I really got to stop updating monthly... But in any case here is chapter two! This one may be a bit of a tear jerker... Enjoy!
Warning For This Chapter: Torture.
The devil's voice is sweet to hear.
- Stephen King
Marianna
One Week before Fang's awakening
Marianna sat there in her jail cell, the silence is comforting after a number of painful cries and bloodcurdling screams that rang throughout the halls of this cold dungeon. She hadn't seen Khalara for three months after they took her away from her grasps. However it wasn't quite lonely, a former member of that man's group was imprisoned in the next cell over, with the name Galdo would talk to her. She initially didn't care for him, but these past few months she needed to talk someone, anybody before she would snap under the pressure of loneliness and despair. He always found a way to make her smile as he talks about his adventures with his group the pass the time, and she finds herself slowly envious of happy adventures with such close friends.
"I am quite envious…" she admits to him, "You share all these delightful tales and the bonds with your friends. I almost wish I would be a part of that…"
"I'm sure Fang wouldn't mind at all!" she heard Galdo chuckling, she could hear a little wheezing in his throat. He's having it just as bad as she is here, then his tone was serious almost full of wisdom she hadn't expect to hear from. "Look, Marianna, you may be part of Dorfa, but...I'm sure Fang would accept someone like you… I know I would. People can change over something simple like myself or something that'll forever hurt someone like….you know who. He wasn't always like this, I mean.. Not all gung-ho about murdering and torturing us. I hated his guts when I first saw him, call me petty if you want because he has everything I don't have. But, he and Tiara… I can't imagine of finding a time when Tiara WASN'T around him or talkin' with him. Whether or not Tiara loved him it doesn't matter, I can see it in that asshole's eyes that he was falling head over heels for her and I think everyone except Tiara or Fang was aware of it. But, then she died and I have never seen so much pain in both his and Fang's eyes, I can't even get the image of those two crying their eyes outs like girls over Tiara… He's hurting,"
"I'm hurting too, he takes it out on me the most out of everyone!" Marianna argued, "That …..that monster ruined my life! I don't care if he's hurting, he needs to get over it and move on!"
"Marianna...when you lose someone you love and cherish...you'll understand how that jerk feels." He spoke to her as he goes into another coughing fit.
"I can't help but, question your wording there. You're insulting him at the same time however you're defending him at certain points," She sighs, confused by her companion's words.
"What can I say? He may be a total selfish jerk, but he's still my friend," was his response.
"...He doesn't deserve your friendship…" Marianna simply commented, she doesn't get it, Sherman put him down in this hell hole with her, yet he still insultingly defends him at times.
"I know, but I don't know why, but something seems so different about him now," Galdo sighs.
"He's hurting as you said," She answers him with levels of sass.
"No...it's just. At times it's definitely him, but then there are times where I'm looking at a completely different person in the same body, and on top of that he really likes that wine I keep hearing about," He grumbles.
"I believe it was called-" Before she could continue her talk, she could hear footsteps and shuts herself up. And speaking of the devil, he was now standing right in front of her cell. Galdo was right just looking into his now bloodshot eyes he seems like an entirely different person. His new clothing increases this slight indifference than he was before. His white turncoat had much darker blue added as his tie clip was now black and his tie was a maroon color instead of blue. His trousers were black and his boots were white, a complete switch from what he used to wear.
"You two seem to be in better spirits by conversing with one another, " He finally spoke after he decided to stare her down. She wasn't afraid of him! However, the two remained silent. "I am merely here to inform you, Marianna, that I finally have your date,"
"M...My date?" Marianna pressed getting a sickening feeling in her stomach as dread crept upwards her back.
"Why yes! I have decided your fate! I determined that you will be publicly hung so that the citizens of Zelwinds!" Sherman smiles at her, it was a rather maddening grin. Despair fills up her body once more as she listens more towards her death sentence. "From one week from now, at ten o'clock sharp, "
"Y...You can't be serious!" She heard Galdo's voice rang out in anger towards Sherman. "You're sending her out to die!?"
"Why yes I am, after all, I am the king of this new world. Is it not proper to showcase my power and justice to the public?" Sherman replies rather eerily calmly yet sounded so full of himself. Galdo was right, it was as if he was indeed an entirely different person….what in the world happened to him?
"Such ignorance, thinking of yourself so highly while you let so many innocent die in these conditions! You're no king at all! You're just a sick twisted man who can't get over the fact that Tiara is dead and move on! For Gods sakes, it's been five months now" Marianna finally snaps at him letting her resentment of him out. Sherman simply stays silent and reached inside his coat pocket, pulling out a set of two key to their jail cells.
"W-Whoa there Sherman what are you planning to do?!" Galdo stammers, he must have seen the keys too. He didn't say anything as he unlocks the cell door to her own, opens it, and closes it behind him. She wasn't afraid.
