Celestia…
*Soundtrack: Sorrowful Angel (watch?v=pFKmtgGjM8A)*
Centered in a field of simple white flowers, a tall angelic figure stood with his eyes closed. A light breeze was blowing through his long grey hair and multiple feathered wings. As a look of concern spreads over his face, he opens his eyes. Almost as an answer to his concern, a female archangel walks up behind him.
"Seraph Lamington." she greets him, pausing in anticipation for a response. Lamington doesn't answer, staring into the distance as if he didn't hear her. "What troubles you sir?" she offers. The seraph doesn't turn around as he speaks.
"I've lost sight of Flonne and Laharl." He speaks grimly yet calmly.
"Sir, aren't you capable of viewing everything that happens in the Netherworld and Celestia?" the archangel asked more as a formality, knowing that the Seraph would explain.
"It appears…that those two have crossed into another world." Lamington said vaguely.
"Another Netherworld?" The archangel asks in an "is that so" tone of voice.
"No, not this time. I can view other Netherworlds…" the Seraph trailed off in thought.
"The human world?" the archangel pried.
"No. Well…" the Seraph trailed off again.
"Yes sir?" the archangel continued to pry, actually very curious now.
"I can't say for sure. From what I understand, Laharl's scheme was to enter another Netherworld, but the gate he built took him to what felt like a human world. But if it is, it's completely cut off from my view." Lamington analyzed.
"That shouldn't be possible should it?" the archangel inquired. Lamington turned around to answer her.
"It's impossible to tell what's possible sometimes. If I had to guess, I'd say there was a barrier surrounding that world." The archangel raised an eyebrow, questioning in her mind how the seraph came to an answer like that so easily. "There are forces out there equal or greater than myself." Lamington answered as a direct response to the archangel's skeptical face. "For example, I was unable to see who the real Overlord Zenon was until she revealed herself. I could not see through such a powerful seal."
"I see. So this is bad! We don't know if lady Flonne is in danger!" the archangel began raising her voice excitedly.
"I have complete confidence in Laharl's ability to protect Flonne.…but this isn't something we should be blind to." Lamington finally finished.
"What is the course of action?" The archangel asked in an official voice.
"This is something I must see for myself." Lamington smiled a little as he said this, knowing that what he said would coax a response from the Archangel.
"Sir, that's far too extreme. Please let me go instead! I will bring Flonne back safely." the Archangel began, but Lamington raised a hand to cut her off.
"Who said Flonne was to come back with us? She may have an important purpose there. She may be necessary for Laharl's sake. Remember, both of them are the knot that tie Celestia and the Netherworld together." Lamington decided to pause here for emphasis.
"Sir…" the Archangel stated in a tone of defeat.
"I'm sorry, but this situation requires a personal touch. Besides, this may be a rare opportunity to work with an old friend of mine…"
*music fades*
"AAACHOO!" Vyers sneezed out loud, knocking over a rather large specimen in a field of sunflowers. "My my, some pretty young lady must be talking about me." He said with a buffoonish grin. Leaving the toppled over sunflower on the ground, he turns towards the now dark sky, a dark blue horizon indicating where the sun set . "Perhaps sticking so close to those three was a mistake…"
*Soundtrack: IaMP Pre Battle Theme: Solitary Place ( watch?v=rN_57Lp_QII )*
What was this person? Flan stared at him for what seemed like minutes, trying over and over again to process in her mind what she was looking at. A figure a bit taller than her; probably her sister's height. A red scarf running down his back and around the lower half of his face, moving seemingly by itself. His striking red eyes stared back at her's with an impact that put pressure on her chest. His sword was clenched in his hand, ready to be swung. But what was truly mysterious about this figure to Flandre was a certain lack of femininity she was used to seeing. Was this what a man was? Flandre had yet to lay eyes on a male, given her upbringing in a mansion filled with only women. The silence had grown uncomfortably long between the two, demanding itself to be broken.
"I'm just passing through." Laharl settled on. He knew the direction he needed to go, and something about this girl's presence was difficult to deal with . Flandre's mind was still racing as Laharl began to move. As he neared her, she decided to utter the only thing she could bring to the front of her mind.
"Are you strong?"
*Music fades*
Just like that. She said it as if it was perfectly normal, with a completely innocent voice behind it. Laharl ceased walking immediately. He looked at her a little bit stunned, having no appropriate response prepared for such a random question. She stared back at him desperately, a feeling of anxiousness bubbling up to her chest. There was another tense pause, but this one had a much more natural conclusion.
"What kind of stupid question is that? Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?" Laharl raised his voice as he said this. Flandre continued to stare, but with a mostly blank expression. "I'm Laharl, prince of the Netherowrld!" Laharl barked as he folded his arms, pausing for a response. Flandre's expression remained blank.
"I don't know what any of that means." Despite her dull response, her feeling of anxiousness had only advanced. She was stuck in thought, trying to process a situation she couldn't, waiting for something to click.
"Tch. What is it with you people anyways? None of you seem to know anything." Laharl's voice was lower, but still had a tone of anger in it. Flandre didn't respond. "I really don't have time for this. Unless you know where the Scarlet Devil Mansion is I'm done talking to you." Flandre's dull expression was instantly wiped clean. Her eyes widened as she processed what he said.
"Why…" she trailed off, struggling with her words for a moment before manually forcing herself out of her stupor. "Why go there?" The anxious feeling in her chest was beating on her inside, and she began to grow a bit excited.
