This is an A/U story where Folken Lacour de Fanel DOES NOT DIE!!!! Yah!!! My fic concentrates on the Folken aspect and well, basically, changes Folken's "destiny". There aren't enough Folken fics out there to satisfy me, so I will make my measly contribution. Anyways…
Alteration of Fate
Ch.1
A shady figure leaned against a cool metallic wall. He was covered from head to toe in black leather garments. A hat obscured the stranger's one-eye and hair, while the high collar of his jacket covered the mouth and nose. The single yellow eye gleamed in the darkness, weary, waiting for something. Being sure that he wasn't followed he dug in his coat pocket, and being satisfied with what he found, he withdrew it. He gripped the perfectly smooth black circular object with his black-gloved hand, and upon finding the secret indent he started speaking softly into the object.
"The Zaibach Empire is constantly clouded by a dark haze that is illuminated by Emperor Dornkirk's immense palace. The inhabitants of Zaibach had multiplied like rabbits since Dornkirk's arrival, as they aren't bothered by war, pestilence, or disease. Oh how Zaibach has grown! The power and influence can't be matched by any other country. And as its dark powers grow so does the underworld…
Assassins, thieves, terrorists, and warlocks crawl under Dornkirk's nose, battling for power in the unseen Underworld of Zaibach. The most respected 'group' in charge is the Assassin group, trained to kill with deadly silence, using a variety of techniques. These masters of disguise terrorize the streets above, and are hired as hit men. The Emperor has been unable to control their activities, however ever since the new development from…"
"Hey, who's there?" called a voice into the eerie darkness. A fat storekeeper had entered the ally to throw out his trash.
"Who's there? I'll... I'll call the guards."
The figure smirked in the darkness. The shopkeeper had some nerve, and as the shady character was sure he wasn't spotted, he was sure that the keeper wouldn't call the guards because he was afraid of the shadows. Stealthily the figure jumped unto the rooftop, and within three bounds had jumped across four buildings. When he reached the Low Building, he jumped down back to the ground. Quickly he tapped the rough surface of the building. He traced his fingers across a line on the wall that could have been dried blood. The streak was in the shape of a circle and in the center there was a slight depression that fit his shoe as he kicked the wall. Noisily the wall slid away to reveal a circular doorway that led inside the creepy building that the Zaibachians avoided. He fearlessly stepped inside to be immediately covered in darkness as the wall shut into place.
"Well, well," said a raspy voice close to his ear. He didn't even flinch as the voice developed an outline of a hunchbacked man. "They are waiting i-inside. Ke-ke-ke-ke… Ni-ice knowing you Sh-Shade…" and with that the figure receded back into the shadows.
Shade grinned an unseen grin in the unsettling darkness. As he strode deeper inside, his golden eye glowed with growing excitement. After five minutes of walking in the gloom he came to another door. Shade knocked five times and the door peeled away to reveal a small room, with a large desk. The walls had flaking paint that seemed to be caked with blood, while from the ceiling a beautiful antique silver chandelier hung, casting a foreboding shadow into the already eerie room. Underneath the chandelier there was a circular stone table. At perfect 30 degree intervals sat twelve masculine figures, dressed in the finest black velvet, all watching Shade with their mutated green eyes.
"Welcome Shade, to the Winged Warlocks. Our Sight has revealed to us that you've traveled far to accomplish a mission… and you want our help," said a man, sitting in the spot of due North.
Shade nodded, as a man sitting perfectly West laughed, "And why do you think we'll help you? Someone who's so insignificant, a tiny spec in the un-"
"Enough!" demanded North.
Shade didn't blink and stood frozen in spot, politely cocking his head to that side to inquire interest. North now directed his attention back to the young man.
"There is no point with playing games with you. We have been following your journey across Gaea with great interest as you collect Wishes and Blessing, however, we won't be so eagerly swayed to help you."
Shade narrowed his eye. "I am aware that you find me a threat to you and your organization and I realize my word to you as a Fate Changer won't mean a thing if I promise to not uproot your Fate, but am I sure that we can work out an agreement? I have never failed to meet the demands of my employers." He bowed graciously at that last remark.
"Never!" burst out a man sitting in the south position. "He'll destroy us all!" A sweat drop trickled down his scarred face, and while Shade watched it, it dropped in slow motion to the floor.
"Warlock South…" started Shade calmly, "…all warlocks present who've graced me with their presence, I would make a Blood Oath-"
At those words the only sorceress looked up and pierced Shade with a menacing smirk.
