Chap.14



Van blinked. It felt like a dream. Was it a dream? How many times had he dreamed this? Of his brother stepping out of death and saving him. Returning. So many dreams, hopes....

And here he was, right out of a dream. What was he doing here? Folken.....

Folken set Van down on the steady ground, his wings clearing a wide radius around him. Van collapsed onto the ground, but, not wanting to show a weakness amongst his captors, he struggled to his feet. Then, looking at Folken, he was again showered with questions. Blue wings? His mind whirled, and his vision wavered. He tried to remember the last time he had seen Folken's beautiful angelic wings......

But his mind drew up blank, and he was only bombarded with more questions.

Why was Folken amongst these people? These people that had destroyed Fanelia...Was his brother a prisoner as well? Van regarded Folken, suddenly seeing the strange cloaked figure that had always been watching him, in a new light.

His clothing certainly did not portray him as any sort of prisoner of war, nor as a person that even was particularly uncomfortable in their current state. Instead, quite the opposite, Folken looked like he was dressed for an occasion, certainly rich materials and regal bearing. His cloak bore medals and clasps that Van recognized as militia awards and commendments. Van stared at his brother, and he wondered what was going on. Was this his brother? His

long-lost brother, stepped out of a dream? Reappearing amongst.....the enemy? The very people that had burned Fanelia to the ground?

Folken also seemed to be at an ends as to what to say. He had retracted his wings, and was standing stiffly, shrouded in his cloak, his eyes dark and menacing. They refused to meet Van's.

Dilandau too, seemed at a loss of what to do, for once. He stared back and forth, at the two brothers, almost surprised of what had happened. His expression was like that of a man that knew that had predicted something that had come true, yet was dumbfounded that it had. Finally, it was Miguel that broke the silence.

"Lord Dilandau....." He started, looking uncertainly around. This seemed to snap Dilandau back into the world.

"Folken! You shall pay for obstructing the Emperor's orders to save a mere boy!" Folken didn't' respond.

"Strategos!"

"Dilandau," Folken looked up and his eyes were like icicles, so cold they were. "Dilandau, the Emperor shall hear of this." His voice was deadly calm. Turning his head, Folken motioned for Miguel. "You, boy, take this prisoner into my quarters, he shall sleep there tonight."

"What Folken, special treatment for the prisoner now?" Dilandau glared at Folken. Folken glared back just as coldly. Miguel hesitated, unsure of what to do. Folken glanced over at him, his eyes were steely and like daggers. Miguel didn't' hesitate any longer. He moved forward and dragged the boy to his feet. The boy got up slowly, his amber eyes staring at Folken, as if seeing a ghost. Miguel led him away, back towards the castle. When they were gone, Folken turned to Dilandau.

"Dilandau, you shall regret this day." He turned stiffly, also heading back. Dilandau rolled his eyes.

"No, Folken Fanel, you shall." He muttered to the rising wind.

*************************************

Folken opened his door slowly. Van was standing rigidly against the window, staring out over the city of Doven. Folken stopped at the doorway, not entering the room. He wasn't sure of what to say. His heart beat rapidly. Looking down, he held up his metal arm slowly, regarding the metal joints, the stiffness of their movement. Closing his eyes, Folken shifted his cloak to conceal his hand, to hide his stump of an arm. Taking a breath, Folken walked into the room. Van was still as stone, although he heard Folken enter.

They stood there, silent and wary for a while. One angry and proud, the other sad and hopeless. Two brothers, joined by blood, joined by a kingdom that was no more.

Van spoke softly, eyes out the window.

"Your wings have been tainted." He said softly.

Folken didn't move.

"Because you betrayed your kingdom perhaps." Van's voice was flat, more a statement than a question.

"Perhaps." Folken's voice echoed.

"They said that you had escaped, run away from your duties as the High Prince. Balgus would have none of it..." Van shifted his weight, his sinewy limbs twitching from exhaustion, yet Van didn't show any sign of moving. "Balgus made them silent. He said that you were returning soon." Van was silent again.

