Apollo stared intensely at his great-grandchildren through the stone's projection, as they left the creverse of the Ant People. It was indeed a revelation to him that such an ancient species; one surpassing even that of his own kind's history, still existed by remaing in hiding. What better place to make dwelling away from others then in plain sight? Even he, with thousands of years of living, had never encountered a single individual, following the hellish war which had seen countless other races to their extinction, so the fact that the The Harbinger continued to observe the group and within the hour, deemed the time right to make his own intentions known.
"Darling~ Have you even had any sleep at all?" Kahlua's angelic voice snapped the Harbinger from his trail of thought and he quickly dismissed the projection before turning to behold his Queen adorn in her thin and laced nightie. The young Vampiress gave a cute disapproving pout, recieving a surprising smile in response as Apollo quickly carressed her cheek and gave her a quick hug.
"I may rest, in time. For now, there is a matter of importance of which requires my attention." Apollo responded gently as he kissed Kahlua softly on the lips and unfolded his wings.
"Ok! But at least have something..." Kahlua blinked as she suddenly found herself talking to thin air. The Vampiress quickly looked up and beheld her husband already airborne, through the open roof and into the skies above, carrying with him a heavy looking sack.
"Silly thing needs to finish that roof." She giggled.
Stepping through dimensions, via the Philosopher's Stone required little concentration, compared to that of incarnations and seals utilised by Witches and many other magic-borne Ayashi. There were many other countless potential capabilities of the archaic item of which Apollo had long since put aside discovering it's origins. The stone of which he now wielded in order to witness the events of the world he was now exhiled, had originally belonged to his associate, Tenmei Mikogami; who had previously set it in his Rosery of Judgment. Following the dismantling of the Dark Lords, Apollo had made it integral to reclaiming the orb and as long as no other knew of it's existance; let alone of it being in his possession, it's powers could never fall into the wrong hands.
Or even that of the naieve Tsukune's.
And so Apollo once again utilised the power of the Philosopher's Stone and immediately was translocated between dimensions and across the great span to his location. As the sickening notion of dimensional twisting subsided, Apollo quickly landed, and pocketed the orb before crouching behind a boulder, overlooking the canyon. With a quick glance Apollo sensed noone in the vicinity and immediately spied the entrance of which Akemi and the others had made their exit. As quickly as one could blink, Apollo had leaped from the heights and glided gracefully in the tunnel entrance. With a quick flick of his tail and folding of his wings, the Harbinger progressed through with a pale shining torch.
Apollo gave himself the time to ponder all he knew of the Ant People; thousands of years of forgotten memories would have to return to him, if he were to be permitted entrance to the inner city; custom was key to their admittance and politeness was indeed a virtue they praised. As he felt himself entering the depths of the upper city, The Harbinger indeed sensed that he was not at all alone; his ears picked up the scuttling of the Ant People's feet as they warrily cornered him. Finally as he made his way to the entrance of the inner city, the voice he was awaiting spoke out in his mind.
"Kindly do state your reasoning here.""It has been too long since your kind and mine crossed paths...Indeed it has been more lifetimes then could be considered by others of my creed." Apollo spoke openly and unthreateningly; the Harbinger restricting the power of his Yokai to demonstrate unhostile intent. "I have come to pay homage to the Queen of your Colony." Several Ant Men approached in silent communication, Apollo aware of their telepathic way of speaking, remained curteously quiet.
"Just over an hour ago, we had made aqquiatence with a group of young 'Vampires' as they called themselves. Curious, but are you in league with them by chance?" A much broader voice spoke into Apollo's mind.
"That I am, in a manner of speaking." Apollo replied with a nod "However, they are also the second reason for my coming here. For that reason, I humbly beg an audience with Her Majesty."
"...Though illogical, this has been in accordance with tradition; what do you bring for our Queen so that she may obligate your request?" The first voice spoke out again. Apollo nodded as he placed the sack gently before him and took two steps back. As two of the Ant Men made their investigations of the sack's contents, Apollo's knowledge of the culture of this race came back as if he had always known it.
