
"Hush, Allen. Just get back on the bed and try to go to sleep. I'll be back after I see what happened."
"Will you finish the song when you get back?" Allen murmured.
"Of course. But you've heard it before, so you can practice singing it in bed and we'll sing it together." The man smiled as he left the room. The boy smiled and waved his hands through the air. Once again, the music started playing, only much softer than before.
I've been dreaming for so long,
to find a meaning to understand.
The secret of life,
why am I here to try again?
The man wandered around the mansion, trying to pinpoint the exact location of the intruder in his home.
"How did they even find this place?" he muttered.
"Tyki!" the man called. "Are you here?" His feet led him to kitchen, where there was a light in the kitchen.
"Skin?" The man entered the kitchen to see a man with long red hair, half a mask on his face, a gun in his hands, and an expensive coat sitting on his kitchen table.
"…Mana, why are you dressed like Cross Marian?" the man asked.
"Earl, how are you?" the man named Mana asked.
"Stop avoiding the question." The Earl's eyes narrowed as his rage grew at the man in front of him. Mana sighed.
"If I get shot because of you, note that I will haunt you for the rest of eternity."
"You've never had the patience to wait or stay in one place for a long time." The Earl pointed out.
"Whatever. Cross Marian wanted to steal something from you; I'm not sure what it is, so he made me help him. Or he would shoot me. He even tied me to the chair."
"Aren't you able to get out ropes? Isn't that one of your acts as a clown?"
"Yes, but these are chains, not ropes. I accidently crashed into the dining table; that was the crash you probably heard." The Earl sighed. Cross Marian was such a troublesome person. Cross was not on his side, but he did make for some interesting company and he wasn't completely on the Black Order's side, but he did help them from time to time. And they had the audacity to make him a General! Really, those people were lunatics.
"Maybe he's stealing my cash again. It is around the same time that he is supposed to." The Earl mused. Mana shrugged.
"I don't really know, and I don't exactly care right now. I'm loosing circulation in my legs, can you please break these chains?" The other man rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers. A second later the chains fell off the unfortunate man and he stood up, rubbing his wrists and moving his legs to get the blood flowing again.
"Thanks. Now if you don't mind, I'm getting food." With that, Mana walked into the pantry and started rummaging around.
The Earl felt like slapping his hand to his face. Honestly, was this a complementary hotel or something? He really should start charging for the amount of people who kept coming and going as they pleased.
"I should find Cross before he makes a mess of things." With that, the Earl was back to wandering around his house to find another intruder, well technically guest since he wasn't going to kill Cross…yet.
After another five minutes of walking, he came upon his son's room, where the light was on. The Earl narrowed his eyes even more as he strode into the room. He found Cross's half-masked face and Allen's gray eyes bored into the other, neither turning around to look at the newcomer.
"Cross. What are you doing here?" The Earl asked, exasperated.
"Cute kid you got here." Cross said lighting a cigar without blinking or looking away.
"You are having a staring contest with a three year old. I hope you realize what that says about your mentality."
"He may be three physically, but we both know that he's a little older than that."
"Excuse me if me and my family mature differently then humans." Cross grinned, smoke curling from the cigar. Allen was silent, still staring at the intruder in his room.
"Allen? You can stop staring at the idiot now; you won." The Earl sighed. Allen still didn't blink nor look away.
"I don't like him. He's a moron." Cross flipped one of his fingers up elegantly in response.
"Papa! Red-haired moron did something bad!"
"Cross!" The Earl shouted. "Do not corrupt my son! I do not want him anything like you!"
"Tattle-tale." Cross muttered. Allen smirked held his small hand up with only one finger up. Of course he had made sure that his papa was not watching.
"OI! You little hypocrite!" Cross bellowed. "You little mother fu-"
"DADDY!"
"CROSS!"
"…Lo Siento."
"You can't say it in your first language?"
"I never say the S-word. It' my one rule." Everything was silent in room after that.
"So what did you want?" The Earl inquired, sitting down on a comfy chair. Cross did the same, but not before glancing at Allen who was still on the bed.
"The Black Order has discovered the existence of your son. It won't be long until they come after him." If the Earl could, he would have paled considerably.
"What? How? I made sure that he was well hidden!"
"I'm not sure, but I was given orders to kidnap him from you. From Levier."
"Why haven't they placed him in an psychiatric institution yet? He's clearly insane."