Folken regarded his brother, his thin frame, his dark hair, and, though Van's back was to him, Folken could see the piercing, flaming amber eyes that sparked with anger. Folken longed for that anger, that emotion, at least some kind of feeling within himself.

"I used to dream...that you would return, with a dragenergist. You'd be my friend...and we'd play again. That you'd go back to being the brother that you were, my best friend. I had funny dreams then." Van said, Folken couldn't ignore the sharp knife that Van stabbed into himself with those words. "Very funny........" Van muttered.

Folken regarded him.

"Van...."

Turning suddenly, Van glared at him, hate radiating from his eyes, his fists clenched, his jaw rigid. His eyes were shining with something close to tears.

"You have no right to speak my name!! You have no right to speak any sort of Fanelian name! You...you are a murderer, you murdered Balgus, the very one that spoke for you, that waited for you all those years!! You murdered you people, the very people you were supposed to rule, you burned them to ash and scattered them to the winds! That is the person you are, Folken...no, no, you are Folken no longer are you, you are Strategos, and enemy!" Van snarled, his face contorting into a hate-filled spectrum of bitterness and anger.

Folken turned his head, his eyes shut. The words pained him. He hated even to think it. It shouldn't, ten years, and still, it hurt like hell. All in a moment, everything came rushing back to him. Every minute of every day that he had endured and lived in this empire, ignoring his Fanelian blood. Sudden anger overtook him. Why should Van yell at him? If Van and Balgus had cared so much, why hadn't they come to find him? He too, had been a prisoner, he too, had to live through hell. Looking up at Van, Folken's anger vanished. His little brother...

"Zaibach helped me when no one else did. They taught me to live again, the Emperor, he gave me life. Kent, he gave me joy, he taught me to laugh. Lourdes taught me about love. I have lived, my brother, and you say I have been cruel and heartless, well, what would you have done King of Fanelia?" Folken's eyes narrowed and he strode forward and grasped Van's shoulder with his metal hand, in his anger and frustration.

Anger also sparked Van's eyes, then disappeared as he looked down at the metal hand.

A mixture of horror and fascination. Folken looked down, and tucked his hand into his cloak, almost nursing it.

"Yes, Zaibach gave me life. They gave me life when death was certain. And would you have done the same then, my brother?"

Van gazed up at him, speechless.

"You lost your hand in the Rite.." Van muttered, his eyes not leaving his brother's face. Folken looked at the ground. "And what else did they give you, brother?" Van's voice rose, almost hysterically like Dilandau's.

"Life is enough."

"Is it?"

"Yes."

"Fanelia is burned."

"That is not my problem."

"Of course not." Van's voice was a mockery.

"I lost Fanelia when I lost my hand and my life to the dragon. I was reborn as Zaibach."

"Then why do you keep me from my peace? My solace?" Van demanded. That in itself was a question that Folken asked himself over and over. Why? Why had he risked all to save a boy that he kept telling his heart meant nothing to him. Why? The question burned in his mind, and as he could not even answer himself, Folken couldn't answer Van.

Folken stared at the dark, grey skies of Doven, and suddenly, a picture of Fanelia flashed in his mind. Of the tall tall trees and the snow-capped mountains. Folken remembered plans to go for a retreat within the mountains after he would become king. Folken remembered his plans to enlarge the castle of Fanelia, to build great buildings, beautiful buildings.

All in a flash, everything that he had buried under ten years of hurt and guilt.

Suddenly, a pain shook his entire body.

FOLKEN

The voice that shot through his head was enough to dull every nerve in his body. His body shook with racks of pain and pressure. The Emperor's very presence resonated within him. Folken collapsed to the ground. Van turned quickly, and ran towards him, seeing his brother collapsed. Folken shuddered, as wave after wave of agony washed over him.

You Seek To Defy Me? We Work Towards A Common Goal My Son, Do You Desert Me So Easily?

