Ever After

A Last Exile AU fan fiction

By Tasogare no Hime

Summary: Very AU: Life can be quite interesting when you can't escape it.

Warnings: Violence, and character death

Disclaimer: I do not own Last Exile, no money is being made from this use.

Pre-notes: This fic has no connection to the BtS universe. It will contain elements, and creatures from various mythologies, legends, and fairy tales. Many of these will feature my own personal twist on such things, so I would appreciate not having any "but that isn't what (insert creature here) is like!" messages.


Chapter 1: Legends, and Loss

The city was burning, People ran screaming in every direction. Those able to keep their senses were trying to lead the panicked populace to the docks where ships were waiting. In the midst of the carnage even the priest believed the gods had abandoned them.

Alex ran toward the Temple to Urbanis, king of the gods. He had heard that the Elven Queen had been captured. The High Priest, and Priestesses had come together to try and seal her, knowing she could not be killed. Without her influence the attacking elves would lose interest and move on. Alex was only a simple guardsman, but hearing of the attempt to seal the Queen had given him such a feeling of foreboding he had, for the first time in his life, abandoned his post to reach the temple.

Before he made it half way there was another elf in his path, but this was not an enemy. Lord Marius walked toward him in a daze. The man didn't even seem to see him. "We have failed. Everything is lost...My Euris, my poor Euris"

"Lord Marius!" Alex grabbed him shaking him out of his daze. "What happened? Where is Lady Euris?"

Marius just stared at him dully. "She is gone, taken by the Queen. The city is lost, leave while you can." Marius pushed away from him, and walked toward the cliff face on the east side of the city.

He was torn. Part of him desperately wanted to go find Lady Euris, not wanting to believe what he had just heard. He had lost his heart to the young priestess the first time he saw her, though he doubted she even knew he existed. Hearing the terrible hopeless tone of Lord Marius' voice however told him the man spoke the truth. Alex instead followed Marius, whatever happened Euris would want her father to be safe. It was the only thing he could do for her.

"Lord Marius, You must leave the city. It's not safe!" Alex shouted over the noise as he caught up with the man at the base of the cliff. Marius ignored him, running his hands over the stone cliff face as if searching for something. Pausing he pressed a small stone that looked no different from any other. A doorway opened in the cliff. Marius walked inside still ignoring Alex who followed him, now awed into silence.

The hidden tunnel led to an ancient complex beneath the city. The air was stagnant, and thick with magic. "What is this place?" the question was no more than a whisper, but in the silence it sounded far too loud.

"It doesn't really have a name. The magic in this place keeps the city from sinking into the ocean." Marius answered walking over to large glowing stone in the center of the cave. "We weren't strong enough to seal the Queen. I fear the only way to stop the elves is to sacrifice the city." Marius unsheathed a blade he was carrying, there was glowing writing on it. With surprising strength he thrust the blade into the stone.

"What are you doing?" Alex asked as Marius passed him.

Marius sighed turning to him. "Leave while you can, boy. Take as many with you as you can convince to go."

"I can't do that! I can't leave you unprotected! What are you planing to do?" Alex asked again following Marius through the tunnel.

"The sister of that blade is still in the temple. I must retrieve it and find the Queen, she's probably heading to the palace now. The High Priest, and Priestesses channeled all their life energy into that blade, but it wasn't enough. Only Euris and I survived..." Marius paused looking pained. "The Queen's soul was forced out of her body, but...she attacked Euris,...and took over her body. Euris' body is now nothing more than a vessel for the demon." Marius paused to compose himself, Alex leaned against the wall feeling as if he had been stabbed in the heart.

After a few moments Marius was able to continue. "The queen can only be sealed by that blade, and the spell that is written on it. With the magic being channeled from one blade to the other the spell should have enough power to seal her. I am the only one left who knows the spell..." He paused turning to stare in shock as Alex quietly spoke the words of a spell, in a language so old even he was unsure of its origin.

Alex looked at him. "That was the spell right? That's what was written on the blade." Pushing away from the wall, he walked past the still shocked Marius, a few steps before turning. "I'll go after the Queen. You have a better chance of getting the people to flee than I do."

Marius stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. "You...You're Joannah's child.. She taught you the spells?"

"...I learned to read out of the books she brought with her from the temple. I knew those words long before I knew the common language." Alex answered before he turned again, and began walking quickly to the entrance of the tunnel. He had never liked discussing his mother, or her dismissal from the priesthood when she was discovered to be pregnant out of wedlock.

"She never told you who your father was did she?" Marius asked as they stepped back out into the night. It was quieter now, but the flames had grown. Only the High Temple, and the palace beyond it looked to have escaped the flames for now. Alex ignored Marius and headed toward the temple. "Your father was King Cratus." Alex stopped, but didn't turn. "They had wanted to marry, but Cratus was forced to marry Melitta to end the war with Crete. She refused to tell anyone for fear that Melitta would have you killed. She chose exile to save your life. Your fathe"

"Why are you telling me this?" Alex shouted angrily interrupting Marius as he finally turned to face him.