"Liar," she said coolly, almost non-chalantly, from the East side of the table.
Shade's eye opened wide with polite shock.
"You have no intention in helping us," she continued, "Do you? No, of course you don't… I can see it in you…"
Flashback
An economically ruined city lays broken, devastated by an earthquake. A young child, with short black hair is standing among the rubble.
"Momma! Mommaaaa!" whines the little boy.
Several bedraggled people glance at him, but that's all the attention he receives.
"Where's my Momma?" he says while pulling at a stranger's sleeve.
The man looks down at the orphan in disgusts and spits, "Go play wit de beast in da forest where ya belong, ya piece of tras'." And with that he shoves the raven haired boy.
The boy falls, and immediately starts crying, but as no-one comes to cheer him up, he gets up determinedly, wipes his eyes while smearing dirt over his already soiled face, and defiantly yet shakily strides to the forest.
End Flashback
"Your heart is black, is it not Child?" whispered East, looking mournfully at Shade. Our Fate can not change, but you Child, might preserve our ancient wisdom. Good luck…
Shade lowered his eye, trying to hide his glee as he knew that no matter what East said the verdict would still be in his favor.
"We'll take a unanimous vote," declared North, and all twelve warlocks engaged in passionate murmuring of about twenty seconds. Then North straightened up. "We have been unable to come to a decision. Please, if you would be so kind as to stay in the Zaibach Empire until we do, someone would eventually notify you."
Shade bowed and retreated out the door, back to the gloominess of the hall, all the while watching North, West, South, and East. He glimpsed East's face once more as she was looking through him, trying to decipher more of his past, but he boldly closed his mind. When Shade arrived alive and whole, he could feel the doorkeeper glaring at him with disappointment.
Once back outside in the monotone world of Zaibach, Shade sighed contently, pleased with his success.
They'll break. One by one they will crawl to me, beg me for a favor, something they can't do on their own, and then I'll name my price and their power will be mine!
Jumping up back on the roof of the Low Building, he shuddered, remembering East's eyes.
They were white like the snow in my picture books… so cold, so…
*THWUNK*
His head hit a metal rod, which was conveniently hanging in mid air.
"What the hell?!" he cried while he fell face first onto the roof of the building he meant to jump on. He lay there, listening, steadying his breath while breathing in the metallic world around him, when a voice made him roll over onto his back.
"I should not have come. He obviously is not ready, not being able to sense me…"
"Wait!" cried Shade, jumping up to his feet. His pitiful cry made North turn around.
He broke so soon?
North looked at him steadily. "You said you have never failed, or backed out?"
Shade nodded, puzzled at North's sudden behavior. Reading the questions in Shade's eye North looked longingly at the hazy sky, with longing.
"We four warlocks can see our own destruction. You can not prevent it, and neither can we, as we have already tried. However, if I'm to die, I'd like to die with my family's pride!" he finished defiantly.
Shade cocked hid head, still listening politely.
"As a child," continued North, "our family was a mixture of Talents, and damn proud of it! When I was born, I inherited two of them; the Talent of sword fighting from my mother and my power to manipulate the Earth and Metal from my father. To enhance my sword fighting ability I received the sword that had been passed down from generation to generation. But because we where living during the Reconstruction of Zaibach, it was the Emperor's wish to distribute the wealth. As I had two powers, I had to "share", which meant giving away my sword, or going to jail and loosing my sword. Either way, I lost it. That sword was in our family for over ten generations and that… that… Emperor…" he paused, still looking wistfully at the sky. Suddenly he turned and looked Shade squarely in the eyes.
"I swore I would get it back, but… But I'm too much of a coward," he finished softly, now examining the roof top more closely.
"So you want me to get it back for you?" asked Shade, nodding in complete comprehension. "Very well."
North looked vaguely shocked at Shade's empathy and quick agreement to get the sword back.
"It is-" but Shade caught him off with a raised hand while he spoke. "I'll find it, as it is obviously in the palace. But I expect you to keep your word?"
North nodded, "I pledge it on the fallen people of Atlantis that I, Ra'our Labot Pertonage will Bless Shade the Fate Changer."
Satisfied, Shade jumped from the Low Building and headed towards the Palace to complete his first task.
*****
AN- Well sorry about no Folken in this chapter, however I promise you there will be Folken in the next chapter. Reviews greatly appreciated, as well as flames 'cause they tell me whether or not I need to quit the writing business (or at least this story).