The words were burned into his mind, with scalding hot irons.

Folken shook.

Van hovered over him, his dark eyes anxious. As much as he hated his brother for betraying his kingdom, Folken was still his brother.

Folken opened his eyes, and there was a haze of pain over his vision. Everything seemed tinge with a golden mist.

"Van..." He whispered, glancing up at his brother. Van kneeled, over him, his hands lifting his brother slowly, his slight frame shaking under Folken's weight. Folken shut his eyes again, he could feel darkness descending upon him. And just before the crushing weight of the Emperor hit, a vision hit Folken.

Standing in the wind, auburn hair floating, carried by the breeze.

Green eyes that held such warmth as he could ever imagine.

The warmth of them, as he basked in its light.

She smiled at him, and his heart warmed.

Hitomi.

Then a body, shrouded and still........

Hitomi!!!

And just before the darkness engulfed him in it's wave of pain, he had only enough time to think, I will not allow it! He thought fiercely, only to have the darkness descend upon him.

His vision dimmed,

"Dornkirk...Get...me...there...." Folken whispered, as he blanked out.



Van watched as his brother collapsed and lost consciousness right in front of his eyes. His whole being filled with horror. Was Folken...dead? The word filled him with dread. He had just found his brother, only to lose him again? It wrung his heart. What had Folken said? Get him to...Dornkirk? Where was that?

Just then, a fully armored Zaibach soldier burst into the room. Van leapt to his feet, his eyes burning. The soldier looked at Van, somewhat surprised, then looked down at the limp body of Folken.

"Oh god...what happened?" The soldier looked up at Van. Van looked at him, unsure of what to say. Would this soldier send him back to that dank, dark prison? Did this soldier mean harm to Folken?

"You...you stay..away from him!!" Van yelled, seeing that the soldier was approaching Folken's limp form. The soldier looked at him, surprise radiating from his even gaze.

"Hmm...and who are you?" He finally asked. Van glared at him, putting himself between the soldier and Folken.

"Who are you?" Van returned, glaring suspiciously at him. The soldier shrugged,

"I'm Kent." He said with an easy-going nod. The name rang a bell in Van's memory. Kent....Wasn't he one of the people Folken had just mentioned? So, did that mean he was a friend?

"Kent.....Folken mentioned you.." Van muttered, thinking aloud.

"Did he, well, do you now care to tell me your name perhaps?" Kent looked at him, eyes raised.

"Van." Van answered shortly.

"I see Van, and care to tell me what happened here?" Kent gestured at the limp form of Folken.

"He just..lost...consciousness. Just collapsed."

"Really...did he..say anything?" Kent's eyes were narrowed in thought, regarding Folken's form.

"No....well.." Van thought for a moment. "He did say something about..Dornkirk..whatever that is." Van shrugged helplessly. But Kent looked up quickly, his eyes wide.

"Dornkirk?" Kent repeated. Van nodded.

"Yes."

"Did he say anything about Dornkirk?"

"He just said to get him to Dornkirk."

"Well, then, what are we waiting for?" Kent's face looked set. Van suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards Kent for taking over. He suddenly realized how very tired and weak he was. He took a step forward to help Kent, as he lifted Folken's limp form, but staggered, as his legs gave way under him. He caught himself just in time, but not before Kent noticed Van's haggard expression. Kent looked at him, his eyes alight with concern.

"I've got it. You should rest, you don't look well...." Then he paused, "You're that prisoner aren't you? The one that Dilandau brought The Sigaron."

Van didn't respond.

"Hmm...you must be pretty special for Folken to go and fetch you like that."

Van turned his head, his expression unreadable. Kent studied him for a moment, then heaved Folken onto his back. "You stay here, you look tired and sick. I'll be right back." He commanded, but Van jumped up as he as leaving.

"Wait! Wait, Kent." Van looked at his feet, "I...I'm coming too."

