Part Ten...Unwanted Destiny
Vera was running down a dark tunnel, with lights spaced far apart as to provide only minimal lighting. Something was chasing her from behind. She didn't know what, all she knew was that she had to run from it.
" Can't fight it... Can't fight it..." her own voice chanted hauntingly, yet the only sounds escaping Vera were gasping, shrill, animal-like noises of terror. Heavy feet pounded from behind her. Suddenly, she was running through a desert, then a forest, then a great city, then a ruined village. Faces and objects blurred as she streaked by, her body screaming at her to stop.
" Can't fight it... Can't fight it..." came the chant again. Then, in a flash of light and an instantaneous feeling that she was floating, Vera found herself standing on a beautiful plateau under the shade of a huge, ancient tree.
" Can't fight it. Can't fight it. Can't fight it." the chant repeated, louder and more insistant. Then, as instantly as she had been brought to this place, a flurry of black and white feathers surrounded her.
" Can't fight it." repeated the chant. Instead of only her voice, it was several voices whispering along with it. Vera walked to the edge of the plateau and peered at the ground far away. It was soaked in blood.
" Can't fight it. Can't fight it." chanted the voices. Then fire burned brightly, feeding on the blood. The heat and smoke billowed around Vera, as she stumbled back in horror.
" Gaea is burning. Can't fight it." her own voice whispered, standing out from the continued whispered chant, yet Vera had not moved her lips except to form a o of surprise.
" You will bring Gaea's destruction, or its salvation." her grandmother's voice echoed from far away.
" Believe." Michael's voice begged. Vera looked around for him, but he was nowhere to be seen.
" Gaea is burning. Burning." her voice repeated. The blood soaked up the plateau and under Vera's feet, making her scream as red drops clung to her shoes.
" No!" she screamed amid the roar of fire. The fire, following the blood, crept up the plateau and formed a ring around her, and the sky blackened with smoke. Still, black and white feathers flurried around her. Suddenly, Vari stood by her side. Magically, both their wings were streched out, white against black.
" Gaea's burning." Vari whispered.
" Burning." Vera agreed. Then, there was a bright flash of light...
Vera sat up with a start and a yelp of fear. She looked around to see it was night, and she was safe in her quarters on the Blade. Gasping for breath, Vera struggled to calm herself and ignore the powerful rush of adreniline. Slowly she lay back down, but even though exhaustion crept over her, the pit in her gut would not let her sleep.
Solo stared in awe. King Van was lying, unconscious, on a hospital bed. Red soaked through his bandages. One of the few figures Solo had ever had that symbolized freedom and strength lay mortally wounded.
" Don't die." Solo begged in a whisper. " You've got two beautiful daughters and a beautiful wife to live for, not to mention the whole of Gaea may be depending on you." Solo let his head hang in defeat. He felt for the comforting, cold steel of his dagger and left the room. He found himself in the clearing, just outside the dock. Slowly, he unsheathed the knife and regarded it in the moon light.
" Your name's Solo, right?" a voice from behind asked. Solo sheathed the dagger again quickly and wheeled around. Vari had snuck up on him. He breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of her. Vari, who had never experienced betrayal or any of the life experiences most fifteen year olds had because of her accelerated growth, was a very naive girl, but sweet. Solo had grown fond of her in the few hours they had known each other.
" Yes, Lady Vari." he answered formally. Vari waved her hand in Vera-ish fashion. She had obviously adopted some of Vera's gestures, styles, and characteristics as her own.
" You don't have to use formalities. I won't tell." she said quickly. Solo looked up at the stars glistening overhead and sighed. Vari followed his gaze. " Sure is pretty tonight." she said quietly.
" Yes. They look like diamonds." Solo answered. Vari looked straight at him and Solo could see her studying his profile out of the corner of his eye.
" Why did you come out here so late?" she asked. " You're not planning on leaving already, are you? Going back to Tygir?" she added. Solo felt his dagger and a pang of guilt.
" I might have been planning on leaving, but not to Tygir." he replied. Vari cocked her head.
" I may not have been alive as long as you or Vera or Tygris, but I do know some things. For instance, I know running away never solves anything." she said quietly. Solo looked at her. Her reddish-brown eyes gleamed in the moonlight. Solo balked. She had hit the nail on the head. How could she have known he was looking for an end to his problems?
" Maybe. But as you mentioned, you haven't been alive as long as me. You haven't seen what I have." he reminded her. Vari scowled.
" So what? I'm still fifteen! At least in mind and body. You think you've got problems, buddy, try dealing with a family who still thinks you're two." Vari said. Solo laughed at her scowl.
" I guess you've got a point, Princess." he said.
" Princess today, Goddess tomorrow." Vari retorted to his teasing tone.
" I wouldn't doubt it." Solo admitted. The two stood, star-gazing for a moment, until Vari shivered. A sudden impulse overrode everything Solo knew he should do.
" It's getting cold. Come on, let's go inside." he said, putting an arm around Vari's shoulders and leading her inside. Vari smiled and leaned on his shoulder in a friendly manner. But Solo felt something old within him wake up, and suddenly the dagger hanging from his belt seemed so irrelevent.
Vera barreled down the halls. It was early morning, and she had a plan.
" Vera, please let me do it." Vari pleaded with her. Vera shook her head curtly.
" No way. I'm older. I get it." she answered. Vari stopped chasing Vera and jabbed her fists into her hips.
" Vera! I'll tell Mom and Uncle Allen! They'll bust you good if they find out what you're up to." she cried. Vera wheeled around and stuck her fist in Vari's face.
" Don't you dare breathe a word to anyone, got it?" she growled.
" Besides, I can handle it." she said, turning and walking down the hall again.
" I dunno. Uncle Allen said that it almost killed Dad lots of times." Vari replied, resuming chasing Vera down the hall.
" I said I can handle it, Vari." Vera repeated.
" Can't we at least tell Michael or Tygris or Solo? Somebody? You know, for back up, just in case?" Vari asked. Vera shook her head.
" No, it's our fight. Dad's hurt, so he can't do it. You don't have any experience in a guymelif, so I'm the one. You can take Double Edge to start learning how to pilot, if you want." she offered. Vari scowled.
" No fair. I get your old guymelif, and you get a brand new one?" she asked. Vera smiled sarcastically.
" It's not new. The thing's so ancient, it's an artifact." she said patronizingly.
" But Vera, Dad's already bonded to it. We don't know what'll happen if you bind to it too. We don't know what'll happen if you even just try to pilot it. Seeing you die once was scary enough, let's not repeat history, okay?" Vari said.
" Too late, Vari." Vera said, stopping and looking Vari in the eye.
" Way too late. We were born to repeat history. I told you about that dream I had. I don't particularly feel like watching all Gaea burn before me. I'm doing it." she said.
" I don't like this. Your health is fragile enough, what with your wings. Trying to not only pilot, but bond Escaflowne to you might be the last straw." Vari warned. " Not to mention that, if you survive, Mom'll kill you." she added. Vera shrugged and continued down the hall, pushing a door open to reveal the docking bay. She ran toward Escaflowne and climbed up its leg.
" I'm gonna do it, Vari! Even if it does kill me!" she called down as she pressed her hand against the energist it glowed feverishly and dimmed, awaiting the next step. Vera reached into her pocket to reveal the Energist she had stolen from the dragon she had slayed so many months ago. Was that really me, she wondered, it feels like a completely different person did that. Carefully, she pricked her finger on the edge of her sword and let the blood drip over the Energist, earning a healthy glow from it. Finally, she shoved the small Energist into the one on Escaflowne. A bright glow surrounded her quickly, then vanished as the cockpit opened up. Vera climbed in and let the guymelif strap her down. Slowly, after the face grid had swung closed, she lifted her arm and laughed gleefully as Escaflowne mimicked her motions. From the ground, Vari scowled at her.
" Vera Fanel, you just wait till Mom and Dad find out!" she cried, then ran off and climbed into Double Edge. As she stood, Double Edge swayed unsteadily. " Whoa! This is weird!" Vari cried. Experimentally, Vera stood as well, pleased that Escaflowne obeyed her commands.
" It's easy. It's just like walking, except you're a hundred times taller." Vera called back.
" That's exactly why it's weird!" Vari screamed as she tripped and almost fell flat on her face.
" Hey, Double Edge is a good melif, don't bust it up on your first run!" Vera called.