"Once again, I don't know. Although I am trying to get him admitted."
"Is that what you came here for? To kidnap my son?"
"You think I'm a cradle robber, now?" Cross shouted. "I'm not that bad!" The Earl stared at him. Cross rolled his eyes at the unasked question.
"I was in the room because I was waiting for you. I have a plan, but I needed your agreement. And I need cash."
Allen snorted. "Broke are you?"
"Shut up, brat. I'm talking to your dad."
"Fine, I'm going to get a snack." With that, Allen grabbed a candle that was on his bedside and walked on his short three-year old legs to the kitchen.
"What do you propose we do, Cross?" Cross took a drag of his cigar and exhaled slowly.
"I'm going to be blunt about this. The Order knows where you live, by now. They knew that I know where you live, so I'm sure they sent someone to follow me. Problem is, I am not a hundred percent sure I lost them. Therefore, we assume that they know where you live and that your son is here. I'm proposing, that we seal Allen's memories of you away and let him travel with Mana."
"You want to do what?! With that crazy clown! Seal his memories? You're insane!" The Earl roared. Cross stared at the furious millennium old man passively.
"You know you are going to have to do something. Allen can't stay here. Not with Levier setting his lack of a mind on him." The Earl sat back down in his chair, feeling like a broken man. His precious child, his fourteenth child, who was still so young! It wasn't fair! Allen was far too young for these things to happen to him. He was such a special child: half Noah and half human with a piece of innocence that showed on his arm when he was born. And he was related to the millennium Earl by blood, and not by reincarnation. He still loved all of his other children dearly though. Even though not all of them had awakened yet.
"How long will it have to be?" Earl whispered, feeling the closest he has ever been to tears.
"At least until he is fifteen or sixteen. By that time Levier will for sure have found something else to occupy him with."
"And Mana knows of this?"
"He wanted to get your concurrence before agreeing with it." The Earl snorted, not unlike his son a few minutes ago.
"Mana is a much better man than you are."
"Hey just because he's got manners and I'm to amazing to use manners does not mean he's better than me."
"I'll go tell Allen." The Earl stood up; he hated doing this, but he knew it was for Allen's protection.
Cross nodded. He wasn't a bastard to let a father not say good-bye to their child.
The Millennium Earl took a deep breath before entering the kitchen. This was going to be difficult.
"Allen." The Earl entered the room. He found Allen and Mana building a tower out of kitchen supplies. Allen had his tongue sticking out as he concentrated on not making the giant tower fall. As soon as he put his item down (a pitcher), Allen turned to his dad and hugged his legs.
"Papa! Mana here is very nice! He's much better than that red-haired moron!" Earl picked up Allen as he felt his heart tighten in anxiety. He had never lied to Allen, and he wasn't starting now.
"Allen, I need you to listen to me. Do you remember about the Black Order that I sometimes tell you about?" Allen nodded.
"Well, they're coming here to take you away from me and I don't want that to happen." Allen was still; shocked at the information his papa was telling him.
"I'm going to have to seal your memories for awhile; just about me, and you'll be going with Mana. Alright?" Allen began to cry softly, understanding what was happening and what must be done.
"Can you sing me a song before I go?" Allen asked through his tears. The Earl smiled, mostly to reassure his son and himself.
"How about this? I'll give you this song to learn, and I want you to sing it to me when this is all over." He handed Allen a folded piece of paper and Allen took it, and folded it and placed it in the pocket of his pants.
"Here, you need a wardrobe change." With a snap of his fingers, Allen was out of his pajamas and into his favorite outfit, complete with his red ribbon.
"What about our lullaby?" Allen pleaded.
"You know it by heart, and if you forget, it will come back to you. I'll send you lyrics somehow." Allen sobbed even harder, hiding his head in his dad's chest.
"Now, now. Don't cry. You're my strong little Musician. My Fourteenth child. We will get through this. And soon you can see all of your other brother and sisters!" The Earl soothed Allen, petting his brown hair while hugging him.
"EARL!" Cross's voice bellowed through the house. "We need to go now! Levier is here with the Third Apostles!" The Earl whirled around with Allen still in his arms.
"Mana! Go with Allen and perform the spell! I know you know how! Go! Before they see either one of you!"
Mana nodded, grabbed Allen, and ran out the back door into the darkness with a mission.
"Come on Allen, let's do as your dad says." Allen didn't cry out loud, not wanting to make his dad's sacrifice in vain, but tears continued to trickle down his face.
