There are secrets in the universe that may never be fully explained.
Where there are mysteries, there are always three kinds of people connected to them. One is the kind of people who want to seek the mysteries out to their fullest.
The other are the people who are out to destroy any secret they believe threatens their security or positions of power.
The third type are the defenders of mysteries.
This is the tale of several such defenders.
Outcast Legends: And Outlaw Star fanfic
Journey's End
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the original Outlaw Star TV anime. I'll make a list of those characters and concepts I do own at the end of the fic.
Chapter 15: Looking to the Future
"Melfina…"
The familiar voice that was so much like her own called out to her. Pulsing energy surrounded the small realm in which she now floated, and Melfina slowly opened her eyes to see the maiden standing in front of her.
"Melfina, I'm going to transfer all the information the leyline has learned into your being. It's now my only chance to save it all."
"… Will I have to fulfill the leyline's purpose?"
"No," The maiden smiled. "No. Now I understand who and what Entity is. And that is the most important thing I have learned. Take my knowledge with you, Melfina,… and never forget what the song of the stars sounds like."
"I won't forget, I promise. Goodbye…"
Bluestone awoke to feel someone shaking her shoulders gently. As she slowly opened her eyes, she found herself looking into the eyes of another.
"We all are, Katrina." He said, causing her to look around. Jean, Jim, Suzuka, Aisha, Backtrack, Reaper, Firestorm, Vapor, Nightshade, Siren, Mirage, Ron, Harry, and Melfina all stood nearby, watching in an understanding kind of way. Except Mirage and Siren, who seemed rather disinterested in what was going on. Cameron also stood nearby, smiling gently on the whole situation.
"Welcome back." Suzuka said with a gentle smile.
Collin helped her back to her feet, then the two exchanged a meaningful glance.
"… Collin,… when I found you dead,… I realized that I-"
"Shh,… you don't have to say it." He smiled at her. "I feel the same way about you, but I was always afraid to say anything in fear that we might loose our friendship. I'm sorry."
"Yeah, and while we're on the note of romances…" Harry began, he and Jean both turning to look at Melfina.
"Listen, Mel. Harry and I did a little talking with the maiden of the leyline when we first got here, and we both have some apologies to make." Jean stated with a slight blush.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry Melfina. I guess I got so caught up in the way I feel for you that I didn't stop to consider your feelings. I'm sorry."
"Yeah, I guess I got carried away too." Jean stated, rubbing the back of his head in an embarrassed sort of way.
Melfina couldn't restrain the wide smile that came over her.
"Well, that's really nice, to hear you both getting along." She said gently. "And I'm flattered you both care so much."
"Yeah, but from now on, we're going to let you make your own decisions, Melfina." Jean stated. Harry continued his thought. "And whatever choice you make is alright with us."
"Well, I guess I'll have to think about it for a while." Melfina said with a gentle smile at each of the two outlaws.
"Cameron," Suzuka began, getting the Archangel's attention. "I owe you a great deal of thanks for bringing me back to my brother, for saving his life and for helping us win against DragonMage and Balerra. From the deepest part of my heart,… thank you."
Cameron just smiled.
"I'm not the one you should thank, but Him who sent me. At any rate, I'll be sure to tell Him that you're very grateful."
"Hey Nightshade," Backtrack asked suddenly. "Where were you all this time? You never joined up with us at the entrance to the Dragon's Tribute."
"Well, unlike Reaper, Carnage found himself beaten senseless when I was through with him." She stated, then shrugged in an embarrassed sort of way. "So I got lost afterwards, big deal."
Meanwhile, Jim was busy telling Jean all about the battle against the dragon and how he'd vaporized the mountain right out from under the monster's feet.
"-And then there was this huge earthquake, but I stood my ground and I wasn't afraid at all. So there!" Jim teased.
"And you wonder why I don't want you risking your neck." Jean sighed. Then he turned to Dawn Sword. "Out of curiosity, what are you gonna do with 'the evil Olson twins' over there?" He asked, nodding towards Mirage and Siren. Dawn Sword thought about it for a minute, then replied.
"Well, since they did help against DragonMage, I suppose it would only be fair to give them a reduced sentence."
"Fine by me." Siren stated. "After a day like today, I don't want to see or hear anything that has anything to do with a dragon or dragons, ever again."
"I second the motion." Mirage added.
