Author's note: Thanks for reading Please review. Anyway I kind of crossed-over the movie with the TV series and added a lot of my own. *grins* more importantly, people who are dead aren't and events that are supposed to happen (according to movie and series) ain't gonna. Also, Esca time is where it should be, but time on Earth is farther ahead.... Oh yeah Hitomi is on Gaea and she doesn't realize how the fast the Mystic Moon's time has gone by.
Sorry Folken fans! I love Folken I really I do it's just that the mean son of a bitch in the movie fits this story so much better! Once again I'm sorry…there is some serious Folken bashing in this fic!
All original Escaflowne characters, ideas, and settings belong to who they belong to *not me.... wails* Hunter, Blade, and Silver are mine! As well as any other characters who aren't of Esca origin.
Thanks for reviewing! It really brightens my day!
Since nobody took up my challenge on Hunter's height (She's 5'5") I guess nobody gets this chapter dedicated to them…just kidding, as always it's dedicated to my wonderful reviewers. I love you people!
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Part Seven: Obsequy
"Where the hell are we going anyway?" Blade demanded. Her short temper was on the account of the smell of hot horse, the smell of hot self, and of course, the smell of hot others. Better believe Dalet's a hottie…but I need a damn shower!
"To Boktor, capital of Zaiboch," Folken replied passively. Where? Oh wait…alien place…don't even know where here is… Over a week had passed since crossing Abaharaki territory. Nearly a week had gone by without either of the sister's seeing Hunter. Neither of them was worried. Yesterday, Dalet, for he was the only one who knew Blade 'personally,' besides Dilandau who knew Silver, but wasn't talking to either of them, had told them they had crossed into Zaiboch territory.
"It's about four moons ride," Dalet muttered as quietly as possible. Both Silver and Blade knew why. He didn't want to get into any more trouble than he was already in. The girls also knew why he was in trouble; they had gotten him there. Four moons? How long is that? Blade shot Silver a questioning look. Silver shrugged her shoulders, and answered with a look that plainly said, 'How would I know?' It was late afternoon, and the little group consisting of the Dragonslayers, Folken, two Sisters of Death, and one delusional old man, had been traveling since morning.
"I think I need a smoke," Blade declared to absolutely no one. It didn't fall on deaf ears, but none of her companions besides her sister knew what she was talking about.
"Since when do you smoke?" Silver demanded confused. Hum…
"I don't, but I hear it relieves stress," Blade answered shrugging her shoulders. Silver gaped at her sister, and gave her the, 'What? Are you nuts?' look.
"Where did you hear that? I hope you know cigarettes are very expensive and they are hardly ever manufactured anymore," she replied realizing what Blade was after, conversation. Silver was happy to oblige.
"From numerous sources! So is everything else nowadays!" Blade said calmly. Before Silver could answer, their delusional old companion's horse joined them.
"Hummaana, I am forsaken! Umenena," he sang. Both Silver and Blade stared at him, along with most of their other companions.
"Are you on crack?" Blade asked after a lengthy pause. Silver snorted and burst out laughing. Blade soon joined her, laughing so hard that her eyes started to water. Now everyone stared at them, except the old man, who stopped singing only to mutter strange sayings under his breath. When the sisters' laughter ceased, Blade sniffed and wiped her eyes. Woo…that was fun!
Silver was careful not to look at her sister, for fear that she would burst out in laughter once more. Blade smiled smugly. She hadn't had a laugh like that for a while.
The rest of the day past by uneventfully. Silver slept, while Blade kept watch. On Dalet. He had taken the night shift, or as in actual fact, he had been ordered to. It was part of his punishment. He is a bonified hottie isn't he? Blade, although she wanted to, did not stare out right at the gorgeous teen. Instead she only 'casually' glance in his direction once or twice. More than often she stared up at the cluttered black sky filled with little dots of whirling light. Her eyes had often sought out many constellations on nights back on earth. Here however, though they still held the familiar shape, they seemed to be distorted, stretched. Blade's eyes lingered on the moon and her planet. Will I ever go home? Do I want to go back?
"It's beautiful tonight isn't it?" Dalet whispered quietly, from where he was sitting. Blade looked up and met his gaze.
"What?" She asked, confused. Dalet's lips curled slightly into a small smile.
"The Mystic Moon, it's beautiful," He replied. Blade nodded and returned her eyes to Earth. The Mystic Moon? That's what they call you, Earth?