"Your brother may already be dead, if the Queen is defeated the people will need a king to lead them."

"You're insane. This isn't a child's story, I'm a solder hardly anyone knows, and the people who do know me don't even like me. I'm not a king. I'm about to go die fighting things that can't be killed by mortals, for a woman who never knew I existed, because I can't stand the thought that monster wearing her face till the world ends." Alex turned away from Marius, angry and embarrassed. "The people will need a leader, but it should be someone they will listen to." He turned and walked away, no longer caring what Marius did.

Making his way to the temple was eerily quiet. He carefully watched every shadow, but it the elves had apparently grown bored with the slaughter. It seemed most of the people had already fled, or been killed. Alex wondered if the gods had indeed abandoned them to their fate. They had never failed to protect the city before, and this attack had come without warning.

The temple itself was silent, and now only lit by the burring city at its door. He could see the bodies of the priest, and priestesses surrounding the body of the Queen. The dimly glowing protruded from her chest, her long white hair fanned out beneath her was stained in the pale blue elven blood. When he pulled the sword free of the corpse, the sudden flow of magic sent a painful shock through his hands almost causing him to drop it. Keeping his own sword in hand sheathed the glowing blade at his waist and walked out the back of the deserted temple toward the palace.

The palace was dark, and swarmed with elves when he arrived, and entered but they did no more than give him mildly curios glances as he walked to the throne room. King Atlas was indeed dead. The elf queen in Euris' body was using his corpse as a foot rest while she lounged in the throne. Once warm brown eyes, now the pale blue of all elves, and just as predatory as the smile she gave him. She giggled like a young girl would. "Are you all that's left? Won't anyone else come to play with me?" She asked her smile widening. The elven men guarding her prepared to attack but she raised her hand to stop them. "Leave the foolish little boy to me." She said sweetly, resting her cheek against her hand she paused for a moment. "Where is my Dio? He's been gone for far to long. I miss him. Go find him and bring him back to me." Her guards obeyed at once, not even glancing at Alex as they passed him. He continued walking toward the throne.

"I am Queen Delphine, You should be bowing to you know." She said still smiling. "But I don't suppose you are the type to do that, are you Alexander?"

He stiffened slightly, no one had called him that since his mother had died. His mind felt clouded, eyes growing accustomed to the dark he could see that Delphine had removed most of the ceremonial robes Euris had worn. He tried to concentrate on the eyes of his target, and not the face she wore. It was difficult to keep the woman out of his mind. He found his sword slipping from his hand as he stepped closer to her. She giggled again as it clattered to the floor.

She leaned back in the throne shifting herself purposely so that what was left of the robes moved aside exposing a pale breast. "I think I could get used to this ugly body. She fought very hard to keep it you know, silly girl. You already like this body though don't you?" She giggled again and with the kind of smile he imagined a snake would give if it could, held out a hand to him. Reaching the throne he found himself kneeling before her. "Silly boy, you should have known better. Don't worry though, I will keep you, and take care of you as long as you amuse me. Now why don't you throw that useless sword away, and I'll let you have this body you've desired for so long." She caressed his face grazing his skin with suddenly sharpened nails. Unable to resist the order he stood, and placed his hand on the hilt of the sword, but the moment he touched it Delphine's spell was broken. By the time the Queen realized this he had thrust the blade into her chest repeating the spell written on it. Delphine screamed, and the rush of magic sent Alex flying back half way across the throne room.

When his mind had cleared enough to look again; Euris' body pinned to the throne by the blade had gone still, her eyes closed peacefully. He tried to stand, the palms of his hands had been burned horribly by the magic, and he felt like he would be sick if he moved too quickly. He was startled hearing the elf queen scream in frustration. He looked up to see her shade hanging over the still body trying to pull itself free of the sword. Glowing eyes turned glaring at him, he could just barely make out a face in the cloud like form. "Release me, human!"

Still unable to stand he managed to get to his knees. "I don't think I could if I wanted to." He said smirking at her. The ground suddenly quaked almost knocking him over again. Delphine's shade extended its self out and attacked him, fog like tendrils sinking into his chest. He was over come by the cold they forced into him, his breath stolen away.

"You will spend eternity knowing the pain of death, but never its peace! You will become so old and feeble, that you cannot control your own body, and remember nothing of your self. Even then Death will still not find you! When I am free again, I will keep your withered husk in a cage so that all the generations of humans onto the end of the world will stare at you and know my power!" she was suddenly pulled away from him back to body she was now bound to. She looked faded now having used so much of her remaining power on the curse. "My people will free me soon enough. It will take years beyond the lives of any mortal, but I will be free. And then I will rule the largest empire there has ever been, and will ever be. " The ground quaked again.

