That was how it began and it ended with an unexpected reunion, but Sin knew it wasn't over. His father knew it, too. His mind must be whirling. His face showed his distress, something his mother could easily spot, but Sin wasn't anything like his mother when it came to comforting his father. He didn't interfere. He had been Commander of the Sacred Order and he was now king. He could deal with it alone, right? But if he did need him Sin was there. They had the same goal. They had to protect his mother.
Ky paced the floors by a long window almost aimlessly. Perhaps it was the only thing he could do to vent his stress. The killing was over. Sin never had the chance to see him fight—until now. He was impressed even without Furaiken's unquestionable power. His newly adopted sword was a fair substitute but not as good as Furaiken. She was much more beautiful and lighter.
She? Wait! Maybe he was like his father.
Well, maybe not. Ky called it she and Kliff before him called it she. It was just something that caught on. Sin wasn't calling it she yet. Yet.
Sin continued to watch Ky as he anxiously paced like a caged animal.
"Dad? Hey dad?"
He was starting to call him dad again.
He paused a moment and looked over his shoulder at him. "Yes, son?" His voice sounded tired.
"I can take over here. I'll watch mom for a while."
"No, it's all right. I'll be fine."
But you don't look fine, Sin thought.
Sin sighed. "All right. But don't forget, I'm right here."
Ky's bright eyes seemed to smile even though his lips weren't. "I know. And I'm glad you are."
This time Sin smiled. "And don't you forget it."
"I never will. Listen Sin, I'm sorry—"
Sin cut him off. "I know what you're going to say. Forget about it. You already apologized."
Ky turned his head to look out into the distance. "God forgives those who still have faith."
Sin watched him and was silent for a long moment. "You still have that faith. How do you do it?"
"Sometimes it's the only thing that can keep you alive."
Sin shifted on his feet. "Yeah. You're better at it."
"You can still learn. And perhaps I can teach you how to control your powers a little more."
"You know, it wouldn't hurt," Sin considered. "Maybe I can pick up a few moves. That way we can fight together."
"It's not as easy as it seems. But if push comes to shove I can always try a few methods when I was in training as a knight."
"Does that mean I should be on my best behavior?"
Ky's eyes shined again. "We'll see."
"Maybe I'll start practicing right now. I think I'll take a walk and see how much things have changed. That way I can think of a way how I can get you to challenge me." He began to turn and then a thought crossed his mind. "Hey dad, is Indy still here?"
"Indigo? Of course."
"Can I go see him?"
"Yes. He's in the stables behind the castle. I wonder if he'll recognize you."
"I'm sure he'll know it's me." He glanced back before he walked out the room and down the halls. He maneuvered past a few of the guards, not looking at them or saying anything as he made his way towards the back of the castle. Once reaching the outside he paused and looked around. The sky was clear and it seemed as if nothing had ever happened. It was like he was little again, going ahead of his parents to see Indigo, but this time his parents weren't there to catch up.
He frowned at the thought and forced himself to go on. He was almost expecting to see the enemy but no one was here. It was over. All he had to worry about was his mother.
He suddenly stopped when he passed his mother's garden, the one she put together herself. He remembered when he helped her tend to the flowers and kept it healthy and lush. Now it was crushed and torn by the weather and fighting. He stared at it in quiet shock. She spent so much time tending to those flowers.
He shook his head and sighed before he went on, walking slower now. What else could go wrong?
It felt like it took him longer to reach the stables. Either it was because there was so much on his mind or he wasn't running to it like he did when he was little. His eye adjusted to the dimness once he entered the stable. He paused momentarily as he looked around. Would Indigo be in the same stall? Perhaps. The horse didn't like change.
There weren't very many horses in the stable. He noticed three white horses as he passed them, all seemed fidgety and nervous.
He looked over and on his left he noticed a brown horse inside of the stalls. When it picked its head up he saw a pale mane. Sin smiled and went to the door of the stall. "Indigo! Hey you old war horse!" He reached out and patted his muscular neck. Indigo pinned his ears a moment and looked at him in near confusion. "It's me. Sin. I sure look different, huh?" The horse was twitching his ears. "Were you scared? Naa, not you. I bet you wanted to go out there and fight." He darted his eye. "You know I always wanted to ride. How about it? Just you and me." He looked around and grinned. "Let's see." He walked away, farther down the aisle.