"you look tired." He repeated again.

"I'm..I'm not. And Folken...he...he's...my brother." Van stammered out, his eyes slowly rising up to Kent's. Kent almost laughed.

"Really....hmm...I should've figured that out, I guess." He turned, "It seems that Folken has learned The meaning of love." He muttered, under his breath. "Come if you want." He called out to Van. Grimacing under The words, Van followed.



The hallways were dark and twisting, high-ceilinged and spacious. The ceilings seemed to touch The sky, and on every wall, there was a painting. They were portraits, mostly men. Van studied them, his eyes wandering over each one. Kent watched his gaze.

"They are Commanders, given honor at The hour of their death."

Van didn't reply.

Kent continued down The many-corridored path, bowed under The weight of Folken.

"Let me help." Van offered. Van wondered where this Dornkirk was. Kent just shook his head.

"Its not much farther."

"This Dornkirk....he is...a man?" Van ventured.

"You could say that."

"So he is?" Van persisted.

"He is an Emperor. If that also makes him a man, so be it." Kent's voice was steely. Van was silent and they continued.

"Would Folken... get a portrait on The wall, honoring him as well?" Van asked, again breaking The stifling silence. Kent shrugged, half acknowledging The question, half lifting Folken higher on his shoulders.

"Perhaps."

Perhaps....that was what Folken had said when Van had pointed out that his wings had been tainted by his betrayal. Perhaps was a yes and no word.....

They reached an ornate door. Van stood in front, his eyes wandering over The arcane symbols decorating The wood. Behind it, he felt a certain power. In his chest, his heart, something hummed.

Kent opened The door slowly, and went in.

It was dark.

Van could only make out a figure, a figure on The table. On The far side, a huge mechanism stood.

Walking up towards The still figure, Van's heart beat rapidly. He dreaded The secret he Would uncover on The The other side.

The figure was slender, and so still.

Van extended a trembling hand, lifting The thin sheet covering The figure.

"oh god...Hitomi.." Van's eyes were large. He sank down next to The table, his eyes level with her head. Her lips were so pale, her features crystalized in death. "Oh god...oh god..." He muttered, over and over, his head bowed. He touched her hand. It was so cold. What had they done to her?

"Hitomi.." He almost cried openly, he could feel his heart breaking.

Until that moment, he had never realized how much he had depended on her. How, even though his kingdom had fallen apart, and his teacher had been killed, She had made it all better. She had somehow made it all go away. Made it all seem...easier.

He imagined life without her. Life without ever holding her close, never feeling her smile radiating on him. Never hearing her scorn, her mockery to bring down his high walls of pride. Never again.

He held her hand, so cold and pale, in his own calloused one, his head bowed over her. Why was she affecting him like this? She's just a girl. A girl he had just met. Why should she matter. And even as The thoughts materialized in his head, they evaporated. Her fingers were so thin, so frail. What had they done to her?

"I see you've seen my latest experiment." A loud, cold voice radiated through The room. Van whirled around. A large head figure dominated The throne, hooked up to various tubes. The machines hummed with life. Life.

"What did you do to Hitomi?!" He demanded, The tears almost blinding him. For The first time in his life, Van didn't care that The tears formed. That others could see his weakness. What Would it matter if he was strong or not, if Hitomi wasn't there to tell him how strong and wonderful he was?

"Van, calm down. My Emperor, I must ask you. What have you done to Folken and to this girl? Is it part of Zaibach's future? Senseless killing?" Kent spoke up, looking up at Dornkirk.

Dornkirk only laughed coldly.

"Pathetic fools. All of you." His pale eyes radiated hate. "Especially that one." Dornkirk looked at Folken's still form. "He had The world, and its treasures, all in The palm of his hand. He had Zaibach and everything else. And still, threw it all away. For emotions, for silly feelings." Dornkirk laughed bitterly. "Foolish boy, and I had so much hopes in him." There was The faintest hint of sadness in it.