The group had been left the leyline on the Outlaw Star and El Dorado, joining up with the battered but victorious Remnant fleet on their way back to North Star. Cameron, however, had just sort of vanished when everyone's back was turned, maybe never to be seen from or heard of again; only time would tell. Mirage and Siren were transferred to the brig once the group returned to North Star, where the only battle they fought for awhile was with the food, which Dawn Sword had modified for them after they started complaining. Everyone else spent some quality time recovering from the many injuries and stresses associated with saving the universe; even the McDougal brothers decided to just take it easy for a day or two.
Then the fateful day came.
Dawn Sword had gathered everyone back together into the briefing room for one last time. Strangely, though, both Dawn Sword and Suzuka were absent at the start of the meeting. So, it sort of fell to Jean to start things up.
"So," He inquired, looking across the table at Bluestone. "What will you guys do now? I mean, the Dragons have pretty much lost the war now, and the leyline's dead. Where do you go from here?"
"… To be honest, we're not entirely sure." She stated, sighing and looking out the windows. "But after the battle of the leyline, I'd we're ready for just about anything. Who knows? There's a lot of unexplored space out there, and we're still trying to see if we can decode the leyline's databanks and figure out it's technology. If the Dragons submit a formal surrender any time soon, those'll probably be our first two options." She looked back at Jean. "After all, the Remnant is united by purpose. I'm sure we'll find some way to make ourselves useful in this universe."
"And what about you, like I have to ask." Jean inquired, looking up the table at Ron McDougal.
"What we do best, unless we find a better offer." He stated smugly. "But let's both agree to try and avoid each other more in the future, OK Starwind?"
"Sounds good to me."
Suddenly, the door to the briefing room slid open, and both Dawn Sword and Suzuka entered the room. All eyes instantly focused on Suzuka. In place of her usual attire, she now wore shining, mirror-like green body armor from the neck down, although she still carried at her side her wood sword. She took her seat right next to Dawn Sword, and everyone immediately looked at Suzuka expecting some kind of explanation. She slowly took a deep breath, then began.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking, about my life, about my past and my future, and I've come to a decision. I'm staying here, with my brother and the rest of the Outcast Legends and Remnant forces." She looked over at Collin. "After so many years, I finally know that I have a family, be it what it may. So I've decided to stay, and learn to fulfill my destiny in whatever way it may come."
"… Um, if I may ask," Bluestone said, looking at Dawn Sword. "Isn't that your mother's armor?"
He nodded.
"It just seems like the right thing to do. It wasn't doing us any good waiting around in storage." He replied.
"So I guess this is goodbye, huh Suzuka?" Jean inquired.
"Don't count on it." She laughed teasingly. "After all, you'll have to come back her every once in a while for repairs and weapons. Don't worry Jean, you haven't seen the last of Twilight Suzuka."
"Hey Jean, Ron." Dawn Sword said, pulling out a pair of data discs. "We wanted to say thanks and all for everything you've done, to both of you. So we decided to give you these." He handed one disc to each pilot.
"Um, thanks, but what's on em'?" Ron inquired.
"The location of a few dragonite deposits that no one's begun mining yet." Bluestone stated. "We came across those two sites thanks to some of our early probe launches. It was a really fortunate find, but we never had the opportunity to cash in on it."
"There should be enough dragonite deposits mapped out on that disc to let you break even with everyone you've used the 'when I hit it big' line on, Jean." Suzuka stated. "And probably a little bit left over. You'll have a clean slate, to do with what you want. Just don't get into trouble."
"C'mon, Suzuka." Jean laughed. "Me, not get into trouble?" He paused for a long moment. "… This has been some heck of a crazy adventure, huh? First it's 'space ghosts' and the 'all-mysterious Dawn Sword', then we get caught in the middle of an invisible intergalactic war that's been going on for ages, then it's up to us to save the galactic leyline. How crazy is that?"
"And don't forget about Cameron." Melfina interjected.
"Yeah, no kidding." Jean sighed. "This whole God thing is gonna take some getting used to…"
"No kiddin'." Aisha stated. "This whole thing's been one roller coaster after another. I'm kinda glad it's over, and that the empire isn't gonna find out about this."
"You mean you're not gonna tell them, Aisha?" Jim inquired.
"What, are you kidding? They'll put me in a mental hospital!" Aisha exclaimed.
