"So you're actually serious?" Esther asked as they had caught up to Gascon. "You are a Prince? An actual Prince?" she asked in a rather disbelieving tone.
"Would you keep it down?!" Gascon hissed. "I'm not supposed to be here, so be quiet!" he hissed.
"Did you tame a dragon then?" Oliver asked wideyed.
"That's flipping ridicoules, do I look like a dragon tamer to you?" Gascon asked as they rounded a corner.
"So you didn't fly into the city on a dragon?" Esther asked disappointed.
"No, that part actually happened." Gascon admitted. "Don't know where the rest came from though."
"Wow that's amazing! How did you manage to get a dragon?" Esther asked.
"Passed Captain Kublais test I guess, I don't know." Gascon hissed.
"Is that the pirate Captain?" Oliver asked.
"Yes, kind of. Sort of." Gascon groaned. "It was not like that." He then said.
"But you really did meet a pirate Captain and got his alliance?" Esther asked.
"Yes!" Gascon hissed. "Now quiet down, I would rather not be discovered." He said as they neared a palace. "This way, there's a servants entrance over here." He gestured leading them the right way. "Flip I can't believe this, I'm sneaking into my own palace again." He groaned rubbing his eyes.
"Can't we just go through the front doors?" Esther asked. "Why do we even have to sneak in? Don't you live here?" she asked.
At that Gascon looked dangerously at her. "If you must know, a man lost a piece of his heart trying to protect me. The last thing he did was asking me to keep myself safe so I could find a way to fight Shadar and come back later to end it for good. It wasn't safe for me to be here any more. I've been Shadars number one target for five years. All though. Looks like I'm not anymore." He breathed glancing at Oliver then shook his head. "This way." He showed.
Finally they stood there, inside of the palace, in front of the massive door to the chambers, Gascon hesitated as he reached for the key to Marcassins door.
He wanted to believe, in what Oliver said, Oliver made everything sound so easy. But he could not let himself succumb to that, he would not be able to bear another disappointment.
"So that's it?" Oliver asked. "Your brother is in there?"
"Yeah." Gascon nodded slightly. "Urhm, brace yourself, it's not always such a nice sight." He said, then finally, slid the key into the locket.
"Wait. You're not actually believing we can help Marcassin at all, do you?" Oliver asked wondering.
"No, I don't." Gascon muttered holding the key inside of the keyhole.
"And you hope that seeing that will make us change our minds about this entire journey." Esther concluded.
"Well, I might not particularly care for the idea of such brilliant trouble makers to just die for nothing." Gascon rolled his eyes. "Sorry for that bit of sentimentality." He snorted, before he at last turned the key and opened the door, to a big brilliant bed chamber.
With fine polster chairs, a glass table, every-thing was so extremely fancy but also looked suspiciously empty.
"Marcassin." Gascon called inside. "Sorry it's been a while, way to long, but I brought someone to see you, a guest." He said.
"Erh." Oliver blinked. "There's no one here." he pointed out.
Gascon rolled his eyes. "Apparently he heard us." He snorted, then first walked to the bed and looked under it, only to stand up again and walked to the closet opening it wide. "Ah, there you are." He simplay said. "Please come out, Oliver is a very nice boy whom wants to see you."
"NOOO!" A scream sounded from inside the closet. "No one should see me! I'm to hideous! I don't want to be seen! Why are you back!? ARE YOU NEVER GOING TO STOP HAUNTING ME?!"
"Now you're just being a brat all over again." Gascon hissed. "Come on sir holiness, let Oliver see you."
"NOOOOO!" the scream sounded and Esther gasped.
"Stop it! if he don't want to be exposed!" Esther exclaimed.
Gascon though took no notice of her what so ever as he very harshly pulled another person out of the closet, an extremely handsome young man whom cried and struggled against Gascon, then he saw Oliver and screamed.
"Oh so you came to laugh at me!" Marcassin exclaimed at Oliver. "Look at the hideous beast, just look at him!"
"No I.. " Oliver began but was cut of.
"LIAR!" Marcassin screamed. "ALL LIARS! I AM HIDIOUS!" he yelled grabbing his face, tearing it around.
"Don't do that!" Gascon hissed grabbing Marcassins wrist pulling his hands down. "You're scratching your precious face! Now calm down!"
"ARGH! YOU AGAIN!" Marcassin exclaimed turning from Gascon. "Why ghost? Why did you choose to taunt me in this way! Why did you take the form of my brother?" he asked.
"I told you many times all-ready, I am no devil and no flipping ghost! I am not out to taunt you OR punish you. I really am Gascon, your brother, and I just want to help you." Gascon hissed in a impatient voice.
"No Gascon died a long time ago, he is never coming back. Never coming back. " And Marcassin sobbed as he fell to his knees, burring his face in his hands, and at last Gascon let go of him.
Wide-eyed Oliver looked at him. "Marcassin don't think you are you?" he asked.