"You better turn in, Blade. Tomorrow's going to be long," Dalet informed quietly. Blade nodded and did as she was told. For some reason she trusted Dalet. Never before had she trusted anyone, except for Hunter and Silver. People turned on you. That was human nature, at least to Blade's knowledge. In her experiences, other people only used you to get what they want. And when that was over with you were yesterday's garbage. Then they threw you out. She was naturally an untrusting person, but both of her sisters had earned her trust. But somehow, Dalet just came and received. Am I crushing on him that badly? Morning came and found her in quite the disagreeable mood.
"I will not eat that crap anymore!" She snarled angrily. Silver rolled her eyes and shook her head. Folken was annoyed, and Dilandau was ready to slaughter her.
"Shut up and eat your gruel, Blade," Silver ordered calmly, "If I have to eat it, you have to eat it." Blade glared at her sister. You're supposed to be on my side, Sis! Silver seemed to decode the glare and gave Blade an, 'I am on your side, if you don't behave, Hunter will kick your ass,' look.
"Dammit! I thought you people where supposed to be the best fighters in the entire world, can't you eat better? Gruel is…well…degrading for people of your status!" Blade remarked, trying to get them to do something to get better rations.
"Gruel is not degrading, Blade. It's just watered down porridge," Silver said sweetly. Blade stared at her.
"You're not helping me…" Blade replied through clenched teeth. She watched Silver shrug her shoulders. She doesn't want to help me?
"I'm perfectly fine eating this," Silver responded lying like an expert, something Blade had taught her to do when they were twelve. Blade would only get in trouble from where this was headed. Silver realized Blade was sick of having to do what others told her to do.
"All right then! Screw the damn Dragonslayers! I'll just go hunt my own damn food!" Blade replied tossing her hair out of her eyes as she turned on her heel and started to walk away. Silver's head came up from where her eyes had fixated on her gruel commanding it to become edible. She stared after her sister.
"Hey Blade! How the hell are you going to slay it? Imprecate at it until it croaks from horror of your extensive vocabulary, even in foreign terminologies? You don't carry a damn knife!" Silver shouted after standing up. Blade stopped and swiveled until she was facing her sister. Huh? What did she say? A smirk fixated itself on Blade's face. Very calmly she held up a dagger. The color drained from Silver's face. She looked angry.
"How dare you insult me with your words bigger than four letters!" Blade said mockingly hurt. There was a smile on her face as well as her sister's. No one accompanying them said anything at all.
"Blade! What Silver said was 'How are you going to kill it? Swear at it until it dies because of all the swear words you know? Even in different languages?'" a voice from behind her said. Blade jumped. And spun on the balls of her feet to face her older sister.
"Oh it's you. What the hell took you so long Hunter?" Blade said as Hunter removed Silver's dagger from Blade's hand. She then flipped it to its rightful owner who caught it skillfully and replaced it in its sheath.
"Oh nothing…" Hunter calmly as she turned around and walked back into the forest. Silver, Blade, and the rest of their 'crew,' save the delusional old man watched her go. When Hunter came back she was leading a blue-black horse. Silver narrowed her eyes.
"Where did you get that horse?" She asked suspiciously. Blade started to laugh; she already knew.
"Around…" Hunter replied vaguely gesturing her hand in the direction she had come from. Blade stopped laughing, her eyes widened and she suddenly attacked 'Hunter's' horse's saddlebags.
"Where? You didn't steal it did you?" Silver demanded. Hunter looked shocked.
"How could you suggest such a thing? His owner won't need him anymore anyway," Hunter added as an afterthought. Silver and Hunter both looked offended.
"YES!" REAL FOOD!" Blade yelled holding up some beef jerky. Both Hunter and Silver ceased in their staring contest to start laughing. Blade started to chomp on Hunter's food oblivious to her sisters' laughter.
"Hunter, about that horse…" Silver started to say when they had stopped snickering. Hunter rolled her eyes.
"I didn't kill him if that's what you're asking. Just knocked him out for a while, took his horse and left," Hunter said shrugging her shoulders.
"Why did you knock him out?" Silver asked still not at all convinced. Though why she wasn't was a total mystery to Blade. Hunter never lied to her sisters unless it was conventional. And that was hardly ever.