"Hey Jim." Dawn Sword said, tossing Jim a small golden object. Jim's eyes lit up as he examined it. It was a small golden angel badge, just like the design on Dawn Sword, Cameron, and now Bluestone's swords. On the back it had, engraved in small letters, 'For exemplary courage and selflessness in the face of danger, awarded to Jim Hawkings by Collin Jeran and the Outcast Legends'. Dawn Sword smiled as Jim looked at it, speechless. "Wear it proudly, Jim. You've earned it. Consider yourself an Outcast Legend in the making."
"Hey, lemme see that." Jean said, leaning over and looking at the badge.
Collin Jeran, Katrina Bluestone, and 'agent Twilight' Suzuka Jeran of the Outcast Legends all stood, looking out the window of the briefing room and watched in silence as two small streaks of color, one metallic gold and the other a flamboyant red, headed off in different directions, slowly vanishing amongst the ever-distant stars. The look in Suzuka's eyes was one of slight sadness, but also one of renewed hope and joy. Joy specifically because, unlike happiness which comes for a short time and then fades away, joy is something much deeper and long-lasting, something that becomes part of who you are, just like hope and courage and wisdom.
She was back where she belonged, once again part of the past that she thought she'd lost a long time ago. She had a place to belong, and answers to her lifelong questions. And she knew, even if she couldn't see him at the moment, that she had an angelic protector watching out for her.
As the Outlaw Star and El Dorado faded into the distance, Collin and Katrina exchanged a meaningful glance, one that conveyed mutual love and affections that had long been held dormant. Right now they didn't need a kiss to convey how they felt for each other, or gifts or love letters or momentos. All they needed was each other and the stars.
All three silently listened, hoping to catch perhaps a glimpse of the song sung by the stars. The song of destiny come true.
________________________________________________________________
DA' LIST
The characters that I own:
Dawn Sword AKA Collin Jeran
NightShade
Reaper
Backtrack
Vapor
Firestorm
Katrina Bluestone
DragonMage
Archon
Carnage
Trick
Mirage
Siren
The stuff I don't own:
Jean, Jim, Melfina, Suzuka, Harry McDougal, Ron McDougal, Gilliam, Aisha, the Outlaw Star, the El Dorado, Hazanka, the galactic leyline, Hitiriga (Cerpa), the Kai Pirates are all owned by the Outlaw Star TV anime, which I think should have been expanded by several more seasons and tons more episodes. Any OLS fan will agree with me.
The Archangel Cameron, the demon overlord Balerra, the Armor of the Dragon, and the Archangel Kai are property of Eternal Studios. Go to
And thus, devoted readers, ends the saga of the Outcast Legends. Consider, for a moment, how it all started, and how it all ends. Then consider the transition between the two and you'll find the same astonishing transformation that I have. Writing OCL has been a real experience for me, mostly because the story, to some degree, wrote itself. Starting out, all I had was a vague idea and no ending, but as I progressed the story began to come alive to me, almost as if the hand of God was at work. I'll be honest, many of the events and sub-plots to Outcast Legends surprised even me, and by the way the story has turned out, I know that God had a hand in it.
And now, the moral. Actually, the moral is pretty much self explanatory; it's the inspiration that I want to convey. If you're reading this and you feel like nothing in your life makes sense, that things aren't the way you want them to be, that you feel like people are abandoning you and letting you down, I just want to encourage you in that God hears every prayer you pray, regardless of past, present, future, and circumstances. In fact, we can each consider ourselves Outcast Legends to some degree, if we look at it through His eyes. You have within you God-given talents and abilities that separate you from vast majorities of the world, unique qualities that set you apart, making you both human and unique. That's the 'Legends' part. Each one of us has the ability to distinguish ourselves for something good. We should strive for our destiny with our full heart. But because of your uniqueness, that means that there will be people and things that will come against you to rob you of your destiny, making you feel like an 'Outcast'. Maybe for some it isn't people that are coming against you, but maybe past events or circumstances you just can't seem to get rid of. Don't give up hope. Always remember…
When the stars don't shine
And you're scared and afraid
Just pray a small prayer
And God will be there
When things don't make sense
And you don't know what to do
Just believe, and see
The truth will set you free
God bless you as you seek for your destiny,
The Mysterious Voice Guy
PS: As always, any fanart anyone would like to do for OCL would be much appreciated. E-mail me at MysteriousVoiceGuy@juno.com