"This will work, right?" Allen sniffled. Mana nodded, smiling reassuringly.
"Earl and Cross are both very strong in magic. They probably created an illusion on the house and left."
"But why couldn't they do that when we were all in the house?" Allen inquired.
"Well you see, magic has many different parts to it, and they part with illusions is both of their weaknesses. So it would have been very difficult to create an illusion with everybody there."
"Oh. Are you going to do the sealing now?" Mana smiled sadly.
"I'm afraid so Allen. But, I need something to act as an activation for your memories to return. Hm. What do you think it should be, Allen?"
"How about my Lullaby?"
"That would work. Could you sing it for me?" Allen nodded and closed his eyes as Mana sat him down on the ground. Very softly, a piano began to play, thanks to Allen's magic.
Soushite bouya wa nemuri ni tsuita
Ikidzuku hai no naka no honou
Hitotsu~ Futatsu to~
Ukabu fukurami itoshii yokogao
Daichi ni taruru ikusen no
Yume~ Yume~
Gin no hitomi no yuragu yoru ni
Umare ochita kagayaku omae
Ikuoku no toshitsuki ga
Ikutsu~ Inori wo~ Tsuchi he kaeshitemo
WATASHI wa inori tsudzukeru
Dou ka kono ko ni ai wo
Tsunaida te ni KISU wo
Soushite bouya wa nemuri ni tsuita
Ikidzuku hai no naka no honou
Hitotsu~ Futatsu to~
Ukabu fukurami itoshii yokogao
Daichi ni taruru ikusen no
Yume~ Yume~
Gin no hitomi no yuragu yoru ni
Umare ochita kagayaku omae
Ikuoku no toshitsuki ga
Ikutsu~ Inori wo~ Tsuchi he kaeshitemo
WATASHI wa inori tsudzukeru
Dou ka kono ko ni ai wo
Tsunaida te ni KISU wo
WATASHI wa inori tsudzukeru
Dou ka kono ko ni ai wo
Tsunaida te ni KISU wo~
Mana chanted strange words, put his hands together, and placed his hands on Allen's head. A soft light emitted from Mana's hands to Allen's head and in a few seconds it was over. Allen collapsed on the ground, a side effect of the sealing process, and Mana picked him up and began to walk down the street.
"HALT!" A blonde man with a mustache walked to Mana and the sleeping child.
"I have a couple of questions for you." The man hissed. Mana blinked in surprise. Wasn't this Levier?
"Um, do you have any authorization to be questioning civilians on the street?" Mana questioned.
"I am Levier and I work of the Vatican Church. Now, if you don't want your soul to be damned, answer my questions!"
"Alright, there's no need to get violent or damn people's souls please. I'd rather not go to hell. Not again." Mana muttered, the last part said too quiet to catch.
Levier sniffed in disdain, obviously thinking of how low Mana was in society.
"Have you seen a man with long red hair, half a face mask on, with an exquisite coat along with a rather fat man with round glasses and a top hat?" Mana blinked. Now what to tell him?
"Well, I haven't seen anyone with a top hat tonight or since I've been in town. But I did see a man with red hair enter the bar down the street."
Levier huffed in anger.
"It figures that the stupid irresponsible idiot for a General would squander his mission." Levier looked at Mana again, with the sleeping Allen on his back.
"Who are you and why are you out so late?" Mana inwardly groaned. Is this guy suspicious of everyone?
"I'm Mana Walker. And this is my son. We recently arrived in town and were looking for a place to spend the night." Mana lied smoothly.
"Very well, go along." Levier turned away, obviously not interested anymore. Mana shrugged his shoulders and walked off, with the very child that Levier was looking for.
ORIGINOF14THORIGINOF14TH-
A few hours later, Mana had found a cheap hotel and was currently lying on the bed next to Allen, waiting for him to wake up. He felt the young boy stir and slowly wake up.
"Hello, Allen." Mana smiled at the three year old.
"…Who are you?" The boy whispered. Mana frowned. Surely the spell was only to remove the memories of his father? Oh, and his house. That's why Allen didn't remember him.
"What do you remember?" Allen hugged his knees, trying to get in the smallest ball possible.
"Being alone. And a piano playing."
"Was the piano playing a song, Allen?" The brown haired boy nodded slowly.