"No." Gascon muttered as he crossed his arms. "It is of course, pretty complicated, you remember that sailor? Whom said I had vanished the night our father died? That part is true, and I did come back, ten years after, five years ago, that is also true." He informed. "When I came back, I came back to see Marcassin, but when I saw him, he had become unwell, not for a single moment since I came back has he believed I was me." He spat in a hurt tone as he sat down on his knees beside Marcassin, wrapping his arms around the young sage in a very protective manner as he send a warning glare at Oliver. "In the beginning I begged him to snap out of it, I cried, I called him brother, I stayed by his side, I stayed close to him so he could know I was here, I embraced him though he tried to push me away, I tried to remind him of all the good times we had had as children. I've yelled at him, I've pleaded at him, I've prayed and nothing worked." He said still holding Marcassin just as protectively. "So, Oliver, supposed pure hearted one." He snorted dryly. "What would you be able to do, that would convince my brother that I am who I say I am, and not just an illusion conquered from his feeble mind?" he asked. "He doesn't even believe in himself, he doesn't even think he can do magic, and I've seen him do true wonders before, he does have the powers of a sage! I know he does! So what would you be able to do, to make him believe I am here? Or believe that he is powerful or even not hideous?"
"Sure sounds like he's broken hearted, and looks like it too." Oliver breathed.
"That he is! He's broken hearted! Sure as heck!" Mr. Drippy exclaimed jumping up and down on the spot.
"Huh?" Gascon blinked. That was not the reaction he had been waiting for, he had counted on Oliver now realising this was a lost cause, instead the boys attention was turned to the fairy, as if he was just carrying on a very normal conversation and nothing was out of the ordinary at all.
"But what piece of heart is he missing?" Oliver asked.
"His belief mun! look at him! No matter what any-one tells him about any-thing, he wont believe it, he wont even believe his own brother is standing in the room right next to him!" Mr. Drippy exclaimed.
"Wow-wow, what are you people talking about?" Gascon asked letting go of Marcassin standing up. "Slow down will you? How do you even-" He started but was cut off.
"Shoot, I don't have any belief with me." Oliver frowned.
"Then we better find some." Mr. Drippy stated.
"Okay." Oliver nodded already turning away again, merrily on his way.
"Hey HEY WAIT A SECOND!" Gascon shouted. "Wha-What are you? Huh?" he blinked.
"It's shadar sir." Oliver said turning around facing Gascon. "He is stealing pieces of peoples heart, he stole your brothers belief."
"I know that!" Gascon hissed. "I figured that out years ago! What? Huh?" he asked. "You intend, to just go out and find the piece he is missing and then just.. Pop it back in?" he asked in a disbelieving voice .
"Yes." Oliver blinked. "Is there anything wrong with that?" he asked.
"What a load of bull-shit." Gascon exclaimed. "There's no way that's even possible!"
"Seems like young Marcassin is not the only one lacking believe hm." Mr. Drippy pointed out.
"Oh right, yes." Oliver nodded. "Then lets show him, come on then." He said half way out the door already.
"Hey what the heck!" Gascon exclaimed.
"Don't worry your majesty! We can fix your brother right up!" Oliver beamed. "And then you'll feel better to."
"huh?" Gascon asked.
And Oliver yelled. "LETS HURRIE COME ON!" he exclaimed turning around. "Just wait right here Swaine, I mean Gascon! We'll be back in a moment! It'll all be good!" Oliver yelled as they all ran away from the room.
"Wha-what?" Gascon blinked, then yelled. "HEY WAIT A MINUTE!"
Then his eyes fell back on the sobbing Marcassin and Gascon groaned. "Well, come on up, don't lay on the floor." He muttered picking Marcassin up.
Marcassin didn't object to that, just looked emptily out in the air, he had gone into those zombie phases that would come straight after the hysteria. Gently Gascon lowered Marcassin down in one of the couches. "There you go, nice and easy. Now just stay there, I mean. Of course you are, you never leave." Gascon rolled his eyes before he sprinted for the door and hastily closed it behind him, so busy was he that he compleately forgot to lock it.
"HEY!" he yelled. "WAIT UP! WAAAAIT!" he shouted running the way they had disappeared to.
What he didn't saw, was the small figure of a young sage, with long smooth black hair, shaking over his body as he slowly stepped towards the unlocked door and opened it, to look in the direction the people had run to. "He... He looks just like back then." Marcassin whispered. "Why does he look exactly the same that ghost?" he questioned as he barefooted walked out in the hallway.
"WAAAAAAIT!"
"Huh?" Oliver turned around by the voice, and was seeing one ragged prince coming running their direction.
Esther blinked. "He's coming after us?" she asked.
And Gascon stopped up, barely managing not to skid before he stopped, grabbing his knees as he gasped for air. "What… What the heck do you think… That you're doing?" he asked as he gasped for air. "Would you… Would you mind explaining to me?" he asked breathing deeply.
"Well, I'm going to look for some belief to Prince Marcassin." Oliver said as if it was the most obvious thing ever.
"How?!" Gascon asked making a face. "How can you even?" he asked, just as a white fog, was slowly starting to creep down beneath their feet's.
"Well, it's pretty simple." Oliver said. "I just have to find someone whom has a lot of belief in their heart, and then ask that person to share." He explained as the fog raised to above their ankles.
Mostly it was Olivers tone, as if this was the most obvious thing ever that got to Gascon.