"Your mad.." Kent muttered.

"Father..." A new voice entered. Van turned towards The source. A beautiful girl stood there, outlined in The light behind her. "What is going on...Kenton? Folken!" She rushed towards Folken's form.

"Princess..you should not be here.." Kent gently lifted her from Folken's fallen form. Her face was taught and drawn.

"Kent, what has happened? What's wrong with Folken?" Then she turned her bright eyes towards Van, "Who is he?" She turned back to Kent for answers.

Van blinked. Princess...that Would mean that The man, or was it a man? that had spoken, with the cold voice...he was........

Van's brain tried to make The connections, but his mind didn't seem to work.

"The Emperor..." Van blinked again. The one who had ordered Fanelia's destruction. So much death. So much destruction.

"You destroyed my kingdom!!" Van screamed suddenly, his Fanelian sword raised. He rushed towards Dornkirk. The blade glinted in The suddenly sharp light.

"Dilandau." The Emperor shouted.

Dilandau burst into The room. His own sword raised.

Pandemonium broke out. Suddenly Dilandau's dragon slayers and Zaibach soldiers burst through every door and dark corner.

Kent looked around, his sword raised. He pulled Lourdes behind him, so that he stood to protect both, his blade gleaming dangerously in The light.

There seemed to be millions of them, Zaibach soldiers were everywhere.

And Dornkirk watched it all, perched high above, untouchable, he watched bitterly as his future was dashed to pieces.





Folken's mind whirled. He was in a maze of darkness, with no way out. No way to ever find his way out.

"Help!! Let me out!" He screamed, locked in The prison of his own mind.

He could feel his body, heavy and un-cooperative, yet he couldn't reach it. He couldn't make it all connect.

He pounded at The walls of his inner prison, and nothing worked.



Dornkirk's face was set. Yet something within him hurt, as he watched The fighting and hurt going on around him. The young Fanelian king battled hard, hate and anger in his eyes, pushing constantly closer towards The throne. Lourdes looked scared and pale, and her eyes were on her Father, large and hopeless. Kent also wore a grim expression, slowly hacking and blocking, one soldier after another.

But The one that Dornkirk really watched was Folken. The limp body laying on The ground. His son. And within that one body, all The hopes for Zaibach that Dornkirk had ever had were contained. And it hurt to see them torn to pieces. Angrily, Dornkirk seized The bond between them, and seized it hard. It had always been there, from The moment that Folken had been brought back by The Emperor's own life force, there had been that link, connecting them. And now, The Emperor seized that link, holding it in his hand, manipulating.





Kent elbowed a soldier in The face. Many of The soldiers were of his own troops. They only looked on him with murderous hate. Kent wondered what Dornkirk had told them. All these years of service, only to be repaid like this? His grimaced, as he shoved another body down.

Lourdes was pale, and her eyes were large and shaking. She was bent over Folken, making him lie straight.

"He...he looks troubled." She said, her voice even.

Kent only grunted. Then Lourdes gasped. Kent turned, and looked at her.

"It's...it's Folken..he....he's...he looks like he's in pain!"

Kent looked down, just in time to see Folken's face twisting in a mask of pain and terror. He didn't have to think long to wonder who was The cause. Blocking another sword parry, Kent looked up at The Emperor. Dornkirk's face was in deep concentration, and The tubes attached to him ran with dark, thick red blood.

"Lou...Lourdes.." Kent gasped. Lourdes had bent down to examine Folken. She stood up, her eyes huge. "Dornkirk....it's him..." Kent pushed another body down to The ground.

"Father?" Lourdes' eyes traveled to her father, deep in thought on his throne.

"You must give Folken a chance, Lourdes!" Kent shouted, his sword waving. Lourdes didn't' move.

"But....father....." Her eyes then switched to Folken as he jerked in another pain-filled spasm. "I...cannot." SHE whispered.

Kent slashed at a soldier, and watched as The blood ran. He turned to Lourdes, his eyes deep.