"I think that's obvious. I'm going to fight it's master." Laharl could not have said this more casually, yet the words struck Flandre with almost palpable force. Her pupils dilate as a switch finally goes off in her head. The situation was finally clear and focused in her mind. "Now if you're done with the stupid questions-"
"You won't." Flandre cut Laharl off mid-sentence. Her voice was still calm, but not quite as dull as it had been.
"What?" Laharl uttered with clear annoyance in his voice, yet with a perk of interest behind it. Flandre began to shift her sitting position.
"You won't because…" Flandre trailed off as she began lifting herself up. A smile began just barely creeping up on her face. "You won't need to." She stood upright, narrowing her eyes and grinning at Laharl as if she was a different person. "After all, I'm a lot stronger than my sister." Flandre finished her drawn out sentence, now grinning manically. She didn't put any thought into her words, and didn't consider whether Laharl would understand. Her mind had made a complete switch from her innocence, and was on a very one way track towards an inevitable outcome.
"What are you-" Laharl began before cutting off his own sentence. Although she was vague, it didn't take him long to piece together her meaning. Realization crept into his face as he stared her down. Her sister was who he was looking for, and she was in his way. Now both of their hearts were beating anxiously. "I see. So if I'm going to get anything done…"
*Soundtrack: Witch Hunting: ( watch?v=xscm_qYntfA )
Laharl draws his sword after a brief pause, pointing it directly at Flandre in his usual fashion. "…Then you are going to be an obstacle!" Both of them crack toothy grins, burying their anxiety in excitement.
"You didn't answer me before. My question…" Flandre spoke as she curled her lips upwards.
"I'll answer by showing you!" Both of their hearts spike with anxiety one last time before they are overcome with bloodlust. Laharl rushes forwards to meet Flandre, reaching her within moments. He swings his sword horizontally. Flandre leaps just above the sword's path, landing on its side as it swings by. Laharl doesn't immediately catch this, holding the sword steady to his side. In his hesitation, he realizes Flandre's presence on his sword to his left, but in that time she decided to make a move. Raising her hand in Laharl's direction, she let loose a volley of lasers at almost point blank range, sending Laharl flying into the trees behind them. Flandre landed lightly on her feet, folding her arms and scowling in his direction.
"Stupid. Why didn't he dodge? He just breaks like all the other toys-" As the last syllable came off her lips, the surrounding trees were blown away in an explosion. Laharl's scream was barely audible over the explosion. Standing up perfectly straight, he points his sword again towards Flandre.
"Is that all you've got!?" He screams in her direction. Flandre stares back at him stunned for a moment. Hesitantly, her lips curl back into a smile.
"You don't break? You're still alive? That means we can keep playing!" Flandre announced with giddy excitement.
"You think I'm playing? This is serious!" Laharl swings his sword directly up in the air. "Dimension Slash!" Laharl swings his sword downwards, unleashing a cut of energy over the entire area in front of him. Flandre stands in the path of the blast for a few moments, sizing it up. As the blast nears her, a flicker of seriousness flashed through her eyes before she decided to dodge out of the way. Upon moving to her left, she is met with Laharl directly in front of her.
"Blazing Knuckle!" Laharl throws a flaming hook from his free hand, aiming it straight at Flandre's neck. Flandre's eyes widen in a fleeting moment of surprise before catching his punch with her opposite hand. Laharl's attack is stopped dead, managing only to push Flan back a few inches as his former attack strikes the lake behind them, exploding brilliantly in the background. Laharl's face contorted with rage as he spontaneously swung his sword downward. But almost as quickly as he could think it, Flandre grabbed the wrist of his sword arm, holding the attack back. The two of them stood deadlocked, pushing all their physical strength against the other. Laharl's teeth were grit together in anger, while Flandre wore a look of insane amusement.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! This isn't a game!" Laharl said, frustrated in the appearance on her face.
"But I'm having so much fun." Flandre said with manic satisfaction. Laharl's pupils shrank as anger continued to overtake him. Forcing himself forward, he headbutt Flandre, causing both of her hands to lose grip as she grasped her forehead in pain. Laharl used the opening to swing his sword at her side again. But almost nonchalantly, Flandre catches his sword's blade in one of her hands, the other still clutching her forehead. She tilts her head upwards, a look of rage now looking back at Laharl. Taking her other hand, she attempts to throw another volley of lasers, only to have her hand caught and intertwined with Laharl's, stopping the blast. Again, the two of them are battlelocked, each pushing against the other's strength. Both of them now gritting their teeth in anger. After a few moments, Flandre's heals begin to be pushed back, dragging across the ground. The blade she caught in her hand was beginning to sink into her skin. Following her first instinct, she lets lose the stifled volley in her hand, forcing the two of them apart. A cloud of dust is kicked up from the blast, clearing quickly from the night breeze. Laharl stood quietly, now looking quite satisfied with himself. As the dust cleared around Flandre's midair presence, a neutral expression was revealed on her face. Slowly, an extremely unique open mouth grin crept to one side of her face. She started to giggle, then laugh hysterically. Unable to help himself, Laharl grinned widely in response. In his mind, he began to question if perhaps he was having as much fun as her.
"You…can I go as far as I want against you?" Flandre said through her laughter, putting one of her hands onto her cheek.
"What's that mean?" Laharl asked despite being able to guess.
"I couldn't even do everything against the witch and the red white. Can I…let loose? Can I go crazy?" Flandre communicated as best she could, overtaken by excitement.
"It's not a choice. Even your best won't stand a chance." Laharl proclaimed, his words oozing with arrogance.
"I won't be blamed if you break will I? I can really do whatever I want?" Flandre said as if she couldn't believe it.
"That goes both ways. Don't complain when you're dead."
*music fades*
*chapter ends*
