~ The Fourteenth's Memories ~
Pairings: Tyki/Allen (one-sided), Kanda/Allen
Warning: violence, gore, slash
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the DGM characters!
Legend:
-xxx-xxx-xxx- dream sequence
x-x-x-x-x line break
Author's Note- the following are memories only.
Chapter Seven: Memories
Allen looked out from the top most tower of the castle. From there you could see the town that was bustling below them. It looked so festive with the bright colours and the many people that tried expertly to bargain with foreigners. The lanterns swayed in the evening breeze illuminating pathways. Allen watched as Yuu and Lavi walked through the castle gates and headed towards the thriving town. The festival would only happen once a year and it was amazing to attend. Allen turned his longing eyes towards his companion.
"Mana?"
The person called Mana turned to him from where he stood in the background. "What is it Allen?" he asked calmly.
"Why can't I visit the town like Lavi and Yuu?"
"There are too many people who could harm you if you went into the town. It would be safer if you remained here in the castle with your father because if you were to be taken away your father and I would be very sad. You wouldn't want us to be sad would you?" Mana replied roughing Allen's hair.
Allen turned sadly back to the view below them knowing he would never see the festive lights and colour up close. The festival would happen every year but he would never be able to attend. He would remain forever in his castle . . .
-xxx-xxx-xxx-
"Yuu what is outside the castle like?" Allen asked curiously.
Kanda looked at the five year old and sighed. He knew that the young Prince had never been outside the walls of the castle and for good reason according to the Teidoll. There were many people who were trying to bring down the Empire and their weakest point was the children especially the heir's to the throne like Allen.
"It's really big, bigger than anything I've ever seen. The land stretches on for ages and then it stops at the sea and all you can find for ages is flat blue water."
Allen seemed to think this over for a while leaving Kanda to watch over him. He seemed so innocent. The young Prince should have been introduced at least to the rest of the village to get him accustomed to the people and his future role in their land. That wasn't going to happen though.
"Do you think one day you can take me outside for a day?"
"Sure I don't see why not." Kanda answered sadly knowing that day wouldn't be in the near future.
The King would never allow his son to be away from him even if he had a number of guards. It just wouldn't be possible not with the Earl attacking all heir's to the Fourteen thrones and replacing him with his own children.
But his answer had the desired effect. Allen jumped for joy and hugged him. The excitement was so great that Kanda felt sorry that he had lied to his young charge. He promised one day that Allen would travel; he would be able to see the land he would rule one day. Of that much he could promise. One day . . .
-xxx-xxx-xxx-
"Allen, my son, this is Marian Cross and he is my general. Someday though he will help you rule over sector Fourteen."
Seven year old Allen looked up from his father to see the man named Marian Cross. He looked as if he were a jester with the way he covered his face behind half a mask. He drank liquor which his father had always told him was bad and then he also smoked. Both things his father had warned were bad for your health. He didn't trust this person but his father deemed him worthy enough for the part. He really didn't like it.
"Brat I hope you won't give me trouble while I aid and teach you."
"I'm not a brat!" Allen shouted no longer cowering behind his father.
His father laughed at this and pulled Allen into a hug. His son would never be a coward even after everything he was going to go through. Allen would protect everyone one day. He would protect the Fourteenth Sector and the future.
-xxx-xxx-xxx-
Allen walked into the library. It was one of his favourite places especially since one of his friends was there constantly. Lavi was there constantly since he worked for the scribe of the castle, Bookman. It was also one of the only places Yuu wouldn't willingly enter because he disliked how energetic Lavi was.
"Lavi! Have you found that new book yet?"
"Not yet why such an interesting in the other sectors Allen?"
Allen had wanted a book that showed the other sectors of the kingdom. He wasn't allowed to see the other sectors yet since his father wouldn't allow it so this was the next best thing. The book would show him everything there was to know about the kingdom and he wanted that book as soon as possible.
"Well when I'm allowed out of the castle I want to know every corner of the kingdom so I can travel around and see the different locations."
Lavi would have sighed if it hadn't bought down the young prince's mood. He loved the small prince like a brother but he knew that the king would never willingly allow his son to wonder around the kingdom just to see the sights. It truly was a shame.
-xxx-xxx-xxx-
Allen was terrified. There were strange men in the castle and they definitely weren't friendly. Yuu and Lavi had left him alone with his father, Mana and Cross in the throne room. Something was happening but he didn't know what and no one would explain anything to him. He clung desperately to his father's side knowing that if he left it he would never see his father again.
His father knelt down before him after dismissing numerous people to take care of the intruders.
"Allen you must listen to me. The Earl has a weakness! Only you can kill him and when you do all sectors shall be at peace."
Allen nodded. He didn't understand much at this time. He was after all only eight. All he wanted to do was hear his father's voice speaking to him as he tried to commit it to memory. His magic was telling him that this was the last time he would speak to his father so he wanted to remember as much detail as possible.
"The Earl's one weakness is the song – our song – and only you can sing it. You can manipulate what you desire when you sing the song. All it takes is the desire to defeat or even weaken the Earl then when he isn't suspecting it kill him. He will be vulnerable so run him through with your sword. You will be able to defeat him."
Allen wasn't quite sure this was the speech he wanted to memorize to relate to his father's voice but at least it was something. He had something of his father.
"Now you must leave with Mana for your safety. I shall call you back when this is finished and we shall continue to be a family but until then I want you to remember everything that I have told you alright?"
Allen nodded his head as his father hugged him once before allowing Mana to drag him from the room and into a secret passage way. He knew that his father had been lying but he'd only done it for Allen's sake, to keep him innocent as long as possible. Once they were outside he turned around to watch as the song failed and knew his father wouldn't be seeing him again at least not for a long time.