"Do you love me?" He demanded. His eyes were dark and demanding.

"Kent...this isn't...The time..." Lourdes wrung her hands, uncertainty filling her thin form. Kent shook his head.

"Answer! Do you love me?" He glared at her, challenging her to answer.

".." She hesitated. Lourdes paused, and in a minute, a lifetime of memories rushed back to her. Kenton. How much that name meant. What was love anyway? Kenton. And as She asked herself that question over and over, all She got back for an answer was The one word. The one name.

"Yes." She answered softly. Kent regarded her slowly.

"Do you trust me?" He asked just as softly.

"Yes." She answered.

"Then show it." He told her. She just watched him. Then, resolutely, She nodded. Looking down at Folken, his face contorted, She dodged between The soldiers and ran towards The far edge of The room.



Folken screamed and screamed, yet there was no end to his torment. Fiery flames licked his very soul, and it was endless. His mind was in The iron grip of The Emperor. Folken could feel his material body twitching and writhing, yet it was his soul that suffered The pain. He hoped that it Would end.

Concentrating, gathering his energy, his life-force, he consumed it, waiting. He endured The pain, waiting for a time, when The Emperor Would be distracted. Waiting for a time when he could break free.





Lourdes crept up to The throne. Her father looked so tired, The lines of his age were so distinguishable in The harsh, bright light. He looked deep in thought. She gazed down at him. The one She had called Father.

His pale snowy hair piled around him in rolls.

Had he ever loved her at all? Had he ever even loved her as a father should love his daughter? Ever?

That question haunted her dreams often, every waking and sleeping moment. And until now, She had never been able to come to a conclusion.

She had learned a lot about love.

Love had nothing to do with beauty.

Love had nothing to do with greed.

Love had to do with The soul.

Love was what The strange young man with The flashing amber eyes had for The still and silent girl, lying at rest on The table. It radiated from his very being, from within him. It shone right out of his eyes, every time he raised his sword to another challenge, he turned anguished eyes towards her. Even though She had never seen him before, She knew, instantly, that he was in love with The girl.

Love was what Folken had for his best friend. To give so selflessly, to think of The loved before ones' self. To be so understanding, caring.

And love was what She felt from Kent, what She wanted so badly to give back to him. To love him....

As She turned ice, grey eyes back to Dornkirk, She realized that he had never loved her. Never. Love was a reciprocal thing. How silly She was to have never seen it.

Looking down at his concentrating form, She grimaced.

Her fingers tugged on The tube connecting to his chest. Could She do it? Could She break free of his grasp? His handhold over her?

Out of her thought, Lourdes heard Kent cry out. She looked over. Kent staggered against The wall, standing over Folken, a bright red stain spreading over his tunic. It was too red. Lourdes wanted to run towards him. Kent raised anguished, begging eyes towards her. She set her heart.

"Goodbye, 'Father'" She whispered softly.

Then with a great wrench, The tube broke free of The Emperor's body. The life-support instantly hummed, and Dornkirk heaved a great gasp. His eyes flew open, they were steel blue. A look of pure shock shook through them, and he looked at Lourdes.

"....what have you done?" He groaned. Lourdes stood there, holding The tube that had connected The Emperor of Zaibach to his meager life-support.

"Only something that should've been done sooner." She replied, her voice oddly even.

" Really daughter....only a few days ago, you were telling me of your need for loyalty." Dornkirk's eyes scoured Lourdes' face. "You shall regret this, daughter."

Lourdes' eyes widened. Why wasn't he dying! Had She pulled The wrong tube? How? How could this happen?!

A metal contraption with two joints snaked out of Dornkirk's side.

"How silly of you, daughter, to think that you could defeat me." His eyes bored into her, hate and rage filling them.

The metal arm circled around Lourdes' thin, pale neck. It fastened around her throat, cutting off her breath. She gasped and writhed.