He walks towards her, his silver eyes flashed malicious intent.
she wasn't afraid,
Sherman had a most delightful perhaps even sadistic smile on his features now.
she wasn't-
The male in front of her places a hand on the top of her head, and Marianna froze once she felt the contact then blissful silence. After a moment of breathing in the air filled with tension, she cries out in pain once Sherman grabs a handful of her hair and pulls on her. Her body and head hitting the cold hard pavement, she was in a daze from the sudden contact with the ground, but he didn't give her time to recover as she felt a powerful kick to her stomach the force of such a kick was almost inhuman. Marianna felt blown back by that kick, rolling across the follow like a training dummy almost.
"You have no right to determine who is a proper king…" A slightly annoyed tone to his voice as he steps on her still sore wrist from a previous session where she set him off, the same wrist that held burnt markings from his grip those five months ago. She screams once the heel of his foot digs into it, she moves her body around trying to find a way to get him off her. "And you...have no idea how hard it is to move on!"
Stomp. She howls in pain, trying so hard to be strong, and not beg for mercy.
" It's your own fault in the first place!"
Another stomp to her wrist and the feeling in her hand was almost gone, numb even.
" So don't go talking down to me when you of all people can't even feel what's it like to lose something or someone close to you!" He was emotionally unstable now, she managed to deduce in between stomps.
"Sherman STOP IT!" She heard Galdo yell at him, pleading in her stead.
"Are you willing to take her place? If not hold your tongue!" Sherman replied as he hisses in pain once Marianna tries clawing his leg as an attempt to fight back which in return makes him dig his heel, even more, causing the female to screech in pain that echoed through the halls.
"Yes! I WILL! I'll take her death sentence too! Just stop!" As Galdo's voice roared, Marianna's eyes widen as Sherman removes his foot off of her.
"How childishly noble of you," He remarks on Galdo's decision, now moving to leave her cell. However, once he left and locked her cell door, he didn't walk towards Galdo's, in fact, he stared him down before leaving.
"G...Galdo why…" Marianna whimpered, moving closer towards the wall that separated the two.
"We're friends aren't we?" He answers her question simply.
"...Yes, we are…" For the first time in months, Marianna had a faint smile on her face.
Apollonius
Two Weeks before Fang's Awakening
What's it like to lose a part of you that you feel you can never get back, that was the one question he always has but, never had the answer for it. Merely sighing to himself, as he sits in the corner of his bedroom appreciating the silence while his fairy partner Seguro attempts to comfort him. It was even a miracle that he was in the safety of his home while his co-workers and allies were facing the most brutal punishment for trying to revive the Vile God. The reason he joined was that he simply needed the money and to hone his skills as a fencer. But, when that man called Sherman challenged him to a duel… he suffered the most humiliating defeat as he was easily bested by that man. He wanted to die and almost did it too. But, Sherman thought otherwise, he stopped him from committing suicide deeming that his defeat would suffice as his punishment. And if he were to walk out in public, they would ridicule him for being merely a part of Dorfa. Emily, his little sister that he raised on his own after the death of their parents.
He could remember himself nearly twenty years younger clutching his three-month-year-old sister tightly as she cried probably for food. As smoke filled the air while their village, their home was burning to the ground. Running after their parents begged him to go on without them, but they said a quick goodbye to him and Emily. A hug and a kiss on the cheek before sending him off with a bag of supplies for the two. He could remember his mother saying how much she loved him and to take good care of Emily. His father had a faint smile on his face telling him how proud he was and that he'll be an amazing swordsman like himself. The years were brutal, he managed to find an abandoned house to hide, but he had to take her everywhere making it difficult to work for food. Then one day an orphanage took them in, giving the two clothing and food that they needed but, he wouldn't let them touch Emily. The caretakers decided to let him raise her with their kindful donations of food and clothes. Emily was seven years old and he was thirteen when a young couple came to the orphanage and nearly adopted her. He was happy for Emily, but he didn't want to lose the last of his family. Clearly, Emily thought similarly as she begged for him to take her away so they won't be separated. Wanting her to be happy they left the orphanage the night before that couple could adopt her. Now that he was older at that time he was able to find work as Emily stayed behind in that abandoned house he founded that long ago. It wasn't until he was sixteen when Dorfa came to him, asking for his services as a hired swordsman. That old abandoned house became their own special housing when he managed to gain enough gold to fix it up a bit, his gold count started increasing dramatically when he caught the eye of Hanagata, the president of the Dorfa Corporation who promoted him to be a Heavenly Czar. However, this leads him to have to leave for longer periods of time, days, weeks even. But, Emily didn't mind at all, worried, but was happy for him. Everything he had done up to this point was for her. The smile she harbors is what motivates him, but as time went on, he kept caring more and more about his swordsman skills. A thrilling fight is what drives his motivation now, but when you publicly lose like that...that motivation is gone.