Remembering where the saddles and tack were kept he went to the far end to a door on the right. He gave another glance around before he opened it. Inside, the walls were decorated with bits, bridles and reins. There were a few saddles propped up on stands.
Sin unhooked a rein from the wall, draped it over his shoulders and lifted one of the saddles with a grunt. He carried it out and back to Indigo. The horse picked his ears up in interest at the supplies with him and flared his nose.
Sin placed the heavy leather saddle on the ground and then opened the door of the stall and guided Indigo out. He steadied him by holding his bridle and attached the reins then tossed the saddle on his back. He shifted it so it was straight and began to buckle the straps.
"I hope I'm doing this right. I don't want it to be too tight. . . or too loose." He chuckled nervously to himself and gave a few more tugs. "There. I think that should do it. Now stay still." He grabbed a hold of the horn on the saddle and pulled himself up but not with the grace of his father. If only he could learn how to mount up with one hand like he could.
"Let's go." He pressed his heels against Indigo's sides then gave him a few taps when he didn't move. (Never kick. You don't need to kick a horse like Indigo.) That's because Indigo might wind up kicking you, Sin thought.
One last hard tap. It must have registered as a kick. Indigo suddenly took off in a run. Sin leaned forward and made a few quick glances as they bolted out the stable and into the open. The wind hit his face and whipped his hair back. He pressed his feet farther into the stirrups as Indigo gained speed. Sin bounced a bit and steadied himself.
Indigo carried him across a stone bridge and at the end of it one of the guards was on watch. He turned when he noticed the racing horse and rider. He held a hand out and began to say something, possibly to stop him.
"Lay off!" Sin snapped and rode past him. He went farther down, into the hills. Then Indigo began to toss his head and pinned his ears. Something was wrong. Indigo never did this before.
They were approaching ground where there were dead Gears that hadn't been removed yet. Indigo went sideways, paused a brief moment with his head ducked, then suddenly took off, nearly throwing Sin back.
"Indigo, whoa! Don't drop me." Sin pulled back on the reins but Indigo didn't stop. He ran on, ignoring any commands. He just wouldn't listen. Sin began to believe this was a good idea. "Indigo! Stop! Slow down!"
All he could do was hold on.
There was silence in his ears and darkness until he opened his eyes. Light burned his eyes for a few seconds and adjusted. He looked up the source which was the seal he had created around Dizzy. It seemed like a dreamlike state but Ky knew he was awake now and recalled the past events. His mistake. He had lost two valuable things in his life because of his mistake: Furaiken and Dizzy. But at least Dizzy was safe.
"Now Ky, is the floor the most suitable place to be?"
Ky looked over and saw Paradigm floating his way towards him. He hadn't noticed at first but he had fallen asleep on the floor beside Dizzy's seal. Now that Paradigm pointed it out he felt a little embarrassed. He hadn't planned on sleeping on the floor.
"Oh. My apologizes." Ky climbed to his feet again and looked around. "Where's Sin?"
"Out. I saw him leaving with one of the horses."
"Alone?"
"Alone," Paradigm said.
A thought then crossed his mind, a thought that wasn't settling.
"Was it a brown horse?"
"Yes, it was. Why?"
"Indigo. He's taken Indigo." Ky then rushed past the Gear and ran down the halls. "I've got to stop him. He'll get hurt." He ran down to the stables where he saw Indigo's empty stall. He forced himself not to panic even though parental instincts were finally beginning to kick in. He wasn't sure how long ago Sin left but he had to find him.
He glanced around before he turned and ran back to the castle and back into the room where he left Paradigm. He pulled himself into a quick halt. "Paradigm, will you please watch over Dizzy for me?"
"Of course. I actually came here to—"
"Thank you." Ky took off again. While running he stopped and looked down on himself. Riding in his current attire was going to be difficult. Most of all fighting in it was impractical. He turned in another direction and to the bedroom which he and Dizzy shared. He crossed over to the closet where several clothing were hung. There was one he never touched since he came to Illyria and became dormant. He never thought he would touch it again. He wasn't sure why he actually decided to take it at the far side of the closet. Once his hand touched the familiar clothing he pulled it away and from years of separation he found the old glory of his Sacred Order's uniform.