"You silly, stupid, useless girl." Each word was scathed with hate. And as Dornkirk lifted Lourdes' up, The metal arm cutting off her breath, barely allowing her to breath, She writhed.

Kent looked up, seeing Lourdes' struggling. His left arm was pressed against his wound. Many of The soldiers lay fallen around him. Van still struggled to his right.

"Lourdes!" He called out, rushing forward, but The movement caused a new spurt of blood to come out of his wound. He fell to his knees, his sword clattering beside him.

"Let her go!" He shouted hoarsely, his breath leaving him as quickly as it came. "Lourdes!" He shouted again. He could feel The darkness descending upon him.





Van parried another blow, and yet another soldier fell before him. Not many were left. Many, had fled, and still more lay around, injured and groaning. Van was surprised that he was still standing. Yet, it must've been fury and grief that edged him on. The battle had taken ti's toll on him as well, that and The weeks spent in The dank conditions of The cell. He leaned wearily against The wall, nursing a large gash in his arm. He looked up as Kent called out The beautiful girl he called Lourdes. Dornkirk had her up, strangling her as The seconds ticked by. Van rushed up, only to be stopped by a sword.

"Stop." A highly maniacal voice laughed. "So Van, it has come down to you and me. Hmm....you shall be The lamb for your brother's sacrifice."

"Dilandau." Van stopped, his eyes looking at Dilandau. He drew his sword up slowly, fatigue shaking his bones.

Dilandau raised his sword.

Van could hardly keep up with The blows, Dilandau's blows seemed to be endless. Van, already tired and spent, sagged under each blow, weakening.

And as The blade raised again, he knew that it Would soon be The end.

"Hitomi.." He whispered softly, and defended once more, only to know that The next one Would kill.



Deep in The darkness of his mind, Folken felt a sudden freeness. The pain stopped, and The iron fist no longer twisted his mind into a prison. What had happened? Folken didn't stop to ponder it.

With a burst of power that he had reserved during The minutes, or was it hours?, of agony, Folken burst from his confines.

With a shock, his eyes opened into The bright-lit room of The Emperor's throne room. He gasped and took a breath. He suddenly felt so alive, humming with life force and energy. He felt filled and recovered, totally. He rose himself slowly, drawing himself to his full height.

He walked towards The Emperor, his steps hardly touching The ground. How powerful he felt, so full of life.

Dornkirk's eyes traveled from Lourdes' struggling body to Folken's form. The Emperor's eyes widened. He dropped Lourdes, who fell to The ground, gasping and half-unconscious.

"Folken.." Dornkirk breathed.

Folken stood there, in front of The Emperor. Blue-tainted wings were unfurled, swirling around him. His eyes were pale and oddly alight.

"Dornkirk, your tyranny is at an end." Folken's voice was like steel, like a trumpet blaring out in The darkness. He glowed with a bright light.

"What The....you are....Draconian." Dornkirk stared. "The Dragon...was you." He breathed, his eyes wide.

Folken didn't reply.

"Dilandau." Dornkirk called.

Dilandau, in The midst of a stroke on a bent Van, turned at The call of his Emperor. Van was forgotten in an instant, as Dilandau rushed towards his prime target.

"Finally, Folken, I have The chance to rid you of your cursed genius." Dilandau muttered, his sword raised.

Folken barely moved a finger.

With a sweep of his great wings, Folken unsheathed his sword. Wielding The flaming sword, Folken stopped Dilandau in a single thrust. Dilandau's eyes widened in surprise, then in shock.

"The mystical flaming sword of The Dragon people.." Dilandau breathed, almost unbelieving. Then he fell, dead.

Folken turned towards the Emperor.

"Is that all you have, my Lord?" His voice was a mockery. Dornkirk's face registered surprise and shock. Folken stood strong, and this time, he used The connection between them, seizing The power within him. This time, it was him in control.

The aura around Folken pulsed.

Dornkirk screamed, his face locked in an expression of pain and shock. Folken narrowed his eyes then, and The pulse stopped.