"I see. You are well informed of our tradition..." A third young voice spoke out as a young Ant man revealed a large, whole leaf, one of many, before pausing in thought of how to address the new arrival.
"My name is Apollo. I am a Harbinger...or rather should I say, the last of." Apollo responded neutrally; the constant reminder of that fact returned that lingering bitter taste that he longed to purge. Several of the Ant men looked at him curious as to his tone then simply nodded as one picked up the sack.
"Very well, 'Harbinger', you may accompany us to make your appeal."
The first voice concluded before the broadest of the Ant Men motioned forward, leading down the passage to the inner city. Apollo followed respectively at arms length and put away the torch as the city itself; a labyrinth of walkways were lit by ornate and clearly old pitch lamps. Many of the Ant people; young and old stared in awe of Apollo though many of them shyed away when he offered a nodded head in greeting
"It has been many a thousand years since a visitor came even this far, so we do hope you garner no ill will from the behavior of many here." The second voice spoke casually as they continued through the impossible depths of the canyon's interior. Apollo silently admired the craftsmanship of the inner city and was eventually made all the more astounded as they approached what appeared to be a single, ornate chamber guarded by three more prominant Ant Men, far stronger from the many others that Apollo had walked by.
"Please do, wait a moment." The third voice spoke as the youngest Ant man bowed and communicated with the Queen through telepathy, Apollo guessed as seconds later; the guards stood down and stepped away from the entrance.
"Your audience has been granted. Though this is indeed a rarity, for her Majesty seems very eager to meet you.""My thanks." Apollo responded as he entered the main chamber, as he progressed, he beheld the Queen of the Ant colony; gigantic in comparrison to the others. As Apollo approached and bowed with his wings wide spread, he could hear the gasp of awe escape the mind of the monarch.
"Apollo... The prodigal child..." The Queen spoke through Apollo's mind, her voice very withered as a reflection of her actual age. "Ninty-fifth son of Hypestian and Eolpe...and the last existing Harbinger..." Apollo's eyes widened in disbelief as he heard the Queen utter the name of his father. How could she have known?!
"You need not speak. I know your mind, child." Her voice soft and kind. "And while my many children have the power of telepathy, as Queen, I possess the means to read the minds of all in my presence.""Child. It truly is beyond eternity that I was last called such." Apollo replied humbly and arose as he noticed the Queen beckon him to do so and approached at her beckoning. As he did, she reached out with withered hands and carresed his face.
"Hmm, such a long time since I last glanced at the face of a Harbinger..." Apollo then heard her laugh softly again.
"It is truly surprising to you, child; to hear that one exists whom is older than yourself. But I was barely a pupa when that time was so...""Honoured Mother of this Colony, I understand you must have read much in my mind. But for the sake of my purpose here, may I speak my words of..."
"Of caution. That the child of your Granddaughter; the Vampire, Akemi approached my colony and offered her father's hand of integration?" The Queen offered kindly as Apollo nodded.
"Indeed, it is so. My kin has her heart in the right places, but like mankind and many of the Yokai world; she is still only a child, as is her father in comparison to you and I." Apollo replied earnestly. "My family is on the verge of repeating the mistakes of the past and despite my many efforts and insistances; their ideals have blinded their vision."
"I understand your reasoning, child. But i have equally seen as much fear, sadness and anger in your ancient heart. Have the callous acts of others, tempered you so, as to surrender hope?"Apollo's face turned down as he swallowed "With all due respect, Honoured Mother. You may read into my memories, but only when you have truly experienced those horrors... you were not there; in those horrific last centuries of that war. Not only was my kind long dead and Vampires were either enslaving humans or being slaughtered by them... there were the travesties that still haunt me... The Dust Empire, The Legions of the Damned, The Blood Clan, The Scourge, The Wraith King marching on with his countless armies of Renfields and Ghouls, powered by Belial Oil..." Apollo's mind raced with urgency as he recalled the brutality and the horrors he had endured. As he looked up, the Ant Queen stared sympethetically as she saw the Harbinger's tortured soul.
"The world...became what many humans today, know as Hell. And my fear is that with young Aono's naievity forcing these two sides together that the same is to be repeated; hell will descend once again and there will be NOTHING i can do to stop it!" The Harbinger's voice quaked in his frustration.