" Easy for you to say!" Vari retorted, regaining her balance by a thread. Vera smiled and moved the face grid to the side and poked her face out.
" You'll learn. Now let's go." she said, leading Vari out of the dock into the forest. She was surprised with the ease that Escaflowne moved. It was almost as if the giant guymelif was gliding over the ground. Vera pulled out the sword, which formed out of liquid metal, and gave it a few experimental swipes.
" Nice." she admonished admiringly. Vari was moving around and experimenting with Double Edge's sword.
" This is kind of fun. Now if only I actually knew how to use a sword." she said.
" I repeat my earlier statement: you'll learn." Vera replied.
" But there's just so much for me to learn." Vari complained. Vera contemplated smacking her with the flat of her sword.
" You'll be fine. Come on, let's dock these melifs before we get caught." she called, leading Vari back inside. She docked Escaflowne easily and climbed down. Vari came tumbling out of Double Edge.
" Ow!" she yelled when her rear connected with the floor. She stood up, rubbing her rear painfully and dusting the dirt off of herself. " Well, I hope you're happy." she said angrily. Vera crossed her arms and grinned.
" Sure am. That machine moves like the wind. I love it." she said. The two sisters started to walk towards the door, only to freeze in horror. There, blocking the door, stood Hitomi with Allen and Millerna on either side of her.
" Uh-oh." Vera muttered.
" I told you to wait!" Vari proclaimed loudly. Vera clamped a hand over her mouth to hush her.
" Too late, Vera Fanel, we've seen you. And you know who else could have seen you? THE ENEMY!" Hitomi said, bellowing the last part and making Vera and Vari cringe.
" But, Mom-" Vari protested.
" No buts." Millerna interrupted her.
" We were just-" Vera tried, but a threatening look from her mother silenced her.
" We don't want to know. You two are in big trouble, especially you, Vera." Allen said, his voice low and menacing. The two girls let their heads hang.
Vari rubbed her temples soothingly and sighed. Boy, what an earfull, she thought painfully. She walked into the room where Solo was staying and saw him reading some papers at his desk with rapt attention. He looked up at her and smiled.
" Hello, how are- What's the matter?" he asked, noticing Vari's expression. Vari made a disgusted face and threw herself onto Solo's bed with a plop.
" Ugh. Everything." she said, her voice muffled by the pillow she had buried her face in.
" You got busted for taking out the melifs, didn't you?" Solo asked. Vari heard the rustle of his papers being put away.
" How'd you know?" Vari asked, lifting her head off the pillow.
" Well, let's just say a cat told me." Solo responded, sitting cross-legged on the bed beside her.
" Which one? There seem to be a bunch running around." Vari said, her voice tainted with dry humor. Solo smiled.
" I don't remember her name. But it doesn't matter." he said, waving his hand. Vari realized he was mimicking her and scowled.
" Man, now I'm scheduled for a training run with Allen. For three hours. And that's the first of five." She said, propping her head on her hand and looking at Solo. He was handsome, with messy black hair and startling green eyes. His skin was a dark olive and his atheletic build suggested a hard lifestyle. He worked for the enemy, Vari knew, but he was actually a traitor who truly served Fanelia. She often wondered why, but Vera had told her Solo never talked about his employment, so she never brought it up.
" You make that sound like a bad thing." Solo said, smiling.
" Isn't it?" Vari asked, sitting up.
" Well, not really. You get to learn swordmanship and guymelif piloting. And seeing that you, um, shall we say borrowed a guymelif to learn, I guess they take that as you saying you want to learn how. So really, you actually getting a reward." Solo said. Vari quirked an eyebrow at him.
" Somehow, your logic escapes me." she said slowly. Solo laughed.
" My logic escapes me half the time." he agreed. Vari felt a slow, reluctant smile spread over her face. She liked Solo, she had liked him from the moment she saw him. And yet, something Vera had said to her when she was still in the body of a two year old haunted her. Don't ever get involved with a guy, Vera had said, it leads only to pain. And yet, Vera seemed so happy with Michael. She was all smiles and sparkling eyes. Another thing that warned Vari away from Solo was that she felt she didn't deserve him. She was different from other girls, and if her life progressed the way it had, she would die of old age before the year was out. This knowledge made her want to both jump head first into what was only beginning with Solo and stay away from him. Vari listened to the latter, though it was very hard. Solo's subtle flirts were not helping.
" Do want to go stargazing tonight?" Solo asked, snapping Vari away from her thoughts.
" Hm? Oh, yeah, sure." she said casually, though her heart leaped. After she had left Solo, she ran straight for her sister. She knocked on the door then went in to see Vera reading a book on her bed. Vera looked up at her sister.
" Hey, kiddo." she said, then looked back to her book.
" I'm fine, thanks." Vari said sarcastically. " What are you reading?" she asked. Vera shrugged.
" A book on decoding dreams." she answered. She marked her spot, closed the book, put it aside, then rubbed the bridge of her nose. " It's very confusing." she added.
" Um, listen, can I ask you about some stuff?" Vari asked, cutting straight to why she had come. Vera looked up at her with a peircing gaze.
" What stuff?" she asked cautiously.
" Um... Guys." Vari said quietly, blushing avidly. Vera laughed and laid back on her bed.
" Is that all? You looked so serious, I thought you were gonna ask me something hard!" she cried. Vari brightened up.
" So you have experience?" she asked. Vera cocked her head.
" Well, that all depends on whether you want to get rid of a guy, or if you want to get him interested in you." she said.
" That's what I'm not sure about. I like him and everything, but there's the whole thing on how I age." Vari said, blushing. Vera smiled.
" Well, I'd say go for it. You only get one chance to be young. So, who is he?" Vera asked expectantly. Vari looked around as though she expected spies to be in the room.
" Um... Promise you wan't tell a soul?" she asked quickly. Vera's smile broadened.
" I swear on the honor of Fanelia." she answered.
" Solo." Vari whispered. Vera fell backwards and almost rolled off her bed, laughing hysterically. " Hey, it's not funny!" Vari yelled. Vera snickered.
" It's not that it's funny. It's just that my little sister likes a guy who used to like me!" she said, half choking her words in laughter. Vari rocked back in shock.
" He used to like you? As in, really like?" she asked, shocked.
" Yeah, but it was just a crush, and the feeling wasn't mutual." Vera said, almost totally calm.
" Then, how did you get Michael to like you?" Vari asked. Aside from her mother and father, Vera and Michael had the most successful relationship Vari knew. They deeply loved one another, and since Michael's release from the prison hold, where he had spent all of Vari's life, they were hardly apart. The only time they seperated was when one was asleep or something. Which was why they weren't together now, Michael was fast asleep.
" I didn't." Vera answered, frowning thoughtfully. " It just sort of happened. I guess, at first, he was only interested because of my looks. Or at least, that's what I thought. But then, things started happening. One of the first was that he swore to be my guardian. I got mad at him for that, but he still was there, no matter what. He nearly died for me, and I guess then I realized that he loved me in a way none of my other suitors had. To them, I was a prize they wanted to win, a pretty trophy to show off. To Michael, I was a person, a person he loved. And that was what made me fall in love with him." she said, recounting past events that only she could see. " He had a metal claw go right through his gut for me." she whispered, smiling. She held up a golden dagger charm she always wore, took it off, and handed it to Vari for her to look at.
" He gave that to me. It's sort our way of saying we love each other. As long as I wear that, I'm his." Vari ran her fingers over the gold gently.
" Wow. I guess you two want to get married someday, huh?" she asked, looking up. Vera blushed lightly.
" I guess so. We've never talked about it, but it's sort of comes with the package, you know?" she said. Vari nodded.
" Michael's a good guy, even if he does sleep a lot. He'd make a good king." she said. Vera smiled at a future she imagined.
" Mm-hm. But, knowing him, he'd sleep through his own coranation." she said, with a loving laugh.
" So," Vari began with her favorite sly smile. " Have you two ever done it?" she asked. Vera's face turned bright red.
" Hey, you don't get to ask that!" she cried, swinging at Vari, who ducked.
" Yes I do. So, have you?" Vari asked loudly, holding up a pillow to protect herself.
" No, I'm proud to say we have not, you little snoop!" Vera cried, wrestling the pillow away from Vari and tickling her.
" Okay, okay, I give! Uncle!" Vari cried, gasping for breath as Vera finally pulled back the onslaught. " So, what should I do about Solo?" Vari asked when both the girls' breathing rates returned to normal.