"I'm sorry, I don't think I understand at all." Gascon groaned rubbing his forehead. "What?" he then asked.
"Well." Oliver began.
"Urhm, sorry to disturb." Mr. Drippys voice suddenly sounded. "But is it usually this foggy in here, I can't see a flipping thing."
"What do you mean foggy?! Why would there be fog in here?!" Gascon asked annoyed looking down, only to realise that the top of the fairies head was barely visible due to a thick fog that was rising around them. "WHAT THE FLIP!" he shouted jumping up.
"Oliver!" Esther shouted as she backed into them. "What's this?" she asked.
"I don't know." Oliver said and they backed into each other, standing back to back as the fog only seemed to raise and raise, then it was at their torsos, then Olivers chest.
And then it compleately engulfed them so they were all in this massive white fog obscuring their visions so all they saw was white. "Stay close." Gascon whispered. "Don't loose touch of each other."
"Don't need to tell me twice." Esther responded.
Just as a shadow appeared in front of them, a sort of person, a man wearing a long white robe, a golden helmet looking like an falcon, holding a large staff and then, the man vanished as quickly as he had come, together with the fog, leaving Gascon and the others at precisely the same place they had been before.
"What the?" Gascon blinked looking around. "What the heck was that?" he asked.
"I got no idea." Oliver blinked. "Things doesn't seem any different."
Just then they came, all of the guards all at ones. "INTRUDERS!" They yelled running in, in no time at all they had Gascon, Oliver, Esther and Mr. Drippy surrounded, pointing spears right up into their faces.
"HOLD! ARMS IN THE AIR!" they yelled.
"Oh for crying out loud." Gascon hissed turning around facing the guard nearest to him. "Lower your weapons it's me." He grumbled annoyed then blinked. "Wait a minute, what are you people wearing?" he asked.
"What?" Esther asked confused.
"Their uniforms they are outdated." Gascon blinked. "I don't get it." He said.
"Now who breaks into the royal palace?" A strong voice asked as a person stepped through. "I should throw you all in the dungeon."
And Gascons eyes widened as they landed on the man, his face growing white, cold sweat forming on his head. "No." he whispered backing away looking at the man, a tall stoic man with long brown hair, a beard, a figure that demanded respect, it looked just like. But it couldnt be!. "It.. it can't be!" he told lifting a shaking finger. "You.. You… You!.." he shook all over his body.
"Are you okay?" Esther concerned asked Gascon. "You don't look so good."
Wide-eyed as well that man looked at the shaking prince. "Gascon." he barely whispered. "But you… Why?" he asked.
"Don't give me that." Gascon swallowed as he tried to stand up but stumbled as a result. "You.. You're the one who has been dead, for fifteen years." He swallowed then lifted his head. "KINDLY GO BACK TO WHERE EVER THE HECK YOU CAME FROM AND LEAVE ME ALONE!" he shouted falling to the ground. "Urgh." He groaned.
"SWAINE!" Oliver shouted running to his aid grabbing his arm as he tried to help him up.
"Son!" Emperor Elscon as well tried to approach him.
"Don't touch me!" Gascon just managed to crawl away. "Don't… Don't come any closer." He swallowed looking wide-eyed at the man. "Leave me be." He asked in a swallow biting together.
That finally seemed to make the proud emperor regain his posture and he stood back with a stern frown on his face.
"Here let me help you." Oliver then at last offered pulling Gascon back up on his legs and he almost stumbled but at last found balance by leaning upon Oliver, gasping deeply for air. Then slowly he looked up and glanced at the emperor whom was slowly backing away.
"Sir?" One of the guards asked.
"Do lower those weapons." Elscon asked in a slightly annoyed tone. "He might be older but that's still my son."
"Your father… That's your father?" Esther asked looking wide-eyed at the emperor. "But, I thought he was."
"Dead, yeah. See the issue here?" Gascon asked as he gaped for air still leaning upon Oliver to even be able to stand up.
Elscon looked at them with stern eyes, he looked... surprisingly unmowed before he spoke in a stern tone. "Lets not stay out here in the open, come to my chambers. We'll have some privacy." he said turning away, then he halted and turned back. Tryingly he reached a hand for Gascon, but stopped as Gascon stood back and he retrieved his hand. "How?" he looked at Gascons poor frame.
Gascon was still gaunt looking, still wearing ragged clothes, still not very princely, yet there hadn't been a moment of hesitation in Elscons approach. "Why are you so old?" he asked as he frowned, his eyes glancing over Gascons poor frame.
"Hah, funny." Gascon stated grimly at the emperor. "Why are you not rotting away in your grave?" he asked.
"That's so mean!" Esther exclaimed. "You can't talk like that!" she lectured Gascon.
"As far as I am concerned, this is either a bad dream, or the most horrible joke ever made, so I'll talk however I like." Gascon snorted.
Soon they managed to get into private after all, to the emperors chamber. Emperor Elscons private chambers. The moment they were inside, Gascon plummeted down in a chair grabbing his head, groaning deeply.
"Are you okay?" Oliver asked concerned.
"No." Gascon flat out stated.