"And what's more, instead of preventing this war; with the deeds of my kin, they are guaranteeing it!"
Apollo suddenly was startled as he felt his head being wrapped in the arms of the Ant Queen, her aging, soft voice echoing within him to calm.
"Hush, boy. Hush. I know I never experienced them first hand. But I lived under my mother, who took in so many after the manmade instrument all but wiped out everything on the surface above. Those survivors spoke just as true words as you have now. I know your intentions and I understand your passion for co-existance. Your reasoning is logical and admirably so."Apollo gazed up at the Ant Queen's wizened face as she continued.
"You have reigned for the sake of only ensuring this grand goal. But there is only so much you can do, my child; your family have chosen their own path, just as many young Ant Queens after I, shall determane the future of this colony. This new evolution in the way both man and Ayashi think has to be permitted to thrive on it's own. You cannot stand in the way of change, Apollo. If you do, you will be left behind.""And when war ravages the world? When my family are dead or dying... just as they do over and over..." Apollo choked "While i live on, doomed to watch this purgatorial cycle for the rest of eternity."
"...Do you believe Claudia would have wanted you to curse your existance, because of her unintential turning of you?" Apollo's eyes watered at the mention of his first Queen's name. The Ant Queen continued on as gently but firmly as before. "Your Claudia, Gabrielle, Vale, Helere, Lucia and Miyu were all so fufilled by the love you gave them; that much i can see through your memories. Kahlua herself, I can say for certain feels the same. Would your death at the hands of your own kind have given these women and the many you call kin the life they have?""...So what do i do?" Apollo asked as he knelt limpingly "Do I continue on my path to guarantee the future that all those to be deserve... or do I simply resign myself to being nothing more then a relic, in a time long having discarded me?"
"Tell me; are you not the Harbinger? The last remaining living being from a race believed to be the emmisaries of the Gods? Is it not your role to do what is right for all beings, no matter how much pain it brings?" The Ant Queen lifted Apollo's head and forced him to his feet. "Noone can predict the future, not even I. Hope, is what is keeping your family striving on their path. Yes they have their flaws and in many ways i agree that they are hypocritcal. But the ways of the warrior no longer apply in your world; you must see that, Apollo. Instead of allowing your fear of the Hell this world endured in millenia gone by, use your wisdom to let each one of your kin to see their flaws in which to rectify. Put down your claws, Harbinger and I believe that your children may begin to learn to understand you."Apollo listened intently to the wizened Queen's words and for the first time in the longest time, heeded the council of one whom he would admit was far wiser then he had been. It was giving him a feeling of a recently abandoned notion. More powerful then the powers he himself boasted, more acute then even the greatest of his devotions.
Apollo wiped his eyes, his body ready with resolve. "It is funny, that I came to offer my own council, only to recieve much more enlightening advice. For that, I thank you, Honoured Mother."
"Know that you have my support, eternal child. No matter which way the tides flow in the future. As do your family; when the time is right, we ourselves may reveal ourselves, but not before." The Ant Queen responded softly with a nod which was returned with a reverened bow.
"And that I thank you for. I truly apologise for the interruption." Apollo offered with one final bow before turning to leave.
"None needed, I will indeed thank you for allowing me to know that there are indeed many whom aspire for what is rightfully aspired for. I must also thank you for the gift; these are indeed a rare find in these lands." The Ant Queen responded playfully as she took a leaf from the sack and began chewing on it.
"I will remember you take a liking for them. Until next we meet." with that, the Harbinger left the royal chambers and within moments headed to the exit over looking the Canyon.
-
'Young Aono, I still have issue with my fears; fears of that past which may come to overtake all that we know. Perhaps not anytime soon will we cross paths young child, but should we, hopefully I may try once again to bond with you all...I truly do miss you all.' The Harbinger thought to himself Apollo smiled as he flexed his wings behind him and unpocketed the Philosopher's Stone, looking at each member of his family, going about their business.
'But perhaps that is indeed what i was needing, the taste of that notion I so recently discarded. Hope...and it is truly refreshing to sample it once more.'