-xxx-xxx-xxx-
Allen walked down a dirt road trailing behind a tall man wearing a shabby suit and top hat. Allen loved him with all his heart but he had yet to show anything in return. He was always teaching him lessons but only his father ever showed him love. Mana was always too busy.
"Mana, when will father return?"
Allen watched as Mana's eyes sadden. He couldn't help but ask. He truly missed his father yet somehow he could tell that his father was no longer here and had departed to the next life. Mana had never told him that yet he could feel it and it made him feel even lonelier. His magic just knew that his father would never return to them.
"Can we return home?" Allen asked.
Mana stopped and turned kneeling down in front of Allen to look him in the eyes. This was some of the first indication that Mana had returned to showing him love. It was probably as close as he was ever going to get.
"You are too young to take the responsibilities of the Fourteenth yet. When you are older we shall return home but not any sooner. Do you understand?"
Allen nodded his head even though a heavy weight was on his heart. Travelling was beginning to tire him a lot more than it should and Mana wasn't exactly the best of company to have. Not that he was complaining that Mana was there. He loved Mana like he did his father yet he felt as if something were missing. He longed to return home where his friends were. Allen wanted to relax and run around the castle exploring every single room he could find. Yet there was no returning now.
Mana had told him that there would be nothing to return to currently as the Empire had destroyed everything he held dear yet he felt as if Mana was wrong in some way . . . his magic knew that there was something to return to.
-xxx-xxx-xxx-
"Now Allen do you remember the melody?" Mana asked quietly as he walked down a dirt road through a meadow in the countryside of the Eighth Sector.
Everything there was quiet and calm. Nothing could disturb them here. It was only Mana and Allen even though he still wished to be back at castle with Yuu, Lavi and especially his father. But they couldn't return yet, Mana had said that it wasn't safe enough.
"Of course Mana how could I forget what father taught me?" Allen answered smiling at the thought of his father.
Allen opened his mouth to begin singing the tune that even if another person leaned wouldn't be of any use to them since they had to be a member of the Fourteenth's line to use it properly. Only his voice could bring out the power behind the words.
Soushite bouya wa nemuri ni tsuita
ikizuku hai no naka no honoo
hitotsu futatsu to
ukabu fukurami itoshii yokogao
daichi ni taruru ikusen no
yume yume
Gin no hitomi no yuragu yoru ni
umare ochita kagayaku omae
ikuoku no toshitsuki ga
ikutsu inori wo tsuchi e kaeshitemo
. . . Memories flashed through his mind of his father, oh how he missed his father . . .his friends . . . if he ever saw them again he would never let them go . . . ever
Watashi wa inori tsuzukeru
douka konoko ni ai wo
tsunaida te ni kisu wo
Soushite bouya wa nemuri ni tsuita
ikizuku hai no naka no honoo
hitotsu futatsu to
ukabu fukurami itoshii yokogao
daichi ni taruru ikusen no
yume yume
. . . Allen knew that he was special . . . he knew what this song could do . . . he would protect all those he cared for . . . he could control his ability.
Gin no hitomi no yuragu yoru ni
umare ochita kagayaku omae
ikuoku no toshitsuki ga
ikutsu inori wo tsuchi e kaeshitemo
Watashi wa inori tsuzukeru
douka konoko ni ai wo
tsunaida te ni kisu wo
Watashi wa inori tsuzukeru
douka konoko ni ai wo
tsunaida te ni kisu wo
. . . to protect . . . that was why he had learnt the song to begin with . . . to protect those he loved . . .
-xxx-xxx-xxx-
"Mana . . . Mana!" Allen shouted at the lifeless corpse.
Mana lay motionless on the ground in the snow no longer moving. Allen knew that it was far too late to help him and should have left the area immediately in case he was caught however he couldn't leave Mana behind. He couldn't let go of his past.
"Mana, please don't die! Don't leave me alone. You promised me that we would return home soon!" Allen pleaded.
Allen cried into the jacket of his beloved Mana in an attempt to wake the man. It was pointless yet he couldn't help it. He had given up on living with nothing waiting for him. Now that Mana was gone he was left alone in the world.
Suddenly he felt strong hands pull him effortlessly from Mana while two men reached for his body. He was ten and didn't weigh as much as a normal child because they had been living on the road.
"Mana don't let them take me please! I don't want to go with them. I want to stay with you Mana!" Allen screams reached deaf ears as he was thrown carelessly into a carriage.
Allen looked up terrified into the eyes of the Earl. The one person he would have to defeat someday but today wasn't that day he didn't know how to use any weapon let alone how to access the desire to kill him. What was a ten year old supposed to do in a situation like this?
"My dear Allen . . . don't worry I shall make you forget everything . . ."
Darkness surrounded him and he remembered nothing else.
-xxx-xxx-xxx-
Fourteen slaughtered everyone before him. It was second nature by now. He didn't question it. If he did then he was usually beaten into submission by the Earl. No he didn't need that. Fourteen looked around the field. No one was alive by the end.
"Well done my pet."
Fourteen looked up to see his master walk towards him. He was covered in the blood of others and yet it didn't seem to worry his master. If anything it made his master proud and lustful. He wasn't sure why he was lusting after him while he was covered in blood but it was another thing he didn't question.
"You will be a fine commander in my army."
Tyki brushed Fourteen's cheek in an intimate gesture before turning away.
"Come we have much to do."
x-x-x-x-x
Allen's eyes snapped open as his memories returned and settled into place. He knew who he was but now he had to tell those he truly cared for he was alive.
. . . and also defeat the Earl.
Rewritten: 23/05/2010
~MidnightEmber