"Maybe you should, I don't know, drink some water." Oliver suggested.
"I don't know how much more I can take off this." Gascon groaned leaning back. "I don't get it." He said looking up and met his fathers face only to turn his head. "Please someone explain to me, like you would explain it to a ten year old please, I'm afraid that's the only way I will understand."
"Well." Oliver hesitated. "I'm not sure but… I think maybe that urhm. We are in the past." He said.
That made Gascons eyes widen as he turned to Oliver. "What?" he asked.
"I think maybe we are in the past." Oliver said again.
"Seems like it." Mr. Drippy nodded.
"How long exactly?" Gascon asked. "I mean, how long back into the past are we?" he asked.
"I think you can tell that better than us." Esther pointed out.
"Oh god please tell me there's not another one of me running around here." Gascon groaned, then turned to Elscon. "Is there?" he asked.
Elscon frowned slightly, his stern face looking at Gascon with those iron hard eyes he had been so known for. "The last time I saw my son Gascon, he looked a lot younger than you do now, he's just a child, I saw him this morning at breakfast." He stated. "Then he went off to train with Marcassin." Then he groaned. "Instead of focusing on his own studies as usual."
That made Gascon pout as he glanced away. "Okay either this is just the weirdest dream or we really are in the past or I've gone insane. I wont rule out the last option, that's entirely possible, but for the sake of argument I'll try to play along." He groaned leaning forward as he rubbed his face. "God I think I'm going to be sick." He said.
Concerned Oliver looked at Gascon.
Elscon looked at him as well, looking rather thoughtful. "So you are from the future?" he asked. "And I'm dead. So you are?"
"Acting emperor, sorry." Gascon drawled. "His holiness little Marcassin was unavailable, so I was the only alternative it seems."
"Acting emperor?" Elscon asked. "Why on earth merely acting?"
"Don't play dumb with me, you know better than most I'm not the emperor type." Gascon drawled. "Thanks for telling me by the way, sorry I couldn't put it to good use." He hissed crossing his arms and looked away in a pout.
"When did I ever say that?" Elscon asked in a frown.
"Don't bullshit me." Gascon cut him off as he hissed dangerously looking at him. "The Gascon you saw this morning might have been a child, but I'm not. So you can drop the act." He hissed.
Oliver looked pretty uncomfortable between Gascon and Elscon, Esther bit her lip and Mr. Drippy had suddenly become extremely fascinated with the chair next to him.
Elscon though looked shocked, then his eyes turned hard and angry as his mouth tightened together. "Then please inform me son of mine. When have I ever claimed such a thing?" he asked, the edge in his voice starting to show. "When did I ever even suggest, that you aren't to be emperor?" he asked.
"Don't play innocent with me. When you damn well know yourself." Gascon drawled back at him. "You know what, to heck with this." Gascon hissed standing up walking towards the door. "I still have no idea what is going on, but I know I didn't ask for this, leave me alone." he asked walking out, out on the hallway first as he had stomped a bit away did he manage to lean up against the wall and exhale deeply. "Why me?" he asked grabbing his forehead as he groaned. "Why always me?" he asked looking hopelessly out in the air.
"Wait, Gascon!" Olivers voice sounded in a shout as the young boy came running after him, and then stopped in front of him gasping for air.
Gascon though sighed as he rubbed his eyes. "Kiddo, I know you mean well, but just leave me alone." he asked.
"But." Oliver blinked. "That's your father! Your dad!" he exclaimed. "Whom died, I would do anything to see my mom again. Is that really all you want to say to him?" he asked. "I am not entirely sure what is going on either but surely there most be something else you want to say?"
Gascon silenced, then looked up at Olivers as he swallowed. "What I want to say? What do I want to say?" he asked in a quiet voice. "There's so many things I want to say to that man! So much that… That I don't even know where to start! I just." he grabbed his head. "This is to much for me! I can't!"
"But what if this is your only chance?" Oliver asked.
That made Gascon look up at Oliver. "I don't know." He hesitated.
"Gascon!"
Gascon lifted his head and turned around, to see Elscon, had gone after him, which actually quite honestly surprised him as the late emperor also came running towards him and first stopped as he to was stark breathed standing in front of Gascon.
"Look I.." Elscon tried. "I know all that all we ever do when we see each other is arguing, but I never meant that... What I mean is." the emperor looked pretty uncomfortable and lost for words, it really wasn't his style to be sentimental or talk about feelings. Clearly he was far outside of his own comfort zone.
Gascon blinked. "How can you even be so sure that it's me?" he asked. "I mean, you didn't even hesitate! And I'm, old!" he pointed out. "And well." He pulled out in his coat. "I wouldn't recognise me! I could be one of Shadars clever plans to confuse you you know." He stated dryly.
"There's not a lot of things I'm sure of right now." Elscon admitted. "But I know that you're my son! I will always be able to recognise my sons!" he said. "I don't know what happened between us, what made you recent me so much, and I can only ask your forgiveness. But for some reason you are here now! That cannot be a coincidence nor mere chance, there must be a reason mustn't there?" he asked. "Just try to think Gascon, what makes now different than before? Why is it now of all times you found your way back to me?" he asked.