"But I can't remember what the song is; I just know I know it." Mana pulled Allen into his chest in a hug.
"It's ok, you can stay with me now." Poor boy. Since he was with his dad spent nearly every single moment together, and I locked away all memories of his dad, he believes he has had no one in his life.
Allen looked up at the man, with big gray eyes.
"Sir, you never told me your name." Mana was startled. Since when was Allen polite? He chuckled.
"I'm Mana. Mana Walker. And I'm a clown." Allen titled his head to the side.
"You mean at a circus? Which one?"
"I travel. Would you like to come with me?" Allen nodded furiously. Mana smiled at Allen, yet again, and stood up.
"Well, I might as well call you Allen Walker, then." Mana was then jumped on by a thirty pound three year old.
ORIGINOF14THORIGINOF14TH-
"MANA! Mana, Mana, Mana! Wake up, please, wake up!" Allen sobbed. It was many years after Mana had adopted him, and now his adopted father was dead. The funeral was over and Allen was left crying at Mana's grave. After a few hours, Allen grew silent. His tears were all dried up and now he was simply staring at the gravestone, a lost man. Where else could he go? He knew only Mana in this world. He could go back to one of the circuses he and Mana had stopped to work at, but that would make him feel miserable.
Did Mana die because of my disgusting arm? I know he's gazed at it when he thinks I don't know.
"Would you like me to resurrect him for you?" A voice broke the silence. Allen was to dead to the world to really care, but he did gaze up into eyes of a fat man in a top hat standing behind Mana's grave.
Allen couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity to this man. Almost like he knew him from somewhere, a very long time ago.
CHANGEOFPOV-
The Earl was feeling a bombardon of emotions at the current moment. He was happy, ecstatic that his son was well, and that he was happy, even if it wasn't with him, but he also devastated that he couldn't reveal his connection with Allen yet. Levier was still determined to find the child of the Earl, believing that he could be used against the Earl, somehow. Cross was keeping him updated about that problem. Unfortunately, he was responsible to his duty to ask every person who would be sitting at graveyards if they would like their loved one resurrected. It was in his contract with the Almighty God, who was actually much to lazy to do anything except order people around. Stupid, lazy egoistical deity! There is supposed to be a balance of souls on the planet, but with the overpopulation, just letting people die and stay dead was not very effective. Therefore, the Earl had proposed to bring back people from the dead, have them devour souls to help him keep the balance and then they would self destruct, taking the souls with them. It was a perfect plan, until the freaking Vatican Church was partially informed of his plans.
The Earl cursed God again. It was because God was bored and wanted to be entertained, that this whole Holy War started.
Anyways, the Earl was glad to see his son, however he had to ask the question that he asked everyone.
"Would you like me to resurrect him for you?" And when Allen had stared at him, the Earl just wanted to scoop up his child and hug him. Well, he still could, but that would be awkward if anyone walked in. His illusion magic still sucked. Although it was better than Cross's.
The Millennium was dismayed when Allen nodded in agreement. Once again, his contract forced him to do it. Reluctantly, the Earl summoned a skeleton and informed Allen to call his name.
"MANA!"
In less than a minute, the akuma was complete and it began to move.
"Allen. Why did you make me an akuma?" Mana's voice rasped from the skeleton. The Earl wanted to stay and protect his son, but someone else had died and he had to go.
"Good bye Allen. I hope I can see you soon." Allen turned to look at the man who had just spoken, but he had already left.
"Mana." Allen said happily.
"Allen! How could you! I curse you!" Allen stood in shock as he felt the left side of his face erupt in pain.
"Kill me, Allen."
Allen was lying on the ground to stunned to move. As Mana came closer, his left arm throbbed in pain as a bright light enveloped it. Allen was startled out of shocked stupor as his body began to move. He turned his face to see his left arm, transformed into a huge claw and it was heading directly for Mana.
"Mana, run!" Allen cried.
"Thank you, Allen." Mana whispered as the claw made contact with his skeleton.
Once again, Allen found himself staring at Mana's grave. Only this time, he was covered in blood, his own from the cut on his eye, and his hair had turned white from shock.
"OI, kid. You got innocence. Want to become an exorcist?" a man with long red hair and half a face mask on said as he walked to the traumatized child.
Allen stared at the newcomer not looking away from his eye. Cross stared back, all the while thinking about déjà vu.
"I don't like you, you red hair moron." Allen finally said, a few minutes later. Cross felt a pang of irritation at the old nickname.