" Be yourself. You're a pretty girl, Vari, and I know Solo. He's a shy guy, you have to really try to get him to come out of his shell. But if you just be yourself, he will. He's got a lot of problems, though." Vera said, frowning. " He came from a real honorable family in Fanelia. He was kidnapped when he was really young by some left over Zaibach soldier and taken to another country. When he came back to Fanelia, he was working for Zensho, an older suitor or mine gone wrong. His dad got so mad that he disowned poor Solo. I guess the guy still feels like Fanelia is his home, but he's not wanted. But, he's Fanelian, and patriotism runs in the blood. He really hates being a traitor, I think, even for the good of his home country. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if I found out he was looking for an escape. I heard him say once that he felt what his father did was unfair, since he had no choice, he was only trying to survive and come home. But that's about all I've ever heard him say about his family. Aside from that, Zensho used to get a kick out of humiliating poor Solo. I get the feeling Tygir is even worse, and since Zensho's dead and Tygir's taken over, I think Solo may have been going for a last run when he came to us." Vera finished, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
" What do you mean?" Vari asked, suddenly afraid.
" I'm sure Solo has stuck his neck out for us many times. I know he's done it for me quite a few times. This time, he may have literally strapped himself down to the chopping block and is just biding his time until the executioner swings the ax. I think Solo looking to end his life before Tygir get's the pleasure of doing it for him." Vera said, looking at Vari seriously. " Solo would have gotten it done with already, though. I don't know why we still have a living Solo running around." Vari gasped.
" Last night. I walked out to look at the stars last night and Solo was out there. He had something in his hand. Maybe he was trying to kill himself then. But he came back inside with me. I don't understand." she said quickly. Vera's eyes hazed.
" I've known Solo for a long time, and I do like him as a friend. I care about him a lot. He's saved my life, and who knows what else he's sndured for us..." she said quietly, looking away. Vari looked at the clock on Vera's nightstand. It was three forty-five. She had to report to Allen for her training. I've only got a little time, she thought, imagining the speeding clock that counted down the precious minutes of life she had, to save my family, my world, myself, and Solo.
Solo tried with all his might to concentrate on the map he had in front of him, struggling to give Allen an estimate of where the Black Death was. But he couldn't. Memories kept rushing at him...
" Where are you taking me?! Lemme go!" a young boy's voice rang in his mind. Resting his head in his hands, Solo squeezed his eyes shut and tried to block out the images that haunted him. A boy with messy black hair, green eyes, and dark olive skin, his face streaked with panicked tears, flailing in vain against an older man in strange armor.
" Please! I want my mamma!" the boy screamed helplessly.
" Why me?" Solo murmured out loud, squeezing his head as though trying to push the memories out of his head. " Why did they take me?" he wondered, releasing the pressure on his head and opening his eyes. " Why was I set apart from the rest?" he asked the thin air. Vari's eyes suddenly floated before him, her smile sweet and naive. Her eyes were always so wide and innocent, she was always looking for something new to learn. " Stupid fate. She deserves better than this life." Solo muttered. She deserved better than him, too. She deserved a handsome prince who had mountains of riches to give her and a beautiful castle on top of a mountain to which they woould ride off to, framed by a sunset, just like in a story. That's what Vari deserved, not a traitor. Not a traitor who lived dishonestly, who had been disowned by his "family" for surviving. And yet, she had never even seen Fanelia. All she had ever known was this ship, and the nearby forests. All she knew was her differences, all she knew was what she could learn in roughly a month and a half of life. Solo looked up at a small part of the map that represented Fanelia. Such a small country, yet braver citizens were no where to be found. The greatest fighters ever came out of that little country, the most beautiful princess, and Gaea's greatest mysteries found their origin there.
" Maybe I don't deserve her love, but I can give her knowledge." Solo muttered, standing and pushing the map aside. Might as well give up, he most certainly wasn't going to get anywhere with it. She deserves so much better, he thought painfully, much better.
Later...
" Right there, that one. See it?" Solo asked.
" Yeah, the really bright one?" Vari asked to make sure.
" That's it. That's the North Star. No matter where you are, if you can see the North Star, then you'll at least know the directions." Solo explained. Vari sighed. Her head was at his feet and his head at her feet.
" But that only tells you north, how can you find all the other directions with it?" Vari asked. Solo smiled softly. He had been teaching Vari numerous things for hours, like how to know what berries in the forest were good to eat and what was poisonous, or how to climb a tree. Now he was teaching her about the stars.
" Well, you know north is opposite of south, right? So, pretend you were looking at it from the sky, like a map. You've got north and south. On a map, you'll find that west and east always read 'we.' So, just by finding north, you've got a natrual compass." he explained. Vari stopped to ponder this, then as suddenly as a match being struck, her face lit up.
" Oh, I get it!" she cried with a laugh. Solo chuckled. She was so eager to learn, so hungry for knowledge.
" Alright, do you know what a constallation is?" Solo asked. Vari punched his leg.
" Quit asking me if I know something! Chances are I don't!" she cried. Solo smiled at how she expected it to hurt.
" Sorry. A constallation is a grouping of stars that make a sort of picture. Like that one right there, where the North Star is? If you look close, you'll see the Big Dipper. The North Star is the corner of it." he explained. Vari lifted her hand and traced the stars, connecting.
" It's a big spoon!" she exclaimed after a moment.
" That's the Big Dipper." Solo corrected. " Some say that the constallation you were born under affects the outcome of your life." he added. Vari lifted her head to look at them.
" Really? Teach me!" she demanded. Solo smiled at her wide, innocent eyes.
" Okay. Let's see. You were born about a month and a half ago, right? So, the sun would have been rising under that constalation." Solo said, pointing skyward. He could see the gathering of stars, but Vari apparently couldn't.
" Where? I don't see it." she said. Solo sighed.
" Come here, put your head near mine." he commanded. Vari sat up up and then laid back down next to him. Instead of laying her head down next to his like Solo thought she would, she laid it down on his chest. Solo was sure she could feel his heart pounding. He took a deep, soothing breath, despite the weight of Vari's head on his chest.
" So? Where is it?" Vari asked. Solo breathed deeply again.
" Right there. If you really imagine it, it looks like two girls standing together. That constallation is called the Twins. You're a Twin." he explained. Vari nodded.
" Uh-huh. I get it. What are you?" she asked.
" Well, that's kinda off the topic, but oh well. I'm a Lion. See, that one right there." Solo responded. He pointed to his constallation, then correcting Vari's arm so that she was pointng at it.
" It looks like a lion!" she giggled. Solo decided to try a subtle move.
" Another thing some people think is that people fall in love according to the stars. Like, Vera for instance, is a Virgin. That's he constallation. Michael's is a Crab. The constallation Virgin is under Mercury, a planet close to the sun, and the Crab is under Neptune, which is pretty far away. Neptune and Mercury go well together, and that means that they are really good together." he explained. Vari looked intrigued, then blushed lightly.
" How about Lion and Twin? Do they go good together?" she asked. Solo's heart leapt into his throat was felt like it was going to pound out of his mouth.
" Um, hang on... Yes, I think so. I think Lion and Twin make a good romantic couple." he said, redoing the calculations he had learned at an early age in his head, since he had already done them for himself and Vari many times.
" That's good." Vari said, almost sounding relieved. She cuddled close to him, making his heart pound faster.
" Um, are you cold? We can go in." he offered, mentally begging for a little more time. Vari shook her head slowly, rubbing it against the fabric of Solo's shirt as a result.
" No, I'm fine." she murmured. Gently, Solo wrapped his arms around her, making her sigh contentedly. " It's so warm here." she mumbled. Solo felt as though he were on fire, not warm. He chose not to say anything. For what seemed like hours, he craddled Vari until her breathing became even and deep, and her body relaxed, when he knew she was asleep. Then, careful not to wake her, he carried her into her quarters, laid her on her bed, and left. I know I'll only hurt you in the long run, he thought sadly, but if it makes you happy, I can't resist.
Vari ran a brush through her waist long hair and braided it loosely. A few stray locks fell out and framed her face delicately. She fluffed her bangs and frowned. They always look so flat, she thought ruefully. Other than that, with a pair of Vera's old pants and a red shirt stolen from her father tied at her midsection, she looked pretty good. She was hoping Solo would think so, at least. Happily, she jogged out of her room to visit her father. After last night, she was sure Solo was interested in her. She opened the door to her father's medical ward, beaming with happiness. What she heard sent her heart plummeting.