At that Gascon blinked, then he turned to Oliver, looking at him.
"The boy?" Elscon asked.
Gascon blinked. "I think…. That, actually. Maybe, my own issues are, none important right now." He breathed. "I'm just meant to lead Oliver to…. To you." He looked up stunned. "He is supposedly the chosen one, the only one that can defeat Shadar, ones and for all."
"And what do you think?" Elscon asked.
"Well." Gascon hesitated. "I don't know, I don't know if I believe in a chosen one or any prophecies, I don't know if I believe in fate like that or destinies, that kind of thing has always sounded like bullshit to me." He frowned.
That made Esther gape at him, she looked like someone ready to beat the crap out of him.
"How ever." Gascon frowned thoughtfully. "As it is now, we either have to fight, or just let the entire world be consumed. Our chances are pretty small, but if anyone, if anyone at all can put an end to this, then I have no doubt that it's him." He said looking stunned at Oliver. "What ever has happened between us, what ever I have done it's not important right now." He breathed. "Only what I do now, to help him." He blinked then shook his head.
Slowly Elscon reached out, then grabbed Gascons shoulder, holding it firmly. "Then it must be so." He said in a firm voice. "What you always had, was a very good head on your shoulders. You just need to put it to good use." He smiled vaguely.
Stunned Gascon looked at him, at his father. "Urh… sure." He hesitated, obviously looking extremely confused.
Elscon nodded. "Right." He told removing his hand then turned to Oliver. "You have my undivided attention young man." He said to the boy. "What may I do for you?" he asked.
Oliver gaped. "Well, sir. There's urhm. There's this wand we are looking for, the mornstar, we were wondering if, if you maybe knew something I mean." He blinked.
"I know of it." Elscon nodded, then glanced at Gascon. "Perhaps fate is a bit of a player after all." He commented.
Gascon shrugged. "Dunno, does it matter?" he asked. Then his eyes blinked. "Wait a second." He halted. "Oliver! We got to go!" he exclaimed.
Oliver blinked. "Why?" he asked.
"I REMEMBER THIS!" Gascon shouted grabbing Olivers shoulder. "You! I met you before! Fifteen years ago, I mean today, I mean." He shook his head. "Marcassin and I. The other me, they are out practising now." He said in a quick voice. "But they are over their heads, I'm going to be knocked out, Marcassin will almost be killed by a creature but then you safe him!" he said to Oliver. "Don't you see?" he asked. "We have to leave right now so the events stay the same and Marcassin gets away from all of it safely!" he exclaimed.
"Huh?" Oliver blinked.
"My head hurts." Esther groaned.
"You and me both." Mr. Drippy complained.
"Just come on, for flips sake!" Gascon shouted simply grabbing Oliver pulling the boy with him.
"Woah!" Oliver shouted as his feet's basically left the ground as he was pulled with the young prince.
It was so weird, surreal in fact, to actually see it, but there it was, Gascon saw it! His younger self, in the flesh, and tiny little Marcassin, really flipping tiny! God had he really been that small?
Battling a creature that had them cornered.
"YOU CAN DO IT!" The younger Gascon shouted.
"Brother I don't know if I.. ARGH!" Marcassin screamed as the creature send a big electrical blast at them, and knocked Gascon into the rocks, leaving Marcassin exposed.
Marcassin swallowed as he raised an tiny little arm, hopelessly trying to shield himself from what was coming.
"Marcassin" The older Gascon breathed, then shouted. "MARCASSIN!" as he jumped down, reached for the first thing he touched in his belt, he had intended to pull his trick gun, but accidently pulled something else, fortunately his muscle memory wasn't lacking, and as he drew his sword he held it up in a perfect block, blocking the giant mallet, now having it locked with the sword.
Marcassin squinted his eyes, then slowly look up to gape at the man whom had his back turned to him, blocking the creatures mallet with a shining sword.
"ARE YOU OKAY!" Oliver shouted skidding down with Esther and Mr. Drippy in his tail. "Ga-"
"Swaine, my name is Swaine." Gascon yelled to Oliver. "Remember it." He hissed pushing the mallet away and put the sword back in its hilt to grab the trick gun as originally intended. "Stand back your highness, let us handle this." He addressed Marcassin without even looking at the boy.
Marcassin gaped at him. "But…" he tried, just as the younger Gascon appeared again rubbing his head.
"Urghh… Marcassin!" The younger Gascon exclaimed looking up.
"Brother!" Marcassin exclaimed.
"Who are you people?" The younger Gascon asked in a arrogant snort.
"The people whom are saving your ass." The older Gascon hissed at the young prince, Finally turning his head making Marcassin gasp, though the younger Gascon didn't seem to even register anything amiss.
"Stand back!" Oliver asked as he pulled his wand. "We got this!"
The creature, that had almost killed Marcassin, was swiftly taken care off by the more seasoned fighters, leaving a pair of rather astounded child prince's.
That was until the younger Gascon snorted and pulled out in his red coat. "I suppose I should thank you for the demonstration, but your help really wasn't needed." He said in a up an above arrogant tone.