"He was trying to kill me. I think he worked for that girlie man Allen. I believe he said something about my being an assassin…hum…I wonder where he got that from?" Hunter replied calmly looking past Silver towards Dilandau. She sneered and suddenly realized something.
"Blade, don't eat all my food. I am not going to eat gruel," Hunter said annoyed. Blade's face was all innocence as she sneakily stole some more food.
Folken observed the power Hunter appeared to have over her younger sisters with a kind of awe. To an untrained eye, it would seem that she had absolutely no mastery over them, but as much as they seemed to disobey her, she always appeared to have the upper hand. To have control over these three would have marvelous results…Silver's intelligence, Blade's quick hand, and Hunter's control. And the best part to him was that it was apparent that the only one he would have to win over was Hunter. With her in the palm of my hand…the other two will come easily…
"I assume you are Hunter? I am Folken. Your sister's have had much to say about you," Folken said trying to flatter her. When Hunter's gaze met his, you could have frozen the blood of dragons with it.
"I know you…you ordered Dilandau to kill my sister," Hunter replied calmingly cold. Folken flinched inwardly, not realizing this obstacle was in the way; that Hunter had heard him threaten her sister.
"I had no idea. I am dreadfully sorry. It will not happen again, you have my word. As an apology, why don't you and your sister's come to Boktor with us? You will be my guests of honor," Folken presented. Hunter eyed him carefully, before turning her head and looking at Silver and at Blade who was chewing on her valuable prize, Hunter's jerky. Silver gave a half shrug along with a warning in her eyes, which said, 'it's up to you, careful he is more than he seems.' Blade however glanced towards one of Dilandau's men. It read clearly in Hunter's eyes, but was muddled in Folken's. What was that?
"Since I don't think we have much of a choice, I'll agree. But if you threaten one or both of my sisters again I will slaughter you like the cow you are," Hunter said just as calmly and coldly. She turned and mounted her horse. Folken kept his face impassive. Step one was complete. Bringing Hunter into his grasp would be easier than he thought. She threatened, but what would come of that? She was just a girl; she couldn't do anything to him.
He didn't realize just how wrong he was.
Dilandau lead the strange little group. He was accustomed to it. The girls did not start the day off by gossiping. Perhaps this was because of Hunter's appearance, and her joining them so few moons ago. Though the silence was a blessing to his ears, it made him nervous. Something was wrong. Dilandau sensed it in his mind, his blood even. They would reach Boktor within the next moon. He knew they would. This area around him was familiar terrain. Nothing was new to him here.
"What is your line of occupation? I can tell you are no mere woman," Folken said to Hunter. It bothered Dilandau that the Strategoes was acting this way towards Hunter, although why he did not know. Hunter, however, remained cold and distant unable to be reached by any flattery or the heavily veiled threats Folken continued to throw at her.
"I am an assassin," Hunter replied shortly. A smug smile threatened to form over Dilandau's lips. So you heard my description of you in Allen's barn did you? You must have been hiding in the rafters…is it true?
"Really? From where might I ask? And on what business?" Folken asked falsely interested. Dilandau tuned in. Where was she from? The girls were strange. They wore strange clothing, said strange things, and did strange things.
"From a capital of a land so far away you couldn't possibly have heard of it," Hunter responded exasperated. Dilandau realized that she wanted to be left alone, and Folken's continuous questions where beginning to annoy her.
"Try me," Folken said pleasantly. Now Folken was annoying Dilandau. Wouldn't he just shut-up and leave the girl alone?
"Los Angeles, California. The Golden State," She responded rendering Folken speechless for at least a little while. Dilandau had never heard of that place before. Unfortunately neither had Folken and he wanted to hear all about it. Dilandau unconsciously bit his own tongue in aggravation. The coppery metallic taste of his own blood surprised him for a moment. He hadn't tasted blood, anyone's blood for a long time. It distracted him for a while, long enough to not hear Blade tell Folken to shut-up. He heard the voices, but didn't make the time to break out of his speculation to place the words. When he did, it was quiet. No one spoke. Not a word was said. The eerie silence that hung over them was broken by a bird calling in the distance. Moments flew by without a word.
"Looks like rain…" Silver said quietly. Dilandau glanced up at the sky. Indeed it did look like rain. The sky was filled with salt-and-pepper clouds.
"Let it rain," Blade replied darkly.