" You've done so much for us, Solo. I regret that you have to leave us so soon." Van's voice said. Slowly, Vari opened the door the rest of the way. Van was propped up on some pillows, while Hitomi, Vera, Michael, Tygris, Chuba, Dromada, Merle, Allen, and Millerna all stood around him. Solo stood facing them all. The door Vari had come through was to the right, so that she saw a profile of all that happened.
" Are you sure you have to leave already?" Vera asked, strain behind her voice. Michael gave her a curious look. She wants him to stay for me, Vari realized.
" I'm sure. I'm not doing anyone any good just sitting here. I have to get back. I'll find a way to make it look like I was captured, then escaped." Solo said quietly.
" If you feel that's best." Hitomi replied, but she sounded like she wasn't sure. Vari didn't stay to hear anymore. She ran off down the hall and outside. She had no idea how long she stood just outside the Blade, staring at the ground sorrowfully.
" Vari." a voice said from behind her. Vari turned to see Solo standing a few feet behind her. Tears formed and threatened to overflow. Quickly she looked away. " Vari, I..." Solo started, then let his voice trail off. Vari didn't push him. For a few long, awkward moments, the two just stood there. Vari ahd no clue what Solo was thinking, but she was heartbroken. " I just can't, Vari." Solo said finally. " I can't. It's not my place... It's not right. You're a princess, and I'm a traitor. That's the way it is. I can't. We can't." he said slowly. Vari's tears started to roll down her cheeks.
" Does it matter?" she asked.
" It does to me. I have my place and you have yours. Yours is here, among these wonderful people, and mine is in the line of fire. That's all there is to it." Solo explained. Vari whirled to face him.
" Quit treating me like I'm two! I may not know much about life, but I do know about love! And one thing I know is that love knows no bounds! I know what's happening! And I know what you're saying is a load of manure! If that's what you really feel, then go!" she screamed. A look of shock and hurt flashed across Solo's face.
" I feel that I don't want to hurt you. And I will hurt you. This is for the best." he said slowly, as though he were trying to convince himself and Vari. He slowly walked past Vari, pausing beside her before walking on. Vari turned to watch him go. " Just forget about me." Solo demanded softly. The tears started anew.
" I can't." she responded. " You'll always be in my heart." she told the retreating figure of Solo, feeling the wind lift her hair.
Vera watched the silent, vigil figure of her younger sister and felt Micheal's arms wrap around her waist. His strong, lean body provided support as she leaned against him. He smiled softly and released his breath in a delicate sigh against her cheek.
" This is like watching a really good romance movie." Michael whispered.
" What's a movie?" Vera asked.
" Nevermind." Michael said, chuckling softly to himself. Slowly, the pair turned to leave Vari alone. They had been sitting in the docking bay together after leaving Van's presence when Vari had come through the docking bay, followed by Solo. Michael kept his arm wrapped around her waist tightly as the two walked down the hallways.
" Amazing how much things changed." Vera murmured.
" Huh? How what changed?" Michael asked.
" Oh, everything. How everything changed. From the beginning, I mean. Think about it. Was this your original motive? To go to war? Was anything that happened part of your original plan?" Vera asked suddenly.
" Well, one thing that happened was part of what I hoped would happen." Michael admitted. " Getting you to fall in love with me." Vera hit him softly on the arm.
" Be quiet, you. That wasn't part of my plan. The last thing on my list was falling in love with anyone, right under getting captured twice, finding out I'm destined to save Gaea, knowing things I wish I didn't, my father getting injured in battle, having a little sister who's as old as I am in only a few months, and discovering my dead uncle isn't really dead." Vera said.
" Well, then what was on your list?" Michael asked.
" Winning the war, proving I was as good as my parents, getting you home safe and sound, and all in time for my sixteenth birthday." Vera answered.
" Ah, speaking of your birthday, when is that?" Michael asked. Vera scowled.
" Well, using your Mystic Moon terms, my birthday is September 20. Took you long enough to ask." she responded.
" Sorry. Mine is July 14." Michael offered. " So, when I met you, you had really just turned fifteen?"
" Yes, and you aren't much older." Vera shot back. Michael laughed and kissed her forehead.
" You know, when I first met you, I thought you had to be the most insane person I'd ever known." he said.
" And when I first met you, you might as well have been nonexistant." Vera said, smiling.
" And then I began to notice you were really pretty. Beautiful, even." Michael added.
" And then you had to go and be an idiot and nearly get yourself killed for me." Vera said.
" And then everything..." Michael said, drawing Vera to him and kissing her passionately. Vera smiled threw his kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. When the two parted, they smiled at each other.
" Michael, when this all ends, what will happen? To us?" Vera asked. Michael frowned.
" I don't know. I wish I did." he said, taking a deep breath. " I do know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I already told you I love you more than anything else in this world. I don't know what will happen next, but I do know that I'll be right beside you for the whole thing." he said. Vera smiled and pecked him on the cheek.
" I know." she said.
Hitomi leaned back in contentment, a kind of happiness she had never before imagined spreading over her body. Van sat beside her, his eyes soft, warm, and full of an unreadable emotion. Hitomi knew there was no reason they shouldn't be content. Both their daughters were safe and happy. All their company appeared to be content. The only problem Hitomi could think of was the war, but even that seemed far away and misty. Hitomi slowly slipped deeper into her pirvate paradise with Van, remembering their days together in their youth, their time apart, Hitomi's spur of the moment return, their hasty marriage, Vera's unexpected birth. The past seemed so warm and full, full as the contentment she saw in Van's eyes when he looked at her.
" We did pretty good, I think." Hitomi murmured as Van read her need and want for him and wrapped his arms around her.
" How do you mean?" he asked.
" I mean, two healthy, happy, beautiful daughters, a prosperous kingdom, a loving marriage. Between the two of us, I would have thought it would have been at least a little worse." Hitomi explained. Van smiled.
" Ah, I see." Van said.
" Especially after how we started out." Hitomi added.
" Do you mean the very beginning, or just the beginning of our marriage?" Van asked.
" Both." Hitomi responded.
" We were young, brash, and hasty." Van said.
" You were brash. We were both young and hasty, but you covered brash all on your own." Hitomi reminded him, making them both smile.
" We made mistakes." Van said.
" Hmmm. I lost count somewhere in the first few days we knew each other." Hitomi cracked. " One them, at the time, was meeting you." she added.
" I was a real jerk, wasn't I?" Van asked, smiling at the memories only they could see.
" Jerk didn't describe it. You were pure awful, and it seemed to me that you just kept getting worse." Hitomi said. " But you showed me in your own way that you cared. Just like now."
" Some things never change." Van said wit a smirk. Hitomi glanced out the window.
" Huh. Looks like it might rain. It's the middle August. It shouldn't even be thinking about rain now." she murmured.
" Odd." Van agreed. Hitomi shuddered suddenly as a sense of foreboding crept up her spine.
" Where are Vera and Vari?" she demanded suddenly.
" I'm not sure. Why?" Van asked, surprised.
" It's time." Hitomi answered, standing abruptly.
" Chuba?" Tygris asked, laying her head on Chuba's chest and listening to his deep, rumbling purr that she had grown to adore.
" Hmm?" he replied, shifting ever so slightly under the pressure of her weight.
" What are we gonna do when the war is over?" Tygris asked, raising her head to look at him. Chuba sighed and heaved himself into a sitting position, his unusually serious.
" I haven't got a clue. If we lose, then I guess we're dead. That's a pretty sure fact. But if we win, that's when things start to look hazy and unsure." he said, like he was thinking out loud.
" We could always go back to Fanelia. I'm sure they would- What is that?" Tygris asked suddenly, pointing skyward. Chuba's head snapped in the direction she pointed.
" Looks like a ship." he asnwered.
" Looks like the Black Death!" Tygris cried.
To be continued in Part 11...
Author's note: Hee hee... Do I have you hanging on a thread? Gotta know what happens next? If I get enough reviews, I'll continue. Look foreward to a nail-biter in the next part. Here's a bit of a preview to get the juices flowing.
.... Vera doubled over suddenly, as if controlled by a spasm of pain. She began to cough violently, and a fluid that looked like blood flew from her open mouth. It couldn't be blood, Michael realized as a new brand of cold fear coursed through his veins, it's black!...
How's that? Well, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed what I've slaved over to write. ^_^ Come back for Part 11, and possibly even the sequel...