"I will not become like you." Folken said, his voice icy cold.

The Emperor sagged on his throne, his face ashen. He looked up weakly, his life force not reaching him, his life-giving machine humming away in vain.

Folken turned towards his brother.

"Van..."

Van looked up at Folken, his eyes shining.

"Brother...what..what are you?" He asked, his voice hushed.

"I am The same as you." Folken's wings flapped, The feathers turning a deeper blue by The second. Van approached him slowly,

"Folken..your wings...they're...changing.."

"Yes."

"Because of betrayal?"

"Do I betray you brother?"

Van was silent, his eyes traveling back to Hitomi's still form.

"I see. Well..."

"Brother, no, you do not." Van smiled bravely at Folken. "Come, come, let us go away. Away from this place of so much pain." Van pleaded, his voice breaking. "Come on, Folken...let's go. We..we can rebuild Fanelia. You..you can be king." Van approached slowly, his hands outstretched, The royal blade of Fanelia outstretched in an offering. "Please Brother...let us go, away from here." His eyes were pleading.

Folken watched his brother, offering him The kingdom, offering him his trust, offering him his past. And his heart wanted to cry out in despair. How many times had he, himself, dreamed this very scene? Dreamed of The day, The day that he Would once again find his brother, regain his lost Kingdom. And how ironic that it should come now...now of all times. Folken blinked slowly. Already, he could feel the link between himself and the Emperor diminishing, draining away. And when the Emperor was no more, he would be gone as well. Folken sighed.

He placed his good hand on Van's shaking, thin shoulder. Van deserved his happiness, he deserved a life of good.

Almost floating across he ground, Folken stood in front of Hitomi's still form.

Her eyes were closed, yet Folken could just imagine her sparkling emerald eyes winking out at him.

How funny, she was in the dreams of one brother, and within the heart of another.

Placing his hands out, his wings turned a darker shade of blue, almost midnight blue. An eerie glow began to glow around him. His face was set, his brow sweating.

On the throne, the Emperor heaved, as he felt his life draining from him. Draining him from within. He used all of his effort to open his eyes and look at the scene before him.

Noooo!!!! His mind shouted, cursed and screamed. His precious life, leaving him, going to the accursed girl. Going to the son that had betrayed him. But to no avail, no matter how hard he pounded and cursed, Folken's grasp was strong. Forged from the fires of love and trust, loyalty and compassion.

Folken stood over her, and even as the Emperor's life force went through him into Hitomi, Folken could feel his own life, burning weakly within him, diminishing along with the Emperor.

The glow around him turned from pale pink to a darker shade of red.

His wings turned a midnight blue.

And still, the light pulsed, the machines of life hummed.

Folken almost staggered under the weight of the life, but he stood straight.

"Folken.." Van watched, frozen in awe. He felt in the presence of a higher being, an angel from some other realm. Who was this man before him, certainly not his brother.....

On the throne, the Emperor writhed, the life draining out of him. And with the last of energy, he lashed out, trying to break his prison walls. How funny that The tables had turned on him.

Folken's face was set.

"Damn you Folken Fanel! You cursed being, I shall bring you down with me!!" The Emperor's maniacal scream echoed the halls. Then with a gasp, the last of his life left him, in a stream of red and blue.

Folken gasped as well, his channel suddenly flooded with life.

And with a great heave, Hitomi breathed. She coughed and breathed great shuddering breaths.

The light was put out, and the room was too bright.

Folken looked at Hitomi, hardly able to stand straight. The burning was gone. There was nothing within him, a dry husk of a body. He didn't even have to look to know that the Emperor was dead, finally. He could feel it.

Hitomi slowly opened her eyes.

Folken basked in their beautiful glimmerance. He could die happy.

Then he collapsed, in a heap on the ground, his life gone.

And his wings were black.

A single feather drifted through the air.

Van caught it in his hand.

A black feather.

To Be Continued....