Esther gaped. "What?!" she asked. "You were getting slaughtered!" she exclaimed.
"Clearly your eyes must be bad, if that is what you saw, I could have handled it fine." The younger Gascon snorted in a very important and arrogant sounding voice. "Well then, I suppose I must escort you back to the city, wouldn't be good to have you hurt."
"You escort us?!" Esther gaped. "But, we were the ones who rescued you!" she exclaimed.
The older Gascon covered his eyes, he knew very well he was a pain, but to actually see it like this, it was. Well it wasn't very comfortable! What the flip had anybody ever seen in this boy?!
Oliver blinked at the young prince, as if he tried to piece together some kind of a puzzle.
"We would have been fine." The young Gascon said importantly. "A true Porcine prince needs no help, come then Marcassin, let us head home." He stated importantly walking out with straight back and head up in the sky.
A few seconds after Esther walked up to the older Gascon giving him a solid elbow in the side.
"AUW!" Gascon shouted. "Hey, what was that for?! I didn't do anything!"
"Your younger self is a arrogant brat!" Esther exclaimed.
"I know! Trust me I'm not proud of it." Gascon told.
"Why is he acting like that though?" Oliver asked. "I mean, he must have known they were out of their depth. You are not stupid, so he shouldn't be either."
"Well urhm." Gascon uncomfortable scratched his neck. "He has kind of been told. Like a lot, that he's not good enough, so he wants to show people that he can handle himself. I guess he's trying a bit to hard to proof himself." He then admitted in a groan.
"You're talking about yourself, you realise that right?" Esther asked.
"I know." Gascon groaned. "I'm getting dizzy already."
"So you are trying to hard." Esther commented with squinted eyes.
"And here I thought I wasn't trying hard enough." Gascon snorted sarcastically.
"Maybe that's the problem." Oliver commented thoughtfully. "I mean you thinking you aren't doing enough even though you totally are!"
"Oh great, now I'm becoming cross-eyed too." Gascon commented sourly.
It was hard to tell what to expect as they came back to the palace, but it looked like a new shouting match was going on between the younger Gascon and his father.
"Gascon, you can't keep doing this, this is madness!" Elscons voice sounded.
"I can do what ever I want!" The younger Gascons voice sounded back.
Esther looked dryly at the older Gascon out in the hallway. "You are such a brat." She flat out stated.
"Please, you don't have to tell me." Gascon groaned, just as a middle aged blond knight came past them, looking over his shoulder in the direction of the room where the argument took place.
A proud looking knight, with broad shoulders, hair that had slowly begun to gray but not much yet and Gascon knew him, it was a younger Alphonse, astounded Gascon blinked at the knight.
And Alphonse seemed to notice as he looked at Gascon. "May I help you?" he asked in a lifted eyebrow.
"Erh…" Gascon blinked. "No that's fine!" he said in a quick voice.
And Alphonse shrugged as he went on his way away.
Okay this day was just getting weirder and weirder! What the heck?! Of course Alphonse would have to be around here to somewhere, he had been at the palace before Gascon had even been born, still this was pretty darn weird.
And then of course an even louder shout sounded from the throne room, Elscons voice shouting. "I FORBID YOU TO EVER GO TO THE WASTELANDS TO PRACTISE MAGIC WITH MARCASSIN AGAIN! YOU HEAR ME?! No more! No more searching out monsters, if I ever see you go there again with the purpose of practising magic."
"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" The younger Gascon shouted.
"What would you even teach Marcassin?!" You have no magic!" Elscon exclaimed. "You must find your own role in the empire. This will stop! Now!"Oliver swallowed uncomfortable. "Was it... Always like this between you two?" he asked.
"Yes." The older Gascon sighed as he leaned up against the wall, crossing his arms. "Somehow, it was like father and I were unable to be in the same room without fighting. I got far more memories of us fighting, than of us being at peace with each other."
"I can't even imagine." Oliver swallowed. "I mean, sometimes my mom would be cross. But only very rarely. And only when I had done something wrong."
"Same here." Esther nodded.
"Well." Gascon exhaled leaning his head back on the wall. "Neither of your parents had the burden of an entire flipping empire on their shoulders. Trust me, that is not an easy burden at all."
And then, right on quo, Suddenly the younger Gascon came storming out beside them, looking incredible angry, and he was almost running, it seemed to be just barely that he kept himself back. "ARGH!" The boy yelled as angry tears running down his face. "I HATE ALL OF YOU!" he shouted making the Older Gascon turn his head away.
In the door, stood the tiny little Marcassin looking after his brother, then looked up at the group, swalloving nervously as he bit his lip. "He doesn't really mean it." The little boy said in a quiet tone, looking up at Oliver and the others with huge blue eyes. "I promise, my brother doesn't mean it, he's not a bad person, he's just." He swallowed.
Gascon bit his lip by the sight of the tiny little Marcassin. Got was he tiny, and this tiny little boy he would soon be handed the burden of an entire empire. God his younger self was about to leave this place, actually leave.
What the heck was the point of this? Gascon already knew how all of this was going to play out, he had lived through it once already, swallowing he glanced down, then glanced at the little Marcassin, whom looked back up at him with those huge begging eyes of his.