-Rogue Fox
Vera was running down a dark tunnel, with lights spaced far apart as to provide only minimal lighting. Something was chasing her from behind. She didn't know what, all she knew was that she had to run from it.
" Can't fight it... Can't fight it..." her own voice chanted hauntingly, yet the only sounds escaping Vera were gasping, shrill, animal-like noises of terror. Heavy feet pounded from behind her. Suddenly, she was running through a desert, then a forest, then a great city, then a ruined village. Faces and objects blurred as she streaked by, her body screaming at her to stop.
" Can't fight it... Can't fight it..." came the chant again. Then, in a flash of light and an instantaneous feeling that she was floating, Vera found herself standing on a beautiful plateau under the shade of a huge, ancient tree.
" Can't fight it. Can't fight it. Can't fight it." the chant repeated, louder and more insistant. Then, as instantly as she had been brought to this place, a flurry of black and white feathers surrounded her.
" Can't fight it." repeated the chant. Instead of only her voice, it was several voices whispering along with it. Vera walked to the edge of the plateau and peered at the ground far away. It was soaked in blood.
" Can't fight it. Can't fight it." chanted the voices. Then fire burned brightly, feeding on the blood. The heat and smoke billowed around Vera, as she stumbled back in horror.
" Gaea is burning. Can't fight it." her own voice whispered, standing out from the continued whispered chant, yet Vera had not moved her lips except to form a o of surprise.
" You will bring Gaea's destruction, or its salvation." her grandmother's voice echoed from far away.
" Believe." Michael's voice begged. Vera looked around for him, but he was nowhere to be seen.
" Gaea is burning. Burning." her voice repeated. The blood soaked up the plateau and under Vera's feet, making her scream as red drops clung to her shoes.
" No!" she screamed amid the roar of fire. The fire, following the blood, crept up the plateau and formed a ring around her, and the sky blackened with smoke. Still, black and white feathers flurried around her. Suddenly, Vari stood by her side. Magically, both their wings were streched out, white against black.
" Gaea's burning." Vari whispered.
" Burning." Vera agreed. Then, there was a bright flash of light...
Vera sat up with a start and a yelp of fear. She looked around to see it was night, and she was safe in her quarters on the Blade. Gasping for breath, Vera struggled to calm herself and ignore the powerful rush of adreniline. Slowly she lay back down, but even though exhaustion crept over her, the pit in her gut would not let her sleep.
Solo stared in awe. King Van was lying, unconscious, on a hospital bed. Red soaked through his bandages. One of the few figures Solo had ever had that symbolized freedom and strength lay mortally wounded.
" Don't die." Solo begged in a whisper. " You've got two beautiful daughters and a beautiful wife to live for, not to mention the whole of Gaea may be depending on you." Solo let his head hang in defeat. He felt for the comforting, cold steel of his dagger and left the room. He found himself in the clearing, just outside the dock. Slowly, he unsheathed the knife and regarded it in the moon light.
" Your name's Solo, right?" a voice from behind asked. Solo sheathed the dagger again quickly and wheeled around. Vari had snuck up on him. He breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of her. Vari, who had never experienced betrayal or any of the life experiences most fifteen year olds had because of her accelerated growth, was a very naive girl, but sweet. Solo had grown fond of her in the few hours they had known each other.
" Yes, Lady Vari." he answered formally. Vari waved her hand in Vera-ish fashion. She had obviously adopted some of Vera's gestures, styles, and characteristics as her own.
" You don't have to use formalities. I won't tell." she said quickly. Solo looked up at the stars glistening overhead and sighed. Vari followed his gaze. " Sure is pretty tonight." she said quietly.
" Yes. They look like diamonds." Solo answered. Vari looked straight at him and Solo could see her studying his profile out of the corner of his eye.
" Why did you come out here so late?" she asked. " You're not planning on leaving already, are you? Going back to Tygir?" she added. Solo felt his dagger and a pang of guilt.
" I might have been planning on leaving, but not to Tygir." he replied. Vari cocked her head.
" I may not have been alive as long as you or Vera or Tygris, but I do know some things. For instance, I know running away never solves anything." she said quietly. Solo looked at her. Her reddish-brown eyes gleamed in the moonlight. Solo balked. She had hit the nail on the head. How could she have known he was looking for an end to his problems?
" Maybe. But as you mentioned, you haven't been alive as long as me. You haven't seen what I have." he reminded her. Vari scowled.
" So what? I'm still fifteen! At least in mind and body. You think you've got problems, buddy, try dealing with a family who still thinks you're two." Vari said. Solo laughed at her scowl.
" I guess you've got a point, Princess." he said.
" Princess today, Goddess tomorrow." Vari retorted to his teasing tone.
" I wouldn't doubt it." Solo admitted. The two stood, star-gazing for a moment, until Vari shivered. A sudden impulse overrode everything Solo knew he should do.
" It's getting cold. Come on, let's go inside." he said, putting an arm around Vari's shoulders and leading her inside. Vari smiled and leaned on his shoulder in a friendly manner. But Solo felt something old within him wake up, and suddenly the dagger hanging from his belt seemed so irrelevent.
Vera barreled down the halls. It was early morning, and she had a plan.
" Vera, please let me do it." Vari pleaded with her. Vera shook her head curtly.
" No way. I'm older. I get it." she answered. Vari stopped chasing Vera and jabbed her fists into her hips.
" Vera! I'll tell Mom and Uncle Allen! They'll bust you good if they find out what you're up to." she cried. Vera wheeled around and stuck her fist in Vari's face.
" Don't you dare breathe a word to anyone, got it?" she growled.
" Besides, I can handle it." she said, turning and walking down the hall again.
" I dunno. Uncle Allen said that it almost killed Dad lots of times." Vari replied, resuming chasing Vera down the hall.
" I said I can handle it, Vari." Vera repeated.
" Can't we at least tell Michael or Tygris or Solo? Somebody? You know, for back up, just in case?" Vari asked. Vera shook her head.
" No, it's our fight. Dad's hurt, so he can't do it. You don't have any experience in a guymelif, so I'm the one. You can take Double Edge to start learning how to pilot, if you want." she offered. Vari scowled.
" No fair. I get your old guymelif, and you get a brand new one?" she asked. Vera smiled sarcastically.
" It's not new. The thing's so ancient, it's an artifact." she said patronizingly.
" But Vera, Dad's already bonded to it. We don't know what'll happen if you bind to it too. We don't know what'll happen if you even just try to pilot it. Seeing you die once was scary enough, let's not repeat history, okay?" Vari said.
" Too late, Vari." Vera said, stopping and looking Vari in the eye.
" Way too late. We were born to repeat history. I told you about that dream I had. I don't particularly feel like watching all Gaea burn before me. I'm doing it." she said.
" I don't like this. Your health is fragile enough, what with your wings. Trying to not only pilot, but bond Escaflowne to you might be the last straw." Vari warned. " Not to mention that, if you survive, Mom'll kill you." she added. Vera shrugged and continued down the hall, pushing a door open to reveal the docking bay. She ran toward Escaflowne and climbed up its leg.
" I'm gonna do it, Vari! Even if it does kill me!" she called down as she pressed her hand against the energist it glowed feverishly and dimmed, awaiting the next step. Vera reached into her pocket to reveal the Energist she had stolen from the dragon she had slayed so many months ago. Was that really me, she wondered, it feels like a completely different person did that. Carefully, she pricked her finger on the edge of her sword and let the blood drip over the Energist, earning a healthy glow from it. Finally, she shoved the small Energist into the one on Escaflowne. A bright glow surrounded her quickly, then vanished as the cockpit opened up. Vera climbed in and let the guymelif strap her down. Slowly, after the face grid had swung closed, she lifted her arm and laughed gleefully as Escaflowne mimicked her motions. From the ground, Vari scowled at her.
" Vera Fanel, you just wait till Mom and Dad find out!" she cried, then ran off and climbed into Double Edge. As she stood, Double Edge swayed unsteadily. " Whoa! This is weird!" Vari cried. Experimentally, Vera stood as well, pleased that Escaflowne obeyed her commands.
" It's easy. It's just like walking, except you're a hundred times taller." Vera called back.
" That's exactly why it's weird!" Vari screamed as she tripped and almost fell flat on her face.
" Hey, Double Edge is a good melif, don't bust it up on your first run!" Vera called.
" Easy for you to say!" Vari retorted, regaining her balance by a thread. Vera smiled and moved the face grid to the side and poked her face out.