"Just for that, I'm dragging you with me, whether you want to come or not." Cross muttered, picking up Allen. Allen was still to weak to even think about fighting back, so he stayed limp in Cross's arms.
After a few minutes of walking, Cross came upon a river. Gotta wash the kid up anyhow. And promptly threw Allen into the freezing water.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Came the distressed yell from the now freezing, but clean boy.
Cross shrugged. "You were filthy." As Allen climbed out of river, shivering uncontrollably, he glared at Cross, promising revenge. Cross snorted. This is going to be a beautiful relationship.
ORIGINOF14THORIGINOF14TH
Allen was in the music room, staring at the ebony white piano. It was beautiful and tugged a sense of familiarity in him. He knew, that this piano was his. Which was a ridicules notion considering he has never really had anything to call his own. Allen lightly stroked a few keys, barely listening to his Master talking from his ear piece. When Timcampy showed the music sheet, Allen was shocked at the piece that he and Mana were composing. Well, really it was Allen was trying to remember the song from his vague memories with Mana's help. Letting his fingers guide him, Allen pressed on the keys to play the song.
Soushite bouya wa nemuri ni tsuita
Ikidzuku hai no naka no honou
Hitotsu~ Futatsu to~
Ukabu fukurami itoshii yokogao
Daichi ni taruru ikusen no
Yume~ Yume
Allen knew this song. It was coming back to him; the mansion, his room, Uncle Tyki, (oh God, Uncle Tyki!) Cross, that freaking lunatic, Mana, and his papa, the Earl. All of the times they spent together, the happiness they shared. And that night when Cross had brought the terrible news that forced them to be apart.
Gin no hitomi no yuragu yoru ni
Umare ochita kagayaku omae
Ikuoku no toshitsuki ga
Ikutsu~ Inori wo~ Tsuchi he kaeshitemo
WATASHI wa inori tsudzukeru
Dou ka kono ko ni ai wo
Tsunaida te ni KISU wo
WATASHI wa inori tsudzukeru
Dou ka kono ko ni ai wo
Tsunaida te ni KISU wo~
How difficult had it been for his father? All those times when he had seen him, and Allen had tried to kill him? Allen felt tears fall down his face as he continued to play the Lullaby.
"Idiot Apprentice!" Cross's voice shouted over the ear piece. "Think of your wish as you play!"
Wish? His father? Or his friends? Couldn't he have both? Was he being selfish? He really wanted to talk to someone, mainly Mana, or even better the Earl himself! His thoughts unconsciously turned to his friends, who had sacrificed their lives to help the Black Order. Was it really fair to let them die for something as corrupted as the Black Order? Still crying, Allen began to wish for the return for his friends. Hopefully, he could see his dad soon. As the last notes faded from the piano, Allen took a piece a paper he always had with him since he could remember. There was a song written on the paper and Allen finally remembered why he had it.
"How about this? I'll give you this song to learn, and I want you to sing it to me when this is all over."
As Allen felt the Ark returning to its normal self, he curled into a ball on the piano bench and finished his crying.
"So this is where the music room was." A familiar voice mused as it entered the room. Allen stood up straighter as the Millennium Earl entered the room. Slowly, Allen stood from the piano bench, staring at the man in front of him.
"What's the matter, boy? Aren't you going to run at me with your new sword?" The Earl felt terrible goading his son like this, but until Allen recovered his memories, he couldn't act like he knew Allen.
Allen started to run at the Earl, who looked shocked at the apparent suicide attack.
"Papa!" Allen cried as he crashed into the Earl, who somehow managed to stay on his feet. Allen grasped the Earl's coat and squeezed it, not wanting to let go anytime soon. He felt arms circle him as the Earl immediately understood and felt relief.
"Allen." He whispered, hugging his child tighter. The two stayed in that embrace for a few extra minutes, before they broke away.
"Tell me how you have been, Allen."
I'd give my heart, I'd give my soul.
I'd turn it back, it's my fault.
Your destiny is forlorn,
have to live till it's undone.
I'd give my heart, I'd give my soul.
I'd turn it back and then at last I'll be on my way.
The End
And that's it. Origin of the !4th. Hope you enjoyed!
Please leave me reviews telling me how it was and what I could have done to make it better.
The song that wasn't the Musician's Song was Jillian by Within Temptation. It was actually the inspiration for this story.