"Let the sky open up, and reap havoc upon thirsting mortals. Let the winds blow away our enemy's only protection. Let us be guided by the single ray of light that only our eyes can see. Let acid cloudbursts fall, and freezing monsoons follow…" Every single person stopped and turned to stare at their delusional prisoner.
"How…" Hunter's voice failed her while staring at the ancient man.
"…poetic…" Silver finished for her. Dilandau glanced at the sisters. All three of them sat there staring at the prisoner. The one he had been denied killing. His eyes narrowed. He felt that somehow, some way, he was missing something. Something important, important enough to secure survival.
"I still think he's on crack…" Dilandau heard Blade whisper to Silver. Hunter appeared to have heard it also, for she turned her head to look at her siblings. There was a faint trace of a smile threatening to appear on her face.
"We better keep moving. That is if we wish to make Boktor by the next moon," Dilandau spoke up calmly, still feeling a little weirded out by the old man's attempt at poetry.
The company moved on through the night without further delay. Neither Dilandau nor Folken felt it necessary to stop for the night, mainly because it had begun to rain. Blade would've started to complain if Silver had not elbowed her in the side.
The next day the city of Boktor entered into their view. Dilandau saw this as neither fortunate nor displeasing. Either way, he would be rid of Folken for at least a few days. Not to mention Silver, Blade, and Hunter would be out of his hair in no time. Or so he thought. At the gate, a sentinel stopped them to ask their business. Dilandau glared angrily at him. He must be new… A slow wicked smile appeared on his face.
"My business? You need not know my business. I am Dilandau Albatoa, General of the Dragonslayers," Dilandau said softly, malice dripping from his voice. His enjoyment from watching the guard squirm disgusted Folken and he knew it. The few years he had been the General of the Dragonslayers, Dilandau had learned to read Folken quite well. Very well indeed.
"…L-lord D-Dil-Dilandau…forgive me! Please! …Lord…Dilandau…" the sentinel muttered, panicking. Apparently his fear for Dilandau was great. Whose wouldn't? From the corner of one of his magenta eyes, Dilandau saw Hunter watching with interest.
"Dilandau, that is enough. We do not have time for this. Please allow us to pass through," Folken said sternly. Dilandau continued to glare at the guard while he opened the gate. Next time…
Folken pulled his mount ahead of Dilandau's stallion. He watched the man in front of him with a vengeful hatred. Clenching his jaw, he ran a finger over his right cheek.
"Aggravating, isn't he?" Dilandau jerked his head in the direction of Hunter's voice. Her 'horse' had found its self along side his. He gave an unsociable nod. Once again, he just barely caught the smirk that crossed her face.
"What's the matter, Dil? Don't want to talk to me?" Hunter asked him malevolently. This time her smirk stayed on her face. It annoyed him, yet…
"Don't call me that. And no I don't want to talk to you. I'm a little preoccupied right now," Dilandau replied.
"Okay Dil. I won't call you that. That is such an uncommon name. That. That Albatoa. Hum that sounds…odd," Hunter said mockingly. Dilandau clenched his jaw again.
"What do you want?" Dilandau replied calmly. Hunter smiled as they turned the corner onto another cobbled street.
"Now we're getting somewhere! What does he want with my sisters and me?" Hunter asked nodding towards Folken. Dilandau's gaze fixated on her.
"How would I know?" He demanded. Hunter ran her left hand through her hair. She shrugged.
"I don't know Dil. You two just seem so…close," Hunter replied calmly. She scratched the back of her neck.
"Do you realize what…" Dilandau started. He stopped when they heard mournful music. Is that what I think it is? The streets where clear and many people where dressed in black. Mourning clothes? Who?
"That's odd…" he said more to himself than to anyone else. Hunter, however, heard.
"What's odd? Come on! Spill!" She demanded, curious.
"Funeral processions…they are only performed for…royalty…" Dilandau suddenly realized what was going on. What a blow to Folken…they were so close…them and their idiotic final plans…
Emperor Dornkirk was dead.
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Hee. Hee. Hee…Muhahahahahaha!!!!! *Suddenly realizes people are staring…* What? Oh come on! I know that deep down all (and not so deep for others) wanted that old windbag to die! (And not cause the nice Folken to die…) Dornkirk was an old dude that was like a bagillion zillion years old! (OK only like a little over 200, but…)
Till next time!
Lizardgirl