" You'll learn. Now let's go." she said, leading Vari out of the dock into the forest. She was surprised with the ease that Escaflowne moved. It was almost as if the giant guymelif was gliding over the ground. Vera pulled out the sword, which formed out of liquid metal, and gave it a few experimental swipes.
" Nice." she admonished admiringly. Vari was moving around and experimenting with Double Edge's sword.
" This is kind of fun. Now if only I actually knew how to use a sword." she said.
" I repeat my earlier statement: you'll learn." Vera replied.
" But there's just so much for me to learn." Vari complained. Vera contemplated smacking her with the flat of her sword.
" You'll be fine. Come on, let's dock these melifs before we get caught." she called, leading Vari back inside. She docked Escaflowne easily and climbed down. Vari came tumbling out of Double Edge.
" Ow!" she yelled when her rear connected with the floor. She stood up, rubbing her rear painfully and dusting the dirt off of herself. " Well, I hope you're happy." she said angrily. Vera crossed her arms and grinned.
" Sure am. That machine moves like the wind. I love it." she said. The two sisters started to walk towards the door, only to freeze in horror. There, blocking the door, stood Hitomi with Allen and Millerna on either side of her.
" Uh-oh." Vera muttered.
" I told you to wait!" Vari proclaimed loudly. Vera clamped a hand over her mouth to hush her.
" Too late, Vera Fanel, we've seen you. And you know who else could have seen you? THE ENEMY!" Hitomi said, bellowing the last part and making Vera and Vari cringe.
" But, Mom-" Vari protested.
" No buts." Millerna interrupted her.
" We were just-" Vera tried, but a threatening look from her mother silenced her.
" We don't want to know. You two are in big trouble, especially you, Vera." Allen said, his voice low and menacing. The two girls let their heads hang.
Vari rubbed her temples soothingly and sighed. Boy, what an earfull, she thought painfully. She walked into the room where Solo was staying and saw him reading some papers at his desk with rapt attention. He looked up at her and smiled.
" Hello, how are- What's the matter?" he asked, noticing Vari's expression. Vari made a disgusted face and threw herself onto Solo's bed with a plop.
" Ugh. Everything." she said, her voice muffled by the pillow she had buried her face in.
" You got busted for taking out the melifs, didn't you?" Solo asked. Vari heard the rustle of his papers being put away.
" How'd you know?" Vari asked, lifting her head off the pillow.
" Well, let's just say a cat told me." Solo responded, sitting cross-legged on the bed beside her.
" Which one? There seem to be a bunch running around." Vari said, her voice tainted with dry humor. Solo smiled.
" I don't remember her name. But it doesn't matter." he said, waving his hand. Vari realized he was mimicking her and scowled.
" Man, now I'm scheduled for a training run with Allen. For three hours. And that's the first of five." She said, propping her head on her hand and looking at Solo. He was handsome, with messy black hair and startling green eyes. His skin was a dark olive and his atheletic build suggested a hard lifestyle. He worked for the enemy, Vari knew, but he was actually a traitor who truly served Fanelia. She often wondered why, but Vera had told her Solo never talked about his employment, so she never brought it up.
" You make that sound like a bad thing." Solo said, smiling.
" Isn't it?" Vari asked, sitting up.
" Well, not really. You get to learn swordmanship and guymelif piloting. And seeing that you, um, shall we say borrowed a guymelif to learn, I guess they take that as you saying you want to learn how. So really, you actually getting a reward." Solo said. Vari quirked an eyebrow at him.
" Somehow, your logic escapes me." she said slowly. Solo laughed.
" My logic escapes me half the time." he agreed. Vari felt a slow, reluctant smile spread over her face. She liked Solo, she had liked him from the moment she saw him. And yet, something Vera had said to her when she was still in the body of a two year old haunted her. Don't ever get involved with a guy, Vera had said, it leads only to pain. And yet, Vera seemed so happy with Michael. She was all smiles and sparkling eyes. Another thing that warned Vari away from Solo was that she felt she didn't deserve him. She was different from other girls, and if her life progressed the way it had, she would die of old age before the year was out. This knowledge made her want to both jump head first into what was only beginning with Solo and stay away from him. Vari listened to the latter, though it was very hard. Solo's subtle flirts were not helping.
" Do want to go stargazing tonight?" Solo asked, snapping Vari away from her thoughts.
" Hm? Oh, yeah, sure." she said casually, though her heart leaped. After she had left Solo, she ran straight for her sister. She knocked on the door then went in to see Vera reading a book on her bed. Vera looked up at her sister.
" Hey, kiddo." she said, then looked back to her book.
" I'm fine, thanks." Vari said sarcastically. " What are you reading?" she asked. Vera shrugged.
" A book on decoding dreams." she answered. She marked her spot, closed the book, put it aside, then rubbed the bridge of her nose. " It's very confusing." she added.
" Um, listen, can I ask you about some stuff?" Vari asked, cutting straight to why she had come. Vera looked up at her with a peircing gaze.
" What stuff?" she asked cautiously.
" Um... Guys." Vari said quietly, blushing avidly. Vera laughed and laid back on her bed.
" Is that all? You looked so serious, I thought you were gonna ask me something hard!" she cried. Vari brightened up.
" So you have experience?" she asked. Vera cocked her head.
" Well, that all depends on whether you want to get rid of a guy, or if you want to get him interested in you." she said.
" That's what I'm not sure about. I like him and everything, but there's the whole thing on how I age." Vari said, blushing. Vera smiled.
" Well, I'd say go for it. You only get one chance to be young. So, who is he?" Vera asked expectantly. Vari looked around as though she expected spies to be in the room.
" Um... Promise you wan't tell a soul?" she asked quickly. Vera's smile broadened.
" I swear on the honor of Fanelia." she answered.
" Solo." Vari whispered. Vera fell backwards and almost rolled off her bed, laughing hysterically. " Hey, it's not funny!" Vari yelled. Vera snickered.
" It's not that it's funny. It's just that my little sister likes a guy who used to like me!" she said, half choking her words in laughter. Vari rocked back in shock.
" He used to like you? As in, really like?" she asked, shocked.
" Yeah, but it was just a crush, and the feeling wasn't mutual." Vera said, almost totally calm.
" Then, how did you get Michael to like you?" Vari asked. Aside from her mother and father, Vera and Michael had the most successful relationship Vari knew. They deeply loved one another, and since Michael's release from the prison hold, where he had spent all of Vari's life, they were hardly apart. The only time they seperated was when one was asleep or something. Which was why they weren't together now, Michael was fast asleep.
" I didn't." Vera answered, frowning thoughtfully. " It just sort of happened. I guess, at first, he was only interested because of my looks. Or at least, that's what I thought. But then, things started happening. One of the first was that he swore to be my guardian. I got mad at him for that, but he still was there, no matter what. He nearly died for me, and I guess then I realized that he loved me in a way none of my other suitors had. To them, I was a prize they wanted to win, a pretty trophy to show off. To Michael, I was a person, a person he loved. And that was what made me fall in love with him." she said, recounting past events that only she could see. " He had a metal claw go right through his gut for me." she whispered, smiling. She held up a golden dagger charm she always wore, took it off, and handed it to Vari for her to look at.
" He gave that to me. It's sort our way of saying we love each other. As long as I wear that, I'm his." Vari ran her fingers over the gold gently.
" Wow. I guess you two want to get married someday, huh?" she asked, looking up. Vera blushed lightly.
" I guess so. We've never talked about it, but it's sort of comes with the package, you know?" she said. Vari nodded.
" Michael's a good guy, even if he does sleep a lot. He'd make a good king." she said. Vera smiled at a future she imagined.
" Mm-hm. But, knowing him, he'd sleep through his own coranation." she said, with a loving laugh.
" So," Vari began with her favorite sly smile. " Have you two ever done it?" she asked. Vera's face turned bright red.
" Hey, you don't get to ask that!" she cried, swinging at Vari, who ducked.
" Yes I do. So, have you?" Vari asked loudly, holding up a pillow to protect herself.
" No, I'm proud to say we have not, you little snoop!" Vera cried, wrestling the pillow away from Vari and tickling her.
" Okay, okay, I give! Uncle!" Vari cried, gasping for breath as Vera finally pulled back the onslaught. " So, what should I do about Solo?" Vari asked when both the girls' breathing rates returned to normal.