When he drew it away his fingers snagged on something else behind it and knocked it down. Blue cloth fell to the floor by his feet. When he looked at it closer he saw it was his police cape. He thought he left it behind.
Then he remembered.
He picked it up and a smile slowly appeared on his lips. It felt like he hadn't smiled in so long.
"She kept it," he said aloud. "She kept it after all this time."
Sin, he then reminded himself. You've got to find Sin.
He followed the tracks from the castle and into the fields. He started out from a walk to a trot then to a fast gallop once he began to pick up Indigo's tracks. They went near the bodies of the Gears. In some areas the ground was torn. It was a bad sign.
"Sin!" he called out. "Sin!"
There was no response. He couldn't be too far. If he could keep the tracks in sight then he would find Sin.
He followed them into the hills and farther into the fields. The clearness of the field allowed him to see a figure in the distance. A horse and rider. Ky squinted and by the outfit and size of the horse it was Sin and Indigo. The horse was running. He knew it. He knew Sin would get himself into trouble.
"Sin!"
Ky brought his own horse to a fast, almost neck-breaking gallop and ran as fast as he could ask it to go towards Sin and Indigo. He ducked his head while the wind pushed his hair and his cape followed behind him.
"Sin. Stop! Wait!"
Sin looked over his shoulder at him then turned his forward again. "He won't stop!"
Faster.
"Hold on, Sin."
He raced up closer to Indigo's flank with the smaller horse under him struggling to keep up. He could hear it huffing at each stride.
"Indigo, stop. Halt!"
Sin looked at from from the corner of his eye. For a moment he saw a hint of fear.
No. He couldn't fail him.
"Make him stop," Sin said.
"Pull back on the reins," Ky said.
"I am. He just won't listen."
"Indigo, Indigo." Ky reached a hand out, leaned over and groped for the reins. He grabbed a fistful of the reins and pulled his own horse to a stop. He didn't let go, forcing Indigo to stop with him. "Stop now." If Indigo pulled away he would wind up on the ground. Ky then slipped off the horse. After he landed Indigo began to sidestep with his ears pinned. Ky didn't let go.
"Make him stop. He's freakin' out."
Ky kept a tight grip and followed the horse's side. "Easy, Indigo. Steady. Remember who've you got. My son, Sin." He then reached a gloved hand out and passed him a tired and sincere smile. Sin returned it and took his hand firmly.
I've got you now, Ky said to himself, and I'm not letting you go. Never again.
Sin slid down while Ky helped him, making sure he wouldn't fall. He gave a sigh of relief after he landed.
"Sin, what were you doing?"
"Sorry, I just wanted to take Indigo out for a ride. Hey, you told me I could do whatever the hell I want."
Ky glowered but kept humor on his face. "That doesn't mean taking Indigo. You could have gotten hurt."
Sin smiled. "Now you've starting to sound like a dad."
"Is that a good thing?"
Sin laughed. "Yeah. Hey, who's watching over mom?"
"Paradigm is," Ky said. "I asked him before I went chasing after you."
Sin then looked him up and down and noted the old uniform and police cape on him. "Are you pissed off or what? It looks like you're ready for another fight. I think Indigo is too." He patted the stallion's neck. "I think he caught the scent of those Gears. That must have set him off. He hasn't had a good fight since the war, huh?" He chuckled. "Can he still get out of his stall?"
"Sometimes."
"Well, when we go back we better warn Doctor Paradigm Indigo might go after him." He laughed. "Crazy horse on the loose! I hope he can free mom soon. In the meantime I need to clean up my language. And don't mention I'm a bounty hunter. She wouldn't want to hear that. But that's what you get when you leave me with Sol."
Ky smiled lightly. When he did Sin watched him with serenity on his face. "She really did teach you how to laugh, didn't she?"
Ky nodded.
"Let's say we go," Sin said.
"Right." Ky nodded and swiftly mounted Indigo with a single hand.
"You have got to teach me how to do that."
"Not on Indigo you're not."
"Aww, come on. How about this horse?" He put a hand on the smaller white horse.
"That's your mother's horse. I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
"Really? Then when she's free we can all ride together." He then mounted up and grinned almost deviously. "Race ya back!" Sin took off, catching Ky off guard. This time Ky laughed and chased after him. He was going to have his hands full but at least he had his son again. Dizzy was going to have her son back, too.
"Sin! You're just like your mother!
The End.