Alex found himself laughing. "They'll have to grow gills first. By morning this city and all the land around it will be at the bottom of the ocean." Delphine's phantom eyes widened, apparently confident in her victory she had not looked far enough into his mind. "You will indeed rule the largest empire there has ever been, and will ever be." He said mockingly finally finding the strength to stand. "All the land under the waves shall be your domain. All the creatures that swim and crawl along the bottom of the sea shall be your subjects." He bowed to her slightly, smirking. "Long may you reign." He turned and left her screaming in frustration again. Stepping out of the throne room he found the palace abandoned, by both elves, and men. Delphine's subjects must have abandoned her the moment she was sealed. Exhausted it took him far longer than he liked to reach the palace gate. By that time he could see the water already rushing through the streets dousing what fires it could reach as it went. He walked through the city toward the already submerged docks. Not paying attention after he had gotten to where the water reached his thighs, he was nearly his by a small fishing boat made for the shallows. This made it perfect for going through the city now. There were a few humans, and three elves on board. He recognized Marius, but did not know the other two who appeared to be only boys.

"Hello there!" The shorter boy said grinning cheerfully. "Marius said you are the one who went after my sister! I guess you succeeded then, beca...Hey! The waters only going to get deeper if you keep walking that way!" Alex paused again the water reaching his waist now, and dully told Marius about the curse. "I have no intention of spending the rest of eternity in the care of elves."

He finished and started walking again, he hadn't gotten very far when he was pulled into the boat by the surprising strength of the second boy. Now sitting on the floor of boat he glared up at the three elves.

"Can anything be done?" One of the fishermen asked quietly. He turned to the first boy. "You are the Queen's brother aren't you? Can't you do anything?"

The boy shook his head frowning. "Our people aren't like yours." He said quietly. " All humans are capable of the same magic, given enough effort. For elves however, only a queen will ever have that kind of power. Even with Delphine sealed it could be thousands of years before her power wanes enough for another queen to be born." Biting his lip, he looked toward the sinking palace.

"It doesn't matter." Alex said looking out over the ocean toward the distant shore. "Give it three hundred years. I probably won't even know who I am by then. Come find me, and lock me up somewhere." He said smirking, though he couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice. Feeling exhausted he ignored his unwanted companions, and lay down on the boat floor to sleep. He dreamed of Lady Euris, she was weeping, but he could not find his voice to ask her why, or comfort her.

When he woke, they had reached the shore near a vast stretching forest. He wanted to leave, but the elven boys, Dio, and Lucciola as he had learned their names were, followed him throughout the day as they set up camp, and Marius made plans to find the other survivors. It wasn't until night had fallen that Alex managed to make his escape. He walked as silently as possible through the almost nonexistent paths between the trees. The only light he had was the moon shining through the leaves.

"Where will you go, cursed one?" A woman's voice asked from behind him, the voice was rather deep, and sounded almost as if its owner was about to laugh at him. He turned angrily only to step back in shock, and fear. The bone white face before him was one he knew well. He had seen it every day carved on temple walls and statues. Silvana, the goddess of death. Her eyes were solid blood red, a long mass of ink black thorn, and leaf-covered vines, her garments were the same.

The goddess laughed at him. "Of course." She said smirking as she reached a long slender arm out toward him, taking his chin in her hand. "You only remember what I take, and forget I also give. None of you remember when you lived sheltered only by my trees, when I was your beloved mother. All you remember are your cities, and fields. You live encased in stone now, and so your minds are as well." She smiled again more kindly this time. "But I am still your mother, and even in these desperate times I will do what I can for my children."

"Why did you not protect the city then?" Alex asked finally finding his voice.

Silvana's eyes darkened. "We were besieged as well. The Elf Queen made a pack with demons, old enemies of ours. The battle was not turned to our favor until you sealed her. Even now we are weakened, and new gods are already rising against us. We will fall soon, if we do not flee. I do not have the strength to even remove the curse upon you, but I can alter it."

Before Alex could ask what she meant by that, her hand became a mass of thread thin vines and pierced his chest. Overcome by pain he sank to his knees. None of Silvana's gifts ever came without pain. "For as long as the curse remains, from this point on age shall not touch you. Whatever fate finds you, be it in violence, nature, or disease; you shall sleep, afterwards, and not awaken until you are again whole, and unblemished." She released him looking just as drained as he felt. Alex remained on his knees coughing now, there was some blood on his hand when he finished. After a few moments Silvana brought herself back to her full height towering over him. "That is all I have the strength left for. Lord Urbanis has...a gift for you as well, though I do not where it is at the moment." Without any further explanation she faded back into the woods.

Alex managed to stand again, and leaned against the tree behind him waiting for the pain in his chest to fade. When it had, he began walking away from the camp site again. His past lead him to a cliff overlooking the sea, just as the sun was rising. In the distance he could see tiny islands, all that was visible now of the land that had surrounded the city of his birth. In ages to come when he had long ago ceased to care enough to recall its true name, it would be remembered as Atlantis.

He turned away, and began walking again, he would find a road eventually.


Authors notes: I have no idea where I'm going with this one. But I really loved this first chapter.