" Be yourself. You're a pretty girl, Vari, and I know Solo. He's a shy guy, you have to really try to get him to come out of his shell. But if you just be yourself, he will. He's got a lot of problems, though." Vera said, frowning. " He came from a real honorable family in Fanelia. He was kidnapped when he was really young by some left over Zaibach soldier and taken to another country. When he came back to Fanelia, he was working for Zensho, an older suitor or mine gone wrong. His dad got so mad that he disowned poor Solo. I guess the guy still feels like Fanelia is his home, but he's not wanted. But, he's Fanelian, and patriotism runs in the blood. He really hates being a traitor, I think, even for the good of his home country. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if I found out he was looking for an escape. I heard him say once that he felt what his father did was unfair, since he had no choice, he was only trying to survive and come home. But that's about all I've ever heard him say about his family. Aside from that, Zensho used to get a kick out of humiliating poor Solo. I get the feeling Tygir is even worse, and since Zensho's dead and Tygir's taken over, I think Solo may have been going for a last run when he came to us." Vera finished, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
" What do you mean?" Vari asked, suddenly afraid.
" I'm sure Solo has stuck his neck out for us many times. I know he's done it for me quite a few times. This time, he may have literally strapped himself down to the chopping block and is just biding his time until the executioner swings the ax. I think Solo looking to end his life before Tygir get's the pleasure of doing it for him." Vera said, looking at Vari seriously. " Solo would have gotten it done with already, though. I don't know why we still have a living Solo running around." Vari gasped.
" Last night. I walked out to look at the stars last night and Solo was out there. He had something in his hand. Maybe he was trying to kill himself then. But he came back inside with me. I don't understand." she said quickly. Vera's eyes hazed.
" I've known Solo for a long time, and I do like him as a friend. I care about him a lot. He's saved my life, and who knows what else he's sndured for us..." she said quietly, looking away. Vari looked at the clock on Vera's nightstand. It was three forty-five. She had to report to Allen for her training. I've only got a little time, she thought, imagining the speeding clock that counted down the precious minutes of life she had, to save my family, my world, myself, and Solo.
Solo tried with all his might to concentrate on the map he had in front of him, struggling to give Allen an estimate of where the Black Death was. But he couldn't. Memories kept rushing at him...
" Where are you taking me?! Lemme go!" a young boy's voice rang in his mind. Resting his head in his hands, Solo squeezed his eyes shut and tried to block out the images that haunted him. A boy with messy black hair, green eyes, and dark olive skin, his face streaked with panicked tears, flailing in vain against an older man in strange armor.
" Please! I want my mamma!" the boy screamed helplessly.
" Why me?" Solo murmured out loud, squeezing his head as though trying to push the memories out of his head. " Why did they take me?" he wondered, releasing the pressure on his head and opening his eyes. " Why was I set apart from the rest?" he asked the thin air. Vari's eyes suddenly floated before him, her smile sweet and naive. Her eyes were always so wide and innocent, she was always looking for something new to learn. " Stupid fate. She deserves better than this life." Solo muttered. She deserved better than him, too. She deserved a handsome prince who had mountains of riches to give her and a beautiful castle on top of a mountain to which they woould ride off to, framed by a sunset, just like in a story. That's what Vari deserved, not a traitor. Not a traitor who lived dishonestly, who had been disowned by his "family" for surviving. And yet, she had never even seen Fanelia. All she had ever known was this ship, and the nearby forests. All she knew was her differences, all she knew was what she could learn in roughly a month and a half of life. Solo looked up at a small part of the map that represented Fanelia. Such a small country, yet braver citizens were no where to be found. The greatest fighters ever came out of that little country, the most beautiful princess, and Gaea's greatest mysteries found their origin there.
" Maybe I don't deserve her love, but I can give her knowledge." Solo muttered, standing and pushing the map aside. Might as well give up, he most certainly wasn't going to get anywhere with it. She deserves so much better, he thought painfully, much better.
Later...
" Right there, that one. See it?" Solo asked.
" Yeah, the really bright one?" Vari asked to make sure.
" That's it. That's the North Star. No matter where you are, if you can see the North Star, then you'll at least know the directions." Solo explained. Vari sighed. Her head was at his feet and his head at her feet.
" But that only tells you north, how can you find all the other directions with it?" Vari asked. Solo smiled softly. He had been teaching Vari numerous things for hours, like how to know what berries in the forest were good to eat and what was poisonous, or how to climb a tree. Now he was teaching her about the stars.
" Well, you know north is opposite of south, right? So, pretend you were looking at it from the sky, like a map. You've got north and south. On a map, you'll find that west and east always read 'we.' So, just by finding north, you've got a natrual compass." he explained. Vari stopped to ponder this, then as suddenly as a match being struck, her face lit up.
" Oh, I get it!" she cried with a laugh. Solo chuckled. She was so eager to learn, so hungry for knowledge.
" Alright, do you know what a constallation is?" Solo asked. Vari punched his leg.
" Quit asking me if I know something! Chances are I don't!" she cried. Solo smiled at how she expected it to hurt.
" Sorry. A constallation is a grouping of stars that make a sort of picture. Like that one right there, where the North Star is? If you look close, you'll see the Big Dipper. The North Star is the corner of it." he explained. Vari lifted her hand and traced the stars, connecting.
" It's a big spoon!" she exclaimed after a moment.
" That's the Big Dipper." Solo corrected. " Some say that the constallation you were born under affects the outcome of your life." he added. Vari lifted her head to look at them.
" Really? Teach me!" she demanded. Solo smiled at her wide, innocent eyes.
" Okay. Let's see. You were born about a month and a half ago, right? So, the sun would have been rising under that constalation." Solo said, pointing skyward. He could see the gathering of stars, but Vari apparently couldn't.
" Where? I don't see it." she said. Solo sighed.
" Come here, put your head near mine." he commanded. Vari sat up up and then laid back down next to him. Instead of laying her head down next to his like Solo thought she would, she laid it down on his chest. Solo was sure she could feel his heart pounding. He took a deep, soothing breath, despite the weight of Vari's head on his chest.
" So? Where is it?" Vari asked. Solo breathed deeply again.
" Right there. If you really imagine it, it looks like two girls standing together. That constallation is called the Twins. You're a Twin." he explained. Vari nodded.
" Uh-huh. I get it. What are you?" she asked.
" Well, that's kinda off the topic, but oh well. I'm a Lion. See, that one right there." Solo responded. He pointed to his constallation, then correcting Vari's arm so that she was pointng at it.
" It looks like a lion!" she giggled. Solo decided to try a subtle move.
" Another thing some people think is that people fall in love according to the stars. Like, Vera for instance, is a Virgin. That's he constallation. Michael's is a Crab. The constallation Virgin is under Mercury, a planet close to the sun, and the Crab is under Neptune, which is pretty far away. Neptune and Mercury go well together, and that means that they are really good together." he explained. Vari looked intrigued, then blushed lightly.
" How about Lion and Twin? Do they go good together?" she asked. Solo's heart leapt into his throat was felt like it was going to pound out of his mouth.
" Um, hang on... Yes, I think so. I think Lion and Twin make a good romantic couple." he said, redoing the calculations he had learned at an early age in his head, since he had already done them for himself and Vari many times.
" That's good." Vari said, almost sounding relieved. She cuddled close to him, making his heart pound faster.
" Um, are you cold? We can go in." he offered, mentally begging for a little more time. Vari shook her head slowly, rubbing it against the fabric of Solo's shirt as a result.
" No, I'm fine." she murmured. Gently, Solo wrapped his arms around her, making her sigh contentedly. " It's so warm here." she mumbled. Solo felt as though he were on fire, not warm. He chose not to say anything. For what seemed like hours, he craddled Vari until her breathing became even and deep, and her body relaxed, when he knew she was asleep. Then, careful not to wake her, he carried her into her quarters, laid her on her bed, and left. I know I'll only hurt you in the long run, he thought sadly, but if it makes you happy, I can't resist.
Vari ran a brush through her waist long hair and braided it loosely. A few stray locks fell out and framed her face delicately. She fluffed her bangs and frowned. They always look so flat, she thought ruefully. Other than that, with a pair of Vera's old pants and a red shirt stolen from her father tied at her midsection, she looked pretty good. She was hoping Solo would think so, at least. Happily, she jogged out of her room to visit her father. After last night, she was sure Solo was interested in her. She opened the door to her father's medical ward, beaming with happiness. What she heard sent her heart plummeting.