"Apollonius! Dinner's almost ready!" He heard his sister called out to him. He got up, but not before leaving he looked at that bottle that was sent to him which was full of wine. Maybe…. Just maybe one drink wouldn't hurt at all. He thought to himself as he finally after months of neglecting that wine he decided on one glass of it.
Fang
Fang opened his eyes with a sudden jolt coursing through his body, he felt well rested but slightly sore. For a moment he didn't know where he was then memories came clashing out at a sudden pace. His head is in pain. He could then remember Tiara… Tiara taking the blow meant for him, then dying. He was also begging Sherman and Galdo to help by healing her, he would never forget his own and Sherman's cries when the light faded from Tiara's eyes. He blacked out again only to see what happened in the past…
"S...SHERMAN PLEASE D...DO SOMETHING YOU CAN HEAL, RIGHT? AND GALDO?!" Fang was practically begging, as he handed her weak body to Sherman who came running towards the two after he had finished off Bernard. He pressed his hand against the wound to slow the bleeding down at least. So much of her blood was on Sherman that his white turncoat and pants were almost red, but not once did he care. Sherman's calm eyes were full of fear and sadness as he casts a healing spell to try and save her. Fang held Tiara's hand, and not letting go. Ryushin was standing right by Sherman as the mecha analyzes Tiara's condition.
"Fang I can't! That fight with the Vile God drained me! I don't have enough stamina for me to heal," came Galdo's pained reply. Eryn was with them as well, shedding tears, begging Sherman to heal faster.
"I'm doing my utmost best Eryn, but you should know by now… I don't have much potency in healing spells as Tiara or Galdo" was Sherman's reply. "Tiara stay awake, don't close your eyes for even a second I beg of you!"
"Lord Sherman…." Tiara's free hand was placed on top of his, speaking weakly. "It's alright...We...we got our wish? World peace remember?"
"Forget world peace! I...I don't know what I'll do if I lost you...so please...don't leave!" Fang could hear Sherman's voice cracking down with such sadness he never thought he could witness to hear.
"Lord Sherman's right! We need you Tiara!" Eryn cried out to her.
"Sherman, Tiara's heart pulse is deteriorating according to my calcu-" Ryushin began.
"She's going to live Ryushin!" Fang growled at him.
"Fang...please… I… I know I'm going to die…" the bluette smiled weakly at him.
"Tiara no.." was his response.
"To be honest… I'm terrified of dying, but...you three...you're simply making the experience much more comfortable for me… so thank you…" She turned to Sherman, to continue albeit her words getting weaker. "Sherman I….I'm sorry…but, I know you'll go out there and do greater things I...I'm proud to get close to you…. You and Fang…." She then coughed as Sherman tried his damndest to strengthen his healing magic to keep her alive...even just for a bit longer.
"You both...mean the world to me you know… I'm glad… I got to meet you both…"
And with those last few words, the light from Tiara's eyes slowly vanished.
"This...This can't be happening right… Tiara please...don't do this to us… " Fang heard Sherman breaking down into tears. As he heard Eryn wailing, even he was shedding tears. Fang heard Harley warning them that this place was breaking down. "T...This was not supposed to happen…" soon rage found a place in his voice, much like how Fang himself started to be filled with rage. "It was because of Dorfa...they...they…"
"TIARAAAAAAAA" Fang screamed in a mixture of rage and sadness and then nothingness consumes them all.
"Fang!" He heard Eryn call out to him, bringing back to the present. His eyes reddened with tears, he must have been crying when passed out.
"T...Tiara…" He only replied with sadness. Eryn looks at him with concern and pulls him into a comforting embrace which he clutches her tighter as his tears came out quicker.
"Tiara is gone, Fang...but... Listen I'm here for you know? I'm your fairy partner…" She began, but her voice was cracking a bit too. "So… just this once…okay?" Truth be told he didn't want to let go of her… in fear of losing her too and the sudden warmth and comfort, she was bringing made it hard for to even bother.
"..Yeah...Thank you… Eryn.."
To Be Continued . . .
Fang is awake finally! But he is clearly broken up over Tiara's death . . . Also, the reason I changed it up a bit on Tiara's death scene was that those two really didn't make much of an effort to even try and save her. So I fixed that up.
Preview of Chapter 2: Sherman recalls about how he first initially finds out about Tiara being alive, while Chiaki talks with Junown over how they first came into contact with Sherman. Harley encounters a familiar dragon out on the field, while lastly Fang learns more and more about this new world and his wish.