"Please don't be mad at him." Marcassin then asked again. "He's trying, he really is! He is trying so hard!"
"I know." Gascon sighed scratching his neck. "Urhm. Kiddo. Flip what a mess." He rubbed his eyes.
And Marcassin looked up at him.
"Look." Gascon sighed sitting down on his knee so he was closer to Marcassin. "You don't have to worrie about him, okay?" he asked. "Your brother will be fine, he'll be in for some rough times, but he'll be fine. He's a tougher nut than people give him credit for." He assured. "You just worrie about yourself, okay?" he asked placing a hand on Marcassins hair then slightly ruffled it up.
And Marcassin smiled up at him. "I know." He then smiled lightly. "Gascon is amazing, he can do anything!" he grinned.
"Dunno about that kiddo." Gascon slightly shook his head, a little amused. "But at least, he can take care of himself." He said looking up, seeing the Emperor looking at them with a painfull expression in his eyes.
Marcassin turned around facing him. "Father." He breathed.
"Marcassin." Elscon sighed stepping closer, gently padding his youngest son on the head. "Please give us a moment, I need a word with these fine people." He said.
Marcassin nodded. "Yes father." He said, and was headed on his way, leaving Gascon with Elscon.
"Urhm." Oliver hesitated. "Maybe we should go to." He then suggested. "Out to get some fresh air. urhm. Yeah." He ended saying taking Esthers hand pulling her with him outside.
Mr. Drippy looked over his shoulder but then left as well.
And then it was just Gascon and Elscon, standing in a pretty awkward silence.
"Arhhh." Gascon swallowed, the tension was thick, and it was extremely awkward to just stand there.
Elscon sighed. "I didn't want to fight you back there. The other you, him." He mumbled. "I was just worried, you were… Are.. So irresponsible sometimes." He commented.
"I wont even argue that." Gascon admitted. "I nearly got Marcassin and I killed going out there, to be lectured would be the least thing I deserved." he smiled a little amused, Then he bit his lip, looking away.
"Why do I suddenly have this feeling?" Elscon asked. "That my son is on his way out, and that I am never going to see him again?" he asked.
Gascon swallowed as he looked at his father, his eyes slowly lifting, and apparently that was enough.
"Oh no, please don't tell me." Elscon gasped. "Please don't tell me the last thing my son is going to remember me for is an argument! And a really stupid pointless one to! Gascon!" he turned around. "Ga-!" he started as he was just about to take a running step towards the entrance.
But he was stopped as a hand had grabbed his shoulder and held him back, surprised Elscon turned around and met the older Gascons face.
"You can't go after him." Gascon breathed. "Like just now, when we went after Marcassin and my younger self, the events had already happened, we had to follow suit because it has already happened. Your oldest son Gascon is going to leave tonight!" he said in a stern voice. "He'll have some hard times, but ultimately he will adapt, grow, learn and he'll live. If you go after him now, there's no telling what the consequences might be. You weren't supposed to know that he was leaving, that's my fault! Still you can't go after him. Then you would be erasing me, and everything I have done and worked for." He stated. "God." Gascon whispered smiling grimly amused. "Had this been five years ago, I would probably have begged you to stay so you wouldn't die. I want to start begging you to change it all." he swallowed his throat tightening. "I don't want you to die, part of me want so badly to go after him and just change all of it! To heck with that, I want you to go after the younger me and get me back. I want to change that story, I want you to live father. I want us to have all those years together, even if they were to be filled with fights and arguing. I don't care if we are going to spend fifty years being in a fight, I just want you to be alive!" he sniffed. "Father... I don't want to loose you a second time. But like the white witch promising me limitless power, it's just not the right way. The easy way is never the right way is it?" he asked. "To do it right, I must walk the line. All of it."
Elscon swallowed as he looked at the older Gascon. "Still, that the last thing to happen between me and my son." He said. "At least let him know that that is not what I wanted, let it not be the last thing he remembers me for!"
"No, that argument wont be the last thing he'll remember of you." Gascon swallowed his hand tightening around Elscon arm. "Because I'm him." He said. "And.." he swallowed. "Gascon is going to be fine! It'll be hard, he has a lot of hardships to go through, a lot of growing up to do. But he'll be alive!" He said. "He'll make some good friends and.. and…."
"You'll be protecting the future." Elscon whispered reaching a hand touching Gascons face. "Oh my son." He spoke taking Gascons hand lifting them to his own forehead. "You always have been, and always will be, my son." He said. "My proud, stubborn son." He smiled a smile that was both happy and painful. "Look at you, you've grown so much! Your words, they are so wise. Much wiser than I could be at your age."
Gascon smirked amused. "Njah, now you are just trying to flatter me."
Elscon shook his head, also slight amused. "You're the one, whom must protect the empire, now and in the future." He whispered. "You must not be stuck in the past. You're are the one whom can bring the empire into the future, the future that comes after all of this. After Shadar. I wanted you to figure things out for yourselve so you could be strong, there's a lot riding on your shoulders, it was essential that you became strong."