" You've done so much for us, Solo. I regret that you have to leave us so soon." Van's voice said. Slowly, Vari opened the door the rest of the way. Van was propped up on some pillows, while Hitomi, Vera, Michael, Tygris, Chuba, Dromada, Merle, Allen, and Millerna all stood around him. Solo stood facing them all. The door Vari had come through was to the right, so that she saw a profile of all that happened.
" Are you sure you have to leave already?" Vera asked, strain behind her voice. Michael gave her a curious look. She wants him to stay for me, Vari realized.
" I'm sure. I'm not doing anyone any good just sitting here. I have to get back. I'll find a way to make it look like I was captured, then escaped." Solo said quietly.
" If you feel that's best." Hitomi replied, but she sounded like she wasn't sure. Vari didn't stay to hear anymore. She ran off down the hall and outside. She had no idea how long she stood just outside the Blade, staring at the ground sorrowfully.
" Vari." a voice said from behind her. Vari turned to see Solo standing a few feet behind her. Tears formed and threatened to overflow. Quickly she looked away. " Vari, I..." Solo started, then let his voice trail off. Vari didn't push him. For a few long, awkward moments, the two just stood there. Vari ahd no clue what Solo was thinking, but she was heartbroken. " I just can't, Vari." Solo said finally. " I can't. It's not my place... It's not right. You're a princess, and I'm a traitor. That's the way it is. I can't. We can't." he said slowly. Vari's tears started to roll down her cheeks.
" Does it matter?" she asked.
" It does to me. I have my place and you have yours. Yours is here, among these wonderful people, and mine is in the line of fire. That's all there is to it." Solo explained. Vari whirled to face him.
" Quit treating me like I'm two! I may not know much about life, but I do know about love! And one thing I know is that love knows no bounds! I know what's happening! And I know what you're saying is a load of manure! If that's what you really feel, then go!" she screamed. A look of shock and hurt flashed across Solo's face.
" I feel that I don't want to hurt you. And I will hurt you. This is for the best." he said slowly, as though he were trying to convince himself and Vari. He slowly walked past Vari, pausing beside her before walking on. Vari turned to watch him go. " Just forget about me." Solo demanded softly. The tears started anew.
" I can't." she responded. " You'll always be in my heart." she told the retreating figure of Solo, feeling the wind lift her hair.
Vera watched the silent, vigil figure of her younger sister and felt Micheal's arms wrap around her waist. His strong, lean body provided support as she leaned against him. He smiled softly and released his breath in a delicate sigh against her cheek.
" This is like watching a really good romance movie." Michael whispered.
" What's a movie?" Vera asked.
" Nevermind." Michael said, chuckling softly to himself. Slowly, the pair turned to leave Vari alone. They had been sitting in the docking bay together after leaving Van's presence when Vari had come through the docking bay, followed by Solo. Michael kept his arm wrapped around her waist tightly as the two walked down the hallways.
" Amazing how much things changed." Vera murmured.
" Huh? How what changed?" Michael asked.
" Oh, everything. How everything changed. From the beginning, I mean. Think about it. Was this your original motive? To go to war? Was anything that happened part of your original plan?" Vera asked suddenly.
" Well, one thing that happened was part of what I hoped would happen." Michael admitted. " Getting you to fall in love with me." Vera hit him softly on the arm.
" Be quiet, you. That wasn't part of my plan. The last thing on my list was falling in love with anyone, right under getting captured twice, finding out I'm destined to save Gaea, knowing things I wish I didn't, my father getting injured in battle, having a little sister who's as old as I am in only a few months, and discovering my dead uncle isn't really dead." Vera said.
" Well, then what was on your list?" Michael asked.
" Winning the war, proving I was as good as my parents, getting you home safe and sound, and all in time for my sixteenth birthday." Vera answered.
" Ah, speaking of your birthday, when is that?" Michael asked. Vera scowled.
" Well, using your Mystic Moon terms, my birthday is September 20. Took you long enough to ask." she responded.
" Sorry. Mine is July 14." Michael offered. " So, when I met you, you had really just turned fifteen?"
" Yes, and you aren't much older." Vera shot back. Michael laughed and kissed her forehead.
" You know, when I first met you, I thought you had to be the most insane person I'd ever known." he said.
" And when I first met you, you might as well have been nonexistant." Vera said, smiling.
" And then I began to notice you were really pretty. Beautiful, even." Michael added.
" And then you had to go and be an idiot and nearly get yourself killed for me." Vera said.
" And then everything..." Michael said, drawing Vera to him and kissing her passionately. Vera smiled threw his kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. When the two parted, they smiled at each other.
" Michael, when this all ends, what will happen? To us?" Vera asked. Michael frowned.
" I don't know. I wish I did." he said, taking a deep breath. " I do know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I already told you I love you more than anything else in this world. I don't know what will happen next, but I do know that I'll be right beside you for the whole thing." he said. Vera smiled and pecked him on the cheek.
" I know." she said.
Hitomi leaned back in contentment, a kind of happiness she had never before imagined spreading over her body. Van sat beside her, his eyes soft, warm, and full of an unreadable emotion. Hitomi knew there was no reason they shouldn't be content. Both their daughters were safe and happy. All their company appeared to be content. The only problem Hitomi could think of was the war, but even that seemed far away and misty. Hitomi slowly slipped deeper into her pirvate paradise with Van, remembering their days together in their youth, their time apart, Hitomi's spur of the moment return, their hasty marriage, Vera's unexpected birth. The past seemed so warm and full, full as the contentment she saw in Van's eyes when he looked at her.
" We did pretty good, I think." Hitomi murmured as Van read her need and want for him and wrapped his arms around her.
" How do you mean?" he asked.
" I mean, two healthy, happy, beautiful daughters, a prosperous kingdom, a loving marriage. Between the two of us, I would have thought it would have been at least a little worse." Hitomi explained. Van smiled.
" Ah, I see." Van said.
" Especially after how we started out." Hitomi added.
" Do you mean the very beginning, or just the beginning of our marriage?" Van asked.
" Both." Hitomi responded.
" We were young, brash, and hasty." Van said.
" You were brash. We were both young and hasty, but you covered brash all on your own." Hitomi reminded him, making them both smile.
" We made mistakes." Van said.
" Hmmm. I lost count somewhere in the first few days we knew each other." Hitomi cracked. " One them, at the time, was meeting you." she added.
" I was a real jerk, wasn't I?" Van asked, smiling at the memories only they could see.
" Jerk didn't describe it. You were pure awful, and it seemed to me that you just kept getting worse." Hitomi said. " But you showed me in your own way that you cared. Just like now."
" Some things never change." Van said wit a smirk. Hitomi glanced out the window.
" Huh. Looks like it might rain. It's the middle August. It shouldn't even be thinking about rain now." she murmured.
" Odd." Van agreed. Hitomi shuddered suddenly as a sense of foreboding crept up her spine.
" Where are Vera and Vari?" she demanded suddenly.
" I'm not sure. Why?" Van asked, surprised.
" It's time." Hitomi answered, standing abruptly.
" Chuba?" Tygris asked, laying her head on Chuba's chest and listening to his deep, rumbling purr that she had grown to adore.
" Hmm?" he replied, shifting ever so slightly under the pressure of her weight.
" What are we gonna do when the war is over?" Tygris asked, raising her head to look at him. Chuba sighed and heaved himself into a sitting position, his unusually serious.
" I haven't got a clue. If we lose, then I guess we're dead. That's a pretty sure fact. But if we win, that's when things start to look hazy and unsure." he said, like he was thinking out loud.
" We could always go back to Fanelia. I'm sure they would- What is that?" Tygris asked suddenly, pointing skyward. Chuba's head snapped in the direction she pointed.
" Looks like a ship." he asnwered.
" Looks like the Black Death!" Tygris cried.
To be continued in Part 11...
Author's note: Hee hee... Do I have you hanging on a thread? Gotta know what happens next? If I get enough reviews, I'll continue. Look foreward to a nail-biter in the next part. Here's a bit of a preview to get the juices flowing.
.... Vera doubled over suddenly, as if controlled by a spasm of pain. She began to cough violently, and a fluid that looked like blood flew from her open mouth. It couldn't be blood, Michael realized as a new brand of cold fear coursed through his veins, it's black!...
How's that? Well, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed what I've slaved over to write. ^_^ Come back for Part 11, and possibly even the sequel...
-Rogue Fox