And Gascon swallowed as he closed his eyes, sniffing. "All I ever wanted." He admitted. "I just wanted you to be proud of me." He said. "I wanted to be the son you could be proud of. You are such a great man, I always admired you, I really did! I never wanted to shame you."
"How could you ever shame me?" Elscon asked. "I love you." He said. "And I've always been so proud of you! I suppose I've just not always been so good at saying it."
Gascon swallowed. "I suppose I haven't been so good at listening." He then admitted. "I love you to." He then told quietly. "I missed you so much. God I thought I had so much to ask you about, and now I got nothing." He admitted.
"That's because you've been following your own path all along isn't it?" Elscon asked amused putting a hand under Gascons chin raising it for him. "You never needed my help to point you in the right direction, you've always been strongest when you walked your own strange way. Nothing good would ever have come out of me holding your hand and spoon feeding you every step. You are so much stronger on your own. Like I knew you could." He smiled. "You don't need me, not really. To walk that strange new path that leads to the future, not the past or the old worn out ways, the future which remains a mystery, because you don't go there by following an old worn out way, you go there, by forgin a brand new path! The gift you were born with, the rarest gift of all, much better than any old stupid magic. I'm so proud of you, I don't even know what to say." He told.
"That's what all of that was about." Gascon breathed. "You wanted me to?! But I thought. I thought you were disappointed that I don't.. You know, that I'm not." he swallowed.
"When did I ever say that?" Elscon asked looking honestly confused. "I wanted you to be yourself, not trying to be someone else, or live through others, I was concerned you tried to live through Marcassin and you didn't believe in your own abilities. You don't need to stand in Marcassins shadow, you have your own gifts, your own abilities to explore and master. I just want you to be happy and confident. That's all I ever wanted." He said. "You're going to lead an entire empire, an empire that stands in front of the future. A leader such as that, has to stand firm, within himself!" he said pressing a hand against Gascons chest, over his beating heart. "Sometimes, taking decisions as a leader means choosing which one you think is the lesser of two evils, it's so hard, you don't think I have faced defeat and lose in my time?" he asked. "I tried to fend against Shadar but I failed, I lost my friend Alicia on the way, and then I chose to stop the offence and go in defence for the empire." Then he sighed. "But that also meant stopping fighting against Shadar and just letting him have his way, putting you and Marcassin in danger. if I am to fall you will be the only one left to protect Marcassin! And i'm counting on you to do just that. Marcassin is wonderfull, but he doesn't quite have your pride nor strenght, he is going to need you. So I am counting on your to carrie the burden." he admitted. "Still I am not sure at all if stopping the offence was the right thing to do. But, it was my decision, and now I just need to move along with it." He stated. "The burden of an empire is not an easy one to have, but I know if anyone can move the empire into a new better future, it's you." He said to Gascon. "I'm leaving the burden to you, because I believe you're the one able to carrie it." he said. "You think I gave you the sword of Hamelin by accident?" he asked. "Or taught you how to create the Clarion by accident?" he shook his head. "No no no, the way I see it there's only one way. You and Marcassin, together! Together, you can create the future. A future unlike anything anyone has ever seen. Shadar is destroying everything, you'll be the one to build something new and better in its place." Then he sighed deeply. "I only regret I wont be able to see it. There must have been so many wonderful things you created already."
"Well I, I did make a few things." Gascon admitted. "Heh." he blushed.
"I'm sure those things are all wonderful." Elscon smiled lightly. "I see you finished that trick gun of yours afterall." he commented glancing at the gun in Gascons belt. "Does it work?" he asked.
"Of course it works!" Gascon exclaimed. "It has saved my life more times then I can count it.." and he halted as he realised Elscon was smiling at him, smiling as pride shone from his eyes. And Gascon smiled sadly, then shook. "A missunderstanding, it was all a missunderstanding, god that's so typically us." He defeated shook his head. "Why did we always speak right past each other?" he asked.
"Does it matter?" Elscon asked. "As long as we don't right now when it matters."
Gascon shook his head. "No." he said, then leaned forward and embraced his father, closing his eyes. "Thank you." He whispered as tears rolled down his cheeks. "Thank you father!"
And Elscon blinked surprised, before he returned the hug. "Always, my son." He breathed holding him tight. "My beloved son. Please forgive me, to leave you with such a task in my stead, but you are the only one whom can do it, I need to ask you."
"What?" Gascon asked holding him. "Just say it and I'll do it, I always would."
"Protect the empire." Elscon swallowed holding him. "Protect it, create a future full of wonder for the people to see. And look after Marcassin, he needs you."
"You got it." Gascon told not letting go. "It's done."
"Then I shall die in peace, knowing this." Elscon breathed. "That my sons will look after each other and the empire. That they will be well, few are allowed to die such happy peaceful deaths."
Gascon sniffed holding him, tears forming in his eyes. "I wish you didn't have to go." He whispered.
"Me too." Elscon admitted. "But you pointed it out yourself, the future must remain unchanged, who knows what would happen if we attempted a change?" he asked.
Gascon nodded, and said no more words, just kept his embrace in his father, there was no more to say.
There was still a fight ahead of him to be fought, but he was on the right path, he knew that he was on the right path, at last!